An Iron Fist, Two Harbors

by Dennis Herschbach

  Chapter

  Fifty-Seven

  BEN DECIDED TO TAKE a few more days off from work, figuring he wouldn’t be able to concentrate on anything but getting at Dave. Deidre worked on different scenarios for when she met Dave face to face, picturing in her mind how she would manage to not explode and ruin the entire operation. Jeff wanted access to their home, and by the next afternoon, a technical crew was busy installing microphones in any room of the house that Dave might enter.

  Deidre was excited, but when Jeff called saying he had more news, she could hardly contain herself. Ben became so agitated at the possibility that more evidence had been found, he decided to go for a walk in the woods, something he always did when he was stressed and needed time to process. By the time he returned home, the wiring was pretty much completed, and a listening and recording station was ready to go in the basement. Jeff had already arrived and was sipping a cup of coffee. He stood when Ben entered the kitchen and patted his friend on the shoulder.

  “We’ve found another piece of the puzzle,” he said matter-of-factly, although the look on his face gave away his satisfaction.

  “After you found the button from Dave’s coat, I got to wondering if there was any chance we missed something when we searched Dave’s and Maren’s apartment. On a long shot, I went back to the building to talk to the manager. I knew any evidence in the apartment itself would be long gone, because new tenants moved in shortly after Dave left for Duluth. I was more interested in anything the manager might have forgotten to show us at the time of our search.”

  Jeff stopped and took another swig of coffee, then set the cup down before continuing.

  “He was surprised to see me, and when I asked if there was anything he might have forgotten to tell us, his eyes widened. ‘My God!’’ he exclaimed. ‘I forgot all about what happened last spring. I was just getting ready to call Dave and ask if he wanted a box that was stuffed into a space above the rafters in the storage unit he had rented. Several of the units go un-rented in the summer, but when winter is on its way, people need a place to put their summer toys. The couple who live in the apartment that Dave and Maren rented paid for the storage space a couple of days ago, and when they were moving their stuff in, found a cardboard box. I figured it must be Dave’s.’”

  Jeff shook his head, and Ben and Deidre waited for him to continue. Jeff mumbled, almost to himself, “I sure don’t know how we missed it when we searched the unit last spring.” He went on to explain. “The box was wedged in the rafters above the automatic garage door. When it’s open, of course it obscures the view of the rafters when you look from below. No one thought to close the door and then go back in through the side door. If we had, we’d have seen the box. At least, I think we would have.”

  Deidre couldn’t take the suspense any longer. “Just tell us what you found, for God’s sake!” she exploded. As soon as the expletive left her mouth, she regretted it. “Oh, damn, Jeff. I’m so sorry.” She hung her head. “It just came out. I’m so sorry. Please, tell us what happened.”

  Jeff realized he had been taking too long. “No offense taken, friend. You’re right. I got a warrant to open the box. Inside, among other items, was a pair of running shoes caked with dried red clay. I suspect they’re Dave’s, because the box contained some things with his name on them. I took the box and its contents as evidence. Remember when we collected soil samples from the road where Maren’s car was found? The lab says the clay on Dave’s shoes probably came from the same place. And, I know it’s been a long time ago, but you put me onto the fisherman who had picked up a jogger on the Drummond Road. The mud left in his truck also closely matches the clay on Dave’s shoes. There was also a cap in the box. It has an insignia above the visor that matches the description given to us by the guy.”

  Ben broke in. “That settles it, then! That S.O.B. killed my daughter. There’s no doubt about it.”

  Jeff spoke softly to calm the situation. “You and I, all of us, know he did it, but everything is circumstantial to this point. A good lawyer will find reasons for all these coincidences. After all, there’s no crime against jogging on a muddy road in the middle of the night, is there? That’s why it’s so important to get Dave to make some kind of incriminating statement.”

  Jeff set a timeline for when they would contact Dave and laid it out for the others to see and comment on. Deidre was to call him early the next day, trying to catch him before he left for work. She reminded everyone that Dave had consistently not answered or returned her calls for quite some time, and that she would in all likelihood be leaving a message. They talked again about what she should say.

  “It has to be something that alarms him, but doesn’t scare him off,” Ben advised. “I don’t think saying you have his coat will be enough. He’ll just say it’s old and to throw it in the garbage. Something has to be said about the missing button to pique his anxiety. But at the same time, not enough to cause him to run,” Ben added. Turning to Jeff, he asked, “Do you think he might take off on us?”

  Jeff shrugged. “He might, but if he does, we’ve got another marker against him. I’ve had him under surveillance since Deidre called me about the jacket, in case somehow he learned about the found button. If he runs, the airport will be closed to him and the routes out of Duluth will be shut off. We’ve got him by the short hair, and pretty soon we’re going to begin pulling it.”

  Chapter

  Fifty-Eight

  DEIDRE LOOKED AT HER watch, took a bite of toast and tried to swallow, put her coffee cup to her lips and took a sip. She swallowed again, and the wad of dry toast went down. She glanced at the clock on the wall and shivered. Its hands seemed to be not moving, even though the second hand was sweeping around the clock’s face. Across the table from her, Ben tried to concentrate on the morning paper, but nothing registered as his eyes skimmed the printed page.

  “Couple more minutes,” he said to Deidre as he reached across the table and placed his hand on hers. “Are you ready?”

  “I guess,” she answered, trying to modulate her voice to the tone she’d use with Dave. She looked at the clock again. “Close enough,” she said, as much to herself as to Ben.

  Deidre picked up her phone and punched in Dave’s home number. She waited as it rang, and Ben shuffled his feet. Other than that, the kitchen was quiet. She and Ben hadn’t said anything to the boys about what would be happening, and they were grateful it was a school day. The boys had gotten on the bus a half hour before. Deidre shook her head as Dave’s answering machine picked up the call, and Ben heard her begin the planned speech.

  “Dave, this is Deidre. Sorry I missed you, but I know you put in long hours at work. The last time you were here things got a little tense, and I want to say I’m sorry for that. We’ve been friends for quite a while, and I’d hate to see that end.” Ben wondered how Deidre could muster such a sweet, unassuming tone. She continued.

  “The reason I’m calling is that I was cleaning out our coat closet, and found one of your coats hanging in the back. I think you left it here last spring, the day Maren’s car was found. I remember you were going to wear it, but forgot. You were awfully cold and miserable out there. Well, anyway, it’s gray-and-red plaid wool, with a button missing on one sleeve.”

  Before she could go on, Dave came on the line, startling her.

  “Deidre.” He sounded out of breath. “Sorry it took me so long to get to the phone, I just came out of the shower and heard your voice on the answering machine. I didn’t get all of your message. Something about a jacket or coat, I think you said?” Deidre could hear him breathing heavily, and she wondered if he really had run to get to the phone or if he had simply been screening his calls.

  “Oh, it’s good to hear your voice,” she innocently greeted him. “How are you, Dave? We haven’t talked since Maren’s funeral. I know that was a difficult day for you, difficult for all of us.”

  “I’m fine, just fine,” Dave answered too hurriedly. “What did you say about a
coat?” he quickly interjected.

  “Oh, yes,” Deidre controlled her response. “I was cleaning out our hall closet—you know, the one off the living room entry—and I found your wool jacket hanging there. You know how it goes, something that’s not worn everyday gets pushed further and further back until it’s forgotten. I thought you might want to come get it tonight, if you have time.”

  There was a long pause on the line. “Oh, yeah. I remember it. It’s just an old rag that I wouldn’t wear anymore. Toss it in the garbage for me, will you?” Deidre had a rehearsed answer.

  “This may not be the one you’re thinking of. It’s gray-and-red plaid, wool, I think, and it’s in really good condition, except for a button that’s missing on the right sleeve. It’s the jacket you were going to wear the day we went with Sheriff DeAngelo when they found Maren’s car abandoned in the woods. But, if you don’t want it, would you care if I kept it? It’s really good quality, and I could wear it around the yard.”

  Deidre waited out another long pause. “You say a button is missing off the cuff?”

  “Yeah. There are three on one cuff and two on the other. The thread is still in the fabric. Looks like the button was torn off. Good buttons, though, brass, very distinctive. I doubt if I’ll be able to find another to replace the missing one.”

  Deidre waited out another long pause. She thought she was causing Dave some consternation. Finally, he spoke. “Oh. Oh, now I remember the coat you mean. Man, I can’t believe I haven’t missed it. It’s been one of my favorites, but you know how mixed up things have been all summer. Would you mind if I picked it up today? We could catch up on things and have a cup of coffee together.” Deidre heard papers rattling before Dave continued. “It looks like I don’t have much going on this afternoon. Would it be okay if I stopped out, say about twelve thirty?”

  “That would be wonderful,” Deidre heard herself saying. “Would you have lunch with me if I fix it? Ben’s at work and the boys are in school. We can talk.”

  After hearing Dave say he’d like that, Deidre said her good-byes, put the phone down, and let the air gush from her lungs. Only then did she realize she had been so tense she wasn’t breathing normally. As she sagged back in her chair, she asked Ben, “Did I sound natural to you?”

  He smiled admiringly at her. “I don’t know how you did it. I almost thought you had forgotten what you were trying to do. I’ll call Jeff and fill him in on what’s happening. It’s the least I can do.”

  When Deidre picked up her coffee cup, it rattled against the saucer, and coffee sloshed over its rim. She tried again with the same results, and then held one hand with the other to stop its trembling.

  *****

  DEIDRE WAS READY when she heard the knock on the door. Dave was twenty minutes early, but from the tone of his voice over the pohone, she anticipated his being anxious to retrieve his jacket. Jeff had helped arrange the setting, and had conspicuously draped it over a chair in the corner of the kitchen. That way Dave could see it, but it would be obvious if he made a beeline for the corner. Deidre plastered a warm smile on her face as she swung the door open.

  “Dave, it’s so nice to see you again. I was hoping we could stay in touch.” She hugged him closely, her eyes closed and lips pursed. Then the smile returned as she released her grasp of him.

  “Come in, come in,” she beckoned. “I wish Ben was here. He’s wondered how you were holding up. He was worried that you had gotten the wrong impression the night we . . . well, we were all wound pretty tightly the last time you were here.”

  Dave had a strange look on his face, and he tentatively followed her into the kitchen. Deidre had the table set, and she checked the Crock-Pot on the counter.

  “Go ahead, have a seat. I’ll dish us up some of this concoction, and we can visit and eat before you have to get back to your job.” She ladled out two bowlfuls of stew and carried them to the table. As he took the bowl from her, she noticed that Dave’s hands were almost as shaky as hers had been when she called him that morning.

  “So, how is work going?” Deidre asked as she buttered a piece of bread. She saw Dave’s eyes repeatedly shift to the chair with his jacket draped over it.

  “Uh . . . it’s going pretty good.” His answer was short and to the point, and he filled his mouth with the stew as an excuse not to elaborate. Deidre knew she had him on the defensive, and she kept up the chatter.

  “I know it’s none of my business, but I’ve wondered if you’ve found someone to be with. You’re young, and we don’t expect you to go through your life single. You know what I mean?”

  Dave’s face flushed. “No. No, I don’t have anyone. Nobody could replace Maren,” he managed to stammer, never making eye contact with Deidre.

  After several minutes of chit chat, and noticing Dave’s furtive glances at his jacket across the room, Deidre brought up the subject.

  “I’m so sorry I didn’t remember your jacket sooner. At least twice, maybe three times this summer, I ran across it when I was digging in the closet, and each time I thought, ‘I’ve got to get that jacket to him,’ but then I’d forget and it would work its way to the back again. Oh, well, we have it now. Maybe it was meant to be. This way I got to see you for a bit.” Deidre prattled on, watching Dave get more uncomfortable by the minute. She could see he wanted to grab the coat and get out of there. Unhurriedly, she got up and retrieved the jacket, brought it to the table, but didn’t hand it to Dave. Instead, she sat and continued talking in a conversational tone.

  “I have to admit that I had a moment of grief when I took this off its hanger. There were several long, blonde hairs on its sleeve. I picked them off, and they looked like they were Maren’s hair. It was a solemn kind of thing. Know what I mean?”

  Dave began an explanation, but before he could get out more than two words, Deidre added. “But of course, that would be natural, wouldn’t it? She probably wore this jacket at times, or she might have leaned her head on your arm.”

  Dave was quick to agree. Deidre fingered one of the brass buttons on the sleeve. “These are really unique buttons. Are they brass?”

  Dave said he thought they were, but that he really wasn’t sure. Deidre pressed on. “You don’t happen to have the button at home? A seamstress could sew it back on in seconds. It would be a shame to have the looks of this jacket ruined by a mismatched button.”

  Dave said he didn’t have the button. “I have no idea where it is,” he admitted, then added, “It’s been gone for so long, I’m sure it’ll never turn up.”

  Deidre turned up the heat. “Gosh, I remember you wore this coat several times when we did things together. In fact, one time I do remember you giving it to Maren when she was cold. I don’t remember the button being missing then.” Before Dave could respond, she added, “Of course, it doesn’t matter now, does it?” She looked at him, and her eyes drooped with sadness. He agreed, and began to reach for the jacket. Deidre pulled it down to her lap.

  “I know where the missing button is, Dave.”

  The blood drained from his face, and Deidre thought for moment he was going to topple from his chair. Then Dave’s expression turned livid and his eyes flashed with anger.

  “What do you mean you know where the missing button is? I told you, I lost it a long time ago. I remember the day. I wore it to class when I was at the university. On the way out of the building, I snagged my sleeve on a handrail. When I got to my car, I noticed the button was missing, and I went back to look for it. A janitor was sweeping the floor, and I asked if he had found it, showed him the others on the sleeve. He said he hadn’t seen it. I suppose somebody picked it up. Like you said, it’s pretty unique.”

  Deidre was shocked at how quickly he fabricated his story, but she noticed a trace of perspiration forming on his top lip.

  “I’m glad you cleared that up, Dave, because I was wondering where this button came from.” She pulled a plastic bag from her pocket and set it on the table. Dave bent over to get a closer look, and sat
bolt upright when he saw the button inside.

  “Where did you find this?” he demanded.

  “Where do you think I found it?” she countered.

  “How the hell do I know where you found it? Are you going to tell me, or should I just take my jacket and leave now?” Dave’s tone had turned belligerent and Deidre was alarmed, fearful he would bolt from the kitchen. Before he could rise from his chair, she quickly shot back.

  “I found it a few feet from Maren’s grave in the woods, the same place you buried her.”

  Dave’s face contorted into a menace. “You didn’t just find it there,” he sneered at her. “You planted it, didn’t you?”

  Deidre kept her cool and in a decidedly collected way stated, “How could I have planted it, Dave? You just told me that you lost the button at UMD, when you were still in school, and there’s only one button missing from the jacket. Your story of losing it occurred months before Maren was murdered. Really, Dave, do you think somebody found the button, saved it until she was strangled, and then months later gave me the button to plant near her grave? That seems a little far fetched, don’t you think, Dave?”

  So far, Deidre was ad libbing wonderfully, her law enforcement training and experience serving her well.

  Dave gritted his teeth. He wasn’t going to go down easily. “I don’t care what lies you’ve rigged up against me, I didn’t do it, and you’ll have a tough time proving otherwise. I’ll say that the buttons were all on the coat when I left it here. Your word against mine.”

  “Well, maybe you’re right, Dave,” Deidre seemed to acquiesce. “I suppose the button isn’t enough, is it? But what about your running shoes? What about the cap that matches the description given by the fisherman who picked you up the night you killed Maren?”

  “What running shoes? What cap?” he asked, a look of puzzlement in his eyes.

  “The ones you left in the storage space you rented when Maren was living with you.”