The Morelville Mysteries Collection

by Anne Hagan

  The distraught woman raised an eyebrow but she appeared to be unsure what to say. When she didn't speak at all, I called out to the three young boys who were all still in the room and attempting to one up each other with a stranger present to impress. “Can you three boys come over here please?”

  When they gathered to me, I told all four of the Sylvesters present, “I need your help. This dog here,” I held Boo up, “this is Boo.”

  At the sound of her own name, Boo licked my face.

  “She actually ran away one day while she was chasing after a cat. Her owner couldn't catch her and has been looking for her ever since. She really loves Boo very much and she wants her back.”

  “She can't have her!” one of the two smaller boys piped up. “Dad says she's our dog now. We got her fair and square.”

  As I marveled at six or seven year old logic, the smallest boy echoed his older brother, “Yeah, fair and square!”

  “I see,” I told them. “I have an idea; how about a trade?”

  “A trade for what?” their self-elected spokesperson asked.

  “Why, another puppy, of course. Not a terrier but...”

  “Ms.,” Mrs. Sylvester interrupted, “if the dog belongs to someone else, just take it.”

  “No mama!” the tallest boy cried out. “She’s our Christmas; dad said so!”

  She looked at me, her eyes pleading, “We can’t afford to feed a dog right now anyway,” she whispered. “I lost my job and it’s even tighter since Louis lost the job caring for the dogs.”

  “Don't you worry ma'am; I thought of all of that. If you'll excuse me for just a moment?”

  I let myself out the door, went to my truck and, after shouldering the bag of feed, I picked up the carrier with the pup and toted everything back to the door. I set the feed sack down and let myself back in with the carrier. The three boys and Boo all crowded around, anxious to see what was in the carrier. I opened it and carefully removed the puppy then knelt on the floor but kept a hold of her.

  “This little girl,” I told the four of them, “is a pug. My friend next door had one of these when we were growing up.” I looked up at their mother, “They're very family friendly and, though they'd eat all day if you'd let them, they only need a cup of food a day or so while they're small. That sack I set on the porch should last you a while.”

  Mrs. Sylvester clapped a hand over her mouth. I looked away to give her a minute to compose herself as I saw tears dot the corners of her eyes.

  “Boys, I'me going to switch them, okay? I'm going to set the pug down and let her sniff around a little bit and I'm going to pick Boo up.” Two of them nodded and they all three watched closely.

  I scooped the curious Boo up in one hand and set the pug down with the other, then I stood up. Boo writhed around a little bit, wanting back on the floor to meet the puppy but I thought it best that the pup get to explore on her own and not expect Boo to be there.

  “Let her check things out, boys,” I said.

  The pug wasted no time. She sniffed each person in the room and then scampered about sniffing at this and that. Soon she was back to the boys and weaving circles around them.”

  “Can we keep her mom?” the youngest boy asked.

  “Oh, I don't know.” Mrs. Sylvester looked at me. “There's no way I could possibly pay for her...”

  “No, no. There's no payment needed, that is, as long as we have a deal on the trade?”

  “Boys? What do you say?” their mother asked them.

  “It's a deal,” the middle son called out.

  “Hey! you don't get to say,” the oldest boy griped back at his brother. “We should vote or something.”

  “Who doesn't want the dog?” I asked them. As I said it, I looked at their mom. She didn't make a sound. None of the boys responded either.

  “Who does want her?”

  “Me!” all three boys shouted. The little pug puppy ran around in crazy circles while the three brothers laughed.

  “Hey,” asked the middle boy, “what are we going to name it?”

  “Don't say 'it', it's a 'her'” his bigger brother scolded him.”

  “What were you calling Boo, here?” I asked them.

  “Dad was calling her Rags, the oldest boy told me. “He gave her that name before he even brought her home.”

  “You don't like that name?”

  “Nope.”

  “You know, you don't have to name her right away. You could just watch her for a while and see what she's like and then pick a name for her that fits, that you all like.”

  While he began to ponder that, his mother chimed in, “I think we should call her 'Joy'.”

  “Joy, mama? Why?”

  “Because look at her running around and having fun and,” turning to me she said, “and look at the looks on the boys' faces. That's joy!” She smiled at her eldest son, “What do you think?”

  “I like it just fine.” His other brothers thought it was a good name too.

  “Then Joy it is,” I announced.

  Chapter 22 – Bar Bash

  Tuesday Evening, December 23rd, 2014

  The Boar’s Head Bar & Grill

  “Hey babe, I'm up here at The Boar's Head with Holly and Shane. Janet will probably stop by too. Why don't you come on up and have a drink with us and help us celebrate a little?”

  “What are you celebrating?” Dana's question came back across the phone.

  “Closing out some big cases, and ending the year on, hopefully, a high note.”

  “Sounds good but your sister's over here right now. I'm helping her wrap gifts for the kids away from their prying eyes.”

  “Bring her along. I'm sure she could use the break.”

  By the time Dana and Kris arrived 20 minutes later, the party was in full swing. Gates had come and brought his fiancé and even Joe Treadway showed with his wife on his arm. Some of my other deputies that weren't on duty for the evening came too.

  Dana bussed me on the cheek as she sat down. “Wow, It's a little busy in here for a Tuesday night. Does everyone here work for you?”

  “Almost, babe, almost.”

  “So, you were able to nail your collars for all the burglaries, I take it?”

  “Not quite; there's been a new wrinkle, but they'll be sitting in jail for the next few days and no threat to anyone else having some holiday fun.”

  Barb Wysocki, the owner, came over to the table. “Dana, it's so nice to see you,” she said. “Where have you been keeping yourself?”

  “You know that now that mama's done decorating your house, she's been working on the store right?” At Barb's nod, she continued, “She opened Saturday.”

  “Really? That's great! I'm going to have to get over there and talk to her and see what kind of deals we can work out between us.”

  I looked at Barb, “Why are you working here tonight anyway? It's Tuesday."

  “Casey needed the night off for a family thing so you're stuck with me tonight.” We all laughed. “Mel, Holly, refills?” Barb asked me.

  “Naw, I'm good for now,” I told her but Holly raised her nearly empty glass.

  “Same thing,” she said.

  Dana and Kris placed their orders and Barb went over to the bar to fill them.

  When the door swung open while we were waiting and Janet Mason walked in, I signaled to catch her attention. She sauntered over, looking around all the while.

  “Have a seat. Janet, you know my wife Dana. This is my sister Kris.”

  As she sat down, she stuck her hand out to my sister, “Nice to meet you Kris.” Mason looked at her and then at me and then back at her. “Hey, wait a minute!”

  The three of us laughed.

  “You're pretty quick,” Kris said. “Not everyone picks up on it right away since we wear our hair different and all.”

  “She's a detective; she better be quick,” I told my twin.

  “How are you liking it working with Mel, so far?” Kris asked her.

  Janet had
a coughing spell as she tried to respond. “It's...um...fine,” she rasped.

  “Are you all right? It doesn't sound like it's been fine.” Kris shot me a look.

  “We got off to a bit of a rocky start,” I told my sister, “but everything's good now.”

  Janet, still not able to talk, smiled at me saying 'thanks' with her eyes.

  “Okay, here we go,” Barb said, as she placed a beer in front of Dana and then a daiquiri in front of my sister. “And, you've added another I see.”

  “Barb, this is Janet. Janet, Barb owns this place now and she's done an amazing job cleaning it up. It used to be a real pit and responsible for a lot of our evening and weekend business.”

  “I was admiring it when I came in; very nice.”

  “ Well thanks! So you're a deputy too?” Barb asked Janet.

  “Detective. I've only been with the department a couple of weeks...moved back home from Indiana. I grew up here in Zanesville.”

  “What's your last name?”

  “Mason. Yours?”

  “I'm back to using Wysocki...what everyone knows me by around here. Where did you go to school Janet Mason?”

  “I went to Zanesville and to COTC after that.”

  “Hmm. Well, I'm sorry I'm being so nosy but you look so familiar to me,” Barb told her.

  “You look familiar to me too.”

  “Ahem,” I cleared my throat. “I hate to break up this game of 20 questions but I think those guys over there are trying to get your attention Barb.” I pointed to a group of guys that had come in and took up residence a couple of tables over.

  She looked in the direction I was pointing and then turned quickly back to Janet, “What can I get you to drink hon?”

  “Whatever's light on draft.”

  “Be right back.”

  Barb moved over to the table of guys and spent a couple of minutes talking with them and taking their orders. She returned shortly and placed Janet's draft down, telling her, “I'm not done quizzing you yet.”

  She continued over to deliver two pitchers and a round of shots to the table of men and hung there for another minute as they talked with her some more. I watched, curious as she looked our way, laughed and looked back at the guys. I concentrated hard in the din of conversation, jukebox music and pool balls clacking and I heard her laughingly tell them, “I don't think you want to do that...it's a table of mostly married women and all but one are cops but, I'll ask them if you want.”

  A protest rose up from the table and I chuckled as Barb sidled back over to us.

  “Ladies,” she said, her back to the other table, “you almost had a round of drinks on them but right now they're over there playing a game of 'who's not the cop.”

  “Technically,” Dana put in, “two of us aren't.”

  “Oh honey,” Barb replied, “you may not be serving right now but everything about you screams cop.”

  I tipped my head just slightly toward Holly who was on my left and said to Barb, “Maybe they should be playing a game of who's the only one who’s both straight and single.”

  “Is that right?” Barb asked, her eyes on Janet.

  An hour later, Dana, who turned out to be a real pool shark, and I had mopped the barroom floor with first the team of Kris and Holly and then Shane and Joe. I was looking around to see if anyone else felt like taking a beating when Holly said, “Look who's getting cozy over at the bar.”

  I turned that way in time to see Barb walking away from the end where Janet sat, laughing at something that had transpired between them, I smiled too.

  My wife came up beside me and nudged me, “What's got you grinning over here?” She looked in the direction I was looking.

  We watched as Barb handed a beer across to a customer, took his money and put it in the till and then moved right back to Janet.

  “That could work,” I said. “They both need somebody new in their lives.”

  “I'll be surprised if it goes beyond a night of casual conversation,” Dana replied. “Barb is still grieving badly over Lisa's death.”

  “And Janet is living her grieving over the loss of what her mother once was and will never be again. They could help each other through their grief.”

  Chapter 23 – Re-Boo-t

  Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24th, 2015

  “Why are you here? Aren’t you traveling to spend the holiday with your folks? You need to get on out of here.”

  “I’m working till noon boss lady and then I’m taking a leisurely drive to Lexington. Traffic shouldn’t be too bad headed south.” Holly apprised my desk with a critical eye. “What’s all this stuff?”

  “Just trying to tie up a few loose ends today while it’s quiet. Family festivities don’t start for us until church at 7:00.”

  “What do you all have lined up after that?”

  “Tonight, thankfully, nothing. It’ll be just me and Dana and a little surprise I picked up for her yesterday and left with her mother. They’re staying out at my folks place.”

  “What did you do?” Her look went from critical to suspicious.

  “It’s a secret.” I gave my longtime friend my best devious grin.

  “Fine, don’t tell me.” Her tone said, 'you better tell me right now!'

  I caved, “I found her dog. The Sylvester family had it.”

  “Don’t tell me you went over there and got it?”

  “Let’s just say I made them a trade, fair and square.”

  ###

  “The service was very nice,” Dana was saying, “and I had no idea Cole could sing like that. I was shocked.”

  “You? It was a surprise to us all, trust me.”

  My wife smiled at me from across the table. “It was nice having my parents and your family there together too. I'm glad our parents get along well.”

  “Mmm,” I nodded and patted my belly. “I’m already getting full. Hannah and your mama are quite the team. In fact, put anybody and your mother in a kitchen together and good stuff is going to result.”

  “Mel!” Dana swatted a hand toward me. “That’s hardly fair to Hannah. She’s going to be an amazing chef.”

  I shook my head no. “I look for her to open her own bakery one day. That’s where her heart really is. Had there been a pastry school closer to here, she’d have gone to one of those instead of culinary school.”

  “I miss seeing her. She’s been so busy lately between work and school.”

  “Well get your fill to hold you for a while tomorrow. Mom invited her out for the day when she heard her say she wasn’t going to go and see her folks.” I speared another bite and stuffed it in. The food was too good to let go to waste even if I was feeling the burn.

  “She’s not going to be with them for Christmas? I hardly think she’d be unwelcome. I don’t know her mother but I know Silas and he just doesn’t seem the type to turn a child out.”

  “I can’t answer to that. We’re only getting her side of the story.”

  “Hey, not to change the subject, but speaking of stories, you said last night at the bar that you’d fill me in on the burglary case later.”

  “I did, didn’t I?”

  “Mel, stop stalling. You know it’s killing me to know. I have to admit, other than not getting Boo back after all, at the end, I was in the zone out there. I didn’t think I’d miss the work so much, but I do. Don’t get me wrong; I’m enjoying writing and even helping Mama out with the store, but there’s...there’s just something missing. I think it’s the actual ‘doing’ side of things as opposed to just writing about them.”

  I leaned across the table toward her and asked her seriously, “Do you want to try to set up private practice, maybe after the first of the year? I know you shot down the idea before, but...”

  “Honestly? I don’t know. I thought, with my leg, I couldn’t do the things I'd have to do but being out there Monday showed me that maybe I can.” She was thoughtful for a minute. “If I did it, I’d lose my disability...”

  �
�Honey, we’re not hurting for money. Most of your settlement is still in the bank and I’m still working. No matter how much we have banked, I don’t plan on quitting anytime soon.”

  Dana sighed, “I’ll give it some thought, I suppose, but not right now. Right now,” she pointed her fork at me, “I want to hear what went down in the aftermath of our take-down on Monday.”

  “Okay, okay! I don’t even know where to start so let me give you a little background, fair?”

  “Shoot.”

  “Pearson is a small-time criminal that’s been on our radar around here for a while. When we first figured out what was going on, thanks to you, we focused a bit more on him, even know we knew they were working out of Emery’s house.”

  “Makes sense; he was the known quantity,” Dana put in.

  “Exactly. But, once we had them both in custody Dana, he literally knew nothing. We couldn't shake him from his story. For his part, he couldn’t deny his involvement and he copped to doing some of the driving, lifting and dog-napping, but he had few real details and we knew he wasn’t just playing dumb. Then, the DA informed us yesterday morning that both men would be arraigned in the afternoon and, since they'd lawyered up, they'd likely be freed on bond. We knew they wouldn’t stick around so we knew we had to nail them quick.”

  “Now, let me back up for the background,” I told her, continuing, “Wayne Emery is from the Cleveland area. He moved down here to start over, apparently, after getting charged up there for running an illegal breeding operation.”

  “A puppy mill?”

  “Yes and no. It wasn't over breeding dogs per se. He just wasn't doing anything on the books. It was all under the table and he got caught. Animal welfare took his dogs...some very high dollar dogs.”

  “Oh...wow...do you think he was trying to start a breeding operation here?”

  “That, we're not sure about. We know he did sell some dogs and you found out what he tried to get Silas Yoder to do for him yourself. He may have been looking for breeding stock to start all over down here or just to make a quick buck; who knows?”