Nothing Done in Secret

by Scott Edwards

  Another matter drew people to De la Peña’s table. The pub sponsored its own softball team in a Segovia City league and news of De la Peña’s performance in the morning’s game at the Spring Festival had reached its Saturday night regulars. Those who had watched wanted to relive De la Peña’s exciting plays in the field and at bat. De la Peña happily accommodated them. Before the night was through, he was drafted to play left field for Whelan’s Celtics - pronounced with a hard ‘C.’

  * * *

  De la Peña was snoozing soundly and would continue to do so for two more hours when Moffat and Allison set the table for breakfast in the sun-drenched deck at the back of the house at the vineyard. In the center of the round table, next to a thermos pitcher of coffee, Allison placed a crystal bowl of colorful sliced fresh fruit. She and her father took their seats and watched Jean come from the kitchen with a large bacon, avocado and tomato quiche.

  “Maybe you won’t be so preoccupied this morning now that you’ve solved both cases,” she said, serving a slice of quiche to Moffat “I prefer that you concentrate on my cooking rather than murder.”

  “Oh, Mom,” Allison said, “I think he planned the whole thing for my benefit. I’m the only girl I know whose father can stage a real murder mystery weekend for her.”

  “I can’t promise this for every visit.” Moffat laughed then gazed at the same view from the previous morning. It was more enjoyable today. He exhaled, feeling a wave of relaxation. He took the first bite of the quiche. It was delicious.

  “Your father and Jason are going running this morning. What shall we do, Allison?” Jean asked.

  Moffat held up a finger, took a sip of coffee then said “You could go horseback riding.” Apparently it was the old man’s best idea in months.

  * * *

  While De la Peña and Moffat were midway though a 10K run from the outskirts of Segovia across the Calaveras River on a trail winding in and out of oak groves, Dr. Lisa McDonald worked with her staff to identify the human remains that had been arriving in her laboratory since Friday from Wyman Buck’s remote ranch. When they saw the bones sticking up from the mud in Buck’s drained pond an overwhelming curiosity seized McDonald and her three assistants. Lisa knew families scattered around the United States were waiting anxiously for the results of her analysis. Her staff responded to her offer of “unpaid overtime” and reported to work at 7:00 a.m. Saturday and again on Sunday. Officer Melissa Peake joined them both days and was put to work trying to locate dental records of all the women on Moffat’s list. Other police investigators leapt at the opportunity to close out some of their most frustrating missing persons cases. More records were hand delivered from as far away as the Bay Area and Las Vegas. McDonald’s staff performed DNA analysis as well in anticipation of the need to confirm dental identification or in some cases, identify the person through DNA alone. By Sunday afternoon, the forensic investigators had identified five of the nine individuals whose remains had so far been recovered. Amy Elaine Price, the subject of the letter to the editor that Raymond Sato pulled from the files on May 14th, was the second person to be identified as one of Wyman Buck’s victims. McDonald prepared a draft memorandum she would send to Moffat Monday morning. So far they had identified:

  Beth Murray 1980

  Colleen Burns 1986

  Christine Shaw 1989

  Mindy Rice 1995

  Amy Price 2003

  Early tomorrow she would update the memo with whatever information her staff managed to gather in the remaining hours of the weekend.

  At five, McDonald left her office and returned home to get ready for the Segovia County Public Service Awards Banquet that would begin in two hours.

  * * *

  Moffat was not overly fond of banquets but, like the Spring Festival Softball game, the Segovia Public Service Awards Dinner came just once a year. Chief Halvorsen was being honored with the Ernest Houston Award for Excellence in Management, named for the mid-century public servant whose widow provided the endowment to fund the banquet. Moffat did not want to miss that. He knew also that Jean enjoyed these events. She was in a very good mood and looked spectacular in an ice blue Donna Karan gown. At 6:40 Sunday evening, Alexander and Jean left for the Community Auditorium and Allison set off for Sacramento. Fifteen minutes later, Moffat drove the Highlander to the main entrance. Handing his key to the young valet, he took Jean’s arm and they walked into the outer room of the banquet hall where they met George Doyle and the honoree Halvorsen himself.

  “Here he is Doyle,” Halvorsen shouted. “The man who made the streets of Segovia County safe. Sure he spent 1500 man hours and demolished the budget but he managed to lock up two of the most dangerous seventy five year old grandmothers you could ever come across.”

  “Magnificent work, Moffat,” Doyle grinned, shaking Moffat’s hand and hugging him at the same time. He turned to Jean. “Careful, dear. Don’t laugh. He may slap the cuffs on you next. There’s no telling what this dynamo will do.”

  Jean greeted the current Mrs. Doyle and the current Mrs. Halvorsen and the six walked together to the dining room. Doyle excused himself to sit with his county government department heads at the table front and center. Moffat and Jean followed Halvorsen to the table reserved for the police captains, their spouses and Mrs. Grubb. Jean and Evelyn acted as though they hadn’t just spent much of Friday and Saturday together. They hugged and whispered, nodding and smiling. Jean glanced at Moffat with a curious look. Then, with the noise of a hundred and fifty voices in the background, Halvorsen pulled Moffat several feet away from the others.

  “I’ve got a proposition for you Alex.” Moffat turned his gaze to the Chief’s face. Halvorsen gulped, a slight slip of his usual composure. “Where do I start? I’ve spoken to Judge Scholz and District Attorney Evans again. Jamison’s lawyer contacted them with an unusual request. At her age and state of health, she doesn’t seem to care so much about what happens to her. Her big concern is the well being of her grandson. She’s asking - and I think it’s an excellent idea - for you to become the boy’s guardian.”

  Moffat froze. Staring at the Chief, he replayed his words in his mind, making sure he had understood. “They can’t be serious. Why me? I’ll have to give evidence against her.”

  “Well, no. There won’t be a trial. She’s going to plead guilty. What can I say? You made a good impression on her. You nailed her on a 36-year-old crime but she still likes you. And respects you.”

  “So Jean and I are part of the plea bargain?”

  “Look, Alex. You’re still young. It’s only for a couple of years and then he goes off to college. Think about it, won’t you?”

  Think about it. Moffat repeated the words in his mind. The Chief acted like it was the most routine of suggestions--that a homicide investigator take in the ward of an accused killer. “I’ll have to talk to Jean. This will take a lot of thought.”

  Halvorsen smiled. “Yes, well, Jean’s already in favor of the idea. While you were off running around the mountain I had Evelyn phone her. I think the boy and his situation aroused her maternal instinct. But you think about it.”

  Moffat began to move back toward the table. Halvorsen had regained his usual sense of personal power. He grasped Moffat’s shoulder, halting his progress. “I’ll help you work it out. Let’s look. What are the pros and cons?”

  Moffat smiled. After six months and especially these last two weeks, he found it remarkable that this town could still surprise him. The most powerful members of the county government had decided what was best for those involved in the matter and laws, regulations and people’s arms would be twisted to accomplish their plans. Yet, it didn’t anger him. Segovia County’s unusual, paternalistic approach to this and other problems was heartwarming in its own way. So what are the pros and cons, he thought. The strongest argument in favor of the proposal was that it would assuage his guilt over being the force behind Aaron’s current predicament. On Friday night, when he understood how the pursuit of the truth would
play out, he almost felt it would have been better to let the two ladies get away with their crimes rather than cause Aaron’s life to fall apart so soon after it seemed to be on solid footing.

  Halvorsen watched Moffat deep in thought and chuckled. “I know what you’re thinking. It’s the sad part of this whole business. I guess I’m trying to get you to ease my conscience.”

  Moffat thought about it. The idea did appeal to him. Why not? He had grown to like the boy through their interactions. Aaron didn’t seem like he would present the typical challenges of a teenager. Certainly not the headaches Allison gave them in her early teen years. Then he laughed. “I’ve thought of a downside. He’s almost sixteen. I’d have to teach him to drive. I haven’t gotten over Allison’s lessons yet.”

  A broad smile spread across the Chief’s face. “Don’t worry about that, Alex. I have a feeling De la Peña or Fat will volunteer to carry out that assignment.” They started back toward the table. Halvorsen said, “I’ll tell Jamison’s lawyer you’ll consider it. Judge Scholz will talk to the boy’s mother as soon as she gets back from her cruise. I think it could work out.”

  Moffat sat next to Jean. He smiled and squeezed her hand. They were immediately engaged in the lively conversation of the table. An hour later, after a filet mignon dinner and an uproarious presentation and acceptance of the Ernest Houston Management Excellence Award, the band began to play. The third song was Oye Como Va. Jean and Alex, trophy winners in the Cha Cha from twenty years ago, moved quickly to the dance floor.

  Jean gave Moffat a sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry I didn’t warn you, dear. They made me promise. Halvorsen said it was the kind of thing for a ‘man-to-man’ talk.”

  “I don’t mind. He likes to get his way and he does mean well. Let’s go home and talk it through.”

  ~ ~ ~

  CHAPTER 75

  Final Words

  On May 26, Tashara gave birth to an enormous baby boy, 22 inches and 11 pounds 14 ounces. Name: Jason Joshua Travis.

  In the following days and weeks, other consequences of the two cases played out.

  Moffat took the owner of DoggieAncestory.com to the lunch he was promised by Dr. McDonald. Brandon Fat joined them.

  Cristina Melanakos received the Distinguished Service Award for her undercover work that led to the arrest of the drug dealers within the Miner’s Flat High School student body and, more importantly, their suppliers. She transferred soon after to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

  Scott Conti pled guilty, cooperated with prosecutors and received a suspended sentence. His college plans were de-railed. His parents would enroll him at Segovia Community College for a two-year program with the hopes of transferring him to a big name school later, probably one where money counted for more than qualifications. These ideas went through Nicholas Conti’s mind following the judge’s sentencing.

  The bodies identified from Buck’s ranch exceeded Moffat’s expectation. In all, 11 Segovia cases were closed--including Nicole Davies assault, the rape and the indecent exposure--and one from Inyo County. The remains were turned over to the next of kin. At least their loved ones gained closure, Moffat supposed, but he thought that it would not help much. He preferred to think about the lives saved by stopping Buck, he hoped, for good. Unfortunately, there was still no trace of Wyman Buck, dead or alive.

  The Ledger Dispatch published exclusive stories on Moffat’s investigation of Buck’s crimes and the Gillis/Smith murders. The former, naturally, received the most attention. It was picked up by newspapers all over the country, including Moffat’s hometown Sacramento Bee. This led to phone calls from Moffat’s old friends on or retirees from the Sacramento Police Department. A recurring joke was that Moffat was a magnet for serial killers. Moffat hoped this was the last one he would encounter.

  Kim McLean, the 32-year-old undercover police officer loaned to Segovia to bait the trap for Wyman Buck, returned to the Sonora Sheriff’s Department with a commendation from Halvorsen and a big IOU from him to her Sheriff.

  On the subject of Aaron, Moffat and Jean found they didn’t have much more to talk about Sunday night after the banquet. They both liked the idea. On Monday, Allison and Jean talked about it by phone straight through Allison’s lunch hour and for another forty-five minutes in the evening. Allison had had the same reaction as Jean to Aaron’s life story and seeing him at the refreshment tent in such distress so soon after meeting him at the PFLAG booth when he was so happy - it tugged at her heart too. She thought that taking in this boy would do her mother some good. Allison knew her mother was an excellent businesswoman but she had even more respect for her as a parent. Even if the old man worked too many long hours, she knew her mother would succeed in giving Aaron the parenting he would need as he finished growing up. Allison also agreed that she would take a role as well, although she claimed to be a “spoiled only child” and would need some time to adjust.

  When Dawn Miller returned from her cruise - the best and only real vacation of her life - she was confronted with a startling turnaround. The judge talked to her again, the same one who had persuaded her to turn over custody of Aaron to his grandmother. This time it was to be to a couple of strangers. She wasn’t so sure about it. Then she met Jean and spent an afternoon at the house.

  Dawn talked to Aaron that night. She told him about Jean and said she was so nice Dawn would like to be adopted along with him. Dawn told Aaron that her own mother hadn’t done such a great job with her and that she knew she hadn’t been the best mother for Aaron. Maybe Jean could straighten us both out, she told him. These words made Aaron so sad that turned away and couldn’t speak for a few minutes. Eventually he agreed to do what his mother and grandmother wanted.

  It was determined that Aaron would move in with Alex and Jean in a few days, as soon as Dr. Zielinski thought he had progressed enough in the grieving process. Aaron was glad to have the summer to get used to the “big city” of Segovia before he had to face the prospect of starting a new school. He laughed at himself thinking that after what he had done and what had happened to him at Miner’s Flat High School, he couldn’t have withstood the embarrassment of going back there in the fall. There’s only so much you can pretend to suck up and still face the world. That day at the Festival was more than he felt he could live down. People must think the whole family is crazy. Anyway, he could start all over at Kennedy High. It’s hard to make new friends but it beat the alternative. Besides, somebody had said something about him learning to drive. Ever the optimist, Aaron soon began to look forward to his move.

  * * *

  Having found a home for Aaron, Chief Halvorsen looked to his other “pet” project. He was determined to find families for the dogs the police had liberated from Buck’s kennels. They were now at the Segovia Animal Shelter and had created a temporary glut of dogs for adoption, threatening the resources of the tiny operation. Officers Fat, Peake and even Schoenberg, but not Lang, each ended up with a curly haired pup, as did Doyle and a dozen other members of the county administration. Moffat escaped the fate of schnauzer owner, but not because he had taken in Aaron. Loraine’s poodle Cocoa came with the teenager. Moffat told the chief that was enough to ask of the Moffat household.

  # # #

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