5 Murder at the High School Reunion

by Steve Demaree

  “Just a moment, please.”

  The receptionist got up from her desk and walked to a nearby door and knocked. A couple of minutes later, she returned, followed by another woman, a well-built, well-dressed woman. One look at her made me wonder if she got her position because she could type, or for other reasons.

  The second woman led us into an office.

  “Have a seat, gentlemen.”

  Lou and I took a seat in front of the desk. The young woman sat down behind it. I continued to look at the bombshell in front of me while we waited for Mr. Goodwin to come in.

  “Well, gentlemen. What can I do for you?”

  “If it’s all the same with you, we’d rather wait for Mr. Goodwin.”

  She laughed.

  “I don’t think my father will be coming.”

  My puzzled look allowed her to embellish.

  “I’m Lee Goodwin. Don’t worry. I get this all the time. Some people don’t expect to find a woman lawyer.”

  “I just assumed that with the name Lee, that Goodwin was a man. You know, like Lee Majors.”

  “Sometimes it’s a woman, like Lee Remick.”

  I realized when I was out of my league and decided to get on with business.

  “Ms. Goodwin, we’re here about Jimmy Conkwright’s will.”

  “Someone from the department has already called about it. We gave him all the information.”

  “Oh, we know that, like who gets what. What I want to know is how the two that inherited reacted when you told them.”

  “I’m not a mind reader, Lieutenant.”

  “But could you tell if either of them seemed to know if they inherited before they arrived?”

  “Not really. Lieutenant, I won’t testify to this in a court of law, but I’ll give you my gut feeling. If either Miss Calvert or Mr. Gibbons knew they were inheriting a lot of money before they showed up, I’d have to call them good actors. I did kind of get the idea from watching them that it was sort of like watching their mother-in-law drive over a cliff in their new car, only in reverse. I don’t think either of them felt saddened by Conkwright’s demise.”

  We talked a little more, but I felt like we’d gotten as much as we were going to get. I thanked her for her time, apologized again for thinking she was a man, and Lou and I got up to leave.

  +++

  As soon as we returned to Lightning and buckled up, Lou turned to me and grinned.

  “What?”

  “Sometimes, Cy, I’m glad I’m not the one who does all the talking.”

  “Lou, could you do me a favor? Could you check with Thelma Lou and see if Lee Goodwin is also her cousin?”

  Lou grinned again.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  It was a little before noon when Lightning eased into the driveway. It was time for lunch and to Google Wyatt Earp. In the past, lunch at my place meant Strombolis, and French fries with lots of gravy, delivered by Antonio’s. I tried to dismiss that thought. Otherwise, there was no way I’d enjoy what I was going to fix us for lunch. Sometimes losing weight is not all it’s cut out to be.

  +++

  Lou and I enjoyed lunch. Conversation made it more palatable. Our conversation consisted of talking about Wii Fit and how much weight we’d lost. Lou had lost close to fifty pounds. I was gaining on him, but from a distance. When I weighed that morning, my Wii Fit told me I’d lost fifteen pounds so far. A long way from fifty, but a beginning. Of course all of that meant that I had to work a little harder getting dressed each morning. I had to yank on my belt until I got to the next notch. I wondered if the Wii would let me count that as strength training.

  +++

  I turned on the computer, and clicked on my favorite of My Favorites, Google. I typed in the words “Wyatt Earp” and Lou and I perused the material. After fifteen minutes of looking, we sat back and silently mulled over what we’d read. When I gave the sign, it was time to compare mental notes.

  “What do you think, Lou?”

  “The only thing I saw that stood out was that after Wyatt Earp left Dodge City, Kansas he moved on to Tombstone, Arizona. I was wondering if we should be looking at someone’s tombstone.”

  “I was thinking the same thing, Lou, and my someone is that Van Meter girl. I hope one of those people we talk to later today is related to her. Maybe they can tell us where she’s from and what brought her to Hilldale. From everything anyone’s telling us, she seemed to appear out of nowhere, and didn’t even live where she said she lived.”

  +++

  I looked at my watch. It was only 2:46. I remembered we couldn’t locate either Van Meter when we tried to call them during the day, so we’d wait until after they got off work to call on them. We had some time to spare, and I came up with a brilliant idea.

  “Hey, Lou, we’ve got some extra time. How about if I Google Jennifer Sharp and see what I can find out about her?”

  “You just want to know what she looks like, Cy. You’ll find out soon enough.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of. I want to be prepared for this. What if she’s as ugly as a one-hundred-year-old outhouse? It won’t look good if I get there and react to it, because she’s so butt ugly. Besides, if she looks okay, it might be better if I can find out what she’s interested in. I could find out, then bone up on her interests, and make a good impression.”

  “Just keep calm, Cy. Tomorrow will be soon enough.”

  “It might be too soon.”

  “You don’t think that Thelma Lou would fix you up with an ugly woman, do you?”

  “Not unless she’s trying to help her cousin’s self esteem, and she thinks I’m butt ugly, too.”

  “Cy, I’ve never thought of you as ugly. Just as someone most women wouldn’t be interested in, and that has nothing to do with your looks.”

  I wasn’t about to ask him what it had to do with. Instead, I thought of ways to get even with Lou in case Cousin Jennifer looked better with a bag over her head.

  +++

  We wiled away the afternoon, then decided to chance it and see if either of the Van Meter families was at home. Lightning seemed eager to leave the house. Was this a good sign, or had my neighbor and her varmint been sticking their tongues out at her, too?

  We arrived at the first of the two Van Meter residences, but saw no cars in the driveway, and no garage. It looked like we were too early, but since we were there, we got out, sidled up to the front door, and knocked. A welcomed blast of cool air hit me in the face as an elderly woman opened the front door.

  I held out my credentials before she could close the door.

  “So, you’re police officers. I don’t have too many policemen calling on me. What can I do for you?”

  “Are you Mrs. Van Meter?”

  “I am. Am I under arrest?” she asked, and then laughed.

  “I’m sorry, but we don’t have enough evidence to arrest you yet, but I do have a question for you. Were you related to Miriam Van Meter?”

  “You said ‘were’ did Cousin Miriam die?” She grabbed the door facing and her jovial manner left her face.

  “The Miriam I’m talking about died a long time ago. Twenty years to be exact. Maybe she was named for your cousin. She was only in high school at the time.”

  Mrs. Van Meter breathed a sigh of relief.

  “I don’t know any other Miriam Van Meters. My cousin lives just outside Pittsburgh. I assume that’s not the same one.”

  “No, this one lived here, died in a car wreck twenty years ago.”

  “I’ve only been here for fifteen years. My husband was transferred here and then died shortly thereafter. I decided not to move back home, although I did give it a lot of thought. I’ve enjoyed it here.”

  “Do you know a Robert Van Meter over on Gimlet Place?”

  “That’s my son. What do you want him for?”

  “Nothing, now that we know he wasn’t related to Miriam, either. We had hoped that we could find some of Miriam’s family.”

  “You waited a
long time to look for them, didn’t you, considering she died twenty years ago?”

  “She wasn’t a motive for murder twenty years ago.”

  “Oh, so that’s it. I thought you said she died in a car wreck.”

  “That’s right! Drunk driver.”

  “Seems like someone’s waited a long time to get revenge.”

  “Probably too long. More than likely her death is a dead end. But we have to check out all of our leads.”

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to help you gentlemen.”

  I thanked Mrs. Van Meter, and Lou and I turned away. On the surface, the two murders didn’t look premeditated, but then there is always the possibility that someone had carried a grudge a long time. At any rate, the line of people who wished Jimmy Conkwright dead was a long one, the line of mourners non-existent.

  +++

  I couldn’t think of anything else to do. I wasn’t through looking at Miriam Van Meter, but any place I needed to check would be closed until Monday. That was okay. Maybe my blind date would keep my mind off the case until then. On Monday morning, I would call Sam, and maybe Lou and I would look for that tombstone. I’d have Sam check out of town possibilities first, then check in Hilldale, in case we were no closer to finding out all about Miriam Van Meter.

  +++

  The Van Meter excursion didn’t take long, so I followed the only lead I had left, another visit with Rose Ellen Calvert.

  “Lieutenant, if you show up any more I might start charging you rent.”

  “Sorry, I just have to clear up something. This won’t take long. Miss Calvert, you said you went to the kitchen only one time. We have a witness that says they saw you coming out of the kitchen after Conkwright and Mrs. Spencer were thrown out for being drunk.”

  “I thought I said I couldn’t remember whether or not I went back to the kitchen. Now that you mention it, I remember going back to the kitchen a second time.”

  “And what was the inspiration for this second trip?”

  “I overheard someone say something about Jimmy and Betty Gail heading toward the parking lot. This was after the guys threw Jimmy out for being drunk. I waited about fifteen minutes, and then I made an excuse of going to the restroom and rushed down to the kitchen to look out the door. I was curious as to whether they’d gotten in their cars and left.”

  “And what did you see when you opened the door?”

  “They were still there, only this time they looked up and saw me watching them. Jimmy Conkwright, who was in a drunken stupor by this time, stumbled toward the school, toward the kitchen door where I was standing. I was scared of what he might do. He was always making smart remarks about me when we were in school. I wondered what he’d do to me if he got me alone, with him being drunk and all. When I saw him heading toward me, I took off running. I didn’t even take time to close the door. On the way out of the kitchen I saw Jim Bob. I bet he’s the one who told you he saw me coming out of the kitchen. I’m sure I was a frightful mess at the time. Anyway, I said, ‘excuse me,’ brushed past him, and hurried back to the cafeteria.”

  “And did Jim Bob Gibbons go into the kitchen to see what frightened you?”

  “I have no idea. I didn’t look back. I was too scared.”

  “Anything else, Miss Calvert?”

  “Only that I was surprised when Jimmy didn’t come charging back into the cafeteria. I guess he was afraid of what the guys would do to him.”

  Lou and I had to put our game faces on when we talked to Rose Ellen Calvert, because we both remembered Silent Lou the last time we visited. On this, our third visit with her, I noticed that from time to time, even though I was the one questioning her, she turned to look at Lou. Maybe she wanted to be looking at him if I happened to mess up. Finally, she could control herself no more, and spoke to Lou.

  “Sir, do you have any questions for me?”

  “Ooga wong bowie zulu dong.”

  She was surprised at the words that sprang from Lou’s mouth. She wasn’t the only one. I refrained from looking at Lou, because I knew if I did I wouldn’t be able to keep a straight face. After a few moments, she turned to me.

  “What did he say?”

  “I assume this means that you don’t speak Swahili.”

  “Swahili? But he’s a white man.”

  “That’s the reason he’s here.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Miss Calvert, this is Little Chief Kabonga. He was supposed to become the Chief of the tribe after the tiger came into the camp, entered their tepee, and ate his father, the Big Chief. But the Witch Doctor of the village wouldn’t allow him to become Chief. See, he was the white sheep of his family, and tribal law says that no white man can become Chief, but must be boiled in a pot instead. After dark, on the day before his pot-boiling experience, his mother put him in a canoe and pushed him downstream, trusting the gods to save him. He fell asleep, and the next thing he remembered was arriving in Jamestown, Virginia. When he arrived there, they asked him his name, and he said, ‘Little Chief Kabonga.’ He spent the next three months in a sanitarium, until the doctors realized that he wasn’t crazy. When he was released and adopted by a white family, all he remembered was that one day he was supposed to be Chief. That’s why today, he’s a cop, and some day he hopes to become Chief of Police.”

  “You are kidding, aren’t you, Lieutenant.”

  “Miss Calvert, we wouldn’t kid about such grave matters. We are merely thankful that Little Chief didn’t see his father being eaten by that tiger.”

  “Are you sure he doesn’t remember?”

  “Very sure, Miss Calvert. He smiled the first time I showed him a box of Frosted Flakes. He would have run or lashed out at that box if he had remembered that terrible night.”

  “I guess he would at that. But do you think he will ever become Chief of Police without knowing the language?”

  “Only God knows what the future holds. But enough about Little Chief. If that is all, Miss Calvert, we have other people to question.”

  “I understand, Lieutenant. I’m sorry to have kept you.”

  +++

  Again, we were able to drive away before bursting into laughter.

  “Cy, I like it when you call me Chief.”

  “I didn’t call you Chief. I called you Little Chief.”

  “But in this country I can become Big Chief.”

  “Lou Murdock, Big Chief of Boloney.”

  “Jealous. By the way, do you think she was dumb enough to believe you?”

  “I hope not. If she was, we might want to scratch her off our list.”

  “Why, Cy? Dumb people commit murders, too.”

  I tried to focus on the case instead of our ruse. Finally, someone had narrowed down the time of the murders, provided Rose Ellen Calvert was telling the truth.

  +++

  Lou and I purposefully saved our leftovers from Burkman’s until dinner, just in case we had something worth talking about. I felt that was finally the case, and since neither of us minded the other talking with his mouth full, we talked all the way through dinner. However, we didn’t wait until dinner to get started. As soon as Lightning lurched off down the street, I opened my mouth.

  “What do you think, Lou?”

  “It looks like one of the nouveau riche is about to be disinherited. At least, it seems like Rose Ellen Calvert or Jim Bob Gibbons had the best opportunity.”

  “Could it be that it was clever of Miss Calvert to turn around Gibbons’ seeing her in the kitchen to where it might incriminate him? Did she wait until the couple gained entrance to the kitchen and shove them into the freezer before she left? Or linger nearby and take advantage of Conkwright entering the freezer on his own?”

  “We know that Conkwright and Mrs. Spencer entered the freezer of their on volition. At least we think they did. That would sound more like a little time elapsed, and Gibbons, who was standing at the kitchen door wondering what scared Miss Calvert, took advantage of the opportunity when Conkwright en
tered the kitchen and walked into the freezer. Of course, maybe neither one of them did it. Maybe a third person came along after both of our suspects had left the area.”

  “Of course, either of the first two could have shut them in the freezer without any intent of killing them. Maybe they told someone else, and told them to go back and let them out after so long a time.”

  “You mean after they had a chance to cool off?”

  “Oh, Lou, you certainly have a way with words.”

  “Remember, I’ve been doing crossword puzzles for years.”

  Lou and I continued to talk about the case, hoping we could make an arrest before 11:00 the next morning, but to no avail. We would pick up the case again on Monday, where we left off that Friday night.

  +++

  An elephant and Cy Dekker never forget, so as soon as I returned from taking Lou home, I headed to the computer to Google Jennifer Sharp.

  Anxiously, I typed in the name Jennifer Sharp. There was a reference to a Facebook page, so I clicked on it. There was a picture. The first thing I noticed was her harelip. The second was her misshapen head. It looked like the doctor had used forceps to remove her from her mother, while in a fit of anger. I had seen the movie The Elephant Man. I’d seen the classic movie Freaks. I’d seen my next-door neighbor. But never had I seen anyone who was as hideous looking as Jennifer Sharp. I looked at her list of Friends. A picture identified Thelma Lou as her cousin, so it had to be the same Jennifer Sharp who would soon make my weekend miserable. If someone had scanned the Internet for the ugliest person alive, they would have ended up with Jennifer Sharp. There was no way I could go through with this date. Maybe if I called Lou and had him Google her, he would understand. Then I remembered. Lou had told me that under no condition was I to Google the woman. Somehow, I had to get even with Lou. I wondered if there was any way I could fix Lou up with my next-door neighbor.

  I thought of ways to get sick. One came to mind immediately, but that one wouldn’t work. That one would happen tomorrow, if I couldn’t get out of the date. I thought of Googling “Desperate Women,” seeing if I could find one that didn’t look too bad. If so, maybe we could find a Justice of the Peace before nightfall, then have the marriage annulled on Monday. Then I remembered that Lou said this woman might be moving to Hilldale. Would it be better to stay married to my Desperate Woman just in case?