'What happened to them?'
'They moved away. At their time of life, they had to leave that beautiful farm and move away.' She shook her head sadly, her mind full of the cruel injustices that lie in wait around every corner.
'Did you know they gave, or sold, the farm to Jason?'
She sat up straight faster than if Evan had goosed her. 'Well I never knew that. Some source of local information I turned out to be.'
'I went to the County Recorder's office and looked it up. That's where I start to get confused.'
'I don't understand.'
'The records show the last transfer was from George and Mary to Jason. There's nothing after that.'
'So?'
'The man who lives there now is called Carl Hendricks.'
A slight frown creased her forehead. 'That name rings a bell.'
Evan explained briefly about the case he was working on and Hendricks' job as the school bus driver.
'I missed all that,' Audrey said. 'I retired right around then and went on a six month world cruise. I'd always wanted to go. I vaguely remember hearing things when I got back but it had all died down.'
'None of that is really why I wanted to talk to you. It's just that I went out to Hendricks' place and ended up thinking how come he was living there. The place must be worth millions. Tom thought you might know.'
'I can't help you I'm afraid. I didn't even know Saunders came back.'
'Tom suggested that Saunders might have changed his name to Hendricks. That makes sense after what you've just told me about his past.'
'But there's no way on earth he'd have got the job as a school bus driver with a criminal record like that.'
'You're right. It can't be the same person and I'm back where I started.' A flashback of what happened after he found himself back at square one with Barbara crossed his mind. He stood up to go.
'Even so, it's worth checking to make sure. Have you got a picture of Hendricks?'
Evan said that hadn't but he could get one.
'Don't bother; I know where I can get one of Saunders. I'll email a copy to you.'
Evan gave her his email address. He was pleased he'd kept his face under control and not looked too surprised when she'd said she would email him.
'I feel so sorry for his parents,' she said again at the door. 'It's totally beyond me how their son could turn out so bad when you think how well their daughter did for herself.'
'Their daughter?'
'Yes. Didn't you know. They had a daughter called Brenda. A lovely girl.'
Evan didn't know how he was supposed to have known. And whilst it was nice to hear that Brenda was a lovely girl and had done so well for herself, it didn’t have any bearing on anything he was interested in. She wasn't living at the farm now. But he ought to show some interest to be polite.
'What did she end up doing?'
'She married the future Chief of Police, Matt Faulkner.'
CHAPTER 30
'Are you feeling okay?' Audrey asked. 'You look like you've seen a ghost.'
'I'm fine - just surprised.’ He was anything but fine. ‘I've talked to Matt Faulkner quite a lot recently and he never mentioned that his wife grew up in the house Carl Hendricks lives in.'
'Is that so unusual?'
'I think so. I specifically remember asking him how come Hendricks ended up living in such a big place - he said he had no idea.'
His mind was racing with the possibilities that were now opening up. 'We'd talked briefly about his wife...you'd have thought he'd say I don't know, but that's the house my wife grew up in. We actually stood together and looked at a photo of her standing in front of the barns. Why wouldn't you mention such a massive coincidence? The fact that he didn't is suspicious, as far as I'm concerned.'
'I'm sure there's a perfectly good reason. Matt's a good man.'
Evan wasn't really listening to her platitudes. 'There must be a reason he didn't want to make the connection. If that house was in his wife's family all those years, it's just not possible he doesn't know what happened to it after they moved away.'
'His wife would have known for sure,' Audrey agreed. 'Her brother had just come back to town and was living in the family home. Even if they weren't close, she would know if he sold it to this Carl Hendricks.'
'Or if he was still living there but under a different name. And if she knew, Faulkner knew. She couldn't keep something like that from her husband.'
He couldn't believe Faulkner had deceived him so badly. 'What all this means is that Faulkner knows for sure whether Jason Saunders and Carl Hendricks are the same person.'
As he said it, something went off in Evan's brain. Audrey saw it in his face. 'What is it?
He couldn't believe he hadn't made the connection before. 'Faulkner took me to a bar a few nights ago. That's when this happened.' He pointed to his face.
'Nice places he takes you. I didn't like to ask what happened.'
Evan wasn't really listening to her. 'We were talking about Hendricks and he said Jason. I'm sure of it. He passed it off saying I misheard him because the music was too loud. I'd completely forgotten. Probably because of this.' He pointed to his face again.
'What happened?' She was peering closely at his face now that the topic was up for discussion.
'I was attacked in the parking lot. The guy broke my nose and bit off a piece of my ear as well as kicking me in the...you get the picture. I've been worrying about the guy ever since and obviously buried everything else.'
'All this,' Audrey said, warming to the theme, 'suggests that they are the same person and he doesn't want you to know.'
'Exactly. If Saunders sold the house to Hendricks, what's to hide? But if Saunders became Hendricks that means Carl Hendricks is...'
'Matt Faulkner's brother-in-law.'
'And that's something he's hoping to keep quiet.'
They were both quiet for a moment as their words sank in. As far as Evan could see, there were no innocent explanations for Faulkner wanting to keep it a secret.
'It could just be that Matt doesn't want any association with Hendricks,' Audrey said. 'After all, if he is Jason Saunders, he's a bit of a scumbag.'
Evan was shocked. Old ladies didn't use language like that. He gave her a reproachful look.
'Don't be such a prude,' she said, poking him gently in the ribs. 'Anyway, it makes sense that the ex-Chief of Police wouldn't want to be connected to a criminal. And now his wife's dead, there's no reason to be.'
Evan was far from convinced. In his mind the possible explanations were much more sinister.
'It could also be that he was protecting and covering up for Hendricks.'
She sighed. 'I suppose it's your job to have a suspicious mind. Myself, I just can't believe it. He was the best Police Chief this town ever had.'
Evan knew he had a very uncomfortable conversation with Faulkner coming up. He felt slightly nauseous thinking about it. If it was true, it could blow Faulkner's whole reputation out of the water.
'I'm going to have to ask him about it, but before I do I'd like to have my facts straight. It's got to be one hundred percent. I need that photograph of Saunders as soon as possible.'
'I'll get right on it.’ She gave him a playful shove. ‘Cheer up; you've got a face like a smacked arse, as my dear old husband used to say. That was before he buggered off - another favorite phrase of his - back to England.'
At least her language brought a grin to his face. Unfortunately it didn't change the ominous feeling that he'd bitten off a lot more than he could chew.
CHAPTER 31
One positive thing to come out of the day's revelations was that he didn't need to schlep half way across the county to the District Court and spend hours trawling through the change of name records. All the evidence pointed towards it being true and as soon as he got Audrey's email he would know for sure.
He wished he was a bit more tech savvy so that he could get his emails on his phone, but he'd only just got the hang of
texting. He'd have to go to the office to get it. A thought suddenly crossed his mind. He stopped and turned the car around and headed back the other way towards Faulkner's trailer park.
He parked outside Faulkner's trailer and tried the door but it was locked so he walked across to the neighbor's trailer. He could hear the sound of the TV from inside; it sounded like a football game.
Briggs came to the door. He had a beer can in his hand and scowled when he saw who it was.
'You again,' he said, looking back at the TV. Evan could see a stack of empty cans on the floor next to his chair. There was a smell coming out of the trailer like the catbox had caught on fire.
'Yes, me again.'
'What do you want? I'm watching the game.' He belched loudly. And your address, Sir?
'I'm heading over to visit Faulkner. I thought you might like to come along. Being such good neighbors and all.'
Briggs looked at him like he was deranged. 'I told you, I'm watching the game.'
Evan tried to peer round him into the trailer. 'Doesn't look like your wife is in.'
'She's gone to see a movie with her sister.' He belched again and Evan enjoyed the smell of second-hand beer. 'Terminator two hundred and twenty-five or something. She loves all that shit.'
'You're more of a Bridges of Madison County man, are you? See yourself as a bit of a romantic Clint Eastwood type. Brokeback Mountain perhaps?'
Briggs looked at him like he was something unpleasant on the bottom of his shoe. For a second Evan thought he was going to take a swing at him. 'Give my regards to Matt. Wish him better.' He started to close the door.
Evan put his hand on the door. 'I want to take him some of his things. Can you let me in?'
'Jesus Christ. All I want to do is watch the game in peace. Is that too much too ask for?'
He disappeared back into the trailer and came back with the big bunch of keys. 'Here, let yourself in. Don't forget to lock up again when you're done.' He threw the keys to Evan and closed the door in his face.
Evan found the right key after a few tries and let himself in. He didn't feel guilty in the slightest about misleading Briggs. He certainly didn't feel guilty about nosing around in Faulkner's home behind his back - not after the duplicitous way in which Faulkner had treated him.
He knew exactly what he was after. He went into the kitchen and over to where the photographs were tacked to the wall, and pulled off the one of his wife with her parents outside a barn - a barn he now knew was sitting on Carl Hendricks's property.
He didn't completely recognize it - apart from the fact that the photograph was at least fifty years old, he hadn't paid too much attention to the barns when he was there - but he knew it was one of them.
He put it in his pocket and then carefully scrutinized all the others for any other tell-tale signs that might mean something to him now that he knew what he was looking for.
'Damn,' he said to himself, after he failed to find anything of any use. That would have been too easy. There was a gap where another photograph had recently sat, but that didn't necessarily mean anything. It could mean that Hendricks had removed it the previous night, or it could mean nothing at all. It was probably nothing as Faulkner was hardly likely to have a picture of Hendricks on his wall, after he'd done his best to hide their connection.
Evan sat down at the kitchen table and thought about what to do next. He didn't have any qualms about searching Faulkner's place if he thought it would produce anything, but he wasn't sure it was worth it. Faulkner wasn't stupid and Evan didn't know what he was looking for anyway. But just as he was about to lock up, he suddenly thought of something. It only took him five minutes to find what he was looking for. Faulkner wouldn't need it for the next couple of days. He slipped it into his pocket, locked up and dropped the keys off with the still grumbling Briggs before driving away.
CHAPTER 32
What Evan really wanted to do was drive straight to the hospital and confront Faulkner. He'd always been a bit impatient, but he knew he had to force himself to take it slowly and wait until he had all his ducks in a row. He needed the picture of Saunders before he talked to Faulkner, so he drove back to his office to see if Audrey had sent him anything yet.
The light was on in Jacobson's office as Evan walked past. Evan knew he'd want to know the outcome of his meeting with Audrey so he knocked and went in.
'What's the haps, Evan? How'd it go with Audrey?'
Jacobson was sitting at his desk doing something with some unpleasant looking surgical instruments.
'What the hell are these?' Evan asked picking up a box of what looked like serrated toothpicks.
'They're barbed broaches - they're for removing dental pulp and other rubbish from root canals. Might be using one on you if you eat too many of Audrey's cakes.' He winked knowingly at Evan.
Evan wished he hadn't asked. 'I don't know how you do this job,' he said. He put the box back down. It made him feel queasy just thinking about it. He was sure he could feel a sharp twinge of pain coming from one of his back teeth.
'At least I'm the one dishing the pain out. My nose hasn't been broken recently. Got two complete ears as well.'
'Do you want to hear what Audrey said, or not?'
'From the look on your face, it's something important.'
'It was you who first suggested Jason Saunders might have changed his name to Carl Hendricks.' Jacobson nodded. 'It turns out Saunders was a bit of a scumbag - to use Audrey's term.' Jacobson raised his eyebrows and smiled. 'He also had a sister - Brenda - who got married and became...' He paused for effect.
'Come on Evan, don't make me use one of these to extract the information.' He brandished something that Evan didn't want to look at.
'Mrs Matt Faulkner!'
'You're kidding.' He dropped whatever he’d been brandishing onto the desk, leaned back and put his hands behind his head.
'No way Jose. That means if Hendricks is really Saunders, then he's Matt Faulkner's brother-in-law.'
'Which throws an entirely different light on your case. One that doesn't reflect well on our ex-Police Chief.'
'It puts me in quite a difficult spot.' He sat down on the corner of Jacobson’s desk and picked up one of the surgical instruments.
'I can see that,’ Jacobson said, taking it out of Evan’s hand and putting it back down. ‘I don't suppose you're looking forward to your next chat with Mr Faulkner.'
'No. He's suddenly turned into an uncooperative witness. Or maybe even a suspect. An accessory at least.'
Jacobson started drumming his fingers on the desk. 'How does this tie in with your theory that it was Hendricks who attacked him.'
'I'm not sure. One obvious scenario is that Hendricks is the culprit and Faulkner covered up for him...'
'And now Hendricks is trying to tie up the loose ends - permanently.'
'It would explain why Faulkner was so keen to blame it all on Robbie Clayton. A convenient fall guy.'
Jacobson frowned. 'What are you suggesting - that they did away with him as well to provide a false trail?'
'I don't know. It all seems a bit far fetched. I know blood's thicker than water, but that would be taking it to extremes.'
'I think you need to get your facts together before getting carried away by all this. It's too easy to make the circumstances fit with your existing theory.'
'I know. That's why I need the email.'
'Email?'
'Surely you know what email is, Tom. Even Audrey uses it.' He slid off the edge of the desk as Jacobson picked up a dental scalpel.
'Audrey said she'd dig out a photograph of Saunders and email it to me. Then I'll know for sure if that's who Hendricks really is. I was on my way to see if she'd done it yet.'
'Why don't you get your email on your phone, like everyone else. I do.'
'Because I'm a luddite. I'll go and check now.'
'I'll come with you. Just in case your friend is lurking upstairs.'
'You might as well bring the scalpel ju
st in case.'
CHAPTER 33
Evan opened up his office and fired up his computer. Jacobson prowled around impatiently.
'That thing looks like you need a handle to crank it. I think we could walk to Audrey's place and ask her quicker.'
Evan ignored him and checked his email. Spam, spam and more spam, but then, there it was. She'd sent it just after Evan left her. If he'd known she'd be that quick he'd have waited and had another piece of cake. He opened it and called Jacobson over and then opened the attachment.
Audrey had got hold of a photograph of Saunders at his army basic training graduation ceremony. It was old and grainy and looked like it had been scanned from a local paper.
They both looked at the picture of the proud young man in his Class A uniform. Little did he know that a few short years later he'd be out on his ear, with a dishonorable discharge on his record.
'It's him,' Evan whispered. 'I'm sure it's him.'
'I don't know what Hendricks looks like,' Jacobson said.
'He looks like that.' Evan jabbed his finger at the screen.
'I don't know how you can tell. His cap covers half his face. Try zooming in a bit.'
Evan zoomed in on Saunders' face but it didn't really help. What they gained in size, they lost in quality. He zoomed back out again.
'You need to get a photo of Hendricks to compare it to,' Jacobson said.
'I don't need one. I recognize his nose,' Evan said. 'It's been broken and badly set at some time in the past. He's also got a scar across the bridge of his nose. You can't see it because of the shadow from his cap.'
'You're the expert on broken noses. What are you going to do?'
'First of all, I'm going to ask Audrey if she can get any better photos, and then I'm going to ring the hospital and see if Faulkner's awake yet.'
'And if he is?'
'I'm going to take that photo' - he pointed at the screen - 'and this one' - he got the one he'd taken from Faulkner's trailer out of his pocket - 'and see if I can shake something loose.'
Cruel Comfort (Evan Buckley Thrillers Book 1) Page 16
