Cold Case Conundrum

by Sharon Mierke

  I didn't even bother to check call display, I just grabbed the phone. Before I said anything, Flori was screaming in my ear. “Mabel, the old farmhouse out at Patterson’s place burned to the ground.”

  “What? What farmhouse?”

  “Jake said it was the house they used to live in years ago. They live in an old trailer now. But the house, Mabel––it burned to the ground.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because Jake is a volunteer firefighter. You know that. He got a call in the middle of the night––about two a.m.”

  “Isn’t there a fire truck closer?”

  “There is but the fire was so bad, they needed another truck to pump water from the lake.”

  “Was anything saved?”

  “No. Jake said it was pointless going out there because by the time they got there, it had burned to the ground. All they could do was keep the trees around it from catching fire and hose down the trailer.”

  “What about Patterson’s still?”

  She laughed. “I don't think they found that or they would’ve come home a lot happier than they did.”

  “Well, that’s very interesting. Thanks for calling, Flori. Are you coming over to the shop for coffee this morning?”

  “Of course, and I’ll bring some buns.”

  It seemed pointless to go back to bed so I showered and made some coffee. I have only one cup before I leave. I read the other day that four cups a day was healthy and would prevent heart attacks. Of course, that still leaves other ways of dying.

  When I arrived at the store, Nathan was waiting for me.

  “What are you doing up so early?” I asked.

  He looked excited. “I have some news for you.”

  “You’re engaged!”

  “No, I’m not. You have to stop thinking that, Mabel. You have such a one-track mind.”

  We laughed. “Come on in. You can tell me the news while I make coffee.”

  “Mabel, they think Amos was murdered.”

  I stared at him. “Are you sure? How did you find this out?”

  “Shayla overheard the doctor from the city and Fritz talking. It seems he did die of alcohol poisoning but it wasn’t all from moonshine. Apparently, the amount in his system was way beyond what even Amos could consume.”

  “Really? So, we have a murderer in our midst.”

  He nodded. “It looks like it. What do we do next, Mabel?”

  I smiled. “Nathan, you’re always up for a murder, aren’t you? Well, you know who my first suspect would be, don’t you?”

  He looked puzzled. “No, who?”

  “I would say offhand that Paul Patterson would be suspect number one. However, since I don’t recall anyone seeing him come into town, I’m thinking someone else may have done his dirty work.”

  “Like who?”

  “Like a doctor who’d know how to inject alcohol into the bloodstream.”

  His eyes got big. “You think Dr. Campbell killed Amos Grimm?”

  “Personally, I do but I’ve been wrong in the past, and we’d have to prove it. The fact that he wanted to do the autopsy so badly doesn’t work in this favor, does it?”

  He nodded. “I think you’re right. How can we prove it now?”

  “Maybe things will fall into place. Let’s see what comes out of this fire at Patterson’s farm.”

  “What do you mean? What does that have to do with Amos?”

  “I don’t know but it’s all tied in together, Nathan. Let’s see what Jim or Scully has to say about it.”

  An hour later, Scully dropped in carrying two travel mugs.

  “Mabel, do you think you could give us some coffee to go?”

  “Of course. Where are you going anyway?”

  He grinned. “We’re heading out to the Patterson farm. The old house burned down and as soon as it’s cool enough, we’re going in to see what we can find.”

  “He’s going to let you do that?”

  “Oh, he doesn’t have a choice. If he gives us trouble, we’ve got papers from Judge Payne.”

  “You’d better tell me what you find as soon as you can, Scully.”

  I put coffee in the travel mugs and fixed it up for them. It’s easy to remember what those two boys take - five creamers and five sugars. Mind you, they’re big cups.

  Fifteen minutes later, Flori wandered in. She had a box filled with cinnamon buns. She doesn’t put them in a paper sack because the icing might come off so she has a special cardboard box she uses. As usual, they were delicious. We each had one and one was big enough to last through two cups of coffee. She brought the rest for me to put into the little freezer I have in the back room.

  I was surprised when Carly dropped by at about three.

  “Mabel,” she said. “I guess you heard about the farm house.”

  I nodded. “It’s hard not to miss when you hear three different sirens screaming in the middle of the night. Have you heard anything about it? Was there anything in the house to save?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t think so. Maybe some junk but I don’t think anything worth much.”

  “Did you find out how it started?”

  She shook her head. “Brady called to tell me. He was crying. He said that when Pa died, he wanted to live in the house again.”

  “That would be upsetting to him. By the way, could you call Brady and tell him that Sammy came home. I’m sure he’s worried about him too.”

  “Sammy?”

  I nodded. “My cat. He took off while I was talking to Brady. I told Brady to keep him there but the next day, the cat came back.”

  “I didn’t know you went out there again.”

  I nodded. “I talked to your brother for a few minutes and then I picked some things up at Campbell’s for Ettie.”

  The explanation seemed to make sense to her so I continued, “What do you hear about Amos Grimm, Carly?”

  She got a disgusted look on her face. “Oh, that is so ridiculous. I don’t know why Robert is making such a fuss about it.” She looked at me. “It’s like he thinks he knows more than anyone else. Like the world won’t turn without his say-so.”

  “Was he like that years ago when you knew him?”

  She shook her head. “No, he was one of the good guys. I can’t believe how he’s changed.”

  “Have you heard anything about the autopsy?”

  “Not too much. All I know is that he died of alcohol poisoning. I guess that isn’t too much of a shock, is it? I felt sorry for him though. I was surprised when I heard there was some of my dad’s moonshine in his house.”

  “Why were you surprised?”

  “I remember Pa telling the boys to never let Amos on our property. In fact, they were never to talk to him. He was adamant about it. I guess that’s why I do remember it so vividly. I wondered why he wouldn’t want more business. Of course, that was years ago and things change.”

  “That’s true. Amos might have had someone go out and buy it for him. He didn’t drive anymore. They took his license away years ago.”

  The thought crossed my mind that perhaps that was why someone broke into Amos’ house. Were they trying to get the booze out before anyone found it? Remove anything that could be traced back to Paul Patterson?

  We chatted about a few other things and then Carly said she had to get back to the hospital.

  “Are you enjoying your job?” I asked.

  “I do but there’s still a lot of gossip and backbiting going on. Sometimes I wish I could do something else and be my own boss.”

  I smiled. “Well, it isn’t always all that it’s cracked up to be, Carly.”

  She laughed. “You make it look so easy, Mabel.”

  We said our goodbyes and I thought how well she had turned out for the life she’d had.

  I couldn’t stop wondering how Jim and Scully were making out. It seemed strange that Reg wasn’t with them. I’m sure he wished he was. It took all the willpower I had not to drive out to Patterson’s farm and in
hindsight; I realize it would have been safer out there than in Parson’s Cove.

  After dinner and after Flori’s call, I decided that if I hadn’t heard from Jim or Scully, I’d give Reg a call.

  At eight, I called him.

  “Reg, have you heard from the boys? Do you think they found something out at Patterson’s farm?”

  “You know what, Mabel, I was starting to worry about it myself. I wish I could’ve gone out with them.”

  “I wish you could have too, Reg.”

  “Well, we’ll give them another hour or so. I called the station but it’s only the answering machine and I don’t think there’s a signal for the cell phones out in the country there. I tried but it doesn’t seem to connect.”

  “Well, let me know as soon as you hear something. I’ll be sitting by the phone.”

  It was a half hour later that I heard the back door open.

  “Flori?” I yelled. She’s usually the only one who just walks in.

  I got up from the couch and walked into the kitchen. There was no light on in the kitchen except for the light above the stove. I didn’t need a bright light to see the intruder.

  Robert Campbell was pointing a gun at me but he wasn’t alone. He was holding Carly’s arm and I could see by the pain in her eyes, she was not a willing participant. She moved slightly and he jerked her back against him.

  “What are you doing, Dr. Campbell?” I said. In my mind, I was hoping that by calling him a doctor, he might reconsider his station in life. What did he want to be, a respected doctor or a thug?

  “I’m going to do what I should have done as soon as I came to Parson’s Cove, Mabel. I’m going to get rid of you.”

  “Why is Carly here then? I don’t see why you have to get rid of me but even more so, I don’t see what Carly has ever done to you. Are you upset that she doesn’t love you anymore? Is that the reason?”

  He laughed. “No, Mabel. I guess since many take their secrets to the grave, I’ll let you take a few with you too.”

  “Is that what happened with Amos? Did he take his secret to the grave with him?”

  “I guess you could say that.”

  He laughed again.

  For one brief moment, I couldn’t help but notice how pleasant it sounded - soft and sweet-sounding like Carly’s laugh.

  “So, it’s true that he never witnessed Mrs. Patterson getting on the bus, isn’t it? What did Paul Patterson do? Pay him with booze to lie and keep quiet about it?”

  “You’re right, Mabel. She never got on the bus. Amos was cursed with a weak spot for liquor and Paul was smart enough to use it.”

  Carly started to cry softly.

  “And it was you who broke into Amos’ house to remove the booze, wasn’t it? You didn’t want anyone knowing that Amos was still connected to the Pattersons. It was too late though because the sheriff had already found it. Were you the one who kept Amos in supply, Robert? Did you keep him drunk so that even if he told the truth, no one would believe him? And for all those years before, what did Patterson do? Give him money to lie and keep quiet?”

  “You don't know anything, Mabel, so don’t try to be the great detective. Amos was nothing. He was like you - a fly on the wall to be swatted and killed.”

  “Bobby Joe, please,” Carly pleaded. “Why are you doing this? What’s wrong with you?”

  He pulled her closer and said in her ear, “Don’t you ever call me that. Don’t you ever call me Bobby Joe again.” He shoved her and she collided with me. We kept our balance and stayed on our feet.

  Now we stood facing Robert Joseph Campbell and the gun.

  “I’d like both of you to know something before I kill you. One, I’m the one who killed Amos Grimm and you were right, Mabel, he was the link to Doris Patterson's murder.”

  Carly gasped. “My mother was murdered? You killed my mother? Why?”

  She tried to break loose from my hold but I was able to hang on. I was sure that if she attacked him, he’d fire his gun.

  He laughed again but this time it didn’t sound pleasant at all.

  “No, Carly sweetheart, I didn’t kill your mother. I was only a child when your mother disappeared but it’s only right that you should know. It was your father who did that. Don’t you see? Your pa thought he’d committed the perfect crime––no body and a witness who saw your mother leaving on the bus. There was something your old man didn’t count on though; there was a real live witness to the murder.”

  “And that was you,” I said. “You were the little boy who saw Carly’s father kill her mother, weren’t you?”

  He nodded. “Right again, Mabel. I kept that little secret for many years until I realized I could use the information for my own good. How do you think I got through med school?” He grinned and looked at Carly. “Your Pa paid for it all, sweetheart.”

  “Your own father knew though, didn’t he, Robert?”

  “Well, he figured it out but it was too late. I was almost through my studies and since he was afraid of Paul Patterson, he kept quiet. Besides, he didn’t want my mother to find out. As you say, Mabel, he took that secret to the grave with him too.”

  “Am I going to take it to the grave with me too, son?”

  Ettie Campbell had quietly snuck into the house.

  “Ma, what are you doing here?” Robert’s eyes bulged. I could see the gun shaking in his hand. “Get out of here. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “No, Bobby. You’re not going to hurt these two innocent women either. You’re a doctor and doctors save lives, they don’t take them, Bobby.”

  She walked up to him and took the gun. Tears were running down her face. Carly sank to the floor. I knew I had to get to the phone, but before I could take a step, the door opened again and Reg walked in.

  He didn’t seem to be surprised by the scene. He simply walked over to Ettie and took the gun. He shoved it into his belt, took a pair of handcuffs out of his pocket, and cuffed Dr. Campbell.

  Robert Campbell seemed in a daze. Perhaps, he was too stunned from seeing his mother to move. As the two men went out the door, I heard Reg telling him his rights. I’m not sure that a civilian has the right to do that but I wasn’t going to argue. I think Reg was caught up in the moment.

  Personally, I was thunderstruck.

  “What just happened here?” I asked.

  Ettie came over and hugged me. She looked haggard and sad.

  “I saw Bobby bringing Carly in here against her will so I knew he was up to no good. It saddens me that he turned out like this, Mabel, but there was no way I could let it go. I don’t think I believed he would kill you until I heard him confess the other murder. Then, I knew I had to do something before Reg got here.”

  “You knew Reg was coming?”

  She nodded. “Bobby forgot to take his cell phone. I phoned for the sheriff but couldn’t reach him. Then I remembered you saying Reg had been a sheriff for so many years. He was the only other person I could think of. My heart sank when I listened to all those things my son admitted to. I’m so sorry, Mabel, that you had to go through all this.”

  “Sorry? I’m so sorry that you had to go through this, Ettie.” I helped Carly to her feet. “And Carly, I’m sorry you had to find all this out too.”

  “I thought my mother had been murdered,” she said. “I guess I didn’t want to believe my father was that evil.” She wiped her eyes. “But it’s all over now. I’m glad to know the truth.”

  “Carly,” I said. “Why don’t we go out to the farm tomorrow and talk to Brady? He’s going to need someone now.”

  “And Carly,” Ettie said. “Why don’t you come to my house? We both need someone tonight. I don’t want to be alone and I don’t think you do either.”

  Carly nodded and whispered, “Thank you.”

  “But first,” I said. “We’re going to sit at the table and have a cup of tea. We need to sit together and talk for a while. Or, maybe I just don’t want to be alone yet either. I mean it isn’t every day that I hav
e a gun shoved in my face. Right, Carly?”

  That seemed to break the tension and we all had a good laugh. Not that any of it was funny; we just needed to laugh.

  While we drank our tea, we talked about many things but nothing pertaining to murder.

  Before they left, I said, “I’m going to close my shop tomorrow. Why don’t I drive both of you out to the country? Carly, you can talk to Brady, and Ettie, I think you’ll probably want to move back home.”

  Ettie’s eyes lit up. “Oh, Mabel, that sounds so wonderful. I can’t wait to get home. But the new house, what will happen to that?”

  “I have no idea and there’s no point in you worrying about it. The builder will probably try to sell it to someone. It’s not your concern.” I gave them each a hug. “Try to get some sleep tonight. Come over in the morning as soon as you’re ready to go.” I smiled at Carly. “See, Carly, we can yell across the yard if we like. I will miss my neighbor, Ettie Campbell.”

  They weren’t gone five minutes when the phone rang. It was Reg.

  “Mabel, I wanted to see how all of you were. Are Ettie and Carly still at your place?”

  “No, Carly is spending the night with Ettie. I’m going to take them back home in the morning. Carly wants to see her brother, Brady, and Ettie wants to go home. She never liked it here anyway.”

  “That’s good. Maybe you should tell Carly what to expect when she gets home. Only Brady will be there. Paul Patterson, her father, has been arrested for murder. Barkley Patterson has been arrested for making and selling homebrew and dealing in drugs. Brady so far hasn’t been arrested. Basically, all he did was watch the gate. At least, as far as we know.”

  “What did they find in the burned-out house, Reg?”

  “We found an old rifle. It looks like it was buried in the cellar. We’ll find out if it matches the bullet hole when we dig up Doris Patterson’s body from the well. The tractors will be arriving tomorrow to do that. Jim said that the old man knew when he was licked and he confessed to everything. He shot his wife and threw her down the well. When the kids were at school, he decided to move her in case someone looked down the well and saw her. I don’t know how he managed it but he got her out with ropes and a hook and buried her in the cellar of the house. Then, he worried that one of the kids might see where he dug the hole so that’s when he bought the trailer and they moved into that.”