Murder on the Front Nine

by Steve McMillen

  He is looking forward to his stay in Myrtle Beach. He has some business to take care of and a lot of golf to play.

  Dave (the police) Prendels checks into the Prince Resort in Cherry Grove. He is looking forward to the next two weeks in Myrtle Beach. He is planning to play golf every day this week to get ready for the big tournament. He can always find a little action somewhere in the Myrtle Beach area, whether it is golf, bowling, poker, or the casino boat. He has been to Myrtle Beach several times and it is just a great place to kick back, relax and play.

  He has never stayed at the Prince Resort, but from what he has seen so far, he is impressed. The condo suite he is staying in is a very beautiful two-bedroom, two-bath unit overlooking the ocean. He is directly above the pool so he can check out the girls and there is a fishing pier just out from the resort.

  He is hoping for some rest and relaxation along with playing a lot of golf. He is planning on a good card game or two and possibly some time on the casino boat. If it has to do with wine, women, golf, and gambling, he is all for it.

  Once in his condo, he gets his .357 revolver out of his bag and places it under his pillow. He will sleep better knowing it is within reach.

  Paul (the mechanic) Hills checks into the North Towers at Barefoot Resort in North Myrtle Beach. Barefoot is one of the premier resorts in the Myrtle Beach area. His seventh-floor three-bedroom, three-bath condo overlooks a huge pool and the Intercoastal Waterway. There are four great golf courses to play at the resort, The Fazio, The Love, The Norman, and the private Dye course. There is also a beautiful new learning center and driving range. He can’t wait to get over there and hit some balls. He is planning to play golf every day plus practice to get ready for the World Am. He has plans to visit the casino boat in Little River and he plans to spend a little time at the beach checking out the girls.

  After he gets into his room, he checks to make sure his 9mm Luger is loaded. He came prepared for any problem, which may arise although he does not foresee any problems here. He just wants some privacy, to relax, have some fun and play golf.

  All of the suspects have at one time or another played golf together or gambled together. None of them had any idea they would all be in the Myrtle Beach area at the same time to play golf in the World Am and that all of them would be suspects in a murder investigation.

  The World Amateur is celebrating twenty-seven years in Myrtle Beach. That’s a long time. It gives the amateur golfer a chance to play against other amateurs and stays fair by using the USGA handicap system. It is the amateurs’ chance to play in a four-round tournament. They now have an opportunity to see what tournament golf is all about, the ups, the downs, and most of all, the pressure. They will now know what it’s like to have to hit a tee-shot in the fairway, over a waste area or to sink a three-foot birdie putt to make it into the finals.. They also have a lot of fun and a large percentage of them bring their families along as well.

  The World Am has grown from a few hundred to more than five thousand golfers one year. Golfers from all fifty states and twenty different countries have participated in the World Am.

  There are six divisions and forty-five flights. They play seventy-two holes of golf and then the winners and ties from all of the flights play for the Championship on the final day. Handicaps range from 0 to 30 and they must have a USGA handicap to enter.

  There are more than seventy courses used for the tourney and each golfer plays a different course each day. They usually play the final championship round at the Dunes Club.

  There is over $130,000 in gift certificates won and given away each year. At the end of each day, everyone gets together at the world’s largest 19th hole, The Myrtle Beach Convention Center, where the hosts provide food, drinks, and live entertainment.

  Quite a few women play each year along with the men and the last two years have produced a woman champion on the final day. You go girls!

  This year may be another first. A suspected cold-blooded killer may be playing. Now all I have to do is find that killer among 4,000 golfers and make sure he doesn’t kill again.

  Chapter 16: The Plan

  I opt to call Bob McClellan and see if he can tell me what courses my suspects will be playing during the tournament. I feel that if they come into town early, they will want to practice on the courses they will be playing. I know for sure one of them is in town. He has already made an appearance at the airport.

  I get Bob on the phone. “Bob, Mickke D here. How are you?”

  “Well Mickke D, my game is still in the toilet so I hope you need your favor so I can get another lesson, the sooner the better.”

  “I think we can work that out and as for the favor, if I give you some names, can you let me know what courses they will be playing during the tournament?”

  “Give me the names and I will get back to you within the hour.”

  I give him my home fax number and tell him I really appreciate this. About forty-five minutes later, I get a fax with my suspect’s entire schedules for the week. Ken (the player)—Sandpiper Bay, The Pearl, Arcadian Shores, and Possum Trot; Dave (the police)—Tidewater, Kings North, Possum Trot, and River Hills; Andy (the farmer)—Thistle, Beachwood, Crow Creek, and Possum Trot; Paul (the mechanic)—Indigo Creek, Tradition, Possum Trot, and Long Bay; Steve (the sign man)—Meadowlands, Black Bear, Possum Trot, and Prestwick; Stan (the man)—Glen Dornoch, Farmstead, Possum Trot, and The Witch.

  After looking over the list of courses, I decide Possum Trot will probably be my best bet to see some of my suspects. All six of them are playing that course during the World Am. In fact, four of them will be playing Possum Trot on Wednesday while the other two will be playing on Thursday. It has a great practice facility and my suspects may go there to practice and play.

  I call my neighbor Jimmy and ask if he is available to play golf or practice and that it will be on me (actually, SIL will be paying the bill). He says, “Count me in. Should I bring my gun?”

  I tell him this will be a feeling-out process and I do not think we need to be armed.

  After I finish speaking with Jimmy, I get in the Corvette, which needs to be driven, and go down to Possum Trot. I ask to see Dane Minehart, the general manager and golf director. I have met and played golf with him through The Grand Strand Golf Directors Association. I ask him if we can speak in private and he takes me into his office. I get out my Army ID and flash it towards him. I am quick enough that he does not have time to read it but it probably looks official to him.

  I say to Dane, “I don’t want you to be alarmed but I will be conducting an undercover operation at your course this week. I am doing it this week so as not to interfere with the World Am next week. I need you to keep this to yourself and please don’t tell your employees.”

  Dane looks confused, “Are we in any danger?”

  “No, everyone will be fine. I just want to give you a heads up about why you will be seeing me and my neighbor, Jimmy Bolin, around here a lot this week.”

  I tell him I will talk with him tomorrow. As I’m leaving Possum Trot, I call Jimmy and leave a message that I will pick him up at 7:30 in the morning and that he should plan to spend the entire day at the golf course.

  The next morning, I load my clubs into the Trailblazer and at the last minute, I elect to take my .25 caliber, along with three extra clips. I just purchased a new Ohio State golf bag and it has so many extra pockets in it that I can easily stash my small weapon in a zippered pocket with no problem. I drive next door to Jimmy’s house and of course, he is waiting for me.

  I say to him, “I know I told you no weapons will be needed, but I decided to bring mine at the last minute. If you want to bring a weapon, just be sure you keep it in your golf bag out of sight. I don’t want to start a firefight with this guy in the middle of a busy golf course. However, he is extremely dangerous and cunning so I guess we should go prepared.”

  “Since you have yours, I’ll leave mine at home. Besides, it is too big to hide in my golf bag.”


  Jimmy is laughing as we depart for Possum Trot. When we arrive at the golf course, I find Dane and introduce him to Jimmy. We go into Dane’s office and he asks, “Mickke D, how did you get from real estate broker and golf teaching pro to private eye or whatever it is that you are doing?”

  I try to answer as evasively as I can. “Dane, I have already told you more about this operation than I should have. I have been hired to look into a small problem and I’ll be finished before you knew I was ever here. I will keep you advised on a need to know basis and no one is going to get hurt. I would like to see your tee time sheets for today and tomorrow.”

  Dane, looking confused and somewhat irritated, leaves and returns in about five minutes with a copy for both of us. I then say to him, “Can you call over to the driving range and tell the manager that I may be walking the tee line and talking to some of the people practicing and not to be concerned?”

  I do this because sometimes the golf pro or manager gets their feathers ruffled if they think someone is trying to pick up a lesson at their range without permission. I always like to get permission ahead of time. I don’t want to upset anyone but I do want the opportunity to make conversation with my possible suspects. Dane says he will make the call. Just as he starts to ask another question, I motion to Jimmy that we are leaving.

  We depart with Dane shaking his head and wondering if he has learned anything more than what he learned yesterday. Jimmy and I go back to the Trailblazer to look over the names on the tee sheet. We only have four photos but we do have a list of names. Three of the names we have are on the tee sheet for today and the other three have tee times for tomorrow.

  A cold chill goes up and down the back of my neck. All of a sudden, I realize this is for real and it is happening right now. I had better not screw this up or one or both of us might die. I need to control the demons and remember my training. Be in control.

  Suddenly I am concerned about Jimmy. “Are you sure you want to get involved in this?”

  “Oh hell yes, this is the most fun I’ve had since I retired. Now, how do you want to handle it?”

  The three suspects who are playing today are Ken (the player) Ballinger, Steve (the sign man) Griggs, and Stan (the man) Hutchinson. Tomorrow it is Dave (the police) Prendels, Andy (the farmer) Bottier, and Paul (the mechanic) Hills. I need to plan today and tomorrow so we will get to see all six of them.

  I also need to format my own mental and physical plan if things go bad. I don’t want to end up in the jungles of Colombia again.

  Chapter 17: The Failed Ambush

  (Earlier)

  After they agree to the contract, Barry e-mails the assassin with the information on Trever Byers and Bald Head Island. He also asks the assassin to check for a map, which Trever may have on him. His last request is to have a drop location where he can leave the payment and pick up the map, if there is one.

  The assassin does not like meeting with clients but since this will not be a one-on-one meeting, he agrees to make the exchange in a park in Las Vegas. He can then control what goes on and where. He has checked with Glenn Griffin and received a good referral report on SIL. He gets a phone number from Barry and says he will call him when the contract is completed.

  When Barry gets the call that the hit has taken place and that there is indeed a map, he calls a meeting with Bill and Ted.

  “Gentlemen, the deed is done and there is a map.”

  “You’re kidding, there really is a map. Now what do we do?” Bill asks.

  “Well, to start with, we need to get to Vegas and deal with the hit man but not until we have the map in hand,” Barry replies.

  They put together a plan to set up an ambush and eliminate the assassin. They need to be in Vegas early tomorrow morning so they need to get their gear together and ready to go. The plan is to allow the assassin to pick up the money and leave the map. Barry will then go to the pick-up point and check that the map is there. He will radio Bill and Ted and tell them to proceed. The assassin is not to get out of the park alive. If possible, get the twenty-five thousand but that is not a priority. They will have pistols and several rifles available, all with silencers.

  They take park maintenance worker uniforms with them. This makes it easier to hide weapons. Bill and Ted position themselves so that whoever has a clear field of fire will take the shot. They will strip off their uniforms, throw them into a trash barrel along with the weapons, which are untraceable, keep the silencers and be on their way. They are three ex-special forces against one assassin. It really doesn’t seem fair. If only they had known this was not your normal run-of-the-mill assassin.

  They arrive in Vegas aboard the company plane around 7:00am Vegas time. This gives them plenty of time to check out the park where the exchange is to take place. They rent a van using fake ID’s, pay with cash and do their recon work before they go to breakfast. They do a radio check in the park at their assigned positions and everything works according to plan. They will make one more radio check just before the exchange is to take place. This will be the radio check that breaks the Camel’s back.

  About an hour before the planned exchange, they enter the park with their brooms and weapons. They go to their assigned areas, make their last radio check and start looking for the assassin. As they look around, they stay in radio contact with each other. Barry takes the twenty-five thousand, which also is in a brown paper bag, and places it at the end of the predetermined bench. The plan is to exchange one bag for another. The only flaw in their plan is that the assassin has arrived first and he is watching and listening to them. The exchange never takes place.

  At 12:30pm, Barry calls off the operation and picks up the brown paper bag. The assassin is still alive, they do not have the map but they do have seventy-five thousand in new cash flow. They all agree they would rather have the map.

  Chapter 18: Ken, Steve & Stan

  Jimmy and I get lucky. Three of our suspects will be at Possum Trot on Wednesday and the other three will be there on Thursday. The Wednesday morning group plan to play about the same time. We elect to try to catch all three of the suspects at the driving range. I stop by the range office and pick up a large bucket of balls and go over to the grass tees. We are set up on the far left hand side of the range and I am working with Jimmy and his wedge. It is not long before our day begins to get exciting.

  We have all of the photos with us and I recognize Steve (the sign man) Griggs right away. He is about 5’10” and wearing glasses. He looks in good shape although he does have gray hair. He does not look our way and sets up in about the middle of the range. As he is getting his clubs arranged, I hear someone say to him. “Hey Sign Man, what are you doing down here?”

  “Well, hey yourself Player, I could ask you the same thing.”

  Ken (the player) Ballinger has also arrived. He is about 6’1’’ and a little bit on the heavy side. I can tell by the way he is moving that his knees are not in good shape. He doesn’t look agile enough to be an assassin, where the Sign Man is thin and looks in good shape.

  So now, I have the Sign Man and the Player side-by-side not more than fifty yards away from us. All of a sudden, I actually feel a little nervous about the whole situation but the feeling quickly passes. I was hoping to catch them one on one and not together. It will be more difficult to see any type of a split-second hint of recognition this way.

  Just as I am about to walk their way, I notice the third suspect of the day coming our way. I turn my back as Stan (the man) Hutchinson walks past us and sets up between us and the other two suspects.

  Steve and Ken acknowledge Stan with a nod of their heads. Stan looks their way, glares and does not nod back. Steve and Ken pick up their clubs and go further down toward the far end of the range. I get the idea that they are not real good friends with Stan.

  I wait until Stan starts hitting shots, then go up, and sit on a bench behind him. He has a very nice golf swing. He is about 6’ tall, thinning hair, and looks as if he could run a marathon
tomorrow. He finally feels me watching him and turns around. As I glance into his eyes, the intensity is scary. He stares back at me with cold, dark eyes and assumes an expression that conveys not the slightest hint of what he is thinking, but I can see the disgust in his eyes. He drops his club on the ground and walks over to where I am sitting.

  “I don’t like people watching me so why don’t you go down to the far end of the range and watch those two losers down there,” He points to where Steve and Ken have gone.

  “I’m sorry. I was just admiring your golf swing. I teach golf and I always enjoy watching people with good swings.”

  “Well take your sorry golf teaching ass somewhere else. I don’t need any lessons.”

  What an arrogant thing to say. I tried the being a nice guy approach and that didn’t work so I stand up and look him directly in the eyes. “Excuse me friend, I think this is a public driving range and if I want to sit on this bench and watch you hit balls then that is exactly what I am going to do. Now do you have a problem with that?”

  I can tell my rebuttal baffles him. We stare at each other like two gladiators poised for battle but no one speaks. We are like two caged animals that have just been freed. The testosterone levels are almost to the point of boiling over and exploding.

  I can tell he is thinking but he doesn’t want to be the one to blink first and then finally he replies, “Let me guess, Army Special Forces.

  He blinked first and I never lose eye contact. “Right, and you, Navy Seal?”

  We are both surprised at each other’s remarks and think, how did he know that? However, in the heat of the moment, the thought quickly disappears.

  Without him acknowledging the question, I say, “Well, Mr. Seal, you have a piss-poor attitude. Sorry if I bothered you.”

  Now is not the time for a confrontation. My job is to discover the identity of the assassin, not to engage. I turn and move back to where Jimmy is standing. He seems to have a concerned look on his face. My sense of hearing intensifies just in case Stan decides to jump me from behind. I am also watching Jimmy for any sign of upcoming danger, but he turns and starts hitting balls again. I also hear Stan make contact with a ball.