I waded deeper and deeper into the brush, barely keeping them in sight. Then the foliage began to thin a bit, and I entered a small clearing. Stanton and Gus were on the far side. Stanton was bending down. I put the binoculars up to my eyes, adjusted the focus, and the officer leaped into view.
He was kneeling in front of a light green tent that had been tucked back into a brushy area. Outside was a fire pit with a metal grate over it. I assumed this was Rick’s hideaway. It looked like no one needed or wanted a professional houseguest at the moment.
No wonder the empty boat lured him out. With the police done with their searching and the yellow tape in place, he must have figured he was safe from any visitors for a while, especially if he mostly used it at night.
The tent’s flap was pulled back, and I saw an upside-down cot tucked on one side against the wall. A cooler at the back was on its side, its contents covering the canvas floor. I could make out a package of hot dogs and a brick of cheese.
As I surveyed the scene, I realized clothes had been strewn about outside. They didn’t seem to be arranged for drying purposes; they were more like scattered about. An unzipped sleeping bag was crumpled in a ball outside the tent. The place looked like it had been ransacked. Was this the result of someone’s fit of anger, or had the place been searched?
Stanton took a walkie-talkie off his belt and spoke into it. I remembered there was no cell phone service here. A short while later, I heard branches snapping behind me and stepped to one side as two officers strode by. One of them had a camera, and he began taking pictures of the scene.
I didn’t think there’d be anything more to learn here. I made my way back to the marina, where Joe was holding down his fort. He was waiting, fingers laced together, his hands resting on his stomach.
I took off the binoculars and handed them to him. “Thanks. Good thinking about my taking them. They were a big help.”
He looked at me expectantly. “What did ya learn?”
“It appears Rick had been camping in the woods. A warm boat with a stove and a refrigerator must’ve seemed mighty appealing.”
Joe nodded. “Over the years, he probably got the code to the gate, as well as the showers and the bathrooms. He’s done odd jobs for lots of people around here.”
I sighed. “Makes sense he’d camp nearby when he didn’t have a house to crash in.”
I said good-bye and headed out. It was growing dark, and I was thankful for the marina lights. Swarms of bugs appeared to enjoy them as well as I glanced up and saw a dancing black cloud. I dug my keys out of my pocket and headed to the Doblinsky brothers’ house.
Did they know yet? I’d soon find out.
I pulled into their driveway and an automatic light came on. I walked up the path to their house and knocked. Rudy opened the door partway.
“Kelly, welcome. Just a minute.” A chain rattled as he closed the door, and then he opened it wide. “We don’t get unexpected visitors at night very often, so we keep it chained.”
“I understand. You’re pretty remote here.”
“Come in. Come in. We’re just finishing dinner. Please join us.”
I didn’t realize how hungry I was until the rich aroma of their dinner hit me as I entered the kitchen.
“Beef stew.” Ivan ladled some into a bowl. “Carrots, potatoes, onions, celery root—all good for you.”
“Ivan uses an old family recipe from Russia. It’s called zharkoye.”
“No, really, I don’t want to intrude.” My stomach growled a loud yes.
“Always make plenty.” Ivan put down the steaming bowl, along with some silverware.
“Okay. Thanks.” I sat at the place he’d made for me.
“What brings you here?” Rudy asked.
“A couple of things I wanted to talk to you about.”
I wasn’t ready to dive into the murder yet. I wanted to break it as gently as possible, not just blurt it out. I figured I had a little time before the police got here.
“Eat first, then talk,” Ivan said.
From the relaxed looks on their faces and the conversation about stew, I guessed they hadn’t heard what had happened. I took a bite and savored the combination of carrots and beef in a rich sauce. A chunk of potato followed. They finished their bowls and stood.
My mother’s voice came to me as I filled my soup spoon again. Something about not bolting my food. When I’d been out riding fence all day on the ranch, my manners sometimes went out the door at dinnertime.
I put down the spoon and sipped the tea Ivan had made while I’d been eating. Rudy was at the sink, rinsing their dishes.
Ivan stood next to a large pot on the stove. “Kelly, you like more?”
“No, thanks. I’m full. It was delicious.”
Ivan nodded and turned off the burner. Rudy took my bowl and put it with the others. The brothers sat and looked at me expectantly. The phone rang in the other room. Rudy stood to answer it.
“Rudy, wait. Let the machine get it,” I said.
He looked at me quizzically.
It might be the police, and I didn’t want them to learn what had happened from them. “Please sit down.”
He did as I asked.
“Ivan, you know the man you threw off the boat this morning? Rick Stapleton?”
He frowned and nodded.
“He’s been murdered. Shot.” I took a deep breath. “His body was found on the Nadia.”
Chapter 22
Fear filled their faces.
“It…it can’t be,” Rudy said.
“I’m sorry, but it is. I asked you not to answer the phone in case it was the police. I wanted to be the one to tell you.”
“Alive when we last saw him,” Ivan rumbled.
“When was Rick murdered?” Rudy asked.
“They don’t have an exact time of death yet. Joe at the bait shop saw him at nine thirty and the police were called at four thirty. I know you were at the meeting in the afternoon. Where were you in the morning?”
“We came home, had lunch, and then went to your inn.”
“No alibi then?”
They both shook their heads.
“That would’ve made life simple, which usually isn’t how it works,” I said. “Maybe they’ll find out he was killed when the Silver Sentinels were meeting and then you’ll be covered.”
“Will I be arrested?” Ivan’s hands were balled into fists.
“Why do you think you would be?” I asked him in a gentle voice.
“I throw him off boat,” he replied.
“You had every right to do that. He was trespassing. That doesn’t mean you killed him. And remember, he was shot.”
His hands unclenched a fraction, but deep frown lines remained.
“What happens now?” Rudy asked.
“At some point, I’m sure the police will question you. You tell them the truth.”
A loud knock on the door interrupted us. I suspected the time for questions was upon us.
Rudy left and returned with Stanton. The officer’s face was drawn, and his lips clamped together. A hint of cold night air trailed in after him.
Stanton frowned. “Office called and said they couldn’t get in touch with anyone here. Said they left a message. I was planning to come by later but came now to be sure everything was okay, which it appears to be. Why didn’t you answer the phone? You had me worried.” His tone sounded sharp.
“I asked them not to,” I said. “I wanted to be the one to tell them about Rick’s murder and the involvement of their boat. I did that right before you arrived.”
Stanton seemed to relax a bit, and he gave a tired smile. “Okay. I understand.” He looked at Rudy and Ivan. “I need to ask you some questions.”
Ivan had stood during our conversation, turned on the stove, and was stirring the stew. �
�Deputy Stanton, you eat and ask.”
“Thanks, Ivan, I’ll pass. I’ll get something later.”
I figured he hadn’t had time to get anything to eat. Knowing how hungry I was, he must have been famished.
I looked at Stanton. “It’s beef stew and it’s really good. The food gave me energy that wasn’t there when I walked through the door a little while ago.”
I could see him hesitate.
“Tell you what: Let’s get the questions out of the way first, then I’ll take you up on your offer.” He took off his gray Stetson and his heavy police coat.
Rudy said, “There’s a rack by the back door.”
Most of the pegs had been covered with wool hats and heavy sweaters, but a few were empty. Stanton deposited his hat and jacket and joined us at the table. He took out his notepad and a pen.
“Would you like something to drink?” Rudy asked.
“Water would be nice,” Stanton answered.
Ivan placed a glass on the table in front of the officer.
“Well,” he said, sounding weary. “As Kelly has now told you, Rick Stapleton’s been killed and his body was found on your boat. Tell me what happened this morning.”
Rudy nodded. “We received a call from the police department that we were clear to return to the boat. Ivan and I caught the bus after breakfast and went to the marina.
Ivan sat down next to his brother, across the table from the officer.
“Ivan checked the deck to see if everything was in order while I entered the boat. I climbed down the ladder and saw an unfamiliar jacket on the dining room seat. I thought maybe one of the police officers had left it there so didn’t really think anything of it. I turned the corner into the hallway, intending to check the back room. I ran right into Rick, and he took a swing at me.”
“I hear yell and go down into boat,” Ivan said.
Rudy continued, “Rick said, ‘Sorry, man, you surprised me.’”
“I don’t think he was going after you personally...more of a knee-jerk reaction,” Stanton remarked.
“Yes, that’s what I think,” Rudy said.
“Sounds like he was real edgy,” Stanton added.
Rudy nodded. “He kept fidgeting and explaining he had nowhere to stay, the boat was empty, sorry if he caused a problem…”
I joined in. “What you’re describing sounds like nonstop rambling.”
“I stop it,” Ivan said. “Tell him get off boat now. He began talking again. I grab arm and push toward ladder.”
Rudy took over. “Rick went up a couple of steps, then started to turn, as if to come back down. Ivan shoved him hard. Rick’s head hit one of the rungs. I suspect it hurt, considering the strength of Ivan’s push.”
“Yah. I follow him up to deck, then take back of shirt in my right hand, belt in left, and throw him onto the dock.”
“He yelled about his jacket,” Rudy said. “I got it and tossed it to him. He left and that was the last we saw of him.”
“Found a few of his shirts on boat,” Ivan added.
“We put them in a paper bag and put his name on it, planning to give them back to him when we found out where he was,” Rudy said.
“I saw the clothes,” Stanton said. “I used one of the shirts to get a bloodhound to track him.”
“I talked to Joe,” I said. “He told me people witnessed what happened on the dock and said Rick passed by him around nine thirty.”
Stanton nodded. “We interviewed a number of people, and they were all on the same page about the incident and seeing Rick leave. Tell me what you did for the rest of the day.”
Rudy and Ivan shared with Stanton what they’d told me about their activities.
“With the way Rick’s camp was torn apart, I think it was searched.” Stanton pulled out his phone, touched the face of it a couple of times, then turned it so the brothers could see what was on the screen.
I rose and went to stand behind them. Stanton’s photo showed the inside of the boat. Cushions from the dining room set were upended, and the sleeping area curtains were pulled back. Blankets were piled on the floor. Stanton scrolled to another photo. Contents of the kitchen drawers littered the floor, as if someone had pulled them out and upended them. From the stunned expressions on the Doblinsky brothers’ faces, the chaos was a surprise to them.
“Did it look like this when you left?” Stanton asked.
Rudy looked shocked. “N…n…no.” He had trouble getting the word out.
Stanton put down his phone. “The man in charge of the search texted and said that while it’s a mess, nothing has been destroyed. It doesn’t seem like a personal vendetta or vandalism. I’m guessing whoever did it wanted to find something Rick had.” He turned to me. “Quite likely it’s that gold coin we’ve talked about.”
Stanton closed his notepad. “The stew smells delicious. I’d like to take you up on your offer of having some. Dinner hasn’t happened yet today.”
Ivan pulled a bowl and plate from the cupboard. “Happy to. You help us. Need to let us do same for you. Is fair.” After filling the bowl, he placed it in front of the deputy sheriff, then pushed a platter of French bread and a tub of butter in his direction. “Go good with stew.”
Stanton took a slice, buttered it, and bit into the thick bread.
I could almost hear his stomach say, At last.
Stanton looked at his notes while eating his dinner at a leisurely pace. He was doing a better job than I had done in terms of dining decorum. The brothers straightened the kitchen while I checked my phone for messages.
“What happens now?” I asked after a few minutes.
“Officers are working their way through the Nadia as we speak.”
Stanton sat back and pushed his now-empty bowl to one side. Ivan took it and filled it again without asking. The two men were of comparable size, and Ivan must have felt the officer could eat more.
Stanton’s phone emitted a sound. He picked it up and checked the screen. “They found the coin. Rick had taped it to the bottom of one of the credenza drawers in the bedroom. Anyone doing a quick search would be hard-pressed to find it. He planted it at the very back.”
“Why didn’t he hide it in the woods near where he was staying?” I asked.
Stanton shook his head. “The coin is worth a lot of money, and I’m guessing he wanted it with him wherever he was.”
“Makes sense,” I said.
“They’re sending me a photo. Rudy, will you know if the coin is one you sold to Alexander?”
“Maybe,” he replied. “I’ll definitely know if it’s not one of mine. I kept photos as well as the ledger you’ve seen. If it matches one of my sales, the next question would be was it mine or Clay’s. Our money came from the same source. And, though it’s unlikely, it could have been sold by someone else.”
“Process of elimination can be very useful,” Stanton said.
His phone pinged again. I was still standing behind the brothers. As he passed the phone to Rudy, I saw a gold coin with the year 1897 imprinted on it and the number 50. It had the image of a man’s head in the center. A second photo had an emblem of some sort.
“Is fifty rubles,” Ivan said.
“Nicholas the second,” Rudy added. “The other picture is the royal family coat of arms.” Rudy rose and put the phone on the table. “I’ll go get my information.”
Stanton finished his second bowl of stew. “Thanks, Ivan. That hit the spot.” He turned to me. “You were right. I feel much better.”
Remembering the lengthy trip to the basement, I knew it would be a while before Rudy returned. “Deputy Stanton, two men have been shot, but no one heard anything. What gives with that? People live at the marina. Do you think they were shot somewhere else and brought to the boat?”
He raised his eyebrows and gave me one of his looks that said yo
u know I can’t tell you anything.
“We have nothing to share publicly yet.” He paused, and his face softened a bit. “As you’re guessing, one possibility is they were killed elsewhere. You’ve probably watched enough television you can figure out what another explanation might be.”
I thought for a moment. “A silencer on the gun?”
The officer nodded. “That’s how a person can get shot with people nearby and no one hears anything.”
“That’s pretty high-tech, isn’t it?”
He shook his head. “It’s a piece of equipment. Unfortunately, guns and gun-related items are easy to buy if you know the right people.”
Rudy returned with his sales book. “I have two lists. One I have the date of sale, what was sold, and how much money I received. The other one is my description of the coins in order of their worth. I have been selling them for many years, so being able to look it up by fifty rubles will save a lot of time.”
“Good to know, Rudy,” Stanton said. “That might be helpful at some later point.”
Rudy flipped through a few pages and ran his finger down a neatly written list. “Not mine. You’ll need to check with Clay.”
“Okay. I’ll do that.” Stanton picked up his phone and put it in his pocket.
He sat back and rubbed his hand over his face. My dad did that at the end of particularly long days.
Stanton looked at the brothers. “Rudy and Ivan, I know all of this is difficult for you. I don’t know what’s going on, but I don’t believe you’re guilty of anything. Just want you to know that. You and the Silver Sentinels have done a lot for this community. I’ll do everything I can to get to the bottom of these murders as fast as possible.”
Gruff as he could be at times, I knew Stanton was fond of his crime-solving seniors.
“Thank you, Deputy Sheriff,” Rudy said.
Ivan nodded. “Yah.”
“Do you know yet when Rick died?” I asked.
“They still don’t have a definitive time of death. The first officers on the scene suspect he hadn’t been killed right before they got there, given how the body felt. We have reports of Rick being spotted around eleven in the parking lot headed toward the boats. We’re thinking between then and early afternoon.”
Murder at the Marina Page 15
