Fogbound: A Lin Hanna Mystery (19 page)

Sue continued
the story, “Today we visited with Mildred Fletcher.”
 
Winkler raised a knowing eyebrow. “She
told us that she’d always suspected Eustace of killing her daughter.
 
We learned that his grandson was Sara’s
boyfriend, the father of her child, presumably.
 
We thought that connection was
interesting and perhaps it might shed some light on his current behavior.
 
After all, it wasn’t too long ago you
believed he was the person who killed Peter Dunne and shot Ellie Clark. He did
confess to that at one point, even though he later denied any killings.
 
Didn’t you tell us he’d also confessed
to several other killings when all that was going on?”

 
Dave Winkler was clearly annoyed at
having to address this information.
 
He was barely civil when he responded. “Mrs. Fletcher’s feelings don’t
constitute proof in her daughter’s case,” Winkler was calm but still displayed
irritation, “There was no clear evidence then and there still isn’t.
 
What are you doing digging up that old
case anyway?
 
Besides, you both know
that Eustace’s confessions were tossed out of court.”

Sue was very
open with her interests.
 
She told
Winkler about the research she’d been doing for her book, about the information
she’d gathered, and the similar patterns she’d found in some of these
cases.
 
“The fact that Hinson,
despite his dementia, was claiming to have killed several people led me to
think you just might want to look into his current behavior.
 
Who knows, he might’ve been the one who
shot at our front door. I don’t think a family party is much of an alibi.”
 
Sue spoke calmly but clearly was
irritated herself.

“That’s another
case where there’s no clear evidence. Like I said earlier, maybe that was just
an accidental incident.
 
Maybe old
Eustace did get hold of a gun and do that.
 
Maybe he drove himself, although his license has been taken away.
 
Maybe he got someone to drive him.
 
I really don’t know.
 
All I know is I have no proof he’s done
anything at all.”
 
Winkler fairly
snapped out his words.

He leaned
forward, staring directly at Sue. “I’m telling you right now. Ms. Gray to stay
out of all this murder business.
 
I
know that the place where you said Eustace threatened you was near the scene of
one of those murders you’ve been talking about, but that case has been solved
and is closed.”
 
Sue started to say
something but thought better of it.
 
Winkler continued, “As for these other cases, for all you know we’re
still working on them, and anything you do could be considered interference
with law enforcement.
 
Dangerous
interference, I might add.
 
If there’s
a killer loose out there, you folks might well be the next target.
 
Our department is stretched thin as it
is, and we don’t have time to waste watching over busybodies who can’t mind
their own business.
 
Now, is there
anything else I can do for you folks?”

Neal rose,
barely concealing his own anger at their treatment by Winkler, “I believe Ms.
Gray also asked for an update concerning the recent shooting of two young
people, one of whom died.
 
What is
the status of that investigation?
 
We know that Stefan Kovich, one of your suspects, is currently facing
immigration charges.”

Winkler spoke
more calmly, but his face still betrayed his irritation. “Mr. Kovich is still
in jail.
 
He is likely to face
deportation. If that happens, he may or may not be required to face harassment
charges here at this time.”

“What about the
murder and assault charges?” Lin asked. “ I thought you were investigating him in
Ellie and Peter’s case.”

“I was,”
Winkler confessed, “but the DA isn’t willing to bring those charges at this
time.
 
Apparently the circumstantial
evidence isn’t enough to support the case, at least that’s what he says.”

“So whom are
you focusing on in that case now?” Lin asked.

“The case is
still under investigation, and that’s the only information I am at liberty to
disclose.
 
I can assure you we will
find the guilty party.
 
I think it’s
time for you folks to go and let me get back to work.”
 
He rose quickly and left the room.

“What’s gotten
into him?” Lin wondered as they left and returned to their car. “He didn’t act
that way when we first reported the incident at our home.”

“I’d say he’s
none too happy about my looking into these other cases,” Sue suggested. “That
makes me even more curious about them.
 
Why did he get so angry when we talked about the connections there?”

Neal didn’t say
anything during the drive back to the house, but when they arrived he went
straight to the kitchen to check on the grocery supplies. “Have you ladies
tried that grill out back here?” he asked.
 
“If it works, I’ll cook these steaks you have in the freezer.”

“It should
work,” Sue said.
 
“We’ve not used it,
but Frank showed me how to operate it and said it was fine.
 
It’s tapped into the gas for the house
so there’s no tank to fill or anything.”

“Great,” Neal
said.
 
“You ladies come up with a
couple of side dishes and I’ll do the grilling. Before that though, I feel the
need for a good stiff drink.
 
I’m
still zorked at the way that deputy treated you,” he admitted.

“ Me too, in
fact I don’t even want to talk about it right now,” Lin said. “All I want to do
is change into something more comfortable.
 
Then I’ll whip up some appetizers and a salad.”

“I’ll put some
potatoes on to start baking,” Sue offered, “and that should do it for dinner.”

Lin followed
Neal upstairs to change.
 
Sue put on
the potatoes and then did the same.
 
By the time Neal had made gin and tonics for the three of them, and Lin
had prepared a platter of crackers and cheese, they were more than ready to head
for the patio out back.

Gradually, Lin
felt herself relaxing, leaving behind the unpleasant feelings that accompanied
their visit with Deputy Winkler.
 
Finally, she felt like talking.

“I really don’t
quite understand why he became so angry at what we were saying,” she remarked.
“He didn’t act that way when he was out here taking our report at the time of
the shooting.
 
We’ve never seen him
react like this before.”

“I think Sue’s
talking about looking into all these unsolved cases struck a raw nerve with him
somehow,” Neal suggested. “Maybe he’s come under criticism or something because
of them.
 
He seems to be
frustrated.”

“Well, if he
thinks I’m going to stop looking into things, he’s got another think coming,”
Sue declared. “In fact, I’m more determined than ever to get some questions
answered.”

“I understand
how you feel,” Lin replied. “Mildred Fletcher and the other families who lost
loved ones deserve to have closure.
 
To see justice done.”

Neal was quiet
for a moment.
 
Then he reached out
and took Lin’s hand in his. “Just remember, Winkler is right about one
thing—whatever else you may think.
 
If there is a killer still out there, you could be in grave danger.
 
Both of you.”

They ate their
steak dinner on the patio, enjoying the beautiful sunset that painted the
gathering clouds in shades of deep orange and purple.
 
By the time they finished cleaning up
their dishes things were changing; they could hear distant thunder, and the
temperature was dropping.
 

“Guess the
weather forecast was accurate,” Lin sighed.
 
“I don’t think we’ll be taking any trips
to Mt. Mitchell or Virginia tomorrow.
 
Too bad, it’s my last day off until next week.”
 
She settled herself on the comfortable
sofa in the living room to enjoy the fresh coffee Sue had made for after
dinner.

“I heard that,”
Neal said as he came from the kitchen to join her and Sue, his own fresh cup in
hand. “I’m crushed that you’re disappointed at the prospect of a rainy day
spent at home, with me.”
 
There was
an unmistakable twinkle in his eye as he seated himself in a nearby easy chair,
placing his coffee mug on a side table. “I’ll just have to find a way to
entertain you, I suppose.
 
Could be
a challenge.”

Lin realized
that she had opened herself up for this.
 
She was clearly at a loss for a quick comeback this time.
 
Sue chuckled at her embarrassment.
 
“ Since when can two lovebirds such as
you not figure out what to do on a rainy day.
 
After all, I have to work a six hour
shift tomorrow—you’ll have the place all to yourselves—perhaps I
can suggest…”

Lin cut her off
before she could go further, “Okay, Okay.
 
That’s enough you two.
 
I’m
sure we’ll be just fine.
 
It’s
getting late so I think I’ll go up and take a shower.”
 
With that she headed for the stairs,
leaving Neal and Sue chuckling knowingly in her wake.

She’d just
finished lathering her hair with lavender scented shampoo when the bathroom
door opened.
 
Through the glass shower
door she saw Neal standing there.
 
He’d already shed his shirt and belt and was working on his zipper.
 
“I hope I’m forgiven,” he said as he
finally succeeded in dropping his slacks to the floor and stepped out of his
boxers.
 
“I just couldn’t resist teasing
you.
 
Can I come in?”

Lin eyed his
long, lean and totally naked body, her resistance clearly crumbling.
 
She opened the door to the shower and he
slipped in behind her.
 
He placed
his hands on her head, gently shampooing her hair.
 
Then he grabbed the bath gel and began
washing her body, gently scrubbing her from top to toe.
 
A deep warmth penetrated her, and she
couldn’t keep her hands off him—bathing him as he had her, observing he
was clearly aroused as was she.
 
He
pulled her toward him wrapping her in a wet embrace and kissing her deeply as
he reached to turn off the water.
 
Without a word he opened the shower door and grabbed a large bath sheet that
he placed around his shoulders and around her as well, wrapping their bodies
together.
 
He smiled, realizing her
desire matched his own, and snuggled her close as they stepped out onto the
warm bath rug.
 

“I’ll take that
as a positive.
 
I’m not in the
doghouse,” he smiled.

“Even if you
were, it was only temporary,” Lin grinned. “Now, I’d suggest we head for that
warm bed in there—before we end up on this cold, hard tile floor.”

***

It was well
past midnight when Lin awoke to the sounds of yet another thunderstorm rolling
by.
 
She could see the lightning
flashing through the curtains.
 
She
glanced at Neal lying beside her, still sleeping soundly.
 
She was quite wide awake and not likely
to go back to sleep right away; she decided to head downstairs for a late-night
snack.
 
When she got up, she
realized that the house was quite chilly.
 
She fumbled toward the closet to grab a warm robe, taking care to not
turn on a light.
 
She didn’t want to
disturb Neal.
 

She crept to
the hallway and flipped the light switch near the head of the
stairs—nothing happened. I guess we’ve had a power outage, she thought,
the
 
storm most likely.
 
She felt for the railing and carefully
descended to the main floor.
 
She
knew there were candles in a kitchen drawer, but it took her a few minutes to
find them in the dark.
 
Finally, she
had a couple of candles lit and placed on the table.
 
The kitchen seemed now like a quiet
refuge from the storm that continued to rage outside.
 

By the time
she’d made herself a half sandwich and poured a glass of cold milk, the thunder
had moved to a more distant location, and the rain seemed to have subsided a
bit.
 
Still, the lights were
out.
 
She’d gathered some more
candles and matches to take upstairs and was just sitting down to eat her snack
when she heard a noise outside—a shuffling sound coming from the
direction of the back door. She quickly blew out the candles, knowing that
their dim light would reflect in the glass door, making it impossible for her
to see outside. There was another shuffling sound, followed by a scrape like
something being dragged across the porch.
 
Lin wished the power were on so she could turn on the porch light.
 
Her heart was pounding and she was
having trouble breathing.
 
No, she
thought.
 
I can’t panic.
 
I’ve got to stay calm.
 
She was standing at the table, so she
grabbed the edge for support and forced herself to take several long, deep
breaths.
 
That clearly helped to
calm her.
 
She carefully made her
way over to the glass door and peered out into the rainy night.
 
At first she saw nothing, but, as her
vision adjusted to the darkness, she thought she could make out a form.
 
Someone seemed to be crouching on the
porch next to the wooden steps.
 
Whoever it was, was dressed in dark clothing and wearing a hood.
 
The person was working with some sort of
tool, but Lin couldn’t tell what it was or what the intruder was doing.
 
She certainly couldn’t make an
identification.

Gathering her
courage she rapped strongly on the door glass and yelled, “Get away from
here.
 
Get away now.”
 
The intruder stopped working with the
tool but didn’t move.
 
Lin was about
to yell again when a hand reached out and grabbed her shoulder.
 
Sue was standing beside her, one of
Frank’s shotguns in hand.
 
She
raised a finger for Lin to be silent and moved toward the door, cocking the weapon
as she went.
 
“Get the lock,” she
whispered.
 
“When I nod, open the
door fast.”
 
Lin could no longer see
the person on the porch, but all was quiet.
 
There were no sounds of movement or
work.
 
She did as Sue asked and
flipped the door lock as quietly as possible while clasping the knob.
 
Sue nodded.
 
Lin jerked the door open. At the same
moment Sue fired the weapon, and they heard the sound of someone scrambling
down the steps.
 

Try as she
might, Lin wasn’t able to see beyond the edge of the porch.
 
It was still raining and mist was
gathering in the woods beyond.
 
She
tried the switch but there was still no electricity.

“What’s going
on?” Neal appeared in the kitchen clad only in his boxers almost tripping over
the table in the darkness. “Who’s shooting?”

“Someone was on
the porch.” Sue said matter of factly.
 
“I’d heard Lin get up and come downstairs so I decided to join her.
 
I heard her yelling through the door for
the intruder to leave, so I got this 410 from Frank’s gun cabinet before I came
in.
 
Don’t know if I managed to hit
whoever it was, but they were at least scared off.”

Lin spoke up, “Whomever
it was seemed to be trying to do something.
 
They had a tool of some sort, I
think.
 
I heard a scraping sound and
shuffling around, but I couldn’t get a good look with the dark and the
rain.
 
Maybe our intruder is lying
out there somewhere, dead or badly wounded.”

“Not likely,”
Sue said. “This gun is designed for shooting at small game like squirrels.
 
I wasn’t trying to kill anyone, I just
wanted to scare whoever it was away. I wasn’t really aiming.
 
I might’ve hit him though—hope I
at least gave him something to remember—assuming it was a man.”

Neal was
starting to shiver in the cold from the still opened door. “Close that door
please.
 
I guess we’d better call
the sheriff.
 
Why doesn’t one of you
do that while I get some clothes on?” He headed for the stairs, fumbling in the
dark until Lin gave him a lit candle.

Sue reached for
the wall phone only to discover that it was as dead as the lights.
 
“I’m going upstairs to call from my cell
phone and I’ll probably get dressed while I’m up there.”
 
She placed the shotgun on the table and
lit another candle.

 
Lin decided to light several more.
 
She took a couple to the hallway and
living room and left two more in the kitchen.
 
Finally, she lit a small candle for
herself and headed upstairs with the others.

Half an hour
later, they were still without electricity.
 
One of the younger deputies, who’d come
out when they’d found the threatening note, responded to Sue’s call.
 
The four of them sat around the kitchen
table while he carefully took notes on what they reported.
 
He examined the shotgun while Sue
described what they’d done to scare away the intruder.

“Do you think
you might’ve hit the person?” he asked.

“I’m not sure,”
Sue said. “We did hear him scrambling down the steps so he was still on his
feet.
 
Whoever it was didn’t cry
out.
 
I wasn’t really aiming anyway.
 
I just wanted to scare the intruder away,
but I might’ve hit him—maybe did some damage.”

After taking
all the information, the deputy indicated that he was going outside to see if
there was any additional evidence. “I’ll check around the property to make sure
whoever it was is gone.
 
Wish there
were some lights, but I’ll do my best.”
 
He reached for the flashlight hanging from his belt.

“I’ll help,”
Neal offered. He took a large flashlight that they’d found in one of the
kitchen drawers and put on a jacket against the weather.
 
Lin watched the two men cross the porch
and saw them kneeling down to examine the steps where she’d seen their intruder
working with his tool.
 
Then they
disappeared from view as the growing mist enveloped them.
 

Sue picked up
the 410 and returned it to the gun cabinet.
 
The deputy had said there was no need for
him to take it in.
 
“I wish the
power would come back on.
 
I could
use a fresh pot of coffee.
 
It’s
almost four and I don’t think I’m going to be able to go back to sleep anyway.”

“I wish we
could cook some breakfast,” Lin said, as she poured out her milk, now warm, and
tossed her dried uneaten sandwich in the trash.
 
I never got around to eating the snack
I’d made.
 
I’m hungry now, and I’ll
bet Neal will be starving.”

“I know.
 
Nothing like a little excitement to stir
up your appetite,” Sue said.
 
Just then
they heard Neal and the deputy coming back up on the porch.
 
They were carrying two boards that
appeared to be part of the back steps.
 
Sue opened the door to let them in.

“Here’s what
our intruder was up to,” Neal spoke first. “He was loosening the boards on the
back steps with a crowbar, apparently in the hope that whoever went out first
would fall and injure themselves.
 
You could break a leg or arm or maybe get a back injury.”

“Not only
that.
 
There’ve been no power or
telephone outages in this neighborhood.
 
We saw lights down the road.
 
The lines to this house have been cut.”
 
The deputy had photographed the damage
that was done.
 
He sat down briefly
at the table to complete his report. “I’ve got the crowbar, but my guess is the
guy wore gloves.
 
We can test it for
prints anyway, just in case.
 
One
more thing…” he turned to Sue.
 
You
may have hit the intruder with that shotgun, but we didn’t see any evidence of
blood on the porch or steps.
 
Of
course, it’s been raining so, if there were any blood, it probably washed
away.
 
Anyway, we can alert the
hospital and clinics to notify us if anyone comes in for treatment.
 
That’s the best we can do.
 
I’ll come back or send someone after
it’s light to look for prints and tire tracks.
 
The rain may partially obscure them, but
it’s pretty soft out there so we may find something of use.”
 
He had them sign the completed report
and then he left.