Fogbound: A Lin Hanna Mystery (25 page)

“I know, Luke
Taylor,” Olivia replied, “but they never charged him.
 
I’m not sure about Luke—maybe…” Olivia
didn’t complete her thought.

“Do you think
Luke was guilty?”
 
Sue pressed
further.

“I can’t
say.
 
I really don’t know all the
facts, but I’ve heard that Luke’s grandpa, Eustace Hinson was a really mean
character.
 
Used to get into
arguments and fights all the time.
 
Even shot at people who came to his house a few times.
 
He was talked about around town.
 
Lots of folks think he killed Sara
Fletcher ‘cause he didn’t want Luke to marry her.
 
Course, the last year or so I’ve heard
his mind is going.”

“Do you think
he could’ve killed Bryan?” Sue asked.

Olivia was
thoughtful, carefully weighing her answer. “The visitors who described the man
they saw sitting in the park with a gun were pretty vague.
 
Just said it was someone dressed in
non-descript dark clothing and a hat.
 
The man was seated so they couldn’t determine height or anything.
 
When they got back from their walk,
Bryan was dead and the man was gone,” Olivia’s voice cracked with emotion.
 
She was close to tears. “I just know
that Eustace Hinson was a mean-spirited man. I wouldn’t put anything past
him—at least not in those days.”

By this time,
Olivia was crying.
 
Lin spoke as Sue
was finishing up her notes, “We realize this has been hard on you, reliving
these memories, but we really appreciate your sharing this information, and we
want to help if we can.”

“Yes, we thank
you for taking the time to talk to us and, if you think of any other
information—anything else Bryan knew or was worried about, we’d
appreciate your letting us know.
 
If
we find out anything more ourselves, we’ll certainly let you know,” Sue
said.
 
She gave Olivia one of her
cards.
 
The young woman had regained
her composure, and she rose to leave.

“Thanks for
talking to me, and thanks for looking into these things.
 
I’d really like to help, and I will call
you if I remember anything more,” Olivia offered.

“You’ve been
very helpful, and we’ll stay in touch,” Lin replied.

They said
good-bye to the young woman and headed back toward home.
 
It was close to midnight by the time
they’d unloaded their groceries and put everything away.

“It’s been a
long day,” Sue remarked as they headed upstairs, “too bad we’re not off
tomorrow.”

“True,” Lin
replied, “but it’s been an interesting day.
 
When you put Olivia’s thoughts about
Eustace Hinson together with what Mildred Fletcher said, you can’t help but
have concerns about the old man’s behavior.”

“That’s
certainly true,” Sue agreed, “I kept thinking about the fact that he confessed
to several killings when they had him under arrest.
 
Of course, Ellie was certain he wasn’t
the one who attacked her and Pete.”

“But that
could’ve been Stefan Kovich,” Lin said. “Maybe, Ellie and Pete’s case is
actually the one not related to the others.
 
Dave Winkler said the DA thought they
didn’t have a strong enough case against Kovich to bring charges, but that
doesn’t mean he didn’t do it.”

“You’re right,”
Sue admitted, “and Eustace could’ve been telling the truth about the other
killings—even in his demented state.
 
It was Ellie’s testimony that got him released.
 
Maybe, if these other cases could be
reopened… who knows?
 
Things might
turn out differently, especially if some additional evidence could be
found.
 
I think we should try to
find someone else to talk to in the sheriff’s office.
 
I don’t think Winkler will listen to us,
but someone else might.”

Lin thought for
a moment.
 
“We haven’t met anyone
other than those young deputies that have come out to our place earlier.”
 
She thought for a moment, “We do know Mark
Scott.
 
He’s a park ranger, but he
might know others in local law enforcement.
 
Maybe he could help.”

Sue agreed.
“That’s a place to start anyway.
 
Maybe we’ll see him tomorrow.”

The next day
brought a continuation of the nice weather and, even though it was a weekday, a
steady stream of visitors to the Cone estate.
 
Lin began the day in the bookstore while
Sue was walking the trail down to Bass Lake and back. She was glad their roles
would switch when Sue returned.
 
It
was a beautiful day, and Lin was eager to be outside.
 
Fortunately, time passed quickly as
visitors continued to shop for books and souvenirs.

About
ten-thirty Sue appeared, a bit flushed from the uphill walk back from the lake
but happy for the time spent outside.
 
“It’s a beautiful morning,” She said as she shed her hat and day pack,
“Give me a few minutes break, and I’ll relieve you.
 
You’ll enjoy being outside.”
 
She headed for the staff room in back.

Lin began to
count the receipts in the till to make sure things were balanced when Sue took
over.
 
Just as she completed this
task she saw Mark Scott enter the building.
 
She was almost sorry to be going out, perhaps
Sue would be able to talk to him.
 
Lin didn’t want to miss anything.
 

Sue returned
just as Lin was getting ready to leave.
 
Pat had suggested that she walk the trail that led past the stables,
under the Parkway, and out to the other side of the estate.
 
The graves of the Cones were there, and
it was a popular route for walkers.
 
She stopped briefly on the porch to speak with the head ranger before
heading out.
 
Just then Mark came up
beside her.
 
“Walking trails this
morning, I see.
 
Would you like some
company?”

“Sure,” Lin
replied, happy that Mark was heading her way.
 
She glanced back into the bookstore.
 
Sue smiled and nodded in her
direction.
 
Apparently she felt she
wouldn’t have a good opportunity to talk to him with so many visitors
around.
 
The bookstore was still
relatively crowded.

They left the
mansion and headed toward the stables where a group of visitors were preparing
for a guided trail ride.
 
Soon they
walked under the Parkway and emerged alongside a beautiful meadow just
beyond.
 
The sun was warm and there
was a light breeze.
 
The grasses and
wildflowers danced across the meadow and birds could be heard singing, both in
the meadow and in the woods nearby.

“It doesn’t get
any better than this,” Mark commented. “A perfect summer day for this area.”

“I have to
agree,” Lin commented. “I’m very happy to have the opportunity to be outside,
but I’m surprised there aren’t more folks out walking.” The carriage road was
almost deserted.
 
They’d passed a
couple of folks returning as they walked under the road but had seen no one
else.

“Those riders
will be along shortly,” Mark said, “but unfortunately, many visitors just stop
for the craft shop and miss all this.
 
We still need to be out here though.
 
If someone needed help, it could be a
long walk back, and they wouldn’t be missed unless they had a friend or family
member to report their absence.
 
These aren’t considered backcountry trails so there’s no registration or
anything.”

They strolled
along quietly taking in the beauty of the morning.
 
Coming up to a log bench, they paused
while the horseback riders passed.

“We’ll have to
watch our step from now on,” Mark grinned.

Lin smiled and
nodded.
 
She was contemplating how
she could approach the subject of the unsolved murders when Mark gave her an
opening. “Have you heard anything from Ellie Clark recently?
 
I hope she’s doing well.
 
I understand that they didn’t find
enough evidence to charge Stefan Kovich with killing that boy and wounding
Ellie.”

“Unfortunately,
that seems to be the case,” Lin replied. “I think the DA found that the
evidence pointing to his involvement was too circumstantial.
 
He didn’t think it was worthwhile.
 
It’s clear that he threatened Ellie, Sue,
and me too for that matter, but it seems the easiest thing to get him on is
violating the terms of his visa.
 
He’s awaiting a deportation hearing in Charlotte.
 
We haven’t heard anything yet, but he
will most likely be out of the country soon.
 
The last we heard, Ellie is doing fine,
making good progress with her recovery.”

“That’s good
about Ellie but too bad about the criminal charges,” Mark replied. “I saw some
of that evidence, and I understand that it is circumstantial, but I swear, I
think he’s guilty of murder and assault.”

Lin saw the
opening she wanted to bring up the other cases. “Sue and I would agree with you
in that case, but it seems that there’ve been quite a few unsolved murders
around these parts in the past few years.
 
This case seems headed in that same direction.”

Mark’s
curiosity was peaked. “I’ve only worked here for a few months,” he said. “It’s
my first law enforcement assignment, and, I’m afraid, I’ve not had much time to
read up on past cases.
 
Just keeping
up with the day-to-day takes almost all my time.
 
Tell me more.”

Lin briefly
outlined for Mark the basic information Sue had uncovered in her research for
her book, including the information they’d gathered in talking to Mildred
Fletcher and Olivia Lee.
 
By the
time she’d finished, they’d arrived at the Cone gravesite on a beautiful
hillside overlooking the estate.
 
Mark sat down on a nearby bench and Lin joined him.
 
She continued her story, as he seemed
quite interested, moving on to tell him about the things that had happened at
their home,

“At first we
assumed Kovich was behind the threat to us; however, he was out of the picture
when our front door was shot, destroying the vase, and when the intruder cut
our power and tried to sabotage our back steps,” she reported. “No one has been
arrested in either of those instances.
 
In fact, we get the feeling that the sheriff’s department isn’t doing
much to investigate those incidents.
 
Dave Winkler seems to think it’s all because Sue is poking into things
that are none of her business.
 
In other
words, it’s our own fault.
 
We think
he just wants us to leave.
 
Go home
and mind our own business.”

Mark seemed
troubled by what Lin had told him. “ It may be that Sue’s doing research and
making inquiries has raised someone’s ire, but it’s the job of law enforcement
to protect you.
 
It doesn’t sound to
me as if you folks have broken any laws.
 
Besides, it seems strange that there are so many unsolved murders.”

“We agree,” Lin
said. “The families of those victims deserve better.
 
They need to know that justice is being
done—that their loved ones haven’t been forgotten.
 
We realize that the information Sue has
uncovered doesn’t really prove anything, but it does suggest that these cases
need further investigation. We intend to try to talk to someone else about all
this.
 
In fact, we wondered if you
might know someone in local law enforcement that might be willing to help.
 
I, for one, think Dave Winkler is a dead
end.”

Mark was
thoughtful for a few moments.
 
He
seemed to be considering possible avenues they might pursue.
 
Finally he spoke, “You know, it’s
possible that at least some, if not all, of these crimes took place on parkway
land.
 
At least that is where the
bodies were found, and, it appears, no one has determined for certain that the
victims were killed elsewhere.
 
In
fact, it seems that very little has been determined about any of these unsolved
crimes.”

“It’s true that
the park service has limited resources and usually works with local agencies in
such cases; but, when investigations are completed and charges are brought, if
it has been determined that the crimes were committed on federal land, the
cases are brought in federal court.
 
The FBI can assume jurisdiction in such cases and aid in investigations
if need be.
 
I think maybe that’s
whom you should talk to.
 
Maybe the
FBI would look into these unsolved murders.”

Lin was excited;
she hadn’t thought that might be a possibility. “Do you know someone we could
talk to?” she asked. “It might not help, but it couldn’t hurt anything.”

“Let me check
on a few things, make a few calls.
 
I’ll let you know what I can find out,” Mark replied.

They continued
their walk for another half mile and then turned back toward the craft
center.
 
Lin could hardly wait to
share the results of her conversation with Sue.
 
Perhaps now, they might find someone
willing to help.

***

Both women were
quite busy for the remainder of their working hours.
 
Lin had no opportunity to talk to Sue
until they returned to their car shortly after three. Both were very tired and
were glad that the following day was a short one—they
 
were working only from eight-thirty until
noon.

They made good
on their promise to each other to finish their grocery shopping on the way
home.
 
Lin told Sue that she had
talked with Mark but saved the full story for later.

Arriving at the
house, they were more than ready to unwind.
 
They put up their food purchases and
decided to prepare a simple supper of soup and sandwiches later.
 
Lin prepared some crackers and cheese
and Sue opened a newly purchased bottle of Malbec as they headed for the patio
to enjoy the remaining evening hours.

Lin eagerly
related the substance of her talk with Mark; she was especially excited to
share his idea of checking to see if the FBI might have any interest in the
cases.

“I really
hadn’t thought of that as a possibility,” Sue remarked, “I hope Mark can
arrange something there.
 
It might
help to bring a third party into the situation; the feds only possible interest
would be public safety.
 
They would
have no reason not to examine every possible avenue.”

“I guess, we’ll
just have to be patient and give Mark the opportunity to check on this for us,”
Lin said, “Meanwhile, we have Luke Taylor coming over tomorrow evening.
 
Perhaps things will work out so we can
get him to talk about Sara’s death.”

“I hope so,”
Sue replied, “but I’m prepared to be patient there.
 
I want him to feel comfortable with us,
otherwise, he’ll just clam up and we won’t learn anything about what he thinks.
 
Besides, you want to get that desk
built.”

“Indeed, I do,”
Lin replied. That reminded her that she hadn’t spoken with Neal since the
weekend so she determined that she’d call him after dinner.

“There’s at
least one other case where I want to talk to someone, the death of Sandy Hill,”
Sue said.
 
She was the grad student
whose case was closed when the suspect they tracked to Florida was killed.
 
I’m still not convinced that he was
responsible for her death.
 
The news
accounts mentioned a fellow student named Jack Davis.
 
Apparently, he’d suggested that she take
plant photos in the general area where her body was later found.
 
I don’t think he was ever seriously
considered as a suspect, but he did provide information to the authorities.
 
I checked and found that he still lives
in this area.
 
He teaches Biology at
the local high school.
 
I’d like to
talk to him about the case, if he’s willing.”

“Do you have a
phone number?”
 
Lin asked.

“Maybe,” Sue
said, “there are three Jack Davises in the phone book.”

“Why don’t you
try to contact him?
 
We have plenty
of time tomorrow afternoon.
 
Perhaps
we could go by the school to talk to him, if he’s willing.”

The sun was
lowering in the western sky, promising a spectacular sunset.
 
Clouds were gathering on the horizon and
the light painted them in shades of gold and orange.
 
“Looks like our weather is about to
change again,” Lin commented as she gathered the remains of their wine and
snacks and headed toward the kitchen.

“You don’t even
want to know,” Sue groaned. “I checked Ray’s Weather site this afternoon, and
we’re facing about five or six straight days of rain, mist, and fog punctuated
by occasional thunder storms.
 
Should be lots of fun.”

Lin grimaced as
she contemplated this unwelcomed news.
 
Not only did the weather make working at the parks more difficult at
times, she had definitely developed a strong aversion to foggy days.
 
Some people might enjoy them, but Lin
didn’t like the feeling of isolation she had when they occurred, nor the eerie
feelings she experienced when sights and sounds were obscured or distorted.
  
It seemed to her that foggy days
and nights were far from cozy.