Coming Home (Norris Lake Series) (34 page)

There was a rapid beep as the coffee maker signaled it was finished.  The aroma of strong Irish coffee filled the room.  Jesse walked to the counter, pulled out two cups and poured them each a cup.  “Cream and sugar?” She asked. 

“Yes, both.”

They were finishing their coffee when the barking began again as Ranger heard a stranger pull into the driveway.  A few moments later a knock on the door startled them both.  “That must be Dominic. I’ll get it,” Ben said as he walked away.

He pulled open the door.  “Come on in.  We’re just having some coffee in the kitchen.”

“Good, I’d like some too.  It’s been a long day,” Dominic professed.

“Hello, Dominic.  You want a cup?”  Jesse inquired as the two men walked into the kitchen.

“Yes, please, lots of cream and extra sugar.”

Jesse made the coffee and passed the cup to Dominic.  Ben took his cup and went to the kitchen table.  Dominic did the same and then Jesse rounded the island and walked to the back door letting Ranger into the kitchen before taking a seat. The dog ran in to pay a visit with the guests licking each in succession.  Ben patted Ranger’s head and sent the dog on its way. 

“Hey boy,” Dominic said setting his cup down on the table.  “You happy to see me boy?”  He patted the dog’s head. 

“He likes you,”  Jesse said.

“Go figure a dog’s taste,”  Ben commented

“Dogs are a good judge of character,” Jesse insisted.

“That’s debatable,” Ben said.

“Okay that’s enough about my character.  Are we here to solve a crime or discuss my shortcomings?” Dominic declared.

“It would take too long to list your shortcomings so we might as well solve this crime,” Ben said somberly.

“Funny.  You’re just a comedian aren’t you?” Dominic frowned.

“Boys that’s enough,” Jesse said.  “Let’s pull our resources and see what we know.” Jesse shared what she knew once again with Dominic. 

“Now what do you have, big man?” Ben inquired of Dominic.

“I know that there were two men hired to scare the two women on the houseboat.  I translate that as rape and kill.  I found one of them. He’s being cooperative.”

“So how did you accomplish that or is that something I shouldn’t know?”

“You don’t want to know, Mr. Law, but believe me, he’s anxious to testify against his buddy.  The second man’s name is Jimbo.  I don’t have a last name.”

“I do.  It’s Smithson.  James Smithson.  He’s been in trouble before.  I’ll send a car by to pick him up.”

“He’s not there.”

”How the hell do you know?”

”I have my contacts to sheriff.  This guy doesn’t want to be found.  He
knows he’s screwed.  If you don’t find him Ben, my boys will.  If they find him first, you never will. ”

”Don’t threaten me, Dominic.”

”Stop it. Just stop it you two.  We are talking about the rape and murder of three women.  Put aside your differences for the moment and pay attention,” Jesse raged.

”Dominic, look at these items.” She showed him a photo from the website, the album, deed and diary.  Dom studied them all carefully. ”The website photo is Michael, he said after a few moments.  I know the guy personally and have been around him for years.  It’s not Stephen.  He has a legal claim to the condo project but is trying to buy Tarlington out.  There wouldn’t be a reason to pay for it if he has a legal claim.  It’s not me.  I don’t care about Tarlington’s condo project in the least. It’s not my area of expertise.  I wouldn’t know a backhoe from a front loader.   If Michael killed Beth, the murders of Sarah, Rodney and Caitlyn would ensure Michael’s secret was safe, but you can say the same thing about Stephen, if he took out Michael.  Curtis’ dead and so is Beth.  That’s all of the witnesses to what happened that night long ago.  It doesn’t take an Einstein to put it all together. ” 

”I can’t believe Michael would kill his own sister,” Jesse protested.

“And Sarah’s not dead. A group of hikers found her in pretty rough shape along the north shore.  She’s got some scaring and will need rehabilitation time but should recover eventually.” Ben explained.

”I can believe Michael would kill Cat.” Dominic affirmed.  ”I’ve heard the conversations over the years.  Caitlyn is perfect and Michael is the black sheep.  Robert drills that in to them with every exchange and every visit. The boy, even if he didn’t commit the murder, has got to feel the pressure.  Hell, even I feel it and I wasn’t even involved.” Dominic growled.

”It’s a possibility,” Ben said looking at Jesse.

”Yes, I suppose,” she agreed.  “Another cup of coffee boys?  We need to have a plan about where to go from here.”

“Yes,” they said in unison. She poured the coffee and they began to develop a way to draw Michael and Stephen into the fray. After about an hour of thought, they had a plan.

The phone chimed once and then twice.

“Hello, Kane,” Stephen answered.

“Stephen, this is Sheriff Kane.  I need to meet with you.  I think we have a solution to the Norris incidents that you will find fascinating.  Meet me tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. at the Tarlington residence.  Will you be there?”

There was a hesitation.  Ben waited.  “Yes, sheriff, I will be there.”

“Okay.  Thanks.  I will see you later.”  Ben hung up.

The phone chimed once and then twice, then a third time.

“Hello,” Robert Tarlington answered.

“Bob, this is Sheriff Kane.  I need to meet with you.  I think we have a solution to the Norris incidents that you will find fascinating.  You, Michael and Caitlyn need to meet me today at your place tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.  Will you be there?”

“Of course I’ll be there.  Where else would I be?” Robert said sternly.  “You be here, boy, to explain all of this.”

“Okay.  Thanks Bob.” 

“We have them both.  We’ll meet tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. at the Tarlington’s.  Be there.”  They touched their mugs together in a toast and finished their coffee. 

“To a successful resolution,” Jesse said taking a sip.

“Agreed,” Ben said.

“Jesus, what stupid toast,” Dominic said rolling his eyes.

Chapter 35

Late that night, Jesse logged into her chat rooms and continued to research.  There was something she couldn’t put her finger on.  She couldn’t believe that Michael was the type to kill his sister and didn’t think Dominic or Stephen were involved.  But what was left?  She logged on to another site and started to read about a religious sect of incredible power still active in east Tennessee.  It described a ritual sacrifice.  She opened a website the way Caitlyn had showed her and was able to sift through the police records finding information about Jenny’s death.  She kept looking. 

About 7:00 a.m. Jesse woke. She had been asleep with her face in her arms on the desk.  Sifting through her notes, it came to her.  She remembered the forgotten piece of the puzzle.  Papers flew everywhere as if a part of a snowfall.  Finally, she found the instructions Caitlyn had written for her the other night when they were trying to locate the perpetrator.  She typed in some codes and pressed enter.  The machine began to whir as it searched the internet far and wide. 

It was 9:00 a.m., and the program rested.  There was a flashing screen and at long last she knew who had committed the crimes but was unconvinced that she was right.  It couldn’t be.  If it was the person she suspected it would make perfect sense.  Feeling she’d finally finished her task, she shut down the computer. 

There was one more mystery to uncover.  Jesse walked over to her last box of unopened books and dug deep pulling out items that had lain below the photo album and diary.  In the bottom of the box was an old Bible that she had missed.  It was 8 x 10 with a white cover and gold etching.  She recognized it immediately from her childhood as the Bible her mother had read from at times and had written her notes in.  She took the book and walked over to the kitchen table dusting off the jacket with one hand.  She sat, opened the cover and found a genealogy of the Connellson family.  Reading through the handwritten notes, she stopped.  She read it again and then slowing closed the book.  She held it tightly to her chest and cried. 

“Sheriff, this is Jesse.  We have it all wrong.  Come over right now.  I did some more digging and I have some information for you.  We have to look at it before we meet tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.

“He got here before us,” Ben observed to Jesse seeing Dominic’s viper in front of the Tarlington house.  There was a fight in front of the residence.  They could see Dominic and Michael exchanging blows, Robert on the sidelines still in a cast was unable to help.  Caitlyn stood on the sidelines shouting for the men to stop helpless; to intervene would be pointless. 

Ben stepped in and Dominic who was swinging at Michael cold cocked Ben, knocking him to the ground.  Ben sputtering sat for a moment on the ground. 

“You’ll pay for that one, Dominic.” 

Behind Ben and Jesse, a silver jaguar appeared. Stephen got out of his vehicle and walked to the perimeter of the fight waiting for a winner.  Dominic, still in his suit, finished the fight with a final blow knocking Michael to the ground. 

“Stop, Caitlyn screamed at Dominic. Don’t hurt him”.  She went to her brother’s side standing between him and his attacker. 

“Ben,” she yelled.  “Do something.” 

“Caitlyn, Robert, you’re looking at the man who attacked you both.  Michael’s the one behind the fire, the threats, running you off the road and the rape,” Caitlyn crouched stunned at her brother’s side.

“It’s not true,” she shouted.  “There’s no way that my brother would do something like that.” 

“Michael is that true?” Robert inquired. 

“Not only is he responsible for those incidences, but he’s also responsible for the murder of Beth Kane many years ago.  I scoured records from the area and finally found a doctor who can confirm that Beth was pregnant at the time of her death.  Michael, it was your baby, wasn’t it?”  Ben asked. 

Michael didn’t say anything but sat there shaking off the beating. 

“Say something you fucking coward,” Dominic screamed lunging again towards Michael only held back by Stephen.

“Now, Dominic, let’s hear Michael’s side of this confusion,” Jesse mouthed.”

Shut up boy,” Robert Tarlington yelled, “You shut your mouth until we find you a

lawyer.”

“No, you shut up old man.  You just assume I am guilty.  Well, you’re right.  I am guilty.  I killed Beth.  I mean I didn’t literally kill her but she was going to have my baby.  I got upset because I knew I would disappoint you.  It was an accident.  I didn’t want to tell you that I had gotten her pregnant and she wasn’t willing to go for an abortion. We had a huge fight.  I let her run off into the woods and she died.”

“Stop boy.  Stop now.” Robert yelled.

“You can’t tell me what do to anymore.”  He turned to his father.  “You old bastard. You never did believe in me.  I didn’t kill Beth.  I knew I didn’t and you were just so sure I did!”

“Robert, Caitlyn, Michael, Dominic, calm down.  Everyone take a step back and be quiet,” Ben shouted. “I have the individual who not only killed Jenny but also tried to kill you Robert, Caitlyn and a few others.  He’s here in the back of my squad car.”  Ben walked to the bronco’s back gate and pulled it down. There lying on his side was a young man with brown hair in his late thirties.”

“Who is it?” Robert demanded.

“Stephen, come over here,” Ben insisted.  “Do you know this man?”

Robert, Caitlyn, Michael, Jesse, Stephen and Dominic followed Ben over and stood nervously around the tailgate of the Bronco.  Stephen looked confused and then a look of wonder crossed his face.  “I do know him.  I haven’t seen him since I was a teenager. In fact, the last time was the week after Beth died.”

“Come on, Ben, let us all in on your secret,” Dominic scowled and retorted. “I thought we determined that it was Michael that was behind all of this?”

“It was Michael, in a way.”

“Jesus, what kind of puzzle are you putting together?  I don’t like puzzles.  I want answers,” Robert demanded.

“This is Jeremy Kane.  Jesse put it all together last night, Dominic, after we left.  She called me and laid it all out.  It made sense and it fits the evidence,” Ben admitted. “Mighty fine police work, Jesse.” He turned to Jesse and gave her a thumbs up.

Ben, leaned across the tailgate and pulled a gag off of Jeremy’s mouth.  He then pulled the man out of the truck and stood him on his feet, his hands still cuffed behind his back. 

“Tell them what you told me, Jeremy,” Ben said softly. 

Jeremy turned to Robert Tarlington. “Why didn’t you die that night at the condos?  If you had died then maybe I wouldn’t have been forced to turn on your family…on Caitlyn.”

“No.” Caitlyn moaned.

“Yes, Caitlyn, you can just go die for all I care.  I tried to scare you off.  I wanted the condo project to fail.  I wanted your father to live in ruin, bankrupt and broken.  I tried to kill you because you were going to put that stupid project back on track.  If you had never come back, I would have been successful.  Your father and your brother ruined my family and my life. I hate you both and would have done anything to see you punished.  Stephen, my  brother, I did this for you. for us.  I made them pay. Can’t you see?

“Oh, Jeremy,” Stephen said stepping up in front of his brother. “I am so sorry about what I said the night Beth died. I was so confused and angry.  I didn’t mean to take it out on you.  I am so sorry.”

“Stephen, help me. I was trying to make it right.  Help me now,” Jeremy pleaded.

“I will, my brother.”

“Michael,” Jesse started.  “You didn’t have to buy the condo project.”  She turned to the group.  “None of you could.  Stephen is the rightful owner of the mountain from the condo project down to the caves at Point 19.  I have the deed here and a written account.”

Stephen stopped mid movement.  “You have what?”

“You heard me Stephen.  You are already the owner of the condo project.”

“How would you know, Jesse?”

“Because, Stephen, you were born of Mrs. Connellson years ago and adopted by Sheriff Kane.  Because, Stephen, I am your mother. My mother was Mrs. Connellson. The woman you thought was your mother. She and my father threw me out when I had you illegitimately.  I dishonored the family. They took you to raise and wouldn’t let me come back.  Years later, I married Thomas James.  You, Stephen, are my son.  I have a Bible and written documentation. Ben has seen it.”

Stephen looked at Ben.  He nodded.  Ben said, “she’s right Stephen.  You are the rightful owner and she is your mother.”

“Hell, even I can see the resemblance.” Dominic chimed in, “and I don’t know the history of this except what I have read.”

“You can’t be right.  I own that land,” Robert protested.

“No, your ancestors took it, but you didn’t have the right to do it.  The land was deeded to Ms. Connellson without attachments by the U.S. government in exchange for the development of the TVA damn.  The people who owned this land before the river flooded their settlement had the government deed it to them in perpetuity so no one else could take it from them, not taxes, no encroachments.  I’ve seen the documents and showed them to my attorney as a favor to Jesse.  The land belongs to Stephen as the sole heir of the settlement.  Your great grandfather didn’t have the right to take Ms. Connellson’s land in the first place.  That makes your claim null.” 

“Damn it, I want to see those documents myself and show them to my attorney,” Robert protested.

“You’re welcome to do that,” Jesse agreed. She turned to face Robert Tarlington’s ashen face.  “Robert, I am sure we can come to some agreement beneficial to the both of us.  I don’t want to see you and your family come to any harm.” 

Robert nodded his head.  “Thank you, Jesse.” 

Jesse turned back to her son and stood there waiting for a response.

Stephe
n’s knees buckled and he sat heavily on the ground with his head in his hands.  “You’re my mother?  I thought my mother died years ago.  My parents were John and Marie Kane.  They adopted me and they are my real parents.  You never came to find me.  How can you say you’re my mother?”

“I am sorry Stephen.  My parents took you from me when I was 13 and told me never to come back.  I knew I couldn’t take care of you. I didn’t have a choice but to let them have you.  Truthfully, I thought you were better off with them, regardless of their religious convictions.  At least you would have a home, food and clothes.  I couldn’t even give you those.  It took me years to get on my feet.  Finishing high school and then college were lifetime achievements for me.  Until I married, I had no one to rely one; no family at all.  Those were hard years, Stephen. 

I sent you packages for your birthday and letters but no one ever responded.  Eventually, I went to an attorney and he told me that I had given up my rights.  There was no hope to get you back and you couldn’t look for me until you turned nineteen.  I hoped that you would come looking for me.  Sadly, you never did.  I don’t blame you.  I know now that my parents never told you that you were adopted.  I didn’t even know that my mother died and that Sheriff Kane had taken you in.  But don’t forget, I always loved you.  I never stopped wanting you.”  Jesse cried.

Stephen stopped and then stood and walked to Jesse enveloping her in his arms.  “My own mother. I still have a family.”  He hugged her close.

Ben stood on one side of Jeremy holding his arm solidly, “You are under arrest, boy.  Take a seat here on the ground.”

“You can’t prove anything.  There were no witnesses.” Jeremy protested

“Maybe, but I can make you stand trial.  That will be enough for most of the townsfolk and will shift the level of blame from Stephen and Michael to you.  I also have some information that you may be involved in the disappearances of some local women. I have DNA evidence that you had intercourse with Jenny before she died.  That points the finger at you for her death,” Ben admitted. 

“So what about Beth?” Stephen asked Jeremy.  “Did you kill her?”

“It was an accident.  I found her in the woods.  She’d been fighting with Michael.  I think I about scared her to death and she passed out.  I carried her to a nearby cave, you know the ones we played in as children.  I left her there and went back to look for her friends but they were gone.  When I got back to the cave, she was awake but crying as if her heart were breaking.  I told her I would go get Dad and she started screaming at me.  I don’t know what happened next.  It was like I snapped inside and was watching myself from outside my body.  I started shaking her to get her to shut up.  She kept screaming.  Then I hit her head on the cave wall,” he paused and put his head down looking at the cuffs on his wrists. “She just stopped screaming and didn’t wake up again. I realized what I had done and moved her as far back into the cave as I could.  I knew they wouldn’t convict you or Michael if they couldn’t find the body.  Then I went home.  You were so miserable and so were mom and dad.  I couldn’t tell any of you what I had done. I had to get out of there so I left town.”