Kentucky Murders: A Small Town Murder Mystery (27 page)

Zack showed Agent Simpson the playhouse, where they had found the footprints at the back corner of the house, and the back doorjamb where they had broken in.

As they entered the door, the agent stopped and inspected the hinges, leaning in close to the door. “Smell that?”

“What?”

“Fresh oil on the hinges.” She ran her finger along the screen door hinges. “Here,” then she swung open the wooden door and reached in the crack at the door jam, “and here.”

“The hinges are freshly oiled. What about it? The victims probably did it.”

She reached into her pocket and removed a clear plastic bag with several Q-tips inside. Removing the Q-tips, she rubbed them on several areas of the hinges and placed them in the bag, then returned the bag to her pocket. “I’ll bet you don’t find any oil like this in the house. If I’m right and we eventually find these killers, there’s matching oil in their vehicle or home. It’s probably a small spray can.” She entered the kitchen. “Little things like that come in handy at trial. This also means these guys weren’t messing around. How many run-of-the-mill burglars or druggies are that careful?”

Zack was impressed. Even his investigator, if you could call her that since this was her first murder investigation, didn’t notice the fresh oil. Maybe this FBI agent’s experience and her resources back at the office could make this case easier for him. And maybe he could learn something along the way. As he followed her through to the next room he tried to remember her first name?
Tina? Yeah, that was it.
She was not only attractive but smart too. He caught himself again.
Stop it man. “
Sorry, Kate,” he murmured.

“What was that?” she said, stopping and turning to him.

“Nothing, just need to call my wife when I get a chance. It’s okay.”

They continued up the stairs and checked out the second floor. She found several other possible pieces of evidence including a few hairs that looked to be from a Caucasian, rather than a black person. She bagged the hairs and a few other tiny items and they went back outside.

“Doesn’t look like they gave us much to work with. That’s enough for now. Let’s get back to your office and I’ll get all this evidence, along with the items you found, off to our lab. We’ll also see how it’s going on the victims’ background checks and if any other possible suspects have shown up.”

“I’ve got one of my guys looking into our victim’s former convictions when he was an ADA. But we appreciate any help you can give us.”

As they walked back to the car she spoke up again. “I checked our files before I left the office and didn’t see any recent activity of any hate groups operating in the area. Have you heard of anything like that around here?”

“No. I was surprised to see that swastika. I don’t know what to tell you.”

“I have an idea,” said agent Simpson. “I’ll tell you in the car.”

They approached the car and climbed in. Zack started the engine and they left the crime scene behind.

---

As Donnie pulled up in front of Lee’s trailer he spotted him waiting in the driveway under the carport. He had a military duffel bag with him. He opened the side door of the van and tossed the bag inside. He closed the door and came around to Donnie’s open driver’s window.

“You stole a van? It looks just like yours.”

“Hey, I like vans.”

“Okay, here’s the plan.”

Donnie sucked in a breath.
Finally
.

Lee looked down for several seconds before looking back up and speaking. “Follow me out to the lake and we’ll stage my truck for later. Then we’ll go to Social Services and wait until it gets dark at around five forty-five or six. All the day shift employees should be gone by then which will leave only the guard and one or two others. I’ve got masks, the shotguns and some of those plastic tie-ties in the bag. I also have a bottle of chloroform my cousin got for me from the clinic he works at. We go in, tie up whatever employees are still there and grab the kid. We’ll knock her out with the chloroform. I talked to the money guy. Once we have her, we call him and he’ll tell us where to deliver her. Then we ditch the van, pick up my truck, and get our money for the girl.”

“That’s your plan? Shit, I could have come up with that.”

“Yeah, well. We just need to get this thing done and over.”

“No shit.”

“And don’t shoot anyone. I mean, unless you have to.”

Lee climbed into his truck and drove out of the driveway a minute later. Donnie followed.

---

They pulled into the hard packed gravel parking lot filled with pickup trucks and chopped motorcycles. Zack took a spot near the rather bland looking dark building made of cinderblocks painted dark brown. Above the front entrance hung a flashing red, white, and blue florescent sign reading
Johnny D’s
in two foot letters.

“It's only late afternoon and the place is packed.” Tina chuckled and shook her head as she got out of the car.

“Yeah these boys like to get an early start on their drinking.”

“Do you think these guys would recognize you?”

“Possible, but I doubt it. Unless I’ve arrested them. I doubt if they’re voters. Although, I did work in a nearby factory for a few years.”

“Okay. If they do recognize you, we just ask our questions and see what we can get. Otherwise, we’ll have a beer and observe for a little while. You just follow my lead. When it’s time, let me ask the questions.”

They walked to the black front door and opened it.

“You’re the boss.”

Inside they found smoke, county rock, and darkness. They had to pause for a few seconds until their eyes adjusted. A topless, g-string clad blond slowly maneuvered around a pole on a small stage. Zack couldn’t tell if she was bored on drugs. Probably both.

Tina pointed to a booth in a corner and Zack followed. No one seemed to notice them.

She sat first and he slid in next to her. He hadn’t been this close to her before. She wore some sort of perfume that Zack found very sexy. He forced himself to look away and scanned the bar.

“I don’t see any skinheads or guys wearing sheets with pointed hats,” he said, smiling.

“A little white supremacist humor?” She shook her head.

He shrugged.

A waitress approached. She wore Daisie Duke’s, a tied off shirt exposing her four pack and most of her breasts. “What can I get you?”

“Two draft beers.”

Without asking what kind, the waitress walked off.

“Looks like mostly biker types.” She thought about the guy from McDonalds and wondered if he would show up.

“So what now?”

“Relax. We wait, observe, and drink our beer.”

The drinks arrived a few minutes later.

“What exactly are we looking for?”

“First we look to see how they react to a white guy with an Asian woman. If nothing happens, we’ll ask the bartender a few questions.” She took a swig of her beer.

Zack drank his beer and continued to scan the room.

“Put your arm around me.”

He looked at her.

“Come on. We’re under cover.”

Reluctantly, sort of, he complied. Her hair was silky smooth. She had left her jacket in the car and unbuttoned several shirt buttons to play the part. She’d also removed the band holding her hair and it now hung freely over her shoulders. Now, he really hoped no one recognized him.

Ten minutes passed and nothing happened.

Finally, Agent Simpson finished her beer, buttoned her shirt and slipped out of the booth. “Come on.”

They went to the far end of the bar and motioned for the bar tender to come over.

Fifty-something, blue jean and tee shirt clad, he moved down to them.

“What you need?”

Tina took out a badge and spoke low so others couldn’t hear. “I'm with the FBI and this is the County Sheriff.”

“I thought I recognized you, Sheriff. I voted for you. What you doing? Got a little slant-eye on the side?” He winked.

“We’re investigating a murder.” Tina ignored his comments. “Anyone come in here bragging about killing some blacks?”

“Shit, hell no. Just because a guy rides a bike or drives a pickup doesn’t mean he’s a bigot. This is my place. I’m a retired Marine. I wouldn’t put up with scum like that in here. I heard about the murders.”

“Any ideas of who might have done it?”

“None of the locals would burn a cross or any shit like that. And I know pretty much all of them. Hell, some of our best customers are black.”

“Any other groups in the area you know of?”

“No. And I would have heard.”

Agent Simpson took out a card and handed it to him. “You hear anything, call me.”

“Hell, might call you even if I don’t.” He winked.

The FBI agent chuckled just slightly and headed for the door. Zack followed.

Outside, Zack said, “You believe him?”

“Yeah, I do. Let’s head back to town.”

Chapter 16

Back at the office Zack and Agent Simpson handed the evidence bags over to Rachel. Agent Simpson stepped up. “Did they call the number we gave the other deputy?”

Rachel nodded. “I spoke with your guy Joe myself. I’m on it.”

Zack looked into the faces of his four deputies. They seemed to be waiting for his next command. Normally first shift would be wrapping up and Zack and they would be heading home soon. Not tonight. They had a murder to investigate.

“You two,” Zack pointed at the two day shift deputies. “Go to the locker room and get cleaned up, then get something to eat. You’re on short notice standby in case we need you later.”

They disappeared down the hallway.

He turned to the others. “Have we found the girl’s family members yet?”

“We have the name, address and phone number of her Aunt in Chicago, but so far we haven’t gotten a hold of her.”

“Did you contact Chicago PD?”

They looked at each other. “We were just about to.”

“I think I’d like to talk to this girl,” said Agent Simpson from behind Zack.

He turned. “I can take you over there, Agent--”

“Call me Tina. Looks like we’ll be working together for a while. I’ll call you Zack, if you don’t mind.”

“Sure, Tina. Should we take my car?”

“Tell you what. Write down the directions and I’ll head over there. I’ll need to find a hotel later anyway. Looks like I’ll be here a few days.”

“Okay, I check on a few things here, and then I’ll meet you there in about thirty minutes.”

As she walked to the parking lot a few minutes later, the directions written on a piece of paper in her hand, she paused and looked back. Zack waived. She smiled back, got into her vehicle and pulled away.

---

Kate looked at her computer screen and saw the time was after five. Normally she would have left for home by now, but tonight was different than most nights. Jimmy must be getting hungry. Like his dad, he was always hungry.

She stood and left her office for the community room. Jimmy and Sharnita sat in front of the television watching cartoons. Her coworker looked relieved to see Kate. She probably wanted to head home too. Jennifer, the night shift social worker had just arrived and would soon be taking over attending to their guests for the evening.

“Hey kids. It’s time for Sharnita to meet my friend, Jenny. She’ll be fixing her some supper and taking care of her tonight.”

Jimmy and the girl stood and walked toward Kate. A look of concern crossed the girl’s face. As the dayshift girl left the room she called out, “Good night kids. See ya, Kate.”

In the hallway they met up with an older African American man in uniform, the night shift security guard. “Kate.” He nodded and turned to her son. “Hey, Jimmy.”

“Hi, Charles.” Jimmy had met him several times before.

“This must be our guest,” he said. “Hi little girl. What’s your name?”

Sharnita looked at him but didn’t speak.

“She’s not very talkative right now. This is Sharnita.” Kate ushered the kids down the hallway. “It’s dinner time.”

“Okay, I’ll be here if you need me, honey,” called Charles as they walked away.

Kate waved to the last of the other dayshift employees as they left the building. “Let’s go to the kitchen and see if dinner is ready. Maybe we’ll just eat here, Jimmy. I’m sure Daddy will be working late.”

“Yeah. Can we have hotdogs, Mom?”

---

Dusk approached as they watched a group of employees climb into their cars and drive away from the Social Services building. “It’s getting dark, let’s go.” Lee reached for the duffle bag.