Moonshine Murder [Hawkman Bk 14] (22 page)

"You're not sure about all this, are you? I get the feeling you don't like it much.” She laughed, then gave her pet a loving stroke across her head. “Don't worry, it's only for today.” Pulling up the extra chair to the side, she pointed. “There's yours."

The cat jumped down onto the seat and immediately curled up. Jennifer went to the kitchen and fixed a glass of cold water and brought it to the computer table. She booted up the machine, then made herself comfortable.

Hawkman didn't have any idea if this Moss Atkins would appear today, or at what time, but figured he'd make a run before the tavern opened at five. So Jennifer settled in for the long haul. She wrote on her latest book for a couple of hours and just as she hit the printer key to print out a chapter, she spotted a deep green colored pickup with a fitted cover over the bed, turn onto the bridge. She'd never seen the vehicle before. Most people on the lake had black Fords, but this looked like a Chevy. She hurried to the kitchen window with her binoculars, and focused on the man's face. Even though he wore a ball cap, she could tell it was Moss Atkins by Hawkman's description.

Writing down the time, she happened to glance outside again, just as Tami drove by. “Wow, I almost missed her,” she said aloud.

She thought it odd Tami would be coming so close behind Atkins, almost as if she knew he'd be going to the Hutchinson place. Jennifer tapped her chin with the pen, and wondered why Tami would even be going there. Maybe she got paid for each sale, and wanted to make sure she didn't get screwed.

Jennifer made a call to Hawkman. “Moss Atkins just went by with Tami following close behind. Why would she be tailing him?"

She listened for a moment, then nodded. “I thought as much."

After hanging up, she went back to her computer and checked the time. Hawkman figured Atkins would be there about an hour if Jeb had the whiskey ready, otherwise, he'd be out sooner. Keeping her gaze on the bridge, in a little over an hour she spotted Atkin's pickup traveling back toward town.

Jennifer kept a close eye on the rode, thinking Tami would follow, but she never appeared. Doubting Beth had welcomed the woman with open arms, Jennifer wondered if by some chance, she'd gone out the back way.

Hawkman soon arrived, and Jennifer told him the time Atkins had come and gone, then told him about Tami never coming back.

"Do you think she went out the back way?” she asked.

"I doubt her car would make it over the rough trail from the cabin to the road. She'd hit bottom, or wreck the underside. You probably just missed her.” Hawkman said.

"I'm sure I didn't, but I can't believe she'd still be up there."

"Maybe she collected her money, and left sooner than Moss."

"I did run to the bathroom right after she went by, but surely she didn't do a turn around that fast."

"Did you take a book with you?"

Jennifer laughed. “No."

"Maybe Beth invited her for dinner."

She rolled her eyes. “Not unless she had it in mind to poison her."

"Now that's a thought."

Wrinkling her forehead, she scowled. “You're not amusing."

"You started this dialog."

"I think we'll end the subject of Tami Spencer. She must have snuck by me."

Hawkman raised his hands. “Fair enough."

"Let's talk about Moss Atkins."

"Why him?"

"If the law catches these guys selling moonshine, will they shut them down?"

"I doubt it, if it's their first offense selling hooch. They'll probably give them a stiff fine and warning."

"So you're telling me the authorities will be tougher on Jeb than the taverns?"

"Yep, because he's making and selling it. The state gets no taxes from his business."

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Saturday morning, Randy could hardly wait to get outside on his bike. He threw on his jeans, tee shirt and light jacket, then charged out the door. Earl and his dad had ridden the horses off on a hunting trip, so he knew he wouldn't be bothered. He jumped on the two-wheeler and rode in the area close to the cabin, but soon found it boring. The idea struck him to go see Mr. and Mrs. Casey.

He started down the path and almost gained the road when a flash of light to his left grabbed his attention. Skidding to a stop, he could see the sun rays striking something metal or glass, so he decided to explore. Riding toward the glare he soon saw a car parked in a grove of trees. As he approached, he recognized the vehicle as Tami's beige Toyota.

"What the heck?” he mumbled.

When he reached the car, he rode to the driver's side and hopped off his bicycle. He could see Tami's form through the window. Her eyes were open, so he knocked on the glass.

"Hey, Tami, are you okay?” he called.

When her fixed stare didn't change, nor her body move, he yanked at the door handle trying to force it open, but found it locked. Running around to all the doors, he discovered they were secure and the windows closed tight. He noticed she'd still not moved, nor had her fixed gaze changed. When he spotted the ribbon around her neck, which looked like one his mother used to tie back her hair, his stomach churned. He put his hand to his mouth, and backed away.

Hawkman went outside to turn the sprinklers on the front lawn when he spotted Randy coming down the street riding his bike much too fast. The boy skidded onto his driveway and almost slid sideways on the gravel.

"Hey, Randy, slow down. You're going to hurt yourself.” When he got a good look at the boy's face he saw fear in his eyes. “What's the problem?"

Randy jumped off his bike and grabbed Hawkman's arm. “I'm sure she's dead. I'm really scared."

"Who?"

Jennifer had been standing at the kitchen sink, looking out the window when she saw Randy frantically hop off his bike and grab Hawkman. She sensed something wrong, and stepped out the front door.

Hawkman pointed toward the entry. “Why don't we go inside and you can tell us all about it,"

Randy nodded, while wringing his hands. “I don't know what to do."

"Maybe we can help."

Jennifer took a soda from the refrigerator, popped it open and placed it in front of Randy as he climbed upon the bar stool. His hands shaking, he took the can and swallowed a big gulp.

"Thanks."

"What's got you so frightened?” Jennifer asked, as she stood at his side.

Hawkman walked around the kitchen bar, sat down, and studied the boy.

"She's in her car and I couldn't get her to answer, but her eyes were open."

Jennifer put a hand on his shoulder. “Start at the beginning."

Randy looked up at her. “You mean from when I got up?"

"Yes."

"Okay. I had breakfast, then went outside and got on my bike. I rode around close to the cabin for a long time, then decided to head for the road. About halfway, I saw the rear end of a car off the path and thought someone must be having car trouble, so I pedaled over to it. That's when I recognized Tami's car."

"Then what happened?” Hawkman asked.

"I could see the outline of her head from the rear, so I went up to the driver's side and thought she was asleep, but when I knocked on the window, she didn't answer. That's when I saw her eyes were open and she was just staring into space. I tried to open the doors, but they were all locked."

Jennifer shot a look at Hawkman, then back to Randy. “Did you tell your mom?"

Randy shook his head, and tears welled in his eyes. “No, I was too scared, cause I could see a ribbon around Tami's neck that looked like the ones my Mom uses to tie her hair back. I figured she must have killed Tami. I didn't know what else to do, but come straight down here to you guys."

Hawkman stood. “Let's not jump to conclusions. I want you to show me where you found Tami's car. We'll go in my vehicle. You can leave your bike here."

Climbing off the stool, Randy, his head bowed, with shoulders drooping, went out the front door, followed by the Caseys. Hawkman moved Randy's bike to the garage, then they all climbed into the Cruiser. The boy remained quiet until they turned off the road onto the well-beaten path to the cabin.

"Her car is down there,” he said, pointing to a cluster of trees.

Hawkman made a sharp right and as he approached the saplings, he could see the reflection off the rear of the Toyota Corolla. He pulled to a stop several yards from the car. “You two stay here. I'm going to have a look.” He turned to Randy. “Tell me, when did you discover this?"

"Just before I came to your house."

Leaving Jennifer and Randy, he strolled toward the car. Not touching anything, he peered into the driver's window. The boy was right, Tami Spencer was definitely dead and a ribbon was wrapped around her neck. He hurried back to the vehicle. “I've got to call the police."

Randy began to sob. “They'll take my Mom away."

"We don't know that will happen, so try not to worry about it right now."

He drove quickly back home, and called Detective Bud Chandler in Yreka. After hanging up, he turned to Jennifer. “They're on their way. I told them to come to our house and I'd take them to the car. The coroner is also coming. You and Randy stay here. We'll take this one step at a time."

In less than an hour, two police cars pulled into the driveway. The coroner's wagon and tech van parked off the street in front. Hawkman walked out and met them.

When the officer stepped out of the first patrol vehicle, Hawkman knew he was not a person one would mess with. He estimated the man at six foot tall, two hundred pounds of brawn with no fat. A ruddy complexion with sandy colored hair made his blue eyes really stand out. He held out his hand. “I presume you're Tom Casey?"

"Yes."

"Detective Bud Chandler.” The two men shook hands. “Detective Williams from Medford, Oregon, told me to expect a call from you. However, he said it would have something to do with bootlegging, not bodies."

"It still might connect to booze running. However, I didn't think it would go this far."

The detective gestured toward the patrol car. “Hop in and show us what you found. We can go over the other parts of the story later."

Hawkman climbed in, and directed them to Tami's car. They parked several yards back from the Toyota and on foot approached the vehicle from the front. Once the technicians examined the area around the car, took many photos and made impressions of the footprints they found on the ground, they dusted for fingerprints on the handles of the car.

"You'll probably find bike tire tracks, kids foot prints, along with mine, child's prints on all the doors, as a young lad found the car and tried to get inside to help the woman, but found all the doors locked,” Hawkman said.

One of the technicians nodded and jotted down some notes on a clipboard. “How old is the boy and was she alive when he found her?"

"He's about ten years old. I don't think the woman was alive from his description. When I came to verify his story, she was definitely dead. The boy is at my house and I'm sure the detective will want to get his statement."

Soon the coroner examined the body in the car, then took many pictures, as the techs visually examined the inside, then told the detective, they'd need to take the vehicle in to the lab. He put a call in through his radio. Once the coroner finished his inspection, they put the body on a gurney and wheeled it into the wagon.

"From my surface appraisal, it appears the woman died due to strangulation, and she's been dead approximately twelve to twenty-four hours. I won't know for sure until I do an autopsy.'

Once they'd loaded the body, the coroner left. Soon the technicians approached Chandler. “Have this area corralled off. I think we've covered everything, but we might need to come back and check it out again."

After the tow truck came and placed the car on the rack, the detective had his men yellow tape the area. He stood next to Hawkman as he watched the two officers fasten the ribbon around several trees. “Those technicians are so good, they usually don't miss a thing. However, if they want me to fence it off, we fence it off.” He pointed behind them. “I noticed a car path going north. Where does it lead?"

"The Hutchinsons. They live on this property."

"Okay, we better pay them a visit."

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Hawkman directed the officer on how to get to the cabin. The other patrol car followed.

"What do you know about this family?” the detective asked Hawkman, as they drove over the rough terrain.

"More than I have time to report right now."

"Does that mean you'll be coming into town to give me a statement?"

"Yes, I'll be there tomorrow."

The detective smiled. “This should be interesting."

"Believe me, it will be."

When they got to the Hutchinsons, Chandler motioned for the officers in the other car to stay put. Hawkman followed him to the entry, while eyeing the building containing the still and noticed the padlock, although locked, dangled loosely from the handle. Beth opened the door and her eyes widened at the sight of Hawkman.

"Is Randy okay?"

"Yes, he's at my place with Jennifer. He'll be home later."

She frowned. “What's going on?"

The detective showed his badge. “Are you Mrs. Hutchinson?"

"Yes."

I'd like to ask you some questions. May we come in?"

She stepped aside and gestured for them to come inside.

Chandler took a notebook from his pocket. “Do you know Tami Spencer?"

"Yes."

"How long?"

"We've been friends for years."

"When was the last time you saw her?"

"A couple of nights ago. Why?"

"We found her dead body in a car on this property."

Beth put her hand to her mouth, stepped back, and clutched her waist. “Oh, my God!"

"Who else lives here?"

"My husband, baby and two sons,” she said, her voice cracking.

"One of those sons is with Mrs. Casey. Where's the other boy, and how old is he?"

"He's sixteen and with his dad hunting."

"When do you expect them home?"