Sandrift: A Lin Hanna Mystery (19 page)

“True, but I
think you’re right that if she were bouncing from tree to tree she would have
some other frontal bruises—not just on her arms and shoulders.”

At that moment
Lin remembered something else.
 
She
was reviewing the photos she had seen in her mind, and her thoughts focused on
the strange bruise or scrape on Dorrie’s upper arm.
 
She described it to Neal, “Did you
notice that? What could have made that?”

Neal was thoughtful
for a moment, then he suddenly jumped up and raced downstairs, “Back in a
minute,” he called.

When he
returned, he had the small wire-covered box they had found on their walk when
they had gone to Nags Head Woods and revisited the place where Dorrie had been
found.

“I forgot all
about this,” he said. “This bait box, or whatever it is.
That
bruise
or scrape looks like this thing, an oval shape and wires across,
could’ve made it.
 
Maybe when she
fell she landed on this.
 
We did
find it in the mud there.”

“You mean,
Sparky found it,” Lin smiled recalling how muddy the dog got.

“Yeah, yeah,”
Neal agreed, “but I forgot all about it.
 
Maybe we should give it to Ken.
 
It might not mean anything but who knows.”

 
“You’re right, it’s probably not
significant, but we should let him decide that. I’ll take it by the station
tomorrow sometime; you’re going to be tied up with the archeological team.”

 
Lin was secretly happy to have the chance
to talk to Ken once more.
 
She was
increasingly sure that whatever Dorrie did on Friday, after her evening with
Billy, could be important.
 
She
hoped she could persuade him to look further into her activities.
 
Was she simply hung over and trying to
shake it off on a walk or did she go anywhere else or talk to anyone before going
to Nags Head Woods?
 
Lin realized
that finding another witness to Dorrie’s activities might confirm what her
physical state was just before her accident.

 
Lin realized that Neal had already left
the kitchen while she wasn’t paying attention.
 
She checked all the doors and windows
before heading to the master suite upstairs.

Neal was in the
office, hunched over his laptop.
 
The strange little bait box, or whatever it was, was sitting on the
desk.

“I’m trying to
identify this thing,” he mumbled, “I’ve checked every sporting goods site I can
think of and can’t find a bait box that looks like this.”

Lin picked up
the small object and examined it.
 
There appeared to be some sort of logo stamped on the bottom but it was
faint and streaked with mud.
 
She
took the box over to the small bar sink and washed it carefully.
 
Returning to the desk, she focused the
high-density desk lamp on the logo.

“This looks
like ‘Myers’ or something close to that, it’s hard to read,”

Neal typed in
the name and googled it, getting a long list of possible websites with Myers as
part of the name.
 
“This is going to
take some time,” he confessed, “but I think I’ll work on it for a few minutes
anyway.”

“See you later
then,” Lin said, “ I’m heading for the shower.”

She realized
how tired she was as the warm steamy water ran over her body soothing away her
aches.
 
She decided to shampoo her
hair because the rain had made it frizzy. She was still drying it when Neal
burst into the bathroom.

“I found it!”
he exclaimed. “You’ll never guess what this is.”

“Then just tell
me,” Lin responded.

“It’s something
that beekeepers use called a Mini Queen Cage. It’s used to transport queen bees
to new hives, it seems.
 
Basically
it’s a bee cage.”

Lin was
dumbfounded.
 
She put the hair dryer
on the counter and turned to Neal. “That changes everything,” she said.

Thursday
promised to be a pleasant and sunny.
 
Neal was off early to meet the archeological team at Fort Raleigh for
what promised to be a busy day.
 
The
guys from the security company arrived to begin their work and Lin took Sparky
for a long walk around the neighborhood largely so he wouldn’t be barking at
their every move.
 
She felt
restless, eager to be out and about.
 
Finally, she decided she might as well clean house since she had so much
pent up energy.

The security
workers had finished installing sensors on the porch, so she put Sparky out
there.
 
Apparently he was becoming
used to their presence as he had ceased to bark at them.
 
Tired from his walk he curled up on the
rug for a nap.

As she worked
her way from the lower level shower and laundry up through the main floor to
the master suite upstairs, Lin kept thinking about that strange little box that
Neal had identified as a Mini Queen Cage.
 
It seemed to her that the oddly shaped bruise or scrape seen in the
photo of Dorrie’s upper arm looked as if it were an imprint of that small
device.
 
Could Dorrie have landed on
it as she fell?
 
Something just
didn’t fit here.
 
Maybe there was no
connection, but Lin couldn’t shake the feeling that this was significant in
some way.
 
Call it intuition, but
she felt like it was an important find that needed to be shared with the
police.

As she wiped
mirrors and fixtures in the master bath, she found herself thinking about
fingerprints.
 
What would be found
when the police examined Dorrie’s car?
 
Maybe nothing, but maybe there would be some evidence there that shed
light on what Dorrie was doing the last time she drove the vehicle.
 
Lin’s mind was literally buzzing with
unanswered questions.

Fortunately, by
the time she’d finished cleaning the house and putting in a load of laundry,
the security crew had completed the inside work placing sensors on doors and
windows.
 
“We’ll be working outside
for another hour or so, but we don’t need access to the interior of the house,”
the crew chief told her when she asked about leaving to run errands.
 
She gave them her cell number in case
they needed to reach her, grabbed the small bag that contained the bee cage and
her grocery list, and escaped.
 
It
was almost noon.

As she was
leaving, Lin decided to call Ken Parker.
 
The receptionist reported that he was in but tied up currently so she
left her number, asking that he return her call as soon as possible.
 
She had hoped to go to the station first
before shopping, but apparently that wasn’t going to happen, so she headed for
Harris-Teeter.

An hour later
she was back at Kate’s this time with several stuffed bags of food for the two
of them plus some ingredients to do some holiday baking.
 
It wouldn’t be long before her family would
be arriving, and she had promised Eloise to share in preparing some food for
the get together they were planning.

 
The security workers were packing up
their gear as she arrived.
 
“I’ve
left instructions on how to set the codes and arm the system on the table
beside the control panel near the kitchen door,” the crew chief told her. “It’s
really very simple but don’t hesitate to call if you have questions or need
help.”

“Thanks,” Lin
replied, as she grabbed the first two bags of groceries and headed
upstairs.
 
She probably should stop
and check on all that, but she had frozen stuff that needed to be unpacked
right away.
 
Her cell phone rang
deep in her purse before she could reach the kitchen.
 
No way could she retrieve it in time to
catch the call.

Thinking it
might be Ken Parker returning her call, she hurriedly put the bags down and dug
for the phone.
 
The call was from
Neal checking on the progress of the security system installation while on his
lunch break.
 
She’d call him back
later after the food was put away.

It was close to
two by the time Lin had stowed all the groceries and made a sandwich.
 
She took her lunch to the porch and
decided to call Neal.
 
He didn’t
answer, probably was back in the field and had the phone off, so she left a
message letting him know that the system was now installed and that she planned
to be out most of the afternoon.
 
As
she was rinsing her plate and thinking what to do next, her cell rang
again.
 
This time it was Ken Parker.

“Sorry, I’m so
late returning your call, I’ve been up to my ears in this mess all morning; I
had to meet with Billy Thornton and his attorney,” Ken sounded as if he wished
the day were already over.

Lin apologized
for adding to his workload as she told him about finding the strange little box
that seemed to match one of Dorrie’s bruises. “I thought I’d bring it in so you
could see what you thought.
 
I’d like
to talk to you for a few minutes, if you can spare the time,” she tried not to
sound too eager.

Ken sighed,
“Sure, I guess I could see you now if you can get down here in the next few
minutes.
 
Matt Johnson is due
sometime to pick up Dorrie’s car and I want to have time to talk to him.”

“I’m on my
way,” Lin said.
 
She took a few
seconds to think about the rest of the afternoon and decided to grab her
swimsuit and some sweats.
 
It was
Thursday, and she hadn’t yet been to the Holiday Inn to exercise.
 
She had planned to start a regular
routine, but somehow the week had slipped away from her.
 
She packed a tote, not forgetting to
take the completed application forms with her.
 
Before she left, she let Sparky out for
a short visit to the yard as she wasn’t sure when she would return.

As she pulled
into the parking lot at the police station, Lin saw that Dorrie’s car was
parked near the entrance; evidently the examination of the vehicle was
complete.
 
When she checked in with
the receptionist she was told that Mr. Johnson was with Sgt. Parker.
 
“I’ll let him know you’re here,” the
young officer at the desk smiled.

Lin had just
taken a seat when Ken Parker appeared, “Come on back, Mr. Johnson is here but
that’s ok.”

As she entered
the conference room, Lin realized that Matt Johnson had been without
transportation all morning.
 
She
wished she had thought to offer her help, but it was too late now.
 
She apologized for her oversight.

“Not a
problem,” Matt smiled as he rose and pulled out a chair for her. “These folks
have been most helpful.
 
They
dropped me off at the Outlet Mall after I brought the car in, and I was able to
finish up my Christmas shopping.
 
They picked me up and brought me here just now.”
 
He glanced at his
watch,
“I’m hoping to be on the road within the hour and back in Richmond in time for
a late dinner.”

“That shouldn’t
be a problem,” Ken spoke up, “we’re through with the car, really didn’t find
much of anything.
 
The only
fingerprints were yours Mr. Johnson.”

“That’s
strange,” Lin spoke without really thinking, “If Dorrie drove herself to Nags
Head Woods shouldn’t her prints be on the doors, the steering wheel…?”

“ It is a bit
unusual,” Ken admitted, “but she might have worn driving gloves—there
were some in the glove box and the Sheriff’s department probably cleaned the
car up a bit after they checked it, before they gave it to Mr. Johnson.”
 
Lin didn’t find that explanation very
convincing.
 
Personally, she doubted
that the car had really been examined at all earlier, but she didn’t say
anything more.

“Let me see
that box you found,” Ken changed the subject.

Lin produced
the small object and explained how it was found and how it reminded them of the
strange mark on Dorrie’s arm.
 
Ken
retrieved the medical report from his file and looked at the pictures again,
passing them to Matt and Lin so that they could look again also.
 
He turned the small box carefully in his
large hand.
 

“It does seem
to match those marks,” he said.
 
“Not sure how she would have hit it, but strange things happen when
somebody falls.”

Lin seized the
opportunity; something else had just occurred to her. “That’s true, you’ll
recall I took a tumble down that same slope the day Sparky and I found
Dorrie.
 
Got a huge bruise on my
rear to show for it, but I just realized something today.
 
I didn’t grab for a branch or tree to
break my slide because there weren’t any right in that area—only small
shrubs and leaf litter.
 
I slid most
of the way down on my butt.”

Ken appeared
thoughtful, digesting what Lin had said.
 
Matt Johnson spoke up, “Are you saying that the bruises on Dorrie’s arms
can’t be explained by the circumstances of her fall?”

Lin didn’t say
anything; she didn’t have any answers for that.

Finally Ken
Parker broke the silence. “What you say is true for you, Lin.
 
We can’t be sure that Dorrie fell from
the same spot.
 
There are other
areas along that slope where there are more trees.
 
We can’t be sure exactly where she was
when she was stung.”

Lin wasn’t
ready to drop the subject, “But maybe you should look at that area again.
 
Were you able to determine where exactly
she fell when you first examined the site?
 
Shouldn’t you try to determine how Dorrie might’ve landed on this
strange little box? What if that isn’t what happened?” Almost immediately, Lin
realized that she had probably pushed Ken Parker too far.

“What do you
think, Ms. Hanna?” Ken’s expression was grim and he was obviously struggling to
be polite. “ I’m not sure this little box you found is even related to this
entire scene.
 
Those marks could’ve
come from a knot on a tree or log Dorrie hit in her fall, but I assure you we
will examine it and look again at the photos.
 
We’ll do our job.” He didn’t have to
add, “if you’ll let us”—Lin got the message.

Throughout this
exchange, Matt Johnson had been silent.
 
Now he rose to leave extending his hand to Sgt. Parker. “I want you to
know that I appreciate all you have done—looking into Dorrie’s death
again, trying to get some answers for us.
 
We know much more now,” he hesitated “…about her own behavior while she
was here.
 
Hopefully, you will find
out more about what happened leading up to her death, but at least we no longer
think she was guilty of murder ten years ago.
  
You can’t imagine what a relief
that is.
 
Sara and I have both of
you to thank for that.”

Ken rose and
extended his hand to Matt. “We will keep looking,” he assured him. If there are
more answers out there, we’ll find them.
 
If we think we have enough evidence to do so, we’ll bring charges of
date rape against Billy Thornton and, I feel sure, Sheriff Midgett will look at
him hard in the Liz Frazier case.
 
Sometimes it’s hard to prove a case that’s grown so cold, but we have a
good case against him where Connie is concerned.
 
He won’t escape that, I assure
you.”
 
He turned to Lin.

“Ms. Hanna, I’m
sorry if I seem impatient, but this has been a tough few days here and I’m
tired.
 
I should thank you for
finding out what Dorrie was doing during her days here.
 
Your information that she was with Billy
that Thursday night before her death was important in our investigation,” he
admitted, “but I don’t think I need to remind you of the risks you take when
you try to ask questions and look into things on your own.
 
This case is in good hands and I’m going
to ask you to let us handle all of it from now on, for your own safety.”

“I understand,”
Lin realized that she shouldn’t say anything more, but she couldn’t bring
herself to promise not to ask any more questions.
 
Instead she smiled and shook hands with
Ken and asked him to please let her know what he learned about the strange box,
the bee cage as it were, if he could.

“I’ll do that,”
Ken smiled and extended his hand, obviously trying to demonstrate that he
forgave her earlier intrusions.

Lin followed
Matt Johnson to the parking lot and stopped to say good-bye.

“If I can do
anything more to help you, please don’t hesitate to ask,” she offered.

“I won’t,” Matt
replied kindly. “I do appreciate all the information you gave us, and I think
Sgt. Parker realizes that it did help.
 
I think he’s just concerned about your safety.
 
Hopefully, this is all behind us now.”

There was one
thing more Lin felt she had to say. “I hope you and your wife won’t assume that
Dorrie was using hard drugs voluntarily during her visit.
 
I’m not sure about that.
 
They found pot at Billy Thornton’s, but
that was all, and he claims that was all they did.
 
Smoking a little pot might not be the
best thing, but it’s a far cry from using heavy drugs.
 
I do think it’s possible that Billy might’ve
given her something else even though he apparently denies that.
 
Just keep an open mind about that until
the investigation is complete.”