Secrets of the Spiral Tower (27 page)

“Sheriff, I don’t have a clue. But, Olga and I will do some detective work, and get you an address and phone number.”

“Thanks, Woody. When my guys collect all of the forensic evidence, we will need to get his fingerprints and other DNA information.”   

Gatlin, made several calls to the ad agency, but each time, he was told John was on leave, and no one knew his whereabouts. Gatlin became very frustrated and contacted the NYPD for assistance in locating John. While checking into John’s financial affairs, it became evident that a very large sum of money was withdrawn three days after Willow’s disappearance.

This fact, and the fact that John’s estranged wife refused to cooperate with the investigation, heightened Gatlin’s concern, and interest in John. It appeared that John had disappeared into thin air. Gatlin continued the investigation, and learned that John had a Swiss bank account, from which funds were regularly withdrawn. What Gatlin was unable to discover was who made the withdrawals, and where the money went.

Forensic evidence uncovered two sets of finger prints at Willow’s house that were not identified in the National Criminal Data Bank. Finger prints from Willow, Woody, Rupert, Mamie, Olga, and Connor, were positively identified. None of the blood in the house matched Connor’s type.

Eventually, the investigation grew cold and was placed in the unsolved cases file in Gatlin’s office.

Chapter 22

Then, one day, Gatlin got a phone call.

“Has the Willow Kingston McKenzie murder case been solved?” asked the caller.

Gatlin was taken aback by this unexpected call.

“Efforts are still underway. We never give up. Who wants to know?”

“Why don’t you come over to the second floor of the courthouse, and talk to me?” asked the caller. “Maybe I can help.”

Gatlin summoned all of his deputies to block every entrance to the courthouse with the instruction, “Don’t let anybody in or out until I give the signal.”

He directed his plain clothed deputy to follow nearby as he crossed the street and entered the courthouse. Approaching the second floor, Gatlin saw an ageing man, with a gray beard sitting on the bench. The man rose and extended his hand.

“Sheriff Gatlin, it is good to finally met you.” 

Gatlin asked, “Who are you?”

“I’m the man you’ve been looking for over these past five years. I’m John, and I’m tired of running and looking over my shoulder, not knowing if you were behind me.”

Gatlin motioned for his deputies to handcuff this stranger, and barked orders to, “Take him to the interrogation room. I’ve got a phone call to make.”

The phone rang twice, and was answered with, “This is Woody.”

“Woody, you won’t believe what just happened. Where are you?”

“I’m at my office. What’s up?”

“I want you to hurry over to my office. I’ve got some very interesting news.”

“Sheriff, I’m in the middle of a staff meeting, and can’t leave for at least an hour.”

"Woody, you don’t want to take that long. Stop the meeting, and come by my office immediately.”

“Sheriff, what can be so urgent?”

“Woody, I believe the long, lost John has appeared.”

“What? I’ll be there in ten minutes.” 

Positioning himself directly in front of John, such that their knees touched, Gatlin looked him squarely in the eyes. “So, you want to help me solve this mystery—huh, John?”

“That’s right sheriff. I can describe the details known only by the murderer.”

“Really? You don’t know what I know.”

“Sheriff, I bet I can tell you how many times Willow was stabbed.”

“John, you realize that this discussion is being recorded, don’t you?”

“Yes, sheriff.”

“And you realize anything you say may be used against you, if we go to trial?”

“Yes sir.”

“You also understand, you may remain silent, don’t you?”

“Sheriff, if I wanted to remain silent I would not have come looking for you.”

“Do you want legal representation?”

“No sir. I have a confession to make and I don’t want some shyster lawyer telling me not to speak.”

“All right then. Start talking. Start first by stating your name and address.”

“I’m, John Smith. I do not have an address. I’ve been on the run for the last five years.”

At that moment, there was a knock on the interrogation room door. Gatlin motioned to his deputy to open it.

Suddenly, Woody rushed in, and immediately went for John.

Gatlin grabbed Woody, wrapping his arms around him.

“Calm down. Steady boy.”

“I want to kill him.”

“Now, Woody, that won’t solve anything. Take a seat. I want to hear this man’s story. By the way, do you recognize this guy?”

“Yeah. He has aged since the last time I saw him, but I recognize those beady eyes. This is the guy Willow introduced me to, about five years ago.”

John, stood up extending his hand toward Woody, saying, “Man, I’m sorry for what I did.”

“You are a sorry piece of humanity. I won’t shake your filthy hand. I wish the sheriff would leave us alone for a few minutes, and I would even the score.”

“Back up Woody,” Gatlin said. “If you can’t control yourself, I’ll have to send you out.”

“Okay, Sheriff. I want to hear what this bag of garbage has to say.”

“Then take a seat, and keep your mouth shut.”

Over the next couple of hours, John told his story of becoming outraged when Willow turned him down, losing control of his emotions, and killing Willow and her friend.

After hearing John’s confession and details he presented, Gatlin was convinced he had enough information to jail him, and present a convincing case to the District Attorney, which would eventually lead to a conviction of murder.

The next day, John was arraigned before Judge Ed Woods, and jailed. Judge Woods didn’t set bail, citing the possibility of a flight risk. The case was presented to the grand jury three months later, and a trial date was set for a year later.

John waived his right to a jury trial and signed a confession. Since this was a murder case, John’s appointed court attorney, filed appeal papers, requesting that the confession not be admitted into the court record.

 John objected to the appeal, and stated, “I’m ready to pay my debt to society, whatever that may be, as determined by the court.”

John’s attorney advised against proceeding in this manner, but John was steadfast, and insisted that he be given the maximum sentence, without a court trial.

Two years after making the confession, John was sentenced to death via lethal injection.  He is currently waiting in an un-air-conditioned cell on death row at Parchman State Prison.

Civil libertarians and other do-good groups, continue to press the court to vacate the earlier decision, and try John before a jury of his peers. The Governor of Mississippi was requested to commute the sentence, but he has refused.  Vigils by individuals who oppose the death penalty are held frequently outside the entrance gate to the Parchman Prison. John refuses to participate, insisting that he be put to death for his crimes.

EPILOGUE

The Spiral Towers, constructed by the National Park Service, were situated at strategic locations throughout the park, offering a modern-day visitor a bird’s eye view of the Vicksburg Battlefield, on which many Confederate and Union troops lost their lives during the Civil War. Many years later, the National Park Service determined that the structures were unsafe for visitors to climb and they were torn down.

Today, these towers exist only in the few pictures that were taken and in the memories of those who enjoyed playing on them.

 The heir to Willow’s Estate, Anne McKenzie, continues to receive royalties today from the sale of the Chinese cosmetics. As Willow had requested, the jewelry recovered from the cave was given to Woody, by court order, for him to return to the rightful owners and compensate them for the price of the jewelry at the current appraised value.

After learning of Willow’s death, Rupert asked Woody to be the executor for his estate and the sale of McKenzie Towing. Woody made arrangements for the remains of Willow’s fetus to be buried in the McKenzie family plot at Green Acres. The other two bodies were interred in the City Cemetery burial plot, alongside remains of other unknown persons. After the coroner released Willow’s remains, Woody buried her body and the body of the unknown male, found in the trunk of her car, in the McKenzie Family plot at Green Acres Cemetery next to her mother, Winsome.

Rupert McKenzie lost his will to live and died in less than six months. He designated Anne as the heir to his estate. His last Will and Testament expressed a desire for Anne to consider reestablishing McKenzie Towing after finishing her formal education.

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