CHAPTER 16 Raised From The Dead
Desiree was taken to the downtown Police station. She remained quiet, refusing to answer any questions. Colton now became the main object of the investigation. All officers remained on alert, but returned to regular duty, except for Mac, Wally and Adam. These three were given the task of locating Colton, where ever he may be. Chief Atkins specific instructions were ‘bring him in walking or on a slab’, it really didn’t matter to him. After a couple days, Doc and Kara, were well enough to go back to their home. Mac stopped by to see Doc and find out if he maybe had any ideas where Colton may have gone. Doc didn’t have any fresh ideas, but assured Mac if he came up with anything he would let him know. No one seemed to know much about Colton. Mac started going over the entire case and he went over it again, and again.
Mac went home for the day, and it was nearing sundown. He sat on the veranda with Ella, while Rosa, the cook was finishing up preparing dinner. Mac was having a scotch and soda, while Ella was sipping on a mint julep. Ella stood at the rock wall looking out toward the river, and Mac walked up behind her putting an arm around her waist, resting his chin on her head. The paddlewheel boats were traversing the river, barges being pushed by tugs were navigating the center portion of the river to avoid running aground. The paddleboats had ‘specs’ or watches on the bow to keep an eye out for shoals and sandbars. The river was demanding their attention as the sun set on the far side. Suddenly Mac heard a train whistle. Nothing unusual, but it triggered a thought. Most of Colton’s time was taken up caring for the horses and cleaning the stables at Doc’s residence. He lived in a small room attached to the side of the tackhouse. He could come and go as he pleased and if he didn’t want to be seen, he could use one of the tunnels to go down to the river.
One thing haunted Mac, and he had no answer. Colton knew Myrt, Luthie, and Ragman, the three hobos. Mac looked up the river to the train trestle. He saw the black smoke from the coal fired locomotive curling skyward in the dimming light of dusk. He heard the train whistle again followed by the bellow of a riverboat horn, as if they were communicating with one another.
He began to think out loud and Ella listened closely to him. What is something that the hobos and Colton had in common? He repeated the question again and shaking his head tuned back to his lounge chair. He opened up the humidor and removed a cigar. A good quality Cuban cigar Sugar had left him a couple of days ago. Ella walked by placing her hand on his shoulder and proceeded into the house and headed to the kitchen to check the status of dinner. Mac stood and lit the cigar and turned behind him to light a gas lamp on the wall. There was also a coal oil lamp on the table and he reached over to light it, but stopped and extinguished the match. “Hmmm,” he said out loud… “3 on one match? Bad luck.” He reached in his pocket and removed another match.
Mac didn’t sleep well and was awake before dawn. Rosa was already awake and poured Mac a cup of coffee. Rosa offered to prepare breakfast for Mac, and he asked her to wait just a while. Adam and Wally were coming by. He asked Rosa to please send them out to the veranda when they arrived. He went out, sat in his lounge chair to watch the sunrise, just as he had watched the sunset the night before. In his mind he kept asking, ‘what did the hobos and Colton have in common?’
He watched the sunrise and the activity on the river was picking up when he heard a knock on the door. “I’ll get that Rosa,” Mac called. “Jeez, the sun’s been up thirty minutes where have you guys been?” he said loudly, as he opened the door. But it wasn’t Adam and Wally.
“Doc? Doc is everything okay?” Mac asked as he looked and saw Kara and a man he didn’t know.
“Mac, I, uh, We apologize for disturbing you so early,”
Mac interrupted Doc. “It’s okay Doc, you folks come on in. Uh, Ella is still sleeping and I have been waiting, well, expecting Adam and Wally, and,” He stopped abruptly. Looking behind him he saw Rosa. “Oh, Rosa would you get coffee for our guests? And remember Adam and Wally will be here shortly.”
“Adam and Wally are here.” Adam said as they walked through the open door.
Doc spoke up,” Mac, gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to Stewart, Stewart Baker, my brother.” An eerie quiet fell over the group. All three detectives could have been knocked over with a feather.
“I don’t know what to say, except Rosa, put on a big pot of coffee and you may want to wake Ms. Ella for this.” Mac released a deep breath. “Doc, Stewart, Ms. Kara, please have a seat.”
“It is indeed a pleasure to meet you Stewart.” Mac began. I know it is difficult to discuss, but we need your help to find Colton,” Mac hesitated. “We must find him, before he kills again.”
Stewart spoke up, “I am afraid it may be too late, Mr. O’Hara.” He held out a letter. “I received this yesterday, just before I left New Orleans.”
No one spoke, as Mac reached out to take the letter.
“My Dearest Father,
I hope this letter finds you well. I have been about some personal business and I am sorry I have not communicated with you, as I know you have had no knowledge of where Denise or myself have been. We embarked on a special project a while back and were , sincerely hoping to write you with good news, but alas, the best laid plans of men oft go awry, and so it happened with this project. We are in the process of re-thinking and re-planning the project and have come to the conclusion that there are some obstacles that must be neutralized so the plan can come to fruition.
Most of these obstacles have names, that I will reveal to you here in this correspondence. I do not fear that providing these names to you will hinder their elimination. It is with regret that I must acknowledge the deaths of three of my co-workers, Ricardo, Jacque, and Andre. Their deaths will be avenged. It is with regret also that the pawns of this game, Luthie, Ragman, and Myrt, had to be eliminated to preserve the continuity of complete secrecy. Just for your information, Father, and I will include you also Mr. O’Hara, for I knew my Father, being an honest man would bring this letter to you, I want you to know I have solicited additional help to accomplish the task I have undertaken. As of this day, I have posted a reward of $1000 each, for the death of the persons listed at the bottom of this letter. The rewards have been placed in the care of a confident, known only to me and those entrusted with carrying out the purge of these god forsaken souls.
So you see Father, and Mr. O’Hara, capturing or killing me does not forego the complete elimination of you all. And Father, I do know that you did not escape prison in Louisiana. Maybe I should refer to you by your real title, US Marshal Stewart Baker. I was aware of the plan you had to capture me. Sorry, Father…I wasn’t ready to be captured.
Sincerely,
Colton Baker
Your son and executioner.
“Mac, who’s names are on that list?” Adam asked.
“All of us sitting here, plus Ella, Toney, and Chief Atkins, and one more” Mac responded.
“Who is the one more, Mac?” Wally inquired.
Mac took a look around, “Denise.” He said.
“Do you think he can do this, Stewart? Or should I say Marshal?”
“Mac, he is dead serious. He is a serial murder, with the intelligence of a genius.” Stewart said. “And you may call me Marshal if you like. I have been a US Marshall since just after Inez’ Father was killed.
Colton was right. I never spent a day in prison. We knew Colton had murdered Charity, but we had no evidence, no evidence at all. I had suspected Colton in the rape and murder of a woman in South Carolina, but there was no evidence there either. It was my idea to frame myself, but I never thought Denise would become involved with Colton. We do know now, that whatever Colton was involved in, Denise was an accomplice. She knew everything, but didn’t try to stop anything.”
“How do we stop him? Wally asked. “We are sitting ducks. These ‘bounty hunters’ know who we are, but we have no idea who they may be. Mac, this is getting kinda scary.”
“It’s getting very scary, Wally.” Mac observed. “We have to set up a protective barrier, that’s difficult to penetrate. Doc, I want you and Kara to go home. Wally and Adam, you accompany them and remain with them until I send some officers to provide security. Stewart, I would like for you to remain with me. We will take Ella with us and go to Chief Atkins to make him aware of the situation. We also need to increase security around Denise, or Desiree, whatever you want to call her.”
“I agree, Mac.” Stewart said. “No one is to be alone, not even for a brief moment. We are dealing with a very intelligent serial killer. Our only hope is to lure him into our backyard, where he is not comfortable, and will hopefully make a mistake. When he does, we need to strike. He is my son, my flesh and blood, but do not hesitate to take him out.”