Chapter 23
Meanwhile, Rock drove his Impala down Forge Valley Avenue.
He pulled into the driveway of George and Betsy’s home and parked his patrol car.
He got out of the car with his small notebook in hand. He wanted to play the part of the investigating detective.
He knocked on the door the second he arrived on the front stoop.
The door opened, and Betsy appeared in her Sunday best dress, as she and George just got back from church. She looked like she had previously cried. “Sheriff, what brings you here?” she asked.
“There was a murder last night down by the clearing at Lake Haney. The same place where Tiffany’s car was recently discovered in the bottom of Lake Haney,” said Rock.
“We heard at church this morning. Please come inside,” Betsy said then moved aside to let Rock enter her home.
Rock stepped inside Betsy’s home.
“George, Sheriff Riley is here,” she called out while she closed the front door.
George walked out of the kitchen in his dress shirt and suit pants. He just swallowed two shots of Jack Daniels. He quickly removed his tie and suit jacket the second they came home from church.
“Sheriff, what brings you here?”
“An old resident of Haneyville Charlie Abbott was killed last night,” Rock told George.
“We heard about it in church. That’s all everybody could talk about after the sermon,” said George while he walked into the living room.
“Please have a seat,” said Betsy.
Rock walked over with Betsy, and they both sat down on the couch.
“Do you believe those two skeletons found by the clearing are Howie and Tiffany?” asked George while he sat down in his lazy boy chair.
George and Betsy looked at Rock for an answer but deep down inside, they knew it was their long lost son.
“I believe it is, but I’m going to have some forensic experts verify it,” replied Rock.
George and Betsy looked at each other again, and their eyes welled up a little.
“I can’t believe those two reporters killed Charlie Abbott,” said George.
“People sometimes can hide their evil ways,” said Rock while he opened up his small pad of paper and removed his pen from his shirt pocket. He was ready to play detective.
George and Betsy looked at each other again. They both knew in their hearts that Donovan and Jodi were not evil.
“So, I take it that these two reporters contacted you.”
George and Betsy nodded in agreement.
“What did you talk about?” asked Rock while he had his pen ready to jot down notes.
“Donovan Kirby first came here to ask about Howie running off to Canada and if we have heard from him,” said George.
“What did you tell him?” asked Rock while he jotted down that fact in his pad.
“I told him we haven’t heard from Howie since that day in seventy,” said George.
“Then Donovan and Jodi came over twice. The first time was about Howie’s draft notice for the Army, and the second time they came over yesterday and asked about Charlie Abbott,” said Betsy.
“How did they learn about Charlie?” asked Rock while he continued to jot down facts on his pad.
“He said they learned about Charlie while doing research down at the newspaper office,” said Betsy.
“Then we told him how Charlie’s parents were killed when he was young, and then he joined the Navy right after high school,” said George.
“Then I showed them a picture of Charlie from my photo album,” added Betsy.
“Is there anything else?”
“Yeah, do you know how Charlie knew about those two reporters?”
“Yeah, we told Charlie when he came to visit us,” said George.
“What did you talk about?”
“Oh, how he spent thirty years in the Navy and how he never heard from Howie or Tiffany after that night,” said George.
“Did he say why he came back to Haneyville?”
“He saw the story on the Internet,” said Betsey.
“Anything else?”
“Oh, he mentioned how Howie was planning on enlisting in the Navy and not running to Canada,” said Betsey.
Rock pretended to look surprised by hearing that information, as he understood it when he spied on Donovan, Jodi, and Charlie back at the Motel 6. He jotted down that information then looked at George and Betsey. “That’s all for now. But I will need you to testify what you told me in court.”
George and Betsy nodded in agreement with Rock and were not looking forward to being in court.
Rock stood up from the couch and shoved his pen back in his shirt pocket. “Well, I’ll be in touch if I need anything else,” he said then walked to the front door.
George and Betsy started to walk him to the door.
“That’s alright, I’ll see my way out,” he said.
George and Betsy stopped and watched while Rock left their home. They waited a few seconds.
“Something in my gut tells me that he’s up to no good. I do not believe those two reporters killed Charlie. No way,” said George while he heard Rock’s car start-up in their driveway.
“I feel the same way,” said Betsy.
“And I don’t believe Charlie killed our Howie,” said George.
“Me too. I wonder who really killed our son?”
George nodded he did not know, but he felt in his gut that Rock might have had something to do with it. George had never trusted Rock Riley as a deputy and now as a sheriff. He heard rumors of his infidelity with numerous Haneyville women and high school girl.
George and Betsy turned around and headed to the kitchen to drink some coffee. All they could think about was their dead son.
A little while later, Rock drove his car down Addison Avenue.
He pulled into the driveway of Ernie’s home and parked his car.
Rock turned off his car, got out and headed to Ernie’s front door. He rang the doorbell.
A few seconds had passed, and the front door opened. Ernie appeared, and he already had a few drinks of Scotch and water. He usually does not drink on Sunday’s, but the news he heard in church about the skeletons found gave him a valid reason.
“Sheriff, what are you doing here? Did you confirm that it was Tiffany in that shallow grave?”
“Not yet. I’m having some forensic experts coming up from Knoxville tomorrow to help with that task,” replied Rock.
“Then what can I do for you?”
“I would like to chat a bit. I can imagine you heard about the murder that happened out at the clearing by the lake last night.”
“Yep during church. Please come inside,” Ernie said then moved to the side to allow Rock to enter.
Rock entered Ernie’s living room then he closed his front door.
“Would you like some coffee? I can make a fresh pot,” offered Ernie.
“No, thanks. This will only take a minute,” said Rock while he headed over to the couch.
He removed his pen from his pocket while he sat down.
Ernie walked over and sat in a chair.
“What did you talk about with those two reporters?” asked Rock while he had his pen ready to jot down facts on his pad.
“The female reporter came here, and I told her about the day I last saw my Tiffany. Then I told her how I never heard from her again,” said Ernie.
“Anything else?”
“I showed the reporter Tiffany’s room. I left it alone, and it’s just like it was the day she left,” said Ernie.
Rock jotted down that information on his pad of paper.
“Then I had dinner with those two reporters last night down at the Lake View Restaurant.”
Rock’s ears perked up the second he heard that piece of information. “You did? What did you talk about there?”
“I asked them how their story was progressing.”
“And their response?”
“Slow and how they tried to contact Howie and Tiffany up in Canada and came up empty-handed.”
“What else?”
“I told them that I couldn’t believe that Tiffany hadn’t contacted my wife or me when she was alive,” said Ernie and started to miss his sweet wife.
“What else?” Rock said while he jotted down all that information Ernie provided.
“They said they talked with Charlie Abbott,” said Ernie then he wondered if he should have told Rock this piece of information.
“Ah, I see. What did they say about Charlie?”
“Ah, how he joined the Navy with a long career. He also said that Howie was going to join the Navy with him,” said Ernie.
Rock jotted down that information on his pad of paper.
“But Howie didn’t show up the next morning, so Charlie figured he changed his mind and wanted to head up to Canada,” added Ernie.
“Anything else?”
Ernie opened his mouth to tell Rock the other shocking news, but for some strange reason, he felt he should remain tight-lipped. “That’s all, sheriff,” said Ernie looked Rock square in his eyes.
Rock looked at his notes then back at Ernie. He felt Ernie told the truth and was satisfied that Charlie only told Donovan and Jodi about Rock raping Tiffany back in 1970. “Well, that’s all for now. I’ll be in touch later. I’ll probably need you to testify what you told me in court,” said Rock while he placed his pen back in his shirt pocket.
Rock got up off the couch then Ernie escorted him to his front door.
Ernie opened his door and let Rock outside.
He closed his door then walked over to his living room window.
He peeked out the curtains. “I don’t trust him,” said Ernie while he watched Rock get inside his Impala, start it up then backed down his driveway.
He walked away from the curtains and headed off to the kitchen for another drink of Scotch and water.
Rock drove his car down Addison Avenue then he turned right on Elm Avenue.
He headed down Elm and turned left into Grant Scott’s driveway.
He parked his car, got out with his pad in hand, and headed to Grant’s front door.
He rang the doorbell then while he waited, he removed his pen from his shirt pocket. He looked back at the front yard and saw the “For Sale” sign in the middle of the yard.
The front door opened and Grant appeared in his suit pant, dress shirt, and tie.
“Sheriff, what brings you here?” asked grant the second he saw Rock on his front stoop.
“Want to chat about you talking with those two reporters I have locked up,” said Rock.
“Sure, come on in. I just made a fresh pot of coffee,” said Grant then he motioned for Rock to step inside his home.
Rock went inside Grant’s home.
“Let’s have a cup,” said Grant while he closed his front door.
“Okay,” replied Rock, then he walked with Grant through his living room where he noticed a bunch of stacked packing boxes. “So you’re really going to leave Haneyville,” said Rock.
“Yeah, getting up in age and thought I should live closer to my daughter in Tallahassee, Florida,” said Grant while he walked over to the Mister Coffee on the kitchen counter by the sink.
“Is she still a professor at Florida State?” asked Rock while he sat down at the small kitchen table. He removed his pen from his shirt pocket and had his pad ready.
“Yep, now, what can I do for you?”
“I heard that those two reporters visited you for some research at the newspaper office,” said Rock.
“Yep,” Grant said while he poured two cups of coffee.
“What did they research?” asked Rock while Grant walked over with the two cups of coffee.
“They wanted to see the article I wrote back in seventy about Howie and Tiffany going missing,” said Grant while he placed a cup of coffee in front of Rock.
“Anything else?” asked Rock, then he took a drink of coffee.
“Let me see,” said Grant while he sat down. “Ah yes, they asked about Wally Yates,” he said then took a drink of his coffee.
“Wally Yates? How did they know about Wally Yates?” asked Rock, and he thought that was weird.
Grant thought for a few seconds while he tried to remember. “They said the lady at the library told them.”
“Ester,” said Rock then he took another drink of his coffee. “Now, did they look up anything about Charlie Abbott?” he said while he placed his cup down.
Grant pondered for a few seconds while he tried to remember. “Nope. Don’t recall Charlie’s name coming up at all,” he said then he took a drink of coffee.
“I wonder how they found out about Charlie?” Rock asked while he jotted down the information.
“Don’t know. But it’s a shame he was killed last night. Hard to believe those two kids killed him. Hard to believe,” said Grant, then he took another drink of his coffee.
“Why do you say that? I found them standing by his body.”
“Don’t know, but it was bizarre meeting them,” said Grant.
“How’s that?”
“It was almost as if I knew these two kids. When I talked with them, I kinda felt I was talking with Howie and Tiffany,” said Grant.
“I think it’s really time for you to retire, Grant. So, is there anything else?”
Grant thought hard. “Nope, that’s all,” he said.
Rock finished his cup of coffee. “Thanks, Grant,” he said then he put his pen back in his shirt pocket and stood up.
“When will they be arraigned?” asked Grant while he stood up.
“Tomorrow morning at nine.”
“I’ll be there. This will be my last article,” said Grant while he walked Rock through his living room.
After Ernie let Rock out of his home, he headed back to his kitchen. He started to have serious doubts that Donovan and Jodi had killed Charlie.
He walked into his kitchen, grabbed his coffee cup off his table, and went to get his second cup.
A little while later, Rock drove his car down Haneyville Road and headed back to the station. He started to wonder if his evidence was too weak to convict Donovan and Jodi for the murder of Charlie Abbott.
The second he entered the police station he walked up to Kent while he worked behind his desk.
“Call Andrew, and I want him here right away. Then the second he arrives, bring me Kirby into the integration room,” said Rock.
“Okay,” Kent replied, then he made a phone call and called Andrew at home.
Rock walked away and headed into his office. He sat behind his desk and waited while he pondered how to how to handle this integration.
Fifteen minutes had passed, and Andre arrived at the station.
“What’s up?” asked Andrew the second he entered the station.
Rock walked out of his office when he heard Andrew’s voice. “Bring Kirby into the integration room,” he said while he walked out of his office with a pad of paper and pen in hand.
Kent and Andrew walked away and headed to the jail cells while Rock went inside the integration room.
Rock waited in the integration room.
Kent and Andrew entered with Donovan who looked concerned.
“Have a seat Mister Kirby,” said Rock with a tone of authority.
Donovan sat down at the table across from Rock. He started to tremble inside while he looked at Rock, Kent, and Andrew.
“Now, I can’t understand how you and your female friend found out about Charlie Abbott, but I did find you by his dead body last night, so in my books, you killed him,” said Rock.
“No sheriff, I just got a text message, and Charlie told me to meet him at the clearing. He found something he wanted to show us. Like what I told you last night, he was already dead when we got there,” said Donovan.
“You two were the last ones to hear from him with his text message. You killed him. I know it, you know it, and my two deputies know it,” Rock said then he slid the pad of paper across the table at Donovan.
Donovan looked at the pad of paper.
“That sure would make it easier on the taxpayers. So write down your confession. You did it, now be a man and admit it,” said Rock then he slid his pen across the table at Donovan.
Donovan looked at the pad of paper and pen. “Do you want me to write down everything?” he asked Rock and figured he had nothing to lose at this moment.
“Yes, everything,” said Rock.
“Everything like how Charlie Abbott told us how Tiffany was raped by you back in nineteen seventy. How she was pregnant with your child,” said Donovan with a bit of a smirk.
The eyes of Kent and Andrew widened overhearing that secret. They looked at Rock who avoided eye contact.
Rock started to steam inside but decided to play it cool. “Why are you now lying? You tell me a lie when Charlie’s not here to back up what you’re saying. Just fill out your confession stating you’re guilty and I’ll leave you alone.”
Donovan grabbed the pad of paper and pen.
Rock smiled and figured this was so easy.
Donovan wrote down “I’m innocent and did NOT kill Charlie Abbott. Someone framed me, and Deputy Rock Riley raped Tiffany Carlson back in 1970,” he jotted down then signed it.
Rock looked at what Donovan wrote and his blood boiled. But he decided to play it cool.
Kent and Andrew started to have a little bit of doubt.
For the next hour, Rock grilled Donovan in admitting he was guilty. Donovan never caved and started to believe he might have Rock sweating a little.
After Rock was finished with Donovan, he had Jodi in the integration room.
Donovan sat on his bed in his jail cell. He was scared that Jodi might cave and sign a confession.
But Rock had Jodi in the integration room for an hour, and she also swore up and down she and Donovan did not kill Charlie Abbott. She refused to sign a confession and told Rock she wanted to take her chances in court.
Rock was pissed that Donovan and Jodi would not sign any confession.
An hour later, Rock left the station and was still pissed he could not get a confession out of Donovan and Jodi. He was actually nervous that the case might not swing in his favor.
Kent left the station and left Andrew to babysit the two prisoners.
Donovan and Jodi sat in their cells.
They were worried to death about getting sent to prison for the rest of their lives.
Then for some strange reason, they felt they did the right thing by coming up to Haneyville and started to have feelings things will end in their favor.
They lay on their beds but could not sleep the entire night thinking about their situation.