Tuesday morning arrived in Haneyville, and the sky was cloudy with a hint of rain
Over at the Carlson home, Ernie made Jodi some eggs and toast with coffee for breakfast.
Over at the Anderson home, Betsy made George and Donovan some scrambled eggs, toast and coffee for breakfast. She was really enjoying having Donovan stay at their home.
George was a little upset this morning since his morning Haneyville Tribune paper did not arrive. Apparently, Grant had some issues with his printing press so the paper would not be delivered today. He would have to wait until tomorrow morning.
It was 9:00 and breakfast were over, and Ernie and Jodi drove over to George and Betsy’s home.
A few minutes after they arrived, Bernie’s car pulled into the driveway.
Betsy was already peeking out the living room curtains waiting for his arrival.
He got out with a yellow pad of paper in hand.
He headed to the front door where Betsy waited with the door already opened.
“Hey Bernie,” said Betsy when he walked up to the front stoop.
“Aunt Betsy,” said Bernie then gave her a kiss on her cheek when he entered their home.
“Hi, Uncle George,” said Bernie when George walked up to him. They shook hands.
Bernie saw Donovan and Jodi waiting on the couch. “I’m Bernie Hollister,” he said while he walked over to the couch.
Bernie was sixty-three years old with slicked-back white hair and sported a pot belly but wore a nice suit. He was an outstanding criminal defense attorney.
“Donovan Kirby,” he said while he stood up then shook Bernie’s hand.
“Jodi Lauder,” she said while she stood up then shook Bernie’s hand.
“I’m an attorney and will represent you in your most unfortunate dilemma,” he said then removed two business cards from his shirt pocket. He handed Donovan and Jodi one of his cards. “Now, let’s go discuss your case,” he said.
“I don’t know how much it costs for an attorney,” asked Jodi a little concerned about this costing a bundle.
“Ah, it’s pro bono. After all, Uncle George and Aunt Betsey helped send me to law school, so I’m paying them back,” said Bernie.
Jodi walked up to George and Betsey. “Thank you,” she said then hugged George and gave him a kiss on his cheek.
She then gave Betsey a hug and kiss on her cheek.
“Yeah, thank you,” said Donovan while he shook Bernie’s hand.
“Well, let’s get started,” said Bernie, and he looked determined.
“We can go in the kitchen, I made a fresh pot of coffee,” said Betsy.
Bernie, Donovan, Jodi, George, and Ernie followed Betsy into the kitchen.
While they crowded around the kitchen table, Betsey started grabbing coffee cups out of a cupboard and started pouring coffee.
“Okay, now, tell me why you came all the way to Haneyville,” asked Bernie.
“Well, I saw that article on the Internet about the discovery of Tiffany’s car found in Lake Haney. And for some strange reason, I felt compelled to come up here and do a story. Especially since Howie and Tiffany have been missing since nineteen seventy,” said Donovan while Betsy brought everybody their coffee cups.
“I felt the same when I read that Internet article,” added Jodi.
Bernie jotted down that information on his note pad. “Nothing wrong with that,” he said while he looked up at them. “Now, tell me what happened that night when you were arrested,” he said and had his pen ready to jot down more information.
“We ate dinner at the Lake View Restaurant,” said Donovan.
“What time?” Bernie asked.
Donovan and Jodi looked at each other for the answer.
“Around seven-thirty,” said Donovan.
Jodi nodded in agreement with his answer.
“That’s about right,” said Ernie.
“How would you know?” Bernie asked Ernie.
“Because I was waiting for a table at the same time. These two invited me to join them for dinner, and I did,” replied Ernie.
Bernie jotted down that piece of information on his note pad.
“Did anybody else see you there?”
Donovan, Jodi, and Ernie looked at each other.
“Nobody that I recognized,” said Donovan.
Ernie thought for a few seconds. “I believe that maybe Lynn and Paul Donahue were at the booth behind us.
“Plus we used a credit card to pay for the meal,” added Donovan.
“Okay,” said Bernie while he jotted down that information.
“After dinner, Donovan and I had a few drinks at the Watering Hole,” said Jodi.
“I also used a credit card there,” said Donovan.
“Then after a few drinks, we took a walk along that brick walkway,” said Jodi.
“Isn’t that a beautiful area? I was so happy when they built it back in eighty-five,” said Betsy.
George and Ernie nodded in agreement.
“Anything happen during that walk?” asked Bernie.
“We saw one of the deputies,” said Jodi.
“Deputy Riley,” said Donovan.
“The sheriff’s son?” asked Bernie.
“Yes,” replied Donovan.
“Anything happened?”
“No, we just chatted, and then I got a text message from Charlie. He said he found something and wanted to meet us at the clearing by the lake,” said Donovan.
“What time did you get that text?”
Donovan tried to recall the time then his eyes lit up when he remembered his iPhone. He reached in his pants pocket and removed his iPhone. He navigated through it and saw his list of text messages. He had two text messages from Charlie. He looked at the first text message. “Looks like it came in around eight forty-five.”
“Eight forty-five for the first text message from Charlie,” said Bernie while he jotted that down. Then he looked up at Donovan and Jodi. “And you said Deputy Riley was there when you received that message?”
“Yes,” replied Jodi.
Bernie jotted down that information then he took a drink of Betsy’s coffee. “I’ve always loved your coffee, Aunt Betsy,” he said then he looked over at Donovan and Jodi. “Then you drove over to the clearing and then what happened?”
“We parked behind his rental SUV and called out his name,” said Donovan.
“Charlie didn’t call back,” said Jodi.
“No, but I got another text message from him around nine ten,” said Donovan and he showed Bernie the second message from Charlie.
“So you arrived at the clearing around nine ten,” said Bernie while he looked at the text message.
“That sounds about right,” said Donovan.
Bernie jotted that down then looked up at Donovan and Jodi. “Then what?”
“We walked through the woods in the direction he said in his text calling out his name. He never answered,” said Donovan.
“Then I tripped over something,” said Jodi.
“I helped her up then turned on my flashlight application on my iPhone and looked the area over,” said Donovan.
“That’s when we saw Charlie’s body in the dirt,” said Jodi.
“I felt for a pulse and didn’t find one, so we knew he was dead,” said Donovan then he paused for a few seconds. “Then I saw the shovel on the ground,” he added.
“And the two shallow graves of Howie and Tiffany,” said Jodi.
“How do you know those skeletons are them?” asked Bernie.
Donovan and Jodi paused while they looked at each other. You could tell by the look in their eyes that they wanted to show how they really know, but both decided to let that be their secret.
“We just had a strong gut feeling since those two kids had been missing and her car was found in the lake,” said Jodi.
“We’re reporters,” added Donovan.
“Well, don’t mention that during the trial,” said Bernie while he jotted down the information on how they found Charlie.
“Then Sheriff Riley suddenly appeared and arrested us for the murder of Charlie,” said Jodi.
“He showed up minutes after you arrived and found the body?” asked Bernie and looked concerned.
“Yes, within minutes,” said Donovan.
“That’s odd for him to get there that quick,” said Bernie while he jotted down that information. Donovan and Jodi thought about that question for a few seconds.
“That is odd,” said Jodi.
Donovan nodded in agreement.
“Did you to hear a gunshot when you arrived at the clearing?”
“No,” replied Donovan.
“No,” added Jodi.
Bernie jotted down that information then he looked at his notes from previous research. “His report stated that Donovan swung a shovel at him and the tip cut his cheek,” said Bernie.
“That’s a lie. I never swung at the sheriff. Besides, he had a flashlight shining in our eyes,” said Donovan, and he sounded sincere.
“That’s true. Donovan never swung at the sheriff,” added Jodi.
George’s eyes widened when he remembered something. “There’s something interesting someone said in court yesterday,” said George.
“What was that?”
“Well, Sheriff Riley is claiming that Charlie Abbott was the one that killed those two people in the graves and they could be Howie and Tiffany. But Rachel Collins told us yesterday that he couldn’t have done it,” said George.
“How’s that?” Bernie asked, and he was curious.
“Well, she claims that she spent the night with Charlie all that night. She did it since he was going off to the Navy,” said George.
Ernie and Betsy nodded in agreement with George’s story.
Bernie jotted down that information on his pad. “That would throw in doubt if I can get Rachel to testify that in court,” he added.
“Good luck, rumors has it that she’s sleeping around with the sheriff,” said Ernie.
“Town slut if you ask me,” muttered Betsy under her breath but everybody heard her and gave a little chuckle.
“Oh, there’s something else that Charlie told us,” said Jodi.
“What’s that?”
“Charlie told us that Tiffany was pregnant,” said Jodi.
“Pregnant? By who?” Bernie asked.
“By that sheriff when he was a deputy back then,” said Ernie and he started to look a little pissed.
“Sheriff Rock Riley got Tiffany pregnant? He fooled around with her?”
“He raped my daughter,” said Ernie in a louder tone and that vein in his neck started to show.
“Sheriff Riley raped Tiffany. Wow. That’s good but going to be difficult to prove since she’s not around to testify to that fact,” said Bernie while he still jotted down that information. Then he looked at his notes. “Looks like all this case is based entirely on circumstantial evidence and it’s weak if you ask me. Let me go talk with Rachel Collins and see if she’ll testify to what she told you yesterday,” said Bernie then he finished his cup of coffee and stood up.
“I believe I can get a not guilty from the jury down in Knoxville,” he said then walked over and gave Betsy a quick kiss on her cheek. “I’ll be back.”
George, Betsy, Ernie, Donovan, and Jodi watched while Bernie headed off to the front door.
Donovan and Jodi started to feel like they finally have a chance of staying out of prison for the rest of their lives. But they know that you never know how a jury will reach a verdict.
They all started to drink some more coffee while Bernie was out chasing down witnesses in their favor.
While Bernie drove over to Rachel’s home using the address he got off the Internet, Doctor Jake Lorre, the Haneyville dentist drove over to the hospital.
Doctor Lorre had been the dentist of Haneyville for the past thirty years. He took over the practice that his father started back in 1950. Doctor Lorre was heading to the hospital with the old dental x-rays he found in a storage room at his dental practice.
A little while later, Bernie pulled into the driveway of Rachel’s home.
He got out of his car and headed to the front door with his pad of paper in hand. He rang the doorbell.
A few seconds passed, and the front door opened.
“Want an afternoon delight?” Rachel blurted out then her eyes widened the second she realized it was not one of her usual visitors. “Ah, sorry about that,” she said and looked a little embarrassed.
“I’m Bernie Hollister, an attorney from Knoxville. I’m representing Donovan Kirby and Jodi Lauder. Mind if we chat for a few?” he said.
“Just chatting is something new. Sure, come on in,” said Rachel.
Bernie stepped inside Rachel’s living room. He looked at the room over while she closed the door. “You got a nice place.”
“Thank you. Please have a seat,” she said while she motioned for him to sit on the couch.
Bernie walked over and sat down on the couch with Rachel.
“Can I get you anything to drink? Some ice tea, perhaps?” asked Rachel.
“No thanks,” he replied while he glanced down at his pad of paper and his notes. “Now, I was told that you made a statement at the courthouse yesterday. You stated that you spend the entire night with Charlie Abbott that night in nineteen seventy. The same night was Howie Anderson, and Tiffany Carlson went missing,” he said.
Rachel looked at Bernie. “Have we met? You look a little familiar,” she said.
“I’m Howie’s cousin and often would spend some of my summer days up here back in the sixties,” said Bernie.
“Oh, did we meet back then?”
“I don’t recall,” said Bernie, but actually he did remember her. He recalled one night back in sixty-eight when he and Howie saw Rachel screwing someone under the bleachers of the high school. But Bernie thought that fact was not relevant to this case, so he kept that memory to himself. “So, did you make that statement?”
“Yes, I did. I slept with Charlie that night because he was leaving for the Navy the next night,” said Rachel then she paused. “So there’s no way he could have killed Howie or Tiffany. I mean, it’s not confirmed those skeletons are Howie and Tiffany, but everybody in town believes they are,” she added and sounded sincere.
“Would you testify to that fact in court?”
“Of course. I liked Charlie. I know he didn’t kill Howie or Tiffany or anybody. I don’t want his named tarnished,” said Rachel.
“That’s kind of you,” said Bernie while he jotted down some notes.
“Like I said, I don’t want his name tarnished.”
“Listen, I’ll be in touch when I find out when the trial is scheduled,” he said then reached in his shirt pocket and removed another business card. He handed it to her.
Rachel took his card and looked sincere with testifying about that night.
Bernie stood up and looked at Rachel. For a second, he remembered that night again with Howie and though she still looked suitable for her age. “Thank you, Rachel,” he said, then headed to the front door.
Rachel smiled and wished she could take Bernie to her bedroom for a romp. But this was serious business, and she did not want to ruin keeping Charlie’s name from being tarnished.
After Bernie left Rachel’s home, he headed straight to the Haneyville Police Station.
Kent worked behind his desk at the police station.
Andrew was home as he was scheduled to work the night shift.
Bernie entered the station and walked up to the counter with his yellow pad of paper in hand.
“May I help you?” asked Kent the second he saw Bernie at the counter.
“I would like to speak with Sheriff Riley,” said Bernie.
“And who are you?” asked Kent while he walked up to the counter.
Bernie reached in his shirt pocket and removed another business card. “Bernie Hollister, an attorney from Knoxville. I’m representing Mister Kirby and Miss Lauder.”
Kent took Bernie’s business card and glanced at it.
“Sheriff, there’s an attorney here to see you,” Kent called out.
Rock appeared in the doorway of his office. “Send him in,” he said then turned around and walked back to his desk.
Kent escorted Bernie around the counter and over to Rock’s office.
Rock remained seated while Bernie entered his office.
“Sheriff, I’m Bernie Hollister from Knoxville. I’m representing Mister,” Bernie said.
“I heard you,” Rock said being rude and interrupted Bernie’s greeting. He looked disinterested with talking with Bernie, and Bernie picked up on that vibe.
“Sheriff,” Bernie said while he sat down in the chair in front of Rock’s desk. “Tell me how you arrived at the murder scene so quickly. Mister Kirby and Miss Lauder said the second they stumbled upon Mister Abbott’s body in the woods you suddenly showed up and arrested them. How did you know to show up there?” Bernie asked and had his pen and pad of paper ready to jot down Rock’s response.
Rock looked at Bernie for a few seconds while he pondered his excuse. “I got an anonymous call from someone that heard gunfire in the woods by the clearing,” Rock said while he kept his eyes from looking at Bernie’s eyes.
“Anonymous call. What time?”
“Ah, oh, around nine. I called my deputy out there that I was going to check it out. So I saw two cars in the clearing and recognized Mister Kirby’s Buick. Then I heard voices in the woods and headed in that direction. Then I found those two standing by the dead body of Mister Abbott,” said Rock while he kept his eyes from making contact with Bernie’s eyes.
Bernie jotted down some more notes on his pad. He looked back at Rock. “Now, Donovan stated he never swung at you with the shovel. So how did you get that cut across your face?” asked Bernie when he noticed that cut on Rock’s face that started to get scabs.
“Well, your client’s lying. He swung at me with the shovel. The picture in the report shows it that night,” said Rock.
Bernie jotted down that information on his pad of paper. Then he looked back up at Rock. “Where are Mister Abbott’s and the two reporters vehicles and belongings from their motel rooms?”
“The vehicles are out back in our secured area, and their suitcases from their motel rooms are locked in a closet in the station,” replied Rock.
“Mind if I take a look? I want to jot down all the evidence you have on my clients.”
Rock hesitated for a few seconds, as he really did not want the attorney to see those items. But he knew if he did not, it would come back to bite him. “Sure,”
Rock escorted Bernie out of his office, and they headed to the back door and stepped outside in the backyard.
Rock showed Bernie the three vehicles secured in the backyard of the station.
Bernie was satisfied while he jotted down some notes on his pad after looking inside the vehicles and in the trunk areas.
Rock took him back inside the station where he showed Bernie the three suitcases inside the closet. Rock carefully opened up the three suitcases, and all that was inside them was clothes. He jotted down all that was inside the suitcases on his pad.
Then Rock showed Bernie the pistol, in a plastic bag, that he claimed he found under the front seat of Donovan’s Buick. He jotted down the serial number of the pistol down on his pad.
He saw Charlie’s wallet in a plastic bag. He got curious. “Where’s Mister Abbott’s cell phone?”
Rock looked caught and hesitated while he felt Charlie’s cell phone in his left front pants pocket. “I guess they tossed it in the lake.”
“Tossed it in the lake,” Bernie repeated while he jotted that down on his pad.
Then Rock looked concerned while Bernie jotted down that information.
He looked over at Rock for a few seconds. “Thank you, sheriff. Now I would like to chat with your deputy out there for a few seconds,” he said while he stood up.
“Be my guest,” said Rock and locked the closet door.
Bernie walked away from the closet.
While Bernie headed to Kent’s desk, Rock went back inside his office.
“Deputy, mind if I chat with you for a few seconds?” said Bernie while he walked up to Kent’s desk.
“Sure.”
Rock got up from his desk and gingerly walked to his office doorway. He stayed out of view but was close to the door to eavesdrop on Kent and Bernie’s conservation.
“Deputy, did you talk with Mister Kirby and Miss Lauder at the lake walkway the night Mister Abbott was murdered?”
“I did.”
“During that meeting, did Mister Kirby get a text message from Charlie Abbott?” said Bernie while he sat down in the chair by Kent’s desk.
“Yes, he did.”
“Do you recall what time?”
Kent thought about that for a few seconds. “Oh, I would say around eight fifty.”
Bernie jotted down that information on his pad of paper. Then he looked back up at Kent. “And you got a call from the Sheriff about hearing a gunshot in the woods by the clearing?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Do you recall what time?”
“Oh, around nine.”
Bernie jotted down that information on his pad of paper. He looked at his notes. “Well, deputy, that’s about all. Call me if you can think of anything else,” Bernie said then stood up, grabbed a business card from his shirt pocket and handed it over to Kent.
Kent stood up and took the card. He shoved it in his pants pocket.
“Thank you,” said Bernie, then he walked away and headed to the counter.
Kent watched Bernie while he left the station.
“Kent, where’s the cell phones of those two murder suspects?” Rock asked while he stood outside his office.
“Gave them back after they were released on bail,” replied Kent.
“There weren’t processed as evidence?”
“I didn’t think they were evidence,” answered Kent.
Rock looked furious while he stormed off into his office.
Kent glanced back at Rock’s office and had that nagging gut feeling that something was not right with all his murder case.
While Bernie drove to his Motel 6 room to go over his notes he accumulated today, forensics experts Wendy and Jack were using the x-rays Doctor Lorre provided to see if they could provide an identity with the two skeletons.
Meanwhile, Rock felt like he needed some relief from a stressful two days.
So he told Melinda he would be working late and headed off to Rachel’s home.
After he parked in her driveway, he rushed to her front door. He rang the doorbell.
The front door cracked opened, and Rachel’s head poked out.
“Not tonight. I’m feeling sick,” Rachel said and slammed her front door almost catching Rock’s fingers while he tried to get inside her home.
“Open up,” he yelled while he banged on her door.
“Go away,” yelled Rachel from inside her house.
Rock walked away and started to get pissed.
He got back in his car and headed home.
Elsewhere in Haneyville, Charlie was in his Motel 6 room with a cup of coffee he bought from the 7-11 store. He went over his