Chapter 12
It was now seven on Monday morning.
Henry took a fifty-seven Bel-Air squad car and did a morning patrol around town. He wanted to get his mind off this murder case.
Back at Linus’ home in the Cambridge area, he got dressed for another day of teaching at MIT.
He walked to the barn and unlocked the barn door.
He stepped inside and walked on automatic pilot to where he usually parked his Rambler. But he got a shock. His prized Rambler was gone. After a few second glances and walking around the spot where he remembered he parked yesterday, Linus figured someone stole it. “Aliens stole my Rambler. I know they did,” he said while ran out of the barn.
He ran back into his house and called the police from his kitchen phone.
Twenty minutes had passed, and Officer Sammy Harrison from the Cambridge police department arrived. They usually take their time when Linus calls but know if they don’t show up, he would be calling every ten minutes.
Linus soon walked Officer Harrison to his barn where the door remained open.
“See, my Rambler is missing,” said Linus once they stepped inside his barn.
Officer Harrison saw a car was not inside the barn and couldn’t understand why anybody would want to steal a Rambler. “Okay, what time did you notice your Rambler was missing?”
“When I tried to head off to work this morning. Twenty minutes ago,” said Linus, then he hesitated for a few seconds. “I did hear something in my barn around two in the morning. I came out to investigate and found someone knocked on the side door of my barn down.”
Officer Harrison saw that the side door to the barn was opened, so he walked through the barn to check it out.
Officer Harrison saw the door was forced open. “It appears that that door was kicked opened from the inside. I mean if it were done from the outside there would be pieces of the door inside the barn. But there aren’t. It’s located outside,” he said.
Linus looked at the door and knew the officer was correct.
“Do you lock the barn door?”
“I always do.”
“Was it locked when you noticed your Rambler was missing?”
“It was.”
“Mmm, then how could someone get inside a locked barn, kick down the side door from the inside, then run around to the barn door and unlock it from the outside. Steal your Rambler then re-lock the barn door?” he said then looked a little suspicious of Linus. “That doesn’t make sense, but I’ll go ahead and file a report. What’s your tag number?” he said while he removed a small pad of paper and pen from his shirt pocket.
“Oh that, I don’t remember,” said Linus while the walked over to his squad car.
“We can’t search for your car without a tag number.”
Linus tried to recall it. His eyes lit up. “Oh, yes, its seven, four, nine, A, S, P,” he said.
Officer Harrison wrote that number down on his pad of paper and shoved them back in his shirt pocket. “We’ll be in touch the second we locate your car,” said Officer Harrison while he walked to the driver’s door. He got inside his car, started up the engine, turned the car around, and drove to the street.
Linus went back inside his house and called a coworker that lived three streets over. He asked for a ride to work.
When Officer Harrison got back to the station, he talked with his boss about Linus’ car being stolen and thought that maybe he was trying some insurance scam. They decided to wait to see if Linus got an insurance check on his Rambler.
Meanwhile, way west of Philadelphia, old Linus drove the Rambler south on U.S. 1. He was hesitant on speeding on his way to Georgia as being pulled over by the police might ruin his mission.
Back at Warner Robins, Kent was escorted out of his cell by Officer Peabody and into the office area of the station.
“Are you ready to see the judge?” he said, Detective Chambers.
Kent remained quiet.
“Let’s take this turd to see the judge,” said Detective Chambers.
The three left the station.
Officer Peabody drove Detective Chambers Bel-Air with him in the back with Kent.
It was a quiet ride over to the courthouse.
Meanwhile way up north, Linus drove his Rambler south on U.S. 1 and just filled up the car with gas. He was two hours from Washington, D.C.
Back down at the Warner Robins Courthouse, Kent stood in front of eighty-year-old Judge Barney Toole in one of the two courtrooms at the courthouse. “You Mister Kent Hollister are being charged with first-degree murder, how do you plead?”
“I’m innocent,” said Kent.
“No, I need to say either guilty, not guilty, or no contest. All the criminals that stand before me claim they’re innocent.”
“Not guilty,” said Kent.
“Good, your trial will start on Monday, September ninth. You’ll remain in custody of the Warner Robins police department until then. No bail.”
“No bail?” said Kent and looked worried.
“No bail. You are being charged with killing a young teenager. I will not let you loose in my town so you can go around killing the God-fearing people of Warner Robins,” said Judge Toole with a stern look.
“I won’t harm a soul. I promise,” pleaded Kent.
“That’s what they all say,” said Judge Toole then he used his gravel and hit the small block of wood. “Get him out of my courtroom,” he said, as he hated murderers.
Officer Peabody escorted Kent out of the courtroom with Detective Chambers trailing behind.
Officer Peabody placed Kent back in their squad. Detective Chambers got in the back with Kent while Officer Peabody got behind the wheel of the car.
Officer Peabody drove back to the police station.
It was high noon.
Back at the Warner Robins police station, Kent ate his lunch, which consisted of a bologna sandwich, some Lays potato chips, and a Coke.
Meanwhile up north, Linus drove his Rambler down on U.S. 1 in Virginia. He was about an hour away from the North Carolina border. He only stopped for gas, bathroom breaks, and a take-out for meals. He didn’t want to waste any time getting down to Warner Robins.
Back down in Warner Robins, Henry drove his Bel-Air squad car to the front gate of Robins Air Force Base.
He stopped at the guard gate where Derek Allen was again working the front entrance.
Derek’s eyes widened when he saw Henry. He remembered him from yesterday.
“I’m here on official police business,” Henry told Derek.
“Yes, sir. Please proceed,” said Derek.
He watched while Henry’s fifty-seven squad car drove off into the base. He smiled at the thought that maybe that police officer was investigating his boss Grant Bowers.
Henry drove his squad through the streets of the Air Force base. He’s been here numerous times, so he knows his way around the place.
He eventually found the Logistics building and pulled into the parking lot. He parked his car, got out, and headed to the office.
Once Henry got inside the office, he saw a counter. Behind the counter was a desk were sat a busty blonde lady.
“Are you Helen Cooper?” he said when he walked up to the counter.
“Why, yes I am,” said Helen and got a little nervous wondering why a Warner Robins police officer was here at work asking for her. She got up from her desk and walked to the counter with a sway in her curvy hips.
“How may I help you, Officer?” she said and was a little nervous.
“I’m Henry Hollister and need to ask you one question.”
“Sure, ask away.”
“Were you with Grant Bowers on Thursday morning at the Peach Tree diner for breakfast?”
That question caught her by surprise. “Why yes,” she said then blushed a little recalling what she did to Grant in the parking lot in his T-Bird.
Henry thought about asking her more questions but could tell by her blush that she was embarrassed. And that was enough for him. “Thank you. That’s all I need,” he said then turned around and walked away to the door.
Helen thought that that was odd and such a simple question to ask her. But she was still nervous and waited until Henry was gone then she rushed back to her desk and made a call.
“Lieutenant Bowers,” Grant said, answering the call.
“It’s me, Helen,” she said in a low voice to make sure nobody could hear her and glanced over her shoulder to make sure nobody could see her.
“Yes, baby,” said Grant.
“I just had a Warner Robins police officer, Henry Hollister, here to see me. He wanted to know if I was with you at the Peach Tree diner on Thursday morning. What’s going on? Should I be nervous about something?”
“No, baby. Henry’s a friend of mine. He’s closing up some things with the murder of Colonel Abbott’s daughter.”
“What? What does us eating breakfast at the diner has to do with her murder?” said Helen and started to shake being scared she would be arrested.
“It appears that that murder suspect was eating breakfast at the diner the same time we were there,” said Grant. “You have nothing to worry about. Trust me.”
“But how did you and I get involved this?”
“Well, apparently, this suspect, who is a loon, tried to say I killed that Abbott girl.”
“Why would he say that?”
“Because he’s a loon. Certified nut job.”
Helen didn’t know what to make of all this. “Okay, I better get back to work and hung up her phone. She swore to stay clear of Grant, as she suddenly didn’t trust him.
She returned back to her paperwork, but her hands started to shake. She grabbed her pack of Winston’s and removed a cigarette. She lit it and smoked to calm down her nerves. “I’ll never see him again,” she quietly said after exhaling smoke.
Back at the Air Police office on base, Grant was behind his desk, and that phone call from Helen made him start to wonder if Henry was beginning to suspect him for Angie’s murder.
It was now early evening, and Linus stopped in the southern part of South Carolina to fill up the car, get a quick dinner, and rest for an hour. His legs were getting tired, and he figured his car also use a rest.
Back down in Warner Robins, Kent was eating his dinner. Tonight it consisted of four pieces of fried chicken, which was a breast, thigh and two drumsticks, mashed potatoes, corn, and iced sweet tea.
It was now eight that evening, and Linus drove into Warner Robins.
He pulled his Rambler into the Peach Tree Motor Court and parked his car by the office. He knew to get a room at this place because the history books started this is where Angie’s murderer stayed while in town.
He got out of his Rambler and went inside the motor court office.
He walked up to the front desk where Ernie was again the night clerk.
“May I help you?” said Ernie from behind the desk.
“Why yes, I need a room for, oh, let’s say three nights,” said Linus.
“That’ll be fifteen dollars,” said Ernie and he slid a small registration form and pencil across the counter for Linus to fill out.
Linus filled out the form and used the name of Linus Bond. After all, he was a huge James Bond fan and felt like he was on a secret mission.
Ernie accepted his payment and gave him the key for Room 14.
Linus left the counter and headed to the door.
He left the office and headed back to his Rambler.
He started up his car and put it in reverse. He hesitated for a few seconds. He yawned. “Too late for that. I’ll have to go first thing in the morning,” he said, then backed up and drove to his room.
He got out of his Rambler and went inside Room 14.
Once inside, he stripped down to his tee-shirt and underwear. He was dead tired from the long drive from the north.
He got under the sheets and was fast asleep.
Back at the police station, Kent was also sound asleep in his jail cell.
Back at Henry’s home, he was in the living room drinking a Black Label beer.
Brenda was watching I Love Lucy on the TV.
Young Kent was already in bed.
Henry didn’t pay attention to the TV as his mind was on Angie’s murder case. Something still bugged him about this case. This case is way too easy. He thought while he took another sip of his Black Label beer. Way too easy.
He kept on thinking this case was too easy, and he couldn’t let that feeling go. Then he remembered that strange driver’s license with that nineteen eighty issue date and the picture of Kent with long dishwater blonde hair. Then he remembered about that incident back in forty-nine when he was stationed with Grant in the Army.
“I’m going back to the station,” he said while he got up off the couch.
“Why?” Brenda said as this was unusual for Henry, as he loved being home for the evenings except during softball season.
“I need to check on something. If I don’t go, I’ll stay awake all night thinking about it,” he said then walked out of the living room.
Brenda shrugged that off and knew this Angie Abbott murder was the talk of the town. She started laughing at something goofy Lucy did on the show.
Henry left his house and got inside his fifty-one Bel-Air, started up the car and backed down his driveway.
He drove off down the street.
Ten minutes had passed, and he parked in the parking lot of the police station.
He got out of the car and went inside.
Henry stood by the front desk and smiled when he saw Officers Malone and Smith asleep at their desks. “Like clockwork,” he said with a light chuckle then tiptoed through the office area and headed to the hallway where the jail cells are located.
Henry walked up to Kent’s cell and saw him asleep on his cell bunk. “Psst. Kent,” he said but not to loud to wake up Officers Steward and Smith. Kent didn’t wake up. “Psst. Kent,” he said again, but this time a tad louder.
Kent woke up and looked around for that sound that woke him up. His eyes widened the second, he spotted his daddy standing at his cell bar.
He got off his bed and walked over to the cell bars. He didn’t know what to say.
“So tell me. What happened on Saturday night down by Meyers’ cabin?” said Henry. “I know you told Detective Chambers, but I want to hear it from you myself.”
Kent looked at his daddy, and he could tell by his eyes that there might be a slight chance that he was on his side. “Well, I went down to Meyers’ cabin with my movie camera. I just got it and wanted to film the cabin for a documentary on old man Meyers.”
“Okay.”
“I heard voices. Two voices that sounded like they were in a heated argument. So I hid in some bushes to spy on them. I saw Grant and Angie in the clearing,” said Kent.
“Okay, then what?”
“The argument got heated, so I decided to film them.” “Why not, I just got the camera, and at the moment it felt like the thing to do.”
“What were they arguing about?”
“Angie wanted Grant to marry him because he got her pregnant. He said he wasn’t going to marry her and she got furious.”
“Then what?”
“She said she would tell her daddy and that he would put Grant in prison for the rest of her life. She slapped him. He slapped her, and she fell on her rear end. She screamed at him. He got pissed and started to strangle her.”
“How did you know Angie?”
“I remembered her from Thursday as she gave me a ride to the Peach Tree Motor Court from the Piggly Wiggly.”
“Why did she do that?”
“Well, I went into the Piggly Wiggly on Thursday and bought a box of Fig Newtons. When I left the store, it started to rain. She s felt sorry for me and offered a ride to the Peach Tree Motor Court.”
“Did you?”
“Oh no, she dropped me off at the motor court off then I went into my room while she drove away.”
“Okay, get back to Grant strangling her.”
“Well, since she was so kind and gave me a ride, I had to intervene. So I yelled for Grant so stop and ran over to them.”
And?”
“He punched me in the forehead, and I passed out. When I woke up, I saw Angie’s dead body with her clothes ripped off her. She was naked, her clothes on the ground near her, and Grant was gone. I stood frozen and not knowing what to do. Then one of your cop cars showed up, and your officers arrested me. And here I sit.”
Henry nodded that he understood Kent’s story.
“I swear, I didn’t kill Angie Abbott. Grant must have killed her. He was there and tried at first.”
Kent’s eyes welled up. My movie camera and film cartridges are probably still out there in those bushes. That will validate my story and prove I’m innocent. You have to go get it,” pleaded Kent.
Henry looked in Kent’s eyes, and a strange feeling came over his body. He had the same exact feeling as what he had when he looked at young Kent. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Henry walked away and headed back to the office area.
He walked up to the counter an grabbed a logbook that was by the phone. It was the log that documented incoming phone calls. He opened up the book to Saturday’s calls.
He looked at Saturday’s calls and found one for an unidentified caller. The log stated that a hiker claimed to have seen a man trying to kill a teenager down by Meyers’ cabin. The hiker refused to provide his name, saying he was fearful of his life.
Henry closed the log, and for the first time since he knew Grant, he didn’t trust him.
Henry left the station, and Officer Steward didn’t even notice here was there, as he was still snoring at his desk.
Henry drove back home and decided he needed to do a little digging into this case himself. He didn’t want an innocent man to fry for murder.