Chapter 15
It was now Wednesday morning.
Officer Peabody was at his desk eating his second glazed donut when Police Chief Bucky Delaney entered the station.
The “Chief” as everybody called him was a bald portly sixty-year-old and had worked for the Warner Robins police department for the past forty years.
“Good morning, Chief,” said Officer Peabody with a mouth full of glazed donut and a ring of sugar flakes around his lips.
“Good morning, Lester, I see nothing has changed,” said the Chief and rolled his eyes. “I hope you all had a quiet time around here while I was out fishing,” he said while he headed straight to the coffee pot.
“Well, I better let Detective Chambers fill you in when he shows up,” said Officer Peabody then he went back on munching on his third donut.
“Okay, that sounds good,” said the Chief while he filled up his coffee cup. He took a sip of hot coffee, then headed off to his office.
Ten minutes had passed, and Lester finished his sixth and last donut, and the Chief was on his second cup of coffee when Detective Chambers entered the station.
“The Chief’s in his office,” said Officer Peabody. “He would like to know how things went when he was out fishing.”
“Okay,” said Detective Chambers, and he headed off to the Chief’s office. He knocked on the Chief’s office door.
“Come in,” called out the Chief from inside his office.
Detective Chambers opened up the door. “You want a dump on what happened while you were gone?”
“Sure, Chuck,” said the Chief, and he put his coffee cup down on his desk and sat back in a relaxed position in his chair.
Detective Chambers walked over and sat down in the wooden chair in front of the Chief’s desk.
“Well, it started off quiet until Saturday night.”
“What happened Saturday night?”
“That evening we had a murder down by Meyers’ cabin.”
“A queer?” said the Chief, as they started getting reports with what goes on down there with the local men. But the Chief decided that if they’re not bothering anybody, it was easier to just leave them alone. Plus he was a little afraid of finding some of the local guys down there if he did a bust.
“No, it was a female teenager. Air Force dependent of an Air Force Colonel. A Colonel Abbott”
The Chief sat up in his chair. “What? A teenage daughter of an Air Force Colonel?”
“Yes, Chief, she was murdered, and she might be pregnant. I’m having the Coroner check that out.”
The Chief was surprised, as his town hadn’t had a murder in ten years. His time as Chief of Police during the past ten years had been reasonably quiet. “Damn,” he said, as he really disliked murder cases. “Give me some details.”
Detective Chambers filled the Chief in on their suspect, Kent Hollister, the breakout with Linus the fake FBI Agent. But he didn’t place blame on Lester when he told that part to the Chief.
He continued to tell the Chief about the car chase and the crash and how Linus and Kent were recaptured. Kent’s in the hospital and Linus sit in their jail. He also told him how Henry found the movie camera and film cartridge out by Meyers’ cabin.
The Chief took a few seconds to let all that information sink in his head while he paced around his office with his coffee cup in hand.
“Well, we’ll have to wait to see what this film reveals for evidence on the case. It’ll either prove this Hollister guy is guilty or innocent,” said the Chief while he stopped and glanced out his office windows. “That’s what I get for hiring my nephew,” he said while he looked at Officer Peabody and recalled how that FBI Agent pulled a fast one on the department.
“Yes sir, I mean, I know we should wait until that film gets developed,” said Detective Chambers while getting up from the chair. He left the office.
“Maybe I shouldn’t take any time off again. I leave, and all hell breaks loose,” said the Chief then took another drink of his coffee.
Ten minutes had passed, and Henry showed up at the office.
Officer Peabody was now out on patrol.
He sat down at his desk and spotted the Chief in his office. “I see the Chief is back. Has he been briefed?”
“Yeah. He now knows everything that happened,” said Detective Chambers.
Henry got up from his desk and headed over to the coffee pot. He poured a cup of coffee, then headed back to his desk.
It was quiet in the station during the next hour.
The desk on Henry’s phone rang. “Officer Hollister,” he answered the call.
“It’s me, Clint. I have your movie film developed. It ended up being two twenty-five foot spools of eight-millimeter film.”
“Great, I’ll be right over,” he said and hung up the phone.
“I’ll be right back,” he said while he bolted up from his desk and bolted to the front door.
“Where you going?” said Detective Chambers.
“You’ll find out,” said Henry opening the front door and rushing outside.
Henry rushed to his squad car, go inside, started up the engine and drove out of the station parking lot.
It wasn’t long before he pulled into Clint’s Camera shop.
He parked his car and rushed inside the store.
“That didn’t take you long, Henry,” said Clint from behind the counter.
“I know. I didn’t want to wait.”
“Here she is,” said Clint handing Henry the two rolls of 8mm film and the Bell and Howell camera. The black spool is the first one, and the gray spool is the second one.” “That’ll be twenty dollars for the express, express service.”
Henry felt his back pocket and realized he didn’t have that much cash on him. “Can I pay you tomorrow? I don’t have that much on me.”
“Sure.”
“Oh, do you have a projector I can borrow?”
“Sure do,” said Clint, and he walked away from the counter and headed into a back room. He came out with a Bell and Howell projector in a case.
“Instructions are inside the case. Bring her back when you’re done with it,” said Clint placing the projector on the counter.
“My hands are full, can you take to the car for me?”
“Yeah, my pleasure.”
Clint carried the projector case while Henry had the camera and two rolls of film.
After Clint placed the projector in the front seat of Henry’s Bel-Air, Henry shook his hand, thanking him for this quick service.
Henry got back in his squad car, started it up, and drove out of the parking lot.
A few minutes had passed, and Henry came back to the station.
He walked over to his desk with the movie camera and two spools of film in hand.
“What’s that?” said Detective Chambers.
“Kent’s film and movie camera,” said Henry setting them on his desk then he rushed back to the front door.
“Now where you going?” said Detective Chambers.
“You’ll find out,” said Henry opening the front door then rushing outside.
“You’ll find out again,” said Detective Chambers mocking Henry.
Henry reappeared back in the station with the projector case in hand.
He walked back to his desk. “Tell the Chief I have that film developed. We should watch it so we can get to the bottom of this murder case.”
Detective Chambers got up from his desk and went to see the Chief.
The Chief came out and suggested they watch the film in the Interrogation Room.
Henry grabbed the two rolls of film and the projector, and they headed off to the Interrogation Room.
It took a couple of minutes with Henry following the instructions inside the case of the projector to get it set up. He turned on the projector.
Detective Chambers flicked off the room light. The film appeared on the bare white concrete wall.
The first spool of the film started.
There wasn’t any sound, but it showed Grant and Angie standing in the clearing. They stopped and started talking.
“That looks like that Angie Abbott girl,” said Detective Chambers.
“Grant was there at the scene,” said Henry while he watched in disbelief.
“I don’t see this Kent guy. He must be behind those bushes filming like he said,” said Detective Chambers.
“Grant Bowers, no way,” said the Chief and he got up from his chair and moved closer to the wall. “It is him! I don’t believe it,” said the Chief then he returned to his chair.
After three minutes of the film showed Grant and Angie arguing and it was apparent it was heated.
“It’s obvious to me they were arguing about something,” said the Chief.
“Probably about her being pregnant and Grant not marrying her,” said Henry.
Detective Chambers and the Chief nodded in agreement.
The film showed Angie slapping Grant then Grant slapping her, knocking her on her butt.
“Ouch, I could feel that myself,” said the Chief.
“The bastard slapped a young girl,” said Detective Chambers. “I can’t believe that bastard slapped a young girl.”
Henry nodded in agreement.
On the film they saw Angie back on her feel yelling at Grant.
“Boy is she pissed,” said the Chief.
Detective Chambers and Henry nodded in agreement.
On the film, they saw Grant grabbing Angie by her throat. The film ended.
“Damn,” said the Chief.
“There’s another roll of film,” said Henry and he quickly wound the film back on the reel then installed the second spool.
The second spool of film started. It showed Grant strangling Angie and her yelling.
“She’s probably calling for help,” said the Chief.
Detective Chambers and Henry nodded in agreement.
On the film it showed Grant ducking her punches.
“It’s obvious he’s killing that girl,” said the Chief.
Detective Chambers and Henry were too pissed to say anything.
On the film it showed Grant looking at the camera and saying something.
“He saw something,” said Henry.
Detective Chambers and the Chief nodded in agreement.
The film showed Angie hitting Grant on the side of his head.
“Good for her!” said the Chief.
The film showed Grant dropping Angie then Kent was visible running up to them. Grant punched Kent, and he fell to the ground and stayed there.
“He did say Grant hit him and he passed out,” said Henry.
“He did say that,” said Detective Chambers.
On the film it showed Angie scooting out of view.
“Where is she going?” said the Chief.
“Probably escaping,” said Henry.
Detective Chambers nodded in agreement.
The film showed Grant running away in the direction Angie went and was out of view.
“He’s going after her,” said the Chief.
Detective Chambers and Henry nodded in agreement.
There were a few minutes of nothing but Kent still on the ground.
“I wonder what’s going on?” said the Chief.
“He’s probably killing her,” said Henry.
“I agree,” said Detective Chambers.
On the film, Grant reappeared with Angie in his arms. He dropped her limp body on the ground near Kent’s motionless body.
“The bastard did kill her,” said the Chief in a louder and pissed tone.
The blood of Detective Chambers and Henry started to boil.
On the film it showed Grant ripping off Angie’s blouse, Capri pants, panties and removed her shoes to where she was now bare ass naked. Then Grant ran out of view of the camera.
After a few seconds the film showed Kent and Angie on the ground the film finally ended.
Detective Chambers got up and turned on the lights to the room.
Henry proceeded to rewind the film to the front reel on the projector.
“Well, this sure changes things with this case,” said the Chief. “It’s obvious to me what we have to do now,” he added.
“Yep, I was wrong,” said Detective Chambers.
“Well, to be honest, if it wasn’t for the film, all the evidence did point to that Kent guy,” said Henry, but inside he was smiling that Kent was really innocent.
“Well, let me put things in motion so we can go out and arrest Grant at the base. I’ll have to have Major Pearle come down here first to see the film. After all, it’s one of his officers we’re accusing to be a killer,” said the Chief then he got up from his chair. “It’s the courteous thing to do,” he said while he walked to the door. “Have that first film ready to go for Major Pearle,” said the Chief when he opened the door.
“We also need to handle this issue of that fake FBI Agent we have locked up,” said Detective Chambers.
The Chief thought about that for a few seconds. I’ll think about that situation later,” he said then left the room.
Detective Chambers got up and left the room while Henry got the first spool ready on the projector.
Detective Chambers headed off to the jail cells.
He walked up to Linus’ cell.
Linus was pacing in small circles in his cell. He was bored to death.
“We got those film cartridges developed,” said Detective Chambers.
Linus stopped pacing and rushed over to the cell bars. “And it showed?”
“It showed Grant Bowers killing Angie Abbott and not your friend Kent Hollister.”
“See he was telling the truth.”
“He was, but the evidence at first pointed to him. But we’re good folk down here and will admit it when we were wrong. And we were wrong.”
“But what about me?”
“Well, the Chief will decide on what to do with you later,” said Detective Chambers then he walked away.
Linus did a little victory dance across the floor back to his bunk to celebrate Kent being found innocent. But then he started to worry about his fate.
Detective Chambers went back to the office area and made a beeline straight to the coffee pot. He poured a cup and went back to his desk. He removed a Lucky Strike from his pack and lit one up.
“Major Pearle will be here in fifteen minutes,” the Chief said while he stepped out of his office then went back inside.
Detective Chambers smiled as he couldn’t wait to see the expression on Major Pearle’s face when he saw what Grant did. He always thought Major Pearle was arrogant and cocky.
Fifteen minutes had passed, and Major Pearle showed up at the police station. He appeared a little irritated while he stood at the counter.
“Chief Delaney said I needed to come out here to see some stupid movie you have.”
“Yes, sir. We’ve been waiting for you,” said Detective Chambers while he got up from his desk.
“Well, it better be extremely important. I’m a very busy man,” said Major Pearle, but if truth be known, the only thing he was going to do at the base was going to the Officers Club for a round of drinks with his officer buddies.
“Chief, Major Pearle’s here from the airbase,” called out Detective Chambers.
The Chief stepped out of this office. “Major Pearle. Thank you for coming out here,” he said and walked over to the counter.
“This better be extremely important, Chief,” said Major Pearle in an irritated tone.
“Oh, it is. Believe me, it is,” said the Chief with a smirk, as he also disliked Major Pearle. “Please follow me.”
Major Pearle followed Detective Chambers through the office area and to the Interrogation Room.
They went inside where Henry had the projector ready to go.
The detective turned out the lights, and Henry started the projector.
Eight minutes had passed.
Major Pearle watched the two films and sat there with his mouth opened in disbelief. “He’s one of my officers,” he said over and over again. “One of my good officers.”
“One of your officers that killed a teenage Air Force Dependent,” said the Chief.
“She’s Colonel Abbott’s daughter,” added Henry. “And there’s something I never told anybody,” he said.
All eyes were on him.
“Back in forty-nine, I was stationed with Grant at Fort Devens in Massachusetts,” said Henry.
“I knew that, so what does that have to do with what we just saw?” said Detective Chambers.
“Yes you do, but what you don’t know is that in the summer of forty-nine, there was a local sixteen-year-old teenager that was killed. She was also pregnant and found dead and naked in the woods. They determined she was strangled. At first, they suspected Grant since he was seen with her on previous occasions.”
“What happened?” said the Chief.
“He had an alibi, and the police in that town believed him.” “And I knew Grant and didn’t even suspect he would kill anybody. We were best buds. Of course, he had a reputation of being a ladies man, but nobody ever suspected him of murder. Even our Commanding Officer went to bat for Grant.”
“What happened to the case?” said Detective Chambers.
“It went cold.”
Major Pearle looked pissed, and he knew this film had his officer dead to rights. “Okay, let’s put things in motion to arrest him.”
“Now we’re talking, “ said the Chief.
“Let me make a call to General McCartney. I have to keep him informed,” said Major Pearle.
“You can use my office phone,” said the Chief then he looked at Henry. “We’ll have to show that film to Judge Toole to get those charges dropped for that Kent Hollister kid,” he said then it dawned on him. “Wait, that’s the same name as your kid, Henry.”
“I know sir. Strange coincidence,” said Henry.
“Sure is,” said the Chief then he left the room with Major Pearle, and Detective Chambers.
Henry stayed and took care of the projector.
Ten minutes had passed, and Major Pearle briefed General McCartney on the phone about the situation with Lieutenant Bowers. The General agreed and told Major Pearle to proceed, and General McCartney would inform Colonel Abbott with what was going to happen.
Major Pearle, Chief Delaney, Henry, and Detective Chambers all headed off to Robins Air Force Base in separate cars. Major Pearle in his nineteen fifty-two Chevrolet Bel-Air blue Air Force car and the Chief, Detective Chambers and Henry in Henry’s Bel-Air squad car.
Ten minutes had passed, and Major Pearle’s car was at the base front gate first. He told the Airman guard that the cop car was with him. The guard motioned for everybody to proceed.
The two cars drove through the base and parked in the parking lot of the Air Police building.
Major Pearle got out of his car and walked over to Henry’s Bel-Air. “Let me go inside and get two of my guys. Grant is probably drinking at the Officers Club, said Major Pearle then he walked off and headed to the building.
“Is that what these Air Force officers do all day? Drink at the Officers Club?” said Detective Chambers.
“I heard the pilots are known to knock down a lot of drinks in the evenings,” said the Chief.
“I hope they don’t do that when Russia attacks us,” said Henry.
They all remained quiet until Major Pearle came out of the building with Airman Third Class Derek Allen and Airman Third Class Bobby Gentry following behind him. The two had their sidearms that were Colt 45s.
Major Pearle motioned for Henry to follow him.
When Derek and Bobby got in the back seat of Major Pearle’s car, they started to suspect what was going on. They glanced at each other and started to get a little nervous yet a little happy.
Henry followed Major Pearle’s car through the streets of the Air Force base.
They soon arrived at the Officers Club parking lot and followed Major Pearle’s car and parked by the front door.
While they all got out of the cars, Henry spotted Grant’s red T-Bird in the lot. “He’s here.”
“Let go,” said Major Pearle, and they followed to the front door.
Once they got inside, they saw Colonel Abbott waiting inside the lobby area.
“Colonel Abbott, this is Chief Delaney, Detective Chambers, and officer Hollister. I believe General McCartney informed you of the situation?”
“Yes, he did. Let’s move,” said Colonel Abbott, and he was furious.
Major Pearle led the way through the club to the High in the Sky lounge.
Once they entered the lounge, they heard the Elvis Presley All Shook Up song playing on the jukebox. They saw Grant at the bar drinking with a hot looking Brunette to his right.
They marched over to the bar.
“After dinner, we could take a nice drive in the country in my T-Bird. I’ll have the top removed,” said Grant while he lightly rubbed the brunette’s left forearm. “He leaned toward her ear. “Then I’ll have your top removed,” he whispered into her ear, and she giggled.
He heard footsteps approaching him, and he looked to his right and saw Colonel Abbott, Major Pearle, Chief Delaney, Detective Chambers, Henry, and the two of his guys with their sidearms storming over to him. “Shit!” he said.
“What did you say?” said the brunette unsure she heard him cuss and wondered why he would do that.
Grant bolted off his barstool and made a beeline to the side door of the lounge that led to the outside deck.
Henry bolted after Grant and leaped into the air and tackled Grant where they smashed on the top of a table where two Captains were drinking beer.
The table broke like in a Western bar room fight sending beer bottles flying into the air and bottles crashing to the floor.
The two Captains fell back in their chairs and landed on their backs with a thud.
Derek and Bobby rushed over and found Henry had Grant pinned to the floor on his back.
The two Captains got back on their feet, stunned with what just happened.
Henry flipped Grant over on his back.
“Lieutenant Bowers, you’re under arrest for the murder of Angie Bowers,” said Chief Delaney and then he handcuffed Grant’s arms behind his back.
Henry got off Grant and then Derek and Bobby each grabbed an arm and brought Grant to his feet.
“That guy you framed had a movie camera in the bushes and filmed everything. You don’t stand a chance in court,” said Henry and fought hard from punching Grant in his face.
Colonel Abbott got in Grant’s face inches from his nose. “I’ll make sure you get the electric chair you fucking son of a bitch,” he said, and he fought hard not to punch Grant in his face. He didn’t want to give this guy any advantage in court.
The brunette sat at the bar stunned while she watched the two Airmen escort Grant away with Colonel Abbott, Major Pearle, Chief Delaney, Detective Chambers, and Henry tagging behind.
She got off the stool since her free drink ticket was arrested for murder.
She also left the Officers Club.
The two Captains were still stunned when they moved and sat