“Not for now, but find that
storage locker and if you need more men, call me on my cell phone
and I will have fifty there by nightfall,” he hung up without
waiting for a response. Damn him, Steve thought. We need team
players and not a guy like Jake who resents anyone stepping onto
his patch.
He’d just got off the phone
with Washington and reported to his superior that this case could
be a long and difficult one to solve. His boss didn’t want to hear
it, but softly said he knew what they were up against. He’d asked
Steve if he needed anything to help them along the way and Steve
replied that he was going to walk the beach and pray for the second
time in his life. His boss asked when the first time was and he
responded by saying when he was in church the last time getting
married. He’d asked God to never let his dick grow soft. His boss
laughed so hard he had to hang up. Steve cracked a big smile, but
as usual no one saw it. He decided he would go for that walk on the
beach.
Wendy was coming out of her
room when he saw her. He asked her if she wanted a walk on the
beach and she looked doubtful knowing she would get wet and
probably sand in her shoes. He saw her reluctance and quickly said
there are some beach combing clothes if you like. She had a small
smile that acknowledged an agreement to his suggestion. Ten minutes
later they were headed down the trail with Rocky as their guide.
Brad had sent Rocky just in case and Wendy asked what the just in
case meant a Brad only smiled.
Wendy looked like a
professional beach comber in her yellow rain coat with a large rain
hat on, knee boots that fit perfectly, and lined pockets to keep
her hands warm. Keeping her legs warm was a pair of nylon pants
that was waterproof. Once they hit the beach from the trail, the
sand firmed up and the going was easy. The rain and wind whipped
her face, but it felt good. The smell of salt and seaweed filled
her nose. On the sea stacks as they passed by sat hundreds of sea
gulls waiting out the storm. The tide was out so they could pass by
and see hundreds of thousands of black muscles hanging from the
rocks along with starfish interspersed giving a rainbow color to an
otherwise black background. Having never seen this before Wendy
moved closer to look at the hanging muscles with long hair like
things hanging all over them. She was afraid to touch them and
reached out tentatively to touch a starfish. They were tough
skinned and rough to touch. She turned to say something to Steve,
but realized the roar of the ocean and wind would only carry her
voice a short ways. She closed her mouth and they continued up the
beach toward the jetty.
Wendy felt the wind and rain
on her left side as they walked north to the jetty. Steve had his
hands buried in his pockets of his Burberry. A brightly colored
yellow rain hat with a neck strap made him look like a comic book
character in his big black boots strolling up the beach. An hour
later she loved the walking. She held her head high and the salt
air refreshed her body and brain. As they neared the jetty she
could see the waves crashing into the giant rocks that protected
the entrance to the harbor. The spray was flying high into the air
from the waves and wind. She’d never witnessed such a sight and was
mesmerized by the picture as she drew closer to the jetty. By now
she could see the outline of some people walking on top of the
rocks and when she was close enough to see them, she spotted Brad
standing next to the seashore hatless wearing a blue Gore-Tex coat.
How did he know we would this way she thought? He was alone as they
climbed the small bank to the parking lot. Few cars were there as
the tourist season was long gone and the sight of a storm to the
locals was nothing to them.
“Hi,” he said, “I brought
you some dry clothes and maybe we would have lunch at the local
eatery.” He handed her a bag and pointed at the low building where
the restrooms were located. For Steve he had a pullover sweater and
a light rain coat and a pair of slip on waterproof shoes. Wendy
found a sweat suit and sweatshirt inside the bag along with some
slip on waterproof shoes. A windbreaker jacket and she were good to
go. She looked into the stainless steel mirror and gave up the
thought of combing her short hair or applying some lipstick. Go
natural girl, she thought.
Brad drove the van to the
new part of Bandon. The old town lying at the edge of the harbor
where the Coquille River emptied into the Pacific Ocean. A small
town she thought as they drove along the waterfront where small
boutiques and other shops and restaurants were located. Brad turned
right through town and up the hill to the new town where the
supermarket and banks were located. A busy restaurant sat off to
the side and that is where Brad parked.
Inside she made for the
restroom to comb her hair and after looking presentable she found
them sitting at a table talking quietly. She looked around and
noticed the look of locals rather than tourists sat busy talking
about whatever locals talk about. She sat down and Brad smiled at
her asking what she would like. He said, “The clam chowder is great
and a crab sandwich is out of this world.”
She looked at him and
thought this was the most human like sentence she had heard him
speak. “I will follow your suggestion and some coffee would be
nice.” It turned out they all had the same thing and she was
delighted he met them and stopped for lunch. “How did you know
where we would be,” she asked with a raised eyebrow he
noticed.
“Ah, it is Steve’s famous
walk. It’s too far for him to return and years ago he called me the
first time he made the trek to the jetty.” Steve glared at
him.
“You know that isn’t true. I
called you the first time to see if I was needed and you said two
calls had come in. Then you suggested you come and get me and I
agreed,” he said with a small sign with a grin. Brad rolled his
eyes and Wendy laughed. Hot bowls of chowder arrived and Wendy
loved the food. It reminded her of the East Coast and Boston. But
the crab was much better here.
They didn’t talk any
business here as Brad was known but left alone. About the time they
were finished eating a policeman walked in and up to the table.
Brad introduced him as his brother-in-law who was married to Earie.
Wendy noticed he was short and stocky, with a nice smile. He shook
hands around the table and made some small talk and left. Wendy
thought it a little strange he didn’t sit down and have some
coffee, but maybe he was on an errand or something.
Driving back to the
roundhouse, as she called it, she took in the sights along the way
down the Loop Road. New houses mixed with old weather beaten
houses
were scattered
here and there along the road. Turning into a small dirt road
they made their way to the parking lot after Brad opened the cable
crossing the road at the end of the trees. The wind was gale force
and they hurried to the house. Inside Sujin took their wet clothes
and disappeared down the stairs. A warm feeling from the wood stove
gave off warmth and comfort. Wendy sat down on the sofa and let out
a relaxed sigh. Brad and Steve left for the basement and she sat
alone until Sujin came back up and sat next to her. Sujin smiled
timidly and said, “Are you comfortable here Wendy?”
“Yes, very much so and if
you are not careful I will be living here soon it is so nice and
relaxing.”
Sujin knew English American
humor and gave off a laugh. “My husband likes your work and thinks
you will be a big help on this case,” she said with a sincere look
in her eyes.
“I hope I can help. Even my
parents back east are scared to go outdoors anymore and how much
more here or in California are the old folks worried to death of
the serial killer.”
“Yes, and I’ve read your
report and is there anything else you might think of to add to it
after the last few days being on the sites and in his
house?”
“Sujin, I know one thing and
after studying profiles until my eyes fell out is that they all
have one thing in common: abuse at home when young whether physical
or mental. The pig breeding book and if in his history of family
reveals a location; we might find him holed up there or near there
due to his loss of a ‘home’ so to speak.”
“Mike located his family
history and we are discussing it when you are ready to join the
team in the basement.” With that they made their way downstairs.
Billy who had taken advantage of the lunch break caught up with
them on the way down smelling like stale cigarettes eliciting a
sharp look from Wendy. He made no excuse and sat on the floor next
to Sandy who had replaced Rocky inside for the afternoon shift.
Sandy was no different and snuggled up to Billy. Dogs know who and
what humans are. If a dog doesn’t like you it is for a good reason.
Wendy knew that and that is maybe why he always had Rocky or Sandy
with him.
Brad led a formal discussion
about the results of Mike’s history on John. He said, “Mike has
located Johns’ fathers’ home. He has since found out his father
raised pigs and the location is near the city of Olympia in
Washington State. I think it prudent Mike and Wendy investigate
this new information and maybe we can turn up a clue or two. Wendy
gives us your thinking about this new development.”
Wendy thought for a few
minutes and said, “Simply put, the more we know about this guy the
closer we can determine his geographical travels. What I mean is if
he is familiar with the area around Olympia maybe he will decide to
let the press cool down and the hunt for him wanes. He must know we
are going all out to find him and what better place to go to ground
would be in a familiar place. He’s two thirds there if we can take
his ‘Catch’ me expression. I think it is likely he will let things
cool down for a while. I’m ready and willing to go or do anything
to help the team and in particular stop this guy from killing our
grandmothers and grandfathers.”
“Well, it is settled then.
Mike and Wendy go to Olympia and for the time being we will stay
here and work on our random numbers and word games. Meanwhile Steve
will make the arrangements and notify the local FBI that you are
coming,” Brad said standing up telling everyone the meeting is
over.
Chapter
6
Two days later with the FBI
and local law enforcement they found the farm of J.J. Mitchell in
the Bald Hills near the town of Yelm. “It turns out a Mitchell
lives there and it is assumed it was a brother or John himself,”
Brad told Billy and Steve.
Steve said, “How is that
possible. You got me totally confused. I thought the brother was
dead and then who is buried in the grave in LA?”
“Well, you must have missed
something while things were going on. We think that the guy in the
grave is a missing man that looks like our killer John. He faked
his death and imposture his brother for the life insurance. He’d
set up an address and house in San Diego and when it came time to
collect, John played the part of his brother. It was easy to prove
with a SS number and a driver’s license obtained some time ago. The
life insurance wasn’t a large sum. He was smart to not draw
attention and collected the hundred thousand plus the sale of his
house in LA. It was very neat and clean. That’s an overview and the
particulars are in a report if you care to review.”
Steve knew they were on the
way to Olympia and left to pack his bag and call his superior. Brad
called the airport and put the plane on standby while Sujin made
ready their things. Billy took a quick shower and sucked down a fag
in the shower with a powerful fan sucking out the smoke and steam.
Clever he thought, but Brad already knew his trick.
Wendy noticed this time Brad
took Sandy and left a sad looking Rocky to take care of the home
base. Sandy looked out the window at Rocky and maybe in dog
language she gave him the nose thumb!
It was late at night when
they landed in Olympia. Steve left for Seattle for a meeting with
his superior who had flown out after hearing they might have the
suspect located.
They stayed at the Edgewater
in Olympia and left the next morning to the east where the Bald
Hills formed the side hills of the Cascade Mountain Range. The FBI
had staked the farm out and when they arrived, was told all was
quiet if squealing pigs indicated a quiet farm. Special agent Norm
Nicks from the Olympia office led the team to the farmhouse door at
eight am. A knock produced a very likeness of John Mitchell. Norm
showed his FBI credentials and asked if they could come in. The man
stood back and let Norm, Brad, Wendy and Mike in.
The house was a mess and it
looked like the pigs lived in the house. Paul Mitchell as he said
his name threw papers and old clothes in a corner to make room in a
broken down sofa for them to sit. A kitchen table and four chairs
were piled high with cereal boxes and god knows what all. Brad and
Mike moved two kitchen chairs into the living room and Wendy had
made a place on a sturdy coffee table by moving a pile of trash
while Norm in his tailored suit chose to stand. Paul sat down on
the sofa on top of old clothes and waited for someone to say
something. Brads first impression was the guy was a little
retarded, but found out later it was only a game he
played.
Norm began the questions by
reading him his rights and then asking him who owned this farm?
Paul replied, “I do. My daddy gave it to me when he
died.”