Confession (26 page)

“Maybe Uncle Billy wants to find that wooden chest mentioned in the book.”

“Enough!  You didn't find a wooden chest in dad's house.  So that means it doesn't exist anymore.  Dad threw it away years ago.  Case closed!” Becky barked out and was getting more and more
irritated
with Marty.

“Didn't Dad have a skull tattoo with five letters on his back?   I thought I remember seeing that when we dated.  His book gave the killer the same type of tattoo but on his bicep,” Marty said not realizing he was pushing things too far.

“Can't you let dad rest in peace?  He used that to jazz up his story!” she yelled while her face turned red.

Marty looked concerned while he watched her storm out of the living room.  He had a gut feeling Allan’s book was written to provide clues to the identity of the October Slayer. 

It’s probably Uncle Billy!
  He thought to himself while he rushed out of the living room and to make up with Becky.  But he did not have the balls now to mention his theory
to Becky
that Billy might be the killer.

Billy’s Corvette raced north on I-4.   He weaved in and around traffic and almost caused a few accidents.  Some of the drivers blew their horns.  And some of the drivers gave Billy the one-finger salute.

Inside his car, Billy could care less he pissed off some other drivers, as finding that wooden chest weighed heavily on his mind.

“I’ll wait a couple of days,” Billy said to himself while he quickly moved into the left lane and cut off a Honda Civic.  The driver blew his horn.

He sped his Corv
ette up to ninety miles per hour and raced north to I-4 so he can catch the Florida Turnpike. 

His cell phone rang, he looked at the viewfinder and it was a text message.  He smiled, as it was the address and phone number he needed.

I
t was later that evening, and Sam sat at his computer while he conducted some research.  His computer made a gunfire sound that indicated new email arrived.

He quickly opened up his program and saw an email from Charles.  His eyes lit up and he quickly opened it.

“I hope this information on Allan Stein helps.  Please don’t return to your old ways if nothing becomes of your investigation,” Charles’ email message stated.

Sam quickly opened the attachment titled “Allan Stein” and saw that it was scanned information on Allan’s history that covered both military and family.

“Thanks son.  And I won’t return to my old ways.  Promise!” Sam typed his reply.

He started to review the information Charles provided.

“Allan was born in Curtis, Mississippi in 1936.  His father was Alvin and his mother was Sadie.  His brother was Billy Stein born in 1941.  Allan attended Curtis High School in Curtis, Mississippi and graduated in 1954,” Sam read from the email attachment.

He grabbed his coffee cup and took a drink.

“Allan enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1954.  He was stationed in Fort Gillem, Georgia from 1955 – 1960.  Stationed in Fort Benning, Georgia from 1960 – 1970.  Stationed in Vietnam from 1970 – 1971.  Stationed in Fort Benning, Georgia from 1972 – 1985,” Sam read from the email attachment.

Sam got curious and searched for websites where people could look up old high school friends.  He decided to see what information that would reveal about Allan.  He found a popular site and opened it up.

Sam clicked on Mississippi.  He clicked on Curtis, Mississippi.  He clicked on the “Curtis High School” link.  He clicked on the “1954” year.  A listing of students appeared, and Sam noticed that Allan Stein was not in the listing.  He saw a link for “Annette Brown Watson” and curiously looked at it.  He clicked on her link
, as her name sounded familiar f
or some strange reason
.

Her bio appeared.  “Annette married John Watson on July 6, 1958 after John graduated from Mississippi State University.  John joined the United States Marine Corps immediately after graduating.  Annette died in 1966,” Annette’s bio read.

His eyes lit up when it dawned on him
why
Annette Brown Watson
was suddenly a familiar name
.  His cell phone rang, and he opened it up and he smiled when he saw the caller from the viewfinder.  “Hey Peter,” he answered.

“Sam, I traced Joel Nelson to Memphis.  He’s retired from the bureau.  His phone number is five
,
five
,
five
,
one
,
zero
,
nine
,
five,” Peter said from the cell phone.

“Thanks Peter.  And guess what?” Sam said excitedly while he jotted down Joel’s phone number.

“What’s that?”

“The author and the last girl murdered went to the same high school in Mississippi.  There’s a connection so I’m thinking the author must have discovered who the October Slayer was, and didn’t have the guts to tell the authorities.  Maybe it was a close friend from his home town.”

“Maybe he wanted to protect this person but gave you clues in his book.  You know, one last chance to solve the crime,” Peter replied.

“That sounds plausible,” Sam said.

“Well, the offer still stands to visit me if you find some good evidence,” Peter said then disconnected his end of the call.

Sam jumped up excited and rushed out of his den.

He rushed into the living room where Cindy watched the movie
The Notebook
with James Gardner.

“The author of A Killer’s Tale and the last girl murdered by the October Slayer went to the same high school in Mississippi.  I’m on to something!” Sam said excitedly.

“That’s nice dear,” Cindy replied while she did not hear Sam, since her eyes were glued to a romantic scene in the movie.

Sam rushed out of the living room.

Sam rushed back into the den and over to his desk.  He picked up his cell phone and made a call but got the recording to leave a message.

“Hey Joel, it’s a memory from your past.  It’s me, Sam Woods from the Atlanta office in the sixties.  Please call me.  It’s extremely important,” Sam said into his cell phone.

Sam disconnected the call then looked at his computer monitor. 

Sam looked at the list of students and found John Watson’s name and clicked his link.

“John retired from the United States Marine Corps and now lives in Phoenix, Arizona,” his bio stated.

Sam saw the “Send John Watson an Email” link and clicked on it.  An email message box appeared.

“John.  My name is Sam Woods a retired FBI agent now living in Daytona Beach, Florida.  It’s extremely important that I get the chance to talk with you about Allan Stein.  I believe you went to Curtis High School with Allan.  Please call me at five
,
five
,
five
,
eighteen
,
oh four or email me.  Thank you for your assistance in this matter.  Sam Woods,” he typed in his email message then hit the “Send” button.

Sam got up from his desk and looked anxious for a reply from John.  He grabbed his coffee cup and left the room.

He entered the kitchen and poured a fresh cup of coffee. 

Sam walked out of the kitchen.  His kitchen phone rang.  He walked back into the kitchen.

“Sam Woods,” he answered the call.  All Sam heard was someone breathing very heavily.  “Hello.  Is there anybody there?” Sam asked.  He heard more heavy breathing from the phone.

“Sam Woods.  You better leave well enough alone!  If you catch my drift!” the caller said then disconnected his call.

Sam slammed the phone down just at Cindy entered the kitchen and saw he was upset.

She yawned.  “Who was on the phone?”

“Wrong number,” Sam said but looked pissed and wondered if that was John Watson.

“It looks like that wrong number pissed you off.”

“I was busy researching and didn't want to be bothered,” he said then sipped his coffee and wondered if Joel made the call.

“That’s too bad.  Listen, it's getting late and I better be getting home,” Cindy said and yawned again.

“Okay,” Sam replied and kissed her on her cheek.

He set his coffee cup on the counter and walked her out of the kitchen.

Outside, Billy sat in his Corvette down the street and staked out Sam’s house.  He watched while Sam and Cindy walked out of his house and Sam escorted her to her Ford Focus.  Sam gave her a quick kiss and opened her car door.

“Sammy has a girlfriend,” Billy sang out while he watched Cindy get inside her car and while Sam closed her door.

Cindy backed her Focus out of the driveway.

Sam waved at her while she drove away.

Sam walked back inside his house.

Billy started his Corvette and followed Cindy's car.

Sam went inside his house and went to his den to conduct some research.

He sat down at his computer desk and noticed he had an email message.  He opened up his email program.  His eyes lit up when he saw it was from John Watson.  He quickly opened it.

“Mister Woods, I don’t think I can help you with Allan Stein.  I haven’t seen him in over fifty years,” John’s email stated.

Sam quickly replied.  “Mister Watson.  I would still like to talk with you.  I was the FBI agent in charge of the October Slayer case back in the sixties,” Sam typed out then sent the message.

Sam got up and walked out of the den.  He started to have his doubts that Joel was the harassing caller.  
But who?
He wondered while he freshened up his coffee cup from the kitchen.

He walked back inside his den with his coffee cup and sat back down.  He sipped his coffee while he waited.  He hoped John would provide a quick response.

Sam’s computer rang the gunfire sound when the new email arrived.  He saw it was from John so he quickly opened the message.

“I live in Phoenix.  My cell phone number is five
,
five
,
five
,
nine
,
zero
,
five
,
five.  When would you like to meet?” John’s message stated.

“As soon a possible,” Sam typed his response and sent it.

Sam waited a few seconds then John’s message appeared.  Sam opened it.

“How about tomorrow?” John’s message stated.

“Perfect,” Sam typed and sent his response.

“Send me your flight information, and I’ll meet you at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International airport.  We can meet at a restaurant in the terminal,” John’s message stated.

“You got it and thank you very much,” Sam typed out his response and sent the message.

Sam then added John’s number into contact list in his cell phone.

Sam spent the next thirty minutes on the computer searching for a flight from Daytona to Phoenix.  He found one but it was an eight-hour Delta flight with a layover in Atlanta.  He made his reservations then emailed
the information to John.  H
e
also
made reservations with the Holiday Inn Express at the airport for tomorrow night.

Five minutes later, he had another email message from John and he quickly opened it up.

“I’ll meet you at the airport,” John’s message stated.

Sam looked at his cell phone.  “Here’s the hard part,” he said while he punched in a phone number.

“Sam, why are you calling so late?  Are you okay?” Cindy answered the call and sounded concerned.

“I got in touch with the husband of the last girl murdered.  He agreed to meet with me in Phoenix,” Sam said.

“Phoenix?  When are you leaving?” Cindy replied a little upset.

“At seven in the morning, and I’ll be back the next day.”

“We have Kristen’s birthday party that night.  She’ll be hurt if you don’t show up.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back in plenty of time.”

“Sam, please be careful.  After all, you don’t carry a gun like you did in the FBI days,” Cindy said with an air of concern.

“I’ll be fine.  We’re meeting in a restaurant in the airport terminal,” Sam replied to make her feel at ease.

“Okay.  I hope you get some more leads.”

“Me too.  I’ll call you tomorrow,” Sam said then disconnected his call.

Sam went back to his den where he sat back down at his computer.  He thought about his next move then had an idea.  He conducted some searches and found one that looked promising.  It was the “Find Your Old Military Buddies” website. 

H
e clicked on Georgia on the map of the United States.  He
clicked on Fort Benning. 

H
e clicked on the CID Battalion.   A long listing of names of men who where station in this Battalion at Fort Benning and was sorted by years.  He found eight names of men listed during the years of 1960 – 1970 and six names of men listed during the years of 1970 - 1980. 

“My name is Sam Woods and I’m a retired FBI agent.  It’s extremely important that I talk with anybody who was stationed with Allan Stein at Fort Benning.  I was the FBI agent in charge of the October Slayer case during the nineteen sixties.  Please email me if interested in meeting or call my cell phone at five
,
five
,
five, eighteen
,
oh four.  Thank you for your consideration, Sam Woods,” he typed out as an email message and saved it.

Then one by one, Sam sent that email to all of the fourteen names of men who could have been stationed with Allan.

He turned off his computer and left the den.

He went to his bedroom and packed some overnight clothes for his trip.

Meanwhile, Billy raced his Corvette north on I-95, and was getting closer to Jacksonville.

The flight to Phoenix during the next day was long with the three hour layover in Atlanta.  During the flight, Sam had plenty of time to figure out what questions he could ask John.

The jet landed at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International airport.

Sam exited the security area with his overnight bag in hand.  He soon saw a man with a gray crew cut and a red golf shirt with the Marine Corp emblem on it.  The man held up a “Sam Woods” homemade sign.

Sam walked up to him.  “I’m Sam Woods.  Are you John Watson?”

“Yes I am and it’s a pleasure to meet you.  Now, can I see some identification?” John said with a serious tone.

Sam removed his wallet and showed John his retired FBI identification card
and Florida driver’s license
.  John looked at it and was satisfied Sam was not some crackpot.