Dead Renegade (14 page)

“Mr. Calverson, let’s start over and try to remain calm. I may be a ‘local yahoo’ but it so happens I am also the Chief of the Loon Lake Police Department. Lewellyn Ferris is my name, and this accident is under my jurisdiction. For the record, I make the decision to call in the county sheriff if needed—not the State Patrol. Dr. Osborne here is one of my deputies—”

“I’ve met Osborne,” said Curt with a grunt. “So what the hell are you going to do? How the hell do I get my car out of here and what are you going to do about … about … that!” He whirled around to jab an angry finger towards the animal carcass.

“Curt, honey, please settle down or you’ll have another heart attack,” said C.J.

Her husband wheeled on her: “How many times do I have to tell you to shut your fucking mouth!”

“Mr. Calverson,” said Lew, stepping towards him, “I want you in the patrol car. Now.” She pointed at the car. “Leave the doors open so you get plenty of air and I suggest you sit quietly and take few deep breaths. Your wife can join you if she wishes. Meanwhile, Dr. Osborne and I will take a good look at the damage here and then I’ll need to ask you some questions for the report.”

“What do you mean a
report
? No one is hurt. I don’t need a report—my insurance will cover this.”

“Any time there is over a thousand dollars worth of damage to a vehicle, I have to file a report. Now, to answer your questions—a tow truck is on its way and I will arrange for someone to remove the carcass.”

C.J. stepped forward from where she had been standing near the front of the car. “Curt …” her voice trembled, “would it help if I called our insurance company while you talk to Chief Ferris?”

“Oh, for Chrissake,” said Curt, waving his hands in defeat. He marched over to the police cruiser, slid into the back seat, laid his head back and closed his eyes. C.J. found a stump in the shade behind the cruiser and sat down. Elbows on her knees, she buried her face in her hands. Osborne thought he saw her shoulders shaking.

Lew waited until both were settled before motioning for Osborne to follow as she knelt down beside the deer. They didn’t have to get very close to see Curt was right about one thing: the animal had been dead long enough that maggots were feasting. Lew got to her feet and took a slow stroll along the road, studying the patterns in the gravel.

“Look here, Doc,” she said, her eyes focused on a patch of gravel and weeds, “you can see where that deer was dragged in from behind those pines. Any chance you know where Ray is this morning? I’d sure like to see if he can help us out—follow those tracks on back into the woods. I’d like to know how that animal got here.”

“I’ll try his cell, if he’s not out of range, he’ll answer.”

“Yo, Doc? What’s up?” asked a happy baritone within seconds. Osborne handed his phone to Lew.

“Ray, I need your services ASAP,” she said. “Where are you right now?”

“Oh, just standin’ in my kitchen fryin’ up a batch of fresh-caught bluegills for my buddy, Nick, here. Got enough for four—you and the old man want to join us?”

“Thanks but no thanks,” said Lew. She spoke fast, describing the scene and what was needed. “Since we had that rain last night, I think there’s a decent chance of finding some sign of how and when this animal was dumped here. Pay you for your time, of course.”

“You said the magic words,” said Ray, “Mind if I make it an ed … u … cational op-p-p … or … tunity for my friend here? Nick invited me to pre-fish Big Moccasin with him and his buddies later this afternoon so we were heading that way anyhoo. Do you mind if I bring him along?”

“Not if you’ll eat fast and meet us here,” said Lew. “Shouldn’t take me more than fifteen minutes to get what I need from the Calversons for the police report. Doc and I will stay until you arrive. I don’t want the tow truck moving anything before you get here.”

Lew snapped the phone shut, saying, “That was easy. Ray should be on his way in a few minutes.” Then she headed over to the police cruiser to speak to the Calversons while Osborne decided to take one more look at the upside down Land Cruiser.

He ruminated as he studied the car: Interesting that Ray would drop whatever he was doing to get here so soon. The only time he could get the guy to move fast was when he had a fish on the line. Could it be the presence of the lovely C.J.? Might be a good idea to mention that to Lew … just in case it could complicate matters, which it shouldn’t. But then Ray is Ray.

Osborne knelt to examine the deer again. No marks on the carcass that he could see. It didn’t appear the animal had been hit by another vehicle, which was curious since hunting season was months away. Just as he was pondering the size of the animal and if it had taken more than one person to drag the carcass, C J. walked up. “Doc,” she said, keeping her voice very low, “does Erin handle divorce cases?”

“Not that I know of,” said Osborne, looking up in surprise. Seeing the expression in C.J.’s eyes, he quickly added, “But if she doesn’t, I’m sure she’ll know someone who does.”

“He just … he treats me with such contempt,” said C.J., pressing her fingers against her eyes as if to hold back tears. “I never expected it to be this way.”

Osborne got to his feet. He glanced over the young woman’s head to be sure her husband was still talking with Lew. He still was—sitting sideways with his back to them. Osborne reached an arm across C.J.’s shoulders to give her a quick hug. In her jeans and t-shirt, blond hair pulled back in a ponytail, she reminded him of a younger Erin: poor kid, if only he could wipe away those tears and make everything okay.

CHAPTER
19

O
sborne didn’t recognize the yellow Honda Civic pulling in behind the tow truck until Ray and Nick got out. “Good, you’re just in time,” said Lew. She was standing near the carcass that was still wedged under the car. “Ray, would you please take a look at this dead animal before the car is lifted?”

“Okedoke,” said Ray, motioning to Nick to wait by the Honda. He walked over to join Lew in front of the overturned SUV. Feet apart, hands thrust into the pockets of his khaki shorts, he studied the dead animal, then turned to walk the same path Lew had walked half an hour earlier.

“Oh, yeah,” said Ray, pointing, “look at that. Sure enough, that animal was dragged along here.” He knelt to touch the ground. “Tell you right now I’ll have no problem finding good tracks in this dirt. Plenty moist still. Okay, Chief,” he said, getting to his feet, “I’ve seen enough. You can let Tony go ahead and move the car.”

Lew signaled the tow truck driver and the Land Cruiser made its way up and over and onto the bed of the tow truck. Curt, watching from the sidelines, grimaced at the sight of the damage to the roof. C.J. stood in silence, her arms crossed as she watched not the car, but Ray.

“Hey, now, check
that
out,” said Ray, looking down at the lower half of the animals body, which was now fully exposed. “On the right flank—see what I see?” Osborne and Lew leaned forward together. A small entry wound, a gunshot, was clearly visible. “Is that what you expected?”

Tm not surprised,” said Osborne.

“Me neither. Ray, you know the drill,” said Lew, “see if you can track back along the path that animal was dragged. Someone must have thought they were being funny. Likely some teenagers who need to learn just how dangerous a stunt like this can be. Call me as soon as you’ve got something.” With a quick glance, she checked to make sure Curt was listening.

“You got it, Chief. Doc, when I’m done here you want to join me and Nick for the pre-fish?” Ray checked his watch. “Launch from the public landing in an hour and a half?”

“Will you guys be fishing by the island, like yesterday?” said C.J., chiming in. Osborne did a double take: this was a new C.J.—a lively young woman sounding brighter than she had all morning.

“No,” said Ray. “I’ve advised Nick and the boys to pre-fish Susan’s Bay. That’s the big bay just past the island on the right. There’s a short ‘no-wake’ zone that takes you in there,” said Ray.

“Oh sure, I know right where you mean. Good fishing there, huh?”

Ray did not miss the eagerness in C.J.’s eyes and his voice was gentle when he said, “Just the boys today, C J. We’re only allowed five in the boat and we’ve got two of Nick’s team meeting us, too. Don’t you worry—Doc and I will get you and Mason out again real soon.”

“C.J.!” Curt jabbed a finger in the direction of their house, which was just a quarter of a mile further down the road. They set off together—Curt striding fast, C.J. doing her best to keep up, shoulders slumped.

An hour and a half later, Osborne stood on the dock at the public landing, watching as the black pickup towing the UW team’s boat trailer backed its way down to the water. Ray, having parked his truck up behind Osborne’s car, sauntered down the gravel road towards the water, spinning rod in one hand, tackle box in the other.

“Hey, Doc, got some interesting news on the Calverson place,” said Ray as he joined Osborne. “Our friend, C.J., needs to be careful these days. Someone has been trespassing around their place.”

“You’re kidding.”

“N-o-o, I’m … not.” Ray set his gear down to watch with a look of pain on his face as the driver of the team’s truck barely managed to avoid backing the rear wheels of the boat trailer into the dock. “No … I am not … kidding.” He looked over at Osborne. No smile. “What I found worries me.

“That deer? That sucker had been dragged about fifty feet from where two jabones parked their vehicle—tread marks make me think it might be a Dodge Ram 1500—only they took a little jaunt before making their delivery.

“I tracked their footprints—”

“Two people?”

“Yep. Size of the prints had to be two men in work boots. Tracked ‘em through the woods and down to the Calverson place where they came up the side yard, peered through basement windows, then got up on that deck of theirs. Probably tried the doors—I wouldn’t be surprised. Too bad Calverson doesn’t have a dog. That might’ve scared ‘em off.

“I could be wrong, but the footprints in the yard and around the house were deep enough to make me think they were sneaking around before sun-up—right after the rain had stopped. Then they hung out in the woods until they saw the Calversons drive off.

All I can think, Doc, is what if C.J. had been left alone in that house? I mean, who are these guys and what are they up to?”

“Up to no good from the sound of it,” said Osborne.

“Calverson came out of the house while I was checking the tracks in the yard, so I had a brief talk with ol’ slugger. Suggested he be sure to keep his security system on. Tried to blow me off, but he can’t fool me—that joker’s scared.” Ray had dropped his signature hesitations.

“Doc, I don’t like the feeling I get around that guy. Something is really wrong with that individual. Don’t you wonder how a nice girl like C.J.—”

Before he could finish, Osborne said, “I know exactly what you mean. Erin’s working with some elderly clients that Calverson’s firm has locked into questionable loans. You know, it’s beginning to look like the guy is real razzbonya. I assume Lew knows what you found?”

“Left a message with the switchboard. They said she was on her way to meet with Roger—he needed help with a break-in at the Dog House Tavern. Marlene didn’t think it was critical enough time-wise to bug her on the cell phone.”

“Now here’s a
real
nice honey hole for bass,” said Ray. “I save it for special clients and it’s one I’ve fished any number of times. Caught a five pounder here—” He paused and the three college boys who had been intent on his every word turned to see what it was that had caught his attention. The hum of a jet ski coming around the point and heading their way grew louder.

“Has to been the tenth jet ski we’ve seen in the last hour,” said Osborne. “Let’s hope they keep their distance.” He wiped the sweat off his forehead as he spoke. The afternoon was so hot and windless under a cloudless sky that he was already planning a dip in the lake the moment he got home. He’d left Mike in the yard, and he hoped the dog had enough water.

“Man, that dude has one cool machine,” said Nick, “check it out. I’d like to try one of those!” Osborne had to admit the jet skier looked pretty impressive on his bright yellow machine, a black life vest with a yellow stripe down the back and a full-face orange helmet covered with streaks of black lightning.