Silver's Bones (16 page)

 

Chapter 17

August 19

S
unday morning I stopped and picked up three dozen cinnamon rolls from the Sportsman's Café to put in the squad room. The cinnamon smell drifting up from the bag tempted me into eating one on the way. I grabbed another to eat at my desk before I called Aubrey Farmer's cell phone. This time she picked up.

“Sorry, I haven't gotten back to you. Things have been crazy ever since I heard Mom was sick.”

“Sick?” I said.

“Breast cancer. She's scheduled for surgery tomorrow morning.”

“Sorry to hear that.” Maybe it was the looming surgery and treatment that made her parents angry and hostile.
Nah,
I decided.
They're just nasty people.

“Anyway, I'll be in Prairie Falls for the rest of the week.”

“When's the earliest you could come in?”

“Now?”

“Works for me. Come to the department and ask for me at the front desk.”

 

 

I hoped Aubrey Gage Farmer
could give me more insight into her brothers and the dynamics of the group Silver Rae had hung around with. She was a softer, fuller version of her mother. Her big smile and firm handshake made her appear friendlier than good old Mom, but that wasn't saying much—a mosquito was friendlier than Lillian Gage.

We walked to the interview room she said, “Again, I apologize for not getting back to you. My husband's been out of town on assignment and I've been running like a crazy person trying to get things done before I came home.”

“What kind of business is your husband in?” I asked.

“Freelance photographer. Does a lot of work for
National Geographic
.”

“Cool. Thanks for taking time to come in. I'm sure you're going to want to spend time with your mother today.”

She smiled. “I've been a mess since she called to tell me she had cancer. Then Silvy's remains were found. It's like, wow. How much can I take?”

It's all about you, is it?
“Difficult time for Silver's family and friends,” I said.

“Do you know if a service is planned?”

“No, but the remains may not be released for a while.”

Once in the interview room, I asked her to take a seat, and then followed proper documenting procedures.

“Why don't you tell me about the day Silver Rae disappeared?”

Giving me a doleful look, she sat forward in her chair and crossed her hands on the table. “We had a really fun day.”

That's it?
I looked at her expectantly.

“Um, Silvy and Parker left late afternoon but a few of us stayed.”

“Until?”

“About nine o'clock. Jenny's dad showed up in his squad car saying there was a noise complaint. He took Jenny and me home. I didn't have a clue what had happened until Mother woke me the next morning to tell me Silvy was missing.”

“Tell me more.”

“The police invaded our house . . . it was such a violation. They took Parker's clothing, even his underwear.”

I nodded.

“They had him in for questioning for hours. It was all so, so horrible.”

“Especially for the Dawsons.”

“Oh . . .well . . . yes, of course.”

“The night Silver disappeared did you hear anyone talk about going out to visit her while she was babysitting?”

“No, I don't remember that.”

“So you and Silver were close friends?”

“Yes, very.”

“Yet you didn't speak to her that day.”

Aubrey blushed bright pink. “No, I wasn't nice to her that day. I was mad she paid more attention to Parker than me. Stupid, I know, but I missed my friend. I think my complaining to Mother about it fueled her dislike of Silvy. She started pushing Parker to break up with her. It just made him more determined to see her. He started spending all his time with the Dawsons or friends.”

“Do you remember the Fourth of July party at the Odegard's cabin the year before?” I asked.

With eyebrows furrowed, she said, “That was the first beer party I went to.”

“And do you recall how Silver was that day?”

“Weird. I didn't think one beer would affect her that much, but she was loopy. I helped her downstairs to a bedroom—thought if she'd sleep for a while, she'd be okay. I went outside to go swimming and when I came back in to check on her she was dirty dancing with some boys—really out of character for her. Other kids were watching and laughing. I took her outside to get fresh air.”

“Who were the boys?”

“Sawyer's friends, Jonah Wolfson and Kyle Nelson.”

“Sawyer was there?”

“Only for a short time.”

“It's been reported she had been raped at that party.” I said.

“What? She never told me anything about that.”

Aubrey didn't seem exactly shocked. “Laurel and Jenny were with you?”

“Yes.”

“Was Laurel a friend of yours, too?

“Not really. I never understood why Silvy hung around with her.”

“Why's that?”

“She was so low class. Still is. She got knocked-up by Jonah Wolfson.”

“Your brother's friend.”

“He was in prison for a while,” she volunteered.

“Why?”

“Domestic violence.”

“Did you and Silver share intimate details of your lives?”

“You mean did we talk about sex?”

“Yes.”

“Not about Parker and her. Ew.”

“Did she date before Parker?”

“No—not that she wasn't asked out. Mostly, we hung out in a group.”

“Tell me about Tommy Odegard.”

“He had this sulky way about him that sucked girls in. They wanted to fix him . . . or something. I heard he's single again—don't know how many times he's been divorced. The guide business takes him away a lot. I hear he still drinks.”

“Did he like Silver Rae?”

“Tommy and Lucky both did. They made a bet and asked her out for the same night. She said no to both of them, but was hurt when she found out that was what it was all about.”

“That was before she started dating Parker?”

“Yes.”

“And Lucky? What was he like?”

“Great, like he is now. We've kept in touch. He married a great gal he met in pharmacy school. She works at the hospital in town. Their two kids are about the ages of mine.”

“Did Silver ever talk to you about Wesley Stillman?”

“That creep?”

“Why do you say that?”

“He's such a weirdo.”

“So you know him?”

“Only who he was. He was in Sawyer's class.”

“I'd like you to make a list of everyone you remember attending the Fourth of July party,” I said, handing her paper and a pen. When she was finished I said, “By the way, if you'd add Sawyer's address and phone number, that'd be helpful.”

“Sure. May I ask why?”

“Just a few questions.”

She rummaged in her purse and came out with a small address book. She opened it, found Sawyer's address, and wrote it at the bottom of the sheet.

“He's home because of Mom's surgery,” she told me.

“Oh, good. Would you tell him I wish to speak with him at his convenience?”

“Okay.”

“Is there anything more you think I should know?”

She pinched up her face. “I can't think of anything.”

“If you do, just call.” I handed her my card. “And I want to thank you for coming in for the interview during this difficult time with your mother. I wish her well with her surgery and recovery.”

“Thanks. You know, Silvy's disappearance was hard on our whole family. It changed everything.”

“How so?”

“It was like the accusation leveled against Parker was against all of us. We were so close before she disappeared, but it created so much family tension. I think both Parker and I were angry with everyone in those days, including each other. He made me feel totally guilty for not being a better friend to her.”

“It's hard when things end on a bad note.”

She sniffed. “I wish I had talked to her that afternoon.”

I remained quiet while she cried softly. Then she said, “I heard Silvy was found on the Mitchell land.”

“Yes. Madison mentioned she knows you.”

“Wow, that takes me way back. I think I must have been about ten when I met her. We used to get Christmas cards from them.”

“She's living in the lodge.”

“I should look her up.”

“Well, that's all I have for now. Thank you for coming in.”

“I wish you luck with the investigation. Silvy was one of the sweetest girls on the planet.”

I shut off the iPad and shook her hand. I stood and walked her out to the lobby, then went upstairs to the office.

I checked my messages to see if Byron Stillman or the Wolfsons called. But the only call was from my sister, whom I hadn't met. I didn't know about her until last fall. Yeah, my family history's a soap opera. The simplified version is that my birth mother, Grace, was seventeen when she got pregnant with me. My aunt and uncle, Hope and Patrick Sheehan, agreed to adopt and raise me. When I was four, they divorced and Patrick and Grace moved to California. No one told me where they were, and I didn't know they had married until last year when Patrick unexpectedly showed up. My mother and grandmothers were forced to tell me the truth: Patrick had knocked up Hope's sister, Grace, and I had a full-blooded sister named Angelica.

“Angel” had been studying in Europe the past year. According to the message, she was on her way up north to spend time with her grandparents and me—not what I needed right now. I returned her call, feigning happiness.

“Grandma Sylvia is having a dinner tomorrow night. Can you join us?” she asked.

“That isn't going to work. How long will you be around?”

“I'm not sure, but I'm so anxious to meet you.”

“Yeah, me too. But unfortunately, I'm involved in an investigation that is very time-consuming.”

“I could come and see you if that would be easier,” she said.

“I'm sure we can work something out when the case eases up.”

“Well, I'm flexible.”

After we hung up, I quickly dialed up my mother.

“Mom, don't count on me for family functions right now. I'm heavy into this investigation.”

“You can't come tomorrow night?”

“No, and you know I don't like this last minute shit.”

“A full day's notice is not last minute. You have to eat, don't you?”

“It's not going to work.”

“Well, how disappointing. It'd be such fun for all of us to be together.”

“Mom.”

“Okay, okay. So how is that big case coming along? I saw in the papers they finally identified the body as Silver Rae Dawson. Those poor parents.”

“We're interviewing all day long and one of our investigators is in the hospital so I have to pick up his workload, too.”

“Maybe we can all come to
your
place. That way it won't take up so much of your time. I could pick up KFC—”

“No, Mom.”

“Well, I think you need to squeeze a little time out to meet your sister. She's adorable. Besides, I have a couple boxes for you.”

“Of what?”

“Your high school and college memorabilia . . . and some of your childhood things I thought you'd like to have. I'm cleaning out because Grandma and I are putting the house up for sale and moving to town.”

“What? When was this decided?”

“When Grandma told me she's moving out to live with George.”

What the hell?
“Doesn't that seem a little rushed?”

“Why wait? They're not getting any younger.”

“Are they getting married?”

“Not that I know of.”

“Grandma Dee is shacking up?”

“Does it bother you?”

“Yeah, I mean, jeez. She's in her seventies.”

My mother laughed and said, “Mature women still have needs.”

“Jesus, Mom. Let's not go there . . . and I'll let you know if and when I have time.”

“Okay. See you soon.”

Oh, boy.
I knew a family event was going to happen whether I liked it or not. I'd have to warn Shannon.
Grandma is shacking up? Good God.

 

Chapter 18

I
got a call from the front desk: Sawyer Gage was waiting for me in the lobby. That was fast. I sent Crosby a text we were ready to film again, then greeted Gage in the lobby.

Sawyer exuded a beach-bum vibe: suntanned, Ray Bans propped on the top of his bleached blond hair, T-shirt advertising a kite fest, khaki shorts, and brown loafers with no socks. I could picture him roaming the South Padre bars during spring break trying to pick up women half his age.

“Cal Sheehan,” I said as I extended my hand.

“My sister said you wanted to talk to me.”

“Yes, thanks for coming in,” I said. I gestured for him to follow me to the interview room. “I heard you live in Texas?”

“Yeah, Port Isabel. Right across the causeway from South Padre Island—near Brownsville. Know where that is?”

“I do. Spent spring break of my senior year of college on Padre.”

“Good times?”

“Too good. So you're a realtor there?”

“Yes, to supplement my income as a captain of a fishing boat.”

“You own your own boat?”

“Yep, two. You should come down. I know the spots.”

“Someday.”

Once in the room I asked him to have a seat, gave my pitch for the record, then began.

“How did you know Silver Rae Dawson?”

He was sitting forward with his hands cupped on the table. “She dated my little brother.”

“How did you feel about her?”

I noticed a gold Rolex on his wrist as he ran a hand through his hair. He leaned back and crossed a leg. “I liked her. She was a good kid.”

“Did your parents have the same view?”

He gave me a half smile. “No, they thought Silver was a
distraction
.”

“Did they like Wendy better?”

He laughed. “Let me put it this way: no one is good enough for Parker.”

“Are you a married man?”

“Divorced, no kids.”

“You're older than Parker?”

“Yes, by eighteen months. Aubrey is the baby.”

“Were you around the summer she disappeared?”

Sawyer crossed his arms over his chest. “Yes. That was the first summer my dad got it in his head I needed a job. I was an orderly at the hospital.”

“Were you planning on going into the medical field?”

“Until that job. It sucked big time. That fall I switched my major from pre-med to physical education.”

“How did that go over?”

He laughed. “Not so well. It was my mother's mission in life to raise physicians. See, she dropped out of medical school when got pregnant with me. So she pushed her children to be doctors like our father and grandfathers. But it all backfired on her with Aubrey and me. Little bro stayed in line, like I knew he would.”

“Did you teach?”

“Yeah, for a few years in Houston. Pay's shitty, so I tried real estate. Ended up in Padre.”

“Why were they so opposed to your brother dating Silver?”

He snuffled air through his nose. “They said she was . . . let me get this right . . . a promiscuous, conniving tramp.”

“How did Parker take that?”

“I have to hand it to him—that was the only thing he ever bucked my parents on in his entire life. Drove them nuts. I found the whole thing rather humorous.”

“Was she promiscuous?”

“I never heard anybody brag about getting to her.”

“Did you see Silver on the day she went missing?”

He sat forward, looking me directly in the eye. “No, sir.”

“Tell me how you found out she had disappeared.”

“The sheriff's department descended on our house like a shitstorm, took Parker in for questioning, searched every square inch of our property. It was quite humiliating to Lil and Bentley.”

“I can imagine. Did your parents seem concerned about Silver Rae?”

“Frankly, they were only concerned about Parker. It was pretty intense around the house. I had to get out of there, so I took Aubrey out to the farm to help search cornfields.”

“Did you ever hear your parents say they wondered what happened to her?”

“Well, Mom thought Silver Rae ran off. Evidently she even said it to a reporter because she was quoted in the newspaper. Ellie Dawson called to tell her off. I loved it.”

“How many days did you search?”

“Just Sunday, because I worked the rest of the week.”

“Did you search the area by Emmaline where she was found?”

“Nope, just cornfields. I remember the mosquitoes were terrible.”

“There was a Fourth of July party in 1996, the year before Silver disappeared, at the Odegards's cabin. You were reported to have attended. Do you recall anything about Silver that day?”

He gave me a face like he was trying to remember. Then he smiled widely. “Oh, sure. She was wasted. Kid was always so polite and reserved at our house but that day she was having a wild time.”

“We suspect she'd been drugged.”

“No kidding? I guess she'd have to be to dirty dance with Wolfy and Kyle Nelson.”

“Wolfy?”

“Jonah Wolfson.”

“Aubrey said she took Silver to a bedroom to sleep off the effects of whatever substance she took. Did you see anyone go in with her?”

“No, man, but we weren't there very long.”

“Anything else you remember about that party?”

“That was the first time I realized Silver had the hots for Parker. She wanted to know where he was—if he was with Wendy.”

“Was he?”

“I imagine so. Wendy's a ball-buster. Tells him when to shit.”

“When did Silver and Parker start dating?”

“I don't know, I was at the U then. But I do know he's only dated two women in his life: Wendy, Silver, then Wendy again.”

“Do you have any information on what happened to Silver?”

He shook his head. “I wish I could help.”

“I'm told as a kid you were into drugs.”

He made a face like I was making it up. “Oh, now who told you that?”

I didn't respond.

“Okay. Yeah, I smoked a little dope. Experimented a little like everybody else.”

“I heard you dealt. Did you supply Parker's friends with drugs?”

He shrugged. “I may have given them a little pot.”

“How about Silver? What did you give her?”

Sawyer's eyes narrowed. “Nothing.”

“Roofies?”

He scowled. “Roofies? Like the date rape drug?”

“Exactly. Rohypnol.”

“Hell no.”

“Have you ever seen someone under the influence of Rohypnol?”

“Once. At a party.”

“Similar to how Silver was acting at that Fourth of July party?”

His expression said he hadn't thought of that. “Oh, could be.”

“You or your friends ever use a drug of that nature?”

He sat forward in his chair and said, “Of course not. Who needs to drug women to have sex?”

“Did someone have sex with her?”

“I don't know, I'm just saying that's why someone gives a girl a drug like that.”

“The guys seemed to like Silver. What made her so special?”

He sat back again, shrugged. “I guess because she was cute and friendly, and made people feel like she was glad to see them.”

“Did she make you feel special?”

He screwed up his face. “Not me. I'm just saying that as an observer. I knew she had eyes for my little brother.”

“If you know something about Silver Rae's disappearance or death, now would be the time to talk. Understand?”

“Yes, and I wish I knew what did happen to her—but I don't. Sorry I can't help you.”

“Where were you the night of her disappearance?”

“I had a date with Heather Baumgardner. We went to a movie. She had to get up for some church conference so I took her home early and then went home myself.”

“What time was that?”

“About eleven thirty or twelve, and yes, Parker was home by then.”

That was in the file and although verified, this slick piece of shit's word wasn't convincing. “Where might I find . . .” I looked at my notes. “Kyle Nelson?”

“He's down in the Cities. He works for Macy's.”

“Was he in Prairie Falls the summer she disappeared?”

“Yeah, but I don't recall if he was around that weekend. I doubt he would have had anything to do with her.”

“Who did?”

His neck turned red. “No one.”

I'd hit on something. He was reacting. I stared him down for a good minute, which is a long time when no one is saying anything. He turned away first. He looked at his watch.

“What about Jonah Wolfson?”

“What about him?”

“Was he around the weekend Silver disappeared?”

“I couldn't tell you. Is this going to take much longer? I should really get back to the family.”

“Not much longer. I want to run something by you. I keep thinking maybe Silver Rae was
accidentally
killed. That maybe she was with someone, not your brother, and things got out of hand and she died. The guy panicked and tried to hide the body by burying her.”

He nodded. His cheeks were mottled. “I suppose that's possible.”

I let the silence hang heavy in the room. After a minute he said, “Well, how about the nut job—Stillman? He's one strange dude.”

I remained expressionless and continued to stare him down.

He shifted his weight to the other hip. “Well, way I see it, y'all can't figure out who's responsible so you're badgering my family like you did fifteen years ago.”

“Sometimes it takes a little badgering for the truth to come out, Mr. Gage.”

“Well, none of us had a thing to do with it.”

“No?”

“No!”

I stood. “I want to thank you for coming in. I may have more questions later for you and your family. Here's my card in case you think of anything else that would help the investigation. My best to your mother. Thanks for taking the initiative to come in.”

“Yeah, fun times.”

When I walked Sawyer Gage
out to the lobby, the deputy clerk on duty handed me a note saying I was to see Patrice right after the interview. When I knocked on her door, Lucky Holmgren was seated in her office. At that moment my cell phone vibrated, but I turned the phone off without looking to see who was calling.

Patrice said, “Cal, come in. Lucky has some information about Adriana's fire.”

I shook his hand and sat.

“The silver fabric was purchased at the fabric shop in town,” Lucky told me. “A clerk remembers the sale because it was unusual. A kid, maybe twelve to fourteen, needed some assistance to find a specific kind of fabric and then paid for it with cash. My next step is to get a copy of the school yearbook and take it to the clerk to see if she can identify him.”

“Kids, then?” I said.

“Seems like it. The round container was a common plastic clothesbasket, and the accelerant was gasoline. The shoeprint was a size nine unknown type with a smooth surface.”

“Kids old enough to drive?”

“Guess it'd have to be.”

We continued to chat a few minutes before Lucky said he had to get back to the pharmacy. “My old man's complaining I'm spending too much time on my
volunteer
job and not enough time behind the counter.”

“Why isn't the fire chief position full time?” Patrice said.

“It should be. City council is talking about it,” he said.

I stayed to discuss my recent interviews with Patrice. After I gave her the run-down, she said, “So, you think Sawyer is a viable suspect.”

“He physically reacted when I questioned him. The guy's a sleazebag. Says Silver made guys feel special. Maybe he misinterpreted her friendly vibes and when Parker came home, he went out and to pick up where his brother left off—only it didn't go so well.”

“Maybe he still does drugs and is uncomfortable in a criminal justice center.”

“Could be. I keep wondering if Lillian Gage could have been responsible. She's mean enough.”

“If so, she'd had to have had an accomplice.”

“Her husband or one of her sons? There are real problems in that family.”

“So, what's the motive?”

“They didn't want Silver messing up Parker's career. I keep hearing that.”

“Sawyer Gage, huh? Well, get Wolfson in here and drive down to Minneapolis to talk to Nelson, if you have to.”

“I'm also going to have to drive out to talk to Byron Stillman.”

“Go now.”

 

 

I was able to make
an appointment with Kyle Nelson for the next morning at nine o'clock at the Perkins in Plymouth. I would be back in Prairie Falls in time to interview the Wolfsons in the afternoon and still have dinner with my family.

All the way out to the Stillman Farm, I followed a red Ford F-150. When I pulled in behind it, the driver exited. I got out and introduced myself.

“Hi there, I'm Deputy Sheehan with the Birch County Sheriff's Depart­ment. I need to speak to Byron. Do you know where he is?

“I'm Byron,” he said. “Alda told me you were here earlier.”

He was a muscular guy about five-foot-eleven. He was wearing jeans and a short sleeve plaid shirt. He seemed too normal to be part of this crew.

“Yes, I need to talk to you about your brother's alleged involvement with Silver Rae Dawson's disappearance.”

“We can talk in my house,” he said.