The Escapades of Shanty Poo and Garvin by Dollar Bill McGonigle
INTRODUCTORY ISSUES
SETTING
The story, which will involve a series of books, takes place in a fictitional town located in central
Massachusetts in the present day. Graverton pronounced with a long a is approximately 23 miles from
Worcester, MA and is the county seat of Greenwich County (fictitious). As the county seat Graverton is
the site of the business of the county courts. Conducive to it ’s hospitality enterprises is it’s being located
right off of Route 290. As with most towns/cities there is an upscale section, Mapleshade, and an across
the tracks section, Bailey. The primary livelihood is cranberry growing. There are two bogs, Cranberry
Haven and Burton Bogs, Inc. that have been in competition for some years. Graverton, at last census,
has approximately 5,843 persons living in approximately 1600 homes. Of the 5843 people 88% are of
European descent, 5% are African American, 4% Hispanic, 2% Native American, and 1% Asian. Recently
two families of Pacific Islander descent moved into the area. The size of Graverton is counted as 25
square miles and is governed on a city council/city manager model. Their recent revitalization initiative
simply entitled, “Grow Graverton,” netted 220 new people in one year. The goal now is 8000 people by
2020.
The refurbishing and renaming of downtown Main Street to Mom and Pop Ginardo Boulevard has
revitalized the “Town Square” concept once active. This honor comes posthumously for the Ginardos who
started the first shop in the mall, a tailor shop, Nip and Tuck. Immediately following several other shops
were built where the town mall now exists. With businesses now lining both sides of the boulevard
Graverton has truly regained it ’s small town flavor inviting and engaging the townspeople to a healthy
day-to-day modus vivendi (mode of life). Everyone agrees that they don’t want to see Graverton grow so
big as to lose it ’s small town character and it’s feeling of being safe and secure. In regaining this status
during the current national economic condition, a balance has been set for growth and a view to retain
some of the younger generation to continue and maintain the life and history of Graverton. In fact, families
from the city enjoy coming to the Graverton area to take advantage of Bailey and Griffin Parks which are
well maintained and equipped with safe rides, etc. for their younger children. Graverton is also close by to
the state parks providing other opportunities for families. Unfortunately, crime of an unsettling nature is on
the rise in Graverton.
MODUS SCRIPTUS
The story is interwoven around ten aspects of town life punctuated by the escapades of two 11 year
old lads soon to experience the rite of passage as their 12 th birthdays become actuality. They will venture
out to solve the mystery of the heinous crimes taking place in the community in the spirit of the Hardy
Boys. That said, as day-to-day life unfolds in Graverton, there will emerge an even more sinister reality
that will shake the town to it ’s core and because of it ’s nature engage the world’s curiosity.
GRAVERTON:VISIBLE FEATURES AND CHARACTERS:
THE TOWN POLITICAL
( ) Nickname
[ ] Spouse
City Manager-Boris [Aksana] Tertikoff
Secretary-Dorothy (Dottie) Lawrence
CITY COUNCIL:
Gloria Dunham, M.D.-President
The Rev. Dr. Peter D. Hendricks {retired}-Vice-President
*Brita Parks-secretary
*Sheba Dumas-treasurer
George Purcell-Ward One
Lucille (Lucy) Burton-Ward Two
Dewey Johansen-Member-at-Large
T. Wayne Gleason-Mapleshade
The Honorable George Bellamy-Griffin Heights
The Honorable T. Guillermo Ramos, D-State Senator-Bailey
*do not have a vote
THE TOWN CIVIL AND THE MAIN CHARACTERS
Bertram Poo {Shanty Poo’s father}-Postmaster and Amtrak Train Master
The whereabouts of Shanty Poo’s mother is unknown
Lydia Poo-Shanty Poo’s sister and only sibling
Craig and Renee Green-Craig is a master electrician and Renee teaches 2 nd and 3rd grade at 12th St.
Elementary School
Garvin is Shanty Poo’s best friend and the oldest of four brothers
Byron Green
Jordan Green
Jimmy Green
Lydell Porter-City Engineer and Jarvis Porter’s brother
Becker Popps-County Coroner
THE TOWN JUDICIAL
Roy Birkum-Sheriff
Lt. Gregory (Bum) Snyder-Detective
Sergeant Porter Jarvis-Detective
Deputies:
Mary Angelo
Dorothy Blake [Dr. Donald]
Matt Denvur {nobody knows why it is spelled with a u}
Lorne [Jenny] Flake
Bill [Patty] Grover
Dawson McDonald
Ginger [Gordon] Wiscowski
Betty [Jim] Friedland-Dispatcher {has a particularly bothersome nasal quality to her voice but everybody
loves Betty as she goes above and beyond to help other people and the animals as well}
THE TOWN MEDICAL
Jerry Dellum, M.D.-Chief of Staff {internal and emergency medicine} of Graverton Medical Center} the
Center has 25 beds for minor hospitalizations and surgeries and a surgical suite/trauma room
combination for emergencies.
Javaid Ally, M.D. –Associate Chief of Staff {pediatrics}
Donald Blake, M.D.{gastroenterology}
Griffin Byner, D.O.{physiatry, rehab medicine and orthopedics}
Gloria Dunham, M.D. {internal medicine and anesthesia}
Stephen (Bud) Larson M.D. {general surgery and emergency medicine}
Jillian (Jilly) Perkins, D.O. {Ob/Gyn}
Karen Robertson, M.D. {eent}
Consultants; D. Perry Hoover, M.D. {cardiology} and Marta Grandville, D.O. {dermatology}
Benny Trent, Physician’s Assistant
Cindy Lyles, Nurse Practitioner
The medical center also sports it’ s own laboratory, cardiology testing suite and recently a helipad. The
state has qualified Graverton Medical Center to be part of a network in the event of a terrorist attack or
something similar. Graverton would be connected to Homeland Security for that period of time.
THE TOWN LEGAL
The Honorable George Bellamy
The Honorable Layton B. Crowell
The Honorable H. Catherine Jenkins-Kline
The Honorable Vernon K. Justis
The Honorable C. Goldy Michaelson {youth}
H. Mason Grant-District Attorney
Jack Matthews-Assistant District Attorney
Daryl Franks-Paralegal
Pearl Hansen-Secretary
LAW FIRMS:
Dellum, Jensen and Craig {criminal law}
Drake and Associates {criminal law}
Barlow, Jordan and Morris {civil law}
Harper, Harper and Donegal {civil law}
THE TOWN HOSPITABLE
The Graverton Inn run by the John Millers {located in Griffin Heights}
** The Hampton Inn
** Red Roof Inn
**Motel 8
The Birdseye Bed and Breakfast {located in Griffin Heights)
*McDonalds
**Cracker Barrel
**Red Lobster
*The Hot Tamale Restaurant
**EatnPark
*Arbys
*Bob Evans
{* located on Mom and Pop Ginardo Boulevard}
{** located off of Route 290}
Salvation Army {meals and temporary sleeping quarters-located in Bailey}
Major Giorgio Sorto-Director
Conchetta Campos-Associate Director and Program Co-ordinator
Other Graverton Families:
Carlos [Conchetta] Campos
The H. (Howard) [Regina] Phineas Huggins
The Dewey [Isabel] Johansens
Mario [Blanca] Martinez
Juan [Candelaria] Mendes, Juan is the chef at the Graverton Inn
Becker [Mary] Popps
Julio Ramirez
Mario [Blanca] Martinez
THE TOWN SPIRITUAL
The Graverton Ministerial Association:
The Rev. Dr. H. Gordon Snyder-President
Rev. Thomas Mattucci-Vice-President
The Rev. Dr. BeeBee Jones-Secretary
Rev. Carlos Rodriquez-Treasurer
Rev. John Durbin-Member-at-Large
Participating Members:
Rev. Billy Demarest
Rev. Christine Emmaus
The Rev. Dr. Peter D. Hendricks
Donnie and Barbara Luciens
Rev. Emily Phipps
Rev. Johnny Popes
CHURCHES:
Graverton First Assembly of God:
Rev. Johnny Popes-Lead Pastor
Rev. Billy Demarest-Family Pastor
Donnie and Barbara Luciens-Youth Ministries
Graverton First United Methodist Church:
The Rev. Dr. H. Gordon Snyder-Senior Minister
Rev. Emily Phipps-Associate Minister
New Hope Fundamental Baptist Church:
Rev. Stanford Graner-Senior Pastor
Rev. Benjamin Johnson-Minister of Evangelism
Dr. Gregory C. McFarland-Director of Christian Education and Principal of New Hope Fundamental
Baptist School
Rev. June Bartlett-Director of Youth Ministries
St. Thomas Acquinas Roman Catholic Church:
Rev. Thomas Mattucci, Msg.
Faith Lutheran Church: currently has no pastor. The pulpit is being filled by guest speakers in the wake of
the sudden illness of the Rev. James Moreland. Rev. Moreland, at 78 years of age, has been the pastor
for four and and a half decades. Having been sent there when he was thirty-three has often brought
remarks that he was Jesus’ age when he started his ministry there. Though dearly loved by the
congregation, who have grown old with him, there has been concern that the younger generation are not
becoming part of the church. He has married grandchildren of some of the faithful members but much to
their chagrin the grandchildren have not been assimilated into the membership. Besides that, the Rev.
Moreland recently suffered a significant coronary and was forced to retire. So far a minister has not been
appointed to take his place.
Unitarian-Universalist Church:
The Rev. Dr. BeeBee Jones
Grace Wesleyan Church:
Rev. John L. Durbin-Senior Pastor
Rev. Christine Emmaus-Youth Pastor
Bailey Pentecostal Holiness Church {Spanish}
Rev. Carlos Rodriquez
Church of the Latter Day Saints:
Apostle Robert Gilbert
THE TOWN EDUCATIONAL
Dr. Jenny Prickle-Superintendent of Greenwich County Schools
Dwayne Rogers-principal of 12th St. Elementary School
Renee Green-2nd and 3rd Grade Teacher
Sarah Collins-Interim Principal of Graverton High School
Dr. Alice B. Carrollton-Principal of Mapleshade Elementary School
Dr. Gregory McFarland-Principal of New Hope Fundamental Baptist School
Dr. Carl B. Farmer-Principal of St. Thomas Acquinas Parochial School
Marcy Deemer-Director of the Graverton Public Library
Franny Jackson-Director of Graverton Daycare
THE TOWN COMMERCIAL {Graverton Grow Initiative}
{located downtown on Mom and Pop Ginardo Boulevard}
Aksana’s Fashions
Arby’s
Carlucci’s Prime Meats and Deli
Co-Nexion Cable Company
Creamy Delights
Hallmark
Hartman’s Hardware
Jack’s Beauty and Barber House
J.C. Penney
Ming’s Dry Cleaning
Video Warehouse
Weston’s Chocolates, Fancy Cakes {including Wedding Cakes} and Specialty Candies
THE TOWN INDUSTRIAL
Brentwood Industries {furniture}
Burton Bogs, Inc. {cranberry growing}
Cranberry Haven {cranberry growing}
Davis Engine Manufacturing
Florence Kepplinger, Editor-Graverton Gazette
Molly’s Maid Service
Musika Adventures {music publishing}
Sondertagh Alloy {new German enterprise, steel-nickel alloy}
T’s and Tops {Clothing}
THE TOWN RELAXATIONAL
Amerex Theaters
Arcade Adventures {youth-located in the downtown mall}
Bailey Park
Don’s Driving Range
Graverton Country Club
Griffin Park
Graverton Skating Rink
Jenny’s Fitness Center
Nitelife {Night Club}
Pat’s Pool, Pub and Irish Grub
Sons of Italy
CREDITS
I have written this book in rehabilitation as I am recovering from a serious and rare illness.
My first allegiance and gratefulness is to Jesus Christ to whom I look for ultimate guidance in
whatever I pursue as a vocation.
I, then, dedicate this series of books to my dear mother Sarah Stover Klingler Conaway who
literally shoved her first and only royalty check under my nose. I having challenged her to write,
just prior to her untimely death at 39. It would appear that I have not only inherited her
vociferous appetite for reading, her favorite author being Agatha Christie, but also her gift for
writing. Time will tell.
My love to my sister Gloria who has been there for me all along and at times reminds me of
my mother.
My thanks to Stephen who, if you are out there, challenged me to write approximately 7
years ago at the Bala Inn, Bala Cynwyd, PA over Tangeray. My wallet was stolen with your
phone number and I lost track of you. If you happen on one of my books please contact me at
716.969.3423.
Thank you Susie for your continued loving support and I will from now on, if there are future
volumes, submit my reading to you in order of the chapters.
My thanks to my former landlady, Eula, who is like a sister to me, and her daughter Barbara.
They saved my life giving me this chance to write.
My sincere and hearty thanks to the folks at Heritage Park Skilled Nursing and Rehab
Facility in Jamestown, NY (staff and residents), and to my doctors for their professional care
and who have encouraged me these past few months as I wrote this, my first book.
In particular, my thanks to Kate and her mom for their collaborative efforts. She, 40 years
my junior, not only has been helpful in encouraging me when my writer’s flow seemed to ebb at
times, checking my punctuation (my weak suit) but also sharing her keen and indispensable
insights with me regarding the storyline. I mention age for two reasons. I am impressed with
Kate’s instincts and can envision her having her own writing career and also those that read and
critiqued the manuscript represent a wide swathe agewise. They are as follows: Agnes, Alicia,
Ann, Anna, Christian, Janice, Jay, Kelsey, Larry, Ruth, Terry, and Vicki. Thank you very much.
I have attempted to create and develop my characters without using any that would appear
to be someone that I know. By the same token there have been some folks who have voiced
that they would like to be in my book. If you don’t see yourself in the first volume may I refer you
to the next books in the series should that become reality. If you are there it will be someone
with a first or last name or some trait(s) similar to you. Happy hunting and thanks for reading
my book. Dollar Bill (my name in the hood).
Chapter One
“Garvin, where are you?” shouted Shanty Poo at the top of his lungs. Shanty Poo waited but there was
no answer. It seemed like forever. Shanty Poo sucked in a deep breath and tried again. “Garvin, where
are you? Please answer. Come on it’s not funny anymore.” Shanty Poo could feel perspiration on the
end of his nose. He and Garvin had been friends for as long as he could remember. They built the tree
house together a true architectural marvel. It is after all, round, a house-in-the-round. There is a large bay
window made of safety glass. How many tree houses can brag about that? He and Garvin, his best
friend, have spent many wonderful hours there. Garvin’s father, a master electrician, has run a safe
electrical conduit from the house to the tree so that they can play their favorite video games for hours,
except during thunderstorms. Another amazing thing about it…it is heated and they can use it in the fall
and winter. It is unbelievable to them that old Lyle Porter, the city engineer, signed off on it.
“ Oooooooh, “ Shanty Poo sucked in his breath again but this time because of Garvin’s sneaking up on
him and sticking his bony fingers into his ribs followed by his droll laughter. When Shanty Poo had caught
his breath he turned on his heels and looking into Garvin’s beady brown eyes exclaimed, “Garvin you
nitwit what are you doing, have you lost your mind? “ Despite Garvin’s pranking he was glad that he had
found him. Shanty Poo is upset by the fact that two children came up missing in Graverton about two
weeks ago. Sheriff Roy Birkum doesn’t have a clue and has requested help from the FBI. The
disappearance of the children seems to provide Garvin with the opportunity to take chances even though
they have promised to stick together no matter what hope-to-die-if-they-tell-a-lie.
“Garv, where have you been?"
“Wouldn’t you like to know?" giggled Garvin.
Bertram Poo, Shanty’s father, migrated to Graverton some twenty years ago from somewhere in the
midwest. He now holds the dubious distinction of being Graverton’s first postmaster and is also the
Amtrak Station Master. The train stops twice daily to pick up the mail which is rare in a town the size of
Graverton. This is based on its geographical location.(fictitious) It is rumored that Bertram Poo served his
country in Vietnam but he never discusses it. Shanty Poo’s mother did not make the trip and he was
never told why. In fact, Shanty Poo has never met his mother. Any time he brings it up all his father says
is that she was a beautiful woman. When he asks about his name his father tells him that it has Spanish
and Irish derivations.(true) Shanty Poo has a little sister, Lydia, for whom his father holds him responsible.
He doesn’t mind as long as she doesn’t interfere with the hours that he and Garvin are playing their
favorite video game, “ The Lunica Files. “ Then there is the old lady, Mrs. Hunsiker, who comes to the
house to cook and clean. When she is there she takes care of Lydia. She has little patience with the boys
and so the tree house provides a ready and welcome escape.
Sheriff Roy Birkum swore as his McDonald’s coffee cascaded down his trouser leg. He grabbed a
handful of napkins and tried to mop up the mess. He has had to admit that he is a McDonald’s coffeeholic. He needed the coffee badly this morning because he hadn’t slept for two nights. About two weeks
ago the Dellum twins had disappeared on their way home from school. Dr. Jerry Dellum, their father, is
the Chief of Staff at the Graverton Medical Center. Graverton is fortunate to have him. Dr. Dellum
graduated with his MD from Harvard and did his internship and fellowship in internal medicine at
MassGen, His wife, Penelope, is an attorney, a Yalie, who has a small firm with two other attorneys; Peter
Jensen and Jenny Craig. The running joke is, of course, if you want to lose weight, hire the firm. Dellum,
Jensen, and Craig do enough work for the three to live comfortably. There are enough dui’s and
misdemeanors to satisfy that. Peter and Jenny both left the Boston area to escape the urban pressures
there.
“Sheriff," his radio crackled, it was Betty Friedland.
“Yeah Betty, what is it?" Roy Birkum responded obviously not wanting to hear the message.
“They found something over near Bailey Park-a teddy bear."
“Who is over there?" Sheriff Birkum questioned now concentrating on the situation.
“Bill and Mary," answered Betty.
“Betty, tell them not to touch anything and call Jack Smith in Worcester and tell him it looks like
we have a crime scene.”
“Ok Sheriff, 10-4.”
“10-4, I’m on my way.” Sheriff Birkum answered back as he did a u-turn and headed for Bailey
Park. One thing was for sure, he didn’t want to screw up a crime scene. Ever since the OJ debacle he
had been attentive to such things even before he was elected Sheriff. He turned on his cruiser lights and
ten minutes later was pulling up beside the other cruiser and saw the tape that was setting off the
perimeter of the possible crime scene.
“We haven’t touched anything Sheriff," Deputy Bill Grover shouted at Roy Birkum.
“Good work," he shouted back obviously relieved. “
“Two high school students found it on their way home from school. “
“Did they touch it?" he asked.
“No, they say they didn’t. “
The Sheriff accepted the news knowing that if they did their fingerprints would show up in the
crime scene investigator’s samples.
“They are sitting over there," Deputy Mary Angelo said pointing in their direction. The Sheriff
walked over to where a blonde girl he guessed to be about 15 years old and an older boy were sitting.
They both looked nervous.
“Hi, “Sheriff Birkum proceeded as mannerly as possible hoping to dispel their obvious discomfort.
“ How are you? “
“Good, “they both chimed in.
“I see you found a teddy bear. “
“Yes. “
” Did you touch it?”
“No, almost but we saw what looked like blood. “
“Good thinking. I’m going to need you to sign a statement. Can you stay until one of our
detectives come over? “
“Yes, we called our parents already, “the girl responded holding up her cell phone.
“Good and thank you for your help, “Sheriff Birkum answered back. “
“Is there a reward?" the young man questioned.
“Yes there is but as you probably know it is based on whether we find the twins or not. Right now
we are gathering evidence and will let you know.”
“Thanks Sheriff, “they both answered at once again.
“Betty, have you called Jack Smith yet?” asked Sheriff Birkum.
“Yes, I’m way ahead of you, “she said looking for a response that never came.
“ Can you send Bum or Jarvis over to take a statement from the two teenagers here who found
the teddy bear and have them send it to Jack Smith in Worcester?“ Lt. Greg (Bum) Snyder and Sergeant
Porter Jarvis were the deputies with detective status in the department. Any of the deputies could take a
statement but with the missing children he wanted to keep a detective on it. Bum and Porter were
required by the state to have so much in-service training per year.
“Ok Sheriff," Betty answered her bothersome nasal twang becoming worse the longer she had to
talk.
“Thanks Betty," Roy Birkum said trying to get the sound out of his head. He then headed his
cruiser back to the station hoping to get home for some much needed sleep. As part of his daily routine
he tried to spend as much time in the office as possible. Despite Graverton’s size there was an incredible
amount of paperwork generated in the office. Roy Birkum’s plea for a part-time secretary had fallen on
deaf ears. The city council had assessed the situation and had decided that the deputies could do their
own paperwork.
Jack Smith looked at the memo his secretary had left him. Another crime scene for the Worcester
office to deal with and they are already overloaded. He knew that he couldn’t go but he respected the
Sheriff’s willingness to allow the crime scene specialists to tackle it. He would send Bonnie Gleason. She
had four years of experience in criminal investigation and had earned a master’s degree from Florida
State University in criminal justice. A single mother she had a three year old daughter who was just as
cute as her.
“Sheriff, Jack Smith,” Jack had never discovered what the Sheriff’s first name was.
“How are you doing?"
“Good, trying to keep up with the snow, “Roy Birkum reacted into the phone.
“I hear that," Jack commented.
“Still owe you some Pat’s tickets and by the way you can call me Roy,” answering Jack’s longtime question.
“Ok Roy, sorry I can’t come down but I am sending Bonnie Gleason down. She is young but
experienced and also educated. Sorry to cut this short Sher…Roy, he said trying to get used to calling
him by his name, but I’m on my way to Andover. It seems that there is a child missing there as well and I
want to check on it. “
“Ok Jack thanks. We have a teddy bear with what appears to be some blood on it and one of my
detectives just found what appears to be a child’s finger. “
“Dear Lord,” Jack Smith exhaled, that’s terrible Roy. “
“Yeah, I know," Roy returned, “and still no clues. “
“Hang in there Bonnie will be processing the items soon. Goodbye then," Jack said as he hung
up the phone.
“Goodbye, I will be in touch," but Jack was already on his way to Andover.
An hour later Bonnie Gleason pulled her 1990 Honda Civic into the parking space in front of the
Graverton Municipal Building. The complex itself is only 5 years old and another addition to the upgrading
of the town of Graverton. Surprising is it contemporaniety in contrast to the more Victorian tastes of the
Gravertonian mindset. Bonnie also noticed the parking meter and began to look in her purse to ‘feed the
kitty.’ The town had not balked at putting the meters in. In Graverton if people are working they don’t mind
paying for the provided services. They also seem to have a sense of what it cost for that to happen.
The municipal building, besides 4 court rooms, houses the Sheriff’s Department, City Hall with its
respective offices, the city jail which can hold 20 inmates and the manned fire department. Some of the
best cooking in town goes on in the fire department here. Reg Haskin’s Hot Pepper Chili has won three
years in a row at the Boston Cook-off. There is also a fire department in Bailey that is manned by
volunteers. It was moved there a decade ago from a site in Ward Two to allow for a more equidistant
response. This occurred following four house fires in the Bailey projects which included ten fatalities. The
response time is much less and has proven to help prevent any further tragedies there.
Bonnie didn’t get over this way often and she liked the small town atmosphere. She should come
over more, she caught herself calculating. She knew that there was enough for her and Bettina to do.
Bettina loved the playgrounds and Bonnie wanted to try out the burritos at the Hot Tamale Restaurant.
She had heard that they were the best in the area. She entered the station and asked Betty for the
Sheriff.
“Are you Bonnie Gleason? “ Betty asked.
“Yes I am," Bonnie answered trying not to react to Betty’s strange nasality.
“Good, he’s waiting for you.” Betty showed her through the door which had his name on it. As
they entered the office Sheriff Birkum stood up from his chair and offered Bonnie his hand. He was
pleasantly surprised by the approximately 5 foot tall gorgeous blonde who now stood in front of him. The
Sheriff is 6 foot 4 in his stocking feet. Bonnie was mentally sizing him up as about 50, slightly overweight
and graying at the temples. Roy was also sizing her up but not in as complementary tones as she. If only
he were twenty years younger. And with a swing like that she needed a porch he thought. He smiled as
though he had gotten away with something. They then smiled at each other in a knowing way that their
inspections were mutual.
“Welcome to Graverton," Roy continued his introduction with a slight nervousness in his voice. His
fatigue was also evident. He really needed some sleep.
“Thank you Sheriff, “Bonnie said with what seemed to be some sympathy in her voice. It was
obvious to her that introductions and meeting new people were not Roy Birkum’s strong suit. Besides that
her being educated intimidated him and he hoped that it didn’t show. It’s not that he lacked experience.
He had been a military policeman in the Army during Vietnam. Upon his discharge he went to the State
Police Academy where he graduated at the top of his class.
Chapter Two
“Have a seat," Roy said pointing to two comfortable chairs he had placed in his office just for
these occasions. “Are you planning on staying over? “ Roy asked as if hopeful she would.
“Yes I am if that is alright? “
“Good, my deputy Ginger Wiscowski is at your disposal. She will escort you to the Graverton Inn
where you will be provided your lodging and meals and she will be available to you for whatever you need
regarding the investigation.”
“Thank you Sheriff, that is very generous of you. “
“You’re welcome Ms. Gleason and I hope your stay here is pleasant. “
“I’d like to go to the crime scene now and in the morning, “she said looking at him for approval.
“Good, I’ll meet you for breakfast, will Bob Evans be alright? “ Roy asked.
“That would be great Sheriff, Bob Evans is one of my favorites. “
“Then I’ll see you at eight. “ Bonnie decided that she liked Roy Birkum. He was retiring but
obviously dedicated to his work.
“All rise, the Honorable Layton Crowell presiding. “ The Honorable Layton Crowell looked out
over the courtroom and wished that he were someplace else-anyplace. His gut feeling all along was that
they were trying the wrong person. Brad (Duke) Travers, the principal of the Graverton High School, did
not fit the profile. It had been a long and emotional trial. A student from Worcester State College had been
doing her student teaching here. She had some personal issues and had sought out Brad Travers, who
besides being the principal, was also a certified guidance counselor. It was probably ill-advised in that
counseling was available through the university. She came up missing and was later found along the
highway strangled. Brad Travers did not have an alibi and was indicted by the Grand Jury.
“Mr. Grant, do you wish to call your next witness?" H. Mason Grant had been the district attorney
for two years and had yet to win a case. He really felt like he needed to win this one.
“I do your honor; we wish to call Anne Morgan to the stand.” After the swearing in Judge Crowell
noticed that Anne Morgan was quite nervous and had a significant tremor in her face.
“How long have you known the defendant?"
“Six years, “Ms. Morgan responded to the questioning.
“Do you know him well?”
“I’m not sure what you mean," she said looking to the judge for help.
“Have you ever gone to lunch together?"
“Yes often," she barely whispered.
“Please speak up," Judge Crowell gently guided her. “
“Yes often,” she repeated.
“Do you work together? “
“Yes we do. “
“Where do you work?" H. Mason Grant with each question sounded like he was going in for a kill.
“Graverton High School."
“What do you do there?”
“I teach eleventh and twelfth grade English. “
“Have you ever been romantically involved with Mr. Travers? “ (There had been rumors that Brad
(Duke) Travers, who was married with 4 children, had had dalliances with a few of the teachers at the
high school. Ms. Morgan was a spinster and 25 years older than the Duke. This had made for some very
interesting water fountain scuttle.)
“Objection irrelevant!!" Barnum Drake, Brad Travers defense attorney snorted lifting all of his 300
pounds to his feet.
“Sustained, Mr. Grant please keep your questioning pertinent to the case at hand,” Judge Crowell
directed.
“ Yes your honor,” H. Mason Grant responded. “ Ms. Morgan having known the defendant for six
years and that socially do you think he is capable of such a heinous crime as murdering this young coed
in cold blood ? “ Up to this point testimony had not added up to convict Brad Travers basically due to the
lack of knowledge regarding the details of the crime.
“Objection your honor!!" Barnum Drake grunted this time clearly winded from the last time and
didn’t get up.
“Overruled," Layton Crowell answered in Drake’s direction. He wanted to hear what she had to
say.
“Begging your honor’s pardon,” Drake said hoarsely looking at the copious notes he had spread
out over several legal pads. Right now he wished that he had a double single malt Scotch. “She is not a
psychologist!!! “
“Noted." the judge agreed. Directing himself to Anne Morgan again, “please answer the question."
She was twisting her handkerchief. “Could you please repeat the question?"
H. Mason Grant purposely moving toward the bench and this time really acting like he was going
in for the kill, asked emphatically, “ approach the witness your honor ? “
“Yes,” Layton Crowell managed tiredly unimpressed with Grant’s theatrics.
“Do you think that Brad Travers is capable of murdering…?”
“No I don’t!!! “ Anne Morgan’s’ pejorative split the air. Everyone in the courtroom gasped.
The ensuing chatter and noise in the room forced his honor to gavel for order. From the look on
H. Mason Grant’s face it was obvious that he had expected a different outcome. He had anticipated her
being honest but not in that way. At that moment he noticed Jack Matthews, his assistant, holding up a
manilla envelope. While the courtroom was settling down he had time to examine it. Anne Morgan was
written on the envelope and it contained a medical report inside.
“Your honor, request a sidebar. “ Barnum Drake was always aware of what was going on and
beat Grant to the bench.
“What do you have there Mason? “ Layton Crowell asked him not hiding his indignation. “A
medical report regarding Anne Morgan your honor.”
“Let me see it. “ After reading it he thrust back in Mason Grant’s direction. “This is nothing Mason,
tic doloreaux has to do with pain which is being managed with medication according to this”.
“Request a recess to research this further and what affect the pain may have on Ms. Morgan’s
testimony. “
“Denied, you are going to have to do better than that Mason,” Judge Crowell answered clearly
incensed by Mason Grant’s attempt to maneuver the court once again. Mason Grant was thinking about
how he was screwed when there was a commotion at the back door. Taking no chances one of the
deputies made his way to the back to discover that one of the CNN reporters had fallen trying to get into
the courtroom. Judge Crowell had already disallowed that.
“ Court is adjourned until 9am tomorrow morning, “ Judge Crowell crackled as he stood to his feet
barely leaving time for the bailiff’s. “ All rise. “ In a few minutes the courtroom was empty.
Javaid Ally was preparing to leave the clinic having put in a long day. It was now 4pm and he had
been up since 2am when he had been called in. Two children had been admitted with what Griffin Byner
thought was H1N1 but Javaid didn’t think so. He liked Griffin and thought him knowledgeable in his field
of physiatry and rehab but weak in differential diagnosis. Javaid had excelled in differential especially
during his intern and fellowship in pediatrics at Stanford.
“Griffin why don’t we keep them overnight for observation," Javaid conceded. He figured it
couldn’t hurt anything.
“Good idea,” Griffin agreed.
Javaid was happy here in Graverton. The work at the clinic was steady and the pay wasn’t bad.
There were a wide variety of illnesses and anomalies to treat here. The waiting room was often full.
Besides appointments there were always some walk-ins. His wife, Indira, an accomplished cellist, liked it
here as well. They had decided to put off having a family for a few years until they were settled in and
were also financially set. With some discipline they would be able to accomplish that. Indira was working
with a few others to sponsor several annual Chamber Music events. The major draw in the area was the
winter games.
“Sheriff," Betty Friedland shouted through her microphone.
“Yes Betty," Roy Birkum answered back realizing that he wasn’t going to be on his way home yet.
“Lorne just spotted a van traveling slowly down Pine Street. It appears that the person in the van
was trying to lure some children on their way home from school to the van. When they saw Lorne’s patrol
car they took off. “
“Lorne where are you? “ Sheriff Birkum almost shouted into his mike.
“14th Street and he seems to be headed toward route 35. “ Lorne Flake came back.
“Good I’ll cut him off on Jane Street," and then the Sheriff heard a loud crash. “Lorne, what
happened?” but there was no answer.
“Betty send somebody to Jane St. and Route 35 something has happened. I’m on my way there."
Sheriff Birkum turned on his lights and siren and gunned his car towards Jane Street fearful of what he
would find when he arrived there.
Garvin had just left the tree house for dinner. His mother was adamant about his eating dinner
with his family. Shanty Poo had also arrived home. He pulled off his sneakers, something he didn’t do
often because he had been born with four toes on one of his feet. The only ones who knew about it were
his father and Garvin who had sworn to-die-if-he-told-a-lie. Shanty Poo had managed to keep it from his
sister Lydia. As he sat down alone to eat dinner he wished that his family would have dinner together like
the Green’s. There were times like this that Shanty Poo felt very lonely.
When Sheriff Birkum arrived at the scene he saw that Lorne Flake’s cruiser had been t-boned by the
snowplow. He cussed as he could see no one in the car and called for an ambulance and a fire truck.
Had Lorne been thrown out of the car he wondered.
“Send two more units Betty”, Sheriff Birkum instructed her as he prepared for traffic control.
When they arrived he placed them at both ends of the street and then called the state police for backup.
There was, of course, no van in sight. “Betty, let’s send patrol cars to the four out-of-town exits. Alert the
auxiliary personnel,” he continued realizing that all of the available cruisers were in use. The auxiliary
police in Graverton were always a valuable resource and knew their limitations. In a few minutes the area
was cordoned off and under control. Much to his relief he saw Lorne in the cruiser but slumped over the
steering wheel. Roy Birkum wasted no time jumping out of his patrol car. After he was sure that Lorne
was in good hands he decided to check on the van. As he looked up he saw Jerry Dellum who was at the
scene and had already called for the helicopter to take Lorne to Worcester. Jerry Dellum was using the
ambu bag on Lorne and giving instructions to the two EMT’s who had been sent with the ambulance. Roy
Birkum was very pleased with the response time and co-ordination that was evident in how this
emergency was being handled. This was the outcome that everyone had anticipated from their drills they
had every two months. Just then Roy heard the helicopter rotors and moved toward it to orchestrate
Lorne’s evacuation.
“Betty, patch me through to the State Attorney’s office."
“Yeah Sheriff what’s up? “ Gherald Dawkins, a brother who had grown up in the Detroit hood
answered. His street smarts lent to his success as an attorney Roy always thought. “Actually I think I
know what you want,” Gherald interrupted disallowing Roy’s response. “Betty gave me a heads up and go
ahead with my blessings. There was a similar incident at the other end of the state that was prevented by
a woman active in the neighborhood watch.”
“Good,” Roy said thinking about how Gherald spelled his name differently, “Have to go one of my
deputies was in an accident and it doesn’t look so good for him. “
“Sorry to hear that Roy, keep me posted, “ Gherald sympathized. By this time Roy was back at
the station and entering the reception area saw Jenny Flake sitting there tearful. When she saw Roy she
stood up and then put her arms around him expecting a hug. This was something new to Roy but the
moment called for it. “Betty, ask Ginger if she would drive Jenny to Worcester and stay with her as long
as she is needed."
“Thank you Roy," Jenny blubbered. This was also something that Roy Birkum was not used too
but again decided that the moment called for his being supportive.
Court had resumed at 9am much to Judge Layton Crowell’s dismay. He was tired and in his heart
of hearts believed that Brad Travers was innocent. There were days that despite the good pay and the
lifestyle it afforded he wished he were elsewhere. Being the county seat meant full dockets for the five
judges on a regular basis.
“Are you ready for your next witness? “ Layton Crowell asked H. Mason Grant.
“The state rests your honor. “ Even Judge Crowell was in shock. It appeared that H. Mason
Grant had finally given up. A few days ago Layton Crowell’s close friend, Gentry Clemmons, had phoned
him and invited him and his wife Grace to go to St. Kitt’s with them for a short vacation. He and Gentry
were close friends having grown up together in Richmond, VA. They had gone to law school together at
Vanderbilt and had managed to stay in touch down through the years. Gentry Clemmons is a Superior
Court judge in Charlotte, NC. A former client had offered to comp he and some friends and all the
Crowell’s would have to pay for was their transportation. Layton Crowell had more than willingly cleared
his docket following the much sensationalized Brad Travers trial. What he didn’t realize was that the jury
would only deliberate about an hour and find Brad Travers innocent.
Chapter Three
It was 3:30PM when a different van swung slowly down Vermont Street in Graverton. It was
occupied by the same person who had been wearing a ski mask. Jenny Beals and Nancy James were on
their way home when they heard, “Hi girls would you like a ride? “
“I don’t think so,” Nancy shot back.
“Well, just thought I should ask because I am friends with your parents,” the voice from the van
said.
“You are? They have never said anything about you, “Nancy said questioningly.
“Well, I haven’t seen them for years. Anyways if you don’t want a ride I have your warmer jackets
because of the cold..“ It was cold that afternoon with a wind chill of -5 degrees. It had gotten colder
during the day. The jackets sounded good to the girls. “And please tell your parents that Holly said hello."
With that the girls looked at each other and moved towards the van. Gretchen Johnson was very strong.
As they reached the van they saw that Gretchen was wearing a mask. After reassuring herself that she
was alone Gretchen punched Jenny in the face before she could react. The punch immediately rendered
Jenny unconscious and with one swift move she threw her in the back of the van. With her other hand
she had grabbed Nancy and put a rag saturated with chloroform over her face. In a few minutes they
were both unconscious and helpless. Gretchen then drove down the road to an isolated area where she
rolled them up in carpets with oxygen tanks and then injected them with Phenobarbital before the trip to
Rhode Island. She would keep them medicated but give them a good meal before she knocked them out
again. She would then load them on her private plane at the airport and then on to St. Kitts where she
would rendezvous with her connection. Each child was worth $ 200,000 and even after overhead like
paying the dummies that helped her and her plane expense; Gretchen had a very lucrative business
going. She was very careful about how she spent her money putting most of it into not so well-known
investments. Where the children went from there she told herself that she really didn’t care.
Dorcas Graber was her middle-man so to speak. She, unlike the other dummies, Snarf and Trippi, was
intelligent. Gretchen was concerned sometimes that Dorcas took advantage sexually of the girls before
turning them over. She had no proof but one of the conditions was that the children were virgins. Dorcas
would be pleased with Jenny and Nancy. They had recently argued that they should kill one of the
children to throw off the investigation in Graverton. Gretchen had won the argument and no one had
been killed yet. Gretchen couldn’t stand Dorcas’ henchman Snarf. He had a patch over his left eye and
she always wondered what it would be like if she put out his right eye. Besides that he chewed tobacco
and wasn’t very fussy about where he spit. She would look around so that she could tell housekeeping.
They would shake their heads and that was the end of that and it oftened didn’t get cleaned up leaving
Gretchen to do the honors. It was a well known fact that Dr. Gretchen Johnson loved animals and ran the
animal hospital in St. Kitts impeccably.
“Shanty Poo, do you think we should ask about the award for finding those missing girls?”
“Well I don’t suppose it can hurt anything, “Shanty Poo mused, “and it’s reward not award, “he
added.
“Ok, let’s go down to the police station and find out.” Gaarvin ordered. The boys quickly climbed
down from the tree house and hopped on their bicycles. In a few minutes they arrived at the municipal
building and were climbing the steps to the entrance. On the way up the stairway they passed the statue
of Private James Hogan, a Gravertonian native, who had been a hero in WW1. Graverton holds its
persons in the military in high esteem. At last count three have fallen in Iraq. Their pictures grace the
outside wall of city hall and they have been revered in two parades already. To denigrate the military in
Graverton is a dangerous proposition, to put it another way, “those are fightin’ words. “
As the boys entered the station Lt. Bum Snyder greeted them. “How can we help you
gentlemen?” he asked.
“We were wondering if there was an award for the missing children, “Shanty Poo blurted out
shoving his hands in his pockets something he did when he was nervous. He realized that he had also
said award instead of reward.
“Yes, $ 10,000.00 if they are found do you know where they are? “ Deputy Dorothy Blake
answered.
“No ma’am," Shanty Poo exhaled sharply. As he looked up Dorothy Blake had started to laugh.
“Are you boys nosin’ around?” It could get dangerous you know, “Lt. Snyder added. “I don’t want
you looking around unless you have something definite, understood?”
“Yes sir, “the boys said in concert.
“Ok, now get out of here,” Bum Snyder said pointing to the door. As the dejected lads left the
station they could hear loud laughter.
“Are you happy now?” Shanty Poo sarcastically questioned Garvin.
“You wanted to know too ! “ Garvin fired back. The return trip to the tree house was silent. An
hour later the boys were happily involved in their video games and had already forgotten what had
transpired at the police station.
Animals and wildlife had been Gretchen Johnson’s passion since she had been a child which was
evidenced in her dedicated work as a veterinarian. She had successfully flown her precious human cargo
to St. Kitts and having unloaded them was ready for some needed sleep. She signaled to her head
technician, Consuela, that she was going to retire and didn’t want disturbed. She was so tired now she
knew that coffee wouldn’t even help. Downing some quaaludes she fell into the queen size bed with the
Martha Stewart sheets that she allowed herself the luxury. She was soon fast asleep.
“Gretchen, Gretchen," she heard a familiar voice, it was Dorcas. “Gretchen it’s me, let me in it’s
an emergency!” Dorcas called out sounding like she was in a panic. Gretchen now realized that the
quaaludes had kicked in and that she was very wobbly when she tried to pull herself out of bed. Gretchen
liked her quaaludes mixed with Benadryl in a combination known as Mandrax. Mandrax could make one
very sleepy.
“What happ-vened, “Gretchen asked angrily, slurring her speech.
“One of the girls got away from dipstick Snarf,” Dorcas sniffled. Gretchen always wondered what
a dipstick was.
“Where did it happen?” Gretchen asked trying not to sound frantic.
“It happened while they were loading them, “Dorcas answered trying to sound like she wasn’t
part of the problem. Gretchen was much bigger and physically capable of injuring her and she didn’t want
to fall victim to that. “She’s out on the grounds and security is milling around, “she continued hoping that
Gretchen’s response would put them on the same side.
“Where’s that dummy Snarf now? “ Gretchen asked Dorcas.
“He’s on the other side of the campus I think, what are we going to do Gretchen, she asked
almost convincingly that she was on her side.
“Well, we have to find the girl first. “
“Whatever you do Dorcas, don’t panic. “
“Ok Gretchen, “she agreed, happy that Gretchen seemed to be siding with her.
“If they see you looking nervous they may get suspicious. I wonder where the little shit is.
““Gretchen felt very fatigued as she walked across the animal hospital floor. Her apartment adjoined the
building making it convenient for her practice and research.
Her apartment was spacious and contained a large living room, a comfortable kitchen area, two
bedrooms, a small dining area, and an adequate bath complete with a sauna. Her maternal grandfather
was Finnish and had introduced her to the amenities of the sauna. Her sauna was heated with rocks,
unlike a lot of the newer ones that used electric. She agreed that the rocks provided a much deeper
penetration of the steam. She concurred, as well, that the touted health benefits were true. She would
sometimes take Jonesy, her laboratory mutt as she called him, into the sauna with her. He loved it. Since
dogs perspire through their tongues she could tell when he had had enough by his panting and the
volume of his saliva. As she began to cross the hospital area she did not see the mop bucket sitting there
and tripped slamming her head into the cement block wall. She swore loudly and grabbed her now
throbbing forehead.
“Are you ok Miss Gretchen?" and she turned to see Lanzio, one of the housekeeping staff, who
had just come on duty.
“Yes, I’ll be fine,” she managed to say without too much tension in her voice.
“I’m so sorry," Lanzio apologized.
“It’s alright," she said but really wanted to wring his neck. She was bleeding and felt dizzy. The
last thing she needed to do was pass out. Suddenly everything went dark. She could faintly remember
being in the ambulance as she was whisked away to the hospital and then she went unconscious.
“Shanty Poo, time for dinner.”
“Ok, let’s go.” As they started down the street on their bikes Shanty Poo noticed a maroon van.
“Look Garv at that van,” he said pointing at it, “Let’s check it out. “
“I guess so," Garvin answered but not enthusiastically.
“We better sneak up on it," Shanty Poo continued with his plan.
“Yep,” Garvin agreed. The sole occupant of the van, Jack Cogan, was finished for the day. He
was putting a bathroom in for one of the Graverton residents and was on his way back to Worcester. Jack
looked out his rearview mirror to see the two boys who were tailing him on their bikes.
“Wonder what they want?" he asked himself. He was concerned for their safety and told himself
that he would have to stop and tell them to quit following him.
“Maybe we should call the Sheriff,” Shanty Poo conjectured.
“Ok,” said Garvin. Much to Jack Cogan’s relief the boys had stopped following him. They then
pulled over to a pay phone to call 911..
“Hello," Betty Friedland answered with an unusual nasal buzz this time. “What is your
emergency? “
“There is a van on Jane Road that maybe you should check out. “
“Who is this? “ The question was enough to encourage Shanty Poo to hang up. Sheriff Birkum
and Bum Snyder had left for the day. After Betty had told Sergeant Porter Jarvis who was on duty he
decided that he would check it out. As Sergeant Jarvis turned on to Jane Road he immediately saw the
van and ran the plates. Matt Denvur was on duty at the station and radioed back that the van belonged to
a Jack Cogan, a plumber from Worcester, and that there were no citations.
“Think I’ll check it out anyway,” Porter Jarvis decided. “
Jack saw the lights on the cruiser and thought, “what now?" as he pulled over to the side of the
road. “What’s wrong?" he asked nervously as Sergeant Jarvis walked up to the driver’s side window.
“Just a precaution, would you please step out of your vehicle? “ Without arguing Jack hesitatingly
stepped out of his van. “Thank you," Porter Jarvis said. “Would you please open the back door so I can
inspect it? Jack was now somewhat incensed by the inspection.
“Do you have a warrant?" he asked Porter Jarvis with some trepidation in his voice.
“No but I can get one," Jarvis answered trying not to act threatening.
“Well ok,” Jack Cogan responded. “I have nothing to hide. “ Opening the rear doors Porter Jarvis,
after a cursory look, was satisfied that Jack Cogan had nothing to hide.
“Terribly sorry Mr. Cogan about any inconvenience. We are on the lookout for a van that may
have made off with two children today. “
“Oh my goodness that’s terrible, gasped Jack. “ He couldn’t help think about his four beautiful
daughters at home. “Sure hope you catch them. “
“Jack, may I ask what brings you here? “
“I’m putting in a bathroom for the Vandergrifts on Griffin Drive.”
“Sure," Porter Jarvis replied, “I play golf with Dave Vandergrift and he was telling me all about it. If
he had just mentioned your name. Well have a safe trip and again I’m sorry for any inconvenience. Jack,
here are some coupons for some meals here in town. Maybe you can bring your wife over to the
Graverton Inn some night for dinner. The food there is fantastic. They have an excellent chef, Juan
Mendes.
Jack, climbing into his van, put out his hand to shake Deputy Jarvis’, “I’m sure glad you are
looking for them, hope you catch them and thank you for the coupons.” With that Porter Jarvis reported
back and decided he would continue to check any vans he saw while making his rounds.
Jerry Dellum told Nurse Diane Pratt that he had an errand to run. He had called his pastor, Rev.
Gordon Snyder and had asked if he could see him. He thought that his heart would burst every time he
thought about the two ten year old twins that brought so much joy to his and Penelope’s life. Penelope
was blaming herself for their disappearance. Dr. Jerry Dellum was concerned because she had started
drinking again. She had had some problems with alcohol in her college days but had slowed down as she
became older, was absorbed with her legal work and raising a family. They were especially happy with
their housekeeper and nanny of a sort, Margarita. They had made doubly sure that she was in
possession of a green card.
Chapter Four
“Hi Jerry, come in,” Gordon Snyder said warmly rising up to meet him from the largest meticulously
crafted cherry desk where he had been working. From the various piles of paperwork stacked on the desk
it was obvious to Jerry Dellum that the Rev. Dr. was quite busy. The desk, a gift of the congregation and
the centerpiece of the study, was overly polished. Their eyes met for a moment and Jerry began to weep.
Gordon reached over and gave him a hug. “Yes, Jerry, it’s ok. You have been holding in a lot. You and
Penelope have been in my prayers as well as the church family. If there is anything we can do please
don’t hesitate to ask.”
“I miss them so much,” Jerry said beginning to sob and obviously embarrassed.
“It’s good to let it out Jerry and please don’t be embarrassed. It’s just us you know.” They both
managed a chuckle.
“Some days seem so hopeless and dark Rev.”
“I’m sorry Jerry and please call me Gordon."
“I will if you wish but I’m just so used to calling the pastor Rev. That’s the way I was raised.”
“Yes, I know and I want you to be comfortable. I think that this is the first time that we have talked
like this.”
“Yes it is Rev. I mean Gordon, “and they both laughed again.
“Jerry I have a great respect for your work and how you deal with life and death situations on a
daily basis.”
“Yes,” Jerry crossed his arms and sighed, “It is hard to keep my feelings separate sometimes, do
you know what I mean?”
“I do Jerry and I think we have some experiences in common. I have these feelings after
funerals.”
“Gordon, thanks for seeing me on such short notice, I feel so much better.”
“I’m glad that you do Jerry,” Gordon said consolingly, “by the way I heard you are a racquetball
player.”
“Yes I am but it’s been awhile.”
“Good,” Gordon replied, “maybe I stand a chance of beating you.” They both laughed again.
“Well, can I have my secretary contact yours and make a definite date?”
“Good idea and thanks again,” Jerry said shaking Gordon’s hand. For about 20 minutes Jerry
Dellum and H. Gordon Snyder continued their discussion of life and death , coping skills and God’s
grace.. As he left the study Gordon gave Jerry a knowing pat on the shoulder.
“Jerry, Gordon called after him,” I have a colleague in Worcester who has a couple in his church
that had a daughter who disappeared. If you and Penelope would like to talk to them why don’t you let me
know?”
“Ok, I’ll talk to her and let you know.” “Thanks Gordon.”
Captain Barton Poole pointed his Boeing 757 down runway niner-right at Philadelphia
International Airport and Fight 1885 was underway. It was exactly 9:37pm or 21:37 military time and what
Barton called “handholding time”. It wasn’t so bad now with the female counterparts. He was flying with
Jenna Parks. She was thirty and he thought that she had the softest skin he had ever touched. She was
also, as a natural redhead, a very beautiful woman. Besides her natural beauty she was an accomplished
pilot. She would often giggle when she took hold of his hand on the throttles and her voice turned him on.
It had been three years since his divorce from Freda and she had remarried. He hadn’t attempted any
new relationships but had to admit that Jenna was a prime candidate. She was a single parent with two
little boys, Trevor 7 and Billy 5. She never discussed her ex and he assumed that they were not together.
Captain Poole was very comfortable with Jenna Parks as his First Officer.
“80 knots,” Jenna’s voice seemed to thunder and Barton realized he had been in deep thought
about her. Barton was a well-respected pilot who had flown for US Air for some years. In his near
retirement he was flying for a new airline, Vista Air, which flew exclusively to the Caribbean Islands.
Today he was enroute to St. Kitts with a full manifest. On the plane, yet unknown to him, were the judges,
their honors Layton Crowell and Gentry Clemmons. They, with their wives, were on their way to St. Kitts
for a much needed holiday. They chatted contentedly enjoying glasses of wine.
“140 knots,” Jenna’s voice pierced the various other flight deck noises. In his professional manner
and with his years of experience Captain Barton Poole carefully scanned the array of dials that showed
him airspeed and indicated that the two Boeing engines were operating properly and safely. There are a
plethora of things that could go wrong on any takeoff endangering the flight and Barton Poole insisted that
he be on top of any situation that might arise.
”150 knots,” Jenna’s sweet voice again prompted Captain Poole. He then pulled back smoothly
on the yoke at about 2 degrees per second until he had reached 10,000 feet. At ten thousand feet he
would set the airspeed at 280 knots until they reached their flight altitude of 32,000 feet. Then at mach .84
the autopilot would do much of the work and allow some time for conversation punctuated by their
scanning and checking of the instruments. Captain Poole was a real stickler for this. Even on long
transatlantic flights he did not allow naps while they shared the responsibility for the aircraft they had
been assigned. Though now becoming dated, the 757 was still his favorite. He is looking forward to flying
the Dreamliner 787 soon and is on the shortlist. In the meantime Jenna had tuned to Clearance Delivery
118.85, retracted the landing gear, the flaps, and they were airborne. Now, in a clear calm voice, Captain
Poole made his announcement; at what altitude they would be flying, how beautiful the weather was in St.
Kitts, their estimated time of arrival, introduction of the flight crew and that they wished the passengers
avery pleasant flight.
“Coffee Captain?” Viola Brennan the head flight attendant queried.
“Yes please,” they both chimed in. This was the usual routine on the flight deck.
“How is everything aft, Viola?”
“Fine Captain,” Viola replied.
“Good,” the Captain said, satisfied. It was a beautiful March evening at 42 degrees and very few
clouds.
As they drank their coffee, catching up on Billy and Trevor Parks growth spurtss, Jenna leaned
forward, “Look at this, the landing gear light is blinking.”
“Hmm wonder if it is a short?” offered Barton Poole. He never jumped to conclusions about
blinking lights because they were not uncommon. Receiving permission Barton Poole then set the
autopilot south over the Atlantic and they were on their way to warmer climes as the US shoreline slowly
disappeared.
Boris Tertikoff, the city manager, was going through his “State of the City,” speech when the phone
rang. It was Brita Parks. They had been having a torrid affair for two years. Brita, at 30, was coming into
her own and a hot lover. Boris had just turned 55 and beaten prostate cancer. It had been discovered
early by Jerry Dellum who had referred him to an excellent urologist in Worcester. Boris hoped that he
would never have to endure again the agony of the radical surgery that he had gone through. At the same
time he was grateful for Dr. Dellum’s competence, his own complete recovery and his current PSA.
Amazing to him was that his sex life had not suffered. His wife, Aksana, had seemed understanding but
her true love was her fashion shop in the new downtown mall. He grinned to himself when he thought
about how well Graverton was doing since the revitalization initiative had started.
“Hi sweetheart, how are you?” Brita smoozed.
“Alright,” Boris said, as if in a big rush. “Brita you know I am working on my speech and only have
a week to finish. “
“I know honey but I needed to hear your voice. Can we have lunch in Boston soon?”
“We’ll see, “Boris answered hoping the conversation would soon end. He did so want to be with
her but his speech took precedence over everything right now.
“Ok then,” Brita sounded disappointed. “Let me know so I can book our flights and rooms. (Boris
insisted that they have separate flights and that they stay in different hotels.)
“Will do,” Boris almost whispered.
“Do you love me?” Brita asked.
“You know that I do, sweetheart.”
“Call me soon Bory,” she said pleadingly blowing kisses through the phone. He hated it when she
called him by that nickname but he had never told her.
“Ok Brita, I will.”
Hanging up the phone Boris spied a letter in his incoming mail. Picking it up and reaching for his
letter opener he was surprised that there was no return address. The letter was typed on cheap paper
and was brief. “You don’t know me and I am acting on behalf of someone on the council. We know that
you are working on your speech for next week and we are insisting that you pressure the council to
reconsider their decision about Marketplace. If they remain voted out of the downtown mall we will be
forced to reveal a certain relationship with a young lady that you are presently involved in. We will contact
you.”
Boris was so angered by the letter that he slammed his fist down on his desk scattering papers
everywhere including his much reworked speech.
“Are you alright?” his secretary asked sticking her head in the door.
“Yes Dottie, I just ran into my desk.”
“You are alright then?”
“Yes, thank you Dottie.” Boris liked Dottie. She really cared about people despite the fact that
she lived with a husband who treated her like dirt. Boris was concerned that he beat her at times which he
thought evident by the heavy cake makeup that she sometimes wore. She always denied it and refused
to talk about it .If she ever admitted that he had beaten her up Boris had decided that he would take the
matter into his hands and knock the living daylights out of Dottie’s ‘other’. Dottie, God love her, was
caring but sometimes smothering. Nonetheless Boris really liked her and she had excellent secretarial
skills. Right now, though, he had another problem just as his speech was coming up which had promised
to be another positive moment in his Graverton career. Bringing up Marketplace was sure to fire up the ire
of two members of the council who were vehemently opposed to it. Who could have written the letter?
Was it the anonymous individual who from time to time had threatened him and Aksana about their
affiliation with a communist organization? The truth was that someone had placed their name on the
mailing list of a publication which neither one of them had ever read. They had immigrated to the US in
1988 on education visas. Aksana has a degree in chemistry from the International Academy in St.
Petersburg. She has also earned a degree in elementary education at Columbia on a scholarship.
Although she has never held a teaching position she has substituted at 12 th St. elementary school and
taught chemistry at the high school when needed. She was on a list as a character witness for Brad
Travers but was never called. Boris earned his degree in government and municipal management in
Moscow and his masters in political science from Harvard. Graverton is his second successful experience
as city manager. Boris had calmed now deciding not to allow his sometimes uncontrollable anger to blind
him. He would solve this. He couldn’t allow whoever this was to open the curtain on his affair with Brita. At
the same time he knew he could not let her go. Just the thought of her brought his hormones to a boil. He
would not be pushed around by somebody who didn’t even have the courage to sign their name.
Somehow or another he would think of a way for this to backfire on these individuals. He was not about to
say anything to change the decision regarding Marketplace. The owners of marketplace, which was a
version of a known dollar store, did not even have a written operational plan which was a prerequisite to
be part of the mall. Looking at his calendar and allowing time for him to finish his speech, he decided on a
date for he and Brita to rendezvous again. Quickly he sent a text message to her hoping that she would
be elated. He then turned back to his speech.
Velten Anstruther crossed the bay at Sondertagh Industries. He had been assigned by the
company to be the CEO. This meant, of course, that he would have to move from Germany to the United
States. Boris Tertikoff has been most helpful in finding him housing. He will be living in Griffin Heights,
named after the philanthropist, J. Harvey Griffin, A Graverton native, J. Harvey Griffin became filthy rich
in Pharmaceuticals and always seemed to be on the up and up. Of his wealth and the wise investment of
it he has given away millions to various good causes. Posthumously he continues to do so from his
foundation. Graverton is one of his pet projects and in his will he left a very generous amount to insure
Graveton’s staying current with the times. This has included the CAT Scan at the medical center and
other such additions to various city functions and establishments. Velten will be living in a spacious home
complete with swimming pool and tennis courts. Velten Anstruther is a better than average tennis player
and at one time considered playing professionally. The house is estimated to be worth over half a million
dollars. When it had boiled down to it the, Beals, of Coldwater Bankers, had offered Velten a sweet deal.
Velten was impressed with how the Beals, despite the disappearance of their daughter, were managing to
continue on with their life and obligations. It is the nature of a lot of the folks in Graverton to do so. At 35
Velten is still content not to have married and there is still no one on the horizon. He is not handsome but
not unattractive. He is readily able to find a companion for dinner or an evening cruise. At 6 foot 6, a
shock of blonde hair and a muscular physique he feels comfortable that he will be able to continue his
social life in the United States. He had flown into Boston and then on to Worcester where he was greeted
by Boris Tertikoff.
“How are you?” Boris stiffly offered his hand to him.” Obviously Russian, Velten thought but on
the other hand he wasn’t turned off by him.
“Fine thanks,” Velten returned.
“Good, shall we swing by the house?”
“Yes, that would be a good idea.” Velten very much wanted to see what his living quarters were
like.” Griffin Heights overlooks Graverton. From there and with a good pair of binoculars you can see any
part of Graverton and unfortunately in many windows a delight to the occasional ‘Peeping Tom’. To reach
the few homes that occupy the settlement one has to take a winding, wooded and scenic route. To do so
is really an adventure. Living aspects of Griffin Heights, besides the flora and the fauna, are the critters;
the birds and small animals. It is a place much loved and frequented by the Audubon Society. Velten is
very pleased with his new domicile.
Chapter Five
Turning back to business at hand he spotted Ralph Lee coming up behind him. Ralph was the
new foreman at the plant. “Are we ready to fire up the furnaces?” Ralph asked. There are five furnaces
where the steel-nickel alloy will be manufactured. After it is mixed it will be cooled into ingots and then
shipped by train to other plants. The other plants will use it primarily for electro-plating and stainless steel
products. It promises to be a lucrative undertaking. Velten isn’t as interested in the end products as he is
in producing a pure and balanced steel-nickel alloy. As an engineer he has the know-how to produce just
that.Velten is constantly studying his trade to make any improvements where he needs to.
The hiring process has been in place and the plant had 100 much needed jobs for the Graverton
area. The union had required that the jobs would go initially to Gravertonians. As it turned out the bill was
filled entirely with Gravertonians who had the necessary requirements for the available jobs. There was
an unofficial celebration at Pat’s Pub and Grub. Pat is looking forward to the business that the plant will
generate and is seriously considering moving closer to Sondertagh. It is located by Davis Engine
Manufacturing as well and there is a resolution pending at the city council to begin an industrial park at
that site. All the hirees must meet with Velten primarily to get acquainted. Velten still has to select his
management team. He will be doing that in the next few weeks as they have a goal to fire up the furnaces
in one month. The hiring of the plant workers was accomplished through men who had experience
working in steel mills and similar plants.
“Garvin, what would you do with $10,000.00?” Shanty Poo asked.
“I don’t know. That’s a lot of money,” Garvin replied.
“We could do a lot to the tree house,” Shanty Poo suggested.
“Yeah maybe a sink and a stove,” Garvin thought. “Don’t know about that though. Old man Porter
may not let us but what can it hurt to think about it?” He asked but not as a question. “Shanty Poo we can
always go to the libary and look up detective work,” Garvin changed the subject.
Shanty Poo, unsure about the shift agreed, “We can but its library not libary.”
“OK you don’t need to sound all official, “Garvin said sounding miffed.
“Garvin do you have any money?” Shanty Poo asked.
“Yeah why?” Garvin answered suspiciously.”
“We could buy a police scanner and listen to the Sheriff’s Department and stuff.” Shanty Poo
said.
“Good idea but where will we get one?”
“Worcester,” Shanty Poo answered him self-assured and as if to gain his composure from
Garvin’s scolding regarding his questioning.
“Ok genius how will we get there?”
“The bus dummy. We can catch the early one and be back by noon.”
“Ok, Shanty but we will have to write a note to the school.”
“No problem, “Shanty Poo retorted, “I can write like my father.”
“When will we go?” Garvin asked seemingly satisfied with Shanty Poo’s plan.
“How about next Thursday?” asked Shanty Poo.
“OK Shanty I have 40 dollars how much do you have?”
“About 36.”
The boys were paid on their paper route. They had decided to do two Gazette routes that had
opened up and they also figured that it would be easier if they worked together. Their parents insisted that
they save some of their money. They were hopeful that they would not find out that they were in the
process of spending it.
“Our parents may not let us have a scanner so we better hide it in the tree house,” Shanty Poo
continued on with his clandestine project.
“Shanty Poo, I got to go it’s after 5 o’clock.”
“Ok Garv, see ya” Shanty said sadly wishing again that he could go home to eat with his family.
“Shanty why don’t you come home with me tonight?”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah we are having pizza and its movie night.”
“You’re sure?” Shanty Poo pressured again.
“Yep!”
“Ok I’ll call ole Mrs. Hunsiker.”
“What’s the movie?”
“I think “Swiss Family Robinson”.
“Oh good,” Shanty Poo answered with a lighter heart. At that point the boys mounted their
bicycles and headed off for Garvin’s to dine on pizza.
”Come on Shanty Poop, “Garvin said as he sometimes taunted him. This was also the one night
that Renee Green, whose name rightfully was Green considering her diligent efforts to maintain the
environment and keep her and her families’ bodies in as good a shape as possible, allowed the children
to have soda pop.
Gretchen woke up to discover that she was in the hospital with a ferocious headache. She
reached up to grab her forehead and was sorry that she did.
“Twenty stitches honey,” the nurse said. ”You took quite a spill. You’ve been here for three days.”
“Gotta get out of here!” Gretchen said frantically.
“Sorry not tonight Dr. Duggan still has you on bed rest and observation,” the nurse said
ungivingly. “One thing is that you are still on a regular diet.”
“I don’t care about that I have to get out of here dammit,” Gretchen snarled. The nurse turned
and left the room without responding to Gretchen’s angry request. Gretchen suddenly remembered what
had happened before she had crashed into the wall. “Where is that dummy Snarf,” she thought. She had
heard a story about why Snarf had a patch over his eye. Apparently he had possessed an artificial eye at
one time that wasn’t painted very well. A girl had actually consented on going out with Snarf. At the end
of the date Snarf attempted to steal a kiss and his artificial eye popped out leaving the poor unsuspecting
female staring at what couldn’t have been pretty-Snarf’s bare eye socket. The nurse returned with her
tray which didn’t look all that inviting to her.
“What’s your name?” Gretchen asked.
“Judy Havelock,” she answered obviously more interested in making sure that Gretchen ate her
dinner.
“Well Nurse Judy did they bring my personal belongings along?”
“Yes a girl named Dorcas gave us your purse and an overnight bag. “
Gretchen had mixed emotions about Dorcas having been in her belongings. “Well I need them
so I can find some things,” she said obviously upset.
“Ok, no problem but try to eat something.”
“Ok,” Gretchen conceded looking at the mysterious mixture of food on her tray and trying to shut
Nurse Judy up. At her initial glance she couldn’t really identify what it was. It looked something like
goulash. ‘
“By the way," Nurse Judy Havelock interjected, “I read one of your books and was very
impressed.”
“Oh which one?” Gretchen asked curiously. She had written four books regarding veterinary
medicine that had been well received by the veterinary community.
“The Treatment and Maintenance of the Small Animal Cancer Patient.”
“”Yes, I did write that one.”
“You wrote more than that?” she asked.
“Yes," said Gretchen who seemed happy that she had taken such an interest in her work.
“I also heard that your brother is a minister at a church in Massachusetts, “Judy Havelock said
inquiringly.”
“Yes, no secrets here I guess, “Gretchen said. Gretchen was upset that Nurse Havelock knew so
much but kept it to herself. This was the last thing that she wanted to talk about. She and her brother did
not have a very good relationship. He was always bugging her about her spiritual life. Growing up with her
aunt had been bad enough. He had found Jesus somehow or another while he was in the service and
following his discharge he had been hired as the Minister of Evangelism at the Fundamental Baptist
Church. He was not a minster as of yet but was attending a seminary in New England somewhere and
she wasn’t sure where. He was always telling her that she needed to ask God to forgive her for her sins.
If she didn’t stop her smoking, drinking, cussing, and partying she was sure on the road to hell. If he only
knew what she was up to now there would be no doubt that hell would be, if it existed, her eternal home.
As far as the extent of her party life was that she frequented a bar in St. Kitts when she was there. She
had a rule not to drink in Rhode Island. She didn’t like to teach with a hangover. St.Kitt’s was different.
There were enough people in the animal hospital to take up the slack. She crashed there anyway. It was
here that she finalized her work including her morally challenging endeavors.
By then Nurse Havelock had produced her saddlebag sized purse and Gretchen had reached in
to find her cell phone. Shooting a look at Nurse Judy who got the message and left the room Gretchen
punched in Dorcas’ number.
“Dorcas it’s me, have they found the girl? “
“No Gretchen,” Dorcas answered nervously.
“Where the hell is Snarf?” Gretchen asked sounding very concerned.
“He flew to Massachusetts the other day and he hasn’t come back yet. “
“What in the hell is he doing up there?” Gretchen wrenchingly not holding anything back now.
“I don’t know Gretchen,” Dorcas, sounding childlike helpless sighed into the phone.
“Well, I’ll be over.”
“But wait Gretchen!” Dorcas yelled into the phone. “The nurse says that you have to stay in the
hospital.”
As Gretchen went to stand up she fell because she felt so woozy.
“Where you goin’ honey?" came Nurse Judy Havelock’s unwelcome voice. “You stay put I’m
getting help to put you back to bed.”
Ben and Gretchen had been raised Catholic in Worcester by a single parent. Their mother, Cathy,
referred to as a saint by everybody that knew her, had died a very painful death to stomach cancer at the
age of 45. At the time of her death Gretchen was 15 and Ben was 17. They went to live with their aunt
and uncle in Graverton. They provided well but the home was emotionally cold. Ben soon enlisted in the
service leaving Gretchen to fend for herself so to speak. Her paternal Aunt Claudia was a member-in-full
at the New Hope Fundamental Baptist Church. Aunt Claudia insisted on a certain Christian decorum and
praxis in her home which included saying grace at all meals, attendance at two Sunday services,
attendance at Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting and the practice of private devotions. Gretchen was
forced to read the Bible through every year and document it. This, though she said to herself that she
hated it, she followed through and in three years was a well-versed Bible scholar. Uncle Jarret rarely
attended church telling Claudia that he watched church on television while she was teaching Sunday
School at New Hope Baptist. She was also quick to tell Uncle Jarret that Rev.Schuller was a secularist
and wordly, which he ignored. Gretchen sometimes thought that she detected cigarette smoke on Uncle
Jarret’s clothing. Though he never hugged her there was one time when he had actually winked at her
when Aunt Claudia was going on about something that was taking place at the church. Gretchen loved
her Uncle Jarret. He had a sweet tooth and loved ice cream. Gretchen enjoyed a regular ritual with Unc,
as she called him, eating ice cream on the front porch while he told stories about his life. He was an avid
fisherman and fished for trout in Halyon Creek. Some of his stories about fishing were exaggerated, she
was sure, but she loved to hear him talk about it while they consumed their sugary treat.
Aunt Claudia never talked about her personal life. Anything she had to say about herself had
something to do with how she was involved in the church. Gretchen guessed that her aunt, the oldest of
ten children, was somewhere in her 70’s. Something else that Aunt Claudia insisted on was Gretchen
doing her homework which proved to be a boon to her. For an infraction of a list of rules that Aunt Claudia
posted on her wall resulted in her being grounded. She was allowed to date but the boy had to be
approved, the approval rating being his coming to dinner and receiving the third degree. Gretchen thought
it a shame that her Auntie had never been enlisted as an interrogator. 9/11 was 5 years old and she
certainly would be an asset to the CIA. Gretchen would giggle when she thought about such a prospect.
Benny Gibbons was the first boy that Gretchen dated. He belonged to Grace Wesleyan Church which to
her Aunt wasn’t as spiritual as New Hope Baptist but she respected that fact that he attended church with
both of his parents .She looked down on Grace Wesleyan or Wesleyans period because they didn’t
believe in predestination. When Gretchen was older she asked her Aunt how she knew who were chosen
or predestined for heaven and who wasn’t.She said tersely that that was up to God and it never came up
again. Her relationship with Benny didn’t last long and she knew that her aunt would have flipped if she
had discovered that Benny was her first. There wasn’t much to it. In about two minutes Benny grunted
and it was over. The boy she really cared about was Tommy Burger. He was tall, handsome and blonde.
He asked her out and she brought him home to dinner. During dinner it came out that his father owned a
beer distributorship and that was the end of that. Tommy and Gretchen would sneak out together in the
Chevy convertible that his father bought him. They would take off for Worcester or just a ride in the
country. While auntie thought she was studying at the school library, she was making love to Tommy in
the back seat of his car. She had her first orgasm with Tommy and even though their lovemaking was
good she often wondered if Tommy paid attention to her only because she put out.
On a more positive note her aunt was an excellent cook. She cooked everything from scratch but
as she got older she sent out or went out for dinner more often. On Auntie and Unc’s 50 th Wedding
Anniversary Ben had sent home money and they had went out to Red Lobster. This was the event that
actually started her eating out more. Her spiritual rules applied to eating when they were dining out.
Everyone had to bow their heads while she said grace. They ran into Tommy Burger one night at Bob
Evans and he sat down. Auntie Claudia didn’t ask him to leave and Gretchen was quite taken by how
respectful Tommy was during the prayer. Following that evening Aunt Claudia told Gretchen that she
should invite Tommy to church. That never happened as Tommy went away to play football for the
University of Iowa. He was an excellent ball carrier which would be proven by a 4 year 12 touchdown
record. During his time at U of Iowa he met Scarlet Bell and they were married following college. They
now have one child and he has a successful car dealership somewhere in Iowa. He had been pegged for
an NFL career but an unfortunate persistent knee injury ended that.
Aunt Claudia’s insistence that Gretchen do her homework paid off. Gretchen was intelligent and
school came easy for her. She was a 4.0 student and was the valedictorian of her high school class. She
won a scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School. It is the only veterinary school in
the state and very difficult to get into. Gretchen applied herself continuing the discipline her aunt had
taught her and graduated from there Magna Cum Laude with a DVM in small animal care and surgery.
She easily landed her teaching post at Ross University and was appointed head of the animal hospital in
St. Kitts. While she was in high school she wanted to work to make some money for herself but her aunt
reminded her that she was well cared for and she knew she couldn’t argue with that. When she was
propositioned by Bartholomew Negron to make the ludicrous amount of money that selling children
afforded, Gretchen was unable to turn it down. Gretchen was not a bad looking girl but had been born
with a birthmark on her face that looked like the shape of Florida. A girl in her class had called her
“Florida Face.” Gretchen had punched her so hard that she broke her jaw. The injured girl was afraid to
tell and told everyone that she had fallen. Gretchen was large framed with a slight weight problem and
very strong physically. She excelled in gym class and was a better than excellent softball player. She
went to Stanford on a softball scholarship and earned her degree in biology with honors. She stayed in
touch with Auntie Claudia during her days in California but upon returning to the Graverton area she very
seldom was in contact with her and sadly enough her Uncle Jarret had died while she was in college.
Because of the distance she had not attended his funeral. Occasionally she would order ice cream and
think about him and the tales he had woven. There were times that she wondered how he and Auntie
Claudia had ever gotten together let alone stayed together.
Chapter Six
Jenny Beals was calming down. She didn’t have a clue where she was. She could hear some
dogs barking somewhere but the building she was in was dark. It seemed to be full of boxes and bags
that smelled like dog food. She knew that odor because of her puppy Leonardo. She really missed him
and wished that he were here. Leonardo is a mutt that her family picked up from the Humane Society and
is the lovingest dog she has ever known. She had heard no one come in the building since she had
escaped from Snarf. She didn’t know who he was but he had a patch over his eye and his breath was
terrible. She wondered how Nancy was doing and she felt so tired probably from the drugs. She figured
that they were going to give them more drugs when the guy with the eye patch said that they needed
another shot. All of a sudden Jenny heard the door open and there was a burst of light.
“I know that you are in here,” a masculine voice said and it wasn’t the man with the eye patch.
What was she going to do? It was night so the light from the street lamp was just strong enough
for her to spy a small shovel. It had a short handle on it and was probably used to feed the animals she
thought. Jenny could hear him getting closer.
“Come on I promise I won’t hurt you,” the voice said.
She peered over the bags in front of her and there he was. Without thinking she crashed the
shovel into his skull and he fell to the floor. She had knocked him out with one blow. It was Trippi, one of
Snarf’s henchmen and one of Gretchen’s dummies. Jenny stood frozen for a moment and then ran out
the door into the night. Trippi lay in a heap on the storage building floor.
“Garv, there’s the bus!” exclaimed Shanty Poo. They had arrived at the bus station just in time to
buy tickets to Worcester. Despite the questioning looks of the driver he didn’t say anything. They found
two seats together despite the fact that the bus, bound from Chicago to Boston, was almost full.
“This is a rest stop and we will be at Bob Evans for thirty-five minutes,” the driver instructed, “and
this bus leaves on time.” The boys hadn’t thought about Bob Evans being a rest stop. They decided to
spend the stopover time on the bus hopeful that the mail truck driver didn’t see them.
“Look Garv,” Shanty Poo said excitedly, “there’s the truck and he didn’t see us!”
“Whew,” said Garvin. Garvin wanted to sit shotgun so Shanty Poo let him, why argue he thought.
Then just as they were comfortable in their somewhat cramped seats Garvin wanted to see what it would
be like to pee in a bus restroom.
“For cryin out loud Garvin,” Shanty Poo expressed but by then Garvin’s backside was in his face
as he attempted to get to the aisle. “Stinky Poo,” Shanty Poo said and they both started laughing. That
was short-lived when they noticed the older couple, who had decided to stay on the bus as well, looking
at them with a look of contempt. On his emergence from the bus restroom, Garvin explained to Shanty
Poo how smelly it was in there and that the potty was full.
“I wouldn’t want to be a girl in there,” Garvin complained.
“What do you mean?” Shanty Poo asked.
“Well you know how they have to sit down and all.”
“Oh yeah,” Shanty Poo agreed.
”Wish we had some pop and chips or something. Do you think we can sneak in and buy some
Shanty?”
“Are you nuts?”””sit down … we can get something in Worcester.”
“Sheriff, there is some kind of problem over at Pat’s Pub.”
“Ok Betty, I’m on my way.” Roy Birkum had made it home for a few hours but couldn’t sleep so
had cleaned up, went to McDonald’s for a sandwich and his coffee and decided to do some patrolling. He
was about 10 minutes from Pat’s. Pat Reagan ran a good place and had few problems like the occasional
person who drank too much and had become loud, so Sheriff Birkum was puzzled.
Betty broke in again just as she blew into a tissue,” Just got a call that someone heard gunshots.”
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Roy Birkum responded to her distressing message. “Betty, dispatch
three more units and an ambulance," he said as he hit his lights and siren and jammed down on the
accelerator.
”Ok, I’m on it Sheriff.” Betty said wetly.
As Roy Birkum pulled up to the parking lot he reached down for the shotgun and cocked it. As he
was slowly opening the door he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. He realized that he had been hit and
backed his cruiser out of the parking space and to a safe distance across the street.
“Betty, I’ve been shot!”
“Oh no!” she screamed.
“I’m ok Betty get a grip and call the State Police.
“Ok Sheriff, are you sure you are ok?”
“Yes Betty just do what I tell you.”
“Ok Sheriff,” she sniffled. He then saw that the bullet had only grazed him as the other cruisers
were pulling up. It was Mary Angelo and Matt Denvur. Go around back, he gestured as he had been
plotting a perimeter around the bar. Just then Mary screamed.
“Mary’s been shot!!” Matt Denvur hollered.
“Get back, get back,” Roy said gesturing again. “There’s an ambulance on the way,” Roy Birkum
continued his direction. The ambulance soon arrived and they whisked Mary off to the Graverton Medical
Center. By this time the State Police had arrived, a perimeter had been set around the bar and the
S.W.A.T. Team from Worcester had been notified. Sheriff Birkum was very pleased with the response
time of the emergency vehicles.
Aksana pulled up in her Porsche, a 1996 model that she had had for several years. It was her
pride and joy. She was so excited about her new shop and business was good. As she was backing into
her spot she noticed Boris’ suits she had picked up for the dry cleaners a couple days ago. She would run
over to Ming’s before she went to work. It was already 8:40am and she wanted to open her shop on time
at 9:00am sharp. Gathering up the suits she went into the dry cleaners.
“Hi Ming,” Aksana greeted Sun Ming the proprietor.
“Good morning Aksana,” Ming exchanged warmly,” how are you?”
“Good thank you,” Aksana returned, “and you?”
“Just fine, yes, yes,” by then Sun Ming was inspecting her goods to be cleaned. Sun Ming ran a
superior business which was busier than his staff could handle but they did. Work was no object to Sun
Ming.
“Can I get them tomorrow?”
“You can get 4pm if wish,” Sun Ming stated proudly.
“OK, probably tomorrow,” she said as she turned to go out the door.
Sun Ming was the proud son of his father, Chan-Ming, who had taught him everything he needed
to know about the dry cleaning business. His father was still in China near Beijing and he missed him
greatly. He and his strikingly beautiful wife, Sian, had two beautiful daughters, May Tee who is 12 and Pin
Yin who is 10. He and Sian had migrated to the USA ten years earlier when he was 30 and she was 18.
They had lived in New York City and then Baltimore for several years when Sun Ming had heard about
the business opportunity in Graverton. Because of the “Grow Graverton” initiative the initial startup cost
was less and very competitive. Sun Ming was able to get in on the ground floor. They were doing so well
that Ming had been considering starting up a Chinese restaurant off of Route 290. He was considering
bringing his cousin Bingwen over to run the restaurant. Bingwen’s father, like Sun Ming’s, had taught him
the business. Unfortunately Bingwen’s father died at 54 years old with cancer.
“Thank you Aksana,” Sun Ming replied as she exited. Going out the door she saw a man with a
patch over his eye that she had never seen before.
“When can I pick up my suit?” Snarf snorted.
“After 4pm,” Sun Ming said sure of his answer.
“Good,” Snarf grunted, “cut myself and got some blood on it. Can you get it out?”
“Yes,” Sun Ming guarantee, he answered with a self-satisfied look on his face. Upon inspection
Sun Ming thought it was a lot of blood for a small cut. He didn’t see any bandages on the man with the
patch over his eye. As he left he thought to himself that he hoped the one eyed man would not be a
regular customer. He was a very sinister looking creature.
Dr. Stephen (Bud) Larson was on duty when they brought Mary Angelo into the clinic. As a
general surgeon he was the best candidate to be there. Let’s get her to CAT Scan he said to Nurse Pratt.
She had already notified the technician who was there for the day. The CAT Scan was another gift given
by the Griffin Foundation. The CAT Scan showed that there was a bullet lodged in her chest near her
lung.
“Call Gloria this needs to come out.”
“Mary,” Bud Larson, said, “there is a bullet in your chest that needs to come out. It is not in your
lung or near your heart. It is still a risky procedure do you want us to take it out here?”
“Where do I sign Bud?” she asked her confidence in him obvious. Bud Larson was an excellent
general surgeon. He had received his MD from the University of Pennsylvania and did his intern and
fellowship at Hahnemann Hospital in Philadelphia. He loved the Philadelphia area and missed it. He
regularly visited having made friends and acquaintenances during his years there. One of his favorite
things to do was visit Marvin-Donby’s Medical Book Store. He always went on a day when the manager,
Gorby Jericho, was there. As far as he was concerned Gorby was one of the nicest people he had ever
met and you didn’t have to go far to find others who agreed. Marvin-Donby’s has been a presence in the
area for years. Jerry Dellum came through the door and said that he had been called by Nurse Pratt.
“Are you ready for some surgery?” Bud asked.
“Let’s go, I’m ready if you are,” Jerry said. When Mary was under Bud Larson made a beautiful
incision in Mary’s chest near her shoulder. In the meantime, to Bruce Springsteen music in the
background, Jerry Dellum was cleanly cauterizing the incision area. As Bud Larson proceeded slowly into
the muscularis he hit something metallic.
“There the little buzzard is,” he said and produced the bullet. “Better get this to Roy Birkum
pronto. It looks like a 22 caliber." With that the orderly took the specimen jar containing the projectile and
headed down the hall to find a deputy. “Go ahead and bring her up,” Bud Larson instructed the
anesthetist.
“We were lucky on that one.”
“Thanks for your help Jerry, you want to close?”
“Sure,” he said, again happy at how well the medical center functioned here in Graverton.
Snarf was relieved to discover that he was ten miles from Graverton when he looked down at the
speedometer and saw that he was going 80 miles an hour. As he began to slow down he saw cruiser
lights in his rear view mirror. It was the Massachusetts State Police. The trooper took his time getting out
of the car obviously waiting for the results of a check on the plates. Pulling himself out of the cruiser and
putting on his hat he walked slowly to Snarf’s rental.
“How can I help you officer?" Snarf asked smiling.
“Can I see your license and registration please?”
“Sure,” Snarf said co-operatingly.
“Do you know how fast you were going?”
“Yes, I’m sorry officer, I was going about 80 and not paying attention. Trying to catch a flight and I
know that I was wrong.” The officer didn’t like the looks of Snarf but knew that was not grounds for a
citation.
“Well I tell you what, you slow down and I’m just going to give you a warning.”
Snarf was undoubtedly surprised, “Thank you sir I will be careful from now on.” Sometimes life
can throw you a curve like that. Unfortunately, though Snarf would slow the vehicle down, his proclivities
to violent crime would only continue to grow.
Chapter Seven
The Greyhound bus pulled into the Mall in Worcester at 10:13am sharp. Shanty Poo and Garvin
jumped out of their seats and made their way to the front of the bus. They were in a hurry and had to get
back to Graverton before someone saw them. At the same time they didn’t want to rush an important a
purchase as buying a police scanner. They were on a mission and about ready to buy their first piece of
detective equipment.
“Over there,” Garvin pointed and Shanty Poo followed his finger. “There’s Radio Shack,” Garvin
emphasized.
“I know “, countered Shanty Poo as if challenged. “Let’s go.” A red headed woman probably in
her early thirties came from behind the counter to help them as they entered the store.
“Can I help you?” she asked quite friendly like.
“Yes, we want to buy a scanner,” Garvin replied.
“You mean like a police scanner?” she asked.
“Yeah-aah,” Shanty Poo answered stammering and putting his hands in his pockets in his
nervous ritual.
“Ok, can I ask you boys why?”
“We just want to listen to calls is all,” Garvin added as if he was helping Shanty Poo.
“Ok, well we have them in different sizes and prices," the salesgirl said as she moved to the
glass counter where they were on display. “Here are several models.”
“How much are they? “Shanty Poo asked calming down.
“They start at $36.95 and go to $150.45,” she said pulling out several models.
“What’s the next one after the $36.95?” Shanty Poo asked.
“$56.95.”
“Remember we only have about $80.00 dollars,” Garvin pointed out and was looking at the iPods
instead of concentrating on the purchase at hand. Shanty Poo shot Garvin a disgruntled look that said,
‘thanks a lot for telling her how much we have.’
”We will take the one for $56.95,” Shanty Poo decided.
“Would you like to hear it?” the red haired lady asked.
”Oh yes,” Shanty Poo answered as though he had been expecting her to ask. As she turned on
the scanner they were broadcasting a fire in the Worcester area and it came through loud, crisp and
clear.
“You want this one then?” she asked.
“Yes,” Shanty Poo was satisfied and wanted to get going so that they didn’t miss the bus back to
Graverton.
“Ok, here is the warranty and the guidebook on how to operate the scanner. Be careful that it
never get’s wet and things like that,” she instructed.
“Thank you,” Shanty Poo replied. Then turning to Garvin, who was still intrigued by the iPods
said,”I need some of your money.” To which Garvin reached into his pocket and pulled out a bunch of
crumpled up bills that were in no particular order. “Thanks a lot dummy, “Shanty Poo said incensed by
Garvin’s apparent lack of interest and the sloppy way that he had handled his money. He was sure that
when they got the scanner home that Garvin would be the first to want to operate it.
“There you are,” the girl said having boxed up the highly prized police scanner, the boys’ first
serious piece of detective equipment. “That will be $60.34,” she said as she tallied it up on the cash
register. As Shanty Poo looked up he saw that her name was Renny on her name tag. Her eyes then met
his and he was embarrassed for looking at her chest. Shanty Poo counted out $61.00 and handed it to
Renny. “Thank you and come again and don’t hesitate to call the 800# if you have any problems.
“Ok, thank you,” Shanty Poo said and then turning to Garvin blurted out, “Come on so we aren’t
late.”
“Hello boys,” they heard a voice just as they turned to leave the store. It was Garvin’s neighbor,
Mrs. Perkins and they both froze in their tracks.
“Why are you not in school?” she asked. Shanty Poo didn’t want to answer and thought she
should be minding her own business.
“We had to come up to buy something and we are going right back,” he explained as if she had
twisted his arm behind his back. By now he had shoved his hands nervously in his pockets again.
“How did you get here?” She continued to ask as though she had a right to do so.
“The bus,” Shanty Poo stated.
“It’s a Massachusetts Trailways,” Garvin butted in sounding authoritative.
“Would you boys like a ride?”
“No thanks,” they both answered at once.
“How are your grades?” and at that point Shanty Poo wanted to punch ole Mrs. Perkins in the
nose. “What a busybody,” he thought. He had been raised to be polite so he continued the charade as he
moved towards the exit motioning Garvin to come along. Shanty Poo managed to say B’s and C’s while
Garvin was silent. Garvin struggled in school and at one time his parents had considered putting him in a
school like Montessori. Shanty Poo often helped Garvin with his homework. By that time they were at the
door and made their escape.
“Goodbye Mrs. Perkins,” they both shouted as they left the store.
“Boy I sure hope she keeps her big mouth shut,” Shanty Poo said. “I wonder what she was doing
in Radio Shack anyway?”
“Let’s get something to eat, Shanty Poo,” Garvin said as though he was starving.”
“Ok Starvin Garvin,” Shanty Poo said proud of himself for making a funny.
”That’s not funny Shanty Poop, ” Garvin said.
“Look there is a place over there where we can get something to eat.” They went over to the
newstand to discover that is where the bus stop was. After buying some candy and soda pop the bus
arrived and the boys boarded and were soon on their way home with their coveted possession as they
chomped down their candy.
Bartholomew was pacing the floor of his condo. He liked the atmosphere of St. Kitts for his
operation but didn’t understand why Snarf hadn’t contacted him. It wasn’t like him and they had been able
now for several years to fill the quota of children for the buyers back in Russia. To do this meant moving
around to prevent them from being found out. He had agreed with the Graverton operation because the
town was small and he figured that the law enforcement there was probably not that good. The phone
rang and his current squeeze, Rosella, picked it up.
“Hello, Negron residence, how can I help you? One moment please, it’s for you Bart,” she said
handing him the phone.
“Bartholomew, it’s me Snarf, the voice said at the other end.”
“Where the hell are you?” Bartholomew Negron asked indignantly.
“I’m still in Massachusetts,” Snarf answered very nervous. “Well I think I found someone we can
use for are next move.” Snarf said.
“Ok, then get back here,” Bartholomew said quieting down. “Get back here so we can set it up.”
After further thought Bartholomew knew that he couldn’t send Snarf for the next phase of their operation
because of his eye patch.
“I’m on my way to Boston and will be back on the next flight. My flight leaves at 6:15am and I’ll
arrive at 1:30pm.”
Bartholomew knowing that he should treat Snarf, “Stupid Snarf”, well so he could use him again
said, “Go ahead and spend another day there. Have some fun.”
“Thanks Bartholomew,” a grateful and relieved Snarf replied , “ “ I need some money though.”
“Just use the credit card,” Bartholomew told him. Bartholomew Negron was a billionaire, what did
he care.
Bartholomew Marcus Negron did not have a pleasant childhood despite his father having been a
millionaire and he having grown up in the beautiful Caribbean. His grandfather had been the GovernorGeneral of the smaller island of St.Kitts, Nevis. His grandfather was a gentle and fair man and
Bartholomew had the utmost respect for him. They had spent many hours together, especially fishing. He
missed him greatly and cherished the many dear memories he had of him. Gentry Negron lived to the ripe
old age of 86 leaving behind a legacy that included a warm relationship with Queen Elizabeth, the
reigning regal of St. Kitts. It was rumored that she at one time had commented on Gentry Negron as
being a true gentleman who exercised extraordinary leadership during his tenure as the Nevian
Governor-General. Bartholomew knew that his grandfather, with his impeccable and honest reputation,
would be ashamed of him now but he had practiced switching his attention to his father who was a
complete contrast to his grandfather. Reginald Negron was a drunk, a womanizer and a very mean man.
How he turned out that way was a mystery to Bartholomew. His grandmother, Lois, and his grandfather
had enjoyed a wonderful life together until she died shortly after their 45 th wedding anniversary with a
brain tumor. The doctors in Miami diagnosed it as an astrocytoma and gave her a poor prognosis. In this
they were correct and she died peacefully with her faithful husband by her side. Her death was a heavy
blow to Gentry Negron but he continued his steady rule over Nevis until his own passing.
Reginald Bartholomew Negron not only broke his wife’s heart but her arm, ribs and nose. He had
beaten her often until one day Bartholomew told him that if he ever touched her again he would kill him.
Reginald Negron apparently believed him and the abuse ended. Mary Elizabeth Negron, Bartholomew’s
beloved mother, died at the age of 42 and Bartholomew always thought that it was from the injuries
incurred by his father’s beatings. He himself had been beaten by his father regularly. At 11 years old he
was a foot taller than his father and the beatings stopped. After that his father seemed to drink more and
became more and more withdrawn from his family. He died at 49 from a self inflicted gunshot.
Bartholomew has a sister, Rebecca, who left the islands when she was 18. She had met a farmer, a
tourist from Oklahoma, who was 15 years her senior. He had taken her with him; they married and had 4
children. She sends a Christmas card every year depicting a happy family and an attached fond letter.
Every year at Thanksgiving she invites Bartholomew to come to Oklahoma but he has so far declined. He
feels ashamed but does manage to send her a birthday card every year. He has always suspected that
his father sexually abused her.
Chapter Eight
“Wow, this is neat Shanty," Garvin said as the scanner crackled. They recognized Sheriff Birkum’s
voice. They knew the Sheriff because he came to the school to talk about the danger of drugs. Then they
heard gunshots. “Shanty, did you hear that?” Garv asked.
”Yeah, wow!!” Shanty exploded.
“Deputy down Betty.”
“It’s ok I already dispatched another ambulance.” At this point Roy Birkum decided to pull all the
cruisers back. Bill Grover had been shot and he wasn’t sure how bad it was yet. They were fast running
out of deputies. There were still seven with Lorne Flake in Worcester and Mary Angelo in the medical
center. Jerry Dellum thought that Mary should stay overnight and she had consented. Besides 2 cruisers
from the State Police there were 4 from civil patrol. Porter Jarvis was busy retaping the area about a block
from the pub.
Then another shot, “Appears to be coming from the window Sheriff!!” Bum Snyder hollered. He
was hiding behind a tree and was the closest. The cars were now out of range of the 22 caliber. Sheriff
Birkum was thinking that hopefully they didn’t have anything bigger when there was a crash and the back
window fell out.
Obviously a bullet he thought and pulled even further away. “OK, everybody out of here now”.
“Garv, this is our chance. Let’s sneak down there and help.”Shanty Poo urged.
” Are you crazy, they have guns.”Garvin said cautiously.
“We can take our bb guns and sneak up on them. We will be heroes.” Shanty Poo said.
“Ok, Shanty but we better be careful,” Garvin said. Mounting their bicycles and brandishing their
bb guns, the boys took off in the direction of Pat’s Pub. When they arrived there they were in the alley
behind the pub and hiding in the shrubbery across from it.
“Come on,” Shanty said in a tone that said let’s get this over with. Crossing the alley they tried to
look in the windows but they were too high. “Come on and get up on my shoulders,” Shanty told Garvin.
This was something they did when they needed the extra height. Shanty’s legs were strong and even with
Garvin on his shoulders he could stand on his tippy toes. “What do you see Garvin?”
Shanty Poo queried. “There are three men with rifles, one is pointed at another man,” they didn’t
know Pat, “another has his pointed out the window.” Shanty Poo hadn’t noticed the hole underneath the
window. He hollered as he stepped into the dreadful orifice and Garvin losing his balance hollered too.
“What the hell was that?” a voice came from inside the bar.
“Yiiiii!!!” both of the boys exclaimed as they scrambled to get back to the other side of the alley
and the safe haven of the arbors. They managed to be hidden from view just as one of the gunmen poked
his head out the door. They could see the rifle and Shanty Poo felt his nose…it was wet.
“What are you boys doing here?” Deputy Dawson McDonald whispered startling both of them
and grabbing them by the nape of their necks.
“Wee ah wee ah are going to help you catch the bad guys," Shanty Poo stuttered.
”And what are these?” Dawson McDonald said spying the bb guns. Confiscating the guns Deputy
Dawson sent the disappointed young lads packing. Well actually, without their firearms, not packing.
Sheriff Birkum was still pinned down by somebody who was shooting at him. Reaching into the
backseat he found the bullhorn and switching it on he announced, ”Put down your guns you are
surrounded.” That was answered with a volley of shots. ”What do you want?” Sheriff Birkum asked out of
breath. ”Call me on this number, 343-538-7225.” He was referring to his mobile phone. Almost
immediately the phone rang.
“Who is this?” Roy Birkum asked.
“That isn’t important," the voice on the other end replied. ”Here’s what we want so listen carefully.
We want to leave here without any interference. We are taking the money and a hostage.”
“Ok,” Roy said,” give us time to move our units.” With that Roy had all the cruisers leave knowing
that two would follow close enough but not close enough to be seen. When they were out of sight three
men came out of the bar and climbed into a Chevy Malibu. One of them was holding a rifle to Pat’s head.
Sheriff Birkum had a clear picture of the perps through his binoculars from his vantage point behind some
trees. He also noticed that they weren’t wearing masks but weren’t familiar to him.
Rev. Gordon Snyder was ecstatic when he saw that the entire ministerial association had shown
up for the special session. Though he isn’t involved in the ministerial association Stan Graner had open
heartedly consented to being a part of the prayer vigil in the town square. As he looked around the round
table, an idea that was implemented after Gordon Snyder suggested that it represented a shared image
of leadership, he saw that Dr. Gregory McFarland was also present from New Hope Baptist. Some had
become very concerned about the children who were missing in Graverton. Initially he had asked Emily
Phipps to open in prayer but had made a last minute decision to have Stan Graner offer the invocation.
From the emotion in the air Rev. Snyder could sense the intense concern on the hearts of all in
attendance. Following the prayer old business was attended to and then planning for the prayer vigil took
precedence over everything else. Despite the broad spectrum views and beliefs of the members present,
it was quite clear that the importance of prayer resonated with everyone there. The vigil was set for the
next Thursday evening. Gordon Snyder was chosen to give a brief homily and upon suggestion George
Clopas, of St. Thomas Acquinas, was chosen to lead some prayer choruses. Besides being a music
teacher at Graverton High, he was the music director at St. Thomas Acquinas. Planning the music every
Sunday for the morning masses plus his duties as a teacher kept him quite busy. He was also a versed
trumpeteer and played in the Worcester Philharmonic.
Emily Phipps suggested that the prayer vigil be held in the new town square and that candles be
used. There was a lengthy discussion regarding the safety of this but in the end it was concluded that with
some guidelines it was a good idea. Writing an article for the Gazette was delegated to BeeBee Jones.
Despite the disparity of her theology with most of the rest of the group, everybody loved her. She was the
lone African-American in the group and with her quick wit often had them in stitches. Besides being an
excellent speaker, she sang with a Whitney Houston quality to her voice. It was no surprise to anyone
that she held the attention of two hundred people every Sunday and that the congregation was growing.
BeeBee’s interest in helping the Haitians, in the aftermath of the earthquake, had a strong influence on
some of the unchurched in the community. After closing prayer the group enjoyed good strong Swedish
coffee and marvelously delicious pastry compliments of the ladies auxiliary of Faith Lutheran Church. For
about an hour the social rooms of the First United Methodist Church reverberated with laughter and
fellowship. Looking about, Gordon Snyder whispered a prayer of thanks to God for the outcome of their
meeting.
Sheriff Birkum was still maintaining a close enough distance behind the getaway car. The State
Police had decided to put out the puncture strip. Unfortunately one of the rookies traveling at a high rate
of speed hit the strip, deflated his tires resulting in his car overturning and slamming into an oncoming
semi. He was seriously injured and was being rushed to the medical center. Jerry Dellum and Bud Larson
were on standby and not sure of the extent of what they would find. Johnny Barrett was twenty one years
old and had wanted all his life to become a Massachusetts State Trooper. His dream had come true just
one year ago when he had graduated from the trooper training academy. It was his second time around.
Johnny was smart but struggled somewhat with the physical part of the training. With a mentor he was
able to strengthen himself and finally pass the physical requirements. Johnny was now on his way by
helicopter to the Graverton Clinic with what appeared to be serious injuries. It was Jerry Dellum’s decision
to assess Johnny before sending him off to Worcester.
“We are losing him,” Nurse Graves said emphatically. She was the nurse on ZoeCopter that day.
The pilot, Ray Moore, had recently been discharged from the Army and had served three years in Iraq as
a helicopter pilot.
“Use the paddles,” Jerry Dellum said giving her the authorization. Nurse Georgia Graves
immediately applied the jelly to the paddles and shocked Johnny Barrett. It was to no avail and sadly,
after being worked on for an hour at the Graverton Medical Center, Johnny didn’t survive his injuries. It
would be decided later that he had received excellent care despite a protest from his family. They insisted
that he should have been taken to Worcester instead of Graverton Clinic. The charge of manslaughter in
the first degree was also added to the charges against the men who had held Pat Reagan hostage. The
State Police unit and the semi were now blocking the highway. Route 290 was always busy but especially
at this time of the day.
Ginny Smith had just strapped her little Jimmy in his seat and was off to Worcester to visit her
Aunt Shirley when suddenly a car speeding down the wrong side of the road, slammed into her. It was the
getaway car. Roy Birkum was behind them and heard the gut-wrenching sound of the automobiles as
they impacted. Again emergency vehicles were dispatched this time from several communities near
Graverton. Ginny and little Jimmy was saved by the fact that she had belted herself in and fastened little
Jimmy properly in his seat. All three of the gunman were injured and one was D.O.A. Pat sustained a
broken leg. At this point Roy Birkum was hopeful that the day’s carnage had ended. After notifying
Ginny’s husband he headed back to the station once again hoping he could get home for some much
needed sleep. Driving past McDonald’s he decided on some coffee. He hit the lights and siren. Bernie
Luden, who was on duty at the drive-through window, started laughing.
“Guess who,” he said.
“It’s Sheriff Birkum,” the rest of the staff chorused.
Bartholomew Negron was still thinking about Snarf. He agreed with Gretchen that he was really
stupid but his kind were hard to come by to do his dirty work. It was two years after his grandfather’s
death that he was introduced to Sergai Naprostokov who would introduce Bartholomew to the white
slavery business. Bartholomew was very good with money. It came naturally to him. He was an eighth
grade dropout who had managed to turn his 100 million dollar inheritance into a billion dollars. The white
slavery business is a lucrative business. Bartholomew also controls the cocaine business on both islands.
He has a supplier that he knows can be very dangerous. For that reason Bartholomew has enlisted some
astute individuals as his lieutenants. Despite the dangers the money continues to come in. There is
enough of a demand for cocaine in St. Kitts. A large percentage of the sales are to tourists who come to
relax and party.
Bartholomew has decided that he will never marry and is satisfied with his current squeeze,
Rosella. Standing five feet two in her stocking feet, she is a real beauty with full lips, brown eyes, olive
skin and perky breasts. They make love often and he does not feel that he needs someone else. With his
money he could find many women who would go to bed with him. He also trusts Rosella. She seems
happy with their relationship. Of course, Rosella can have almost anything she wants. One of her favorite
things to do is luxuriate in the hot tub on Bartholomew’s yacht. Once a year Bartholomew puts
$150,000.00 in her account and she and a friend can go anywhere in the world on a shopping trip.
Rosella collects paintings and often calls Bartholomew for more money. Her collection is now worth over
$2,000,000.00. Bartholomew, besides his St. Kitt’s home, has a condo in the Swiss Alps. Bartholomew,
an avid skier, vacations there several times a year. From there he travels to Moscow to meet with Sergai
Naprostokov in regard to their questionable business endeavors. At Naprostokov’s behest, Bartholomew
must have one of the girls murdered to throw off the investigation in Graverton. When Bartholomew went
back to his hotel he vomited. He’s sure that Naprostokov is a sociopath and will do anything if money is
involved. It sounded like Snarf had found someone. He would talk to him when he got back. He knows
that he can’t use Snarf because of his eye patch
Chapter Nine
“Shanty Poo, look your dad’s car is parked in front of the house,” Garvin said. Shanty Poo went
numb. Garvin was nervous, “Your father is never home at this time of the day,” Garvin added.
“That blabbermouth Mrs. Perkins must have told him," Shanty said trying to explain this turn of
events. Shanty Poo shrugged his shoulders and shoving his hands in his pockets strolled in the front door
prepared to face the music. He slowly opened the door and for an instant thought that maybe it was
someone else’s car. Not to be… it was in fact the 2008 burgundy Buick that his father treasured. Bertram
Poo babied his automobiles. He waxed and polished them until they shone like the stars. Shanty Poo had
only ridden in it a few times to doctor’s appointments and that type of thing.
“Shanty Poo, is that you?” his father asked from the kitchen.
“Yeah,” Shanty Poo said just above a whisper.
“Is Garvin with you?”
“Yes, “ Shanty Poo answered again.
“Come here," Shanty Poo’s father ordered. The boys sheepishly trailed into the kitchen. “Where
were you boys yesterday?” Bertram Poo inquired in an officious voice, “and don’t lie to me.”
“We went to Worcester.” Shanty Poo offered. Bertram Poo looked around to see if Garvin was
present. When he spotted him he continued his interrogation.
“Why did you go there?”
“We bought a scanner.” Shanty Poo answered.
“What are you going to do with that?” his father continued.
“Listen to police calls and stuff.”
“On that note Sheriff Birkum stopped by the Post Office to tell me that you were sent home from
the scene of the crime at Pat’s Pub. What possessed you to go there?”
“We wanted to help catch them,” Shanty Poo said hoping his father would accept his explanation.
“What you did was very dangerous. The police are trained to do that and I don’t want to hear that
you ever do that again. Do you understand?” Bertram Poo pressed for their understanding.
”Yes,” they answered as one.
“Now as far as the scanner is concerned I guess that it can’t hurt anything as long as you are just
listening to the messages. Don’t ever leave town again without my permission, do you understand?”
“Yes,” again they answered together.
“OK, I let Mrs. Hunsiker have the night off so please keep an eye on your sister. Dinner is in the
refrigerator. I think it’s beef stew.”
“Ok dad,” Shanty Poo answered much relieved that they had escaped so easily.
Gretchen was planning how she was going to find the girl who had escaped. She knew that time
was of the essence because she could give her away and the thought of prison frightened her. She pulled
herself out of the hospital bed and thought that she felt a little less woozy. She had to find her, where
would she start? She stuck her head out the door and didn’t see Nurse Judy. Slowly she made her way
down the hallway. She saw an aide and immediately smiled at her hoping to dispel any suspicion that she
might have. When she reached the exit she made her way down the stairs until she was outside. It was
then that she realized that she was still in her nightgown. Spying the outbuilding where the grounds
keepers kept their equipment, she went in and quickly found some coveralls that would fit her. The
coveralls were classic orange and they had been wearing them for some years. Crossing over the
campus she saw the storage building and headed for it. She was dizzy and stood up against the wall for a
minute before she could go on. It was early morning and the sun was just coming up. As she reached the
building she saw Trippi emerging from it holding his head which was bleeding profusely. She could see a
gaping wound on his forehead and he was cussing loudly.
“What the hell happened to you?” she asked.
“I was looking for that little brat and somebody hit me.” He said. “I think it was her and I think she
hit me with a shovel and when I catch her I’m going to kill her.” Trippi said groggily.
“OK, OK…Gretchen said, be quiet so they don’t find us out," she said sternly. Trippi didn’t need
any further warning. Gretchen was much bigger than he and he didn’t need any further explanation.
“Come on,” she said, “there’s a first aid station in that building over there.” Every building on campus
either had a first aid station or a kit because Gretchen had requested it and the administration had readily
accepted and implemented it as a good idea. Gretchen carefully washed the wound and recognized that it
would require stitches. “You are going to have to go to the emergency room,” she said sounding clinical.
“Can’t go there can I?” Trippi asked and Gretchen realized that dummy Trippi was right this time.
“Well come on we will have to go to my place,” she said sounding upset. They stealthily made
their way across the campus until they reached the animal hospital taking advantage of the early morning
and the fact that very few people were up yet. Once inside her apartment she sutured up Trippi’s head
and out of sympathy she guessed, she gave him two vicodans, put him on the couch and Trippi passed
out until well in the afternoon. Just before the lights went out Trippi managed a smile and a thank you
Gretchen. She couldn’t believe it but she reached over and patted him in response to the childish look on
his face.
Maytee Ming liked to work with her father in the shop after school and he paid her a few dollars a
week. Today Sun Ming had an appointment in Worcester. That was one thing Graverton lacked was a
dentist. He preferred Maytee manning the dry cleaners because Sian was pregnant with their third child.
Maytee looked up to see a sinister man with a patch over his eye.
“Here for my suit,” Snarf sort of growled.
“What’s your name sir,” Maytee asked.
“Grenlin, Chuck,” he answered…using an alias. She hit the switch that started the conveyor belt
that the items of clothing were hanging on.
“Here it is,” she said relieved that she had found it so soon.
“You runnin’ the business for your dad today?"
“I work after school,” she said not wanting to divulge that her father wasn’t there. He had given
her strict instruction about that and had shown her the button under the counter that would signal the
police in the case of an emergency. “Not be afraid to use. Can say accident,” Sun Ming had emphasized.
She felt uncomfortable with Snarf’s questioning and the way he was looking at her.
“How old are you?” Snarf inquired.
“Why do you need to know,” Maytee fired back.
“Sorry, didn’t mean anything; come on have to go anyway.” He said shoving a twenty dollar bill in
her direction.
“Hi Maytee,” she was so relieved to hear the Sheriff’s voice.
“Hi Sheriff Birkum, let me get your uniforms.”
Sheriff Birkum was looking at Snarf and didn’t like what he saw. Snarf didn’t need any more
motivation to leave and squeezed out a “Hi Sheriff,” as he left. Snarf was angry with himself as he left.
He knew that his being able to carry out any part of Bartholomew’s plan would be out of the question
because of the patch over his eye. He would have to use Trippi. This was something that he would have
to discuss with Bartholomew when he got back to St. Kitts.
“Riveting,” Mike Mercurio said exuberantly at the end of the rehearsal. He marveled at how well
the Graverton Theatre Troupe, as he referred to them, had been performing. He felt that they would be
ready for opening night in two weeks. The Theatre would try a new concept this year, dinner club, which
would be catered by John Miller from the Graverton Inn. He was also grateful that Robert Fontanello had
consented to make the trek from Boston to be Jekyll/Hyde in this year’s production at the Greenwich
Theatre. The theater had gotten its name some years ago when Graverton almost became Greenwich,
but it was decided against at the last minute. Something about Greenwich Village…no one is really sure.
”Robert, thank you so much for consenting to do the lead. “ Mike said.
“It is my pleasure sir,” Robert returned shaking Mike’s hand in his usual overdramatic style. “I am
most looking forward to it.”
“I also have a bit of good news for you.”
“Oh good, Mike replied and too late realizing that he had opened his eyes widely in like manner to
Robert’s over drama, “and what would that be?”
“Joachin Martin will be more than happy to play Dr. Hastie Lanyon.”
“Marvelous!” Mike responded laughingly, “that, Robert, is excellent news and I am most relaxed
now.”
“Good Michael and we will be traveling together to rehearsal this Thursday.”
“It gets better and better,” Mike continued in his joyful frame of mind. ”I will call John today and tell
him that you will need two suites for whenever you would like to stay over and please take advantage of
the culinary delights there. The chef is marvelous.”
“Will do Michael but if you will graciously excuse me I must be on my way. There is a Boston
Actor’s Guild Dinner tomorrow and I am receiving an award.”
“Congratulations Robert I’m certain that you deserve it.”
“Michael is there any way you could be present?”
“Thank you Robert, it may be possible.”
“Oh good, call me Michael and bring an overnight bag. You will be my and Lily’s guest. She will
be overjoyed. You know how she loves to entertain. I think it’s what she substitutes for not having been
able to have children.”
“Well I guess I can be her kid for one night,” Mike chortled and then they both shared a laugh as
Robert Fontanello left the building.
Mike was satisfied that this year’s production would eclipse that of last year’s The Phantom of the
Opera. Besides Robert Fontanello and Joaquin Martin, Jerry Dellum is playing the lawyer, Mr. Gabriel
John Utterson. Adding to his medical acumen is his acting ability. Mike Mercurio, who makes his home in
Connecticut, has always enjoyed his time in Graverton. He has found the townspeople warm, receptive
and willing to try out their self-perceived skills on stage. He is, of course, as everyone, concerned about
the missing children. He is not judgmental but had expressed concern that the Sheriff’s Department
should call in more professionals until he was advised that Sheriff Birkum had requested help from the
FBI. He is impressed with the Sheriff’s willingness to ask for assistance. Mike has a job to do and he will
do it well. It will provide, along with a list of other programs for the theater, a momentary escape for the
town from the awful reality of the crime.
Mike is also looking forward to helping Indira Ally in a Chamber Music Concert and the sine qua
none of the year, the Boston Pops has consented to do a concert. Tickets have already been sold out.
The High School auditorium is also filling up where closed circuit television will be utilized. Tickets for the
auditorium are $10.00. With overflow, the Greenwich could seat 1500 people. There was discussion at
the city council meeting that the auditorium at Mapleshade may have to be used as well. The idea for an
outside concert was turned down because of the fickleness of the weather in May. The Graverton Theater
had marvelous acoustics and could double easily as a concert hall. Everyone was amazed at Boris
Tertikoff’s influence in the Boston arena. He had made some significant affiliations while doing his
master’s work at Harvard. He had shared an apartment with H. Mason Grant who knew several people on
the Boston Pops board. He and Mason had enjoyed immensely their time at Harvard. They spent some of
their time commiserating at a local bar near the campus. Needless to say there was much ado regarding
politics and the law while they animated the bar. Mason Grants brother, John Grason Grant, was also part
of their deliberative group. He was studying law at Boston University and would join Mason and Boris
often for drinks and conversation. After receiving his juris doctor, John Grant decided to practice law in
Germany. He was influenced by a classmate, Emeric Osterhagen, who invited him to Germany for a
holiday. While there he met Verna Zahn who became his wife. Despite its differences from American
jurisprudence, John Mason Grant is enjoying his practice of law in Germany. His wife currently sits on the
German Federal Parliament or Bundestag. Boris has considered taking Aksana to Germany for a
vacation hoping that it might deflect any attention away from his affair with Brita.
“Where the hell have you been? It’s 3pm!” Bartholomew Negron snarled at Snarf.
“I’m sorry Bartholomew the flight was late taking off,” Snarf whined.
”Why, pray tell, was that?’ Bartholomew continued pressuring Snarf who by now was cowering in
a corner. He knew that Bartholomew Negron could easily dispose of him.
“They said the manifest didn’t’ agree with how many people were on the plane and it took an
hour for them to clear it up.”
“Ok,” Bartholomew said and seemed to believe him. You said you had someone to take care of
our business in Graverton?”
“Yeah Trippi will do it,” Snarf said looking at Bartholomew questioningly.
“Who in the hell is Trippi?” Bartholomew asked wiping off his forehead. He had worked up a
sweat in the early afternoon heat.
“He works for Gretchen.”
“Ok then,” Bartholomew said satisfied, “let’s get it done.” He didn’t know Trippi but if he worked
for Gretchen he figured he was ok. She did refer to her henchmen as dummies but he thought she was
very intelligent and trusted her with that end of the business. Thinking about Gretchen reminded him that
she should be contacting him about some new arrivals. He looked on his desk for his cell phone as he
gestured to Snarf to get lost. “Go get some rest and I will call you,” It was obvious that he didn’t want to
spend anymore time with Snarf than he had too. Snarf had big plans anyway which included eating a big
dinner, picking up a high priced prostitute and spending the rest of the night with her and a lot of booze.
What he thought was that Bartholomew didn’t know that he was using his card. He enlisted Princess Gina
who knew what he wanted for $1000.00 a night and by midnight having drunk a lot of rum had her
parading him around his suite on a leash.
“Honey, would you like to make love with me?” his Princess asked, but that part of the night was
over for one eyed Snarf. For some odd reason Snarf had decided to wear his poorly painted artificial eye
and at the height of his sexual experience it popped out.
“For heaven’s sake pick up your damned eye you pervert,” Princess Gina exclaimed as she
looked at the ghastly hole in Snarf’s head made by his vacated eye piece.” Bartholomew Marcus Negron
was very much cognizant of Snarf’s shenanigans but figured it didn’t matter as long as Snarf was able to
keep secret their legally challenged endeavors.
Chapter Ten
Rev. Johnny Popes opened up the sermon preparation program on his computer hoping to catch
up. It was Thursday and he was behind having had four weddings and two funerals this week already.
Weddings and funerals were time consuming and emotionally draining.
“Pastor,” his secretary buzzed over the intercom.
“Yes Delia,” he answered.
“Donnie Luciens just called and says that he needs to see you right away. He seemed very
upset.”
“OK Delia, have him come over.” Donnie and Barbara Luciens, the youth workers, shared an
office in the older part of the church building. It was small but adequate. Their time was limited in that they
both had to do secular work and Johnny was always amazed at their willingness to work and the amount
of time they spent in their office and in the gymnatorium with the growing youth group. Donnie was an
astute administrator and Johnny occasionally asked his advice in that regard. It was a goal he had that
the next fulltime staff person should be a business administrator. Two years prior to Johnny coming to the
church his predecessor had built the gymnatorium which was a great idea but premature. It had taken a
while for the church to get used to meeting in a gym for worship service. The church almost went belly up
financially but recovered after Johnny was assigned there. Johnny never suspected that the prior
minister, who later became a close friend, had tried to pull a fast one on the congregation. He had just
used poor judgment. By the grace of God and under Johnny’s leadership the church had grown from 200
to 500 in just a few years. Needless to say they were using the new building which could seat 1000.
Johnny had just that morning, with the board’s blessing, offered the auditorium to the city council to
consider for the Boston Pops Concert. The board had prayed and debated and decided that there was no
conflict in values and had granted the privilege. This, Johnny Popes thought, was a good move to
improve relations with the community and perhaps gain some souls to church.
Of the 500 person congregation 178 were junior to post high school in age. This meant that the
youth represented 30% of the church and attested to the fine work that was being done by the Luciens.
They were both musical and Barbara was an excellent speaker and regularly graced the pulpit on Sunday
evenings. Johnny Popes often asked God to forgive him when he wished that he had a son like some
other ministers who took over when they retired. Johnny was 42 and had no children. His beloved wife,
Delores, had died three years before from an infection she had picked up while doing short-term
missionary work in India. Though the doctors did all they could, they were never really able to identify
what they thought was a virus that killed her. She didn’t suffer which was a blessing. Her death was also
a loss to the church as Delores was beloved by all and died the way she served the world and her God,
selflessly. Johnny missed her greatly so much at times it seemed his heart would break. In her absence
he invested 100+% of his time to the church. He was not looking for love or companionship at this
moment and told himself that he must be very careful in his relationships with women.
“Come in Donnie,” Johnny said rising to greet him. He happened to notice an official looking
envelope in Donnie’s hand. “How can I help you Donnie?” Johnny asked inquisitively.
“It’s a lawsuit!” Donnie said sitting down with a plunk.
“What ?!!” Johnny said not believing his ears and then wishing he had been calmer in his
response.
“Do you remember the Jerry Berman family who were here until about a year ago? “
“Sure do it seems to me that they were always upset about something.” Johnny recalled.
“Well, their daughter is alleging that one of our workers touched her inappropriately.”
“Oh no,” Johnny gasped. He wasn’t surprised. The church was growing and he was sure the devil
wasn’t happy about it.
“That’s not all,” Donnie said leaning forward in his chair, “they are hitting us with a double
whammy.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me Donnie.”
“I wish I were Johnny. If you remember Jerry Berman’s brother-in-law was part of that musical
group who came here and charged us $1000.00.”
“Oh yeah we almost didn’t survive that one.” “ Well, one of them couldn’t carry a tune. Yes, how
well I remember that.” “ That was one of the excuses the Berman’s used when they left here.” “There
were quite a few people who made known the fact that the group wasn’t worth the money the church paid
out.” “We were relieved when they left is my recollection,” Johnny Popes said lacing his hands behind his
head and letting it fall back as far as it would go. Then lurching forward asked,”Who are they blaming?” “
“Jack Blevins.”
“What is he saying?”
“He’s denying it of course.”
“Where does he work?”
“He works at Brentwood, 7-3.”
“We need to get control of this as soon as we can Donnie. Call him and see how soon he can
come in. And what was the other thing?” Jack asked sounding out of breath.
“They couldn’t sing but they are claiming that we photocopied some of their music that was
performed by our choir. The music was nice as I remember. Well they say that was illegal and they are
suing the church for $200,000.00.”
“You’ve got to be kidding, but as I recall we had agreed that this family had the potential to be
disruptive to the church.” “Ok Donnie see how quick Jack can come in and let’s keep this to ourselves. I’m
going to contact our attorney.”
“Thanks Johnny.” Donnie said showing relief.
“Let’s pray before you go Donnie,” Johnny said putting his arm around Donnie’s shoulder. Rev.
Johnny Popes could pray in a way that seemed like heaven came down into the room. At the end of a
beautiful prayer in which Johnny Popes put the whole situation into God’s hands and asked for guidance
and God’s blessing and protection over Donnie and Barbara and the church, Donnie left with a look of
peace on his face and satisfaction that everything would be alright. At 28, Donnie Luciens was older than
his years. The oldest of 10 children, his mother bedridden because of a massive stroke following the birth
of the 10th child, Donnie matured early because he became responsible to help raise his brothers and
sisters. His father didn’t drink and brought his earnings home but found it difficult to keep a job. The family
grew up poor in Kentucky. Donnie was very helpful to his father in raising the family. The children were all
doing well financially and six of them were married with children. Looking through his rolodex, Johnny
Popes found Mack Harper’s number at his office. Dialing him up Mack told him he would be right over. He
had retained him as their legal counsel soon after he arrived. Rev. Popes insisted on researching
anything legal regarding the church.
Shanty Poo was restless. “Let’s listen to the scanner Garv”, he suggested.”
“Ok,” They could hear the interchange between Sheriff Birkum and somebody they didn’t
recognize.
“Roy, you got a real piece of work down there. The finger is a doll finger. We found the same
thing on the other side of the state. ”
“That’s weird,” Roy said, “any prints?”
“No, sure wish there were. There was some residue that they are still processing. Bonnie wants
to scour the area one more time just in case they missed something.”
“Thanks Jack, we will keep it taped off until she can do it. Let me know if she needs anything, it
may be tied to the disappearances.”
“Ok Roy take care and stay in touch.”
“Maybe we should go out and check the area,” Shanty Poo suggested.
“Ah, I don’t know," Garvin said, "we could get in trouble.”
“We won’t go inside the tape, maybe they missed something.”
“Ok, let’s go now, I wonder who Bonnie is.” Garvin just shrugged. Turning off the scanner the
new sleuths slid down the ladder and hopped onto their bicycles. In about 15 minutes they had reached
the site and there was no one there.
“Let’s spread out, “Shanty Poo said. Parking their bikes they each started walking into the woods
away from the possible crime scene. The snow was melting and the ground was muddy.
“When you are looking be real careful so you don’t miss anything.”
“Ok, Shanty Poo,” Garvin huffed. He didn’t always appreciate Shanty Poo’s tutelage. “We aren’t
the FBI ya know?”
“OK, but we may find something.”
“About twenty minutes had transpired when Garvin shouted, “Shanty Poo come here!!” Shanty
Poo began to move in the direction of Garvin’s voice.
“Be quiet and don’t touch anything!” Shanty Poo shouted with his loudest whisper. When he got
there Garvin was bent over looking at something. “What is it?”
“I don’t know it looks like the arm from a doll and I can’t tell but it looks like writing. See, it’s under
these leaves.”
“Yeah, what are we going to do Shanty Poo?”
“Come on we better call the police.”
“But they won’t believe us.”
“We’ll see,” said Shanty Poo as they went to find their bikes.
“Sheriff we just received a call from what sounded like a young boy who claims they have found a
doll arm near the crime scene site,” Betty Friedland reported into the mike.
“’It’s probably the Poo and the Green kids.”
“Should I call their parents?” Betty asked.
“No,” Sheriff Birkum said, “I’ll check it out,” By the time Sheriff Birkum made it to the supposed
crime scene the boys were long gone and waiting by the police scanner to hear what they could. The doll
arm was right where the anonymous caller had said. ”Wonder how they knew?” Sheriff Birkum thought.
In the meantime Roy Birkum had found the doll arm and putting on a glove moved the leaves
and saw that a finger was missing and something was written on it. He immediately notified the
criminalists in Worcester and enlarged the perimeter around the crime scene.
Jenny Beals, one of the missing girls, came from a large family whose parents worked for
Coldwell Bankers in Worcester. Nancy James’ father, Carl, had been injured and paralyzed from the neck
down in a construction accident two years before. His wife Cathy was working two jobs. She was
waitressing at Bob Evans full-time during the day and then worked evenings at Aksana’s fashions. Nancy
was an only child and Carl was taken care of by the visiting nurse and family members from both sides.
Cathy’s family was close and the disappearance of Nancy seemed to make them even closer. Aksana
had been very sympathetic to Cathy perhaps to a fault. Every payday she would add 40 or 50 dollars to
her paycheck warning her sternly not to tell anyone. Aksana who was having the time of her life now had
known poverty in Russia. Having been raised Russian Orthodox she had decided rather than drive to
Worcester she would find a church in Graverton. She was now attending the Graverton First Assembly of
God. She loved Rev. Johnny Popes; he was charismatic and a dynamic pastor. Since she had started
attending there she had begun to tithe her money. “Your tithe belongs to your local church if you are
being fed,” Rev. Popes would say emphasizing, as only he could, the divine nature of his financial
principles. Graverton first Assembly was the largest church in town with 500 members. Pastor Popes had
said to Aksana one Sunday that he hoped that she would become a full member someday. To become a
full member meant going to classes and also being “born again.” Though he talked about being “born
again” almost every Sunday and coming forward if you wanted to be, Aksana had never taken that step.
She felt good about her relationship with the church and she gave a lot of money she thought. She had
been approached by the Women’s Missionary Society about a Fashion Show and Sale to raise money for
the “Heaven Help Haiti Fund.” The idea interested Aksana greatly and she consented immediately.
Snarf had just arrived in Boston and had a 4 hour layover until his flight to Worcester. He was
hung over having spent three days with Princess Gina and drank more rum than he should have. Besides
since his dumb eye had fallen out during his sexual healing exercises, if you could call them that, he was
paranoid about it and thought that people were staring at him. Looking for a bar that served food he went
in, took a bar stool, and ordered a double. After eating a cheeseburger and some greasy fries he ordered
another double and then feeling better picked up a newspaper to wait out the next three hours. He had
instructed Trippi to meet him in Worcester. He couldn’t take a chance of being seen in Graverton. Looking
up from his paper he saw a woman who did appear to be staring at him. He didn’t know her and several
times he looked up from his paper and she was looking directly at him. “What the hell does she want?” he
thought and then decided that he would spend the duration in the bar. Three hours later Snarf was well
inebriated. As he was getting ready to board, the airline personnel stopped him and told him he was too
drunk to fly. Snarf was incensed and mouthed off. He was just sober enough to understand that he had
screwed up. Dejectedly he sat down to sober up and wait four more hours for the next flight. Picking up
his cell phone he called Gretchen.
“What do you want?” She asked after he had explained that he was late she said, ”You are drunk
aren’t you dumb ass?”
“Yeah,” and he started laughing.
“Well you are in big trouble. I am going to call Trippi after I speak to Bartholomew . I am going to
try and cover for you but you are really stupid and disgusting, do you know that?” She said with a, this is
the last straw tone in her voice. “Really stooooooopid.”
“Ok Gretchen, I’m sorry,” then he started giggling. Gretchen hung up very angry. Four hours later
Snarf was on a flight to Worcester somewhat sober but unknowingly under the surveillance of an air
marshal on that flight. Trippi was on his way to Graverton in the lime green van he had rented.
Chapter Eleven
Kelly Price was putting on her jogging attire when her friend Gracie called to tell her that she
couldn’t make it over for their jog that morning.
“Kelly, don’t go alone,” Gracie warned.
“Oh, I’ll be alright,” Kelly said. “Don’t worry about me.”
“But Kelly, you know about the girls that were abducted.”
“Yeah,” Kelly answered back but they are young. Anyway I have my trusty can of M.A.C.E.”
“OK, but be careful,” Gracie said finally giving up the argument. Kelly hopped into her new
Volkswagen. She and her husband Griff had finally been able to buy their first brand new automobile.
Griff was such a beautiful guy and Kelly knew that she was fortunate to have him. Griff had consented
that she could drive the new one and he would commute to work in the 1990 Ford Escort with 200,000
miles on the odometer and the rust spots decorating its bottom half. The main thing, it ran and still got
excellent mileage.
Another asset of Griffin Heights was the trails. People were warned by signs clearly painted to
beware of their dangers. They were well hidden and on the west were bordered by the Cranberry Haven
Bogs. Kelly was a cute-in-a-way brunette who kept her hour glass figure by jogging and regular Pilates
which she did with a group several evenings a week. She and Griff didn’t have children as of yet and not
because they didn’t try. Griff was her first and they had waited until they were married. They were
members of St. Thomas Acquinas and attended mass faithfully every Sunday. It was Wednesday and
sunny. Kelly parked the car being very careful to lock it up. It had taken long enough for them to be able
to afford it and she wasn’t about to have it stolen. As she went to put on her jogging shoes a rabbit
skittered across in front of her. For just a moment she heard Gracie’s voice and her stern warning but
passed it off.
Kelly marveled again at how beautiful it was in Griffin Heights as she began her jog. She could
hear the birds singing and knew that these woods attracted different varieties of birds. As she looked up
she saw a grey owl staring at her. She couldn’t tell if its countenance was signaling danger or protection.
The trail was about a mile and a half and then she would turn around and return to her starting point. She
felt good today and as she made the first turn in the trail she saw a figure coming toward her. It was Brad
Travers, who she hadn’t seen since the trial.
“Hi Kelly,” Brad said, “How are you?”
“Good and how are you?” Kelly asked emphatically. “How are you doing?”
“I’m just great,” Brad answered.”It’s good to see you Kelly.” Brad had always like Kelly and
thought she knew but they had always kept their relationship platonic. They talked for a few minutes
about how relieved Brad was about the outcome of the trial. As they decided to go their own ways Brad
hollered back at Kelly to be careful. “You heard about the girls right?” Brad asked.
“Right Brad thanks,” Kelly said assured.
Florence Keplinger was doing the final editing of BeeBee Jones article regarding the missing
adolescents. She hadn’t changed anything because Beebee was a proficient writer. This was unusual
with Florence’s obvious eccentricity. Despite her sometimes strangeness, the Graverton Gazette was
considered a fine little paper to the folks there. Ms. Keplinger ran a tight ship and with its delivery
personnel was able to maintain 35 employees. The pay was competitive and included a generous
benefits package. Despite the economic downturn Ms. Keplinger had kept the paper afloat using funds
she had invested wisely just for that purpose. As she made her final approval of the article she looked
with concern at the pictures of the two young girls who were missing. It was her hope that the newspaper
would be a helpful tool in finding them.
Rev. Johnny Popes talked a lot about Jesus. Aksana had never read her Bible much and wasn’t
familiar with it. She had her favorite passages just like her mother, who was a devout Russian Orthodox.
She loved the 23rd Psalm and the Beautitudes. She had had them read at her mother’s funeral. Now she
was part of the Graverton First Assembly of God Church. She loved the church family though she did
think that some of them were “stuckup.” She was also confused when they talked about speaking in
tongues. Aksana could speak fluent Russian and her English was quite good but she was sure that Rev.
Popes was referring to something else when he spoke about tongues. She had never heard anyone do it.
She decided that one of these days she would ask Rev. Popes what it meant.
”Hi Pug,” Aksana said breaking her train of thought as she looked up to see her mail carrier. She
looked as Pug Meyers put down a large bundle of mail.
“Hi Aksana,” Pug returned her greeting, "looks like you are going to be busy today,” he said
pointing to the bundle of mail. They both giggled. “Have a nice day…it looks like snow again.”
“Yeah, hope not,” Aksana mustered. “Well be careful out there then,” she replied.”
“Thanks Aksana I will.” And with that Pug was on his way. It was then that Aksana noticed a large
manilla envelope on the top of the pile and pulling it from the pile of mile saw that there was no return
address on it.
Kelly was about halfway down her trail when she thought she heard someone in the woods
beside her. She stopped for a brief moment and then continued on. She heard it again, “Is that you
Brad?” she asked and there was no answer. She wondered then why she had asked that but kept on
going. Further on down the trail she saw a shadow in the corner of her eye. It looked like a person so she
shouted again and there was no answer. “Please answer me,” she said, now feeling a little nervous.
There was no answer so she reached into her pocket for her M.A.C.E. She could now hear them louder
and each time she called out there was no answer. She began running faster and could feel the
perspiration running down her forehead in to her eyes. She ran until it felt like her lungs would burst.
Suddenly she reached the bogs and hoped that someone would be there. To her dismay there was no
one in sight. Just then a hand went over her mouth and she couldn’t breathe. She knew that it was a man.
Kelly tried to turn and spray her M.A.C.E. but with his other hand, the person with his hand over her
mouth batted it away and it scampered across the pathway out of her reach. He was rough and his breath
was putrid.
“Please say something,” Kelly continued to plead but to no avail. Tears, out of her control, began
to run down her cheeks. If only she had listened to the advice she had been given. If she just had it to do
over again. Then she saw the teal blue Chevy Malibu. The assailant pushed her to the car and then
gagged her despite her now agonized cries for help. He then tied her hands and put her in the trunk
where he tied her feet. She could not tell who he was. He was dressed in black and had a leather mask
that looked like it had been tailored just for him. When he was certain that her bindings were secure he
closed the trunk lid. Kelly had forgotten until that moment how claustrophobic she was. All of the sudden
she couldn’t breathe and began to gasp for air. She knew that she should try and relax but she couldn’t. It
was then that she passed out.
Sheriff Birkum was on patrol when he spied a teal blue Malibu coming off the one of the dirt roads
in Griffin Park. He really wouldn’t have thought about it but noticed that one of the taillights was out. After
recovering consciousness Kelly had been able to disconnect one of the lights. Sheriff Birkum decided to
stop the car and warn the driver about the brake light. Turning on his lights it seemed like the occupant of
the car was hesitant to pull over. Roy didn’t recognize the blonde woman in the car whose license and
registration were in order.
“Do you know that you have a brake light out, maam?” Roy asked.
“No I didn’t,” the blonde woman said nervously. Roy couldn’t help notice that she, in tight jeans
and a flowery top, was attractive and very well endowed. It was obvious that she was braless and Roy
was finding it hard to concentrate. “
“Well, just a warning but ty tah det da bake light fissed, “he said his tongue-tying. He was pissed
off that he had allowed her to interfere with his professionalism. Kelly could hear their discussion and tried
to get his attention but he was too engrossed in bosomy affairs at the moment and the passing traffic was
heavy. Again tears ran down Kelly’s face. She was now wondering why the voice sounded feminine as
she had been sure that her abductor had been male. As the Malibu was leaving, Sheriff Birkum decided
to write down the license plate numbers. He was still ticked off because he had slurred his words. He was
almost to the station when he thought about how nervous the driver had been so decided he would run
the plates. Dawson McDonald was there when he arrived so he gave him the assignment. Wishing he
had some McDonald’s coffee he poured some from the pot in the office. It was old and horrid and he spit
it out.
“Sheriff, would you like some McDonald’s coffee?” Ginger Wiscowski asked sweetly, “and I don’t
mean Dawson McDonald’s coffee.” At that everybody in the office started laughing. Dawson McDonald
was notorious for his terrible coffee but insisted on making it in hopes that it would improve.
”Well yes my darling,” Roy said teasingly continuing the in-office theater.
“Ok, I’m taking orders,” Ginger said pulling out her notebook.
“Sheriff," Dawson McDonald interrupted, “the Malibu was stolen in Worcester this morning from a
young woman who went in the store for cigarettes and had left it running. The ironic thing is that she had
promised herself that she was going to quit smoking right after she smoked this pack. “ Roy Birkum had
recently quit smoking and was very proud of it. He rubbed it in to his fellow smokers all the time. What
they didn’t know was that he was smoking a pipe at home.
”Dawson, let’s get an APB out on that auto immediately.”
“OK, Sheriff.” That done three hours later a call came in. It was a detective from Boston.
“Sheriff, we found a teal blue Malibu near here.
“That’s good,” Roy said.”
“It appears that someone had been in the trunk and there was a doll arm in there that looks like
they wanted us to find. The doll has a finger removed by what our lab people think was a scalpel or a
surgical sharp blade of some type.”
“Dear Lord,” Roy said. “Yes we found a doll finger here. Wonder what it means? I stopped a car
today and it was being driven by a blonde woman that I didn’t recognize. “I’ll ask Jack Smith from the
Crime Lab in Worcester to send down an artist and I will fax you a rendering.”
“Good Sheriff and we will keep in touch from here if there are any further developments.”
Trippi’s flight had just landed in Boston and he was going to spend the night there, then in the
morning rent a van and drive to Graverton where he would take care of business for Bartholomew. After
he had finished his ghastly business he would return to St. Kitts and from there Gretchen was having him
flown to an undisclosed destination until things cooled down. He had to do the “wet work” because of
Snarf’s eye patch and his recent drunkenness which concerned Bartholomew greatly. Gretchen had
packed some dressings for Trippi with strict instructions on how to keep his wound clean and bandaged.
Trippi had to admit that despite that awful birthmark he kind of liked it when Gretchen was touching him
and giving him such loving care. He thought about “getting in her pants” something he was sure she
wasn’t interested in. He wasn’t about to let her know his thoughts. He knew that with her physical
advantage she could easily take him out. Gretchen’s mind was far from that. It really didn’t bother him
having to do what he was about to do but he had Bartholomew’s credit card and he was going to take
advantage of it tonight. He could now see the Boston Omni Parker House in the distance. It was in the
theatre district and he loved the marble baths. He had been there one other time when he was on an
errand for Bartholomew. When he thought about how well Batholomew treated him he decided that he
would do the job he had been sent to Graverton to do…right.
Chapter Twelve
Barton Poole was concerned as he throttled back and started the descent into St. Kitts. They
were about 120 nautical miles from the airport and usually he would have begun his descent at about 90
nautical miles. He had been notified that Hurricane Brenda had taken an unexpected turn and the tail end
of the storm was over St. Kitts. There were 35-45 mph winds aloft and visibility was 0. He knew that they
would have to make an instrument landing but his biggest concern was the landing gear. The light was
still blinking and he didn’t want to lower the gear until they had reached 180 knots to prevent any damage
to its structure. Because of the strong winds he couldn’t slow down too fast because he needed the speed
to penetrate the winds aloft. Scouring the rest of the instruments he was satisfied but radioed the airport
that he needed to burn off some fuel. He called Viola to the flight deck to advise her that a crash landing
was a possibility and that they would be circling the airport for two hours to burn off the excess fuel. This
was not new to Viola Brennan who had never been in a major crash but had experienced more than her
share of situations like the one they were preparing for today. After the flight crew had planned their
contingencies and he and Jenna had went through the checklist for possible ditching, he made a calm
announcement regarding what was happening to the passengers. He told Viola that drinks could be
served but only for the first hour so that everyone would be sober enough to deal with a possible
emergency.
Kelly Price was thinking about what she could do if her assailant opened the trunk. She had felt
around hoping that she could find a tire iron or something but the trunk was bare. She wished again that
she had listened to those who had warned her not to go into the woods by herself. Over and over she
would first feel confident that something would happen that would allow her to escape and then the worse
case scenario. “Was she ready to die?” She believed in God and attended church on a regular basis. She
said a prayer and wished that she had her rosary with her. She asked God to forgive her for anything she
had done that He could not agree with. The car had stopped and she heard the driver getting out. She
then heard them moving to the back of the car. When the trunk opened she saw her abductor who was
still wearing the leather mask.
“What are you going to do with me?" Kelly asked meekly but was met again by silence. It was
cold and she became more afraid and began to pray. She could hardly get on her feet because she felt
weak and tired. Her abductor grabbed her by the arm and began to drag her toward what appeared in the
dim light following dusk, a cabin. The cabin was dark then her abductor turned on what appeared to be a
Coleman lamp. There was a cot with some blankets but the cabin was freezing. As she was looking the
cabin over her abductor backhanded her in the jaw. She wasn’t expecting it and it hurt a lot. That would
have been bad enough but what would follow would cause the backhanding to pale in significance. She
was sitting on the cot when her assailant handed her a bottle of Jack Daniels. The last thing she wanted
to do was drink but she thought she had better satisfy their demands. She took a big swig of the brown
liquid which burned the whole way down.
“Please say something,” she said to the figure bending over her and was rewarded with another
backhand. This time she could feel blood running down her lip. “OK I’m sorry, she said and again the
abductor’s hand connected with her face. Kelly then firmly decided that she wouldn’t try to engage her
captor again. She consoled herself with the thought that surely by now Griff had reported her missing.
Her assailant then brought her two bottles of water and a baggie containing some granola bars
and some candy. She was hungry but decided to wait. She wanted to say thank you for the food and
water but thought better of it. As the masked person moved around the room she saw what appeared to
be dolls, bunches of them, neatly stacked in rows. Some of them appeared to be sad. There was an eerie
sense in the room. She still wished that the person would say something but that wasn’t about to happen.
Suddenly the person who had just fed her pushed her down and sat on her. They were heavy and she
was having trouble breathing. She wanted to holler but was afraid they may hit her again. Kelly couldn’t
move pinned under her assailant. Then the person took her hand and cut her ring finger off, Kelly
couldn’t remember ever having pain that intense. She started to scream and then muffled it. A few
minutes later she had passed out from the pain.
Kelly awakened in extreme pain and realized she was alone. The only light was from the moon
shining in what appeared to be a lone window. Her captor had bandaged where her finger had been and
it wasn’t bleeding. She found the water and took a long drink but her hand hurt so she felt around and
discovered that her abductor had left the Jack Daniels. She took several long draws on the Jack and then
fell back into a deep sleep wanting to escape her pain, her feelings and the situation she was in. Maybe it
was just a bad dream.
Barton Poole was now ready to begin the final ascent having burned off the excess fuel. In a few
minutes they would lower the landing gear hopeful that they were operating properly. He was also
prepared to proceed with an instrument landing.
“Are we set?” he asked Jenna squeezing her hand.
“You bet,” she said confidently but guarded. Barton nodded and Jenna lowered the landing gear.
There were no untoward sounds as the gear lowered into place.
“Good,” said Barton Poole but then noticed that the light did not indicate that they were locked
into place. He then checked the instruments to be sure they were on final to the runway. Out the cockpit
windows it was like green soup and they could see absolutely nothing. They began the countdown to their
landing. At 100 feet they were anticipating hearing the landing gear tires hit the pavement. At 160 knots
they were coming in a little faster than Barton Poole desired but the winds were strong and he was
concerned about wind shear. It seemed like an eternity when the plane touched down then the crew
heard the grinding of the fuselage on the surface of the runaway instead of the tires. It was a sickening
sound. It was followed by several explosions as the tires blew. Barton Immediately shut down the engines
and shouted to Jenna to turn off all the electrical circuits. He also had the presence of mind to hit the fire
bottles on both engines just in case of a fuel spill. The plane skidded down the runway and then turned
sideways breaking apart right behind the cockpit. Just for a second Barton Poole’s eyes met Jenna’s. She
would often remember that very brief interlude and wish that they had pursued a closer relationship.
It was the worse airline incident in St. Kitts. There were 35 deaths and Captain Barton Poole did
not survive. He was later credited for saving so many lives because of his actions in preparing for the
crash. It was determined that the landing gear had descended but hadn’t locked into place. There was an
investigation into the maintenance logs which exposed some irregularities that resulted in some heads
rolling and a controversy that lasted several years. In the aftermath Jenna Parks had survived because of
the manner in which the plane came apart. Barton Poole’s half slammed into some trees, the impact
killing him outright. His honor, Layton Crowell was critically injured and later life-flighted to Miami. The
extents of his injuries were never divulged suffice it to say that they were serious enough to force his
retirement. This meant that search for a replacement would be in place almost immediately because of
the workload in Graverton.
“Man my leg is itchy,” said Shanty Poo, "Can you see anything back there?” he asked Garvin
rolling up his pant leg.
“The hair looks funny and the skin is a little red, “Garvin said after his inspection.
“What you mean it looks funny?” Shanty Poo asked with concern in his voice.
”Oh I don’t know,” Garvin said acting like he didn’t want to be bothered. “Some of the hair just
looks different.”
Shanty Poo reached back and noticed some of the hair seemed stiff and bristly. “Guess I’ll ask
my dad if I should see the doctor.” He said that Dr. Dellum would ask that skin specialist doctor to look at
it.
” Yeah,” said Garvin, obviously more interested in playing the “Lunica Files” than Shanty Poo’s
leg. “Got ya,” Garvin excitedly exclaimed as Mastare’s sword delivered the mortal wound to Shoigrum’s
body and he slumped over.
“Darn you Garvin that wasn’t fair. I was looking at my leg you know.”
Garvin was giggling, “Tickle, tickle, he said as he reached the back of Shanty Poo’s leg.
“Stop it you nitwit!!” Shanty Poo started to chase him but there was no place to go. The truth of
the matter was that Shanty Poo didn’t like to go to the doctor’s and would put it off as long as he could.
“Dinnertime,” Garvin said hopeful that Shanty Poo would forget his teasing. Shanty Poo was
bigger than Garvin and would give him a Dutch rub which Garvin detested. There was also a rule that the
boys do their own homework at their own homes so that they wouldn’t be distracted. Shanty Poo and
Garvin had argued with their parents citing the fact that they had classes together but via a telephone call
Garvin’s mother and Bertram Poo had arrived at the edict regarding the homework policy. When Shanty
Poo arrived home that evening he remembered that Mrs. Hunsiker was there and that he didn’t have to
worry about Lydia. Mrs. Hunsiker had left his dinner in the oven, chicken pot pie, one of his favorites. Mrs.
Hunsiker was a fussy old woman but a really good cook. The pie was nice and warm and the gravy was
thick. He was very sleepy after dining. The weather was getting colder and he had chilled some on his
way home. Now the contrast between the cold and the warm chicken pot pie was taking its toll on him.
Shanty Poo finished his homework and wanted to watch some TV but he couldn’t keep his eyes open and
he drifted off to sleep.
Sheriff Birkum had just finished his pit stop at McDonalds’ and was washing down his Angus
burger with his favorite coffee when Betty Friedland wheezed into the mike. She had just came on duty
and was fresh for the day but the dampness from the two inches of snow that they had last night wasn’t
helping her sinuses.
“Griff Price is here and says that Kelly went jogging yesterday and hasn’t come back home.”
Roy choked on his coffee as the worst case scenario passed through his mind. “Be right there
Betty, thanks,” he said sympathetic to her breathing dilemma and also concerned about Kelly. He also
decided to hit the lights because this could be serious. He knew that they were supposed to wait 48 hours
but there would be none of that. “Betty, have Bum take a statement from Griff.”
“Ok Sheriff,” Betty came back.
When Roy Birkum arrived at the station Bum Snyder had taken a statement and Dawson
McDonald was on his way to her jogging site in Griffin Park. A few minutes later he reported in that he
had found the Volkswagen and its doors were locked. Roy reassured Griff that they would be on the case
searching for her and at the end of 48 hours he would contact the FBI and the State Police. There was
also a State Task Force for the missing that he would get involved with. He asked Griff if there was
anybody that he could stay with but Griff said he would be alright. What he didn’t say was that he had no
idea of staying home and would be looking for Kelly as soon as he left the station.
“Thanks Sheriff,” he said as he set out on his mission.
Chapter Thirteen
“Shanty Poo,” a voice called out in the dark startling him. Shanty Poo looked up to see what
looked like the shadow of a man.
“Who…Who are you?” Shanty Poo stammered.
“I am Spectre and I have a message for you.”
“What do you mean? Shanty Poo asked nervously sitting up in his bed.
“I am Spectre and I have a message for you,” the apparition stated. “I have a message for you
from the Source.”
“Who is the Source?” Shanty Poo asked.
“Nobody knows for sure,” Spectre answered. “I must give you the message now and go." Spectre
continued hurriedly, there was a little bit of light shinig in Shanty Poo’s window from the street light.
Spectre suddenly moved into the light and Shanty Poo could see that he looked like an old man and was
wearing a strange hat. He had snow white hair with some silver streaks in it. “The message is that you
will hear a voice of a person that you wil know is dangerous.”
“What will I do?” Shanty Poo asked his attention totally focused on what Spectre was saying.
“The Source didn’t say,” was his response.
“What will I do,” Shanty Poo repeated but Spectre had disappeared into the night. Confused
Shanty Poo finally shut his eyes; he would discuss it with Garvin in the morning.
Dr. Gretchen Johnson was awakened at about 3am and was still groggy from the drugs she had
taken.
“Dr. Johnson,” the voice at the other end inquired.
“Yes,” Gretchen said sleepily.
“This is the hospital and there has been an airline crash. We are calling all medical personnel.”
“OK, be right there.” Gretchen answered. Despite the fact that she didn’t want to be bothered at
that hour she also felt some excitment not knowing what she would experience. She quickly threw on the
coffee pot and then jumped into the shower turning on the cold water hoping for its sobering effects. A
short time later she was in her BMW racing to the St. Kitt’s Hospital. Entering through the emergency
entrance she was ushered to surgery.
“You will be assisting Dr. Baastian Grey, Dr. Johnson and thank you for coming in,” said David
Greer who was the Chief of Staff at the hospital.
“Hello,” Gretchen heard a voice behind her. As she turned to see who it was she couldn’t believe
her eyes. In front of her was the handsomest man she had ever seen. From his accent it was obvious that
he was Jamaican. He had the most beautiful smile that was created by a set of perfect, pearly white
teeth.
“Nice to meet you," he said warmly extending his hand. Taking his hand in hers she was
mesmerized and didn’t want to let go. This was not like her being hypnotized a man’s charms. “I guess
you will be joining me in surgery?” Baastian Grey continued.
“Yes,” Gretchen answered finally able to get her composure.”What is your speciality?” she asked.
”I am a plastic surgeon and I was told there are quite a few passengers with severe lacerations.
Shall we give them our services?” “ he asked her as their eyes met.
“Absolutely,” Gretchen agreed as she made her way to the scrub sink. There was a flurry of
activity in the surgical suites as patients were being wheeled in and out constantly from the triage area
that had been set up in the emergency room. Even though there had been drills this is one contingency
the hospital administration had not counted on. For ten hours the Doctors Baastian Grey and Gretchen
Johnson worked intensely as a team. Gretchen was very impressed with how perfectly Baastian Grey
sutured up gaping and ragged lacerations until they were hardly obvious. It was one of the best medical
adventures she had ever experienced. She had to admit that she hated to see it end. They had
conversed so easily about more than a few subjects. During the course of their surgical interventions their
hands touched. Gretchen could have sworn that she had felt electricity when they did.
Trippi was on his way to Graverton from Boston. In Boston he had rented a van, a lime green
van. He wanted to get his dirty work done and get out of there. Bartholomew had warned him not to return
to St. Kitt’s with the task undone or that he would personally take him out. Trippi knew what that meant. It
was Saturday and early in the morning. He was to take a supposed delivery to Sun Ming’s Dry Cleaners
in hope that his daughter was working that day. Trippi was in luck. Sun Ming was badly in need of a root
canal so had asked MayTee if she would run the store while he ran over to the dentist in Worcester.
MayTee didn’t mind because she knew that her father would pay her extra that day and before the day
was over she would be able to buy some girly things on the strip. She had seen some marvelous scarves
in Aksana’s window and her plans were solid for that day.
“Good Morning,” Trippi said as he entered the store. “Is the proprietor here?”
“No, can I help you?” Maytee asked.
“Well I have a delivery and I will need some help.”
“I can help,” MayTee said confidently. “Can you pull your van up to the delivery door in the
back?”
“Certainly can,” Trippi said as he walked out the front door almost jogging nervous that someone
would come in but he was not going to encounter anybody today. MayTee was surprised by the color of
the van; it was unusual for a delivery vehicle. When she mentioned it Trippi passed it off.
“My boss is a strange one,” he said, now wishing that he had chosen another color. As he opened
the door of the van MayTee didn’t see any boxes because the van was empty. She was just about to say
something when Trippi grabbed her and held a rag with chloroform over her mouth and nose. MayTee put
up a gallant fight. The fingernails that she had copied from a woman’s magazine were sharp and before
she passed out had carved several furrows in Trippi’s arm.
”Ouch you little bitch,” he exclaimed, "You’ll pay for this.” With that he threw her limp body into the
van and then covered her with a tarp. Closing the door he didn’t waste any time heading back to the
highway. He was careful not to speed as he drove through the town limits; he was headed for a wooded
area not too far from there. He had stopped long enough to dig a shallow hole. As he was a few miles
from the city line he noticed a police cruiser. Deputy Ginger Wiscowski was making rounds and spotted
the van. As he passed her, Trippi waved and she nodded back and quickly wrote down the plate
numbers. Calling Betty Friedland she asked her to check with the Sheriff to see if he wanted her to stop
the van for inspection. When Betty conveyed to him that the van was lime colored, having awakened him
to do so, he told her to forget it. “What idiot would use a van that loud to pull off a crime?” he had said in
between yawns.
It wasn’t until thirty minutes later that another customer entered the Dry Cleaners and thirty
minutes more before MayTee was discovered absent. It wasn’t until Sun Ming’s return from the dentist
two hours later that it was determined that MayTee’s disappearance was not an adolescent prank. Roy
Birkum could have kicked himself now for not telling Ginger to check the van. Trippi had already turned in
the van and was sitting at the airport waiting for his flight. Trippi would fly to St. Kitt’s and after telling
Gretchen what had happened would be on his way to undisclosed location until things blew over. She
was still in a dreamy state over Dr. Baastian Grey. He asked if he could call her. She had readily
consented. Just then her cell vibrated in her pocket.
Velten Anstruther was enjoying his breakfast at the Graverton Inn. His repast included eggs
benedict, thick sliced bacon, cinnamon-walnut oatmeal and he would finish it off with strawberries and
cream and the best Colombian Coffee he had ever tasted. Velten was fastidious about his diet but was
enjoying a break from his routine and strict dietary habits for a few days. He was enjoying his stay at the
Graverton Inn while final preparations were being made on his house so that it would be ready for him to
move in. Everything had gone so smoothly thus far with the exception of a report that had crossed his
desk yesterday. He was still in the process of choosing his management team and the report concerned
him in regard to the furnaces. Apparently there had been separation in the seams when fired up and
serious injury had just been avoided. This meant of course that start up would be delayed. The main
office in Hamburg was not happy. They were sending someone over today to inspect the furnaces and
make a decision about startup. Despite what had occurred in several sites it hadn’t happened
everywhere.
”Good Morning Mr. Anstruther,” John Miller greeted Velten.
”Oh please,” Velten said pleadingly, “I asked you to call me Velten.”
“Fine Velten, how is your breakfast?”
“As per usual, marvelous John.”
“Good,” John said satisfied that service was standing up to their advertisement. It is true that
Graverton Inn, though listed at 3 and a half stars, is considered by anyone who stays there a five star
establishment. This has been a great accomplishment to John Miller. He and and his wife Nina had
dreamed of this when they had met at Johnson and Wales. John went on to graduate with his Bachelors
Degree but they had decided that Nina should drop out so that they could start a family. They had eloped
to Las Vegas much to the disappointment of their families. They now had two teenage sons who were
excellent students and helped around the Inn without being coerced. Both Brendan and Franklin Miller at
6 foot 4 and 6 foot 6 respectively had good possibilities of playing basketball for several colleges. The
Millers were hopeful that they could stay and play together for their college careers.
“How soon are you going to be able to move into your house?” John continued the conversation.
“Two more weeks, I was told yesterday.” Velten answered John Miller’s inquiry. “I’ll have to admit
that I will miss the exemplary service here.”
“No one says you have to leave,” John said jokingly. They both chuckled. “Well, if you will excuse
me I must check on some things Velten.”
“I absolutely understand. I am on my way to the mill soon, have a nice day.” Velten was
concerned about his workout. He had checked out Jenny’s Fitness Center and wasn’t happy with what it
offered. He had thanked her but had no plans to join. He hoped that this wouldn’t prove to be a problem.
Nonetheless he decided to drive to Worcester before he went to work to check out several opportunities
there. Taking out his cell phone he called Ralph Lee and told him that he needed to run to Worcester.
“If you need me please call,” Velten instructed Ralph.
“Ok, Mr. Anstruther.” Velten had asked Ralph Lee to call him Velten but had given up. He figured
it was to no avail with Ralph who was old school.
“We need to find out if there was anyone else jogging out in Griffin Park yesterday,” Roy Birkum
said. Gracie Hargood had stopped by the station to tell them she had had to cancel and that she had try
to talk Kelly out of jogging that day to no avail. There were a couple of teens who said they thought they
saw Brad Travers on the trail. With the trial just over Roy had mixed feelings about calling him. He really
didn’t want to call him at the school but he decided to go to the school. Surely no one would suspect
anything. Sheriff Birkum climbed into his crusier. The cars were all Mercury Marquis. They had been able
to buy five of them at an unbelievable price. The Mercury seemed to have longevity. Roy Birkum was well
known and despite his being uncomfortable in social situations well liked. He regularly went to the school
to talk about the danger of drugs or anything else deemed necessary by the state office. It was just
recently that he had given a presentation about preventing abduction. How ironic he thought as he
entered the front door of the Graverton High School. He went immediately to the Principal’s office and
was met by Brad Traver’s secretary who looked at him with surprise but nodded for him to go in. Brad
was seated at his desk looking pensively at some paperwork on his desk.
“Hi Brad,” Roy said as he entered his office.
“Oh Hi,” Brad said looking up and looking surprised. ”What brings you here Roy, they overturn
the decision?” he said in a poor attempt at humor. Ignoring the remark Roy went right to the issue.
“Brad were you by any chance jogging in Griffin Park yesterday?”
“Yes, why do you ask?” Brad said this time not hiding his nervousness.
“Kelly Price did not come home yesterday and I wanted to jump right on an investigation. “
“Kelly, oh no,” Brad said hanging his head.
“Did you see her?”
“No,” Brad lied. “We may have been on different trails. Anyway I hope you find her. This is
terrible. How is Griff holding up?”
“He’s alright," Roy Birkum said as in his gut he thought Brad Travers was lying.
Chapter Fourteen
Aksana Tertikoff was still looking at the manilla envelope that was in the large pile of mail. For
some reason she didn’t want to open it but knew that she would. She took it out of the rubber band and
rummaged in the drawer where she kept her letter opener. She was also puzzled that there was no return
address. It was stamped Fragile Do Not Bend. As she opened the envelope several black and white
photographs fell out. Aksana couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw what they contained. It was Boris
and Brita making love to each other. Her immediate reaction was anger and then she could feel the hot
tears rolling down her cheeks. Suddenly Aksana couldn’t breathe and could feel her chest begin to
tighten. Then a pain started in her back and began to radiate down her arm. Was she having a heart
attack? All of the sudden everything went dark.
“Aksana!!” shouted Kathy James. That’s how Aksana had told her to address her, by her first
name. Aksana had slumped to the floor so Kathy grabbed a bundle of fabric and put it under her head.
She noticed that she was still breathing as she reached for her cell phone to call 911. She always kept it
close in case something happened to Carl. She quickly punched in 911 and Betty Friedland answered. In
just a few minutes an ambulance had been dispatched. Dr. Don Blake was on call at the clinic and
preparing to receive an incoming patient.
Kelly Price awakened again to see her abductor standing over her. They were standing over her
with a sharp knife. Kelly was suddenly stricken with fear. Her abductor was wearing the leather mask and
she could see grey steely eyes just staring at her. He grabbed her and put the knife to her throat.
“Please say something,” Kelly pleaded but it was too late. The knife was razor sharp and with
one movement they slit her throat. As she began to bleed out Kelly said a prayer and then everything
went dark. Then an amazing thing happened. Kelly saw and felt a warm light that surrounded her. As she
looked around she could see the cabin plainly. On one wall there were dolls, there must be a hundred,
she thought. She was still in the cabin with her captor who was sitting on the bed watching the blood flow
from her neck. She then heard beautiful music and a voice that calmly said, “that person can hear and
see you.” Kelly realized that she was not in her body. She walked over to her captor who was paralyzed
with fear. “I forgive you,” Kelly said. Her captor dropped her body and after tripping and falling ran out the
cabin. Kelly had never seen such fear on anyone’s face. Then Kelly was transported to what appeared to
be the most beautiful garden she had ever seen. As she began to walk through the garden she saw the
form of a man who was welcoming her with his arms outstretched.
Paul Dempsey, the head Graverton paramedic couldn’t remember a day with so many incidents
at once. They were on their way to the clinic with Aksana Tertikoff and he was in contact with Don Blake
at the clinic.
“BP 124/88, pulse 80 and respiration 20. She is coming too,” Paul reported.
“Good,” Dr. Blake responded,”bring her in anyway Paul,”
“How are you feeling?” Paul asked Aksana.
“What happened?” she asked. Then the memory of what had happened sent Aksana escaping
into unconsciousness again. As she passed out she managed to say, “I’m sorry.”
“Well don’t be sorry,” Paul said then noticed that she was out like a light. He took her vitals again
as he radioed in. In the meantime Don Blake had notified her husband Boris. He had thanked him but
was wondering if Aksana had found out about him and Brita. He wanted Brita so bad in that moment. She
would make him feel miles away from his problems. He could feel her luscious lips as she kissed him and
all his cares away. Her soul seemed to pull him out of himself and into her very being. Her skin was
incredibly soft and he loved the intoxicating fragrance of her perfume. He loved to travel across her
sensual skin with his fingers. Her soft moanings encouraged him to retrace his journey substituting his
lips and his teeth as he slowly disrobed her revealing her perfect body. “Oh Boris,” Brita whispered.
“Am I interrupting something?” Dottie Lawrence asked sticking her head in the door. She knew
that she had heard Boris talking but was confused. The phone was still in its cradle.
“No, no," Boris blurted out. He didn’t know what to say or what she had heard. He was sure that
his face was flushed crimson by then. “Have to go to the clinic, Dottie,” he managed to get said.
“Yes I know,” she said in her usual straight forward manner.
Then he wondered if she knew about Brita.”I’m getting paranoid,” he thought as he grabbed his
coat and headed out the door. He was soon in his Cadillac Escalade and off to the Graverton Medical
Center.
“Garvin, let’s listen to the scanner,” Shanty Poo said.
“Good idea," Garvin answered. It was cold outside and there was a light snow falling. Garvin’s
father had installed a system of steam heat in the tree house which kept the boys toasty during the
coldest days of the year. The system was indeed genius. It was Friday and they had the day off because
of Parent-Teacher Conferences.
Deputy Bill Grover was making his morning rounds on foot at the downtown mall. Sheriff Birkum
had decided to put someone on this duty after Kelly and MayTee’s disappearance. Bill saw the lime
colored van leave Sun Ming’s and decided to run the plates. It was a rental from Quality Auto lease and
Rental in Boston. It was being rented by a James Herman, another of Trippi’s aliases. Bill Grover reported
all this over the radio as Shanty Poo and Garvin were listening intently.
“Come on Garvin, let’s go.” Shanty Poo said.
“Where?” Garvin asked surprised.
“Come on I’ll show you,” Shanty Poo said as he started his trip down the fire pole followed by a
somewhat hesitant Garvin Green. Look out for a lime-green van. As the boys emerged onto Jane Road
the van appeared.
“There it is Garv," Shanty said pointing but being careful to whisper.
“So what?” Garvin asked.
”Just follow me,” Shanty signaled and don’t let him see you. A few miles down the road Trippi
turned off the road. Stopping they could see him dragging MayTee from the back of the van. They
couldn’t see what happened after they climbed into van and decided to crawl into the carpet rolls. As they
waited they heard a gunshot which sent chills up and down their spines. A few minutes later Trippi had
closed the van doors and was headed for Route 290. Garvin had a bad habit of passing gas when he was
nervous. Barooo, Garvin couldn’t help it as the sound and aroma of the methane escaped his bowel.
“Dummy,” Shanty Poo whispered hoping that Trippi hadn’t heard it when…
“What the hell was that?” came from the driver’s seat followed by the squeal of the brakes and
then the jerking of the van as he turned off the road. The boys were terrified as the back doors of the van
were opened. “Get out, Get out!” Trippi hollered at the boys. Reluctantly they crawled out of their hiding
places to see Trippi standing with a pistol. “Get over here,” he called to them and then he gagged both of
them,tied them up and shoved them both back in the carpets. He then did what he dreaded, called
Gretchen. After he told her what happened she seemed rather calm considering the situation.
“Ok, stop at Randolph Pharmacy on 1919 Tanner Road in Worcester. Find it on your GPS. Do
you have GPS?” Gretchen asked.
“Yes, I do.”
“Ok I’m going to order you a prescription for your dog. Stop at the mall and buy a puppy to take
into the pharmacy with you. The drug I am ordering, meribromochloride or MBC (fictitious), is a sedative
used on animals. Humans will tolerate it but you have to give it exactly as I say or you will kill them. We
don’t want that because we can sell them with the girls. Don’t give it as ordered. They can have an
injection of 5mg every two hours. Don’t exceed that under any circumstances, do you understand?”
“Gretchen, what am I going to do with the puppy?” Trippi asked.
“That’s your problem. You should have been more careful and not let those boys get in the van.”
Trippi knew better than to argue.
“And whatever you do there had better be a healthy puppy aboard when you get here,” Gretchen
ordered. When you get to Boston go to the airport to Jensen Airwings. There will be a plane waiting for
you. Did you take care of the other thing?”
“Yes, Gretchen, that’s taken care of.”
“Good,” she said. A couple hours later Trippi was on board a flight to St. Kitts with two young
detectives dead to the world having been sedated with MBC. Trippi had overmedicated them but they
would survive. Also, in his lap, was the little snickerdoodle he had purchased in Worcester. The puppy
Trippi had already named, pain-in-the-ass, had peed on him twice. Gretchen had hired a Learjet. She
wanted to get this cargo and screw-up Trippi back as soon as possible.
Boris Tertikoff melted into Brita’s arms. She had called him when she had found out that Aksana
was being hospitalized. Boris had gone to his office to meet her. Dottie had left for the day and before he
could contain himself he was in Brita’s embrace. Her lips were soft and inviting and pulled him to her.
Brita then pulled herself from him and began to remove her blouse. He could see her voluptuous breasts
straining against her bra. He skillfully reached behind her to find the clasp that kept those beautiful orbs of
female flesh prisoner when the phone rang. Boris swore loudly as he picked up the phone and Brita in a
contrived modesty pulled her blouse back around her.
“Yes, this is Boris Tertikoff, how can I help you?” he said trying not to sound terse. The person on
the other end had hung up.
“Who was it?” Brita asked as Boris slammed the phone down. She couldn’t remember him being
this angry.
“I don’t know, I should go to the clinic,” Boris said almost sounding conscience stricken.
“Yes,” she said with disappointment in her voice. Boris left quickly. “Will I see you later?” she
asked.”
“I don’t know,” he responded.
Haubert Anderson and his lab, Buddy, were out for their morning walk. It was a brisk Saturday
morning, the type of weather both of them enjoyed. This had been their regular ritual for a decade now
and their trajectory took them through a stretch of woods across the highway from the house. Buddy
seemed unusually restless this morning and sniffing madly pulled Haubert from their beaten path.
“What’s up boy?” Haubert asked and then he saw ahead what appeared to be a shallow grave.
As he and Gentry came closer he thought he heard a weak voice calling out. He instinctively reached for
his cell phone to call 911. His wife insisted that he carry it ever since he had suffered a mild coronary.
She also made him carry two aspirins as well. His walk with Buddy was also part of his health regimen.
Mary Angelo was taking the calls today.
“This is Haubert Anderson down here on Route 30 and I think I have discovered a grave. There
are sounds coming from it.” Mary and Haubert didn’t know each other so she carefully took his
information.
“Thank you Mr. Anderson, we are sending someone out.” In almost the same breath she radioed
Dawson McDonald and Ginger Wiscowski who were the closest. There were two cruisers on duty on the
weekend and somebody was walking the downtown beat. Today was Matt Denvur’s turn. For a town the
size of Graverton they were touted as having a nice, “downtown.” With the park, benches outside the
courthouse, the town hall, the shops on both sides of the strip and the theatres, there was enough to do.
Haubert Anderson didn’t wait and began to dig away at the grave. Suddenly he saw the face of a
young girl who was bleeding from her head but seemed to be conscious and confused. He didn’t know
her but would find out that she was MayTee, the daughter of Sun Ming. She had been shot by Trippi in
the head with a single 22 caliber bullet and had survived. By that time he heard the siren and saw Ginger
Wiscowski’s cruiser pulling up. Ginger, upon seeing Haubert Anderson holding MayTee in his arms,
called for the helicopter. Dawson McDonald followed and soon traffic was being rerouted and tape being
placed around the perimeter of the crime scene, a common circumstance of late in Graverton. Jerry
Dellum had overheard the radio messages and was on his way in his 2010 Lincoln to the scene. Upon
arrival Dr. Dellum cleansed the wound the best he could and put a dressing over it. When the helicopter
arrived he decided to go with her to expedite her immediate admission to neurosurgery. At Children’s
Hospital Maytee underwent 12 hours of surgery in which one half of her brain was removed and she was
given a good prognosis. Before they had administered the anesthesia she was able to give a description
of Trippi. His picture was all over MSNBC and CNN. Unfortunately, Trippi was long gone. Gretchen
Johnson was also watching CNN and was hatching a plan. She had decided to send Snarf, Trippi and
Dorcas all to undisclosed locations. She didn’t tell them but had decided to be a hero and find the missing
children. She called Bartholomew and shared her plan about the three dummies but not letting the
children go. In a few hours she would be a heroine in Graverton and no one would be the wiser.
Chapter Fifteen
Gretchen could not believe that she was in Dr. Bastiaan Grey’s arms. Following their surgical
experiences, in the wake of the crash of Flight 1885, he had called and invited her to a moonlight dinner.
He was an excellent gourmet chef having produced a fine menu of broiled trout and a fruit dessert glazed
with peach brandy. Through the whole pleasant gastric experience she couldn’t keep her eyes off of him.
His perfect smile dazzled her and she had to admit that she loved his accent. She had never been with a
black man but she was enjoying each ensuing moment.
In the light of a Caribbean moon they reached for each other in the heat of passion. They
searched for zippers and clasps until nothing was left but the soft skin that had once been hidden by their
clothing. As he pulled her to him she could feel his warm flesh next to hers. His lips sought hers and she
found herself surrendering herself to him. Then instinctively she rolled over and sitting on him felt his
manhood penetrate her. Dr. Bastiaan Grey was not great in stature and it had been easy for Gretchen to
take control. Unlike her earlier loves she wanted their lovemaking to last. As she looked at Bastiaan
moaning-their bodies pounding against each other-in rhythm with their hearts-seeking that ultimate
pleasure, it seemed to her that he wanted that too. An hour later drenched and truly satisfied, her having
experienced more than one orgasm, they basked in their new found love for each other. As she lay in his
arms feeling his breath on the back of her neck, hearing his occasional, “you are a beautiful lady,” as his
lips caressed her, Gretchen had a dilemma. What if Bastiaan found out what she was really like, what
would he do? No one had ever held her after sex…she wished the moment would never end.
Kelly Price’s abductor had returned to the cabin. They had taken her body and buried it wrapped
in plastic in a 10 foot deep grave in back of the cabin. The grave was a wooden box and already
contained six bodies. Each was wrapped in plastic and was holding a doll with a finger missing. Each of
the bodies was also missing a ring finger. They then had cleaned the cabin so there was no sign of blood.
They had used peroxide to clean where Kelly’s blood had stained the cot and the floor. They stripped the
cot and burned everything including the mattress. Today they were driving a new Honda. After everything
was taken care of, a blonde woman emerged from the cabin. After driving several hours she stopped
outside of Graverton and placed Kelly Price’s ring finger under some leaves. Before she got back into the
car and drove off she did not see the dark figure watching her from a distance. They were dressed in
black and wearing a mask that looked like it had been tailored for them. In their hand was a long and very
sharp knife. They watched the blonde woman deposit the finger and then started moving in her direction.
Suddenly, as if changing their mind, they turned and angrily thrust the knife into a tree. Pulling it free they
turned and became lost in the woods.
The birds were chirping away in the avarian section of the hospital. As Gretchen entered the
room Pauline Parrot began her chorus of, “Mrs. Dinkins lost her leggings and now you can see her forlorn
buttkins.”
“Shut up Pauline!” Gretchen said. If she could find out who taught Pauline that ditty she would
wring their neck. Anytime she tried to shut Pauline up she would just repeat it. Gretchen and Ms. Pauline
had a history. Following a consult with a bird expert Gretchen had successfully excised a malignant tumor
from her neck. Along with radiation treatment Pauline had survived two years cancer free. The aviary
contained the birds and fowl native to St. Kitts. Tourists were welcome during certain hours of the week to
travel through the aviary which also contained some interesting flora and fauna particular to the area.
Wilson Craig, an ornithologist from Canada, made regular trips to St. Kitts and every trip would write a
generous check to expand Gretchen’s aviary. Plans were in the works to build a separate building to
house the birds. To no one’s surprise it would be dedicated as the Wilson Craig Ornithology Institute. Mr.
Craig loved Ms. Pauline which insured her survival for the time being. Pauline was just about through her
poetry again when Gretchen heard a familiar voice. Gretchen turned to see Bastiaan. She was thrilled but
confused.
”Thought you were flying home to Jamaica,” she said.
“I was,” was his answer, his eyes shining in the artificial avarian light. “But I couldn’t get you off
my mind. Are we alone?”
“Yes,” she said and before she could move he had reached for her and began to embrace her.
They made love right there in a veritable, Wilson Craig funded, Garden of Eden. The jungle like
atmosphere served to heighten their lust.
Their lovemaking was intense and as they caught their breath in the afterglow Bastiaan said,
“Gretchen my moms would like to meet you. Could you possibly get away and spend a couple of days in
Kingston?" he asked his eyes searching hers for a positive answer. Gretchen was stunned as she tried to
take it in. She loved the question but she wasn’t used to it. She wanted to consent but didn’t know how.
As she looked into Bastiaan’s eyes she could see something she had never seen before. It looked like
love she thought and though it made her nervous to think about meeting his mother she couldn’t let him
down. She felt so dreamy and there was strength in his gaze.
“Yes,” she said before she could think about it again. Bastiaan took her in his arms and he lifted
her up on one of the tables. This time Bastiaan was in charge and Gretchen truly welcomed it. After they
made love again they decided on when Gretchen would join him in Jamaica.
“I must go my love,” he said,” I don’t want to.” Gretchen knew that he was telling the truth.
”I don’t want you to go Bastiaan,” she said dreamily.
“But I must my sweet,” he said, “My schedule is full tomorrow. I will be back to follow up on the
crash victims we worked on here.”
“Oh when, Bastiaan?” she asked with desperation in her voice.
"In two days my darling.”
“I can’t wait,” Gretchen said taking his hand. ”Bastiaan take my plane I’ll call them.”
“No, no Gretchen,” he emphasized.
“Yes, yes my love,” she said trying out some terms of endearment. She liked it.”And when you fly
here call me and I will send the plane for you,”
“If you so desire, my darling.” Whatever it was that they said or intoned Ms. Pauline started up
her rhyme. As Bastiaan left to get his cab they both were giggling like school children. Gretchen could not
remember a time when she felt so good about life and about herself. They were both worn out by their
lovemaking…something she wasn’t used too but hoped she would find out more about. For right then she
wanted to forget about what her life had been until now. She liked the Gretchen that Bastiaan Grey had
introduced her to.
Patti Twitter was late for work. The car had refused to start so she had to take the bus, something
that she didn’t relish under any circumstances. She does like her job at the Worcester Mall. Her job is
running a make-up kiosk called ‘Fresh Eyes.’ Patti has become adept enough at the application of
powders and paint that not a few ladies left her satisfied with the new look she gives them when she has
transformed them with her art. Patti had been working there since she had graduated from high school
the summer before. Patti hated her last name, Twitter. She and her little sister, Punkie, (named by her
parents after Punkie Brewster, Patti had been named after Patti Duke which was not a household name
to Patti’s generation) had often been the brunt of jokes. Twitter, of course, has a broad contemporary
application. Everybody is either twittering or facebooking or something. Anyhow, she detests her name
and would get around it any way she could. Patti is 5 foot tall with dishwater blonde hair that she cut
short. Despite her proficiency at applying eye make-up to others she doesn’t do well painting her own.
Her friend Kathy tells her that she looks like a cheap whore. Nonetheless she continues her daily ritual of
putting on too much dark eye shadow, a complete contrast to her light complexion.
She had met Marius Drummond in the Food Court one day when she spilled her coke and he
came over to help her mop it up. He is 6 foot 4 and handsome as handsome goes. He is 15 years her
senior and different but she likes that. He has taken a definite interest in her and is always ready to think
about what she likes rather than talk about himself which, in fact, he never does. When all is said and
done Patti really doesn’t know a lot about him. He works at Sears and is very conversational about tools
and lawn mowers, etc. but says little about his personal life. Patti just figures that he is the strong, quiet
type and enjoys listening to her talking on and on about her own things. He loves leather and looks good
in it. They had started up a relationship meeting everyday they work on their breaks and dinner when they
can. They both work 3-11 which works out well. Marius has never asked her out beyond the walls of the
mall and Patti wishes that he would. For the time being she is content with their meeting as they are.
“It’s Haubert Anderson again Sheriff," Betty snottered in the mike,” says his dog Buddy found
what looks like a human finger. He took it from Buddy and is bringing it in.”
“Oh great!” Sheriff Birkum sighed. “Well ask him to please mark the area where he found it.”
“OK Sherf…” he couldn’t understand her because she was blowing in a tissue.
“I’m coming back to the station then and I’ll meet him there,” he said just as he knocked over the
cup holder spilling his coffee down his pants leg, a ritual he was getting used to. The coffee was very hot
and he needed to get to the station for some ice. As he walked in Haubert Anderson met him with the
finger in his hand.
“Thank you Mr. Anderson, I’ll be right back,” he said as he headed for the ice machine.
Everybody was staring at him. It did look like he had pissed himself. His dumped coffee was standing out
against the tan of his uniform.
“What happened?” Betty asked and he noticed she needed another tissue.
“Spilled my f…in’ coffee,” he said and wanted to add, "genius,” but stopped short. Betty had
never heard Sheriff Birkum use the “F” word before. “Take the finger and put it on ice I guess and call
Jack Smith. Also have Haubert Anderson stay. Give him some coffee.”
“But Dawson made it,” Betty complained even though she didn’t drink coffee.
“Yeah, right, I’ll be right out.” Sheriff Birkum went into the restroom and washed his hands and
then reached for the towels and there weren’t any. By this time he was exasperated. What the hell, he
thought; he would just let the pants dry on their own until he could change. He usually had a pair in the
office he kept for emergencies but he had had Betty take them to the cleaners and they were still there.
”Sorry to keep you waiting,” Sheriff Birkum apologized to Haubert Anderson. “Thanks for bringing
in the evidence.”
“You are welcome Sheriff and I’m sorry I didn’t leave it at the scene.”
“It’s not a problem Mr. Anderson, if you don’t mind I would like to get a statement.”
”I did mark the site as you requested.”
“Oh good, good," Sheriff Birkum replied. ”What could the fingers imply?” Roy wondered. It sure
was strange. Looking up he saw Betty signaling to him. Excusing himself he went over to her.
She whispered to him, “Barry Kurtis is here and he’s waving a gun.” Barry was notorious in
Graverton for his explosive temper. He was often involved in altercations at Pat’s Pub and for beating on
his wife Gladys who could hold her own. As Roy Birkum stepped out into the booking area he saw Barry
with the shotgun cussing and waving it around.
“Barry what’s wrong?” he asked.
“That stupid kid knocked her up.”
“Knocked who up?”
“My daughter and I are going to kill him!”
”Come on put the gun down Barry before someone gets hurt,” Roy begged.
“OK, Sheriff,” he said just as Timmy Wiscowski, Ginger’s son, walked in. The next sound heard
was the shotgun going off and Timmy falling to the floor.
Jekyll and Hyde was a sellout and a success on its first night. Mike Mercurio was ecstatic. Robert
Fontanello was sensational and had actually outperformed his past performances. The restaurants and
the bars were busy following the theater’s closing. It was decided that night, though quickly, to run the
show Friday, Saturday and Sunday as long as there was interest. There would be matinees on Saturday
and Sunday. This was a time for celebration in Graverton and that was going on when, unbeknownced to
the celebrators, there was a standoff at the police station. The news came to the Graverton Inn just as
they were raising their glasses of Champaign. They continued their celebration into the wee hours of the
morning and many stayed over not having designated drivers and a desire to stay away from any DUI’s.
Business in Graverton, needless to say, wasn’t very good and the morning found a mad rush of folks
trying to get back home and to work.
Mary Beth Nordstrom was a doll. With jet black hair, which she kept in two pigtails, she was a
knockout. There was no doubt that as the young fellows were coming into their puberty years she would
be in competition. Shanty Poo was in that line. The first time he had laid eyes on Ms. Nordstrom he had a
dizzy spell that he couldn’t explain. She made him feel like no girl had ever done before. When she was
near him he found it hard to concentrate. She looked at him one day in the hallway and said
“Hi Shanty Poo.”
“Hahahahiii,” he managed and was so embarrassed. The sixth grade dance was coming up and
he wanted to ask her but every time he got close he became so weak he thought he would pass out. As
the dance got closer it seemed like Mary Beth Nordstrom looked his way and said hello to him more. One
morning Shanty Poo finally screwed up his courage and walked up to her. She was standing by her locker
and he had walked up to her with the intention of finally asking her to the sixth grade ball.
“Hi Shanty Poo,” Mary Beth said with a sparkle in her eyes.
“Haa…hi,” Shanty Poo barely squeezed out. His throat was tight and he was having trouble
breathing.
“Did you want to ask me something?” He wanted to so badly but couldn’t.
“No,” he said, just wanted to say hi.
“OK,” she said looking very disappointed. "Bye then.” And Shanty Poo retreated. He would
practice for a week and then ask her. She would tell him that Billy Barnes had asked her but she wished
she could have gone with him. Shanty Poo was so angry with himself because she would have gone with
him and he hated Billy Barnes. Who knows maybe Billy Barnes would die in the meantime and he would
still get to take her.
Chapter Sixteen
Jerry Dellum was on duty when the frantic call came in from the Sheriff’s Department. It was Roy
Birkum and Jerry could sense immediately that the Sheriff was under great duress.
“Jerry we have a serious problem, Timmy Wiscowski has been shot and so has Barry Kurtis.
“Dawson McDonald had shot Barry when he had fired on young Timmy. Barry would insist that the
shotgun went off accidently. “ Dispatching two ambulances and will be prepared to call for a helicopter,”
Jerry said calmly. “ “ Hurry!" said Roy, “There is a lot of blood.”
“Keep some pressure on the wounds if you can,” Jerry instructed him not knowing the extent of
the gunshot wounds. The shotgun blast had torn Timmy Wiscowski up badly. He was the first to arrive
and by that time Bud Larson and Gloria Dunham were there.
“Let’s get him to CAT and start a wide-bore D5W,” Jerrry Dellum continued with his treatment
plan.
“Ok, Dr.,” Nurse Pratt said as she entered the emergency area.
“Let’s get a hold of Dr. Lamont in Worcester and get him on remote screen, this will be a good
time to test it. The CAT results were not good and Timmy was losing a lot of blood. We need to go in and
stop it wherever it’s coming from.” Gloria Dunham had already entubated him and was administering light
anesthesia. They would begin an exploratory but still had to deal with Barry Kurtis. Dawson had meant to
wound him but in the melee had hit him in the chest. “Call the helicopter,” Jerry exclaimed.
”Already done,” Nurse Pratt hollered in his direction. Jerry Dellum then advised Benny Trent,
Graverton’s single Physician Assistant, to work with Bud Larson and he went to take over the intervention
with Timmy Wiscowski. Barry would survive and be facing manslaughter charges. We are losing him,”
someone shouted to Jerry Dellum from the surgical suite.
“Coming,” Jerry hurriedly entered the room and in one sweep gooped up the paddles and
shocked him. Three shocks later there was activity on the monitor. “What do think Bud?” Jerry asked.
“Pericardial tamponade I think, and I’m not sure that he will make it to the helicopter.”
“Come on then, let’s go in,” Jerry said, as he spotted Javaid Ally. He was in the process of taking
over Barry Kurtis’s care.
Dr. Lamont was in Aruba not available.he had been in charge of Lorne Flake’s care when he had
his accident chasing the suspected van.
“There it is,” Bud Larson said. It’s ruptured let’s try to close it. Bud Larson deftly introduced his
finger into the ragged hole in Timmy Wiscowski’s heart made by some buckshot from the shot gun
discharging. Bud Larson coukl easily have become a vascular surgeon or some other specialty. He had
“tweezerability” as some experts called it. Timmy would be blessed to survive. Jerry Dellum said a prayer
of thanks something new to him. His visit with his pastor had seemed to draw him closer to God. Just then
they heard the helicopter landing. Have the aboard doctor join us. When Dr. Ron Bonicelli arrived he
immediately took over with Bud Larson assisting. Dr. Ron Bonicelli was very young but a crack trauma
surgeon. His ego was bigger than his brilliant career to this point.
“Let me in,” he said, pushing Bud Larson out of the way. Bud didn’t argue and knew that the
young Bonicelli was right to be in charge of this. Dr. Bonicelli swiftly closed the hole in Timmy’s heart and
he was on his way to full recovery. Despite this it was the quick intervention of the Dr.’s Dellum and
Larson at the Graverton Medical Center Clinic was the main reason that saved Timmy Wiscowski.. Barry
Kurtis would also survive. He was charged with manslaughter and would serve five years being
discharged from prison on good behavior.
When Boris Tertikoff arrived at the clinic they ushered him into the room where Aksana was lying
in bed with monitors arrayed around her. Jerry Dellum came into the room behind him.
“Can’t get her to stay even though I think it would be a good idea. On the other hand, I can’t keep
her.”
With that Aksana stood up and declared, ”I’m feeling fine.”
“Her vital signs are ok,” Jerry Dellum continued his concern with Boris, ”but I am still concerned
that she had this episode. Keep an eye on her.”
During the trip home Aksana was silent but as soon as they entered the house she pulled the
pictures of Brita and Boris out of her purse and threw them in his face screaming,” You son of a bitch,
how could you do this?” Then she sat down the tears streaming down her face. Boris tried to console her
by putting his arms around her but she pulled away and managed to slap him across his face. “I don’t
care what you do with that little whore of yours because you will never touch me again. I’m going to
expand my shop; you can’t take that away from me. I need five thousand dollars from our savings.”
“Ok,” Boris said as he hurried to the desk in the dining room. He had always controlled the
account but in just a few minutes his whole life had come apart. Pulling out the checkbook he knew that
his transgressions had finally caught up with him. What now. Would he go to Brita? Not a good idea.
Handing her the check for $5000.00 Boris offered, “OK I’m leaving.”
“Good”, she said.
“Do you want to know where I am?”
“No!!” she said her voice full of anger. Boris quickly packed some things and headed his Cadillac
in a direction that seemed meaningless. He found a Motel Eight and after polishing off a fifth of vodka,
finally fell asleep.
Gretchen Johnson was awakened from a deep sleep by her doorbell. Looking at the digital alarm
clock she could barely make out that it was 3am. The quaaludes she had washed down with a generous
amount of wine were still keeping her high. As she reached the door she looked through the peephole,
something she never did, for fear someone might have a shotgun pointed at her eye. What she saw she
couldn’t believe, it was Dorcas. She quickly opened the door hurrying Dorcas in.
“What the hell are you doing here?” she asked. “Don’t you know that we could be arrested if
they found out what we have been up to?”
“I want my money,” Dorcas erupted.
“What money?” Gretchen countered.
“I did my part and want my money bitch!!!”
“You’re crazy,” Gretchen said getting in her face. “My connection didn’t get his four kids idiot,
what do you want me to do?” None of the dummies knew that Gretchen’s connection was Bartholomew
Negron and she wanted to keep it that way.
“That’s your problem, I want my money!!” Dorcas shouted, raising her voice even louder.
”I don’t have any money you stupid bitch,” Gretchen said grabbing her. “Keep you voice down
Dork…ASS,” she purposely retorted euphemistically emphasizing Dorcas’ posterior, which of course was
much smaller than hers.
“Take your hand off of me you dumb whore,” Dorcas said threateningly. Gretchen being stronger
swung her around banging her into the wall. When Dorcas hit the wall the momentum knocked her down.
As she struggled to get back on her feet Gretchen saw the knife she had pulled out of her boot.
Gretchen’s hand found the lamp on the stand. The lamp was heavy and the sickening thud that it made
as she struck Dorcas in the head assured her that it had found its mark. Dorcas fell in an unconscious pile
on the floor. Gretchen leaned over and felt for a pulse and couldn’t find one. Gretchen finally had her first
kill. It didn’t feel good. She wished now that she had let the dummies do her ‘wet work’ for her. What
would she do now? There was lot of blood from the wound where she had hit her. She would bury her in
the pet cemetery on the grounds. She remembered then that she was out of the metal boxes she used as
coffins and that they were on order. She would have to bury her in a shallow grave for a few days until
they arrived. She quickly cleaned up the blood and crossed to the grounds building where she found a
cart. After she had buried Dorcas in the light of a full moon she looked around to see no one. After
returning to her apartment she couldn’t relax and poured herself a stiff drink of bourbon. After several
drinks that connected with the residual of wine and quaaludes her perspective became more livable. She
was worried about how long it would take for Dorcas’ family to miss her. She took care of them with her
generous cut of the money.
Jack Blevins had arrived at the church about the same time that Mack Harper came in the door.
Mack had good news. A lawsuit regarding the use of the music could not be filed because it wasn’t
copywrited. Johnny Popes gave a sigh of relief followed by a, “Praise the Lord!” Then Mack Harper
looked over at Jack Blevins with a serious look in his eye. Jack had been fidgeting ever since he had
come into the office.
“Jack you have to be honest with us,” Mack said. “Did you inappropriately touch the Berman
girl?” At that moment Jack Blevins began to sob as he shook his head signaling that he had. Johnny
Pope’s stomach did a flip-flop as he looked over at Mack for help that he couldn’t give him. “We are in
trouble Jack,” Mack said. “I suggest a plea bargain.”
“Will that mean jail time?” Johnny Popes asked.
“Hopefully not, maybe a fine and probation, we’ll see.”
“Jack whatever possessed you to do this?” Johnny asked with his face in his hands. He was
answered with louder sobbing and realized he didn’t know how to act. This was the first time in his
ministry that this had occurred.
“It means you will have to be listed as a sex offender Jack, I’m sorry,” Mack Harper added. “I will
be setting up a meeting with their lawyer so stay in touch.” It was clear that Mack Harper didn’t want to
hang around there any longer. Neither did Pastor Popes. He was sick to his stomach and didn’t really
want to comfort Jack. “Ok then Jack we will keep in touch,” he said and was happy when Jack had left the
office. As Jack walked out the door he had looked back at Pastor Popes for some kind of reassurance but
then realized that Rev.Popes , under the circumstances, couldn’t give him any. Johnny went to say that
he would pray for him but it stuck in his throat.
The weight of the last few hours seemed more than she could bear. She had finally gotten out of
bed and fixed herself a cheese omelet. It was comfort food but Aksana felt that she deserved it. She
jumped in the shower and then spent about 30 minutes doing her hair. She reached for her coat and
headed for the store. She felt safe there. She had called Percie McMillen to see if she could work extra
that day because she didn’t want to be alone. Percie was more than happy to get the extra hours. Percie
was there when Aksana arrived. Parking the Porsche she opened up the store and after Percie was
oriented Aksana poured herself a cup of coffee and went into her office closing the door behind her. As
per usual Aksana had lavishly decorated the room that served as her office. As she sat down in the
overstuffed office chair the tears began to fall down her cheeks again. She knew that these hot tears were
tears of anger. She couldn’t believe that Boris had betrayed her. She could remember when they were
younger, how he would take her maybe 2 or 3 times a day. It seemed that he could never get enough of
her and she never complained. Boris wasn’t her first. There was no comparison to Sergai who wanted her
5 or 6 times a day. It seemed like he was never satisfied. He was a great lover but not as tender as Boris.
Boris took his time while Sergai was like a wild mustang. She liked that about him as much as she liked
Boris’ tenderness. She had never cheated with Sergai after her marriage even though he would come
back begging. He had just gone away one day without explanation. Aksana always wondered if it was
because she would sometimes playfully push him away because she needed to do her housework or
study. She did wonder at times what sex would be like with the very handsome, very insatiable Sergai
and the new KY jelly. Well, she wasn’t going back to Russia so forget that and as far as asshole Boris
was concerned, they were finished.
Maybe she should call Rev. Popes she wondered. It was 9am, was it too early? She picked up
the phone directory wishing now that she had put him in her rolodex. The church office phone rang.
“Hello, Assembly of God Church, how can I help you?”
“Is Rev. Popes available?” Aksana asked.
“This is he speaking,” and then she recognized his voice. Her throat felt dry and her palms were
sweaty.
“Hi this is Aksana Tertikoff,” she said wishing her voice didn’t sound like sand paper, “and I was
wondering if we could talk sometime?” Then the tears began to fall again. Rev. Popes was accustomed to
folks crying for many reasons.
“Are you ok Aksana?” Johnny knowingly inquired.
“No,” she blubbered.
“Where are you?” he asked.
“My office.”
“Can we talk here?”
“Yes,” she said trying not to sound excited.
“I’ll be right over.” Johnny said.
Aksana went out of the office to discover about three people in the store.
“Percie, Rev. Popes is coming over as there is something that we need to discuss. Can you
handle the store by yourself for awhile?”
“Yes it’s no problem Aksana. Are you alright?” Percie asked.
“Yes,” she said quickly sure that Percie knew that she was crying but she wasn’t about to let her
know what was really going on. Percie was a good worker but had a penchant for gossip. Besides the
grave significance of Boris’ betrayal, he was the city manager and Aksana felt that she should protect the
5,843 people that he served so well. Aksana heard the chimes and saw Rev. Popes enter the store. She
almost too quickly introduced him to Percie and then gestured Rev. Popes to her office.
“I don’t want to be disturbed,” Aksana instructed officiously.
Percie smiled and responded with, “Yes ma’am.” She couldn’t help notice that there was a
southern like drawl to it. It was then she recalled that Johnny Popes hailed from Alabama.
Chapter Seventeen
Dorcas awakened in pitch blackness and for a minute she couldn’t figure out where she was. It
smelled like plastic and then she realized that she had been buried alive. “She’d kill that bitch Gretchen,”
she thought consoling herself. She reached into her boot and pulled out the other knife that she carried
with her. She cut through the body bag that Gretchen had invented from a clothing bag. Dorcas was just
small enough to fit into it. As she cut through the bag she felt panicked not knowing how much dirt lie
between her and air. She began to kick and claw and wanted to scream but she didn’t want to be found
either. Besides not checking closely enough to see if Dorcas was dead Gretchen hadn’t buried her very
deep anticipating the metal boxes she used as coffins being delivered soon. Finally Dorcas could see the
stars in the sky as she broke through. She wanted to kill Gretchen so bad but knew that she should wait.
She would take some time to create a foolproof plan for Gretchen’s demise. She meticulously replaced
the dirt over the shallow grave so that no one would be aware of her escape. She didn’t know that
Gretchen had not yet completed her burial.
Betty Friedland answered the 911 call from Linda Blevins.
“Help please, Jack has taken an overdose of sedatives and I can’t wake him up."
“Linda an ambulance is on the way.” Betty reassured her. “Are you by yourself Linda?” Betty
asked.
“No my daughter is here with me.” In about ten minutes Paul Dempsey was at the scene. It had
been a busy day for him. What he found was not good. Jack was unconscious and his vital signs stunk.
Dr. Don Blake was on duty at the Medical Clinic.
“Let’s get ready to pump his stomach and call Jerry,” he instructed Carl Johansen, the nurse who
took over when Nurse Pratt went home. It was exactly 15 minutes from the time that Linda Blevins had
made the call and Jack’s arrival via ambulance to the clinic. Immediately Dr. Blake began gastric lavage
but before they were finished he had to start CPR. Jerry Dellum had come back to the clinic and was
supervising the life support interventions. Despite all their efforts Jack did not make it. It was decided that
it was no one’s fault. Linda had been grocery shopping and if she had found him sooner he may have
made it.
“Should we call your minister Linda?”
“I guess so,” and from her answer you could hear tension in her voice. Rev. Johnny Popes was
called and was devastated. After he arrived at the clinic he went over to Linda who turned away from him
and said, “You could have prevented this, the great Rev. Johnny Popes.” Johnny was taken aback and
didn’t know what to say. “What do you mean Linda?”Johnny Popes asked flabbergasted “Jack said you
just looked at him and didn’t offer to pray or anything. “What happened big shot preacher?” Linda said
with fire in her eyes. Jack was launched back to that day in his office when Jack had confessed and the
memory that would always stay with him. He didn’t know what to say to Jack that day and it had caught
up with him. “And by the way, I don’t think it would be right for you to have his service. If you couldn’t help
him when he was alive, you can’t help him when he’s dead.” With that Linda walked away and back into
the emergency room. She had apparently accomplished what she wanted to do, embarrass him. Rev.
Johnny Popes was stunned as was the staff at the clinic who didn’t and still wouldn’t know what had
happened to Jack. Johnny didn’t know what to do but to walk out and that’s what he did, his face crimson
red and with a dialogue he would have with himself for the rest of his life. Was there more that he could
have done for Jack? To intensify that dialogue several weeks later the judge had decided that he would
have thrown out the case because a P.I. that Mack Harper had hired had discovered that the Berman girl
had accused two other men in two other churches of the same thing. They both denied it and said that
she had pushed herself on them. She was referred for counseling. Linda Blevins and her daughter left
town soon after and didn’t leave a forwarding address. The story is that Jack’s funeral was held at some
relative’s home in another state and that he was buried there as well. This incident would haunt Johnny
Popes for the rest of his life despite the fact that more than one person supported him in his reaction.
“You are just human, Johnny,” they tried to remind him. From then on Rev. Popes handled deaths and
funerals differently.
Gretchen Johnson was watching CNN and hatching a plan. She called Trippi and told him that
she was flying him and Snarf to an undisclosed location. Trying to sound concerned she asked Trippi if he
had seen Dorcas. He, of course, hadn’t. She called Bartholomew Negron to let him know that the
dreadful deed had been done and that she was flying her people to an undisclosed location until things
settled down. Bartholomew was in agreement with that. Gretchen had decided to be a hero and let the
children go. Jenny Beals had been found by security and in the end Gretchen had rescued 6 children
from what they weren’t saying. There were never any questions asked. Gretchen was all smiles as she
stood with a reporter and six supposedly rescued children.
“I’m so glad that the children are alright Gretchen said.” Then off camera she made a remark
about a kid with a funny name like Woo or Poo.
“Garv, that’s the voice that I heard in the van that day,” Shanty whispered.
“Are you sure Shanty Poo?”
“Yes, he said.”
“Can you prove it?”
“I don’t know.” Shoving his hands in his pockets he nervously looked over to see if Gretchen was
looking at him. He was relieved that she, at the moment, was basking in the glory of her invented rescue
effort.
Bartholomew Negron was livid when he found out what Gretchen had done. This was the last straw as
far as he was concerned. He had never been accused of being patient. He was four children short of his
promised load. He wasn’t sure what he would do about Gretchen but he would lay low for a while allowing
her to wallow in her feigned heroinism.
Sheriff Birkum was tired to the core. What a turmoil these last few days had been but what a relief
that the veterinarian had found the children including the two young detectives. They had all been
fortunate but he wondered if it was over. He wasn’t convinced. Was MayTee’s abduction related to the
other children? He wasn’t sure. He was also interested in how the boys had arrived in St. Kitts but right
now he was going to stop at Bob Evans for a big breakfast and then home for some much needed sleep.
He had stopped by Sun Ming’s to pick up his uniforms. Sun Ming was happy to see him and to give a
positive report about MayTee. Unblamingly Sun Ming Sun asked Roy if they had made any progress in
finding out who had abducted and shot her. Roy had to say no but that they were investigating it every
day. Roy called Betty and asked her to have Bum Snyder take over for awhile. Lt. Gregory (Bum) Snyder
had been with the department for 14 years longer than Roy. He had worked under three sheriffs, the last
one having left office because of alleged corruption. The trial had been delayed and was to resume in
May. This was the middle of April. Easter was two weeks away and spring was right around the corner.
Despite their occasional disputes over policy, Bum Snyder and the current sheriff got along well. As
Sheriff Birkum turned in to the Bob Evans’ parking lot dressed in dry clothing and the memory of some
unusual days behind him, he felt good to be part of Graverton, MA.
Once inside her office Aksana closed the door and her tears began to fall again. She pulled out
the black and white photos and began to tell Rev. Popes the whole story. Despite his ability to capture
and control the conversation, Aksana found Johnny Popes to be a very good listener. It was almost like
he could read her mind. He was very compassionate and she had to be honest. As they talked together
she couldn’t help but be tempted. She kept visualizing her in his arms making passionate love and
forgetting all their problems. She oscillated between that daydream with its warm feelings to dreadful
feelings of guilt. How could she possibly think that way about this “man of God?” She wondered what he
was thinking. In fact, Rev. Johnny Popes had pondered what Aksana would look like without her fancy
clothes. He too oscillated but was using the ”shoot the duck” technique in which he shoots the duck, who
represents the unfaithful thoughts substituting his amorous and infidel thoughts for healthy and spiritual
thoughts which are represented by a cute little bunny. Why a bunny, nobody knew. About a year ago he
had happened on a porn site and was having trouble staying away from it. He had hooked up with a
ministerial group in Worcester who were dealing with sex addiction issues. The group itself met under the
guise of “ministerial discipleship.” In the aftermath of the Jack Blevins tragedy, Johnny had wished he had
referred him to such a group.
“Rev. Popes can I ask you a question?” Aksana asked breaking their chain of thought.
“Of course you can Aksana.” Johnny said quietly.
“You talk about being born again, what does it mean?”
“Instead of telling you can I show you?” Johnny Popes said pulling his Bible from his pocket.
“Yes,” Aksana said pleadingly. For just a moment in time Johnny knew that it was wrong but that
he could have her if he wanted. He could see it in her eyes.
” In John chapter 3 it talks about two types of births. Go ahead and read it for yourself
Aksana.”After a few minutes Aksana said,
“Oh, I see one is when we are born, we are born of water and then there is the spiritual birth.
How do I receive this Pastor Popes?"
“Pray this simple prayer with me,” he said. Aksana followed in prayer with Johnny Popes asking
God to forgive her of her sin and to help her live a good life.
“I try to do that, Rev. Popes,” Aksana said following the prayer.
“I believe that Aksana,” he said with feeling in his eyes.
“Pastor would you like some coffee?” Aksana asked already moving toward the door.
“I would love some,” Rev. Popes replied happy that she had finally offered.
“Percie, would you mind putting on some fresh coffee?” Aksana said loudly enough for her to
hear.
“Not a problem,” the reply came back. Rev. Johnny Popes stayed another hour as Aksana told
him about her childhood in the Ukraine and her ideas for the expansion of her fashion business. She also
mentioned that the Women’s Missionary Group had suggested a fashion show be held to raise money for
the “Heaven Hears Haiti Fund.” He listened, fastened on every word. As he stood to leave Aksana felt
relieved. She no longer felt a heavy burden and she was now born again. Johnny Popes had decided to
wait before broaching the subject of forgiveness. It was a healing moment for him as well. With Jack
Blevins still fresh on his mind it was good to see Aksana feeling so free. He knew she was ready to go
back to work.
Seeing a customer coming in the door Aksana said to Percie,”I can get this why don’t you take a
break and get a cup of coffee.” Rev. Johnny Popes left feeling much better for what had transpired that
morning. He felt guilty then as he looked back purposely to get another look at Aksana. She was a
beautiful woman with her strawberry blonde hair and her slim and athletic physique. He couldn’t help
notice that her face was free of any blemish. He asked God to forgive him but being honest with himself
knew that this picture of Aksana would return to him especially at times of pressure in his ministry. He
wondered if he was using it now to put some distance between him and what had happened with Jack
and Linda Blevins. Maybe someday Linda would forgive him. Then again when he thought back to that
day in the office he still may, because of the shock, act in the same way if it were to happen today. When
he thought of it in that way he was angry with Linda. What would she have done? He had to let it go. He
knew that scripture plainly states that God will not give us more than we can handle and that he will
provide a way of escape. He was certain that undressing Aksana in his mind was not what God had in
mind.
When Gretchen met Inez Grey she understood why Bastiaan was so handsome. Inez Grey stood
about 5 foot 8 and had a perfect figure. She also had beautiful silver hair for which she obviously made
use of a gifted hairdresser on a regular basis. She wore a flowing skirt and a blouse tied at the waist. Like
her son she had perfect teeth and a smile to match. She was indeed the female version of Dr. Bastiaan
Grey. Bastiaan had barely time to introduce Gretchen before his mother had hugged her and planted a
kiss on both cheeks.
“Gretchen, it’s so good to meet you, Bastiaan has told me so much about you. Please do come
in,” she said gently taking her by the arm and guiding her into their spacious home. From the tone in her
voice it was clear that Bastiaan was her pride and joy. Gretchen was overwhelmed. She loved what was
happening but she didn’t know how to respond. Bastiaan rescued her,” I told her about Ms. Pauline,” he
said and their laughter eased the moment for Gretchen. Following another fine dinner, this one provided
by Inez in which Gretchen was introduced to jerk chicken, they had a long and leisurely conversation
sipping on rum and cokes which were Bastiaan’s mothers’ favorite. As they began to feel a buzz, Inez
excused herself but not before she hugged and kissed Gretchen again and invited her back. The house
was large and Bastiaan took her to the veranda on the other side of the house. It was a marvelous night
in Kingston with a crescent moon.
“I thought my love, that we would do the town tomorrow night, Is that alright?” Bastiaan asked.
“Yes, that will be great,” Gretchen answered.
“I have made reservations for eight o’clock.” Bastiaan continued with his well laid plans.
“Should we ask your moms to join us for dinner?”
“That would be alright?” he asked questioningly.
“Yes, of course, Gretchen said.
“She loves you, you know? More than any woman I have introduced her too.” Bastiaan said very
much interested in Gretchen’s response.
“Bastiaan you go on so…” Gretchen said seductively.
“Then cupping her face in her hands he said, “Gretchen I wouldn’t lie to you about something like
that.” In that moment she knew that this was sacred territory to him. It was just so hard for her to know
that she was the subject of this attention. Images of Dorcas were coming back to her.
“Come my love, let’s enjoy the evening on the veranda.” He poured two more rum and cokes and
then in the light of the crescent moon produced the biggest bong that Gretchen had ever seen. She was
not a marijuana smoker but tonight was special. Before they made love and fell asleep in each other’s
arms they enjoyed toking and laughing together for several hours. “Tomorrow my sweet I invite you to nd
relax with me. There is nothing planned for the day and my mother’s servant will be here. We can tell her
what we want to eat.” Two days later a totally relaxed Gretchen, thanks to Dr. Bastiaan Grey’s backrubs ,
returned to St. Kitts but then was on her way to Rhode Island for her class lectures. She already missed
Bastiaan. She missed him so much that it hurt…something that was totally new to her.
Chapter Eighteen
Dorcas has a sister, Shelby, who lives in Idaho and calls her once a month. She always asks her
if she wants to come up for a visit. She has never taken her up on it. Shelby is a sweet girl and she and
her hubby, Williard, a potato farmer, have five children. Dorcas figures that with that many children they
must have a good sex life. Dorcas has been having sex with 5 different men. If they even look jealous
Dorcas tells them to to hit the road. None of them have. She smiles when she thinks about how satisfied
they all are with her favorite doggy—style-sex. “Yahoo pardner,” is the most endearing term she uses with
her cadre of cowboys. Dorcas has also had affairs with a couple of women. She at times wonders if she is
bi-sexual, but for the moment she has decided that she likes men the best. As she was thinking along
these lines she thought about “Florida Face Gretchen” and wanted to puke. Dorcas is attractive at five
feet tall, slender with a cute elfish face. Gretchen sometimes feels jealous around her.
Shelby met Williard, 20 years her senior, while he was visiting friends in Worcester. She went for
a visit to Idaho and they ended up getting married. Dorcas missed the wedding and has always regretted
it even though Shelby has never mentioned it. Following her release from her temporary grave, Dorcas
hit the speed-dial on her cell phone. Shelby who is a true nightowl actually enjoyed her calling at that late
hour. She was elated when Dorcas told her that she was coming for a visit. Despite her showing up on
Gretchen’s doorstep she still had $23,000.00 in her account and $5000.00 on her credit cards. She
figured that she could travel to Idaho and spend some money on Shelby and her nieces and nephews
and still have enough money to live until they were back in business again. She missed the big money.
She would devise a plan that excluded Gretchen. They don’t need her anyway. Dorcas quickly called the
airline to book the next flight. She needed some clothes and hoped that she wouldn’t be seen by
Gretchen or her connection. She wished again that she knew who that was. She was, of course to most
people, a young woman of no account. Several hours later Dorcas was on her way to Boise, Idaho
having not been discovered by Gretchen who was fast asleep, or her henchmen who were tucked away
at an undisclosed location…having the time of their lives. Bartholomew Negron knew where they were
and that they were bankrolling their expenses with his credit cards. He didn’t care, wouldn’t miss it and
would be sure they earned it eventually.Dorcas turned to the book she had purchased at the airport, “The
Study of Twenty Serial Killers.”
Would wonders never cease? Shanty Poo, who had escaped being sold to whomever for
whatever, who, with a now worldwide notoriety, having been on the entire major television networks, was
dancing with Mary Beth Nordstrom at the sixth grade dance. Death hadn’t taken Billy Barnes but falling off
his skateboard and breaking his leg had worked just as well to catapult Shanty Poo to his coveted
position on the dance floor with the gorgeous Mary Beth in his arms. She had been so excited about her
boutenniere. It was his father who had helped him pick it out as well as his suit. Shanty Poo had enjoyed
spending this time with his father. It didn’t happen very often. When he asked Garvin if he was interested
in going to the dance he had uttered something unintelligible about girls which Shanty Poo took as a no. It
didn’t matter anyhow; he was totally occupied with Mary Beth Nordstrom. He kept looking at the clock
hoping that ten o’clock would never come. The dance would end and she would go home. This seemed at
the moment a thing that would be hard to survive.
Three days later Gretchen signed the UPS signature box for 20 metal containers that she used
for the animal coffins. They were all the same size and she was sure that Dorcas would fit into one. Later
that night Gretchen slipped out of her apartment and took a golf cart to the cemetery. She was hopeful
that Dorcas had not decomposed too much. She began to panic as the shovel went too easily through the
sod where she had buried Dorcas.
“Oh shit!” Gretchen muttered under her breath. She had really screwed up. “Where the hell is
she?” she thought. I’d better bury an animal here soon. She decided that she would do an autopsy on one
of the dogs she was using to study canine leukemia. Continued study was necessary if her grants were to
be renewed. The last grant had awarded her $400,000.00. She would euthanize Woody, one of her
favorites. He was a feisty cocker spaniel who had been diagnosed several years before with leukemia.
Gretchen had kept him alive but could not control his anemia and knew that he didn’t feel well most of the
time. Though it was too early in her trials with some new medications she was utilizing with him, she knew
that putting Woody out of his misery would be a blessing to him. She had to admit that she loved the little
guy. At the end of the day Gretchen had administered the blue liquid that lifted Woody out of his misery
and sent him to dog heaven. An autopsy revealed several aggressive tumors of an unleukemic nature
that would have meant a painful death for the little guy within the next few months. Gretchen really
believed that there was a pet heaven having discovered some Bible passages that she could cite, a
product of Auntie’s forced bible study and that seemed to intimate just that. How she wished that she
could put herself out of the misery of not knowing where Dorcas was. She would have to be very aware of
what was going on around her from now on. That dirty little bitch better not show up around here she
thought. She began to see Dorcas chopped up into bits. She was suddenly aware that her fists were
clenched.
Graverton is quiet today. It’s the perfect place to live with its quiet streets and simple storied
homes. Some of the homes are surrounded by white, wooden fences. The town can brag about its busy,
recently refurbished downtown thoroughfare. The shops and businesses along the avenue provide for
many of the wants and needs of the townspeople. The laid back or reserved Gravertonians live day to
day hopeful that their ideal safe and secure environs will stay that way. Some may feel that they deserve
it. Some admit their being fortunate or blessed in that all their children have returned home to them. In
reality though and despite all this there lies within Graverton a secret that will chill the town and capture
the world’s curiosity. Even quiet folks may enjoy the excitement that goes with crime and the injury that it
incurs. While sympathetic, we may still enjoy hearing the sirens. For some of us this signals grabbing our
coats and rushing to the scene thankful that it isn’t us. This is a paradox that defies logic (for the record I
am not an ambulance chaser). In a treehouse nearby, two young lads keep vigil listening carefully to their
police scanner awaiting another opportunity to help solve a crime. Will Shanty Poo hear the voice of the
stranger again? Will Spectre return? Graverton is quiet again but for how long?