Secrets in the Shallows (Book 1: The Monastery Murders) (27 page)

The sheriff answered, “Yes, remember that video evidence I got from the hospital?”

Peter furrowed his brow and replied, “Yeah? What did you see?”

“Both Deputy Williams and I saw what looked like a nun break into the locker and steal all of the missing evidence. She used a crowbar to pry it open. Then, she put everything in a bag, which she hid under her robes. We’ve got to do a search of the monastery to see if we can determine which nun was the culprit, and probably the murderer,” Sheriff Johnson explained.

Scratching his head, Peter commented, “I just can’t see a nun doing something like that, but you never know, do you?”

“No, you don’t, Doc. In any instance, just plan on a long day tomorrow. We’ll probably need some of you team to help us cover everything. It’s a lot to handle all at once.”

“I’ll talk to my guys and get some help over there,” Peter replied.

* * * *

Long metal keys jingled from Sheriff Johnson’s fingers as he walked toward the jail’s holding area. With a scowl on his face, he stopped in front of Carter Spurlock’s cell.

“What do you want?” Carter snarled as he eyeballed the sheriff.

“Well, it’s your lucky day, son. I’ve got to let you go.” Carter grabbed the cell bars and leaned in towards the sheriff. “Thought you caught you a live one didn’t you, Sheriff?”

“Don’t use that
smart mouth
with me, Carter.”

Carter glared at him, “I didn’t do anything, Sheriff, and you have no proof.”

Sheriff Johnson stuck his finger towards Carter’s face and stated firmly, “Just because I don’t have anything on you for this murder doesn’t mean I won’t be watching you. Lisa doesn’t want your advances, and the last thing she needs is for you to accost her while she’s grieving over Timmy. Leave her alone, do you hear me?”

Carter raised his hands in defense and shouted, “Enough! All right! Chill!!”

“I meant every word I said. Let’s go, Carter. We need to get you signed out and get your stuff so you can leave.”

Carter slowly walked like a prized fighter down the jail corridor toward the security desk. Raising his hands high in the air, he ran in place and yelled, “I’m free, I’m free. You ain’t never gettin’ me!”

Deputy Williams looked at him repulsion.

Sheriff Johnson nodded to the guard on duty, and the familiar buzz announced the door latch release. As they crossed the threshold into the hall and started down to the processing room, he said to the clerk, “Would you get Carter Spurlock’s personal items for me?”

“Right away, Sheriff,” the clerk replied as she stood up and walked to the room behind her. Shortly, she returned and handed the plastic bag and release form to Carter. Offering an ink pen to Carter, she said, “Here you go. Sign on the bottom line, please.”

Carter signed the release document, grabbed his belongings, and looked back at the sheriff. With a big smirk, he said, “Sheriff, I don’t plan on seeing you again anytime soon; I won’t miss you one bit either.”

He turned to scowl at the sheriff as he walked out the door. Outside, he spat on the asphalt in the parking lot. After he got into his car, Carter turned on his music to the loudest volume and roared out of the driveway.

* * * *

Disturbed by Carter’s release, Sheriff Johnson walked back to his office and sat down. He thought to himself,
I wish I didn’t have to give this news to Lisa.
Dialing her cell phone number Sheriff muttered under his breath,
She will not be happy about it.

The sheriff waited until a female voice answered the phone.

“Hello.”

“Is this Lisa?”

“Yes, speaking,” she replied.

“This is Sheriff Johnson. I’m here the station.”

“Hello, Sheriff. Did you find out what Carter did to Timmy?”

With a deep sigh, Sheriff paused for a moment and replied, “No, Lisa, I hate to tell you this, but we had to let him go. At this point, we can’t find anything that would tie him directly to the murder. In fact, we have a lot of evidence against someone else.”

Angry, Lisa stood up from her living room couch. Her eyes darted back and forth as she blurted, “Sheriff what did you say? Did you say you had to let him go?”

Sheriff Johnson scratched his head. “Yes, you heard right. We just don’t have the evidence against him, Lisa. He’s not a nice guy, but I can’t arrest him for that. I have no proof that he actually killed Timmy.”

“You know how he did it, Sheriff!” Tears welled in her eyes.

“Lisa, calm down and breathe.”

Sheriff jerked his head away from his phone as Lisa hollered in the receiver.

“Sheriff, I know he killed my boyfriend. I just know it!” Lisa began to cry.

“Calm down, Lisa.”

Nervously pacing back and forth, Lisa asked, “Did you show Carter the note? Cause if you did, he’ll come after me. He’ll kill me, too.”

“I did not mention that you discussed anything with us. We found the note in Timmy’s bedroom, so I don’t think he will know you’re involved, Lisa. Now, this is what I want you to do. If you see any kind of malicious activity from him, you call me immediately. If he contacts you, or tries to harm you in any way, you let me know right away. Now, I told him that I am watching his every move. I think he heard me loud and clear. Okay?”

Infuriated, Lisa’s hands shook as she held onto her cell phone. “I don’t care if you’re watching him or not, I’m still scared, Sheriff.”

“No, don’t be scared. Just be vigilant.”

Her voice trembled as she said, “Okay. Thanks for calling, Sheriff.”

“No problem, I just had to let you know. I will keep an extra patrol in your area until we are sure that Carter won’t be a problem.”

“Thank you, Sheriff. Good-bye.” Lisa said, angrily hanging up her cell phone.

Crying uncontrollably, Lisa ran up the stairs and slammed her bedroom door. Diving face first onto the bed, she crawled lengthwise to where she had left Timmy’s photograph on her pillow. She sat up and held it close to her chest, wailing as she rocked back and forth. Her heart had been shattered into a thousand pieces.

C
HAPTER
25

After meeting Sheriff Johnson at headquarters early in the morning, Peter decided to ride in the sheriff’s squad car to the monastery.

“I wonder what we are going to find in the pond,” Peter commented.

“I don’t know, but I am ready for anything at this point,” Sheriff Johnson replied.

Peter asked, “Any word on the search warrant for the monastery building yet? I hope those missing clothes are there.”

“I know, Peter. Me too. Since I need to be here for the dive search this morning, I asked John Smith to meet the judge as soon as possible to get the warrant signed. I’d love to wrap up the pond search and get right to work on the building. Maybe we’ll get lucky and find the missing evidence. I still find it incredible that a nun could be responsible for such a horrible crime. You never know what to expect anymore,” Sheriff Johnson stated.

Peter glanced over at the Sheriff. “Do you think Mother Superior is involved in this?”

“It’s crossed my mind. She
was
the last person known to see him alive, but that woman is getting up in age. It could be any of them.”

Peter bit his bottom lip then commented, “Sheriff, you are positive that you saw a nun on the video?”

“Oh, definitely! Deputy Williams saw it and brought it to my attention. There is no doubt the person was wearing a nun’s habit. The question is who was it? We couldn’t see any face clearly enough to know,” Sheriff Johnson said.

Shaking his head in disgust, Peter replied, “Hopefully, the divers will find what is needed to catch the killer who did this.”

Peter glanced out the window, and for a moment, he idly watched two moose in a distant snow-covered field. They both turned to glance back at him, as they continued biting off leaves from a nearby tree.

Turning back, Peter asked, “How long have you known John?”

“Most of his adult life. Why?”

Peter shook his head, “Just wondering ... And Katy?”

“Oh, I’ve known Katy since she was a tot. She turned out to be a beautiful young lady. It’s hard to believe she’s getting married soon. How time flies.”

Nodding, Peter agreed.

“Well, we’re here, Doc.”

Sheriff Johnson pulled in the driveway to the monastery and parked his cruiser in the small parking area near the pond. Several department vehicles were already parked along the edge of the drive. The sheriff donned a pair of gray snow boots and opened his car door. Hearing footsteps in the snow, he turned to see Deputy Williams jogging towards him.

“It’s after 9 o’clock, and the divers aren’t here yet.”

Sheriff Johnson put on his coat and pulled his sleeve back looking at his watch. “They’re supposed to be here at 10 this morning. They said it’s better to let the water warm up a little in the sun. We can still get started organizing the search without them. I better go tell the sisters we’re here.”

Sheriff Johnson started walking towards the monastery with Peter following close behind him.

Williams walked up to the Sheriff and mentioned, “Sheriff, they probably already know. Someone has been watching us from upstairs.”

Sheriff Johnson stopped dead in his tracks. “Oh, really?”

The deputy pointed up the top right window and said, “A woman with long blonde hair has been watching us from up there.”

Sheriff Johnson lifted his face up towards the window and said, “Well, maybe we can find out who that person is and see what they know. Peter, if you don’t mind, can you wait back at the pond just in case the divers show up while we speak to the nuns, please?”

“Sure,” Peter replied as he immediately turned around towards the pond, where several deputies were already waiting with anticipation.

* * * *

Anxiously, John Smith and Deputy Shamberg headed directly to Judge Taylor’s office suite. Their footsteps echoed as they walked briskly down the hall.

Glancing at John, the deputy asked, “Do you think you’ll have any problem getting him to sign off on this?”

“I don’t think so. I’ve known Judge Taylor for a long time. He is a very likable man with a strong head on his shoulders,” John chuckled.

Both of the men stopped at the judge’s office door, and Deputy Shamberg opened it slowly. At a reception desk near a small waiting room, a large, robust woman removed her glasses as she smiled and asked, “Mr. District Attorney, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you. How can I help you, gentlemen?”

“Hello, Audrey, it’s always nice to see your smiling face,” John replied. “I believe you already know Deputy Shamberg.”

Audrey nodded and said, “Hello, Deputy.”

The deputy smiled and said, “Good morning, Audrey. I understand that the sheriff left some evidence for Judge Taylor to review?”

Audrey smiled and said, “Yes, sir. I gave everything to the judge as soon as he came in an hour ago. The sheriff requested him to look at it as soon as he got in. I think Judge Taylor is looking at everything right now.”

John’s commanding voice was softened by his suave demeanor. “I assure you that it is urgent. We must see the judge immediately.”

“Oh, I think I may be able to help you out, gentlemen,” she said, twisting a small lock of her hair, as she picked up the telephone receiver. Glancing up, she whispered with a slight grin, “Let me see if I can get him for you.”

John nodded, “Thank you, ma’am. That would be most appreciated.”

Holding the telephone to her ear, she said sweetly, “Your Honor, I’m sorry to disturb you. The D.A. is here, along with Deputy Shamberg to see you, sir. Mr. Smith said it is rather urgent that they speak with you, if you’re available.” After a few seconds, Audrey replaced the receiver and said, “You may go on in now. He has a few moments he can spare before his first appointment.”

“Thank you so much, Audrey,” John said. “You’re always so helpful.”

The older woman blushed and replied, “Thank you, Mr. Smith.” Turning towards the deputy, she added, “It was nice to see you again, Deputy.”

“Likewise, ma’am,” Deputy Shamberg smiled and nodded to her respectfully. Tipping his hat, he passed by her desk and said, “Have a nice day, Miss Audrey.”