58
.
“Suspects?” Detective Winchester asked hastily, removing his hand from the sheriff’s, as if embarrassed by the sympathetic contact. She looked around to see if anyone else had noticed the moment, but Lisa looked to be in shock and Barb was preoccupied within her own thoughts.
“CCTV from across da street confirmed dat Keith Cowan was behaving suspiciously around da building just before da building caught fire, eh,” Sheriff Clay replied, looking at Lisa.
“John McNally?” Zenna asked. “Where was he?”
“Good question.”
“Dat should be easily found from our dispatcher,” she said, calling immediately on her radio. “Location of John McNally yesterday at around 16.30.”
“Jerry’s Garage,” came the scratchy reply.
“Tanks.” She looked at the detective. “John was jis’ around da corner.”
Zenna felt the pieces falling into place, but there was something niggling. “How did you know to come to the Nygaards last night, Detective?”
The door opened admitting Steve and a heavily-pregnant woman – one who bore a striking resemblance to the Cowan brothers. Zenna had almost forgotten that Steve had come with them. “Dat would be me,” the woman answered, sitting down.
“You would be…,” the detective prompted.
“Trisha Cowan. My brothers are here an’ my father is in hospital dis morning… with his lawyer friend, Len Johnson,” she replied, chewing on some peppermint bubblegum.
Zenna looked back at the detective. “Spill it,” she demanded as politely as she could manage.
The detective chuckled and Zenna could see the interest in Sid’s eyes as she looked at him. Detective Winchester shared, “After Sheriff Clay called yesterday, I looked up Len Johnson. I quickly discovered that he had a track record of fraud and conspiracy. More worryingly, I also discovered that he’s a cousin of the Cowans. I knew that anyone being defended by him was likely to end up with at his mercy rather than justice being served.
“Figuring that Andrew Cowan would be upset to learn that his sons were in jail, I made sure that we were ready to arrest him this morning. But, I had them wait – just in case Johnson turned up… which he did.
“A shootout ensued when officers moved in to make arrests, resulting in several people being injured including two officers, Johnson and Cowan. The suspects were life-flighted and are now under guard in Marquette.”
Zenna felt a wave of relief.
“I’m sorry to hear about your neighbors, Miss Maxwell,” he concluded.
“That doesn’t explain how you got to the Nygaards on time,” Zenna pursued.
“You would make a good detective, Miss Williams,” he said, his eyes sparkling, before he continued. “Miss Cowan called me in a near-panic, just as I was landing in Ironwood.”
Zenna looked at Trish.
“Ya promise I’ll be safe?” she asked, looking at both the sheriff and the detective.
“We’ll do our best,” Sid replied.
Trish sighed. “I’d bedder begin at da beginnin’. Are ya recordin’ me?”
“Can do,” the detective said, grabbing a recording device out of his pocket and holding it towards her.
“How about for the judge?” Zenna asked, noticing the court usher joining them.
“Judge Powers is ready fer ya,” the young lady informed.
“Thank you,” Detective Winchester replied. “Would you mind giving your testimony directly to the judge?”
“If it means I can move on wid my life,” Trish said. Zenna could sense the threatening tears.
♥
“Sheriff Sidney Clay, a pleasure to see you again,” Judge Powers said.
“Tank ya, yer Honor. Same ta ya.”
The man’s face showed no emotion, Zenna noted.
“Detective Alan Winchester, what brings you to the Upper Peninsula?”
“My assistance was requested in this unusual case.”
The man seemed curious at this point. “I came to arraign the three young men waiting in the other room, but it seems you have other plans.”
“Yes, Your Honor,” the detective said. “That would be because these cases are all intimately connected. Two decades or more in the making… cases which will solve other cases, I believe.”
“Where would you begin?” the judge asked.
“I would begin with a story,” the detective began. “Have you seen the pile of letters provided?”
“I have, though I have not read them yet. I would be grateful if you would tell me what’s in them.”
“Could we have Matthew Nygaard attend court?” he requested. “This story begins with his mother… or even before her.”
The judge nodded to the court usher. A police officer went with her. Zenna watched, waiting for a glimpse of her beloved. When he was escorted in, she could scarcely contain herself. She grinned, hoping that somehow God would shine on them and send him home with her in a little while. He smiled back, but it was slightly reserved. She hoped nothing too bad had happened.
“Please begin, Mr. Winchester,” the judge directed.
“Mrs Debbie Maxwell Cowan was married to Andrew Cowan in 1972, just before she accepted her first teaching job – at Ash Creek High School. In 1976, she was the senior class adviser – when she met Steve Nygaard, one of her students. Sheriff Clay, here, was another one of her students… as was David Hill, the brother of Patty Hill. In December that year, there was a Christmas party for the senior class. Patty Hill attended with her brother. Debbie’s husband, Andrew, also attended and spiked the punch. Several illicit rendezvous were completed that night. Steve and Debbie ended up in her bedroom together. Andrew took Patty to the basement. I believe even the Sheriff, if rumors are to be believed, ended up with someone that night.”
Zenna noticed Sid trying not to blush as she avoided the detective’s gaze. She looked at Matt as well, who was unable to look at her easily. She wished she could sit next to him or behind him – where Steve was now seated, a neutral expression on his face.
“Debbie Cowan kept the affair secret to everyone, knowing that she could be prosecuted for statutory rape because of her position of influence over Steve. She was still married, after all, she could pretend the baby belonged to her husband.
“Patty also became pregnant, but that one wouldn’t be easy to hide. About five months later, she disappeared. It was thought, at the time, that she had run away to Chicago where an aunt lived. But she never got there.”
The judge looked enraptured. “Go on...”
“I began reading through the pile of letters the moment I received them from the sheriff. She told me which ones to start with – ones that mentioned how shortly after Patty went missing, Andy gave Debbie an interesting anniversary gift – a rose bush. And he’d already planted it for her. She thought it was romantic – at first.”
♥♥♥
Back to chapter 1
Character Info and Notes
Available to purchase (in print) at Amazon. Ebook version coming soon. (As soon as Draft2Digital formulates the link.)
Image Credits
Matthew Nygaard
Genesis 8 by DAZ 3D Studio
Myles Beard by AprilYSH (sold through DAZ)
Adrian Hair by yitao0526 (sold through DAZ)
Hunt Pants by DragonBreath
Native American top by Pusey Designs
.
Zenna Williams
Genesis 8
Mitzy hair
Basic Wear by DAZ
Set
willow trees by Stonemason
fallen tree by Hivewire
grass by Erock 3D
background image from Pixabay
Previous Stories:
Catch up on LBRY.
Location:
Ash Creek is a fictitious town in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I've attempted to keep the spirit of the people as well as make liberal use of the Yooper accent/dialect. Yes, I've heard it spoken, but it's an inexact science, so please forgive me any errors and enjoy this work in the spirit with which I write... with deep love and affection for the area.
Please read my note on romance, teenage intimate relationships and underage sex. I apologize if my understanding conflicts with your sense of morality, but I'm only looking at things realistically, not ideologically. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing!
Writing and artwork copyright myself 2005-2105 – all rights reserved.
If you are interested in helping me publish these works, please contact me on Facebook or Discord, viking-ventures#2883.
Lori Svensen
author/designer at A'mara Books
photographer/graphic artist for Viking Visual
(Buy my work at RedBubble, TeePublic, PicFair and DeviantArt.)
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