Silver Wilderness Range Read online

  “They were going to have lunch together. On the way out to pod search.”

  “So?” Royce questioned.

  Their radios were filled with static for a moment. Then Nick repeated, “Terry asked Sam out on a date.”

  “A date?” Her voice became louder with amazement. “You said a date?”

  “Yep. Those two. Surprised me, too. But she asked him out to dinner. Sam told me he was shocked.”

  “I think Terry just wants to improve their working relationship.”

  “Why call it a date?” Nick was puzzled.

  “Oh my gosh,” Royce exclaimed. “I mentioned to Terry that maybe if they went out for a beer or a dinner, or something, it might break down the barriers.”

  Nick was giggling. “One of those little breaking down barriers dates.”

  “Nick, they need to work together. She’s not interested.”

  “Before she asked him out, he wasn’t interested.”

  Royce buried her head in her hands. “I need to catch a call.” When she hung up, the sheriff felt a panic. A date.

  The morning murder scene wasn’t the worst part of the day after all.

  Chapter 15

  The morning chill was warmed with a breakfast of ham and eggs. There was also a side of butter slathered biscuits. Gran’s Gold Rush Buttermilk Biscuits were always a welcomed treat. After eating, Royce took her coffee to Gran’s enclosed porch. She sat on the wooden swing. Chance was at her feet.

  During breakfast, Gran couldn’t stop praising Chance for finding the murder weapons. Chance was always aware of when she’d done something praise-worthy. She seemed grateful each time praise came her way.

  When she was a pup, Chance not been praised. The smart and sensitive shepherd had been aware that she was being scolded and teased when she was taking her K-9 training. The trainer mocked her, and called her ‘not a chance’. She was also called flunky.

  Nick brought the young dog to Royce. With love and kind training, Chance was turned into one of the best K-9s in Colorado. She’d helped with major cases. When she was praised, Chance acted as if the kudos meant the world to her. She knew the Sheriff’s moods, and often soothed Royce, just by being there.

  Chance sensed that Royce was in need of quiet. Nothing should interrupt her thought.

  Royce’s mind was considering the possibilities of the crime. If Eileen and Verner had suspected Alec of drugs, it would only make sense that they would bring Larry into the mix. If he wasn’t already a strong partner in the killing. Easily, Eileen could have enticed her husband to kill. At one time, he had paid the bills and encouraged her in her financial endeavors. She had wanted him to make her a country singing star. They both settled for the Colorado homestead. Finally, their dream of wealth, and owning the homes and property of elderly patients as they died off.

  Larry would have been able to put that tripping setup together. Tie the rope around a tree stump along the sheer side of the trail. Allow it to be hidden under the trails gravel. Stand behind bushes with the other end of the rope. Hide, and wait. Trip the bike, and watch as Alec’s body careened down the rocky sheer. Larry would know how to make a small club out of a limb. He would cover his trail. He would know how. And he would have been capable of the crime.

  They all knew Alec biked mornings. None of them cared about Alec. Had Alec known about bilking the senior’s land, and been a part of it? He put some of the deals together. Or was he innocent about the conspiracy to defraud? He figured it out, and confronted whichever of the three that were in on the fraud. Had his being greedy and demanding money made him a threat to the deal? His lavish lifestyle took huge amounts of money. Was he blackmailing them, and they wanted Alec quieted?

  And what was the doctor’s role in it? Was he implicated in Alec’s death? He could easily be complicit. Royce had heard that he charged a sizable fee each time he looked in on a patient. Overcharged, according to one report. He had in the past been accused of Medicare fraud.

  Although he was on-scene immediately after the murder was discovered, he had an alibi. He was in surgery, and left surgery to rush to where the body was discovered. He hadn’t committed the homicide.

  Eileen seemed to be the lynchpin working the fraud. She was aware of the players and the victims. And she kept tabs on the Center’s charges, as well as the arrangement to trade off the homes for a free room in the Center. She would not have likely been in control of the doctor’s charges, but she would have known about them.

  No one liked Alec. The Center’s staff tolerated him. The owners tolerated him. Did he add enough to the plot of stealing other people’s life savings? Were the payments of his bonuses blackmail? Or perhaps he was good at selling the scheme to seniors. That implicated him. The perp could be any one of the disgruntled staff members. The perp could as easily have been a harassed woman, or a jealous intern. The former paramedic had been quickly promoted to director. And perhaps it was the X-unknown killer. A jealous woman. Someone he angered. Or a patient. A patient’s family that saw their inheritance siphoned away. Royce would broaden the investigation.

  Royce’s phone rang. Ben Prichard had just received the email containing news about the DNA. Not to her surprise, the trace DNA evidence had been compromised. The rope and club had been soaked. Royce was however, amazed that Chance had still found the items. She guessed that the German shepherd had tracked from the shoe/boot trail scent.

  They had a plaster cast and photos of the footprints, and they would be checking that. Royce was disappointed. She’d hoped for one good speck of DNA. One less ingredient to the solution of the murderer.

  ***

  Driving toward the Silver Wilderness Center, Royce continued wondering if they would ever figure out the scheme of it all. She turned onto the driveway, then saw Larry Austin’s pickup truck parked back by the corral.

  On an off chance that he would be as blabber mouthed as he had been on her last visit, she parked beside his truck and saw him coming out to the house. Chance followed after Royce. When Royce stopped, Chance hunched down to sit beside her.

  Larry glared. “Sheriff, we got the news about poor Alec’s accident.”

  “You must not have received all the news. It wasn’t an accident.”

  He leaned back against the fencepost. “The hell, you say.”

  “We’re treating it as a homicide.”

  “Sounds like an accident to me. The guy rode off the trail and down the sheer.” He scratched his scraggly beard.

  “Whoever helped him go off the road knew it was steep. An almost vertical descent. The fall would most certainly kill him. A trap was set.”

  Royce studied Larry’s face. She wondered if he was showing shock because he just realized Alec’s death was a homicide, or he was shocked that the sheriff was aware that it was a murder case.

  His whiskered face appeared more sunken than before. His mouth wobbled. “Nobody here wouldda killed him.”

  “You wouldn’t have?”

  “Naw. If I was gonna kill anyone, it’a been that sonofabitch Seth.”

  “Maybe you killed them both.”

  “I never killed either one of them.” His eyes shifted as he appeared to be sorting his story.

  “Was it the doctor?”

  “He didn’t take to Alec, but he wouldn’t kill anyone.”

  “You wife?”

  Larry took a step toward Royce. His hands balled into fists. Chance stood at attention. “You have no right to say anything about my wife. She works her ass off takin’ care of those old folks. She’s a saint. We got awards for giving topnotch geriatric care!”

  “I don’t need an infomercial from you. Just tell me who you think did murdered Alec?”

  “We’re broken up about it. We didn’t harm him. Alec was a playboy so he could a made one of his little cowgirls mad. Maybe he pissed off that cute nurse, Amber. I heard her screaming at him. I thought she was going to clock him.”

  “For what? What was she screaming?”

  “S
he wanted him to leave her alone. Probably a lover’s spat. He never wouldda done more ‘en play her. He was a lady’s man.”

  “Larry, let me know if you hear of anyone else that might want him dead. I’m going to arrest someone for Alec’s murder.” She started to return to her vehicle, then she rapidly turned. “And if we find Seth’s body, I’ll be arresting that killer, too.”

  “I killed no one,” Larry yelled.

  “I’ll find out if you did,” loudly spoke over her shoulder. “Someone killed him. Someone hated him and killed him.”

  “Now you see here,” Larry followed after her. “It wasn’t nobody at the Center. I can swear to that. And I didn’t kill him. And I didn’t hate him. I hated Seth Egan, with reason.”

  Royce returned to her vehicle. Chance could sense her anger. Normally, the shepherd sat patiently by the outside of the vehicle. The sheriff was glad that Chance was with her. Her attack stance was impressive. Larry kept his eyes on her throughout the conversation.

  Crawling into the SUV, Royce uttered, “Glad you were with me, Chance. Larry has a healthy respect for you. Let’s go over to the Center. You have yourself a rest. Then you can intimidate the wadding out of the other suspects.”

  ***

  Royce entered the Silver Wilderness Center. She walked by the main desk, toward the ward where Daisy had been kept. She watched everything. The staff was going about their business, and everything looked normal. Aides assisted patients with walkers. Families pushed wheelchairs that carried their loved ones. All normal, Royce considered. She glanced in a few rooms where patients were occupying their time watching TV, or doing puzzles.

  The feel was more like when she visited Gran’s friend, Bonnie Laird. Royce, nor Gran, questioned that Bonnie was getting good care. When Royce entered after Daisy had escaped, it was different. It had a different feel to it when Bonnie was there.

  But today, it was again different. The employees were feigning cheer and delight. It was as if the facility was scrubbed clean, organized, and wearing a Sunday dress, with a ribbon in its hair. The bow was just so. It somehow seemed staged. When she’d been there before, Royce had walked through the halls, and there was a dismal pall throughout the place. It seemed vacant.

  She found her way back to the office of Director Alec Zellner. She almost expected for Eileen to be there. And she was. “Eileen, I thought I’d find you here.”

  “I’m gathering Alec’s personal belongings.” She shut the computer down.

  “Alec’s death is now a murder case. That rather switches the narrative. But then I think you’ve been told that. I just had a chat with your husband, and I saw him reach for his phone when I left. I guessed that you’d be in Alec’s office.” She paused.

  “Yes. I’m not rummaging around, just collecting his private belongings.”

  “Has the D.A.s office contacted you about wanting to see his belongings?”

  “They just a moment ago mentioned it.”

  “I know, because I was in contact with the D.A. before he called you. Well, I’m thinking they’ve already got the search warrant. So, I’ll just sit here and wait for their investigators to arrive. Maybe the D.A will want to take a peek first before you rummage.”

  Pulling out her phone, Royce called Mike’s office. “Mike, do you have the warrant for Alec’s office yet?” Royce watched while she waited. Eileen’s face was becoming more blanched as she sat in the chair opposite the desk.

  “We do have confidential files!” Eileen’s voice was breaking up, yet she attempted to speak with authority.

  “I’m sure you do. And they’ll stay confidential. You can take that to the bank.”

  “You’re acting as though you think I killed Alec. For God sakes! We worked together. I certainly wouldn’t harm him. Or anyone.”

  “I don’t know who killed him. I believe that some light will be shed on the crime when we find out more. Like what’s on his computer. And why you’re so interested in it.”

  “I told you. Our patient’s privacy is of utmost concern to us.” She clamped her hands around the side of the computer.

  “My utmost concern is to take a murderer off the streets. Who do you think killed Alec? And do you have any thoughts on why he was murdered?”

  “I have no idea. I was under the assumption that it was an accident.”

  “Can you give me a list of his enemies? I’m aware he didn’t like Seth.”

  “Seth would intrude on Alec constantly. All of us. Break in when we were working. He would bluster and at times need to be put in restraints. Look, when you came here looking for Seth, I told you that someone like Seth has all kinds of enemies. I told you that. Alec may not have been liked, but there was not hatred against him. That I was aware of, anyway. He’s had little spats with many of the staff members, and a few of the patients and families. That’s standard.” She hesitated, her eyes blinked rapidly. “I’m sure many would have liked to punch him. But not kill him.”

  “One more question. Anyone in his personal life that might have liked to kill him?”

  “He had a complicated private life. He never dated a woman more than a couple of times. Trust issues. But most of his women friends knew he was only interested in a good time.”

  “Did Dr. Verner get along with Alec?”

  “The doctor is only here a few afternoons a week. They had very little interaction. I think the doctor considered him shallow. They weren’t friends, but they were cordial.”

  “And you – were you cordial, friendly, or tight knit confidants?”

  “We ran a business together. As administer, I was in charge of him. He was the director. In-house director. We do have a board of directors.” Eileen appeared jittery. Her scowl intensified. “Alec and I didn’t fight.”

  “Before I leave I’d like a board of directors list.” Noticing Eileen’s nervous twitching, Royce asked, “You would have no reason to want him dead?”

  “None whatsoever.” She stood as D.A Mike Parker entered.

  He handed an envelope to Eileen. His assistant, a young woman, followed with empty boxes.

  After introductions, Royce watched as they went through the desk, and a small walnut file in the corner. Eileen reached into one of the cardboard boxes and pulled out a file. “Yes, this is the list of Silver Wilderness Center’s Board of Directors that you wanted.” She handed it to Royce.

  “Thank you,” Royce said as she took the file. Eileen’s eyes were malicious and threatening. That kind of emotion, Royce thought, would have been great for the administrator’s previous singing career. Undoubtedly, Eileen was probably wondering why she left her unsuccessful and trashy life of a down and out country and western singer. The sheriff pondered why she had used the derogatory thought of trashy. If not trashy, why would she have left with someone like Larry?

  Eileen sneered. “Don’t bother thanking me. You barge in here with accusations and little more.”

  “A little more. A warrant to search.” While the D.A. and his assistant continued to search, Royce and Eileen glared at one another. The sheriff leaned near to the shocked Eileen. “When this is brought down, we’re going to throw it all at you. And anyone else colluding in this.”

  When Mike and his assistant had loaded two boxes, Mike shrugged. He carefully placed the computer in the side of one of the boxes. Then he, his assistant, and Royce left.

  By the time he reached the car, Mike shook his head. “We were on our way. That’s why we got here so soon.”

  “I thought you were doing your Batman impression,” Royce joked.

  “We leave that for the strong arm of the law. The Sheriff’s Office does the heavy lifting,” he teased. When she began to laugh because they were carrying the boxes, Mike instructed, “Justine, the Sheriff just offered to carry your heavy load.”

  Grinning, Royce said, “I will be glad to open the car doors for you.”

  “By the way, Sheriff, great observations on the murder scene.” He stuck the carton in the backseat of his car.<
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  “We are going to clean up the Silver Wilderness Center. And find the murderer,” Royce sounded optimistic.

  “Just stay away from ledges and cliffs, Sheriff.” Their eyes met. “I’m serious. Someone devised a plan to make it look as if it was an accident. Whoever it was might have gotten away with it.”

  Royce gazed away. “Now if only we knew the person. And could apprehend the perp, that person wouldn’t have gotten away with it.”

  Mike was silent a moment. “However, as of now, there is a killer on the loose.”

  Chapter 16

  That morning, the young nurse seemed upset when Royce knocked on her door. “Sheriff, you said you’d be careful about talking with me. I don’t want to get in trouble.”

  “Amber, we’re interviewing all of the Silver Wilderness staff. Everyone. May I come in and talk with you?’

  She opened the screen door and led Royce to the kitchen table. Royce was seated. “I have nightmares about losing my job. Sheriff, Crystal Hospital has a list of nurses and healthcare workers that want to work there. The Center has a list just as long. I need to be here in Timber. It’s my home. I’ve got to help my family.”

  “I understand that. But events have changed. There’s been a murder. The first question is about your dealings with Alec. I know that he made it uncomfortable for you. Harassment. Also, I need to know if you’ve recently walked the Wilderness trail where the murder occurred.”

  “I’ve been there. It’s not far from the Center, so I’ve hiked during my noon hour. A couple times during the morning hours.” Her shoulders sagged as she plunged down on the chair’s seat. “Most of us were on the trail at one time or another.”

  “Were you aware that Alec biked that trail in the mornings?”

  “Everyone knew that. He bragged about his expensive bike. How much money he paid for it. We all knew he rode mornings. He made a big production out of it.”