Branded for Murder (24 page)

Chapter 57

This was his third visit to her home. He was fortunate the road followed the peninsula which stuck out beside her house. He knew from earlier visits if he followed the small path which led down to the water, he could get an unobstructed view of the back of her house. He also knew there were no window coverings, because of the privacy provided by the lake.

It was cold outside but he would soon be warm. His first visit allowed him to gain access to her home. They must have been away for the holiday. Even the dog was elsewhere. He enjoyed the time he spent in her house, looking at family photos displayed on the walls and piano. He left her a small token which will make an impression in the future.

His second visit was worth the long drive from the city. He speculated after this visit, that she must have a nightly routine. She played with the dog, did her exercises, followed by a shower and bed. She was alone that night, as there was no car in the driveway. However, while he watched her, he heard a car stop on the road above him. He heard muffled young-male voices, deciding they came to watch her as well.

Tonight he brought binoculars, to get up close and personal with her. It was so cold outside, the binoculars were fogging, so he decided to walk down to the frozen lake and over to the back of her house. He was soon in her back yard, watching as she finished in the kitchen. She went into the bedroom and began undressing. He did the same. She was soon nude and so was he. He thought about joining her now.
Why wait any longer?

He sat on the snow covered picnic table while she started her exercise routine.
She’s still as beautiful as he remembered her.
He felt the scars from his last encounter with the girls. He didn’t feel the cold on his body anymore. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hooting from the hill. He couldn’t see them, but heard their laughter. He hoped they couldn’t see him. Helen was still doing her exercises, but the dog heard their noise and came to the slider barking.

He watched Helen get up and come to the back of the house. He tried to hide behind the table. The backyard was soon filled with the bright lights from several spotlights. If she couldn’t see him, she must have seen his clothes piled on the picnic table. He heard the sound of the slider, knowing what was coming next. He couldn’t wait any longer.  He stood, grabbed his clothes, and started running toward the lake. The hoots from the hill filled the night air. He looked back to see the dog running towards him and Helen trying to cover herself.

His feet hurt from the ice covered snow still on the lake, but he kept running toward the path leading back up the hill. The teenagers must have realized they could also be seen. He heard doors close and the car speed off. He wondered why the dog hadn’t followed him onto the lake and up the hill, but he was thankful. He knew Helen had seen him and would be calling the police by now. His only chance was to make it out of the lake area before the police arrived.

He was now on the peninsula road. He could see the bright lights of her back yard, the dog standing there looking towards him, barking his brains out. His heart was beating so fast he could hear his pulse beating in his ears. He put on his pants, shirt and shoes, skipping the underwear. He knew he didn’t have time to get fully dressed.

He got in his car, taking off without his headlights, until he was far enough away to feel comfortable. He heard sirens in the distance, knowing he only had a few minutes before they would see his car. There were small cabins and mobile homes along this section of road, but only a few driveways were shoveled out. He switched off the headlights, turning into the next plowed driveway. He shut off the car and ducked down.

The flashing lights of a police car lit up the area and he heard the police car zoom past. He started to get up, but saw the lights of another police car approaching. He ducked down again, and that car roared by. He sat up and looked around. The blue lights were headed in the direction he came from. Then the area was lit up with bright lights from the mobile home. He could see a man looking out the front door. He started his car, turned on his lights and backed out the driveway, hoping the guy didn’t see his license plate.

He was breathing fast, his heart was still racing. He was in the clear, with about a mile to go, but it required snaking his way out of the maze that was Baboosic Lake Road. Before he reached the main road, he saw flashing blue lights reflecting off the snow and the trees. Slowing down, he knew there was nothing he could do at this point but hope not to attract any attention. The blue lights were brighter. He figured there was a road block around the corner.

Rounding the corner, he saw the police car blocking a portion of the road. The police car spotlight was shining on another car, where four young men were being questioned by the police officer. He drove around the police car, watching heads turn as he passed. He could feel his head throbbing, looking in the rearview mirror to see if the cruiser was coming after him. About five minutes later he was on the main road, not seeing any cruiser.

Driving several miles over the speed limit, he wanted to get as far away from this area as he could.
I’m damn lucky I wasn’t caught by the dog or the police tonight. I can’t chance doing that again, but I have to thank Helen for the super show. It will give me something to think about when I’m alone. The teenagers might not want to tell the police about seeing him which would prompt some questions about what they were doing. But Helen is sure to report seeing a naked man in her back yard. Maybe now she will find the present I left in her nightstand.

Chapter 58

I was reviewing material when Mike came in the office area. “Scott we have a new development. Want to take a ride?”

“Sure, what’s up?”

“Get your coat and I’ll explain on the way.”

I could tell by his animated movement that Mike was excited. As soon as I was seated in the car he backed out of the parking space behind the office, quickly heading away from Harvard Square. “Here’s what happened. Last night Helen Ryder had a visitor in her back yard.”

He continued, spitting out the words, “She was being watched by a naked man in her back yard. Helen was doing her normal exercise routine, which she admitted to police she does sans clothes. She heard something and her dog Harry heard it as well and started barking. She went to the rear slider and turned on the light. She witnessed a naked guy grab his clothes and take off running toward the frozen lake. She also saw a group of boys on the road beside her house, running to their car and speeding away. She immediately called the police.”

He looked at me while shaking his head, continuing, “The Amherst and Merrimack police departments dispatched units to her house. They intercepted a vehicle fleeing the lake area with teenagers inside. They questioned the teenagers, who after their parents were called, finally admitted drinking and watching Helen. More importantly, they witnessed the guy sitting at her snow covered picnic table. The guy was stark naked. The police never knew about the guy until later, not seeing anyone but the teenagers.”

“Where are we headed?” I asked.

“We’re stopping at the Amherst police station to get a copy of the report. Then we are going to Helen’s house. She told the police we had visited her and asked questions about the recent murdered women. She gave them my number. She is very concerned about the incident, not so much about the teenagers as she is about the guy on her property. The police did a quick process of the scene, and noted there were two sets of footprints in the snow, one with bare feet and the other set with either boots or shoes. The police are concerned he may have gained entrance to her house several days prior.”

“Wow. Do you think it’s the strangler, Mike?”

“Given her two friends being murdered, I would have to say I think it’s our guy. Why he was doing what he was doing is beyond me, but if it was him, she’s very lucky.”

*.*.*

Mike stopped at the Amherst police station, which wasn’t much of a facility. He introduced himself and talked with the chief. The chief gave him copies of the officer reports from both towns.

“Chief, we appreciate your timely call to our office. We’re concerned this might have been the guy who committed the two recent strangling murders in Massachusetts. Mrs. Ryder knew those two murdered women and may be the next target. We’re going to talk with her when we leave here. Do you want to accompany us?”

“Mr. Miller, I would say under the circumstances Mrs. Ryder would be more comfortable talking with you. She was pretty upset last night. I think the appearance of more uniformed police officers could be unproductive. However, if you need our assistance in the future, we would be happy to assist. You can expect the same from the Merrimack authorities. Good luck.”

*.*.*

Less than ten minutes later, I was helping Mike maneuver his way to Helen’s house. He stopped at the top of the hill beside her house, checking out the view.

“Scott, I can see how the teenagers could have stopped here to observe Helen. They might have done this on a regular basis, or when her husband’s car was not in the driveway. Any view down the hill to the lake would have improved the view.”

“Mike, I don’t understand what possessed him to do what he did last night? Do you think he would have entered her home had things been a little different?”

He looked over at her house again and down the slight hill. “I can’t say for sure, but we should be thankful regardless that we’re just asking questions today instead of something else. Let’s go talk with Mrs. Ryder.”

We pulled into the driveway. Harry came bounding over to greet us. Helen yelled to him, he stopped short, and went walking back to her looking over his shoulder at us.

“Mrs. Ryder we’re glad you’re okay. Thank you for alerting the police to our visit. We would like to talk to you about last night if we can.”

She held the door open for us. Harry ran in first and we followed. “Mr. Miller you can call me Helen. Would you like some coffee, it’s already made. How about you, Scott…right?”

Mike responded, “You know a cup of coffee would be great. I’m sure Scott would like one also. Please call me Mike, if that’s okay with you.”

She smiled, went to the kitchen, and came back in just a few short minutes with a carafe, cups, milk and sugar.

Mike and I prepared our cups while Helen reiterated what happened last night, and then asked, “Do you think he was the strangler?”

Without hesitation, Mike answered immediately, “Well, Helen it seems too much of a coincidence not to be the guy. I think you might be very lucky.”

We were seated on the sofa, but she was still standing with her arms clasped around her chest. “Mike, are those copies of the police reports?”

“Yes they are. We stopped at the Amherst police station and talked with the chief.”

“Well then it makes it a little easier to mention I was exercising in the nude. I don’t know if this was the first and only visit by this guy, but he knew enough to bring a pair of binoculars. Oh, I forgot to tell the police, I saw him running with his clothes in one hand and the binoculars in the other.”

“Yes we know about how you were doing your exercises. This is your home and you’re free to do as you see fit. However, now that you know people can observe the back of your house from the lake or the hill over there…well you might think differently about it. I would like to ask you about what the police say are two sets of footprints. What can you tell us about that?”

“Two sets?
I don’t know about any of that. I saw the guy was naked, obviously enjoying the view, but I don’t know anything about what they found.”

Mike looked past her to the back yard and then added, “Helen, the police report a set of footprints showing shoe prints leading up to the picnic table. There were bare feet tracks around the picnic table. They also found another set of shoe prints leading from the lake to your bedroom window, then back to the lake. That set was made earlier, but they couldn’t tell how many days ago.”

She put her hand to her mouth, went over to a nearby chair, and almost fell into it. I couldn’t see her face as she had it down against her chest. Mike didn’t say anything, but got up and got a glass of water from the kitchen, handing it to her.

She drank some of it. “Thank you.” She looked white as a ghost.

Mike offered, “I’m sorry Helen, I should have been more sensitive. When is your husband due back?”

“I called him this morning. He is driving back from Maine. He should be home shortly.”

“Good. Are you going to be okay?” Mike asked, and she nodded her head. “Helen, do you think you could show us your bedroom. I would like to see if anything has been disturbed.”

She took a deep breath, nodding and motioning us to follow her. She stood at the doorway to the master bedroom, but still had her arms folded around herself.

“Helen, may we open some drawers. I would like you to observe the drawers to see if anything has been disturbed.” She nodded again. Mike went over to her husband’s side of the bed. I watched as she slowly walked over, standing behind him. Mike opened the top drawer of the nightstand. She looked as if a snake was going to pop out of the drawer. She shook her head and he opened the second drawer with the same response.

Mike went over to the other nightstand and looked to see if she was close enough to see the contents. He opened the top drawer. She jumped back immediately.

Mike, seeing her reaction, looked more closely. There in the center of the drawer was a piece of red paper with a burned circle and capital H inside it. Helen looked like she was convulsing, bending at the waist repeatedly. She went running for the bathroom. We left her alone for a few minutes.

*.*.*

We helped ourselves to more coffee, giving her as much time as she needed. We were seated on the couch when she came back in. She went into the kitchen, coming back with a glass of bourbon. She took a large swallow, sitting back down in the same chair as before.

Mike asked, “Are you going to be okay?”

“I’m going to be okay,” she said, taking another sip of the drink. “This is getting too much to handle. First, my two childhood friends are killed, then a naked man in my backyard, and now it looks like he was right beside my bed.” She pondered for a moment then added, ‘You know he couldn’t have been inside with the dog home. He must have come during the holiday when we were away for a few days with Harry.”

“Helen, I’ll go in and bag that note.” He started to get up, but she held up her hand.

“Wait please.” She almost yelled it. She again looked like she was searching for words. “I have something to tell you.”

Mike and I both drank our coffee in unison. I looked over at Mike and he sat back against the couch.

Very shortly, Helen started to quietly tell us. “First of all, I was not one of the camp counselors. I never had one of the branding irons that the girls had. I saw all of their brandings on things around the camp, especially on their personal items.” She took another sip from her glass, which was almost empty now.

She offered, “There was an incident during the summer which might help shed some light on things…maybe, or maybe not. However, it just came to mind when I saw what was in the drawer. The four of us were water skiing and had stopped to switch skiers. Another boat with four handsome guys our age came over, grabbing onto our boat. Some sexual innuendoes were exchanged. Before anyone knew it, Karen got up and went over to their boat.

Helen was getting animated telling the story. “Well she planted a kiss on the handsomest guy, and I’m talking one
long and passionate
kiss. We were all hooting and hollering. The other guys were contemplating their next moves, when Karen yanked down the guy’s swimsuit. He was shocked and excited about the kiss, but before he knew it she pushed him back onto the seat and threw his suit over the side of the boat. She climbed back into our boat, blew them a kiss and drove our boat away.”

I was smiling. Mike remarked, “I guess I can picture all of that happening when the hormones are raging.”

Helen held up both her hands, commenting, “Yeah, but what she said to Phyllis and Charlotte was even more revealing. It went something like ‘…maybe we should have pulled all of their suits down, putting our marks on them.’ The girls all laughed, but I felt like the odd man out, not quite understanding it at the time. Now I think I do.”

*.*.*

We spent another hour or so with Helen. Part of the time was spent talking with her husband, who arrived home before we left.

Mike headed back to the office. “Well Scott, I think we’re getting closer to the strangler. What do you think?”

“I agree with you. I’m glad Helen related that story to us. Your earlier scenario about the girls maybe having branded someone, and now actually hearing a reference to something like that…well it completes the puzzle.”

Mike had a frown on his face, looking over at me briefly. “What I can’t understand is why he left a warning to Helen. She had no part in the counselors branding someone. Is this guy just out of control?”

I thought about that for a few minutes, asking, “Do you think she’s going to be the next victim?”

Mike shook his head. “Scott, I have no idea. However, we can’t take a chance. This guy has spent some amount of time visiting Helen, possibly warning her. We just can’t take the chance.” Mike looked down at the note in a plastic folder. “I have to bring Paddy up to speed on this, and turn this evidence over to the state police for processing. I also think we need to make a detour to the Anderson’s again. Mrs. Anderson must know something about what happened the year she was pregnant with Lisa. I’m not going to call ahead to let her know we’re coming either.”

I stared out the window, noticing how different the snow looked on the side of the road from when Lisa and I were skiing. It’s not clean and pristine any longer.

Oh shit—here we go again!