Secrets in the Lowcountry--The River (39 page)

“I appreciate your help. J
ohnny mentioned you’d worked on several cases with him, but he didn’t share any stories.
”

“We understand you’re looking for a computer?” Jim asked, not adding any information about what happened either.

The sheriff accepted the reluctance to discuss the investigations and went on to explain why he needed the computer or at least a copy of
the hard drive.

Leroy liked the p
r
ofessionalism of the two men and
mentally thanked his cousin for his help. He knew that without Johnny signing off on him, none of this would be happening.
Police really don’t like other cops invading their territory.
“One additional piece of info not in the file
,
because we only learned about it
recently
,
concerns
Samuel
or
Bubba
LeFarge
. He bears a
strong resemblance to Rodney Pinckney.”

The State Troopers
listened closely
while the Sheriff spoke
.
T
hey
asked him a few questions and discuss
ed
the case
until all three had the same information
.

Davies’ partner filled Trotz in on what they were likely to find once they reached the farm.

“Sounds similar to the backcountry portion of
the Lowcountry,
rivers and creeks everywhere,
lots of small farms and properties, not many people,
but plenty of ‘gators and snakes,
” Leroy stated
, a smile showing in his voice
.

“About right,” both men agreed
and chuckled
.

While driving, each man had shared information and a few tales about their years as policemen. Since Leroy had no authority, he would observe and not act. Obviously, after twenty-five years, Jim approached any unknown area cautiously, which please
d
the sheriff since he would do the same
if positions were reversed
.

Two hours and five minutes after leaving the airport, Jim Davies turned onto a dirt road
,
almost tot
all
y hidden by forty plus feet
Loblolly pines, huge wax myrtle bushes
that resembled trees
, and various types of vines
that
overlay everything.
No sign greeted them
at the entrance
. For the next five minutes the patrol car rocked and rolled in and out of small ditches that bore little similarity
to any path
. Davies steered the vehicle carefully avoiding the deep
ruts
which lined the so-called drive and kept the car away from the trees that threatened to encompasses them.

“Look
s
like home?” Ray teased the sheriff.

“Yep! Or at least the way most of the county was twenty years ago. Don’t get me wrong, we could find a duplicate of this scene in certain areas even today.”

“Oh, the joys of civilization: drugs, gun runners, poachers,” Jim added.

The three men laughed
.

Shadows gave way to light as
the patrol
car
edged closer to
an
open area
. They
stopped
before the vehicle left the tree line
.

“Nice view of the river.
” State Trooper Jim Davies
turned off the
engine
and
uncurled his
body from the front seat.

The Sheriff noticed Davies
had
purposely left the Ford in the middle of the narrow road.

“Hear the fishin’ not bad
on this creek
, either,” replied Davis’
long-time
partner
as he strolled to the front of the patrol car
.

Jim
held up a finger sign
aling
silence an
d
then
checked the area.
Instantly the mood changed.
The
two State T
roopers
became one in their reactions
,
almost mirroring
one another
,
making words unnecessary.

Sheriff Trotz stayed behind and in
the middle between them
. Following his normal procedure when working with men he didn’t know, he took up an auxiliary spot
, one giving him a view of the area, yet not interfering with the primary investigator
or his
companion
.

At the end of the dirt road a
small, log cabin with
what appeared to be
a wrap-around porch
faced the water
in typical Southern style
.
The side, closest to the road and the men, contained two small windows, a door and a few steps leading up to th
e rear entrance;
t
he building
app
eared
in good shape
.
Off to the left almost
totally
hidden by a thick clump of bald cypress trees stood a barnlike structure, definitely not in pristine condition. To the right, a shed probably used to store small garden supplies
, fishing equipment, etc
.

Jim
glanced at his side-kick
, who
pointed to each of the structures in turn, and then gestured
to an area
hidden from
view
point
. He moved
to the right
quietly to see what had caught his partner’s attention.
  Sheriff Trotz shifted slightly, also, hoping to
view
what
caught
the Trooper’s
eye
.

To the left o
f the shed
and partially obscured from their
observation
position, a
n old, faded, red truck
rested.
Jim motioned to his partner and Leroy to edge back toward the
police
car. Once there, he spoke very softly,
“Sheriff,
stay here. Ray and I will check out the cottage. If so
mething happens, get on the radio
and call for backup. If things really hit the fan, I’ve a Glock under the front seat.”

Leroy nodded. He really wanted to go with them, but understood Jim’s reasoning.

“
Ray
,
check out the truck keeping close to the right side of the clearing.
I’ll approach the house via the left side, staying near the trees
and the barn
.
After
you give me the all clear regarding the truck, and I’ve
reach
ed
the shelter of the barn,
we’ll move to
the house.
You take the front door, nearest the river; I’ll handle the back. I’ll call out ‘Police’, wait a couple of minutes, call again and threaten to kick in the door. If there’s no response, I’ll smash the door. When you hear my kick, you match it with one on the front.”

“Got it,” said Ray.

The sheriff watched the two men closely. Each followed the plan exactly. Jim signaled and they moved as a
unit toward the cottage. Minute
s later, Leroy heard, “Police. Open the door, now.”

He
tensed. A few minutes passed before the door opened. A
tall,
well-proportioned man stood
in the doo
rway. Back light prevented Leroy
from seeing any features. He forced himself to stay with the vehicle and wait for the all clear
w
hen
Jim call
ed
, “Ray, the front
door’
s unlocked, check the house, while I keep Mr. LeFarge company.”

LeFarge? Delilah said her parents were dead. And DNA identified her brother, so who’s this?
Leroy could scarcely contain his curiosity.
Dang, I want a piece of this.

After what seemed to be hours, but in reality was only ten minute
s, according to his watch, he
heard his name.

“Sheriff, come listen to this story.”

The State troopers stood one on either side of the man in the doorway.
As
Leroy
drew nearer
the cottage, his eyes opened
wide
. “
Holy Crap! Rod Pinckney!
I never …”

“Definite
identification, Sheriff Trotz?”

“Definite!” he responded
as he walked within two yards of the man
. “Can’t wait t
o hear your tale, Mr. Pinckney.

“Jim, at the very least we have identity theft and falsifying his own death.”

The trooper nodded.
“I don’t think our suspect will try to flee, but let’s
search him,
hook him up and put him in the car.”

His partner
, after a quick but thorough pat-down,
put th
e
handcuffs on Rod. T
he two policemen headed to their vehicle
, with the sheriff trailing in their wake
. They carefully stowed their suspect in the back seat. “Ray, call this in, will you?
And read him his rights.
”

He nodded.  

Turning toward Leroy, Jim said, “Sheriff, while we’re here and waiting for backup to arrive, let’s check the property.
”

Leroy knew Jim must protect the area and preserve any evidence found
, but he really wanted to see what evidence might be available regarding the scam Rod had set up
.
As the
y walked toward the house, he
said, “
Since we found my missing man,
I’d like to check inside for his computer and papers. Too
many good folks lost money. M
aybe there’s a chance to recover some if the computer’s here.”

“While you do that, I’ll
examine the out-buildings. Never can tell what people hide in barns or sheds.” The two split up.

Entering through the
open
back door, Leroy allowed his eyes to adjust to the dim light. Quickly, but thoroughly, he surveyed the area
starting on the left side of the room
.
A
brick
fireplace
occupied the center of that wall; o
n
either side of the large fireplace and about a yard from the hearth stood
two large couches
.
Straight ahead and to the left side of the fron
t door, a desk and a computer, t
he Sheriff couldn’t belie
ve
his luck.
Although he wanted to check this out, h
e continued
his methodical inspection.
On the side directly
opposite
the fireplace,
a
partially ajar
door, possibly leading to a bedroom,
next
a kitchen, large enough for a table and four chairs
, plus the normal appliances found in homes
.
He pulled out his cell, made a call to his office, and then started taking pictures.

“
Leroy.” Jim walked in the open door. “I
f you’re finished here
, let me show you the barn.”

Walking
with purpose
toward the dilapidated structure, the Sheriff
matched Jim stride and wondered what the trooper had found.

Leroy peered at the man, but no expression showed on his face.

Pushing aside the twisted vines and carefully avoiding the thorns growing
on most of the plants
that
shelter
ed
the barn, Jim
and Leroy
slid th
rough th
e
slightly
ajar
door
into the barn. Th
e
Trooper
pulled a large flashlight from his utility belt and slowly circled the vaulted building. Old tractors of various sizes, many without tires of any type, greeted them.
Other equipment, some unrecognizable, but in similar condition filled the space
, making moving difficult
.
Jim w
ended his way through the metal wrecks t
oward the back and far right
section of the building
.
Leroy stayed close behind.
A side of an
old motor home, with its windows fog
ged
over,
prevented them from going any further. “
An old plastic
tarp
covered the vehicle.
I pulled and shoved
it
off to the front
. Take a look inside.”