***
Arriving at the scene, John's first emotion was despair. How could these things ? all these things be going on in his town; my town, he thought. As he got out of his cruiser and walked slowly toward the crime scene he began to feel disgusted. Who could do such a thing to children, he thought. How could someone live with themselves after doing such a thing to a ? to a ? a child; to children?
Tom Scroggins approached Big John saying: "John ? I'm the one that found them this way, well my wife Mary and I happened on 'em. We were on our way home from the hospit ?" John interrupted. He wasn't' rude to Tom (who he knew well from around town), just wanted to begin his job of gathering facts.
"How long ago was that? Since you found them Tom?"
"Not long ago ? not more than twenty minutes I guess, but to tell you the truth I'm a bit shaken John, lost track a time ? I don't know really." Tom didn't notice, but John did ? Tom was shaking violently.
"That's OK Tom ? it's OK, just come on over here and sit down for a spell." John walked Tom to his own car. He sat Tom behind the wheel next to Mary. Mary hadn't moved from her passenger side seat the whole time. Big John thought she looked like she was in a trance; he said nothing to her.
Turning his mind back to the crime scene, John Long quickly noted that Tom had walked through the blood on the ground. Based on that blood still appearing somewhat fresh he surmised that the children were killed very recently. He then thought he should probably wait until the paramedics call them dead before he makes his final decision on that.
John returned to his police cruiser and called in both the ambulance and his officers; as well as the volunteer firemen. It wasn't long before the crime scene was swarming with folks; both appropriately there to help, and inappropriately there to snoop and see what had happened. John reminded himself that this is simply normal small town folk's behavior; but nonetheless he didn't like it. Rubberneckers he thought.
When the paramedics informed John that both of the children were indeed deceased he was not surprised. There was just too much blood to hope for survival. Big John noticed how pasty faced the paramedic looked. Even with fifteen years of experience the ambulance worker had never seen this type of thing; never been called on an ambulance run to somethin' like this.
After several hours of documenting, photographing, and searching for evidence John felt they'd done all they could to properly preserve and contain the crime scene. He realized that much of his evidence would probably be tainted by Tom Scroggins gettin' into the crime scene as well as the paramedics (although the paramedics should know better than to mess things up). Once everyone felt they were done with their duty they all came walkin' up to Chief of Police John Long, draggin' their feet with their heads down. They needed guidance, John recognized that.
"Ok ? ya'll bring 'em down," John said in a confident even tone. Leadership is what is needed now, he thought as he spoke the words.
"Alright," said one of the volunteer firemen, "bring the truck over and get the ladder up there". No one seemed to want to volunteer for the job but they all pitched in and did their part. They were as gentle as possible, which was hard considering just how well the children were tied up to the wire; by their small feet.
John watched as the fireman struggled to untie the knots. After several minutes Big John rolled his eyes and said: "Cut 'em down!" He didn't want all the rubberneckers gawking, oowing and ahhing all night long as the fireman tried to untie what were some hard knots.
"Anybody got a pocket knife?" John was astonished to hear this from the fireman tryin' to untie the knots. What fireman doesn't carry a pocket knife, he thought?
Finally a knife was handed up the ladder and the fireman began cutting the ropes. He wasn't thinking as he hadn't waited for someone to get under the victim, and the boy fell to the ground with a squishy sounding thud; right on his head. Several folks, in the crowd that had gathered around the crime scene, gasped in horror. John was furious.
"Ya'll pull your heads out of your asses and show some respect ? pick him up quickly and don't let that happen with the girl!" John didn't yell but there was urgency in his voice.
The fireman complied and the paramedics brought out the body bags. The crowd began to disperse once the children were in the black bags. John noticed how they only half filled those large bags; with their little child bodies.
As the paramedics were loading the children in the ambulance John wondered where the parents of the children were, why weren't they here? Hell ever'body in town knew what was going on. He wondered why the parents of these children hadn't put out a missing persons report. He'd heard nothing of the sort. After clearing his mind of the anger he felt towards what he initially thought of as bad parenting, he came to he realization that maybe ? just maybe the parents were asleep at home and thought their kids were asleep at home as well. That's probably it he thought. Surely that is what they think.
As the ambulance drove away and everyone cleared out and John dismissed his officers, he decided to remain on scene for a while. He sat on the curb and looked at the wet street where the fireman had washed the blood away with their hoses. He thought about how tomorrow that water will be dry and there won't be much of any sign of what happened right here at the intersection of Main Street and Highway 11; nothing but a lingering memory of what happened this night in his town of Barnsdall Oklahoma.
John took out a dip of snuff and looked up at the clear sky. All those stars he thought. He wondered what he could do to stop what was goin' on in his town. He thought about his wife and children. He worried about what they must be thinking of his ability to keep the town safe. His last thought on the subject was how, in the end, it would be clear that he was doin' a good job of enforcing the law and keeping the town safe. He had to believe that. He got in his police cruiser and drove home.
Emergency Meeting
The day after my classmates, Suzy and Sam Ingles, were found hanging from that stop light on Main Street there was a town hall meeting.
This emergency town hall meeting, as Mayor Tolson termed it was called by Barnsdall's normal channels: 1) Word of mouth and 2) and most important, it was announced over the police frequency. Ever'body knows most folks in our little town has one of those hand held scanners and listens intently to what comes across the airways; especially now after all that's happened. Word spread like wildfire.
Joe Tolson wanted to make sure ever'body still felt safe; well or to let them know they are still safe. Can you believe that? Only a politician would believe anyone in town would feel "safe" after these things had happened. Even Daddy had to admit that people were shakin' up pretty darn bad. I think even he was.
So the meeting was called down at the railroad tracks across from the post office. Seems Mayor Tolson believed there'd be quite a turn out, which there was, and he knew the small Barnsdall Town Hall wouldn't hold everybody. Lucky for us all it was a nice day.
Some of the City of Barnsdall employees had set up a podium on top of a flat bed trailer and had patched into the electricity at the school's bus garage to power the loud speakers sittin' at either end of the trailer. To me it looked more like a set up for a hog callin' contest than a "Town Hall Meeting".
As Mayor Joe Tolson stepped up onto the flat bed trailer he turned to give his wife Betsy a hand. She came along dutifully.
I've always thought it funny how politicians use their wives, or husbands could be used too I guess if the wife was the politician, and kids to ramp up their appeal. I mean they bring out they're family to say something like: "see I'm normal too, just like you", or "look how pretty my wife is ? doesn't that make me more attractive", or "see ? see ? I have 2.3 kids too just like all you proletariats". But politicians aren't workin' class. At least that's how I see it. They just want us to believe they are so we'll follow them. Maybe I'm just pessimistic 'cause of some of the negative things the Mayor has said to my Daddy over the years?
When
Joe stepped up to the podium and cleared his throat, he looked out upon a sea of people. It very well could have been the biggest gathering in Barnsdall history; even bigger than a Big Heart Day celebration. Seemed like there was most of the town folk there along with reporters and even folks from other towns just wantin' to know what was goin' on. It was quite a site.
My Daddy was to be part of the speech for the Mayor, that is that Daddy was gonna get up after the politician's opening remarks and help answer questions and concerns from the crowd, so Daddy, Johnny, Momma and I were back behind the trailer waitin' on Mayor Tolson's human sacrifice of Chief of Police John Long. I knew before Mayor Tolson opened his mouth that he wouldn't be takin' any responsibility for what was goin' on, suppose he shouldn't either, no rather he'd just duck and let the poop hit my Daddy right in the face. I was scared for Daddy, but when I looked over at him he looked just fine; not angry or scared. That made me feel better.
"Good day everyone," Mayor Tolson paused for a few people in the crowd to return the greeting; and of course for a couple of smartasses to say things like "what's good about it?" or "the good days seem to be behind us" or "I haven't seen a good day in a long while"; you know stuff like that.
"I'm glad we have such a good turnout to discuss the happenings in our town. This polarizing of our concern is a clear sign to me ? and should be a clear sign to you all ? that we are a strong community based town ? that Barnsdall Oklahoma CAN ? and indeed WILL get past the recent terrible events that have shocked ? saddened ? and enraged our community. There should be no doubt ? in the mind of whoever is doing these terrible acts, that we ? as a community ? will not stand for it and that you will ? here me now ? here us all now ? YOU WILL BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE!" Mayor Joe Tolson stepped back from the podium with a proud look on his face, and took his wife Betsy's hand and raised it to the sky. As expected the crowd roared in agreement. I didn't say Joe Tolson was a bad politician, he certainly knows how to rally the troops, just that well ? I don't really care for politicians ? not at all!
After a long moment of allowing the crowd to cheer, Mayor Tolson released Betsy's hand and stepped back to the podium slowly. He placed both hands on the side of the podium, looking like he was going to tip it over; gripping it hard. This was the politician's way of providing visualized anger; you know with his white knuckles and all.
"I want to thank you all ? Betsy and I want to thank you all," Joe looked over his shoulder at Betsy with a teeth gleaming smile; she grinned a girlish grin and nodded her head dutifully. "We want to thank you for your commitment to our community and your desire to resolve these terrible things that have been happening in our wonderful town of Barnsdall! Indeed your commitment is the same that I have ? indeed it is the same as your neighbors have ? the same we all have!" With this, again, Joe stepped back from the podium, just slightly, to allow the crowd to applaud again. Of course, they did ? but just a little shorter in duration this time.
Joe recognized he'd revved up the crowd enough now, he had them following him like whipped pups and was now ready to get down to business.
"With us all on the same page and moving in the right direction ? I'd now like to introduce the man responsible for the safety of our community." Mayor Joe Tolson didn't mean this as a soft punt, but a direct statement that it's not him, but Chief of Police John Long that hasn't been doin' his job, and that John Long is still responsible going forward to resolve these murders. Joe thought he termed his words perfectly to "pass the buck".
"Let me introduce to you a man you all know well ? our Barnsdall Chief of Police ? John Long. Chief won't you come up and talk to the folks?" With this Joe Tolson waved his hand back and pointed the crowd to look back at Daddy down behind the flat bed trailer. Joe stepped to the side of the podium, then back beside Betsy; strategically holding her hand with a look of dire concern. It was a look that was purely meant to keep the crowd knowing Betsy and Joe were deeply involved and worried; such a good politician.
Daddy didn't use the steps leading up to the flat bed truck; he's tall enough just to step right up on it. He walked passed Betsy and Joe, towering above them. His opposing presence was not lost on the crowd as he was clearly "the man", "the lawman"; Chief of Police John Long ? Big John Long.
"I'd like to start off by saying we are working hard to find the perpetrator of the recent crimes 'round here." Daddy sounded like a country bumpkin compared to Mayor Joe Tolson. One on one I think Daddy does a better job than Joe at talkin' to the town folk; you know 'cause he speaks their language better, after all he really is one of them. But in the forum Mayor Tolson picked, one by the way he surely knew would favor him, Daddy was at a clear disadvantage. He's just not that good of a public speaker.
"I'd also like to tell you that we intend to bring this person to justice and for these crimes to end quickly." Daddy looked out at the crowd; he thought he'd spoken the truth in a positive way, but what he got in return was a bit more than he expected.
"Workin' hard huh ? end quickly huh?" Shouted someone in the crowd.
"What the hell does that even mean?" Shouted someone else.
"Sounds like he don't know who the hell did it," said another.
"That's right ? he ain't got a clue," said another with an angry tone.
"Yeah!" Several people joined together on this, then the crowd went into loudly rumbling. I heard words like "dumb ass", "idiot", "Keystone Cops", "Barney Fife", "what about the children", "how can we ever feel safe again", and other stuff like that.
As this rumblin' went on for quite some time, Daddy just stood there without a movement. I looked over at Mayor Tolson and his perfect little wife and I swore ? yes I swore I saw him grin just a little bit. I really think he was enjoying all this ? I really do. He's just not a nice man. Not a nice man ? and surely not an honest man.
Finally the crowd quieted down and Daddy began to speak again.
"We sure appreciate ever'one's cooperation with the investigation. I know my officers have been canvassing the area and interviewin' many folks. We'd also like to ask anyone that has any information to please contact us to let us know." Daddy paused and took a step back, seeming to say all he wanted. The crowd didn't like this.
"That's it," yelled someone from the back of the crowd. "That's all you've got ? nothing ? that's what you've got! You want us to let you know if we seen an'thing? You want us to contact you if we have some info?" Again the crowd began to rumble this time with more than anger, but laughter as well. It was kind of embarrassing, though I don't think Daddy was embarrassed. I think he was insulted. That wasn't the worst of it.
As Daddy started to step back to the microphone Mayor Tolson decided to take the opportunity to stick a knife in Daddy's back. Joe quickly stepped in front of Daddy and got to the microphone.
"Ok ? ok everyone ? now I know Chief Long's words weren't exactly ? well comforting," Joe Tolson looked back over his shoulder, up at Daddy, with a look of disgust; then he looked back at the crowd with a proud grin. I could've pinched his head off ? I really could have! Such a smart aleck.
"But hear me out now folks," the Mayor continued. "Hear me out now ? I hope ? no, no ? I'm sure Chief of Police John Long here ? Johnny come on up here again," Daddy took a reluctant step forward to stand next to Joe, as Joe put his hand on Daddy's shoulder. "I'm sure John here is gonna take good care of us all. He knows what's been going on is unacceptable and he knows his job and future career relies upon him catching this killer ? and fast. Right Johnny?" Daddy didn't mask his contempt for Mayor Joe Tolson very well. He looked like he was about to through him right off the back a that flat bed trailer.
Daddy just leaned over to the microphone and said: "Yes."
"Good ? good ? see folks ? John gets it." Mayor Tolson sounded so condescending towards Daddy. It was just awful ? it sure was.
"Ok now why don't we have John answer some questions from the crowd ? who's got a question for Chief Long?" Joe Tolson knew th
e questions that would be comin' wouldn't be very pleasant; and he seemed to revel in it.
"I've got a question Joe," said Frank Stanek, a local Veterinarian.
"Ok Frank, go right ahead," said Mayor Tolson while looking out into the crowd.
"I'd like to know what our Chief of Police knows ? I want to know if he has any idea who might a done this, and what he intends to do about it!" Frank's voice got louder and more intense with every word he spoke, ending in a crescendo (another one of my recent spelling words c-r-e-s-c-e-n-d-o, meaning climax).
The crowd caught on to Dr. Stanek's intensity and the yellin' and rumblin' began again. Frank didn't help matters much when he turned around to the crowd and yelled: "Yeah ? yeah ? that's what I wanta know!" Right then he seemed more like a cheerleader than a Vet to me; certainly not worthy of Doctor anyways.
"Ok Frank ? ok everyone ? let's calm down now. Frank, I think that's a fair question, now let's let John answer it," Joe took a step to the side away from the podium and waved his hand to Daddy, showing him the way to the mic. "Your up Johnny," he whispered to Daddy (like a smartass I might add) as he did this. Daddy just glared at Joe.
"Well Frank," Daddy looked directly at the Veterinarian and spoke directly to him; ignoring the crowd really. "What I know is whoever's doin' these things is despicable. I also know that we will catch him and quickly." Daddy maintained a steady stare at Frank Stanek.
Frank looked confused. He obviously didn't want to have a direct argument with the Chief of Police, but he also felt his question wasn't answered ? fully. Frank was pleasantly taken out of the hot seat by Margie Hunter.
"That doesn't tell us anything Chief," Margie yelled from somewhere about in the middle of the crowd.
"Yeah, that's nothin' ? that don't tell us nothin'," shouted someone toward the rear.
"I agree, we're just gettin' the run 'round here," yelled someone else.
"Do you have any suspects or what?" Margie asked this time with a bit less of a mob mentality tone in her voice.
"Yeah what about it," shouted several different people, someone added a few cuss words in for good measure.
"That'll be enough a that cussin' ya'll ? we got children here so let's cut that out," said Daddy in a calm but assertive way. I guess folks listened 'cause no one cussed again.
"Margie ? to answer your question, we do have some individuals of interest at this point but it would be inappropriate to identify them as suspects. Our investigation will weed out who committed this soon." Daddy stepped back slightly from the microphone and immediately regretted it when Mayor Tolson weaseled in front of him to get to the mic.
"I'm not certain John has fully addressed the concerns of us all here ? so are there any other questions ? or comments." Joe had the most smug tone as he continued to artfully put Daddy down. Artful deception that's the definition of politics (or a politician) ? it is really ? look it up in the dictionary!
Anyways, the crowd continued to yell out negative things about Daddy's abilities, about how scared they were for their children, about how Daddy wasn't easin' folk's minds and stuff like that. Joe was eatin' it up ? I mean he should a had a bowl and a spoon he was eatin' it up so much.
Then, just about the time I thought things were gonna come to an end, Henry Roland (he was right up near the front of the crowd) broke out and said: "What we really need ? what would make us feel more comfortable ? would be for some state and federal law enforcement experts to come out here and lead the investigation." The crowd burst out in approval.
"This is a pretty big crime spree for any town, not just a small town, and it looks like we might even have a serial killer on our hands ? surely the feds and state police would be interested in puttin' a stop to this ASAP," added Mr. Roland for a bit more fuel to the fire.
"We can certainly see what we can do about that ? you know I think Chief John Long could use all the help he can get," said Mayor Tolson loudly to the crowd.
"I don't want 'em helpin' John ? I want 'em takin' over the case," replied Henry again with huge agreement from the crowd.
"We can see about having that take place as well," replied the Mayor with a quick glance, and grin, over at Daddy.
Daddy stepped forward, almost pushing Joe away from the microphone, and said: "I'll give you this ya'll ? I'll give you my word ? bringing in outside folks won't be necessary ? I'll give you my word right here and now that we will catch this crazy S.O.B. and do it fast. Now my word's my bond and it's always been good enough for this town before. Anyone out there want to question my word?" The crowd remained completely silent, no one wanted to directly insult Big John Long ? they knew better than ta' do that.
"Ok then ? we'll have this crazy murderer caught and brought to justice before you know it, now let's let me and my officer's get back to work on it. Thank you all for coming." With that Daddy stepped off the back of the flat bed trailer and took my hand. We quickly walked back to the car, Daddy holding my hand and Momma carrying Johnny. We were out of there, but before we got in the car I heard the closing remarks from Mayor Joe Tolson.
"Ok ya'll ? you heard him ? Chief John Long is taking personal responsibility for our town's safety and he is guaranteeing ? with his word and good name ? that he will quickly catch this killer. I'll keep a close eye on his progress but leave it up to him ? let's all leave it up to Big John for now. Thanks for comin' out." With those words from Joe Tolson the crowd slowly dispersed.
I could tell Daddy was on edge on the ride home. How could I tell? I could hear his teeth grindin' from the back seat. He didn't say a word.
An Arrest Is Made ? All Is Well
My Daddy's always been good to his word. You might not like what he says he's gonna do, but you can pretty much bank on the fact that he will do it. I knew Daddy meant serious business when he told that huge crowd down at the railroad tracks to take him at his word. I knew it wouldn't be long until he rounded up the killer ? and it wasn't.
Word travels real fast in Barnsdall but I still think I was one of the first to know that Daddy had nabbed the killer. Well, Momma, Johnny and I were the first to know anyways. See Daddy couldn't hold it in, he told us all about it at the dinner table that night ? you know the night he made the arrest. He said it wasn't more than twenty minutes before, so I'm not even sure the media was fully aware of it.
It surprised me that Daddy didn't call a press conference or somethin', but I guess he figured he'd leave the politickin' to Mayor Tolson. His job was law enforcement and he was real proud 'bout the job he'd done. Momma didn't even lecture him about pride bein' a sin that evening at dinner; she just let Daddy have his time in the sun.
"We got the son of a bitch!" Daddy blurted this out just after putting a heaping fork full of mashed taters in his mouth.
"John ? language please," Momma started with her normal routine.
"Oh gimme just a little slack tonight Katherine ? I got 'im!" Daddy smiled so big I could see nearly all his teeth ? and his mashed taters too. I hadn't seen a smile like that in a long while.
"Who'd you get? You mean you got the ? you got the killer?" Momma sounded excited.
"That's right hon, your husband nabbed the fella with his own two hands," Daddy put his fork down and raised his two enormous mitts up opened palmed to his captive audience. Johnny mimicked Daddy by opening his little hands up and stretchin' his arms out. Daddy reached over and gave him a high five. "High fiiiiiive!" yelped Johnny with a big grin.
"You got him Daddy?" I asked already knowin' the answer ? I just wanted to get into the fun as well.
"That's right Jessi ? ah Jessica," Daddy put a piece of steak in his mouth and took a big swig of beer.
"How'd ya do it hon, where'd you find him?" Momma took the words right out of my mouth.
"Oh ya'll don't wanta hear 'bout my boring day at the office now do ya?" Daddy was playing coy and doin' a darn good job of it.
"Wha?" I said. "What office?"
"Ho
ney your Daddy's just being smart ? aren't ya honey ? just bein' smart," Momma winked at Daddy as she rubbed my head.
"Oh I spose only a smart man could catch that killer ever'one's so damn scared of," Daddy replied while lookin' at his plate.
"Well I see a smart man right there ? don't you Jessica?" Momma was flattering Daddy pretty hard. That normally doesn't work, but something told me tonight it just might.
"I sure do Momma ? I sure do," I replied with a smile. I meant it too ? at the time.
Daddy just kept eatin'; kept us waiting. I could feel the tension coming off of Momma, she was just dyin' to know what happened, and so was I.
"Come on John give us the scoop," Momma almost whined a little. I thought it was cute; usually she leaves the whining to the little folk.
"Yeah Daddy ? give us the scoop," I put in my two cents worth as well.
"Alright, alright," Daddy said behind his napkin as he wiped his mouth. "By the way Katherine dinner's super."
"Thanks John now quit stallin', you've got our full attention so what happened?" Momma sounded almost overly eager.
I leaned forward in my chair to lend a good ear to what Daddy was about to say. I glimpsed over at Johnny and he was mimicking me by leanin' over as well; such a cutie.
"Well we'd made our list of plausible suspects ? you know the regular trouble makers in town ? the 'Bad Boys' so to speak. It was really just a matter of workin' that list until we hunted down the killer; wasn't really hard at all." Daddy leaned back in his chair and put his hands behind his head with a real proud look on his face.
"Details, details John ? we want to know how you caught him," Momma blurted out loudly, surprising me. She's usually much more docile. She didn't yell she just sounded, well like she had to know what happened; like her life depended on it or something.
"Ok Katherine ? ok ? just relax," Daddy leaned forward in his chair and took a big swig of beer. He then got up and made his common trip to the cupboard for some whiskey. Only this evening something told me it wasn't stress driving him there; rather celebration.
I decided to return to eating. I figured I could listen with my ears while I ate with my mouth.
"Well I let my officers take the ones on the bad boy list that I really wasn't too concerned about. You know the guys that just drive fast 'round town or the ones that tend ta like to break little rules like playin' music too loud at parties and stuff like that. I figured they were harmless so I gave them to my officers. Hell I wouldn't want to risk Jerry or Eli actually gettin' too close to the killer; they'd probably get themselves shot or somethin'." Daddy laughed at this.
"What I did was I took the 'real' bad ones on the list and investigated them myself. I started with who I thought was the worst one and what a ya know? My gut was right ? he turned out to be the killer ? the very first one on the list I picked. Tell me that ain't some Sherlock Holmes'n!" Daddy slapped his hand down on the kitchen table and laughed a deep belly laugh. Johnny first jumped at the sound of the whack on the table, but then joined in with the laughter; we all did actually.
"So how'd you catch'em?" Momma sounded calmer now, but was still pushin' for details.
"I'm gettin' there Katherine ? I'm gettin' there," Daddy looked over at me and rubbed my blond hair saying: "Your Momma sure is impatient tonight ain't she?"
I leaned away from Daddy as a subtle hint that I thought I was gettin' a bit too old for head pats, and said: "Yep," with a laugh. Momma didn't find it too amusing; she was just too wrapped up in her desire for details.
"Ok then ? well," Daddy began eating again and talkin' with his mouth full.
"Where was I ? Oh yeah ? details, details, details." Daddy was so reveling in havin' Momma on the hook that he just didn't want to let go of his little game.
"John," Momma said softly but sternly. That brought Daddy back on point and he realized play time was over.
"Well like I said I picked him off the list. Al Clement ? you may or may not know him Katherine."
Momma shrugged her shoulders and said: "I think I've heard of him, but never met 'im; I don't think".
"Well not meetin' him would be a good thing hon, 'cause even before this recent run of craziness he's pulled, he's always been a bad apple. Didn't fall too far from the tree really, 'cause his Daddy was one mean som' bitch as well." Daddy paused to see if he would get a scolding for fowl language, but Momma didn't want to delay with the story by interjecting moral outrage at this point.
"Yeah ? well ? like I was sayin', I picked him off the list and set out to find Al. Barnsdall ain't too big so it usually ain't real hard to find anybody ya know?" I noticed a gleam in Daddy's eye and a smile in his voice. He really seemed to be enjoyin' telling this story.
"Well finding Al would be an exception to the rule. He was actually kinda hard to track down. Of course I started with his place of residence; a run down old house down at the creek end of Birch Street, right over there Katherine ? just right over there." Daddy pointed across the table, over the shoulder of Momma. Indeed Al Clement's run down house was just a hop skip and a jump from ours. That put a fright in Momma. I could tell by the look on her face.
"Goodness gracious," whispered Momma as she shook her head and glanced to the floor. I just stared at Daddy waitin' for the next bomb to drop.
"Well he wasn't there. He really doesn't have a workplace to find him at, as he just does odd jobs here and there fixin' toilets and mowing yards and stuff. So I checked down to the bar, where he's known to spend the good part of many days. No luck there either. I checked down at the coffee shop just in case, but nope." Daddy took a swig of beer and paused to eat a bit more of his meal. Momma didn't rush him this time but again I could feel the tension, to hurry up, comin' off of her. Johnny'd lost all interest in the story and had fallen asleep in his highchair.
"Mmm Katherine ? good cookin' I tell ya," Daddy doesn't usually go on about how good Momma cooks, so he must've been in an extra good mood. I think he usually just believes it goes without sayin'. It does that's for sure, but I still think Momma likes to hear it now and again; and again.
"So I had a cup a coffee down the coffee shop, just to pause for a minute or two and let my mind work. Then it hit me!" Daddy's voice shot up in volume. Momma leaned forward in her chair looking totally riveted.
"I remembered seein' ole' Al down at the creek a few times when I'd wondered my way up stream when they weren't bitin'; you know looking for jus' the right spot to cast a line. I'd seen him about half way between Gar Bend and Big Hole. It's a place not fished much and you don't see a lot of people; guess that's why I remembered it. Sure seemed funny to see him there just about each time I wondered up there. Seems that might be his regular spot or somethin'?" Daddy fetched another beer from the fridge to aid him in his long journey of story tellin'.
"So I'ze down at the coffee shop and I thought ? ah, what the hell, I'll just make my way down there to Bird Creek where I'd seen Al and maybe I'll get lucky. There's no quick way to get down where I was goin'. That's probably what drew a fella like Al down to it; not a lot of traffic ? figurin' he don't like folks much. Well there's no roads leading right down to it and you can't get to it by boat do to the Big Hole rapids up stream and the several shallow spots down stream just past Gar Bend. No, if you're gonna go down there to Al's fishin' spot you're gonna have to hoof it. Drive you 'Footebakers' so to speak! Ha ha!" Daddy ruffled my hair as he said our little joke. He says when you have to walk somewhere's, when there's no other way to get there ? your drivin' your Footebakers; kinda like Studebaker ? get it? Well it was pretty funny to me at the time. We had quite the laugh.
Our laughing spread to Momma, and then Johnny woke up. I tell ya, most little kids that get woken up like that ? well they wake up cryin'. Not Johnny though, he's such a good little brother, he just woke up and joined right in laughing with us. He didn't even know what he was laughin' at, he was just laughin'. That made me giggle even
harder.
Momma was the first to stop chucklin'. I noticed this. She had her mind quickly switch back to finding out about the killer.
"Well I drove down to the field just before you reach Big Hole. You know the one I mean?" Daddy asked this question of us all, not really just Momma.
We shook our heads and Momma said: "Uh hu".
"I just figured I'd get less muddy walkin' through the field down to the creek where I'd seen Al, than to walk down the creek bank like I do when I'm fishin'. I know how you don't like cleanin' any muddy police uniforms Katherine." Daddy kind of smiled at this and then moved on as Momma didn't even really acknowledge the statement.
"As I made my way across the field I thought about what I might be facing. Al's not a particularly burly guy but he's always had that crazy look in his eyes ? you know what I mean. I figured I could be in for just about an'thing; and I was prepared for the worst." Daddy leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. He looked angry all of a sudden.
"I had to put myself in a military state of mind. After all I could very well have been goin' into battle. I suppose a lesser man would have called in backup rather than facing the fire on his own." Daddy sounded prideful again.
It occurred to me that it wouldn't be a lesser man that would call in back up; but maybe a more responsible officer that was thinking of his family at home; that he had to take care of. An officer that wouldn't want to risk life or limb for bravado. I didn't dare say this though, and I kind of felt bad thinkin' it of Daddy; that he wasn't actin' right and all. Honor thy mother and father, right?
"I stepped lively as I crossed the field. I was on a mission and I'ze aimed to get busy right away. But, as I got closer to Al's fishin' spot I softened my foot falls quite a bit. I wasn't sneakin' or anything, that really ain't my way, but I wasn't wantin' to announce my arrival either. See, I figured a little surprise would be a good thing. If Al was even down there ? I wasn't sure of that yet."
Surprisingly Momma got up at this point to poor herself some more iced tea. Daddy stopped talkin' for a moment but then resumed as Momma sat back down. Usually Momma asks if anybody else wants anything while she's up, but I think her mind was preoccupied 'cause she didn't ask this time. She did spill a little tea though and shouted out one of her famous sayings: "doggone it ? got down and couldn't git up". I didn't laugh out loud, but I sure did on the inside.
"As I approached the creek bank I couldn't hear anything but birds and crickets and such. Usually when the creek's up you can hear the rapids of Big Hole from where I was, but that wasn't the case today; creek's runnin' fairly slow." Daddy made a little running water motion with his right hand just before he reached for his beer. After a big swig he continued.
"There's quite a drop off from the field down to the creek bank so I had the high ground. The high ground's always a good thing to have in a battle ? that's for sure ? and boy did I have it. It has to be a good twenty foot drop down there with a steep little cow path down to the bank, just on the edge of the water. I knew right away that if Al was down there I had him. See he would have nowhere to go that I couldn't put a good Smith & Wesson aim on 'im." Daddy smiled and patted his side where he normally holsters his .357 magnum.
"Long story short ? he was there and he didn't even put up a fight. When I got him back to the station he just started blurtin' things out and confessin' ever'thing. Seems he worked alone and did it all. Crazy som' bitch!" Daddy shook his head and then took another gulp of beer, tossing the empty bottle into the trashcan across the room. As he got up and opened the frig to retrieve another beer I looked at Momma. She looked surprised.
"Just confessed ? didn't even put up a fight or try to get away?" Momma sounded pessimistic. At the time, I didn't understand why.
"Nope," replied Daddy still looking in the refrigerator. He said it so plainly, as if it meant nothing.
"He just confessed without any pressuring or nothing?" Momma still wasn't convinced.
"Well Katherine ? Policemen ? well trained Policemen anyways, know how to gain a confession from a psycho killer." That tone of pride returned in Daddy's voice, again.
"What does that mean John?"
"Let's just leave it to the professionals honey ? what's important is we got the SOB and that's that," Daddy smacked the palms of his hands together, sliding them over each other as if cleaning them. I guess he meant that Barnsdall was cleansed of Al Clement "psycho killer".
I felt a lot better now, though I'm not sure Momma did at the time. But after a while ? after time passed and no murders continued to happen, I think Momma started feelin' better too.
Not Exactly A Month Of Sundays
The murders stopped cold. After Daddy "nailed" Al Clement, as he put it, there wasn't just no killings goin' on in Barnsdall; there really wasn't much of any crime to speak of at all. It was a great feeling. It was a good time in town.
With the lone murderer caught and incarcerated everyone felt safe again. It was back to our normal boring little Northeastern Oklahoma town.
I heard some folks down at the coffee shop talkin' 'bout how they felt safe at night again. I heard other folks down to the Barnsdall Market that said they didn't even bother lockin' their doors 'cause Big John had brought back justice to our community ? no not justice, that's not what they said ? they said safety, yeah that's it safety.
It was nice to hear good things about my Daddy after such a long while of all that negativity. It's hard for a kid to hear such bad things about their father. It's a no win situation. I mean you want to defend your Daddy when people say mean things, but there's no convincing them of otherwise, so you really just can't win. It's a fight with no chance of victory. It's quite disheartening really. Know what I mean?
Anyways, things went back to normal in Barnsdall and at our house. Momma went back to her normal jobs, such as: cooking, shopping, cleaning and complainin' 'bout my Daddy's cussin'. I went back to school where the kids treated me a lot better now that Daddy caught that Al fella. Johnny went back to ? well being little Johnny, not that he'd ever changed. And Daddy ? Daddy went back to bein' himself. That is that he went back to complainin' over dinner, and sometimes breakfast, about his police work and all the lawbreakers. The difference was, and I really think even he noticed, that his complaints were quite trivial now. I suppose anything pales in comparison to what we'd all just been through. Murder ? multiple murders, in a small town can sure put things in perspective; and right fast too.
For a while ? well a little while anyway ? right after Daddy nailed Al Clement, he almost seemed ? happy. Daddy started to seem more like a father to me than a silent film star. What I mean is that he started to talk to me, and not just about police work. He seemed to come out of his shell and open up. It was a great time. But ? it didn't last. I suppose it couldn't last. Daddy's just not that kind of man. That is he's not a talkative man, not the kind of man to teach his children; not in the strict sense of the word teach. I think Daddy more believes in that everyone has to pay their own dues and that's how they learn; from their own mistakes. I like to think that as opposed to just thinking he doesn't really care enough to get involved in my life. Sometimes I think that anyway though. At least I felt like he was keeping us safe. Not just our family, but the whole town of Barnsdall Oklahoma.
Miss Jennings bent my ear one day about her thoughts on the terrible murders in town. As usual I just listened ? couldn't have gotten a word in edgewise if I wanted to.
"Your Daddy sure did save us Jessi ? he sure did," Miss Jennings sounded so serious. I mean she had sweat comin' off her brow and she sounded short of breath just with these few words. I nodded my agreement.
"Folks in town are real happy now. They were so scared before, you know 'bout the killings. I mean who wouldn't be right. I wasn't scared though, well not really, no I was sure Big John would take care of ever'thing. I was sure he wouldn't let us down, and he didn't, no he sur
e didn't," Miss Jennings rambled off her words so quickly and her tone was high pitched. She seemed more like she was trying to convince herself of her statements than that she believed them though. Something told me the truth was that she was very scared when the killings were goin' on. I remember that she didn't come over to the house very much while they were goin' on. In fact, I'm not sure she even left her house very much at all during that time. I think Miss Jennings was holed up under the covers of her bed with the blinds pulled; hiding. I can't say for sure but that's what I think.
"Were you scared Jessi? Well of course you were, I mean what child wouldn't be after what happened to those poor kids, and right on Main Street like that, just awful. Did you know those kids? Well of course you did, I mean this is such a small town ever'body knows ever'body don't they. I hope you're in better spirits now like I am. Are you? Well of course you must be." Miss Jennings went on like this for a while asking questions of me then answering them herself. It was the normal easy conversation with her; you just have to be quiet and let her do all the talkin'.
"I think Katherine, your Momma's much calmer now. I mean I think she was pretty upset by the whole thing don't you? I mean she was upset about all the murders but when those two kids about your age were killed, your Momma seemed to get real worried. I was too, worried for you Jessi, but I know you're a big girl and smart too. You know how to stay outa such trouble don't you? Well of course you do, having a Daddy, a Chief of Police for a Daddy must really help in spottin' lunatics and stayin' away from them, huh? Yeah it sure must, I mean he must teach you lots of good things to know about life, like who the bad folks are and to stay away from them, yes steer completely clear of 'em, right? Yeah that must be how it is." Miss Jennings went on and on; hadn't taken a breath in several minutes. She just kept on running from one thing to the next and sweating. Goodness she was sweating ? more than usual even. You notice stuff like that when it's so obvious.
"So really Jessi how are you? Oh, you look fine so you must be doin' pretty good ? " Miss Jennings rambled and rambled. I never was able to answer any of her questions, but I still think she thought we had a great conversation. That's just her way ya know.