Read Under Suspicion - The Legend of D.B. Cooper Page 56

  Chapter 15

  Playing Catch Up

  By the time Jim reached the barricade he was wide-awake and determined to get some answers. The long ride had given his tired brain a chance to sift through the information provided by the news report, but he couldn’t shake the worried feeling deep in his gut. He desperately needed more information. He jumped out of the Blazer and rushed past the deputy standing there.

  “Hello, Sheriff,” the deputy said.

  Jim didn’t answer. He just hurried down the hill towards Milhouse who was standing in the middle of the courtyard with a camera taking pictures. “Damn it! Milhouse!” Jim said, angrily. “Why didn’t you come out to my house and get me.”

  “Sorry, Sheriff,” Milhouse answered as he turned around. “I guess I got caught up in all the excitement.”

  “Excitement!” Jim snapped.

  “Yeah, did you see me on the news?” Milhouse said with a smile. “We’re going after D.B. Cooper.”

  “You don’t actually believe that crap, do you?” Jim’s voice was noticeably irritated.

  Milhouse began to speak. “Well, Agent Bradley said—

  “Agent Bradley!” Jim cut him off. “That reminds me, where is he anyway?”

  “He’s in the house.”

  “I guess he can wait a minute.” Jim decided after looking towards the house, then his demeanor became more concerned. “Where’s Buck?”

  Milhouse hesitated for a second before replying sadly. “He’s dead. I’m sorry, Jim, I know you guys were close.” Jim didn’t answer. He just stood there and started to feel sick. “Sheriff, are you all right?”

  Jim again didn’t answer. The acids in his stomach burned from too much coffee and no food. It definitely wasn’t being helped by the news of his friend. Come on, Jim, he thought to himself. Clear you mind and get in the game.

  He felt uneasy. It had been a long time since he had handled a major case and the fact that he was playing catch up wasn’t to his advantage. He had to pull himself together. After a moment, Jim’s face changed to a more determined look. “Tell me what happened.”

  As Milhouse described the scene, Jim listened intently then asked. “Where was Buck found?”

  “It was over here,” Milhouse replied, then walked over to the impression in the now dry mud.

  “I hope you got good photos of him before he was moved.”

  “I did Sheriff,” replied Milhouse. “I took a whole roll of the body from all different angles.”

  It, the body. Hearing Milhouse describe Buck in those terms filled Jim with pain. He couldn’t think of Buck that way—not yet. He tried to ignore the cold, detached descriptions so that he could get the facts he needed without breaking down. “Good, I want to see the photos as soon as possible. Where’s Buck now?”

  “It was taken to County General.”

  Jim nodded. “Where was he shot from?”

  “It looks like the shots came from this direction.” Milhouse pointed then both men stepped towards the barn.

  Jim turned around in front of the door and looked at the scene trying to imagine what might have happened. “What about bullets?”

  “Buck was shot twice. Both bullets traveled through the body then landed in the lake.”

  “How do you know where they landed?” Harper asked as he looked towards the lake. “From this direction, you can see the shoreline, some trees and part of the house on the right there. Since we don’t know exactly where the shooter was standing, a foot or so in either direction could put those bullets anywhere.”

  “Well, Agent Bradley said—” Milhouse started to say but was cut off.

  “Agent Bradley, again!” Jim snapped. “Damn it! Milhouse, don’t you know how to run an investigation?”

  He wanted facts. Speculation on top of frustration and despair only made him angry. Milhouse just looked at the ground and said nothing. “Where’s everyone else?”

  Milhouse pointed towards the house. “Rissley, Conley, Johnson, and Simms are in the house. Brown, Thomson, and Kruger are in the crawl space under it looking for drugs.”

  “Drugs?” Jim said as he rolled his eyes. “Really, and exactly what have you been doing all this time?”

  Milhouse could see that Jim was angry. “Well, mostly taking pictures and plaster castings of tire tracks.”

  “What?” Jim was confused.

  “Yeah, look over here,” Milhouse said as he stepped forward and pointed at the ground. “These are the suspect’s tire tracks.”

  Jim stepped forward and immediately recognized the tracks as his own. “And how exactly do you know that?” Jim glared at Milhouse. Milhouse began to speak but Jim already knew the answer. “Don’t tell me. Agent Bradley, again.” Milhouse again just looked at the ground. “This has gone far enough,” Jim scolded. “Let’s get everyone together at the porch. I want to talk to them.”

  “Yes sir,” Milhouse said softly, then turned and rushed toward the entrance of the house and disappeared in it.