The Librarian- Part 3
This is the end of John Dorne's/Michael Starne's odyssey. I apologize again for the time lag, but life sometimes interferes with your hobbies. Mrs. Bear thanks the several people who offered condolences on her sister's passing. Marion was 82. She had a long, happy life.
This is Mike's last chance at normalcy. I hope he gets it. I also apologize for the mix-up in the Lovebirds children. It should be three sons and three daughters.
Again, please enjoy.
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Stepping down from the cab, Mike surveyed the surrounding countryside. Rolling hills, pristine forests in the back ground running up to the foothills of the Northern Rockies west slope, and gently undulating fields were spread before him.
"It sure is peaceful,' thought Michael. 'Might be a good place to finally get lost in.'
Over the last two to three hours, Penney had been on her cell phone. They had swapped places and she was again back in the sleeper, so Michael couldn't quite hear the gist of the conversation. She had been on the phone with her oldest son, Hiram Jr., a Highway Patrol Lieutenant, Jethro, #2 son, an Assistant District attorney for Shasta County, and 'Doctor' Penelope Sawyer, their daughter, a Nurse Practitioner at the local hospital asking them to come to the house for some counsel. She told them in no uncertain terms to 'haul their backsides to the house ASAP; Daddy and she needed them and their 'expertise.' She had an idea. It would bring to a head the plethora of facts that were festering in her consciousness.
Mike worked his stiff muscles and turned to help Hiram with the cab. He pulled out the garbage bags and the 'luggage', such as it was, and drained the small onboard toilet. That had been an eye opener, as he didn't realize that a sleeper had one, or needed it. He was familiarizing himself with the lay of things when he saw the approaching cars coming towards house. The first one was just large, nondescript looking SUV, a Chevy Tahoe he thought, blue with steel wheels. Nothing fancy.
The second vehicle, however, got his attention. A Ford Explorer, black front and back with white driver's and passenger's doors, with the markings of the California Highway Patrol. The brush guard front bumper and the light bar left no doubt. COPS. Actually, CHIPS if he remembered correctly.
SHIT!! he thought. He looked around and quickly estimated his chances of running to the trees on the far side of the lawn. Too late. Now what??
The small caravan pulled up and the Explorer's driver door opened and a tall, younger version of Hiram stepped out, complete with stetson and boots. He grinned at his mother and swept her up into a warm hug.
"Welcome home, mom," he grinned. He turned to his father and tipped his hat and extended his hand. The affection exuding to his father was unmistakable.
"Welcome home, dad. How was your trip? Did you behave yourself?," casting a backwards glance at his mother. Penny blushed down into her cute cleavage, as her two daughters burst out laughing. His father grinned.
"Always, son. But your mother, well........"
Choruses of 'EEWWWW' and gag sounds resounding from the two daughters-in-law and the gathering of grand children echoed around the group, while both sons roared in laughter and Penny continuing to blush even more, if it was possible. She stared at her husband.
"HIRAM LOVEBIRD, that is enough of your ribaldry. Just wait till I get you alone later," she intoned with mock seriousness. All to a chorus 'LA, LA, LA, LA' from daughters and grand children who plugged their ears while her sons laughed even harder, and Hiram grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.
#2 son, asst. District Attorney Jethro William Lovebird, stepped up and hugged his mother and kissed her cheek.
"It's good to see you, mother. I'm glad you didn't get arrested this time." He turned to his father and shook his hand. "Thanks for taking care of her, dad, and keeping her 'out of trouble'." He was grinning stupidly and chuckling.
'There a story there, someplace', thought John.
Hiram was laughing and the beaming affection both sons lavished on their parents was something to be hold. Their two daughters-in-law were obviously included as one was hugging her father-in-law while the other was fussing over her mother-in-law who was cuddling a small infant.
John shifted his feet. "I thought you had three sons?", he asked politely.
"That would be Micheal James. He works for Northern California Power and Light," piped up Penelope.
This was followed by a chorus of, 'He was a lineman for the county...' amid squeals and roars of laughter. Obviously a usual occurrence when Micheal's job was mentioned, as even the grandchildren joined in with a humorous rendition of, 'Wa Wa Wa WA'.
Everyone was having a good time and I was a forgotten entity. Until Penney snapped everyone to the forefront and turned to introduce me.
"This is John Dorne. We 'found' John in Sturgis, and he followed us home. We are going to keep him, if he wants us."
I was terminally embarrassed and the children and grandchildren looked at me like I was a 'rescue dog'.
Hiram Jr. was the first to speak.
"Well, if mom and dad are willing to feed you, wash you and make sure your shots are up to date...." the Crowd broke down in gales of laughter and my embarrassment escalated.
"We had basically this conversation on the way here, and I see that my status has not changed- yet," I said. Hiram looked at me.
"Told you you were toast. You just didn't listen."
We left for the big house with # 2 son saying he was hungry.
"Of course", said his father, "as always." More laughter.
A huge early dinner was set up in the huge eat in kitchen. I was immediately sucked into the family. The grandchildren were curious as to what I did for a living, what was I doing in Sturgis, did I have a motorcycle, did I have a family.
The two lovebird sons were silently checking me out. Ever wonder what it was like being grilled silently by a State Cop AND a prosecuting attorney? I volunteered innocent snippets of information. But I knew it was coming. And I was right. After the meal and the dish's were being cleared, Hiram Sr. rose and picked up his Coors (YUCK) and led the way to the back door and onto the patio. Two large Northern Red Oaks, each about 40 feet tall, shaded the flagstones. We pulled up chairs and gathered around in a close semi-circle.
Let the interrogation begin.
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Meanwhile, back in Washington D.C.
Special Agent Lance Fresno hung up the desk phone and looked across at his two visitors. Alexander Colton and Timothy Ross were sitting across from the agent's desk, drinking coffee, and waiting for the update on the Starne's case, which was rapidly going- nowhere.
"Well, the ballistics report came back just as we figured it would. The gun used in the shooting of one Jeremy Hun Chang came back and there's nothing. It 's not in any files or data bases. The ball gag and zip-ties are a bust. You can get them just about any where. They did find some DNA on the ball gag, but it was in conclusive. If you take the letter and DVD we got from Micheal's attorney, it would appear that this is the one who killed Mike's daughter. I have no reason to doubt it, but the evidence is pretty flimsy.
"However, the heroin found in his apartment and the hypodermic needles are a match and from the same batch as the ones we found in Samantha's apartment. We sweated him and he folded. He rolled up on Lorna Duschense and her law firm and implicated the Chinese Embassy.
"Then he rolled on Jason Wilkes, but we already had the DVDS that Mike sent us and his grand jury testimony. Not that it did us any good, but it was just icing on the cake. But SOMEONE took Mr. Wilkes out. Normally I would be looking at the Chinese, but whoever it was didn't get to him until after we had everything we needed. Unfortunately, the Asst. Attorney General cut a deal and he almost would have walked. Not that it will do him any good. He did give us enough to nail Lorna Duschense; she will not be getting a deal. Unless you consider being sent to Super-Max in Arizona a deal.
"So here we are, no closer to knowing what to do other than institute a nationwide manhunt for a broken man who I would consider a hero. The rifle used to take out Wilkes was a non-entity, untraceable. We don't know where it had been the last 15 years. We have all Mike's weapons, even his service piece, and nothing matches anything.
"What about the truck?," asked Ross.
"What about the truck?," said Fresno. "It's Mike's, alright. We went over it with a fine tooth comb. Nothing. Just what you would assume would be in a guy's daily driver."
Then the phone buzzed.
Agent Fresno, it's Di Julio, line three."
"Hang on, it's the field team."He picked up the phone and spoke.
"Yeah? There is, huh?... No go ahead and process it....... Thanks..... O.K., keep me advised." He hung up.
"That was Adam Di Julio, one of my best." He chuckled. "They found a hidden 'cabinet' if you will, behind the gun safe. Hidden by the safe. It was on an electric sled and was accessed by a switch on the bar. It appears that's where Mike kept his 'secret stash'. All that was left was some 50 cal ammo and some 380 rounds. He must have taken everything else.
"We looked at surveillance videos from the fast food restaurant and saw who we assumed was Micheal walking away from the truck, but that was it. We're canvassing the area, but so far nothing.
"That's not doing us any good. We know who, we just don't know anything else. And quite frankly several of my agents are just going through the motions. Can't say as I blame them...."
Alex shook his head.
"I understand their feelings, Lance, but this still a criminal investigation."
He sighed. "It's just one I wish we didn't have to do."
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Back in Palo Cedro
The 'interrogation' was just getting started. Hiram took the last sip of his beer (gotta get the guy some Bud) and placed the bottle on the ground next to his chair.
"All right, boys, I know you have questions. You get to ask them and John has to, or doesn't have to answer them. This could get ugly, but it is the price for his continuing to live here.
"What he didn't tell you in front of everyone else was that he's the guy you've been hearing about on the t.v. I think, though, that there is more to it then meets the eye. Jethro, I'm sure you have a few legal questions, so it's on you, son."
His son looked at his glass of iced tea. Some how he figured he would need to keep his wits about him. His older brother was also drinking, but he too had a Coors. He also had a higher tolerance for alcohol but it was only his second one.
"Mr. Dorne, who are you, really. If you're the man on the t.v., the name John Dorne has never been mentioned."
"It's Micheal Starne, isn't it, Mr. Dorne?". This from his older brother. "The FBI sent out a BOLO for Micheal Starne. Armed and dangerous. Approach with caution."
Hiram Jr.'s eyes locked on mine, but no judgment-...yet.
