Murder or Not? Chapter 12

Murder or Not?

By

Rebecka Vigus

Copyright©2019

All Rights Reserved

Chapter 12

Sam had promised her dad she would stay with him until the case was solved. The limo had deposited her at the pick-up site and she had climbed into her dad’s car for the drive to his house. He would drop her a block from work in the morning.

She arrived at her office to see Anna already at her desk. Wondering if she missed a new case or if something had popped up, Sam entered, “Good morning, Sunshine.!”

“Hey, Sam,” Anna greeted her.

“What brings you in so early?”

“Checking to see if I can find the whereabouts of the Hillman brothers,” she answered. “I don’t want them sneaking up on us. I want to know where they are and what they are up to.”

“Great plan!” agreed Sam. “Speaking of Hillman’s, Dad has Mrs. Hillman stashed where they shouldn’t be able to find her. In fact, she is under an alias. So, when you go to visit her this afternoon, you are to drive to the police station, park around back, and enter the back door. Dad will take it from there.”

“The chief is having fun with the cloak and dagger stuff, isn’t he?”

“You bet, wait until you see your disguise.”

“Ooh, disguises,” Anna chirped.

“So, have you located the brothers?”

“Oh, yeah and they’re not where they said they’d be,” Anna told her unhappily.

Sam, who was tired of the guessing game, said flatly, “Spill it.”

“Seems they returned home late last night,” answered Anna. “Police were called to Misty’s and the boys were arrested on assault charges. Misty was pretty banged up so, they transported her to the local hospital. A neighbor stayed with her kids.”

“Good and bad,” Sam replied. “Good we know they are in the local jail. Bad Misty was hurt.”

“Easy for the prosecutor when we go get these two. He’ll be able to add the assault to the other charges we’re going to have,” Anna stated. “Hopefully they will throw away the key this time.”

“Agreed.”

           The rest of the morning was uneventful. Sam let her dad know where the Hillman brothers were, and Anna planned to come by at lunch time to go see Mrs. Hillman.”

           She spent the rest of the morning going over everything they knew about the case and checked to see if there were any pending employee checks to be done. Both left for lunch at the same time. Sam hitched a ride to the station to have lunch with her dad.

###

The chief and Sam had take out in his conference room. Sam started the conversation about the Hillman brothers.

“Anna found out the Hillman brothers are in jail. Seems they arrived home early to find Mama gone and hightailed it to Misty’s. When she wouldn’t tell them where their mother was they gave her a good beating before police and an ambulance arrived. A neighbor took her kids and Misty is in the hospital,” she told him.

“So, we have them in jail on assault. It will help with the assault charges for elder abuse to their mother,” he responded. “I see Anna headed out for Tender Mercies.”

“We are taking turns,” Sam replied. “Dad, why does Mom think you and I don’t get along?”

“Most likely because I was opposed to you becoming a police officer, then I was against you becoming a private investigator,” he answered. “Those are the only two things we ever disagreed on, for some reason, they have stuck in her mind.”

The conference door slammed open, one of the deputies was waving an envelope. “Chief, they said you was to get this ASAP,” he explained. He paused when he realized Sam was in the room.

“What is so all fired important, Tim?” the chief asked.

“This here’s the report from the lab you been waiting for,” he stumbled trying to get it to the chief.

The chief took it saying, “That’ll be all, Tim. Thanks.”

“Yes, Sir,” he said stumbling on his way out of the room and closing the door.

Sam covered her mouth to stifle her laughter. “He must be new.”

“Barely out of diapers,” the chief agreed. “You want to do the honors?” He handed her the envelope.

She took it saying, “Finally, we will know the father of Bryleigh’s baby.” She slid the report out and began reading. “Well, this is a fine turn of events. The father is Matt Weaver.”

“Wait, he was the hit-and-run,” the chief said reaching for the report. “How on earth?”

“I think it’s time we have another chat with Robert Bakersfield. I thought he said Tom was sweet on Bryleigh,” Sam speculated. “Do you think she was seeing them both?”

“Only one person will have the answer,” the chief told her.

“Yes, and I intend to call her as soon as I get back to work,” Sam assured him. “Misty has been holding out on us.”

“Seem likely, she was trying to protect the image of her friend,” the chief told her by way of explanation.

“Could be.”

They finished lunch in silence and Sam left by the back door and walked back to her office. Anna had already returned.

###

“Have I got some news for you, get our friend Misty on the phone,” Sam said as she went to her office. “We need her on speaker.”

“Hello,” Misty answered on the first ring.

“Hi, Misty, it’s Anna. I’m going to put you on speaker, so Sam can talk to us, too.”

“Sure.”

“First, how badly were you hurt last night?” Sam asked.

“I got me a broken arm, and a bruised face, but I’ll be fine. How is Mama?”

“She’s got pneumonia, but she’s being well taken care of and should recover,” answered Anna.

“Whew, I’m glad we got her away. The boys are in jail right now and I plan to press charges. They tore off my front door and broke some of my furniture, too,” she sounded indignant.

“I’m glad they are locked up, but I have a couple of questions about Bryleigh,” said Sam.

“Ask away.”

“First, how did she meet the college boy?”

“They met at a beach party. He was one of three guys who came together,” Misty told them. “I hooked up with the rich one, Baker something.”

“Robert Bakersfield?” Anna asked.

“They called him Bob, but yeah that’s him. Why?”

“Which one did Bryleigh hookup with?” Sam wanted to know.

“She spent the entire party with the other two. I’m not sure which one she liked best, but it was Tom who go run out of town,” Misty told them.

“Did she see anyone else that summer?” Anna asked.

“She might have, but she seemed to be pining for Tom.”

“Well, Misty, she must have hooked up with both of them,” Sam said bluntly. “She was pregnant by Matt, not Tom.”

“That explains why the brothers were so mad,” Misty began, “she couldn’t tell them which one the father was. She must not have given them a name.”

“Possibly,” pondered Sam. “Thanks for helping. Take care of yourself.”

“I plan to. Might be time to move away from this place. Find someplace to live and take Mama Hillman with us.” Misty sounded like she was trying to convince herself moving was an option.

They disconnected and sat in silence for a moment.

Anna spoke first, “We need to talk to the brothers to find out who was at the water falls with Bryleigh. I’m beginning to think she might not have been a suicide.”

“I’ve been thinking the same thing,” Sam agreed.

“Are we taking the chief?”

“We don’t have a choice, he’s the law.”

“You can go with him. I’ll hold the fort,” Anna offered.

“I’ll call him and see what he wants to do.” Sam said as she absently picked up the phone and hit speed dial.

“Chief, here,” he answered.

“Hi, Dad. We just talked to Misty. It seems Bryleigh was seeing both Tom and Matt. My guess is she wouldn’t give her brothers a name because she didn’t know which one the father was. They ran Tom out of town then, followed him. I think they are responsible for his death. I also think they tried to make it look like someone from the Mason family was responsible for the death of Matt Weaver when one of them actually killed him. I also think one of them wants to go after Robert Bakersfield and the other is tired of this vendetta,” explained Sam.

“So, you want to go talk to them?”

“Right.”

“I’ll be by to get you in about ten minutes. I have some things to finish up here first,” he told her.

“Sounds good.”

###

They drove to Walker Falls in silence. The chief had called ahead to make arrangements to talk to the brothers with an attorney present. The stipulation was only one brother in the room at a time. Sam’s roll was bystander.

“Dad,” she started, “have you got a list of questions to ask?

“Don’t need a list, Kiddo,” he assured her. “I’ve been on this case with you the entire time. I have more than enough questions. I did however, put a pad and pen in the briefcase in case you want something asked I might have missed.” He chuckled as she turned to look at him. “You didn’t think I’d leave you out, completely did you?”

“I was hoping you wouldn’t.” She turned back to watch the road.

At the jail, Bryce Hillman was first on the list for interview. He was in an interrogation room with his court appointed attorney when the chief and Sam arrived. They were led to the room and entered.

Sam took the seat to the left of her father. The chief began, “I’d like permission to record this session.”

The attorney nodded in the affirmative.

A recorder was placed on the table by Sam and she pushed play.

The chief spoke into it, “Today’s date is March 29. In the room are Bryce Hillman, Samantha Worth, Chief Worth and attorney…”

“Evan Ames,” the attorney said clearly.

“Mr. Hillman, we have some questions to ask you about the death of your sister, Bryleigh Hillman,” the chief began again. “Were you present at Walker Falls when your sister went over?”

“Yeah, I was there,” Bryce responded.

“Can you tell us what happened?” asked the chief.

“She was heartbroken because the father of her child up and left. She didn’t want to bring shame on her family being an unwed mother,” he sniffed. “Me and Brian were trying to talk her out of jumping. We pleaded telling her we’d help her with the kid. She just wouldn’t listen and the next thing we knew she was off the side.” He hung his head and added, “I’ll never forget her scream.”

“When did you start beating your mother?” asked the chief.

Bryce looked up, “I ain’t never beat Ma. Who told you I did?”

“It doesn’t matter how we found out, we did,” the chief told him. “Now when did it start?”

“Someone’s lying to you!” he shouted. “I don’t beat women!”

“Back up there, big guy,” the chief said calmly. “You are currently here under charges of assault on Misty Manning. Correct me if I’m wrong, but Misty is a woman.”

“Misty don’t count,” he stated. “Besides it was mostly Brian who hit her.”

“Was it mostly Brian who beat your mother?” asked the chief.

“Well, he is hot-tempered,” Bryce agreed.

“It might surprise you to know we also have the transcripts from your divorce. I believe there is damming testimony from your ex-wife as well as emergency room reports where you beat her on several occasions,” the chief calmly continued.

“Bitch never pressed charges,” Bryce smirked when he said it. “Only time she ever spoke out was when she took my kids. Besides a man has the right to keep his woman in line.”

“What can you tell me about the disappearance and death of Tom Mason?” the chief tossed in the change in subject.

“Who the hell is he?” Bryce shouted.

His attorney put a hand on Bryce’s arm, then asked, “Where is this leading, Chief?”

“Just connecting some dots,” the chief told him.

“Tom Mason went missing on a hiking trip with friends. You and your brother were seen in the area just before he went missing,” answered the chief.

“Oh, is he the college boy who got lost and fell off a cliff?” Bryce wanted to know. “I recollect reading about it some time ago.”

“Yes, shortly after your sister jumped off the falls.”

“I don’t recall ever meeting him,” Bryce stated.

“Witnesses say you had a heated conversation with him before he left the staging area with his friends,” the chief told him. “His friends said you ran into each other on the trail later in the day.”

Bryce shook his head, “It ain’t coming to me, Chief.”

“What can you tell me about Matthew Weaver?” the chief asked.

“Chief, you are throwing out names and I don’t know these people,” Bryce responded.

“Do you recall hearing about a hit-and-run accident involving a motorcycle and  a pick-up truck?” the chief demanded.

“Can’t say I do.”

“Bryce did you send anonymous letters to Worth Private Investigations?” continued the chief.

“Got no reason to send letters of any kind to a PI,” he answered. “This who you brung with you?”

“You left a fingerprint on the last letter,” the chief said ignoring Bryce’s question.

“I didn’t leave no fingerprint nowhere,” Bryce insisted.

“Are you sure?” asked the chief.

When there was no answer, the chief continued, “What beef do you have with Robert Bakersfield?”

“Ain’t he the millionaire’s son?” Bryce asked.

“He is,” the chief confirmed. “Do you have an issue with him or his family?”

“Nope, ain’t never met the man,” Bryce stated firmly.

“Would it surprise you to know both Matthew Weaver and Robert Bakersfield were the companions Tom Mason was with on the mountain?” the chief asked.

“Them two lily livered guys?” scoffed Bryce.

“Then you do know them?” the chief pounced on his answer.

“I seen ‘em,” Bryce responded. “I don’t know them. There’s a big difference. Didn’t even know their names.”

“Thank you both for your time,” the chief said. “Sam, turn off the recorder.” He looked at Mr. Ames asking, “Do you have questions for us?”

“No, Sir,” he answered.

Sam and her father stood and left the room. Outside they asked if there was a private room they could use. Once inside the chief said, “You didn’t hand me any questions. So, what are you thinking?”

“Let me ask the questions of Brian,” she answered. “I want to make him think Bryce is pinning everything on him.”

“You think Brian is the weak one?”

“Yes, Dad, I do,” she answered. “Bryce is, too sure of himself. He’s been interrogated before. I don’t think Brian has. I think Bryce has always shielded him. Now backed into a corner he’s throwing his brother under the bus, so to speak.”

“Good, good,” the chief responded. “You ask the questions, he’ll think you have no authority.”

“Okay,” agreed Sam, “Let’s get this over with.

###

They had Brian brought to the interrogation room. Mr. Ames was again seated at the table. Again, the chief asked to record the session. Receiving permission, he spoke into the recorder, “Today is March 29^th, present in the room are Samantha Worth, Brian Hillman, Attorney Evan Ames, and myself, Chief Worth.”

Sam smiled at Brian asking, “How are they treating you?”

“Just fine, Miss,” he answered.

“I have some questions about the death of your sister, Bryleigh,” she told him.

He nodded.

“Can you tell me what happened on the day she died?” asked Sam.

“We were up at the falls, Bryleigh, Bryce and me. Bryce told her we were going on a picnic, Ma packed us a basket.” He paused taking a breath. “Bryce and me was going to get her to tell us who fathered her baby. We was going to find him and make him do the right thing.”

“Did she tell you?”

“No, she got all mad and started screaming. Bryce told me to grab her. I did,” he hung his head. “I held her while he smacked her in the face. He was shouting, ‘Tell me, you little whore!’ It was awful, and I let her go. I tried to step in front of her, but she was too close to the edge and she slipped. She screamed, but I couldn’t get to her and she fell.” Tears ran down his cheeks. “I killed her, trying to protect her. Bryce was so mad I thought he was going to toss me after her. He made up this story about her killing herself. People believed him.”

“What happened after?” Sam asked gently putting her hand on top of his.

“Bryce had told everyone she went to the falls with the babies father, so he was on a mission to find him,” he answered.

“Did he find him?”

“Not for sure,” Brian told her. “First, he went after Tom Mason, because he’d run the guy off earlier for hanging around Bryleigh and she seemed really sad after. Then, he found out about this Matt guy. I don’t know much about what happened, just he died in a hit-and-run.”

“How did you learn about the hit-and-run?” Sam was curious.

“Bryce showed me the newspaper and told me, he done it,” answered Brian. “I saved the paper in my room under the mattress. It’s there with some pictures of Bryleigh, I wanted to keep, when Bryce started tossing all her stuff out.”

“Keep going,” urged Sam.

“He got some crazy idea about doing something to Robert Bakersfield or his family. I just couldn’t let him hurt no one else for something we did. I started sending letters to S. A. Worth Investigations,” he confessed.

“I am S. A. Worth Investigations,” she told him. “You were trying to stop him?”

“Yes, Ma’am, but I thought you was a man,” he seemed incredulous. “I wouldn’t have called you them names if I knew you was a woman.”

“I have another question,” she told him. “Who beat your mother?”

“Bryce did the beating. I set her broken bones,” he answered. “Is she okay?”

“She is,” Sam assured him. “She has pneumonia, but she is being well-cared for.”

“Thank you,” his response was sincere. “I’ll take any punishment if she is okay.”

“Will you testify against your brother?” the chief interjected.

Brian looked at the chief, “I sure will.”

Sam looked at the attorney who sat mute through both interrogations and asked, “Do you have any questions?”

“Can I have a copy of both tapes?”

“Definitely,” the chief answered.

Brian spoke up, “Will you tell Ma, I’m sorry?”

“Yes, Brian,” Sam said.

The chief shut off the recorder and they stood. He held his hand out to the lawyer. “I’ll get this to you in a day or two.”

“Appreciate it, Chief,” he said as they shook hands.

Brian remained seated as they left the room.

###

On the drive home, Sam asked, “How does it feel to clear two murders and an accidental death in one day?”

“It feels better, I can let the Bakersfield’s know there is no longer a threat to their families,” he answered.

“I hope they can all rest peacefully now,” was Sam’s comment. Then she added, “I want to share Brian’s tape with Mrs. Hillman. She has a right to know what really happened to her daughter. He’s finally free of the guilt he’s carried all these years.”

The chief smiled, “I fully agree. I’m going to ask for some leniency on his charges as he fully cooperated with us. He sent the letters trying to put a stop to the madness.”

“Bryce is responsible for two murders, his life will be spent in prison,” she said. “I wonder if Brian will make it parole?”

“Hard to say,” the chief told her. “I think he’d tougher than he looks, but I know he’d take whatever prison life throws at him. He’d think of it as penance.”

Sam’s smile was sad, “So many lives ruined by one man’s ego.”

Epilog

Bryce was sentenced to life in prison without parole. The charges of assault were dropped in favor of the murder convictions.

Brian was sentenced to fifteen to twenty years with the possibility of parole in seven and a half years. He would be seventy-six and a half years old when he came up for parole.

Misty Manning recovered from her broken arm, sold her trailer and moved away from Walker Falls. She took Mama Hillman with her.

Mrs. Hillman lived to see one hundred and died peacefully in her sleep. She was buried next to her beloved daughter, Bryleigh in Walker Falls.

Tom Mason’s family was glad to learn what really happened to their son. And to have their name cleared of any wrong-doing in the death of Matt Weaver.

The Weaver’s not only mourned their son, but the loss of a granddaughter. The one Bryleigh was carrying when she went over the falls.

Bryce’s ex-wife, had remarried and lived with her husband safe in the knowledge Bryce would never be able to hurt them or their children. Unbeknownst to Bryce, his children had been adopted by their step-father and two younger siblings followed.

Anna and Samantha set to work on their next case. Relieved to have prevented another tragedy and saddened by the senseless loss of life in this one.