EXCERPT
Lets review what hard evidence we have, and then try to decide on our next steps in the investigation. Barney said, in his good American-English speech mode.
I agree. And, Ill try to do just that, I said, as I took a single bite of hamburger and swallowed, before trying to talk with my mouth full.
I picked up the Medical Examiners initial report and held it up. The M.E. reported that the victim was shot in the face with a large caliber weapon, probably a .45, using a single mushroom bullet, and a silencer virtually destroying the victims facial appearance. The shot was at close range, as there were powder burns on his tuxedo jacket and shirt. There was no shell casing at poolside and no weapon found by the Crime Scene crew. There were no fingerprints discovered on the copy of the writers most recent book, Broadway Mayhem.
Incidentally, I said. By visiting a few book retailers, I learned that a number of copies were sold, mostly for cash, on Friday and Saturday, before the official launch date. Because of the cash sales, the buyers cannot be identified. So, availability to the assailant of the copy of the book that was thrown in the pool, is not any help in identifying the assailant.
Then I picked up and waved the autopsy report in the air, like a soggy flag. The single shot killed the victim, who was otherwise healthy, except for some normal build-up of plaque in his arteries. But nothing life-threatening. The lack of water in his lungs indicated that the shooting was carried out elsewhere, although not necessarily a long distance away. Martin Klee was dead before his body was thrown in the pool. The time of death was estimated around 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning. But there is no way to prove exactly when the body was dumped in the swimming pool. We only know it was about 7:30 a.m. when the pool-boy, Jeremiah, discovered the body and the copy of the book.
I went on, with my summary. Since the bullet remnants indicated that the weapon had a silencer, the shot that killed the vic might have occurred anywhere, without being heard. Martin Klee could have been shot outside the hotel, or somewhere on Plantation Island, or anywhere in between, in the wee hours of the morning. If the foul deed was not done on the Island, the question arises as to how the body was transported to the Plantation Island Country Club and deposited in the pool. There is some evidence that the body was transported on a golf cart. One of the Clubs carts showed traces of blood, of the same type as the murdered victims. The Crime Lab is doing a DNA check to see if the blood belongs to the late Martin Klee. We hope to have a DNA report by tomorrow.
Barney spoke up, giving me a breather. The fact that the body had to be handled after the shooting, seems to me to excuse Martha Klee as a suspect, unless she had a male accomplice. Being relatively small, she would not have the physical strength to handle an unwieldy dead body of the weight of her husband. Right?
Exactly. Good point, Barn, I said, taking a sip of coffee. Even though she might have the best motive to do away with her husband, she could not put the body in the pool without help from a stronger individual. But that does not exclude the possibility that she could have hired someone, like a contract killer, to help her carry out the actual murder.
At this point, the meeting was interrupted by Lieutenant Alf Henderson poking his head in the door.
Farley, Barney, Marilyn, I assume you guys are discussing the Martin Klee murder case. Is that right?
That is correct, Lieutenant, I said. Do you want to sit in on the discussion?
He came in and put one foot on a vacant chair.
No, sorry. I havent time this evening, but I have some news to impart to you that might impact on the case. The Beaufort Police, assisted by the Fire Department guys, pulled a body out of the Beaufort Bay this morning. The County Medical Examiner examined the corpse and immediately thought of the Martin Klee case.
Whats the connection, Loot? Barney asked.
The corpse has been identified as Jack Boat-boy Austin, a kind of gopher you know, go fer this, go fer that, who did odd jobs and errands for boaters at the Old Town Marina. To answer your question, Barney, the connection is that he was shot in the face with a silenced .45 revolver, using a mushroom bullet. Like Martin Klee, Austin was shot sometime in the wee hours of the morning. Then the body was dumped off the retaining seawall into the water near the Marina.
Uh-oh, I said. It looks like we might have a serial killer to contend with. But, in this case Beaufort Police Department, rather than the Sheriffs Office has jurisdiction.
Thats true, Farley, the Lieutenant said, but we will just have to work together, since the two cases are apparently the work of the same shooter.
|