Birdsongs by Jason Deas

whenever they had a case in any area they couldn’t solve in the appropriately deemed amount of time, they would call me in to look it over. Inevitably, in nine out of ten cases, I solved the mystery. I resigned after a case, once again that you will find on public record, in which I became romantically involved with a woman I met during the investigation who wound up tied to the crime. She was the killer I was searching for. My superiors didn’t want to see me go but the lack of judgment on my part made the decision a no-brainer to clear up the department’s name. Wanting to disappear, I came to Tilley to retire. I bored quickly and started a private investigation business that kept me busy enough to forget I was retired. Not being able to keep my nose out of city police business I was discovered once again as a pretty handy crime solver. I established a friendship with the senior homicide investigator on their staff and the rest is history.”
        “How much in the loop, so to speak, are you with the new investigation?” Rachael asked, already knowing the answer.
        “Completely,” Benny stated.
        “Do you have anything that might tell you where he or she might strike next or what to look for next with clues left at the murder sites?”
        “I have a feeling that I am going to be seeing a lot of you Rachael,” Benny began. “I am going to be honest with you for now and if you cross me I will no longer be truthful with you. Are we straight?” Benny asked this as he looked directly in Rachael’s eyes.
        “We’re straight.”
        “We don’t have much. But I could use your help in the investigation.”
        “What do you mean?” Rachael asked, as her eyes twinkled in anticipation of Benny’s request.
        “I want you to give your report tonight saying that the Tilley Police Department found some substantial evidence that is not yet being released to the public. Say it was leaked by a confidential source as being crucial evidence in the case.”
        “You want me to lie?” Rachael said.
        “Rachael,” Benny said. “First of all, you are not lying because we do have more than I have told you. For your conscience, I am the leak. Second, you must know our killer will be glued to the television every night to find out what we know. He wants the publicity. If you give him a hint that we know something, even if we don’t, he is going to be put on edge. That is what we want and need to catch this guy. Are you with me?”
        “I’m with you,” Rachael said. “If I do this can I count on you to get all of the first interviews and information for my network?”
        “I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine.”
        “All right, I’ll do it,” Rachael said. “Who should I talk to next?”
        “Try Jerry Lee with the local paper, the Tilley Bee . But don’t cuss or be crude, which I don’t think you would. He hates that.”
        Benny watched her as she walked down the dock towards her car. His eyes stayed glued to her until she disappeared from his view. He thought to himself that she was even more beautiful than she appeared on television. Benny felt she wore too much makeup on the show and he didn’t like how they jazzed up her hair for the tapings. His heart wanted him to turn on the charm but his head had reigned in his libido, keeping his disposition businesslike and to the point. The last thing Benny needed at this point of his life and this case was a complicated romance, which could never work. She was a New York City based reporter and he was trying unsuccessfully to remove himself from the world. Benny tried to purge her from his mind as he turned his thoughts to his second cup of coffee.
     
     

Chapter 25
     
       As Rachael drove away from the Sleepy Cove Marina, she could not get Benny’s intense blue eyes and his cool demeanor out of her mind. She knew he was not showing his full hand and she was certain he had