Birdsongs by Jason Deas Page B

have a seat Ms. Martin.”
        “Thank you Jerry Lee, and please call me Rachael.”
        “What do you know so far Rachael?”
        “Basically all I know is what I have read in your columns,” Rachael said knowing this flattery would give her additional information.
        “You’ve read my column?” Jerry Lee’s eyebrows rose so high they almost hid under his hairline.
        “Oh yes Jerry Lee. You are a very good writer.” Rachael felt a pang of guilt as she poured on the flattery in hopes of information.
        “Ms. Martin,” Jerry said pulling his eyebrows as low as they would go. “I mean Rachael, there is more to the story than has been told. The binoculars found around victim number one’s neck were Johnsonville Binoculars. His name was just released as Ryan Mableton. I just left the police station and found out a few things. He was in his late twenties. Ryan was single but engaged to be married. He lived with his fiancée and supposedly he was a workaholic. I don’t have much else on him other than that.” Jerry paused as he collected his thoughts. “Victim number two,” Jerry Lee said as he paused again to examine his fingernails as his hands curled into fists. “Can we be off the record here? I don’t know if all of this information has been confirmed yet.” Rachael nodded. “His name is Danny Hill and so far I have found out he was a loner, in his late thirties, and he lived with his mother. His poor, poor mama. She must be just heartbroken. He was found with a tambourine stitched into his right hand. The tambourine had a star drawn on it. He was slumped over a piano and when he was pulled away from the piano, the killer had written the words “Rock Star” on the white keys of the piano. The cause of death has not been released on that one yet. I hear that it will probably be ruled strangulation. I imagine our slow pace of doing business around here will soon get up to speed. We’re just not used to this type of thing around here. Forensic labs haven’t had many dealings with us and quite honestly Rachael, I think our cops are fumbling around trying to remember how to process this rush of evidence.”
        “It’s not your fault,” Rachael said with forgiving eyes. “Listen,” she said, as she scribbled on the back of her business card. “Here is my cell number.” She handed the card to Jerry Lee and said, “Let’s keep in touch all right?”
        “You got it Rachael. Are you really going to see if you can put a link to my columns on your site?”
        “I’ll make the call right now,” she said, shaking his hand and making her exit.
     
     

Chapter 26
     
       Benny had his second cup of coffee on the top deck of his houseboat. His eyes glazed over as he stared across the lake and he let his thinking cap work its magic. His thoughts searched for an abnormality he and the crime team may have missed. His mind’s eye ran across the crucifixion scene. Benny popped out of his intoxicated dream as a vision of the room and a long shot of a clue stuck in his mind. Benny tried to discount the thought as ridiculous but something about it wouldn’t allow him to leave it alone. He poured another cup of coffee and another and the thought continued itching at his brain. From experience, even though the idea seemed an unlikely possibility, he knew he should act upon it.
        Benny picked up the phone hesitantly and called Vernon. Vernon was the kind of guy who always answered on the first or second ring. When there was no answer, Benny surmised he was tied up with something important. He left a brief message stating he might have a new clue and he needed to bounce his idea off of someone.
        Vernon called back a few minutes later. “Sorry Benny, I was on the other line with Hank.”
        “The Hank from Hank’s Bar and Grill?”
        “Yeah, he went back over to the bar for the first time this morning. We might have something new over there,