Buck Fever by Robert A Rupp Page B

Lacarter stood next to him.
    “Are you sure it’s the same?” Jack asked.
    “One hundred percent positive the blood anti-bodies are the same as Gordon Lickshill’s.”
    “Ah...what’s going on? Anything I need to be part of?” Montagno said, hesitating to join in the discussion.
    “Did you see the article in the newspaper yesterday about all those strange accidents happening near West Branch?” Hermanski said.
    “Yeah, we already know what happened in one instance...right? We...we...” Montagno said, hesitating to expose the truth in front of the suited stranger.”
    “This is Josh Morris from the Troy Police department; he knows all about the deer and the two men from Port Huron. I told him about us finding the deer and claiming it.”
    “Oh,” Montagno said, shaking hands, “so what’s this about?” Whew, it’s not the state auditor , he thought.
    “We’ve done some tests on the deer blood sample provided by Mr. Hermanski yesterday morning. It’s definitely deer blood, but contains matching anti-bodies of the blood from a Mr. Gordon Lickshill of West Branch, who may have been a victim of foul play. I understand the three of you found a deer in the woods off Cook Road near West Branch, apparently, in a field connected to Lickshill’s property.”
    “You don’t think the two guys in Port Huron got into an argument with Lickshill and possibly killed him, do you? Wasn’t Lickshill impaled by blunt objects similar to deer antlers? Maybe the deer, our buck, killed Lickshill. Is that possible? I’m confused as to how the deer’s blood got mixed with Lickshill’s DNA, though,” Lacarter said.
    “Those are all good questions,” Morris said, as he scribbled notes in his folder.
    “Do we need to do anything? I put the deer carcass in the trash, and as you know from the report, the deer head was carried away by a couple of dogs,” Hermanski said.
    “Dogs? Deer head? I don’t have anything else in my report except a description of a possible break-in and some blood from an unknown source, which we know now, is definitely deer blood. It’s best you tell me the whole story of what happened this weekend.”
    Hermanski explained the two incidents with his dog, the deer head and the two unfamiliar dogs. Montagno explained his encounter with several dogs carrying something through his yard, too.
    “Hmm,” Morris murmured. “That doesn’t make any sense. I might be back to ask a few more questions, or maybe the State Police will call. This is clearly out of my jurisdiction.” He finished writing notes, gave the three men a firm handshake and showed himself to the door.
    “I’m getting less and less enthused about eating deer meat. What if our deer killed Lickshill, and his blood antibodies are in the deer’s blood and the meat? God, I want to puke,” Lacarter said.
    “Antibodies aren’t the same as the person’s DNA. Jesus, let’s not get carried away. I’m having some tonight. By the way, we’re pregnant,” Montagno said, changing the subject.
    “It’s confirmed? George, that’s great! When’s the due date?” Hermanski said.
    “Yippee, I’m going to be an uncle," Lacarter said. "Dillon Montagno—what a great name for a boy.”
    “The baby is due sometime in July. I was thinking Jack Montagno would be more appropriate,” Montagno said, smirking.
    Hermanski feigned an open-jawed laugh. “Brilliant. Suck up to the boss. Makes sense to me. Now let’s get some work done. The auditor should be here later today.”
    The three men retreated into a conference room and closed the door.
     

Chapter 17
     
    K atie Kottle rushed her normal Monday routine. Porter had called late Sunday and explained they were to meet with Dingman at 7:30 AM sharp, and plan to work late.
    A thought stream of past days’ events flowed through her head. She must maintain a reporter’s edge to retain facts: who, what, where, why and how. Dingman will be watching and testing her constantly. The two Port Huron