Chapter 16. Springing the Trap

The next day Pam checks Senator Taylor’s Facebook page and learns the senator is planning to hold a town hall meeting at the local County Library the next day. Pam thinks, ‘She’s probably coming to check on her brother Buddy and the town hall meeting gives her an excuse to call it business travel. It’ll be easier to convince her to meet me at the museum if she’s already in town.’

Pam sends an email to the senator telling her she found something at Doc Arra’s museum threatening to the senator’s career and asking the senator to call her. A few hours later Senator Taylor calls and asks what Pam found.

Pam says, “George Citron told me he found information in Doctor Arra’s files that will destroy your political career. He didn’t tell me what he found. I think it might be connected with your medical history so I looked for your medical file, but it’s missing. That led me to look in the receptionist’s old appointment books and it paid off. She recorded a procedure for your appointment on a Friday evening you now claim shouldn’t be allowed. I see what George meant. If this got out it will destroy your credibility with many of your pro-life supporters.”

Lois Taylor interrupts, “That receptionist didn’t know what I came to the doctor for. It doesn’t matter what she wrote in her appointment book.”

“I don’t know, Senator. Some locals are upset the sheriff dismissed George Citron’s murder as a robbery gone badly and closed the case. They are talking about going to the Michigan State Police and asking that patrolman who’s famous for solving cold cases to reopen the case. If that happens I’ll have to give the State Police the appointment book because it indicates you have a motive for killing George. I think you should see what the receptionist wrote before you dismiss it as unimportant.”

“Then send the appointment book to my home so I can check it myself.”

“I can’t do that. I could be accused of trying to hide important evidence. I can show it to you if you come to the museum.’

“Who else has seen what the receptionist wrote?”

“No one. I don’t want to start rumors about you until you’ve had a chance to see this and explain it.”

“Alright, I’ll meet you at the museum tomorrow night. I’ll be in Sturgeonville for a town hall meeting and can meet you afterward. How about we meet at the museum at 10:00 pm?

“I’ll be there.”

“Make sure you are alone and don’t show the book to anyone. I don’t want others to know about this until I see it and explain it. I’m positive there’s a simple explanation for what the receptionist wrote.”

“Okay, I won’t. I’ll see you tomorrow night at 10:00. My car is a blue Ford, it’ll be parked in front of the museum so you’ll know I’m there.”

As soon as the phone call is over Pam calls Peter, Joe and Sam and tells each of them, “Lois Taylor took the bait. She’s going to meet me at the museum tomorrow night at 10:00 to see what’s in the appointment book. She is going to be at the library until at least 8:00 holding a town hall meeting. Let’s change the plan. Don’t go to the library to leave your cars. I’ll pick you up at the harbor parking lot at 7:45 and take you to the museum. I’ll drop you off a ways away. Go through the gardens and in the back door so you won’t be seen. I know it’s a long time to wait but I don’t want to take any chances on tipping off Lois. I’ll return at 9:50, be in your places by then.”

Pam arrives at the museum the following night as planned, parks her car out front, unlocks the front door and turns on the lights. A couple of minutes before 10:00 a car goes by slowly. Pam sees it park down the street and a woman gets out. The woman walks up to the museum and knocks on the door.

Pam opens the door and says, “You’re right on time, Senator. Follow me and I’ll take you to see the appointment book.”

Lois Taylor follows Pam to the clinic and into the elevator. Pam says, “The book is in a filing cabinet on the second floor.”

They get off the elevator and Lois follows Pam to a filing cabinet. Pam opens a drawer, takes out the appointment book and hesitates. Then she says, “A thought came to me as we were coming up on the elevator. If I show you this book you could rip out the page with the evidence against you. I’ve changed my mind. I’m not going to let you have it. I don’t want to be accused of tampering with or destroying evidence in a murder investigation.”

“Don’t be silly, Pam; I just want to read it so I can explain it. Give it to me.”

“No. I told you I’ve changed my mind. I am a supporter of your career but George’s murder trumps your career. I’m going to give this book to the Michigan State Police. The more I think about it, the more I am convinced you killed George to protect your career.”

“How could I have killed George? I had no idea he thought he could destroy my career.”

“Don’t lie to me Senator, I found both George’s and your fingerprints on your family’s medical files. I also found your print on the file drawer you thought you had wiped clean. Those prints prove you and George handled your medical files. You killed George to prevent him from disclosing what you did when you were young. When Igive the evidence I have against you to the Michigan State Police I’m sure they’ll arrest you for George’s murder. Even if you aren’t convicted the publicity will destroy you. Who’s going to vote for an accused murderer for governor?”

“They can’t prove I murdered George. My lawyers will show the local hick medical examiner got it wrong. George wasn’t murdered. He accidentally fell down this elevator shaft and hit his head on something. I’ll make you and the State Police sorry you ever considered giving your fake evidence to them.”

“You are the one that’ll be sorry Senator. You just gave us the evidence we need to prove you are the murderer. No one but the murderer knew about finding George in the elevator shaft.”

“No. You’ve made a big mistake. Now I have to get rid of you.”

The senator pulls a small handgun from her purse, points it at Pam and says. “Get your hands up. We’re going for a ride in your car and you aren’t coming back. No one is going to destroy my career. I’ve worked too hard and too long to let that happen.”

“Senator, I’m not dumb enough to come here alone knowing you are capable of murder. There are four of us here and we have recorded our conversation. Put the gun down. It’s all over for you. You can’t kill all four of us so your best option now is to give up and hope your lawyers can get you a short sentence.”

At this point Peter, Joe and Sam show themselves. Sam says, “Pam’s right, Senator. Your best play now is to give up before you do something that’ll guarantee you spend life in Jackson prison.”

“Alright, alright. I know when I’m defeated,” the senator says, handing her gun to Peter.

Pam says, “Let’s all go downstairs and call the sheriff’s office. We can wait for a deputy to come and take the senator to jail. Senator, I’ll bet your nephew the sheriff will be delighted to arrest you. He’ll love the publicity five days before the election. It’ll ensure he’s re-elected.”

After the sheriff’s deputy arrives and takes Senator Taylor away Rev. Penny sighs and says, “I’m glad this is over. Pam you did an outstanding job tonight. You were right about being able to lead a suspect to incriminate them self by building on what they say. I’m proud of you and I’m sure the rest of the board agrees. Now we can go back to doing the quiet work of cataloging the doctor’s collections.”

Pam replies, “I’m glad too, Joe. I didn’t want to do any more detective work but I couldn’t let George’s murder go unanswered. This investigation was like old times in Grand Rapids, but I’ll be happy to go back to our work here and my art at the old Lafave farmhouse.”