7. Confusion

Mary Anderson calls Pam at 9:00 Monday morning. It’s July 22 and still in the mid-summer heatwave. Mary says, “I hope I’m not calling too early, Pam.”

“Oh no, I couldn’t sleep in with this heat. I’m already on my second glass of iced tea. It’s too hot to paint so I’m sitting on the porch hoping for some breeze. Are you at work?”

“Yes, at least it’s cool here with the air conditioning. I need to talk to you privately, Pam. Can you meet me for lunch at the Harbor Deli?”

“Yes, I’ll be there at noon, Mary.”

“Thank you, see you then,” Mary concludes.

Mary arrives at the Harbor Deli a few minutes after noon. Pam is sitting in a back corner away from anyone. Mary joins her and says, “Thank you for meeting me, Pam.”

The waitress comes and takes their lunch order. As soon as the waitress leaves Pam asks, “Is everything alright at the Courthouse, Mary?”

“Not really. Everyone is talking about Glen Lund’s murder. I don’t think anyone is working. Word is the medical examiner reported Glen was murdered someplace else and dumped at the picnic site. He didn’t have any drugs in his system so the sheriff believes a packet of cocaine found with his body was planted. They have a lot of suspects but no evidence. The gossip is the sheriff is focusing on Tom Eyre for some reason. That’s what I need to talk to you about. Part of the reason has to do with Glen’s funeral on Sunday. Trudy’s a longtime friend. She is struggling with the loss of Glen and the funeral upset her even more. Her nephew, Tom Eyre, couldn't attend Glen’s funeral because Sheriff Ericsson threw him in jail Saturday. The sheriff is threatening to keep him there until he cooperates. Trudy is close to Tom because they are nearly the same age. He’s her older half-sister’s first child. I am in the middle because Tom’s wife Sally is my cousin. She knows Tom’s innocent but doesn’t know what to do. There’s some history the sheriff doesn’t know. If he finds out he’ll be doubly convinced Tom’s guilty. I don’t believe for a minute Tom killed Glen, but I don’t know how to get the sheriff off Tom’s back either. That’s why I need your advice.”

“What’s the history the sheriff doesn’t know, and why would it make the sheriff believe Tom’s guilty,” asks Pam.

“It all goes back to before any of us were married. Trudy, Sally and I were friends. Sally was dating Glen, I was dating Bert, and Trudy had a party. She invited her date, some guy from Oscoda I’ve forgotten, Tom, who didn’t have a date, Sally and Glen, and Bert and me. Sally always liked the bad-boy types. I don’t know why she bothered to date Glen; being the quiet gentleman, he wasn’t her type. She met Tom at the party, who was pretty wild when he was young. It didn’t take her long to dump Glen and take up with Tom. Sally married Tom only to learn bad boys don’t make good husbands even after they settle down. Anyway, Glen and Trudy started dating and soon got married. The problem was when Tom mistreated Sally she’d go to Glen for sympathy. Being the gentleman he was he provided it. Knowing Sally she would have tried to get Glen to sleep with her. I doubt that she succeeded but I can’t be sure. Before long Trudy caught on and threw a fit. Glen never saw Sally again according to Sally, but Sally and Trudy stopped being friends. There are rumors that Tom accused Glen of sleeping with Sally when he was mad at Glen because Glen raised the tax assessment on their farm. He could be right, although as I said, I doubt it. Another reason Trudy is so upset is she learned somehow that Ralph Hess says Glen was supposed to meet him at 1:30. Glen left after church about 11:00 telling Trudy he’s going to Ralph’s. No one knows where Glen was around noon. Trudy thinks Sally could have had another fight with Tom and asked Glen to meet her like old times. She doesn’t want to say anything to the sheriff because she’s embarrassed about what happened years ago and is afraid it’ll come out.” 

Pam says, “Wow, that’s quite a story. I can see how our bumbling sheriff would make it into something he could use against Tom. Are you convinced Tom is innocent?”

“Yes, Sally called me Saturday evening after she learned the sheriff put Tom in jail, all upset of course. I went to see her Sunday after she visited Tom. Tom told her Deputy Wilson questioned him about where he was at the time Glen was killed. He wouldn’t give Wilson a straight answer and that’s why Sally thinks the sheriff is after Tom.”

“If Tom didn’t give Wilson a good alibi I’m sure the sheriff would believe he’s guilty and go after him. Sheriff Ericsson acts on gut instinct rather than evidence. Did she say why Tom wouldn’t tell Wilson where he was?”

“Yes, they were out of meat and low on money as usual, so Tom poached a deer. He was home butchering the deer at the time Glen was murdered. There’s an abandoned farm shed behind the trailer park. Sally said Tom butchered the deer there out of sight of anyone. The problem is, he has been caught poaching before. The DNR officer told him if he’s caught poaching again he’ll lose his rifle and go to jail. Sally and Tom are just getting by. They can’t afford to lose Tom’s pay for a month. Now you see why Sally’s upset. I don’t know how to get Tom out of this mess. That’s why I wanted to talk to you. You always analyze situations logically and see logical answers.”

“Has Sally considered hiring a lawyer to defend Tom?”

“Yes, but they can’t afford a lawyer.”

“Oh, yes you said they’re hard up. I suggest you try this approach, Mary. There’s a new young lawyer in Pineville. His name is Karl Katz. He’s trying to build up a new practice here. I suggest Sally go see him. Go with her if you can take time off. Tell him Tom needs legal representation but can’t afford it. Ask if he’ll do it pro-bono. Tell him if he does you’ll make sure Mary Jane Bloom knows of his good deed. If she writes a favorable story it’ll help get him known. If he agrees, Sally can tell him the fix Tom’s in. If he knows Tom’s innocent he can get Tom released since the sheriff has no evidence beyond his gut feel. If he represents Tom he can treat Tom’s poaching as privileged information. He doesn’t have to bring it up.”

“That’s worth a try, Pam. Sally and I should have thought of that. We’re too upset or too close to the problem I guess. Thank you for meeting me for lunch and listening to my story, and thank you for your good advice.”