Chapter 17. The Cut and Curl Detective Society

Pam, Jolene, Violet and Erin are gathered around Erin’s dining room table finishing their pizza that evening. Erin gets up and removes the empty pizza boxes and plates. As she sits down she raises her wine glass and says, “Here’s to the first, and hopefully not annual, meeting of The Cut and Curl Detective Society.”

They raise and clink their wine glasses. Violet says, “This may be as much fun as planning a protest.”

Erin replies, “Let’s hope it’s more uplifting. Shall we get started?”

Jolene says, “Before we do I have something I want to say. You three have become my best friends. Erin, I can never repay you for hiring me and letting me cut men’s hair the way I want. It’s my dream job. Pam, I am so thankful you asked me to join the Monday night drawing group. Art is important for me and I have learned so much from drawing with the group. I don’t question my art anymore and I don’t compare it to the art of others. I am satisfied with what I do and that gives me peace. Violet, my dear Violet, you listen patiently to my complaints. You always make me feel better when I’m blue. You have been the only one I can share my feelings with, knowing you will keep them private. And finally, Pam, I will forever be thankful for you showing the sheriff how to prove Jake and me innocent of murdering Carson. Now that you know Jake and I are innocent I need to share some things I’ve only shared with Violet before. I want you to know these things so maybe you’ll understand what I’m about to do. My marriage to Carson was a mistake. I loved Jake but foolishly rejected his marriage proposal. That’s why he joined the Army. I fell for Carson because I was lonely, he made me forget about Jake with all of his attention and of course, being from a poor family, I was attracted by his money. He was older and not handsome but that didn’t matter. Marriage delighted me at first. Then Carson began to spend more and more of his time pursuing money. I became lonely again and my love for Carson died slowly. He didn’t seem to notice or care if he did notice. I thought about divorce, but that would have left me with nothing. He kept everything in his name. I didn’t want to be poor again. When I saw Jake back from the Army I realized I still loved him. I started seeing him again on Thursday afternoons. It was the only way I could relieve the misery I felt from Carson’s ignoring me. When people began to threaten Carson he took out a big life insurance policy. I’m thankful for that now. I’ll never have to worry about money. I know it sounds terrible but I am glad Carson is gone. I am free to be with Jake and that’s what I’m going to do. He’s going to stay at my place during the deer season. His PTSD makes it unbearable for him to stay at his cabin with the shooting noise in the forest. If we get along together for these coming two weeks then I’m going to marry him if he’ll have me. I know what people will say, but I don’t care what other people think or say. I only care that my best friends understand. There, I’ve said it. I feel better.”

After a few moments of silence Pam says, “Jolene, thank you for having the courage to share your feelings. I am fortunate to have had a wonderful life with Billy. We fell in love young like you and Jake. We were lucky to have many happy years together. It devastated me when Billy died. I had to get away from Grand Rapids. Coming back here worked for me. I have my art. I have my good friends sitting around this table. I enjoy my time with the drawing group and volunteering on the museum board. I thought I had another chance at love with George Citron until he dumped me. So I believe I understand how you feel. I support you. Marry Jake tomorrow if you want. Your happiness is more important than what the gossips will say.”

Erin says, “I support you too, Jolene. I knew you were sharing things with Violet. Now I know why you didn’t share those feelings with me as well. That’s okay, I understand. You should marry Jake as soon as you want. Put your bad times with Carson behind you, the sooner the better.”

“See, Jolene, I told you the people who count would understand and support you,” Violet adds.

Jolene says softly, “Thank you for your support. It means a lot. Now, let's go back to the business of The Cut and Curl Detective Society. Pam, tell us where to start.”

Pam sighs and then says, “We’ll start with the basics. Solving a murder involves motive, means and opportunity. No one but psychopaths murder without those three and even psychopaths have to have means and opportunity. We know the sheriff has cleared all the obvious suspects except David Wellborne. Our first question is did Wellborne have a motive, If he did then we ask if he had the means and opportunity.”

Erin offers, “We know he confronted Carson at the Saturday night meeting and threatened him over not getting as much money as he thought he was entitled to for his property. Is that motive enough?”

“Probably not for most people. However, David Wellborne has the Wellborne temper. Revenge can be motive enough for someone with a temper like his,” Violet says.

Pam adds, “I agree, Violet. Wellborne has a motive.”

Jolene asks, “What does having the means involve, Pam?”

Pam answers, “It depends on the cause of death. For example, if someone is shot then the means is access to a gun at the time and place of the murder. In Carson’s case he was killed by a blow to the head before being dumped in the harbor. The means then is a hard or heavy object at the place Carson was killed. It’s most likely Carson was killed somewhere near or at the harbor, probably right on the dock where Harrison discovered his body.”

Violet says, “I don’t think there’s anything on the docks that could be used as a weapon. I think Wellborne had to bring the weapon with him if he killed Carson on the dock.”

“That’s a good assumption, Violet. What would a man like Wellborne likely have with him that he could use as a weapon? I think it’s most likely something he carries or has in his car. He didn’t know he was going to lose all that money before the meeting so he wouldn’t have thought about having a weapon beforehand. No, he probably grabbed something from his car, like a big wrench,” Pam says.

“What about a jack handle or lug wrench?” asks Jolene.

“Good suggestion, Jolene. Does anyone know if the sheriff had the harbor dragged for a weapon? The killer could have dropped or thrown the weapon in the water after hitting Carson,” replies Pam.

“Sheriff Ericsson’s not much for deep thinking. He prefers to directly accuse suspects. He probably didn’t think to have the harbor dragged. That’s why he needs our help,” says Violet.

“What about opportunity?” asks Erin. “We know he left the meeting about the same time as Carson. How can we tell if he followed Carson? Oh, I forgot. He probably has one of the car insurance tracking devices in his car. If he followed Carson that will tell if he had an opportunity.”

Jolene follows up, “Wellborne has a motive. If he followed Carson to the harbor we can prove he had an opportunity if his car has an insurance company tracking device. Or, if it’s a fairly new car it would have GPS for the roadside assistance plan. Wellborne works for GM. I bet he drives a GM car with their “OnStar'' feature.”

Pam thinks and then says, “I don’t know if the GPS systems like ‘OnStar’ store past data. We’d have to do some research. We know the insurance company tracking devices store data, hopefully Wellkborne has one in his car. If he doesn’t but has ‘OnStar’ the sheriff might be able to bluff him even if ‘OnStar’ doesn’t store data. I doubt if Wellborne knows the details of ‘OnStar’.”

Jolene says, “That leaves determining if he had means. The sheriff can check his car to see if he has any big tools or a lug wrench that could be the weapon. How do we get the sheriff to check out Wellborne’s car?”

Erin adds, “First, the sheriff has to get Wellborne up here without letting him know he’s under suspicion. We learned from Marylynn, the mayor’s secretary, the mayor and Glen Lund have some scheme they hatched up to get the Wellborne property. Maybe the sheriff can use the mayor to get Wellborne here. Maybe he could put pressure on the mayor to cooperate knowing the mayor is up to something fishy.”

Jolene says, “Better to make it something the sheriff and the mayor think can help their political lives.”

“Another good suggestion, Jolene,” says Pam.

Erin says, “I think I know the way to get the sheriff to follow our plan of action. Sue, his secretary is the key. Sheriff Ericsson depends on Sue for advice. He won’t admit it of course but he talks to her about his plans so she can give him her thoughts. Let’s bring Sue into our Cut and Curl Detective Society. She’ll know how to motivate the sheriff in a way he’ll think it’s all his idea. He doesn't need to know about Pam’s key involvement.”

Pam says, “Okay, we have a plan. Erin, arrange to have lunch with Sue and fill her in. She’ll take it from there.”

“Will do, Pam. How about another glass of wine to celebrate the accomplishments of The Cut and Curl Detective Society before you all go home?”

“Make mine a half glass, Erin. I have to drive home in the dark,” adds Pam