The Total December Experiment Read online

  Her lunch finished and the way to the B&B filed in her head, she relaxed and began to take in the sights and sounds of the countryside. During the time she had been at this haven of a park, not one car had passed by on the narrow two-lane road. Birds rustled and chirped in the branches above her head and there were occasional raucous caws of crows rending the silence. The steady low hum of mid summer cicadas filled the air.

  Somewhere in the distance, there was the muted sound of a tractor. Who came up with the idea that country meant quiet, she thought. The difference between enjoyment and irritation, however, was that country sounds were, for the most part, sounds of nature coming from the true inhabitants, the creatures and insects of the countryside, who labored hard to pollinate, clear debris and in many other ways, enable humans to continue the process of providing essential basic goods for people.

  Farmers; honest, hardworking people with good old-fashioned values.

  Manda realized that her viewpoint was very simplistic but also knew that she required a part of her life to provide simplicity for her at this time. Another reason she had chosen the scenic route was to provide more time to adapt to her changing circumstances...to slow the transition…to lessen the stress of dramatic change. Manda wondered what sort of person Great Aunt Nanny May O’Neal had been. Until a month ago, Manda hadn’t known that she existed. The only information she possessed so far was that she was related through Manda’s maternal family, had never married, never borne children, outlived all of her immediate family and for some unknown reason had bequeathed her worldly goods to a great niece that she had never met. Manda had been notified by a lawyer, John Lanier; the executor of the estate, of her great aunt’s death and of Manda’s inheritance. She had scheduled an appointment with him for 10:00 AM on next Thursday.

  Nanny May O’ Neal; what an interesting name. A combination of the old south and Ireland. Manda decided that research on her genealogy was in order. It would be a fascinating hobby. A few more moments of relaxing and she was going to seek out the B&B. It was still afternoon, but she wanted a shampoo, a long bath and time to relax and plan the next day before settling in at a reasonable hour for a good night’s sleep.

  Chapter 4

  Detective Gary J. Haworth stood, hands clasped behind his back and legs spread, just outside the parameter of the yellow crime scene tape, studying the area before him. The only things visible that indicated a crime had taken place, other than the yellow tape, were dark rust colored stains that were spattered on areas of the tree trunk and which matted together the crushed grass where she had lain.

  The victim had been removed and taken to the morgue, but only after the crime scene team had completed their meticulous work. The team, after suiting up in pull-on disposable coveralls, booties, caps and gloves to prevent cross contamination of the scene, had carefully scanned the ground within the tape. Looking for footprints, litter, or anything at all that could be evidence, they had placed small numbered flag markers at each suspicious site. Photographs; both color and black and white, were taken while the flags and evidence were still in place, all evidence found had been bagged and tagged individually and placed in the van.

  Measurements of the entire crime scene had been noted on sketches. Many photographs had been taken of the body. The medical examiner, after donning the same outfit as the team, had examined and swabbed the anus for evidence, taken the victim’s temperature and checked the phase of rigor mortis. He then, without moving the body, searched for and recorded everything visible on her body that could be used in the investigation. Her hands were bagged. She was then gently turned over and the procedure repeated on her back. When it was time to remove the body, the quilt and pillow were kept under her and placed in the body bag as a unit.

  After the van had departed, more photos were taken of her final resting place at the base of the tree and samples of blood soaked soil, grass and spattered samples of the tree bark were removed for analysis. Now, Detective Gary Haworth scanned the scene, taking in the beauty of the grove of trees. The beauty of the vista offered by the gulf and remembering the beauty of the young woman whose life had been so casually ended, he once again felt the overwhelming desire to hang up his hat. He was so tired of viewing the atrocities that one human could inflict on another.

  He shook his head at the thought that he had left the New Orleans area to get away from the same type of bizarre and senseless crimes. He had recognized the symptoms of impending burn out. He hadn’t wanted to leave law enforcement, but he had known that he was losing his ability to emotionally handle the extremely high crime rate of the ‘ Big Easy.’

  His hope had been to get in on the ground floor of law enforcement in this small but growing young city …his goal… to maintain and protect the law abiding citizens …to prevent the invasion of those who would attempt to pervert the lives of those living in this community.

  He had to solve this as soon as possible to send a message out that this city would not tolerate crime…that timely justice would prevail. He grimaced and shrugged as though to shake off his thoughts and weariness. His resolve strengthened, he turned to leave the scene and begin the investigation.

  Chapter 5

  Manda smiled with delight as she spotted the quaint country style sign announcing the Mimosa Lane Bed and Breakfast. The sign, beautiful in it’s simplicity, perched on the top of a striking dark green / gray stone slab covered almost entirely with ivy and a pink climbing rose. This trip just kept getting more and more satisfying and beautiful.

  The better part of the trip from the little country store had led her down a gently winding road into a valley with tall lush shade trees lining both sides of the road. As she had entered the tunnel of trees, the air flowing through the car windows immediately became cooler and refreshing. The perfume of wild honeysuckle filled the air in places where the shade was less dense. The scent immediately brought memories of childhood, sitting on a grassy bank behind her home, letting the tiny drops of honeysuckle nectar drop onto her tongue. Manda could almost taste it.

  Moisture, coolness and shade had provided a perfect home for the moss clinging to the tree trunks. All of these perceptions combined to make her long for a tiny cottage or cabin of her own nestled among the trees. Manda was disappointed when the road began to bring her up out of the valley, but the disappointment was short lived as she drove out of the valley and immediately caught sight of her destination. After she turned onto the lane leading to the B&B, she was compelled to stop in order to drink in this new pleasure.

  The B&B was aptly named as Mimosa trees in full bloom, danced along each side of the lane. The arched spreading branches with fern like leaves were covered with fragile pink and white powder puff blooms. Breath taking.

  She drove slowly up the lane, reaching a small white cottage with, believe it or not, a picket fence covered with rambling red roses. Manda felt as though she was living her own fantasy as she parked her car by the rose covered fence. Behind the house she could see a small grape arbor and what appeared to be plots of cultivated berries. Her trance was broken when the door to the cottage opened to reveal a smiling young woman obviously in the last stage of impending motherhood.

  “ Good Afternoon, are you wanting a room for the night?”

  “Oh yes, please”, replied Manda, silently thanking the older fellow in the country store for directing her here.

  Susan led Manda up a stairway to view the room. It was small but beautifully decorated in the expected country theme. The walls were papered with a pattern of large cabbage roses of several shades of mauve on a pale sage green background. The floor was maple stained hardwood, which matched the bureau, and bed, the latter being covered with a lovely hand made quilt in pastel shades that matched the wallpaper, and a luxurious mix and match of decorative pillows piled at the head of the bed.

  Several accent rugs of sage green were scattered on the floor. The large window and the small round bedside tables we
re covered with tiers of white eyelet. The curtains were gently swaying in and out to the rhythm of a sweetly scented summer breeze. A small-overstuffed chair of mauve sat in the corner of the room with a small table and lamp…arranged so Manda could relax with a good book or enjoy the splendid view. On a small side table stood an array of decorative candles and a lovely vase…soon to be filled with fresh cut flowers from Susan’s garden.

  The walls were accessorized with a grapevine wreath, a pair of distressed white sconces and several old fashioned photographs in vintage frames. Manda’s thought was that the room should have seemed too busy and very cramped with the wallpaper of huge flowers, but the effect was one of coziness and airy freshness. There was a very small private bathroom decorated just as beautifully as the bedroom. A sigh of pleasure escaped Manda.

  “If the room is satisfactory, we can go downstairs so you can sign the register.”

  “I adore the room and you bet I’ll go sign the register.”

  After business was completed, Susan gave Manda a menu from which to choose her breakfast the next morning. She told Manda that she would also supply a light supper followed later by dessert and coffee.

  “We live so far out in the country that it would be ridiculous for you to try to find a restaurant. We’re not actually a bed and breakfast but I fell in love with the concept.”

  “ You won’t find me complaining,” Manda replied.

  “Feel free to wander around the grounds. There’s a lake down over the hill behind the house with a small pier and several lawn chairs. The lake is almost encircled with evergreens. It’s very pretty and relaxing there. We’ll have supper at 6:00 so enjoy yourself and I’ll see you later.”

  After Manda took her belongings to her room and put them away, she grabbed a book and wandered down to the lake. It was fairly large and had been stocked with fish. If she watched closely, she could see a fish leap from the water occasionally, causing ripples that eventually arrived at the shore. The evergreen trees, reminders of winter, snow and Christmas, created a greater sense of coolness. As it was getting close to dusk, a deer with a nice rack of antlers, slowly and cautiously, raising his head every few steps to watch and listen, made his way to the water to drink. As soon as Manda spotted him, she froze so she wouldn’t frighten him. As he was heading back to the tree line after he drank, something else spooked him ...He flipped his tail up, showing his white flag and broke into a run…quickly disappearing.

  After a period of time, she realized that it was almost suppertime….she had enjoyed looking at everything so much that she hadn’t even opened the book.

  Manda met Susan’s husband, Perry, at the supper table. He was an ordinary man in appearance, but very personable with a delightful sense of humor. They shared a lot of laughter during the ‘light supper’ that wasn’t at all light. Laughter broke out again when Susan reminded her of dessert at 8:00, which elicited a good-natured groan from Manda.

  Full, almost to the point of discomfort, Manda excused herself and went to her room. She enjoyed a leisurely shampoo and scented bath. Afterwards, feeling so-so much more comfortable, she stood in front of the mirror blow- drying her hair. She studied her face in the mirror and realized that she might have the answer to a question that she had wondered about ever since she had first looked in a mirror. Manda’s dad had medium brown hair, brown eyes and a skin color that made him look as though he always had a light tan. Her mom had strawberry blond hair, green eyes and a fair complexion with freckles. Manda resembled neither of them. The eyes studying her from the other side of the mirror were very, very pale blue gray…so light in color that they looked otherworldly. Her skin was also very fair but without freckles. Her shoulder length extremely wavy…almost curly hair was gleaming ebony. So black that sunlight struck blue sparks off the surface. Now, perhaps, she could make sense of the differences between her and her parents. No one else in her known family had Manda’s coloring. She hoped to see photographs of her great aunt to see if there was a family resemblance. The fact that Nanny May was Irish coupled with Manda’s coloring, etc., caused the term ’black Irish’ to come to mind. There was that possibility. Fascinating ! She grinned at herself noting the deep dimples in her cheeks; she had heard dimples were also an Irish characteristic. This journey was going to be very exciting and very enlightening, for certain.

  The next morning, Manda’s travel alarm woke her at 9:00. The evening before, she and Susan had decided to have brunch at 10:00 instead of an early breakfast because Manda needed to catch up on her sleep and she wanted Susan to have an opportunity to sleep in if she chose. Manda went through her usual morning routine, packed everything except her toothbrush and paste, tidied the room and walked down to the kitchen.

  Susan had the table set and coffee waiting. Fresh flowers were arranged in a low bowl in the center of the table.

  Susan served the peach stuffed French toast and crisp bacon Manda had chosen from the menu the previous evening. Manda requested that Susan join her so they both settled in to eat their fill and enjoy some good conversation. “ Susan, you are a terrific cook. I don’t know which I enjoyed most. Your home made cherry pie last night or what we’re having now. I guess I have to say that it’s a toss-up.”

  “ Thanks, I love to cook and experiment with recipes. I suppose I can say it’s one of my hobbies.”

  ” Well, cooking is not a hobby of mine. I don’t seem to have a talent for it. Do you have other hobbies?”

  “ I enjoy quilting but Mom has just started teaching me. We get together twice a week so she can give me lessons.”

  “ Did your mom make the quilt on the bed in my room? It is gorgeous.”

  “ Yes, she did….She quilts constantly. Mom keeps the whole family supplied plus she takes special orders from customers and always has a few on hand to sell.

  She also goes to several quilting web sites and chat rooms on the computer . She even designs some herself.”

  “ I really admire her, Susan, because I’m not very creative.”

  “ What kinds of things do you enjoy doing, Manda?”

  “ I love to read…almost any kind of book. I dabble a little in astrology and the occult. It’s fun, although I don’t know if I believe in it or not.”

  “ Sounds fascinating.”

  “It is. I took lessons for a few years from an astrologer up North. You meet some very interesting people in that sort of class…some were real weird characters.”

  “ What do you mean?”

  “People who profess to be witches, warlocks, reincarnated old souls, etc.”

  Susan raised an eyebrow and Manda grinned at her while duplicating the old,

  “ Twilight Zone “ theme, causing a gale of laughter from both.

  “ Well, I hate to leave such good company, but I better be on my way. If I ever come through here again, I will definitely be staying with you. You are a perfect hostess. Thanks for everything.”

  “ Thank you…I’ve really enjoyed your company. I’m alone most of the time because Perry is on the road a lot. I get tired of not having anyone to talk to. Of course, pretty soon I will be so busy that I won’t have time to be lonely.” Susan smiled and patted her tummy.

  “ Have a safe trip, Manda.”

  “ I will and you take good care of yourself.”

  Manda loaded her things into her car, gave a big hug to Susan, jumped into the car and started down the lane. Without realizing it, she began humming, “ On the Road Again”, by Willie Nelson, as she turned left onto the road.

  Chapter 6

  The darkness was very heavy…so, so heavy.

  The weighted full moon hanging in the sky seemed to be held in place only by the dark clouds racing beneath.

  The sounds of the blackness had blessedly stilled.

  Gem felt exhausted as always after the purge…. the fatigue was expected…was wanted…was needed.

  Now, for a while, Gem could live, could
love, could be just as everyone else. The demons were at rest now. In time, that would change, but for now the tormentors would be sated and peace would be a temporary reward.

  Chapter 7

  With the help of his assistant, Dr. Dennis Mitchum had lifted the quilt, pillow and body of Jane Doe onto the stainless steel table. The body had already been x- rayed and the initial photographs taken….her clothing examined, removed and placed in a labeled evidence bag.

  Detective Haworth stood behind the medical examiner. He hated this part of his job but he had to be here for the autopsy.

  The ME swabbed the mouth, vagina and surrounding areas.

  He utilized a light that fluoresced any body fluids on the body. Areas of blood were indicated but little else. Samples were taken. He removed everything from under her fingernails for examination. The entire time, he had been giving details orally into a microphone.“ So far, Detective Haworth, the only wounds I see are on her throat…it’s been sliced very neatly; one cut severing each artery….two cuts total. There are no defensive wounds on her arms or anywhere. She, for unknown reasons, did not struggle. Lee, help me turn her over.” The slight amount of post mortem lividity staining her buttocks and the backs of her legs indicated the profound blood loss before death occurred. There were no signs of trauma on the back of her body.

  “ Interesting, Dennis said under his breath. There is no evidence of any insect infestation , not even bites from fire ants.”

  “ Gary, is this quilt in the same position to her body as it was at the crime scene ?”

  “Yeah, we brought the quilt and pillow with her as a unit.”

  “ Well, we have something very interesting here. Notice that there is very little blood on this quilt where it lies against her back. Lee, Get some pictures of this and then help me turn her over so I can see the bottom of the quilt.”

  When the quilt was positioned so the ME could examine the back, it was found to be saturated with blood.