Chapter Eleven
Butchery of the First Degree
Willow
Dale and Willow remained quiet when they went back to search for the marker.
They didn’t discuss the man. Willow knew sound traveled, and it was most likely not a good idea to talk about him until they were back at the house.
Ten minutes after the interaction, Dale spotted the metal spike they’d been looking for.
“Strange,” he said after he lifted it from the dirt. “Usually, these things are far enough in the ground, they don’t move.”
Using GPS, Willow located the spot where the marker should have been, and Dale pushed it in.
“Are we going to look around further for clues?” she asked.
“If you’re good for it, I am,” he said. “The deputies covered the gully pretty thoroughly. I think we should wander onto BLM land and see if we spot anything.”
“Are we doing another grid search?” she asked.
“No, but keep your eyes open for the unusual.”
They searched about a quarter mile, then turned back after they didn’t find anything. They decided to call it a day and head home. About halfway, Willow could no longer hold back her questions.
“What did you think of Larry?” she asked.
“I’ve heard rumors.”
That intrigued her. “What kind of rumors?”
“They say he has an underground bunker. It’s normal to be a loner out here, and underground bunkers are a dime a dozen, but it makes for good gossip.
He stays to himself mostly. Joan never mentioned him.
What’s not normal is to be as clean and friendly as he was to us when he has the reputation to stay away from people. ”
Willow couldn’t help a short chuckle. “We’re as clean as he was, and one of us was friendly.
Should we stink ourselves up and stop brushing our teeth so we fit in better?
The rumors about you and I are probably hysterical.
” She made a sound that was somewhere between pain and laughter.
“I guess I need to work on my grunting. That one was horrible.”
“Smartass,” Dale said with a smile that left when he spoke next. “Larry is one of the original property owners on the ranch, and he’s never caused trouble. I just can’t place what bothers me about him.”
“Is he married?”
Dale stopped and gave her a long look. She held up her hand. “He’s too old for me, as you know. I’m simply curious.” She waited, but he didn’t respond. “He gave off a weird vibe,” she added. “I felt it just like you.”
Dale nodded and began walking again. “Max doesn’t usually growl after introductions are made. Something about Larry made the dog nervous.” He patted Daisy’s head. “This one would lick his feet if given a chance, but even she kept a close watch.”
“I’m still not sure why I didn’t like him,” Dale said.
“Women are better than men at picking out the creeps. It’s instinctual because they tend to be prey from birth on.
I’m good at it due to my law enforcement experience.
When I do hear things about Larry, I don’t hear that he’s strange, anti-government, or any of the other things that are normal for people out here. That makes him an oddity.”
“And you don’t like oddities,” she said before he could.
“No, I do not.”
They made it back to the house and took turns showering. Willow thought about Larry. He was nothing like Wallard, and for some reason that left her unsettled. She understood Wallard. She had no idea about Larry.
The following day, she called Louisa and asked if she knew the man.
“No, not really,” she said. “Met him once. He takes long trips with his truck, and we sometimes see when he leaves or arrives if it isn’t late at night. The truck usually wakes us up, though. Why do you ask?”
“We met him on my grandmother’s property. He was hiking. I’m not sure why I asked, curiosity mostly.”
“Roger has talked to him a time or two but says he doesn’t say much. He’s one of those people out here who you forget about easily.”
A few days later, Larry was completely out of Willow’s mind as she continued her life.
They heard nothing from Deputy Wallard for almost four months. He finally called Dale, who came to the barn after the call ended.
“I’m heading to town. Do you need me to pick up anything?”
“What store are you going to?” Willow asked.
“I can stop anywhere, but I’m going to the sheriff’s department to get a copy of the report on the bones you found.”
“There’s a report?”
“Yes. The deputy called and said the forensic examiner listed the death as homicide. He aged the bones as being there for fifteen to twenty years. They are not doing a more thorough investigation. I want to read that report.”
Chills covered Willow’s arms. “I’ll keep Daisy and Max close. I know it sounds stupid, but the thought of that body out there for twenty years after they were murdered gives me the creeps even more.”
Dale looked into the corner where Willow’s shotgun leaned. “I know what you mean. Keep the gun close.”
Willow moved to the house and locked the door with the dogs inside. She decided to make a larger than normal dinner and started the process. The weather was cool enough to use the oven, and she had big plans. She turned on some music and got to work. Dale returned two hours later.
“Ran into one of my buddies who was a decent cop, so we shot the breeze for an hour,” he said as way of explanation. He held up a manila envelope. “Haven’t had a chance to look at this. I’ll do it after dinner. Something smells good.”
“Meatless meatloaf,” she volunteered.
Dale groaned. “It’s not meatloaf without meat. You need to find a new name,” he said grumpily.
“You always grumble, but then you like it. No tofu in it, I promise.”
“That’s something to celebrate.”
She gave him a mock glare.
“I reserve judgment until after I taste it. You are just darned and determined to make me one of those tree huggers.”
“Go take a shower and cool down,” she said, trying to keep from laughing. “I know the trees are safe from you whether you admit it or not.”
“Not bad,” Dale said an hour later, after cleaning his plate of meatless loaf, as she would now call it, and pepper green beans.
“You loved it, and you know it,” she said gleefully.
“I don’t know if I would use the ‘L’ word, but it was good. There’s enough for a meatloaf sandwich or two tomorrow also.”
“Meatless sandwich,” she corrected. “I’ve never had one, so I’ll reserve judgment,” she said, using his own words against him.
“Want to take a look at the paperwork?” Dale asked after they cleaned the kitchen together.
“Sure, I’ll make us some tea first.”
“Meatless loaf, tea, next thing you know my insides will turn green.”
She laughed all the way to the kitchen.
Dale had the paperwork out and was looking at it when she returned with two hot tea mugs.
“This doesn’t look good,” he said and handed her the first three pages.
Willow began reading the report.
FORENSIC AUTOPSY SUMMARY
CASE ID: AZ-1027-20 EXAMINING PATHOLOGIST: Dr. Vikram Singh REMAINS DISCOVERED: Apache County, AZ
I. GROSS EXAMINATION OF REMAINS:
The remains consist of a full human skeleton, entirely defleshed and in a state of advanced decomposition, consistent with an estimated postmortem interval of fifteen (15) to twenty (20) years.
The bones are a uniform off-white color and show no signs of soft tissue or cartilage.
The majority of the skeletal elements are present and articulated.
A meticulous examination was performed to document all antemortem and perimortem trauma.
Gender & Age Determination
Based on the morphological characteristics of the skeletal remains, the individual is determined to be a male, between the ages of 25 and 35. The following features were observed:
Pelvis: The pelvis is narrow, and the subpubic angle is V-shaped and acute. The sciatic notch is deep and narrow. These features are highly indicative of a male biological sex.
Skull: The skull is robust with a prominent brow ridge and a large, blunt mastoid process (the bony prominence behind the ear). The jawline is squared, and the occipital bone at the back of the skull has a noticeable external protuberance. These traits are typically associated with males.
Based on the degree of skeletal metamorphosis, including the changes observed on the pubic symphysis and the sternal end of the fourth rib, the individual is estimated to be between the ages of 25 and 35. These specific skeletal changes are reliable indicators of age in adult remains.
Stature
The stature of the individual has been estimated using the maximum length of the left femur. The measurement yields an estimated living height of 5'9" to 5'11".
Ancestry
Analysis of cranial and dental morphology, including the presence of a narrow nasal aperture, a small mastoid process, and a slight prognathism, indicates a likely European ancestry. Further analysis will be conducted to refine this assessment.
Kerf Morphology: There is a notable absence of "false starts" or wavering lines, which would be indicative of a manual, hand-held saw. This further supports the use of a static, precision tool.
Knife and Cleaver Marks: Knife and cleaver marks are present at several anatomical locations, consistent with the disarticulation of the body and the stripping of soft tissue.
Disarticulation Marks: Shallow, V-shaped slice marks are present on the surfaces of the bones at major joints, including the head of the humerus, the glenoid cavity of the scapula, and the iliac crest of the pelvis.
These marks indicate that a sharp-bladed instrument was used to sever ligaments and tendons.
Scrape Marks: Multiple, shallow scrape marks run parallel to the length of the long bones, particularly the femurs and humerus. These marks are consistent with the repeated scraping of a blade to remove muscle and other soft tissues.
Chop Marks: The clavicles and multiple ribs display wide, V-shaped chop marks with associated bone splintering and fracture lines. The clean nature of these cuts and the radiating fractures around the impact point are consistent with the use of a heavy, sharp cleaver or axe.
III. LACK OF EVIDENCE FOR OTHER TRAUMA:
No evidence of natural taphonomic activity, such as animal gnawing, tooth pits, or scoring, was observed on the skeletal remains.
IV. CONCLUSION:
The observed skeletal trauma is entirely consistent with a well-executed postmortem dismemberment.
The consistent and precise nature of the saw cuts, coupled with the focused knife and cleaver marks, strongly suggests a perpetrator with a high degree of knowledge and skill in a field such as professional butchery.
The lack of scavenging marks suggests the remains were protected from natural elements after the processing.
“Oh my God,” Willow said and looked up. “I didn’t understand it all, but I understood enough. The body was butchered?” She shook her head.
“That’s about it,” Dale said. “A fifteen- to twenty-year-old murder out here is next to impossible to solve. People have been transient in this area for too long.”
Willow’s entire body felt cold. “Why don’t they go door-to-door and question people on the ranch? Someone might know something.” She sounded desperate, even to her own ears.
“That’s a good way to get shot,” Dale said. “Deputy Wallard said they would place a notice in the newspaper and ask anyone with information to come forward anonymously. I doubt anyone would, even if they know who did it.”
“This is insane. Sick. Is there more?” she asked.
“Yes, but it’s mostly medical mumbo jumbo.”
“Good. I don’t need to see it. Do you think old man Hogg could have killed that man?”
“They didn’t live here during the right time period. I think those bones were buried, and water ran down the ravine until the bones were unearthed.”
Willow had forgotten the Hoggs moved in after her grandmother. “When you were a deputy, would you have let this go?”
He looked directly into her eyes. “Not for one minute. Even if I had to work the case off-duty, I would be talking to people, finding out who lived here back then, and cataloging everything anyone said. I might not have solved it, but I damn sure would have investigated it. Whoever did this is a very nasty individual. You don’t simply learn how to do what was done to that body.
It takes skill. Hell, it’s most likely not the only person he’s killed. ”
“You think a man did this?”
“Law of averages says it’s a man. My gut says it’s a man. I’ll say it’s a man until we find out differently.”
Willow had been in prison with women who killed in horrible ways, just like she had. Most had good reasons for the murders they committed, though sometimes, they were simply evil. Prison taught her a lot about evil.
“You’re going to try and find who did it?” she asked.
“You bet your Sunday jeans I will. It’s likely someone who was passing through. There’s a lot of open land up here, and if you hadn’t been searching for that marker, the body could have stayed hidden forever. I might not find out much, but I’ll try.”
Dale meant every word.