Lover’s Cross Part III

My name is Sunny Alexander. And I’m Henry James and we’re writers for Dark Sides of the Truth magazine.

Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Conclusion

After hitting a stone wall at the police station we went back to the motel and hung out in the lobby as we called Rick McDonnell and put him on speakerphone.

“Rick McDonnell.”

“Rick, it’s Sunny. Henry’s sitting here and we have you on speaker.”

“Whatcha got for me.”

“So far nothing.”

“Henry, you and Alexander have been there almost a full day and this is all you’ve got? Nothing?”

“Listen Rick. You were wrong about a couple of things. First off, Rockburn isn’t the tiny little hamlet you remembered. And second, we just spoke to a Captain Layne at the police station. According to her Daryl Hoenig never lived in Rockburn.”

“You wouldn’t by any chance know her do you?”

“Who Sunny, this Captain Linn?”

“Layne, L, A, Y, N, E.”

“Whatever. No, never heard of her. So according to this Captain Linn...”

We both corrected him, “Layne.”

“What the hell ever you two. So if the Rockburn police had no reports of Daryl’s death then maybe those photos were taken someplace.”

“Or maybe they were taken here, then Daryl’s body was moved.”

“Possible Sunny. Quite possible. The thing is, I’m damned sure the last time we spoke Daryl mentioned Rockburn. He told me he loved the place.”

“Okay Rick, then how do you explain what Captain Layne told us? According to her Hoenig never lived in Rockburn.”

“I have no idea. That’s what Dark Sides pays you guys for. Digging up a story. Sounds to me you both aren’t digging deep enough.”

“Okay listen Rick, from everything we can tell it’s sounding like Daryl’s murder was never reported to the police. Which means his body was never discovered. The only thing we know for sure is whoever took those pictures wanted you to see them. Why?”

“No clue Henry.”

“Whoever did this knew you and Daryl were friends Rick. That’s the connection. Whoever did this knew Daryl and they knew you. Think Rick.”

We listened to several seconds of silence and then Rick said, “I’m telling you both, I just don’t know. I’ve known Daryl for almost twenty years. A ton of people have moved into and out of our lives during that time. It could be almost anybody.”

Sunny and I exchanged this-is-getting-us-nowhere glances.

“Okay Rick, let’s put our heads together and see what we can come up with. We’ll let you know.”

“Roger that Sunny.”

Rick disconnected and for a couple of seconds we both sat in silence staring at the phone.

“Any ideas James?”

“Nope.”

Some more silence between as we tried to at least discover a starting place.

“You got the photos with you Alexander?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Maybe there’s something in the photos we missed. I mean, the shock value of seeing a naked man hung on a cross is pretty vile, and it was hard to concentrate on anything else. But maybe there’s something in the photos we can use. Something we didn’t see.”

“Here’s the one with Daryl in the picture.”

Both of us took our time studying the photographs. After a few minutes we traded. After a few more minutes we traded again. After the third hand off, something in the photo of Daryl began to stand out.

“What are you doing James? What’s so interesting outside?”

“I’m figuring out the angles. Come see this. Okay, see that crest of hills up there?”

“I see a ton of hills Henry. They practically ring the entire town of Rockburn.”

“Follow my finger Alexander. See those right over there?”

“Yeah, so?”

“Okay now look at the photo. First off the top of that one hill right behind Daryl looks damn similar to that crop of hills over there. Second, take a closer look at the photo. Notice the angle of the shot?”

“Dude, for an old white guy you’re pretty damned smart. The angle of the shot means whoever took it was standing below Daryl, further down a trail maybe. A trail that runs up to the crest of those hills.”

“Right. Look at the trees in the background behind him. It almost looks like they’re in a perfect semi-circle, like…”

“Like it’s an area cleared away on purpose.”

“You ain’t so dumb yourself Alexander. Come on.”

“Where the hell are you going now?”

“Front desk. I got a hunch.”

“The last time you had a hunch you almost ended up getting shot. Remember?”

“I don’t think the desk clerk is armed. Come on.”

We strolled across the lobby and stopped at the desk waiting until we finally caught the attention of an extremely jaded looking young man. Not like he was busy doing anything. We were the only people in the lobby. Hang on, we’re going to back track a bit. The kid was busy being bored.

“Excuse me young man. We were wondering if there are any hiking trails in those hills over there. We’re really loving the scenery and would like to take in a little nature while we’re here.”

“Uh, let’s see. Yeah, there’s Grove’s Trail which runs for about four, maybe four and half miles on the north side, but mostly it’s for bikes. You two would probably get run into or knocked silly.”

“What else?”

“Well there’s the Rockburn nature trail. That’s pretty cool, but I’m guessing you two wouldn’t want to take that, I mean, you don’t look, I mean, you’re probably not, not like that.”

“Not like what?”

“Well at the top of the trail is a wide clearing where a lot of the locals hang out on Friday and Saturday nights. You know, just chilling, drinking a bit, you know…uh…

“Passing a couple of joints back and forth? Making out on blankets under the cover of darkness in that ring of woods?

“Uh, well, yeah ma’am. No offense, but I’m thinking you two don’t fit the bill for dating and doing stuff like…”

“Let me guess. Lover’s point.”

“Why yes sir. How did you know that?”

“Son, there are hundreds of thousands of towns in this country, and almost every single one of them has a place like you just described. And do you know why?”

“No sir.”

“Because mom and dad don’t want their kids getting drunk on their asses or stoned out of their gourds then having wild sex orgies in their living rooms while they’re trying to watch X factor on television. That’s why.”

“Oh yeah, guess not.”

“So Lover’s point is up in those hills right over there?”

“Yes sir. You’ll see the signs. There’s a parking area at the base of the trail.

“Come on Alexander, Let’s go check out Lover’s point. Don’t know about you, but I think I’m feeling a bit frisky.”

“You even think of trying something old man and I’ll break both your arms.”

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