'Unsolved Solutions' © by Scriptress 1997
All Rights Reserved
Webpage by Jilli

UNSOLVED SOLUTION

PROLOGUE

Rusty stood in the hallway, waiting for the package. It took several uncomfortable minutes for her to reappear, uncomfortable also. Not even her two boys watching TV in their living room were supposed to know of the exchange, or what the package contained.

She handed him the object, wrapped in a pillow case. He thanked her, hoping his words allayed any curiosity coming from the other direction. She cautioned him again to take the quickest way out of town.

* * *

Chapter I

Glove stationed himself outside Kammy's trailer. The court scene this afternoon gave every indication he should expect trouble. He'd vowed to be on hand if any showed up.

His CB radio indicated a marijuana party at, or near Lookout Point. He thought he recognized Rafe's voice. He might do a drive-by later, if not needed here. Logging the information to memory, he checked his watch pressing the button to light its face.

So far the trailer showed no unusual activity. Kammy's brother appeared to be watching TV. His bedroom window emitted tell-tale bluish flashes of light. No light showed in the front window outlined in baby pink frills. Either the baby was asleep or in another part of the house. Lights were on in the living room. Some of the windows were open to the warm, August night.

So, what is she doing, he wondered. Then, just as quickly, answered his own question, probably talking on the phone.

Once more Glove cursed himself for letting it go too far. In the beginning she was useful to him as an informant. She'd been fun while it lasted. She freely gave sex in return for drugs, to him and then others.

Finally he'd caught on to her game of pretending to look to him for protection from Rusty, while playing him for the fool. Time and again he'd caught her with Rusty, her common-law husband. When he confronted her she explained Rusty was the baby's father. That connection was never to be broken. She had no say in the matter, and blamed the courts and the law, holding herself innocent. Now he feared his part in the liaison.

Earlier today another of his informants claimed Rusty bought a gun before the afternoon court appearance. The informant also said Rusty made threats against Kammy.

Hearing of the gun, Glove broke out in the cold sweat of fear. The gun and threats meant a distinct danger to him. If true, and the treats were carried out, there would be an investigation. Others knew of his and Kammy's relationship. The possibility did not bode well for him as a police officer. The fear stayed with him all day, prompting him to take tonight's action. He had to silenced them both, a murder/suicide was the answer.

Glove checked his watch again. The trailer next to hers was dark, empty looking. Kammy's mother must be away, he thought.

Chapter II

The ringing phone startled her. She rushed to answer it. "You can't do this. I've missed you. Kathy keeps asking for you. You know the restraining order wasn't my idea, it was my parent's. We need to talk. No, don't come here. I'll come to you. The duck pond? Okay, give me a few minutes."

Chapter III

He watched her leave the house, get in her car and drive away. He waited until her car was out of sight, sure of her destination. Following her circuitous route through the trailer park, he did not take the highway as she had done. Instead he sped over the dirt back road to the connecting county road. Nearing the suspected rendezvous, he killed his headlights and motor.

Kammy arrived minutes later. Getting out of the car she turned the driver's seat over to Rusty and joined him in the passenger's seat. The two then headed for Lookout Point.

He checked his watch again. It was time to sound the alarm. Driving back to the park, he stopped a block away from Kammy's trailer. Making sure his patrol car was out of sight, he approached the brother's bedroom window on foot. He tapped on the window pane, as he had done many times before. Without any urging the boy went to the back door and unlocked it.

Entering the trailer, the officer yanked the kitchen phone free of its connection.

"Hey, man, what are you doing?" asked the astonished teenager.

"She went to meet him, didn't she?" accused the officer.

"I guess so."

"I'm not guessing, I know. This time he's not getting away with it. You're going to dial 911. Tell the dispatcher that Rusty has kidnapped Kammy at gun point. Go next door and make the call from there." As he stated the order, he took the receiver from the living room phone and slammed it repeatedly on the floor until it lay in pieces.

The boy fled the trailer in terror. This was not the friendly officer that brought goodies, as before. I'll make the call, he thought. It'll be my call for help also.

Following the boy out the front door, Glove paused to scoop up a rock with his gloved hand and savagely smashed it against Kammy's front door knob, leaving it hanging and useless. There, he thought, that should give my fellow officers enough indication of violence.

Following on the boy's heals he entered the mother's trailer, and stood menacingly by as the boy made his call.

The 911 dispatcher ordered the boy to return to the trailer and bring the baby girl back with him to the neighboring home. Concern for the child was evident in her voice.

Chapter IV

"Well?"

"Well what, Kammy? For Christ's sake, finish your question." responded Rusty negotiating the dirt road.

"Did you buy the gun?"

"Yes."

"Are you planning to shoot yourself?" She could not bring herself to say the word 'kill'.

"That's still an option."

"Why? What can I do to change your mind?"

"Act like a mother. Right now you're being a slut!"

"Some people think I'm nuts for even seeing you. I could be jailed for seeing you tonight. You heard the judge."

"I've tried my best to work out our differences. I've done everything I know to do, including clearing out and letting you have your space. But Kathy's my daughter. I have a right to be her father in all that means. I have a right to see that she grows up in a good home, and not with a mother who is doped up half the time. The restraining order was the last straw. You're making me look like some monster just to take Kathy away from me."

"Please, let me have the gun. Where is it?" she said dodging his accusations.

"In my jacket," he said patting the left side pocket. Reaching into his other pocket he brought forth a pint bottle of Irish Mist, Kammy's favorite. "Here, have a drink, it looks like a long night."

"I don't want any, " she said taking the bottle and putting it on the floor next to her feet.

"What did you do with Kathy?" he asked.

"I left her with my brother. Where are you taking me?"

"To the water tower, where else? I can't be on the road tonight. The cops are watching for me, thanks to you." Rusty drove behind the tower and down a ravine, parking the car so that it was virtually hidden from view. He got out and went to the trunk removing a bed sheet. Spreading it on the ground, the two lay down. Kammy took off her shoes.

Chapter V

When after an hour the all-points search proved fruitless, and the sheriff's dispatcher ordered all members of the search party to return to the sheriff's office. The gloved off-duty officer was left free to search for his prey.

Questioning whether or not Rusty and Kammy might have joined the marijuana party, he entered the plateau from the back way. Of course he'd given Rafe and his pals plenty notice of his impending arrival, knowing they would scatter when seeing his headlights. Parking briefly to assess the scene, his intuition told him the couple was and had not been here. He started down the trail towards the water tower.

Chapter VI

Seeing the on-coming headlights, Rafe and his companions ran uphill to the area behind Lookout Point where they parked. Rafe turned on his CB radio and made contact with a friend living in Kammy's trailer park below. "What's going on?" he asked his contact.

"They're looking for Rusty and Kammy," came the answer. "Word is that he took her at gun point. They're contacting Rusty's friends to see if they know where he might be. There's an all-points bulletin out for him. They've called in the search party to assign search areas. But my guess is there's also some new information they have that they don't want aired."

"You mean someone ratted on Rusty about his buying a gun?" asked Rafe.

"I don't know, but I do know they've found his car. They found a twelve-pack of beer in it with six empties."

"Shit! I knew that, I helped him drink them. I think we'll stay here for awhile. Keep in touch, we may see something interesting. You're my man on the ground, got it?"

"Have they searched up your way? No one's reported that location." asked the resident of the trailer park.

"Only one. He broke up a good party."

Chapter VII

Parking his patrol car at the city dump, he began his search on foot. There was only one other place for the two to be and still remain without discovery. Coming from behind the water tower, Glove approached the couple lying on the ground. "Well, well, look at what we have here," he said announcing his arrival, "the objects of a county-wide search."

"Whose looking for us?" asked Rusty standing up.

"You," said Glove, his hand on his holstered gun. "It's all over town that you kidnapped this little lady. I heard you bought a gun this morning. I think you'd better hand it over."

"It's in my jacket pocket, there on the ground."

"Pick up your jacket, very carefully. Reach in and take it out. Hand it to me butt first." Rusty did as instructed.

Kammy, cowering on the ground, spoke for the first time. "He hasn't done anything. I met him."

"You don't think I know that, bitch?" said the officer. Rusty's gun in hand, he whipped it sideways across Rusty's temple, felling him. "Don't scream," he ordered Kammy, turning on her, "or you're next!"

Using Rusty's jacket to muffle his next move, Glove pressed the gun tightly against Rusty's temple and pulled the trigger. There was a fine spray of blood caught by the jacket, then a trickle of blood began soiling the sheet next to Rusty's head.

Quickly wrapping the sheet around Rusty's head, he picked up him up and dumped his body into the trunk of Kammy's car. Turning again to Kammy, he dragged her by the hair and threw her into the car.

Somehow I've got to let someone know what's happened, she thought. She bit down on the knuckles of her hand, stifling the scream that threatened.

With his gloved hand holding Rusty's gun aimed at his prisoner, he steered the car toward the plateau trail turn off. Making the turn, he drove pushing and punishing her car over a road not meant for Kammy's compact.

Chapter VIII

Rafe's CB pal alerted his party to imminent discovery. At the same time Rafe saw headlights slicing through the night shadows. Then he saw brake lights glow briefly against the mountain side.

Rafe started his truck. He ordered his girlfriend to radio the ground they'd seen headlights and were on their way to investigate. Stopping his truck at the base of Plateau Trail, Rafe exited and started on foot across the rough terrain. He heard voices ahead assuming one to be Rusty's. Coming in sight of her car, he was about to make himself known when Kammy screamed, "Oh God, somebody please help me."

A shot rang out.

Rafe turned in terror, slipping and sliding his way back to the county road. Coming upon his truck he is stopped by a uniformed cop. He reports what he just saw and heard in words that tumbled out over one another.

Chapter IX

Kammy opened the door and rolled onto the road from the bouncing car. Throwing her hand up protectively, she tried to get to her bare feet. His shot catches her in the base of one finger nail and exits painfully through her arm. "Oh, please God, someone help me," she screams, cradling her bleeding limb against her breast.

Stopping the car, the officer gets out and picks her up, throwing her back in the car.

Reaching the plateau Kammy rolls from the car again, hoping in vain to find others there. She crawls to the front of the vehicle. Faint from a significant loss of blood, she kneels praying for her life.

Using the hood of the car to steady his aim, Glove fired. The shot goes true, hitting the base of Kammy's skull behind the right ear. She falls face forward.

Venting his anger, he reaches down and taking a hank of her hair in his gloved hand, he smashes her face into the ground, again and again.

Dragging Rusty's body out of the trunk, he unwraps the bed sheet from Rusty's head. He places the body face up near the driver's side of the car. Picking up Rusty's fallen cap, he carelessly tosses it on the lifeless body.

Dropping the pocketed casing retrieved from his water tower shot by Rusty's head, he drops the gun approximately half way between the two bodies. Then he places a box of ammunition in the console of Kammy's car.

Glove picks up the bottle of Irish Mist. He opens the bottle and takes a long drink. Then raising the bottle in salute he says, "and that's for you, suckers." Capping the bottle, he tosses it on the driver's seat. He retreats from the scene on foot seconds before the arrival of the other officers.

Chapter X

The two primary deputies report states they rushed to meet with the cop holding Rafe. Then they race to the plateau to find Kammy's car and the two bodies. The rest of their reports cover the time they spent at the scene, and who and what was found at the scene.

Rusty's body was described as laying face up on the driver's side of Kammy's car, arms to his side, his cap lying on his legs. The deputies report finding a single shot to Rusty's right temple. The two deputies disagree on the amount of blood from his body. One states that there was a three foot trail of blood, the other reported very little blood.

Kammy's body was found about ten feet in front of her car, face on the ground, in a kneeling position. A single shot to the back right of her head is found, and one deputy suggests that she was also shot in the face. Rolling her body to her side, he feels for a pulse and checks her eyes for a live response. He notes that she is barefoot.

A gun was found in front of the car. Both bodies had empty casings nearby. Inside her car there was a pint bottle of Irish Mist found on the driver's seat. A box of ammunition was found in the car's console.

The media reported the murder/suicide from details released by the sheriff's department. Rusty was charged, tried, and convicted of the two murders, without benefit of a coroner's inquest. Friends of Rusty doubted his guilt. Rusty was left-handed, without the skill of being ambidextrous. He'd broken his right wrist as a child.

Subsequent investigations by caring friends and relatives uncovered glaring inconsistencies with the published results of the night of August 5th.

Six months after the incident, the police officer encountering Rafe on the county road was ordered to file his report. One year later, almost to the day, state FBI agents and off-duty deputies were at the scene retrieving evidence. No report was made of their activities. No restraining order was on file with the court.

Rusty's autopsy stated his blood alcohol level represented the consumption of one drink. No drugs were found in his blood. Rusty's hands were clean, and so was his clothing, no bruising on his hands or blood splatters were noted by the pathologist. No gun powder residue was found. The blood settling within Rusty's body indicated that he was in a face-up position long enough for it to pool to his back parts. The pathologist noted that there was an indentation above his head wound consistent with the shape of a gun barrel.

Kammy's autopsy showed her to have two gun shot wounds, the one to the back of her head, and a shot to her right arm. Her arm shot was the only exiting wound found in either body. Both bullets were extracted by the pathologist, and turned over to the sheriff's office for evidence. No test was made to ascertain that the bullets came from the gun found at the scene.

Kammy did have blood on the exterior of her clothing. The front of her legs and the tops of her feet appeared to have dirty scrapes, as if she had been dragged some distance in a face-down position.

One deputy reported finding a pair of Kammy's shoes on the trail to the plateau, as this deputy was leaving the scene. He indicates in his report that she had lost them while running from her assailant. However, the pathologist notes no scrapes or scratches to the bottoms of her feet.

At least five vehicles visited the murder scene that night after the bodies were found and before the deputy reported finding the shoes. Three people were reported as coming or going from the scene on foot. None of these people reported seeing the shoes as each negotiated the rough terrain.

No DNA tests were made from the pools of blood, or the blood found on Kammy's clothing. The autopsies were completed by 6:30 p.m. August 6th. The report for media purposes was constructed nearly twelve hours before.

A year and a half later a drug informant was murdered. Rafe has since been charged, tried and found guilty of this third murder in a court of law. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with no chance of parole.

Rusty's family requested the return of his jacket and were told by the sheriff's office that it was never found. Three years later the jacket was seen being worn by one of Kammy's relatives. It was tattered, torn and dirty appearing.

The sheet and Kammy's shoes were found behind the water tower a week after the murders. The sheet was identified by one of Rusty's relatives as belonging to the couple. Significantly it had a large dark stain in the middle of it.

EPILOGUE

I am guardian of the pint bottle of Irish Mist, the only piece of evidence still surviving.

The End