Death Among The Stacks: The Body In The Law Library Read online

  The kitchen is spotless and looks like it was rarely used. The refrigerator has a block of Parmesan cheese and an unopened bottle of Columbia Crest Chardonnay. Willis could only find two boxes of food in the cupboards. One was a box of Fiber One cereal and the other a box of Wheat Thins. Other than that, it looks like Gaylord mainly dined out or had fast food. Willis cannot find any “junk drawer” for various odds and ends, like everybody else he knows has.

  Willis goes next to inspect the bedroom. The wardrobe closet contains clothing that is fastidiously assorted according to layered outfits. The shirts have matching ties on the same hangar. His sock drawer contains no mixed-matched or leftover socks—Willis thinks of his own drawer at home which always seems to have a few lonely socks that didn’t match any of the other ones. Gaylord’s underwear and T-Shirts were folded meticulously in two other drawers.

  Willis has never seen a murder victim’s house so devoid of clues. Gaylord seemed to have led a monk-like existence. I don’t know what Sledge is going to think about this, he says to himself. He’s probably going to assume that I’ve overlooked something important.

  *******

  As the plane begins its descent into the Denver airport, Willis goes over everything in his head about Gaylord. The more he tries to make sense of the man and his life, the more questions arise. He certainly knows more about where he spent his life. He knows who he spent his work time with. He cannot, however, get rid of the gnawing feeling that he’s missing something about Gaylord. He seemed such a man of mystery; a man who purposely hid details about himself and his everyday life. What was it about this guy that would cause someone to murder him?

  Chapter Seventeen

  Willis arrives at work early the next day. He’s still on east coast time. He’s always been a morning person and this suits him just fine. He gets caught up on his email and the various memos and paperwork left over from three days out of the office.

  “Good morning, Ronnie!” Sledge bellows as he limps into the office with his leg in a cast.

  “Good to have you back. How was your trip? Was your flight okay? Did you find anything good for us?”

  “Good morning, sir. I’m glad to be back home. I’m not much of a traveler. Did enough of that in the service. I like being home. I think I have a pretty good picture of Gaylord after all. The more I found out about him, the more questions I had, though. He was quite the odd character.”

  “How so?”

  “Well, he just didn’t seem to fit anywhere, easily. I got the feeling that during his life, wherever he went or worked, he seemed to be out of place. The odd man out always. He was raised in a pretty privileged world. His dad was in the Navy, a graduate of Annapolis. They lived all over the world on the Navy’s dime, it seemed. He always went to the best schools. He was the eldest child—the only son. He has two sisters.”

  “Are his parents still alive?”

  “Only his father. His mother died when he was very young. Not sure what kind of impact that may have had on him. From what I could gather from his sisters, he didn’t get along with his father. They had a tough relationship. I think he felt like he could never please him. He rebelled more as he grew older. Joined the Marine Corps and went to Vietnam. I’m sure that really bugged his dad. It’s like he did it just to get back at the old man or something.”

  “How was his service? Did he see action?”

  “I think so. He was in Vietnam for one tour, but didn’t actually leave until the fall of Saigon. Not sure what he was up to. His sisters lost contact with him during that time and are not sure what became of him. Sometime later, he shows up in Baltimore.”

  “Wow, this guy really was a mystery man. How did you get all that information about his military record?”

  “Brewster.”

  “Oh yes; good old Brewster. I forgot. Sorry to have sprung him on you without telling you. I hope he wasn’t too overbearing.”

  “Nah, he was pretty helpful actually. He got me quite a bit of information; see this stack? This is everything about Sean Gaylord that you’d ever want to know. Kinda scary isn’t it what the FBI can put together?”

  “It sure is. Brewster thrives on this kind of stuff. I was glad he was able to help you out.”

  “Sir, I do have to say that he seemed more than just helpful. I dunno, it seemed like he was really, really curious about how I was doing. I mean, I’m still green in some ways but I ain’t no doofus. He made me feel like he was looking over my shoulder every day. Was he always like that?”

  “Well, he is a bit caffeinated, I suppose; but I wouldn’t worry about it. It’s my fault I guess. I just wanted you to have the best information possible.”

  Sledge starts to think about it more and begins to feel the same as Willis. He has known Brewster for many years, and after talking with him on the phone, he got the feeling that Brewster was maybe more interested that he should be about this case.

  “I spoke to his coworkers at the GPO. He seemed to be a hard worker but had quite the romantic tendencies. I think he was gay, sir. Still in the closet, you might say but nonetheless, very possibly gay. He was known to make moves on the ladies too. Not sure what that means, maybe he’s bi? I don’t know. His sisters didn’t discuss it and I didn’t want to bring the issue up with them. They’ve been through so much I wasn’t sure it had any bearing on anything.”

  “Wow, I’d say it could, Willis. Did anyone see any violent tendencies on his part or on those of his coworkers? Maybe he pushed somebody too far?”

  “Not that anyone would admit to sir. I asked his supervisor the same question and he said his record was clean. I had his personnel file from Brewster and it showed clean as well. Doesn’t look like there were any upset lovers in his life.”

  “Did you get a chance to see his apartment?”

  “Yes. The Baltimore PD was very helpful. They kept the place yellow-taped for me so I could see it before I flew back. This is another weird thing about this guy. His house was like a model house tour; without much of the character. It was clean and tidy; almost too clean and tidy. No music, very few books, very much like a monk’s existence. There wasn’t much warmth or character in the place. I didn’t find any computers or a television. The books he had didn’t look well read. His refrigerator was almost empty. This guy was a real mystery sir. I spoke to his landlord and he said Gaylord made no noise at all. Always paid his rent on time. Left early in the morning and came home late at night. Said he was the best tenant he’s ever had.”

  “Well I think you did a great job, Willis. Sometimes you’ll think you didn’t get much information but later it will start making sense. You’ll see. It always comes off this way. I think that it’s time to revisit our friends at the Law Library.

  Sledge and Willis make plans to meet at the Law Library in order to ask the staff a few more questions. They call the Director to ask if they can use the conference room again. She seems a bit put off, but agrees to rearrange her schedule so that the room will be free. They would like to talk to Nic again, since she is the one who found the body.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Once Nic is seated in a chair in the conference room, Sledge begins, “Nic; tell us again about how you found the body.”

  “Well, as I told you before, I took the elevator down to the basement to file some microfilm. Immediately after I got out of the elevator, I noticed that the heavy book tape dispenser was on the floor, which seemed odd to me at the time. I mean, who would be so inconsiderate as to be leaving that where someone could stub their toe or trip over it. It’s as heavy as a brick and you could really injure yourself. Maybe even go on Worker’s Comp. OSHA might even have to get involved.”

  Sledge asks, “Have you ever filed a worker’s comp claim?”

  Nic is annoyed. “What does that have to do with this case?”

  “Nothing personal. Just a simple question.”

  “Well,” Nic answers, “it’s no secret that this is a toxic workplace and lots of us here have suffered
work-related injuries. An elderly lady, Beatrice, who works here almost got squished in the compact shelving herself. You’d think the library would have learned something from that disaster. I can’t believe that it’s happened again. This is outrageous.”

  “How did this happen with Beatrice?”

  “Well…she was shelving some books and Kelly pressed a button a few rows away. The sensors didn’t pick up the fact that Beatrice was already standing inside one of the rows and the shelves started squeezing together. Luckily, Kelly was able to stop the movement in time, but Beatrice screamed, was really scared and was sore from the compression. She told me, “I thought that I was going to die, and it was okay.” Only a little old lady like Beatrice would say that she’s okay with dying. I would’ve sued the library.”

  Sledge and Willis look at each other with raised eyebrows as Nic continues.

  “And that’s not the only incidence of equipment malfunctioning around here. There was another freak accident. Yvonne was in the elevator and, as she was getting out of the doors, she bent over to pick up a piece of paper she’d dropped and managed to get her head stuck between the two doors.”

  “Ouch!” Sledge says.

  “No kidding. And Yvonne hasn’t been the same ever since. Between her brother and sister dying on top of everything that happened to her in Chicago, she’s a bit of a “nut case.” Oh…I shouldn’t be saying this. She is my boss, after all.”

  Sledge smiles at Willis and says, “We won’t tell anyone. What do you mean by ‘what happened in Chicago’?”

  “Well, I don’t know the whole story, but rumor has it that she pulled a knife on her husband because he was trying to rape her. It was a big scandal and she had to leave the state.”

  “That’s interesting. But probably doesn’t have anything to do with what happened to the Government Printing Office inspector.”

  “That’s true,” Nic says, sounding a little disappointed.

  “Well, that’s all for now, Nic. Thank you. Could you ask Kelly to come in; we have a few questions for her.”

  Sledge notices a smell like peppermint gum as Nic walks out the conference room. “Did you smell that?” he asks Willis.

  “Yeah, I did. Maybe she smokes those clove cigarettes that some of the kids are into these days. What do you make of ‘Yvonne’s scandal in Chicago’?”

  “I’m going to have to make a few calls to our friends in the Chicago Police Department.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Kelly knocks on the door and comes gingerly into the conference room.

  “Hello again, Kelly,” Sledge says.

  “You gentlemen wanted to see me?” Kelly asks, with a disarming smile.

  “Take a seat, Kelly,” Sledge says. “We’ve been looking into your history in the Marine Corps and found out that you got into some trouble that led to your discharge from the Corps.”

  Kelly becomes very upset, saying, “What’s that have to do with anything? I was honorably discharged. I acted in self-defense. Two guys were harassing me in a bar. Some marines just can’t handle the idea of a woman officer. They were drunk and hurling all this abuse at me and at women, in general. All I was doing was trying to unwind with a beer and a game of pool with a friend. They wanted our table and started criticizing every shot we made. Saying that it was a man’s game and we should leave. One of them grabbed my pool cue and tried to yank it away from me. I pushed him away and got jumped by his buddy. They both attacked me, so I picked up my pool cue and started swinging. I hit one of them so hard that he almost died. To make a long story short, there was an investigation and I was asked to leave the corps.”

  “Do you have any animosity towards men in general?” asks Sledge.

  “Not at all. I like most men.” Kelly smiled.

  “What about Gaylord?”

  “Oh; he was just a jerk. That’s the extent of my feelings towards him.”

  Sledge asks, “Do you think Yvonne may have been angry at Gaylord?”

  “I have absolutely no idea. You’ll have to ask her yourself.”

  “She called in sick today. Could you please ask John to come see us?”

  “Certainly. I’ll go get him.”

  After she leaves the room, Willis asks, “What do you think of her?”

  Sledge answers, “I can’t see her drinking and swinging a pool cue at anyone. She seems so dainty.”

  Willis jokes, “I think she’s taken you under her spell.”

  “I imagine that happens to her all the time with guys,” Sledge answers.

  Chapter Twenty

  John Meadowlark briskly walks into the conference room. “You rang,” he lamely jokes, doing his best “Lurch” impression.

  “Have a seat, John. We’ve been doing some background checking and we came across a picture of you at a Tea Party rally. Isn’t this you?” Sledge asks as he shows him a newspaper clipping.

  “Yes. I’m a Libertarian, you know. I believe this country has gotten way off course, especially since the last election. This county needs to get back to its roots. I’m a Revolutionary War re-enactor, you know.”

  “No; we didn’t know that.”

  “Yes; I believe in a strict interpretation of the Constitution.”

  Sledge interrupts, “Yes; we’re hearing you, Mr. Meadowlark. What concerns me is this sign you’re holding in this picture that says, ‘The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of Patriots and Tyrants.’ Sounds pretty radical.”

  “Hey—that’s a direct quote from Thomas Jefferson. We need to get back to the America that our founding fathers envisioned.”

  Sledge responds, “Do you really think violence is the answer? Have you ever felt so angry with the Federal Government that you might resort to bearing arms and rebelling?”

  John answers, “It’s just a metaphor. I didn’t mean for you government types to take it literally. I mean, I don’t even own a gun, for God’s sake.”

  “Did you ever feel anger towards Mr. Gaylord, who is an employee of the Federal government?” Sledge asks.

  “Well, I think the government is way too bloated. Lots of federal jobs could be eliminated. We’re bankrupting our children’s future, you know.”

  Sledge interrupts, saying, “But, in my understanding of the depository program, the Public (which includes you) has the right to know what its government is up to. I’d think you’d be happy to have all this information available. You know, transparency and accountability and all that.”

  “Yeah, yeah. I agree with you on that. As far as Mr. Gaylord himself, I have no bone to pick with him. He’s just a regular guy trying to make a living, like the rest of us, you know.”

  “Okay,” Mr. Meadowlark. Thank you for sitting down with us today.”

  “Anytime, gentlemen. Anytime.”

  After Mr. Meadowlark leaves, Willis asks Sledge what he thinks. “Do you think he’s capable of murder?”

  “No; I think he’s just a blowhard. He’s not the person we’re looking for.”

  “Is there anyone else we need to speak to sir?”

  “No, Ronnie. I think that’s it. Did you get any information about those homeless folks from the uniformed guys yet?”

  “Oh man; I forgot to follow up. I asked the beat cops before I left to see if they had anything for me. They said they’d go through their notes for me. I’ll talk to them when we get back to the station.”

  “OK. That’s it for here.”

  As Sledge and Willis head down the library stairs, Sledge’s phone blares out.

  “Great phone ring, sir.”

  “Real funny, Ronnie.”

  He answers is phone and says, “Hello. Sledge here.”

  “Mark? I need to see you and Ronnie in my office this afternoon. Will that be a problem?”

  “No ma’am. No problem at all. We’re on our way back right now. Is five minutes too soon?”

  “That will be perfect. See you both then.”

  “Damn,” Sledge moans.
r />   “Who was that that sir?”

  “The boss lady. She needs to see us now. Is there anything I need to know about your trip that you haven’t told me yet, Ronnie?”

  “No, sir. Am I in trouble?”

  “Can’t say. Maybe both of us are in trouble.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Willis and Sledge arrive at the police department and head for Captain Wilson’s office. Captain Sandra Wilson is the only female captain in the department. In her late forties, Captain Wilson is tall and athletic. A lifelong marathon runner, she looks lean and mean behind her large captain’s desk. Her bookshelves are studded with trophies from athletic competitions and intra-departmental competitions. She’s usually the first one in in the morning and the last one to leave at night. She’s had to earn her stripes in this male dominated department and it helps that her family comes from police stock. Her father and grandfather were police officers and both of her brothers work for the FBI.”

  “Good evening, boys. Please sit down.”

  Willis and Sledge sit in the two seats in front of Captain Wilson’s desk. The seats are intentionally lower than the Captain’s for psychological purposes. You feel your place on the departmental totem pole when you’re in her office.