bedroom. Both were on and running. Many farms were equipped with computers, so their mere presence wasn't unusual. The monitors, of course, were in the 'rest mode,' and I couldn't see what was on the screens. But, as I looked, the hard drive light on one of them flickered, and the faint buzz told me that the hard drive was being accessed for some reason. Running, all right. My first thought was of an elaborate security system. I didn't touch them, being a little reluctant to activate an alarm. I also thought that an alarm system might explain one of them being on. But two? Maybe one as a backup? Legally, I couldn't even turn the screens on, as materials contained within the machines had the same constitutional protections as to privacy as anything else. I did make a mental note to ask Lamar why these were so much newer than our department machines. Curious.
The second possible exception was an extensive library, in the upper floor of the older portion of the house. Long shelves of computer books, weapons books, explosives manuals, an escape and evasion manual, and books on subjects such as the inner workings of the IRS, and countersurveillance practices. There were books describing conspiracies of several sorts, along with survivalist manuals, surviving Y2K, anti-federal government pamphlets, do- it-yourself legal volumes with emphasis on how to beat the IRS, the common law, and books on military history. Some of the latter volumes I had on my shelves at home. This little library was quite extensive, however, and tended toward the how-to end of the materials. On the table there were maps of North America, the United States, and Iowa, all shaded in a variety of colors in various areas, with no key. Some had arrows in red, some in blue, some both. Fascinating, like I said.
We had known for years that Cletus tended toward the vocal right wing, but this stuff was quite a bit more antigovernment than I'd expected.
The only possibility of additional evidence was the discovery of bedclothes in the dryer. They appeared freshly laundered. The reason that was considered possible evidence of 'something' was that a woman on the lab team named Mary thought it unlikely that the wife in such a clean and tidy house would leave on an extended vacation without folding and putting away the laundry. She was probably right, but just try explaining that to the males on a jury.
The lab crew said right away that the dark areas I'd uncovered on the carpet did contain traces of blood. They also said that whoever had cleaned them up had done an exceptional job. Same for the area on the wall that looked to have been wiped clean.
A preliminary test confirmed Dr. Peters's judgment about the dried pool of blood on the top of the water heater.
This was a phase of the investigation that could easily lose the case. You not only had to locate and carefully examine all items of evidence, you had to preserve them in such a way that a defense team could conduct their own examinations. That took much, much time.
It looked like the lab team would be there for several hours. Lamar used the radio to order food brought to the farm. Great idea. About a minute later, Deputy Willis called from the end of the lane. The owner, Cletus Borglan, was here.
He was about medium height and build, in his middle fifties. He was fit, from working as opposed to working out. He also had a loud voice, which he was using. Not particularly angry. Just loud.
'Damn, Lamar! What's goin' on here? Why the little army at my farm?' He was standing in the kitchen doorway, and was using a voice that would enable him to be heard in the machine shed.
'Been a problem,' said Lamar.
'So I hear,' said Cletus, loudly. 'What are cops doin' on my property in the first place?'
'We're investigating a murder,' said Lamar.
'What? How the hell can there be a murder here when there's
I was by the archway, and just stepped sideways into his path. 'Sorry,' I said. 'You can't go in there just yet. They're not…' I was going to say 'done.'
'Who the hell are you to tell me that I can't go in there?' Very loud, but he'd stopped.
'Calm down, Clete,' said Lamar. 'Like I said, we're here on a murder investigation.'
Cletus spun around to face Lamar. 'And I said, 'How the hell can there be a murder here if there's NOBODY HOME?'!'
Lamar stood his ground, and I stepped one step closer behind Cletus.
'Like I been trying to tell you,' began Lamar, patiently, 'one of my officers had a reason to come here, and look for somebody. He found who he was looking for, but not alive.'
Cletus cut him off. 'What happened? One of you guys get killed trespassing on a farm again?'
Lamar went white, and I suspect I did, too. Cletus was referring to an incident about five miles from his house, where Lamar had gotten shot and Civil Deputy Bud had been killed, attempting to serve a notice on a farmer and his wife. Our people had not been, of course, trespassing.
The outrageousness of the statement had Lamar temporarily speechless. Cletus, too, for he knew he had gone too far. Before he could try to make amends, though, Lamar spoke up.
'You stupid son of a bitch,' said Lamar, quiet but not quite controlled. 'Don't ever say anything like that again. Ever. You got that? Ever.'
'I'm sorry, Lamar,' said Cletus, still too loud, and not quite sincerely. 'It was out of line. I didn't mean that.'
Well, there it was, though. He'd thought it, and he'd said it, and that was that. Lamar looked at me and said, 'You deal with him. I'm gonna step outside for a minute.'
Thanks, boss. Thanks a lot.
'Why don't you have a seat at the kitchen table, Cletus,' I said. 'You quiet down, and I'll tell you some of what's going on.'
He turned and looked at me, his face a bit redder than it had been when he first arrived. He said nothing, just walked over to the table, and sat. Then, 'What's this country coming to when a man's ordered around in his own house?' He said it almost softly, like he was talking to himself. Almost, but not really. The softness made it deniable, though, if he were to be called on it.
'Just get a handle on it, Cletus,' I said. 'Things happen for a reason.'
'It's my house. What'd you do if I just said to get off my property? Huh? It's MY property.'
'Well, Cletus,' I said, sitting across the table from him, 'first I'd tell you that we have the right to investigate the crime without interference.' I kept my voice soft and low, forcing him to listen.
'Bullshit.' This was a little louder again. 'What were you doing here in the first place?'
'And,' I said, 'if you persisted, I'd charge you with Interference with Official Acts.'
'On my own property?' His voice was rising. 'That's pure bullshit!'
Time to change tactics. 'Look, Cletus,' I said. 'Suppose you invited some guys over for a poker game, you lost, got pissed off, and shot all of 'em. You actually think that the courts would allow you to say, 'It's my property, you can't come here'? I don't think so.'
He didn't answer.
'So, if you want to calm down, I'll tell you as much as I can about what's going on.'
Cletus looked me right in the eye. 'Okay. Let's hear it.' Very calm. Very matter-of-fact. It crossed my mind that Cletus had been raising hell for effect. Why? I had no idea. Sometimes people were just like that. Bluster, then calm.
Just as I was starting, Lamar came back in, fixed Cletus with a cold stare, and then moved over to the lab people. He didn't say anything, but Cletus was a little cowed for a few seconds.
I told Cletus Borglan just about everything I knew, with some important exceptions. I left out all reference to Fred. I just said we'd been informed that there'd been a burglary. I didn't describe how the victims had been shot. While I was telling him the details, he got up, went to the sink, and began making a pot of coffee. Being cool. He stood with his hips resting against the kitchen counter as he listened. When the coffee was done, he poured himself a cup, opened the refrigerator to get some milk, sat down, and took a long sip. He just looked at me, and smiled.
'My hired man is up here all the time. How come he didn't find no burglary? Care to explain that?'
'Don't know him, Cletus. Maybe that's something you should ask him about.' I was unhappy about not being offered coffee. 'You got an alarm system or anything?'
'Didn't think I'd need one. What with all you on the county payroll.'
