Robert Waggoner - John - The Senior Killer

Brad drove the van to the new part of Bandon. The old town lying at the edge of the harbor where the Coquille River emptied into the Pacific Ocean. A small town she thought as they drove along the waterfront where small boutiques and other shops and restaurants were located. Brad turned right through town and up the hill to the new town where the supermarket and banks were located. A busy restaurant sat off to the side and that is where Brad parked.

Inside she made for the restroom to comb her hair and after looking presentable she found them sitting at a table talking quietly. She looked around and noticed the look of locals rather than tourists sat busy talking about whatever locals talk about. She sat down and Brad smiled at her asking what she would like. He said, “The clam chowder is great and a crab sandwich is out of this world.”

She looked at him and thought this was the most human like sentence she had heard him speak. “I will follow your suggestion and some coffee would be nice.” It turned out they all had the same thing and she was delighted he met them and stopped for lunch. “How did you know where we would be,” she asked with a raised eyebrow he noticed.

“Ah, it is Steve’s famous walk. It’s too far for him to return and years ago he called me the first time he made the trek to the jetty.” Steve glared at him.

“You know that isn’t true. I called you the first time to see if I was needed and you said two calls had come in. Then you suggested you come and get me and I agreed,” he said with a small sign with a grin. Brad rolled his eyes and Wendy laughed. Hot bowls of chowder arrived and Wendy loved the food. It reminded her of the East Coast and Boston. But the crab was much better here.

They didn’t talk any business here as Brad was known but left alone. About the time they were finished eating a policeman walked in and up to the table. Brad introduced him as his brother-in-law who was married to Earie. Wendy noticed he was short and stocky, with a nice smile. He shook hands around the table and made some small talk and left. Wendy thought it a little strange he didn’t sit down and have some coffee, but maybe he was on an errand or something.

Driving back to the roundhouse, as she called it, she took in the sights along the way down the Loop Road. New houses mixed with old weather beaten houses were scattered here and there along the road. Turning into a small dirt road they made their way to the parking lot after Brad opened the cable crossing the road at the end of the trees. The wind was gale force and they hurried to the house. Inside Sujin took their wet clothes and disappeared down the stairs. A warm feeling from the wood stove gave off warmth and comfort. Wendy sat down on the sofa and let out a relaxed sigh. Brad and Steve left for the basement and she sat alone until Sujin came back up and sat next to her. Sujin smiled timidly and said, “Are you comfortable here Wendy?”

“Yes, very much so and if you are not careful I will be living here soon it is so nice and relaxing.”

Sujin knew English American humor and gave off a laugh. “My husband likes your work and thinks you will be a big help on this case,” she said with a sincere look in her eyes.

“I hope I can help. Even my parents back east are scared to go outdoors anymore and how much more here or in California are the old folks worried to death of the serial killer.”

“Yes, and I’ve read your report and is there anything else you might think of to add to it after the last few days being on the sites and in his house?”

“Sujin, I know one thing and after studying profiles until my eyes fell out is that they all have one thing in common: abuse at home when young whether physical or mental. The pig breeding book and if in his history of family reveals a location; we might find him holed up there or near there due to his loss of a ‘home’ so to speak.”

“Mike located his family history and we are discussing it when you are ready to join the team in the basement.” With that they made their way downstairs. Billy who had taken advantage of the lunch break caught up with them on the way down smelling like stale cigarettes eliciting a sharp look from Wendy. He made no excuse and sat on the floor next to Sandy who had replaced Rocky inside for the afternoon shift. Sandy was no different and snuggled up to Billy. Dogs know who and what humans are. If a dog doesn’t like you it is for a good reason. Wendy knew that and that is maybe why he always had Rocky or Sandy with him.

Brad led a formal discussion about the results of Mike’s history on John. He said, “Mike has located Johns’ fathers’ home. He has since found out his father raised pigs and the location is near the city of Olympia in Washington State. I think it prudent Mike and Wendy investigate this new information and maybe we can turn up a clue or two. Wendy gives us your thinking about this new development.”

Wendy thought for a few minutes and said, “Simply put, the more we know about this guy the closer we can determine his geographical travels. What I mean is if he is familiar with the area around Olympia maybe he will decide to let the press cool down and the hunt for him wanes. He must know we are going all out to find him and what better place to go to ground would be in a familiar place. He’s two thirds there if we can take his ‘Catch’ me expression. I think it is likely he will let things cool down for a while. I’m ready and willing to go or do anything to help the team and in particular stop this guy from killing our grandmothers and grandfathers.”

“Well, it is settled then. Mike and Wendy go to Olympia and for the time being we will stay here and work on our random numbers and word games. Meanwhile Steve will make the arrangements and notify the local FBI that you are coming,” Brad said standing up telling everyone the meeting is over.

Two days later with the FBI and local law enforcement they found the farm of J.J. Mitchell in the Bald Hills near the town of Yelm. “It turns out a Mitchell lives there and it is assumed it was a brother or John himself,” Brad told Billy and Steve.

Steve said, “How is that possible. You got me totally confused. I thought the brother was dead and then who is buried in the grave in

“Well, you must have missed something while things were going on. We think that the guy in the grave is a missing man that looks like our killer John. He faked his death and imposture his brother for the life insurance. He’d set up an address and house in San Diego and when it came time to collect, John played the part of his brother. It was easy to prove with a SS number and a driver’s license obtained some time ago. The life insurance wasn’t a large sum. He was smart to not draw attention and collected the hundred thousand plus the sale of his house in LA. It was very neat and clean. That’s an overview and the particulars are in a report if you care to review.”

Steve knew they were on the way to Olympia and left to pack his bag and call his superior. Brad called the airport and put the plane on standby while Sujin made ready their things. Billy took a quick shower and sucked down a fag in the shower with a powerful fan sucking out the smoke and steam. Clever he thought, but Brad already knew his trick.

Wendy noticed this time Brad took Sandy and left a sad looking Rocky to take care of the home base. Sandy looked out the window at Rocky and maybe in dog language she gave him the nose thumb!

It was late at night when they landed in Olympia. Steve left for Seattle for a meeting with his superior who had flown out after hearing they might have the suspect located.

They stayed at the Edgewater in Olympia and left the next morning to the east where the Bald Hills formed the side hills of the Cascade Mountain Range. The FBI had staked the farm out and when they arrived, was told all was quiet if squealing pigs indicated a quiet farm. Special agent Norm Nicks from the Olympia office led the team to the farmhouse door at eight am. A knock produced a very likeness of John Mitchell. Norm showed his FBI credentials and asked if they could come in. The man stood back and let Norm, Brad, Wendy and Mike in.