Deer Season (20 page)

“Yes,” Sue answered. “A Diet Coke.”

“I’ll get that for you,” Hawkins said. “And Mrs. Boyd will be with you in a few minutes.”

After Hawkins left the room, Sue said, “What do you think?”

Before Ray could respond, Amanda and Breanne came running into the room, followed by Marie and their grandmother. After a noisy greeting, the girls hugging both Sue and Ray, Marie herded them away, saying that Ray and Sue needed to speak to their grandmother. But before the children were escorted from the library, Sue promised to visit their bedroom before she left. Then Sue formally introduced Ray to Mrs. Boyd.

Hawkins reappeared carrying a silver tray with a Diet Coke and two glasses, one with ice, one without. He placed the tray on the table in front of Sue. Without asking as to a preference, he poured a cup of tea for Mrs. Boyd. Then he poured himself a cup of coffee, and seated himself in a chair at her right.

“This has been an extremely difficult time for you,” said Ray.

“Yes. It is almost beyond comprehension. But I’ve had to remain strong and optimistic for the girls. And finally this morning we got some encouraging news on Lynne’s condition. It’s like this horrible nightmare might be coming to an end.” She paused and looked directly at Ray, her eyes locking on his. “Has Dirk been arrested?”

“We have interviewed him,” Ray said. “At this point there is insufficient evidence to place Dirk or anyone else under arrest.”

As he focused on Dorothy Boyd, he noticed how beautiful Lynne’s mother was. Her hair, blond and to her shoulders, was less luxuriant than her daughter’s, and her skin was softer and more delicate. He remembered Sue’s comments about Dorothy’s appearance; she was slender and fit, clearly working hard at keeping the ravages of time at bay.

“Sheriff, he is an evil man; I can’t believe he’s not under arrest,” she said slowly, carefully enunciating each word.

Ray weighed his words before he responded. “We are vigorously pursuing every lead. And at this point we need your assistance.”

“How may I be of help?”

“Did your daughter say anything to you in the last few months that suggested that she was apprehensive? Did she tell you of any threats she received?”

“No, she didn’t tell me anything.”

“Do you have the kind of relationship where she would share this type of information?”

She looked startled by the question and carefully weighed her reply. “My daughter and I are very close. However, Lynne is fiercely independent. She didn’t have the need to tell me everything that is going on in her life.”

“Did she share with you what was happening in her marriage?” Ray asked.

“Yes and no,” Dorothy responded.

“Would you elaborate, please?” Ray pressed.

“I knew intuitively that things were not okay. They are such an unnatural couple; it’s a marriage that should not have been.”

Dorothy looked at Ray and then at Sue. “Lynne was always one to make the best of everything, but I think by this summer she had finally given up.”

“So she told you she was filing for divorce?”

“Yes, several weeks ago on the phone. I suggested one of our lawyers should be involved. But Lynne had retained a woman up here in whom she had great confidence.”

“Was your daughter worried about how Dirk might react?”

“Sheriff, I asked her about that because I was worried. She told me there would be no problems. Dirk had already starting moving his things to a house he owned; it’s the one they lived in before they built the new place. Lynne said she thought he seemed relieved that the marriage was over.”

“Do you know if there was ever any violence in this marriage?”

“Physical violence, like Dirk hitting Lynne?”

“Yes.”

“She would not have allowed it.”

“How about verbal and psychological abuse.”

“Did Dirk play games? Of course,” Dorothy responded.

“But Lynne was able to take care of herself. This was not a good marriage for Lynne; it was not a healthy relationship. But the marriage did produce two beautiful children, and Lynne has proven to be a wonderful mother. I’m so proud of the woman she has become the last few years.”

“When people leave a failed marriage,” Ray started, carefully, “there is often something that precipitates the decision. Might Lynne have…?”

“Are you trying to ask if there’s a new love in her life?”

“Yes,” Ray responded.

“As I’ve told you, we are close, but Lynne doesn’t share everything.”

Ray let her answer hang. Finally, she filled the silence. “Since she was a teenager, Lynne has always had some love interest. But I don’t think at this point there is anyone new. She’s too busy with her girls and career. I believe that she would complete the divorce before she would become involved with someone new.”

“Did you know Dirk before he and Lynne became a couple?”

“What do you mean?” Dorothy asked.

“You and your husband have been property owners in this region for a long time. And Dirk has worked for the sheriff’s department for more than thirty years. Did you ever meet him over the years?”

“Not to my memory.”

“And you’re sure?”

“Quite. I think I met him for the first time when Lynne brought him home after that unfortunate incident with her exboyfriend. We never anticipated they would marry.” She stopped, looking slightly abashed at what she had shared.

“How about the former sheriff, Orville Hentzner? It’s my understanding that he and some of his deputies once had permission to hunt on this land.”

“Oh, yes. I remember him. He was quite a character, real up north. Orville was a friend of Prescott’s father. I think he was sort of an honorary member of the club. Most members of that group were heavy drinkers, and Orville seemed to fit in. But to be quite frank, Sheriff, the man seemed to be a caricature of a police officer. Maybe something created by Gilbert and Sullivan,” Dorothy chuckled. “And that big red nose with the bulging blood vessels, you just don’t see that anymore.”

“So Orville drank with the members. Did he hunt with them?”

She glanced over at Hawkins before continuing. “I’m sure he did; he was one of the boys.”

“Did Orville keep a watchful eye on this property in exchange for hunting privileges?”

“I don’t know that,” Dorothyresponded. “I was a young bride during the last days of the hunting lodge. Those old men, they were a bunch of characters. I wouldn’t be surprised at anything.” “What does any of this have to do with your investigation of Lynne’s shooting?” Hawkins asked.

“I’m collecting background information,” Ray answered, then returned his focus to Dorothy Boyd. “So this originally was a hunting lodge?” Ray asked.

“Yes, the club went back more than a hundred years. People had memberships; it was very much like a country club.”

“How did you and your husband end up owning the property?”

“It’s a long story,” she answered cautiously.

“Would you give me a synopsis?”

“As I understand it, the club was established by a group of businessmen from Chicago. In the beginning it was a place where they came to hunt, no women allowed. Later it also became a summer resort, too. As original members died off, the remaining members bought their shares in the place. That’s the way it was set up legally; the remaining members could keep offspring of deceased members they didn’t like from inheriting shares in the club. The shares would be then offered to individuals that the remaining members found acceptable. The intent was to maintain the membership at a level where the club would be viable. But at some point things came apart, the lodge fell into total disrepair, and even the property taxes were in arrears. My husband arranged to buy the club from the few remaining shareholders. We’ve spent years redeveloping the property. But it’s only been since Lynne had the twins that we’ve expanded the house and have spent so much time here.”

“Well, you’ve done a wonderful job,” said Ray. He sensed this highly sanitized history was all he was going to get. “Do you have other children?”

“We have a son and a younger daughter. They are both here now. In fact, they are at the hospital allowing Prescott to get some rest.”

“What do your children do?”

“Our younger daughter is currently living in Paris. She’s working on an advanced degree in art history, and our son is a graduate student in history at Harvard. He wants to be a college professor.”

“Are they married?”

“No, both are still single, and they seem very focused on school and careers at this point. It’s wonderful to have them here right now for support, and the twins adore them.”

Looking over at Sue, he said, “Perhaps this would be a good time for you to visit with the girls.”

Dorothy stood, appearing rather relieved that the interview was over. “I’ll take you to them.”

“I’m going to stay here with Mr. Hawkins for a few minutes.

I have a few questions for him.” Ray watched with interest as Hawkins and Dorothy exchanged glances. Then Dorothy guided Sue out of the room.

“Of course not,” Hawkins answered, following Ray as he walked to the large floor-to-ceiling window.

“Quite a blow out there today,” observed Ray. “In the early days of shipping on the Great Lakes more than a few boats were destroyed on those shoals.”

“Really,” responded Hawkins, his tone flat. “I don’t know much about local history.”

“Yes,” continued Ray, glancing over at Hawkins, “November was always the most dangerous month. If you got caught in open water by a fast-moving storm, you were in a lot of trouble. Dozens of ships went down between here and Point Betsie. And the Manitou Passage can be an especially treacherous piece of water.”

“You have questions for me?” Hawkins asked impatiently.

“Yes,” answered Ray, still gazing out at the tempestuous seas. “I know little about the Boyds and their business. We are trying to find out what might motivate someone to commit this crime. We were wondering if someone might have attacked Lynne as a way of getting at her parents.”

“Shouldn’t her husband, Dirk, be your number one suspect?”

“He’s a person of interest. But many investigations fail by focusing too early on only one suspect. Now tell me, Mr. Hawkins, what type of business are the Boyds in? I couldn’t help notice the high level of security around the estate.”

“Really,” responded Hawkins.

“Let’s not play games. The property is gated, the entrance secured by an armed guard. There are security cameras on the road leading in, on the perimeter of this building, and even in here. I suspect our conversation is being recorded. What do the Boyds do that requires this level of protection?”

Hawkins was slow in responding. “Well, it is actually not quite what it seems. The corporation tests new systems here before they install them in the homes and offices of clients.”

“So the Boyds have a security company?”

“Well, not exactly.”

“Well, what exactly?” probed Ray.

“It’s quite complex.”

“Try me,” said Ray. “I’m reasonably bright. I might be able to figure it out. Let’s start with a name. Does the company have a name?”

“It’s not publicly traded, you won’t find it anywhere.”

“But it does have a name?” Ray pressed.

“Yes, Magnus Conservus. It’s a corporation.”

“Registered in the U.S.?”

“Well, no. U.S. corporate laws are too restrictive in the international business climate.”

“And what’s the business of Magnus Conservus?”

“Whatever the clients want.”

“I’m not following,” responded Ray, his voice with more than a hint of irritation. “Let’s try this again; what’s the business of Magnus Conservus?”

“Let me explain by providing some background. As a young man, Mr. Boyd inherited a large trucking company from his father. And he did quite well in the business for a number of years. Then he started to branch out. He has told me that the idea for his current business venture came to him when he was in residence here one summer in the early 70s. He wanted to surprise his houseguests with a New England seafood boil that included fresh lobster. He had them flown in on a private jet the day of the party, something that was quite extraordinary at the time. His guests were very impressed. Soon he was getting requests from people of means for similar logistical feats. He leased one Lear jet and launched a highend concierge service. It started with food, then people wanted the chefs and a serving staff as well. Then some of his clients asked for transportation services so they wouldn’t have to travel commercial. Later they wanted other services, like access to the world’s best physicians and medical centers, private guards, even fire protection if they were dissatisfied with what was available in the public sector.”

“So for a price Magnus will provide….”

“That’s just the point, with their clients, money isn’t an issue. There has been an explosion of wealth in the last decade here, in Europe, South America, and the Middle East. They try to provide any service the clients request, anywhere in the world.”

“And the customers are?”

“Like I said, most are people of means, but Magnus also contracts with corporations and, in a few cases, with governments. They have a large staff of highly-trained personnel as well as a variety of specialists on retainer.”

“And is this corporate headquarters?”

“No, the main operations center is west of Chicago, but when the Boyds are in residence here, many of the key staff members accompany them.” Hawkins paused briefly, then continued in a condescending tone. “Mr. Boyd has been very patient with you, Sheriff. He could easily bring the best investigative minds in the world in to solve this crime, but he’s decided to wait and see if you’re up to the task.”

Ray didn’t respond. He went back to looking out the window for several minutes, breathing deeply, trying to control his rage.

Then he turned to Hawkins again. “So going back to an earlier question, could the Boyds have enemies who might go after their daughter as a way of getting at them? Perhaps a business competitor, a disgruntled employee, or maybe someone whose family once had an interest in this property?”