New writings from "The Book Club Murders"

Gerald Hodges's alarm blew-up at 6:15 am.  Not exactly blew-up, but made the sound of a building being ignited and imploded.  He loved waking up to the glorious noise of an explosion and the resulting crumbling and rumbling of a building being destroyed.  It sent him into an ecstatic, exuberant welcoming of the day ahead.

  Today he would be visited by a cadre of law enforcement personnel that would interview him, pick his considerable brain, and possibly even try to implicate him in the murder of Laura Walters.  He looked forward to the encounter.

After the three s's, shit, shower, and shave, Gerald dressed himself in the clothing he had laid out the night before when first informed that he would be visited by the "dynamic" team of investigators assembled by the local powers.  He had chosen a purple, long-sleeved shirt, cream colored, pleated khakis, tan dress socks, brown, suede loafers, and a tan sports coat with elbow patches.  God he loved his elbow patches.  He had even considered use of an accessory, the long, black pipe his father had smoked, but he didn't really care for the smell of smoke so he rejected the idea, although it was a difficult decision.  His father's well-used shiny, black pipe had been so elegant.  It had a large bowl and a perfectly smooth airway from the draft bowl to the end of the mouthpiece.  He could just see his father smoking that pipe in the evening, blowing smoke rings into the air and piercing them with the back scratcher that he carried with him in the evening.  Gerald could spend hours watching his father smoke that lovely pipe, enthralled with the entire process of smoking from beginning to end.

The only bad part of the experience was that he eventually realized he was allergic to the smoke, and try as he might, he could not overcome his abhorrence of ingesting it into his lungs. He considered a hat, but thought that a little too pretentious, and then a tie, yes, a bow tie.  He had a plethora to choose from.

He rushed to the bottom drawer of his dresser where they were kept.  Pulling out several at a time, he finally decided on the darker purple that he would have to tie himself.  The process of assembling a knot for his bow ties fascinated him.  First, he placed the bow tie around his neck, situating it so that the longer end was precisely two inches below the other, then cross the longer end over the shorter.  He would then bring the longer end up and under the loop  and double the shorter end over itself to form the front base loop of the bow tie.  He would then loop the longer end over the center of the loop just formed.  Holding everything in place, double the longer end back on itself and poke it through the loop behind the bow tie.  He would then adjust the bow tie by tugging at the ends of it and straightening the center knot until it was perfect.   It had to be perfect.

He straightened it as he watched himself carefully in the mirror.  He smiled at the vision he presented.  Walking gracefully to the kitchen table, he seated himself in a straight-backed chair and waited for his guests with a hot cup of tea resting between his palms.

Hodges did not have to wait long, for he had timed everything to the minute.  Of course the only event that could have spoiled his timing was an early or late arrival of his guests.  That didn't happen.  He smiled and rose from his chair when he heard the doorbell ring.

Derrick Hansen was the first to be cheerily met, then Chief Rue Shanahan, and lastly Sheriff Cooper Lewis and Deputy Dolheski.  Each was given a hearty handshake by Hodges and a so glad to see you greeting.  He then showed them into his abode, and sat each one into a specific chair he had decided upon earlier.

"Mr. Hodges," Hansen began, "First off, we'd like to apologize for not interviewing you earlier in the process, but-."

Interrupting, Hodges said, "No need to apologize, my boy.  I'm just an old garbage collector who doesn't get noticed much around the community."

Rue Shanahan seized the opportunity to speak.  "Mr. Hodges, we understand that you have some information that could help us solve this case rather quickly.  We'd like you to begin with the day Laura Walters was murdered and tell us what you had told Beth Reddy and Mr. George.  And if you have remembered any further details of that or previous days we would be very interested."

"Ah yes.  The pretty, young Ms. Reddy and the gentlemen with two first names."  He tugged at his bow tie a little.  "I remember them well.  Charming couple, wouldn't you say?"  The men collectively nodded, as did Lisa Dolcheski.  Gerald Hodges proceeded to relate the entire story he had told to Beth and Damien.  The four law enforcement personnel hung on every word.  Shanahan was recording the story with Hodges permission.

When he had finished, Sheriff Lewis asked, "How do you know so much about the book club and the women that meet?"

"Well, Sheriff Lewis, I am not acquainted with each woman who has attended the meetings, but they have been holding regular conferences at Ms. Walters' home for several years now.  During my wanderings around town, seeking garbage for resale you understand, I have become familiar with faces and vehicles that are different from the norm in Rose Creek.  Surely, you can understand that?"

Lewis graciously countered, "Of course we can, Mr. Hodges.  I like to think of myself as a phenomenal observer of people, myself."

Hodges was delighted with Lewis and hurriedly said, "Yes, in your profession you must have that bent to you.  I respect that."

Derrick Hansen asked, "Do you ever attach names to the women you have observed at the book club meetings?"

Hodges sat back and appeared to be puzzled by the question.  "I just don't know how I could ever know any of their names, unless I overheard them as they entered or departed, but I have heard a few first names, and I didn't tell Ms. Reddy this, but I did recognize her as one of the book club members when she interviewed me earlier with her Mr. George.  She is quite beautiful and hard to... not notice."  Again, the men nodded.  Dolcheski maintained a masked expression on her face.

"Earlier in the day you had noticed Ms. Pieson's car in town," Cooper Lewis stated.

"So that is her name.  Bravo!  You have tracked her down quickly.  I am impressed with your marvelous detective abilities, gentlemen," and lady, he added.