Chapter 21
They drove in silence for a few minutes. When Andrew figured Sean had calmed down a bit, he asked what they should do now. O’Reilly stewed for a moment, and then spoke.
“We should try the local paper. Maybe someone there can shed some light on events that are fifteen years old. I don’t hold much hope that we will find anything of use, but I can’t think what else to do. Have you any suggestions?”
Miller couldn’t think of anything else better and so they headed on over to the local newspaper store. It took five minutes to get there. They pulled in front and got out. When they went in, everything was quiet. There was one grey haired man seated behind the counter.
They introduced themselves and asked if he knew anything about the Caulder murder or anything else that happened 15 years ago that might be pertinent to their case.
The clerk went to check his files and fifteen minutes later, came back with a stack of papers. The first article was about the murder of Maggie Caulder. It stated that the murder had gone unsolved and a drifter was suspected of committing the crime.
Another story told of Jake being adopted by his next door neighbor, a Mrs. Keller. Another article reported that Mrs. Keller’s cat had been killed, but it didn’t say how. Other articles reported that several cats either went missing, or were found dead with their skulls smashed in.
O’Reilly and Miller looked at each other. Was it just coincidence that Jake’s mother and the cats had all succumbed to the same fate? They didn’t think so.
Then, all of a sudden, no more cats went missing, and none were found killed. They asked the clerk if any one knew why this happened and he just shrugged and said no.
They thanked the clerk and left.
“Miller, something happened 15 years ago and then all of a sudden the killings stopped. What do you suppose happened to change that?”
Miller stood there for a minute thinking, and then ventured an idea. “Maybe whoever was doing the killings moved away or died?”
“Sergeant, you’re a genius. Get in”
“Where to, boss?”
“We’re going to city hall to see if this Mrs. Keller and Jake moved around then.”
“Good idea. Let’s go.”
It only took a few moments to find out what they were looking for. Mrs. Keller and Jake Caulder moved away and after they left, the killings stopped. They also found a forwarding address that Sadie Keller had left.
It was out of state but this seemed to be the logical place to go next.
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