Chapter 3.11

Wednesday, May 12^th, 2023

8AM

Marcia, Chet, and Fraiser were perusing the area near where the body had been found when they saw French and Coleridge approaching.

“G’Mornin’,” Fraiser called as they got close.

Marcia was worried that they’d be ordered out of the area, but Coleridge asked, “Find anything?”

“No,” Fraiser returned. “Anything for us?”

“Strangulation and definite ID as Gerald Parks.”

“Damn!” Fraiser muttered.

“It doesn’t look good for Bruce, does it?” French said to Fraiser.

“Not really.”

“Gerald Parks is the person Lisa supposedly ran off with?” Marcia asked.

“Yes,” Coleridge affirmed.

Fraiser looked around as if he was trying to find inspiration from the surrounding landscape, but it didn't seem he was having much luck. Finally, he looked back at French, and when he spoke, he made sure he included Coleridge in his address. "I'm open to any suggestions,"

Marcia spoke up before the two agents could say anything. “You’ve questioned the men on the farm, haven’t you?”

“Yes,” Coleridge said, “But’cha know… Now that I think about it, people clam up when they talk to a cop. It’s human nature. They get nervous, even if they’ve got nothing to be nervous about.”

"I was thinking the same thing," Marcia agreed. "I'll bet they wouldn't be as nervous chatting with me. The seventeen-year-old, blonde, little sister of the owner."

“Don’t you think that could be dangerous,” Chet asked.

“Are you thinking one of them did it?” Marcia asked.

“Well, Lisa was Bruce’s wife, and Park’s body was found on the farm. I’d say there’s a possibility of it,” Chet answered.

"Well, I'm there one way or another, and I do the books on the farm. I'm out helping with the animals as often as I can. I've been talking to the guys anyway, so I don't see it's any more dangerous for me to steer a conversation where I need it to go. I can get the information I need," she replied.

“Besides, Chet,” Marcia went on, batting her eyes. “I just want to get to know the big, strong workmen.”

Chet shook his head. “Can you at least have Darryl with you during these conversations?”

“That won’t work,” Coleridge said. “I’m sorry, Mr. Chatham, but guys tend to have looser lips when they’re trying to impress a lady.”

Chet sighed. “Yeah, I suppose so.” He turned back to his sister. “What do you intend to find out?”

-=#=-

And so it was, around ten o'clock the following day, Marcia was out in the barn, grooming Tigger's coat when Bo Borisyuk entered the barn.

He was about twenty-five, and Marcia had to admit that he was handsome. His dark hair was neatly combed, and he had a neatly trimmed beard and mustache.

Everyone on the farm was a jack of all trades. They worked with the animals and gardens and now they would be training new people. Chet was hoping to expand Chatham Yardworks to do the same type of services in the Palmer area. Bo was one of the best.

“Hi, Bo,” Marcia said cheerfully. She waved at him and smiled.

He waved back and walked over. “He’s looking good,” the young man said as he patted the horse’s neck. “You’re taking real good care of him.”

“Thanks!” Marcia responded

“He’s a great horse,” Bo continued as the horse scanned his pockets to see if he had any tasty treats. “Lisa sure gave him a workout too.”

Marcia was thrilled to have a way into asking questions, but she didn't want to appear too eager and scare Bo off. She continued with the curry comb she was using for a couple of moments to see if Bo would elaborate, but when he didn’t, she asked, “What was Lisa like?”

“She was real nice. Helped me with my English when I got here. I’m Ukrainian, and when I got here, my English wasn’t very good.”

Marcia commented, “I wouldn’t have guessed you weren’t from the US.”

Bo laughed. “My name is Boris Borisyuk, and you wouldn’t have guessed?”

“There’s very little to tell. I didn’t know your last name, and the name ‘Bo’ could have been from the southern United States. Your speech sounds completely American. Lisa must have been a very good teacher.”

“Well, she’d been an English teacher, but not a stuffy one. She knew I’d get along best if I learned how others talked. Not just the ‘proper’ way English is supposed to be used.”

“Did she charge you for lessons?”

Again, Bo laughed. “Not a bit. She didn’t want any money for it, just like Bruce didn’t. They just wanted to help people however they could. They let me stay here till I got my own apartment in town. Said I’d need to save up for a deposit so I could rent a place.” He sighed. “They always did stuff like that, but I think she was the one who initiated it most of the time.”

Bo excused himself after that, and Marcia thought about what he’d said. Both Bruce and Lisa enjoyed doing things for others and seemed happy together. The thought that she’d run away with another person just didn’t make sense to Marcia.

But there had to be a reason why she'd run off. If Bruce killed both Lisa and Gerry, they had to have run off together. Or… Marcia wondered if Bruce may have found them together. Maybe in bed? Honestly, that seemed more likely than just the threat of running off. That could have made him temporarily insane, she thought. But I don’t see it happening that way. It doesn’t seem like Lisa’s character to have an affair either.

Marcia finished with Tigger and gave him a hug and kiss, then walked out of the barn. She glanced at the fields and saw a couple of guys working there. One of them was Kirk Gregory, her next target.

“Hi Kirk!” she called as she approached.

“Hi, Miss Chatham!” he responded. “What’s up today?”

Marcia thought she could play dumb and ask about what he was doing, but she didn't want to make him think she was interested. Glancing at her ring, she figured it was apparent she was engaged, but…

Kirk was eighteen, according to his records, so only a year older than her. And a year younger than Darryl. That could work out in her favor, or not. She suddenly had an idea.

“Just kinda looking around. I want to see what the jobs in the gardens are all about. Helps me in my work.”

“The same as they are in Fairbanks, just on a larger scale,” Kirk said, eyeing her critically. “What are you really doing?” He asked.

Uh oh, she thought. Has Kirk gotten the wrong idea from the start?

“Bruce was going to observe me working,” he told her. “This is my first job, you know, and I’ve been doing my best to learn everything. I suppose you’re observing me since he’s in jail?”

Whew! This is an easy way to talk to him without any wrong ideas! “Yeah. Sorry. I didn’t want to scare you.”

“Not a problem, Ma’am.”

“Whoa, right there. Just call me Marcia, please.”

“Okay, sorry.”

“Have you done this type of work before?” she asked him.

He laughed. “Actually, I started out like your brother. I did yard work for people while I was in high school.”

“You know about that?”

“I researched this company before I applied for work here. I found out how your brother started Chatham Yardworks. I even found out about Mrs. Chatham and you. Your secrets.”

"What secrets?" Marcia asked although she knew Vic's story had come out and how and why he'd become friends with her and Mage.

“I read the papers from Fairbanks. What I found out about Chatham Yardworks was linked online.”

“I see,” she said.

“Don’t worry. I’m not gonna tell anyone. If anyone else knows about it down here, it didn’t come from me.”

“I’m not worried about people finding out, but thanks.”

She decided to take a different tack. "So, what made you research us?"

"My aunt. I live with her and my uncle since my parents died. She sells real estate. Well, in theory, they both do, but I think my uncle spent more time flirting with customers." He shook his head. "Uncle Chris just got himself fired, both from the company and his marriage. I guess he tried to hit on someone who was married, and she said no. He didn't get the hint."

Marcia tried not to giggle but failed.

“What’s so funny about that?” Kirk asked.

“Is your aunt’s name Wanda by any chance?”

“Yeah,” Kirk answered. “You know her?”

“Met her last night. The woman he tried to hit on? That’s my mom.”

“Oh shit!” Kirk exclaimed. “Oh, sorry. I’m just really surprised. It’s a small world, I guess.”

“Not a problem. I know people swear at times. Chet and Mage don’t want to hear every other word being four letters.”

“Oh!” Kirk said.

“But, when my mom is around, don’t use any. She's threatened to wash Chet's mouth out with soap many times. I think she's even done it more than once." Again, she giggled. This time at the thought of her mom holding Chet's ear while pushing a bar of soap into his mouth. Chet was extremely tough, but he'd never hurt his mom, no matter what, nor would he disrespect her. If she wanted to wash his mouth with soap, she would, and he'd let her, figuring he deserved it.

“Mr. Chatham?” Kirk exclaimed. “Wow! Your mom’s gotta be tough! I’ve seen Mr. Chatham throw a hay bale like it was nothing!”

“Well, she’s not any tougher than any other woman. Chet just respects everyone. If Mom figures he needs discipline, she’ll give it. Even now.”

Kirk started laughing. “I can’t even picture someone doing that to Mr. Chatham.”

“Uh… Chet will tell you to call him Chet.”

“I respect people too,” Kirk said.

“Gotcha, but to respect Chat and Mage, call them by their first names, okay?”

“Tell you what. They haven’t told me to call them that yet. I feel it’s more respectful to wait until someone gives me permission. You have, so I’ll call you Marcia. Darryl has also, but until Mr. and Mrs. Chatham do, I’ll wait.”

Marcia nodded. “Sounds fair. I can see the thought you’ve put into that.”

“My cousin Stephen has worked here for several years, and he’s always told me how to be polite to people. It’s a big thing for him, and I agree. Showing respect is wise.”

Marcia turned the conversation to the job Kirk was doing and, before long, was delighted with the man's knowledge. She also watched, and he confidently did his job. She showed him a few tricks she'd learned over her time working in North Pole, and he thanked her.

As she walked back to the house, she went over what the two had told her. She didn’t figure anyone who worked on the farm could be the culprit. Now what?

Please don't forget to leave comments and/or Kudos!
Thanks!
--Rosemary