Chapter 35

The only thing they didn't have was the story of what had gone on in that apartment. Mac asked Woody for the autopsy report on Captain Manors. She opened it, and read out loud, "There were ligature marks on his wrists as if he had been tied up. Maybe to a chair?" She looked at Woody as she made her guess and then went back to reading, "He had bruises all over his face and torso. There was a deep cut above his left eye as if he'd been hit by a hand with a ring on it." Mac closed the report and said, "It sounds very much like he was beaten for information before he was fatally shot."

"They could have wanted to know how much Manors knew," Woody suggested.

"Now you are saying 'they' too," Mac commented.

"Well there had to have been two of them. When Maggie was shot and her son grabbed, they got into the car on the passenger side and sped off. That means there had to have been a second person behind the wheel doing the driving."

"That's true!" Mac exclaimed. "I wonder who this Ellery would have trusted enough to involve in murder and kidnapping?"

"A relative?" Woody guessed, "Or maybe an underling of some sort if they worked together."

"I doubt we will ever know," sighed Mac.

"That could very well be," Woody replied as he continued to search on the computer for Clematis Orly. "I have run DMV, property, and utility bills, but there is no record of him here in Boston or in surrounding areas. But there was something that has been floating around in my head Mac. If it was her son that put the flowers on her grave for her birthday, might he also do the same to remember the day she was killed?"

"What do you mean?"

"If he puts flowers on her grave for the day that she died too, then if we shake out Magnolia's grave we could find him. We might be able to get information from him about the murder too!" Woody sounded excited.

"She was killed on July 15th right?" Mac questioned. At Woody's nod, she shook her head sadly. "Admiral Chegwidden would never let me stay here until then."

"Well since we know the date, you could try and get him to let you return then, or if not, I can certainly let you know what I find out."

Nodding, Mac said, "That would work, I guess. It was good working with you Woody. I hope I can return in July so we can do it again, and possibly meet up with Clematis Orly." An odd look came over her face and she added, "You know, I have to agree with Petunia, what an awful name for a child, Clematis! That is why Admiral Chegwidden goes by his initials. His name is Albert Jethro, so he goes by AJ. I wonder if maybe Clematis does the same thing?"

"I don't have any record of a middle name or even an initial for him. However, I should call on Petunia and tell her we delivered the flowers and found the other flowers there on the grave. I could find out if she knows Clematis' middle name then. I do hope that we get to work together again as well. Since we finished all you came to find out, I guess that means you'll have return to Virginia soon?"

"Yes, I'll have to see if I can book a ticket for tomorrow. The Admiral was good enough to let me come and if I want to get back in July, I'd better head back as soon as possible."

"Would you like me to drive you to the airport tomorrow?"

"Thank you, but no. I can manage and as a Marine I learned to travel light."

Mac made her call to the airline and found she could catch a Redeye flight that night for a discount and she slept so little anyway, she decided to take it. She told Woody and said she would head back to the hotel to pack and possibly grab a nap. They parted with a handshake and renewed hopes to see each other again in July. Mac even teased that he would be a father by then! Woody smiled and agreed. He was looking forward to the baby's arrival.

To be continued…