Chapter 27

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Sheriff Duncan wasn't sure if he really believed that Angel Flint committed suicide. He was certain that her mother had sexually assaulted her, three days before her death. It did seem plausible that Angel might take her own life as a result. Maybe Hayden Dabeck could make a case for felony murder. If Carmen's lawyer was smart she would ask for a bench trial, and the judge would most likely decide their was reasonable doubt, on felony murder. Carmen would still be convicted of child molestation and go to prison for that. Either way the case woul apparently be closed. Duncan liked agent Fredo, but the Council was right, he had to leave. His investigation had already got one innocent man shot, and somehow he knew about the Druid Order. Hopefully the magistrate would prevent any further investigations, and the Order could continue it's work. But, on the night of July 4th, less than twelve hours before Carmen Flint was to be officially charged, agent Fredo came to sheriff Duncan's house unexpectedly.

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Duncan: I thought I told you that the investigation no longer involved you.

Gary: But I've discovered new evidence since then.

Duncan: What evidence?

Gary: You remember how we found that lottery ticket in Angel's safe?

Duncan: Yes, so?

Gary: When you and your deputies searched Samantha Larabee's house, you didn't by any chance find a lottery ticket from the same day and store did you?

Duncan: Now that you mention it, she did have a lottery ticket, framed, hanging in her bedroom. I'd have to check our records but, they might be from the same day. I guess they got it on a date and wanted a souveneir. What exactly is your point?

Gary: I'm going to show you footage of Angel aquiring these tickets.

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Gary showed sheriff Duncan footage of the armed robbery. Duncan couldn't be completely certain, but he was pretty sure that Angel was the one robbing the store and Samantha was the getaway driver.

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Duncan: This makes no sense. Angel had a good paying job at the local tv station, the Larabee family has more money than God. Why the hell would they need to rob a convenience store?

Gary: They didn't need to, but they wanted to. Angel was killed with a hunting knife, and she and Samantha both wenting hunting in these woods.

Duncan: A lot of people in Sanctuary go hunting.

Gary: Do you?

Duncan: Not personally, but I'm not a vegetarian either. You ever go hunting?

Gary: Not by choice. When I was serving in Vietnam I was seperated from my unit, ended up hunting some local birds for food before I got back. It's another unpleasant aspect of war, but I didn't enjoy it. I've never killed for fun. But to these two, robbing a convenience store was just another aspect of a cheap thrill. That's why Samantha kept it hanging in her room and Angel kept it in a safe. Angel was either ashamed of her actions, or trying to hide evidence, or both. But Samantha was proud of her actions.

Duncan: It's kind of a leap from hunting animals to robbing a store.

Gary: You saw the footage, and both girls have the lottery tickets. The time stamp proves they're the same tickets.

Duncan: You're right. It happenned outside my jurisdiction, perhaps we should alert the federal authorities, have her charged by a federal prosecutor for everything.

Gary: And what about Angel Flint's murder?

Duncan: There's no evidence that she killed her. Samantha shot Michael because she believed that he murdered Angel.

Gary: Did she? Samantha might have heard about me confronting Michael, and looked up what exactly his tattoo meant. She killed him because she thought he raped her. But I believe she already knew he didn't kill her, because she killed her.

Duncan: You're taking some fairly big leaps here.

Gary: I'm the first to admit I could be wrong. But given the secrets that Angel and Samantha shared together, it's not much of a stretch to think that Angel could have confided in her girlfriend about her stepmother's dark secret. I do believe that the killer, whoever he or she was, genuinly loved Angel. And doctor Hayward said that whoever carved that pentagram into her chest was far from an experienced surgeon.

Duncan: All of which could easily apply to Carmen, Jimmy, Mary Elizabeth, or Abby.

Gary: You're right, we don't know which of these people might be the killer. But we both know that if you charge Carmen with felony murder, it will eliminate almost any chance of someone else being charged later.

Duncan: And what would you suggest?

Gary: Charge Carmen with child molestation. If new evidence surfaces, against anyone, charge that person.