Dexter: St. Bernard part 3
************ Fishing for Clues ************
"Ironic isn't it," Dexter thought to himself. "I work at a Fish & Game store here in town and here I am headed towards the Iron Lake Police Station fishing for clues. The world is so satirical."
Dexter entered the police station. He stood there in the doorway a moment shaking off the cold. He also rubbed his hands together and lightly kicked his boots on the floor-mat to knock the slush off of the bottoms (he was here to get Intel. Not annoy anyone for leaving sloshy shoeprints on the floor. That wouldn't help, would it?)…
Anyway, he was greeted by Esther the moment he stepped inside.
"Hello Jim…good morning," she said.
"Hello Essy," he returned. "And how is the "Watchtower" of the Iron Lake Police Force doing on this cold and overcast day?"
"It was always a good thing to butter one's toast before getting one's coffee, if you know what I mean? Giving complements to people that you've only known a short time….well, that sure didn't hurt things now did it?"
Esther was a good woman. And she knew her job. And also, a lot of the townsfolk's business. If Dexter was looking for someone to get information from, she was likely his girl."
He looked around the station. He saw Police Chief Bishop (Angela), in her office through the big glass window. She was talking to Sergeant Logan. Neither one had seen him enter. Dexter noticed that they were focused on something lying flat on Angela's desk. A piece of paper.
"The anonymous letter?" He was thinking. "I need to get a little closer to see what's going on."
He scanned the room.
"The coffee station, it was within hearing range. I'll head over there." He thought to himself. "Not the best java in the world or even in Iron lake, but I'm not here to satisfy my taste buds. I'm here to do some investigative snooping."
"How's the morning brew today," he asked Esther?
"Fresh and ready for your handsome lips," she answered.
Dexter smiled….
"Spoken by the prettiest dispatcher in Iron Lake," he said. The two laughed knowing that she was the only dispatcher in Iron Lake.
Dexter looked around for the only other person that was a member of the Iron Lake authority, Teddy. He didn't want anyone seeing him trying to get a look at what Angela and Logan were studying. That would not be beneficial. He didn't see the Iron Lake Deputy. Ted was likely off somewhere. Maybe organizing the supply room or cleaning the gun rack.
In every police department there was someone needed to do the mundane duties of the job. Especially in small-town police departments. Someone to replace the empty water jug on the water dispenser, wash and vacuum the police vehicles. There were all sorts of little things that needed to be done. Teddy Reed was that man on this police force.
Anyway, Teddy was nowhere in sight, so Dexter didn't fret over it. He went to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup. Angela and Logan saw him and they nodded their heads and smiled. Angela's smile was extra brightening. Their dating had almost turned into a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship. And most of the townsfolk already considered them a couple. Dex was happy with that. Anyway, the two of them, both Angela and Logan, returned their attention to what they were doing. Dexter bent his ear to listen in on what was being said.
"…I don't know," Logan was saying. "There aren't any churches around here named Saint Bernard Cathedral or anything like that, so I'm thinking that it isn't a location."
Angela thought for a moment. Then asked….
"What about statues. You know like in graveyards and cemeteries? Someone could have a hidden bodies there. Right beneath a statue of Saint Bernard. This could be hint about where to look."
Logan rubbed his chin between his thumb and forefinger.
"That's possible I guess. But aren't most statues in cemeteries angles? I don't recall ever seeing one with St. Bernard residing over it. Still, guess that it can't be ruled out though."
So, the two were putting their heads together trying to figure the anonymous letter out. It was puzzling, from what Dexter knew about it. There was a moments pause, and then Sergeant Logan spoke again.
"We don't even know if this is real. You know….even during the Holidays there's always someone trying to muck up things. Probably kids, unsupervised. These days' teenagers have morbid imaginations. They think that the weirdest things are funny sometimes. I think it's those video games that they play. It's rotting young adult minds."
Angela looked at him and answered.
"You're probably right. I don't know."
She glanced over at a corkboard on the wall in her office. There were several pictures of missing individuals on it. Mainly girls. Some were runaways, last seen passing through town. However, there was at least one on it that was a local girl. And she had been someone Angela had known very well, her friend Iris. She looked back down at the anonymous letter.
"Still this is nothing we have to focus our full attention on. Not right now anyway. Could be a prank. Let's talk with Esther and see if anything new takes priority."
Dexter took a sip of his coffee.
"Yes…could be that Mrs. Gross's sheep have gotten out of their pen again. I love this town. It's the perfect place for me to melt back into a sane society," he was thinking.
************* A Clue, Maybe? ************
Dexter closed the tailgate of his truck after filling it with half a cord of wood. After talking to Angela briefly he had left the station and had headed towards the general store to get what he needed.
"Don't know why you need to buy wood from me," Mickey Sheldon, the store owner asked. "You live in the woods. Plenty of timber to chop down to keep yourself supplied."
This was true. However, Dexter liked coming into town to mingle with the townsfolk. Besides, he had to come anyway. He was going to work. Also, he hadn't bought that much wood from the store owner. And what he had purchased would last him a good long while. Besides, keeping in good graces with the people of his adopted home was just good commerce.
"Well Mick, your wood burns cleaner and always smells better than mine. I think you sprinkle it with some of those fancy fragrances from Sally's Salon," he looked at the store owner and grinned. Mickey laughed. Dexter continued…..
"Besides, freshly chopped tree wood is not always the best or fastest way to start a fire. Especially in the fireplace inside the cabin," he informed the man.
That made sense. The two shook hands and Dexter headed for work.
Arriving at Fred's Fish & Game store Dexter looked around for his boss. He didn't see Fred Jr. (the owner), however he assumed that he was somewhere in the back. Dexter placed a box of pastries on the store counter and removed his heavy jacket.
Looking around he scanned the store for anything that might be out of place. He had a sharp eye for detail. (Something he'd perfected as a blood expert while working for Miami-Metro PD and also, something he'd honed to a sharp edge doing his more illicit nighttime job in Florida).
"Pay attention to detail," He said to himself, "That could be the difference between making a successful sale or the loss of one, when it comes to the store. But also the same applies to homicide. A murder that someone else has committed or even my own. Follow the Code. Don't get caught."
Everything in the store looked to be in place.
"There you are." Fred Jr. walked in from the back. "Glad you could make it."
"Sorry I'm a little late boss," Dex said. "But only five minutes."
Fred didn't seem to care about that. His eyes were focused on the small box atop the counter.
"I'm not worried about that. I was worried about getting one of these before lunch." He opened the pastries box and pulled out a strawberry cream cheese sweet roll. "My favorite," he said and then stuffed it into his mouth. Then, at the same time while still chewing, he added…..
"I'm going to head out a little early today. Won't be gone long though. Brian and I are considering getting a dog. But we're not in a rush. And, we haven't decided what kind. Maybe one befitting to the climate here. A cold weather breed. You know, like maybe a Saint Bernard or something. The Stiles had a Saint Bernard. It was such a sweet animal."
Dexter's ears went to point. A Saint Bernard? He hadn't considered that. And neither had Angela or Logan.
"The Stiles? I don't know them," he replied with a questioned?
"No I guess you wouldn't. They were only residents for a year or so. But moved away just a few months after you arrived. Guess you never got the chance to meet them. Good people…..a little private though."
Dexter radar focused on his boss.
"And you say they had a Saint Bernard?"
"Yes, good dog. Always sniffing around looking for something. You know they are supposed to be excellent at finding things buried in the snow."
"Yes, maybe something Mr. Stiles has left there," Dex was thinking. The gears in his mind were turning.
"That's what I've heard," He replied. "they're good at finding bodies. I mean, people that are buried in the snow. Rescue animals. I may need to look into that."
Dexter couldn't keep himself from smiling.
"Deb was right. I'm not in that game anymore. However, there is nothing to keep me from doing a little investigating myself. Sorry sis, you can bitch at me later."
Dexter picked up a donut from the pastry box.
End Part 3