A Riverside Christmas Mystery

Chapter 16

"Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers,
but to be fearless in facing them."
Rabindranath Tagore

"I agree," said Jonathon. "You and Davy won't be safe until those men are arrested and put in prison."

"But how, Jonathon? How are you going to do that?" Violet's voice held a desperate edge. "I'm willing to do whatever you think is best. Davy and I can't hide for the rest of our lives."

Jim looked at Jonathon with a frown and said. "We have to think of a way to draw them out and catch them in the act. Otherwise without actual proof, they'll hire the same high price lawyers and get off scot free again. According to Gavin, that's been their pattern for years...never any concrete proof."

"Well," drawled McCoy, "that shouldn't be too hard. If there are any psychopaths within fifty miles of here, they'll be sure to find you and come after you, Jim boy. That's been your pattern!"

Spock's lips twitched. He hated to agree with McCoy on principle, but facts were facts and unfortunately Jim's history tended to agree with the good doctor. Suddenly Spock's head cocked. Vulcan hearing had alerted him to the rough engine throb of the two men shuttle. He leaped from the chair, grabbed his coat, threw "shuttle" and "Peter" at Jim and was out the back door in a blur faster than humanly possible. Jim didn't bother with his coat, just ran after him. Spock stopped suddenly and Jim almost ran into him. The shuttle was hovering very close over the barn roof and Peter, coming back from the mail box and not far from the barn door, was trying to calm Ginger. Usually the most docile of horses, Ginger was shying, kicking and trembling, the gentle animal was obviously terrified at the unaccustomed noise of the shuttle right above his head. Peter was having a hard time staying on Ginger. Jim ran over to the horse and grabbed the bridle. Ginger was old, but strong, and shied away from Jim and the barn. Jim, strong as he was, was having a difficult time holding on and staying away from the kicking hoofs. Spock reached up and pulled Peter off the horse and held him tightly in his arms. He could feel Peter's heart racing in alarm. Spock held him close and away from the agitated Ginger and Peter put his arms around Spock's neck. "You are fine, Peter-kam. Ginger was frightened by the shuttle noise that is all. See, your Uncle Jim has calmed him down now and both of you are fine." Peter let go of Spock's neck and turned to look at Ginger and his Uncle Jim.

Jonathon had run out behind Jim and was talking into his communicator. "Send two patrols ASAP out to the Kirk farmstead; there is a shuttle trespassing and harassing the animals." He could see the two men clearly as their shuttle hovered. They could see him as well, and he clearly saw the moment they took in the sight of his police uniform. The shuttle suddenly veered off and started to ascend.

Jim, still talking softly to Ginger, who had calmed down, walked the horse over to Peter. He took Peter gently from Spock, gave him a swift hard hug, put him back on Ginger and gave him the rains. "It's always best to get right back on the horse, Squirt, okay? Take Ginger for a short walk, just to be sure he's fine. We'll stay right here and watch you. Take him to the mailbox again and turn him around and come back." Peter nodded to his Uncle Jim, his eyes still wide, but he did as he was told.

The three men watched the child on the horse. He seemed fine now, sitting relaxed on the saddle and Ginger was once more his placid normal self.

Jim took a deep breath and turned to Jonathon and Spock, his hazel eyes stormy, his voice furious. "Alright, that's it. I've had it! Those guys have to be stopped, I'm sick of this. They're menacing my family now, and I will not tolerate it any longer."

"Jim," his mother's worried voice came from the kitchen. She, Bones, Uhura, and Violet with Davy in her arms were all crowded at the back door. "Is everything all right, Jim? Is it all right for us to come outside?"

Jim visibly calmed himself. "Yes, Ma. Everything's fine. Ginger got spooked with the shuttle noise, but he's fine and so is Peter. I got him right back on Ginger, and he's riding him to the mail box and back. You don't have to come out, it's very cold, and we'll come in as soon as Peter comes back. I'm just going to put Ginger in the barn and curry him to relax him. He got a fright, he's not used to loud noises."

Peter came trotting back and Jim took him off Ginger. "Go inside Squirt and warm up. I'll take care of Ginger this time. Does he seem alright to you?"

"Yeah, he's fine, Uncle Jim. He settled down just fine. He just got spooked by the noise."

"Good." His eyes met his mother's and she beckoned to Peter. "Come inside, sweetheart. I'll fix us some hot chocolate. You can help me. Also, it's time to feed Sorrel."

"Oh, I forgot to feed him this morning, Noni. I'll do it right now."

Uhura, with Bones following, came out with Jim's coat. "Put this on, it's very cold out here."

"What the hell, Jim," Bones said. "Those guys are gettin' a lot more aggressive."

"Yeah, Bones they are, and they have to be stopped."

"Thanks Nyota. Guess I was so mad, I didn't even feel the cold," Jim told her. He led Ginger into the barn, the others following behind him, took the saddle, blanket and bridle off Ginger and began to curry him with long soothing brushes. "You're all right now, old fella," he whispered in the horse's ear. "Here's your oats, and yours too, Dapple." He turned to his friends. "Okay, we have to think of a way to get these guys to show their hand. It's the only way."

"Jim," Bones looked an appeal at Spock. "Jim, these two guys are thugs, hired thugs, you have to be reasonable and cautious here." Jim turned to him, fury still evident in the set jaw and hazel eyes. "Oh hell," said Bones, "what l am I sayin'? Klingons, Romulans, cloud creatures, demi gods, mad as hatter despots? Cautious and reasonable are two words that aren't even in your vocabulary."

Jonathon interrupted Bones tirade. "I hear the police shuttles, let me go talk to my guys." Uhura and Bones followed him out of the barn.

"I'll be out in a minute, Jonathon, let me finish with Ginger and Dapple," said Jim.

Spock gave Dapple a lump of sugar he had in his coat pocket. "Jim, I agree we have to have a plan in place to engage these men, but I also agree with the good doctor that we must proceed with caution. We have to think of your mother, Peter, Davy and Violet. We cannot do anything to put them in harm's way."

"Spock!" Jim threw an outraged, hurt look at him. "I'd never do anything to put my family or Violet and Davy in danger. I thought you knew me better than that," he said angrily and walked away from him. "Let's go outside." His voice was clipped and he wouldn't look at Spock.

"Jim," Spock stopped him by the simple means of stepping in front of him. "It was not my intent to imply that you would ever do anything to put your family in harm's way. I do know you better than that and you also know that I would not think that of you nor say it." The troubled dark eyes looked into the angry hazel ones. Jim took a deep breath and relaxed his tense shoulders; he put out a gentle hand and touched the blue sleeve. "I'm sorry, Spock, I know you wouldn't, it's not really you I'm angry at. It's those thugs, they have Violet scared to death and now Peter was frightened by them. I won't have it, and I'm going to put a stop to it."

James T. Kirk had spent his career convincing people to do things they didn't want to do, believe things they didn't want to believe, and agree with him in spite of themselves. He had no doubt that he would somehow put an end to these men and that he would get the help he needed to do it…as soon as he figured out how he was going to do it.

"Jim," Jonathon called out, "my men said the shuttle headed back to Des Moines. I told them to back off. No use in spooking them more. They got spooked enough when they saw me in uniform."

"All right, Jonathon. Maybe it'll be enough to keep them away from here for a while."

"I have to go. Tell your mom thanks for breakfast, and tell Violet I'll be back to talk her again after I take care of some things at the office. I think it'd be a good idea if I had a copy of her autopsy findings until we decide what we're going to do. I'll encrypt them in my files…they'll be safe there."

"I agree. I'm getting a little concerned that we haven't heard from Gavin. I'm going to check on him. I'll get back to you later. Thanks for your help this morning." Jim shook his hand. Jim's detached part of his mind, that part of his tactical brain which worked in the background without distracting him from real and present events, was already working on a plan. He would run it by Jonathon, Spock, Uhura, and Bones when the Chief came back.

"No problem, Jim. See you later this afternoon."

They went back into the house. Winona and Violet with Davy on her lap, were sitting at the table. "Everything all right, son?" Winona's hazel eyes were anxious.

"Yeah, Ma. Everything's all right. Violet, Jonathon wants a copy of your autopsy results for his encrypted files. I think it's a good idea to have another copy in a safe place. He'll be back later this afternoon and we'll make some decisions how to go flush these guys out. I have an idea I want to run by Jonathon."

Violet nodded. "All right, Jim. I have them in my padd, also encrypted. What do you think will happen if I send the reports to the Iowa State Police and to Lloyds? I've gone round and round in my head whether to do it or not. I was supposed to send them as soon as I finished the autopsies. Now I'm wondering if I should have done it already."

"I think when the Iowa State Police get your results they'll have to begin a murder investigation, they'll look for motive, for suspects, for opportunity. However, as with all investigations, it'll be a slow process. Also, they'll want to interview you at length, over and over, to test your credibility, your thoroughness, your competency. In a case like this you'll be their key witness. Without you as an expert witness, there is no real case. Autopsy results are important, but the police will need the forensic pathologist to make their case," Jim paused and looked at Violet thoughtfully. He owed her the full truth. "Even if you give them the autopsy results, your life and Davy's will still be in danger, Violet. They'll want to get rid of the expert witness. I would be very difficult to make an open and shut case without you."

"Indeed, Jim. Not only that, Dr. Palomino, but at this time, these men know you have not yet turned in your autopsy report, otherwise the State Police would already be investigating and asking questions. Since they have a contract with the person or persons who hired them they know that their contract would be null and void unless they kill you and they know there is still time to do it and collect their credits."

Violet's face was still and thoughtful. "First, I'll give Jonathon a copy of the report. Let me think about the rest," she said, dropping a kiss on Davy's curly head.

Jim stood. "I'm going to comm Gavin. It's strange we haven't heard from him and I'm getting a little concerned. Then we're putting all this aside for a while and we'll do something fun. Ma, let's get out all the toboggans, the helmets, and the sled to pull Davy, then we'll head up the hill with the toboggans. I don't think that shuttle will be back, they got a scare when they saw Jonathon. Peter," he called.

"Yes, Uncle Jim?" Peter came out of their room, holding Sorrel.

"Would you like to go tobogganing?"

"Oh boy! Would I?"

Spock," Jim said grinning. "You're going to need both sets of your thermals. Tobogganing is fun, but you end up more in the snow than off of it."

Spock's eyebrow climbed. "Is this another frozen water drops sport that you and Sam indulged in?"

"Yep. You can ask Ma, we'd come back from the little hill wet, frozen, and ecstatic, right Ma?"

Winona laughed. You, Sam and all the rest of the kids who came around, including you, Violet, remember? The clothes dryer got a lot of action. I'll get some hot chocolate into the carafes and get some snacks. As I recall, you would all come home ravenous."

"Bones, Nyota, Violet, are you all up for it?"

"Absolutely!" said Bones. "I'm really gettin' the hang of all this snow business."

"Me too," laughed Uhura.

"Me three," said Violet. "Davy and I are ready for some fun, aren't we, sweetheart?"

"Good! You all get ready and I'll go comm Gavin. Ma, tonight lets work on the tree. We've waited long enough."

"All right, dear. You know that's my favorite part of Christmas preparations," Winona smiled at her son, fully understanding his wish for normalcy here at home.

Jim went into the office and first put in a call to the Enterprise to check on ship and crew. He knew everything was fine, or Scotty or Sulu would have gotten in touch with him, but he still wanted to touch base with his ship. It would take a few minutes for the squirt to go the vast distance to the ship's location, so in the meantime he commed Gavin. He heard the insistent beep but there was no answer. The message icon came on and Jim said. "Gavin this is Jim. I didn't hear from you yesterday and we've had some developments today, Ma and I figure you're on assignment, so comm me when you get a chance." Jim sat thoughtfully for a minute, and then called the main switchboard at SIS headquarters. "Please connect me with Gavin Bradford's office."

The phone was answered by a female voice. "This is Lt. Commander Gordon."

"This is James Kirk, I'm trying to get in contact with Commander Bradford."

"Captain Kirk. A pleasure, sir. I'm sorry but Commander Bradford is unavailable at this time. May I take a message? I'm sharing his office for a few hours, mine is being painted today."

"When will he be available, Lt. Commander?"

"Unknown, sir. He left yesterday and I'm not sure when he'll be back."

"Please give him a message then. Tell him to contact Jim Kirk as soon as possible."

"Yes, sir. I'll put the message on his desk."

"Thank you, Lt. Commander."

So that was that. Gavin was unavailable, probably another top-secret assignment. Oh well, knowing Gavin, he would comm when he could. Jim wanted to talk to Gavin about his plan to entice and capture the two thugs and he needed his help and his Phaser. The comm unit beeped; Scotty.

"Scotty! Good to hear your voice. How's everything? How is everyone?"

"Fine, fine, Sir. Couldn't be better, except beggin' your pardon, if you, Dr. McCoy and Mr. Spock were here with us. Are you enjoying yourself, Captain?"

"Yes, Scotty, we are. It's been great being here with my mother and Peter. By the way, my mother will be sending you a note to thank you for the wine. We're saving it for Christmas Day dinner."

"Ah, Captain, no need, but 'tis verrry nice of her indeed."

"So everything's going well? The medical supply runs are proceeding on schedule?"

"Aye, Captain. No problems and me wee bairns are purring like kittens."

Jim chuckled. "Good Scotty. Tell everyone hello from all of us. I'll comm again in a couple of days."

"Aye, Captain. Tell Dr. McCoy that I expect a nice bottle from Earth when he gets back."

"Will do. Kirk out."

"Everyone ready to go," Jim asked, coming out of the office. It was obvious that they were. Everyone had hats, coats and gloves on, Davy was in his snow suit, the toboggans had come down from the attic and were in hand, and the basket of hot chocolate and snacks was on Bones' arm. Violet put Davy in the sled and she and Peter took turns pulling it while the rest of them pulled the 4 toboggans and carried the helmets dangling from their straps. They followed the main path through the woods. The pine, spruce, and cedar were tall and dark enveloping them. Deep sugary snow was all around them and hung in the air waiting to fall softly later in the day.

Uhura began to sing softly, "Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother's house we go," and they all took up the song, singing loudly as they walked. They trudged deeper through the path until they began to climb slowly up the hill. The hill had been cleared of trees long ago by Jim's father. The boys used it all winter long for tobogganing and ski practice. Winona had it maintained every two years and it was still perfect.

At the top of the hill, Jim addressed his troops. "All right men and ladies. Some of you need toboggan lessons, others do not." He grinned at Violet, a veteran of many toboggan spills, and at Peter who was now quite proficient. His mother was an expert, and had often been tobogganing with Jim, Sam and their dad and now more recently with Peter. "I will go over the basics and then we'll do a few practice runs."

Jim put on a helmet and sat on one of the toboggans. "You always face forward and you can ride by yourself or with another person behind you. The front person is always the driver if there are two of you. You, by yourself, or your driver if there's two of you, lean forward and using your hands, you push against the ground until the toboggan starts to move on its own. You run your hands or feet in the snow to help steer the toboggan or to brake if you start to go too fast. Don't ever jump off while the toboggan is moving, you could hurt yourself. If it tips over don't worry too much, the snow is soft and you'll tumble a little, but you'll land softly. Peter," Jim said putting on his helmet, "do you want to go down with me and show them how's it's done?"

"I sure do, Uncle Jim." Peter put his helmet on got on and put his arms around Jim's waist. Jim leaned forward, put his hands in the snow and pushed off. He and Peter whizzed down the hill and came to rest at the bottom. "Okay," he yelled up, "who's next?"

"Come on, Nyota," said Winona, getting in on the second toboggan. "Get behind me and we'll try it." Uhura put on her helmet and got on behind Winona and down they went.

"Dr. McCoy, if you'll watch Davy for me, I'll take Mr. Spock down first and then come back for you. Are you game, Mr. Spock?" Violet looked mischievously at the Vulcan. Her cheeks were pink with color and her eyes were sparkling.

"I am, as you say, Dr. Palomino, game," said Spock putting on his helmet and down they went.

"Most exhilarating," said Spock, as he and Violet climbed back up to give Bones a turn.

Everyone took turns going down hill, hilarity ensuing at the many tumbles in the snow. Winona finally broke open the basket with the hot chocolate and snacks and passed them around.

Jim's communicator beeped. "Kirk here," he said. "Gavin! Good to hear from you. Really? We'll be there shortly." He turned to the expectant eyes and said, "Gavin's here. Let's head back to the house."

"Wonderful," said Winona, "he can stay and share a late lunch with us."