The next morning at the sheriff's office, I was going through more of the pictures Jeremy had sent me when the telephone rang. Barney offered to answer it this time.
"Sheriff's office," Barney said.
Barney listened to the caller and then hung up the telephone.
"Who was it, Barn?" I asked.
"Just a prank," Barney answered.
Barney saw one picture I was studying.
"What pictures are we looking at, Andy?" Barney asked.
Barney saw pictures of the patrol car that Deputy Jones was murdered in. Barney saw lots of blood in the front seat of the car.
"The patrol car, Barney," I said. "It's where the murder took place."
"I see. Where are the reports from the last twelve years?" Barney asked me.
Ihanded Barney the fat envelope.
"Thanks," Barney said.
"You're welcome," I returned.
Barney couldn't help looking at the pictures I was looking at and wanted to look at them himself.
"May I see those pictures, Andy?" Barney asked.
Barney opened the case file Jeremy had in the envelope for me to study. Barney saw the case file number was 401 – 69387.
"Ange, are there any pictures of the deputy in the stack?" Barney asked.
"Some, not many," I said.
"Does he look young like the age says?" Barney asked.
"Yes, Barney, but he looks his age," I said.
"Ange, are there any pictures of the deputy in the stack?" Barney asked.
"Some, not many," Andy said.
"Does he look young like the age says?" Barney asked.
"Yes, Barney, but he looks his age," Andy said.
"Any family pictures in the stack?" Barney asked.
"His daughter's in one," I said.
"Wondering," Barney said.
Barney read through the case file.
"Deputy Sheriff Andrew Jones, age thirty, was on patrol the morning of June tenth when he was murdered. Sheriff Cline says Deputy Sheriff Jones was alone in the patrol car and was unarmed when he was shot. The office has no suspects."
"Sheriff Cline adds Deputy Sheriff Jones was the best deputy the department has had for the past twelve years. He would like to say Deputy Sheriff Jones is in the department's prayers for his family, and he will be dearly missed. Sheriff Cline says Deputy Sheriff Jones was the best officer to care for the robberies that had happened during the twelve years in Deputy Sheriff Jones's duty. Deputy Sheriff Jones was a religious man, Sheriff Cline tells the reporters.
"Sheriff Cline says this is a no witness case and the sheriff's department would like to have your help on the case. For now, this is an ongoing investigation. For questions, call Sheriff Cline at the Sheriff's Department. Thank you," the report ended.
I saw Barney shake his head.
"A no witness case, Andy? How could you say yes to a no witness case? How would we find who the murderer is if there are no witnesses?" Barney said.
"We'll keep working on this, Barney. Like the report said, this is an ongoing investigation," I said.
"I saw that," Barney said, then added, "you know I'm not blind, Andy."
"I know you're not, Barney."
"The deputy is a religious man, huh? I bet he goes to church every week," Barney said.
"Maybe he does, Barney. I'll have to ask Jeremy about that," I said.
Otis was listening in to the conversation. He thought he could tell Goober about this conversation and tell Goober we were working on a no – witness cold case- something new to spread out.
"Well, Ange, I'm off and running on patrol now. I'll see you in a few minutes," Barney said.
"All right, Barn. Take your time," I said and watched Deputy Fife leave the office.
Otis watched Barney leave.
"Bye, Barney," Otis called after Barney.
"Bye, Otis," Barney said and was out of the office.
"Is this whole thing true you and Barney are working on a no – witness cold case murder, Andy?" Otis asked through the cell.
"Yes, Otis, it is true," I said.
"Wow," Otis said.
That's when Opie came into the office.
"Hi, Pa," Opie said.
"Hi, Op," I said, looking at Opie.
"I thought you were supposed to be at school," I said.
"I'm on lunch hour, Pa," Opie said.
Well, don't stay too long or you'll be late for your next class," I said.
"May I ask you something, Pa?" Opie asked.
"What's that?" I asked.
"The football team has an out-of-state game this weekend. Can you come with us?" Opie asked.
I thought about it.
"I'm sorry, Op, I'm afraid I can't. I have to work on this case Sheriff Cline asked me to help with. What about Johnny Paul's father? Can he go with the team?" I asked.
"He hasn't asked his dad yet. I'll ask him today at practice," Opie said.
"You do that and you let me know," I said and Opie was out of the office.
" "How old is Opie now?" Otis asked.
"He's a sophomore. I'm very proud of him," I said, "plus he has a girlfriend who is a cheerleader."
"A cheerleader? I bet she's hot stuff," Otis said.
"She's pretty, all right," I said.
"Does she bring her pom – poms with her on every date?" Otis asked in giggles.
I heard what Otis asked and gave me a look and said, "No, Otis, she doesn't."
Barney came back just then.
"You weren't gone very long," I said to Barney.
"No, I wasn't. Did I miss something? You said something about she doesn't," Barney said.
"Otis and I were talking about Opie's girlfriend," I said.
"I remember her now," Barney said.
"Is she the tall pretty brunette with the brown eyes on the swimming team?" Barney asked.
"Wrong one, Barney. She's the one with the pom – poms and a couple of inches shorter than Opie," I reminded Barney.
"I don't remember the cheerleader," Barney said.
"You missed Opie a few minutes ago, Barney," Otis told Barney.
"He asked if I could go to the football game that's this week because they're playing out of town," I said.
"I had to tell him no because of the case Sheriff Cline sent.
"I hope it didn't break the teen's heart," Barney said.
"I'm sure he's used to the word no by now," I said.
"I'm sure," Barney said.
"Do you want to go out to the diner for lunch, Ange? I'm hungry," Barney said.
"All right. I guess I could go for a bite. "
That's when the three men heard Barney's stomach growl.
"You do sound hungry, Barney," I said.
"Isn't that why I suggested it?" Barney asked and the sheriff and my deputy left the office and left for the diner.
Ten minutes after Barney and I were out of the office, Goober walked in. He didn't see any sign of Barney and me.
"Hi, Otis. Where are Andy and Barney?" Goober asked.
"They went out to lunch," Otis said.
"No wonder it's so quiet," Goober commented.
"I'm used to it," Otis said.
"Any new news on the cold case?" Goober asked.
"You bet there is," Otis said.
"Tell me. You promised you would keep me up – to – date," Goober said.
"And I did, didn't I?" Otis asked.
"Yes, you did. Maybe this time Andy and Barney will never know," Goober said and the two laughed.
"The thing is that Andy and Barney are working on a no – witness cold case murder," Otis told Goober.
"Say that again. I didn't get it the first time," Goober said.
"I said Andy and Barney are working on a no – witness cold case murder," Otis said a little louder.
"A no – witness cold case murder? I've never heard of those before. Do you think those are new?" Goober asked.
"Don't ask me. I'm no cop," Otis said.
"I think you should get going, Goober. Andy and Barney will be here soon. This is all the news I've got for now," Otis said.
"Okay. Thanks for the update," Goober said, "but I'll be back again."
"No problem," Otis said.
Goober couldn't wait to spread the word out to tell the townspeople about the no – witness cold case murder Barney and I were working on. Before he left, he saw the fat envelope I had left on the desk. Goober thought he'd take a quick peek at it before Andy and Barney got back. Otis had a feeling he should tell Andy about Goober's sneaking a peek at the envelope. Andy wouldn't like this, Otis thought to himself.
Goober saw the pictures Andy was looking of the patrol car on the day Deputy Sheriff Jones died. Goober got a bit scared when he saw the pictures of the patrol car because there was so much blood in the car. Goober closed the file again and was out of the office. That was when Barney and I walked in again.
"We're back, Otis," Barney said.
"Any special visitors while we were away?" Barney asked.
"Goober. He came for me, so you really didn't miss anything," Otis said.
"I do have something to tell you, Andy," Otis said. "Before he left, Goober took a sneak peek at that envelope you left on the desk. The fat one."
"Why would Goober do such a thing? That is confidential," I said.
"I don't know, Andy. I think Goober's been a sneaky guy lately," Barney said.
"Thanks for telling us, Otis," I said.
"We'll talk with him," Barney said.
"I think Goober should know this case file is only for the two of us to see," I said.
"I agree, Ange," Barney said.
That evening at dinner, Opie told me what Johnny Paul told him at school.
"All right, Son. I guess it's all taken care of and Johnny Paul's father will go with the football team. Did you tell him I can't go because of the case I'm working on?" I asked.
"I did, Pa. He said he would tell his father tonight you can't go and he would take your place instead," Opie said.
"See how things work out, Aunt Bee?" I asked.
"I sure do, Andy. I plan to stay behind and so I can cook for you while Opie is away for the weekend," Aunt Bee said.
"Don't you want to go along with Opie and support him?" I asked.
"No, no. You know I show no interest in this kind of thing. Is Cassie coming along?" Aunt Bee asked.
"Cassie has to come, Aunt Bee. She's creating new cheers for the football team this weekend," Opie said, thinking about his girlfriend.
Nine o'clock that evening came. Opie finished his homework early and was tired. He found me in the living room, reading through the fat envelope I brought home with me.
"Good night, Pa. See you in the morning," Opie said.
"Night, Opie. Did you finish your homework?" I asked.
"I did. I finished it early. I'm going to bed now," Opie said, watching me study a few pictures of the bloodied patrol car with a deputy sheriff inside.
"What kind of pictures are those?" Opie asked.
"It's with the case I'm working on, Opie. I don't want you looking at these pictures. I don't want you to have any nightmares," I said.
"All right, Pa," Opie said and headed to his bedroom a second time.
I followed Opie and tucked him into bed and kissed him like I did every night.
"Night, Op. See you in the morning," I said and closed the door behind myself.
Little did I know the pictures I was studying that night were the same pictures Goober was looking at lunchtime that afternoon.
The game Opie had that week didn't start until Saturday afternoon. What Opie didn't know was he was going to meet Sheriff Cline's oldest child, Tony Cline during the game. Opie thought he'd bring some of the pictures with him I had looked at lately to see if he could help me with the crime case. Maybe he could try talking to the kids from the other school and see if they knew anything about the case. Not a bad idea, Opie thought. He wondered how he could get to the fat envelope without my and Barney's knowing about it. That afternoon at the sheriff's office, Barney asked me if I was having any luck with the cold case.
"Nothing yet, Barney," I said.
"Me neither, Ange," Barney said.
"No wonder your sheriff friend couldn't get anything," Barney said.
At one – thirty that afternoon, Aunt Bee walked into the office.
"Hi, Aunt Bee," Barney said.
"Hi, Barney. Andy, I just got a call from the elementary school," Aunt Bee said.
"One of the twin girls had to go to the nurse's office. She had a high fever, so we have to pick her up now," Aunt Bee said.
"Which girl?" I asked, thinking of the twin daughters I adopted from the orphanage a couple of years ago.
"Martha. The nurse asked me to let you know and asked if you could get her," Aunt Bee said.
I'll go in the squad car and pick her up right away. Thanks, Aunt Bee," I said.
"Would you mind staying here for a while?" I asked Barney.
"I won't mind, Ange," Barney said.
"Thanks, Barney," I said and left for the squad car.
Barney couldn't help laughing about the adoption I had done a couple of years ago. He couldn't help it, so he laughed again just now once I left.
"Is that true, Barney? Andy with two twin girls?" Otis asked.
He didn't remember seeing the girls because the girls never came to the office.
"That's right, Otis. I guess you've never seen the girls," Barney said.
Martha and I left the nurse's office.
"I'm sorry you're not feeling so hot, Martha, sweetheart. It's off to bed for you," I said to the five – year – old redhead.
"I feel like I'm gonna throw up," Martha told me.
"We're going to straight home and Aunt Bee will take good care of you until you feel better from that nasty cold," I said, "and you can throw up in the bathroom when we get home."
Once Martha and I parked in the driveway, I opened the backseat for her and helped her out of the backseat since she was feeling weak, I remembered the nurse telling me that.
"I'm gonna barf," Martha said as we hurried into the house.
Back at the sheriff's office, Barney was wondering how Martha and I were doing and he was pacing back and forth around the office.
"How are you feeling, Martha, dear?" Aunt Bee asked.
"Like I'm going to throw up," Martha said.
"I wish I could stay, Aunt Bee, but I have to get back to the office," I said.
"I've got her taken care of, Andy. What did the nurse tell you?" Aunt Bee asked.
"She said it was just a fever of a hundred and four and she has a cold. All she needs is rest," I said.
"Sounds like a high fever, Andy. I'll keep her fever down," Aunt Bee said.
"You always did when you took care of me and Opie," I said.
"I did, and now it's Martha's turn," Aunt Bee said.
"Go back to work," Aunt Bee said as the two of us watched the redhead rush into the bathroom.
"I'll see you tonight, Aunt Bee. When does Opie leave for his out – of – town game?" I asked.
"I don't know," she said, "but he says they play the game Saturday."
"All right. See you tonight," I said and kissed Aunt Bee good – bye and was out of the door.
As I parked the squad car in its regular spot, I saw one of the townspeople come up to me.
"Hi, Andy," I heard a voice say.
I looked up as I took the car keys out of the ignition.
"Hi," I said and got out of the squad car.
"Doing patrol?" the townsperson asked.
"No. I had to take one of my girls home since she got sick from a cold," I said.
"Hope she feels better soon," the townsperson said.
"Thank you," I said.
"I heard you and Barney are working on a no – witness cold case murder," the woman said. "Everybody in town is talking about it."
I didn't say anything but nodded yes that it was true.
"So the rumors are true!" she said.
"Whom did you hear this from?" I asked.
"Goober," she said.
"That doesn't surprise me. He's done this before," I said.
"It was nice talking with you, ma'am. I've got to get in now," I as I opened the office door.
"I thought you'd never get back," Barney said. "How's Martha?"
"She has a fever of a hundred and four and it's just a cold. She'll feel better soon."
"That's good. I was worried at first," Barney said.
"It sounded like it," I said.
Saturday came. The game was at three that afternoon. Opie didn't mind waiting till then to start playing the game. He had detective work to do.
I had the fat envelope with me that weekend to study more of the reports and the pictures. While going through the pictures that Saturday afternoon to make sure I had them all with me, I noticed a few of them were missing.
"Some of these pictures are missing," I said to Aunt Bee.
"I didn't touch that huge envelope, Andy," Aunt Bee said.
"I know you didn't. You know these cases are confidential," I said.
"Of course they are," she said.
"I wonder who could have touched this envelope," I said.
"I have no idea. I know it wasn't Opie because he's out of town," Aunt Bee said.
"You're right," I said, agreeing with Aunt Bee.
Little did I know it was Opie who had taken the pictures. I had no idea that Opie wanted to help me with the case.