Read Online The Whale's Footprints - Rick Boyer by Rick Boyer - Free Book Online
Authors: Rick Boyer
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going to look for Paul Keegan's image if
he files an assault and battery against a doctor who's ten years
older? Huh? How's it gonna look? You tell me."
I was still uneasy about the incident, especially in
light of how it might affect Jack.
"I think the best thing to do here is for me to
apologize to him, and then go on from there. We need Keegan on this,
and he needs us."
"I agree entirely," said a deep voice
coming up the stairway. Footsteps came along the hallway, and there
was Paul Keegan, standing there in the doorway to the bedroom,
sticking out his hand. I shook it.
"How're the nuts?" asked Joe. He replied
they'd recover, and noticed the bluish-green blotch on my cheek that
was spreading to my left eye. There was an uneasy silence for a
minute or so, then Joe began to explain our recent thinking about the
pill dispenser case and the murder. Keegan thought a long time before
answering.
"That could make sense. But I still have to go
down to Woods Hole and interview people there. I have to talk with
the boy's parents, too. There's a lot of ground to cover, and it's
premature to make any theories yet."
"So you don't think this is significant?"
asked Joe.
"Maybe it is. Maybe eventually it will clear
Jack from all suspicion. But not now. Think of it from the state's
point of view.
What's the D.A. got to go on? It boils down to the
same old questions of motive and opportunity. The opportunity part is
obvious, no matter what our personal feelings are. Hell, Jack was his
roommate. We don't have any motive. At least none has surfaced yet.
But the opportunity was there, and no matter how much we don't like
it, your son remains, officially, the most likely suspect at the
present time."
"Yeah, well remember those words, Paul,"
growled Joe, " 'official,' and 'at the present time.' When
you've been doing this as long as I have, you'll realize how much
bullshit they are."
"I know what you're saying. I'm just advising
you that, since it's official, I've got to follow this lead.
Therefore, Jack must stay in touch; he can't leave Barnstable County
without telling me."
"How about me?" asked Joe. "Can he
tell me?"
"That's fine. That's good, in fact. But any way,
any time, he's got to notify the state. Fair enough?"
Joe and I nodded.
"This crime probably does have antecedents
somewhere else. I'm heading down to Woods Hole right after I
interview the boy's parents in Providence."
"Well it just so happens that we'd planned to
spend some of our vacation down there ourselves," I said. "We
were going to sail down there and spend a few days. I see no reason
to change those plans.”
I saw Keegan's face cloud over with worry.
"Well, take it easy. I've seen enough of your
temper to be concerned about it, Dr. Adams."
"You can call him Doc," said Joe. "And
we won't go poking around where we shouldn't. I'll see to that. And I
won't undertake anything in your jurisdiction unless it's okayed."
"Appreciate it," said Keegan.
As he turned to go, Joe asked Keegan if he had any
theories.
" No. Not yet. But I repeat," and now he
turned to me and pointed, "that you've got to be careful, Doc. I
know you're emotionally involved and very upset. But if you get in
too deep on this thing and you come up against somebody really mean,
he won't stop until you're dead. Think about it."
Then he left.
* * *
Sunday evening, Anthony Hatton Adams, our Number-Two
Son, was sitting next to me in my old International Scout. He'd
finally arrived at the Breakers—hornet's nest that it had
become—just after Keegan departed. Now the two of us were driving
up to Wellfleet Harbor to meet the DeGroots, who'd pulled in that
afternoon. Jim had told me over the phone that of course they'd
decided not to make the run over the weekend. Was I nuts or
something? I said they could've called and let us know, for crying
out loud; we were worried. He said that Janice had tried twice
Saturday morning, but the line had been busy for a long time. This
figured; I had been on
he files an assault and battery against a doctor who's ten years
older? Huh? How's it gonna look? You tell me."
I was still uneasy about the incident, especially in
light of how it might affect Jack.
"I think the best thing to do here is for me to
apologize to him, and then go on from there. We need Keegan on this,
and he needs us."
"I agree entirely," said a deep voice
coming up the stairway. Footsteps came along the hallway, and there
was Paul Keegan, standing there in the doorway to the bedroom,
sticking out his hand. I shook it.
"How're the nuts?" asked Joe. He replied
they'd recover, and noticed the bluish-green blotch on my cheek that
was spreading to my left eye. There was an uneasy silence for a
minute or so, then Joe began to explain our recent thinking about the
pill dispenser case and the murder. Keegan thought a long time before
answering.
"That could make sense. But I still have to go
down to Woods Hole and interview people there. I have to talk with
the boy's parents, too. There's a lot of ground to cover, and it's
premature to make any theories yet."
"So you don't think this is significant?"
asked Joe.
"Maybe it is. Maybe eventually it will clear
Jack from all suspicion. But not now. Think of it from the state's
point of view.
What's the D.A. got to go on? It boils down to the
same old questions of motive and opportunity. The opportunity part is
obvious, no matter what our personal feelings are. Hell, Jack was his
roommate. We don't have any motive. At least none has surfaced yet.
But the opportunity was there, and no matter how much we don't like
it, your son remains, officially, the most likely suspect at the
present time."
"Yeah, well remember those words, Paul,"
growled Joe, " 'official,' and 'at the present time.' When
you've been doing this as long as I have, you'll realize how much
bullshit they are."
"I know what you're saying. I'm just advising
you that, since it's official, I've got to follow this lead.
Therefore, Jack must stay in touch; he can't leave Barnstable County
without telling me."
"How about me?" asked Joe. "Can he
tell me?"
"That's fine. That's good, in fact. But any way,
any time, he's got to notify the state. Fair enough?"
Joe and I nodded.
"This crime probably does have antecedents
somewhere else. I'm heading down to Woods Hole right after I
interview the boy's parents in Providence."
"Well it just so happens that we'd planned to
spend some of our vacation down there ourselves," I said. "We
were going to sail down there and spend a few days. I see no reason
to change those plans.”
I saw Keegan's face cloud over with worry.
"Well, take it easy. I've seen enough of your
temper to be concerned about it, Dr. Adams."
"You can call him Doc," said Joe. "And
we won't go poking around where we shouldn't. I'll see to that. And I
won't undertake anything in your jurisdiction unless it's okayed."
"Appreciate it," said Keegan.
As he turned to go, Joe asked Keegan if he had any
theories.
" No. Not yet. But I repeat," and now he
turned to me and pointed, "that you've got to be careful, Doc. I
know you're emotionally involved and very upset. But if you get in
too deep on this thing and you come up against somebody really mean,
he won't stop until you're dead. Think about it."
Then he left.
* * *
Sunday evening, Anthony Hatton Adams, our Number-Two
Son, was sitting next to me in my old International Scout. He'd
finally arrived at the Breakers—hornet's nest that it had
become—just after Keegan departed. Now the two of us were driving
up to Wellfleet Harbor to meet the DeGroots, who'd pulled in that
afternoon. Jim had told me over the phone that of course they'd
decided not to make the run over the weekend. Was I nuts or
something? I said they could've called and let us know, for crying
out loud; we were worried. He said that Janice had tried twice
Saturday morning, but the line had been busy for a long time. This
figured; I had been on
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