FayzWorld

17 Harry Hogan - Digging Up Bones

Benny Stack walked across the parking lot of the police station just as newly-promoted Detective Bruce Parkins was coming down the steps.

"Hello, Benny. How are things?"

"Not bad I suppose, Detective. Been trying to clear all the winter debris from the garden." Benny shifted from one foot to the other.

"Yeah, I know what you mean." Bruce looked at him, frowning slightly. "But, you didn't come here to tell us that, Benny. What's up?"

"I was wondering if you fellows had heard of any complaints about illegal garbage dumping."

"Not that I'm aware of," Bruce replied. "Why?"

"Well... my dog, Marvel, has been bringing bones home and leaving them on the patio. They're covered in dirt and I don't know where he's getting them."

"I see... how long has this been going on?"

"About two weeks, and I thought that's where the bones might be coming from. I hope it's nothing more than that," Bennie said quietly, looking down at his shoes.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, I don't know... maybe vandalism in one of the cemeteries..."

Bruce shook his head. "Now that's something we definitely would have heard about."

"That's what I thought." Benny looked up. "So it might be just illegal dumping after all."

"Unless someone's been poaching and trying to hide the evidence. I'll check into it and get back to you in a few days."

"Thank you, Detective. Have a good day." Benny waved and walked back to his car.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A week later, Benny opened his front door and found the detective standing there. "Have you solved my mystery?" he asked.

"I'm afraid not, Benny," Bruce replied. "We haven't found anything suspicious near town at all, and I did check the cemeteries. We also had Wildlife checking for signs of poaching but they didn't come up with anything either."

Benny shook his head. "I don't know what else it could be. If it wasn't for my hip, I'd keep a closer eye on Marvel when he's outside and watch where he goes."

"Arthritis?" Bruce asked.

"The joys of growing old, I guess," Benny said. "Some days are worse than others, but I can't keep up with the dog anymore."

Bruce chuckled. My mother calls it the 'Rusty Years.' Is the dog still finding bones?"

"Every couple days, at least," Benny said, nodding. "They're all in that wooden box there on the corner of the patio."

Bruce walked over and bent down to look at the contents of the box. "Benny, do you know Harry Hogan?"

"I know him to see him, and say hello," Benny replied. "Can't say I really know the man. Why?"

"He might be just the man we need to figure this out."

"You think so?"

Bruce nodded his head slowly. "Hogan specializes in things like this. He's got a knack for thinking outside the box and... would you like me to contact him?"

"You wouldn't mind?" Benny asked.

"Nah, we used to be partners before he retired and we're still friends. I'll get him to call you."

"Thank you. So, we still have a chance of getting to the bottom of this."

"If anyone can do it, Hogan can." Bruce was grinning as he walked back to his squad car.

A short time later, Bruce walked into Harry's office. "Have you learned how to make good coffee yet?"

"It works for me, Detective," Harry replied, with a grin. "Congratulations on the promotion, buddy."

"Thanks. Not sure I'll ever be as good as you, though." Bruce walked over, got a cup of coffee, and took a sip as he sat down.

"Don't sell yourself short. You have good instincts - trust them," Harry said. "Did you just come for coffee or is there something more?"

"What makes you think there's more?"

"You're on duty, and I know you."

Bruce laughed. "I guess you do know me pretty well." He took another sip of coffee, then asked, "Do you know Benny Stack?"

"Older man, white hair, glasses, has a farm just outside of town... why do you ask?"

"He's got a situation," Bruce said and explained what Benny was dealing with. "The bones kind of look like they've been bleached by the sun, lots of dirt on them, almost looks like stains in some places."

Harry rubbed his chin. "He has no idea at all where the dog is getting them?"

"Not a clue," Bruce said, shaking his head. "We've found no signs of illegal garbage dumping and Wildlife found no evidence of poaching."

"Well, you've covered the most obvious sources."

"Yeah, but I'm not so good at thinking outside the box - not like you. So, I told Benny I'd contact you. I'm no expert, Hogan, but to me, those bones looked old... really old... and I'm pretty sure they're human."

"And...?" Harry prompted.

"Well, suppose they came from the burial site of some serial killer, someone who was never caught... perhaps even took his secret to the grave with him."

"I doubt that," Harry said. "But, if they really are as old as you seem to think, they still could have come from an old burial site. Did you check the cemeteries?"

"First place I looked," Bruce said. "No sign of any disturbance. Will you check into it?"

Harry nodded. "Give me his contact information. I'll talk to him and look at the bones. We'll see where it goes from there."

Bruce handed him a piece of paper as he got to his feet. Crossing the room, he laid down his empty mug and went to the door. "Keep me informed on this one, will you?"

"Yeah," Harry said absently, "as soon as I know something."

Bruce smiled to himself as he closed the door behind him. He could almost hear the wheels turning in his old partner's head.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Bertie was just pulling into the driveway when Harry returned to the office after lunch. He unlocked the door and entered, leaving the door open behind him.

"Thank God, that's done," she said as she came in and sat at her desk.

"Was it that bad?" Harry asked, looking over at her.

"Turned out great. My dear old great-aunt Lizzie left me enough that I can now build my little greenhouse without having to touch my savings, for which I am grateful." She turned on her computer. "I was expecting to get some old family heirloom, or some sort of trinket - not actual money!"

"So, I can expect a taste of freshly-grown greenhouse produce this fall, can I?"

"If I get anything to grow!" She laughed. "Anything turn up this morning?"

"Something pretty interesting, actually. Benny Stack's dog has been bringing bones home from some unknown place."

"Bones? What kind of bones?"

"Bruce thinks they could be pretty old and probably human."

"Bruce? Are the police involved?"

Harry shook his head. "Not really," he said, and then told her everything he knew so far.

"Have you talked to Mr. Stack yet?"

"Just long enough to tell him I'd be over this afternoon. I thought I'd go talk to him in person so I can look at the bones for myself. This could involve some research too. Are you interested?"

"Do you even have to ask?" She laughed. "When are we going?"

"Right now." Harry got to his feet and Bertie was tight behind him.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Benny must have been watching for them because he opened the door and stepped out onto the patio just as they opened the truck doors. "Hello, Mr. Hogan."

Hello, Mr. Stack. This is my associate, Ms Blackett."

"Call me Benny. I'm not a very formal person." Benny nodded at Bertie. "Nice to see you, Ms Blackett. Are you enjoying retirement?"

"Still adjusting a bit," Bertie said. "How is your wife doing?"

"Arthritis still acts up when there's rain coming, but she still visits the library and reads a lot." Then, turning to Harry, Benny said, "I hope you can find out where Marvel is getting these bones, Mr. Hogan."

"We'll try," Harry said. "May we see them?"

Benny lifted the cover of the wooden box on the corner of the patio. "They're all in here."

Harry and Bertie both bent down to look at them. "Hmm, Bruce said they were old," Harry said.

"They do look old," Bertie said.

Harry pulled a thin plastic glove from his pocket, pulled it over his right hand, and picked up one of the bones to get a better look. "It looks like they are actually stained with the dirt. It's possible they've been underground a long time."

"You think so? How far did that old scoundrel go to find something like that?" Benny shook his head.

"Perhaps not as far as you think." Harry stood up. "Benny, can I take this one with me?"

"Sure." Benny shrugged. "Take them all, if you want. Nothing I need them for."

"One will be enough," Harry said. "I'd like to show it to someone in the archaeology department, over at the University."

"Them fellows know all about old bones and things, don't they?"

"Yes, they do," said Harry, "and these could be pretty old. It may take a couple of days but, as soon as I hear from them, I'll be in touch."

"That's fine with me, and if Marvel brings home any more, I'll just add them to the collection."

"You do that," Harry said. He and Bertie said goodbye and walked back to the truck, wrapped the bone in a newspaper and laid it on the dash.

"I'd like you to see what you can find out about the history of this place and any former owners," Harry said, as he pulled out of Benny's driveway and onto the street.

"No problem," Bertie agreed.

When they reached the office, Harry pulled into the driveway. "Can you get started on researching Benny's place now?"

"Sure. Where... never mind, you're going to the University."

He nodded. "No time like the present. You can lock up if I'm not back when you're ready to leave."

"Okay. If I find anything, I'll leave a printed copy on your desk. We can compare notes in the morning."

"If we're lucky, we'll have enough to report to Benny in the afternoon."

"That would be great." She got out of the truck, slammed the door shut behind her, and ran up the steps.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Harry smiled when he opened his front door the next morning. He wasn't at all surprised to see Bertie's battered little SUV already parked in the driveway. Considering the information she had found the day before, he knew she was anxious to find out what he had come up with.

"Good morning," she said, as he walked in.

"Good morning." He got a cup of coffee and sat down at his desk, turning on the computer as he did so.

"Okay, out with it," she said. "What did you find out at the University? Does your information fit with what I found?"

Harry laughed. "Fits perfectly." He gave her the details and she couldn't keep from smiling.

"This is great," she said. "When are we going to tell Mr. Stack?"

"After lunch." He saw her frown and added, "Professor Jones won't be available until then."

"Why is he going? I thought all we had to do was pass on what we've learned."

"The University has a proposal for Benny."

"But, we don't even know the exact location of the site yet. We don't know if it's actually on Mr. Stack's property. It could be outside his fence."

Harry grinned. "That's why you and I are going over there this morning to look for the site. All we have to tell Benny is that we're going to take a look around to see if we can find where the dog is getting the bones. When we find it - IF we do - we'll just tell him we'll be back after lunch."

"Isn't that a bit deceitful?"

"No. Just delaying telling him the whole story, that's all. Are you ready to go?"

Bertie grabbed her jacket and walked past him out the door.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
That afternoon, when Benny answered the knock on his door, he looked quite surprised. "Goodness," he said. "What's going on?"

"We have some news for you, Benny," said Harry. "May we come in?"

"Of course." Benny stepped aside to let them enter.

Bertie was the last in line. "Don't look so scared, Mr. Stack," she said quietly. "It's all good."

The men were seated when Benny followed Bertie into the living room. "I suppose this is about the bones Marvel has been bringing home."

"That's right," Harry said. "The other man with us is Professor Jones from the University Archaeology Department. Those bones are actually causing a bit of excitement, Benny. Did you know that the land where your farm is used to be a 'Gated Community' at one time?"

"A what?" Benny echoed.

"More like what you might have called a 'Commune' in the beginning, I guess. Bertie found deeds going back to the early 1900s. Quite interesting, really," Harry said. He nodded at Bertie, who picked up the story from there.

"The people who lived here went to the city only for work. The rest of the time, they lived very simple lives in this little community. They lived in small log cabins and grew their own vegetables in communal gardens. There was a school that taught up to grade seven, after which the children attended public schools in the city. They had a church, complete with a pastor and, from all accounts, were religious people. Their social lives included weekly church services, Bible study, frequent church socials and other community events."

"Are you saying they all died here? Don't tell me it was one of them cults where they all committed suicide because if Mildred hears that, she won't want to live here any longer," Benny said.

"A bit misguided, maybe, but nothing like that," Harry said.

"The one thing they did not believe in was going to a doctor unless absolutely necessary," Bertie continued. "They had their own home remedies and, they didn't seem to have much sickness. Not until 1918, when the Spanish Flu was brought into the community. By the time they realized they needed help and sought a doctor, nearly half the community was affected and subsequently died. The pastor did quick burials in a small graveyard behind the church. By the time things settled down, the survivors packed up and left, not wanting to live with the sad memories."

Benny's face was chalk-white. "My... my farm was once a graveyard? Where was the church located?"

"It did not look like a church," Bertie explained, "because it was also used for all community functions."

"But where was it?"

"That old building you use to store winter hay for the cattle," Harry said. "That was the church and the little graveyard was behind it."

"I've had problems with gophers out there in the past few years," Benny said. "They might have brought the bones to the surface while digging, I suppose. So, what happens now?"

"That's why I'm here," said Professor Jones. "The University has a proposal for you. We would like to excavate the site. It would be excellent field study for our first-year archaeology students. They could study the bones and try to identify them. After we finish, we would rebury the bones, with a plaque on the new communal grave in memory of those who were buried there, and then erect a fence around it to protect it from further destruction."

"That sounds like I'd have a tourist attraction on the farm," Benny said.

"It is already a historic site," the professor said. "But developing it as a tourist attraction would be your call."

"Might be something to think about for when you retire," Harry said.

Benny laughed. "Mildred and I were actually talking about that last night. We're getting older and we've been slowly scaling things down during the last few years. This could be a whole different opportunity."

"It would be a historic site and might qualify for some sort of funding," Bertie said.

"Definitely something to think about," Bennie said, "for when the students are finished. Professor Jones, your proposal sounds good to me."

Jones nodded. "I'll get our legal department to draw up a contract as quickly as possible and I'll get back to you. We'd like to do is this summer if you're okay with that?"

"Sounds good to me." Benny smiled. "That will give Mildred and I some time to make plans for the following summer."

As they were leaving, Jones told Benny he would get someone to erect a temporary fence around the site so the dog couldn't remove any more bones. "Leave the others in the box as they are for now. We'll take them back to the site after the fence is up."

Benny nodded. "No problem." Then he turned to Harry and Bertie, thanking them both for their help. "I think I'm looking forward to this new venture already."

"That turned out very well," Bertie said as Harry started the truck and pulled out onto the street.

"I think it's going to give them a new lease on life, having something to occupy them in their retirement years," Harry said.

© Fay Herridge
Published in Story Quilt, March 2022