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THE TWO WEEKS WENT BY quicker than Jim had expected. Now that he was a fully fledged postman he worked extra hard to impress Mike. Seeing what he was doing, Mike called him out in front of the other postal workers: “Jim, you don’t need to do everything in one day. They pay us for five days for a reason.” Then he gave out his famous belly laugh. The other postmen laughed and patted him on the back. At that moment Jim realized he had truly been accepted into the post office family. He still had the warm feeling inside as he drove his little family to the Wright’s cabin.
Just like any normal Southern family after 30 minutes each broke away to their own interests. At this time Jim and Sam walked down to the lake where they could talk.
“Do you have any better news this week?”
“Not really. In fact, we have run up against two major obstacles.”
“What are they?”
“First, the fact that all the cases are closed. They were closed because of a logical solution. Add to that the fact that no one wants the cases reopened because it could cause major ripples in some of these small towns, new evidence, new witnesses and an increased cause for doubting the system. But that’s not the major obstacle.”
“Then what is?”
“If what you say is true, then there has been a serial killer in Georgia for the past four years and the State of Georgia knew nothing about it. That would be a major embarrassment to the Governor, the GBI and a lot of other folks. Are you getting the drift?”
“I see what you mean. Politicians do not like to be embarrassed. What can I do? We can’t let Peggy die just to make these people feel comfortable!”
“Give me some more details. Maybe I can find something that the prosecutor can use to reopen the case anyway.”
“What do you have now?”
“The leaders of small towns were killed one family per year. All were killed with a Springfield .30-06 rifle and 180-grain bullets. We can only prove you were in the community two of these times.”
“That’s it?”
“Well, some of the other information doesn’t help much. They owned the town. They walked on the people. They were never charged for any legal wrongdoing. Jim, my biggest problem with the prosecutor is you.”
“Me?”
“Yes. It bothers him if you were smart enough to do all the other killings, why didn’t you see you were setting up Peggy? He truly feels, you just want to take her place. Can you see it from his point of view?”
“I didn’t have a clue that Peggy was Mr. Bob’s daughter! I only saw her as the woman that I loved”
“How do we prove that?”
“Mike, Mother and Nick can tell them.”
“Their testimony would be hearsay at best.”
“We need some physical proof if we are going to get a new trial.”
“How about this? In all the other cases the rifle did not have a scope.”
“That’s true, but what does that prove?”
“Well, the rifle in Peggy’s trunk had a scope still mounted.”
“How did you know that?”
“Sam! I put it there. Remember? When are you really going to believe I killed Craig and Mr. Bob?”
“I keep trying but over the last few months we have become friends. I’m having a hard time believing you were ever as vindictive as you portray yourself.”
“Trust me, I was. I only wanted revenge and money — and in that sequence.”
“What are you telling me about the other rifles?”
“That is a very special scope and requires a special mount. If you will check all the other rifles you’ll find the scope from Peggy’s rifle will fit them perfectly.”
“Why didn’t you take the scope off the rifle in Peggy’s trunk?”
“This was my last job. Didn’t have time. I wanted to start a new life. I didn’t need the scope anymore. If it will help I can tell you the name of the man that mounted it.”
“I’ll check the other weapons. What’s the gunsmith name? This may be just the evidence we need.”
“I don’t know his last name. His first name is Kurt. His shop was Kurt’s Gun and Supplies, in Atlanta. That’s all I can remember. Oh, yeah, he couldn’t convert mine quick enough so he just traded me one of his.”
“Quick enough? Did you tell him you needed to kill a man ASAP?”
“You have the sickest sense of humor. No, I told him I wanted it for hunting season.”
“Did you go hunting?”
“No, stupid, I just told him that!”
“Okay! Okay relax I’m just joking with you.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just I’m so afraid we’ve going to run out of time.”
“Cheer up. I think we have something Walter can work with now. Be patient. We will be as fast as we can. But you know when you are working with small towns or county officials; if they feel pressured or rushed they get slower or even stop until they feel they are in charge again. That’s the way of bureaucrats. Things get done but at their pace.”
“I understand. But please keep them moving.”
“We will!”
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