“I’ll have a deputy run it down this afternoon.”
“I take it this is a rush or you’d go through normal channels. I haven’t read about any new murders up there.”
“Well, this is part of the case we met about last week.” Floyd chose his words carefully, “We’re trying to decide if we’re solving a murder or whether we’ve got a suicide. The note may answer that question.”
“You have guts, Floyd Swenson,” Laurie said with a laugh. “I’m sure you want your twenty-year-old case solved tomorrow. Tell you what, you get your stained note down here and I’ll see if I can throw myself on someone’s good graces to get it analyzed within this decade.”
“Super!”
Eddie Oresek had listened to the conversation and nodded. “I’ll see what we can do about rushing a toxicology scan. Lacking any surface trauma, that may be our best chance of finding a cause of death. Do you know what pain killer was in the bottle?”
“Oxycontin,” Pam and Floyd said in unison.
CHAPTER 54
Floyd drove the back roads toward Dago Lake as the early morning twilight created a pink glow across the eastern sky. “I can’t believe I’m up before dawn on a Saturday morning, dressed in a suit, and driving to a wedding.”
“Quit griping,” Mary said. “You’re as happy about this wedding as I am.” She sat carefully, trying not to wrinkle the long pink dress she was wearing. “You know, I’ve never been a bridesmaid before.”
They pulled into the small park on the east end of the lake where another dozen cars were already gathered. Floyd was barely out of the car when the first mosquito buzzed around his head.
“Hell of a place for a wedding,” he muttered. “I can already smell the roses and insect repellent.”
“Shut up, dear, or I’ll tell everyone what a spoilsport you are.” Mary smiled and waved to Barb, who looked radiant in her ivory wedding dress and long gloves.
“People!” Judge Larson said. “People, can we gather together here and start the ceremony?”
The judge, dressed in her black robe, stood with her back to the lake. The wedding party lined up in front of her with the twenty guests behind them. Mary and Pam Ryan stood next to Barb and Sandy’s two brothers stood beside him. The judge started the ceremony as the sound of tires crunching on the gravel caught Floyd’s attention. He stepped away from the crowd and quickly jogged up the short trail to the parking lot where he approached the driver’s door of a blue Cadillac.
“Mr. and Mrs. Dupre, you’re just in time.” He led Barb’s parents down the path and to the back of the small crowd.
“Do you Sandford Maki, take this woman…”
The sheriff leaned close to Floyd’s shoulder. “Sandy is short for Sandford?” he asked. “I’ll bet the bullpen will have some fun with that.”
The mosquitoes started to swarm around the small gathering as the bride and groom read their vows. A loon wailed its eerie call on the lake, causing the judge to pause and making everyone smile.
“Now, by the powers vested in me by the State of Minnesota, I declare you husband and wife.” The judge smiled broadly and nodded to Sandy. “You may kiss your bride.”
After the lingering kiss, Floyd took Barb’s mother’s elbow and led her past Mary and Pam, who were hugging Sandy. “Barb, we found some people who wanted to be here, but were afraid they might not be welcome.”
Barb turned away from Gordy’s hug. “Mom? And Dad?”
Tim Dupre grabbed Barb and pulled her close. “I can’t believe we almost missed your wedding,” he said with halting words as tears streamed down his face.
His wife pushed him aside and gave her own hug. “Things are different, honey. I’m so glad Mary Jungers called to let us know about the wedding.”
Tears streaming down her face, Barb leaned away from the hug. “God, I can’t believe I’m crying. Mary! Get your butt over here!”
“I see you found the secret guests,” Mary said. “I called to feel them out a little and decided that maybe some of the history was far enough past that you might be happy to see them.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Barb asked as she wiped tears with her right glove while holding the bouquet in her left.
“I was afraid you’d say no.”
Barb lurched forward and pulled Floyd and Mary into a group hug. “You guys.”
CHAPTER 55
As more hugs were dispensed the guests drifted to a long table set up near the lake. A brown thermal urn dispensing coffee quickly drew a crowd. Pam, Floyd, and Mary carried white bakery boxes from the parking lot. They held a huge assortment of doughnuts, Danish, caramel rolls, and muffins, still a little warm from the ovens at Tobies bakery. The remaining guests carried lawn chairs and folding picnic tables to a grassy area next to the parking lot.
Mary steered Sandy and Barb to the picnic area so they could lead the guests through the impromptu buffet line.
“Really?” Sandy said, shaking his head. “The groom is a cop so someone thought there should be doughnuts and coffee at the wedding reception?”
Barb grabbed his arm and pulled him over for a kiss. “I asked for the doughnuts,” she said, pulling a chocolate frosted doughnut from the nearest box and taking a big bite as everyone laughed.
Pam made a second trip to her car and returned with a small, square bakery box which she set on the end of the table. With Mary’s assistance she removed a two-tier wedding cake and set it next to a stack of paper plates and plastic forks.
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” Pam shouted. “It’s time for the bride and groom to cut the wedding cake!”
Arm in arm, Sandy and Barb moved through the crowd to the cake. Mary passed a large knife to Barb and stepped back. Barb looked at the cake, then looked at the smiling faces circled around them.
“I guess…” Barb stammered. “I never…” she stopped with her mouth open, but unable to find any words.
“Cut the cake!” The sheriff’s voice boomed, breaking the tension.
Sandy steadied Barb’s shaking hand and guided the knife through the cake, carving out a small piece that he picked up with his fingers. “Open wide,” he said playfully as camera’s flashed around them.
Sandy pulled Mary, Floyd and Pam next to them, posing for a picture.
With her face still a palette of colors from deep purple to yellow and her nose still bandaged, Pam tried to duck away from Sandy’s grasp. Barb gently grasped Pam’s arm and pulled her gently into the group pose.
“But I look…”
Barb shushed her. “You look fine. This is just the way I want to remember this moment.” Pam drew a deep breath and smiled, ignoring the pain caused by her smiling.
Floyd heard tires crunching across the gravel. He spotted a blue Crown Victoria parking next to the sheriff’s car. After a minute, he saw Laurie Lone Eagle walking down the path to the picnic area. She bent down and picked a wood tick off her slacks and threw it into the grass as she stopped short of the celebrants and waited for Floyd.
“Laurie! What are you doing here?” he asked, steering her away from the celebration and hugs.
“Damned ticks. I hate ticks.” Laurie looked like she hadn’t slept. “You gave me a rush job, and I rushed it. I was going to catch you at the courthouse, but the dispatcher said the whole department was out here for Sandy’s wedding.
Laurie handed Floyd a manila envelope. “The original note is in a zip-lock bag. The transcription is typed on a separate sheet.”
Pam pushed up beside Floyd. “What is it, Inspector?”
“A suicide note,” Laurie replied.
Floyd slipped the transcription from the envelope and read.
Mom, I’m sorry but my life isn’t worth living anymore. I went to my old friends and they rejected me. Dad will never accept what my life is. I really do still love you, Kathy, even though it’s not in the way you thought it would be.