All In The Family

By Donna Emerich

All In The Family begins as the investgation into Sally Jean's death reveals the path of abuse at the behest of the towns people that led to her down ward spiral. persistent investigators spark the family's fury. Leading to a final stand. Who will survive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Donna Emerich
• Release date: Jan 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524289645

Book preview

Donna Emerich

©2015 

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living, dead, or otherwise, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of the author.

Printed in the United States of America.

Dedication

––––––––

For Rose

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i

Acknowledgements

For Rose Oropello who gave me much-needed  Under standing and insight into the family.

To my own family who know I’m crazy and love me anyway.

To all my author friends who have given me  Under standing, help, and a place to vent.

ii

Prologue

As the smoke of the devastation cleared, death was the only smell in the air. Sally Jean believed, as the family did, in death before dishonor, and in leaving this world on her own terms. With the FBI called in, the family would never have the peace they needed to mourn the loss of their beloved niece. Come back to the mountain for the last stand against the government.

iii

All In The Family

As the smoke cleared, the pungent smell of death filled the air. Sheriffs, not having a full grasp of what had happened, had decided to call in the FBI. They would be better equipped to handle this kind of investigation. With news crews starting to arrive from all over the state, this would become a circus. The local Sheriffs were in charge of crowd control. Standing away from the crowds were members shattered with grief, but trying to contemplate their next move.

It’s all Alan and Olive’s fault: why didn’t they believe Sally Jean? She was their best employee, she did everything that could be expected from her – and more. With the FBI being the lead investigators, our family will be under a microscope. We will have to call a family meeting: how did the ‘old lady’ know this would happen to us? Well, replied Rosie, I guess we will have to get busy working on her request of bringing the family back to the mountain and building a compound.

The investigators brought in cadaver dogs and forensics teams to comb the mountain.

We need to figure out what happened and why.

Agreed, replied Investigator Peck.

The house had come off its foundations, leaving the root cellar still intact.

Sir, over here! the head of the forensics team,

Doctor Hughs, said. You’re not going to believe this, but we found major amounts of blood throughout this root cellar. We will send it all back to the lab for DNA, but we also found underground tunnels leading through this place. We also found a room that looks like it was for keeping a prisoner.

Doc, you need to see this! He was jogging up behind the officer.

What did you find?

There’s what’s left of a body in the blue plastic barrel.

Doc called his tech team to check out the body pieces. There was another yell.

Doc Hughs, our dogs found something beneath the rose bushes.

Investigator Peck yelled, Dig it up!

Looking at Doctor Hughs, Investigator Peck said, I don’t know what we have here, but we are going to need more manpower. By the looks of that cellar, she took care of more than canned goods down there.

Investigator Peck called Sheriff Thomas, asking if there had been any missing person cases.

Yes, sir: there have been four in the past six months.

How about any deaths of people Sally Jean Ellsworth knew?

Yes, sir. She attempted to save two people but they ended up dying anyway.

Alright. I need to see all the files for the past year on missing persons, accidents, disappearances and anything strange.

Peck decided it was time to tell his superiors what he had found so far.

*

Filled with hurt and despair, Fly walked through the old family homestead, asking damn why Sally had done this. We’d have done anything to protect her: why did she have to go and kill herself? But at least she took a couple of cops with her. He started to explore the outbuildings, bringing back some fond memories. I wonder if Ma really had a vision this would happen.

Walking around the old, silent house, Fly stepped on some rotten boards, his left foot going completely through one of them. After moving the rotten boards away, he found a hatch. When he opened it, he discovered a building had been built over the entrance door. He thought this wasn’t right, he’d lived here his whole life and never noticed this before. Moving away the cobwebs, Fly flicked a lighter to look into the dark hole. But this hole wasn’t empty. Grabbing onto what he thought was junk turned out to be a M642 German sub-machine gun from World War Two. It seemed to have new grease still in the barrel, and had never been fired.

Going back to his truck, Fly grabbed a flashlight to see what else was in the hole. To his surprise, there was a cache of brand new guns just like the first one he’d pulled out. Fly started thinking. Shit, these must be worth a lot of money. Ma had to have been young when they were stashed. Anyone who knew about these would have been long dead by now. Emptying out his truck toolbox, Fly carried out the guns, wrapping them in old blankets and putting them safely in the toolbox. Driving back to his place, he thought: Damn the old lady is still full of surprises. Wonder where I can get one of these guns appraised:

got to be worth some money. Score!

*

Investigators called off the search of Sally Jean’s property because of darkness. Stopping at the morgue, Peck asked Dr. Hughs if he had anything for him.

The blast killed her animals as well as the two officers, the dog and herself. The blast was caused by amatol which is a combination of fertilizer and diesel fuel: she used dynamite with a dead man’s switch to ignite the bomb. Plus, she had turned on the gas stove, filling the house with gas. Neither the officer nor Mrs. Ellsworth felt a thing. Now here’s something interesting for you to think about. Mixed with the pigs’ DNA was human DNA, suggesting that the pigs ingested.

Are you saying she killed people and fed them to her pigs, Dr. Hughs?

I wouldn’t rule it out. There’s a bigger story here that will take many lab hours to solve. This wasn’t just a suicide. I’ll keep in touch, Peck.

Scratching his head, Peck went towards the Chief’s office, and knocked.

Chief, I wanted to brief you on the forensic evidence so far.

"Yes, Hughs called me. So what are you thinking,

Peck?"

Well, I’m thinking this woman used her farm as her own private killing field. We won’t know until forensics are finished. According to the Sheriffs, this was all due to her being accused of taking credit cards from a wallet that was found while she was supervising the store. That doesn’t make any sense: she’d have gotten probation. Most people don’t freak out that bad about getting canned!

Agreed, said Chief Lewis. A reporter contacted me for a sit-down, Peck. He’ll be here in five minutes and I’d like you to stay for this.

Sure, no problem, just let me get a cup of coffee. *

"Chief, the reporter from the Herald is here."

Okay, send him in.

Come in.

"I’m Tim Daily from the Herald."

This is Investigator Peck, I’ve asked him to join us.

What is it you wanted to see us about?

I took the liberty of researching Sally Jean Ellsworth’s background, and I wanted to touch base with you before I share this with my editor. It seems Sally Jean’s family has quite a history with law enforcement. I made you a copy of my research. Do you remember the murder trial from 1979?

No, we’ve seen a lot of murders here, Mr. Daily...

After reading the file, Chief Lewis and Investigator Peck looked at each other and nodded.

What exactly do you want, Mr. Daily? An exclusive when the case is done. In return, I will share all the information I have on this family.

If you hold your story we will give you an exclusive. But you leak it, and we will make your life a living hell, understand me? Chief Lewis voiced loudly.

Yes, sir.

We meet once a week here to keep each other informed. Sounds acceptable, right, Peck?

After Daily left, the Chief yelled, Shit, Peck, how did you miss this? Guess you have some reading to do before morning? Yes, sir.

*

Clocking out and heading home, Peck started thinking out loud. Damn good thing my partner comes back in the morning: this case is much bigger than I expected.

He arrived home, took a shower, cracked open a beer, and began reading Daily’s research. After reading for a while he thought, Damn, no wonder this chick was so messed up. A kid’s accident when she was four and the townspeople tortured her and made her life hell. Looks like she tried to better herself, but if she killed her ex-husband, I can’t blame her. Everyone in town knew of the abuse and torture, and no one helped. She was a serial killer in the making! I need some sleep. Heading to bed, Peck said a small prayer for the girl the town tortured for so many years.

*

While Investigator Peck slept, Rosie was on the family hotline arranging a family meeting and memorial service for Sally Jean. This would be as hard as her mom’s funeral had been. The family took part in helping raise Sally Jean, and there would now be a large void in their lives. Peeking into Chrissy’s room, Rosie smiled at Henry sleeping with Chrissy in her bed. Henry had been Sally and Jerry’s baby, as much as a pig can be a baby. Rose shut the door to her youngest daughter’s room and tears began streaming down her face. Damn, I promised myself I wouldn’t cry, but damn, I miss Sally.

Rosie had the duty of making all the arrangements. Then there was the family meeting: they would cover how to start the process of completing Ma’s last wishes. It would be hard to get other people, for family to come back to the mountain. But they were honor-bound by the family code: if they refused to come home they would be brought back by force – no questions asked.

I am so tired, Rosie thought, but I cannot sleep. Sleep is hiding from my weary head and heart. As she lay down to rest, smiling with a sigh, she whispered, I know you’re with me now and you’ll finally be happy. Closing her eyes, the beginning of Rosie’s day would come soon.

*

The sun came peeking into Peck’s bedroom window, covering his head. He had hoped for a least another hour, but to no avail. He threw back the covers. Guess I’m awake

– guess I’d better head to the office early.

After starting coffee to brew, Peck sat down, picking up his reading where he had left off. This research proved helpful: Sally’s family had quite a diverse criminal history and psych profiles. Peck closed the folder and laced his fingers behind his head. He began thinking. This family won’t take Sally Jean’s suicide lightly. God pity the person who said she stole those credit cards. But Sally seemed very passive until Jimmy Joe Ellsworth came into her life. I guess she just snapped, but that doesn’t work with the evidence so far. If the Coroner is right, she was a calculating serial killer. Shit! I need coffee! Heading to the kitchen, he poured a large mugful, black and strong just the way he liked it.

Getting dressed, Peck went back to the torture Sally endured during her life. I’ll lay all this out for my partner.

See what he thinks, I’m really hoping I’m wrong. Locking up, he drove to their makeshift headquarters. Pulling into the parking lot, his partner Hobbs greeted him with coffee and Danish.

How was your vacation? asked Peck.

Great! So I hear we have a big one.

Yes, this will be complicated.

I read through the research done by Daily. Shit, are these people for real?

Unfortunately I think so. Let’s head to the Coroner’s and see what he can start us with this morning.

Sounds good!

*

Hey, Dr. Hughs, what do you have for us?

Hobbs’s back from vacation, I see.

Yes it was great, thanks for asking.

Well, my suspicions are correct about the DNA found mixed with the pigs: they were feeding people to the pigs to cover their demise. It will take weeks to sort this mess out. But from the blood in the cellar, the pieces of a body from the garden and through her property, I can safely say she used her root cellar as her killing chamber and her gardens as a burial ground. I will try to match what we find to any of the persons who went missing. I’ve also read the reports from the accidents in which she knew people. If I had to guess I’d say she staged those accidents. This girl was smart and calculating. I’ve also found things in toxicology that are unusual. These plants that were used weren’t like arsenic or anything else. I found belladonna and white snakeroot among others in the soil. As near as I can tell, this girl used her knowledge of living off the land to kill people. I cross matched all the missing people with Sally Jean. Most of the females had affairs with her exhusband or had wronged her in some way. These were planned executions. I’ll be able to give you more after all the samples have been tested, which I warn you could take several weeks.

"Well, Doc, I’ll leave you the research that was done on her family by a reporter from the Herald. Her life may give you some insights. The family has an extensive criminal   history.   There’s   also   medical   history   on   the grandmother. They arrested her after the murder trial: said the family took orders from her, she was culpable. She was found not responsible because of a tumor on her brain." Doctor Hughs grimaced, shaking his head.

Sounds like I have some reading to do.

Okay, Doc, we are headed out to the explosion sight. Bye.

*

As they drove, Peck gave Hobbs his thoughts on the case so far.

You really think there will be more to come? Peck asked Hobbs. Family criminal history and a code of death before dishonor, I’m betting on retaliation. The family is hardcore: if they feel this girl killed herself because she’d been wronged, they will exact vengeance.

Pulling up to the crime scene, Hobbs was surprised at the number of people still busy gathering evidence for forensics.

"Investigator Peck, we have at least a week of evidence gathering to do here. Plus, how long it will take to analyze all of this? Looks this lady had a cellar of horrors.

We’ll have to take that table apart and send it to the lab! Do whatever it takes," replied Peck.

Can you authorize the overtime, too?

Yes, just do it! Come on, Hobbs, I’ll show you around the grounds.

Being brought up to speed, he gave into questions. Why were we brought in for a suicide?

Because of the explosives, answered Peck. While we were investigating the explosion we discovered DNA of both animals and people. The cellar seems to be where the killing started. Plus, there are several people who disappeared or had questionable accidents. They knew the deceased personally, plus the family’s criminal history gave us more than enough to stay involved in the investigation. So we’re thinking serial killer? asked Hobbs.

The evidence is pointing us in that direction.

Shit. I came back just in time for this case, Hobbs smiled.

You sure did. I need as many minds on this case as I can get!

Peck got a call on the radio.

We found that guy who lost his wallet in the market.

OK, we’ll be right in to chat with him. Make him comfortable. Why do we want to talk to him? asked Hobbs. He supposedly lost his wallet in the market where Sally Jean worked. She was supervising the morning it was found. He was missing credit cards, but the girls who handed the wallet to her were known to cause her problems. She got fired over this, and began her downward spiral and eventual suicide.

"Oh you’re thinking it was a set-up so she got

fired!?"

You got it, Hobbs. We’ll get the truth out of this guy.

Think he’ll crack? asked Hobbs.

Like a walnut. I’m going to enjoy this, smirked Peck.

*

Arriving at the municipal parking lot, Peck told

Hobbs, We have to get him to tell us the truth about why he ‘lost’ his wallet, and who was behind it!

Hello, Lenny, I’m Investigator Peck, and this is Investigator Hobbs. We are investigating the explosion and the suicide of Sally Jean Ellsworth. So walk us through why you came all the way up here from New Jersey. I was invited by Lucy, replied Lenny.

You don’t look like her type: she’s real young and pretty and you’re old enough to be her father. So what’s the attraction? Why did you really drop that wallet? So your friend Lucy could set Sally up? You know we’ll find out and then you’ll go to jail, boy!

After a while Hobbs started the nice guy routine and Lenny was spilling all.

Lucy called me asking about a favor and she said she’d make it worth my while.

So you thought you were getting sex out of the deal?

Yes, sir.

Did you have any idea this would cause Sally’s suicide?

Oh no, sir, they just said it was a joke.

Were the credit cards really in the wallet? asked Peck.

No!

Do you realize this little joke devastated this woman to the point of suicide? You’re under arrest.

What for?

Fraud, filing a false report, and contribution to a suicide.

What about Lucy and Bethany?

We haven’t found them yet, but they will be charged. Now I have to explain to Sally’s family that the reason she took her life was supposed to be a joke!

Walking out, Peck was visibly angry and asked what they were really charging Lenny with.

A lot, I assure you! First we will start with the owners of the market and see how they feel about crushing someone over a joke.

*

Arriving at the market, Peck noticed the lack of employees in the store. Alan came bustling out of the back office.

May I help you? "Yes, I’m Investigator Peck and this is Investigator

Hobbs. Are you Alan?"

Yes I am.

We wanted to inform you that the man who lost his wallet in here confessed that two of your employees put him up to filing a false report. There were never any credit cards in the wallet. You fired Sally for no reason.

This can’t be true! The Sheriffs were so sure!

There was a miscarriage of justice for sure on the part of the Sheriff’s Department. We are looking for two of your other employees who were involved in this so-called joke.

Bethany and Lucy haven’t showed up to work since the day before Sally’s wedding ceremony. Here, let me get their time cards.

Peck jotted down a few notes and handed the cards back to Alan.

"Oh my God, I fired her over this and she didn’t do

it."

We understand how you must feel, but we need some insight into Sally Jean.

My wife Olive was very close to her, maybe she could help.

After calling Olive, Alan returned to the investigators and said she was expecting their arrival.

Here’s our address.

Thank you for your help, Alan, replied Peck.

Walking to the car, Hobbs announced that the store owner seemed truly broken up.

Yes, his emotional state was genuine, alright. Let’s see what the little woman has to say, shall we?

Going over their notes in the car before heading to the front door, they felt ready. The door opened.

Come in, officers.

Olive was bouncing a baby on her hip. Would you gentlemen like some fresh coffee? Yes, that would be nice, replied the officers.

Here, let me put the baby down so we can talk.

Tell us how you knew Sally Jean.

Well, I met her through my husband. She had gotten a promotion at work and I took her shopping for proper work attire for her new office position. She needed some guidance and we became very close. I took her under my wing. Heaven knows ‘that crazy family’ weren’t helpful.

Have you ever had an issue with her family?

You might say that! She explained what had happened to her when she went to Aunt Rosie’s for a luncheon to discuss the wedding. After that experience I took it upon myself to be a mother figure to Sally.

Olive, did your husband explain about the confession from the man whose wallet Sally got fired over?!

Yes he did, Olive replied with tears and in a trembling voice. We shouldn’t have buckled to the pressure of the town and fired Sally. It’s all our fault she killed herself.

Investigator Hobbs tried to console the sobbing Olive.

You had no idea that Lenny, Bethany, and Lucy conspired to get Sally fired?

But she killed herself because of this! wailed Olive.

"We are investigating all aspects of what happened and why. Thank you for your help. We’ll see ourselves

out."

Heading back to the car, Peck and Hobbs just shook their heads. Peck said, There’s more to this than meets the eye. Let’s head back to the office before we meet Sally’s family.

*

Rosie had been on the phone all morning making arrangements for Sally’s funeral. Lennie came through the door yelling, Guess what I heard in town? You know the guy who lost his wallet and said his credit cards were stolen?

Yes.

So they arrested him. He was in on it with Bethany and Lucy. She was ‘telling the truth’ and no one believed her.

Damn, we knew those girls were trouble! yelled Rosie. Bet those idiots Alan and Olive are feeling real good now.

I hope they rot in Hell! screamed Lennie.

We knew Sally wouldn’t do that. We need to get the funeral done, so we can complete the old lady’s work. I’ve been calling all the old family members to come home: some are willing but others we may have to persuade, and a little reminder that you never leave the family. I’m hoping we don’t have to go there, but it may be necessary.

When’s the funeral?

The services are Saturday: that gives out-of-town family members time to get in.

You know Olive and Alan will show up.

They are not welcome! screamed Rosie. It’s because of them that she’s dead!

Now, Rose, you should know that the scuttlebutt in town is they’ve found human DNA mixed in with the animal DNA.

What the hell are you saying, Lennie?

I’m saying they think Sally killed all those missing people, and they are saying those girls who had accidents, they were planned by Sally. Is it possible she was a serial killer and we had no clue? asked Lennie.

No way, not without us knowing. No fucking way, said Rosie.

Maybe we should call a family meeting. Cops are bound to come up here asking questions.

Maybe you’re right, Lennie, replied Rosie. What about Fly? He’s acting strangely, too. What’s he up to? Guess we’ll call a meeting and find out. But after Sally’s services: we need to say goodbye.

*

Fly decided to go to the library, a first for him since high school. He needed to look up the guns he had found, and then he would have one appraised. After spending hours in the library, his results were unsatisfactory. But he figured out a gun dealer might offer him a better solution. So Fly took one gun to be appraised: this guy knew it was worth at least $5,000 but he offered him $1,000.

No thanks, said Fly. It was a family heirloom.

Walking back to his truck, Fly was grumbling. What kind of an idiot does this kid think I am? $1,000 when I know they are worth $20-40,000 a piece. Do I look like a stupid shit? Then he got an idea. In the back of all those gun magazines, dealers have ads: I’ll contact one of them and see what kind of response I get.

Heading home, Fly briskly walked to the front door and let himself in. He threw his coat on the couch and, going directly to his stack of magazines, started thumbing through one until he found an ad with a phone number. Dialing the number, Fly got an answering machine. After leaving a detailed message he hung up. Now I wait, thought Fly. I’m going to make me some lunch and watch some TV. Just as he sat down the phone rang. Pushing his heavy-set frame off the couch, he went for the phone.

Hello.

You called in reply to our ad?

Yes.

We’d like you to meet with us. This sounds like something that would enhance our collection. When can we meet?

I’m a truck driver. I deliver logs to many places, so maybe we could arrange to meet at one of my delivery spots? I leave tonight for an a.m. delivery in Virginia.

Give us an exact address and time you deliver. What’s the name of the company you drive for?

"Beaver Mountain Logging, 7 a.m.