A Hole in One

By Tom Ebert

Detective Pat Handel at the urging of his wife leaves his job and the violence of the big city. The family moves to a rural area, only to find that being the only detective on a small town police force may not be the answer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 27, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477258798

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© 2012 by Tom Ebert. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 08/22/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4772-5881-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-5880-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-5879-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012914584

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

I dedicate this book to my dear wife Mary,

without her help A Hole In One

would not have been possible.

She left this earth on Mother’s Day

May 13, 2012.

A HOLE IN ONE

INTRODUCTION

Detective Pat Handel at the urging of his wife leaves his job and the violence of the big city. The family moves to a rural area, only to find that being the only detective on a small town police force may not be the answer. A HOLE IN ONE

A HOLE IN ONE

CHAPTER 1

The annual golf outing for Carroll Realty is underway. Three members of Carroll’s foursome stand near the fourteenth green awaiting John Carroll’s next shot, finally one of the men walks across the elevated surface and looks down. Suddenly his body stiffens, he is unable to speak.

"What’s up? One of the other men shouts.

There is no answer.

He runs over and stares in disbelief at the ground near the edge of the green.

A picnic table near the lagoon looks like a perfect spot. Eight year old Matthew helps empty the trunk and then walks along the shore stopping every few feet to try out his new spinning reel. Six year old Katie is more interested in the swings. While Sue is busy setting the table, Pat fills the grill with charcoal. Before he can finish the sound of his beeper penetrates the air.

Oh no Sue exclaims, knowing only to well what it means. Pat pulls out the cell phone and after a short conversation shrugs his shoulders.

Sorry gang, I have to go, there’s trouble at the Country Club.

What, someone had too much to drink?

Sue’s voice is filled with sarcasm.

Not this time, someone’s been shot!

The Country Club driveway is filled with cars as Pat pulls up. He stops near the front entrance, kisses Sue and Katie, gives Matthew a pat on the head and runs up the hill, before he reaches the door deputy Kelly rushes out.

Pat, sure glad they found you!

What’s going on?

John Carroll’s dead!

John Carroll?

You never heard of him, he owns this town!

"Oh, that Carroll, where’s the body?

On the course, I’ll fill you in on the way.

Behind the fourteenth green two men stand peering down at a body. Chief Alden appears transfixed, staring straight ahead, while Mayor Turner’s legs shake as he moves from side to side.

Nineteen years, no one has been killed, nineteen years, I’ve been Mayor nineteen years there has never been a killing, he mumbles over and over.

Alden hears a noise, turns and moves toward the cart path.

Pat, over here, this is terrible!

Easy Chief, tell me what happened.

Tobin, Turner and I were on the green waiting for John’s shot, I heard a whistling sound and I walked to the edge of the hill, there was John, on the ground, dead the club still in his hand!

Pat bent over and studied the body.

Hell of a hole. Had to be a high powered rifle!

Kelly, take the Mayor to the clubhouse before I have two bodies on my hands!

Right Chief.

And remember, no one leaves!

You got it.

Can’t understand, my city, nineteen years, Turner raved as the cart moved slowly out of sight.

Now that the Mayor was gone, Pat again examined the body.

Where’s this Tobin?

He’s the Club manager; he left to get everyone back to the clubhouse.

Pat looked at the woods surrounding the green.

He was facing the green when he was struck, the club was still in his hand, and the shot must have come from that direction, where does that path lead?

To the rest area, a refreshment stand, rest rooms.

I’m going to take a look.

I’ll wait for the Medical Examiner he should be here any minute.

Carefully, Pat moved along the path, looking in both directions. Soon he reached a small shed-like building. The refreshment stand was securely locked. On the other-side was a larger building. After moving along a narrow hall, he came to two doors. Pat opened the (gent’s only) door, inside were the basics, he saw a window on the far wall.

Pat looked out, there was the path and if he bent over in just the right position he could see the Chief thru an opening in the trees. A screen covered the window. Pat could see scratches on the sill, it had recently been removed. He felt the excitement pulsate thru his body, he was certain the deadly shot came from here.

Carefully Pat searched the building, his trained eyes looking for clues, he found nothing, outside he circled around to the back. A six foot wire fence protected the grounds, on the other-side a road was just a short distance away, beyond that a group of condos. A shooter could easily climb the fence, do the deed and take off in a waiting car. The condos were also an option. Pat’s head swirled with possibilities, suddenly his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a motor, he looked back down the path. Chief Alden was talking to two men while Kelly roped off the area. One man knelt over the body the other seemed to be taking notes. The man standing looked at Pat. He was big, at least six-five and as wide as he was tall. Alden noticed Pat and turned.

Pat Handel, this is Sheriff Osinski and Pete Hendricks, the coroner.

You’re the big city detective; I understand you moved here for a rest.

The Sheriff’s eyes seemed to pierce Pat’s skin.

I don’t know where you got that information Sheriff.

Whatever the reason you better be as good as I was told!

"I hope I can live up to the billing.

We need your expertise, John was a good man, and without him I wouldn’t be where I am today. He was well respected in this county, as well as all over the state, he had many friends.

And at least one enemy, Pat replied.

Osinski’s face turned a bright red, he turned to Hendricks.

What have you got Pete?

Somebody was big game hunting, a large caliber rifle, one thru the heart, died instantly.

I know where the shot came from, Pat interrupted.

Osinski head snapped back.

You what where, how do you know?

That path leads to the rest area; a window in the men’s room faces this way and fresh scratches show the screen has recently been removed.

I told you Chief, he’s a hot shot detective, you didn’t happen to find the weapon did you?"

And the bullet, added Hendricks as the body was placed in the van.

Not yet, in the morning, we’ll be out with metal detectors, we’ll find it.

No weapon, no bullet and I understand you have sixty people waiting in the clubhouse.

Love to stay, but we better get this body to the lab.

When can we expect the forensic team?

Pats voice did not hide his irritation.

Oh, you mean Hal Brooks, first thing in the morning, if I can get his butt moving.

Pat, wait here until I send Reese.

Right Chief, Pat couldn’t hide his displeasure.

Alden hesitated in front of the door to the clubhouse, like Mayor Turner he also was in shock, everything moved in slow motion.

He could see John Carroll smile as he went to look for his ball. Only his training kept his emotions in check, in thirty years he had seen dead bodies, but never anyone he had known so well. He hated the thought of facing these people wondering if one was John’s killer. He slowly pushed open the door; a cloud of smoke momentarily blinded him. Inside every inch of the room was filled with people milling about. Only Mayor Turner looked peacefully asleep on a couch. When they saw him there was a moment of silence, then panic turned to anger.

Why are you keeping us here?

Who would do such a thing?

Why did it happen?

Questions filled the air.

Take it easy, calm down; I’m sure you all know what happened today.

Are you kidding, sure we know!

Poor John, what are you going to do?

I need statements from all of you.

Statements, what statements, you think one of us is the killer!

Alden felt the anger spreading.

Easy, all of you, if you want us to find John’s killer, let us do our job!

What can I tell you, I was on the fifth green, a voice from the rear of the room again fueled the anger.

I want you to think hard Anything however trivial could help.

Ok, ok, let’s get it over with!

Before the questioning began, Officer Reese took Mayor Turner and his wife home. The fourth member of the fatal foursome was Ben Tobin the Club manager, he was allowed to return to his duties. The rest of the golfers would be questioned individually. Kelly was sent back to secure the area. Jim Hunt, the assistant pro had a list of the participants, to his knowledge there were three no shows. Pat made a note of those not accounted for; he could check them out later. Tobin offered his office as an interview room. Alden still clearly shaken insisted on helping. After a brief debate, Pat persuaded him to search the golf bags on the carts outside while he did the questioning. Pat had planned on taking the golfers by tee times, he was not aware of the shot gun start. Everyone started at the same time from different tees. All sixty people were on the course at the same time and they each had individual carts. Many went out early to practice.

Some admitted to being on the course at least an hour before starting time. This was turning into a nightmare. Pat’s hope of eliminating any of the golfers was unfounded.

Anyone could have dropped the gun off in the men’s toilet, picked it up later, or more than one person might have conspired to kill Carroll.

To make matters worse, three women took out the prize markers and rode around in beverage carts during the outing. The three were Carroll’s wife Barbara, Ken Bey’s wife Ann and Carroll’s secretary Mary Podell. There was a fourth Amy