During those first few days after the shooting of Senator Towson, the citizens knew only that the nearest thing to a celebrity the town had ever known was murdered. Their astonishment soon changed into outrage. The anger would worsen, if they became aware of certain undisclosed details. Neither the citizens nor the media were yet aware of the alleged rape, the suggestion of a Sonny Barner murder or the names of the people disclosed in the suspect's statement.
State Attorney Moran, Chief Oehlert and Detective Goddard had good reason to be worried. Just a matter of time before details would leak out.
Early on Wednesday morning, Moran summoned Goddard to his office. The chief was already there pacing around nervously and explaining they couldn't locate Sonny Barner. "He runs his exterminating business out of his house. No sign of him there and his answering machine is full. What's that all about?"
Moran studied the folder on his desk. "According to Reid's statement Loraine Dellin shot him. You should be out looking for his body, Goddard. Do me a favor and find it before some reporter trips over it."
Goddard took the chair opposite Moran's desk. "I don't think he's dead. He was Towson's exterminator and apparently serviced his apartment the afternoon of the homicide. CSI found a service receipt from Barner Exterminating at the crime scene. It was marked 2:15 p.m., Saturday, the day of the murder. So, he looks more like a suspect than a victim."
The chief didn't get it. "Are you talking about the timing?"
Moran referred to his notes. "Reid's statement has Loraine killing Barner on Friday, and the next day he's working in Towson's apartment. Obviously, she didn't shoot him and Reid is lying."
"Or Loraine lied to him about shooting Barner," Goddard added. "Apparently, Barner and Towson were both alive Saturday at 2:15 p.m. The question is, was Towson still alive when Barner left?"
"Barner could have shot him then or gone back later and shot him. But, I still like Reid for this." Moran started thumbing through the folder. "Okay, so we're hoping to rule out a second murder. But if Barner's not dead where is he? And, what about the rape of Tammy Jerrold?"
"Tammy says it never happened and is intensely afraid the allegation might become public," the chief said.
"We don't want it public either. People would go crazy, if the suggestion of a rape were made a part of this homicide." Moran held up the folder and shook it. "Plus, look at the names we've got: Barner, Loraine, Tammy and Norma Martin. They may or may not have anything material to do with Towson's murder. And what if these names get out?"