Ragged

I am the last man on earth to be telling this story – a ragged man who smells of sheep and earth and campfire. I would not tell it, except that it happened to me.

An hour ago, we were in the fields, throwing sticks on the fire and trying to stay warm. An hour ago, I don’t think I believed in angels. Well, I am warm now, and I know more about angels than most any man alive.

I was watching the stars when it burst into view, a towering monster of light with blazing eyes and a voice like a trumpet. I was terrified until I noticed the expression on his face and realized I could understand his words.

He was glad – glad with some gigantic joy, and soon there were hundreds of them – hopping about like excited children, shouting, and singing like their hearts were on fire.

I was still shaking, but the joy on their beautiful faces broke my heart. Whatever they were telling us, it was shaking them, too.

When they left, we stared into the suddenly dark and silent sky, breathed air that stirred in their wake and smelled like springtime, and the sea, and some strange incense, all mixed together.

For a minute, no one said anything. I trembled, but I was no longer afraid, maybe not even surprised. Somehow, I think I knew there was such beauty in the world – there was a place for it in your soul, just waiting. But I never expected to see it, had almost forgotten it was there.

We will find him in Bethlehem, they said – just over those hills – and so we run with our own gigantic joy; run so far that my lungs are on fire, just as my heart is on fire.

And now, still panting, I step into the dark barn, duck under the cobwebbed timber, and stop. Lamplight flickers over the drafty room. A man leans against the wall, and a woman leans against him. In front of them, a rickety feed trough, and there the child lies.

If I had not seen the angels, I would not understand what I feel right now, the sparks shooting through my arms and face as I step carefully over the straw and kneel before the manger. I would think I had lost my senses, not awakened a new one.

But somehow, my heart knows you, child. It knew there was someone like you in the world, though it did not know that it knew. To meet you is a remembering. To kneel here is a coming home. My heart burns like an angel, like a moth rushing toward light. I am only a shepherd, but I know I was made for you.

I take one more look as we turn to leave, shake my head as I step into the night. How strange that this is the story of God and that I, who smell of sheep and earth, am the one telling it.

I would not tell it, but this is where the angels sang. We are ragged people, but it was to us the Christ-child came.

—-

This story is a dramatization of events recorded in Luke 2.

Written for LIFE International, 2021.

A Different Kind of Sky

Mike is a dangerous man living a dangerous life. He flies low and fast, dodging trees and wires. He fights for those he loves and aches for those he has lost. He longs for the one woman who quiets his restless soul.

How does love change us? How do we survive crushing disasters? How do we make sense of ourselves and the world around us?

A Different Kind of Sky is a story of loss and restoration—a story of one man’s search for meaning in this deadly and beautiful world.

Find A Different Kind of Sky on Amazon: A Different Kind of Sky: A Novel

CBHaze
CBHaze
2023-01-23
Verified
A Different Kind of Sky: A Novel: Great story, hard to put down! This is a very good read that flows well and brings you into the story/location. If you grew up in the country or have spent any time in the country, this story will bring you back to those times. Highly recommend.
John L
John L
2023-01-02
Verified
A Different Kind of Sky: A Novel: A compelling, page-turning read The plot flows fluidly and compellingly; sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly. Not bound by strict calendar dates or traditional chapter breaks, the author tells a captivating story with varying pace, but one that moves along to keep the reader wanting to see what happens next. There are several surprises. The characters exude real-life -- not contrived -- people. The storyline contains a solid mix of humor, sadness, suspense, and drama. I would recommend.
Jcat
Jcat
2022-12-13
Verified
A Different Kind of Sky: A Novel: Excellent read. Such a great story. So very happy to have read it.
Amazon Customer
Amazon Customer
2022-12-05
Verified
A Different Kind of Sky: A Novel: Wonderful Journey of a man’s struggle to find his place in life I’m not much of a fiction reader but I love Aviation and decided to give it a read. I’m so happy I did. This book was wonderful. I had a hard time putting it down.This is a journey of one man’s struggle and quest to find the meaning of life and death. You follow his journey from adolescence to adulthood and all the trials and tribulations that go with it. This book had me laughing and crying. It was an emotional read full of wonder, hope and sadness. His questions on faith are very relatable and really makes you dig deep into your own thoughts on who we are, why we are here now and what comes next. It shows how fragile life can be and the impacts we make on others.Religious or not, this book will leave you wanting more.
John Frye
John Frye
2022-11-22
Verified
A Different Kind of Sky: A Novel: High Altitude Story; Down to Earth People A good writer creates characters who seem real, living lives with which you can identify. Readers, following Michael, the main character, on his relational trail, whether with family, friends, co-workers and Ralph, encounter all the joyful and sorrowful experiences of life. Jeff Ostrander has a way of etching them into our memory. I found myself experiencing side-splitting laughter, bouts of deep, heartfelt grief, and curious excursions into the overwhelming vastness of human existence and confronting the age-old, yet ever presence questions: How is that humans exist and for what purpose?
Kevin Moy
Kevin Moy
2022-11-12
Verified
A Different Kind of Sky: A Novel: Wonderful story about a walk through life What enjoyment this book brought me! A simple man yet faced with challenges we give little thought to. Every page bringing either a smile, frown, fear, joy, hope, love or answers to what we all call life that most of us dream for. Read this book to help you see the wonders and beauty that surrounds you.
Amazon Customer
Amazon Customer
2022-11-07
Verified
A Different Kind of Sky: A Novel: Good blend of characters and plot. Ostrander does a great job of weaving personalities into the plot. Excellent, page turning read.
Chinterman
Chinterman
2022-11-01
Verified
A Different Kind of Sky: A Novel: Outstanding and Realistic This book is an exceptional story of one man's journey through life and toward faith. It masterfully avoids the trite storyline typical ofChristian novels. It feels genuine and I found myself deeply caring about the characters. Well done!
Marshall Pennell
Marshall Pennell
2022-10-24
Verified
A Different Kind of Sky: A Novel: Captivated my mind and my emotions. I'm still thinking about it. Such a descriptive narrative. Well thought out and expertly written. I feel like I just lived life alongside of Mike.The things that the main character, Mike, thinks about are things that we all think about, or at least try to. There is so much depth and richness in the storytelling that I didn't want it to end. Some books entertain you and help pass the time but offer no real benefit for having read them. This book is certainly entertaining but also enriching. It is thought provoking without demanding that the reader be a scholar or philosopher. An excellent and well crafted piece of art!

Dominic Roo and the Missing Shipwreck (chapter seven)

(Jump to: Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three, Chapter Four, Chapter Five, Chapter Six)

Chapter Seven

Tuesday

Dom continued his story, watching Fred’s face. “Mr. Cain flew here from Detroit on a Tuesday morning. Very early on a very gloomy morning, when it was unlikely he would be observed.  He took on fuel — to suggest a reason for stopping here, I suppose — and then started his airplane and taxied toward the runway, passing several rows of hangars as he did so.  It so happened that as he moved in this direction, you — in your own airplane — were taxing away from this very hangar, leaving the door open.”

Walt consulted the notes he had made on the back of an envelope while Roo was talking.

“All right, Dom, you make an interesting case, but parts of it seem needlessly intricate.  By your theory, Fred took an airplane out and brought it back, impersonating Mr. Cain.  Why?  Why would Cain not do it all himself, with no need for impersonation?”

Roo shook his head and said, “Well, you see, the reappearance of a deceased pilot or his demolished airplane at any time after they have perished would be unusual.  People might talk, you know, whether of ghosts or insurance fraud, and word might get to the authorities.  Fred’s airplane, on the other hand, could be seen that morning with no risk to the plan.”

“All right, then, why not scrap Cain’s airplane, instead of Fred’s?”

“For several reasons.  First, from an evidentiary point of view, you’re right — Fred assumed it would make no difference.  He did not recognize the surviving distinctiveness of Mr. Cain’s airplane or did not expect it to be detected.  Unluckily for Fred, Judy Cain is probably the only person in the world who would have recognized it.  Second, Mr. Cain’s airplane was in a better state of repair.  According to Fred’s plan, only one of the airplanes could survive.  Why not the better one?”

Walt protested, “But all the effort to strip the paint…”

“That had to be done in any case.  It’s easy to disfigure an expensive and distinctive paint job, such as Mr. Cain’s, and this had to be done whether his airplane was to be scrapped or repainted.  The discovery of Cain’s airplane in any scrap yard would prove the fraud, so it had to be disfigured.”

Walt nodded and grunted assent.

“Third, Fred’s wings really did have corrosion, providing an easy answer to the question of why they were scrapped.  The discovery of a perfectly good component buried in the woods — when said component might just as easily have been sold at a considerable profit — would also raise questions.”

“Fourth, I think Fred felt safer with this solution to his problem.  Once he got his trick past the painter, he thought he was in the clear.  After he replaced the data plate, Cain’s airplane had the right serial number.  Legally, this airplane really became Fred’s old airplane.  So, the painter saw no problem.  A mechanic might have noticed that the serial number of some component didn’t match a number in the logbooks, but that was unlikely, and the records could also be lost or changed if he thought that necessary.” 

Walt shook his head, raised his hand to his chin and thought hard.  “Wait!” he shouted, raising his hand.  “When Fred got back, he had to break up his own airplane, right?” 

Dom nodded, and Walt continued with excitement. “But Cain’s airplane was in his…” Walt’s mouth remained open but his face suddenly fell.  “OK, don’t tell me.  That’s why you asked if there was an open hangar nearby.”

Dom nodded.  “Yes, they needed it to hide Cain’s airplane while they sawed Fred’s apart.  It wouldn’t take long.”

“Why not leave Cain’s airplane in Fred’s hangar?”

Dom pointed toward an electric motor bolted to the back of the hangar.  “Didn’t you notice the winch?  Hardly need that to park a little 172.  That’s how they got a fuselage on a trailer inside a closed hangar.”

Walt nodded, subdued.  “Then they threw a tarp over the trailer and just hauled it away.”

“Well,” Dom corrected, “Fred hauled it away after the cooperative Mr. Cain climbed into the trunk.”

Walt shuddered.  “You have a devious mind, Dom.  I’m glad you’re on our side…  Say, you are on our side, aren’t you?”

Dom smiled and said, “Well, I think we’ve explained the crime, and if Fred had not invited Judy for an airplane ride, he might have gotten away with it.  Now, for a broader view.  Clearly, Fred has done terrible things.  Probably, he was offered money to assist in Cain’s disappearance.  Presumably, he murdered Benjamin Cain and committed fraud.  Very likely, he attempted to shoot my friend and I.  But I would also point out that Fred is an ineffective — I would even say accidental — criminal.  He’s clever but careless. He failed to get rid of evidence.  He failed to distance himself from Judy Cain.  We don’t know if he profited at all and I think his primary motive for this whole sad business was to free Judy Cain from Ben Cain.  For that, at least, we can feel some sympathy.”

“Yes, what about the woman?  Was she in on it?”

“No.  Her shock at recognizing the airplane is conclusive and would be difficult to simulate.  Though she attracted plenty of male attention that morning, only one person even noticed her reaction.  Well, two counting Fred, and he also took it as genuine.  That alone is probably enough to exonerate her.  And despite her suave manner, I believe her to be a curiously simple soul.  She received money as a result of her husband’s death but refused to spend it.  She suspects that something out of the way occurred but knows enough of her husband’s cruelty to let sleeping dogs lie.  She does not volunteer information, but she is truthful when she speaks.”

“No, I take her to be innocent, though in one way she did set this whole disaster in motion.  She has the kind of face that launched a thousand ships.  In this case, it sank one.”

*   *   *

Tuesday Night

“Hello?  Miss Sayers?  It’s Dominic Roo.”

He could hear nothing for a few seconds, then a long breath, and then,  “Yes, Mr. Roo.”

“It’s over.  Fred has confessed to murdering your husband and has made it clear that you were not involved.”

Again, a pause.  “Miss Sayers?”

Her voice came back pinched and higher.  “Yes, I’m sorry.  I heard you.  I don’t know what to say.”

“The police will contact you very soon.  Listen, Miss Sayers.  This will be unpleasant, and they may ask you uncomfortable questions, but I think they realize you are innocent.  You do not need to be afraid.”

“Would you…  Would you come, if they allow it?”

“Yes, of course.  They may want me there in any case, but I will certainly come if you wish.”

“Oh, please do.  I need to know someone believes me.

* — *

Dominic Roo and the Missing Shipwreck (chapter six)

(Jump to: Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three, Chapter Four, Chapter Five)

Chapter Six

Tuesday

Dom continued his story, watching Fred’s face. “Mr. Cain flew here from Detroit on a Tuesday morning. Very early on a very gloomy morning, when it was unlikely he would be observed.  He took on fuel — to suggest a reason for stopping here, I suppose — and then started his airplane and taxied toward the runway, passing several rows of hangars as he did so.  It so happened that as he moved in this direction, you — in your own airplane — were taxing away from this very hangar, leaving the door open.”

“As you taxied on toward the runway, Mr. Cain taxied his airplane down this very lane, to this open door, shut down the engine, and pushed his airplane into your open hangar.  You did not witness this, as you were in the process of taking off and picking up an IFR clearance from Great Lakes approach.  But here we cross an important line.  You identified yourself to ATC as Cessna 5559B — Mr. Cain’s airplane.”  Fred appeared to waver and reached out a hand to steady himself against the airplane.  “In fact, you continued the flight toward Minneapolis which he had begun, following his planned course and flying at his planned altitude.  In short, you impersonated Mr. Cain flying Mr. Cain’s airplane, and there was no way for ATC to recognize the deception.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Fred said, shaking his head, a tight smile on his face.

Dom ignored him and continued.  “As you may recall, after climbing to your assigned altitude and reaching the midpoint of your flight across Lake Michigan, you reduced throttle and began to descend, very much as an airplane without a working engine would descend.  You transmitted one distress call — doing an unsatisfactory job of disguising your voice, by the way — and glided down, nearer and nearer the surface of the lake until, reaching an altitude below radar coverage, you turned off your transponder.  In the eyes of ATC, you disappeared, having apparently ditched in a very deep part of the lake and, very possibly, having sunk without a trace.”

“But leaving no trace leads to awkward questions.  The right kind of trace would serve your purposes far better, and so I think that you had prepared a tool for this purpose — a very simple but effective tool.  The world is full of garbage bags.  They do a remarkable job of collecting miscellaneous objects and substances and keeping them in a neat package.  Imagine a garbage bag containing a goodly number of documents belonging to Mr. Benjamin Cain and his aircraft.  Further, imagine that this garbage bag contained a quantity of aviation oil and fuel.  If the contents of that bag were released over the water, it might support the idea that a particular airplane had crashed and sunk in that location, don’t you think?”

Fred scoffed, “It would look like a bag full of trash had been dropped in the water, that’s all.”

“If the materials stayed in the bag, yes.  That would raise the wrong questions, but imagine if a rope had been tied to the bottom of the bag and the bag then turned inside-out before it was filled.  Such a bag, held by its rope and passed through the open window, would immediately burst open, releasing its contents in a convincing pattern.  The bag could then be pulled back into the airplane.  At worst, it would break free of the rope and then sink or perhaps float away.”

“Ah, I see you glancing at the wall, Fred, and I did the same.  That very rope would suit the purpose admirably, wouldn’t it?  In fact, a fragment of the garbage bag is still present, captured within the knot.  The knot itself and several inches of rope near it are also stained with an oily substance.  Quite a coincidence, don’t you think?”

Dom studied Fred’s face for a moment then said, “Well, let’s move on.  The task of flying low over the lake is not trivial, but not so difficult for a skilled pilot.  He might well continue even so far as to this airport without identification by radar or the human eye, remembering that his transponder has been turned off and that he flies an indirect path over uninhabited areas.  In fact, I think that is what he did.”

“Meanwhile, let’s say that Mr. Cain has been busy.  As you recall, he has quickly moved his airplane into your hangar and closed and locked the door.  He then begins the process of using your air compressor to apply paint remover to the airplane, especially the tail numbers.  He does not need to do a good job; just good enough to scrape away the patina of his very nice paint job and make it look like a project airplane.  In fact, rather like your own project airplane, which was — as you know — the same model.”

“Now, what is an airplane?  In the eyes of the FAA, the very soul of an airplane is the data plate: that little metal rectangle on the tail which identifies its model and serial number.  I notice that the data plate attached to this airplane matches the serial number of your project airplane.  I also notice that the four rivets used to secure the data plate to the airplane are not of the type used by the factory.”

“That is a curious coincidence, made even more curious by the fact that, in the woods behind your home, we find several airplane parts that match your project airplane, including an airplane tail from which the data plate has been removed.  I think that data plate ended up here, Fred.  In fact, I think we are looking at Mr. Cain’s airplane, which we had supposed to be lost at sea.”

Walt’s eyes grew more focused and he turned to Fred, who again muttered, “This is ridiculous.”  Just then, the deep whoosh of a large motor became audible, grew in intensity, and suddenly ceased.  A moment later, the bright doorway darkened, the sun eclipsed by the shape of a large man. 

“Well, howdy, boys”, the police officer said, stepping into the hangar.

“Hey, Mike”, Roo said.  “I was just telling a story that may interest you.”  Dom turned again toward Fred.  “Well, so far we have a collaboration.  Mr. Cain seems to have been a willing party to your impersonation and to the changes made to his own airplane — and yours.  I think he was even a willing party to what came next — his entry into the trunk of your car.”

Here, the police officer stiffened and looked at Fred.

“Now, why would he do that?” Roo continued.  “Why would he be a part of any of the events I have described?  I believe that Mr. Cain had offended powerful friends and decided it might be safer to disappear.  His thought, I take it, was to cooperate in his own apparent death and then, once he was officially deceased and all financial benefits had been transferred to his wife, he would compel her to support him, perhaps by suggesting she was a party to his fraud.”

Mike gave a low whistle, which Dom ignored.

“But we have another motive at play.  Our friend Fred was a long-time admirer of Mrs. Cain — now known as Miss Sayers.  Fred was aware of Mr. Cain’s unsavory character and perhaps suspected some mistreatment of Mrs. Cain.  Perhaps he was even interested in renewing his friendship with Mrs. Cain.  It thus occurred to him that he might make a small improvement to the plan he had worked out with Mr. Cain, and that improvement was the actual — and not only apparent — decease of Mr. Cain.”

Fred jerked and glanced toward the door.

“So we have Mr. Cain stepping willingly into the trunk, ready to be spirited away from his troubles.  But Fred had provided himself with a hose — very like this one, by the way”, Roo said, lifting the hose from its nail on the wall.  “Note that it fits easily over a car’s tailpipe and even shows signs of being partially melted, as if by the heat of exhaust.  Note also that it is long enough to reach easily to the trunk, where it can be wedged and caused to pump carbon monoxide inside.”

Officer Mike noticed Fred’s shifting feet and moved closer to the hangar door.

“Now, Mr. Cain, smelling the exhaust and noting that the car was not moving, sensed a problem.  Here he lay, trapped inside a car which was locked inside a hangar, and he realized he was being slowly poisoned.  He did what any of us would do.  He pounded with his hands and feet  in a desperate effort to free himself or get help.  Even now, on Fred’s trunk, we find dents, pushed out from the inside, perhaps by Mr. Cain’s feet.  The trunk lid has been slightly deformed, perhaps by the violence of Mr. Cain’s protests, and it will no longer close without further violence.”

Fred could take no more.  “Nonsense!”, he screamed.  “This is slander!  That’s it.  I’m leaving!” and he started for the door.

Walt nodded to the officer and said,  “Mike, I’m with the NTSB and I want this man detained, if you would, please.  If he refuses, I want him placed under arrest in connection with the murder of Benjamin Cain.”

Fred looked at the imposing blue figure who had stepped in front of the door and suddenly deflated.  “All right”, he said, “but I had nothing to do with it.”

The officer took him by the arm and they moved awkwardly out of the hangar.  Dom looked back at Walt.  “The damage to Fred’s trunk was, by the way, one of two things that caught my attention.  The other, we see here, inside the airplane.  Although Fred changed the color of the original instrument panel, he kept this instrument which, as you can see, is damaged in a distinctive way.  It was Miss Sayers’ shocked recognition of this instrument — which she knew to be from her husband’s airplane — which began Fred’s undoing.” 

“So, Cain died in the trunk?”

“I think so, yes. Fred, quite literally, spirited Mr. Cain away from his many troubles.  The body might be found in Fred’s woods, but that’s only a guess.”

Tuesday

Dom and Walt met in the parking lot and walked into the airport office.

“Walt, this is Julie”, Dom said, gesturing toward the receptionist.

“Hello!”, Walt said, holding up his badge for her inspection.  “My name is Walt Peters, I’m with the NTSB.  May I please have the key for hangar D5?”

Julie stared at him for a moment, then walked stiffly to the key box, picked a key off the hook and handed it to him.

“And, if you would, please don’t mention this to anyone.  In fact, if Fred should happen to appear before we leave, would you please dial this number?”

“Uh…, sure”, she said, puzzled, and took his card.

“It’s OK, Julie”, Dom said.  “We’ll just be a few minutes, and, by the way, were any airplanes from Fred’s hangar row in for maintenance in March, two years ago?”

Julie held up a finger and turned toward her desk.  Walt said, “Why would we care about that?”

Instead of answering, Dom watched as Julie flipped through a calendar.  She looked up and nodded.  “Bill was in for an annual inspection.  He’s right across from Fred.”

“Curiouser and curiouser”, Walt observed.  “I guess you’ll tell me soon enough.”

They took Walt’s car to the hangar and opened the door, turned on the lights.

“OK, Dom, what are we after?”

“Let’s get a picture of this.”  Dom pointed to the coil of hose hanging on the wall and, looking behind it, exclaimed, “Ah!  Here you are.”

“It’s a rope?”, Walt said.

“A rope with a knot at one end and a loop at the other and, inside the knot…”  He brought the rope into the light, pointed to a shred of green material trapped inside the knot. 

“It looks like plastic”, Walt said.

“Rather like the plastic used in garbage bags,” Dom said.  “And I suspect this stain around the knot will be found to contain aviation oil and fuel.”

“I don’t follow…”

“So”, Dom began, “let’s pretend…” but was interrupted by the ringing of Walt’s telephone.

“Hello…  What?  He’s where?”

The sound of squealing tires echoed through the hangar, then a car door slammed, and Fred rushed into the hangar.  “What’s going on here?” he roared.  “Who are—?”  He looked from Walt to Dom, and his eyes widened in recognition.  He raised his arm, pointed at Dom and stepped forward. “You!  What are you doing, snooping around in here?”

“Why, hello, Fred”, Dom said.  “I’m glad you’re here.  This is my friend Walt from the NTSB and in a moment we will be joined by a few other officials.  I wonder if we might have a friendly conversation before they arrive?”

Fred stopped, drew back a step.  “About what?”

“About a dark morning a couple of years ago, a very dark morning, indeed.”

“I…  I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Very well.  I was not expecting a confession.  How about this?  I’ll tell you a story, and you let me know if, at any point, it contradicts your own memories.  All right?”  Fred stared at Dom and shifted his feet but said nothing.  “The story begins with your friend, Mr. Benjamin Cain.  Not a very pleasant fellow, I understand, and he took something precious that once belonged to you.”

Dom continued his story, watching Fred’s face.  “Mr. Cain flew here from Detroit on a Tuesday morning.  Very early on a very gloomy morning, when it was unlikely he would be observed.  He took on fuel — to suggest a reason for stopping here, I suppose — and then started his airplane and taxied toward the runway, passing several rows of hangars as he did so.  It so happened that as he moved in this direction, you — in your own airplane — were taxing away from this very hangar, leaving the door open.”

“As you taxied on toward the runway, Mr. Cain taxied his airplane down this very lane, to this open door, shut down the engine, and pushed his airplane into your open hangar.  You did not witness this, as you were in the process of taking off and picking up an IFR clearance from Great Lakes approach.  But here we cross an important line.  You identified yourself to ATC as Cessna 5559B — Mr. Cain’s airplane.”  Fred appeared to waver and reached out a hand to steady himself against the airplane.  “In fact, you continued the flight toward Minneapolis which he had begun, following his planned course and flying at his planned altitude.  In short, you impersonated Mr. Cain flying Mr. Cain’s airplane, and there was no way for ATC to recognize the deception.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Fred said, shaking his head, a tight smile on his face.

Dom ignored him and continued.  “As you may recall, after climbing to your assigned altitude and reaching the midpoint of your flight across Lake Michigan, you reduced throttle and began to descend, very much as an airplane without a working engine would descend.  You transmitted one distress call — doing an unsatisfactory job of disguising your voice, by the way — and glided down, nearer and nearer the surface of the lake until, reaching an altitude below radar coverage, you turned off your transponder.  In the eyes of ATC, you disappeared, having apparently ditched in a very deep part of the lake and, very possibly, having sunk without a trace.”

“But leaving no trace leads to awkward questions.  The right kind of trace would serve your purposes far better, and so I think that you had prepared a tool for this purpose — a very simple but effective tool.  The world is full of garbage bags.  They do a remarkable job of collecting miscellaneous objects and substances and keeping them in a neat package.  Imagine a garbage bag containing a goodly number of documents belonging to Mr. Benjamin Cain and his aircraft.  Further, imagine that this garbage bag contained a quantity of aviation oil and fuel.  If the contents of that bag were released over the water, it might support the idea that a particular airplane had crashed and sunk in that location, don’t you think?”

Fred scoffed, “It would look like a bag full of trash had been dropped in the water, that’s all.”

“If the materials stayed in the bag, yes.  That would raise the wrong questions, but imagine if a rope had been tied to the bottom of the bag and the bag then turned inside-out before it was filled.  Such a bag, held by its rope and passed through the open window, would immediately burst open, releasing its contents in a convincing pattern.  The bag could then be pulled back into the airplane.  At worst, it would break free of the rope and then sink or perhaps float away.”

“Ah, I see you glancing at the wall, Fred, and I did the same.  That very rope would suit the purpose admirably, wouldn’t it?  In fact, a fragment of the garbage bag is still present, captured within the knot.  The knot itself and several inches of rope near it are also stained with an oily substance.  Quite a coincidence, don’t you think?”

Dom studied Fred’s face for a moment then said, “Well, let’s move on.  The task of flying low over the lake is not trivial, but not so difficult for a skilled pilot.  He might well continue even so far as to this airport without identification by radar or the human eye, remembering that his transponder has been turned off and that he flies an indirect path over uninhabited areas.  In fact, I think that is what he did.”

“Meanwhile, let’s say that Mr. Cain has been busy.  As you recall, he has quickly moved his airplane into your hangar and closed and locked the door.  He then begins the process of using your air compressor to apply paint remover to the airplane, especially the tail numbers.  He does not need to do a good job; just good enough to scrape away the patina of his very nice paint job and make it look like a project airplane.  In fact, rather like your own project airplane, which was — as you know — the same model.”

“Now, what is an airplane?  In the eyes of the FAA, the very soul of an airplane is the data plate: that little metal rectangle on the tail which identifies its model and serial number.  I notice that the data plate attached to this airplane matches the serial number of your project airplane.  I also notice that the four rivets used to secure the data plate to the airplane are not of the type used by the factory.”

“That is a curious coincidence, made even more curious by the fact that, in the woods behind your home, we find several airplane parts that match your project airplane, including an airplane tail from which the data plate has been removed.  I think that data plate ended up here, Fred.  In fact, I think we are looking at Mr. Cain’s airplane, which we had supposed to be lost at sea.”

Walt’s eyes grew more focused and he turned to Fred, who again muttered, “This is ridiculous.”  Just then, the deep whoosh of a large motor became audible, grew in intensity, and suddenly ceased.  A moment later, the bright doorway darkened, the sun eclipsed by the shape of a large man. 

“Well, howdy, boys”, the police officer said, stepping into the hangar.

“Hey, Mike”, Roo said.  “I was just telling a story that may interest you.”  Dom turned again toward Fred.  “Well, so far we have a collaboration.  Mr. Cain seems to have been a willing party to your impersonation and to the changes made to his own airplane — and yours.  I think he was even a willing party to what came next — his entry into the trunk of your car.”

Here, the police officer stiffened and looked at Fred.

“Now, why would he do that?” Roo continued.  “Why would he be a part of any of the events I have described?  I believe that Mr. Cain had offended powerful friends and decided it might be safer to disappear.  His thought, I take it, was to cooperate in his own apparent death and then, once he was officially deceased and all financial benefits had been transferred to his wife, he would compel her to support him, perhaps by suggesting she was a party to his fraud.”

Mike gave a low whistle, which Dom ignored.

“But we have another motive at play.  Our friend Fred was a long-time admirer of Mrs. Cain — now known as Miss Sayers.  Fred was aware of Mr. Cain’s unsavory character and perhaps suspected some mistreatment of Mrs. Cain.  Perhaps he was even interested in renewing his friendship with Mrs. Cain.  It thus occurred to him that he might make a small improvement to the plan he had worked out with Mr. Cain, and that improvement was the actual — and not only apparent — decease of Mr. Cain.”

Fred jerked and glanced toward the door.

“So, we have Mr. Cain stepping willingly into the trunk, ready to be spirited away from his troubles.  But Fred had provided himself with a hose — very like this one, by the way”, Roo said, lifting the hose from its nail on the wall.  “Note that it fits easily over a car’s tailpipe and even shows signs of being partially melted, as if by the heat of exhaust.  Note also that it is long enough to reach easily to the trunk, where it can be wedged and caused to pump carbon monoxide inside.”

Officer Mike noticed Fred’s shifting feet and moved closer to the hangar door.

“Now, Mr. Cain, smelling the exhaust and noting that the car was not moving, sensed a problem.  Here he lay, trapped inside a car which was locked inside a hangar, and he realized he was being slowly poisoned.  He did what any of us would do.  He pounded with his hands and feet in a desperate effort to free himself or get help.  Even now, on Fred’s trunk, we find dents, pushed out from the inside, perhaps by Mr. Cain’s feet.  The trunk lid has been slightly deformed, perhaps by the violence of Mr. Cain’s protests, and it will no longer close without further violence.”

Fred could take no more.  “Nonsense!”, he screamed.  “This is slander!  That’s it.  I’m leaving!” and he started for the door.

Walt nodded to the officer and said, “Mike, I’m with the NTSB and I want this man detained, if you would, please.  If he refuses, I want him placed under arrest in connection with the murder of Benjamin Cain.”

Fred looked at the imposing blue figure who had stepped in front of the door and suddenly deflated.  “All right”, he said, “but I had nothing to do with it.”

The officer took him by the arm and they moved awkwardly out of the hangar.  Dom looked back at Walt.  “The damage to Fred’s trunk was, by the way, one of two things that caught my attention.  The other, we see here, inside the airplane.  Although Fred changed the color of the original instrument panel, he kept this instrument which, as you can see, is damaged in a distinctive way.  It was Miss Sayers’ shocked recognition of this instrument — which she knew to be from her husband’s airplane — which began Fred’s undoing.” 

“So, Cain died in the trunk?”

“I think so, yes. Fred, quite literally, spirited Mr. Cain away from his many troubles.  The body might be found in Fred’s woods, but that’s only a guess.”

Continue to Chapter Seven

Dominic Roo and the Missing Shipwreck (chapter five)

“The story begins with your friend, Mr. Benjamin Cain.  Not a very pleasant fellow, I understand, and he took something precious that once belonged to you.”

(Jump to: Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three, Chapter Four)

Chapter Five

Tuesday

Dom and Walt met in the parking lot and walked into the airport office.

“Walt, this is Julie”, Dom said, gesturing toward the receptionist.

“Hello!”, Walt said, holding up his badge for her inspection.  “My name is Walt Peters, I’m with the NTSB.  May I please have the key for hangar D5?”

Julie stared at him for a moment, then walked stiffly to the key box, picked a key off the hook and handed it to him.

“And, if you would, please don’t mention this to anyone.  In fact, if Fred should happen to appear before we leave, would you please dial this number?”

“Uh…, sure”, she said, puzzled, and took his card.

“It’s OK, Julie”, Dom said.  “We’ll just be a few minutes, and, by the way, were any airplanes from Fred’s hangar row in for maintenance in March, two years ago?”

Julie held up a finger and turned toward her desk.  Walt said, “Why would we care about that?”

Instead of answering, Dom watched as Julie flipped through a calendar.  She looked up and nodded.  “Bill was in for an annual inspection.  He’s right across from Fred.”

“Curiouser and curiouser”, Walt observed.  “I guess you’ll tell me soon enough.”

They took Walt’s car to the hangar and opened the door, turned on the lights.

“OK, Dom, what are we after?”

“Let’s get a picture of this.”  Dom pointed to the coil of hose hanging on the wall and, looking behind it, exclaimed, “Ah!  Here you are.”

“It’s a rope?”, Walt said.

“A rope with a knot at one end and a loop at the other and, inside the knot…”  He brought the rope into the light, pointed to a shred of green material trapped inside the knot. 

“It looks like plastic”, Walt said.

“Rather like the plastic used in garbage bags,” Dom said.  “And I suspect this stain around the knot will be found to contain aviation oil and fuel.”

“I don’t follow…”

“So”, Dom began, “let’s pretend…” but was interrupted by the ringing of Walt’s telephone.

“Hello…  What?  He’s where?”

The sound of squealing tires echoed through the hangar, then a car door slammed, and Fred rushed into the hangar.  “What’s going on here?” he roared.  “Who are—?”  He looked from Walt to Dom, and his eyes widened in recognition.  He raised his arm, pointed at Dom and stepped forward. “You!  What are you doing, snooping around in here?”

“Why, hello, Fred”, Dom said.  “I’m glad you’re here.  This is my friend Walt from the NTSB and in a moment we will be joined by a few other officials.  I wonder if we might have a friendly conversation before they arrive?”

Fred stopped, drew back a step.  “About what?”

“About a dark morning a couple of years ago, a very dark morning, indeed.”

“I…  I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Very well.  I was not expecting a confession.  How about this?  I’ll tell you a story, and you let me know if, at any point, it contradicts your own memories.  All right?”  Fred stared at Dom and shifted his feet but said nothing.  “The story begins with your friend, Mr. Benjamin Cain.  Not a very pleasant fellow, I understand, and he took something precious that once belonged to you.”

Continue to Chapter Six

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