From the short mystery series Body in Cold Rock Creek
Ephram Clout, Junior insisted that he continue
telling his story only to the Sheriff and Naomi once he was in the
interrogation room at the Sheriff’s office.
Sheriff Matt Stephens read him his rights again this time recording everything.
Mr. Clout still refused an attorney. He wrote out his confession stopping occasionally
to take a few minutes break to drink a soda that the sheriff brought him. He told the Sheriff and Naomi that he was a
third year student at the University majoring in Sociology. He said that he had the best grades in his
class.
When he handed them his written confession both were
speechless when they saw it was written in perfect English and that his
penmanship was easy to read. Naomi
couldn’t help but say, “Junior, you don’t write at all like you talk. Why’s that?”
He answered, “Why Ma’am, I can talk like everybody
else. I just choose to talk like my
people. I am proud of my heritage.”
He continued talking becoming much more sober. He looked around seeming to be fully aware of
where he was and his circumstances. “You
know, I was even one of the people they interviewed.”
Both Matt and Naomi knew that he was. Just as he was being interviewed for TTN early
during the media frenzy a photographer had snapped a picture as a single tear
rolled down Ephram Clout, Junior’s cheek.
The picture was picked up by nearly every paper in the world and it went
viral. It was dubbed “The Single Tear.” The photograph and photographer was up for a
Pulitizer Prize. The Sheriff could only
imagine that now this young man would be dubbed the “Single Tear Killer,” and
he was.
Many of the media folk came back once they found out
the killer had been caught, but they were furious, because Junior Clout refused
to go to trial. They wanted the matter
to go on and on.
The Judge required Junior to stand up in the packed
Cold Lake County Courthouse and read his entire confession. He had agreed to serve fifteen years as part
of a plea bargained agreement.
The crowd booed when they heard that. The Judge slammed his gavel down demanding
order in the court.
The Prosecutor stood up, bucking to the crowd, and
despite his earlier agreement with Mr. Clout he asked for a twenty year
sentence. The crowd cheered. Naomi looked around the courtroom during both
of the outbursts and it seemed that the locals were satisfied with Junior’s
plea, but the outsiders wanted more. The
media had even suggested the death penalty.
The Judge said that he was ready to rule and the
crowd cheered. He did a preliminary
statement about how sad the entire course of events were. Then, he said, “The court is satisfied that Mr.
Waycastle agreed to play the game. It
was appropriately named ‘The Dumb Ass Rock Throwing Duel.’ Therefore, the court finds that Gilbert Mac
Waycastle was partly to blame for his own death.” Many in the crowd jeered.
The Judge continued, seeming to pay no attention to
the audience. He motioned for the Defendant
to rise. Junior rose tears streaming
down his face. He wiped his nose and
looked like a little boy in his new suit.
He glanced once back towards the audience.
The Judge said, “This court finds Ephram Clout,
Junior guilty of the unintentional murder of Gilbert Mac Waycastle. He is to serve a period of not more than four
and one half years in a facility the State of Tennessee chooses. The crowd erupted. It took all of the law enforcement officers in
the courtroom to prevent total chaos, but they finally managed to clear the
room.
The young man went off to serve his time. The talk shows had fodder that lasted for
days. The Judge received both death
threats and letters congratulating him on his courage.
Matt Stephens decided that despite all the job
offers that he’d stay in Cold Lake County.
He, Naomi and Edgar decided to keep Ephram Clout, Junior’s place up and to
pay the taxes on his farm. “I just want
the young man to have a place to come back to after all this is over. With good behavior and shortened sentences he
could be out in a couple of years maybe sooner.
He didn’t mean to do it. He isn’t
a bad kid.”
Both Naomi and Edgar nodded in agreement while
sipping coffee and rocking on their porch.
“That’s so,” Edgar said snuffing out his cigarette.
“What are you going to do now, Naomi?” Matt Stephens
asked. “You know we wouldn’t have solved
this case without you.”
“Thank you, Matt.
I must say. I’ve been thinking
about some of those deaths I investigated in Florida and I am just not
satisfied that we got to the bottom of them.
I may do some asking around. May
I call on you for advice? I know that I
will get stumped.”
The Sheriff answered, “You know you can. Maybe you will even let me be your co-nvestigator. If you aren’t satisfied then there probably
was more to those stories. Just give me
a call and we’ll get started.”
The
End
©Patty F.
Cooper, Elizabethton, Tennessee August 23, 2014
All Rights Reserved
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