Murder and Mayhem in Cedar Falls. Walter Wittmuss

this makes four girls and one dog that has been attacked so far with one girl and the dog dead?”

      “Unfortunately, that is true, but we are getting closer to catching the maniac.”

      “I’m glad to hear that, Sheriff. Is there anything else you want me for?”

      “No. You can go. I would like you to come down to the police station sometime tomorrow to give a statement.”

      “I’ll be there.”

      We exited his car, and he went over to where a deputy was looking the scene over. The ambulance and fire truck had already left. The sheriff and his deputy searched the front yard and side yard with their flashlights, looking for anything to help them. I stood by the patrol car and watched them. Finally, they appeared to be satisfied. The deputy walked to his car, and the sheriff came over to his car.

      “Was there something else I can do for you, Professor?”

      “No. No. I was just leaving.”

      I walked back to my house after the sheriff left. I turned in early. I was exhausted.

      A dark form sat with ease in a thickly leafed tree that set at a position that allowed the form to observe what was happening in the yard he had just fled from. He gloated to himself at how inept the police of this town was. He had already enjoyed three other girls before, and the police didn’t have the least idea who he was.

      I could have had my fourth girl tonight if it wasn’t for that busybody who interrupted me by coming around that hedge, he angrily thought. But there will be another day.

      He watched the police scour the yard; he had complete confidence that they would find nothing. Finally, the police were done and left. He watched the busybody walk off too. After ten minutes or so, he skillfully lowered himself out of the tree with the minimum amount of noise.

      Then like a shadow, he silently made his way through the neighborhood to his car, which he had parked several blocks away. Quickly he stripped the black outfit off with practiced ease, stuffing it into an overnight bag. He threw the bag into the trunk of the car then slid behind the wheel.

      Just then a patrol car slowly turned the corner. When the patrol car’s headlights picked him out sitting in his car, the officer pulled up beside him and stopped.

      “Have you seen anybody on the street in the neighborhood tonight dressed all in black?” the officer asked.

      “No, sir. I sure haven’t. Is the person dangerous?”

      “He could be. If you should see anybody dressed like that and acting suspicious, phone the police.”

      “I certainly will, Officer. And good luck catching him.”

      After the patrol car left, he burst out laughing. He chuckled all the way home.

      The next morning, I got up and grabbed some toast and coffee for breakfast. I had my hand on the car door when I hesitated. I looked at my watch. I had time to go up to the house where the girl was attacked last night and have a little look around before having to pick Denise up. The owner of the house happened to be out in the front yard when I got up there.

      “Good morning, sir,” I said as I walked up the driveway.

      “Good morning. Aren’t you that guy that chased that other guy out of my yard last night?”

      “Yes, sir. My name is John Brennon. I’m your new neighbor three houses down that way,” I said, pointing.

      “That would be Jeremy Cooper’s house, isn’t it?”

      “Jeremy was my uncle. As you probably know, he passed away a month ago, leaving me the house and property. And your name, sir?”

      “George McAllister.”

      “I’m very happy to meet you. May I call you George?”

      “Certainly. We are going to be neighbors.”

      “I’m surprised you didn’t hear anything last night until that girl screamed, George.”

      “I was watching television and really wasn’t paying any attention to any sounds coming from outside. Of course, when she screamed, that got my attention fast.”

      “Just out of curiosity, do you know who the girl was?”

      “No. Never saw her before. I assume it was probably some student from the college.”

      “Classes don’t start at the college for another two weeks, so she must have been a local girl,” I reasoned.

      “Not necessarily. I’ve lived in this town for a long time. I’ve seen students come early just so they could get an apartment close to campus.”

      “Would you mind if I looked around a little, George?”

      “No, I guess not. Are you a new cop or something? I thought I knew all the officers on our police force.”

      “No. I’m not a cop. I’m a professor at the college. It just would have been very easy for the police to have missed something in the dark last night. They probably didn’t, but a second look can’t hurt anything.”

      “Go ahead and have a look. My breakfast should be done by now anyhow.”

      “Thank you, and have a good day, George.”

      “You, too, Professor.”

      I started looking at the ground and under the hedge, starting at the driveway. George kept the grass trimmed along the hedge. I found several spots where the dirt just under the hedge had been disturbed like a foot had kicked it. I figured the girl had done that while struggling when she was being dragged behind the hedge. Then at the corner where the girl and her attacker had been on the ground, I spotted a small round object under the hedge. I picked it up and examined it.

      It was about the size of a medium-sized button, flat with a strange design on it, gold with a black background. It looked to me like an oriental design. I turned it over. On the back side was a small ring, which a person could use to sew it onto something.

      I looked at my watch. With a start, I realized I was a little late picking up Denise. I slipped the object into my pocket and raced back to my house. I locked the house door, jumped into my car, and sped off down the street. I caught Denise a block from her house, walking. I stopped. Then leaning across the seat, I pushed the car’s passenger door open.

      I briefly explained what happened the previous evening. She had a bit of a shocked look on her face as I told her about the attack.

      “My God! When are the police going to catch this pervert? Do you know if the girl is very badly hurt?”

      “She didn’t seem to be physically hurt when I held her until the paramedics got there. But I really don’t know for sure. I have something I would like you to look at before I turn it over to the police.” I reached into my pocket and produced the object I had picked up from under the hedge. I placed it in her hand. She examined the piece closely. “The design looks oriental to me. Do you recognize the design, or do you think it’s just something very common?”

      “I don’t know, John,” she said slowly. “A lot of times, I will surf the internet in the evening when Mom is busy, or I just don’t have anything else to do. It seems like I’ve seen this design, or one very similar to it, on the internet not that long ago. I don’t remember for sure right now. I’ll do a little exploring and see what I can come up with.”

      “That would be great. Since it wasn’t dirty, I’m pretty certain it must have come off the girl or her attacker. If it did come from one of them, it would probably be important to know which one it came from.”

      “Why don’t we go up to the hospital later this afternoon? We could check and see how that girl is getting along and ask her if she recognizes this at the same time,” Denise suggested.

      “That is a good idea. Are you good at drawing?”

      “Pretty