Book 3- Annie Adams-College Years

Annie Adams-College Years

                                                                                         Chapter 36

                                                                          Derby's Three Old Friends

     Early on Saturday morning Len, Cela, Dee Sydney and Eleanor piled into Beth's van that she had lent out to Len for the day, so the group could interview Derby's old friends and hopefully find out the name of the stocky man with the ponytail who had argued with Derby on the day he had disappeared.

     Len had found the men's address in the phone book.  They all lived in a two story house together just a few blocks away from the Summer's apartment.  The three men were Stan Mason and Andrew Perry who had played baseball with Derby and Drake Berger who boxed with him.  Stan, Andrew and Drake were just the first of the interrogations for Len and his amateur detectives.

     The interviewees were the Millers, Ron and Marsha, who were in their late 70's now and who had once owned Miller Stables on Old Red Road where Derby and Lilah used to ride horses.  One of the questions Len and or the girls would ask was if they remembered Derby's girlfriend Lilah Stevens and if they knew where she currently lived.  In fact, Len was going to put that question to everyone he talked to.  And he hoped that one of the persons they questioned would know.

     Then there was old man Simpson, Doug, who once owned the barn where Derby's boxing matches were held, and who also refereed the bouts.  Len thought perhaps Derby had met his death by the fist of a boxer who had a grudge against him.  Mr. Simpson was now 80 years old and Len had been concerned that his memory wasn't as good as it used to be.

     But Pastor Murphy assured him that Mr. Simpson's mind was as good as when he was a young man.  He said he saw the man once a week at church and that Mr. Simpson could remember things that he, Pastor Murphy had long forgotten.  He informed Len that Doug Simpson lived on Sullivan Street three blocks from the center of town on Laurel Ave.

     Len drove over to Oak Street where Stan, Andrew and Drake lived in their two story house and  parked on the street at the curb.  The home was white with pale blue trim and two large oak trees stood on either side of the side walk leading up to the front door.  Len and the girls walked up the few steps to the wrap around porch and Len rang the doorbell.

     "I'm coming!" a gruff voice shouted.  Then the door opened and a short chubby man stood before them.  He had blue eyes that sparkled with mischief behind his thick lenses and he was as bald as a bowling ball and he was wearing  jogging pants and a Dallas Cowboys sweat shirt.  The man held a cup of coffee in his hand and had a surprised look on his round face at seeing so many people at his door step so early in the morning.

     "Am I addressing Mr. Mason, Mr. Perry or Mr. Berger?  Len asked politely.  "Mr. Drake Berger," the man said with narrowed eyes and a quizzical cock of his head.  Len held out his hand to shake the other's  while introducing himself, Cela and her friends.  Mr. Berger shook Len's hand and nodded at the girls as they were introduced.  

     "Well Sheriff, I don't think I've broken any laws lately," he said with a chuckle.  Len chuckled too, and Cela, Eleanor, Dee and Sydney giggled.  "You have nothing to worry about," the sheriff assured him, as he took out the flyer with Derby's likeness on it from his shirt pocket and handed it over so Mr. Berger could see it.

     "We came to ask you if you remember this young man,"  Len said soberly.  Mr. Berger's eyes grew wide and he said, "Won't you come in."  "Thank you," Len replied as he and the girls walked into a large but cozy living room, with old, but clean and comfortable over stuffed furniture.  "Please sit,"  Mr. Berger said, gesturing to a long, warm brown sofa.

     "I'll go get the guys," and he trotted off to the kitchen which could be seen through an archway separating the living area and the other room.  Two men were sitting at an oval table  eating doughnuts and drinking coffee; the coffee pot in between them.  "We have company,"  Mr. Berger told the other two.

     Mr. Berger then set down his coffee on the table for a moment while he poured a cup for Len.  One of his buddies picked up the big box of doughnuts while the other put sugar, cream, the coffee pot and napkins on a tray.  Then Mr. Berger led his two friends into the living room to meet their guests.

     The three men set down their loads on a coffee table that sat between the warm brown sofa and a tan one on the other side, where Mr. Berger, Mr. Perry and Mr. Mason took their places and just stared a few moments at Len and the girls.  Finally Stan Mason started the introductions.  He was a tall man in his late fifties, (all the men were in the same age range.)

     His short brown hair was graying at the temples and his hazel eyes were wide set and bright with life.  He was muscular as someone would be if they lifted weights and worked out every day.  Mr. Mason was dressed in sweats also.  Stan reached across the coffee table with a long arm and shook Len's hand.  Then he said, "Nice to meet you all," smiling at Cela and her friends.

     Mr. Andrew Perry then introduced himself, shook hands with Len and each of the girls as Len recited their names.  Mr. Perry was of medium build and height with silver blond hair, the back of which curled under the collar of the casual shirt he was wearing, the front falling over the right side of his forehead.  All three men were very well groomed with clean shaven faces.

     After the introductions, Mr. Perry asked the girls if they wanted bottled water, juice or tea.  The girls chimed water, he laughed and then went off to fetch it while the other two men gazed down at the flyer on the coffee table.  Then suddenly Mr. Berger said, "Don't be shy have a doughnut or two."

     Len, Cela, Eleanor, Dee and Sydney took one even though they had just had breakfast; they didn't want to be impolite.  Besides the doughnuts looked delicious.  Mr. Perry returned with the drinks and handed a bottle of water to each girl then sat down again next to Mr. Mason on the tan sofa.

"We've been on a fishing trip," Mr. Mason said.  "Yeah.  We just got back last night," Mr. Berger agreed. "We saw the poster on the outer wall of the Sheriff's Department when we drove by," Mr. Perry said,  "We were going to call you this morning Sheriff, after we drank a cup of coffee.  "So you do recognize Derby Sellers?"  Len asked.  "Of course," Mr. Berger answered.  "Stan,  Andrew Derby and I were best friends."

     "We are Christians today because of Derby."  Cela and her friends smiled at him.  "Did you know he was studying to be a minister?"  "Yes," Len said.  "Pastor Murphy told us.  "I assume you know him."  "Yes.  We go to his church," Mr. Perry said.  Mr. Berger then cleared his throat, took a deep breath and asked, "I assume by this,"  he waved the flyer, "That you found his....body?"

     "Actually, my daughter Cela and her friends found his....remains in a box, along with a set of clothes and a card saying he was a seminary student.  The box was found in the base ball field two blocks from my home.  The coroner has labeled his death as a possible murder.  He died from a blow to his left temple," Len said solemnly.

     Suddenly all three men were wiping tears from their eyes and didn't seem at all ashamed of it.  In a minute or so, Mr. Mason cleared his throat and said, after glancing at his two friends, "We will give you all the information we can to help you find the person who ended Derby's life."  Mr. Berger and Mr. Perry nodded vigorously in agreement.

                                                                           End of Chapter 36