Echoes of Glory

Chapter 5

99 CHAPTER FIVE s Timp read the reports again. No matter how imperfect his own recollection , Larry’s report was wrong. He had tugged the shotgun from under Wynn’s back. Cecil’s report didn’t contradict his but it didn’t contradict Larry’s either. Cecil’s crude diagram showed where Timp and Larry were and the position of Wynn’s body on the ground but no indication where the weapons were. The photographs were not with the report and he looked for them on his desk and then Mrs. Stutz’s desk and files. He had hoped to talk to Cecil before the meeting but the deputies trooped in together, impatient to get it over. “The media are reporting a split in this department,” he began. “There is no split. Larry and I were on the scene yesterday; Cecil investigated it. There are differences in interpreting the scene and they will be straightened out. You weren’t there, you didn’t read the reports so I don’t want you talking to the media or anyone else about what someone says happened. This department is going to do its job of protecting and assisting the public and that’s all we’re going to do. There will be no politics in this department.” There were no questions and he wondered why he had called the meeting. He asked Cecil into his office. “Have you seen Larry’s report?” “He wanted me to read it before I made my report.” That wasn’t the procedure and Timp waited. “I’ve got almost two years before I can retire.” Cecil was honest but Larry would probably replace him anyway. “Have you talked to the media or anyone else?” “Not until you tell me to. I know you didn’t surrender your pistol.” Did Cecil think this was about his pistol? “Where are the photos?” “They didn’t turn out.” 100 Echoes of Glory “I’ll see if someone else can process them.” Photographs would show the blood pooled around objects under Wynn’s body. “I’m not good with technical stuff.” Cecil had lost the shell casings from Timp’s pistol during the Scott Baines shooting and the media had erroneously reported that Timp fired only one shot. Timp testified that he had fired seven times but Dr. Baines focused on the lost casings claiming a coverup. When Cecil found the missing shells after the inquest it made matters worse. “You can take it out of my salary,” Cecil said hopefully. “Maybe I could take the photos again.” Brother Jonas had covered the bloody ground. “You saw the marks of the weapons under Wynn’s body.” “The weapons were gone when I reached the scene.” Timp studied Cecil’s troubled eyes. He, Hao, the boys, the pickup crew had tracked over the scene. “When they picked up Wynn’s body didn’t you see where the blood had pooled around objects that had been removed?” “When I got there things were messed up,” Cecil said, not exactly accusing him but it would sound like that in the courtroom or the media. Charges of tampering with evidence would ruin Cecil and probably Larry and Timp doubted he could prove anything beyond incompetence . “Did Larry tell you to destroy the photographs?” “Not exactly. I know you can fire me. Two more years. After that I’ll say what you want me to say. You screwed up too, Timp,” Cecil pleaded. Timp called Larry and when he didn’t get an answer, he went to the trailer park. He was relieved that Larry wasn’t home. *** Martha had spent the day cleaning the house after snapping off the radio at P.J.’s comment between records. “When Larry Maddin got a call that drug-crazed Wynn Mills had taken his wife and children hostage and disarmed Sheriff Smith, Larry knew he was in for the fight of his life.” Now she was cleaning the bathroom, the job she disliked the most, the one that received most of her fear. She had been afraid since the first call asking confirmation that Timp was going to run. She told the caller to ask Timp but the questions came because Timp had not returned their calls. When you were a hero everyone had expectations. He had been pushed into a place where he had no training or experience but he 101 learned. Every vacation...