Deadly Charm: The Story of a Deaf Serial Killer

4. February 8, 1980: The Morning After

4 February 8, 1980: The Morning After All is not well; I doubt some foul play. William Shakespeare, Hamlet February 8 dawned windy and cold over Annapolis. Early risers who turned on the news heard that President Jimmy Carter was calling for the draft registration of women and that the notorious serial killer Ted Bundy had been convicted and sentenced to death for a third rape and murder—his victim, twelve-year-old Kimberly Diane Leach. Before leaving their homes, Annapolis residents donned heavy clothing against the frigid wind blowing out of the northwest. Despite sunny skies, temperatures were predicted to remain below freezing throughout the day. Only a few hardy watermen would venture out onto the choppy waters of the Chesapeake this day, and smallcraft advisories were in effect. Marilyn Riley appeared as usual for work at the Yankee Yacht Carpentry Shop and found that neither Patrick McCullough nor her husband was on hand when she arrived, although Clint’s van was parked near the building. The fire in the woodstove had gone out during the night, and a bone-chilling cold had invaded the shop. Marilyn hurriedly gathered up scraps of wood and shavings to restart the blaze. 18 While the stove was heating, Marilyn glanced around the combination shop and living quarters. Clint’s bed had obviously not been slept in the previous night, and Lancer was curled up on top of the blankets. Patrick’s cot appeared to have been slept in, so she assumed that he had probably gone to have breakfast at one of the local restaurants, not unusual for him. She fed Lancer, then checked Clint’s desk to see if his ring of keys was in its usual place on his desk. It wasn’t there, and she concluded that wherever he had gone, he must have carried them with him. After the building had warmed somewhat, Marilyn started work on the nameplate that would be attached to the transom of a boat recently acquired by one of Clint’s customers. Marilyn grinned as she lettered in the boat’s new name, recognizing that the new owner had named the vessel for his wife, a ploy that was often used to win a reluctant spouse’s approval for such an expensive purchase. But even as she worked, the question of where Clint might have gone without his van continued to gnaw at her. Fawcett’s, Annapolis’s largest chandlery, was within easy walking distance on the opposite side of Spa Creek Bridge. It was possible Clint had gone there to pick up some necessary parts. Or, she speculated, he may have celebrated a bit too much the previous night and was sleeping it off in some friend’s boat or apartment. That would not be unusual . She also considered the more remote possibility that, since it was the slow season, he had decided to take a break for a few days, or had perhaps gone goose hunting with friends on the Eastern Shore as he sometimes did. That seemed unlikely , however, as it wasn’t like him to go off for any length of time without letting her know. Not particularly concerned, Marilyn continued with her lettering job, expecting that at any moment Clint would appear , either hungover or bringing with him the supplies he had purchased. An hour or so later, Patrick McCullough showed up. Having worked with the young shop assistant for some Deadly Charm 19 20 McCay Vernon and Marie Vernon time, Marilyn was able to communicate fairly well with him through mime or hastily scribbled notes. She greeted him when he entered and then, with gestures, asked if he knew where Clint might be. Patrick indicated by shrugging his shoulders and spreading his hands palm up that he had no idea where Clint had gone. She noted that he seemed reluctant to meet her gaze and appeared to be unusually preoccupied. Once or twice she heard him muttering to himself as he bent over his work. When several more hours passed and Clint had still not returned , Marilyn became increasingly uneasy. The bizarre events that had occurred recently, such as Lancer’s disappearance and the slicing of the van’s tires, fueled her concern. She was unaware, however, of the incident in which Patrick’s motorcycle had disappeared off the pier, and Patrick made no mention of it. By noon, there was still no word from...