J4

J4

Felt  nodded   with   obvious  pleasure. But  the   homicide investigation experienced the first  headwinds from  Judge Karl Porter when he was visted by Felt and the  sheriff at his house and declined to  allow  them to  to bring  the  Bergins to  the station for fingerprints. He also declined  to let  them bring Robyn in for more for questioning. The judge mused, aloud, "Your case is starting to become a fishing expedition."

If Felt  was  disappointed  it didn't  show. "Let's go  visit the  Bergin  place anyway,"  he  told  the Sheriff  outside  the courthouse. "I want to see if I can shake something loose."

"Do you want Bob and Bill to tag along?"

"No, I need them to make a phone call. Tell your men to get the number of  Bergin's plates, then have  them go up to  the temple and take photographs of his tire treads."

"Oh, we already have Bergin's plate number on file," Roddy said. "He doesn't think the wartime speed limit  of thirty-five miles per hour applies to church deacons."

Agent Felt smiled in admiration. "Sheriff, this is one of the smallest  towns  I've  ever  seen,  but the  way  you  run  your department is a G-man's dream."

When they arrived at Bergin's home Mark Felt took copious notes beginning with the fact that  no vehicle was present. And Felt thought the most striking thing about the woman who answered the door was how unattractive she was. If she hadn't worn a dress Mark might have thought Deacon Paul himself was standing there. He cleared his throat and identified himself and Sheriff Walker.

"How may I help you?"

"Is Mr. Paul Bergin at home?"

She shook her head. "He works at the temple. I'm his wife Ruth."

Perhaps you can help after all,  Mrs. Bergin. It seems a young woman was attacked with a knife recently."

"Good God! Is she well?"

"It's hard to say at this point," said Felt. 'But we found the knife that was  used  in the  attack. It has  a unique  wooden handle. It's hand-crafted, you see. Only a very few sets were sold, Ruth, and we think you might have one of them."