The Girl in the Woods

 

Ludwig didn't miss those talks. This one would be different, he felt certain, because he had the information Captain Berding wanted, which gave him a measure of power he'd never had when facing the dean in those early, hungry years of his career.

 

"If you have information pertinent to either one of these cases, or any case within my jurisdiction, I'd appreciate it hearing about it Mr. Ludwig—"

 

 

 

"Dr. Ludwig. I teach at the university. It's Dr. Ludwig."

 

 

 

"Okay. Dr. Ludwig. Understandably, time is of the essence here, so if you could get to it."

 

 

 

Ludwig held his index finger in the air. "Right. Have you ever heard of The Pioneer Club?"

 

 

 

Berding looked surprised. He clearly didn't expect the conversation to start off there. "I've heard of them."

 

 

 

"And you know what they did?"

 

 

 

"I've heard some of the stories. I grew up here in New Cambridge. But I'm not sure how this relates."

 

 

 

"Oh, it relates," Ludwig said. "It relates."

 

 

 

"Could you relate it as fast as possible? I have a man missing."

 

 

 

"I'll cut to the chase then. I know where The Pioneer Club used to meet."

 

 

 

Berding looked unimpressed. "And?"

 

 

 

"The location of The Pioneer Club meeting place has been unknown. It's been a closely guarded secret since the founding of this town. I've spent the past decade researching the group and their activities, and I've finally found the spot where they used to meet."

 

 

 

Berding started to speak, but Ludwig kept on going.

 

"Do you know the Donahues, a family that lives on land west of town out in Union Township?"

 

 

 

"I know of them."

 

 

 

"The land is currently owned by a Roger Donahue. Do you know of him?"

 

 

 

Berding shrugged. "I've seen him around. He's a guy with a slow leak who lives out on the edge of civilization. Every town has one like him."

 

 

 

"His family has owned that land for close to two hundred years. Roger Donahue might have a slow leak. I don't know. I've never met the man. But his family was quite prominent in the history of this town."

 

 

 

"I believe you," Berding said. "I knew his old man better than the son, now that I think about it. He used to do odd jobs around town. He was a kind of handyman type. No real steady work but always had something to do. He was a little squirrelly but harmless."

 

 

 

"Their ancestors were members of The Pioneer Club. It only makes sense, right? I mean if they met on their land."

 

 

 

"Sure," Berding said, showing a little more interest. "But I'm waiting for the dots to connect."

 

 

 

"You know the stories about what they used to do there, right? The ritualized, sanctioned murder. The punishment of women."

 

 

 

Berding nodded. "I've heard stories."

 

 

 

"When I was out there, on the Donahue land, I found a grave, recently dug, and large enough to hold a human body."

 

 

 

Berding cocked his head slightly. "Did you see a body?"

 

 

 

"No."

 

 

 

"What did you see?"

 

 

 

"I saw a rectangular area of freshly turned earth, approximately five feet long and two feet wide. I also saw a number of footprints to indicate that someone had been there recently."

 

 

 

"Did you see any people?"

 

 

 

"No."

 

 

 

"You just saw this hole in the ground."

 

 

 

"A filled-in hole. Yes."

 

 

 

Berding leaned back in his chair, the springs squeaking against his weight. "You understand why I can't do anything with this, don't you?"

 

 

 

"No. What do you mean?"

 

 

 

"Do you know how many people out in the sticks have holes dug on their property? Holes that look like graves? They bury animals, they dig irrigation lines and put in plumbing. Hell, some of them still bury their garbage and the contents of their slop pots. If I arrested everybody who dug a hole on their property, I'd fill the state prison at Lucasville."

 

 

 

Ludwig hadn't expected to encounter such resistance. He thought he was bringing in the Rosetta Stone, the key to unlocking a series of mysteries that had plagued the town for more years than either man knew. Instead he found himself dealing with an obstinate and small-minded public official, one who was currently displaying the same obtuse nature as the worst of Ludwig's students.

 

"This isn't just any land," Ludwig said. "This is land with a connection to The Pioneer Club. And land that is situated within a mile of the place where Jacqueline Foley is presumed to have disappeared. You have an officer missing as well. Let me guess...he was investigating the Foley case when he vanished. Am I right?"

 

 

 

Berding didn't respond. He pursed his lips together and didn't speak.

 

"So I am right. That's two disappearances in that area. And a grave. What's it going to take?"

 

 

 

Berding steepled his fingers before his face. Ludwig couldn't see if his expression was changing or not. He leaned to the right, trying to see around the man's hands.

 

"Well, Captain?"

 

 

 

"Thank you for your time, Dr. Ludwig. If we need anything else, we'll let you know."

 

 

 

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