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“It just happened within the last hour, and I parked way back in the last space in the SW corner of your lot. I have a new truck and wanted to stay away from other parked cars.”
Cushing’s face broke out into a frown. “The SW corner you said, correct?”
“Yeah, the one closest to the Burger King restaurant, just off the highway.”
“That’s a problem,” Cushings said. “We have extensive security cameras both inside the casino and in our outside parking lots. Unfortunately, we have a couple of blind spots that are not currently covered outside. One is a new parking area we just opened up behind the casino’s north entrance. The other blind spot is the SW corner where you parked. We have plans to acquire additional cameras to cover these areas, but unfortunately, there is currently no coverage in that back corner. I’m very sorry.”
“Are you telling me there’s no way to see who keyed my truck?”
“Unfortunately not Mr. Koehler. Are there any other questions I can answer while I‘m here?”
“No,” Chuck responded. “Thank you, Art.”
Art left the office immediately, and Chuck looked at Eddie and said, “Sorry we couldn’t be more help, Eddie. I’m sure your insurance will cover this and hopefully waive your deductible. Now I don’t mean to be rude, but I have a meeting to prepare for and need to get some stuff ready. I look forward to seeing you again in 30 days.”
Eddie stormed out of the office, still skeptical that the casino management wasn’t involved in the incident. It seemed too convenient they had no cameras covering the exact spot he parked in. Without evidence, he had no way to prove anything. That made him even angrier as he thought about it.
After Eddie left, Chuck gathered some papers and charts for his meeting. As he left his office, he stopped in the men’s room before proceeding. Standing at the sink, Chuck saw a man scrubbing black paint off a metal object that looked like a key. Chuck finished his business, washed his hands in the other sink, and hailed the man as he walked past him. “Hey Turk, See you in the meeting in five minutes. Don’t be late.”
Chapter fourteen
November 14, 2021
The day before the Michigan firearm deer season had finally arrived. The activity at the Roads End camp resembled bees in a hive getting ready for the long winter. Guys were scurrying around the small cabin nonstop as they checked their gear, unloaded food, readied their deer rifles, put away their clothes, and prepared their bunk beds for the upcoming week. Everyone arrived in a festive mood. Jeff created a poster that displayed photos of the biggest bucks they’d captured on their trail cams for the year. Everyone always enjoyed the poster because it reassured the hunters that the property held some huge deer. This year’s biggest buck was a ten-point they named Starbuck. Chet saw him during bow season, but unfortunately, he was more than 100 yards away. Every hunter felt optimistic they would harvest Starbuck this year. Morale amongst the group peaked the night before the season every year.
Jeff decided he would do something he’d thought about for several years. He planned to take pictures, tape hunter interviews, and record video of the hijinks on “The Night Before Season at a Michigan Deer Camp.” If properly edited, this might have a market, capturing the humorous banter and shenanigans that go on during this time of year. If not, it would still be a great memento for the camp archives.
After his traditional visit to the Coyote Grill, Grant had arrived and joked with Mooch and Frenchie. Being one of the first to arrive at camp meant you could put your gear away and get settled before more guys rolled in, and the camp got even crazier. Grant hung his hunting coat on a hook near his bunk adjacent to the bathroom. He then stowed his backpack on the floor nearby. Frenchie had already broken open the first bottle of schnapps. He threw the bottle cap into the fire, ensuring that the bottle had to be finished that day. Just before 4 pm, they heard a truck banging down the road, and Elk pulled up to the cabin and parked in her designated spot. She opened the camp door with her typical bluster and announced, “I need all you dipshits to get up off your asses and help me unload the food in my truck. If ya wanna eat, ya gotta work.” She headed back to the truck to grab her personal gear. Everyone jumped up and helped unload the food boxes and get them safely packed away in the refrigerator and the extra freezer. Elk retreated to her private room to ready her bed as Chet finally arrived.
Chet wasn’t happy when he entered the camp. He’d learned Mooch brought his rifle and backpack to his blind earlier that morning. Chet was pissed because he claimed unnecessary activity would rile up the deer near his blind. “I thought we were going to stay away from the property’s interior the day before the season,” Chet angrily exclaimed. “First they ban baiting, and now I have idiots scaring deer away on the day before season. Mooch, do you realize your blind is no more than 200 yards from mine as the crow flies?”
“Sorry, Chet, I didn't mean to mess you up. I just figured going in during the late morning to get my blind ready for tomorrow would be ok. You’ll probably get Starbuck tomorrow morning, and my movement today won’t matter a bit.” Chet scowled but said no more.
“Can I help you with your gear?” Jeff asked.
“Thanks, but I’ve got it,'' Chet said. “I only have one large duffle bag, and most of my stuff is in the blind already. Unlike Mooch, I got my blind ready three days ago so I wouldn’t mess up anyone else’s hunting.”
By 5:00 pm, everyone in camp huddled around the TV watching the Michigan vs. Michigan State football game. Jim Harbaugh, the Michigan coach, raced up and down the sidelines at the “Big House,” complaining about the targeting call that just caused his linebacker to be ejected from the game. The camp members were split between Michigan and Michigan State fans. All the Koehlers were Michigan fans, while the rest were rooting for MSU. The hunters were rowdy, watching the game while the beer and schnapps flowed freely. Elk didn’t enjoy football as much as the others, so she huddled up in a chair in front of the fire, reading a novel she had just purchased yesterday. The game came down to the very last play. Michigan State had the ball. The game was tied 10-10. The Michigan State kicker came in to attempt a 45-yard field goal to win the game. The snap was good, but a Michigan player managed to get a hand up and block the kick. The ball fluttered into the air right into the hands of a Michigan defensive back. He took off running toward the end zone with most of the MSU team chasing him. As time expired, he dove into the end zone and sealed the 16-10 Michigan win. Jeff and Grant went crazy with joy while Chet, Frenchie, and Mooch cursed loudly. What a finish!
“You jinxed the MSU Spartans, Frenchie,” Mooch exclaimed. "Going around here telling anyone who would listen MSU would win by over 10 points. Next time keep your predictions to yourself.”
“I jinxed em? No, you jinxed em, you dipshit. I told you never to have a shot of whiskey on a touchdown during the game. Momentum can change quickly, and you celebrated as if the game already ended. This loss is on you, dumbass. Admit it.”
This prompted another round of drinks, and the Michigan and Michigan State fans all joined in. The Koehlers celebrated with a shot while the others were commiserating with draft beer. Just as more drinks were being poured, Eddie entered the cabin with a guy that nobody in camp had ever seen before. “Eddie, my man,” Mooch uttered, “it’s about time you got here. You just missed the football game. Frenchie jinxed the Spartans and caused them to lose. Why are you so late?”
“I had some last-minute stuff to take care of, and we stopped at the bar. I’m here now, so let’s get this party started.”
“Yeah, man, let's burn it down, baby!” Chet yelled.“I think the party’s already started,” said Frenchie, “but now that you’re here, we can take it to another level.”
Eddie turned to the guys and introduced his friend. “Guys, this is a friend of mine, Jim Turkovich. I know we have an extra bunk this year, and I invited Jim to join us.” The guys all came over, introduced themselves, and shook Jim’s hand. Elk remained seated until Jim came over and greeted her.
“Jim Turkovich, ma’am,” he said with an extended hand. "Everybody calls me Turk.”
“Well, Turk, there’s no ma'am here, but you can call me Elk.” The greeting from Elk definitely wasn’t as warm as the others, but Turk ignored it and said, “It’s nice to meet you, Elk.”
When Turk went into the back of the cabin to stow his gear, Elk turned to Jeff and asked, “Where the hell did Eddie find this guy? He looks kinda seedy with that mustache you typically see only in adult movies. I think I’ll call him Pornstache!”
Jeff couldn’t stop laughing when he heard Elk’s new nickname. Grant helped Eddie and Turk bring in their gear and pulled Eddie aside to ask about Turk. “I haven’t seen you with this guy before, nor seen him around town. Where did you meet him?”
