Douglass Laird Dippert is a retired Air Force Logistics Officer with more than 25 years of active service. Moving to Saudi Arabia after his retirement, he worked with a variety of American, International, and Saudi corporations. During his Air Force career, he served in Southeast Asia, Japan, England, Germany, Maryland, and Florida. In addition to his logistics work, he served as a newspaper editor, radio and television presenter, intelligence analyst, and management instructor for mid-level supervisors.
He’s been published in the Asahi Shimbun, Yomiuri Shimbun, Pacific and European Stars and Stripes, Bangor Daily News, Air Force Times, Air Force Magazine, Military Officer, Loring Limelite, Yokota Fuji Flyer, and Off Duty Magazine. With his wife, Tonya and daughter, Christina, he has traveled extensively throughout Europe, Southwest Asia, Southeast Asia and the United States. As a radio and television presenter, he wrote, edited, directed, and presented programs on Air Force activities in and around Japan.
Holding undergraduate and graduate degrees in Government, Sociology, and International Relations, he has been a government instructor at the high school and college level in addition to teaching creative writing. He continues to substitute teach and pursue additional educational opportunities.
He is currently involved with editing and publishing a series of grade school level educational books. Additionally, he has begun research for the next book in this series.
“Bill’s home,” Sarah stated. A car door slammed and then a door at the back of the house shook the windows in the front room, as it was shoved shut. The sound of heavy footsteps preceded the arrival of a hulking man of more than 6 feet and definitely more than 275 pounds.
Sarah began, “Bill, this is, I’m sorry but we haven’t even exchanged names.” Carl reached out and introduced himself to Bill.
“Captain Carl Carpton, Bill, and this is Chief Master Sergeant Fernando Martinez.”
Bill shook hands with both men and then lowered his bulk into the lounge chair. Carl understood why the chair was in its present condition. He and the chief returned to their spots on the couch.
“Mr. and Mrs. Crimitin, we are here to relay some very tragic news. Your son William is dead. His landlord found him. The events surrounding his death are under investigation. We offer you our sincerest sympathy and the services of the Air Force for anything you may need.”
Both Sarah and Bill stared in disbelief at the captain and chief.
“Bullshit!” Bill shouted as he jumped from his lounge chair. “I just talked to the boy not two days ago. He said he was on his way to Saudi Arabia on, oh hell what did he call it? A rotation?”
“Yes sir,” replied the chief. “The information we have is he was returning to his house after that flight.”
Sarah said nothing. The tears were running down her wrinkled face and dripping one by one onto her white blouse. The captain turned his attention to her. “We are truly sorry for your loss.”
She looked into his eyes and asked, “How did he die?”
“At the present time, the only information we have is he was found dead outside his apartment. As soon as we have more details, we’ll bring them to you. You’ll be kept informed during each step of the investigation.”
As he spoke the words, the captain felt a presence behind him. He turned to see a boy about 16 or 17 standing in the hallway. Sarah ran toward the boy and threw her arms around him.
“Your brother’s dead,” she sobbed as she held him tight. The captain noticed the empty look on the boys face as he held his mother.
As they pulled out and drove down the alleyway toward the street, Karl suddenly appeared waving his hands in the air. Hanz rolled down the window.
"What''s the matter Karl?"
"Please come back inside, Frank just called back and asked about the date. He remembers something that might be of assistance." Hanz got out of the car and followed Karl inside.
The phone was off the hook on the table where they sat a few minutes before. Hanz picked up the receiver and spoke with Frank. When he restated the date in question, Frank recalled the evening because it was a birthday celebration for a female friend of his and he was coming home later than normal. Hanz said they would be right up to his house. Both men returned to the unmarked police car and drove up to Frank''s house. He was waiting on the sidewalk as they approached.
Greetings were exchanged as the men joined Frank in front of his house. "So you were coming home from a party at a friend’s house late on the evening of the murder," Hanz restated.
"I was just approaching my gate when I noticed headlights coming out of the field at the top of the street. Since the hour was so late, I stepped through the gate and waited on the walkway to see if it was one of my neighbors having a problem. The only people who use that road work the fields and tend to their livestock. Just call me nosy. Anyway, as the car approached, it wasn''t one I recognized. It was a blue Audi. I couldn''t tell you the year or anything else about the car. I just know it was blue and an Audi."
"Did you notice how many people were in the car?” Fritz asked.
"There were two men in the front. I don''t remember if there was anyone in the back."
Hanz reached out and shook the farmers’ callused hand. "Thank you very much for giving us a call back."
“The game is over.” As she spoke the words, she heard the gravelly sounds of footsteps behind her. As she sidestepped, Kinkaid completed the swing of the shovel. It glanced off J.R.’s left shoulder but with enough force to knock her off balance. She stumbled and was on the way to the ground when she got off a shot at Kinkaid. He dropped in a heap. As J.R. hit the ground, she rolled and was on her feet again as EB made a run for the fields. She fired once and brought him down with a hit to the back of his thigh. Olaf was standing with his hands raised above his head but MD was making a run for his vehicle. With a quick double squeeze of the trigger, she blew out both front tires. MD stopped, raised his hands, and slowly turned to face J.R.
“I TOLD YOU NOT TO TRUST ANYONE,” EB screamed as he withered in pain where he fell to the ground.