Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Part Two - Free Fire
As we venture into part two of this book, Joe learns more about the case that he is sent to help out on. He also learns his place in all of this, at the very bottom and not very welcomed. This part of the book is not very long and nothing really exciting happens other than the little hike him and his partner go out on. They went to the ranger station that McCann checked in at before he went out that morning. They look at the signature log and find some information that was not stated in the report and decide to take a hike out to see the crime scene. With both on guard and aware that they could possibly be putting themselves in danger due to the fact that everyone is aware that this is an area that anyone can commit a crime and get away with it. With that said, they come upon the area that the environmentalists were camping and come across a man and his shotgun, but what none of them know is that Joe's friend Nate was hanging in the balance. The outcome was not very good, causing Joe's female partner who is a ranger in the park to be scared out of her mind and the shooter about killed.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Part One - Free Fire
The start of this book has pulled me in and has not let go or should I say I don't want to put it down. The setting for this book is still in Wyoming as the others, but this particular book takes place in Yellowstone National Park.
Before I get into details on part one, I want to give you a little information on Yellowstone as stated in the book. Yellowstone was conceived by the Hayden Expedition in 1871 as the world's first national park. It is a set aside of 2.2 million acres containing more than 10,000 thermal features, canyons, waterfalls, and wildlife. Some of the sights in the park are Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs, Norris Geyser Basin, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the Lower and Upper Falls. As a kid, Joe used to go to Yellowstone every year with his family. It was his and his father's love for the park that made him want to be a game warden.
The start of the book takes place at Bechler River Ranger Station at Yellowstone National Park. Clay McCann walked into the ranger station fully armed with weapons announcing that he just brutally killed four campers by Robinson Lake. The ranger looks at him and tells him that law enforcement will be here any minute and does he want him to call him a lawyer. He looks up and says, "I am a lawyer."
Now lets back up a little bit. At the end of Plain Sight, Joe was fired. Well, he is currently working on his father-in-law's ranch as a foreman ranch hand. He and his wife Marybeth along with their two daughter's Sheridan and Lucy are staying there as well in the guest house. One day while working on the fencing, some government vehicles approach the property asking to speak to Joe. Joe goes back to the ranch house to find out what is going on. Well, they have a position for him that they need help with. They want him to go up to Yellowstone and help sort out the information on this murder that took place up there. Joe takes the information and tells him that he needs to talk to his family about this and will get back to him. Meanwhile, they give him the folder with all the information on the case. When the time is right, Joe talks to his wife and is pretty happy that she said yes. This is want he does, this is what he wants.
In reading into the information he asks his good friend Nate to join him. He tells him a little about the case. This guy, Clay McCann takes a hike into Yellowstone National Park armed with two SIG-Sauer P220 .45 ACP semiautomatic handguns and a Browning BT-99 Micro twelve-gauge shotgun. Basically, this guy goes into this one part of the park, kills four campers, walks out a free man three months later. The reasoning behind this is jurisdiction and venue, or what is called "vicinage." Joe explains that there is a hidden loophole in the federal law.
Yellowstone is broken down by boundaries. Boundaries drawn before Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana were granted statehood Joe goes on to explain. The square border of Wyoming, which contained more than 92% of the park, north into Montana and west into Idaho. There is approximately 260 square miles of Yellowstone in Montana, and approximately 50 in Idaho. There is no state law in Yellowstone, it is only Federal Law. Any crime that is committed there, the perpetrator is bound over under federal statues. The trial will take place either inside the park at a courthouse in Mammoth Hot Springs, or the federal district court over in Cheyenne. As stated in the book - "Article Three of the Constitution says the accused in entitled to a 'local trial,' meaning a venue in the state, and a 'jury trial' but does not say where the jury has to come from. The Sixth Amendment of the Constitution specifies a 'local jury trial' - that's the vicinage. With that said, the jury would have to be picked from the state Idaho and the district Wyoming because of the way the park overlaps into this area and these states. Being that no one lives in this area, there is no trial and the guy walks committing "the perfect crime." Sounds too good to be true. That is where Joe comes in.
Before I get into details on part one, I want to give you a little information on Yellowstone as stated in the book. Yellowstone was conceived by the Hayden Expedition in 1871 as the world's first national park. It is a set aside of 2.2 million acres containing more than 10,000 thermal features, canyons, waterfalls, and wildlife. Some of the sights in the park are Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs, Norris Geyser Basin, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the Lower and Upper Falls. As a kid, Joe used to go to Yellowstone every year with his family. It was his and his father's love for the park that made him want to be a game warden.
The start of the book takes place at Bechler River Ranger Station at Yellowstone National Park. Clay McCann walked into the ranger station fully armed with weapons announcing that he just brutally killed four campers by Robinson Lake. The ranger looks at him and tells him that law enforcement will be here any minute and does he want him to call him a lawyer. He looks up and says, "I am a lawyer."
Now lets back up a little bit. At the end of Plain Sight, Joe was fired. Well, he is currently working on his father-in-law's ranch as a foreman ranch hand. He and his wife Marybeth along with their two daughter's Sheridan and Lucy are staying there as well in the guest house. One day while working on the fencing, some government vehicles approach the property asking to speak to Joe. Joe goes back to the ranch house to find out what is going on. Well, they have a position for him that they need help with. They want him to go up to Yellowstone and help sort out the information on this murder that took place up there. Joe takes the information and tells him that he needs to talk to his family about this and will get back to him. Meanwhile, they give him the folder with all the information on the case. When the time is right, Joe talks to his wife and is pretty happy that she said yes. This is want he does, this is what he wants.
In reading into the information he asks his good friend Nate to join him. He tells him a little about the case. This guy, Clay McCann takes a hike into Yellowstone National Park armed with two SIG-Sauer P220 .45 ACP semiautomatic handguns and a Browning BT-99 Micro twelve-gauge shotgun. Basically, this guy goes into this one part of the park, kills four campers, walks out a free man three months later. The reasoning behind this is jurisdiction and venue, or what is called "vicinage." Joe explains that there is a hidden loophole in the federal law.
Yellowstone is broken down by boundaries. Boundaries drawn before Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana were granted statehood Joe goes on to explain. The square border of Wyoming, which contained more than 92% of the park, north into Montana and west into Idaho. There is approximately 260 square miles of Yellowstone in Montana, and approximately 50 in Idaho. There is no state law in Yellowstone, it is only Federal Law. Any crime that is committed there, the perpetrator is bound over under federal statues. The trial will take place either inside the park at a courthouse in Mammoth Hot Springs, or the federal district court over in Cheyenne. As stated in the book - "Article Three of the Constitution says the accused in entitled to a 'local trial,' meaning a venue in the state, and a 'jury trial' but does not say where the jury has to come from. The Sixth Amendment of the Constitution specifies a 'local jury trial' - that's the vicinage. With that said, the jury would have to be picked from the state Idaho and the district Wyoming because of the way the park overlaps into this area and these states. Being that no one lives in this area, there is no trial and the guy walks committing "the perfect crime." Sounds too good to be true. That is where Joe comes in.
June - In Plain Sight
It is said that when it comes to the Scarlett brother's, you're either for Arlen or for Hank. There is a third brother, but people usually leave him to his own business.
Joe's wife was asked by Arlen Scarlett to work for him as Marybeth has her own accounting business. Joe wasn't happy about this as he wasn't for or against one over the other.
When Marybeth was with Arlen, she saw that he was a little distracted. He kept looking at his phone. When he got a phone call, he about jumped out of his skin. He stepped outside to talk to his lawyer. Marybeth looked on from inside the office. When Arlen came back, he burst through the door yelling, "there was a secret will." Apparently Opal liked to play Hank against Arlen and they both thought they were going to get the ranch. This secret will that his lawyer found, states that Arlen will be getting the ranch.
At the Scarlett wing of the Twelve Sleep County Historical Society, Joe could see all the pro-Arlen and pro-Hank followers.
It was also at the ceremony that Joe recognized someone. That someone is Bill Monroe. The same guy that beat the crap out of Joe earlier in the book.
In doing his daily rounds, he heard the pop of a shot gun. Grabbing his binoculars, he saw a man step out from behind the door and wave. Bill Monroe. Antelope season was four months away.
Joe needs to get to the bottom of all this and figure out what all this is about. Meanwhile back at the ranch, Bill Monroe or should I say John Keeley is making himself known. Telling Hank who he really was and stopped Hank in his tracks. Watching him like a hawk and just as he was about to turn around, John Keeley cut Hank's throat open.
As Joe and his buddy Nate approach the bank of the ranch via their boat, Nate notices someone standing in the rain. It was Opal. As they walked further up the bank, part of the embankment collapsed into the river. Noticing something, Nate walks over and notices the bumper of a car. Opal's Cadillac.
Walking through the house, they heard a moan from under the floor. Recalling a cellar door, the guys go outside. Recognizing the moan as they got close and realizing it was Wyatt Scarlett, the youngest brother. What Joe saw next was very surprising, a taxidermy studio.
Wyatt sat on the floor holding his brother Arlen's head in his lap, but he was clearly dead. Lying next to him was a man's entire arm. Joe asked Wyatt what happened. All he said is that his brother's are dead. Joe asked him who did this and all Wyatt said was Bill Monroe. He asked him where he is and he didn't know and then asked him if that was his arm.
Following the trail of blood, he found John Keeley slumped on the floor in the barn. After a few exchanges of words even I was shocked at what Joe did. He slowly raised his gun to John's head and pulled the trigger.
The ranch house and barn go up in flames killing all the brother's and also resulting in Joe loosing his job as the Twelve Sleep County game warden. With all this unfolding at the end of the book and as the next one in line awaits as a continuation of this one, I am curious to see what lies ahead for Joe since he is no longer the game warden.
Joe's wife was asked by Arlen Scarlett to work for him as Marybeth has her own accounting business. Joe wasn't happy about this as he wasn't for or against one over the other.
When Marybeth was with Arlen, she saw that he was a little distracted. He kept looking at his phone. When he got a phone call, he about jumped out of his skin. He stepped outside to talk to his lawyer. Marybeth looked on from inside the office. When Arlen came back, he burst through the door yelling, "there was a secret will." Apparently Opal liked to play Hank against Arlen and they both thought they were going to get the ranch. This secret will that his lawyer found, states that Arlen will be getting the ranch.
At the Scarlett wing of the Twelve Sleep County Historical Society, Joe could see all the pro-Arlen and pro-Hank followers.
It was also at the ceremony that Joe recognized someone. That someone is Bill Monroe. The same guy that beat the crap out of Joe earlier in the book.
In doing his daily rounds, he heard the pop of a shot gun. Grabbing his binoculars, he saw a man step out from behind the door and wave. Bill Monroe. Antelope season was four months away.
Joe needs to get to the bottom of all this and figure out what all this is about. Meanwhile back at the ranch, Bill Monroe or should I say John Keeley is making himself known. Telling Hank who he really was and stopped Hank in his tracks. Watching him like a hawk and just as he was about to turn around, John Keeley cut Hank's throat open.
As Joe and his buddy Nate approach the bank of the ranch via their boat, Nate notices someone standing in the rain. It was Opal. As they walked further up the bank, part of the embankment collapsed into the river. Noticing something, Nate walks over and notices the bumper of a car. Opal's Cadillac.
Walking through the house, they heard a moan from under the floor. Recalling a cellar door, the guys go outside. Recognizing the moan as they got close and realizing it was Wyatt Scarlett, the youngest brother. What Joe saw next was very surprising, a taxidermy studio.
Wyatt sat on the floor holding his brother Arlen's head in his lap, but he was clearly dead. Lying next to him was a man's entire arm. Joe asked Wyatt what happened. All he said is that his brother's are dead. Joe asked him who did this and all Wyatt said was Bill Monroe. He asked him where he is and he didn't know and then asked him if that was his arm.
Following the trail of blood, he found John Keeley slumped on the floor in the barn. After a few exchanges of words even I was shocked at what Joe did. He slowly raised his gun to John's head and pulled the trigger.
The ranch house and barn go up in flames killing all the brother's and also resulting in Joe loosing his job as the Twelve Sleep County game warden. With all this unfolding at the end of the book and as the next one in line awaits as a continuation of this one, I am curious to see what lies ahead for Joe since he is no longer the game warden.
Friday, July 1, 2011
May - In Plain Sight
A month after Opal Scarlett was reported missing, her body still hasn't been found. The question around town is where is she? So far, they still believe it was Tommy Wayman who threw her in. Some believe that as stubborn as she is, she swam to shore and is in hiding.
With the disappearance of Opal, the Thunderhead Ranch is in shambles if you will and sides and feuds amongst the brothers is heating up.
Did you ever feel like you were being watched? Joe has the same feeling and that feeling came true when there was a noise outside. The oldest daughter opened the door to find a Miller's weasel stuck to the front door with a steak knife. Of course this has Joe puzzled. With all of these books referencing back to other event's in earlier books, this was an animal that Joe dealt with and looks at all the people that he dealt with about the Miller's weasel.
The time came for Sheridan to have a sleepover at the Thunderhead Ranch, where her best friend lives. Joe was not very happy about it with so much going on between the Scarlett brother's. Sheridan was excited about the sleepover but when it came time to go to bed, she was having a hard time sleeping. After a while, she decided to get up and go to the bathroom. She saw a light on downstairs. She heard some voices outside and it was her friend's Uncle Arlen and Bill Monroe. The kitchen looked like someone was making a sandwich. She also noticed that the sharp knife in the kitchen matched the one that was stuck in the front door with the Miller's weasel. AS the voices got closer, she panicked, grabbed the sharp knife, some water, and just as she was walking out of the kitchen, in walked her friend's Uncle Arlen and his friend Bill Monroe.
The name sound familiar to Sheridan as that was the name of the man who beat up her dad and worked for Hank Scarlett. This puzzled Sheridan as Hand and Arlen both lived on the ranch but on different parts of the property.
The next morning, Sheridan woke up but Julie was still sleeping. She took the binoculars that were on Julie's dresser and looked outside. She was very surprised to see a slightly smiling face of a woman. It was Opal Scarlett.
A few days later, Joe went outside to get the paper and felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Looking around, he noticed four elk heads mounted on the fence posts in his front yard. Who is doing this and why?
With the disappearance of Opal, the Thunderhead Ranch is in shambles if you will and sides and feuds amongst the brothers is heating up.
Did you ever feel like you were being watched? Joe has the same feeling and that feeling came true when there was a noise outside. The oldest daughter opened the door to find a Miller's weasel stuck to the front door with a steak knife. Of course this has Joe puzzled. With all of these books referencing back to other event's in earlier books, this was an animal that Joe dealt with and looks at all the people that he dealt with about the Miller's weasel.
The time came for Sheridan to have a sleepover at the Thunderhead Ranch, where her best friend lives. Joe was not very happy about it with so much going on between the Scarlett brother's. Sheridan was excited about the sleepover but when it came time to go to bed, she was having a hard time sleeping. After a while, she decided to get up and go to the bathroom. She saw a light on downstairs. She heard some voices outside and it was her friend's Uncle Arlen and Bill Monroe. The kitchen looked like someone was making a sandwich. She also noticed that the sharp knife in the kitchen matched the one that was stuck in the front door with the Miller's weasel. AS the voices got closer, she panicked, grabbed the sharp knife, some water, and just as she was walking out of the kitchen, in walked her friend's Uncle Arlen and his friend Bill Monroe.
The name sound familiar to Sheridan as that was the name of the man who beat up her dad and worked for Hank Scarlett. This puzzled Sheridan as Hand and Arlen both lived on the ranch but on different parts of the property.
The next morning, Sheridan woke up but Julie was still sleeping. She took the binoculars that were on Julie's dresser and looked outside. She was very surprised to see a slightly smiling face of a woman. It was Opal Scarlett.
A few days later, Joe went outside to get the paper and felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Looking around, he noticed four elk heads mounted on the fence posts in his front yard. Who is doing this and why?
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