Murder on Martha’s

vineyard
By Erica Jackson

Chapter 1

“Thank you so much for coming, Sterling,” Interim Mayor Ellen Murphy greeted NYPD
Detective Sterling Reid into her office. Ellen continued, “I know it’s been quite a while since
you’ve been back home to the island but I think Sheriff Treece could really use your help on this
case,” before offering her hand.
Sterling took Ellen’s hand while replying, “I admit, I was shocked when I heard someone
murdered Mayor Gardner. He’s been this town’s mayor for as long as I can remember so I’m
happy to help in any way I can.” She changed the subject, only slightly, “Does Sheriff Treece
know I’m here to help? We haven’t spoken in ten years,” she explained, revealing her nerves at
being back.
Ellen pulled back her hand and shook her head, “Sam is aware that I’ve asked someone to come
help with the case, but he doesn’t know who I’ve invited.”
“Well, this should be a lot of fun,” Sterling replied, sarcastically, “Do you mind telling me how
Mayor Gardner was killed? The papers have been very detail lite where this murder is
concerned,” she asked to take her mind off of seeing her ex.
Ellen moved around her desk to be ready to guide Sterling out of her office, “Sam will be able to
tell you much more, but I can tell you that he was strangled with his tie while in his home
office,” she shared.
Sterling could tell Ellen didn’t want to go into any more detail so she followed her out of the
office.
The two women were quiet as they walked down the boardwalk from City Council to the
Sheriff’s Station. Sterling knew Ellen didn’t want to say any more about the case and all she
could really focus on was how hard it was going to be to see Sam Treece again.
“Sherrif Treece,” Ellen’s voice shook Sterling from her thoughts along with her knocking on the
door, “Your assistant has arrived and is ready to get started on the case,” she announced their
presence.
Sterling followed Ellen through the front door and down the hall to Treece’s office where they
found him hunched over his desk, glasses on, studying a file. Sterling noticed he’d started to grey
but not much and he’d let his mustache and sideburns grow, but tastefully.
Ellen said his name again, “Sam, did you hear me at the door? Your help is here,” she repeated
herself.
He looked up at Ellen’s words. When his piercing blue eyes met Sterling’s, her mind flashed
back, immediately, to one of the last times they’d been together when she’d been only twenty
years old compared to his thirty-five.
Ellen disappeared while Sterling was still lost in her thoughts.

“Why don’t you stay here and work for me?” Sam asked, his Irish accent showing through, as
the pair sat on the beach, sharing ice-cream, “You want to be a cop and I’m the Sheriff. It just
makes sense,” he added, logically.
Sterling looked down, shaking her head, “Are you really bringing this up again? I’ve already
told you, I want to get some big city cop experience first, at least. I have to go to New York City.
You don’t really deal with ‘real’ cop stuff here,” she answered as she scooped some of her ice-
cream onto her spoon and offered it to him.
Sam refused her offer and sat back, “‘Real’ cop work, eh?” he repeated her words, clearly
offended. “What is it that you think I do every day here for Edgartown?” he asked in return.
She reached across the table and placed her hand on his cheek, “Treece, that’s not what I meant
and you know that. Edgartown is well taken care of because you’re here but I just want to get
some different experiences and the city can offer me those,” she elaborated on her earlier
response, hoping to repair his ego, if even only slightly.
“So, you never saw a real future between us, did you?” he countered as he took a bite of his ice-
cream, keeping his eyes from making contact with hers.
Sterling shook her head, “I never said that. I figured our relationship could handle a little
distance, but perhaps I was wrong. You’re acting like once I leave Edgartown, I’ll never be
allowed back onto the island.”
“Don’t worry about it, girl,” he responded, offering her a spoonful of his dessert, “Why don’t
we just focus on enjoying the time we have instead of worrying about what the future holds?”
She shrugged, “I guess that works, but I don’t want to say goodbye to you when I leave for New
York,” she added before the couple changed the subject.

Chapter 2

“I didn’t ask for any assistance on this case,” Treece’s voice shook Sterling from her memories,
“And, I certainly don’t need any help from big city detectives,” he added, his tone filled with
sarcasm, “Speaking of, how have ya been enjoying that ‘real’ cop work of yours?”
Sterling shook off her nerves as she responded, “Sherrif, I’m sorry the interim mayor brought me
in to help with your case but it will be easier if we work together and make the most of the
situation,” she stated while ignoring his inquiry about her job, “Could you show me the crime
scene? Ellen informed me that Mayor Gardner was strangled with his own tie,” she shared what
she already knew about the case in hopes to steer the conversation in a productive direction.
Treece glanced up from the paperwork on his desk as if he hadn’t even been listening to her,
“Can’t ya see I have a lot of work to take care of? Work that doesn’t include babysitting you but
I suppose, if you’re so concerned with seeing where the crime took place, I could show ya.
Perhaps, your ‘big city’ experience will let you see something I missed,” he added still
addressing her with sarcasm.
Sterling chose to stand her ground, refusing to let her history with him intimidate her when she
was there to complete a job, “I would really appreciate it if you could take a small break to show
me the Mayor’s home office. Was he still living off of Oak Lane?” she changed the subject to
ensure they were focusing only on their case and not their past.
He stood from his desk and grabbed his jacket, “Well, looks like ya haven’t forgotten everything
about your old stomping grounds. Follow me, girl,” he instructed as he led her out of his office to
his Bronco so he could drive them to the scene of the crime.
As they drove, Sterling decided to attempt some small talk with Sam in hopes that it might soften
him up, a bit.
“The islands changed a lot,” she began, “I’m actually staying in the new beachside resort they
just opened. It’s really nice,” she shared, offering a small smile.
Treece made a right turn as he responded to her attempt at conversation, “I don’t like anything
they’ve been doin’ on the island,” he shared, at least he was being honest instead of sarcastic,
“This place is going to become a tourist trap instead of the hidden treasure it’s always been. I
fought the construction of that place where yer staying, but as you can see, I lost.” He pulled into
the late Mayor Gardner’s driveway as he finished his thought, effectively stopping Sterling from
pursuing any further conversation.
The pair got out of the Bronco and walked into the Mayor’s home where Treece led Sterling into
the Mayor’s home office, which was taped off as a crime scene.
Sterling began to review the scene before she attempted to start up more small talk with Treece,
“So, are you still living in the same house?” she asked as she was looking over Gardner’s desk
for any sign of something that could constitute as a motive for his murder.
Treece was leaning against the doorframe, making sure to visibly show no interest in the case,
“Of course, it’s one of the few places left in this town that hasn’t been made to appear modern to
appease the tourists,” he changed the subject once again, “Have you seen anything I missed?” his
question was kind but the tone he chose was not.
Sterling shook her head, “No, there’s nothing I can see. I’d like to see the body if you don’t
mind. How do you know he was strangled with his tie?” she asked.
“Mr. Gardner was filming a video before he was killed and it is the only thing we haven’t been
able to find,” he replied, “Not too mention, a tie explains the patterns found on his neck,” he
explained.
She nodded, taking in every piece of information he was willing to give her. “Will you take me
to the body?” she asked a second time, her tone more demanding.
Treece let out a long sigh before gesturing for her to follow him back to the Bronco so he could
drive them to the morgue where she’d be able to examine the body.
“Whoever killed Gardner had to be big, bigger than him,” Sterling began as Treece drove them
toward the hospital, “If they were able to accomplish their goal with only his tie, that’s the only
explanation that they were large and strong.” She turned to face Treece, “Do you have any
suspects yet? I’m sure Ellen only called me in because this is such a high profile case,” she
added, focusing on getting him to open up more because she was intrigued by the case and didn’t
want to waste any time on their personal history.
Treece shook his head as he parked behind the hospital, allowing them to enter the morgue
without raising too many eyebrows in their small town, “I don’t have many yet. The only
working theory I currently have is Jaws related, which is pure nonsense,” he explained.
“Jaws related?” she asked, looking for him to elaborate on his statement.
He looked down, shaking his head, “A large portion of that film was shot here and it almost
always comes up as the motive behind anything that happens here. Some folks believe that
Mayor Garnder wasn’t being upfront enough regarding the spike in Great White sightings around
the island and that’s why he was killed,” he shared.
Sterling was aware of the film’s history in her hometown but she chose to follow up his
information with a question, “Have there been any actual attacks since the shark population has
risen?”
“No, there hasn’t been a single attack anywhere even close to the island which is why that reason
for a motive for murder is so ludicrous, but it’s the only thing I’ve been able to come up with
thus far,” he shared, showing a hint of vulnerability as they made their way inside.