She elbowed me. “Killjoy.”
“I’m serious as a heart attack. Mr. GBI doesn’t see the value of using psychic consultants, though the sheriff is trying to bring him around. It’s a delicate situation. If you breathe a word about my dreamwalks to anyone, there’ll be hell to pay. But never mind about me or the case. Tell me about you and lover boy.”
Charlotte flushed crimson. She leaned in close. “He likes sex a lot. Turns out, I like it too, but every time I try to have a serious conversation with him, I end up naked. What if we don’t have anything to talk about?”
“When we were in the mountains, you made a list of mutual topics of interest. Music and I can’t remember what all else.”
“Conversation isn’t happening. Except, he talks about his mom and his hunting dogs. And now those pigs. If he didn’t pour himself into making me happy, I’m not sure we’d have a future.”
“You’re thinking future already?”
“He’s asked me to come back with them. To move in with him.”
Her admission floored me. I couldn’t imagine Sinclair County without Charlotte. “Are you considering it?”
“Sure. And no. I mean, I can’t do that, can I? What lovestruck fool walks away from a paying job to follow a man she just met across the state? This is the twenty-first century. Women get to have their cake and eat it too. I want a relationship and a career. I think. Oh, I don’t know. This is my first serious relationship. Why should I have to make such a big decision right away?”
Before I could reply, my phone rang. Wayne. “Get over here right now,” he said.
“Where are you?” I asked.
“At the office. Hurry.” He clicked off.
“I’ve got work,” I announced to Charlotte, Duncan, and Mayes. “We haven’t talked about plans for today. It’s Sunday. Does anyone have an interest in church? I can direct you to any of the houses of worship in the county.”
“I’m coming with you,” Mayes said. “I’m with Charlotte,” Duncan said.
“I want a story,” Charlotte said. “I’m with Baxley.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Did you have to bring an entire posse with you?” Wayne grumbled when Mayes and I joined him in his office. “But, baggage aside. I have good news for us. Escoe returned to Savannah this morning due to a personal matter. His mom was hospitalized after a fall. Which means he’ll monitor my progress from afar. You two are back on the case.”
I shared a glance with Mayes before I spoke. “I’m sorry about his mom, but I’m glad not to be sneaking around anymore. We need to find Mandy’s killer.”
“Agreed, which is why I called you in on a Sunday.”
“What’s up?” I asked, taking the high road. Mayes and I sat in Wayne’s guest chairs. He’d closed the door behind us. I guessed Tamika, his administrative assistant, had informed him that Charlotte and Duncan were in the lobby.
“I locked up Todd Derenne last night for Drunk and Disorderly Conduct. June’s sporting two black eyes from his fists and won’t press charges. She’s already been by here this morning to find out how much his bond is. I imagine he’ll be out by noon.”
“And …?”
“I want you to sit in on my interview with him.”
“Why?”
“I plan to ask leading questions. If he talks about the case, we’ll turn that information over to Escoe.”
“What about Mayes?”
“I’m planting Mayes in the lobby with your friends. I want a full report on June Hendrix’s conduct when she returns.” He snickered. “Try to keep Charlotte from annoying her too much.”
“I’ll do it, on one condition,” Mayes said.
“What’s that?”
“Anything unusual happens with Baxley, come get me.”
“I’ll do what I think is prudent,” Wayne said.
Mayes’ chin jutted as he rose. Wayne was the taller man, but at that moment, Mayes seemed downright dangerous. I didn’t want the guys to get sidetracked with macho crap. I stood and pressed my keys in Mayes’ hand, closing his fingers around them.
Grateful for once for our mutual telepathy, I opened my senses to him and communicated with Mayes using mindspeak. Wayne can’t help being a jerk , I began. If you need access, my key to the back door of the office is on my key ring .
He doesn’t like my interference , Mayes countered. He wants you for himself .
I’m glad you’re here, but you have to accept that Wayne is my boss. Will you keep this link open between us?
Given how connected we are, you’ll know if I’m in trouble.
I will do as he requests for now, but know this. I will come through this wall for you.
No need to hurt yourself. I’ll be fine. I’ve sat in on interviews before. Be careful, Walks with Ghosts.
I will.
The exchange took mere seconds, but the glare Wayne shot me spoke volumes. After Mayes left the office, Wayne turned on me. “What was that about?”
I played it cool. “What?”
“You and that Injun fella.”
“Sam Mayes is a fine officer and my friend. I expect you to treat him in a courteous and professional manner. His Cherokee heritage doesn’t figure into it.”
“He’s your boyfriend.”
My boss could fish around all he liked, but I wouldn’t have relationship talks with him, not ever. “My personal life isn’t your concern.”
Wayne turned away for a moment. “Your personal life never interfered with your work availability.”
“I’m here, aren’t I? You called. I came. On a weekend, no less. Let’s get to that interview. I have other things planned for today.”
He hurried past me to open the door. “Like what?”
“Like none of your beeswax.” I scowled as I stepped past him. “Shouldn’t you be home with Dottie and your boys? It is your day off.”
“Crime never sleeps.”
I didn’t dignify that with a response. “Which interview room?”
“Two. The smallest one. I want this guy to feel like he’s in a box.”
I headed to the appointed room. “Is he already inside?”
“He is.”
My steps halted. The protocol was for Wayne to enter the room first. “I know the drill. After you.”
Wayne shook his head. “What if I asked you to conduct this interview alone?”
The fluorescent lights in the hall seemed overly bright. “I’d say, I’m not qualified.”
“This guy thinks he’s a chick magnet. He’ll talk to you. Lose the ball cap and hair band. I should’ve thought to ask you to wear a dress.”
My hands remained by my sides. “I’m here to assist you in reading his emotions. I don’t even know what questions to ask.”
“Ask him where’s he’s been and why he got so drunk. Then ask him about the arrowheads in Mandy’s trailer.” Wayne flipped my ball cap off. “Lose the hair tie, or I’ll take care of that too.”
“All right already.” I tugged the band free, and my stark white hair curtained down to my shoulders. “If you want a femme fatale, you should get Tamika in here. Men don’t pant after me like they do Tamika.”
“You’ve got girl parts. You’ll do.”
“Such flattery. You’ll make my head swell.”
“Derenne’s cuffed and hung over, so he won’t be a physical threat. Stay on this side of the table so I can study him from the observation room. Good luck.”
I needed more than luck. After a deep breath, I opened the door and stepped inside the tiny room. I hated being crowded, and the man inside seemed to take up all the space and all the air.
Todd Derenne gave new angst to the cliché of “rode hard and put up wet.” He was thin and rangy, with sunken cheeks and a shaved head. I approached the small table where he lounged, feet outstretched. “Mr. Derenne? I’m a police consultant named Baxley Powell. I have some questions for you.”
His midnight-blue eyes gleamed with interest. “Ain’t you a ray of
sunshine,” Derenne said. “Come sit in my lap, sweet thang.”
“This won’t take long,” I went on as if he hadn’t spoken, sitting across the table from him. “Where were you Friday evening and Saturday morning?”
“Where I am all the time. In my rig. I had a delivery in St. Louis Friday night. Trucked it back here overnight to see my honey, only to find our place burned to the ground and my Mandy dead.”
“We need to verify that delivery. May I have the destination address?”
“I got nuttin’ to hide.” He rattled off an address, which I wrote on the notepad I kept in my back pocket. I resisted the urge to look over my shoulder to see if Wayne got the information. “And for clarification, was Mandy your wife?”
“We weren’t married by no gol-dang preacher, if that’s what you mean, but we lived as man and wife for years. I loved her.”
“Why not marry her?”
“I like variety. Mandy was home base, you know? Besides, with that pale skin of hers, she wasn’t a looker, and she had that mewling brat around all the time. A man needs more attention than that.”
I swallowed my disgust. Wayne was counting on me to squeeze answers out of this lowlife. If Mandy had pale skin, it was because she’d cooked meth for him and never had a moment to herself. “Did her death surprise you?”
“Sho’ did. Between you and me, Mandy and I had a sweet business arrangement. She cooked, and I turned it into bacon, if you catch my drift.”
I caught more than his stinky drift. He moved in on Mandy, made her cook for him, then he seized the meth she made and delivered it to a supplier. I guessed he tossed enough of the money crumbs her way to make it worth her while.
“Yeah, I’m gonna miss old Mandy, but the world’s full of willing women.
Like you. What say you and me catch lunch today when I blow this joint?” “No. That would be totally inappropriate. Let’s get back on track. The sheriff mentioned arrowheads at Mandy’s place. You know anything about them?”
He shrugged. “I bow hunt. I kept my gear at her place. I use arrowheads as tips. Big hairy deal.”
“I thought it was your place.”
“Her place, my place, it’s all the same. My name’s on the deed, if that’s what you mean. Damn, you are one fine-lookin’ woman. I bet ole Wayne is beside himself trying to bang you.”
“I don’t appreciate your sexist remarks. Sheriff Thompson and I have a professional arrangement. Listen, Mr. Derenne, now that you’re sober, what was the fight with June Hendrix about?”
“We didn’t see eye to eye.”
“Was the argument about Doodle’s welfare? Because June is his aunt.”
“So what? She ain’t no good for him. Doodle needs a man around. Someone to make him toe the line. I’m the closest thing that boy’s ever had to a dad. He should be living under my roof.”
“With Mandy’s place burned to the ground, where will you live?”
He grinned. “June’s place. She wants one of them professional relationships with me, which suits me fine because it lands me and Doodle in the same place. Not sure her place is big enough for all of us, but at least she put her foot down about those stinky pigs.”
Interesting . Why would June live with a man who beat her face to a pulp? “Do you have any children?”
“I don’t like brats.”
I tapped the end of my pen on the pad. “What about brothers and sisters or parents? Any of them live around here?”
“Got me a brother up Atlanta-way, but that’s it.” “His name?”
“Evan Gomez. Different dads. I don’t see him much.” “You two don’t get along?”
“You might say that. Old Evan is a head case. Been in and out of the looney bin.” He sighed as if I’d really put him out. “We done with the foreplay yet?”
I did my best impression of one of my otherworldly mentor’s crystalline smiles. “Not quite. You know Cipriona Marsden?”
“I know the family. Her granny’s gonna fry soon.”
“You’re mistaken. She didn’t receive the death penalty at sentencing. Her sentence was life without parole.”
Derenne shrugged with his whole body. “Dead is dead.”
“How do you know the family?”
“I had me some business with Damond once upon a time.” “What kind of business?”
“You sure ask a lot of nosy questions, but I reached my limit of answers.
My bail bond been posted yet?”
“Mr. Derenne, we believe someone started that fire in Ms. Patterson’s trailer on purpose. You have any idea who’d do that?
Gone were the flirty smiles and eye winks. His dark eyes glared at me. I shivered at the malice rolling off this man. Wouldn’t want to meet him in a dark alley.
I tried one more thing. “As Ms. Patterson’s boyfriend, you would’ve known how she handled her finances. She doesn’t have a local bank account, and it’s likely her personal papers burned in the fire. Do you know where she banked?”
He didn’t respond, so I reached across the table to prod him. He jumped back. “I know who you are. Don’t touch me unless you want me to pay special attention to your family.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Mayne herded me and Mayes into his office and closed the door.
He bounded to his seat behind the desk, while Mayes and I sank into the side-by-side guest chairs. “You done good, Powell. We can investigate Derenne’s alibi, vet his step-brother in Atlanta, and stake out June’s trailer. Better yet, we can close this case in a few days and get the GBI out of our hair forever.”
His praise rolled off me like storm water on a shiny roof. I was not in a good mood. “He threatened my family, Wayne. I don’t trust him.”
“Good instinct. Don’t turn your back on creeps like Derenne, ever,” Wayne said. “No way is he coming after you. He knows you’re protected in more ways than one. The GBI was right. This case is about drug production. Someone offed Mandy to take her place in the supply chain.”
I heard the word instinct, and my ears closed. Instinct? More like common sense. My spine stiffened. I could’ve gone my entire life without meeting Todd Derenne. Wayne had some nerve asking me to conduct an interrogation. Now I was on this guy’s radar. He could come after Larissa or my parents. How would I ever sleep again?
Before any of these angry words boiled out of my mouth, Mayes reached over and took my hand. A sense of calm washed over me. As clear as if he’d said them out loud, I heard the words, “I’ve got you.” I managed a tight nod in his direction.
“Derenne’s the missing link in the greater Warner Robbins meth ring Escoe’s investigating for the GBI?” Mayes asked.
Wayne glowed. “He says so.”
“Suspects lie.”
“With his independent trucking career, this guy’s got the means and opportunity to deliver product anywhere. We could be talking interstate drug commerce. The FBI could be looking for him. And we’ve got him in our hot little hands.”
“I’ve seen these investigations stall out before,” Mayes said. “Even if he is the go-between, all we have is his say-so. A good lawyer will get scum like that off every time. You need to catch him in the act, but the meth lab is gone. The cook is gone. He’s currently untouchable, and you know it.”
“I don’t know about your north Georgia perps, but my guys are resourceful. They’re used to having to make do. I wouldn’t put it past this guy to pay the entire high school football team to go shake-and-bake on us.”
I paled. Volatile chemicals could be in students’ book bags? They could be in schools and on buses? “We have to tell someone about this possibility.”
“We’re telling no one,” Wayne said. “Especially not Charlotte or her boy toy. Got that?”
Mayes squeezed my hand, and we nodded in unison. I don’t know how I held my outrage inside. It was a miracle.
“Here’s my plan. The school system has a program to match tutors with at- risk kids. Thanks to his family situation, Doodle no
w qualifies.” Wayne waited, as if expecting me to connect the dots. The only dot I wanted to connect was my fist to his nose. This guy was willing to put an entire generation of kids at risk for a drug sting?
“I don’t understand,” Mayes said. “How does your plan incriminate Derenne?”
The sheriff leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers together. “Given the way folks are going nuts over access to Doodle, I believe he helped his mom cook. That’s the only thing that makes sense. So we’ll keep a close eye on him too. Fortunately, I know the best tutor in the county.”
Those dots were easy to connect. I’d been Wayne’s tutor in high school. “Bad idea.”
“What?” Mayes asked, his gaze flicking between the sheriff and me. “Powell can tutor him, plus the kid already knows and trusts her. She can talk to him in school each day, and no one will be the wiser. It’s the perfect cover.”
“No,” I said. “I won’t do it. Whoever killed Mandy—whether it’s Derenne or someone else—will come after my kid. I’m not willing to risk her safety. I don’t mind talking to ghosts and spirits in the afterlife for you, or even an angel or demon or two, but I’m not inserting myself in the middle of a drug ring. No way, no how.”
“We’ll make sure you have protection,” the sheriff added smoothly. “I’ll get Sheriff Blair to detail her guy down here for another week.” He grinned as if he’d had the best thought ever. “You’ll be covered in more ways than one.”
My face heated up, and I sputtered at his crude remark, tugging my hand free and leaping to my feet. Despicable thoughts filled my head, all of which ended with me knocking Wayne into the ozone layer.
“Forget it,” I said.
“Great idea,” Mayes said at the same time. “I’ll do it.”
Wayne nodded and turned to Mayes. “Now that that’s settled, let’s hear what June Hendrix’s up to. What’s your report from the lobby?”
I leaned over Wayne’s desk. “Wait a minute. You can’t brush me off like that. Don’t I have any say in this?”
His gaze lowered from my face for a moment, then he flicked a wrist. “Go ahead.”
Wayne was an ardent admirer of the female form. A lecher and skirt-chaser in the first degree. Was my T-shirt gapping or something? I straightened and braced my arms across my chest. “I’ll agree only if Larissa has a deputy with her when she’s not in school. If you have Mayes at your disposal, he can’t be in two places at once. And when she goes to my parents’ house, a deputy goes with her until this case is solved. I can’t risk her. I won’t do it.”
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