Mr. Cooter's Bowling Ball

by Harper Harris

  I hoped there wouldn’t be too many of those. I was a problem solver, but the stakes were awfully high in these types of things. A simple misdemeanor would be a nice break. Maybe some property law.

  “You’ll be my first call for the next one. I promise.”

  Another car pulled up and parked. Ted got out and said hello to a few of the other people around before he saw Ashley and I hanging out in our little group.

  He brought a chair over with him and plopped it down, so he could sit with us.

  “How’re y’all doing? I’ve heard you had a busy couple of days.”

  Word of what happened got around town really quickly. I got a few days where, instead of being asked about Aunt Tavey, it was all about John Goodstone. I kept my answers to a minimum like usual, not wanting to turn any tides.

  “It’s been good. I got my phone fixed. It fell to the ground and cracked, so that kind of blew.”

  I knew that wasn’t what Ted was really asking about, but I wanted to just draw out the conversation.

  “While I am both sorry for the breaking of your phone, but happy you were able to get it fixed, but what I really wanted to know was about that bowling party. I heard that’s where it all kind of started.”

  “Oh, I see. Yeah, that was a wild ride. John just confessed to me and I ended up calling the Sheriff. Beau was able to catch him before he got too far and now we’re just waiting for the official trial. I heard John wasn’t going to contest anything.”

  There was a lot of evidence against him. I wasn’t sure if those were his motives, but there was also very little waiting for him in Appleton.

  “Do you know what’s going to happen him?”

  “He’ll probably spend the rest of his life in jail. He could have potentially gotten a lighter sentence if it was just a spur of the moment murder, but the fact that he planned it so well with the framing of Cooter and waiting for Lonny with the express purpose of killing him – the law extracts a heavy price for premeditation.”

  He’ll probably escape the death penalty since he was going to confess, but what he did was still extremely messed up – legally speaking.

  Ted shook his head. “John Goodstone, a murderer. Who would have guessed? And how is Gladys holding up?”

  I looked over at Ashley and moved my head side to side a little.

  “She’s holding up. Initially, she was completely shocked. She knew John had some paranoia, but he never thought he’d go that far, but she does seem to be doing alright given the circumstances.”

  The first night after John was put away, we went over and spent a few hours with her. There was a lot of crying and wondering. A lot of self-blame as well but did our best to squash that. I was fine letting Gladys process her feelings however she needed to, but there was no way I’d let her think that any of what happened was in any way her fault. It was all on John.

  “That’s good. I’m glad she’s doing okay.”

  “Yeah,” Ash said. “She’s actually decided to divorce John. Kari’s going to help her with any legal advice she might need.”

  We had seen her a few times over the past few days and, after talking to John one more time after the first night of his arrest, Gladys told us she was going forward with the divorce. She said that her marriage should have ended a long time ago and she had been holding on to an old idea. Of course, I jumped on to the chance to help her out any way I could.

  I doubted John was going to put up a fight, but given his upcoming sentence, he wouldn’t have a lot of power in the courts to stall the divorce. I felt like that may have been part of the reason why he wasn’t going to fight his murder charge in court. He said he had done it all for Gladys, but she had seen this side of him and no longer wanted anything to do with him. Maybe he finally realized he was the reason why his entire life was falling apart around him.

  “That’s awfully sweet of you,” Ted said to me.

  “It’s the least I could do. I know I didn’t really do anything to mess up Gladys’ life, but I just feel like since I was the one who found out it was John – I don’t know. Plus, she’s my friend and I want her to have the happiest life she can have.”

  I finished talking and noticed Ashley was looking at me expectantly. I wasn’t sure what she wanted.

  “What is it, Ash?”

  She scrunched her face a little in confusion. “You forgot to mention you kind of got asked out on a date.”

  “Ashley!”

  I hadn’t forgotten about it, I just hadn’t really wanted to mention it to Ted. I still wasn’t sure if Greg was actually going to ask me out – he hadn’t yet – so I was just keeping a lot of it to myself for the most part. I did tell Ashley everything, but that’s because she was Ashley. I turned to Ted and said, “I didn’t get asked out, not really. He just said he’d call me with the implication that it would be for dinner.”

  “Who?” Ted asked.

  “Huh?”

  “Who are you talking about? You kept saying ‘he.’ I have no idea who you’re talking about.”

  Ted had an amused look on his like he typically does, and he had sat back in his chair a little.

  “Oh, it’s Greg, Greg Olsen.”

  “The guy with the planation. Interesting.”

  I wasn’t sure what that interesting meant. I wasn’t about to open that can worms right now.

  “Well, Ashley got asked out, too. By Gus after they danced together.”

  I wanted to shift the conversation away from my romantic life – whatever that was. I always got all antsy whenever anything about my love life came up.

  “Really?”

  Ted shifted his attention to Ashley this time. She rolled her eyes.

  “Kind of,” she explained. “He said he’d like to dance with me again and I told him I’d take a rain check on that. He’s a little too old for me, so I don’t think I’ll take him up on the offer.”

  “Looks like you guys had a very exciting night.”

  At that moment, Cooter called everyone over to the grill and we all rushed over to get our burgers. I put all the fixings I wanted to on the patty and took a large bite while standing by one of the food tables.

  “Kari, you’re going to get burger grease all over your face,” Ashley warned me.

  I could hear Ted lightly chuckling in the background and could feel the burger getting all over my face.

  “Here, use this,” he offered me a napkin and I used to get rid of the food I got all around my mouth.

  “Better?”

  “Better,” they said.

  I continued, taking smaller bites, so I didn’t make as big a mess of myself. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was, so hungry, and the food was just so delicious. Cooter made his way over to me.

  “Kari! It’s so good to see you!”

  He brought me into a big hug that I wasn’t expecting but welcomed. It was the most touchy I’d ever seen Coot and I had a feeling I wouldn’t get another hug from him for a while.

  “Hey, Cooter. Thanks for making this delicious food.”

  “Well, it’s all to thank you for getting me out of jail. I don’t know if I would have gotten out without you.”

  “You’re welcome. I’m glad you’re out and about.”

  We talked a little longer before he went to entertain his other guest. I got the chance to talk with his friends and, like Coot, they were odd, but really nice folk. Ash and I stayed for a long time, until it was almost dark. It was just so much fun hanging out with Cooter’s crew.

  We said goodbye to everyone – Ted and Cooter and the friends of Cooter we just met. We get the dogs into the car with a little snack to keep them preoccupied.

  “That was fun,” Ashley said. “I never knew Coot was such a good barbequer.”

  “He’s full of surprises.”

  “So are his friends. What an odd bunch. I never realized what a colorful life he led.”

  Cooter was like an Appleton staple. Without him, I felt like a piece of the town’s culture would hav
e been lost.

  “We should hang out with him more often – if he lets us.”

  I was hoping this newfound openness would continue because after learning so much about Cooter’s life secondhand through this investigation, I wanted to learn more from the man himself.

  “Do you want to have a cookout? I haven’t had one in so long and I could show you more Butler family recipes – we have a whole lot of filled up books – we could invite Ted or Greg or whoever you like, decorate the backyard, it’ll be amazing.”

  A cookout did sound like fun.

  “Maybe we could have other people bring their dogs and Biscotti and Shortbread could make some friends. They’ve been having such a good time at the obedience classes and I think they would like to have a few close by doggy friends. We could start having playdates.”

  I was totally on board with this potential whenever it happened.

  “I’ll get planning. A Southern girl loves to host. I can even show you a few of my tricks – of which I have many. It’ll be so much fun.”

  I was already thinking of people in Appleton who had dogs who could come.

  We pulled into our driveway and Biscotti and Shortbread got excited when they realized we were home. They had finished eating the snack we gave them and were leaning against the window.

  When we’re all parked, it was when I first noticed that there was someone sitting on our porch, waiting for us. It was dusk, so I couldn’t tell who it was. We hadn’t gotten out of the car yet because I was feeling rather wary. Appleton had already proved to be a little darker under the surface, so I wasn’t about to approach a random shadowy figure sitting outside of our house.

  “Were you expecting anyone?” I asked Ashley.

  She shook her head. “No,” she also seemed concerned.

  I slowly got out of the car to see if I could figure out who it was before getting to close. When I got out of the car, the figure stood up, rising to full height. My eyes went wide, but I wasn’t totally sure what I was seeing until –

  “Are you going to invite my aching keister inside or should I just pitch a tent out here?”

  Holy Shortbread’s business! It was Aunt Tavey!

  She looked like she had the last time I saw her. I wasn’t sure what I had expected, if I ever got to see her again. There were a whole myriad of things that could have happened to her – and I had thought about all the possibilities – but I still wasn’t ready for her to just show up. I started having a tiny freak out because I hadn’t heard from or seen her in so long and now she was outside of my house just waiting for me. I had so many questions to ask her like where had she been or what was she doing here, but I couldn’t think of anything to say.

  Ashley got out of the car with the two dogs and I heard her gasp when she saw who was standing there. She – everyone – knew about how Aunt Tavey had suddenly dropped off the face of the Earth, so this sudden appearance had also rendered her speechless.

  “Aunt Tavey! Yes! Yes, of course, come inside,” I managed to spit out while walking up to the door.

  I unlocked it and motioned for my aunt to go inside. I looked behind me at Ashley and mouthed an ‘oh my God’ before all of us headed inside.

  Even after all that had happened, I was ready to have what would be, no doubt, a very enlightening conversation.

  THE END

  SUCCULENT SOUTHERN RECIPE

  Ashley’s Cajun Shrimp and Catfish (or other kind of fish) Coubion

  List of Ingredients

  1 lb large peeled, deveined shrimp

  1 lb catfish (could be replaced with white fish, tilapia, or various other fish depending on taste and preference) cut into chunks

  4 cups low sodium chicken broth

  3 cups red salsa

  1 cup hot tomato sauce

  1/4 cup flour

  1/4 cup minced parsley

  1 diced bell pepper

  2 diced stalks celery

  1/2 diced onions

  2 minced cloves garlic

  2 TBSP unsalted butter

  4 TBSP extra virgin olive oil

  1 TBSP creole seasoning

  1 TBSP black pepper

  1/2 TBSP garlic powder

  1/2 TBSP onion powder

  1/2 TBSP paprika

  1/2 TBSP chili powder

  green onions to garnish

  hot cooked rice

  hot sauce to serve

  Instructions

  Mix seasoning blend together and then set aside while you work on further steps.

  Add two tablespoons of olive oil to a pan, over medium heat.

  Add bell pepper, onion, and celery to pan and saute for five minutes. Add garlic and cook for one minute more. Season with one tablespoon of seasoning blend, mix well.

  Add in the butter and the remaining olive oil to the pan you’re using.

  Stir in the flour and cook for five minutes, in order to brown the flour just a bit.

  Add in the broth, tomato sauce, and red salsa, using the amounts listed above, to the pan.

  Bring your mixture to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for thirty minutes, uncovered, on low.

  While your sauce is cooking, do the following:

  Season the shrimp with one tablespoon of seasoning blend.

  Mix that well, and it set aside.

  Season the fish with one tablespoon of seasoning blend.

  After thirty minutes, increase thee heat to medium and add fish to the sauce.

  Cook for ten minutes.

  Add the shrimp and parsley to your sauce and stir gently.

  Cook the shrimp for seven minutes.

  Serve it over hot rice and garnish it with green onions.

  Serve it with hot sauce if you or your guests enjoy it that way!

  Thank you for reading and for your support. If you liked this book, please leave a review. I welcome any feedback or reader emails at AuthorHarperHarris@gmail.com.

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  Other Books in the Kari Jacobs Lawyer Sleuth Series

  Miss June’s Judgment (Book 1)

  Take a bite out of Appleton, North Carolina!

  Kari Jacobs starts a new life 3,000 miles away from her hometown, but it’s not by choice. Her aunt, who was also a judge and Kari’s mentor, won't see her anymore and she doesn’t know why. She has lost her job and her law career is in tatters. She never imagined herself practicing law in a small Southern town like Appleton. But it's the only place that would hire her.

  Taste the sweetness of quiet, country life.

  What she finds in Appleton surprises her: a new friend named Ashley, who is accused of a murder no one wants to solve, a gang of mean old ladies, the perfect cup of coffee, and the cutest Great Dane puppy ever to stumble over four paws.

  You'll come for the delicious southern flavor but you'll stay for the hospitality!

  In finding justice for her friend, Kari discovers the truth can be elusive. Even here, in idyllic Appleton, where the people are friendly, the living is easy,and the city officials are...corrupt?

  Could there be something rotten at core of this apple?

  * INCLUDES ASHLEY’S SUCCULENT SOUTHERN BAKED FRIED CHICKEN RECIPE! *

  Click here to read Miss. June’s Judgement

  Miss Sylvia’s Stolen Bible (Book 2 / Prequel)

  Visit historic Red Rivers Planation. You’ll have a dog gone good time… and some delicious Southern treats!

  Kari Jacobs has driven cross country from San Francisco and is one hour away from starting a new life and job at a law firm in Appleton, North Carolina, when her car breaks down near the Red Rivers Plantation. She was only looking for a tow, but found a mystery.

  Ms. Sylvia, her sister-in-law Delilah and her butler Henry live at Red Rivers Plantation and they all seem to be stuck in the past. Kari can get their help, as long as she walks their two Great Danes and solves the mystery of the stolen Winters’ fam
ily bible. But theirs is a world of polite etiquette and stately manners, and Kari has a hard time getting them to talk so that she can figure out the answers they so desperately seek. But at least their cooking is good!

  Sylvia thinks the Bible was stolen by her bitter rival who owns the next plantation over, but she isn’t even sure when, and no one can explain why. Questions multiply and Kari can’t help but be drawn into a feud that reaches back into the last century.

  It's Kari's first introduction to the South, their customs are strange, and she has far more questions than answers. Such as, will she ever get her car fixed so she can get to Appleton, and will she be rewarded for her patience by being able to meet the Great Danes’ litter of puppies before leaving town?

  If you’re a fan of the Kari Jacobs Lawyer Sleuth cozy mystery series, you’ll want to read this prequel to find out what happened to Kari before she moved to Appleton, why she first starting solving mysteries, and how her furry sidekick Shortbread came into her life! * INCLUDES MISS DELILAH’S SOUTHERN PEACH PIE RECIPE! *

  Click here to read Miss. Syliva’s Stolen Bible

  Here is your free excerpt of White Satin & Murder,

  which is the first book in my Val Masters Wedding Planner series.

  Your Sneak Peek of

  White Satin & Murder

  Chapter One

  Masters Wedding Planning

  “Oh. Em. Geeeee. This menu says fish. Eww. Gross!”

  It’s two days before the first wedding that my new wedding planning business has ever planned is set to take place, and Ginger, the bride of said wedding, is whining like a two-year old child. Scratch that – a two-year old has infinitely more class.

  Ginger is whining like someone who has never known disappointment. Like someone who is so used to getting whatever she wants, that if anything doesn’t go her way, it’s time for a complete meltdown. Like someone I kind of want to punch in the face right now… but I won’t. Because I’m a professional.