by Tonya Kappes
“I do own a gun, but I didn’t kill her. Besides, it was stolen out of my car.” She was almost convincing.
“How convenient.” I pushed off my desk and straightened up. “What kind of gun?”
“It’s a Ruger SP101.” The muscle in her jaw spasmed.
“Did you have bullets in the car?” I asked.
“Yes. The ones the guy at the gun shop told me to get.” Her vision narrowed, there was an edge of anger in her voice. “.38.”
“Interesting.” My temples began to throb by her attitude. “That’s the exact same gun model and bullet that killed Avon Meyers. Your gun comes up missing? Stolen?”
“Yes. It was stolen from my car in the parking lot while I was at work.” She smacked her hand on my desk. That was enough for the time being.
“How about you go in there and sit.” I pointed to the cell. “Maybe you’ll decide to tell me the truth after you’ve sat in there and thought about it. Trust me when I say that this cell is a spa compared to where you’re going.”
She stood up and walked into the cell without giving me any hassle. She plopped down on the cot watching me close the cell and turn the key.
“I’ll stay here while you go to the town council meeting. Besides, I’ve got some paperwork to do.” Betty knew that I needed her help. “I already told Scott to meet you there.”
“You know about Finn?” I asked.
“He called after he said he told you and he wanted me to keep an eye on you.” A lot of emotions were buried in Betty’s words.
“Did he?” A smile dangled from my lips. It felt good knowing he’d actually taken the time to make sure I was okay.
“Mmmhmmm. Are you okay?” Betty asked. Her eyes shifted from me to Reagan, as though she weren’t sure we should be talking about this.
“Yeah. Heck ya.” I waved off any concern she might have. “I’m a Lowry.” I winked.
“I want my one phone call now.” Reagan had gotten up from the cot and wrapped her hands around two different bars, sticking her nose through them. “I’ve seen enough shows to know it’s a thing. And you’ve not charged me, so what are you waiting on if you’re so sure I’m the killer?”
She asked the very question I didn’t want her to ask. I was waiting on all the information to be compiled, even Tom Geary’s prints and the warrant to go through her house to find the murder weapon that she’d conveniently said had been stolen.
“Fine. Betty, can you take her the portable?” I asked Betty over my shoulder.
She turned her head, making sure we didn’t hear her. I couldn’t make out what she was saying in her mumbled whispers.
“Thank you. I should have a visitor shortly.” She glared with her hand extended out between the bars with the phone in her grips. “Then you’ll get my alibi.”
“It’s gonna have to wait because I’ve got a town council meeting to get to.” I wasn’t about to miss it. Not even for a murder investigation when I was pretty certain the killer was right here in front of me.
“But I’ve got rights!” She protested as I was heading out the door.
I wanted to tell her that her rights flew out the window when she pulled the trigger to kill Avon, but I had to stay above the emotional side of the job and keep my head on my shoulders. Sometimes that wasn’t easy to do.
When I pulled up to Luke and Vita Jones’s house, Jolee Fischer’s On the Run Food Truck was pulled up to the curb, open for business.
“I’ve got a fresh pot of coffee brewing just for you,” Jolee said when I opened the door to the food truck as she was serving up some good country ham and biscuits at the walk-up window.
“I need it,” I groaned and then started to laugh when Duke had jumped up after hearing my voice.
He’d been laying in between Jolee’s feet, snatching up every piece of food like a vacuum while she made the biscuits and cut the ham. His nose was covered with flour.
“You’re so spoiled.” I rubbed my hand on his head. He wagged his tail, danced around and darted around me, leaping around Luke’s yard. “I better get him before Luke throws a fit. He doesn’t like Duke peeing on his flower bed.”
“I’ll have Ben bring you a coffee and a biscuit when he gets here,” she hollered as I shut the door.
A wooden podium stood where the movie screen was usually hanging, and Mayor Chance Ryland was banging the gavel against it, bringing the meeting to an order.
“Alright! Alright!” Mayor Ryland beat the wooden gavel. “Let’s get this meeting started.”
I looked around after I made my way up to the front of the room and took a seat in the front row in one of the folding metal chairs. Everyone was there. We gave each other a slight wave and the Baptist nod.
Shortly after the Mayor started to recite what was on the docket, Ben sat down in the seat next to me. He handed me my cup of coffee and a biscuit in a napkin.
“If you don’t want the biscuit, I do,” he whispered.
“Fine. Take it.” My stomach was already in knots. I was about to tell all of Cottonwood about Finn’s plans to leave and it wasn’t going to be easy. He was probably more liked than I was.
“I’d like for Sebastian Hughes to come up and speak on behalf of the EMT service.” Mayor Ryland got off the stage.
Polly Parker greeted Mayor Ryland on the far side of the front row with a big grin on her face and silently pretending to clap her hands like he had just given some outstanding speech. I still didn’t get what she saw in him. He’d been her father’s best friend and that just made it ickier to me. But she was happy and it was none of my business.
“The EMT service has had over eighty runs in the past couple of months.” Sebastian rattled off numbers and statistics while I leaned back over to Ben.
“I should be at the diner in the morning after my rounds.” I wiggled my brows.
“Our contract to work with businesses like the Cottonwood Acres Rehabilitation and transport the clients to and from their home is about to expire. I’m here on behalf of the EMT service, and since I’m the one off work tonight,” Sebastian’s words were met with laughter, “to ask for a year-long contract to be amended to the current contract since the service, which we’ve provided your town, has been greatly needed in and around Cottonwood.” He pointed to me. “In fact, our very own Sheriff Lowry can attest to the fact that our EMT service has saved Deputy Vincent’s own mother when she was having a heart attack.”
A collective gasp spread through the crowd, making me realize that town gossip was still about Avon’s murder. If it weren’t for her, I would’ve fielded hundreds of calls about Finn’s mom but I’d yet to have one.
“She can stand and tell you how valuable our service is.” He caught me off guard but waved me up.
“Go on.” Ben nudged me with his elbow.
I sat my coffee on the floor under my chair and trotted up to the podium.
“Yes. The EMT service has been vital to the community and also vital for the extra time and calls they’ve gotten from the rehab center.” My eyes grazed the tops of everyone’s head as I shifted my face back and forth addressing them for Sebastian. “Finn and I are eternally grateful for the fast service that was provided. Sebastian made the quick call to give her the attention she needed to save her life.”
“That’s all we need to hear.” Doolittle Bowman took the liberty to stop the conversation. She was the town manager and she was ready to put it to a vote. “All in favor of extending the contract for the EMT runs for businesses and citizens, raise your hand.”
She tapped her finger in the air as she counted the hands.
“You can put those down. All those who don’t want to extend the contract put your hands up.” She glanced around the room but no one had lifted their hand. “The EMT proposal has been extended.” She looked at Sebastian and said, “You can go on and sit down, but Kenni, you can sta
y up here since your proposal is on the docket next.”
“Well, as you know, the department doesn’t have a nightly dispatch and we farm that out to the Clay’s Ferry dispatch. I know it saves the town money to do it this way, but I can’t help but think that Avon Meyers might be alive today if we’d had the service. Several times Lita Brumfield had filed complaints against her, forcing the Clay’s Ferry sheriff’s department to come to Cottonwood to figure out if charges were necessary.” I stopped and looked around at all the faces staring at me to see if I could assess their thoughts.
“Are you saying that Ms. Lita Brumfield killed Avon Meyers?” Polly Parker Ryland’s voice asked with a deep Southern drawl. “I mean, Kenni, aren’t you grasping for straws? She’s got Parkinson’s Disease. She wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
“I never said that, I’m saying that I might’ve gotten to know Avon during these calls and maybe if she were having a disagreement with someone, she might’ve told me. That’s all.” My words were only met with Polly’s eye roll. “Anyways, I was initially here to ask if we could keep Scott Lee on as a full-time deputy and extend the hours of the department.”
There were some groans and uncomfortable shifting in the metal chairs.
“We already save money with the department being in the back of Cowboy’s Catfish.” I wasn’t about to ask for my own building like I’d done before because that was shot down fast. “But in light of certain things, my request has changed.”
“What is that?” Chance stood up with his hand planted on his hips. He wasn’t the type that liked to be blindsided. “This is my town and that’s news to me. You work for me and the people.”
He was always good at reminding me of that.
“Does this have to do with the sheriff’s opening in Clay’s Ferry?” He asked with a bird thin scowl on his lips.
“Deputy Vincent has been interviewed and taken the open sheriff’s position in Clay’s Ferry. He will be taking the position immediately, leaving me with Deputy Scott Lee to take his place. That’s what I need to you approve. Scott’s full-time employment with the sheriff’s department.” My words were met with a collective gasp.
There were murmurs that he’d left because we’d broken up, whispers of how the department wasn’t going to be safe, and just a general all-around yucky feeling.
I slumped away from the podium and decided there was no more talking. I had to let this ride out because apparently, this took precedent over the fact there was a girl dead and we had someone out there burglarizing houses. Which was how a small town operated.
Needless to say, that whole messy issue abruptly ended the town council meeting in hiring Deputy Scott Lee as Cottonwood’s newest employee, though he never showed up. They’d have some sort of ceremony for him at the Rock Fence Park after they’d gotten used to the fact he was replacing Finn.
By the time the meeting was over and Duke and I’d gotten home, I was exhausted. I slumped down in one of the chairs on my back porch. Duke ran around the yard doing his business.
“You up for company?” Finn Vincent let himself into the gate of my backyard. He had a six pack of beer in his hand and a bag of tortilla chips in the other—our favorite snacks.
“Only you.” I swiveled the chair around to greet him.
Duke sprinted to the porch when he heard Finn. He had his old tennis ball in his mouth.
“I’m blaming Jolee for giving him food that’s making him hyper.” I laughed and watched Finn toss the ball to the very back left corner of the fence.
“I guess your mom and dad are gone?” I was sad that I didn’t get to tell them goodbye.
“The test came back clear and they think she just had a bad case of heart burn. She couldn’t wait to get out of here.” He handed me a beer. “I’d love to tell people that my family is amazing, and we all get along, but the fact of the matter is that my family isn’t like yours.”
“You mean,” I hesitated to find the right word. “Whacko?” I pulled the top of the chip bag open.
“Loving. Loyal. Accepting.” He shook his head and took a swig of his beer. “Your mom and dad stopped by to see my mom. Your dad told me that they’d talked about the whole Catholic thing after the big fight the night of the supper. Your mom and dad agreed that no matter what happened, they’d stick by your decision about the religion.”
“Did they?” I knew that Mama would eventually cave. She always did.
Duke ran up between us, dropping the ball at Finn’s feet.
“Yeah. They love you so much. I can’t say my mom would do the same.” He took the ball and threw it another time. “I love them. They are my parents. But not every family is as picture perfect as yours.”
“Mama is pretty picture perfect, literally.” I laughed.
“I heard the meeting got a little crazy when they found out.” He sat down in the chair next to mine. He popped off the top of two more beers.
I offered him the mouth of the open chip bag. We were like an old married couple already.
“I guess Scott is officially your deputy?” He asked and put his hand on my leg.
“He is.” I tried to be happy and sound upbeat, but a tear fell from one eye, and no matter how many times I gulped and sighed, they kept coming.
“Kenni baby.” He put the beer down and kneeled down in front of me, curling me into his arms. “Why are you so sad? This is a good thing. For me and you.”
“I don’t think so.” I ugly cried into his neck.
“Remember when we started dating and you were so worried we’d get sick of being around each other? You were so worried.” He pulled back and his big strong hand wiped my cheek. “Look at us. Strong. Happy. Very happy.”
“You’re very happy?” I asked, searching his eyes for any hint of a lie, but they were truthful. He’d never been anything else.
“Very.” He exaggerated with big head nod. “So much so that I’m not moving. I don’t have to move. It’s not in their laws that I have to live in the same county.” He rubbed my head with his hand. “Free Row is stuck with me and Cosmo.”
“Poor Cosmo.” I felt better now that I knew he wasn’t moving.
“I even get two days off a week since they’ve got a bigger department. I get my own office, so I can call you all day without anyone knowing.” He leaned in, his lips warm against mine. “Honestly,” he whispered, my eyes still closed, his breath warm on my lips, “if you don’t want me to take the job, I won’t. I love you.”
“I could never ask you to do that. I love you too.” I sealed it with a kiss.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Avon’s funeral was going to be at ten a.m.
Over the night there’d not been one call from Scott about Reagan and this morning Betty was going to go relieve him while I went to the funeral. Finn and I had made peace with the reality of our situation and we only knew that if we did end up getting married, we’d figure it out along the way.
Right now, I was happy that he was happy and Scott and I were going to work fine together.
I’d heard they were also going to have a graveside funeral at cemetery, where Poppa was buried.
I’d not seen Poppa since I’d put Reagan in jail and I wasn’t sure how seeing his gravesite today was going to affect me. We didn’t get to say goodbye this time like the other few times he’s ghosted into my life.
Like Finn, my relationship with my ghost Poppa was something we had to figure out along the way. I hoped Avon’s death wasn’t the last I was going to see of him. Though I’d never wish anymore murders in Cottonwood. Still, no matter how many times Poppa came, there was never enough time to tell him goodbye.
My phone rang. I knew it had to be Mama. Anytime there was a big event, and trust me funerals were big events around here, she liked to call me and remind me that I was going to be seen as a lady. That was her way of telling me to put on makeup, tuck up m
y crazy, and add another layer of lipstick because a girl could never have on too much lipstick—according to Mama.
“Hello?” I picked up my phone, but it wasn’t Mama, it was Scott.
“I’m sorry to bug you this morning since you’re going to the funeral and all, but Reagan insists that I come over here and get her alibi. She has a lawyer stopping by this afternoon and she wants to go home.”
There was some screaming in the background.
“Is that her?” I asked.
“Yes, ma’am.” He sounded a little scared.
“She sounds like a screeching cat.” I said with a smile.
“Ma’am, she’s acting like a caged cat.” Touché to Scott for slinging it right back. I liked that.
“I’ll be there in a minute.” It was part of the job and I’d have to text Finn and let him know that I’d meet him at the funeral.
If Finn was still with the department, I would’ve had him go with me and we would have left from there. This was my new normal.
“You stay here today.” I tossed some kibble in Duke’s bowl and made sure he had plenty of water. “It won’t be a full day.”
With Reagan behind bars, I could bring my work home and spread it out on the kitchen table so I could get it together in order of events for the prosecutor. It would be tricky without a confession, but I felt the evidence was enough, like the same gun and bullets, the affair between her husband and Avon, as well as the working relationship they had were all valid reasons for murder.
As the Wagoneer rattled down Free Row, I glanced over at the passenger seat where Poppa had sat this time yesterday. At a stop sign, I laid my hand on the seat. “Goodbye, Poppa. I love you.”
Then I turned my thoughts back to Reagan.