One for the Road

by Mary Ellis

  Jill set the bucket and mop in the pantry. ‘In that case, we’re ready to go. I’ve got Mace in my purse in case Justin tries to get the drop on me.’

  ‘Just make sure you aim it in the right direction.’ Nick delivered his warning without a hint of a smile.

  On the drive up the mountain, Nick talked about growing up with three sisters in a one-bathroom house. Jill opened up about being a lonely only child. Both would have readily switched places with the other. When they finally reached the hard-to-find driveway for the Clarks, Jill hopped out and tied a handkerchief to the sedan’s antennae.

  ‘Why are we running up the white flag of surrender?’ he asked, rolling down the window.

  ‘I don’t know how they do it, but the Clarks know when someone’s coming up their driveway. I want them to know we come in peace.’ Jill climbed back in and buckled her seatbelt.

  ‘They probably buried a trip-wire under the leaves and dirt that sets off an alarm.’ Nick’s expression remained unreadable behind his dark glasses, but a muscle tightened in his neck.

  When the cabin came into view, he parked a fair distance away and reached for a handgun in the glovebox. ‘Don’t worry. I won’t shoot unless I’m shot at.’ He tucked the weapon into an ankle holster under his jeans.

  ‘Clever,’ she said. ‘You only look unarmed.’ Together they walked the remaining distance to the cabin.

  Before they reached the front steps, Billy Clark stepped onto the porch with a shotgun. He leaned the gun against the railing. ‘Now why would you bring a lawman on a social call, cousin?’ Billy added a negative inflection to the word.

  ‘Hi, Billy. This is Lieutenant Harris of the Kentucky State Police and he’s a friend of mine.’ Jill added her own inflection.

  William Clark joined his older son on the porch. ‘Stay in the house, Justin,’ he barked over his shoulder. ‘What’s the meaning of this, Jill?’

  Nick answered for her. ‘Good morning, Mr Clark. I have a few unofficial questions for your sons.’ He placed one foot on the bottom step. ‘May we join you on the porch?’

  William spat a blob of something into the bushes. ‘Gordy ain’t here. He’s at work, trying to get Black Creek into full production.’

  Jill stepped in front of Nick. ‘His questions are for Billy and Justin. Could we sit with you a spell?’

  William’s glare softened when he focused on Jill. ‘’Spose we ain’t got much choice. You sit there, Billy.’ He pointed at one of the rockers. ‘But leave the shotgun where it is. Justin, you bring out two kitchen chairs for Jill and her friend.’ The patriarch lowered himself into the other rocker.

  ‘That cop’s got a gun at his ankle,’ Billy sneered.

  ‘Then don’t give him a reason to use it. Do as I say, boy!’ William shouted.

  Surprisingly, both sons complied with their father’s request. However, Billy grabbed one of the kitchen chairs from Justin and placed it ten feet away. ‘I like the breeze better over here. You sit by Pa, cousin.’ He pointed at the rocking chair.

  Nick took one of the chairs and placed it across from Billy’s. ‘Now that we’re all comfortable …’ He jumped in without preamble. ‘There’s been a lot of vandalism around Roseville. On the night of your brother’s funeral, someone smashed the windows of the videographer’s car and stole his camera. They also broke into the trunk and stole his lighting equipment.’

  William turned to face Jill. ‘We were with you all night until we went home the next day.’

  ‘Billy wasn’t,’ she corrected. ‘He didn’t come to Dot’s house after the funeral.’

  ‘I didn’t steal no fancy camera,’ Billy shouted at Nick. ‘Wouldn’t know how to use it and I don’t wanna learn.’

  Nick glared back with an equal amount of contempt. ‘Maybe you wanted to sell the stuff. Or maybe you just smashed the windows and let someone else help themselves.’

  Billy shook his head. ‘I didn’t smash any windows. And I ain’t got nothing against Jill’s partner.’

  ‘That’s good to hear.’ Nick shifted on the ladderback chair. ‘Because while Michael was shooting video in Black Creek a few days ago, someone switched off the power at his end of the building. Michael got stuck inside an elevator for hours, which could have proved deadly if Jill hadn’t found him in time.’

  ‘That sure wasn’t me. Like I said, I ain’t got nothing against you or your partner.’ Billy directed this at Jill. ‘And I ain’t got a key to Black Creek Distillery.’

  ‘Maybe the security guard left the door open for you,’ Jill suggested.

  William pulled a flask from his pocket and took a swallow. ‘You two got this all wrong. My sons loved their uncle and would never cause mischief inside his distillery!’

  ‘That could very well be the case, Mr Clark.’ Nick’s tone softened. ‘But Spencer County deputies were recently called to Founder’s Reserve on a vandalism complaint. Someone spray-painted the message you ain’t getting away with murder this time across the back of one of Shelby’s rickhouses.’

  Jill kept her eyes on Billy while Nick described the graffiti. His brown eyes had darkened to black holes in his face.

  ‘What’s that got to do with us?’ William squawked. ‘My boys were home with me.’

  ‘Hold on, Will,’ Jill said. ‘Lieutenant Harris hasn’t told you which night the vandalism was. How can you be so sure of your sons’ whereabouts?’

  ‘Please hear me out, sir.’ Nick took over the questioning. ‘I’d heard damage had been done at Founder’s Reserve that the owner refused to report to authorities. That didn’t sound right, so I drove out to question Owen Shelby myself.’

  Justin sprang to his feet. ‘Michelle’s been gone a long time. I’ll go see if she needs help rounding up those goats.’

  ‘Sit down, boy.’ William’s snarl lifted the tiny hairs on Jill’s neck.

  ‘Turns out,’ Nick continued, ‘the rumors of vandalism were true – trash cans had been dumped and contents scattered; potted plants overturned on the terrace with dirt spread everywhere, spring flowers weed-whacked into oblivion by the front entrance and up the driveway. Owen Shelby showed me a videotape of the weed-whacking right before Easter. There were your sons, Billy and Justin, front and centered.’

  William gripped the arms of his chair so hard his fingers turned white.

  ‘We didn’t know about the cameras, Pa,’ Justin whined, his complexion as pale as his dad’s knuckles.

  ‘Shut up, boy. This is what you were doing those nights you went to town? You said you were at the library learning on the computer.’ William aimed his question at his older son.

  ‘I needed to right the wrong done to Michelle by Shelby.’ Billy rose to his full height.

  ‘What are you talking about?’ William’s face contorted into a mass of wrinkles.

  ‘Owen Shelby agrees that a wrong has been done to Michelle.’ Not to be at a height disadvantage, Nick also scrambled to his feet. ‘That’s why he didn’t press charges even though he recognized you two in the video. He hopes to motivate Jamie into doing the right thing.’

  ‘What exactly would the right thing be?’ A soft voice drifted from the interior of the cabin. A moment later, Michelle stepped onto the porch.

  Nick spoke without considering the consequences. ‘Owen wants Jamie to marry you, Miss Clark. He wants his first grandson or granddaughter to have the Shelby name.’

  Michelle had little opportunity to react before William pushed to his feet and slapped her across the face. ‘Jamie Shelby, that worthless scum? You told me that baby belonged to Carl from the Sunoco station.’

  For several moments, it was pure chaos on the porch.

  ‘Don’t you dare raise a hand to your daughter!’ Nick shouted, trying to squeeze between the two.

  ‘Leave her alone,’ demanded Billy, while he and Justin grabbed their father’s arms.

  And Jill? She was probably least effective when she jumped up and screamed, ‘Stop it, Will. Think about the baby!’

 
It was truly a miracle that nobody got shot.

  ‘Would everyone please sit down?’ The bellowing voice of reason belonged to Michelle.

  Three of the five did as she requested, while Nick and Billy took a few steps but remained standing, glaring at each other.

  ‘I didn’t tell you the truth, Pa, because I knew you hated the Shelbys. All because some long-dead Shelby stole a few acres from one of our long-dead ancestors.’

  Will, back in his rocking chair, remained defiant. ‘It was no small piece of land, girl. It was sixty of the best acres in the valley. Just look at what the Shelbys have today and look at how we live.’

  Michelle perched on the footstool. ‘The way I heard it, our ancestors preferred cattle-rustling and general thievery to farming anyway.’

  Will leaned toward his daughter. ‘Who told you that, Jamie Shelby?’

  ‘Yeah, he did. And at first I didn’t believe him. But I looked up the story in Spencer County history books. The Cook farm sat fallow for years. And three different books said the Cooks started the fight that got one of them killed. So when the Cooks set the Shelby house on fire, it was out of jealousy, not revenge.’ Michelle reached for her father’s hand. ‘That feud was a long time ago and should be forgotten.’

  ‘This was how you wanted to heal the rift between families?’ Billy pointed at Michelle’s rounded belly.

  ‘Nope.’ Michelle got back on her feet. ‘I used to like Jamie and found him attractive. But I don’t anymore and I sure don’t want to marry him.’ She grabbed hold of Billy’s shirt. ‘You never should have done that at Founder’s Reserve. I won’t have my brothers going to jail.’ Michelle placed both hands on her belly. ‘This is my baby. His or her last name will be Clark, same as mine. Now you tell Cousin Jill the truth about her partner’s car.’

  The porch grew very quiet. Then Billy turned on one boot heel towards Jill. ‘I had nothing to do with Michael’s broken windows or him being trapped in an elevator,’ he muttered. ‘And I sure didn’t have anything to do with Uncle Roger’s death.’ Billy directed this at Nick.

  ‘You can tell Owen Shelby there’ll be no more vandalism at his distillery, Lieutenant Harris,’ Michelle added. ‘But he needn’t worry about me. I would like him and all of you to stay out of my business.’ Michelle glared at each of them in turn. Then she walked back into the house, letting the screen door slam.

  THIRTEEN

  Thursday afternoon

  After Michelle stomped into the house, all the air on the porch seemed to have gone with her. For a few uncomfortable moments, Jill just sat there, wondering what to do next.

  Nick broke the silence first. ‘Thank you, Mr Clark, for allowing me to question your sons. As long as Owen Shelby refuses to press charges, and assuming there’s no more vandalism at the distillery, Billy and Justin are in the clear.’ His gaze moved from one to the other.

  Justin lifted his right hand as though giving testimony. ‘I’ll never set foot on Founder’s Reserve property again. You have my word, Mr Harris.’ Then the boy ran inside the house as though chased by a swarm of hornets.

  ‘What about you, Billy?’ Jill moved next to her scruffy cousin.

  ‘Trying to protect someone’s honor and this is the thanks I get?’ Billy shrugged with consummate ambivalence. ‘Since Michelle don’t want to get married either, I got no reason to drive all that way. Besides, I’ve got plenty around here to keep me busy.’ He, too, pulled a flask from his pocket and took a hearty gulp as though baiting the state trooper.

  Jill took it as their signal to leave. ‘Bye, Michelle,’ she hollered through the screen door. ‘Let Aunt Dot and me know when your baby arrives.’ Then spontaneously, Jill leaned over and kissed William’s cheek. ‘I promise less drama the next time I come over,’ she whispered.

  ‘Don’t bring no lawmen and there won’t be any drama,’ Will said wryly, and started to rock.

  Jill took hold of Nick’s arm and strolled down the steps as though they were a couple going to the prom. She waited until they were away from the log cabin to express her opinion. ‘Well, that wasn’t the best use of taxpayers’ money for gasoline or your time on the job.’

  Nick lifted an eyebrow as he climbed behind the wheel. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘We solved crimes that weren’t actual crimes since Owen never filed any police reports. And we still don’t know who locked Michael in the elevator or broke his windows.’

  ‘Oh, I wouldn’t say our time was wasted. At least we know Billy’s vandalism had nothing to do with Roger’s murder.’

  ‘What we need is a lead.’ Jill pulled a bottle of water from the cooler.

  ‘What I need is food.’ Nick turned the vehicle around and began the long trek down the mountain. ‘I’m starving. If you share your lunch with me, I’ll share what I found out from Mrs Clark.’

  Jill pulled the cooler from the back seat and handed him a sandwich. ‘Ham and cheese. Tell me what you know.’

  ‘I can’t eat and talk, especially not on this minefield of a driveway. Wait until I reach the county road.’ Nick took a bite of sandwich.

  Jill patiently waited until he accelerated to forty miles per hour on the paved highway, which was a breakneck speed considering the twists and turns. Then she handed him a fresh Georgia peach. ‘Here’s your dessert, but first it’s time to talk, Detective Harris.’

  Nick bit into the piece of fruit. ‘No offense, but I’m really glad you threw out the fried chicken. I don’t want to see another piece for a long while.’

  ‘No offense taken.’ Jill nibbled on her sandwich. ‘Now, what do you know that I don’t?’

  ‘I saw Mrs Clark when I came downstairs this morning. She found Roger’s will in their bank safety deposit box so she was on her way to see her lawyer. This was a new, updated version of the one they kept in their home safe.’ Nick dabbed his lips with a napkin.

  Jill stopped eating. ‘She showed you a copy and not me?’

  ‘Only because you were still sleeping. The new one will soon be filed and made public record, but she wanted us to know before we headed up Clark mountain.’

  ‘Does the new will impact Roger’s murder investigation?’

  ‘It might.’ Nick finished the peach and threw the pit out the window. ‘In the old will, Roger left an eighty percent share of Black Creek Distillery to Gordon, his nephew and operations manager. The other twenty percent was to be divided between William, Michelle, Billy, and Justin. Each was to receive a five percent share, with the stipulation of no voting rights. Gordon would have assumed full control of the distillery and would make all decisions, including the decision if and when to sell or take the private company public.’

  ‘And in the new will?’

  ‘In the new one, the eighty percent share goes to Mrs Clark, but the other twenty percent distribution remains the same.’

  ‘I guess crabby old Roger loved his wife after all,’ she murmured.

  ‘Was there any doubt of that?’ Nick sounded confused.

  ‘No. Don’t pay any attention to me.’ Jill threw out the rest of her sandwich. ‘So Roger cut out Gordon, who’d been his right-hand man. I wonder why?’

  ‘According to Mrs Clark, Roger and Gordon had a nasty argument the night before he died. He suspected Gordy of feeding information to Owen Shelby, among other things. Roger drew up the handwritten will the next morning. Since he had a bank teller and the manager witness and notarize the document, I’m betting it’s legal.’

  ‘What about Sweet Dreams Bed and Breakfast?’ Jill’s stomach flip-flopped with anxiety.

  ‘That didn’t change between the first and second documents. The B and B, along with their bank and investment accounts, goes to Dorothy Clark.’

  ‘I hope this doesn’t make Aunt Dot a suspect,’ Jill said, only half joking.

  Appropriately, Nick produced only half a smile. ‘Not necessarily, since that’s common among married couples.’

  ‘Hmm. I hope I’m not back to being a suspect.’ Jill stud
ied the passing scenery. ‘Where exactly are we going?’

  Nick didn’t answer right away. ‘Have you noticed we never cross paths with Gordon Clark? I was hoping we’d run into him at the family farm.’

  Jill peered at him over her sunglasses. ‘Forgive me for stating the obvious, but Gordy had lots of responsibility before Roger died, and now he’s running the show at Black Creek. He has no time to help pick peas in the garden.’

  ‘I agree, but don’t you find it odd Gordon hasn’t visited his aunt since Roger died? And he went out of his way to avoid us at Trehanny’s and at the funeral.’

  ‘I noticed that too. At least we assume the guy in mirrored sunglasses and double-breasted suit giving the eulogy was Gordon. He looked more like a hitman than part of the Clarks. Instead of hanging with his family at the cemetery, Gordy stayed in the last row. Despite his rather heartfelt eulogy, when it was time to put flowers on the casket, old Gordy threw his rose on the ground and walked back to his car.’ Jill tuned to a soft rock station on the radio.

  ‘Why didn’t you mention this before?’ Nick pulled off the road and switched off the radio.

  ‘Because my granny taught me to ignore rude behavior, since those people are just looking for attention.’

  ‘Interesting. Care to report any other rude behavior by your quasi cousin?’

  Jill checked to see if he was mocking her. ‘There was the night of the wake. Gordy didn’t come up to the casket to pay his respects like everyone else. And when he wasn’t giving me the evil-eye, he seemed to be watching you, Lieutenant Harris. I guess the new boss at Black Creek Distillery doesn’t appreciate Dick Tracy and his sidekick, Nancy Drew.’

  Nick arched an eyebrow. ‘I think of myself more as the Sherlock Holmes type.’

  ‘No way, not with your southern accent.’

  Nick laughed but his smile quickly faded. ‘You told me Roger Clark rushed back to work Tuesday evening.’

  ‘Yep, that was the day Nick and I arrived. He told Aunt Dot there was a problem at the plant.’