Mystery at the Fair

by Connie Cockrell

  Nick relaxed into the chair. He knew that Jimmy had to answer to the casino council, made up of tribe elders. They never liked to reveal information about the casino. "I know you do, Jimmy. I'm just trying to figure out who may have killed Ina."

  The casino manager folded his hands on the desk. "I'm limited in what I can share, Nick. You know that."

  "I do," Nick acknowledged. "I need to know how much she owed you and how you were collecting."

  Jimmy's eyebrows knit together. "You think we were strongarming her? You know better than that."

  "I don't think you were strongarming her, Jimmy. I do know you better than that."

  Jimmy's scowl softened. "She owed us a lot, Nick. We sent the debt to a collection agency. The tribe doesn't want any trouble with the Gaming Commission or the town. We're good neighbors here."

  "You are that. The town appreciates it." Nick sat forward, elbows on knees. "But I need to know who else she might have owed money to that might not be as nice."

  Jimmy rocked back in his chair. "I don't know, Nick. She played the ponies, sometimes. Maybe someone from the track? But the season doesn't start here in Arizona for another couple of months. It's too hot yet for horse racing."

  Nick scratched his head. "I was hoping you would know where else I could look."

  "I'm sorry, Nick. Really I am. I feel bad about her murder."

  Nick thought hard. "How about a print-out of her member card activity? Can you give me that?"

  Jimmy stared at the wall behind Nick and rubbed his chin. "Yeah," he agreed with misgiving plain on his face. "I think I can get the elders to approve that. Can I send it over to your office after I talk to them?"

  "Sure." Nick was pleased with the concession. A thought crossed his mind. "Ina never was in a ruckus in here was she? A yelling match? Anything?"

  The manager's head did a slow shake as he thought about it. "Noooo," he drew out the word. "Oh, wait." He rocked forward in the chair. "A few months ago, she was on a winning streak and some guy was trying to get her to cash out." He tugged at his left ear. "I don't remember much else so security must have busted the commotion up pretty fast."

  This might be a clue. Nick leaned forward. "You have any record? Logs? Video?"

  Jim's hand hit the executive phone on his desk. "Lani," he said when the young woman picked up. "Tell security to do a log search on Ina Grange, um, past nine months. Any video from that time, too."

  "Sure thing," Nick heard over the intercom. She clicked off.

  "I'll have to clear this with the elders, too, ya know." Jimmy rocked back in his chair.

  "That's fine, I can wait a bit. This won't get you in trouble, will it?"

  "I don't think so. The elders are careful to protect the tribe but where this kind of thing happens, they want to be on the side of the law."

  Nick stood up. "Thanks for seeing me, Jimmy." He paused. "Oh, I had a report that shortly before her disappearance, a couple of the tribe were seen leaving her house. Any idea what that was about?"

  Jimmy's face became passive. "No, no idea. Like I said, we use collection agencies."

  "Had to ask. Thanks for the help."

  "Any time, Nick." Jimmy stood up and walked Nick to the door. "Let me know if there's anything else we can do." He opened his office door. "I'm serious. Anything at all. A reward even, if you think that will help."

  They shook hands. "I appreciate that, Jimmy. Thanks."

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Jean met Arris's friend in Gila County and picked up four totes full of ribbons, everything from the green Merit ribbons to the Best of Show ribbons.

  "Tell Arris I'm sorry about his troubles. My wife and I met the woman, Ina, once when Arris drove over for a barbeque at my house. Lovely lady, but they argued."

  Jean perked her ears.

  He waved his hand. "Nothin' violent. It just seemed like she wanted something and Arris said no. 'We're staying here.' His exact words."

  "Did it cause a problem?"

  "Nope. They stayed the day, then drove home that night. They seemed okay when they left."

  "When was this?"

  "Oh…" The man took off his cowboy hat and scratched his head. "About October last year. Just after the weather cooled off enough to have a nice picnic."

  "Well, thank you for the ribbons." Jean needed time to puzzle out whether this information would be worth anything or not.

  A bill accompanied the totes. Fair enough, Jean thought when the guy handed it to her. She tucked it into her shorts pocket and shook his hand. "I appreciate it. I'll tell Arris hello for you."

  She got in her car and looked at the dashboard clock. "Four ten now, two-hour drive back. Ummm, I'll stop at a drive-thru before I leave town. I can call Karen and tell her I'll be there at about seven. She can tell everyone else and we can get the exhibits their ribbons before midnight." She sighed with a bit of satisfaction and started the car. Jean was in the drive-thru line when her phone rang.

  "Hi."

  "Ms. Hays, this is Nick White."

  Uh oh, he's back to calling me Ms. Hays. Something must be wrong. "Chief. Something wrong?"

  "Yes, very wrong. Did you and Karen Carver go see Josh Marlow last night?"

  Her heart sank. "Yeah."

  "You can't do that." It sounded as though he were gritting his teeth.

  "I can't talk to people?"

  "You can't go around conducting your own investigation into Ina Grange's death."

  "We heard he knew her, that's all." Jean made an effort to make it less than it was. The car ahead of her pulled forward. She inched up behind it.

  "He filed stalking charges." Nick's voice was flat.

  Oh no. This was bad. "He did?"

  "Yes, and I don't blame him."

  Jean's hand went slick on her cell phone. "What happens now?"

  She heard him draw a deep breath. "Nothing about the stalking charges, I talked him down. But I promised him you wouldn't approach him again."

  Jean slumped with relief. "Thank you, Chief White. I appreciate it."

  "You aren't off the hook, Ms. Hays. I want to know why you were out there."

  She inched the car forward again. "We heard that Josh had dated Ina before Arris. We just thought we'd ask him if he knew of anyone that would want to hurt her." Is he going to buy this excuse?

  He snorted. "You thought no such thing. You were thinking he might be a suspect, jealousy maybe."

  Jean rolled her eyes. He's got us for sure. "A little of that," she admitted. Her hand was wet on the steering wheel despite the car's air conditioning.

  "You could have been killed, way out there in the middle of nowhere. Is that what you want?"

  I wish everyone would stop saying that. "No, Chief." Now she was getting angry. He was treating her like a dummy. She gripped the phone harder. "I was just trying to help Arris."

  "That's my job, Ms. Hays. Unless you'd like to be charged with interfering in a police investigation, you need to back off. Is that understood?"

  "Yes, Chief White. I understand." She heard him click off. A horn behind her startled her. She was two car lengths behind the vehicle in front of her. She waved an apology and pulled up. Perfect, now he thinks I'm an interfering nut job. I wonder if he called Karen and read her the riot act, too. Her fingers tapped on the steering wheel. I wonder if he was even looking at Josh Marlow. Killing someone and stuffing them in a cabinet that Arris controls sounds like the work of a jealous lover to me.

  It was her turn to order. "Burger and fries. Iced tea, please."

  She pulled up behind the car in front of her at the delivery window. I don't believe for a minute that Arris is the murderer. What about the gambling? Arris didn't have anything to do with that. What about Vera and Analise? Does Mr. High and Mighty Chief White know about that? She fumed until she pulled up to the window. Jean handed over the cash and got her drink and the bag. She thanked the girl and pulled out. It wasn't until she was out on the highway that she opened the bag. One-handed
she unwrapped the burger and bit into it as though it were an enemy.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  It was a little after six in the evening when Karen put dinner on the table. Peggy had invited her boyfriend, Tyler, to eat with them. "Help yourself, Tyler," she said as she put the coleslaw on the table.

  "Thank you, Karen. It looks good."

  Spread out on the table, in addition to the coleslaw, were grilled pork chops, fresh green beans and a bowl of rice. Tyler picked up the coleslaw and put a spoonful on his plate. "How goes the fair business?" He passed the bowl to Peggy.

  "Good. Judging finished today." Karen shook her head. "Poor Jean had to drive all the way to Gila County to get ribbons from their fair. We all have to go in about seven to put ribbons on all the exhibits that earned one."

  "That sucks, Mom. You just got home!"

  "True, but we want everyone to see how well they did. It's not really a fair if there are no ribbons." She speared a pork chop and put it on her plate, then passed the rest to Tyler.

  "Don't people give back the ribbons?" Peggy passed the green beans to her mother.

  "They do?" Tyler looked up from the pork chops in surprise.

  "Some do." Karen took some green beans and passed the bowl. "Mostly the people who enter every year. They don't really want to keep the ribbons, they'd be overwhelmed if they did. So they enjoy them on their exhibits and on Sunday they'll remove them and give them back. A lot of people give back their premiums, too. A donation to the fair."

  "Wow, they give back the prize money?" Tyler put the green bean bowl on the table after helping himself.

  "It's not that much, really," Karen told them. "And it helps the fair."

  "So who's running the fair if Jean has been gone all day?" Peggy asked over a forkful of beans.

  "I have. And I'm glad to help. Her car tires were slashed last night."

  "Oh no." Peggy stopped eating. "She wasn't hurt, was she?"

  Karen looked at both of them, staring across the table. "No, but a warning was scrawled across her windshield." She saw Tyler swallow, then sip his tea.

  "What did it say?" he asked.

  "Stop investigating." She watched Tyler closely. Does he know something?

  "I told you it was a bad idea to go see Josh Marlow, Mom." Peggy cut into her chop. "You could have been killed."

  "You think Josh killed Ina?" Tyler picked up his fork and stirred the coleslaw on his plate.

  Karen raised an eyebrow. "I don't know." She picked up her fork and skewered a green bean. "But Chief White called me today. Josh tried to file a stalking complaint against me and Jean. The Chief talked him out of it."

  "Oh my God, Mom!"

  Tyler stared again.

  "It's all taken care of, don't worry."

  "Mom, are you going to be safe?"

  "Of course I am." Karen calmly ate another bit of pork chop. "Nothing is going to happen." She finished off her coleslaw and got up to rinse off her plate.

  "Leave that, Mom. You have to go back to the fairgrounds. Tyler and I will take care of the dishes."

  Karen rinsed off her plate and put it beside the sink. "Thank you, Peg. I appreciate that." She wiped her hands on the tea towel. "That lets me get there early and get the paperwork ready so we can attach ribbons quickly." She gave her daughter a kiss on the head. "Hopefully we won't be working too late."

  "I hope so, Mom."

  Karen left the kitchen, wondering if Marlow had been the tire slasher. She heard Peggy laugh. When she turned to look, Peg was talking to Tyler and picking up the dishes. Tyler was watching Karen.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Jean had the security guard open the gate so she could drive up to the middle door of the Exhibits building. Before Jean had the trunk open, Karen was at the driver's side door. "You made it!"

  Jean laughed. "Yeah, nothing like a road trip to save the day."

  Three of the other Superintendents showed up at the trunk. They each grabbed a tote. "The last one is in the back seat," Jean told Karen as she closed the trunk.

  "I'll take it in. You go park."

  "Thanks, Karen." She held the door as Karen removed the tote. "I'll be back in a sec."

  After she parked the car she helped the security guard, Sam, shut and lock the big gate. "Has there been any trouble, Sam?"

  "Not a bit, Jean. I walked around in here all night last night, nothing going on. I even check the parking lot once in awhile. Isn't that a new car?"

  "A rental. Someone slashed the tires on my car last night."

  He eyed her. "Hence the questions about my night." He put the chain and padlock on the fence gate and snapped it shut. "I'll keep an extra eye out."

  "Thanks, Sam." Jean smiled. "I'd hate anything to happen to people's prized possessions while they're under my care."

  "I'll take care, Jean."

  "Appreciate it, Sam."

  She waved and walked to the Exhibits building. The heat of the day had dissipated, and it was about eighty degrees. The sky was so clear the Milky Way was easily visible. It seemed as though she could just reach up and scoop a handful of stars out of the sky. She could smell the livestock but it was far enough away that it wasn't unpleasant. The cattle were mooing softly and she could hear the 4-H and FFA kids laughing over the sound of music playing. She almost hated having to go into the Exhibits building.

  When she did, it was a hive of quiet activity. Every Superintendent was reading off of their exhibit records while one volunteer found the exhibit and another tied on the appropriate ribbon. She grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler. It was full. Karen must have refilled it, she thought as she unscrewed the top and drank half of it down. She'd dehydrated during the afternoon. She didn't want to stop for bathroom breaks more than necessary. She watched another minute while she finished the bottle off, dropped the bottle it in the trash bag and wiped her hands on her shorts.

  Jean had taken three steps when she heard her name from the doorway. Spooked, she spun around.

  It was Nick White, Stetson in hand. "Oh, sorry, Ms. Hays. I didn't mean to startle you." He scuffed his feet on the cement floor.

  Her heart was racing. She waved off the apology. "That's okay. I just didn't expect anyone to come in behind me." She swallowed the fear that had surged through her. He really did look apologetic. "Is there a problem, Chief?"

  He came inside the building, looking around at everyone working. "It's busy in here."

  "Yeah." She wiped her hands on her shorts again. "I just got back with the ribbons. Everyone are being troopers and staying late to get them attached."

  He nodded. She could see his blue eyes taking in every detail. "Uh, I just stopped by to let you know we're still working on your case. The car has been fingerprinted and the prints entered into a database search."

  "That's good." She looked over in the direction of Karen's department. Karen was busy and never looked toward the door. She smiled at him. "Can my car be released?"

  "Not yet," he said as he turned his hat in his hands. She watched the hat go around and around. "Sorry about that."

  She shrugged. "It'll take as long as it takes. You know a good tire place? I'm going to have to get new ones."

  He brightened. "Go to Tire Palace, over on Round Up Road off of Arrow Highway. Ask for Andy Jenkins. Tell him I sent you over and he'll give you a good price."

  "Thanks, Chief." She smiled at him. "I'll give him a call."

  "I spoke to the security guard, Sam, when I came in. Good guy. Spent some time in Iraq."

  "Yes, he is a good guy."

  "I just wanted to make sure everything in here is okay."

  Her right eyebrow went up. Is he checking on me? "I promise I'm not talking to Josh Marlow, Chief."

  He looked surprised. "Oh, no, I didn't mean that. I mean," he blushed, "I just wanted to be sure there were no problems over here. I mean, you were attacked last night."

  She noticed the hat spun faster in his hands. "Everything in here seems good, Chief
." He was confusing her. This afternoon he was chewing her out. Tonight he was all concerned. "Uh, I thought we were on a first-name basis?"

  He blushed a brighter shade of red. "Uh, yeah." He stepped to the center aisle and looked down to the far end of the building where the Gems and Minerals department was. "Yes, Jean. We are."

  "Good to know, Nick."

  "I see John down there, let me go say hello." He put his hat on, tipped it to her slightly, turned on his heel and strode off along the center of the building.

  She snorted and shook her head. Karen showed up beside her. "Chief White checking on us?"

  "I think so," Jean chuckled. "Or me, anyway."

  "Hoo, hoo, hoo! Do I detect a little romance in the air?"

  "Not likely." Jean turned to her friend. "Need any more help?"

  "Sure, one of my volunteers has to go. You can help me finish up."

  Two hours later Karen gave Jean her exhibits sheets. "Here you go. I'm glad you have to tally all this stuff up and not me."

  "You had to tally up your department's prize totals." Jean grinned at her.

  "Yeah, but not everything in the building. Don't stay too late." Karen moved toward the door.

  "I won't. Photography is nearly done. I have a calculator in my bag. I'll start working on everyone else's. By the time they turn their sheets in, I'll be nearly done."

  "Okay. I'm going home, take a shower and fall into bed. Opening is at eight and I want to get a little sleep anyway."

  "Have a good night."

  Jean cleared one corner of an exhibit stand and spread out the paperwork. Each department made note of how many exhibits were entered by seniors, by adults and by juniors, 17 years old or less. They also had to keep track of all the prizes that were awarded in each department. Merit awards earned no premiums. White, or third place, earned a dollar. Red, or second place, earned two dollars and first-place Blue earned three dollars. Other awards, such as Judge's Choice or Best in Class or Best of Show won only bragging rights. No extra prize money was awarded for those ribbons. She dug out a sheet of paper and starting making notes by department. By the time she had it all down, the Photography Superintendent, Ernie Hale, was walking up to her.