Moonlight, Murder, and Small Town Secrets

by K C Hart

  “Katy, I thought that was your little car.”

  Katy let out a long haggard breath as Evelyn Brown, cool and perfectly coiffured, as usual, walked around the large SUV and into sight.

  “Yes, it’s me. I don’t know what happened to my car, but I’m sure glad you were coming this way. Thank you so much for stopping.”

  “Of course I stopped dear. Come on, I’ll give you a ride back to town.”

  Katy hobbled to the SUV and stumbled into the vehicle trying not to bump her injured foot. She must have cracked a bone yesterday. The swelling and pain were getting worse with each step even though she was trying very hard not to put any weight on it. She dropped her computer bag on the floorboard beside her legs, careful not to touch her foot. “This sure is a nice ride,” she said. “I have to admit, I was a little nervous until I saw you get out, you know, with all that’s been going on lately.”

  Evelyn pulled the enormous vehicle around and started back toward town. Katy watched Mr. Byrd walking down his driveway toward her dead car. She waved at him through the side window but realized he couldn’t see her through the tinted glass. She’d call his house in a few minutes and explain what happened.

  “You can drop me by the office, or the flower shop, or anywhere in town Mrs. Brown,” she said, thinking about who she would get to help her retrieve her car. “I’m going to call John and have him come pick me up. I think my car is gonna need a tow truck.”

  “Just call me Evelyn honey.” She slowed the vehicle and began to turn down the logging road across from the trailer park, about a mile up from Katy’s broken-down car.

  Katy watched as the SUV bounced heavily down the dark dirty logging road, hitting every mud hole and tree branch along the way. The vibration and bouncing were doing a number on her foot. Where were they going? “Evelyn, are you sure you meant to turn here? This is just a dead-end logging road.”

  Evelyn brought the SUV to a halt under an enormous pine at the end of the road and turned to face Katy. “I’m afraid so dear. These desperate times are calling for desperate measures.”

  Katy glanced down at Evelyn’s hand and felt the blood draining from her face. A small, silver pistol was casually pointed right at Katy’s gut. She felt her phone by her side in her right hand and tried to unlock the screen without drawing Evelyn’s attention to what she was doing.

  “Okay, Katy. Don’t make me use this little gun in the Suburban. I don’t want to get any blood on these new leather seats. This is a company car and Miles might start asking questions if that happens.” She reached out her hand and Katy reluctantly passed her the cell phone.

  She could feel her heart pounding in her chest and hear it pounding in her ears. If she stroked out right here it would solve Evelyn’s problem of where to spill her blood. She took a deep breath and tried to think. “You killed Jessa and Laney, didn’t you?”

  “Well, I had a little help.” Evelyn smiled as she answered in her quaint southern drawl. “Once that money-grabbing hussy, was dead I needed some manpower to get her gaudy body out of that shed.”

  “You hit Jessa with the monkey wrench the night of the Peanut Festival?” Katy turned her body toward Evelyn as she slid her hand behind her back for support. If she could keep the crazy woman distracted, maybe she could get the door open and dive out before Evelyn could get off a shot.

  “Is that what you call that big ole thing? I wasn’t sure.” Evelyn moved her hands through the air gesturing as she answered Katy’s question, seemingly unconcerned that she was holding a loaded pistol. “That was just a stroke of luck seeing it in the toolbox of that white-trash Phobs boy’s truck. I had planned on using one of Miles’fishing knives, but when I saw that, what did you call it? A monkey wrench? Well, I knew that would be better.”

  This woman was nuts. She was sitting here in her designer clothes, waving a pistol around with her manicured nails, talking about how she killed a woman as if it was no big deal. Katy had to keep her distracted. “So, you had planned to stab Jessa?”

  “Yes, that was my original plan, but the monkey wrench thing worked out so much better. The night of that idiot Peanut Festival I waited until Mother had turned off her TV and Miles was asleep.” She glanced down at her French manicure. “I slipped out of the house and was never missed. That was easy, of course, since Miles and I have slept in separate rooms for years. I parked at the edge of the field and just mixed in with the crowd. Then all I had to do was wait until Jessa was by herself.”

  “But when did you get Joe’s monkey wrench?” Katy asked, momentarily forgetting her escape plan. “And how did you get her to go in the shed? “

  “You think I’m an idiot has-been beauty queen, just like everybody else in this town,” Evelyn smirked, rubbing her lips together smearing her lipstick that was beginning to bleed out from the corners of her mouth. “Well, that’s okay. That’s working in my favor. Let everybody believe I’m too dumb to pull this off.” She reached up and wiped her mouth with her free hand, effectively smearing the rest of her lipstick off her lips. “I’ll just sit back and laugh while that Podunk sheriff drags the Phobs boy and that hypocrite coach to the slammer. She looked down and studied the back of her hand now stained with bright pink lipstick, keeping the pistol haphazardly pointed in Katy’s direction. “You see, everybody, and I mean everybody, brings their cars and trucks to our dealership for tune-ups, oil changes, car washes, and all that other stuff. So, when Joe Phobs left his truck at our shop at the beginning of the week to get his tires rotated, I just grabbed the heaviest thing there was out of his toolbox. The keys to the box were on the key ring when he turned it in to me.” She laughed again. “I still don’t think it’s ever dawned on him to tell our great lawman that his truck was at our shop. I just unlocked the toolbox, took what I wanted and locked it back. Then, that night I put on an old T-shirt of Miles’ with some jeans and a baseball cap and waited in the shed until Jessa was by herself.”

  Katy had to admit that this woman was clever. She had underestimated her. “But how did you get her in the shed to, uh, hit her? And how did you get her from the shed to under the trailer?”

  “Getting her in the shed was easy,” Evelyn said, fluttering her hands around again. Katy scooted back toward the passenger door a little more, awaiting her opportunity to jump out.

  “It was after midnight,” Evelyn continued, “and that bunch that she hangs around with finally cleared out. I just bumped around inside the shed door when she walked by. She had done had one catfight with that blue-haired woman earlier. I knew she would have to make sure that girl wasn’t in there making out with ole Phobs right there under her nose. Sure enough, soon as she heard the noise, she came charging in there yelling and cursing and acting just as red-necked as she looked in that ridiculous leopard print mini skirt.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Katy placed her hand on the door handle. If Evelyn would just look away for a second, she would make her move.

  “I just stood in the dark and waited ‘til her back was to me,” Evelyn continued, her voice calm and pleasant. “Then smack. One good whack with the monkey wrench and it was over.” She paused and touched a bead of perspiration that was forming on her upper lip. “Whew, it’s getting warm in here. I don’t have time to redo my make-up. I have a meeting at the country club for lunch. I wasn’t planning on chatting in the truck all day.”

  She switched the pistol to her left hand and leaned toward the steering wheel to crank the SUV. It was now or never. Katy turned the handle behind her and jerked open the door while she pushed herself out backwards with her one good foot. She landed like a sack of potatoes on the cool, hard ground. Thank the Lord there weren’t any big rocks or tree limbs where she hit, just very hard ground.

  Evelyn immediately went to cursing and ripping, but Katy didn’t waste time listening. She slammed the door shut and pulled herself up. If she headed up the logging road Evelyn would have a clear shot at her. She quickly limped around to the back of the SUV out of sit
e just as Evelyn came running around the front to the passenger’s side.

  “Now Katy, I ain’t got time for all of this. If you make me get these new sandals muddy chasing you through the woods, I’m gonna pitch a hissy-fit.”

  She paused waiting for an answer. Katy peaked around the edge of the SUV and watched as Evelyn stood there. The pistol hand was on her hip and the other hand holding the keys was rubbing the back of her neck. She tapped the toe of her two-inch wedge-heeled espadrilles for just a second before heading up the logging path toward the main road. Katy eased around the edge of the vehicle to remain out of sight. She was hopeful for just an instant that Evelyn would forget to lock the SUV, but that hope was dashed. She heard all the doors click as her back disappeared up the wooded logging road.

  Hot sparks shot up her left leg every time the injured foot touched the ground but stopping was not an option. She decided to head east, the opposite direction of Evelyn. The Byrds lived on the other side of the narrow strip of timberland. If she could just keep going and stay out of sight, maybe she could get to their house and get help.

  The trees were so thick she had to weave back and forth between them. The vines and briers reached up from the earth and grabbed at her legs as she crept along. There wasn’t a drop of wind blowing, but the heavy pine needles and thick branches kept the sun from beating down on her sweat-drenched head. She looked back over her shoulder. The monstrous SUV was no longer visible. Good. She was making a little progress.

  The rough bark of the pine tree scratched through the thin nursing top as she leaned back against the tree trunk. She would only stop a minute to catch her breath. What time was it? It seemed like hours since her car caught fire, but it probably had been less than one. Would Mr. Byrd try to figure out where she had gone? Maybe he would call her office and get them to look for her or maybe he would just go back to his house and forget about her. She had no idea. The familiar sound coming through the woods sent a chill across the back of her neck. Evelyn was calling her name.

  The trees were getting thicker as she pushed deeper into the woods. The faint sunlight fighting its way through the limbs was not directly overhead. It wasn’t noon. She limped on, following the direction given by the sunlight, but progress was slow. Every muscle ached. Every step pulled more energy than she had to give. Every breath was a struggle.

  “I’m going to get out of this mess, and when I do, no more ice cream after supper. If I don’t die from a gunshot or heart attack today, I’m joining a gym tomorrow,” she whispered as she panted.

  The voice was getting louder…closer. “Katy, you know I’m going to catch you. Come on out.” Evelyn didn’t even sound out of breath. She just sounded crazy. Evelyn must have figured out which way she was going.

  Katy pushed onward trying desperately to ignore the stabbing pain in her foot and the pounding in her chest. The trees were beginning to thin a little. She must be coming out on the other side. Faster, you have got to move faster, her inner voice begged.

  The sun began to break through the treetops bringing more light and heat to the edge of the woods. She reached up and pushed back a low hanging branch. The Byrd’s little cinder block house could just be made out on the other side of the open field. She could hear footfalls coming her way at a slow run. Evelyn was moving in behind her. She gulped in a lung full of air and took off in a pitiful, lopsided run. She had to make it through the wide-open field to the old couples’ house before Evelyn broke through the trees and saw her.

  She didn’t look back, only forward. The house was growing larger with every step. Halfway there. Katy hit the ground like a stone as a bullet whizzed over her head and the thunderous explosion blasted in her ears. The dry dirt clods forced their way into her mouth and nose as she connected with the earth. She turned her head to the side and sucked in another breath of air. No new horrendous pains, just the same lightning bolt in her foot. Evelyn had missed.

  “Hold still Katy, I’m coming,” Evelyn called as she trotted across the field.

  Katy raised her head high enough to look toward the little house still several yards in front of her. The screen door was halfway open, and Mr. Byrd’s grey head was peaking outside. Katy’s mind raced. She could not let Evelyn harm the Byrd’s and she was leading her right to them.

  She rolled over, trying to be ever mindful of her injury, and pushed herself up to face Evelyn. “You win. I’ll go back with you. Just don’t hurt anybody else.”

  Evelyn held her gun free hand up to shade her eyes against the bright sun and gazed across the field to the Byrd’s home. Mr. Byrd was no longer in the doorway. The screen door was shut tight. Evelyn didn’t seem to notice that they were being watched. “Now you’re talking with some sense.” The pistol waved in front of Katy’s face motioning for her to move back toward the trees. “Come on. We’ve wasted this whole morning and I’m a mess. You’re about to get on my last nerve.”

  Katy began to limp slowly back to the cover of the trees and in the opposite direction of safety. She looked over her right shoulder toward the highway where her car was still sitting. Would anybody figure out what was going on before Evelyn had time to finish her off? She felt the pistol push into her ribs.

  “You know you brought all of this on yourself, Evelyn exclaimed. “When you found Jessa, I figured that was just dumb luck.”

  Katy needed to stay in the open field as long as she could. She slowed her steps trying to slow their progression, but the pistol nudged her forward. She looked over her shoulder at Evelyn. “You’re right. It was a pure accident that I found her body that night.”

  “I believed that at first. I was even willing to think that when you found Laney in that old woman’s trailer.”

  Katy felt her bad foot roll over a mound of dirt. Her knees went to the ground, stumbling forward over a rut in the field. The pain in her foot was almost more than she could bear.

  Evelyn grabbed the sweaty wet hair on the back of Katy’s head. “Get up.” Her voice was no longer pleasant, but cold and flat. “The games are over. Either get up or we’ll do this right here.”

  Tears and sweat run down her face blurring her vision as she pushed herself back up. How could she buy some more time? “I’m moving. Look. I know you’re going to kill me. At least tell me how you managed to pull all of this off.”

  Now that Katy was following directions again Evelyn’s voice changed back to the sweet sing-song southern tone. “Let’s see. I’ve already told you how I took care of Jessa.”

  The tree line was fast approaching. She had to keep her talking until she could figure something out. “But how did you move her body from the shed to under the flatbed?”

  “I didn’t move her dear,” Evelyn said, slowing their pace as they came upon the cover of the trees. “I had some help.”

  “But who was it?” Katy paused and turned to face her captor. “Your husband?”

  Evelyn stopped, forgetting for the moment that she wanted to hurry. “Miles…actually do some physical work?” She threw her head back and cackled. “Don’t be ridiculous. Besides, he wouldn’t have done anything to harm his precious Jessa anyway.”

  “Is that why you killed her?” Katy winced as she lifted her swollen foot trying to ease the throb that continued to pulse upwards from her toes “She was having an affair with Mr. Brown?”

  “Don’t play stupid.” Evelyn tilted her head to the side and glared at Katy. “I know you know that piece of trash was his daughter.”

  “His daughter? No, I had no idea.”

  Evelyn continued to stare, looking for any sign that Katy was lying. “Well, maybe you didn’t. Maybe you’re not that smart after all.” She wiped the sweat rolling in big droplets down her forehead and landing in her lashes with the back of her hand. The thick mascara left a black scar across her nose and cheek where it landed. “Yes, his daughter. I wouldn’t have cared. Heaven knows I don’t love him, haven’t for years, but Jessa just wouldn’t stop pushing for more money.”

  Katy s
tared at the black streak across Evelyn’s face for only a second as her words soaked in. “She was blackmailing you?”

  “Of course. At first, I refused to give her a penny. Then she showed me a marriage certificate for Miles and her piece-of-trash momma that was dated before ours.”

  “I don’t understand.” Katy looked Evelyn in the eye. “Why would you care if people knew your husband had been married before? Half the population is divorced. It’s a normal thing.”

  “Don’t be slow, woman.” Evelyn waved the gun in the air impatiently. “He was not divorced and on his second marriage. He wasn’t married to her before. He was still married to her. The jerk had managed to marry me while he was still married to her and keep it a secret.”

  Katy’s attention shifted from the firearm waving in front of her face to the woman speaking. The dawning of understanding showed across her features as what had pushed this woman over the edge began to come clear in her mind. “Bigamy,” she whispered, more to herself than to her listener.

  “Don’t say that word,” Evelyn spat back. Don’t you dare speak that filthy word to me or anyone else. Laney thought she could threaten me with that same word. I hope you’re smarter than her.” She ran her fingers through her silver hair causing it to stick up like shards of glass. “Neither one of those women were going to come into my world and steal everything I had created for my son.” Evelyn’s voice grew louder as she spoke, louder and shriller. “So what if he married her first? Miles Brown was nothing until he married me. He didn’t have two dimes to rub together and my money made him what he is today. I would kill before I would give it all to some low-life Alabama nobody.”

  Her voice lowered to a softer, more normal pitch as she brought her emotions back under control. “I did what I had to do. I did what any mother would do.” She pushed the gun into Katy’s chest, giving her a shove. The conversation was over. “Now get moving. I need to get out of these woods before I get eat up with ticks and red bugs.”