“Lindsey McKay!” Bobby grabbed me in a bear hug, whirling us both in a dizzying circle. “I’m glad you’re making my man Ike here so happy these days.”
“Uh, sure.” I held onto the back of a chair until the room stopped spinning. “What have you been doing since high school?”
“I tried to be a cop, but they canned me after I crashed two squad cars, hence the new nickname,” Bobby said, as charming and roguish as ever. “Then I went off to school and became a lawyer. Now that I’m all educated, I’ve come home. Sonny Mowrey is my first client.”
“How’d Deena find you?” Ike asked.
“I’ve been moonlighting as a musician out at the north end for a few months while I studied to take the bar in July and then while I waited for the results. Deena and I frequent the same watering hole.”
“Would that be Fiddler’s?”
“It would. And yes, I knew John Starling. Deena and I closed down his bar a coupla times in the last few months.”
“Deena. Not Sonny?”
“Only Deena. Sonny didn’t hang out at the bar.”
Ike didn’t say anything, so I offered my opinion. “Seems odd for a married couple. Were Sonny and Deena having marital problems?”
Bobby cleared his throat. “I can’t speak to that, seeing as how I represent Sonny Mowrey. Speaking of which, I understand no charges have been filed. I need to see my client. And I need to spring him from jail, like now.”
Ike went all squinty-eyed on Bobby. “They teach you to talk like that in law school?”
“Nah. I figured it out myself. Charge my client or release him.”
Ike glanced at the clock on the wall. He must be weighing how much to tell his friend. As I well knew, being on opposite sides in a case was hard on a friendship. I hoped the investigation wouldn’t wreck their lifelong ease with each other.
“I’m arresting your client today,” Ike said.
“On what charge?” Bobby countered in the next breath.
“Murder.”
“You mean involuntary manslaughter.”
“Nope. Felony murder.”
“Get real. This was an accidental shooting. Sonny Mowrey didn’t plan to end the bartender’s life.”
“We believe otherwise.”
Bobby swore fluently. The air seemed bluer when he wound down. Riveted by the conversation, I hoped neither man remembered I was still here.
“You done?” Ike asked his friend.
“In more ways than one. No way will Deena keep me on as Sonny’s lawyer. She needs a topnotch criminal defense lawyer, not a fledgling goober like me.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, Bobby,” Ike said. “You’re smart and you know people.”
“Yeah, but Deena and I thought I’d waltz out of here with Sonny.”
“You saying she hired you for more than one reason?”
Crimson stained Bobby’s neck and face. “I might have mentioned I knew you.”
“Be careful,” Ike said. “Deena tried to bribe Lindsey earlier today. Deena’s working every angle to get her man released. That makes me think these people have a lot to hide.”
“I can’t tell you anything.” Bobby hung his head. “Attorney client privilege.”
“She thought of everything,” Ike said. “But I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve. I’ll bring Sonny to the interview room. Go ahead over there.”
“I’ve got a newspaper to write,” I said, sensing my time to leave. “I’ll see myself out.”
Ike grabbed my hand and reeled me in for a kiss. “See you tonight.”
As I exited Ike’s office, Bobby ribbed Ike about being bitten by the love bug. I certainly thought so, but Mr. Ike Harper still wouldn’t say those all-important-to-me words. I love you. How hard was that?
Monumental if you were Ike Harper.
Loud voices in the lobby caught my attention. My stride quickened automatically.
“If you don’t let that S.O.B. out so I can kill him, I’m gonna get myself arrested so I can kill him in your jail,” a man hollered. “I’m coming for you, Mowrey. Nobody kills a Starling and gets away with it.”
Chapter 7
John Starling’s little brother Ray looked like he’d been engineered with pro basketball in mind. His head was higher than most doorways, and I couldn’t imagine where he found pants long enough to fit those three miles of legs.
Two deputies restrained the angry man. Ike hurried past me into the lobby. I tried to make myself as small as possible by the admin desk so the raging man didn’t notice me.
“I’ll sue everybody in this backwater town, if you don’t let me see him,” Ray Starling shouted. “Let me at that yellowbelly. I’ll show him a thing or two. Save you the cost of a trial too.”
“Mr. Starling, your brother’s death is an active investigation,” Ike began in a soothing tone. “Why don’t we discuss it privately in my office?”
“I don’t want nothing done in private. That’s how things get covered up. I want the whole world to know Sonny Mowrey is a stone cold killer.”
Oh, boy. Ike would kill me if I took notes, but he wouldn’t know if I recorded this conversation on my phone. I clicked my phone’s apps until I found the right one. This would be one heck of a scoop. The story might get traction with the big city dailies.
“Lucky for you, I have the newsletter editor in the building. If I ask her to join us, will you consent to talking privately?”
“The newspaper will be there?” Ray asked.
Ike shot me an entreating look. With a sigh, I reached into my bag for a business card before cautiously moving toward the red-faced man. “I’m Lindsey McKay, editor of the Gazette.”
Ray ducked his head in acknowledgement as he palmed my card. “You gonna write down every word I say?”
“If that’s what you want,” I said.
“What I want is my brother back home in Alabama alive and well. That ain’t happening. He’s going home in a body bag tomorrow while the coward who shot him is still breathing air. Johnny said he’d found a way to turn his luck around. That’s why I know someone murdered him. For the money.”
“In my office. Now,” Ike said.
The two deputies accompanied Ray, one on each arm. Though Ray looked like he could easily lift both men and not break stride, he allowed himself to be guided along the brightly lit corridor. He ducked his head to enter Ike’s office.
Since Ike was allowing Ray the courtesy of being interviewed in his office, Ray wasn’t in imminent danger of arrest. However, it’d be front page news if this guy lost it and wound up in jail.
Ike directed me behind his desk and into his chair. He sat on the front edge of the desk and said, “Ray, you’re mad at the wrong people. I’m working hard to discover what happened to John, but your behavior is a problem. Three cops are babysitting you instead of following leads.”
I put my phone on the desk and flipped open a notepad, knowing full well Ike would ask me for the notes. But he wouldn’t think to ask for my phone.
“John’s all the family I have left,” Ray said, tugging free of the two deputies at his side and slumping into one of Ike’s guest chairs. “I can’t believe my brother’s gone. We had plans to go fishing offshore next weekend. He’d even lined up dates for the both of us.”
“Tell me about the fishing plans,” Ike said. “Where were y’all headed?”
“To Gray’s Reef.”
“And he invited two women to go fishing with you?”
“Yes, but that’s not important now.”
“On the contrary,” Ike said. “It’s very important. Who were they?”
“He was seeing some woman named Louise. He kept raving about how she really got him. And she likes the things guys like. She’s even done well in fishing tournaments. Me and John like fishing, but we never caught much. Louise was our ace in the hole.”
“What’s Louise’s last name?”
Ray shrugged. “Louise didn’t kill him. They were doing it like bunnies all
the time. John was crazy about her, and it sounded like she felt the same way about him.”
I scribbled “Louise?” on my notepad. I couldn’t call any Louises to mind, but my father, Uncle Henry, or Aunt Fay would know if Louise was a local. They might even know her if she was an import.
“I need to talk to Louise,” Ike said, handing Ray a business card. “If you remember her last name, call me.”
Deputy Sam Hicks knocked on the door, then breezed in with a tray of canned sodas. Everyone took a beverage, including Ray, who gulped his down like it was his last meal.
“The hell with Louise.” Ray’s eyes glittered with malice. “I want to talk to Sonny Mowrey. I heard he confessed to shooting my brother.”
“You can’t talk to Mowrey. We are arresting him.”
“I’ll wait until he makes bail. He turns up dead, you’ll know it was me getting payback.” Ray caught my eye. “If I turn up dead, you’ll know the sheriff and his henchmen murdered me.”
Ike rose in a fluid motion and towered over Ray. “Dial it down. We abide by the law in this county, and if you make threats, you’re likely to get yourself arrested.”
Ray gestured to the ceiling. “Doesn’t look like you’ve got more than one block of cells up there. Arrest me. I want a shot at Mowrey.”
“You’ve worn out your welcome here, Starling. Cool off before you darken my doorstep again.” Ike nodded to his deputies. “Escort this man outside.”
When they left, Ike turned to me. “Sorry to drag you into that.”
“No worries. I’m disappointed you talked him into a more reasonable state of mind, but that information about John’s girlfriend Louise should prove useful.”
“Or not. You never know which leads will pan out.”
I gathered my stuff and rose. “You’re pretty good at this.”
“So are you. And I noticed you recorded the conversation.”
“Wow. You’re good.”
“This can’t go in the newspaper, Linds. Not yet at any rate. We have to build a solid case, and I can’t have juicy details in the paper.”
I sighed, knowing I would be sitting on this information. “Copy me on the police report. I’ll print the boring, approved wording. I’m beginning to think you’re sleeping with me to keep me from breaking your cases wide open.”
“Not every sheriff has the opportunity to sleep with their newspaper editor. Most guys wish they were as lucky as me, but that’s not why I’m sleeping with you.”
“It isn’t?”
“Nope. I’m sleeping with you because that’s exactly where I want to be.”
“No other newspaper editor would do?”
“No other woman would do.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Good answer, Ike Harper.”
A knock sounded at his door. He groaned at the lousy timing and gave me a quick kiss on the forehead before breaking the embrace. “Come in,” Ike said.
Deputy Sam Hicks leaned in with a grin. “Got Starling’s soda can.”
“Good job,” Ike said. “Run his prints ASAP.”
“On it boss.”
“Raincheck?” Ike said when we were alone again.
“Long as it rains this evening, I’m fine with it.” I used all my feminine wiles to sashay out of there.
The fresh air and sunshine cleared my head. I had bits and pieces of a story, but I couldn’t print any of it. Not yet, at least.
Cousin Janey stopped her lime green Volkswagen in front of me. “We need to talk. Hop in.”
Chapter 8
“Are you teasing me with a story I can’t print?” I asked as I buckled my seat belt. “Because everyone else is.”
“Nope. We’re going for ice cream. Figured you could use some by now, and I’m way overdue.”
Her “overdue” word choice lightened my mood. “You sound like a library book. But you’re right. Ice cream would hit the spot.”
“Good. That’s the first sensible thing you’ve said all day. I can’t believe you let a crazy woman follow you out of town. What if she were a mass murderer?”
“From my vast knowledge acquired from docudrama TV shows, serial killers are white males between twenty-something and forty-something. Deena Mowrey is a young woman.”
“We don’t know anything about her.”
Janey wasn’t easing over to the ice cream shop in the gas station. We were headed toward the highway, to my favorite ice cream sundae fast food restaurant.
“Ike’s checking out all of them: Sonny, Deena, and Ray,” I volunteered as we rolled past the used car place and turned on the spur.
“Did I miss something? Who the heck is Ray?”
“Ray is John Starling’s little brother from Alabama. He thinks John was murdered¸ and you know what? He’s right, but you can’t tell anyone I told you so.”
“My lips are sealed. Well, mostly sealed. Junior Curtis unseals them day and night.”
I shot her a curious glance as we pulled in the parking lot. “How are y’all doing?”
Janey shoved the gear selector in park. “He wants a baby.”
She burst into tears, which stunned me. Janey already had a six year old daughter named CeeCee by a no-good husband. Would she bear another child for a man she’d only been dating for a few months?
Due to the bucket seats, comforting her was awkward, but I did my best. “I’m sorry he upset you. How can I help?” I asked when she gathered herself.
“At lunch today he told me he wanted a baby. My baby.”
She said baby. Twice. “What for?”
“Junior loves kids. He’s good with them.”
“I’ll rephrase my question. Does he want any baby or your baby?”
“He wants us to be a family. Aunt Fay and Uncle Henry will have a conniption.”
“Maybe not. I expected more flak when Ike and I bought the house from my parents, but the elders didn’t mention we’d missed a step on the way to home ownership.”
“Because they trust Ike to do the right thing. As far as they’re concerned, Junior Curtis is Mr. Shady.”
“How about a family dinner? Maybe they’d feel better if they got to know him. And they could pressure him in person to propose.”
Janey reached into her handbag. “I haven’t been entirely honest with you. He already proposed.”
My jaw dropped at the size of the diamond ring she withdrew. It was a rock. “Oh, my gosh! This is wonderful, right? You’re marrying him because y’all are so in love.”
I heard air sucking through Janey’s teeth as she grimaced. I couldn’t imagine why she’d be unhappy about getting engaged. She was crazy about Junior. One look at them, and it was obvious they were a couple. I’d had reservations about Junior in the beginning but now that I’d gotten to know him, he was gentler and less scary, especially around Janey.
She eyed the ring like it could swallow her whole. “I enjoy his company, and his version of you-know is downright amazing, but he’s all goopy-eyed around me. Like someone slipped him a love potion. What happens when he comes to his senses? I’m head over heels in love with him. If he walks away from me like Neil did, I’ll die. Just curl up and die. I don’t know what to do.”
Unsure of what to say, I stated the obvious. “You took the ring.”
“Junior is very persuasive. He wants me to wear it, but I can’t until I tell the family.”
“This isn’t the dark ages. You don’t need Uncle Henry or Aunt Fay’s approval.”
“Shows what you know. When I hit bottom before, they helped me so much. Gave me time to heal, paid my bills for a few months, and encouraged me to become a Realtor. My decision about Junior affects everyone in the family, even you.”
I raised my hands in surrender. “You have my blessing. I’ve never seen two people more suited to one another.”
“What about Ike?” Janey asked.
“What about him?”
“Y’all are as good as married. He’s family now. What’ll he think?”
&nb
sp; “He’ll be happy for you. Tell you what. Let’s plan that family dinner at my house. I’ll do a Low Country boil with lots of wild Georgia shrimp. You and Junior can make your announcement in front of everyone. That way you only have to do it once.”
“You’d do that?”
“Yeah. Check with Junior and let me know what dates are good. I’ll check with Ike. Speaking for myself, I’m thinking Sunday, but any day that suits you two is fine with me.”
“Great. Thanks.”
I opened my car door. “Let’s get that ice cream now, my treat. I’m in the mood to celebrate.”
“What are you celebrating?”
“That I didn’t have a close encounter with a serial killer.”
Chapter 9
Ike’s sister kept Trent for the night, so Ike and I did a couple’s riff on happy hour. After our sensual hunger was slaked, we cooked dinner, circling each other handily in the kitchen as we chopped, diced, and prepared chicken fajitas. A pot of rice steamed on the back burner.
“Feels like we’ve been doing this forever,” I said, handing him the sliced red peppers.
He tossed them in the hot pan. “We’re good, right?”
“Better than good. This feels righter than anything I’ve ever done. I had no idea living with someone would be like this.”
“I always knew we’d be good together, but I let Annette distract me. I’m thankful you came home.”
Some distraction. He’d gotten Annette pregnant in high school and married her the day after graduation. “Me too.” I shared the news about Janey’s engagement. “I should’ve asked you first, but I volunteered to host a family party here for her announcement. I thought it would be easy to do a Low Country Boil so that all the veggies and meat were cooked together. I apologize for making plans without your consent. If you’re not okay with it, I’ll let her know.”
“Your family is welcome in our home, and I hope you feel the same about my family.”
“I do.” Heat steamed from my cheeks. Drat. The matrimonial phrase again. Why did I keep saying it? I cleared my throat. “Good. That’s settled. Tell me about Sonny. Did he make bail?”
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