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CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Friday night, Jennifer lay in bed staring at the ceiling and envied her husband for his ability to fall asleep the minute his head hit the pillow. It didn't matter to him what doubts had arisen about their plan for Saturday; he could turn it off and fall into a deep slumber. He'd always told her he'd take care of the problems when they presented themselves; and he could think much clearer if he'd gotten a good night's rest. She agreed with this philosophy, but tonight, the fact he didn't trust Beth, and felt she might be treating her as a patsy, disturbed Jennifer. Hawkman might not understand women's thinking, but he could evaluate their characters with expertise.
She figured his training in the Agency had given him this ability, and he'd honed it to perfection. It upset her to think she'd let her personal compassion for the Hutchinson family get in the way before she stood back and scrutinized Beth. Yet, even now, she couldn't see anything negative about the woman. She appeared to love her children, even her rogue spouse, and worked hard to make them happy. The only bad thing Jennifer could think of, was the thought of Beth aborting her child, but she couldn't believe such a thing had really occurred; only her feminine intuition had played a role in assuming the incident. Her thoughts went to Randy and Marcy, two innocent children in the middle of possible illegal activities.
Sleep must have overtaken her, as those were the last thoughts she remembered when she awoke Saturday morning. She rolled out of bed, yawned and stretched. Hawkman had already risen and she could hear him banging around in the garage. After showering, she dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, then rummaged through the closet looking for a large sack she swore she'd stored there. She finally found it on the shelf under a stack of hats. The items she'd bought for the Hutchinsons would fit in it nicely. Taking it to the living room, she put the folded clothing on the bottom, then placed the housewares stuff on top. An uneasy feeling crept through her as she stacked the items into the bag. Hawkman had planted a seed of mistrust in her mind, and Beth would have to prove him wrong.
Jennifer fixed breakfast and called Hawkman in from the garage. He scrubbed his grease covered hands at the kitchen sink.
“Good grief,” she said. “Did you have to wash in here? You've made a horrible mess.”
He shrugged. “Sorry, but it would muck up the bathroom, too.”
“Why couldn't you have used the hose outside?”
“Didn't have any soap.”
Jennifer raised her hands in frustration. “I give up.”
He sat at the kitchen bar. “The four-wheeler is gassed up and hums like a baby.”
“I really have reservations about this caper.”
“It'll be over and done with before you know it.”
“What if Jeb won't come to the cabin?”
“Do the best you can. Maybe he'll be hunting. If he's tinkering around the buildings, and I can't check them out, I'll go back at night.”
She frowned. “If he caught you, he'd have grounds to shoot you as a trespasser.”
“I don't plan on his seeing me night or day.”
“I wish I felt as sure as you do.”
“What's troubling you?”
She put down her fork and pushed the plate away. “Your comment about not trusting Beth.”
Hawkman leaned back in his chair. “Stop and think about it. Here's a woman living with a man, has three children by him, and knows he's been in jail. You don't think she doesn't know where he gets his extra money or what he's doing?”
“I'm not sure. Either she's naive, clever in hiding her feelings, or very tough skinned.”
“Probably all three. I'd like nothing better than to believe, for your sake, that she's innocent about the whole scenario. Also, my gut tells me Randy suspects something.”
Jennifer looked at him wide-eyed. “Randy?”
“Yes. Remember the first time we met him, and I told you the boy wasn't telling me what was really on his mind?”
She nodded.
“He's too young to know exactly what's happening, but he's intuitive, and doesn't like the feeling.”
Jennifer let out a sigh. “Let's get this over with. Are you ready?”
He spread his arms and looked down at his jeans. “I'm dressed in old clothes and just waiting for you.” He got up from the bar. “Give me a fifteen minute head start.”
“Okay.”
Jennifer checked the clock and her wrist watch to be sure they were the same. She clasped her fanny pack around her waist, picked up the bag of items, and went to the Ford. Biting her lip, she waited in the vehicle until the time had passed, then backed out of the garage, and drove up the road. Her stomach churned as she approached the turnoff. She drove slower than normal, not in any hurry to take on this challenge. When she rounded the curve, she caught her breath. A strange car was parked in front of the cabin.
She had to make a move, but not sure what. Hawkman had probably made it to the edge of the property and advanced to the barn. About that time, the cabin door opened, and Earl walked out.
She quickly opened the driver's side door. “Earl, does your mom have company?”
“It's no problem. Go on in.”
“Wait a moment. I have something for you.” Jennifer grabbed the bag off the seat and made her way inside as Earl held the door open. She noticed him twisting his head toward the barn when he heard the horses whinny.
“Hey, Mom, more company,” he said, obviously not too concerned and followed her into the kitchen.
Beth turned and smiled. “Jennifer, good to see you. Meet Tami, an old friend of mine.”
Jennifer placed the sack on the floor and held out her hand. “Pleasure to meet you. Are you from around here?”
“No.”
The woman had an attractive face, but had overdone the make-up. She had piercing green eyes that made Jennifer shudder as it seemed she looked straight through her. Her long, bleached blond hair hung over her shoulders in loose ringlets. The low-necked long-sleeved dress, revealed a deep crevice of oversized breasts, which reminded Jennifer of someone trying to be super sexy. Tami's gaze shifted from Beth to Jeb, then back to her. She appeared about the same age as Beth. Jennifer thought it odd the woman didn't say where she came from, but she didn't pursue the subject. Jeb sat on the couch with a scowl on his face. He didn't greet her, but Randy raised a hand and waved from the cot by the window.
“How are you doing, Randy?”
“Fine.”
An uncomfortable feeling existed in the room, so Jennifer immediately took the bag and placed it on the table. “I went shopping yesterday, and Jeb, I went to the thrift shop, so I don't want to hear anything about charity.”
She pulled the work jacket out first and walked over to him. “I'd like you to try this on and see if it fits.”
He glanced at Beth and she nodded her head. He harrumphed and stood. Jennifer glided the sleeves over his large arms, shifted the back up so it fit his shoulders, then pulled it closed in the front. “Perfect.”
Grumbling, Jeb pulled the garment off and threw it to the side. Jennifer paid no attention, and pulled out the shirts she'd gotten for Earl.
“These are neat. Thanks, Mrs. Casey.”
“You're more than welcome.” She then took the long-handled utensils, canvas bag, and blouses for Beth from the sack.
Beth took hold of the cookware. “Oh, I like these, and this wood carrier will certainly come in handy.” She caressed the material of the blouses. “These are lovely. Thank you.”
“I'd like to have bought you some jeans, but didn't know your size.”
“That's okay, you've given me plenty,"Beth said, showing the items to Tami.
Jennifer then walked over to the cot with a tee shirt and several books for Randy. “These puzzles are harder. I hope they last until you can get up and walk on your crutches.”
Randy grinned. “Thank you, Mrs. Casey. I really like your gifts.”
J
ennifer patted him on the arm, then gave Marcy her toys, and handed the cute pair of booties to Beth. “They should fit her soon. I'd rather get an outfit for a baby too big than too little.”
“Good idea,” Beth said. “They outgrow them before they wear them out.”
Jennifer chuckled. “You got that right. They grow much too fast.” She folded the sack and left it on the table. “I'm going to leave, so you can enjoy your company. Nice meeting you, Tami.”
The woman didn't smile, just nodded her head.
Jennifer left the cabin and prayed Hawkman had time to check the outbuildings. She couldn't have remained in the cold atmosphere of that household any longer. On her drive back to the comforts of her own home, she thought about Beth's strange friend.
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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Hawkman arrived at the area he'd marked to park the four-wheeler, then took off on foot. When he approached the corral, the horse whinnied, causing him to duck around to the side of the barn. “A regular watch dog,” he grumbled.
Managing to get around to the outbuildings without the horse making another sound, Hawkman bypassed the dilapidated structure. He could now see the cabin, and frowned at the sight of Jennifer's Ford parked behind a strange car. This could cause a problem, so he'd better hurry and see what he could find inside these sheds, before someone came outside.
Cautiously, Hawkman checked the window on the side, only to find it covered with dark drapes. He moved to the front of the middle building, where a large chain and padlock secured the door.
Leaving that one, but still keeping watch on the front of the cabin, he checked the aperture on the side of the front shed, and found it also covered. He advanced to the front, where he found an unlocked padlock dangling from the chain. Quickly slipping inside, he closed the door, but found the interior became pitch black, so he pushed it open a crack. When he turned around and saw what occupied the building, it took him by surprise. “Holy crap,” he whispered. He swiftly removed his camera from a pocket and flashed some pictures, now thankful for the darkness.
Suddenly, the sound of people talking filtered through the gap in the door, and Hawkman peeked out. He recognized Jennifer's voice and figured she thought it time to leave. Stepping out of the structure, he shoved the camera back into his pocket and pulled the door closed, then dashed around the corner toward the corral. The blasted horse made a ruckus again as he passed the enclosure. Holding on to his hat, he dove for the bushes. He glanced over his shoulder, figuring the minute Jennifer drove away, the troops would leave the cabin and make their rounds. Sure enough, he spotted Earl at the corral. Hawkman kept his head down as he passed through the bushes, hoping he didn't make the leaves or limbs sway enough to make the boy suspicious. When he finally made it out of sight of the property, he breathed deeply in relief, hopped on the four-wheeler and headed home. Jennifer wouldn't believe what he'd discovered. He'd also be interested in who owned the odd car.
By the time he reached the driveway, Jennifer had already parked in the garage and gone into the house. He pulled under the lean-to, and strolled into the kitchen.
“Were you able to explore those outbuildings?” Jennifer asked, filling a glass with water. “I feared you might not have time.”
“Yes, but they have a guard horse.”
“A what?”
“Stupid horse that neighs every time a person walks by the corral. I imagine the family is aware of this and pays attention, so I had to scamper.”
“When I arrived, Earl was outside and I noticed his ears piqued when he heard the horse whinny. He just glanced toward the barn, but didn't seem to pay much attention, then followed me inside.”
“The animal probably makes the same sound when other wildlife ventures too near the pen.”
“What did you find out?” Jennifer asked, sliding onto a bar stool.
“I took some pictures, so let's upload them to the computer; but before we do, tell me about the unfamiliar car. Did Jeb buy a vehicle?”
She waved a hand in the air. “Oh, my, you're not going to believe this.”
“Try me.”
“I didn't know how to respond when Beth introduced me to her sexy friend.”
“Male or female?” Hawkman asked, with a grin.
“Female, of course. She hardly said a word. I have no idea where she's from, even though I asked. The woman never replied. The atmosphere in the house could have made your breath freeze. I wanted to get out of there as soon as I could.”
“Are you sure she was Beth's friend?”
“That's how she introduced me to Tami. I doubt very seriously she'd be a friend of Jeb's.”
“You never know. What do you mean by the word, ‘sexy'?”
“More like a tart. Long bleached blond hair, too much make-up, plunging neckline which showed off big boobs, and painted fingernails. She's probably very near Beth's age, maybe a year or so younger; but I would never have suspected Beth running with the likes of such a woman, even though, I thought her sort of pretty in an odd way.”
“Maybe she once had her eye on Jeb. He isn't such a bad looking guy. A little rough around the edges, but some women like the type. She could have made the trip when she found out where he lived.”
“Who would have told her? They're certainly not listed anywhere,” Jennifer said, waving a finger in the air.
Hawkman shrugged. “How about Jacob? He's in the phone book.”
“Interesting thought, but since you've planted the seed of Tami being Jeb's mistress, I did notice how she'd stare at Jeb, glance at Beth, then me. Very weird mannerisms. I couldn't read her actions at all.”
“Did Beth show any signs of awareness?”
“I couldn't take my gaze off of Tami, so I have no idea of her reactions.”
“Another mystery in the Hutchinsons’ lives.” Hawkman pointed to the computer. “Why don't you boot up and I'll show you what Jeb's into.”
Jennifer moved to the machine, and flipped it on. Hawkman took the cord and attached the camera. They both stared at the screen until the folder popped up, and she clicked the mouse over the top and opened the pictures.
Putting a hand over her mouth, she gasped, “Oh, my gosh. He's into moonshine.”
“Yep. Those copper stills cost a bundle. There's no way Jeb could afford them, so someone else is in this operation too. I have a gut feeling they were there when the family moved in.”
“The thing is huge,” she said, flipping through the photos.
“Now I know why those buildings are so tall. I have no idea what's in the middle one. Could very well be another still, just not hooked up. I'm surprised to have found the door unlocked on this one.”
Jennifer glanced up at her husband. “Did you have a suspicion about this?”
“I had two ideas rattling around in my brain: one was a meth lab or he was making white lightning. I'm actually relieved to find the still. Making dope is very dangerous and he could blow up the whole place. There's not as much danger in making whiskey.”
Jennifer pointed to the grate under the huge copper still. “They still have to use heat.”
“That's why they do the work at night. A stream of smoke comes from the vent at the top, and can be seen during the day.”
“He has to have a lot of water too.”
“Yep. He's hooked up to the creek that runs near the house. I saw the pipe leading to the still.”
“To think Beth had to practically browbeat him to get water into the house!”
Hawkman patted her on the shoulder. “My dear, this still has been hooked up for some time. Jeb only started it up. It shouldn't have been any problem for him to get running water into the cabin.”
“You think he's selling this moonshine?” Jennifer asked.
“If he is and gets caught, he could go back to jail. I figure he's selling it, even though it's illegal because that still can produce at least one hundred and forty gallons of liquor at a whack.�
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“My word. Who would he sell to?”
“There are bars who'll buy the stuff, if it's good enough. Also, individuals, who just like the rotgut.”
“Can he make enough to support a family?”
Hawkman nodded. “The bucks could roll in, if he doesn't get caught.”
Jennifer stared at her husband. “You're going to see to it that the operation is squashed, aren't you?”
“So far, I don't know if he's conducting an illegal business; but if he is, I'll bring him down.”
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CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Jennifer became quiet, and Hawkman studied his wife's solemn face. “What's the problem, Hon?”
“Because of me, we got involved with this family. Now we're going to destroy it.”
“No, they're destroying themselves. You only tried to befriend them.”
“What will happen to Earl, Randy and Marcy?”
“If Beth isn't involved, they'll stay together; otherwise, the state will have to find homes for the children.”
“The thought makes me shudder. Randy adores his little sister, and you know they'd be separated.”
“You're putting the cart before the horse. Let's take one phase of this adventure at a time.”
“Okay, tell me how you're going to find out if he's selling to outside sources?”
“I'm going to have to do some surveillance.”
She frowned. “Pray tell me how you're going to accomplish this feat without getting caught, and how do you plan to follow him if he goes out the back road?”
“Like I said, let's take one event at a time. I haven't planned it all yet.”
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Randy lay on the cot, looking at the puzzle books Mrs. Casey had brought him. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Tami. He didn't like her, never did, and wished she'd leave. Earl couldn't stand her either; he'd told him so. Even his mom seemed to just put up with the lousy looking woman, but dad appeared to welcome her. Randy got the impression they had some sort of business deal, as they talked numbers a lot.
Moonshine Murder [Hawkman Bk 14] Page 10