“I'll talk to you in a few days,” she said, before closing the door. Once in the Ford, she quickly wrote down Tami's full name and where Beth said she lived. Maybe Hawkman could find out more about this woman.
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* * *
CHAPTER THIRTY
Randy was glad to get outside since his mom wouldn't let him have any dessert, and he sure didn't want to hear women's talk. He swung on his crutches alongside the cabin and finally arrived near the second outbuilding. Scouring the area, he looked for Earl, but didn't see him, so he remained hesitant about nosing around the structure. About the time he headed for the corral, Mrs. Casey came out the door.
“Thanks for the pie,” he yelled.
She turned toward him, and waved. “You're more than welcome.”
He watched her drive away, then continued his journey. When he arrived at the horse's pen, he saw Earl standing on the other side. “Whatcha doing?” Randy asked.
“Feeding the horses, dummy, can't you see?”
“Nope, looks like you're swinging on the fence. Where's your gun?”
“None of your business.”
“Bet Dad took it away from you, didn't he?”
“Shut up, nosey.”
“Mrs. Casey brought us a cherry pie.”
Earl jerked up his head. “Really?”
“Yep, but Mom won't let us have any until after supper.”
“When you gonna get off those stupid crutches so I can chase you?”
Randy threw back his head and laughed. “Soon, I hope. I miss our wrestling matches.”
Earl walked around the corral. “Come on, little bud, let's go see how long it'll be until supper.”
* * * *
When Jennifer drove into the driveway, she noted Hawkman had beaten her home. “Darn, I forgot to leave him a note,” she mumbled under her breath, as she hurried into the house.
She found him standing at the counter. “Sorry Hon, I thought I'd be back before you got here.”
“Did you go to the Hutchinsons?” he asked.
“Yes, and I got some information for you.” She handed him the slip of paper.
“Tamara Spencer from Yreka. So this is Tami's full name? You have any trouble getting it out of Beth?”
“No, it came quite easily, thanks to Jeb.” She then told him the tale about Tami coming to pick him up while she was there. “If I was that woman, I wouldn't want to be on Beth's bad side.”
Hawkman glanced at Jennifer. “Why? Do you think she really cares what Beth thinks? Remember, we're dealing with money.”
Jennifer made a face. “Beth has a mean streak; I can see it in her expressions. Also, we're talking about a marriage at stake.”
“I'm not following you.”
She related what Beth had told her about how Tami had at one time tried to take Jeb away from her, but failed. “I thought something awfully fishy the day I met her, and noticed how she had eyes for Jeb.”
“Doesn't sound good. You're right. A woman's wrath can be vicious.”
“Right now, Beth's anger is vented toward Jeb, but it could change, if Tami gets aggressive.”
“This is all very disturbing.”
Jennifer walked over to the cabinet and lifted the lid on the crock pot. “Dinner is done. You want to eat now?”
“No, not just yet.” Then he spotted the cherry pie on the counter. “On second thought, I'm ready.”
She laughed. “I wondered when you'd spot the dessert.”
“You've been busy today.”
“It was my excuse to go see Beth. I made two and took one to them.”
“You're quite a blackmailer.”
As they ate, Hawkman told Jennifer about his visit with Detective Williams and told her about Bud Chandler, the detective he'd recommended to handle the case when he got some concrete evidence on Jeb Hutchinson. “I've read about him in the paper. It appears he does a good job at law enforcement.”
Jennifer nodded. “Yes, I've heard of him too.”
“I'm going to make another run up to Hutchinson's tonight.”
“Watch for the car lights again. Jeb is out with Tami, and you sure don't want to get caught snooping around.”
Hawkman changed clothes and left on the four-wheeler. He soon arrived at the parking spot, then walked in the rest of the way. When he approached the corral, darkness had fallen, and he again detoured; but it didn't keep the horse from neighing. “Damn horse sure has sensitive hearing,” he hissed, as he ducked behind a tree trunk. He waited several minutes to make sure the coast was clear before advancing toward the outbuilding.
The aroma of food cooking floated through the air. No sounds met his ears, and no headlights appeared coming up the path to the house. Hawkman hurried to the second structure and listened. The bubbling noise had decreased quite a bit since last night. He quickly used his pick to unlock the padlock and only opened the door enough to get inside. Again he took a couple of snapshots and checked the barrel with his flashlight. Satisfied with the findings, he slipped out the door, making sure he'd fastened the padlock. When he turned to leave, his heart stopped.
“Hi, Mr. Casey. Whatcha doing?”
“Hello, Randy. Just checking to make sure everything is okay. Why are you outside without your crutches?”
“I wanted to see if walking without them made me hurt.”
“How does it feel?”
“Good. No pain. How'd you get here? I don't see your car.”
“I came up the back way.”
“You want to come inside?”
“Uh, no. Are you good at keeping a secret?”
“Yeah.”
“Don't tell anyone, especially, your mom, dad or Earl, that you saw me, not even Mrs. Casey.”
“Why?”
“Cause I could get into a heap of trouble.”
“How come?”
About that time, Hawkman saw a ray of light penetrate the darkness, as the door to the cabin opened. Randy turned and Hawkman, taking advantage of the moment, dashed around the corner of the building when he heard Earl's voice yell into the night.
“Hey, punk, get back inside before some wild animal eats you.”
Randy twisted his head around, looked behind him, then shrugged his shoulders. “Coming.”
Hawkman bolted through the brush, and sprinted all the way to the four-wheeler. He jumped onto the seat, started it up, and put it in high gear all the way to his driveway.
When he stumbled into the kitchen, Jennifer looked up from her computer. “What the heck happened?”
“I got caught.”
She jumped up, ran to the window, and glanced outside. “Are you being followed?”
“No.”
“Who spotted you?”
“Randy.”
“Randy!” she said, in disbelief.
“Yeah, I'd just locked the padlock on the fermentation building and about to leave, when I heard this innocent voice at my back. “Hi, Mr. Casey.” Believe me, my heart literally stopped beating.”
“What was he doing out at night?”
“He said he wanted to try walking without his crutches.”
Jennifer wiped her hands across her face. “He'll tell Beth and probably Earl, then it will get back to Jeb. This could made for a big mess.”
“Maybe.” Hawkman told her the rest of the conversation between him and the boy. “I don't know if he'll keep it a secret or not.”
She shook her head. “Hard to say.”
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* * *
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
His nose wrinkled and scratching his head, Randy walked through the doorway of the cabin. “Is there such a thing as a ghost?”
Earl threw back his head and laughed. “Now he's seeing things. What an idiot.”
Beth glanced at him. “Enough out of you. Get to your room.” Then she turned to Randy. “Why do you ask?”
“I just talked to a man, turned around when Earl c
alled, then I looked back, and he'd disappeared. I couldn't find him anywhere.”
“What did he say to you?” Beth asked, concern in her voice.
“He just asked why I was outside without my crutches.”
“Did you recognize him?'
Randy thought a moment before answering, and remembered he'd told Mr. Casey, he could keep a secret. “No, but he seemed okay.”
Beth patted him on the head. “I don't think I'd worry about it. You probably need to get outside more. Tomorrow, you can go play without your crutches.”
“Thanks, Mom. I'm going to bed right now, so I can get up early.”
Beth chuckled softly and tucked him in. “Don't have a nightmare about the ghost you saw.”
“He didn't scare me, he was nice. Maybe I'll see him again.”
She checked on Marcy, then put one lamp near the front door, carried one with her, and extinguished the others in the room. “Goodnight, boys.”
“Night, Mom,” they said in unison, even though Earl was in the other bedroom.
Randy couldn't go to sleep. Every time he shut his eyes, they popped open again. He couldn't quit thinking about Mr. Casey being outside, and why he wanted him to keep the visit a secret. Why would he come in the dark and tinker with the padlock on the building with the strange noise inside?
About the time Randy's eyelids grew heavy, a squeak he recognized as his folks’ bedroom door forced him to glance toward the noise. His mother, fully dressed, carrying a rifle, walked swiftly across the room, quietly opened the front door, and disappeared outside. Now where is she going with a gun at this hour? Dad hadn't returned home either. This night seemed to be turning into many unexplained events.
Sleep finally overtook the lad and he didn't catch his parents coming in the door.
* * * *
“What were you going to do, shoot us both?” Jeb said.
“Keep your voice down. You want to wake the kids?” Beth said. “Yes, if she'd put a hand on you, I would have shot you and Tami.”
“I told you my dealings with her were strictly business.”
Beth whirled around and stared into her husband's eyes. “I can guarantee you, they aren't strictly business with Tami.” She stomped into the bedroom.
Jeb followed, shaking his head.
* * * *
Hawkman took the camera from his pocket. “Did you by any chance keep those last pictures of the still and fermenting barrels on your computer?”
“Yes,” Jennifer said, as she moved to the machine.
“Good, I want to compare tonight's photos with those of last night. I don't know much about this moonshining business, but I'd suspect one can tell the rate of the fermentation process by the bubbling.”
“Sounds logical,” Jennifer said, handing him the cord to connect the camera.
He held up his hand. “Hold on a second. A car is coming across the bridge, let me check if it's Tami.” Moving to the kitchen window, he viewed the tan car as it rolled past. “Yep, it's her, and a man.”
“They do hold late business meetings,” Jennifer said, sarcastically.
Hawkman moved back to the computer center and connected the camera. She opened the pictures, then pulled up the older batch. He pointed to the recent barrel. “Looks like it's slowed down considerably, wouldn't you say?”
“Yes, I'd agree.”
“More than likely, it will be ready to put in the still by Thursday or Friday. Jeb will probably make a run soon. I can check on Friday, but I'd bet on Saturday.”
“Do you think he'll make the run at night?”
“Yes, especially if he uses the buckboard, which I think he will until he can get himself a truck.”
“Have you figured how you're going to follow him?”
“No, but it will come to me.”
Jennifer cocked her head and stared at him. “It isn't like you not to have a plan.”
“Well, I sort of do, but I'm not telling you.”
“Why, because it's dangerous?”
“Let's just say, it isn't real safe, but secure enough.”
Jennifer slapped her hands on the desktop. “You certainly know how to make me worry.”
He walked behind her and put his arms around her. “Please, don't worry. I'm going to come home safe.”
She shoved him away. “Don't try to con me. I'm not falling for it.”
He backed off and put his hands in the air. “I tried.”
The next couple of days were uneventful as Jennifer stayed busy with the Ladies’ Auxiliary, and Hawkman spent his time catching up at work. Friday evening rolled around and Hawkman prepared to ride the four-wheeler up the back route and check on the progression of the home brew.
Jennifer ignored him and worked at her computer. Finally, she glanced at him as he filled his pockets with several surveillance items. When he took out his pistol and checked it for rounds, she broke the silence. “You obviously feel this trip might warrant the use of your gun? That tells me it's not as safe as you portrayed to me.”
“I never venture into new territory without being prepared. If history is right, I could come across some very brutal men surrounding this type of operation.”
“Shouldn't you have talked with the detective in Yreka before taking this on by yourself?”
“I need more concrete information before I approach him. All I have right now is circumstantial. I have no proof Jeb is selling his booze.”
“Why don't I go with you? I can cover your back.”
Hawkman jerked up his head. “Absolutely not. It's out of the question. Don't even pursue the subject.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “Just trying to be helpful; you don't have to bite my head off.”
“Sorry, didn't mean to. This is a one-man job. In fact, it might not even go down tonight.”
He slipped on his jacket, buttoned it up, and went outside. Checking the Polaris for fuel, he topped it off, then headed out. Reaching the parking place, he figured he wouldn't have to go in as far, as long as he could get a view of the corral.
He'd thought earlier to slip a pair of night binoculars into the side pockets of the four-wheeler, and removed them once he'd parked. Threading through the brush, he soon arrived close enough to the pen, and put the glasses to his face. The horses were meandering around, and he could see the buckboard inside the barn. Obviously, no run would take place tonight or the animals would be hitched to the wagon.
Hawkman returned home. “No action tonight,” he said, entering the kitchen. “Have you by any chance seen Tami's car go by?”
“No, and I would've seen the headlights. No one has come over the bridge since you left.”
“Good. I'm sure the buckboard is the means of transportation for the hooch. Tomorrow night will tell the tale.”
“I'll be glad when this part of the investigation is over,” Jennifer said.
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* * *
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Saturday, Hawkman tried to stay out of Jennifer's way as she spoke in curt sentences, but mostly ignored him. She definitely didn't seem happy, but he felt she'd get over it as long as he didn't tantalize her. He stayed in the garage, and tinkered with the vehicles.
Dusk soon arrived; he grabbed a sandwich, then prepared to leave. “Honey, I'm taking off; don't worry about me. It'll be late when I get home.”
She approached him, put her arms around his neck. “I'm sorry, I've been such a pill. Please be careful, and promise you'll wake me when you get in. Remember, I love you very much.”
He held her close for several minutes. “I love you, too. I'd never do anything to hurt you, so yes, I'll wake you when I get home.” He kissed her passionately, then pushed her back and gazed into her face. “You're so beautiful. Don't think for one minute, I'd let anything happen. I'm not about to take the chance of some other man having you.”
She grinned. “I'll be waiting.”
Feeling much better, Hawkman took off on the four-wheeler. H
e'd make a quick stop at the Hutchinson's corral to make sure the buckboard would be used, then he'd backtrack to the road leading out. Arriving at the parking spot for the Polaris, he took the binoculars from the side pack, then scurried through the brush. He approached the area where he could see the outline of the corral and put the glasses to his face. The wagon had been moved through the big door to the front side of the barn. He could see the outline with two horses hitched to the front.
“Yep, the run is tonight,” he mumbled under his breath. He headed back to his machine, hopped onto the seat, turned the ignition, flipped on the lights and headed toward the back path. Hawkman soon jockeyed upon the road and drove until he came to the padlocked gate. He debated whether to hide his four-wheeler in the brush nearby, and hoof it, or go farther. Pushing his luck at being spotted, he decided to steer around the gate and conceal the machine closer to where he figured Jeb would bring the buckboard onto the trail.
Turning off the lights, he geared the machine down so it wouldn't be so noisy. His sight adjusted to the night and he could see his way without any danger. Approaching the area he suspected Jeb would use, he searched for a spot to hide the four-wheeler and soon found a small cluster of trees surrounded by high brush. When he pulled into the thicket, he could hear the scurrying of animals and the flight of birds overhead. He'd definitely interrupted a nighttime den. Shutting down the engine, he dismounted and crept toward the path which led to the Hutchinsons’ place. He reasoned the sound of the horses and wagon would carry a distance in the quiet night. Searching for a good place to conceal himself, he soon discovered a gully surrounded by shrubs. He slid into it and hunkered down. It wasn't long before he realized the ground underneath his boots was soggy. Obviously, an underground stream flowed directly under his feet.
The same moment he climbed out of the mire, he heard a whinny. He quickly looked around and dove behind a fallen log. Jerking off his hat, he put it underneath him and kept his head down. It seemed forever before he heard the grunts of the horses and the thud of the wagon as the heavy cart bumped over the side ridge of the road. He finally peeked over the large oak branch and could see the silhouette of Jeb poised on the bench, reins in hand.
Moonshine Murder [Hawkman Bk 14] Page 14