by Mary Hiker
“Come on in, it’s open,” Don called from inside.
Chevy poked his nose through the crack, squeezed through the opened door, and raced inside to greet his buddy, Ace. The black lab met Chevy at the door, did a play bow and raced in a circle around the living room.
“Calm down, boys.” Don chuckled. He was propped up on his couch, his leg wrapped in a cast and elevated on a pillow.
“I bet Ace was glad to see you when you got back.” I scratched the lab behind the ear. “Hope he was okay.”
“Thank goodness for doggie doors and a fenced-in yard.”
The creaking door of the guest bathroom broke our laughter. I looked up to see Lindsay Meyer standing in the doorway, striking a pose. She eyed me suspiciously and ran her fingers across the unbuttoned portion of her blouse.
A gold bracelet on her wrist sported block letters and a diamond – a design that looked an awful lot like Kayla Lee Candler’s necklace.
Ace left Chevy and trotted over to the couch, sat on the floor next to Don, and kept a close watch on the fashion gal.
“Baby, I need to be going.” Lindsay strolled over to the couch and rubbed Don’s back, ignoring Ace. “Are you going to be all right this evening?”
I about gagged.
Don nodded as she adjusted the pillow under his leg. “Thanks for the ride home.”
“Nice to see you again.” Lindsay smiled at me as she made her way out the door.
I stood quietly until her car engine revved and the Lexus backed down the drive.
“Your dog doesn’t like her.”
“Yeah, I know - me neither,” Don said with a wink. “She’s trying to run a game on me and I’m using her to keep an eye on Bennett.”
Ace jumped on the couch and squeezed into an open spot.
“Well...” My eyes wandered to the bathroom door. “My guess is The Boss is using her to set you up.”
Chevy followed me into the bathroom and stuck his furry head under the sink when I opened the cabinet.
Don called out, “What’re you doing?”
“I didn’t hear her flush the toilet or turn on the water.” My head popped back through the doorway and I wagged my finger. “She was up to something.”
Chevy backed up as I knelt down and searched under the bathroom sink. The edge of a plastic baggie stuck out from an empty box of tissues half hidden in the back right corner of the cabinet. I wrapped a towel around the box to avoid fingerprints and carried it out to the living room.
“You must be closing in on their drug operation.” I dropped the box on the coffee table in front of Don. “Or at least, they think you are.”
He used a pen to lift the baggie and looked at the white powder contents. “This is serious.”
“I’m guessing the sheriff will be getting a hot tip about drugs at this residence and I sure don’t want to be here when law enforcement shows up.” I looked out the window with a touch of paranoia. “Tommy Brackenship and the sheriff already have false suspicions about me.”
“I am law enforcement.” Don glanced at me and adjusted his position on the couch. “I’ll handle it.”
“You know, Lindsay dates Tommy’s son.”
Don didn’t look surprised and I figured he already knew.
I pulled the drawing I’d made from my pocket and opened it up on the coffee table. “Miss Millie said the pin design matches a logo for The Bullet Shooting Range where T.J. and a bunch of guys from town hang out.”
“He’s never been in trouble before.” Don rubbed his forehead. “Just because he’s made a poor choice of girlfriends doesn’t make him a murderer.”
“You never know.” I shrugged and looked Don in the eye. “We may want to check out some of his gun buddies. Maybe they knew Kayla.”
“We?” Don shook his head as he leaned over to study the design. “Avery, I keep telling you…” The dogs decided to help Don study and forced their faces over the coffee table.
“And I’m telling you…” I tossed a couple treats on the floor to divert the dogs’ attention. “Chevy likes several of those guys enough to jump in their lap.”
“Let me try to get up with Bennett again – he’s been ignoring my calls – I’ll obtain a physical description of The Boss and be able to narrow it down.” Don rested a closed fist over his mouth. “I need more to go on before showing up at the shooting range asking a bunch of questions.”
“You know, if you really care about that kid, you need to talk him out of his half-witted plans to make a living from the drug business.” I plopped into the brown oversized chair next to the large screen TV. “I’d bet a hundred bucks that’s where he and Hoss ‘invested’ the ransom money.”
Don’s phone rang and interrupted our discussion.
He held up his hand. “Let me get this.” After a brief conversation he dropped the phone on his lap and closed his eyes. “We’re too late,” he sighed, his body sliding deeper into the couch. “Deputy Anderson went out to the old Kramer property to check out your story.”
“And?”
“He drove up on a shooting in progress.” Don swiped his hand through his hair. “He’s arrested one of the killers and got the license tag number of two more that got away. All three are drug suppliers out of South Carolina and are known to have dealings with Kayla Lee Candler.”
“Is the deputy okay?”
“He’s fine, but he found two male victims in the cab of an old green truck. Both deceased.” Don’s eyes met mine. “It’s Bennett and Hoss.”
Chapter 16
I cleared a spot on the steamy mirror with a towel, put a comb through my wet hair and lathered my face with lotion. After two days of wearing the same clothes it sure felt great to get a shower and put on a clean outfit. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Chevy creeping in the bathroom, making a move to sneak a drink from his favorite water bowl…the toilet.
“No way, Chevy.” I chuckled and led him out to his fresh bowl of water in the kitchen.
He dunked his nose in the bowl and blew a few bubbles before lapping up a refreshing drink.
I turned on the kitchen faucet to refill his water dish and was startled to see the old ransom note still sitting on my counter. My stomach turned as I picked up the note and re-read it in nauseating detail. Why in the world would anyone be so cruel?
I folded the note in half, planning to turn it into law enforcement when something caught my eye. On the back side of the paper was part of a circular design. As I studied it with my newfound knowledge of the latest events, I realized the note was written on the back of a shooting practice target. Well, on about a quarter of it – the full target must’ve been cut into pieces.
Hmm, I wonder if I can somehow tie this ransom note to the shooting gallery.
Chevy dropped on the kitchen tiles to cool off, dripping water from his snout onto my bare feet.
The note was written on a target. Target.
I leaned against the kitchen counter and looked out the window as night closed in...Target.
There’d been an overdose of crime in this small town within the past couple days – dog-napping, murder, and drug dealing – but there seemed to be a broader theme. A target. Don was somebody’s target.
There’d been so many different crimes and so much commotion that the overall picture had gotten lost. I counted off some of the latest incidents:
One: Kayla Lee Candler’s body was dumped in the woods and Bennett Meyer went out of his way to get Don’s truck for the job. Target.
Two: Chevy was stolen, but the ransom money wasn’t what The Boss was after. He’d tried to force me to set up Don in order to get my dog back. Target.
Three: A pretty girl cozies up to Don and plants drugs in his house. Target.
I’d assumed Don was close to busting a drug operation and they were scrambling. I looked at the note again and shook my head. But these events were connected by something much deeper than that.
Someone wanted to ruin Don. And it was personal.
Chapter 17
Chevy snored on the couch next to me as I took a big gulp of diet cola for the caffeine rush, fired up my laptop, slung my damp hair in a ponytail and prepared to start from the beginning. Kayla Lee Candler.
I wondered if her family had been notified yet and looked up her social media sites. She’d been pretty active on the internet and posted a ton of pictures. Normal activities for a young adult these days.
The last selfie photo and post was made the prior Thursday, one day before Kayla’s body was left in the forest. The silver necklace hung around her neck and she wore the same baggy flannel shirt I found her in.
I clicked on the list of photos and scanned through dozens of party pictures, but none with Bennett. Maybe they weren’t so close after all. I continued scrolling to the year before when a close-up of just the necklace popped into view.
Another click enlarged the next photo in line. A small group of young women with broad smiles scrunched together. Kayla was in the center and they each held jewelry with the same block letter design toward the camera, the small diamonds glimmering in the light.
The photo was tagged #GirlsShoppingTrip #BestBirthdayEver #ThanksDaddy.
My eyes rested on each individual person in the photo, looking for anything familiar. When I reached the last lady on the right, I jumped to my feet and raised a fist in victory. “I knew it!”
Chevy raised his head and looked around the room to see what the commotion was about, decided it wasn’t under his jurisdiction and quickly fell back asleep.
I printed the photo and saved a copy to my computer, enlarging it to take a good look. The beautiful brunette on the right dangled her new gold bracelet from the end of her finger. Her wanna-be model pose was overdone, exactly like the one she did while standing in Don’s bathroom doorway.
Lindsay Meyer not only knew the deceased girl, they were – or had been – very good friends.
#
Don’s phone rang six times before I gave up and disconnected the call. This was unusual for a guy who regularly answered on the first ring and I wondered if his pain meds had kicked in. Since he was probably passed out on his couch, I decided to drive over to his place and show him what I’d found out. I refused to believe anything else could be wrong.
Chevy brushed by my legs as he tore out the door and made a bee-line toward the borrowed car, causing my clean jeans to get a broad swipe of loose dog hair. Evidently, the spring ‘blowing the winter coat’ season had arrived and I made a mental note to pick up a new dog brush while we were out.
My phone buzzed with a text alert just as I was getting ready to crank up the vehicle. It was Don.
Can’t talk now. Sheriff’s at the house grilling me about the baggie.
Boy, that sure didn’t take her very long, I thought. Lindsay must’ve made a ‘drug report’ soon after leaving Don’s house. That girl was a piece of work. I shook my head, relieved I’d left Don’s place before the sheriff knocked on his door.
I didn’t need to be a licensed investigator to know it’s a bad sign when the head honcho handles a call by himself. Any publicity about drugs found inside a deputy’s residence could affect the sheriff’s voter approval ratings and jeopardize the next election. He would have none of it.
Chevy pranced in the passenger seat as I got back out of the car. “Come on out, Chevy,” I said and blew out a breath. “I sure hope Don doesn’t lose his job over this one.”
Chapter 18
I awoke to the smell of a slobbery rawhide dog bone. Chevy must’ve dropped the little gift on my pillow sometime during the night and now my nose was only two inches from it. Ugh.
Oh well, I guess it’s the thought that counts.
The radio alarm clock went off after I’d already gotten out of bed and I listened to the morning news as I got cleaned up, hearing no mention of events surrounding Don’s investigation. I pulled on my best pair of jeans and a button down top as the broadcast switched over to the latest country music hits.
Since I was meeting with bank personnel and pulling a ton of money out of my savings account to pay back Miss Millie, I thought it best to spend some extra time and actually style my hair. I was careful to keep Chevy at a distance as he loaded into the back seat, to ensure I arrived without an extra layer of dog hair on my pants.
“Could I speak with Mr. Gentry, please?” I asked the young bank receptionist.
“Sure, just wait in the chairs over there.” She pointed to a small cove near the private offices. “He’ll be with you as soon as he finishes with Mr. Brackenship.”
My back tensed and I hoped the retired detective wouldn’t notice me. I glanced through the glass wall and breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn’t Tommy. His son, T.J., sat in the bank office, holding his hunter orange ball cap in his lap as he leaned up to the desk and spoke with Randy Gentry.
I plopped on the cushioned chair next to a bushy potted fern, hidden out of view but close enough to the office to be surprised the bank’s office walls were not better insulated for sound.
“T.J., I’m sorry to tell you that we can’t loan you the full amount you asked for.” Mr. Gentry said in a hushed voice. “But we can get you approved for half the amount if you put up some type of collateral.”
“I’ll put up my truck then,” T.J. said. “Family first is what my dad always taught us.”
“Okay, if that’s what you want, I’ll set up the paperwork and have a check for you later this afternoon.”
“Thanks, Randy,” T.J. replied with more energy in his voice. “Say, I’m meeting my father and Lindsay over at Millie’s for a late breakfast. Would you like to join us?”
“Sorry, I’m the only official here today so I’m stuck in the office.” There was a slight pause. “How’s your mother’s recovery coming along?”
“Slow progress,” T.J. said and cleared his throat. “This will help us pay some medical bills and help with long term care. Thank you.”
“Is there anything I can do for you…I mean, personally?”
“Yeah, promise me you’ll always make sure your own family is covered with full medical insurance.”
“You know, I went to high school with your mother and remember when she won the state title in track,” Mr. Gentry said as he opened the glass door to the lobby. “It’s unfortunate how the car accident instantly turned her life upside down.”
T.J.’s face dropped as he walked through the glass door into the lobby.
“Oh, I…I... didn’t mean…” Mr. Gentry stuttered. “I’m sorry, I forgot you...”
“It’s okay.” T.J.’s shoulders slumped. “My momma doesn’t deserve even a minute of the pain she’s going through.”
T.J. put on his ball cap, blinked away the moisture in his eyes and nodded a greeting as he walked past. It wasn’t his good looks that made me stare…
Two collector pins decorated the crown of the ball cap, along with a darker spot on the material of the same size – a spot that hadn’t faded from the sun like the rest of the cap. Because a pin that used to be stuck on that spot was now missing.
Chapter 19
Meet me at Miss Millie’s Diner, ASAP.
I sent the text to Don as I walked back to the car in the bank parking lot.
My phone beeped with a reply. Sheriff is dropping by to collect my written report about yesterday’s situation.
Are you in trouble?
Will be OK. He’s covering for me - owes me a favor.
Tell the sheriff to drive you to Millie’s. I have evidence you guys will want to see.
I tossed the phone and the bag with my five-thousand-dollar withdrawal on the passenger seat and ignored any further texts. That would get the guys curious enough to make the drive to Millie’s. I just hoped they’d get there before T.J. finished breakfast, so they could see the ball cap for themselves.
Chevy stood on the back seat and leaned forward to watch out the front window as we headed down the road. I rubbed the side of his face as I drove. “This whole or
deal might just be over soon, buddy.”
#
The diner was pretty quiet, normal for the late morning break between the breakfast and lunch crowds. Only three tables had customers and I was relieved to see T.J. Brackenship and Lindsay holding hands at one of them. I waited for her to recognize me, but she didn’t even look up from flirting with T.J.
Miss Millie hurried over and filled a glass of orange juice as I took a seat at the counter and set the bag on top. I pushed the bag of money across to her. “Here’s your money back, with a hundred dollars interest.”
“Oh honey, you didn’t need to do all that,” she said, dumping the cash back in her ‘employee suggestion box’ without even counting it and tucking it back under the counter.
She looked up toward the sound of jingling bells and flew over to meet Don as he hobbled through the door on crutches.
“Let me help you to a table, Don.” She held his arm in an offer of moral support. “I heard you spent the night out in the woods, you poor thing.”
“Mornin’ Miss Millie,” the sheriff said as he came through the door, removed his hat and took a quick surveillance of the patrons inside the diner.
I had to stifle a laugh when Lindsay let go of T.J.’s hand and ducked behind her boyfriend as Don came through the door. Don pretended he didn’t notice the couple and sat with his back to them.
I gulped down the rest of my juice, left the glass on the counter and hurried over to Don’s table. Millie was busy moving chairs out of the way to accommodate Don’s cast and I grabbed one for myself before she had a chance to clear the entire area.
“You want the usual, Sheriff?” Millie asked.
“Yes, ma’am.” The sheriff smiled, then glanced at Don and me. “In fact, make it three.”
I wasn’t going to argue.
Miss Millie patted Don on the back before scurrying off to fill our orders. The sheriff leaned his elbow on the table and touched a finger to his lips.