Madison Johns - Agnes Barton 04 - Trouble in Tawas

by Madison Johns

  El’s fat fingers punched in the buttons of her cell and told 911 that a body had been found and gave the address to the operator. She then hung up, ignoring the operator’s request for more information.

  Within minutes sirens blared, squad cars screeched to a halt up front, and feet pounded up the few steps that led to the door. Trooper Sales was in the door first, his eyes shifting to my blood stained sweatpants. Next came a wide-eyed Sheriff Peterson. He took in the scene, focusing on his father, Hal, who at this point had his head down.

  Trooper Sales swallowed hard and asked, “Who found the body?”

  “We all did,” I volunteered. “We just got here and he was already dead.”

  “He had to have been dead awhile,” El added.

  “True, El,” I said. “The blood has turned dark and it’s brown where it landed on the carpet.”

  Trooper Sales cut in. “Time of death will be determined by the coroner. I appreciate your input, but I’d rather you butted out and just answer my questions.”

  “Yeah, you old folks are in a heap of trouble,” Sheriff Peterson suggested. “So you all arrived at the same time?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why were you and Eleanor even here? I know you’re not friends with my father and you’re certainly not friends with Mildred.”

  “You got that one right,” Mildred blurted out. “She slept with my husband.”

  “That was years ago,” El retorted. “You said you were gonna drop it.”

  Trooper Sales waved his hands. “Ladies, please. Does anyone know who the dead guy is?”

  “It’s Raul, my father’s companion,” Peterson announced. “Dad, when was the last time you saw him?”

  “I’m not sure you should even be involved in this investigation, Peterson,” I said. “I mean it could be interpreted as a conflict of interest since Hal is you father.”

  “You sound like you think my father is guilty of some crime here. This might all just be an accident. Plenty of people fall to their death down stairs.”

  I butted in and pointed out, “Is that the sheriff in you saying that, or the son in you? I highly doubt you’d jump to that conclusion if it was someone other than your father.”

  “Aggie’s right. If it was us, you’d have us in the back of your squad car already,” El said.

  “I’m the sheriff in this town and there is no way I’m not investigating this. I was just trying to make sense of the situation.”

  “I agree with Agnes here,” Trooper Sales said. “Maybe you should let the state police handle the investigation. You are in the midst of an election, you know.”

  “I don’t care about that. I can be objective,” Peterson reassured Sales.

  “Fine then. We’ll discuss this privately later.”

  “When was the last time any of you saw Raul alive?” Peterson asked.

  We all looked at Hal as he admitted, “It was probably me, but there are tenants, you know.”

  “Which we will be checking out, but dad, when was the last time you saw Raul?”

  Hal met his son’s eyes and shuffled his feet nervously. “A few days ago. Before my road trip.”

  “I remember people were saying your father was missing. Remember, Peterson?”

  “I just figured Raul took him on a trip. I hired that man to stay with my father at all times.”

  “Which he did, too , . ” Hal said. “He wouldn’t even let me use the shitter without making me leave the door open a crack. Have you ever tried to use the toilet with some hulking fella watching you the whole time? It’s like I was back at the nursing home.”

  “It was for your own safety, dad. So did Raul know you left?”

  “Of course not! He’d never allow that. Mildred and me snuck out early in the morning. That’s when the bus leaves, early.”

  “So Mildred was here too?” I blurted out.

  Mildred’s hand flew to her hips. “And that means what? I pushed him down the stairs, Agnes?”

  “I don’t recall anyone saying that, Mildred. Guilty conscience, perhaps.”

  Trooper Sales wrote in his little notebook and cut in before Mildred had a chance to retort. “I’d like Hal’s and Mildred’s social security numbers.”

  “What in the hell for?” Hal shouted. “Like I’d trust you with my personal information. The last thing I need is for you to steal my identity.”

  “Its standard procedure, dad.”

  Hal pulled out his wallet and a credit card flopped to the floor. Sales picked it up and stared at the Visa card, then stoically asked, “What are you doing with Raul Perez’s credit card?”

  I bit my lip, not wanting to pipe in.

  “Well, I-I,” Hal began. “It’s kinda complicated.”

  “He told us that Raul gave it to Hal for safekeeping,” El spit out. “Don’t look at me like that, Aggie. It’s better to just tell them because they’re gonna find out and that will make us all look guilty.”

  Yeah, like she just hadn’t implicated us in fraud. “He did tell us that, but I insisted that he stop using the card,” I told Sales.

  “Oh, so he was actually using the card then?”

  “We never saw him using it. He told us he was using it,” El added.

  Sales looked straight at El and grilled her, his ink pen poised on his notebook. “And where was he using it at?”

  “At Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant,” El admitted.

  Hal slapped a hand over her head. “Oh great. Why not shoot me right now. You know they’re gonna arrest me now, El!”

  “It’s not my fault you stole the credit card. Who put you up to that… Mildred?”

  “I most certainly did not!” Mildred shouted.

  “But you knew he was using the card, Mildred,” I pointed out.

  “Well… ”

  “You’re his accomplice even if it was after the fact,” I added.

  “I didn’t even know anything about the credit card until later. Hal promised me he’d pay Raul back when he won.”

  “Highly unlikely. I should have just called the cops when I found out,” I said.

  “So why didn’t you?” Sales asked.

  “Because he took off. I planned to drag him back to East Tawas whether he wanted to or not.”

  “They have a word for that,” Hal spat. “False imprisonment.”

  “I just didn’t want to see you get into any more trouble.”

  “Looks like we’re all in trouble now, Agnes. Good going.”

  Trooper Sales massaged his temples. “Okay. So you last saw Raul two days ago, Hal?”

  “That’s the story and I’m sticking to it,” he said with a bob of his head.

  “Is it the truth or not?”

  “Yes.”

  “There should be a record if Hal and Mildred took a bus to Soaring Eagle,” I suggested.

  “I’ll be checking that out. So Agnes, have you ever been to this house before?” Sales asked.

  “No. I only caught up with Hal in Mt. Pleasant. Is Hal going to be arrested?”

  “We need to wait for an autopsy before we determine if Raul’s death was an accident, but it won’t help Hal that he had Raul’s credit card on his person.”

  “And about the credit card?”

  “If he used it, he’ll be arrested for credit card fraud, but I’ll wait until the reports are filed and I can check with the credit card company.”

  “Until then, where is Hal planning to stay?” I asked. “I can’t see him staying here.”

  Sheriff Peterson swallowed hard. “I suppose he’ll have to stay with me, then.”

  Hal raised a brow. “Really, son?”

  “Mildred, you better ask your sister if you can stay with her for a while,” I suggested.

  She groaned, pulled out her cell and called Elsie, simply asking her to pick her up.

  “Are you done questioning us?” I asked.

  “Yes, I already have your and El’s information from before, so you’re free to leave,” Sales said. “
But one last question. How did you get that blood on your clothes?”

  “I knelt in the blood when I checked his pulse,” I said.

  “I thought as much. Go ahead then.”

  “I don’t suppose you’d allow us to tag along when you question the tenants?” I suggested.

  “Agnes, please butt out. It’s getting so tiresome reminding you,” Sales said.

  “I know, I know. You’re so by-the-book that it makes me sick.”

  With one last look at Raul’s bent body, El and I left.

  Chapter Seven Eight

  Sunlight nearly blinded me as I made my way to the station wagon. I could grumble all day about Sales trying to stop us from investigating, but what’s the point. Once we settled ourselves in the wagon, I said, “We’ll just have to come back later to question the tenants.”

  “Hal sure looks guilty here. You don’t think he’d do it, do you?”

  “If you mean pushing Raul to his death, no. He might be a crotchety old man, but I just don’t see him capable of murder. Maybe it was an accident.”

  “Raul was only in his thirties, though. Seems too young to die like that.”

  “I agree, El. I just hope Peterson removes himself from the case before it hurts him in the election.”

  “He almost has, too. I’m sure Trooper Sales will convince him. He’s a straight shooter.”

  “I just hope the details of this case remain quiet for a while.”

  “You do realize that this East Tawas we’re talking about here. I can’t imagine any small town keeping a secret this big under wraps for long.”

  “True El, but I just can’t believe there might be another murderer in our town. It’s so unnerving.”

  “And I’m afraid it sure makes ole Hal look pretty guilty. He had the chance and a motive.”

  “I don’t agree with that, El. Do you think his motive was to get rid of Raul so he didn’t have to deal with him anymore?”

  “Yes, why else?”

  “It just doesn’t make sense to me. Without Raul looking after him, Hal very well may be sent back to the nursing home.”

  “Then there is always the theft of the credit card,” El added.

  “It’s believable to me that Hal just wanted to get away for a few days. Sure, in his befuddled mind he took the credit card and used it, but murder—I just don’t buy into that.”

  “I’m not sure what really happened, Aggie, but let’s be realistic here—no way was Raul’s death an accident.”

  “I agree with you there. I just hope we can come up with another suspect. I almost feel bad for Hal in a strange kind of way. He’s just so—”

  “Creepy… disgusting… ”

  “Oh, El. Be nice. He’s just lonely and it’s not his fault entirely that he does strange things. Us older folks don’t always think rationally.”

  “I always do,” El said with a wink.

  “Oh really? Like when you met Mr. Wilson.”

  “Best decision of my life. Not that you have room to talk.”

  “Where is Wilson these days?”

  “He went to Saginaw to visit his granddaughter. How about your sweetie, Andrew Hart? Where is he hiding?”

  “He took his sister to New York. It looks like we’ll have to solve this case ourselves.”

  “Just like we always do,” El said with a chuckle.

  “How about some ice cream at Fuzzy’s?” I asked El, who nodded in agreement. I made my way onto US 23 and drove toward Tadium. I pulled into Fuzzy’s and El and I ambled inside. We waved at Dorothy and Frank Alton, who were engaged in an argument.

  “Frank, I just don’t like the idea of Sheriff Peterson serving another term as sheriff.”

  “Why do you even care?” Frank muttered. “It’s not like there is a crime wave happening in Iosco County. I personally think he has done a standup job as sheriff.”

  Dorothy eyed me and whispered something to Frank that I couldn’t hear, but before I could even wonder, El was prancing her way over to the couple. “What was that, Dorothy?”

  “What on earth are you talking about?” Dorothy asked with a roll of her eyes, smoothing a loose strand of her grey hair.

  “It’s not our fault we keep finding dead people,” El volunteered.

  I held my breath—Sally Alton stopped scooping ice cream—and all eyes were on us.

  Dorothy gripped her chest, rumpling the gauzy fabric of her blouse. “What dead body is that? Who did you find dead now?”

  “El—”

  “They might as well know.” El took in a rattled breath and then spilled the beans. “We found Raul Perez dead today. Dead at the bottom of the stairs in the old Victorian he was staying at.”

  Dorothy leaned back in her chair, dabbed her napkin into a glass of water and then pressed it to her forehead. “Th—That’s just awful. How on earth did that happen?”

  El pursed her lips and blurted out, “I don’t know for sure, but Hal Peterson is looking like a suspect.”

  Dorothy leaned forward, but before she could say another word, Sally ran over to the table. “How awful for you, dear,” she said to El. “Isn’t Hal kind of… you know—old.” All eyes shot invisible daggers at Sally and she swallowed hard. “Sorry.”

  “Eleanor,” I chastised her. “We were planning to keep Raul’s death under wraps, remember?”

  “I know, but Dorothy was saying—”

  “I never heard her say a word and how did you when she whispered to Frank?”

  “I heard her loud and clear. Where ever Agnes and Eleanor go, there is sure to be a dead body discovered soon.”

  I glared at Dorothy. “Did you say that?”

  “Well, it’s kinda true. You girls are always in the thick of it.”

  “It’s not like we plan it that way. It just happens.” I frowned. “I don’t suppose you can all keep this to yourselves? The truth is that we won’t know for some time if this was an accident. I think it’s presumptuous of us to jump to any conclusions or name a suspect just yet.”

  “This will be a nail in Sheriff Peterson’s election bid,” Frank blurted out. “Who is gonna elect him if he own father is involved with Raul’s death?”

  “I hope that’s not the case. Hal Peterson used to be a sheriff himself and it’s doubtful that he would intentionally harm anyone.”

  “Obviously you haven’t seen the old man in action,” Dorothy said. “Word is that he has dementia. What if he killed Raul and simply forgot all about it?”

  “I see. Well, we all have had our moments. I’m going to wait to hear the coroner’s report before making any further comment.” I elbowed El in her ribs. “I thought we came here to have some ice cream.”

  El nodded and we made our way to the counter, watching in delight as Sally made our orders; pineapple sundae for me, and banana split for El. Life was good. We wandered to our table and I tuned out Dorothy and Frank. “Next time lets be in agreement, El.”

  With raised spoon she spit out. “About what?”

  “Trooper Sales already frowns on us poking our noses in his investigations. The least we can do is keep privy information to ourselves. It might hurt their investigation.”

  “I see. I’m sorry. I’m just so bad at keeping my mouth shut sometimes.” She spooned in more ice cream and asked, “So what’s next?”

  “We might as well get your Cadillac out of impound before they tack on more of a fee.”

  “I mean investigations-wise.”

  “We’ll question the tenants tomorrow.”

  We finished our ice cream and I waited for El to return from the bathroom. Dorothy and Frank Alton had left, but there was a man seated near the door that I hadn’t noticed earlier. Who was he and why was he staring me down? Instead of waiting around I walked over to him. I extended my hand and introduced myself. “I’m Agnes Barton. Are you new in town?”

  “Just passing through. I had no idea East Tawas was so noteworthy.”

  “Sure is. It’s a great tourist town.”

&nbs
p; He took a drink of his water and continued, “I overheard what you were saying earlier, about the death of Raul Perez. I had no idea he died.”

  “Do you know him?”

  “We were acquaintances. I had hoped to look him up, but I see that won’t be possible now.”

  My lips formed a line. “Not friends?”

  “Nope.”

  “Were you in business together?”

  “My but you’re inquisitive. I’d rather not say.”

  “Did you by chance stop by and see him a few days ago, possibly help him down the stairs?”

  “You think I killed him, then?”

  “I never said you killed him, but you do admit you knew him and he is, well… dead. Quite a coincidence, don’t you think?”

  “It’s a coincidence just because I was acquainted with the man?”

  “Stranger things have happened.”

  “Is that your educated guess or is it because I’m unknown to you? A stranger in town.”

  “I can’t say, yet, but I’m curious about you, like what your name is.”

  “If you’re half the investigator you claim to be M rs. s. Barton, I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

  El returned and stood next to me as I watched the tall thin man get into a black sedan and tear out of the drive.

  “What gives, Aggie?”

  “That man just told me he was an acquaintance of Raul Perez, but he wouldn’t give me his name. He sure knew my name though.”

  “That’s strange. He could be a person of interest,” El agreed. “There might be more to this case than what meets the eye. Raul is from Mexico, right? Maybe that’s where they knew each other.”

  “Yes, but Raul has to be legal and this man didn’t look Hispanic to me. He looked like a goon.”

  El shuddered. “I hope we’re not back to goons with guns. We might have to check out Raul’s legal status.”

  “I wonder who we could ask about that?”

  “Sheriff Peterson might be inclined to tell you. I mean, if it might help get his father off the hot seat.”

  I shook my head. “No way will that man ever volunteer that kind of information to me of all people.”

  We left and drove to the impound yard, where I raised a brow at the fee. “Two hundred dollars?” I asked the overweight man who was stuffed into his garage monkey suit.