Madison Johns - Agnes Barton 04 - Trouble in Tawas

by Madison Johns

“Do you know the neighbors?”

  “Not by name, but that cat lady freaks me out.”

  “Bessie?”

  “No, the one called Cat Lady. She doesn’t live here, but she’s always at Bessie’s apartment.”

  “How would you know that for sure?”

  “I’ve seen them in the hallway talking.”

  How on earth was that even possible? How on earth would Cat Lady manage the steps? El and I had barely been able to scale them. “I see. Is there anything else that you haven’t told us?”

  “No, but I’d be happy to call you the next time I see or hear something strange.”

  I pulled out a notepad and scribbled my cell number on it.

  Andrew was expressionless and I wondered what he was thinking. Had he regretted coming back to town?”

  We walked back into the bar where I saw Martha chatting it up with two men, one of whom was Ralph, the man who worked back at the impound yard. “Hello, mom,” Martha slurred. In front of Martha were three empty shot glasses.

  “Are you ready to go?” I asked in concern.

  “I’m staying. Did you know that Ralph moonlights as a mortician’s assistant? He transports bodies from the morgue to the Happy Bear Funeral Home.”

  “And you find that interesting?”

  “I sure do. He actually travels around with dead people.”

  “And exactly how much have you had to drink tonight?”

  She waved me away. “Go on home. I’ll catch a ride.”

  “That’s what I’m worried about, the catching something part.”

  “You’re such a fuddy duddy.”

  “I am when it relates to my family. Since when do you date anyone your age? Don’t you like them on the young side?”

  She hung her head. “Mother, you’re embarrassing me.”

  “Hey, Ralph? Does the coroner ever share information with you?”

  “Sometimes, but I keep it to myself. I don’t need that kind of grief.”

  “I see. So you don’t know if the autopsy’s been done on Marie Sanchez yet?”

  “Who?”

  “The body they found at the beach.”

  He pulled at his collar. “Maybe, but I can’t tell you in here. Let’s take a walk.”

  Martha’s mouth gaped open. “Wh-What? I thought we were gonna have a few more before you took me home.”

  “My wife would kill me if I took you anywhere.”

  Martha inhaled sharply and followed us outside. We wandered back to the station wagon and Andrew cocked a brow, a quirk of a smile at the corner of his mouth. “Cute car. Is this like the Delorean?”

  “The what?” I asked.

  “You know the car from Back to the Future, the one that can time travel.”

  “Funny for a lawyer who’s sleeping on the couch.”

  “Actually, I’m staying at the Days Inn,” he informed me.

  What? Not staying with me? Instead of reacting to that one, I asked Ralph, “So what didn’t you want to tell us inside?”

  “The coroner said the woman drowned, but he’s still waiting for a toxicology report.”

  “That’s just great,” I grumbled. “That’s two deaths in town that are supposedly accidental.”

  “Sorry, but I better not get seen talking to you. I’d hate for it to get back to the sheriff or—” glancing toward Martha, he added, “my wife.”

  Andrew kissed me on the cheek and left, promising to pick me up when he went to help out Old Man Peterson in the morning. Martha swayed as I helped her into the car. “How on earth are you so drunk already?”

  “I had three double shots, Mother.”

  I drove to Eleanor’s and dropped her off, then back home. Mr. Tinkles Weenie was pawing at the door when we strolled inside and I let him outside on the chain. How I ever got stuck with the dog was beyond me. Somehow I just knew Eleanor would shirk her responsibilities.

  Chapter Fifteen Sixteen

  Andrew stopped by promptly at eight, and I was ready and dressed in blue crop pants with matching tee. My hair looked a fright, but I managed to comb it into place. As Andrew walked in the door, Duchess stretched and rubbed against his legs. “Looks like she missed you too.”

  He smiled and set down a box of donuts from Tim Horton’s and Martha and I were on them like flies on honey. I poured coffee and settled in next to Andrew at the table with a crazy looking Martha across from us. Her hair stood up like a rooster.

  “So what’s the plan?” I asked Andrew.

  “Arraignment at ten.”

  “He’s not on his father’s case,” I informed him.

  “I bet not, but what does this have to do with you, Aggie?”

  “The sheriff hired me to clear his father’s name.”

  “I heard they caught him red handed with a t he credit card s , though.”

  “He was a suspect in Raul’s death, but it has since appeared to be an accident.”

  “I can’t imagine Hal would kill his companion.”

  “Me either, but I just don’t believe Raul’s death was an accident. Hal left town about the same time that Raul died.”

  “Peterson really hired you?”

  “Don’t sound so shocked. He knows I’m a competent investigator.”

  “Still, this is the sheriff we’re talking about here.”

  I stirred creamer into my cup. “I was shocked too, and I just don’t know how to proceed with the case.”

  “If they ruled Raul’s death an accident then why are you on the case at all?”

  “Because I don’t believe it was an accident is why.”

  “If you keep this up they might just decide to charge Hal with murder. Even circumstantial cases have resulted in convictions.”

  “They wouldn’t do that. He left for the casino that day.” I bit into a glazed donut then added, “He wasn’t alone that day . Mildred Winfree was with him too. Why isn’t she being looked at?”

  “Maybe she is, but the simple fact is that most likely there isn’t enough evidence to suggest Raul’s death was intentional.” He took a sip of his coffee. “So what do you know about the stolen charge card?”

  “EL and I tracked down Hal and Mildred at the casino. He told us about the card with some story about how he had planned to pay the money back if he won.”

  “Big ‘if’.”

  “Yes, he lost big, but I’m not sure how big. El and I tried to get him to leave, but he ran off.”

  “And you couldn’t catch the old coot?”

  “The casino was so packed and he moved quicker than I expected.”

  “They always do when they’re in escape mode. Where is the old man staying now?”

  “At Sheriff Peterson’s house.”

  “Wow, now that’s impressive. I bet his wife is loving that one.”

  “I can’t imagine Joy Peterson doing anything but running a charity drive of some sort.”

  “In East Tawas?”

  “She’s originally from the windy city. We were all shocked in town when he brought her home with him ten years ago. They married a few week later.”

  “Strange for a small town sheriff. How was he able to pay for that trip on his pay?”

  “It doesn’t cost that much to go to Chicago. Why would you even ask a question like that?”

  Andrew fell silent and then shrugged. “I think I saw something about Peterson mishandling County funds, on a flier by Clay Barry.”

  I squared my shoulders. “All that Clay Barry and his mother has done is spread lies. I can’t believe you’d think something like that was true.”

  Andrew raised his hands in a defensive mode. “Hold it right there. I was just asking, is all.”

  We finished our coffee and left in Andrew’s Lexus LX, despite my instance that we take Martha’s station wagon. I had gotten used to tooling around town in the relic. I drummed my fingers on the dash until we pulled into El’s drive. Andrew’s eyes widened when he spotted El’s Caddy buried beneath her garage door. “I guess that’s one w
ay to keep El from behind the wheel,” Andrew said. “But I think I’ll call someone to take care of the door. We can’t keep the old girl without a getaway car.”

  “I suppose not.”

  El strolled out the door, wearing a yellow sundress with matching sandals. I got out of the passenger’s side and sat in the back, giving my seat to El who needed more room to stretch out. Andrew turned his head and gave El a peck on the cheek. “You look great, El.”

  “Thanks,” she gushed. “Mr. Wilson called me this morning. He’s back in town.”

  I smiled to myself. It seems both of us now had our men back in town. “That’s great. More tuna casserole for dinner?”

  “No, he’s taking me out for dinner. I’m meeting his granddaughter Millicent.”

  “Wow, that’s some name for a young lady.”

  “She was named after Mr. Wilson’s late wife.”

  “I’m impressed. I had no idea things between you and Wilson were going that great. When’s the wedding?”

  El snapped a tube of lipstick from her purse and pressed it to her lips and then asked, “How about you and Andrew?”

  Andrew coughed in response. “How about we change the subject.”

  I silently agreed, but remained silent. I had no idea why that bothered me. It wasn’t like I had entertained the thought. I mean, I was quite happy with things the way they were between Andrew and I. “Are you nervous about meeting Wilson’s granddaughter?”

  “A little. I mean what if she doesn’t like me and tells him that I’m not good enough for him?”

  “First off. Who wouldn’t love you, El? And second off. I doubt anyone would be able to tell Wilson anything. He seems like a man hell bent to live his life any way he chooses.”

  “You’re right, Aggie. It’s just hard when you have to deal with family. I don’t know how to respond if he asks about mine.”

  “You don’t need to go into detail.”

  “What if she asks about my son?”

  I pursed my lips. “Just tell her he lives out of town and is too busy to visit.”

  “I have no idea if that’s true o r f not. I don’t even know where he lives or why he won’t visit.”

  I felt bad for her and all I could do was empathize with her. “I know how you feel. Martha had stayed away for years, but she came back in her own time.”

  “Sure she did, with all her possessions packed in that wagon of hers.”

  I nodded as I remembered that day clearly, and how at the time I wasn’t at all happy she had showed up. I couldn’t blame her though. I could understand feeling lost after my husband had died and my children had gone off to college. “I still don’t know where my son Stuart is.”

  “I’m sure he’ll show up one day when he’s ready. You have no idea where he is?”

  “No and believe me I have searched.”

  “Hey, Aggie. Why not look on Facebook?”

  “Facebook,” Andrew choked out.

  “Yes, El and I have profiles on Facebook now. It’s a perfect place to search for suspects.”

  “I see,” he chuckled. “Have you turned up anyone besides aliens?”

  “I know Rob seems like a crackpot, but he did see a Hummer and a tall thin man.”

  “Even crazy people have some merit,” El added.

  “If you say so, but personally I’d have to see that with my own two eyes before I believe Rob saw anything.”

  I would have elaborated more about our suspect, but Andrew had made the turn into the sheriff’s department. He parked and we ambled out, making our way inside to where Sheriff Peterson awaited us. He simply nodded and led us inside to another room where there were chairs positioned in front of a desk. The judge wasn’t currently in the room, allowing us time to talk. Hal was dressed all in orange, staring at the floor.

  Andrew set his briefcase down and pulled out a stack of papers, then handed them to Peterson who looked them over. “I plan to ask the court to allow Hal home on electronic monitoring. He’s in no condition to waste away in a jail cell,” Andrew said.

  “You’re not telling me anything I don’t know. He caused quite the ruckus last night. I had to come and babysit him all night.”

  “It wasn’t my damn fault. How do you expect a man my age to pee in a damn urinal the size of a milk jug?”

  “That doesn’t mean you need to urinate on the floor,” Peterson bellowed. “You’re making me a laughing stock at the sheriff’s department and I might as well withdraw from the election because nobody will ever vote for me.”

  Hal crossed his arms turned away from his son. “Send me back to the County Medical Facility Center then.”

  “Listen here now, Sheriff. I won’t stand for you withdrawing from the election. Folks in town know that you’re not to blame for your father’s actions,” I reassured him.

  “Sending him back to the nursing home won’t put you in a good light either,” El added.

  “I’m not doing that, but what if they send my father to prison?”

  “Not likely,” Andrew said. “I won’t let that happen. I’m pushing for them to drop charges.”

  “Does he have dementia?” I asked.

  “He does have some form, but he knows better than to take a man’s credit card. He was a sheriff at one time.”

  I sure wish Hal wasn’t in the room as I was about to say something that just might hurt his feelings. “Nobody in their right mind would think that Hal is completely with it.”

  Hal sat upright with eyes bulging. “So you want me to act senile, is that it?”

  “It works for me,” I said with a curt bob of my head. “I know you were once a reasonable man.”

  “You got that one right, toots. Mildred was the one who suggested I take the charge card. She’s quite convincing when she wants to be.”

  “Mildred, are you certain?”

  “She said it was the only way we’d be able to have any fun. She’s a wild one and boy does she know how to spend money.”

  “Mildred Winfree?” She sure acted like it was all Hal’s idea. Maybe El and I had better have a long overdue chat with her.

  “Are you prepared to tell the judge that?” Andrew asked. “I don’t want you implicating her and then changing your tune when you’re in front of the judge.”

  “Heck with her. She won’t even pick up the phone when I call.”

  I gave Hal’s shoulder a squeeze. “Did you call Elsie Bradford?”

  He rolled his eyes. “You mean that bird with the loose lips? She told me her sister wasn’t there and she didn’t know where she was.”

  I wonder if that was all talk on Elsie’s part. “I’ll find out for you, Hal. I’m sure it’s just all a misunderstanding.”

  The bailiff, Bernie, strode into the room, his keys clanging against each other. “The judge is about ready.” He took his place near the far wall as the Honorable Mary Kroft entered. We were instructed to sit and she read off the charge; illegally obtaining a credit card for the purpose of theft. “How do you plead?”

  “May I please approach the bench, your honor?” Andrew asked.

  She gave him a hard stare and replied, “You may, but be quick about it. I’m expected in Oscoda at noon.”

  Andrew approached the bench and they spoke in hushed tones. Andrew walked back with a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth as the Judge said, “Hal Peterson, your lawyer has requested a psychological exam, which I’m granting, and I’m setting bail at five hundred dollars. You may enter your plea later. A stipulation is that you wear an electronic monitoring device.”

  “Oh great,” Hal muttered.

  “In the future, Hal Peterson, reserve your comments until you’re out of court or I will send you back to lock up for contempt of court. Is that understood?”

  Hal nodded and we all rose as the judge left. Sheriff Peterson paid the bail and we all meandered outside. “Hal is still staying with you, Sheriff?”

  “Yes. I might have to hire another companion or my wife may just file f
or divorce.”

  “She’s too good for her britches,” Hal said. “I told you not to marry that city girl.”

  “Joy is too busy to be babysitting you. She has business to attend to.”

  “I don’t need no damn babysitter you fool.”

  “I didn’t mean it literally, Dad! You just need to behave yourself until we get you out of this fix.”

  “You believe me, son. Don’t you? I swear it was all Mildred’s idea and I had nothing to do with Raul falling down those stairs. I swear he was fine when I saw him upstairs before we left that day.”

  “You’re not being charged in connection with Raul’s death. It looks like an accident.”

  Hal relaxed some as his shoulders drooped. “I’ll try to behave, but the least you could do is find something for me to do. I like to whittle.”

  I couldn’t imagine it wise to give Hal a knife so I suggested, “How about a puzzle? I heard you loved to do puzzles when you were at the nursing home.”

  His eyes lit up, as did the sheriff’s. “Great idea, Agnes. I hope you plan to find Mildred next. I sure would love to hear her side of the story.”

  “I had planned to, Peterson.”

  Sheriff Peterson and Hal left in a squad car, which left Andrew, El, and I to stand there, admiring the beautiful lake across US 23. “Do you want to go with us to Elsie Bradford’s house, Andrew?”

  He beamed. “It’s about time I meet the old bird. You and El speak so highly of her.”

  “She’s the gossip queen of East Tawas,” I informed him.

  “And not the only one in town,” he winked.

  El turned away like she had no idea of whom he was referring to. I, on the other hand, don’t consider myself any more a gossip monger than anyone else in town. It was a small town after all.

  We hopped back in the LX and I gave Andrew directions. Soon we were rumbling up Plank Road, heading out of town. Andrew turned up the drive that had a Victorian shaped mailbox. The cottage style house had bay windows, the newly hung siding was a robin egg blue. When we clamored up the sidewalk I saw the ‘No Smoking’ sign alerting us that oxygen was in use.

  I pushed the doorbell and hid behind Andrew when I heard the sound of barking dogs. Since when did Elsie have a dog?

  Elsie opened the door, oxygen tubing in her nostrils. “Hello. You said you wanted to meet my Andrew, right?”