The Devil in Maryvale

by Jackie Griffey

He smiled to himself when he saw her. He had missed his chance. She was standing near Casey Taylor's old car in the parking lot and Casey was holding the door for her to get in. Cas went on to his own car, trying not to feel so old.

  He called Gladys from the car. "Looks like I'm not going to make it back before you leave. I'm at the school. Will you look up the Kelly's address for me? Todd Kelly's parents."

  He jotted down the address and thanked Gladys. He drove slowly along the street in their neighborhood, checking the numbers until he saw the house.

  A middle aged woman in a wide straw hat was weeding a flower bed on the front lawn and looked inquiringly up at him as she got to her feet to come to meet him.

  "Mrs. Kelly?"

  "Yes. You're Sheriff Larkin, aren't you?"

  "Yes, ma'am. Is Todd home yet?"

  "No, he's not here. He doesn't usually get in for another hour or so. Can I help you somehow, or would you like to wait?"

  "If you can spare me a few minutes. Is Mr. Kelly here? I know he sells real estate," Cas eyed the two cars parked in the driveway.

  "Yes, he's here. He's doing the paperwork on a couple of houses he's hoping to close on soon. Come in. I'll call him to talk to you."

  Kelly wasn't long in coming into the living room and shook hands with Cas.

  "He's got the good personality a salesman needs," Cas thought as they sat down. "They both look too good and honest to have an offspring who's trying to be a 'punisher' for Darrell Spruce."

  Mrs. Kelly offered tea, which Cas declined. "I don't know whether or not Todd told you, but I talked to him in regard to the new club that seems to be growing at the school."

  He watched their reactions. There was only a slight puzzled glance at each other.

  "A club?" Mr. Kelly asked.

  "Yes. It seems to be a secret thing. Nobody wants to talk about it. I talked to him and a friend of his named Sid Norton."

  "No!" Mrs. Kelly's reaction to that was immediate and vehement. "I wouldn't consider Sid Norton a friend. I'd rather he didn't even go to the same school as Todd. Is Sid, or Todd, in some kind of trouble?"

  "I don't think this club is one you would approve of, if you feel that way about Sid Norton," Cas said bluntly. "It's not anything I'd want my child involved in."

  "What is it," Kelly asked. "We haven't heard Todd say anything about it."

  "As I said, it's a secret thing nobody wants to talk about or admit they belong to. Remember when there was something that happened up on Peaceful Ridge? Some tombstones were turned over and trash thrown everywhere?"

  "This is the group that did that?"

  "And you say Todd and Sid Norton are members of it?" Mrs. Kelly looked worried.

  "I'm sure the reason you haven't heard him say anything about it is they're trying to keep anyone from finding out about it. They have two so-called 'punishers' who enforce this code of silence. They beat up a boy pretty bad recently."

  "Oh!" Mrs. Kelly was shocked.

  Kelly chuckled nervously, "You make it sound like a junior mafia! An organized crime club. Punishers?"

  "That's a pretty close description. They mean to get more powerful if they're not stopped, and stopped now. I mean to do that," Cas stated flatly.

  "Well, thank heaven for that," Mrs. Kelly's hands twisted her wide brimmed hat.

  "Is there something we can do to help? And who are these punishers you said they have?"

  Cas gave it to them straight. "They're Sid Norton and your son, Todd."

  The Kellys sat speechless. Dismayed. Before anyone spoke, they heard a noise in the room behind them. Todd had come in the back. He stuck his head in, saw Cas, and ran toward the back of the house.

  "Todd," Kelly thundered, going in pursuit of his son.

  Mrs. Kelly sat still as if stunned until Kelly came back holding Todd by the arm.

  "Sit down," Kelly ordered.

  Todd sat.

  Cas leaned toward Todd. "Son, I want you to tell your parents about this club you've decided to join. About the beating you and your friend Sid Norton gave Casey Taylor. Get yourself straightened out."

  "I don't have to talk to you!" Someone else's bravado came out of Todd's mouth. His lower lip trembled.

  "Yes, you do. You will. I'm giving you a chance to get out of this mess before you get into any more serious trouble than you're in now. When I talked to Casey Taylor, he didn't want to tell me who beat him up, but there are other ways of finding out. You're lucky you're not in jail and being prosecuted for that beating. It's time to turn yourself around if you've got the stuff in you to do it."

  Into the heavy silence Cas inserted with heavy emphasis. "There won't be any more chances."

  It seemed an eternity Todd sat there, all their eyes on him. Then his eyes on his mother's, whose own eyes glistened with unshed tears, his shoulders sagged and tears welled up in his own. He dashed them away and got a grip on his emotions.

  "Mother, I didn't want to do it." He looked at his dad. "It was no fun for me."

  He studied the carpet between his feet, "But Sid, he enjoyed it! He likes to hurt people! You were right about him, Mom."

  Cas spoke to Kelly. "As I said, Casey is not going to press charges against Todd, and what he told me can stay unofficial."

  He turned to Todd. "You stay away from those meetings, and stay away from Darrell. If they threaten you or try to harm you in any way, call my office and we'll put a stop to that. You don't have to fear them."

  "Thank you, sheriff." Kelly got up and extended his hand as Cas rose to go. "Todd will certainly not be at any more of those club meetings."

  "One more thing. You knew Denise Davis, didn't you Todd? You were in some of the same classes."

  "Yes, sir. I knew her. She came to some of the meetings. I think she was at the last one before she died. She came with Darrell. There were others around, but I think she was with him."

  "Do you know of anyone who was mad at her or had anything against her? Would want to harm her?"

  "No, sir. Everybody liked her. Even Darrell. I heard him say once she had one of the few good brains in the school." He added seriously, "I hope you find whoever killed her. I've heard other people talking about it, and nobody knows any reason anybody would do something like that."

  "Where were you the night she was killed? Its a routine question," he explained for his parents' benefit as well as Todd's.

  "I, we, Sid Norton and I went to a movie." A nervous smile appeared. "We ate so much buttered popcorn I think the girl behind the refreshment counter would remember us, she's in a couple of my classes, too."

  "All right, thank you. I'll more than likely be talking to you again. Here's one of my cards, in case you should think of anything or hear anything that might help us find out what happened."

  Cas headed home. "Sanctuary, I need you," he breathed as he pulled away from the curb. "I feel like I've taken a beating too, an emotional one. Maybe I should borrow one of Margaret Avery's tranquilizers myself!"

  Chapter 11

  Reluctant to move, Cas looked out the window at the blue sky. A slight breeze rustled the leaves of the old oak tree outside. It looked like a pleasant weekend weather-wise even if what was ahead of him wasn't.

  He called and made an appointment to see Sid Norton's parents Sunday afternoon, wanting to talk to them and Sid at the same time. The rest of his time off he dedicated to catching up on yard work and other home chores he had let slide.

  Connie cooked the roast she had bought at Lorenzo's market. Cas complimented it after the first couple of bites. "This the one you bought on sale?"

  "Yes, it's good, isn't it?" Connie was pleased. "I told the Andersons to be sure and call me when Cortez Lorenzo puts out his signs from now on. He just sticks them up in the window and has the sale the next day."

  "What happened to putting an ad in the paper? Does he just want to get people to watch his window? I'll bet that's it."

  "I don't know. Miss Mayme might."

  "It's not important. This
is good, that's what's important. It's his business how he wants to advertise."

  "Mom?"

  "What is it?"

  "I'm going to skip dessert. Casey will be here in half an hour and I'm going up to get dressed."

  "All right, there will be apple crisp on the stove if you want it when you get home."

  Cas's eyes followed Missy as she went out. "I can't believe our little girl is so grown-up. I'm not ready for her to be grown up." He looked so unhappy, Connie touched his hand.

  "There, there," she patted his hand gently like a kindergartener with a problem. "You'll be all right. No parents are ever ready for their children to be grown-up. Think of the good points about it. There will be more time for just the two of us, and we will have a guest room, not that we need one," she smiled.

  Cas grinned like an imp. "How much will you give me not to tell Harry we've got one?"

  "Your Aunt Harriet's on the near side of seventy whether she admits it or not, and I won't deal with blackmail. Besides which, she's pretty good at finding out things for herself." Connie remembered Harry had informed her she had stopped counting when Connie had made the mistake of pointing out her age as an argument against something she wanted to do. An argument Connie had lost.

  "I guess I get my detecting genes from that side of the family," Cas laughed.

  "No, you didn't. Don't you remember her comments about inheriting genes? She always says nobody got anything from her, she's still got it all! Now, where was I?"

  "Okay, okay. I know when I'm losing the debate. Besides, we aren't out of the woods yet. There's still college to get through. I hope Missy will go to a state school so she can be at home, at least on weekends."

  "Might know you'd just go on to the next batch of problems. You're about the most dedicated worrier I know. Cut it out and enjoy life as it comes, why don't you?"

  "Sure, I will, about the same time you retire from matchmaking."

  Connie wrinkled her nose. "That was a low blow. I'd better get you some dessert to go with your coffee and sweeten you up."

  * * *

  Cas heard the doorbell when Casey arrived but stayed in the den, looking over some papers he had brought home with him. He heard voices coming toward the den. He laid aside the fax sheets Harlan had sent him and looked up.

  "Dad, Casey's here!"

  "Hi, son." Cas extended his hand and smiled. "You look a lot better than you did last time I saw you."

  "Yes, sir. I feel a lot better, too," Casey grinned. "It's a pretty safe bet now I'm going to live."

  Casey glanced at the papers. "I'll tell my mom she was right to vote for you, you even bring work home with you." He picked up the sheaf of papers.

  "Now, how do you know that isn't classified, top secret and all that?" Cas stopped abruptly when he saw the expression change on Casey's face. "What is it?"

  Casey stared at the fax of the three brothers from Marble County. "This is the man who came to the meeting I told you about. The one who gave us the goat head."

  "Which one?" Cas took the paper.

  "This one. It's a little dark but I'm sure that's the man. Is he in some kind of trouble?"

  "He's in and out of trouble a lot, according to the Marble County Sheriff. He faxed me the picture along with some other information I needed from him. Are you positive that's the man?"

  "I think so. If it's not, he sure did look an awful lot like him. But, I'm pretty sure that's him all right. Darrell didn't tell us his name. I don't know if anyone else heard what it was or not. Should I ask?"

  "No. Don't do anything. Or say anything. I know who they are. Don't tell anyone anything about seeing this picture. We're on watch now in case any of them show up around here again."

  "Okay." Casey looked toward the door of the den. "Missy's ready to go."

  "Curfew is eleven or eleven-thirty at the latest."

  "Good deal!" Casey grinned, "Missy's mom told us eleven o'clock."

  "She did, hmm? Maybe I'd better just go with you!" Cas pretended to get up.

  "Come on, Casey!" Missy took the hand Casey held out and ran with him to the front door, Cas's laughter following them.

  Cas picked up the fax of the three brothers and studied the face of the generous citizen who had donated the club a goat's head. Somebody else's goat's head.

  * * *

  Earl Norton had grudgingly given Cas directions to find his way to their trailer. Cas left a little early to give himself time to look for it. Following the directions Norton gave him brought him to the eastern edge of town. It wasn't far from the box manufacturing plant where Earl Norton worked.

  He found the trailer and was surprised to see it was neat and well cared for. Flowers bloomed around the foundation and the lawn was neatly cut. He'd had a different picture in mind after talking to Sid, and his brief phone conversation with Earl.

  Mrs. Norton opened the door for him when he knocked.

  As he came in, Earl stood up and nudged Sid who stood up too but slowly, as if to let Cas know it wasn't his idea to show any respect.

  "Would you like some coffee, Sheriff Larkin?" Mrs. Norton asked him.

  Cas smiled and refused, nodding to Earl.

  Without speaking, Earl indicated a chair. They sat, waiting for Cas to tell them why he had come.

  Cas explained he was questioning everyone who knew Denise Davis. He had a list of questions on a clipboard he laid on his lap as he spoke.

  Sid answered his questions if not cheerfully, at least readily.

  Earl Norton and his wife watched and listened.

  "Where were you the night Denise Davis was killed?"

  The question took Sid by surprise. He hesitated, giving Cas a dark look.

  "You don't think he done that, do you?" Earl was hostile now, and Mrs. Norton was shocked.

  "Who did it is a thing we haven't learned yet. This is one of the questions I'm asking everyone who knew her. Knew Denise," Cas explained.

  "I was at the picture show. Me and Todd Kelly went. We didn't know nothin' about it till the next day."

  "Anything," Mrs. Norton said absently correcting Sid.

  "Todd Kelly told me the same thing, but I had to hear it from you for the record. Do you know of anyone who had any reason to do her any harm, or was mad at her for any reason, no matter how farfetched it seems?"

  "No." Sid answered slowly, becoming wary as well as resentful.

  "Are you still a member of that club that Darrell Spruce started?"

  "Why do you want to know? It hasn't got anything to do with Denise."

  "Denise went to some of the meetings. Do you remember seeing her there?"

  Sid reluctantly nodded his head, wary eyes still on Cas. "Yeah, I saw her once or twice."

  "And you and Todd are officers in that club."

  "What difference does it make?"

  "Just answer the question." Cas didn't smile.

  "Yeah. Me and Todd went."

  "And you are officers. They call you 'punishers'. Is that right?"

  Earl Norton began to look suspiciously at Sid.

  "Isn't that right?" Cas repeated.

  "Yeah, I guess so," Sid muttered, studying the floor.

  "And what is it you do? Why are you called 'punishers' by Darrell and the members?"

  Sid seemed to shrink a little as he looked apprehensively at his father. Earl Norton was big enough to take him down a notch or two, and was beginning to look as if he might do it.

  "What is all this punisher stuff," Earl Norton broke in. He directed the question to his son, demanding an answer.

  Sid sat sullen and silent.

  "Do you know, sheriff?" Mrs. Norton asked softly, as if hoping he didn't.

  "They enforced the code of silence. Anyone who did anything Darrell didn't approve of, or if they spoke out of turn, Darrell had them punished for it."

  "What did they do? I know there was something, for you to be here asking that." Earl turned his attention to Cas.

  "They beat up one of the studen
ts. Pretty bad. He was out of school a couple of days because of it. He wouldn't tell me who did it, but in the course of the investigation we found out about it. Todd owned up to it. He's dropped out of the club and taken the chance he has to get himself back on the right track."

  Cas looked at Sid until he met his eyes. "The boy you beat up is not pressing charges and I'm giving you the same chance I gave Todd to put this behind you and get out of trouble. You can take it, or you can get in worse trouble and wind up in jail. It's up to you." A deep silence followed.

  "I think you better say something, boy!" Earl Norton leaned toward Sid.

  "All right. I won't go to any more meetings." Sid shrugged, "I, I don't know what I'll tell Darrell though."

  "You don't have to tell him anything." Mrs. Norton spoke up firmly.

  "His dad's only a judge, not God," she informed him. "You don't have to tell him anything at all. You don't owe him any explanation."

  Earl shot his wife an admiring glance. "Your ma's right. You don't have to tell him anything or explain anything. And I don't want you going to any more of those meetings. You keep your word. You hear me?"

  "Yes."

  "Yes what?" His parents looked at him in stony silence, united and determined.

  "Yes, sir. I won't go to any more of the meetings."

  Sid was not happy, but Cas was sure he was in good hands. His mother and father would see that he stayed out of trouble. It was a relief that felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders as he got up to leave.

  Earl Norton walked him to his car in a gesture that showed the gratitude he felt, but had trouble putting into words. Glad to have the chance to stop Sid from getting into deeper trouble.

  Cas gave him one of his cards and thanked him for his cooperation, glad to have averted any further trouble with Sid.

  * * *

  "Hi," Lisa Randolph greeted Connie, Monday morning. "I'll help you get set up."

  "Thanks, is that what you need on the desk there?"

  "That's the correspondence. Here's a list of addresses for the box of envelopes. Let me know if you need more. The list is pretty long. And I want to talk to you before you get started."

  "All right." Curious, Connie sat in the typing chair and turned around to face Lisa's desk.