by Tonya Kappes
“What. Did. You. Do?” She cried out. “My baby!” A bloodcurdling scream started from her toes and whipped itself up into the ugliest cry I’d ever seem come out of a grown woman. I mean, I’ve seen hissy fits and this was a step way above that.
Just about that time, Nicki Swaggert waltzed in with her arms outstretched, giving Tammy Jo’s scream a run for its money.
“Mother! I’m taking you home.” The fakest sincerity dripped right on out of her, making me sick all over again but thankful for her interruption. Her manicured hands clasped to her chest as she fluttered her long lashes at me. She tossed her hair. She’d changed into a pale green suit that fit her like it was tailored. The color brought out the tan of her skin. “We will get Fifi all back to normal.”
There was still fire in Tammy Jo’s eyes. When Normal Pettleman came out of one of the offices, I knew he’d told her what happened between Rosco and Fifi. Eventually I knew I was going to have to come clean, but I have to say I was happy to see Nicki Swaggert whisk her mother out of there.
“If you think you’re getting another dime from me,” Tammy Jo’s words spit with fire, “You’ve got another thing coming.”
My ears perked up. There was something really strange going on between Tammy Jo and her daughter, as well as between Dottie and Nicki.
“Oh, Mama. We need to get you home to a good shower and I’ll bathe our sweet Fifi.” Nicki patted her mom’s arm and guided her out the door.
The police station was buzzing with chatter.
“I told you she didn’t do it?” Agnes nodded with satisfaction on her face. “And I’m not so certain this guy did it either.” She tapped her temple with the wrinkled pad of her finger. “He doesn’t have the brains to pull this off.”
“But Hank said there’s some evidence on Bobby Ray’s phone and I did find the watch in his toilet.” My lips pinched so they wouldn’t contort at the thought of exactly how I’d gotten the watch to come out of the commode.
Hank walked around the corner, coming face to face with me and Agnes.
“Mama, don’t be gossiping about anything with her.” He put his arm around Agnes.
“You’re his mother?” My jaw dropped.
“Yep. Can you believe it?” She rolled her eyes. “You better watch it. You can’t tell me who I can and can’t talk to around here. You’re not to big for a whoopin’.”
“Come on. I’ll let you talk to Bobby Ray.” Hank shook his head at his mom and I followed him back to the cell. “You know that I know you came here and talked to Tammy Jo.”
“I was cleaning,” I corrected him.
“No. You and my mom were in cahoots.” He wasn’t fooled.
“Being in cahoots is kinda fun.” I nudged him with my elbow. “You might want to try it sometime.”
“Maybe I will.” There was a flirtatious tone to his voice that stopped my thoughts. Was he flirting with me? He pointed to a couple of different little boxes on the wall. “Those are video cameras. We keep them on, all the time.”
“Ohhhhh,” I dragged it out. “Then if you knew I was talking to her, why didn’t you stop me?”
“Mae West,” he let out a long sigh, turned around at the threshold of the door of the holding room. “Somehow you get people to tell you things. I haven’t figured it out. I’m not sure how you got her to trust you so much she let you take care of her prized dog.”
“You’re being nice to me now because you want me to talk to Bobby Ray and tell you.” I wasn’t stupid and Hank Sharp was being way too nice to me this time around. He wasn’t spouting about how I needed to stay out of his investigation like he’d done with Paul.
Since Paul’s death, I was almost embarrassed to admit that I’d been watching too many detective and mystery television shows at night.
“I’d like to know what the two of you talk about.” There was a glint in his eyes. He opened the door. The sounds of Bobby Ray Bond whistling a happy tune sounded like a song bird chirping in the early morning dawn.
“May-bell-ine, I knew you’d come.” He gripped the bars of the holding cell and stuck his chin and nose through them.
“If you can get him to stop that whistling, there might be a bonus tin of coffee on your camper doorstep in the morning,” Hank whispered as I passed him on the way into the holding room.
“Can we please have a few minutes alone?” I ignored Hank’s request and gave him a cold hard stare.
“Sure.” He backed out of the room, shutting the door behind him.
“You’ve got to know I didn’t do this.” There was sharp tone in his voice. Long gone was the happy whistling. “That girl gave me that watch.”
“First things first.” I was taken back that he admitted he’d had possession of the watch. I’d hoped someone had planted it in his bungalow toilet. “How on earth did you get hooked up with Camille?”
He’d obviously left out that part out of his story when he showed up at the beach on the lake that morning.
“You’ve got to believe me when I tell you that I was just walking here, minding my own business, when she pulled her car to the side of the road. She jumped out and asked if I needed a ride. I told her where I was going and she said that she knew the place.” He gave a sturdy nod.
“You’re telling me that Camille Braun was driving along the road and gave you a ride along with the watch?” I asked.
“Not exactly. She said that she needed a favor. She needed me to help pull weeds in this garden because the person that did work in the garden had a hurt back. Since I was looking for work and on my way to come see you, I figured a day’s work wouldn’t hurt.” Bobby Ray was never one to turn down work or a good day’s wage. So this didn’t strike me as strange.
The only thing strange here was the fact it just so happened to be Camille, with the watch, and she was dead.
“How did you get the watch?” I asked.
“I did pull the weeds and went into the big house to get me drink. That watch was on the mantle and Camille caught me looking at it.” He shrugged. “After that I went back to the kitchen and finished getting my drink. She made me a sandwich. By that time it was night and she told me I could stay in the guest house on the property.”
“There’s a guest house?” I wondered if Hank had been there. Of course he had, I waved off the silly question. He was the detective after all.
“Yeah. She took me there and said she’d drop me off at the campground the next morning.” He rubbed his head. “I fell right to sleep. It was nice having a bed to sleep in after I’d walked all this way.”
“Please, Bobby Ray, just stick with the story. Then what happened?” I asked knowing I had to keep him on track. He was the type of person that made a story way longer than it needed to be.
“I’m getting there, May-bell-ine.” His chest heaved a deep breath. “The next day she came and got me like she said. She said that she didn’t have any money at the moment but gave me the pocket watch to hold for her for a few days. I asked her why. She said that she needed to keep it safe for a few days and when she came to get it from me, she’d pay me in cash.” His brows furrowed and the lines in his forehead deepened.
“Your taking the watch was the favor?” I asked, though I wanted a confirmation.
“Yep.”
“Why did you flush it?” I asked.
“You know when you passed me at the recreation center when I was getting my paper?” he asked and I nodded. “I took my time walking back to the bungalow because it was such a nice morning. When I got back, I fixed me a cup of coffee and sat down to read the paper and look through the jobs section. That darn watch and the headline that it was stolen was on the front page. It said that Camille was killed. I swear I didn’t kill that woman. I was at the campground,” he started to plead his case.
“Why did you flush the watch?” It was typical to need to continue to keep Bobby Ray on subject.
“I don’t know what on earth it was all about, but all I know is what I’ve told you. I didn�
�t want to get no one in no trouble. I had to get rid of the watch. Although I read it was worth millions, I didn’t care. I can’t afford to get in no more trouble.”
“It’s not just theft. It’s murder. They think you murdered Camille for the watch now that you have admitted you worked there.” I stopped dead in my thoughts. “You said you went into the house and looked at the watch on the mantle. Right?”
“Yep.” He pushed off the bars and paced inside.
“Did you have muddy feet?” I asked.
“Probably. I was pulling weeds. I’m telling you that I didn’t kill no one.” He continued to talk and talk in his Bobby Ray way, as incomplete thoughts swirled in my head.
“I’ll be back.” I turned on the balls of my feet.
“May-bell-ine, where are you going? Don’t leave me here!” I heard him yell as I walked down the hallway to find Hank Sharp.
The police station was buzzing. The chatter was about the local television news stations outside waiting for a news conference. It looked like Hank Sharp was about to make a statement because Agnes, like a true mom, was brushing off the shoulders of his suit coat. They put a smile on my face. Hank looked over at me.
“Can I see you for a second?” I asked and gestured to a corner in the room where no one was standing.
He thanked his mother and walked over to me.
“Did I hear something about news crew?” I asked.
“Ava Cox called the media to let them know Tammy Jo Bentley was wrongly accused. She’s trying to save Tammy Jo’s position in the KAA. She also let them know the watch was found with a drifter.” His jaw tensed as his eyes darted around the room. “The mayor called, and she said I have to make a statement. Apparently, the thought of a random person walking around stealing and killing people is hurting the economy.”
“I’ve not had the pleasure to meet the mayor, but I don’t think you can go out there and tell the public you have the killer.” It was true. I hadn’t met Courtney MacKenzie, though I’d heard she was pretty by the book and if she wanted something done, I’m not sure Hank would go against her.
No matter what it looked like and the evidence against Bobby Ray, I knew in my gut that he didn’t do it.
“Let me guess,” Hank sighed and brushed his hand through his hair. “He told you he didn’t do it.”
In the background, someone called Hank’s name because it was time.
“I know him. Besides, he was at the campground when she was killed. I seen him earlier that morning when I went to pick up Ty Randal from the airport.” My jaw dropped. I even shocked myself remembering that Bobby didn’t have a car, though he could’ve gotten a ride. Still, I knew he didn’t do it.
“Don’t you know that I know he’s got a pretty solid alibi if he’s telling the truth,” Hank said through his gritted teeth. “I’m going to look into what he told me, but until then he’s staying in there.”
I looked over when the room went silent. You know a room gets really quiet when a person of power walks in? Well, that’s what happened when a woman with shoulder length auburn hair and a sprinkle of freckles dotting her nose walked in.
Normally, I’d say redheads couldn’t wear a red pantsuit, but this one could and did it well.
“I don’t have time for this right now.” Hank put both hands out to me when he noticed her.
“You need to make time or you’re going to regret it.” So my words sounded like a threat and by the look on his face, I could see he took it as that. Then the words he’d told me so many times before came out in a rush.
“It was a mistake to tell you anything about this case.” He grabbed a folder off the desk next to us. Our little corner was no longer out of sight. His actions told me in no certain terms what he thought of my comment and my involvement in the investigation. A vein popped out in his temple that I’d never noticed. “You need to leave and go back to your campground. Do your job and I’ll do mine.”
“Detective?” Mayor MacKenzie put her hands in the front pockets of that red pantsuit. “Now.”
Hank gave me a final hard look before he went to join the Mayor. I stayed still until the door of the department shut, leaving me and Agnes inside alone.
“That woman sends chills up my spine every time I see her.” Agnes’s voice cracked.
“Someone around here likes her since they voted her in.” I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. “Too bad Hank won’t listen to me. I’m telling you Bobby Ray didn’t kill Camille.”
“Honey, I don’t know anything about cases, but I do know that something stinks about all of this.” She wrinkled her nose.
A text from Abby Fawn chirped on my phone. I’d completely forgotten about The Laundry Club book club meeting. She wanted to know if I was coming. I quickly texted her back that I was on my way.
SIXTEEN
Agnes had showed me the back door of the police station. The last thing I needed was to walk out the front door of the police station in front of all of the cameras out there. They’d spent months following me around after what happened to me after Paul went to jail and then was murdered.
The news media was so focused on Hank Sharp at the podium, they didn’t even notice my little Ford drive behind them. Hank did. His eyes caught mine, he briefly stopped talking into the microphone before talking a big gulp and continuing.
I hated to do it, but I did. I made a call to Ava Cox on my way over to the book club meeting.
“Hello, Mae,” Ava greeted me with a monotone voice. “The way I figure it, we are done with our little business now that my client has been taken off the suspect list. I would like to thank you on behalf. . .”
“Drop it. I’m not calling about Fifi or any thank yous. I’m calling because I need you to go get my friend Bobby Ray Bond out of jail.” I heard a pause then a deep inhale on her end. Before I let her protest, because I could tell she was revving up to that it, I continued, “You and I both know that you owe me since I took in Fifi when I really didn’t have to.”
My words were met with a bit of awkward silence. It seemed we were both waiting for the other to cave.
“How am I going to get him out when he was caught with the watch?” At least she didn’t say no or hang up.
“He has an alibi. He’s a longtime friend of mine and he’s staying at Happy Trails. He doesn’t have a car and before I left the campground the morning of Camille’s death, he was with Henry, my maintenance man. They’ve barely been apart since Bobby Ray came to town.” I knew it was a long shot for her to take it, so I continued to ramble on about what Bobby had told me. “I think that Camille was in some trouble.”
I also told her about the conversation I’d heard between Camille and the gardener.
“I think she and the gardener had some sort of plan to take the watch and run. When Bobby Ray seen it on the mantle, I think it gave her the idea to plant it on him and say it was stolen by this random guy she hired to do some yard work. Maybe Tammy Jo would give her some reward money or even change her will or something.” Then I thought of pretty, pretty princess Nicki. “But we can’t forget Nicki.”
I pulled up in front of The Laundry Club and parked. Downtown was empty. Maybe Mayor MacKenzie was right. This murder wasn’t good for the community. My stomach dropped at the thought of having to start rebuilding and marketing the campground again if tourists were too scared to come.
“What about her?” Ava didn’t like me asking about her.
“When I went to Tammy Jo’s to get my check, the front door was cracked open and I found her on the deck with two wines glasses. One was hers and one was Nicki’s.” I could see that distinctive orange lipstick right now. “Don’t try to convince me Nicki wasn’t there to see her mom. Tammy Jo already told me, but why has Nicki come home all of the sudden? When she picked her mom up at the jail, I heard Tammy Jo tell Nicki that she wasn’t giving Nicki a dime.”
“Oh, dear,” Ava sighed. “They don’t have the best relationship. Nicki was at the house during the time
of the murder and we were actually going to have a new will reading later that day. That’s why she is in town.”
“Did Tammy Jo put her in the will?” I asked.
“Not that I should tell you, but Tammy Jo left all her money to Fifi and the long line of breeding that Fifi will leave behind. She’s set up an entire committee of people.” Ava continued to tell me how she tried to tell Tammy Jo that wasn’t a normal thing to do, but my attention was focused on Ethel Biddle as she locked the door of The Smelly Dog. Rosco the pug was attached to a leash that was around Ethel’s wrist.
“Listen, Ava. I’ve got to go, but please get him released. I’ll go pick him up and I’ll pay you.” I ended the call after she gave a reluctant yes. “Ethel!” I waved and called to her across the street as she started to walk away from the shop.
She waited as I darted across the street, the median, and the other one-way street.
“I wanted to…” I started to say, but stopped when Rosco smelled my shoes and let out a few grunts. Bad memories of him rolled around in my head.
“There’s no need to thank me. Me and the band love to do little gigs. Keeps me busy.” She tugged Rosco a little bit for him to move away from my feet, but he pushed back. His sturdy legs were in a stance and he wasn’t budging.
“I wasn’t going to say that. I was going to ask you about Fifi,” I started to talk again, but she interrupted, again.
“I can’t help that she flaunted herself in front of my Rosco.” Ethel bent down and rubbed Rosco’s back. She pulled a treat from her pocket and gave it to him.
“Nope. I wasn’t even going to bring that up. I was going to ask you about Fifi’s hair appointment. I understand the two of you had an argument about Fifi’s tail ball that you cut off.” I watched as she slowly stood up. There was a smack of bitterness on her face.
“One minute she wants a puff, the next minute she doesn’t. That particular day, she didn’t. She went on and on about how the Kentucky Kennel Association was coming to her house and she wanted Fifi streamlined across the back and up to the tail. The only puffs were on the legs and on her head.” Ahem, Ethel cleared her voice and straightened her shoulders while she tightened the leash by rolling it around her hand a couple of times. “As I told Hank Sharp, she left the shop with directions to shave it and her signature on them. By the time she got home, she had changed her mind, but I’d already started clipping Fifi. I didn’t stop to answer the phone and let my voicemail pick up. When she got there, she went nuts on me and how I didn’t know how to listen to the client. I showed her the directions with her signature. She insisted she called me in time to change it, but I didn’t even get my messages until that night.”