“Drew killed Dr. Rumdab?” Tracy asked. “But you were out in the woods with him that night. With the doctor. We found your hair.”
“I was there, but I didn’t kill anyone,” said Audra. “Drew set the whole thing up. He said he was doing it for me!”
“I get it,” I said. “You told Drew about your belief that Rumdab killed your mom.”
“You know about that? How?”
“Never mind how,” I said. “Tell us about what happened that night.”
“Oh, God! I hate Drew, I hate him! Where is he anyway?”
“I’m right here,” said a voice from the doorway. I hadn’t even heard him riding back into town. “I caught the pack mule. Looks like I got back to town just in time to hear you blab your mouth, Audra.”
I turned to face him; so did Tracy and Audra. Betsy and Walter and Hester stood up and turned to look at the boy in the doorway. He was wearing his revolver in a gun belt strapped to his waist. His hand was dangling dangerously close to the gun’s handle.
“Throw that pistol of yours on the floor,” Drew told me. His eyes looked crazy.
I shook my head. “No. My gun stays where it is. Give yourself up Drew. I don’t know if you killed Rumdab or not, but you’re going back to the ranch with us. We all need to talk to the sheriff.”
Drew jerked out his gun and fired from the hip. My hat flew off. I pulled my pistol from my belt, thumbed off the safety, and fired off a wild shot. Drew fired again. I felt something tug at my shirtsleeve. I aimed for his ribs, hoping to put him down but not kill him, and pulled the trigger. He dropped his gun and clutched his side. We were only fifteen feet apart. It took me four strides to reach him and I clouted him on the side of the head with my pistol. The kid decided to take a nap and fell to the floor. A cloud of dust rose up. I could hear the mule outside braying.
“Are you all right?” Tracy was at my side, fussing with my arm. There was some blood coming out of it, but not a lot. “Why do you always have to go and get shot?”
“I like donating blood. I’m very public spirited.”
I turned to look at the others. They were all making noise, but none of them had been hit by Drew’s bullets. That was a relief.
“Take off your belt,” said Tracy. “I’ll make a tourniquet.”
“It’s not that bad,” I said, inspecting the damage. “The bullet just nicked a vein, tore a little flesh off. Help me tie it up with something.”
Audra came forward and gave me her bandana and Tracy used it to bandage my arm.
“Let’s take a look at Drew,” I said.
Tracy and me knelt down by him. He was still knocked out. My bullet had hit him a little below the ribs on his right side. It was bleeding some, but the slug had gone straight through his baby fat without doing much harm.
“There’s a first aid kit on the mule,” said Audra. “Let me fetch it and we’ll get you both patched up proper.”
“Grab a canteen while you’re out there,” said Walter.
18
Twenty minutes later we were on the trail headed back to the grub house for a nice trout lunch. Audra had patched up Drew, though none too gently. He’d woken up and now complained of a headache. He had to keep one hand pressed to his bandage while we rode. I didn’t much feel sorry for him.
Walter took the lead, armed with Drew’s revolver and leading Drew’s horse. Audra had taken off the bridle and rigged up a lead rope. We didn’t want the kid killer to spur his cayuse and ride away from us. Drew came next, with me riding behind him, my pistol at the ready. The trail was wide enough that we didn’t have to ride single file. Betsy rode next to her husband, occasionally bursting into tears. Tracy rode on one side of me and Audra rode on my other side. Hester took up the last spot and ate our dust. I hoped it wouldn’t ruin her swell makeup. For once, she stayed quiet.
Tracy and me fired questions at Audra until we got answers. We got the whole ugly story out of her.
“It was awful,” Audra told us. “I don’t know why I ever told Drew that I knew Dr. Rumdab was the quack who’d killed my dear mother. I knew that Drew had a crush on me and I guess I was hoping for his sympathy. It made me so angry to have that doctor at the Carefree Buckaroo. But I wouldn’t have done anything to him. I barely even spoke to him.”
“You didn’t trick Rumdab into meeting you in the woods?” I asked.
“No, that was Drew’s idea. He saw that the doctor spent a lot of time looking at Betsy, so Drew made me write a note — he wanted to make sure it looked like it was written by a girl. The note asked the doctor to meet Betsy out in the woods. He must have really had it bad for her, otherwise he wouldn’t have dared going out in the woods at night, not with folks thinking that Brice had been murdered. Drew told me it was all just a joke, he was just going to scare the doc, for my sake. I don’t know why I let him talk me into it. There was something scary about him, and I didn’t dare say no. I should have gone to Mr. Breedlaw right then, I guess. Or maybe I liked the idea of giving the doctor a good scare.”
“Did Drew somehow steal Betsy’s earring?” asked Tracy.
“He found it. I didn’t even know about it until later. Drew made me go out in the woods with him. He said he wanted me to be part of the joke…and he kept telling me he loved me. I tried getting him to leave me alone, but he wouldn’t stop. I even asked Hawk to take him aside and give him a lecture, but Hawk was all show. He said he didn’t want to interfere in my business.”
“How did you get the note into Rumdab’s hands?” I asked.
“Drew gave it to him, saying Betsy had asked him to pass it along.”
“They never found that note,” Tracy said.
“I guess Drew took it after he killed Dr. Rumdab,” said Audra.
I’m sure Drew could hear us talking about him, but he didn’t let on. He hadn’t said more than two words since he’d come to in the church. He was being the stoic hero. I figured Fish was going to have some trouble getting Drew to confess.
“So,” said Tracy, “you went out into the forest with Drew and waited for the doc to show up. What happened then?”
“It was awful,” said Audra. “When the doctor saw us, he got mad and accused me and Drew of kidnapping him. Then, before I knew what was happening, Drew picked up a big rock and hit the doctor on the head with it.”
“You didn’t tell the doc about why you hated him?” I asked.
“I never had the chance once Drew picked up the rock. The doctor didn’t have a prayer. That’s when I ran off. I was afraid of Drew.”
“For good reason,” I said. “So, you ran off the trail and into the woods. We found some of your hair. We were able to match it when Tracy pulled that bubble gum trick on you.”
“And now they’ll think I’m the murderer,” said Audra. “I just wanted to get away! When I was gone, Drew must have put a noose around the doctor’s neck and strung him up. We all knew the stories about Jack the Roper, and we thought the Roper had killed Brice. I’m sure Drew thought he was being clever.”
Drew turned in his saddle and shouted at Audra.
“Shut up!” he told her. “Just shut up. If it wasn’t for your big mouth we would have gotten away with it.”
“Shut up yourself,” said Audra. “I didn’t have anything to do with the killing.”
“When you found out that Rumdab was dead,” I asked, “why didn’t you turn Drew over to the sheriff?”
“I was scared. Drew told me he had it all set up so that I’d get the blame for the killing. I had reasons for wanting Dr. Rumdab dead, and Drew had rubbed some of my perfume on a handkerchief and put it in the doctor’s pocket. Besides, I thought that if Drew got arrested and then got let loose for some reason, he’d come and kill me. I know I shouldn’t have helped him keep his secret, but I sure won’t keep it now.”
“I loved you, Audra,” Drew wailed over his shoulder. “Why can’t you love me too? Look what I did for you.”
Audra didn’t say anything. I couldn’t think of anyt
hing to say either. Murderers! You just can’t get along with them.
We finally hove into sight of the ranch buildings. We stopped at the barn and Sheepy came out to attend to our horses. He smelled like that damned horse liniment. He raised his eyebrows when he saw my bandaged arm and the blood on Drew’s shirt. He turned to Drew.
“What happened, son?” he asked the murderer.
“Nothing,” said Drew, with lots of venom. “None of your business, old man.”
“Why, you greenhorn whelp, what’s you been doing to our dudes?”
Audra got off her cayuse and took Sheepy to one side. She whispered something to him and she looked like she was going to turn on the water works again.
Sheepy spat in the dirt. “If that don’t beat all,” he said, to no one in particular.
The rest of us got off our horses and led them into the corral. Sheepy gave me a look.
“Drew’s a murderer, all right,” I told him. “I gather that’s what Audra was telling you about. She’s OK. She just got mixed up with the wrong buckaroo. It’s not her fault. Or, maybe it is. I’ve known dames that could twist a guy into pretzel shapes without even chipping their nail polish. Audra might have more to do with the murder than she’s pretending. Who knows? I think the sheriff ought to grill her.”
I went over to Drew. Walter was covering him with Drew’s revolver.
“Put that thing away,” I told Walter. “We’re not going to have any trouble.”
I hoped that was true. We all headed for the chuck house. Sheriff Fish’s car was parked out front. His deputy, Lathe, was with him. So was Breedlaw, frowning like a sad clown.
Drew stopped about half way to the sheriff.
“I ain’t going no further,” he said.
I stuck my pistol in his back. “You want another bullet in you?” I asked.
Drew grudgingly walked the last few yards to the grub house.
Walter seemed to have cheered up some. He was talking to Betsy about some new invention he was thinking of. A saddle with a water reservoir built in. Tracy had lost her cockiness. Audra hung her head like she was headed for the gas chamber. I didn’t think that would ever happen.
“What’s all this about?” Fish asked me, walking forward to meet us and casually resting his hand on his service revolver.
“Drew here killed the doctor,” I told Fish.
“That’s a lie!” said Drew. “Audra killed him.”
I took Fish by the arm and led him away a few feet so I could tell him what was going on.
“There’s a story behind all this,” I told him. “Dr. Rumdab was once Audra’s mom’s doctor. She died and Audra has always blamed him for it. She told Drew the story and he killed the doctor to show how much he loved Audra. Dumb kid. I think Audra just got dragged into the murder. My guess is that she’s innocent, but that’s for you to figure out. I think you can get Drew to talk if you make him mad. Tell him what a chump he is.”
“We’ll get him to talk, don’t worry,” Fish told me. “Looks like you’re a real detective after all. I appreciate what you’ve done for the county.”
“Never mind that. I screwed up. I thought Audra was the killer.”
“But you found the real one. Good job, dude.”
“Thanks. If you don’t mind, I’d like to take a whack at Drew when you question him. Some of these hard cases crack like eggs if you push them the right way.”
Fish narrowed his eyes at me.
“City tricks?” he said. “Rubber hoses and all that? We don’t do that up here.”
“I’m not talking about anything like that. I just want to have a little chat with Drew.”
“All right, but me and Lathe will be keeping an eye on you. We don’t get much of a chance to interrogate killers in this neck of the woods. Could be you know a thing or two that can help us.”
Breedlaw came over to us. So did Tracy.
“Are you really saying that Drew killed Dr. Rumdab?” Breedlaw asked Fish.
“Could be. We’ll soon be finding out.”
“I don’t think there’s any question,” I said. “Audra says he made her go along with the murder, but she may have turned the lad’s head and put some ideas into it.”
“It’s terrible,” said Tracy. “Drew tried to set Betsy up for the killing. But I think he also wanted to blame the murder on Jack the Roper.”
“That fellow’s dead,” said Fish. “Jack the Roper’s in the ground. I’m certain.”
“Fine,” I said. “This is some swell ranch you’ve got here.”
“We try to make it a friendly place,” whined Breedlaw. “Listen, I got a phone call to make.”
He started toward the chuck house.
“I’m going to need to borrow your pantry again,” Fish called after him. “No, come to think of it, we’ll need a bigger space. We’ll go out back to the picnic tables. I reckon you don’t mind if we tell your buckaroos to stay away.”
“Suit yourself,” said Breedlaw, turning to face the sheriff. “I’ll leave all this business to you.” He apparently changed his mind about going into the grub house and headed for the barn instead. Maybe he was thinking of drinking some of Sheepy’s horse liniment.
Walter and Betsy and Hester wandered off to their cabins, looking back over their shoulders every few yards to get their last look at an honest-to-God killer.
Fish, Lathe, me, and Tracy escorted Drew and Audra to the back of the chuck house. The sheriff turned to Tracy and took off his hat.
“Ma’am,” said Fish, and there was an apology in his voice, “I reckon we got some man’s work to do. Why don’t you go on back to your cabin.”
“No!” said Tracy. “I helped solve this case. I’m going to be part of the interrogation.”
“Well, maybe you can take notes for us. Do you know shorthand? And would you mind making some strong coffee for all of us?”
“She’s my partner,” I told Fish. “She’s not anybody’s little secretary. What’s wrong with letting her join us?”
Fish glared at me.
“No, sir. I’m still sheriff of this county and I’m doing things my way. Hatchett, you’re just lucky I’m letting you be a part of things.”
Tracy huffed like an angry bear. I hadn’t seen that gimlet gleam in her red eyes since she’d been a waitress at Rocko’s and some diner had complained about a fly in his coffee.
“Have it your way,” she told Fish, “but come election time, I’m going to be running against you.”
She turned, glared at me, and then stomped off toward our cabin.
Lathe had led Audra and Drew to a table on the back patio. He had his hand on his holstered gun. Panhandle was grilling trout. Sissy Dell was fussing with the picnic tables, setting out more food. They both gave the rest of us quizzical looks.
I went over to Panhandle.
“The killer of Rumdab is in custody,” I told him.
“Yeah? Who was it?”
“Your fellow buckaroo, Drew.”
“No kidding? What happened to your arm?”
“Me and Drew had an old-fashioned gun slinging contest. They used to call me Billy the Kid.”
“Naw. That’s what they used to call me.”
The trout was smelling good. I wandered over to the picnic tables. There were fried potatoes, a salad, some more damned Jell-O, and what looked like some kind of cobbler. I was getting hungry. I hoped we could wrap things up before lunchtime.
Fish chased away Panhandle and Sissy Dell
I sat down at the picnic table with the two coppers and the two suspects. It was nice and cozy. We could have started a card game. I made a suggestion to Fish.
“Don’t you think you should talk to these two separately?” I asked. “They might have different stories to tell.”
Fish pushed his hat up on his head and gave me a look that wasn’t entirely friendly.
“Well, you may not believe it, but me and Lathe have a few other things to do. Time matters to us. I know you’re a big city de
tective and all, but you ain’t running this investigation.”
“Do things your own way, by all means.”
“Thank you. Did you ever spend any time in New York City?”
“I used to date the Statue of Liberty. It didn’t work out.”
Fish made a sour face and focused his attention on his deputy.
“Lathe,” he said, “you’re taking notes.”
“Right, sheriff,” said Lathe. He had his notebook and pencil ready to go.
I glanced at Audra and Drew. The girl looked scared to death. The boy was working hard to look tough.
Fish gave Audra an encouraging smile.
“Young lady, we’ll start with you. Ladies first. Tell us what happened with you and Karl Rumdab.”
Audra blew out her breath. She looked like she’d rather be anyplace else.
“Well,” she began, in a tiny voice, “I knew Dr. Rumdab was coming to the Carefree Buckaroo. I saw his name on the reservations list. I could hardly believe it. He was the man who killed my mother.”
“How’s that?” Fish’s eyebrows jumped halfway up his forehead. “How’d he kill your mom?”
“He was my mom’s doctor. She got sick and Dr. Rumdab thought it was her kidneys. That’s what he told the surgeon, but it was actually my mom’s heart that was the problem. It killed her. I’d already lost my dad in the war. All of a sudden I was an orphan.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Fish. “What’d you do when you found out Dr. Rumdab was coming to the dude ranch?”
“Nothing. Oh, I thought of things I might do to him, but I’d have never done them. I’m not that way.”
Drew let out a snort and opened his mouth to say something. Fish held up a hand to stop him.
“You’ll get your turn to palaver, son,” Fish told Drew. “Right now I’m talking to the young lady.”
Drew clamped his mouth shut and glared at Audra.
“So you never planned on murdering the doctor?” Fish asked Audra.
“No. When he showed up, I just ignored him. Of course, he didn’t recognize me. He hadn’t seen me since I was a kid.”
Jack The Roper (Axel Hatchett Mystery Book 6) Page 16