Killing the Secret

by Donna Welch Jones

  She didn’t respond. Soon she was within four yards of them.

  “You’ve got some nerve coming here after what you caused,” bullied an obese bearded man.”

  Lexie kept moving. Behind her she heard a familiar voice respond to her tormenters.

  “I don’t think Abbey would want you making a scene at her funeral. Do you?”

  The first heckler shrugged his shoulders and walked faster toward the church. The others followed.

  Lexie stopped so Red could catch up.

  “Got some mean people here at this funeral. I’m thinking you need a sheriff escort,” Red said as a smile formed on his face.

  Lexie looked up at him. “Maybe I should nominate you for the good Samaritan award.”

  “Probably so,” he agreed. “But I’m going to desert you to sit at the front. Gary asked me to be one of the pallbearers.”

  “He’s likely to fire you if he sees you with me.”

  The pair separated at the back door. Lexie went behind the church stage and climbed to the platform behind the baptistery. Above the congregation, she could watch without being seen.

  Clay apparently thought a sexy woman in her twenties was a suspect. She was the only person he seemed to be investigating.

  Tye was at the back of the church searching faces as people filed into the church.

  Lexie wasn’t sure what she was looking for—someone who cried too much, or too little? Even a small slip-up by the killer might give them a clue.

  The pews were full. People stood at the back of the church and overflowed into the balcony. Where would I sit if I were the murderer? I’d probably sit in the balcony so I could see it all without being part of it. Of course, in this case, the logic didn’t seem to apply since there was such a crowd.

  Jamie was the first person Lexie recognized as she visually scanned the balcony area. Jamie was seated alone and wore a large-brimmed black hat, no doubt a new fashion accessory. But Lexie wondered if she was hiding something.

  All the Diffee farmers congregated at the top.

  Lexie looked laboriously at each head searching for a wig or a toupee, but she didn’t see any. Row after row of sad faces was all that she saw. There was no hint of a murderer among them.

  Mariah said she’d come, but none of the faces resembled the girl from twenty years before. Lexie was irritated at this discovery. Now a trip to Washington was necessary.

  Loretta was gasping. Her sobs seemed to be hampering her breathing. Beth’s head was glued to her husband’s shoulder. He kept an arm securely around her.

  Glancing at Jamie periodically, Lexie saw her sitting like a statue. A tissue was never visible near her face.

  At the end of the service, the ushers opened the casket. Abbey was dressed in pink. Her short curly hair had been pulled back from her face.

  Megan and Travis cried out, “Mama, Mama!”

  Baby Nicky was in his Grandpa’s arms. His small face was drawn up in anticipation of his tears. He looked dazed and clearly didn’t understand what was happening.

  Gary leaned over the casket and kissed his wife for the last time.

  The horror of the moment was second only to the murder of her father. Lexie couldn’t will herself to be tough any longer. Tremors disrupted her body and soft sobs escaped from her mouth. For twenty minutes, she stayed in her perch waiting to regain control.

  When she finally was ready to leave, she went out the back door and circled wide around the parking lot. The thought of facing any of Abbey’s family was unbearable.

  Delia met her at the office door and gave her a hug. She left without a word.

  Maybe she doesn’t hate me after all. Lexie sunk into her work, forcing her emotions to the background. She prepared her questions for the three possible victims then arranged a table and chairs for the meeting.

  Close to three, Beth, Loretta, and Jamie entered together. Soon after, Tye arrived.

  They all sat around the table stone-faced waiting for Lexie to begin.

  “So what we have are four of your former team members dead. Two clearly murdered, the third an apparent suicide, and the fourth a mercy killing. If someone is trying to murder your entire team, surely one of you can tell me why.”

  “I’ve tried to remember something we did to provoke a killer,” Beth volunteered.

  “Probably, some jealous fool,” Loretta answered. “Everyone wanted to be us back then.”

  “Name names, Loretta. Who was jealous?” Tye probed.

  “I don’t have names. I just know.”

  Lexie continued, “Did any of you get threatening notes?”

  Each of the three shook her head no.

  “Anyone kicked off your team?”

  Again they each looked at Lexie and responded with a negative headshake.

  “Was there a guy or girl who seemed obsessive about any of you?”

  Jamie finally contributed, “Ronald was fixated on Terri.”

  “He’s still in jail. He couldn’t have killed Heather or Abbey,” Tye responded. “Anyone else?”

  “About every guy in the senior class wanted Heather.” Beth smiled shakily.

  “And me,” Loretta injected. “However, none of them came after me with a poison needle.”

  Lexie raised her eyebrows. “Was there an opposing team that was particularly vicious toward you?”

  “We were the best in the state. They all wanted to beat us.” Jamie rubbed her neck. “No one ever threatened us to our faces.”

  Lexie looked at each of them in succession, purposely staring into their eyes. “I can’t imagine that someone hates you enough to want to murder you, and yet you have no idea of why. What happened that you’re not telling me?”

  “I don’t like being called a liar. We didn’t have any secrets worth killing for,” Loretta’s voice lingered two octaves above normal.

  “I don’t think I’d forget something that might cost me my life,” Jamie added. “I’m really not that stupid.”

  Lexie ignored their protests. “What I hear you saying is there’s no one outside your team who wanted to kill you. What about one of your own? What do you know about each other? About your coaches? About the junior varsity players?”

  “This is ridiculous!” Jamie exploded. “You’re just pulling crap out of the air looking for someone to pin Abbey’s murder on to cover your guilt. I’ve had enough of your game. I’m going home. It’s been a tough day.”

  “I’m with her,” Loretta massaged her forehead. “My head hurts from all this chatter.”

  They pushed their chairs back and stood up as if they were a synchronized rebellion team.

  Beth lagged behind the others and said, “Sorry, I’m no help.”

  “I hope your memories improve before the next one of you dies.” Lexie growled the words to their backs as they exited the office.

  “They’re lying,” Lexie said as soon as the door slammed.

  Tye shook his head. “You think we got three people trying to cover up for someone who’s trying to murder them. That doesn’t make any sense.”

  “You’re right. It’s not logical, but that’s what’s happening. Did you see anything suspicious at the funeral?”

  “Not really. Fifteen people from my graduating class. None of them acted strangely. Clay told me he didn’t see anything either. And you?”

  “The only thing I saw out of character was Jamie wearing a black hat and sitting alone in the balcony. She didn’t use a tissue during the ceremony.” Lexie braced for his reaction.

  “You really are pulling things out of your ass. Don’t even imply that Jamie killed Abbey.”

  “Don’t be so touchy, Tye. As far as I’m concerned everyone is guilty until proven innocent. That includes your girlfriend.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Tye fingered the college basketball schedule then wadded it up in one hand and made a free throw toward the trashcan. Delia and Lexie went home at seven and Clay was on patrol. He stopped at the window before retrieving h
is misguided shot and tossed it on the top of his desk. Pole lights and “Closed” signs flickered, confirming that Diffee was locked down for the night.

  He walked back to his desk and picked up the phone. It rang several times before he heard the familiar, “Hello?”

  “Can I come over tonight, Jamie?”

  “I guess, as long as we don’t talk about your belligerent sister.”

  “She was just trying to do her job,” Tye defended.

  “Well, she needs to adjust her attitude.”

  “Is ten okay?”

  “Yes,” Jamie ended the conversation.

  There was plenty of time so he drove his truck along the curvy road to Mud Creek. With flashlight in hand, he got out of the truck and illuminated the area. He wanted the gentle breeze to bring him a message, a sign of who’d been in the woods with Abbey. There was no hint, only his overpowering sense of ineptness.

  Driving back toward town, he thought of how short life seemed. Maybe he should marry Jamie and have a family. He hadn’t asked her before because he was sure the answer would be “no” with a “don’t smother me” clause attached. She liked the sex but wasn’t into hugs. Jamie was a tough woman—perhaps not mother material.

  The door was unlocked when he arrived. He heard the shower running. Undressing quickly, he climbed into her bed. He made a mental note to berate her about leaving her door open when a murderer might drop by at any moment.

  The light from the bathroom shone behind her naked body as she came toward him. Neither spoke as she crawled in beside him and started kissing his neck passionately. After thirty minutes, they lay breathless and sweaty beside each other.

  “I’m surprised you came over tonight,” Jamie said, “what with all the drama at the sheriff’s office.”

  “That’s why I wanted to be with you.”

  “Oh, am I your tension reliever?”

  “You can make me forget anything.”

  “Well, I’m a powerful woman,” Jamie sighed.

  Tye rolled over and kissed her hard on the lips.

  “What was that for?”

  “I wanted to soften you up before I start preaching at you,” Tye said dryly. “Why the hell did you leave your front door unlocked? You know someone wants to kill you.”

  Jamie sat up. “I don’t believe that crap.”

  “So there is no secret?”

  She shrugged. “There’s plenty of secrets, but none of them worth killing for.”

  “I came upon an interesting coincidence.” Tye leaned against the headboard. His eyes focused on Jamie’s reaction.

  “What’s that?”

  “On the dates of Terri, Heather, and Tina’s murders, you were coaching ballgames out of town.”

  Jamie leaped out of bed as if it was on fire. “You come here and have sex with me then imply I’m a killer. You sonofabitch!”

  Tye retrieved his jeans from the floor and pulled them on. “I’m just stating a fact. You don’t need to get so riled up. You’re going to have to explain it at some point so you might as well deal with it now.”

  “So you insinuate I’m a murderer and that’s supposed to somehow benefit me? You must think I’m a fool.”

  “I don’t think any such thing. It just looks bad,” Tye cautioned.

  She didn’t respond but he heard the bathroom door slam, the lock click, and the shower come on. He got the message.

  He put on his shirt and headed out the front door being sure he locked it on his way out.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The sun had risen thirty minutes before but Lexie could barely discern it. Fog surrounded her car and it seemed to inhabit her head as well.

  Her father’s old saying, “I could kick myself,” came to mind. She knew she messed up when she interviewed Jamie, Loretta, and Beth together. It was a rookie error and she deserved to be kicked. She knew better than to allow them the power of numbers. Now she needed to interview each of them again, individually.

  First, she’d visit the other states where the murders occurred. Talking to the investigating officers about similarities and possible slip-ups might get her a Mode of Operation on the killer. The haze in her head cleared some by the time she found Tye with his brown-stained coffee cup in one hand staring at a wad of paper on his desk.

  He hadn’t shaved and the black stubble blended in with the dark circles under his eyes.

  “You okay?” Lexie asked.

  “Just couldn’t sleep last night.” He raised his cup to his lips.

  “Lot of that going around.” She rolled her chair to the other side of his desk to face him as she processed her thoughts out loud.

  “The murderer killed three women who lived out of state. Mariah should’ve been next. He could’ve killed the first four and it’s unlikely anyone would’ve realized they were connected. Unfortunately, Abbey found out they all died within a short period of time. My theory is that he killed Abbey out of sequence, because he wanted to shut her up.”

  “So whoever killed Abbey was someone she, or someone else, told her suspicions to,” Tye followed her logic.

  “Exactly. Mariah would’ve been next but Abbey screwed up his plan.”

  Tye nodded his agreement.

  Lexie pecked Gary’s number into the phone. “Gary, it’s Lexie. I need to know everyone Abbey told about the suspected murder plot.” Lexie forced herself to keep her words even, her voice calm. She hadn’t spoken to Gary since the night Abbey disappeared. Her heart beat like a drum in her chest.

  Gary answered laboriously, “Jamie, Beth, and Loretta when she met them about the deaths of the others. She tried to phone Mariah but talked to her assistant instead. The guy was rude and didn’t connect her with Mariah so Abbey phoned Mariah’s dad, Sean. What’s this about?”

  “We’re working on the theory that Abbey was killed because she interrupted the murderer’s plan. Did you tell anyone about this yourself?

  “No, I didn’t.”

  “Did your daughter or Abbey’s parents know her murder plot theory?”

  “No one was told that she didn’t think was in danger. Afraid people would think she was imagining things.”

  “Thanks, Gary.” Lexie paused, “We’ll keep looking until we find the bastard who did this.”

  “Phone me when you learn something.”

  “We will,” Lexie promised.

  Tye reached for his pen. “Who we got?”

  “Loretta, Jamie, Beth, Mariah, Sean, Mariah’s assistant, and Gary to start the list.”

  “Probably the husbands of all the women. I can’t imagine they didn’t tell their spouses if they thought they were going to be murdered,” Tye concluded.

  “Beth’s husband is Darren Flanders. Sam Wells is Loretta’s husband. Our potential president is Donovan Toleson. At least we have a list of possibles.” Lexie was heartened by the small achievement.

  “Where from here?” Tye asked.

  “You’re going to hold the fort down while I check out the other murder sites and investigation reports. With any luck, I can get on a plane to DC this afternoon. I’ll meet with Johnson, visit with Ronald again, and then go interview Mariah.

  She pushed in Johnson’s number. “Stan, it’s Lexie Wolfe. I’m on my way to Washington and want to meet to go over Terri Womack’s case.”

  “It’s a waste of your time…except for seeing me.” Johnson’s voice was seductive.

  “I can change your mind about that. Also, where’s Ronald? I need to talk to him.”

  “Now I’m curious,” Johnson said. “Let’s meet at the jail at five this afternoon. You can fill me in and then we can go see Ronald. Where are you staying?”

  “I don’t have a reservation yet. It was a quick decision to make the trip.”

  “It wouldn’t be very hospitable of me not to offer a fellow law enforcer a bed for the night.”

  “Well…thanks. What’s the jail address?”

  “1458 NE Hickory.”

  Tye’s words were shooting out o
f his mouth before she hung up the phone. “Is pretty-boy Stan going to fix you up?”

  “He’s arranging for me to meet with him and Ronald.” Lexie ignored his innuendo. Her personal life was none of his business. “I’m going home to get packed. My plane leaves Tulsa around noon. If you need me, call my cell.”

  He shrugged, “I can manage.”

  Lexie didn’t know if it was the escape from Diffee, or the prospect of seeing Stan again, that brought on her sudden exhilaration.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  The phone buzzed incessantly. Bud stood on the porch. His mind took no pleasure from the daffodils blooming in the garden or the sun sending rays across the lawn. He suppressed the urge to smash the phone to the floor. Finally, a meek voice said, “Hello?”

  “Beth, it’s me, Bud. I heard about Abbey’s death. Horrible!”

  “Yes, the hardest funeral I’ve ever been to,” Beth replied.

  “I can’t even imagine the pain this has caused her family. Have they found her murderer?”

  “No, but Delia told me that Lexie is going out of state to investigate the other murders for clues.”

  “I’d like to meet with you,” he urged. “Maybe together we can figure out what’s going on.”

  “No, I can’t,” Beth’s voice squeaked. “I don’t go anywhere without my husband. Lexie told me never to be alone. I can ask him to come with me on Saturday if that works for you.”

  “No, I have a schedule conflict. I just wanted to offer my condolences.”

  “Thank you,” Beth said. “See you soon.”

  “Yes,” Bud replied.

  Bud finished the bourbon in his glass then hurled it. Glass fragments glittered from the floor, the swing, and his shoes. His face contorted with contained rage. Now his time would be wasted with an eighth murder. That sheriff bitch had to die.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  The flight was long and late. Lexie worried about arriving past Stan’s appointed time. She rushed in the building only to find that he wasn’t there. When he did appear, he offered no explanation or apology.

  “Hi, Babe.” He gave her shoulder a squeeze.

  He was even better looking than Lexie remembered. The red shirt under his gray jacket was open at the neck showing a triangle of chest hair. The shoulder squeeze sent ripples through her body.