“Tuck Tucker,” he said.
“Tuck, this is Wanda Nell,” she said, rushing her words. “I’m sorry to bother you so late at night, but I need to talk to TJ., and I don’t know where he is. I tried calling him at his grandmother’s, but nobody answered the phone, and I’m a little worried.” She came to a halt, almost out of breath.
“It’s okay,” Tuck said after a brief pause. “Actually, TJ.’s here with me, at my house. We worked right through dinner, and I figured the least I owed him was something decent to eat. Hold on a second, and I’ll hand him the phone.”
“Thanks,” Wanda Nell said.
TJ. spoke after a moment, sounding both irritated and frightened. “What’s wrong, Mama? Why are you calling Tuck so late at night?”
“It’s Miranda, honey. She was supposed to be home by ten o’clock, and here it is, nearly eleven, and I’m getting a little worried.”
“Now, Mama,” TJ. said, soothingly, “you know Miranda. She’s just out having a good time and forgot to pay attention to the clock. I bet she’ll be home any minute now, and you can fuss at her then.”
“Maybe,” Wanda Nell said, “but it just makes me nervous. I don’t like the idea of her being out so late when she’s got to go to work in the morning.”
“I know,” TJ. said, “but give her another half hour or so, Mama, and I bet she’ll be home. If you don’t hear from her by midnight, call me back and I’ll go out and look for her.” “Where will you be?” Wanda Nell asked. “Surely you’re not going to stay that late at Tuck’s house and leave your grandmother all by herself.”
TJ. didn’t say anything for a minute. “Actually, Mama,” he said hesitantly, “I was gonna spend the night here. I’m really tired, and we had a little wine with dinner, and I don’t feel like driving back to Granny’s. She’ll be okay one night on her own.”
“Well, I guess so,” Wanda Nell said slowly. There was something odd about TJ.’s voice, and she couldn’t quite put her finger on it Maybe he was just slightly drunk from the wine. She was about to say something to him when she realized a car had pulled into her driveway.
“Listen, honey, there’s Miranda now. I’ll talk to you later,” she said. She hung up the phone, forgetting all about TJ. Instead, she started telling herself to keep calm and not yell at Miranda and went to open the door.
Chapter 7
The next morning, Wanda Nell woke up with a headache. After she shut off the alarm clock, she lay there for a couple of minutes with her eyes shut, massaging her temples and forehead, hoping the pain would ease. That didn’t help much, so she went into the bathroom she shared with Juliet and found some aspirin.
Staring at herself in the bathroom mirror, she decided she looked hungover. Since she rarely ever drank these days and sure hadn’t lad night, that hardly seemed fair. She splashed her face with cold water, then brushed her hair. Feeling a little more human, and sensing the pain begin to recede, she went back to her bedroom and pulled her robe on over her nightgown.
In the kitchen, Juliet was spooning cereal into Lavon’s mouth. As soon as he spotted his grandmother, he started banging his hands on the tray of his high chair and crooning “Gamma.” Wanda Nell kissed his sticky face and ruffled his hair. They talked nonsense to each other for a moment while Juliet waited patiently with the spoon. She eyed her mother critically as Wanda Nell wiped some cereal from her cheek.
“You look terrible, Mama. Didn’t you sleep well?”
Wanda Nell poured herself some coffee and brought it to the table before answering. “Not too well, honey. Took me forever to get off to sleep last night.” She yawned.
“I guess so,” Juliet said. “The way you and Miranda were arguing last night, it’s a wonder the neighbors didn’t call the sheriff’s department.”
Wanda Nell grimaced. “Were we really that loud?”
Juliet laughed. “Maybe not that loud. But loud enough. I’m just glad Lavon didn’t wake up and start crying. You know he hates it when y’all argue.”
“I know, honey, I know.” Wanda Nell sipped at her coffee. “I told myself I wasn’t going to lose my temper with her, even though she was way over an hour late last night and didn’t have the decency to call and tell me she was okay.”
“ ‘And not lying dead on the side of the road somewhere,’ ” Juliet quoted, grinning at her mother.
“Very funny, missy,” Wanda Nell said sourly. “You just wait till you have kids, you’ll see.”
“My children will be perfect and never cause me a bit of trouble,” Juliet said loftily, then laughed.
“Uh-huh,” Wanda Nell said. “I hate to even ask this, but did Miranda get up and go to work?”
“She sure did,” Juliet said. She had such an innocent look on her face that Wanda Nell was immediately suspicious.
“How’d you get her up and out the door, or shouldn’t I ask?”
“I have my ways,” Juliet said, gazing blandly at her mother.
Wanda Nell regarded her for a moment, then shrugged.
“As long as she got up and went to work, it don’t matter, I guess.”
“Can I fix you some breakfast, Mama?”
“I’m not real hungry just yet,” Wanda Nell said. “I’ll fix me some toast or something in a while.” She drained the last of the coffee from her cup and got up for a refill. “What are you and Lavon going to do today?”
“Oh, we’re gonna play outside and build us a sand castle or two, and maybe we’ll watch a little Barney and have a bath and a nap at some point.” Juliet rubbed her nephew affectionately on the head. “Doesn’t that sound like fun, Lavon?’
Lavon agreed so enthusiastically that a few blobs of cereal that had been stuck on his hands went flying through the air. Laughing, Wanda Nell snatched up a paper towel and cleaned up the small mess he’d made.
“Sounds like a good plan to me,” Wanda Nell said, dropping the paper towel into the trash bin under the sink. “Y’all just be careful while you’re outside. Be on the lookout for snakes. TJ. did a good job with that little sandbox he made for Lavon, but you can never be too careful with snakes.” She shuddered.
“I know, Mama,” Juliet said. “Don’t worry.” She pulled Lavon from his high chair. “I’ll clean that up later, Mama, so don’t you bother with it I’m going to get Lavon dressed, and we’re going outside to play for a while.”
Lavon held out his arms for another hug from his grandmother before he’d let Juliet take him out of the kitchen. After a couple of hugs, Wanda Nell waved bye at him as Juliet carried him off.
She glanced at the clock. It was nearly nine. She resisted the impulse to call the Kountry Kitchen and check on how things were going. If there were any problems, Ovie would’ve called her before now.
She did need to call Tuck Tucker though. Lying awake last night, she’d thought back over the day and realized she’d forgotten to ask Tuck about something. She needed him to find out from the sheriff’s department when she and Agnes Vance would be able get into Fayetta’s house to retrieve the things Mrs. Vance needed for Fayetta’s kids. There had been so many distractions, it was a wonder she hadn’t forgotten more than that.
Thinking about Tuck also reminded her that she was real peeved with TJ. She didn’t like the idea of him leaving his grandmother alone at night like he’d done. She could understand him wanting a break from playing nursemaid and housekeeper, but as long as he’d agreed to live with his grandmother, he should stick to his part of the deal. They were going to have a little talk about that when he came to take her to the Kountry Kitchen.
Wanda Nell picked up the phone and called Tuck’s office. After one ring a cheerful voice answered, “Hamilton Tucker’s office. How may I help you?”
“Hey, Blanche, this is Wanda Nell.”
“Hey, girl, how’re you doing? You and that cousin of mine getting up to anything lately?” Blanche Tillman, Tuck’s secretary, was Mayrene Lancaster’s cousin. Mayrene had suggested Wanda Nell call Tuck’s office a couple of months ago
when TJ. had needed a lawyer. Since then, with TJ. working there, Wanda Nell had gotten to know Blanche quite a bit better.
“Mayrene’s busy with a new boyfriend,” Wanda Nell said. “She tell you about him?”
“No, she sure as heck didn’t,” Blanche said. “Come on now, tell me what you know.”
They gossiped amiably for a couple of minutes about Mayrene, with Blanche making a few jokes about Mayrene dating an undertaker. All of a sudden Blanche interrupted the flow of confidences. “I believe Mr. Tucker can speak with you now, Miz Culpepper.”
“He just walked in there, didn’t he?’ Wanda Nell almost laughed.
“Yes, that’s correct,” Blanche said primly. “I’ll transfer you to his private line.”
Wanda Nell heard a couple of rings on the line, then Tuck picked up.
“Morning, Wanda Nell,” he said. “What can I do for you this fine day?”
“You sure sound happy today,” she said, slightly disgruntled by the cheery tone of his voice.
“That’s because I am, I guess,” Tuck said, laughing. “Now, what can I do for you?”
Wanda Nell tried not to sound peevish when she responded. “I forgot to ask you about something last night When I talked to Agnes Vance yesterday, she asked me if I’d go with her to her daughter’s house. She needs to get the children’s things and some other stuff. Can you find out from the sheriff’s department when we might do that?”
“Sure thing,” Tuck said. “I’m heading over to the jail in a few minutes and I’ll talk to Deputy Johnson. I’ll see if y’all can’t go over there sometime tomorrow, but of course there’ll have to be someone from the department there with you.”
“Thanks, Tuck,” Wanda Nell said. “Tomorrow morning would be fine. Just let me know, and I’ll talk to Miz Vance.” Tuck told her to have a good day, and Wanda Nell wished him the same, then hung up the phone. “I guess if I was a rich lawyer, I’d wake up all chirpy like a bird every day, too.” She addressed her remark to the kitchen table, stared at it blankly for a moment, then got up to make herself some breakfast.
After finishing her toast and coffee, Wanda Nell started in on some of the household chores she hadn’t had time for the day before. She did several loads of laundry, mopped the kitchen floor, and was about to start in on the bathrooms when the phone rang. She picked up the receiver after removing her rubber gloves and dropping them in the sink.
“Wanda Nell, it’s Tuck.”
“What’s up?”
“Are you where you can come on down to the jail right now? Sorry for the short notice, but Melvin insists on talking to you, and I’ve got the okay from the sheriff’s department.”
Wanda Nell sighed into the phone. “Well, considering I look like I’ve been rode hard and put away wet after doing housework all morning, I need a little time to take a shower and get dressed.”
“That’s fine,” Tuck said hastily. “We’re not in that much of a hurry.”
“Good. One more thing, though,” Wanda Nell said.
“What’s that?”
“I don’t have a way to get there.” She explained the car situation.
“Don’t worry,” Tuck said. “TJ. can come get you. I know he was planning to come get you later anyway to take you to work. He can just come early.”
“That’s fine,” Wanda Nell replied. “Tell him to give me thirty minutes and I’ll be ready.”
“He’ll be there,” Tuck said, then rang off.
Wanda Nell put her cleaning supplies away. The bathrooms would just have to wait awhile longer. Miranda was supposed to have cleaned them a couple days ago, but Miranda and housework weren’t on real familiar terms most of the time.
A quick shower made her feel better. Wanda Nell washed her hair, wondering if it was time to get it cut She combed it out and let it dry as she dressed, then pinned it back out of her face. By the time TJ. knocked on the door, she was ready to go. She’d even had time to tell Juliet where she was going and to reassure herself that her daughter and grandson hadn’t found any snakes in the sandbox.
“You look nice, Mama,” TJ. said as he held open the passenger door of his truck for her.
“Thank you, honey,” she said. “You look real nice, too.” Since he’d come back to Tullahoma a couple months ago, TJ. had stopped dressing like a derelict cowboy. He still wore jeans and boots most of the time, but the jeans were clean and pressed and the boots highly polished. He’d had his long, unkempt black hair cut short, and though he still sported a small gold ring in his left ear, he now looked like a nice, clean young man. Wanda Nell was thrilled with the transformation, but TJ. had never really confided in her about what had caused it all.
“Thanks,” TJ. said, smiling at her. He backed the truck out of the driveway and headed for town. His eyes on the road ahead, TJ. spoke again. “I’m sorry about last night, Mama. I know I shouldn’t have left Grandma alone all night I promise it won’t happen again.”
“I know how wearing it can be,” Wanda Nell said, “having to look after someone like that Especially when you been used to doing what you want when you want and not having to think about somebody else.”
TJ. started to say something, but she put her hand on his arm. “I’m not fussing at you, TJ. I’m just saying what’s what. I understand how you feel. But sometimes you gotta do what you don’t want to because it’s the right thing to do. You and your grandma made a deal, and she expects you to stick to it. So do I.”
“I know that Mama,” TJ. said. “I said I won’t let it happen again.”
“I’m proud of you,” Wanda Nell said. “But I also want you to know, if it gets to be too much for you—trying to look after your grandma and work and everything—you’ll tell me. Ain’t no sense in you running yourself into the ground trying to please your grandma all the time.”
TJ. grinned at her. “I’d like to see the person alive who could please her all the time. I’m doing pretty good, but there’s some things she just won’t let alone.” His face darkened. “I sure wish she’d stop trying to fix me up with these girls she knows.”
“What’s wrong with these girls she keeps shoving at you?” Wanda Nell asked curiously. “Are they all ugly or stupid or something?”
“No, it’s not that,” TJ. said, his voice suddenly strained. “I’ll tell you about it later, Mama.” He pulled the truck into a parking space at the jail. “Besides, we’re here.”
Wanda Nell sat and looked at him a moment, not answering. She patted his arm. “Okay, honey. You wanna wait out here for me?”
“Yeah,” TJ. said. “I don’t really wanna go back in there if I don’t have to.” He’d been arrested and had spent a few days here when his daddy had been murdered. Wanda Nell couldn’t blame him for wanting to wait in the truck.
“I won’t be too long,” Wanda Nell said.
She was a bit nervous as she walked slowly to the door and on into the jail. She paused for a moment just inside the door, adjusting to the light, taking a couple of deep breaths to steady herself. She was glad to see Tuck there waiting for her.
The lawyer took care of the particulars, and soon a deputy was escorting Wanda Nell down the hall to the interview room. She’d been here before, and she liked it less each time.
She sat down at the desk the deputy indicated and stared through the glass dividing her part of the room from the inmates’ side. Moments later a door opened, and Melvin Arbuckle entered, escorted by a deputy.
Wanda Nell kept her head down for a moment, waiting until Melvin was seated opposite her. She was afraid to look into his eyes. What if she’d been wrong? What if he really was guilty? She’d know it as soon as she looked into his face. He wouldn’t be able to hide it from her.
“Wanda Nell. Look at me.” Melvin’s voice was quiet, raspy from too many cigarettes.
Slowly Wanda Nell raised her head until her gaze was level with his.
Chapter 8
Wanda Nell stared right into Melvin’s eyes. He met her gaze without flinch
ing.
Wanda Nell read several things in his eyes: sadness, anxiety, maybe even despair, but not guilt She relaxed. Not guilt Melvin hadn’t killed Fayetta.
“How’re you doing, Melvin?” Wanda Nell said softly.
“Okay, I guess, considering.” He shrugged.
His face was pale, the skin under his eyes dark. Otherwise he was neat as a pin, as always, which made his jail attire look almost natural.
“They treating you okay?”
“Not too bad.”
“You didn’t do it” Wanda Nell made it a statement not a question.
“No, I didn’t” Melvin’s face brightened for a moment and his eyes shone with gratitude. “You know I couldn’t do something like that”
Wanda Nell shuddered involuntarily as a mental picture of Fayetta’s bedroom flashed through her mind. “I know,” she said, her voice low. “I went there to see it for myself.”
“You shouldn’t have done that,” Melvin said. “You don’t need to be seeing dungs like that”
“I had to know,” Wanda Nell said. “And when I saw that I knew you hadn’t done it”
Now Melvin shuddered, his eyes closed. “God, Wanda Nell, it was horrible. I ain’t never seat anything like it Like somebody was butcherin’ a hog.” A few tears trickled down his cheeks. He wiped them away with a shaking hand.
“She didn’t deserve that,” Wanda Nell said gently. Melvin shook his head. “God knows she could be a bitch when she wanted to be, but ain’t no way she should’ve died like that.”
Wanda Nell waited a moment while he regained his composure. “You got any idea who could’ve hated her that much?”
“That’s all I been thinking about,” Melvin said. He cast a glance over his shoulder at the deputy standing in the corner of the room. He leaned forward. “I know she was fooling around with a couple of married men, or had been. Might’ve been one of them. Or their wives.”
“Deke Campbell? Billy Joe Eccles?” Wanda Nell kept her voice low.
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