Murder Over Easy (A Trailer Park Mystery Book 2)

by Jimmie Ruth Evans

  Making sure her robe was tightly fastened, Wanda Nell stepped outside and went looking for Juliet and Lavon. She needed to be with them, to be sure they were okay, to let the horror of Katie Ann’s visit fade away.

  An hour later, Wanda Nell had showered and dressed and was ready to drive to Agnes Vance’s house. She wanted to give the older woman the envelope of money from Melvin and check on her and the children. She wished there was something more she could do for Fayetta’s kids, but there really wasn’t much. It was all up to Agnes Vance now.

  Juliet and Lavon were back inside, Lavon playing on the floor in Juliet’s room while she did something on the computer. Wanda Nell kissed them both before she left and made sure the door was securely locked behind her.

  Her cell phone rang as she backed her car out Miranda had caught a ride with one of her co-workers that morning, so Wanda Nell hadn’t had to worry about arrangements for getting them both to and from work.

  She stopped the car and pulled the phone out of her purse. She glanced at the number that came up on the caller ID. It was somebody from Tuck’s office.

  “Morning,” Wanda Nell said.

  “Hey, it’s me,” TJ. said.

  “How are you?”

  “I’m okay, Mama, how are you?”

  “Fine, sweetie,” Wanda Nell said. From the sound of his voice, he wasn’t okay. What was wrong? “I’ve got lots to tell you, and Tuck, too. I’ll come by Tuck’s office in a little while and tell you all about it Y’all gonna be there in an hour or so?”

  “Yeah, we’ll be there,” TJ. said. “I don’t think Tuck has to go over to the courthouse today.”

  “You sure you’re okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine, Mama,” TJ. said, but his voice still sounded funny to Wanda Nell. “But I got some things to talk to you about too, when you get to the office. Okay?” “Sure, honey,” Wanda Nell said. “We’ll talk. Bye now.” She ended the call and dropped the phone into her purse. Her heart sank. She knew what TJ. wanted to talk about. She could tell it from the sound of his voice. He’d finally made up his mind to talk to her. But what was she going to say to him? Haw would she be able to explain how she felt?

  How did she feel? She still wasn’t completely sure. There was so much to think about

  Somehow, though, she’d find the words. TJ. was her son, and she loved him no matter what Maybe that was all she needed to say.

  Feeling better, she backed her car out then headed for Tullahoma and Agnes Vance’s house.

  Chapter 27

  Another car was parked in front of Agnes Vance’s house when Wanda Nell arrived. Having someone else present while she talked to Fayetta’s mother might be a good thing. Mrs. Vance made her uneasy, and she was never quite sure why. Wanda Nell sat in the car for a moment, collecting her thoughts. Then she got out of her car and walked up to the front door and rang the bell.

  She heard footsteps approach, and then the door swung open. A young woman of about thirty appeared in the doorway. Wanda Nell regarded her through the fine mesh of the screen door. Long brown hair streamed down her back, and she wore a plain cotton dress. Her face, bare of makeup, was plain but pleasant.

  “Good morning,” the young woman said. “Are you here to see Miz Vance?”

  “Yes,” Wanda Nell said, then introduced herself. “I have something I need to give her. And I’d like to talk to her, if I can.”

  “Surely,” the young woman said. She pushed the screen door open and Wanda Nell stepped inside.

  “I’m Elise Snavely.” She held out a hand to Wanda Nell. “My husband is Brother DeWitt Snavely, the pastor of the Holy Revelation Christian Church.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Wanda Nell said. She stood awkwardly in the hallway, waiting for Mrs. Snavely to move ahead.

  Instead, Mrs. Snavely said, “My husband is here to speak with the children and to counsel Miz Vance. If you don’t mind waiting a few minutes. I’m sure Miz Vance can talk to you soon.”

  “That’s fine,” Wanda Nell said. She followed Mrs. Snavely, who advanced into the living room.

  Wanda Nell paused in the doorway. The scene before her was familiar. Fayetta’s four children sat on the sofa, lined up by age, and a man of about forty sat in a chair nearby. He was speaking earnestly to them.

  Wanda Nell thought Brother Snavely looked familiar. Maybe she had seen his picture in the paper. He was very handsome, with a strong face and thick blond hair. He wore a dark suit that fit his trim body very well.

  Mrs. Vance stood behind his chair, listening and watching. She glanced briefly at Wanda Nell, then turned her attention back to what tire preacher was saying.

  “The Lord is looking after your mama now, and you don’t need to worry about her anymore. The Lord will be watching after you, too, and you just trust in Him. And your grandmother, of course. They’ll look after you.”

  He had a lovely voice, strong and comforting, and Wanda Nell could see the children responding to it. All except the eldest were crying quietly, and they kept their eyes on the preacher.

  “Remember, children,” the preacher continued, “you are also a part of our family at the church. If there is ever anything you need, Mrs. Snavely and I, and everyone in our church, will do everything we can to help you.”

  “Thank you,” the older girl said. Wanda Nell thought her name was Amy.

  “Now, why don’t you all go outside and get some fresh air and sunshine,” the preacher said kindly. “Enjoy this glorious summer day the Lord has provided, while I speak with your grandmother.”

  The children didn’t wait for their grandmother to say anything. They disappeared out of the living room and out the front door very quickly. Wanda Nell had to step aside to keep from getting stepped on as they went by. They all looked pale and tired, and some time outside in the sun would do them all good.

  “Thank you for speaking with the children and taking such an interest in them, Brother Snavely,” Mrs. Vance said, coming from behind the chair to stand in front of the preacher, “but I don’t like the children going outside too much. They run around and get themselves all excited, and then they’re real difficult to settle down.”

  “I don’t mean to interfere,” Brother Snavely said, “but I do really need to talk to you without the children present, sister Agnes.” For the first time, he seemed to take note of Wanda Nell’s presence. He stood. “But you have company, I see.”

  “How do you do, Brother Snavely,” Wanda Nell said, stepping forward to introduce herself. “I’m Wanda Nell Culpepper. I worked with the children’s mama, and I have something I need to give Miz Vance. I’m sorry to interrupt.”

  “Not at all, Mrs. Culpepper,” the preacher responded, accepting Wanda Nell’s hand. “My wife and I are in no hurry. We’re just here to aid sister Agnes in her time of need.”

  Wanda Nell glanced up into his face. All she saw there was concern. She was glad someone was taking an interest in the children. Someone who didn’t seem as cold as Agnes Vance.

  Wanda Nell dug the envelope of money out of her pocket. She held it out to Agnes Vance.

  “What is this?” Mrs. Vance took the envelope and opened it.

  “That’s the rest of Fayetta’s pay from the Kountry Kitchen,” Wanda Nell explained.

  “Thank you for bringing this,” Mrs. Vance said. “The children and I will need it. But are you sure this is just her pay from the restaurant? I didn’t think she made that much there.”

  Wanda Nell didn’t want to lie with the preacher and his wife standing right there in front of her, but she didn’t want to tell Mrs. Vance the complete truth either. “Well, she made a lot of good tips, and I guess Melvin—that’s Melvin Arbuckle, the owner of the Kountry Kitchen—maybe added a little extra in there.” She turned to the preacher. “Melvin’s real fond of those kids.”

  “That’s okay, I guess,” Mrs. Vance said, still holding the envelope in her hand and staring at it. “I just don’t want to touch any of the money she made whoring. I don’t want it in
my house.”

  Wanda Nell could feel herself blushing. There was no reason she should, but Mrs. Vance embarrassed her. Talking about something like that in front of the preacher and his wife—it was terrible. She was glad the children were outside where they couldn’t hear any of this.

  “Sister Agnes,” the preacher said gently, “your daughter is at rest with the Lord now. Don’t dwell on her sins any longer. Think of those children and their future.”

  Mrs. Vance stared at the preacher. “She has been washed in the blood of the Lamb.”

  “In a manner of speaking,” Brother Snavely said. This time, Wanda Nell was interested to note, he appeared to be the one who was embarrassed. “Once they’ve arrested the person who did this, you will have more peace of mind, I’m sure.”

  “They may be doing that pretty soon,” Wanda Nell said, then she wished she’d kept her mouth shut.

  “Have you heard something? Is there some news?’ Elise Snavely spoke timidly, but her eyes were round with curiosity.

  The last thing Wanda Nell wanted to do was start telling the preacher and his wife about the sex club and the whole sordid mess. And since she didn’t know which one of the members had killed Fayetta—if one of them in fact had— she should have just kept her mouth shut.

  “I can’t really say much,” Wanda Nell said slowly. “I mean, somebody told me something, and I can’t really talk about it. But I know the sheriff’s department is getting closer to figuring out who did it I expect we’ll all be hearing about it real soon.”

  “That’s good,” Brother Snavely said. “This has been such a tragedy.” He touched Mrs. Vance lightly on the arm. “I know sister Agnes has been terribly distressed by the whole thing.”

  “Yes, it’s been awful," Wanda Nell said. She decided it was time for her to go. Brother Snavely seemed more than capable of ministering to Mrs. Vance, and they didn’t need her any longer.

  “I guess I better be going, Miz Vance,” Wanda Nell said. “And if there’s anything else I can do, I hope you’ll let me know. And if you’ll let me know when the funeral’s gonna be, I’d appreciate it.”

  “We surely will,” Brother Snavely said after Agnes Vance failed to speak.

  Wanda Nell started to say good-bye, but Mrs. Vance interrupted her.

  “There is one thing,” Mrs. Vance said. “There’s something else I need out of that house. I don’t want to go back in there, and since you’ve been there, maybe you won’t mind. Could you get it for me?”

  “I don’t mind,” Wanda Nell said, though she really didn’t want to go back in that house ever again either. “What is it you need?”

  “Her computer,” Mrs. Vance said. “It’s pretty new, I reckon, and maybe we can sell it. Or maybe the children can use it for their schoolwork. I hear they’re using computers a lot in school these days.”

  “Yes, they are,” Brother Snavely said. ‘We even have one at the church now, and my wife is real expert at using it. I’m sure she’d be happy to instruct the children.”

  Elise Snavely glowed, looking almost pretty in the warmth of her husband’s smile and words of praise.

  “I’ll see about it,” Wanda Nell said, though she was a bit puzzled. She couldn’t remember seeing a computer in Fayetta’s house, but something about it rang a faint bell. “I’ll talk to Deputy Johnson and see about going over there to get it for you.”

  “Thank you,” Agnes Vance said. She finally tucked the envelope of money into the pocket of her house dress.

  Wanda Nell turned to leave. Elise Snavely escorted her toward the front door. She was saying something to Wanda Nell, but Wanda Nell didn’t hear a word of it. She stopped dead in the hall, right in front of the door.

  Now she remembered what was bothering her about Fayetta’s computer. Her heart sank. There was only one way Mrs. Vance could know about that computer. Slowly, she turned around and walked back into the living room.

  Mrs. Vance was listening to something Brother Snavely was saying to her. He broke off when he saw that Wanda Nell had come back.

  “Is something wrong?” the preacher asked. He stared at Wanda Nell’s face.

  “Miz Vance,” Wanda Nell said, “tell me something. I heard Fayetta was planning to leave Tullahoma and take the kids to Nashville. Is that true?”

  “Well, yes,” Mrs. Vance said, looking upset. “I didn’t want her to do that, but once she got an idea in her head, she wouldn’t change her mind.”

  “You hated the thought of her taking the children away, didn’t you?” Wanda Nell said gently. “You were worried about what kind of life they’d be exposed to if you weren’t around to look after them. Weren’t you?”

  “Of course she was concerned,” Brother Snavely said, puzzled. “But I counseled her about that, and about what to say to her daughter, and sister Agnes told me she had convinced her daughter to stay here.” His glance moved back and forth between Wanda Nell and Mrs. Vance. “Isn’t that right, sister Agnes?”

  Mrs. Vance ignored him. She stared at Wanda Nell. “I was fighting for their souls, and I knew if she took those children away from me, they’d be lost forever.”

  Wanda Nell stared at her with pity. She wished there were some other answer to this, but now she knew there wasn’t Katie Ann had been right all along.

  “Miz Vance,” Wanda Nell said, her voice still gentle, “how did you know Fayetta had a computer?”

  “I saw it several times,” Mrs. Vance said. Her eyes shot a sideways glance at the preacher.

  “But you couldn’t have,” Wanda Nell said.

  “What do you mean?” Brother Snavely asked. “Surely you don’t think sister Agnes is lying?”

  “I’m afraid she is,” Wanda Nell said firmly. “Ask her yourself.”

  Shocked, the preacher turned to Mrs. Vance. “Sister Agnes, what is this? Is this woman right? Are you lying?” Mrs. Vance didn’t say anything. Her breathing was becoming labored. Elise Snavely took a step toward her, then stopped.

  “Melvin Arbuckle bought that computer for Fayetta’s kids,” Wanda Nell said, looking right at Mrs. Vance. “He brought it over real late that night, the night that Fayetta was killed. After Miz Vance had already picked up the kids and brought them here. Melvin was setting the computer up in Fayetta’s bedroom, because she insisted that’s where she wanted it. Then they got into an argument about something. Melvin left, and the computer was there in Fayetta’s bedroom. The only way you could’ve seen it was if you were in her bedroom that night after Melvin left.”

  Mrs. Vance didn’t protest. She took a faltering step backward and sank onto the sofa.

  “Sister Agnes, is this true?” Brother Snavely was working to overcome his shock, but Wanda Nell could tell he was having a hard time taking it all in.

  Mrs. Vance began to nod. “She was going to leave here and take those children with her. I couldn’t sleep, I was so worried about it. I went back over there in the middle of the night I tried to talk her out of it but she wouldn’t listen. She said hateful things to me.” She stared up at the preacher. Tears began trickling down her face. “The names she called me. I’ve never heard anything like it. She even picked up a knife and threatened me with it I ran into her bedroom to get away from her.”

  “What happened then?” Wanda Nell asked.

  “I think Satan got into her that night and I had to stop her. I couldn’t let her take those children. I couldn’t let her,” Mrs. Vance said. She repeated it several times. “I got the knife away from her somehow, and then I don’t know what happened. I don’t really remember after that.”

  She collapsed on the sofa, and Elise Snavely sat down beside her. She drew the older woman’s head to her shoulder and hugged her, rocking her gently back and forth.

  Brother Snavely turned to Wanda Nell, his face white. “I think we’d better call the sheriff’s department Would you do that Mrs. Culpepper?” He advanced to the sofa and sat down on the other side of Mrs. Vance, his head bent and his lips moving in silent prayer.

/>   Wanda Nell stood rooted to the spot for a moment, unable to move. Then, slowly she turned and went to find a phone.

  Chapter 28

  Sunday dawned cool and clear, and Wanda Nell decided that, after the horrible events of the preceding week, she wanted to have her family and friends around her. The image of Agnes Vance, sobbing as she was driven away by the sheriff’s department, still haunted her. Maybe the bright sun of a beautiful June day would help, so Wanda Nell was planning a picnic out at the lake.

  At nine she began making calls, and almost everyone agreed to come. She roused Miranda from bed—Juliet had been up for two hours looking after Lavon—and put her to work slicing potatoes for potato salad. Miranda grumbled a bit, but Wanda Nell ignored her. She was determined that it was going to be a good day.

  While she prepared two chickens for frying, Wanda Nell thought about her son. She had never made it to Tuck’s office the other day. After Agnes Vance’s confession, she and the Snavelys had been kept busy for several hours, first dealing with Elmer Lee Johnson and the sheriff’s department, then with figuring out what to do with Fayetta’s children. Elise Snavely had quickly volunteered to take the children home with her, and her husband just as quickly agreed. They didn’t have any children, and Elise, from what Wanda Nell could see, desperately wanted to be a mother to someone.

  By the time Wanda Nell was finished with all that business, she’d had to head to work at the Kountry Kitchen. Since then, there hadn’t been an opportune moment for her and TJ. to have the little talk he wanted. Wanda Nell didn’t mind postponing it, though she could tell TJ. was feeling more and more frustrated. Today, though, they’d have some time to talk. She wouldn’t put it off any longer.

  By eleven-thirty everything was ready and loaded in the car. Her old Caddy weighted down, Mayrene pulled out right behind Wanda Nell and followed her toward the lake and across the dam. The picnic grounds lay on the other side of the dam, near the spillway, and Wanda Nell was hoping TJ. and Tuck had already staked out a spot for them.