by C. G. Cooper
“How can I help you, Mr. Knox?”
“Word on the street is that you’ve got a dead body on the beach.”
Tasker waited for the question. None came. “And??”
“Well, it’s still premature, but we got a call a few minutes ago. Seems that we may have a missing person.”
“And you think…”
“Yeah, I know it’s a long shot, but I was wondering if you could tell me if the deceased is a young girl, around twenty years old.”
Tasker froze. “Can you send me a picture?”
“Sure. Want me to text it to you?”
“That would be best. I’m at the scene.”
“I’ll have one of my people send it. You should have it in a minute.”
Two minutes later, the picture came through. It looked like a high school photo. The girl in the image was cute, not pretty. She smiled shyly at the camera, her green eyes squinting slightly.
“Mike, come take a look at this.”
+++
Johnny woke to a splitting headache, sun shining down on his face. He looked around groggily, realizing that he was in the bed of his truck. He could hear cars driving by. Pushing himself up with his arms, he peered out of the truck. Not Defuniak Springs.
It looked like 30A, or as tourists called it, SoWal, the beaches of South Walton. As he rose to climb out and drive home, something fell out of his lap. A pink cell phone.
+++
“Knox, it’s Tasker.”
“What’d you find out, sheriff?”
“I’ve got some bad news.”
+++
“Daniel, I’ve gotta run to the store. How about you keep at it? I’ll be back soon.”
I nodded and turned back to the twelve-by-twelve shed we’d framed. Hollie was good with his hands. I was too, just not in traditional ways like carpentry. Still, I enjoyed the labor. It allowed my mind to focus and stay engaged. I could get used to the farm life, part of me thought. But I knew it wouldn’t work. There was a timeline to keep. In a few hours, I’d be on my way.
Putting the thought out of my mind, I got back to cutting the lumber to Hollie’s specifications.
+++
“Mornin’, Hollie,” greeted the woman at the grocery store. “Anything I can help you find?”
“No, ma’am. Just pickin’ up some odds and ends. How’s Horace?”
The woman rolled her eyes. “He’s still milkin’ that back injury. Just wish he’d get around to fencin’ my garden. Them deer love my tomatoes.”
Hollie moved along, picking up a plastic shopping basket. “You tell him that I said to get up off his old Air Force rear and get to work.”
The woman chuckled, returning her gaze to the magazine she’d been reading.
He moved up and down the narrow aisles swiftly, thinking about how he could get Daniel to stay. It wasn’t just the help, for which he was grateful, but he liked the young man. He wanted Daniel to have a place to stay, and Hollie wanted to give it to him. It’d been too long since he’d had company. Besides, there was something Daniel wasn’t telling him. It was there, just beneath the surface.
Hollie wouldn’t pry, but he’d known plenty of military vets over the years. He knew the toll they paid. If his new friend was in pain, he wanted to help.
Once everything on his list was packed into the basket, Hollie headed to the register. A customer and two cashiers were all looking up at the TV mounted on the wall outside the manager’s office. News. No one turned as he placed his things on the conveyer belt.
“What’s going on?” The words had just left his lips when a picture flashed up on the screen. It was a photo of Kelly Waters.
Chapter 10
I was almost done with the cutting when Hollie pulled in. He unloaded the three grocery bags wordlessly, and walked into the house to put them away. Strange. Not even a hello.
I kept at it until every piece of wood was stacked neatly, waiting for further instruction. Hollie didn’t come out, so I went inside. He was in the kitchen, staring out the window.
“Everything okay, Hollie?”
He almost jumped, turning around to face me. “I’m fine…I…I need to ask you something, Daniel.” The lines in his face seemed deeper, darker.
“Sure.”
“I’ll just come right out and ask…where did you go on your walk this morning?”
I was confused. It was a strange question.
“I took a walk through the fields. Sat down for a while. Waited for the sun to come up.”
Hollie nodded sadly. His demeanor frightened me.
“What’s wrong, Hollie? What am I missing?”
It took him a moment to respond. He looked up, a strange look in his eyes. “Kelly Waters is dead.”
+++
Johnny pulled into the garage, longing for his bed. Hopefully his grandfather was out. He was not in the mood to talk.
Creeping through the house, he sighed as he reached for the knob of his bedroom door.
“Where the hell have you been?” asked Max Laney from down the hall.
“I was out.”
“With whom?”
“Who cares?”
“I care! Now tell me, where were you last night?”
“Come on, granddad, can we talk about this later? I’m beat.”
The elder Laney sneered. “You’ll sleep when I tell you to sleep.”
Johnny exhaled, smelling his stale breath. His bowels rumbled. “I was at Pappy’s.”
Max’s eyes narrowed. “Where did you go after that?”
“I fell asleep.”
“Where?”
“In the back of my truck.”
“At Pappy’s?”
“No, down the road.”
The patriarch searched his grandson’s face, probing for the lie. “Have you seen the news?”
“No, why?”
Max Laney growled, “Come with me.”
Johny reluctantly turned away from his door and followed his grandfather.
+++
BREAKING NEWS
Police have confirmed that the body discovered in Rosemary Beach was that of local resident, and Walton High School graduate, Kelly Waters. Local law enforcement are asking for assistance in finding information pertaining to what is now being called an accidental drowning. If you have information, please contact the Walton County Sheriff’s office at…
+++
“You wanna tell me you had nothing to do with that?” asked Max Laney.
Johnny’s stomach turned. Images in his mind. “I…I’m not…”
“Dammit, Johnny, this is serious. If you want my help, you need to tell me right now or you’re on your own.”
Sweat broke out on Johnny’s back as patchy memories flooded back. The next thing he knew, he was telling his grandfather everything he could remember.
+++
“What do you mean she’s dead?” I asked, picturing the girl’s face, the way she’d stood up to the cops and Johnny Laney the night before.
“They found her body washed up on the beach this morning. A couple of tourists found her.”
“But, who would…”
“Daniel, you need to tell me everything that happened at the bar last night.”
I lowered my head and told him.
Chapter 11
Max Laney padded over to the kitchen table and picked up his buzzing cell phone.
“Max speaking.”
“Mr. Laney, it’s Darryl Knox. I was wondering if I could talk to you for a minute.”
“Anything for our chief of police.”
Knox paused.
“You still there, chief?”
“Uh, yes, sir. Well, it’s just that it’s sort of a sticky situation, and, well, I don’t wanna come across wrong.”
Laney mouth pursed, but he answered brotherly. “Come on, Darryl, we go back a long way. Why don’t you just come out and say it? I won’t bite.”
Another pause.
“I appreciate that, Mr. Laney.�
�� Laney heard the police chief shift the phone. When his voice came again it was hushed. “I assume you’ve heard about the Waters girl?”
“I have. Damn shame.”
“Well, we’ve begun the investigation, and we had the chance to question a couple witnesses. One of them says that the last person to see her was your grandson.”
“Which one?”
“Johnny, sir.”
“Well that’s quite a charge, son. May I ask who your witness is?”
“It’s still an ongoing investigation, and I can’t talk about the identity of any of our witnesses.”
“I understand that, Darryl, but if you’d like my help, which I’m assuming you do, I’m gonna need a little more than what you’re giving me. The last thing I want to do is call up my lawyer. Is that what I should do?”
Knox was in a tough spot. Sure he was the chief of police in Defuniak Springs, but Max Laney was the de facto benefactor of the community. Knox had played ball with Max’s oldest son, Johnny’s father. It was Max Laney who’d suggested to a young Darryl Knox that he put himself in the running for chief of police, despite his youth. The help of the Laney family name had solidified his promotion against strong opposition and the nomination of a former police chief from Brooklyn.
“Now, I don’t think it’s that bad, Mr. Laney, but I sure would like to talk to Johnny.”
“How about I bring him down to the station and the three of us can have a little chat? Would that help?”
“I’d really appreciate that.”
“Fantastic. We’ll see you later this afternoon.”
Maximillian Laney ended the call and closed his eyes.
+++
Hollie was quiet as I finished the story, turning his folded whittling knife absentmindedly in his hand.
“I’ll pack my things and go,” I said, turning to leave.
Hollie snapped out of his trance.
“Now why in the hell would you do that?”
“I’m sorry?”
“Why are you running away? Seems to me that you’ve been doing a lot of that recently.”
My fist clenched involuntarily. “What’s that supposed to mean?” My temper rising.
“All I’m saying, is that if you’re just another dumb grunt, pack your things and leave.” He stared at me, hard. “But I don’t think that’s you. I think you’re smart. I think you were trying to protect that girl.”
The tension went out of me. All of a sudden I felt so tired, helpless. “What does that matter now? I got her killed.”
Hollie’s voice rose. “Wait just one goddamn minute. Who on earth said that it was your fault, because I sure as hell didn’t?”
His words surprised me. The kind man who’d allowed me, a stranger, to stay on faith alone, was suddenly replaced by a person who reminded me of my lead drill instructor at Parris Island.
“What can I do? Who’s going to take my word over the Laneys’?”
Hollie slammed his hand on the table. “I’ll tell you what you won’t be doing. You won’t be feeling sorry for yourself in my house. Now are you a Marine or aren’t you?”
I looked up at him, a smile forming, and said, “Always.”
+++
“Take a shower and put some decent clothes on,” Max Laney commanded his grandson after barging in and waking him from a dead sleep. Johnny knew better than to refuse.
“Where are we going?” Johnny dared to ask.
“I’ll tell you in the car. Now hurry up, we’ve got some things to talk about.”
+++
Wally was sweeping off the concrete slab by the front door when an SUV pulled into the lot. It was still early for customers. Wally shaded his eyes from the sun to see who it was. His stomach went to his throat.
Max Laney and his grandson stepped out of the vehicle and walked his way.
“Afternoon, Wally. You got a minute to talk?” asked the elder Laney.
“Y…yes, sir.”
Chapter 12
Hollie paced the room as I took in his new persona. He was all business. “Now, I’d put my money on Johnny, but I doubt there’s a soul who would testify against him.”
“Is their family that connected?”
Hollie laughed. “Max Laney not only owns half the land in this town, he also owns most of the officials.”
“How is that possible?”
“It’s started years ago. He’s bankrolled political campaigns and pressured officials to get his people in office.”
“What about the police? Can he really manipulate an investigation?”
“He won’t do it overtly, but I’m sure he’ll throw his weight around in subtle ways. Without evidence or witnesses there’s not much the law can do to convict someone.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “We’ve got to do something.”
“If the law doesn’t, we will. I say we do a little digging and then wait and see what the police come up with.”
It was too passive for my taste, but I deferred to Hollie’s judgement. He knew the personalities in town.
We laid out of plan, playing out scenarios which all turned out to be wrong.
+++
“Mr. Laney, thank you for coming,” Police Chief Darryl Knox shook his guest’s hand reverently.
“Like I said over the phone, I thought we could sit down and get to the bottom of this mess. Johnny’s agreed to tell you everything he knows.”
Johnny stood a respectful distance behind his grandfather, his head bowed. “Yes, sir. I want to help in any way I can. I still can’t believe…” Johnny sniffled, wiping his nose with the back of his hand. “I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”
Chief Knox nodded sadly and led the way to the conference room.
+++
I scanned the road while Hollie manned the wheel. It was a short drive, and familiar. We pulled into Pappy’s parking lot and Hollie drove to the opposite side of the building.
“Just in case,” he said as he put the truck in park.
We headed toward the back door. It swung open before we got there.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Hollie,” the owner said in surprise. He had a bag of trash in one hand. His eyes widened when he noticed me. “You!”
“Now, Wally. We just want to have a word,” soothed Hollie.
Wally dropped the bag and stepped back. That was when I noticed the blood running from his scalp.
“Are you okay?” I asked, pointing to his head.
He reached his hand up and came away with a finger covered in blood. “I’m fine. Just a little bump.”
“It doesn’t look fine. How about we come inside and I’ll take a look at that.”
Wally hesitated, his eyes never leaving mine, as if I were some kind of monster. “I don’t want him coming anywhere near me,” he said, pointing at me.
“Is that any way to treat a customer? Come on, fellas. Why don’t we head inside out of this heat? I don’t know about you but I sure could use a glass of iced tea.”
Hollie ignored the proprietor’s look and walked past him into the bar. I followed and a moment later, so did the portly owner.
The place was a wreck. Half the tables were either broken or overturned. Most of the liquor bottles lie broken beneath the far wall like someone had used them for target practice.
“What happened in here?” Hollie asked.
“Nothing I can’t fix. I don’t mean to be rude, but I’ve got some cleaning up to do. What was it you wanted to talk about?”
“Why don’t you go fetch a wet towel and some ice so I can take a look at your head. We’ll talk then.”
Wally nodded and scooted around the corner of the bar, searching for a clean towel.
“What do you think happened?” I asked, in a voice only Hollie could hear.
“I think we’re not the only ones who paid Wally a visit. By the looks of his head, it was pretty recent. We may have gotten lucky with our timing.”
Nothing about the situation felt lucky. In fact, a naggin
g feeling told me that we were ten steps behind. Whoever had wrecked the place was after something.
Wally returned with a bag of crushed ice and a stained towel.
“Sit down right here and I’ll take a look.”
The bloodied owner flopped down, suddenly looking in pain. He winced at Hollie’s probing. “Damn that hurts.”
“It got you good. You might need stitches. Want us to give you a ride to the hospital?”
Wally shook his head vehemently. “I’ll be fine.”
Hollie looked at him for a moment and continued to clean the wound, finally wrapping the plastic bag in the bloodied towel. “Make sure you keep pressure on it.”
The bar owner nodded. “What did you want to talk to me about?” he asked, ready to have us leave.
“I wanted to ask about Kelly Waters.”
Wally’s shoulders slumped. “Poor girl. Best waitress I ever had.”
“What happened after I left last night?” I asked, not wanting to stick around any longer than needed.
“Why do you care? Isn’t it the cops’ job to ask questions?” he replied indignantly.
“Was it the cops that did this?” I pointed to the mess all around us. “Doesn’t seem like something they’d do.”
His bravado disappeared as quickly as it had come. “It’s gonna cost a lot to get this place back together.” He was lost in his own misery.
“When was the last time you saw Kelly? Did she leave with somebody?” asked Hollie.
“I…I can’t say. I mean…” Tears flowed as Wally struggled to maintain his composure.
Hollie put a comforting hand on the man’s shoulder. “We’re not here to make trouble. We just want to get to the bottom of what happened.”
“But I can’t. They told me…”