Lakeside Mystery Series Box Set

by Gregg Stutts

  “Maybe I’ll have to try out some of my interrogation skills on you when we get home.”

  He could feel his body responding. “I just hope Carrie is asleep when we get home,” he said. “And that Rose and Willy are too tired to stick around.”

  “Don’t worry, honey, I’ll be sure you’re well taken care of…provided you tell me what I need to know,” she said in her best Russian accent.

  “A little Russian collusion?” he said.

  A half hour later, they were telling Willy and Rose goodnight. Max walked outside with them while Michelle nursed Carrie and got her back to sleep. “Willy, we’ve got a lot to talk about. Can you meet tomorrow after church? With football practice starting on Monday, my time is about to be very limited.”

  “1:00 at our house for lunch?” Willy said.

  Rose smiled and kissed Willy on the cheek. “Lunch tomorrow sounds great as long as we get some takeout to bring home. I’ve got a headache and wouldn’t mind taking it easy tomorrow.” She walked around to the passenger side and got in.

  “We’ll pick up the food,” Max said.

  “I wouldn’t object to some good barbeque,” Willy said with a wink and smile.

  “Barbeque it is then. I know a place that does the best brisket in the world,” Max said. “It’s like eating meat candy. Almost melts in your mouth.”

  Max watched Willy and Rose back out of the driveway and pull away. He waved goodbye and went inside. Michelle was almost finished nursing Carrie and getting her back to sleep.

  Fortunately, for her parents, she went right to sleep, so they could take advantage of the time and not sleep.

  “Well, that was fun,” Michelle said, “but I’m really tired now.”

  Max turned the light out. “No argument here.” He kissed her goodnight. “Next time, I’ll be the interrogator.”

  Michelle was already asleep, but Max couldn’t turn his mind off. There was something he wasn’t seeing. Dots that weren’t connecting.

  “Shelle!”

  She shot out of bed to check on Carrie. “What? What’s wrong?”

  “At the restaurant, I smelled Blair Morgan’s perfume.”

  Michelle got back in bed. “You woke me up for that?”

  “It smelled familiar, but I couldn’t figure out why.” He reached over and turned the bedside lamp on. “Shelle, it’s the same perfume I smelled in the cabin on Dan’s boat.”

  “Are you sure it was the same perfume?”

  “Positive. 100%.”

  “So, what are you saying?”

  “I’m saying, Blair Morgan was on Dan’s boat the night he was killed.”

  “Or someone else with the same perfume. A lot of women probably have the same perfume. I might even have some of it.”

  “Or…it was Blair…and she killed Dan.”

  “Why would she do that though?”

  “That’s the question, isn’t it?” Max made a few notes on the legal pad next to the bed, then turned the light off and lay awake for three hours.

  Chapter 55

  Sunday, August 10th

  “You’re quiet,” Michelle said.

  Max came to a stop at the red light. “Just thinking.” A moment later, the light turned green and they continued straight through the intersection toward Willy’s house. “I was sitting there during church wondering what that sermon would sound like if it had to pass through a review by the Freedom Commissioners.”

  “We may find out very soon,” Michelle said. “Unless people get out and vote and overturn the council’s decision.”

  “I’ve talked to my coaching staff and a few business owners about putting up signs. I think most of the people I’ve talked to will vote to overturn.” Max shook his head. “Not all of them though. A few think getting guns out of people’s hands will make it all better. And even more think it’s not all bad if a few non-elected government officials tell us what’s appropriate speech.” They passed the spot on the road where Dante was killed. “I still don’t understand where the media is on this thing. Wouldn’t you think they’d be all over a law that limits free speech?”

  “Maybe some of them are willing to go along with it, because they like the gun ban,” Michelle said.

  “I forgot to tell you I got an email from the athletic director. So that the school district isn’t in violation, pre or post-game prayers are now banned. So are Bible studies on school grounds. And get this, we’re not allowed to carry the American flag when we run onto the field.”

  “The flag?” Michelle said. “What’s wrong with the flag?”

  “It’s considered speech that could be offensive to some people, at least that’s what the email said.”

  “We are talking about the American flag, aren’t we?” she said. “Who would consider that offensive?”

  “I can hardly believe it either,” he said. “And I think I know what’s next. That sermon we just heard about Jesus being the way, the truth and the life…you can forget that. At best, the pastor will be allowed to say Jesus is ‘a way.’ And I guarantee we aren’t going to hear that he’s the truth.”

  They rode in silence for several minutes before Michelle said, “We can’t let this law stand.”

  As they turned into Willy’s driveway, Max said, “To stop it, I think we first need to understand it. Mainly, who stands to benefit? That’s the question we need to answer, Shelle.”

  It was hot, but there was enough shade and enough of a breeze to make it comfortable to sit on the deck. Willy brought out two glasses of iced tea. Michelle helped Rose finish getting lunch ready.

  “Did you see Mike Ellis resigned?” Willy said.

  “The police chief?” Max said. “He hasn’t even been here a year.”

  “I know it,” Willy said. “He said it was for personal reasons and effective immediately.”

  “He knows something, Willy. He’s either being forced out or he’s getting out before this all blows up. I just remember how uncomfortable he looked when Blair Morgan blamed Dan Jenkins for killing those four officers. He knew she was lying. He just couldn’t say anything.” Max paced the deck.

  “Maybe he saw what happened to Andy and Dan or his own officers and knew the same fate was awaiting him if he didn’t go along with the story,” Willy said.

  Max stopped at the railing and set his glass down. “I’d sure like to know the whole plot to this story. And who’s writing it.”

  “Let’s think about this for a minute, Max. Who stands to gain from the Freedom Protection Act?” Willy said.

  “Blair Morgan?”

  “What’s in it for her?” Willy said. “Is it a personal thing? Did she have a family member or friend die in a shooting?”

  “It’s a good question, but I don’t have an answer for you.” Max considered it for a moment. “But even if she did, where’s the limit on free speech coming from? Are we saying she was bullied on Facebook and now she’s passionate about protecting others?”

  Willy smiled. “I don’t know much about Facebook, Max, but I don’t think this is a personal crusade for Blair Morgan.”

  “Speaking of Blair Morgan, you’re not going to believe this.” Max told Willy all about seeing Blair and another man at the restaurant the night before and how he recognized the man’s voice from the dock and Blair’s perfume from Dan’s boat.

  Willy leaned his head back and closed his eyes. After a moment, he said, “So what have we learned?”

  “Blair was on Dan’s boat,” Max said.

  Willy nodded his head. “I’m not sure the scent of perfume is enough to accuse someone of a crime, but let’s go with it for now. What else?”

  He tried to limit his answer to what he knew for sure, not what was mere speculation. “Well, assuming I’m right about identifying the man’s voice, then the man who killed the cop and Blair Morgan have some sort of relationship with each other.”

  Willy tugged on his chin and nodded some more. “Keep going.”

  “And clearly, they’re lying to
the public. Dan didn’t kill any of those police officers. Our mystery man did. And we can assume Mike Ellis knows they’re lying, which is probably why he resigned.” Max watched two boats speeding across the lake. “I have a feeling this is bigger than Blair Morgan and Lakeside, Willy.”

  Willy was up and also pacing from one end of the deck to the other. “Mmm, hmm. Okay, okay,” he said to himself.

  “What is it Willy?”

  Willy only nodded his head and stroked his chin as he continued to pace and mumble to himself. “I believe you’re right. It is bigger.”

  Max thought for a moment and said, “Way bigger.”

  The door opened and Rose said, “Lunch is ready.” She set a large platter on the table filled with pot roast, potatoes and vegetables. Michelle had Carrie in one arm and paper plates and utensils in the other. Max took Carrie and Michelle dished up plates for everyone.

  When everyone was seated, Willy said, “Let’s pray.” The four of them held hands. “Lord, we thank you for this food…and we ask You for the strength…to weather the coming storm.”

  Despite a temperature in the low 90’s, Max felt a shiver run through him.

  Chapter 56

  Monday, August 11th

  Max was awake at 5:00 a.m. Michelle and Carrie were still sleeping. He threw his legs over the side of the bed and sat up. He took a deep breath, rubbed his eyes and slipped out of bed. The first stop was the kitchen where he started the coffee. School didn’t start for another week, but this was the first day of practice. He needed to be focused on football, but he pulled out his legal pad and turned to the page with Blair Morgan’s name at the top.

  She, and whoever else she was tied to, were getting away with murder. Literally. He couldn’t let that happen. He didn’t in Dante’s case, and he wasn’t about to let it happen now. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. Andy Reynolds and Dan Jenkins were good men. They had families. So did the four cops.

  And Blair Morgan was lying about what she knew. The Freedom Protection Act was obviously a big deal. Big enough to be killing people over. The gun ban was cut and dried. No guns, anywhere in Lakeside. Period. What wasn’t so clear was how the free speech limits would play out. What everyone kept talking about was the need for “tolerance” and “acceptance.” He kept hearing things like, “Lakeside will be a judgment-free town.”

  What exactly that meant remained to be seen. What concerned him, and many others, was who exactly would be defining tolerance, acceptance and judgment. What one person considered speaking the truth was seen by others as intolerance and judgment. He wanted to believe common sense would prevail, but common sense would never have passed the law in the first place.

  He turned to a blank page and wrote:

  Freedom Protection Act…

  All private ownership of guns will be illegal.

  “Freedom Commissioners” will regulate free speech.

  He stared at the words he’d written, trying to make sense of it. Then he wrote the one question, if answered, that would reveal the answers he was seeking.

  Who’s really behind the Freedom Protection Act?

  Chapter 57

  It was 6:30 p.m. before the last of the coaches and players left the field house. It wasn’t a great first day of practice. Max blamed himself for that. He knew his head was not in the game. And that had to change. It didn’t help that the weather had turned hotter and the heat index was over a hundred degrees.

  He opened his briefcase and removed a large bag filled with rice and a cell phone. He turned it around and studied it through the clear plastic. He hadn’t opened it since sealing it a week earlier. He unzipped the bag and removed the phone. It wasn’t his. His phone was already in the trash. This was Dan’s phone. He’d taken it without even thinking and hadn’t told Willy. Or Michelle.

  One of his former players was good at all sorts of electronic things and said he’d be willing to take a look at it. He offered to come to Lakeside, but Max felt more comfortable meeting him in Bentonville. Most area schools were still enjoying one more week of summer, but traffic was much lighter than it had been throughout the summer as he made the short drive to the west. The cloud formations provided one of the most stunning sunsets he’d ever seen.

  It was 7:30 when he parked his truck and walked across the street to the coffee shop. He didn’t see Josh, so he ordered a black coffee and took a seat near the window. This place would always remind him of the night he came to meet Dante’s mother, but instead, Jack Murphy had walked in.

  He’d been so sure Jack was responsible for killing Dante. And to some degree, he was. But Jack really had been trying to warn him to be careful. After Jack was killed, the truth slowly came to light.

  The truth. That’s what had him sitting in a coffee shop in Bentonville again. Only he knew the truth. He could only hope he’d be able to once again bring it to light. He felt a twinge of guilt about not letting Michelle know where he was and what he was up to.

  “Hey coach! Sorry I’m late,” Josh said.

  “Oh, hey, Josh. I didn’t see you come in.”

  “Yeah, you looked far away for a minute.”

  “What can I get you? Coffee? A smoothie? You name it.”

  “I’m good, coach. I’m heading home after we meet. I got food there.”

  “So how have you been, Josh? Tell me what you’ve been up to.”

  “Well, I’m working part-time at a computer store and going to school part-time at Northern Arkansas State. I graduate next year with my business degree. At least I hope I do. And I’m gettin’ married.”

  “Married? Well, congratulations. That’s great news.”

  “Yeah, we’re pretty excited,” Josh said. “So it sounds like you folks have a lot going on over there in Lakeside, huh?”

  “To say the least,” Max said. And that’s exactly what he planned to do, say the least. He didn’t want to involve Josh any more than absolutely necessary. He glanced around the room, then reached into his briefcase and set the bag of rice containing Dan’s phone on the table.

  “Let me guess. Dropped it in the toilet,” Josh said.

  Max looked out the window at a young couple out for a run. He didn’t want to lie, but even telling him he’d gone into the lake with it in his pocket might raise more questions than he was prepared to answer. “Something like that,” Max said, hoping Josh would leave it alone.

  “Well, at least you’ve got it in some rice. That can work sometimes. I’m not sure there’s much more I can do, but I’ll sure take a look at it,” Josh smiled. “So tell me coach, got any pictures on there I shouldn’t be looking at?”

  “Pictures?” It took Max a second to catch on. “No, nothing like that.” Not on this phone anyway.

  “Well, I’ll do what I can, coach.”

  “I’d sure appreciate that. And Josh, it’s not my phone...and it would be best if you didn’t know much about whose phone it is.”

  “Sounds mysterious,” Josh said.

  “I wish I could explain more, but I can’t. And if it’s possible to not look at the owner’s name, then that would be best.” Max wrote his cell phone number on a napkin and handed it to Josh. “Just let me know what you can do. And how much I owe you.”

  “Oh, you’re not going to owe me anything, coach. I feel like I owe you.” Now it was Josh who looked out the window. His voice cracked as he said, “I never told you that you were like a dad to me after my own dad passed away my junior year.” Max stood up and hugged Josh then they walked outside together. “I’m pretty busy with work and school today and tomorrow, so give me a couple days to get back to you.”

  “Thanks for your help, Josh. This means a lot.”

  “Sure thing, coach. Anything for you.”

  He started to cross the street and turned back to Josh who was heading down the sidewalk. “Be careful!”

  Josh gave him a thumbs-up as he got into his car. Max watched him drive away and said quietly, “Please be careful.”

 
Chapter 58

  By 10:00 p.m., Michelle got Carrie settled and joined Max on the couch. “I’m wiped out,” she said. “I don’t even know if I can stay up to watch the news.”

  “No argument here,” he said. “I’m going to get the coffee ready for morning.” And then his phone buzzed.

  Michelle picked it up and looked at the screen. “Who’s Josh?” she said as she handed him the phone.

  Max touched the screen. “Hey Josh. What’s up?” He listened for a moment and said, “You got it working already? Yeah, that’s great. I can meet you in thirty minutes.”