by Terry Shames
He blinks. “What do you mean?”
“Just what I said.” I’m not ready to drop Penny’s name yet.
“You don’t care who killed those people on your turf?” he asks.
“Of course I care, but everything I’ve uncovered tells me it was done by people involved in a drug dispute in Houston. I can’t pursue that. It’s out of my jurisdiction. That’s up to Houston law enforcement.”
“Fair enough. Now, what information do you have that’s important enough to sell me on the idea of letting Bennett go?”
“Information that could make your career. I’ve got the name of the person in this county who is the dealer for the illicit drugs being sold around here, and his Houston connection.”
“How do I know the information is real?”
“I’ll give it to you, and you can check it out.”
“You better believe I will.”
So I tell him what I know about Beaumont Penny and my own deputy, Doug Tilley. If Sutherland is crooked, he already knows about Penny, and he won’t want the information to go any farther than his office. If he doesn’t know, it gives him a chance to make a name for himself. And either way, it gives him a good excuse for letting Truly Bennett go.
Leaving his office, I’m sweating and my hands are shaking. I don’t know whether I’ve killed myself or not with what I’ve set in motion.
When I get back to the station, I’m not happy to find Tilley there. I had planned to call Wills right away and describe my meeting with Sutherland. I’m not ready to confront Tilley yet.
“What are you doing here?” I ask. “Eldridge is on today.”
“He wasn’t feeling too good, and I said I’d come by in his place.”
“Nice of you.”
He gestures toward the back. “Why is Beaumont Penny still back there? I thought you were going to call his lawyer.”
“Lawyer said he was going to be here first thing this morning. I guess first thing means different things to different people. Anyway, I’m going to let him go.”
“He shouldn’t have been here to begin with.” There’s an edge to his voice. Have I heard it before and ignored it, or is it a new development?
“I’m sure he’d agree.” I look at my watch. “Matter of fact, would you be good enough to do the honors? I’m supposed to be somewhere.”
His relief shows on his face, and now he’s all innocence. “What should I tell him?”
“Give him my sincere apologies, and tell him I’m young and don’t know what the hell I’m doing.”
His laugh grates on me. “Don’t be too hard on yourself.”
I’d like to hit him, but now is not the time to play my hand.
I drive home and call Wills from there. When I tell him the information my brother divulged about Tilley and Penny, and about my visit to Sutherland this morning, he whistles. “I like it when I don’t overestimate people, but you’re exceeding expectations. The Feds will be interested to know what Sutherland does with the information you gave him.”
“That’s what I was hoping you’d say.”
When I hang up, I feel at loose ends. It’s a waiting game to see if Sutherland or my brother rises to the bait I’ve handed them. I dread my brother’s answer. I don’t relish the idea of handcuffing him and hauling him off to jail, but he may leave me no choice. I consider whether I ought to drive over to his apartment and nudge him, but instead I walk down to spend a few minutes with my cows. It’s peaceful in the pasture, and I am pleased to see that they seem to have settled in. The full-grown ones pay no attention to me, but the yearlings come to the fence to take a look at me. I rub a couple of noses.
My plan was to go back to headquarters, but when I get back to the house, Horace’s car is sitting out front. I round the corner to the front of the house and find Horace and Donna sitting on the porch steps.
“You could have gone on in,” I say. “It’s hot out here.”
Donna’s eyes and the tip of her nose are red. Her bruises have faded to a dull yellow and lavender. “Where’s Tom?”
“He’s not here right now.”
“They told us at school that he won’t be in this week. What have you done with him?” Her voice is full of tears and aggravation.
“I’ve had a few problems here in town, and I was concerned about danger, so I sent him and Jeanne off for a few days. They’re in California.”
“You had no right to send him off without telling us. That’s kidnapping.”
“Not exactly, since you brought him to my house to stay with me. I didn’t know how to get in touch with you, and I thought it was a matter of some urgency to get him and Jeanne out of here.” I glance over at Horace, and he’s staring at the floor near his feet.
“Horace, did you and Donna talk about my offer?”
He shoves his hands in his pockets and meets my eyes, glaring.
“What offer?” Donna asks.
“Doesn’t matter, we’re not going to do it,” Horace says. “I came by to tell you we’re headed for Houston. We want to ask you and Jeanne if you’d mind taking care of Tom until we get settled.”
Donna’s eyes are wild. “I thought I’d get to say good-bye, though. And what kind of offer are you talking about?”
“It was nothing.” Horace’s tone is sharp. “I’ll bring you back to see Tom when he gets back here.”
“Donna, Jeanne or I will bring Tom to see you. He’ll want to see you, I know.”
She stands up, lips clamped together, her eyes welling with tears. “I guess we’d better get on.” She walks off the porch, headed toward the car. I notice now that the backseat is filled with household goods.
“Horace, I . . .” I was going to say I want him to reconsider, but he puts his hand up to stop me.
“I’ll call you when we get settled,” he says.
I stick my hand out to shake his, and he reluctantly takes it. “Have you told Mamma?” I ask.
He looks toward the car and brings his hand up to brush the top of his head. “I didn’t want to upset her.”
Fury wells up in me. He’s a coward. How did I never see that? How did that happen? How did he become someone who sneaks out on his son and his mamma and decides to make a living on the wrong side of the law? But it won’t do me any good to let loose on him. He’s had plenty of that in his life from our mamma. Maybe there’s an answer in there somewhere.
As they drive away, I get a lump in my throat, not for myself, but for the sake of their boy. How would he feel, knowing they’ve just taken off without him?
Chapter 41
I’m not in a good mood to go back to headquarters, but I can’t think what else to do. I need to wait to hear from Sutherland, and he’s not likely to call me at home. I’ve struck out with one deal. My brother has opted for the dark side. It would be easy enough for Sutherland to ignore me, and then I’d be faced with failure all around. I don’t think I’m asking so much. It’s not like I’ll ever solve the question of who murdered that family. All I’m asking is that the wrong man not be convicted and that drug dealers leave this place alone.
On the way to the station, I stop by the café and pick up some enchiladas to go. I’m at my desk with a mouthful when the phone rings. It’s the school principal.
“Haven’t heard from you since that incident with the girl,” Gilpin says. “I wondered what the status is.”
“She got out of the hospital. Is she back in school?”
“Not yet. But I’m getting some pressure from Ostrand. I’d like to tell him if his son is off the hook.”
“Can I get back to you tomorrow?”
“Can’t you tell me how things are going now?”
“Tomorrow,” I say.
“If you say so.” He sounds startled at my sharp tone. He no longer intimidates me. Nothing like feeling like you may be killed by drug dealers to put everyday life in perspective.
I’ve mopped up the last of the enchiladas, and I am staring at the phone, waiting for it to ring, w
hen I hear a car outside. I hope it’s not Tilley.
I hear two sets of footsteps crunching on the gravel outside, and then the door opens. Ezekiel Bennett looms in the doorway, with someone behind him. “Look who’s here,” he says. He steps aside, and Truly Bennett steps into the room.
I jump up and walk over to shake his hand. “What in the world happened? How did you get out?”
“That’s what I’d like to know,” he says. “They came in two hours ago and told me the highway patrol had directed them to let me go. They didn’t need to tell me twice. Didn’t take ten minutes for them to push me out the front door.”
I look at Ezekiel and grin. It’s the first time I’ve felt like smiling in a while. It’s taking a minute to sink in that my talk with Sutherland succeeded. “You must have been surprised.”
“I was and I wasn’t. You know I’ve been keeping myself outside the jailhouse every day, waiting for him to walk out of there, so in a way I knew it would happen. I knew because I believed you were serious about getting him out. But I didn’t think it would be quite this fast.” His expression is somber. It would be the right time for a smile, but I don’t think he’s allowed himself to really believe Truly is out yet.
I turn to Truly. “Does your sister know?”
“We stopped by the motel where she works so Daddy could tell her. She said we’re going to have a celebration tonight. She wanted me to invite you.”
“I appreciate that. I may stop by, but this is your celebration. I won’t interrupt.”
“No, sir, you won’t get off that easy,” Ezekiel says.
Finally he smiles. It seems like there ought to be some kind of fanfare. I’ve noticed that when big things happen in life, often it seems commonplace after a nervous wait. “Truly, you look like you could use some rest. You better be prepared. I expect reporters are going to descend on you the minute they find out you’ve been released.” I’m thinking particularly of Bonnie Bedichek, whom I’m going to call the minute they’re gone.
“I am tired and I’m going home, but first I want to know what you did to get me out.”
I don’t know what to tell him. That I made a deal with the devil? That I stood up to a man who may or not be corrupt? Or that maybe Sutherland was just a racist and pigheaded? I finally tell him the only thing that makes sense, “Persevered.”
“How can I ever pay you?”
“Truly, it’s my job. But there is one thing. As soon as you’ve had time to celebrate, come on over to the pasture and take a look at my cows. I think they look pretty good, but I need an expert eye.”
“Tomorrow morning, first thing.”
Ezekiel leads his son out the door as if he’s afraid to let go of him for fear he’ll be snatched back.
I want to bask in the pleasure of one success, but there is something I have to do. I put in a call to Tilley’s house, and his wife says he isn’t home.
“You know where he is?”
“He said he had a couple of errands to run, and then he’d swing back by work.”
I wish I had been here when he let Beaumont Penny go. I wonder if I ought to go to Alvin Penny’s house and find out if Beaumont is holed up there, or if he’s gone back to his girlfriend’s place. I’m going to have to have a talk with Alvin Penny and tell him I don’t want his son back here in town. I’m losing a brother, and he’ll lose a son. It’s an even deal.
It occurs to me that if I do my job right, I need to write up a report on all that has happened. There needs to be a record of things. I should file it with Newberry. I don’t know if Eldridge ever did anything like that. It strikes me how little I know about the administrative end of being a police chief.
There’s another car pulling into the parking lot. I steel myself for Tilley, and sure enough it’s him. His face is red, and his shirt is rumpled, with sweat stains under the arms. The fact that I turned Tilley’s name over to Sutherland, and that Tilley is still walking around, tells me all I need to know with regard to Sutherland. I’ll tell Wills, and he can add the information to the corruption investigation.
I don’t say a word, just watch him stride across the floor and plop down in his chair. He pulls the chair up to the front of my desk and says, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“With regard to what?”
“You think you’re pretty clever, don’t you? Ratting me out to John Sutherland.”
I lean forward across the desk. This man has at least ten years on me, but he’s a fool and I’m not. “Here’s what I think. At one time you planned to move to Waco. Apparently you changed your mind. Now it’s time to change it back. Wherever you go, I want to see the last of you.”
“How am I supposed to do that?”
“That’s not my concern. You have until tomorrow morning. If you’re gone by then, you leave with your raggedy-ass reputation. If you don’t, I’ll see to it that this town knows what you were up to. Now get out of my police station.”
He snickers. “That’s pretty big talk.”
I turn away from him and start writing my report. After a minute, he gets up, but remains standing in front of me, and waits. I don’t look up, and in a minute, he stalks out. I let out a breath I’ve been holding. I know he won’t defy me and stick around.
Chapter 42
After I settle down, I call the school principal. “Gilpin, this is Samuel Craddock. As it happens, I don’t have to wait until tomorrow to tell you that you shouldn’t have any more problems with outside drug dealers. I can’t stop kids from stealing drugs out of their folks’ medicine cabinets, but that no-good kid Charlie Ostrand is out of business.”
“How did that happen?”
“Had a meeting of the minds with a few people. You can let Charlie back on the football team. That is, if the coach wants him back.”
“What should I tell his daddy?”
“Leave him to me.”
“Craddock, I’d appreciate it if you’d be diplomatic.”
“I’ll do my best, but I wouldn’t count on it. If you have any more problems, be sure and let me know.”
I dial Raymond Ostrand’s telephone number. His secretary says he isn’t available, but I tell her I’ll bet he’ll want to know I called. While I wait for him to call back, I stare at Tilley’s desk and think of the two deputies I’m left with. I wonder if Eldridge had the slightest idea that Tilley was using his position on the police force to cover up his drug dealing. I’m sure poor Johnny Pat had no idea. Who am I going to get to replace Tilley?
Ostrand’s call comes within a few minutes. “This better be a conversation with you telling me you’re done picking on my son.”
“You’re probably going to want to increase his allowance.”
“Why is that?”
“He won’t be making spending money selling drugs anymore.”
“Now you listen here . . .”
“No, you listen. I have a message for you to give him. Tell him the drug supply line is no longer operational. I’ve plugged it up.”
“He won’t have any idea what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, really? He’s the one who told me how he got the drugs to begin with, so he’ll want to know that it’s closed down. And there’s one more thing. If I hear that he’s mixed up with any more drug dealing, I’ll haul him in.”
“Craddock, I’ll pass that off as hotheaded words from a man too young to be in your position. I believe a suggestion from me to Sheriff Newberry will knock you back a peg. You’ll be answering to another chief of police before you know it.”
“We’ll see.” I have no idea if he’ll try to make good on his threat or if Newberry would comply, but if either of them does, I’ll fight it.
I have to wait until tonight to call Jeanne and tell her she and Tom can come home whenever she’s ready. But right now I have another task that gives me pleasure.
Bonnie Bedichek’s car is in her driveway, and before I get to the door, she comes charging out with a board in one hand and a hammer in
the other.
“Whoa! Where are you going? You almost knocked me down,” I say, jumping back.
She has a funny look on her face, like I’ve caught her at something she wants to keep hidden. “What are you doing here?” she asks.
“I promised you a scoop, and I’m here to deliver.”
Her mouth falls open. “Okay.” She lays the board and hammer down on the steps. “Come on inside.”
If anything, her place is more chaotic than it was, but it looks like she’s doing some heavy cleaning. There are boxes open on the floor, some of them half filled.
She gets iced tea for both of us, and we sit down in the clutter. “What kind of scoop?”
I can’t help but grin. “First off, Truly Bennett has been released.”
Bonnie laughs. “That’s a relief. How did you manage that?”
On the way over, I thought about how much to tell her. I can’t tell her the whole story, but I can give her some good copy. “I can’t tell you the details, but I found evidence that meant Truly couldn’t have killed them. I took the evidence to John Sutherland, and he agreed to free Truly.” I’m stretching the truth, but it’s the only way to tell the story without revealing the ongoing corruption investigation. It will give her enough to write about anyway.
She smiles at me in the way I think a proud big sister would smile. “I’m really pleased for you. You stepped up.”
“I’ll be honest with you, Bonnie. I doubt I would have stuck my neck out if you hadn’t poked me.”
“No, you get the credit. Now what’s happening with the drug situation? Have you gotten anywhere with figuring out who has been selling to the kids?”
I’ve thought this over, too, and I’m pretty sure I’m right. “You already knew my brother was mixed up in that, didn’t you?”
She nods.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t know how much you knew. I figured you’d get the picture sooner or later. Have you arrested him?”
I tell her that Horace and Donna have taken off. “I wish I could say I think they’re going to get themselves on a better track, but I doubt it.”
“I heard a rumor that you had Beaumont Penny in jail overnight.”