“I’m only the sheriff’s wife. I don’t think that gives you much of an ‘in’, but I’m glad they liked the story.” Without giving her tine to comment, I added, “I’m in Wilkesboro. May I thank you for doing such a good job by taking you to lunch today?”
She hesitated only a moment. “I’d love to have lunch with you, but I’ll do the buying. Where can I meet you?”
“How about Applebee’s? And we’ll go Dutch.”
“That’ll be great. Shall we say at twelve-thirty?”
“Fine. I’ll probably go ahead and get a table. I’ll see you there.” I clicked off the phone. That was much easier than I thought it would be. Now I need to concentrate on the questions I want to ask her. Maybe by the time lunch is over, I’ll know if it’s possible to get her together with Charles. I began to form questions in my mind as I started my car. The clock on the dash said it was five to twelve. Good. That gives me plenty of time to think.
When Natalie walked in at twelve-thirty, she spied me in a booth beside the window. She smiled, waved and came over. “Hi, June. I’m happy to see you.”
“I’m glad you could make it.”
“It was nice of you to call. I’m like everyone else at work. I usually grab fast food and eat at my desk. It’s always nice to get out.”
We chatted about my buying a new front door, about the nice weather today and how well the interview was received. I then felt free enough to ask, “Tell me about yourself, Natalie. Are you married? Do you have kids? Where are you from?”
“Goodness, you sound like an interviewer.” She laughed. “Let me see if I can answer your questions in order. I’m not married, therefore, no kids. I was born in Philadelphia, moved to North Carolina when I was five. I grew up in Raleigh and went to college at Pembroke for a year, then switched to Chapel Hill because of their great film school. I graduated two years ago and worked for a little while at a station in Greenville, and then came here. That’s about it, my life in a few sentences.”
“How do you like it here?”
“I love this part of the state, but I do have one complaint.”
“What’s that?”
“Not enough nice single African-American men.” Natalie chuckled. “Not that I have anything against dating white men, and I do occasionally, but my father is of the old school. He still frowns on it. I know I’m a grown woman and can do what I want to do, but I love my daddy and want to please him when I can. Especially since I haven’t met a man who I’ve been seriously interested in.”
“I understand. I like pleasing my daddy, too.”
“So, my statement still stands. Do you happen to know any nice single African-American men in the area?”
That question made me smile. I could see this working out for two nice people. “Well, I know one very eligible African-American man and from what I can tell, he’s also very nice.”
“Oh?”
“What did you think of Deputy Charles Easton?”
“He was fine.” She had a twinkle in her eyes. “You are sneaky, June Striker.”
I put on an innocent face. “Whatever do you mean?”
“The real reason you asked me to lunch was to play matchmaker, wasn’t it?”
I drank some tea and smiled at her. “You caught me, but I really did want to thank you for the interview. I also thought your personality clicked with Charles. I figure if I was wrong and you weren’t interested in him, we could still be friends.”
“I’ll tell you a secret,” she said. “I’ve been wracking my brain as to how I could call and ask you about Mr. Easton. He is single, isn’t he?”
“Yes, he is. He grew up in Statesville, went to college at Winston-Salem State, and came here to pursue his career in law enforcement. He’s single, and twenty-five.” These were the things Jason told me last night. I then added one fact I knew on my own. “And he was quite taken with you.”
“Boy, you do know to get the right information, don’t you?” She laughed.
“Jason thinks I have a sixth sense about some things. I call it just plain old common sense and watching people’s actions. Most important of all, I’m nosy. I saw how you two kept eyeing each other at the house.”
She was quiet a minute. After eating a bite of her sandwich, she put it down and looked at me. “Now that you know we could be interested in each other, how do I go about seeing him again?”
“You leave that to me and keep Saturday night open. I’ll get back in touch with you in a day or so.”
Chapter Nine
I got home in plenty of time to cook dinner. I decided Jason needed a hearty meal since he’d bought fast food for lunch and I was more interested in the something he kept talking about than I was in going out to dinner. I set out the electric grill to cook pork chops, washed sweet potatoes to bake, chopped cabbage to fry, and took a can of Mom’s pickled beets from the pantry. The chocolate cake was about gone, so I made a cherry pie.
When Jason arrived home, everything was about ready. He kissed me hello and said, “I thought I was taking you out for dinner.”
“I decided I’d rather stay here with you.”
“I’m glad.” He took me in his arms and lifted me off the floor. “A long night at home with you is the perfect ending to a day.”
I kissed him. “I hope you’re not disappointed.”
He returned my kiss. “Not at all.” He put me down and started toward the bedroom. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
By the time I put the food on the table, he returned. I knew he’d taken a shower because his hair was wet. He was wearing a long-sleeved knit shirt and jeans.
“Hey, this looks good. Sure makes up for the hamburger I had for lunch.”
“I’m glad you appreciate my cooking.” I smiled at him and sat down at my place to his right.
“I do, sweetheart. I appreciate it more than you know.” He reached for my hand.
“That’s good, because I wanted to ask you something.”
“What’s that?”
“Let’s say our blessing and I’ll tell you.”
He said a short prayer and looked at me.
I took a deep breath. “Could we have Charles over to dinner Saturday night? And maybe Allen and Gwyn?”
He looked at me and wrinkled his brow. “Why in the world would you want to ask them to dinner?”
I started to make up some story, but changed my mind. I had resolved when we married that I wouldn’t try to manipulate Jason as I did when we were in school. I wanted to be honest with him. I said, “Natalie Bennett was interested in Charles, and from the way he kept eyeing her yesterday, he was interested in her, too. I want to get the two of them together.”
“Oh, June. Playing matchmaker can lead to trouble.”
“I know, but this time, both of them want to see more of each other.”
“How do you know she’s interested in Charles?”
“When you couldn’t go to lunch with me today, I called her, and she went. She told me she wanted to see him again.”
“Looks to me like it’s a done deal, but why include the Ledbetters?”
“I thought maybe if there were more here than you and me, it would be more comfortable for Charles.”
“I think he’d be completely happy with only the four of us. I’m not sure Allen and Gwyn have much of a marriage. I’m sure Charles has heard him complaining about it, too.”
I cocked my head. “I’m sorry they’re not happy. I guess we should ask the Ledbetters at another time.”
“Good. Now, let’s forget other people’s love life and enjoy this meal.”
After dinner, I insisted Jason go watch TV while I cleaned up the kitchen. He protested, but finally took a seat in his recliner and turned on the television.
There wasn’t much to do except put the dishes in the dishwasher and soon I came into the living room to join him. I started to sit on the couch.
“Don’t you dare,” he said with a laugh. “How can we get around to that something we talk
ed about at Lowe’s today if you sit so far away?”
I smiled at him and took a seat on his lap. He laid the seat back and put both his arms around me. “That’s better.”
“This is better,” I mumbled as I snuggled down in his arms. He began stroking my shoulders and kissing my neck. I was beginning to feel tingles, but his cell phone rang and interrupted.
He made a face and answered it. “Hello. When...Were there any witnesses?... Give me directions… I’ll be there as quick as I can.”
He hung up and looked down at me.
“I guess this ends our snuggling,” I said.
“Afraid so. There’s been another body thrown out of a car. This time, some people got a glimpse of the truck as it drove away.”
I got up and he stood.
“Where did it happen?”
“In a field near Henry Thompson’s house. You know he’s the deputy who works in the office most of the time.”
“I’ve heard you talk about him.” I followed Jason down the hall.
He got his gun and his identification and started out the door.
A strange dark feeling hit me, and I grabbed his arm. “Jason, will you please do me a favor?”
“If I can, but I’ve got to go in a minute.”
“I know, but please put on your bulletproof vest.”
“Honey, I’ll be fine. I don’t need it.”
“Maybe not, but please do it for me.”
He looked as if he was going to argue, but instead, shook his head. He removed his shirt and slipped into his vest. He then replaced his clothes. “That’s for you,” he said.
“Thank you.” I didn’t tell him, but the dark feeling left me. I knew things would be okay.
At the back door, he put on his boots, slipped into his fleece-lined jacket and picked up his gloves. He leaned down and kissed me. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Keep the sheets warm for me and wear that sexy black nightgown I like so much.”
“I can do that.” I leaned up and kissed him.
He held me tightly for a minute, then slipped out the door.
I glanced at the clock. It was only eight o’clock. I wished it didn’t get dark so early in winter. It always made me think it was later than it really was. I sat in Jason’s chair and tried to interest myself in television, but without him, it was useless.
At nine, I got up and checked to make sure the back door was locked. I went into our bedroom and got ready for bed. I did put on the black nightgown Jason liked, and slipped between the sheets. I started to turn on the television, but changed my mind.
I turned my thoughts to the men who had been shot, and wondered why some maniac was on this rampage. And who were the men who were being shot? And why dump them… I sat up straight. It had dawned on me that each of the victims had been dumped near a law enforcement officer’s home. Did this have some significance? Maybe it was someone who had been arrested and was getting revenge. No. It had to be more than that. It had to be someone who had a terrible grudge against the sheriff’s department. Maybe a close family member had been sent to jail, or maybe some officer had to shoot someone, and a family member was blaming the entire department.
My mind raced, and I conjured up all kinds of reasons for the shooter to be dumping the bodies close to a lawman’s property. Why wasn’t he killing his victims on the spot instead of almost killing them before he threw them out? Was he a terrible shot, or was he intentionally shooting them in a way that allowed them to wander around a while before dying? Did he realize he was taking a chance on one of them surviving long enough to tell what happened?
Sometime during my thinking, I must have dozed off because the next thing I knew, Jason was getting into bed with me. I turned over to greet him. “Hi,” I said. “What time is it?”
“It’s almost midnight.” He pulled me into his arms.
“You’re cold.” I put my arms around him. “What took so long? I thought you’d be back earlier.”
“There was a little trouble, but we got it ironed out.” He put his hand on my thigh and I jumped. He removed it. “I’m sorry. I had on gloves most of the time, but I guess my hands got colder than I thought.”
“That’s okay. Here let me have them.” I took his hands in mine and pulled them close to my chest. I began to rub them gently. “They’ll be warm in a minute,” I whispered.
“That feels good,” he said. “By the way, thanks for wearing the gown.”
“How do you know I have it on? It’s dark in here.”
“I saw you when I came in. The light was on.”
“Oh, I see.” I remembered something I knew he’d get a kick out of. “Jason, have I ever told you what my Aunt Nadine said when I got this nightgown at my bridal shower?”
“Can’t say as you have.”
His hands were getting warmer and I was now holding them at the neckline of the nightgown. “She said, and I quote, ‘That sexy thing will sure look pretty lying on the foot of the bed on your honeymoon.’”
Jason laughed out loud. “Your Aunt Nadine said that?”
“She did. Everyone in the room roared with laughter.” I let go of his hands. “I think they’re warm now.”
“Thank you,” he whispered as he began to caress me.
I was getting aroused, but I asked, “Do you want to tell me what happened tonight?”
“I’ll tell you in the morning. Tonight, I want to put this sexy nightgown on the foot of the bed where Aunt Nadine says it belongs.”
Chapter Ten
When I woke up the next morning, Jason wasn’t in the bed. I threw back the covers and shivered. I grabbed my velvet green robe and wrapped it around me. After brushing my teeth, I took a quick shower, put on make-up and dressed in a teal jogging suit.
In the kitchen, Jason was at the stove with his back to me. I went up behind him and slipped my arms around his waist. “Good morning, my husband.”
“Good morning, honey.” He cleared his throat. “Now, June, I don’t want you to freak out when you see my face, but I ran into a little resistance last night.”
“What?” I backed away, so I could see him better. “Turn around.” When he did, I gasped. He had a black eye and there was a bandage on the right side of his forehead just below the hairline. “Jason, what happened to you?”
“It looks worse than it is.” He tried to calm me. “I was on the way home when there was a call about a domestic disturbance. I was close, so I told them I’d handle it. When I got there, the husband turned his anger from his wife to me. I didn’t see the rock in his hand as I walked up to him. He hit my head with it before I subdued him and got him cuffed.”
“Why didn’t you tell me last night?”
He reached and put his arm around me. “Because if I had it would’ve spoiled the mood, and I wasn’t interested in anything spoiling my mood last night. I wanted to make love to my wife.”
“Yes, but…” I poked him in the chest and he winced. “What happened there? Did he kick you or something?”
“Let’s eat. Our eggs will get cold.”
“Don’t you try to change the subject, Jason Striker! What else happened?”
He sighed and said, “The wife saw I was going to take the man to jail and she didn’t like it. When I got him in the car and turned around she fired a rifle and it hit my chest.”
“No!”
“Charles hadn’t got to his turnoff and he was following me. He stopped when he saw me wrestling the man on the ground. As soon as the woman shot me, she threw the gun to the ground. Charles arrested her, and we dragged them both to jail. He insisted I go by the hospital to have the wound on my head cleaned and bandaged. I did, and everything turned out fine.”
“Jason, you could’ve been killed!”
“Not really. I had the vest on, remember? All I did was fall backward.” He kind of wrinkled his forehead at me. “How did you know to make me put the vest on in the first place?”
“I don’t know. It was just a feeling.” I had lump i
n my throat thinking of what could’ve happened if Jason hadn’t done as I asked.
He must have seen the terror in my eyes because he pulled me to him. “Thanks for asking me to wear it. You probably saved my life last night. There’s one thing for sure. Whenever you voice them, I’m going to listen to your feelings from now on.” He gave me a squeeze. “Now, let’s eat. I’m hungry.”
I finally calmed down enough to sit down and nibble at my food. I couldn’t quit thinking of what could’ve happened if he hadn’t worn that vest.
“Jason, please don’t ever take chances like that. Don’t go to these things by yourself. I know you always tell your men to take a partner. I want you to do the same.”
“Try not to worry, honey. I promise to be more careful.”
I knew he was only trying to placate me. “I mean it, Jason. You’re a married man, now. You have to think of how devastated I’d be if anything happened to you.” Another thought crossed my mind. “You turned off the bedroom light deliberately, so I wouldn’t see your wounds last night, didn’t you?”
“Guilty,” he whispered.
“Jason, don’t ever hide things like that from me. I’m your wife. I have a right to know.”
“I agree. And I wasn’t hiding it from you, June. I was only postponing it.” He looked into my eyes and smiled. “Ever since we were in the parking lot at Lowe’s yesterday morning, I’d been looking forward to coming home and making love to you. You’ve got to admit, it might not have happened if you’d seen my face.”
I dropped my head. “You’re probably right.”
After a pause, he asked, “What did you do after I left last night?”
“I was a little restless, so I went to bed early.” I looked at him and added, “I did have a chance to ponder those strange murders.”
I told what I thought about someone wanting to get even with the sheriff’s department.
“You may be on to something,” he said. “I’ll check the files and see if there have been any recent releases which might cause someone to do something like this.” He reached over and touched my cheek. “That’s my wife, the detective on the job again.”
Deadly as the Driven Snow Page 6