“I know. I just wish I could hurry it.”
“We all do,” Allen said. “And we may have our first lead.”
Jason and I both stared at him. He went on. “The guy who was dumped at your place is beginning to regain consciousness. He said a few words to the nurse and she called the office. Charles is going down to see if he can question him this afternoon.”
“Oh, I hope he can tell him something,” I said.
“Maybe he will, sweetheart.” Jason grinned at me. “See, things are looking up.”
I leaned over and kissed his forehead, then moved to the kitchen.
Allen left as I finished cleaning and I busied myself reading a romance novel. Jason continued to work on the computer. I wasn’t sure what he was doing, but he was so intent on the work I didn’t want to disturb him.
The afternoon passed quickly, and I was about through the book when Jason said, “I’m getting hungry, June. What about you?”
I glanced at my watch. “My goodness. It’s seven. I bet you are hungry.” I laid my book on the coffee table and stood. “I’ll put out the food Mom sent.”
“I’ll help you. I’m about to go blind looking at all these facts and figures.”
We were about halfway through the meal when the phone rang. Jason answered. Again, he grunted and said a yes or no every now and then. I had no way of knowing who he was speaking to or what they were talking about.
Finally, he hung up and turned to me. “That was Charles. He interviewed the guy we found in our yard. Unfortunately, the guy doesn’t remember what happened. He said he’d been at the back of Mark’s Pub trying to wait out the storm. The next thing he knew, he was wandering around with his head throbbing and he was trying to find a place to get warm or somebody to help him.”
“So, he isn’t going to be of much help.”
“Unless his memory of the event gets clearer, I’m afraid not.” Jason sighed.
“I’m sorry, honey.”
He smiled at me. “If I could just get…” His demeanor changed. He threw down his napkin and sounded a little excited as he said, “June, I’ve got an idea of how I can get to the office.”
Without explaining further, he took out his phone and began dialing. “Allen, I need you to come over here and pick me up about ten or eleven tonight. Do you mind? ... Ask Roberta or Henry if one of them will come and stay with June… Yes, I want to get to the office, and I think I can slip in without being noticed …Yes, I’m sure… Thanks.”
“Oh, Jason,” I said as he hung up. “Do you think it’s wise for you to go out?”
“I think it’ll be fine.” He smiled at me. “Remember, I’ve got a gun.”
“Yes, but—”
“Now, don’t worry, June. I’m sure we can pull this off.”
• ♥ •
After Jason and Allen left at ten-thirty, I couldn’t help worrying. To get my mind off them, Roberta insisted we go through the things Mom had bought. I tried on the clothes and she cut tags off the things which fit and hung them in the closet. I stacked the things Jason needed to try in the chair beside the bed and we put the underwear in the drawers. We were arranging the make-up and personal items into the bathroom when we heard a knock on the back door.
“I think they’re back,” I said and started out of the room.
“Sounds like it, but just in case, let me go see if it’s them,” Roberta said. “You wait here.”
I didn’t argue with her, though I knew it had to be them because it was almost midnight. I was wrong.
Chapter Twenty-Three
When Roberta opened the door a booming voice said, “All right, where’s that brother of yours?”
“He’s at work. Besides what business is it of yours?”
“My wife said he worked at night, but I heard some noise over here and knew somebody was home. Is he messing around with my wife?”
I heard Roberta take a deep breath. “I don’t know your wife, sir.”
“Yes, you do. She came over and introduced herself. What’s that cock-and-bull story about her not waking your brother in the daytime? I heard some noise in here today. He wasn’t asleep.”
I remembered dropping the pot I got out to warm up supper for Jason and me and wondered if that was what he heard.
The man went on. “Then, I saw two men go out of here a couple of hours ago. I was going to wait until they came back to see what’s going on here, but they called me to go out on a run and I can’t wait.” He eyed Roberta. “Those men weren’t your brothers. They were both white men.”
“My brother is white. Can I help it if my father married a white woman?”
“You don’t look like you have a white mother.”
“Can’t help that either. I took after my father.”
“Didn’t he take after him?”
“Nope. Looks just like mother’s side of the family.”
For a moment there seemed to be a standoff. Neither of them spoke. Finally, the man said, “Well, who was the other fellow?”
“Must have been one of his friends from work. He doesn’t have a car, and someone always picks him up.”
“Maggie said you told her not to come over here in the daytime,” he said again.
“I did. That’s when my brother sleeps.”
“Then why did I hear that noise?”
“Mr. Webber—it is Webber, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Carl Webber.”
“Well, Carl Webber, I don’t know what noise you heard. I wasn’t here. I can’t be here all the time. I just come over sometimes to help with supper or to do my laundry after he goes to work. My boyfriend doesn’t have a washer in his apartment.”
There was another pause, then the man said, “Well, I guess I jumped to conclusions. I thought it was strange, but I guess Maggie told me right. I thought she was trying to cover up because maybe she had something going on here.”
“I assure you, Mr. Webber, your wife has nothing going on here.”
“When a man’s on the road as much as I am and his wife is as pretty as Maggie…well, he just gets a little jealous when her stories don’t sound right.”
“Again, let me assure you Maggie had her story right this time.”
“Does she know your brother is a black man who looks white?”
“Not that I know of. I don’t think she’s ever seen him.”
He paused for a moment then said, “I guess I’ll just have to take your word nothing is going on. I suppose I’m sorry I bothered you.”
“You didn’t bother me, but why don’t you try to believe your wife? From what I gathered about her, she seemed to think highly of you.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. Now, why don’t you go on to work or wherever you are headed and forget you ever came over here?”
He didn’t say anything, but in a minute, I head the door close.
When she got back to the bedroom, I said, “Roberta, maybe you should take up acting or start writing fiction.”
She grinned. “Maybe I should. I’ve always been pretty good at making up stories.”
It wasn’t long after Carl Webber’s visit until Jason and Allen returned. They seemed pleased with what they’d accomplished at the office, but were a little disturbed we’d had the visit from the neighbor.
“I hope he didn’t see us come back in,” Jason said.
“I think I heard him leave a little while ago,” I said. “The front door slammed, and a loud car left the parking lot.”
“I just hope his wife doesn’t see me leave with Allen. That will open up another round of questions.” Roberta chuckled and looked at Allen. “Can you act ghetto, deputy?”
“What?” Allen stared at her.
“When we leave here, you’ve got to look black. I don’t think I could ever come up with a story to explain why I was spending time here with a white man. Now, if my African American boyfriend comes out with me that would be an easy story to concoct.”
“Roberta, you’re nuts.
” Allen laughed. He took her arm. “Let’s get out of here before you have me believing all this mess.”
We walked them to the door and Jason said, “Thank you both for all your help tonight. I think we got some things accomplished.”
“No problem,” Allen said. “We want to get this cleaned up, so we can get you back to work.”
“I want you back, too, Jason,” Roberta said. “Between Charles and this lug, I feel like a pack horse round there. Henry is the only one who seems to know what he’s doing.”
I went over and hugged her. “Thanks for everything. Come back anytime.”
She nodded and took Allen’s arm and went out the door.
Jason closed it, turned to me and dropped his arm around my shoulder. “Let’s go to bed.”
“You mean you don’t want to eat or anything?” I smiled up at him.
“Not tonight. I want to cuddle in the bed and tell you what went on at the office.”
I smiled at him. I knew he’d discovered something important because we often had our most serious conversations in bed with me wrapped in his arms.
Chapter Twenty-Four
I was cooking breakfast the next morning and mulling over the things Jason had told me. He’d found three suspects who had been problems when he arrested them, and who had been let out of jail in the last year. He eliminated the one who left the area and now resided in Georgia. He had almost eliminated another one, a woman who seemed to be doing everything she could to regain custody of her two kids. She was still on his suspect list only because she’d written a couple of letters from jail saying how unfair the sheriff’s department had been during her probation hearings. He was going to have her checked out just in case. The third suspect looked the most promising. His name was Wayne Quincywood and he had returned to his hometown of Wilkesboro after his release. He’d been especially hostile during his trial and had actually shouted he would get even with Striker as they led him away. Jason said he asked Allen to have Quinceywood’s neighbors and co-workers contacted to find out what his demeanor had been since his release from prison in November.
I hoped they were on the right track.
Jason came into the kitchen as I put the syrup and butter on the table. “Smells good,” he said. “What are we having?”
“I found a waffle iron in one of the cabinets and decided to fix some sausage to go with waffles. Is that okay?”
“Sounds great.” He took the cup of coffee I handed him and sat down at the table.”
I took a waffle from the iron, put it on a plate with two patties of the sausage, and set it before him. I fixed the same for myself and joined him.
He took my hand and said a short blessing.”
“I sure wish we could go for a walk or something,” I muttered as I covered my waffle with syrup.
“Getting stir crazy, honey?”
I shrugged. “I guess I am a little.” I looked at him. “Don’t get me wrong. I don’t mind being shut up with you, but you stay busy on the computer and I’ve read all the books Mom has sent me. There’s only so much cleaning I can do in these three rooms.”
“Is there something I could have sent here for you? Maybe get your Mom to bring some more of those mystery novels you like, or maybe some knitting or something?”
I couldn’t help laughing. “The novels would be fine, but whatever made you think of knitting?”
“I don’t know. It just popped into my head.”
“Well, it might as well pop right back out again. I have no earthly idea of how to knit.”
He chuckled. “You think of something, then.”
I shook my head. “I’m sorry for whining. Maybe I’ll play on your computer when you’re doing paperwork.”
“That gives me an idea.”
“What?”
“Would you like to have your own computer?”
“That’d be nice.”
He nodded. “That’s it, then. I’ll have Roberta bring you a laptop. When you’re tired of doing your own stuff on it, you can help me look up some of the things I need.”
“Oh, Jason, I’d love to help you work on this case. You’re so smart to think of a computer for me.” I reached over and hugged his neck.
“I’m glad I thought of it, too.” He gave me a wink. “It got me a hug, didn’t it?”
When we finished eating, Jason gathered the dishes and put them in the dishwasher. I went into the bedroom to make the bed. I couldn’t help smiling when I got there. Jason had already done the job.
I fluffed a couple of pillows and came back into the living room. He was closing his phone. “They’ll have you a laptop here by noon.
I put my arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”
He pulled me close. “You’re welcome.” He gave me that smile that makes me weak.
Neither of us said anything, because we didn’t have to. He picked me up in his arms and headed to the bedroom. I knew one of us was going to have to remake the bed.
Chapter Twenty-Five
It was a little before noon when Roberta knocked on the door. Jason was on his computer, so I let her in.
“I brought you a play toy, June.” She laughed.
“You timed this delivery just right. I was getting ready to fix lunch. You can join us.”
“My timing’s perfect. I seem to always show up when you’re getting ready to eat.” She laughed again. “Where do you want this thing?” She indicated the computer.
“Put it in there on the coffee table, if you don’t mind.”
“Don’t mind at all. Hello, Boss,” she said to Jason.
“Hi, Roberta.”
“We’ve had a lot of calls at the office about you two.” Roberta put the computer on the table.
“It’s nice to know people out there care.” Jason smiled at her. “What were they saying?”
“Most of them just want to let you know you’re being supported. A few have asked what they can do to help you out and three or four have gotten mad because we won’t tell them how they can get in touch with you in person.”
“Did you get any names?”
“I sure did.” Roberta grinned and took a small notebook form her pocket and handed it to Jason. “I knew you’d want to know.”
“Roberta Miller, I now know why I keep you around the office.”
“Of course, you do. You can’t wait to come in every day and see my sexy smile.”
I heard him chuckle as she headed back to the kitchen. I laughed, too.
Jason opened the book. “Okay, Ms. Genius, what do the stars beside some of the names mean?”
She put her hands on her hips and looked at him as if he were a dummy. “Those are the ones who got their dander up because I wouldn’t tell them where you were, or how to get in touch with you. Good idea, huh?”
Jason nodded. “Very smart.”
Roberta turned toward me. “Before he asks me another question, can I help you, June?”
“No, thanks, Roberta. I’m just warming up some of the leftovers Mom sent. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. Leftovers are sometimes better than the original.”
I laughed. “I did make a fresh pitcher of iced tea.”
Roberta left soon after we ate. Jason helped me clean the kitchen, then we put our laptops on the dining table and began to work. At first, I wasn’t sure how much help I’d be, but soon I was into the process of looking up old court cases and tracking the felons who still had time to serve or were now out of jail and on probation. The afternoon slipped away, and it was time to start dinner before I realized it.
“You’ve done all the cooking since we’ve been here, honey.” Jason closed his computer. “Why don’t I put something together for us tonight?”
“I don’t mind cooking, Jason.”
“I know, but I need a break.” He leaned over and kissed me. “Humor me, will you?”
“Of course, I will.” I kissed him back.
While Jason moved to the kitchen t
o cook, I noticed the notebook Roberta had given him. “Do you mind if I look at this?”
“Of course not. I’m sure Roberta made the list for both of us.”
“There sure are a lot of names here.” I couldn’t help being touched by the number of people who’d called. I wasn’t surprised at some of the names she’d marked as getting mad because she wouldn’t tell them where we were. I had to smile when I saw she’d put a red star beside Sadie Middleton’s name. Knowing Sadie, it was predictable she’d be upset. For some reason, she still thought I needed to be constantly in touch with her. Also, under the irritated side was Aunt Nadine Norton. That didn’t surprise me, either. I knew how pushy Aunt Nadine could be. Her son, Jackson, on the other hand, had simply called to let me know he was thinking of me. I wondered if I ever really appreciated my cousin.
The other two names she’d marked were unfamiliar to me. “Honey, do you know a Tayler Venable or a Mazie White?”
“I don’t know Taylor Venable very well. He goes to Edison Methodist where I belong. I just know him from church.”
Though my family had always gone to Mt. Calvary Baptist, Jason had gone to the Methodist church. When we were married, we decided to support both churches. It didn’t really matter to me, because I figured we were worshipping the same God, but I also knew how important it was to my father that we go to Mt. Calvary. Jason, who has the greatest respect for Dad, agreed we attend there most of the time. Without telling anyone, we slipped into Edison Methodist at least once a month.
When he said nothing further, I prompted, “How well do you know Mazie White?”
He cleared his throat. “Mazie is a woman, shall we say, of questionable reputation. She’s never been caught for anything, but a lot of men in town know her name.”
I narrowed my eyes. “How well do you know this lady?”
He chuckled. “I don’t know her at all, my love.” He walked over to where I sat and kissed the top of my head. “I’ve only heard talk.”
“That better be all,” I said in a teasing voice. “I don’t like to think of you ever having known another woman besides me.”
Deadly as the Driven Snow Page 14