by Tonya Kappes
“Yes. I’m delighted you and Polly are getting along so well.” Paula’s head tilted to the side, a fake grin on her face. “That’s what we wanted to talk to you about, dear.” She swung the door open.
In the foyer stood Mama, Polly, Pete Parker, and Mayor Ryland. I glanced back over my shoulder and didn’t see anyone else’s cars. This was an ambush.
“Won’t you come in?” Pete Parker stepped up and gestured toward the fancy parlor room where only the good company was entertained.
“Only if you got something better to drink than that green stuff.” I smiled.
“I’m so sorry. She’s not a morning person.” Mama made all sorts of excuses for what she’d call bad behavior. “Ain’t that right, Kendrick.”
My ears perked at the sound of my full name as a red alert that Mama wasn’t pleased with me.
“You get in here and behave.” She jerked me to her like they couldn’t see. “You hear me?”
“Are you joking me?” I whispered back as she led me into the room along with everyone else.
Her eyes widened, her lips squeezed together. She was as serious as a witch in a broom factory.
“We won’t take up too much of your time.” Mayor Chance Ryland raked a few of his fingers through his slicked back salt-and-pepper hair.
Sweet, sweet Polly with her perfectly coiffed blonde hair, black slacks, and white cardigan with her own set of pearls locked around her neck had her hands clasped in front of her, the big diamond ring sparkling as she stood next to her man.
“It’s been brought to my and Polly’s attention that you are investigating the murder of Lucy Ellen Lowell. As you know, since we did pick you as our maid of honor, we feel like your time for the next couple of days is best spent on making sure Polly’s needs are met.” His words brought up an anger in me that boiled my insides.
“After all, it’s an honor to be maid of honor, especially in the soon-to-be first lady of Cottonwood’s wedding.” Paula did all the talking for her daughter as Polly stood there with a big (fake) smile on her face. “We don’t mind if Deputy Vincent does all the investigative work. It’d be different if you weren’t in the wedding. But duties are duties and right now Polly is your duty.”
“This is all dandy and good.” I took a step back. “But do you hear yourselves?” I looked at each one of them square in the eyes. “You’re asking me to give up the safety of all the citizens of Cottonwood for a wedding?”
And I thought I was here to learn how to keep from eating the next couple of days so I wouldn’t ruin any wedding photos with my happy fat.
“This is ridiculous.” I shook my finger at the mayor. “If this little meeting was to get out to the public, I think everyone would be rather upset with our mayor. Don’t you? In fact, didn’t you tell Deputy Vincent that you’d like for him to take over the investigation because…” I hesitated for more of an effect and I tapped my finger to my temple. “If I recall correctly, your exact words were, and I quote, ‘no matter how quickly we solved it, Lucy Ellen was dead now and would still be dead after the wedding.’”
“Umm.” Mayor Ryland shifted side to side.
“I understand that you want to keep everyone in the Hunt Club on your side since you are a member and when election time comes, they do have a lot of influence in Cottonwood. But to use and abuse the power the citizens of Cottonwood have entrusted in you to stop an investigation where there’s a murderer on the loose? And all you care about is that your wedding goes off without a hitch?” I didn’t have to say much more than that.
The silence that hung in the air was as thick as the spring fog after a midnight storm.
“As mayor I’m not asking anything of you. As Polly’s future husband, I’d like to see my bride get everything she’d like.” His chin lifted as he sucked in a deep breath through his nose and looked all high-brow down at me. “Of course I don’t want a killer on the loose and the citizens are my number one priority.”
“Well, technically,” Polly laughed, “I’m your number one priority.”
I watched with amusement as Mayor Ryland hushed her by waving his hand.
“I thought we were here to talk about the wedding dress?” Mama stepped up. “Not talk about my daughter’s job that we elected her to. To honor, protect, and serve. Or how we elected you to run our town.”
I looked at Mama. She looked at me.
“I’ll be darned.” I smiled. “You do have my back.”
“Damn right I do. This is a disgrace to not only my daughter’s hard work, but to the citizens of our small town, and we are leaving.” Mama grabbed me yet again, dragging me out of the room like she dragged me in a few minutes ago.
“Don’t worry!” I called out before I slammed the front door behind me. I yelled extra loud so they could hear me. “I’ll be at the wedding on time. See y’all then.”
Mama stood by the Jeep.
“I’m sorry about that in there. I swear Paula told me that we were going to discuss that gawd-awful dress.” She tried to keep a straight face. “It was ugly. And you aren’t fat. You are perfect the way you are.”
“Thanks, Mama.” I hugged her. “But Finn does make me happy. And going to see his family at Christmas is just a week. You get me and him all year long.” I pulled back because I wanted to see her face. “I love you and Daddy so much, but I’m going to Chicago with Finn. I’d like to have your blessing, but if you can’t give it, I’m sorry.”
“No.” Mama shook her head. “It’s fine. When your daddy and I had only you, we’d actually talked about the possibility of sharing you on the holidays with another family. Talking about it and the real action are completely two different things.” She looked away and her eyes shifted back to me. She looked down her nose. “Only this one time though. Next year you’re home for Christmas.”
“Promise.” I made the criss-cross with my finger over my heart and gave her another last hug. “I’ve got to get over to the church and meet with Polly and Preacher.” I rolled my eyes.
“Alrighty. I’ll see you tonight at Euchre.” She gave me another hug and a peck on the cheek before she and I went our separate ways.
As soon as I got back into the Wagoneer I checked my phone for any messages in hopes Tom Geary had left one. Nothing. I was surprised I hadn’t heard from him last night about the polish.
The Cottonwood First Baptist Church was on the south end of town and I took my time driving through town, going in and out of streets to get there. There was no way I wanted to get there before Polly.
The church stood off the road with about an acre between Main Street and the building itself. There was a large staircase that led up to a huge concrete covered porch with five large pillars holding it up. Four large doors were evenly built along the porch that opened up into the vestibule of the church. Preacher Bing stood next to the far-right door greeting the people before service and the far-left door saying goodbye after the service.
Today he was eagerly waiting in his office with Tibbie Bell, the wedding planner, and Polly Parker in the basement of the church.
“I’m sorry.” I looked at my watch. “I’m not late, am I?”
“No.” Preacher Bing gestured for me to sit down.
His hair was plastered to his head and his bangs hung down on his forehead. He was tall and lanky. He looked like Lurch from the The Addams Family and he always scared me. Today was no different.
“I thought I’d talk to Polly first,” Preacher Bing said.
“We were just discussing how you and Polly became friends.” Tibbie’s brows rose. “Isn’t that right, Polly?”
Polly nodded. Her perfect bob swung back and forth, her horse teeth glistened.
“And the big falling out we just had at my parents’ house.” Polly couldn’t just leave well enough alone.
“We didn’t have a falling out.” I preferred to call it somet
hing else. “We had a disagreement because your future husband would like me to turn the other way about Lucy’s murder until after your wedding.”
“Is that right, Polly?” Preacher Bing turned to Polly.
“Well...um...I...” It was like she’d been caught out in public without makeup on and everyone saw her.
“Don’t worry.” I knew she’d be all upset if the man of God was disappointed in her. “I’d never compromise the office and Mayor Ryland didn’t either after we discussed it. Right, Polly?”
I secretly prayed that I wouldn’t be struck dead by lightning from lying and saving Polly’s face while in church.
“Right.” Polly nodded and the stress fell from her face.
“Fine. We can move on. Now, Kenni, what is your recollection of the first time you met Polly?” Preacher Bing folded his long lean fingers—they had always creeped me out—and tilted his head to the right as if he were really interested.
“Well, we both grew up here so I don’t remember the first time I met her.” I scooted up on the edge of the chair, hoping it’d be a little more comfortable. “I remember she always had the best of everything. But she’s younger than me.”
“But he wants to know any fond memories.” Tibbie was reaching deep and she knew it.
“When I was on a stakeout a year or so ago, I remember seeing her and the Mayor kissing, proving the rumors true.”
“Kenni,” Polly gasped.
“I’m sure she meant it was innocent.” Tibbie patted Polly’s delicate little hand and narrowed her eyes at me as she tried to cover up what I really meant.
“Actually, it was only a rumor at the time, but I was trying to check out Polly’s alibi since she was accused of killing poor old Doc Walton.” My lips pressed together as I thought of the memory. “Here we are today.” I clapped my hands together. “All happy now.”
Preacher cleared his throat.
“Do you and Polly have any memories of going to the movies, a fun girls’ weekend?” Preacher sat back in his chair.
“No.” I shook my head. “Polly had her own set of friends.”
Tibbie adjusted herself in her seat in an aggravated sort of way.
“What about the time at bible school when she befriended Toots?” Poppa appeared and came to my rescue.
“I do remember vacation bible school and how sweet it was when she gave Toots Buford her cookies.”
The tension melted from the three of them as their shoulders dropped and smiles formed on all of their faces.
“Tell us about that,” Preacher encouraged me.
“As you know, Polly was always in the younger group. Toots was new and she definitely didn’t come from the same background as Polly. Toots didn’t have on the cute matching clothes that included the shoes and a bow in her hair like Polly. Toots seemed really hungry because I remember her gobbling up that cookie and small cup of Kool-Aid they gave us.” It was actually a very sad memory. “I remember Toots was sitting by herself and Polly went over there and sat right down next to her at the picnic table.”
In some sort of way, I was trying to get Polly to see that I wasn’t the right choice and she should ask Toots to be her maid of honor.
“So her kind heart attracted you to become friends with her.” Preacher looked happy and satisfied with my answer. “Polly, I think you’ve picked a maid of honor who truly knows your heart and kindness.”
“You mean I’m here because Polly was questioning me taking part?” I give a sideways look to Tibbie. “Because I was under the distinct impression that we were both going to get some sort of counseling.”
“Thank you so much for your time, Preacher.” Tibbie hopped up and nodded before she rushed us out of there.
“Oh, Kenni.” Polly grabbed me into a hug when we stepped out into the hallway. “You are so wonderful for remembering that. I’m so excited to hear your toast talking about my kind and giving heart.”
“We need to head on over to the florist.” Tibbie lightly touched Polly’s elbow.
I snarled at Tibbie. Polly gave me the two-finger wave before giving me the call-you-later gesture.
Next week’s wedding couldn’t come soon enough. Being in Polly Parker’s wedding was proving to be a full-time job. I had to put all that in the back of my head and do my real job. On the way over to the Lowell house, I mentally went over the evidence we had and tried to think of anything that didn’t point to Tina.
The polish, the argument, and the negative review on the salon all pointed directly to Tina. There had to be something I was missing.
Duke was on the front porch as if Finn had put him there to be a guard dog. He and Darnell were in a face off.
“Hey, Darnell.” I looked between the two as The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly theme song played in my head. “Duke.” I patted my leg with my free hand while my other one gripped my bag. “What’s going on here?”
Darnell ran his hands through his hair.
“Darnedest thing.” He pointed to my trusty sidekick. “I came by to grab some more unders,” apparently his word for underwear, “and I couldn’t get past this deputy.” He snickered a little.
“Duke takes his job very seriously. Says crime scene. Do not enter.” I gave a quick head nod. “Come on. I’ll let you get your drawers.”
Duke had changed his tune when I showed up. He’d always been such a good dog. He’d even taken a bullet for me and the city gave him a medal for it. I swear he knew it because ever since then he’d been even more protective.
“Finn?” I called out once we stepped inside. It was eerie going into the house since the other night. The last time I was here, it was a routine call where we thought Lucy Ellen had died of a heart attack. Well, not me, since Poppa had showed up, but to the rest of the world.
Now it was definitely a crime scene, making it an altogether different feel.
“If I didn’t think it wasn’t fittin’, I’d just have you go get them for me.” Darrell was hesitant to go into the house. “I just don’t know what I’m going to do. We didn’t have no young’uns or nothing. No family left.” His voice trailed off and his eye focused on the spot where he’d found Lucy.
“I know people have been saying it a lot, but you have a lot of friends in the Hunt Club and every one of Lucy’s friends.” I tried to offer as much of a condolence as I could.
“What’s his story?” Poppa appeared and stood in the exact spot of Lucy’s body outline. “Where was he again?”
“I know that we talked a little bit about your whereabouts, but do you mind if we talk for a second after you get some clothes?” I asked Darnell.
“Sure, Sheriff.” He nodded toward the hall. “Can I grab my stuff now?”
About that time, Finn came into the room.
“Sure. Say, Finn.” I smiled, remembering last night and how amazing he was. “Do you mind going back to Darnell’s bedroom with him and letting him get some clothes? I want to make sure he doesn’t disturb anything, just in case.”
“Yes, ma’am.” His eyes shifted to Darnell. “Ready, sir?”
Darnell simply nodded and headed on back with Finn, leaving Poppa and me standing there.
“You know he was in the woods.” I looked at Poppa.
“Yes, but the husband is always the prime suspect.” Poppa had always checked out the next of kin or family members when he investigated a crime. “All t’s crossed and i’s dotted.” Poppa winked.
“I plan on stopping by the gun show too.” Thinking about the little show the mayor had put on this morning started to get my blood boiling again. “I want to see how the women reacted to Lucy’s death and if there was any tension between them.”
While Poppa and I talked, I looked underneath the couch to see if the fingernail polish was there. It was my number one priority to find the polish Lucy Ellen was wearing on her nails.
With no luck, I walked outside to Darnell and Finn. Darnell had gotten his unders.
“Can we talk now?” I asked Darnell. He agreed. “Exactly where were you again the night of Lucy’s death?” I didn’t want to say murder.
“In the woods with the guys to get our cabins and stands ready. We also have our annual gun show going on, but the wives really like to stay there and take care of it.” His eyes were so dark and hollow. He’d really aged in the last twenty-four hours. Grief did that to a person. “Don’t take this wrong.” He put his hand out in front of him as if it were going to ease the tone of his words. “Most women don’t understand guns. They like to take part in the gun show, but as a rule, we like to keep two members of the Hunt Club at the gun show if the others are out hunting so questions can be answered. The women take the money and process the necessary paperwork for a sale.”
“Can you tell me who you talked to and everything you did from the time you last saw Lucy Ellen until you found her?”
“Didn’t I tell you all this already?” he asked.
“You did, but you’ve had a day to process what’s happened. Research has found that after a period of time, things will start to come back to you that you didn’t remember while your body was in a state of shock. You might remember the slightest of things that you think are minor, but in an investigation it could be that one little link we are looking for to help connect evidence.” I stopped to make sure he understood me. “So why don’t you tell me the last time you saw Lucy Ellen face to face?”
“That morning I was getting my gear ready. My bag packed, food she’d made for me to take. I got my rifles ready. She said something about getting her hair done for the wedding and asked me again.” He stopped. His voice cracked. “She begged me to be home for the wedding and I told her no.” He buried his head in his hands, overcome with grief.
I reached over and rubbed his back for a little comfort.