Laid Out and Candle Lit

by Everett, Ann

  “Some new evidence came to light. Marlene had a lake house. But you already knew that, didn’t you?” he asked, his face hard, his eyes locked on her.

  “Yes. She’d had the place for a long time. Why is the cabin important? Is that where she was killed?”

  Ridge took off his hat and ran his fingers through his hair, taking his time before answering. “I don‘t think so.”

  Norma nervously shifted in her seat, darting her eyes away. “Then what is this visit about?”

  “I got the forensic report from the lake house search. Your DNA showed up on a hair. Marlene’s hair. How long had the two of you been having an affair?”

  Norma buried her face in her hands and started to cry. “Oh God. This can’t be happening. I prayed you wouldn’t find out about the cabin. No one used the place except Marlene and me. Carl probably hasn’t thought about the property in ages. I hoped you’d solve the case before it came to this because one thing has nothing to do with the other.”

  “What do you mean? It has everything to do with it.” He leaned forward, invading her space. “You cleaned the cabin, didn’t you? You lied about seeing Marlene that night. You lied about your relationship with her. You lied about the phone call.” He stretched his body forward until his face was only a few inches from hers.

  “Tell me, Miss Harkey, have you told me the truth about anything?”

  She clenched her jaw, spitting the words out. “Yes. I didn’t kill Marlene. I loved her and she loved me. And when everyone finds out about us, it’ll hurt her memory and her family.”

  She shook her head in disbelief. “All these years, no one ever suspected.” She started to cry harder. “I suppose now everyone will find out and it’ll be one more reason for people in this town to disapprove of her. Poor Marlene. Even in death, she‘ll be despised.”

  Ridge straightened and rested his arms on his legs. “I’ll ask you again. How long had you and Marlene been having an affair?”

  Norma wiped at her face with the back of her hand. “Forever. Since high school.”

  “Were you upset the two of you never came out?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” she said. “Neither of us wanted our relationship made public. You can’t come out in a town this size. I don’t care how much progress the rest of the world has made toward gays. It’ll take more years than I have left for this town to accept or even tolerate them. Marlene and I were happy with the way things were. We both married. We both had children. As far as we were concerned, our lives were perfect.”

  “What about Carl? Was he in on the secret?”

  She gave a whispered laugh. “Of course. He‘s the only one who was.” She cocked her head and displayed a stiff smile. “You’re not a small-town boy, are you? You don’t understand. Marlene and Carl were perfect for each other. She wanted the facade of a happy marriage and children. Carl wanted respect and standing in the community. They provided each other with what they both wanted and needed. Marlene had me and Carl has Leah.”

  Ridge glared at her, the hair on the back of his neck starting to prickle. “Now, why don’t you tell me the truth about the night Marlene was murdered?”

  She took a deep breath. “We planned to go to the cabin and she said she’d call when the church meeting was over. After the call, I drove down to the bank and picked her up and we drove out to the lake. We arrived about eight-thirty and stayed a couple of hours. I dropped her back off at the bank around ten forty-five and I got home about eleven. I never saw or spoke to Marlene again.” She wiped her tears, leaned back and closed her eyes.

  “When you left her at the bank, did you see anybody? Any cars parked nearby? Anything unusual?”

  “No, Marlene was still . . . well, buzzed. I’m sure the autopsy showed the alcohol and drugs in her system. She only used them when she’d had a bad day. They helped her unwind. I asked her if she would be all right to drive home and she said yes. It was only a few blocks and no traffic, so I thought she’d be okay. If I had taken her home, she’d still be alive.” Tears poured from her eyes.

  Ridge paused from taking notes. “Did you know you weren’t Marlene’s only lover?”

  She snapped her head forward. “What are you talking about?”

  Ridge cut his eyes to Bubba, then back to her. “Marlene was having an affair with Kyle Richmond.”

  “I don’t believe you,” she said curtly.

  Ridge’s tone softened. “I’m sorry. Kyle admitted the affair.”

  She covered her face with her hands and spoke in short gasps. “Did Kyle say they loved each other?”

  “No, according to Kyle, it was just about the sex.”

  She began to sob. “I can’t believe this. She loved me. I know she did.”

  Ridge leaned back. “I don’t have much faith in what you’ve told me. You’ve lied about so much that I’m inclined to think you’re lying about your knowledge of Richmond. Maybe you found out about him and decided Marlene had been making a fool of you all this time and you weren’t going to tolerate it anymore. Maybe you confronted her, gave her an ultimatum—you or Kyle—and she chose him. I’d say you had motive and opportunity.”

  “No, that’s not true! Even if I had known about Kyle, I would never have hurt Marlene. How many times do I have to tell you? I loved her.”

  Ridge slanted his eyes toward Bubba, then back at Norma. “Is anyone in your family diabetic?”

  “No.”

  “No one?”

  “No. Why? Is that what killed Marlene?”

  “Yeah.” Ridge flipped through his notes. “You have a son, right?”

  “My son is fifteen years old. He’s a child. He would never hurt Marlene or anyone else. He doesn’t know about us and even if he did, he wouldn’t kill her. Besides, he was home when I got there and never went out after that. I’m his alibi.”

  Ridge made a notation in his notebook. “Where did Marlene get her drugs?”

  Norma took a deep breath and looked over at Bubba. “Toby Ulrich. He lives down in Kickapoo Bottom.”

  “It’s not looking so good for you, Mrs. Harkey. You were the last one to see Marlene alive. You tampered with evidence. You say you had no knowledge of Marlene and Kyle’s affair, but you’ve lied about so many things. What’s one more?”

  “Please, believe me, I did not kill Marlene.”

  Ridge stood up. “At the least, I can charge you with obstruction and tampering with evidence, so don’t leave town.”

  Once they both settled in the car, Ridge flipped open his notebook and studied the entry. “Do you know this Toby Ulrich?”

  Bubba smirked. “Yeah, I do and I’ve never known him to deal. He grows a little Texas Tea for his personal use. He gets bad migraines and the weed helps. It’s really never been worth our time to bust him. He lives down in the boonies, never bothers anybody, so I’m surprised he’d sell to Marlene. You wanna interview him now?”

  Ridge nodded. “Yeah, show me the way.”

  “Let’s head east,” Bubba said, shaking his head. “So, dope smoking Marlene was ac/dc and Carl knew. Man, this just keeps gettin’ better and better.”

  * * * * *

  Bubba wasn’t lying when he said Toby Ulrich lived in the boonies. Ridge turned off the main highway, drove down a county road on a black-top, then down a two-rutted lane which led to a medium-size house and a small outbuilding with a sign that said, “Motorcycle Repair.”

  When Ridge and Bubba got out of the car, Toby emerged from the shop wiping his hands with an oily rag. He looked to be about Bubba’s age, about six inches shorter than Bubba and twenty pounds lighter. He had brown hair and brown eyes and a scar that sliced through his left eyebrow. “Hey Bubba, what brings you out here?” he asked.

  “Toby, this is Texas Ranger Ridge Cooper. He’s investigating Marlene’s death.”

  Toby extended his hand, and Ridge shook it. “Mr. Ulrich, I understand Marlene bought dope from you. Is that true?”

  Toby cut his eyes to Bubba. “Y’all here to arr
est me?”

  “I don’t know, Toby. You started dealing?”

  “You know me better than that. I don’t deal. Never will.”

  “So, you’re saying Marlene Weston never got weed from you?” Ridge asked.

  “That’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying I didn’t sell it to her.”

  Ridge folded his arms across his chest. “What? You just gave it to her out of the goodness of your heart?”

  Toby shook his head. “I’m not saying that either, exactly.”

  Hooking his thumbs in his pockets, Ridge widened his stance. “Let me guess. She screwed you for it.”

  Toby thinned his lips, but didn’t say anything.

  “Hell man, she was almost old enough to be your mama,” Bubba said.

  “Look, if you think I made her screw me for it, you’re crazy. It was all her idea. Hell, I gave the weed to her and after I did, she came on to me. She was something. I guess she liked slumming because she’d show up out here sometimes when it wasn’t for dope.”

  Ridge cut his eyes over at Bubba, then turned his attention back to Toby. “You got an alibi for the night she was killed?”

  “Yeah. I was in Lubbock, visiting relatives. Are you gonna arrest me? I mean for giving her the dope?”

  “No, but I’m gonna need the names of those relatives,” Ridge said.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  From the corner of her eye, Tizzy caught sight of Ridge when he settled on a stool at the end of the bar. Her stomach somersaulted. Damn, the man could set her on fire with a blink of his eye. She approached him and he winked at her. “Can I get you anything, Officer Cooper?”

  “Yeah. Oh . . . you mean to drink,” he smiled. “My usual.”

  “Watch out, city boy,” she said, twisting the top from a beer and handing it to him.

  “Did you talk to your mom about keeping Gracie this weekend?”

  “Yeah, we’re all set. I’m excited about going. I’ll get to shop, sleep late, and eat out in a fancy place with pretty food. We are gonna eat out in a fancy place, aren’t we?”

  “Absolutely. The location is a surprise, so don’t ask. I don’t live far from the Galleria, so while I’m checking in with Captain Reynolds, you can go to the mall. Hey! Are you listening to me?

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” she said, snapping out of her daydream.

  “What’s going on, Tizzy?”

  “Today has been a terrible day. We’ll talk later.” Yeah, a terrible day was a bit of an understatement. The news from the doctor earlier had definitely taken the “J” out of joy.

  By eleven o’clock, the bar crowd dwindled to fewer than a dozen patrons. Bubba took the stool next to Ridge. Tizzy busied herself gathering empty beer bottles, clearing tables, and wiping down the bar. She didn’t notice the woman with the bleached, spiked hair come in.

  “Well, well, well. As I live and breathe, if it’s not sweet little Tizzy McAlister.”

  Tizzy snapped her head around and eyed Carla Ferguson. She looked like the poster child for McDonald’s—fast, cheap and easy. War paint make-up and clothes so tight that they were cutting off the blood supply to her brain.

  “Hello, Carla. What brings you to town? Boy band convention?”

  “Sticks and stones, Tizzy, sticks and stones. Let’s say, currently, I’m between marriages, so I came home for a visit.”

  “How many ex’s now? Four?”

  “Shut up, Tizzy. I think the time’s right for me to share a little secret with you. One I’ve been keeping for years about your precious Boone.”

  “I’m not interested in anything you say about Boone or anyone else,” she said, anger coursing through her veins and seething at the surface.

  “Oh, I think you are. So get ready. I took his virginity. You thought he saved himself for you, but he didn‘t,” she gloated. “Whew! Damn! That felt good! I’ve wanted to tell you that for years!”

  Tizzy lunged against the bar. “Liar! You take that back!”

  “Bitch!” Carla screeched.

  “White trash!” Tizzy screamed, pointing her finger at Carla.

  “What was the poor guy to do? You wouldn’t put out, and he was suffering,” Carla said. “I just gave him the relief he needed. I’m not lying. How would I know about the little strawberry birthmark on his inner left thigh if I hadn’t seen it up close and personal? And believe me, Miss Goody-Two-Shoes, I did . . . plenty of times.”

  Tizzy climbed on top of the bar and crouched like a tiger on the hunt. “You liar! You dirty liar!” Tizzy screamed. She launched from the bar. Carla tried to get away, but Tizzy landed on her back and locked her legs around her waist. Carla’s arms flapped trying to get a hold of her rider. Tizzy grabbed two handfuls of hair and hung on for dear life. Screaming, they spun first one way and then the other, Tizzy holding on and Carla trying to break free.

  “It was your fault! You wouldn’t put out, you little prude! Let go of me!” Carla yelled.

  Strong hands grabbed Tizzy by her shoulders and hauled her off Carla. She snapped her head around. Ridge, his eyes wide, his mouth tight, had a firm grip on her. She tried to pull away, but his hold was unyielding. At the same time, Bubba stepped forward and pulled Carla clear. The fight was over before a crowd could gather.

  Tizzy flailed her arms about, tried to get away from Ridge, her brain no longer capable of reasonable thoughts. “Well, I put out now! I put out plenty! I put out so damn much I have a urinary infection!” Tizzy ranted without taking a breath, “and Boone Donovan pales in comparison to the man I’m with now. He’s like Superman! Take my word. In the bedroom, he’s the MASTER and he wouldn’t touch your skanky ass with a ten-foot pole! Tell her, Ridge!”

  Ridge gulped for air, and stuttered. “Uh . . . she’s right. Uh . . . uh . . . the man she’s with wouldn’t touch you with a ten-foot pole.”

  Tizzy snapped back to reality and realized what she’d said. She straightened her clothes, shook her head, and spoke calmly over her shoulder. “Thank you, Officer Cooper.”

  She set her eyes on Carla. “Now, get the hell out of my bar and don’t ever come back.”

  “I want her arrested for assault! You all saw it. She attacked me!” Carla scanned the small crowd remaining for support and got none. “Bubba, I said arrest her.”

  Bubba shook his head. “Sorry Carla. I didn’t witness an assault. I think Tizzy accidentally fell on you.” He looked around the room. “Anybody see an assault?” Everyone murmured and shook their heads. Bubba placed his hand in the small of Carla’s back. “Let me help you to your car.”

  Tizzy watched them leave and realized that every eye in the room was on her. Ridge still held her by her shoulders. She shrugged away and addressed the crowd on the verge of tears. “I apologize. I lost my temper. But I’ve had a really bad day,” she whined. “So drinks on the house for everyone!”

  They all rushed to the bar. Tizzy sat down in a chair. Her dad grinned and winked at her. Ridge sat down next to her. She laid her head over on the table and started to cry. “I’m sorry. I’m really, really sorry. But today . . . first, Jared Medina called and asked me out. Then I went to the doctor because I have “honeymoon” sickness from too much sex, and the nurse at the doctor’s office knows me and thinks I got it from screwing Jared. By tomorrow, I’ll be in Town Talk . . . local girl, Tizzy Donovan, goes crazy from too much sex and attacks old classmate.”

  Ridge laughed. “You did have a bad day. And damn, it started out so good, with another little game of Rover Takeover.”

  “Yeah. Well, it went downhill from there.”

  Bubba ambled back in and sat down with them. “Damn, man. I had no idea you could leap tall buildings in a single bound.” He broke into laughter.

  Ridge patted Tizzy on the back. “Hey, Bubba’s right. How can I be upset when you gave me such a glowing recommendation? Superman? Master of the bedroom? Damn, I am a sex god.”

  * * * * *

  At three a.m., she crawled in bed next to him and snuggled at his neck. “H
mmm . . . you smell good.”

  “Your coconut body wash, I’m beginning to like that stuff.”

  “I’m sorry about tonight. Lately I’m an emotional wreck.”

  He rolled over to face her. “I’m sorry you had to find out about Boone like that. She planned her attack well, in a public place. She had the advantage, a plan, it wasn’t a fair fight. But I have to say you’re pretty damn good in action.” He kissed her sweetly.

  “You meant what you said, didn’t you?”

  “About what?”

  “About not touching her with a ten-foot pole. You wouldn’t, would you?”

  “Darlin’ not even if she’d been boiled and you know what else?”

  Tizzy could hear his smile in the dark. “What?”

  “I wouldn’t even use my x-ray vision on her.” He laughed.

  “You always say the perfect thing.”

  Ridge shifted his body. “Let’s back up to the part about Jared Medina. I hope you cut him loose. It’s not good to keep him hanging if you’re not interested. You’re not . . . interested, are you?”

  “You really are a silly boy. No, I’m not interested, and yes, I cut him loose. He won’t be calling anymore.”

  Tizzy sat up, removed her gown, and rolled naked next to Ridge.