“Isn’t she a beauty? It’s mine. I’ve restored it and keep it in a rented hangar near our small airfield a few miles from here. I fly at least twice a week. It’s a great feeling of exhilaration to be up there in the clouds.”
“Ms. Jessup, I know the former sheriff talked to you about these murders,” Todd said.
“Oh, I’m being so rude to you, Flip. It was your brother who recently died. I’m so sorry. We here are such a close family. I can’t imagine any of us being gone for good. I shouldn’t say that. Billy left here years ago, and I haven’t seen him since.”
“Why did he leave?” Todd asked.
“Even as a little kid he was the restless one, always curious about new things. I know this town would never satisfy him. Milly, Gilly, and I are more internal. We can spend an entire day on the internet. Billy wasn’t like that. He always wanted to do things, and here in Calypso there isn’t much to do.”
“I hate to tell you this, ma’am, but your brother was murdered.”
“Gosh almighty. Harold finally got him.”
“Harold?”
“Harold Zion. They went to school together and had constant conflicts, always fighting. When they were teens Harold beat up Billy so badly he put him in the hospital for a week.”
“Does Harold still live here in Calypso?”
“Not anymore. He was a good football player. I guess he liked beating up the opponents on the field. He won a scholarship to Notre Dame and he stayed in South Bend. I don’t know what he does there, but he never came back here.”
Todd was having trouble getting to the main reason he was there. “Ms. Jessup, when Sheriff Carbon interviewed you he made some notes. I want to talk to you about what he wrote down. He said there was some competition between you and Lulu, Ma Blessing’s daughter.”
“You mean that beauty contest? I wasn’t intending there to be a rivalry. It just turned out that way. Yes, we both were entered. She won, and I finished second. So what? Those were the days when I was healthier. I haven’t felt so good lately. I should go to the doctor. Anyway, I tried and lost, no big deal. It wasn’t her fault that she was prettier than I was. I tell you what I hated, though, was Ma Blessing rubbing it in. For a week after, she mentioned it every time she saw me. The same with the drag racing. I did that for fun, something exciting. Lulu had a better car. Ma lorded over me about that also. I got tired of her comments and one day in the General Store I said she had no right to talk since she was having that affair with Walt Fosdick. Clem was right there when I said it. I didn’t care.”
Todd noticed there still seemed to be anger about Ma even years later. He said that thought out loud.
“You’re darn right I’m still angry. That whole family is nothing but white trash, thinking they’re so superior.”
“You’re talking yourself into being a suspect for the Blessing and Fosdick murders.”
“I’m glad both of them are dead, but I didn’t kill them. As a matter of fact, I’ll tell you were I was last May 10th when Walt was murdered. In the hospital. I hadn’t been eating well. The doctor called it anorexia and said I was trying too hard to control my life by controlling what I ate. I thought it was a bunch of bull. I never went back to him.”
“I noticed you haven’t eaten any of your cupcakes.”
“They’re too fattening. I have to watch what I eat. Now are we done with this conversation?”
“Yes, we are. Thank you for your time.”
Back in the car, Todd said, “Flip you were quiet the entire time. What were you thinking?”
“I’m thinking that woman is a little wacky. She’s much more competitive than she’s letting on. She wanted so badly to beat Lulu in both the beauty contest, and the car racing. She might have been angry enough to kill Ma and Walt. It would be good to check her hospital alibi.”
They did that, immediately driving the six miles to County General. When Todd told the lady at the desk it was a murder investigation she let him look at the records for last May 10th. It was true that Lily was in there that day, but she hadn’t checked herself in until a little past noon. The murder was two hours earlier, plenty of time to do it and try to get an alibi. The lady remembered Lily because she was so nervous. “Well, Flip,” Todd said, “either Lily’s eating disorder was bothering her that day, or her nerves were on edge because she had just killed someone. I’m keeping her as a suspect.”
“I agree. Maybe it was the only way she could win to make her feel good about herself.”
“I’m also keeping that Harold Zion in mind for my own case back in Philly. After we get through interviewing the Jessup family I may take a ride out to South Bend to talk to that fellow.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Flip told Todd that Willy Jessup was always at that gas station. “We should interview him next, and then we can come back to talk to Gilly when he gets back from the store.”
Todd was glad Flip was showing some responsibility, even if it was only planning the things they would do next. It seemed he was gaining a small bit of independence. Todd certainly wasn’t going to stay in Calypso forever, and maybe Flip could eventually take over the Sheriff duties.
At the gas station Willy had gone formal today wearing a shirt. Even his bib overalls were replaced by regular straight legged- jeans with holes. The jeans did not seem to be a fashion statement; probably they were just very old worn out pants that had sustained rips. The pants looked to be two sizes too small causing Willy to bulge out of them. Todd could see why he might not be a hit on the dating scene.
While Willy was filling the car back up, Todd got out to talk with him. “I hear you repair cars also here.”
“Yep. Best repair service in the state.”
“That’s not what Walt Fosdick said.”
“Why do you bring him up? The fool is dead. He can’t hurt me anymore.”
‘It seems he was hurting you with his lawsuit.”
“You’re damn right he was. People stopped coming here for repairs. I think he was just plumb drunk and drove off the road. The car was so smashed up, no one could prove anything about the brakes. The judge threw out the case. But Fosdick wouldn’t stop. He appealed the case. Ma Blessing was a passenger and she decided to sue me for supposed injuries she received. I saw her walking around town three days after the accident, and she looked fine.”
“But now neither one can bother you anymore because they’re both dead.”
“Hey, why the hell are you talking about this?”
“I’ve taken over for Sheriff Carbon. I’m working with his brother there in the passenger seat.”
“That’s like being helped by a snail in a race. When Larry talked to me, I didn’t like his attitude. He was practically accusing me of killing Blessing and Fosdick. Both of them had many more enemies in town than me.”
“Give me an example.”
“The one closest to home was my brother, Gilly. He used to own that General Store when that’s all the building was used for. Ma Blessing wanted to rent the upstairs out for rooms. She came to Gilly to ask him if she could lease that portion of the building. He agreed and they shook on the deal. A few days later Gilly signed the papers. We found out later what he was signing was really a deed to the whole property. That contract said Ma Blessing owned the entire building. Gilly trusted her and didn’t look closely at the wording. He tried to get the deal overturned, but the judge said Gilly had signed the paper. Case closed. Gilly was angry for months after.”
“Was he angry enough to kill Ma Blessing?”
“Yes, he was that angry, but he didn’t do it. He was at my place that night and the entire next day sleeping off our drinking spree.”
“It’s convenient that both of you are an alibi for each other.”
“Now you’re acting just like Larry did, accusing me. You know what happened to him.”
“Is that a threat?”
“Take it the way you want to. Now pay up and get out of here.”
Driving back to t
he Jessup compound, Todd told Flip about his conversation. “I can add a little bit to that,” Flip said. “Two days after Walt was murdered, Willy was in the bar putting down too many cold ones telling everyone how good it was that Fosdick was dead. He wasn’t admitting he did it, but he kept bringing it up as if he had some kind of first-hand knowledge of what happened. He said Fosdick got paid back just like Ma Blessing had a year earlier. He connected their two deaths, not to the exact time, but that they got what they deserved. It sounded very personal.”
“Let’s talk to Gilly and see what he says. We’re back here now.”
Milly again answered the door. “He’s out in back. Just walk around.”
A broad shouldered man with buzz-cut short hair was hefting an ax at some logs. He was shirtless, and his arm and back muscles rippled with every swing. He had to be a half foot taller than Todd. Even without the ax this man looked menacing. He was attacking that woodpile like he was in a war and it was a life-and-death struggle.
“Mr. Jessup,” Todd said. “Gilly, could we talk to you for a few minutes?”
The man did not stop chopping.
Flip tried in his usual abrupt manner. “Mr. Jessup, you’re being rude to your guests.”
For those words he got a glaring look but nothing else. Finally after five more minutes with the pile neatly cut, the man stopped and walked toward them. He did not put down the ax. Todd touched the gun in his pocket.
“You fellas have to learn not to disturb a man while he’s working.” He stuck the ax into the ground three feet away from where they were standing. “The missus told me you were coming, and I told her to tell you to leave. I didn’t want to talk to you. Just like usual, Milly did what her own mind told her to do. That woman doesn’t listen to nobody. Anyway, here you are, so talk.”
“We were just out at the gas station having a conversation with your brother. He told us about Ma Brightly cheating you out of that property.”
“That woman had a heart of ice. I guess she has done some good taking care of that kid, Hiram, for a time, but she’s a conniver. Really, though, it was my fault. I should have read the papers better. But aren’t we supposed to trust some people in life? Anyway she got what she deserved.”
“Did you see to it that she got paid back?” Todd ventured.
The man gave a slight smile, stepped forward and with both hands pushed Todd backwards. He sprawled down into the dust. Flip backpedaled out of range as fast as he could.
Gilly stood over Todd. “I don’t cotton to no insults. Say you’re sorry.”
Todd wasn’t in any position to argue. “I apologize, Gilly.”
“That’s better. Now let me help you up.” Todd was hesitant to reach out his hand, but he did so. Gilly pulled him back up like he weighed five pounds.
“Let’s get one thing clear, the both of you. I’m not a killer. If I have any frustrations, I come back out here and do a little wood chopping. Then, it’s like a miracle; my anger is gone. That’s the whole story about me. Now if you fellas will excuse me, I have to go into the house for some grub.”
Flip gave the man a wide berth as he passed.
“Todd, he assaulted you. You should arrest him.”
“I think he felt truly insulted. Besides, I don’t think he had anything to do with Ma Brightly or Walt Fosdick’s deaths.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I tried to provoke him on purpose. I wanted to see how he would react.”
“He reacted violently.”
“Yes, but it was totally physical. He pushed me. The chopping was physical. That man would not have used a gun to kill Blessing or Fosdick. He would have strangled each of them with his bare hands. I’m not going to arrest him for what he just did because I want the Jessups on our side. They’re smart people, and because they’re on the outside they have maybe the best perspective on what’s been happening in the town the last few years. I’m not finished talking with them.”
“I guess that makes sense.”
“However, the main reason I didn’t try to arrest Gilly right there was because the man was straddling my prone body with an axe nearby. I’m not a coward, but neither am I stupid.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“Where to now?” Flip asked.
“I want to talk again with Lulu.”
“Oh, good, I’ll be able to see her again.”
“Sorry to disappoint you, Flip, but you’re too gaga over her. You could mess up the interview by blurting out something just to please the lady. Real detectives and cops don’t want to date their suspects. So I’m going to drop you off back at your place.”
“Why do you want to talk with her?”
“It’s connected to my murder case in Philadelphia. The Jessup who left town—Billy. Remember your brother Larry in his notebook said he’d interviewed Lulu about what Walt Fosdick had done to Billy.”
“Yeah, I remember. Getting the drunk Billy minus his clothes and driving him far out of town so that the naked guy had to hitchhike back. That would have really pissed me off.”
“Possibly that’s how Billy felt, and perhaps he was the one who killed Walt. I’m not a hundred per cent sure these killings are connected. The exact times thing is to just throw us off the track. If Billy did kill Walt, possibly there is a friend of Fosdick’s who wanted payback. That friend went to Philly and killed Billy.”
“I don’t know any of Walt’s friends,” Flip said.
“That’s my point. When I first talked with Lulu she was bartending across the street from the General Store. She told me that Walt let her do that every now and then, so they must have had some connection. I’m not thinking an intimate connection, but at least they could talk to each other. She might know some of Walt’s friends and who could have wanted revenge for his killing.”
“I see your thinking.”
“Also, when that embarrassing incident happened to Billy, Lulu was the only person he told about it. She can tell me whether Billy himself wanted revenge against Fosdick for having done the prank. She could tell me what Billy’s state of mind was at that time.”
“There’s thinking involved in being a detective. I’m not sure I’m up to that.”
“Don’t undervalue yourself, Flip. If this were totally your case, you would have had thoughts similar to mine.”
“I hope so.”
“Speaking of thinking, one thing that’s come back into my brain is when you mentioned that with Larry’s death you now felt alone in your apartment. I should have asked back then, what was Larry doing living in your apartment? He had a wife and a home.”
“A month ago Larry asked me if he could stay at my place for a little bit of time. He didn’t say why or for how long. I said sure and he moved some of his stuff in, but not the winter clothes, so I don’t think he was planning a long stay. I kept pestering him for the reason, and he finally told me that he and Wendy were not getting along. He wouldn’t talk any further about it.”
“See, Flip, you noticed that Larry didn’t bring his winter stuff and you drew a conclusion from it. That’s thinking. You’ll be fine as the new sheriff.”
“Maybe.”
“No maybe about it. You’ve got what it takes. After I talk with Lulu I’ll want to talk to Wendy about why she and Larry had separated. I’ll pick you back up, and you can come out for the Wendy meeting.”
“You don’t suspect her of killing anyone, do you?”
“That’s another rule of detective work. EVERYONE is a suspect, no matter how little you think it. Don’t count out anyone. We’re all capable of killing.”
Lulu was still tending bar and taking care of the upstairs people. Two of those people were sitting at the bar in their underwear having a drink. They were not bothered when Todd appeared. “We’re just taking a break,” the man said.
“I didn’t need the break,” the woman said. “You did. You’re not as young as you used to be.”
Todd was not going to inquire about any more information from
them.
The couple took final gulps and then with their arms around each other headed back up the stairs.
“Isn’t love wonderful,” Todd said. “How long has that relationship been going on?”
“First of all, it’s not love; it’s sex. And secondly, from what they told me, their relationship began just a month after each of them got married to other people. They met at the gym working-out. Now they work out upstairs. I’m never getting married.”
“Some marriages work out beautifully.”
“I haven’t heard about many of those.”
“Why I’m here, Lulu, is to ask you about Billy Jessup, and especially the incident of him being the naked hitch-hiker.”
She didn’t smile at the memory. “Billy was really upset about that. He felt so humiliated. One of his rides was a past teacher of his, a female. He wanted to refuse the ride, but no one had picked him up for an hour so he accepted her kind offer. He rode naked in the back seat. He said the conversation was very awkward. He was very angry at Walt for having done the prank.”
“Was he angry enough to have killed him?”
“Oh, I never thought about it. Well, Billy said he could kill the guy, but people say that all the time. I suppose it’s possible. Billy was still upset about it weeks later.”
“See, the case I’m investigating that brought me out here is about Billy’s murder in Philadelphia. My reasoning was if Billy did kill Fosdick, then one of his friends here could have gotten revenge and killed Billy. Who were some of Walt’s friends in Calypso?”
She thought for a few moments. “Walt, as the bartender, was very friendly, but that was just for the purposes of work. In his personal life, I can think of maybe three people he hung around with. Two of them I’ve already eliminated in my mind because they’re so damn lazy they wouldn’t ever leave this area. But there is one guy who could have done it. Irwin Tanner. When I help out at the bar, Walt would talk about him. They knew each other from second grade on. Irwin was very loyal to Walt because he bailed him out of many situations with the playground bullies. Also just a year before Walt’s death he did some other bailing out. Irwin had gotten in trouble with the law because he had done some robberies breaking into homes in the area. Walt first put up some bail money, and then got him a good lawyer who got him off with six months of house arrest and paying back the money he’d taken. Irwin would come in here after Walt’s death and tell me what a loss it was to him to not have his good friend anymore. Talk to him.”
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