The Green-Eyed Doll

by Jerrie Alexander

  “I appreciate the offer. I’ll put my car in the shop soon. Until then, well, I’ve made it this far into the summer.” She stretched out her hand. “Friends?”

  The second he touched her, a blast of heat shot through her body. He was harder on her than the weather.

  “Always.”

  Catherine kept the topics light for the rest of lunch. Time spent with Matt was limited. She understood why. His mind never strayed far from work. On the way back to her car, she mentally chastised herself for not noticing how tired he looked.

  “Why don’t I fix your supper tomorrow night?”

  “I’m always available for free food.”

  “Good. Come around seven.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him, leaning into his solid chest when his hand cupped her chin. She’d never been this brazen. And out in broad daylight.

  Maybe Marty was right. Maybe two people could enjoy each other without things getting ugly. Maybe it was time to shorten the Never list.

  Along with regaining her pride and independence, a bolder, passionate woman had emerged. She liked this version of herself more every day. She pulled up to the stop sign and glanced back over her shoulder. What she’d have given for a camera.

  Standing exactly as he’d been when she’d arrived, Matt had leaned against his hood. He’d crossed his legs at the ankles and was rubbing his fingers and thumb together. It was her turn to smile. She had a mystery of her own to solve.

  Yep. He was officially off the Never list.

  Chapter Eleven

  Monday, August 21st, 10:00 a.m.

  Matt finished off a piece of Sue’s apple pie. “You’re too good to me. Nobody’s ever fed me like this.”

  He’d mark today down as successful. Minutes ago, he’d finished an open discussion with his small staff. He’d listened to their comments and was satisfied Ash Hunter would be welcomed.

  “Not even your mother?” Her expression clearly indicated she doubted him.

  “No, ma’am. Not even her.”

  “Well, she taught you proper manners. Didn’t she pass a couple of years back?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he exaggerated his drawl. “I moved home when she got sick. The year after, I ran for sheriff.”

  “Sorry I never met her. She did a good job raising you.” Her eyes sparkled with pride.

  “Did you know my dad?” Texas might be a big state but its politicians were a tight knit group. She’d lived and worked in Crest County too long not to have heard of Drew Ballard from one county over. Yet, she’d never mentioned him. Now that Matt had, he regretted it.

  “Knew of him. Hear folks talk, Hotchkiss County lost a good lawman when he died.”

  “So I’ve been told.”

  “Don’t remember hearing much about you. I’m guessing you hightailed it to the big city when you were still young.”

  “Right after high school.”

  “Lots of stories out there about him being a ladies’ man.” Sue cleared her throat. “But I never had first-hand knowledge.” She held her hand out for his plate. “Those kinds of rumors would be hard on a young boy. True or not, they’d hurt.”

  “No need to hedge. They weren’t rumors. He was proud of his reputation. I managed to grow up without his help.” He turned up his cup for a last swallow of coffee. “So, you think you can find temporary housing for Ash?”

  “Don’t see why not. I’ll call Curry Heights. They’ll probably laugh when I ask about a corporate apartment, but I’ll pull something together.”

  He held up a finger to stop her from leaving. “Why don’t I give you Ash’s number? You can talk directly with him.”

  “Works for me. I have a friend who lives in the Heights. If I can get him in there, she’ll help look out for him.”

  “He needs somebody to take care of him.” Matt held back a satisfied grin until Sue left the office. Ash Hunter would put a move on Sue the minute she got him on the phone. His old buddy was in for a real surprise.

  Matt read over his schedule for the day. Reporters from San Antonio and Austin had picked up the story about the second missing woman. He’d agreed to meet with the whole bunch later today. The mayors from Butte Crest and Curry were coming this morning. The forensic information on Julia Drummond, which Dr. Reinhardt had assured him were on a Federal Express truck, hadn’t come in the morning delivery. He hated being stuck in the office, but he wasn’t leaving until he’d read them. Matt finished his notes on his interviews and carried them to Sue to enter and send copies to Jake and Rey. She rose, followed him to his desk.

  He sat and looked up at her. “Did you follow me in here for a reason?” Always ready for a verbal sparring match, her eyes twinkled with mischief.

  “I’ve better things to do than follow you for no reason. I got your friend an apartment at Curry Heights. My friend Dotty and I contributed a few pieces of furniture.” She held up one small finger to silence him exactly as he’d done to her earlier. “Which you will collect and deliver.”

  “Thanks. I didn’t want him sleeping on my couch.

  “Not to worry. He’s all set up.” She turned to leave, stopping at the last minute. “That was a good thing you did, making Jake your Deputy Sheriff,” she commented. “Gained a lot of ground with your men when you promoted him.”

  “I did what should’ve already been done.” Matt shrugged off Sue’s compliment. “Have you told Ash about the apartment?”

  “Not yet. ” She left and returned seconds later with a FedEx package. “I’m calling him now.”

  Finally. Forensic evidence, Ash Hunter coming to lend a hand, and supper with Catherine...life looked pretty damn good.

  Jake would be in soon. Matt intended to send him out for a chat with Marty. Between Jake’s easy manner and Marty’s talkative nature, he’d get an earful about JC and Julia. Matt would stay and take on the news people. The TV station was interviewing friends and family of both women. Julia and Annie’s privacy was about to be laid open for the public to pick apart.

  A second discussion with JC? Matt reserved that pleasure for himself.

  He quickly moved to the small conference room, closed the door, and then sat down with the victim’s board directly in front of him. One jerk of the tape and he spread the contents of the package across the table. Matt studied sketches of the crime scene and diagrams of the area surrounding the body. Small details such as how many feet between the highway and the body were included. Copies of pictures taken at the scene and autopsy were clipped together. Pages full of medical and technical terms. He added the pictures to the board next to the ones his men had taken, studied them closely, then settled down to read.

  “Come,” he answered the light tap on the door, surprised to see over an hour had passed.

  “About time.” Jake pulled a chair out and accepted the pages Matt offered. “This is one of the hardest parts.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Reliving the crime scene. I hate this shit.”

  “Part of the job. Take a look and tell me what you think.” Matt let Jake study and absorb. Rey would get a chance and then Ash when he arrived. Matt hoped one of them would find something he’d missed. He pulled the diagrams of the roadside from the stack and spread them out. He and Jake read in silence, each concentrating, looking for that elusive clue.

  “So the forensic team and the autopsy came up empty? They found nothing we can use?” Jake spit the angry words out, rapid fire for a normally slow talker, like Sue’s typing, quick and firm. “Bastard’s not leaving anything behind.” He pushed his pages across to Matt.

  He waited a heartbeat for Jake to relax. “I read the interviews from Tanya’s list. Rey’s comfortable Mel Hamilton’s stayed out of trouble since his eighteen months in Huntsville. Your notes said the same about Danny Mason.”

  “I’ve known Danny for years. He was a tough kid. In and out of trouble, but he’s kept to himself since he came home. I watched his reaction when I showed up unexpectedly where he worked. Didn’t seem to bothe
r him.”

  “I’m going to do a second interview with Hamilton and Mason.” Matt moved quickly to explain. “Nothing against you or Rey, but they’re the only two on the list with criminal backgrounds.”

  “No offense taken. Mel Hamilton’s married now. His wife swore he was at home the night Julia went missing. What’d you think about Danny’s comment on JC and Julia? I don’t remember reading that JC mentioned them dating in your notes.”

  “A fact he left out. Talk to Marty. See what she knows about JC and Julia.”

  Jake’s smile stopped at his mouth. His eyes told another story, one of dislike for liars. Another reason Matt liked him. Trusted him.

  “Son-of-a-bitch lied to me. Now he’s gonna explain why. Besides, I need to get out in the field. You and Rey covered a lot of ground last week.”

  “Didn’t learn a damn thing. You’re not looking at Ben are you?”

  “Not particularly, but nobody gets a bye.”

  “I hear ya. But nothing points to him. Those two kids were putting money back. They wanted to start a family. He’s counting on us finding her.”

  “I’m counting on us, too.”

  “When’s Hunter arriving?”

  “I’ll bet he’s here by the weekend. He’s excited about meeting Sue.”

  Jake stopped in mid-motion. “How old is your friend?”

  “Don’t know. Thirty-five, maybe. Why?

  “He’s interested in Sue?”

  “Yep. To hear him tell it, they’ll be fast friends.” Matt gathered the forensic report and left the conference room with Jake right behind. He stopped when Jake’s hand gripped his arm.

  “You didn’t tell him she was old enough to be his mother? Maybe grandmother?”

  Matt frowned and pretended to think for a minute. “Must’ve slipped my mind.”

  Jake’s face lit up. “Gonna be interesting having you guys around.”

  Sue met them in the hall. “Sheriff, your appointments are in the lobby.”

  “On my way.” He followed her up front.

  The mayors wore Matt’s patience thin, but he understood their fear. He talked them through the investigation to date. Listed off where they had searched, named the neighborhoods, and covered the questions asked of friends and family. Hell, they’d all but turned over every rock and looked behind every mesquite tree in the county. Annie had vanished. Like Julia had. The newspaper reporters grilled Matt until he considered assigning all media meetings to his new deputy sheriff. But he wouldn’t, not a chance. It was his butt in the sling, and he’d take the abuse.

  “You heading out for the day?” Sue looked up from her keyboard and scowled like a principal who’d caught him playing hooky.

  “Yes and no. I’m driving out to JC Harper’s house. If he lies to me again, he and I may be back. If he convinces me I shouldn’t bring him in for questioning, I’ll head home from his place.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “Why I’m considering bringing him in? Or why I’m going home?” Her question caught him off guard. Sue pried about personal stuff all the time but usually waited to be brought into the loop on police matters.

  “He’s a good man. JC wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

  “He withheld information when we talked the first time. He conveniently omitted facts that might be important to the investigation. In my book, withholding is the same as lying. A vote of confidence from you carries a lot of weight with me, but this time it won’t help.”

  Sue nodded slightly. “Go get him. Man’s got to tell the truth, or he’s no good to anybody.”

  “Pity you’re not thirty years younger.”

  “Why, Sheriff, what would your new girlfriend think?”

  “I was thinking of Ash Hunter. He needs a good woman.”

  ****

  Monday, August 21st, 4:30 p.m.

  JC stood in the yard dragging a soaker-hose around the foundation of his house. He turned off the water, picked up his beer, and walked to meet Matt.

  “Sheriff.” JC drained the bottle and tossed it back toward the porch. “Back so soon? What’s up?”

  “We need to talk.” Matt got out and shook JC’s extended hand. “We can sit down here, or we can go to my office. Your call.”

  “Well, come inside. Too damn hot to stand out in the sun.” JC led the way up the sidewalk. “I guess it looked like I was watering the house. I read somewhere if you wet down the base, the foundation was less likely to crack.” He pulled a beer from the fridge and held one up to Matt.

  “No thanks. This isn’t a social call.” Matt had listened to JC’s idle chatter about the house. But the chitchat was over. “Why didn’t you tell me you and Julia dated?”

  JC stalled like a sailboat with a broken mainsail. Dead in the water. Speechless. He sat down hard. Matt waited less than a heartbeat, no use giving JC time to gather his thoughts.

  “She pissed you off when she dumped you. You decided to teach her a lesson, got carried away, and killed her.” Matt concentrated on JC’s reactions.

  “What?” JC blinked and shook his head. His shaggy brown hair whipped through the air like a dog shaking himself after a hard rain.

  Matt had his questions ready. He’d ask them rapid-fire. “What happened? You discover you liked torturing her? Is that why you snatched Annie?” He leaned forward. “Where is she, JC?”

  “You’re fucking crazy if you think I killed anybody.” JC’s hazel eyes were wide.

  The realization he might be accused of murder had snapped him out of his daze so Matt pushed.

  “Here’s your chance to set the record straight.” Matt kept his tone low and firm. “Start with the fact you dated Julia. You lie to me again, and I’ll arrest you for impeding a homicide investigation.”

  “That was a long time ago, man. Past history. She was too young for me. I knew it. She knew it. The whole thing didn’t last but a couple of months. I bought her stuff, and she liked getting presents. I think maybe that was all she liked about me.”

  “Go on.”

  “That’s all, man. I swear. I gave—she took.” JC dropped his head into his hands, rocking back and forth on the couch. “You think I’m capable of murder?”

  “Might not have if you hadn’t lied. Now I don’t trust anything you say. Should’ve told the truth in the beginning.”

  “Truth is, I didn’t kill her. And I damn sure didn’t ‘snatch’ anybody.”

  JC provided the details of his and Julia’s two-month affair. He came across as a man who’d been jilted. He sounded more resigned to the fact than resentful. He defended her morals, insisting he hadn’t noticed her hooking up with any of the men at the bar.

  “So you could see the dance floor from your work station?”

  “Okay. I lied about that. If we’re not busy and my head isn’t down in the beer cooler, I can see the dance floor. But if the joint’s full, I can’t see a damn thing for the people sitting at the bar. Besides, then I don’t have time.”

  “Who broke it off?”

  “Nobody really. She did, in a roundabout way. She had something else to do. Somewhere she had to be. Always busy when I had the night off. I didn’t have to be hit over the head.”

  “Any arguments at the end?”

  JC drained the beer he’d been holding and dropped the bottle to the floor. “No. Like I said we had a few dates. It ended.”

  “If I need a DNA sample from you, will I need a warrant?” There’d been no useable traces on Julia’s body according to the autopsy. The killer had scrubbed the body. Matt paid close attention to JC’s reaction.

  “Hell no.” He grabbed the empty bottle from the floor, spit in it, and held it out to Matt. “Here, take the damn thing. You can get a clear set of prints off the glass, too.”

  Matt never hesitated. He stuck his ballpoint pen into the open neck and held the bottle sideways to prevent dribbling spit on his hand.

  “Got a paper bag?”

  ****

  Monday, August 21st, 5:30 p.m.

/>   Danny Mason was one of the two men on the list of Julia’s acquaintances from the bar who’d been in prison. His rap sheet indicated he’d been paroled after spending three years in Huntsville for burglary of six residences. His crimes were nonviolent, but prison changed a person. Jake talked to Mason at his job. Matt decided to try the informal approach.

  He knocked on the door to apartment 409 but no one answered. He’d turned to leave when the curtain fluttered on 411. He might learn something about Mason from a neighbor, so he knocked.

  “Yes?” A female voice asked through the closed door.

  “Sheriff Matt Ballard, ma’am. May I ask you a few questions?”

  “You got any ID?”

  He held his picture identification up to the peephole. Seconds later, he heard tumblers fall, a dead bolt flip followed by the sound of a chain being unhooked, and a silver haired lady stood before him. Her eyes matched the blue jogging suit she wore under a loud yellow apron. She had the epitome of Texas big hair. It looked good on her.

  “Come in. Don’t stand there letting the cool air out.” She smiled and waved him inside. “Don’t think I’m senile for asking to see some ID. Just because you’re wearing a uniform don’t mean I’m opening the door.” A nod followed her declaration. “I watch Law and Order. I know all the tricks.”

  “You can’t be too cautious.” He suppressed a smile. “I’m glad you checked.”

  “Follow me. I’ve got a plate full of hot, homemade cookies fresh out of the oven.”

  “Yes, ma’am, Ms...” The aroma of heart and home filled the small apartment.

  “Name’s Dorothy Whitley. Call me Dotty.”

  Matt found himself surround by ducks. Ceramic ones of every size and shape decorated her small kitchen. A glass duck’s head full of milk and a plate of sugar cookies were placed in front of him. “I actually came to see your neighbor, Danny Mason. I can’t seem to catch him at home.”

  “Sit. Eat,” she commanded. “What do you want to see him for?”

  “I’m speaking with everyone who knew Julia Drummond. The young woman who—”

  “I heard about her. That gal on the news said we women should take extra caution when we went out. You say young Danny knew the dead girl?” She pushed his plate closer to him. “Eat your cookies.”