“I know I can trust you to keep me safe, Sheriff,” I added for good measure, along with a bit of wide-eyed wonder. Now Tully and Zig were truly incredulous but then they knew me better than the sheriff, although the sheriff wasn’t looking too impressed either.
“Good. In the meantime, before you go back to the city, you best keep your doors locked and if you see anybody around here you call me right away.”
“But I still don’t understand. What does this person look like?” I asked. “So I’ll know if the man I saw is the one you’re looking for.”
His eyes lit up. “So you have seen someone?”
“No,” I told the sheriff. Lying to authority is a congenital failing in the Jenkins family, like some fatal illness that runs rampant through the genes. I could be standing beside a threecar pile up, covered in blood, and if a cop asked if I’d been in an accident, I’d say, “Why whatever gave you that idea?
Everything’s fine officer, nothing happening here.” It came in my mother’s milk and now the denial just popped out before I thought about it.
But my reaction was caused by more than coming from a family of liars. Sheriff Hozen wasn’t looking too honest himself. He was more interested in capturing this stranger than finding out what had happened to Howie or identifying a murderer. What could this stranger have done that was worse than the killing of Lucan Percell? What was worse than murder?
I said, “But just in case I do see him, I just wondered what this stranger would look like.”
The sheriff frowned. He wasn’t happy to be giving out information. “Hispanic — we’re looking for a guy from Guatemala. If you see him don’t go near him, just get away and call for help. He’s armed and dangerous.” Armed and dangerous described Boomer and the sheriff. It started to rain — just like that, while the sun was still shining, as if someone had turned on a shower. We all looked up at the sky, transfixed for a moment by something other than death. The rain fell straight down out of a clear sky, the first moisture we’d seen in a month.
“Won’t last,” the sheriff said. We nodded in agreement, still watching the rain fall.
“When can I get my truck back?” I asked. “I can’t go home without it.”
The sheriff said, “I’ll check and see if all the forensics are done. I’ll have it washed and brought back to you right away so you can get back to Jacaranda.”
The sound of the rain pounding on the tin roof of the porch grew louder and made more conversation impossible, but the sheriff was done with us anyway. He waved a hand at us and raced to his car, peeling away and sending mud flying out in a rooster tail behind him. The three of us trailed inside.
“You want Jimmy’s truck back?” Tully asked, closing the door and shutting out some of the noise of the downpour.
“We’re short two vehicles. You and I can share it until you get another.”
“But you’re really going to drive around in a truck that had a dead body in it?”
“It’s not like the body was riding around in the cab with me.”
Tully said, “You might want to think about replacing Jimmy’s truck.”
“My truck, and why?”
“Just seems a little strange,” put in Uncle Ziggy, opening the fridge for another beer.
I grinned at them. “Kinda gives me a dangerous edge don’t you think?”
Tully said, “Don’t know about dangerous, but if you go driving that truck again you’ll be officially over the edge.”
CHAPTER 33
Marley and I set off with a list of must-haves from town while Tully and Zig wired up the chandelier. Clearing off while the two screw-ups had at it was a little cowardly, but self-preservation won out. I was giving odds that they’d have the house burnt down before we got back but Marley wouldn’t take the bet, seemed she thought it was likely too.
“Let’s see the list,” I said as I pulled the safety belt around me.
Marley dug it out of the pocket of her jeans and handed it over.
“Polish — one, two, three different kinds, silver, furniture, granite — who knew there were so many? There’s a lot I have to learn, isn’t there? This party is…” I didn’t get any further with my worries because we were at the end of the lane and a car from the sheriff’s department blocked our path. Marley, always impatient and focused, laid on the horn even though the deputy was already getting out of his car and coming back to talk to us.
It was Deputy Quinn. He broke into a smile when he saw Marley.
He leaned on the open window and said, “Hello again.”
Marley responded, “Hello to you too — now get out of my way.”
“Just want to check your car, miss. We’re looking for a real bad fella and we want to make sure he isn’t trying to sneak away in anyone’s car. Would you mind opening your trunk?”
“Yes I would. We are still living in the United States of America, aren’t we?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Then you have no right to search anyone’s vehicle just willy-nilly.”
“Willy-nilly?” I asked. “Where the hell did he come from?”
“I need to look in your trunk, miss, it’s my job.”
“Seems he isn’t looking for Willy, Marley. Just pop the trunk and let’s get on with it.”
She frowned, her sense of injustice battling with her desire to get back to her primary goal of house beautiful, but she pulled the trunk lever and Deputy Quinn went to search it while we turned in our seats to watch. We waited for something exciting to happen but Deputy Quinn slammed the trunk and came back to the window. “Have a nice day, ma’am.” His smile was big and warm, as if he’d like to help make her day.
“Nice butt and he likes you,” I told Marley as we watched him stroll back to his cruiser. “Don’t be silly,” Marley snapped.
“Why are you so sure you’ll never meet another man, that David was all there will ever be for you?”
“Why do you want Jimmy’s truck back?” She always wins.
As we pulled onto the highway watching the cruiser in the side mirror, I told Marley, “He’s following us.”
“Why?” Marley wondered. “What in hell is going on?”
“I think he’s following you. He likes them mean and nasty. I think he still hasn’t gotten over his last little up close and personal with you.”
She wasn’t laughing. Her eyes searched the rearview. “What’s going on, Sherri? This is starting to freak me out.”
“Me too. Why don’t you go back to Jacaranda?”
“Are you coming?”
“Think we can get Tully and Ziggy to come with us?” I said.
“No.”
“That’s what I thought too.”
Marley asked, “You’re staying because they’re staying, right?”
“Guess so.”
“Then I’m staying too.” She checked the rearview again. “He’s still following us.”
“He’s in love.”
“And you’re crazy.”
Actually I was happy to have him following us. If I met up with Boomer, having a sheriff’s deputy on the scene might make that crazy bastard think twice about acting out, that’s if the whole sheriff’s department hadn’t been told to stay out of Boomer’s face. How deep did the corruption go? How big a hold did Breslau have on Sheriff Hozen? Seemed the Breslaus might get to do whatever they wanted around Independence.
With all kinds of bad men I didn’t want to meet at the back of Riverwood and being watched and searched at the front of the property, I was feeling caught in a net that was slowly closing. And I didn’t even know why.
The deputy left us at the town limits, near a small Mexican cantina/grocery store with a tilting sign that said Tiena Mexicana. The cantina was cuddled up against a discount store selling everything from cowboy boots to dish towels.
This general store was Marley’s first stop. They literally had it all; some of it rested in huge cardboard boxes in the middle of the floor until someone wanted what the box contained enough to dig for it. It looked like Western wear and leather gloves were only beaten out by cheap foodstuffs and housewares as the hot items. I picked up a half-dozen sets of small glass salt-and-pepper shakers to put out on the buffet but Marley had a cartload of stuff for which I paid.
The good news was that when we got back to Riverwood Tully and Ziggy had finished hanging the chandelier. They had it lit up and the house was still standing — no smell of smoke, no crackling noises. They were so excited I figured they were as surprised as we were by this.
Marley didn’t leave any time for congratulations. She had us right back to work unpacking the last boxes. I sorted out the crystal drops for the chandelier, washing and polishing them.
I was drying baubles when someone called, “Hello,” from the front door.
Marley and I looked at each other. She shrugged and dove back into a box. Nothing was as interesting as what was hiding among the paper and she was ripping off newspaper and setting the contents of the box on the floor around her before the next hello came.
I peeked around the entrance to the dining room. April Donaldson stood in the front doorway. “I brought the dog,” she said, looking around and taking in the chaos. “Come in.” I set the crystals down on the table.
April had actually combed her hair but her eyes were still hollow and red-rimmed.
“Why? Why did you bring the dog?”
“My sister called, didn’t expect it but she’d heard about Lucan and thought I might want to come up and spend some time with them. Can’t really show up with a dog, can I? And I’m not really a dog person; don’t know what to do with him.”
I was going back to Jacaranda. I wanted the dog like I wanted chiggers but you can’t say no to someone in April’s situation, at least not if you’re Ruth Ann Jenkins’ daughter. “All right,” I agreed, my voice full of reluctance.
I followed her down the steps to her beat-up old Honda. The back seat was filled with suitcases and boxes. It didn’t look like she was planning on coming back anytime soon. “Did you tell the sheriff you’re leaving?” I asked.
“No.” She opened the door of the car. “Why should I?”
“He might want to know.” But then, if the old guys at the service station already knew she was going, and knew where she was going, the sheriff probably did as well.
I looked into the front seat where the dog was pretending I couldn’t see him, hunkered down like he was expecting blows. “Well, are you coming out or not?” I asked.
He was beside me in one bound, shaking and trembling and leaning up against me like he just couldn’t get close enough. I stroked his head, telling him he was in for a helluva life if he chose to stay with me. He didn’t seem to dislike the idea, just stuck onto me like he was glued right to my leg.
“Will you be back for the funeral?” I asked April, figuring I might get a second chance to ditch the animal.
She frowned. “I called the sheriff’s office to see when they were going to release Lucan’s body. They didn’t know.”
“Want me to call you if I hear anything?” She nodded, “I’ll give you my sister’s number up in Gainesville.” She opened her purse and wrote down a number, handing it over to me. “How much does it cost to bury someone? I don’t have much money put away.”
“Maybe the Breslaus will help out. After all, Lucan worked for them.”
“He only worked when the gates were closed.”
“What?” It sounded like her mind was doing backflips but she was looking away from me and worrying her lip.
Her eyes came back to mine. “Always told me if I saw those gates closed to go right on home and stay put. Never knew why but I think you better do the same. Stay away from them people, especially when the gates are closed.”
“Have you heard something in town? Heard about Boomer and me having a little trouble?”
“Oh, God no, you didn’t? Get away from here. Lucan said Boomer was real crazy, not just normal disturbed but real dangerous crazy. Lucan hated him and was afraid for Kelly, said what he was going to do if Boomer Breslau came near his daughter again. That’s why, well, why I was surprised that it was Lucan who died. Should have been Boomer. I really thought Luc would kill him to keep Kelly safe. The way Boomer has been acting that’s what it will take to keep him off that girl. Luc was real scared for her. He even talked to Lovey about sending Kelly away to a private girl’s school to finish high school. It was going to cost a lot of money but Lucan figured it was the only way he could protect her. Well, that or Lucan was going to have to kill Boomer.”
“You think Boomer killed Lucan?”
“Maybe, but if it was Boomer who killed Luc, no one is ever going to charge him. Luc said the sheriff was as dirty as the Breslaus were. Whatever bad things are happening, the sheriff is involved. You stay well out of their way and stay away from Boomer.” She was getting agitated, trying to convince me. “Just stay away from them all, you hear?”
“Don’t worry about me. I know how to look out for myself, although this place is turning out to be worse than most of the bars I’ve hung out in — but with a lot less to drink.” She almost smiled. “Still, you watch out.”
I nodded and said, “I’ll keep your dog for now but if you decide you want him back you just swing on by.”
“Okay,” she said brightly, nodding her head in agreement as she got into the car.
“What’s his name?” I asked as her car coughed to life.
“Whose?”
“The dog’s.”
“I don’t know, just Dog. Luc just called him the dog, never heard nothing else.”
I raised my hand to wave as she backed the car around and headed off.
“Okay, Dog, looks like it’s you and me.” I stroked his head. He seemed to like it. At least well enough not to bite my hand off.
“Sure you don’t want to run after her?” I asked Dog, who was still leaning on my leg. He looked up at me and yawned with an open mouth that showed off all his teeth. “Bored with my jokes already?” I asked him. He seemed disinterested but I went on petting him anyway.
Tully was making his way back from the bunkhouse where he’d gone for a quiet nap, daily naps being only one of the things that were worrying me about Tully.
“Look what I got, a genuine dog.”
“And an ugly one at that,” he replied.
“Now don’t you go disparaging my animal. I don’t let nobody bad mouth you, although heaven knows there are plenty of reasons to do that, so nobody’s going to dis my dog.”
“Has it got a name?”
“Yup, didn’t I just say it?”
“What?”
“Dog.”
“But what’s his name?”
“His name is Dog.”
“You have got to be kidding. First he’s an ugly brown dog with a tail too long, to say nothing of his legs that look like they belong to one of those things we’re feeding in the barn. Every bone in his body shows through his skin and now you give him a name like that.” He shook his head and headed for the house.
“Be careful,” I warned Tully, “Marley is looking for someone to polish more silver. I’d like to see that, like to see you polishing stuff.”
“Tell her to get Dog to do it,” he said and kept on going.
CHAPTER 34
“Are we ever going to get this done?” I asked. Boxes were everywhere and although the furniture was sitting where Marley thought it belonged it was looking bedraggled and haphazard. Marley had declared it all needed vacuuming and polishing. The kitchen counters were still covered with silver to polish.
“Of course we will,” Marley said. “You just get on your dancing shoes and move.”
; “I’ll get some real good music for you, that’s what we need, some good music for dancing. It’ll help us work too,” Ziggy said and hurried away.
Marley watched him hustle out the door and asked, “Does he take everything literally?”
“Pretty much. Just don’t say ‘Break a move,’ or he’ll be looking for something to destroy.”
“I love that man,” Marley said, diving into a box. On her knees, she stopped digging through paper and looked back at me. “And I love this place, love Independence.”
“Girl, you are crazier than I ever knew. This is one weird place, people getting murdered, psychopaths on the doorstep and now mutant dogs.”
“Do you think Boomer Breslau is a psychopath?”
“Oh yeah, the poster boy.”
Ziggy’s music turned out to be the greatest hits of the sixties, his old-fashioned boombox blasting out Creedence Clearwater Revival.
“Now that’s what I call music,” Tully said, grinning with delight.
“‘Proud Mary’ was an old girlfriend of yours, was she?” I asked.
“Tad hard to remember them all but I’m sure there was one named Mary.”
“I’m sure there was too,” I agreed.
Tully took the empty box I handed him. “The great thing about a misspent youth is it gives you something to think about when that’s all that’s left for you to do. Man, I’d sure hate it if those years were boring.”
The work may not have gone faster with the music but it was a lot more fun. Things just got better when Zig started to do a solo performance to “Lookin’ Out My Back Door.” It was a bit like a hippo ballet but I sure got to say it really did lighten the mood. As he jerked his head and tiptoed around the room, in what looked a lot like the beginning of a convulsion, Marley went into spasms of laughter.
An hour later, when Marvin Gaye was growling out “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” I was standing on the table hanging the last of the crystal drops on the chandelier.
Champagne for Buzzards Page 15