by Judy Kentrus
Her confession was music to his ears. “I’m always available to make love with you.” He had no problem tending to her female hormones, and planned to pull into the deserted quarry before they went home.
She raised the arm rest between the seats. “I was sitting too far away,” she happily announced, and snuggled her head on his shoulder.
“I like this position better.” He lifted his arm and brought it around her shoulders.
“Hmmm, you’re right. Don’t worry I won’t cite you for driving with one hand.”
“Always a cop. Earlier, you mentioned Scott and Russell. There’s been a change for Saturday’s fishing party. Their wives, Julie and Alexis, AKA my character references, are also coming. I’d like you to join us. Edie will be fishing, along with Scott’s son Billy and his two seven-year-old daughters, Susan and Victoria. It will be fun. You want to know about my life. My friends are a vital part of the past eighteen years.”
“I’d like that. Should I bring something?”
“Yourself and a bathing suit.” Linc tightened his arm and kissed the top of her head.
“Does the Linc Mobile have a decent sound system?” Jess asked, punching the button on the dash.
When there was no response, she felt Linc stiffen and she sat up. “What?”
His attention was half focused on the small screen on the front of his dash. “We have company, and they’re moving pretty fast.”
Jessie, too, watched the speeding truck that was getting much too close for comfort. “You have a camera in the back of the truck?”
“Among other things you don’t want to know about or you might have to arrest me.”
“Okay, I won’t ask.” Jess’s heart was racing. “Oh, shit, Lincoln, he’s planning to ram us!”
“That’s what he’d like to do. Get back to the other side and fasten your seatbelt.” Urgency filled Linc’s voice. “Hold tight, Shortcake and yell ‘Yee haw!’” Linc punched the red button on the dash and the truck shot forward like a speeding bullet, passing ninety miles per hour in seconds.
Everything happened so quickly. Jessie’s body was thrown back against the seat and she gripped the panic handle. “What the hell was that?” she asked, when she got her breath back.
“A shot of nitrous oxide. Ever seen the movie The Fast and the Furious?”
“This is a jet plane on four wheels! We’ve reached the outskirts of Laurel Heights, so I’m calling this in. I’ll watch the screen. You keep your eye on the road. Give me a location.”
“Yes, Sergeant Taylor. We’re at the split and bearing onto Laurel Heights Road. I hope I don’t get arrested for speeding and reckless driving!”
“Ha! Ha!” Jess punched in the direct number to headquarters.
“Laurel Heights Police Department, Patty speaking.”
“Dispatch, this is Sergeant Taylor. I’m on Laurel Heights Road riding in Lincoln Adams’ Silver F-150, heading into town. I need immediate back up. We are being pursued by a construction grade dump truck, dark in color. No front plate. He attempted to ram us, but we were able to put distance between him and us.”
“Sergeant, all the cars are tied up on calls. We’ll send backup as soon as possible.”
“Thanks, Patty. If there is any change in our circumstances, I’ll call you back.”
The truck was already slowing down from its shot of instant power, and Jessie breathed a sigh of relief. She kept her eyes glued to the screen, but everything was pitch black. “You heard. All cars are tied up. Where did that son-of-a-bitch go?”
Linc eased back a little more on the accelerator and pushed the replay button on the recording device. “Check the footage from when the truck was practically crawling up our asses. I saw that truck this morning parked in Buford’s driveway. It was attached to Clyde Thornton’s box trailer.”
“He wouldn’t pull a stunt like that and risk his parole.” Jess reviewed the footage. “You’re right. I caught part of a decal of Clydesdale horses. It’s too dark to make out the driver.”
“He mentioned that he works at the elementary school part-time in the evenings, collecting garbage and doing the floors. Is that even legal?”
“There was some objection in the beginning. Harvey Thornton is president of the board of education and said Clyde would be in the building after hours.”
“Why was he sent to prison?”
“He was charged with manslaughter. Then, out the blue, a witness came forward and said the other guy attacked Clyde first. He had claimed self-defense from the very beginning. He was released with time served, and we’ve never had any problems with him. He does his job at the school and volunteers his time to help Mr. B. maintain the church grounds.”
“Am I seeing a pattern here? He’s around the school and the church where we found two dead bodies? He’s strong enough to carry a body and has lots of shovels. He might have just tried to ram us.”
“I hope you’re wrong. He’s a little slow, but I can’t see him deliberately killing a person. Just to be on the safe side.” Jess reached for her phone. “Dispatch, Sergeant Taylor.”
“Dispatch, go ahead. If you still need back up, Lorenzo and Bowll just finished with the accident scene in front of the town square. The reconstruction is drawing a lot of attention, and people are not watching where they’re driving.”
“Cancel. The vehicle is no longer following us. Put out a BOLO on Clyde Thornton. If he’s spotted, let me know. I have some questions regarding an on-going case.”
“Did you say Clyde Thornton?”
“That’s affirmative.”
“No need for a BOLO. He’s sitting in the cubicle talking to Sergeant Carrington. He was a witness to an accident and came in voluntarily to give a statement.”
“How long has he been there?”
“Almost an hour. All the other cars were tied up so Sergeant Carrington came in to take his statement.”
“Thanks, Patty. Hold on to him. We’re coming directly into headquarters to file an incident report.” Jess stared at Lincoln. “Clyde has been in police headquarters for the past hour. So, who was driving his truck fast enough to want to push us off the road?”
“Good question. Would you mind if I sit in on the interview?”
“No problem, but let me ask the questions.”
Clyde was sitting in a hard chair across from the dispatcher’s station when they arrived at police headquarters. Someone had given him a cup of coffee. He stood up the moment he saw Jessie. His coveralls were spotless, as well as his long-sleeved plaid shirt. His work boots sported a recent shine.
“Miss Jessie,” he greeted. “I didn’t do nothin’ wrong. I told Sergeant Carrington what I saw, and she said that was fine.”
“Thank you, Clyde, for waiting for us. Come into my office. I think you can help with a problem we’re having.” She turned to acknowledge Lincoln. “You know Mr. Adams.”
“Yeah, we met at his grandfather’s house.”
“Have a seat.” Jessie sat behind the desk and Lincoln elected to stand to the side. “Can you tell me what you did tonight?”
He looked at Lincoln and then Jessie. “Why? I didn’t do nothin’ wrong. Mrs. B. invited me to supper. She wanted to thank me for helping Mr. B. clean and polish the floors in the Sunday school.”
“What time did you leave there?”
“About an hour ago. I witnessed the accident. Mr. Elliott drove through a red light because he was looking at the yellow flashing lights around the construction in the park. I have been here ever since. Ms. Patty got me a cup of coffee and asked me to wait for you. I didn’t do nothin’ wrong.”
Jessie glanced at Linc. They needed to take a different approach.
“Clyde, I noticed your dump truck this morning and wanted to tell you that I appreciate well-kept vehicles. I drive a 1999 Ford F150. I’m the only one who drives my truck.”
“I saw it this morning. It’s real fine. I got mine used from Paul’s garage. He rebuilt the engine and I refinished the outs
ide to match my box trailer. I’m real proud of my truck and trailer.”
“You should be. Do you ever let anyone borrow your truck?”
Clyde shrugged his shoulders and lowered his eyes. “Sometimes, my uncle borrows the truck for a friend who has a gardening business and needs it to haul loads of stone and dirt.”
“That’s very generous of you. Just so long as he returns it in good condition.”
“Oh, it’s always clean and back in my garage with a full tank of gas. I told Uncle Harvey his friend can only use it when I’m finished with my customers. His friend had to borrow it tonight to haul a load of stone. He puts a hundred dollars in my visor.”
Linc darted a quick glance at Jessie, and received a slight nod to continue. “Can you recall another time you let him use your truck?”
“Last Friday night he needed it, but I got it back Saturday morning.”
Jessie jumped in. “Has your Uncle ever mentioned his friend’s name?”
“No.”
“Just out of curiosity, do you let your uncle’s friend use your trailer?”
“About once a month. He used it last week.” Clyde reached into his back pocket for his wallet that had seen better days, and removed two crisp one hundred dollar bills. “He paid me double for last Friday night.”
Linc needed to get his hands on those dollar bills and took out his own wallet. “Clyde, would you mind trading those bills for ten-twenties?”
He shrugged his mountain man like shoulders and passed Lincoln the bills. “That would be okay. I don’t like to carry around hundred dollar bills. The stores have a problem giving change.” Clyde took a drink of his coffee. “Ms. Jessie, Mr. Adams, I know I’m not the sharpest tack in the box, but I don’t think you’ve been honest with me. You think someone used my truck to do bad stuff.”
Jessie knew what it felt like to be between a rock and a hard place. Risk information about an ongoing investigation or ask Clyde to go against his family loyalty.
Linc understood her dilemma and approached the situation from a different angle. “Clyde, if you knew someone was doing something bad around the church or the elementary school, you’d want to help the police.”
“Absolutely. Mr. B. gets real nervous and upset when things don’t go right. His face gets real red, and that is bad for his blood pressure. I would never want anything to happen to the children.”
Jess touched the back of Clyde’s tattooed fingers. “I need you to promise not to tell anyone what I’m going to say, not even your Uncle Harvey. This is an ongoing investigation, and we don’t want anything to happen to him since he is a member of the town council.” Jessie hated deceiving him, but there was no other way to gain his silence.
“Does this have to do with the two murders?”
“In a way, so it’s important that you don’t talk about it with anyone.”
Clyde crossed his heart with a tattooed finger. “I promise, Ms. Jessie.”
“It’s only a supposition, but we think someone is using your truck and trailer for illegal purposes.”
Clyde started to panic and he abruptly stood up. “I didn’t do nothin’, Ms. Jessie! I don’t want to go back to prison.”
“You are not under suspicion in any way,” Jessie assured, and added a motherly tone to her voice. “We consider you a valuable, secret witness.”
Clyde’s mood brightened. “You mean, like undercover.”
“That’s an excellent idea. You will be undercover, so you can’t talk about this with anyone. If your uncle wants to use the truck or trailer again, I want you to call,” Jess hesitated.
“Call me,” Lincoln interjected. “That way there will be no connection to the police. You will be contacting me as a client.” Linc gave Clyde his direct cell number. Clyde crossed his heart again. “I promise not to tell anyone, Ms. Jessie, Mr. Adams.”
“If anyone asks why you were in police headquarters, tell them the truth. You were giving a statement about the accident.”
“I’ll do that. Ms. Jessie, some people don’t trust me ‘cause I went to prison. Thank you for believing in me. I won’t let you down.”
Jessie closed the door to her office when Clyde left. “Thornton is involved with this smuggling right up to his ratty toupee. He may not be a murderer, but he knows who shot the mayor and Price. No one would question the landscaper’s truck around the church or school because he works there. As for access to the church, Thornton is on the vestry.”
Lincoln perched on the edge of Jessie’s desk. “I agree with everything you’ve said. Adding to your theory, they’re using the trailer to transport the stolen liquor and make deliveries to restaurants, bars, and private clubs. That’s where they make the most money, not individual sales. What I haven’t figured out is how they are getting the stolen contraband into town.”
“My gut is telling me Price and Humperdinck were some how connected to these illegal activities. Why else would they have been murdered?”
“It fits the pattern. Let’s see what my tech guys come up with.”
The following morning, when Jess found a candy bar in her lingerie drawer, she considered it a good omen. She was also baffled as to how it had gotten there. Lincoln had been in the house last night, and he’d gone upstairs to say goodnight to Edie before he went home to change. He wouldn’t be so bold. She shook her head, no.
She walked out the back door, wondering if she was imagining a breathtaking illusion. Bordering the entire length of the back fence was a variety of blooming daffodils; deep yellow with bright orange cups, white with lemon yellow centers, all yellow and white with carnation pink centers. Had Clyde planted them as a thank you? He would have had to arrive at daybreak and been extremely quiet.
Her other surprise was a black utility van parked next to Lincoln’s truck. The name on the side panel read Adams Security. We protect you and your loved ones. Beside the slogan was a black and silver shield with two large hands supporting a family of four and dog and cat. It would have been nice if she’d been told what type of system was being installed. She was just about to get in her vehicle when she heard Lincoln call her name. A stranger was following him down the stairs.
“Morning, Sergeant Taylor. This is Don Kelly. He’s head of Adam’s Security Design and Installation.”
“Nice to meet you.” Don smiled and held out a hand. “I don’t generally make house calls, but since the boss wants the job done ASAP, I’m overseeing the project. One of our techs will design a system that will be most beneficial for your protection. Installation will start next week.”
Jessie liked Don Kelly. He was personable and friendly. She judged him to be close to her age. He was a few inches shorter than Lincoln, but had a strong, firm build. There was a slight curl to his coal-black hair, and his light green eyes reflected a generous smile. He was neatly dressed in tan chinos and a white golf shirt. The Adams Security shield and logo was proudly displayed on his lightweight gray jacket.
“It’s nice to meet you, Don. I appreciate you getting the job done so quickly.” Jessie raised a brow and directed her next statement to Lincoln. “No one told me what kind of system your boss plans to install.”
“It’s another one of those, I forgot,” Lincoln replied, shifting from one foot to the other. His lady love didn’t miss a trick.
“I’ve already spoken with your mother,” Don said. “You’ll have contact switches on all doors and windows, exterior cameras with video surveillance. When we’re done, you’ll be able to check out the house from your computer and cell phone. Adams Security will be monitoring the premises twenty-four seven. If there is a problem, we notify the home owner and police headquarters immediately. It’s our best system.”
Jessie was impressed. “That sounds great. Now, I’m off to protect the citizens of Laurel Heights. Can’t all depend on Adams’ Security.”
Linc caught the hint of sarcasm in her statement and put a not so light grip on her elbow. “Let me walk you to your car.”
When sh
e got settled in the front seat and lowered the window, he leaned in close to keep their conversation private. “That was uncalled for. At the time, it just didn’t seem important to explain the technicalities of the system.”
“You’re right,” she sighed. “That was a bitchy remark. I’m going speak to my mother this morning, and it’s got me on edge.”
“Don’t go into her office like gangbusters. She’s worried sick about all that is going on.”
“So noted. Just out of curiosity, did you hear anyone come in the back yard early this morning? Better yet, did you buy all of those daffodils? They certainly weren’t there yesterday.”
“No, I didn’t hear anyone, and no I didn’t buy the flowers.” Technically, Lincoln had planted the daffodils, but Clyde purchased them.
“Why don’t I believe you?”
“You asked two questions, and I answered them truthfully.”
Jess noticed Don Kelly had moved to the side of the house and was taking pictures and talking into a small recorder. She reached out the window and ran a flirty finger across the edge of Linc’s jeans, then dipped two fingers into the waistband to tug him closer. “Better wear your sexy underwear, hot shot. With all those “I forgot” excuses I’ll have you stripped naked in no time.” She gently bit his ear lobe.
“Thanks for the warning,” he grinned and tapped the brim of her hat. “Be careful out there.” Before he backed out of the window, he kissed her on the cheek.
A warm glow accompanied Jessie all the way to headquarters. Barbara told Jessie the chief had called a meeting in the conference room at ten-thirty for a full briefing on the murders. That gave her enough time to do what needed to be done, confront her mother.
Jess knocked on her mother’s office door and didn’t bother to wait for an invitation to enter. Judge Taylor was sitting at the conference table, flipping through pages of a legal document. Her shoulders were curled in and she was running a finger across the surface of her favorite pearls. Of all days, her mother decided to wear a formal black suit.
Jess paused and decided Margaret the invincible had the weight of her world on her shoulders. The worry was evident in the shadows under her eyes. Despite the light application of blush, her cheeks were pale. Her plan to come on strong went straight to hell. Margaret Taylor wore many hats; she was a mother, a grandmother, a judge, a lawyer with a thriving practice, and acting mayor for a town that was struggling to survive. The threats to her own life had been added to the mix.