Chapter 14
Wednesday, July 7, 1965
Stormie glanced at the clock that was visible from the small amount of light that entered the room from the bathroom window. It was almost one o’clock in the morning when Ben finally returned home. Once again, she caught the smell of honey as he slid into the bed next to her. She did not move or say a word. Stormie believed Ben knew that she was awake. She laid there waiting for something from him, but unsure of what that something was. Maybe she wanted an apology, an admission of guilt, but as the clock ticked the minutes away, she received nothing. She was angry with him. She wanted to roll over and scream at him.
She recalled that it was about a year and a half ago that Ben started having the lingering smell of honey, and it was nearly eight months ago when she and Sissy were shopping in Raleigh that she picked up a bottle of Y perfume and found the same honey smell. It was just six months ago that she saw the Y perfume bottle sitting on Emma’s desk at Ben’s office. At first, she told herself that they just worked closely together, and her perfume was sprayed into the air at the office. Then Ben started spending a lot more time with Emma. Their time together included overnight meetings in Raleigh, Charlotte, and Durham for trials that Ben was working on with other prosecutors.
In March Ben had gone to Durham for a month for a legal conference for state prosecutors. Emma had stayed in Beaufort for the first two weeks of Ben’s trip answering calls and setting up appointments for Ben’s return. At the beginning of the third week, Stormie received a call from Emma who told Stormie that her mother in Mississippi was sick, and she needed to go home for a couple of weeks to take care of her.
Emma explained that she had already spoken to Ben and told him. Ben wanted Stormie to come in and watch the office each day until he or Emma returned.
Stormie had her suspicions at that time, as most wives would, but she could not prove anything until a month ago when she took Ben’s car to be detailed. The man cleaning the car handed her a roll of film that he found under the front passenger seat while he was vacuuming. The film was not the familiar brand that she used for her photography. When she got it home, she went into her darkroom and quickly developed it. The images that appeared made her nauseous.
The photos were of Ben and Emma sitting on some beach next to Jack Walters and another woman that Stormie did not recognize. The other photos were of a naked Emma alone on a bed posing seductively. The mirror behind the bed showed the reflection of an equally naked Ben taking the pictures.
Ben and Emma naked were the last images Stormie had right before she fell asleep.
***
Nathan awoke to a very sore shoulder just as he thought he would. He did not mean to sleep in, but he’d had trouble falling asleep after the shooting at the cemetery. When he did fall asleep, he dreamed of the cola bottle falling over as an unknown assailant entered the room and emptied a gun into his body.
After getting dressed, Nathan walked downstairs and across the street for an early lunch. He ordered a club sandwich with potato salad. While he ate, he thought about what he should do next. Maybe he should report the incident to the sheriff, but the shooter could have been the sheriff, or perhaps he had arranged the shooting.
If Carter wasn’t the shooter, he would want to know what I was doing at the cemetery. I certainly couldn’t tell him that, Nathan thought.
Maybe I should report the shooting back to the bureau office and let Agent Smith know about it, but somehow Smith would use it to get rid of me, and he’d stop the investigation. The headlines would read “Vacationing FBI Agent Shoots up Cemetery!”
Right now, the killer or killers think they’ve nothin’ to fear from me looking into their actions, he thought.
By the time he had finished his meal, he’d decided to keep the evening events to himself for now.
***
Stormie awoke to find the bed empty next to her. She then heard the front door close, the sound of Ben’s car starting, and finally, him driving away. A tear dropped from the bridge of her nose onto the pillow. She looked at the wedding photo on the dresser, and more tears began to form. She reflected and asked herself how she’d come to this place with this man. Next to the wedding photo was a picture of her mother, and suddenly for the first time in years, she remembered the note. Stormie got up and walked over to her dresser and took out the note that she kept in a keepsake box that her mother had written her right before she died. Stormie read it to herself.
Stormie,
Each person’s life is a precious journey, but to really experience life and to enjoy it, you must make sure that the people you allow into it accept your love unconditionally and are worthy of it. Love is what makes the journey precious, and without love, the journey isn’t worth the effort. Trust me, my dear sweet child, the journey is better and more precious when those you love, love you back.
You’re right. Stormie placed the note back in the box and wiped the tears from her eyes. She walked over to the wedding photo, picked it up, and dropped it into the trash can in the bathroom.
Today is the first day of my new journey…
***
Nathan left the bed and breakfast at around eight o’clock, he started toward the diner, and was on Ann Street when he noticed Sheriff Carter behind him.
“Sorry, Sheriff Carter, but I can’t have you tailing me today,” he said out loud as he looked in the rear-view mirror.
He pulled the powerful mustang up along the curb in front of the deli. Nathan waited for Carter to pass by. As Carter passed by, he looked over at Nathan, smiled, and once more gave him his half salute. Nathan smiled back, returned the salute, punched the accelerator, spun the car around, and raced back down the road. Sheriff Carter heard the squealing tires, looked in his rear-view mirror, and saw nothing more than a cloud of smoke behind him.
Nathan drove over to the cemetery after losing Sheriff Carter. The thought of Sheriff Carter driving around looking for him put a smile on Nathan’s face. He parked in the same spot as the previous night and walked over to the tree that was struck by the would-be assassin’s bullet. Using his pocketknife, he carefully pried it out. He determined it was a .38-caliber bullet.
He placed the bullet in his pocket and walked over to the tombstone the shooter used for cover and knelt in front of it.
Howard Worthy Hughes
January 3, 1801 - January 2, 1870
Beloved Husband, Father, and Grandfather
Just below the writing on the tombstone and on the ground was what appeared to be dried blood.
I must have hit him last night. How bad? I need to find him. Hopefully, his injury will force him out. I think I’ll go visit the sheriff first and see how he’s feeling this morning, Nathan thought.
Chapter 15
Sissy was at the kitchen sink when she heard Stormie enthusiastically coming down the stairs. A few seconds later she burst into the kitchen.
“How do I look?” Stormie asked as she spun around in her white summer dress.
“You looks as beautiful as always, Baby. What’s the matter with you this morning?” She asked as she dried her hands on her apron.
“Nothing’s the matter. I just decided that today is the first day of my new journey, and I’ve decided to take you with me,” Stormie shouted as she grabbed Sissy’s hands and started dancing and spinning the two of them around in circles.
“Stormie, have you been drinking this morning? It ain’t ladylike to be drinking this early. I think yous done chugged full!”
“No, I haven’t been drinking, but I might,” Stormie declared as she grabbed Sissy’s hands once more and started dancing again.
“Stormie, if’n you ain’t drunk, then surely you must be touched.”
“No crazy here, my dearest and closest friend. Today we’re going into town and havin’ lunch and then…”
“And then what Mrs. Stormie?” Sissy asked with excitement as she allowed herself to get caught in the moment.
“And then….” Sto
rmie started before looking around the room and saw the magazine on the table. And then we’re gonna go and buy this.”
“Oh no Baby, you done gone hog wild. Mr. Ben will be fit to be tied when he finds out.”
“I don’t give a damn about anything that man has to say anymore,” Stormie declared as she pulled the apron from around Sissy’s waist. She then turned her around toward the stairs and then popped her in the rear with the apron.
“Hurry and go change your clothes and get ready to have some fun today,” Stormie ordered as she looked at the advertisement once more.
***
Sheriff Carter was sitting in his office drinking coffee when Charlie White came in and sat in the chair directly across from him. The sheriff just looked at him, saying nothing. He watched as Charlie took his hat off and placed it on the desk. He also noticed that Charlie’s arm was bandaged.
“What the hell happened to you?” Sheriff Carter asked.
“That damn FBI agent is what,” Charlie answered as he rubbed his arm below the bandage.
“What did you do now, Charlie?”
“I did what you told me to do last night.”
“You watched the FBI agent?”
“Yes, I stayed there watching his room until it looked like he was in for the night,” Charlie answered as he twisted in the chair.
“When did you leave?” Sheriff Carter inquired further.
“I left right after you,” he answered.
“I told you to stay there until one in the morning to make sure he was staying in for the night.”
“I was tired, and he turned out all the lights after you left. For all I knew, he was done for the night,” Charlie said in his defense.
“What happened? You’re not telling me something!” The sheriff asked, growing more and more agitated.
“After I drove away, I noticed that I left my jug in the woods, and I went back to get it. That’s when I saw him pulling out of the parking lot.”
“And…”
“And I followed him in that hot rod of his over to the cemetery where he met George Butler and his friend Otis.”
“So, what happened?”
“You didn’t want him talking to anyone. That’s what you told me anyway. So, I tried to scare them off.”
“How, Charlie? How?”
“I pulled out my .38 and shot a couple a’ rounds over their way.”
“You did what? You stupid son of a…” The sheriff started.
“Oh, big deal. I shot at them, and you know what, that FBI man shot back and hit me in my damn arm!”
“Did they see you?”
“Hell no, it was dark. And I’m okay, by the way, thanks for asking.”
“I don’t give a damn about you!”
“No shit! Anyway, I got out of there quick and patched myself up. The bullet went straight through, and it hurt like hell.”
“If you don’t beat all. You’re a damn fool.”
“Yeah, but I’m a fool you need,” Charlie reminded him.
For now, Carter thought to himself.
“I’ll be the judge of that. Did you make the delivery to Ben’s?” The sheriff asked.
“Yeah, it’s done. By the way, this is gonna cost you fellas extra.”
“I imagined it would. You just keep an eye on the FBI man and don’t try to do anything on your own. I’ll let you know if, and when, we need you to do something more drastic.”
“I want to do it when the time comes, I mean, I owe that son-of-a-bitch,” Charlie declared as he got up and walked out of the office.
***
Sheriff Carter made a call and set up an appointment to meet with Ben and Jack at his office. At fifteen minutes before four, both men arrived. Jack appeared to be nervous, but Ben was calm as usual. Both men sat across the desk from Carter.
“What did our FBI man do last night?” Ben asked.
“Well, I followed him most of the day, and then I had Charlie meet me across from his room last night. I paid Charlie what was owed so far, and then I decided to have Charlie watch our visitor since we’re not ready for Charlie to complete the other job yet. Besides, I can’t watch the agent 24 hours a day.”
“The other job is on hold, as we discussed. My wife can’t be harmed until Agent Emerson is long gone. It would look way too suspicious,” Ben clarified as he looked at both men.
“Charlie will keep an eye on Agent Emerson and, if needed, he will make him go away. Anyway, Charlie kept an eye on him after I left last night.”
“That’s good for now. Just watch him. We need to make sure we wait before we do anything extreme. By the way, did Charlie make the delivery to the Arrington House?”
“Yeah, 100 gallons of West Virginia moonshine was delivered to the cellar of your family’s home. But… Charlie already did something extreme and a little messy last night.”
“Oh shit! What did he do?” Jack asked as he rubbed his forehead just as he always did when he was anxious or nervous.
“Shut-up and relax, Jack,” Ben ordered. “Messy how, Sheriff?” Ben asked.
Suddenly and without warning, the office door quickly opened, and Nathan Emerson walked in.
“Afternoon, gentlemen!”
Chapter 16
“Ma’am, are you sure this is the car you want to drive?” The salesman said as he pressed the accelerator down, making the engine roar.
“No, it’s the one I want to buy,” Stormie declared.
“Mrs. Stormie, maybe you should think about this for a bit,” Sissy pleaded.
“Ma’am, we just got this car this past weekend. It’s brand new to the market. We only got one, and some dealerships didn’t get any. Maybe you should listen to your girl. This car is a Corvette with a Big-Block, 396 cubic inch engine that’s pushing 425 horsepower. It has a 4-speed transmission. Do you know what that is? It’s a whole lot of car, that’s what it is,” the man professed as he got out of the car.
“Yes, it means I need to make sure the clutch is in before I shift gears. I grew up on a farm and drove many trucks with manual transmissions. I’m sure I can drive this one. I’m very aware of how powerful it is, and her name is Sissy. Please call her by her name.”
“Yes, ma’am, I understand. Ms. Sissy, I apologize, but in all due respect ma’am, I don’t think any of those trucks on your farm could deliver 425 horsepower as quickly as this car.”
“How much is it?”
“It’s a lot. Maybe you’d like to bring your husband by, get his opinion, and let him drive it around to see how he likes it.”
“Mr. Davis, I’m sure I can find another salesman who is willing to sell me this car if you’re reluctant to do so. I don’t see how my husband’s opinion matters one iota concerning my car. Or, the fact that Mr. Thomas, the bank manager in Beaufort, has already given me a lot of cash to pay for it,” Stormie said as Sissy pulled out a stack of hundred-dollar bills from her purse and waved them in front of the eager salesman.
“You’re absolutely right. What’s his opinion matter anyway? Like you said, it’s your car,” the salesman’s attitude quickly changed upon seeing the money wrapped in a band that read $5000.
“Now, don’t forget to subtract the $800.00 from the price,” Stormie said.
“Why would I do that?” He asked.
“Because that’s how much I want for my old car over there.”
“Well, I don’t know if I can give you $800.00 for your old car. I mean, we haven’t even looked at it,” he responded like any good car salesman would.
“Very well. I’ll just drive over to Raleigh and get my car there. I’m sure they will give me $800.00 or even $1,000 for my old car.”
“No! There’s no need for that. I’ll give you the $800.00 for your old car,” The salesman said in frustration.
“Fine then, we have a deal.”
“I believe we do,” the beaten man said as he shook her hand, turned, and walked back toward the main office to complete the paperwork.
“I sure h
ope you know what’s you doin’ Baby,” Sissy said from the side of the car.
Stormie looked at Sissy, smiled, opened the car door, and sat down in the driver’s seat of the convertible. The car was still running, so she placed her foot over the accelerator and pressed it. The motor roared once more as the car came alive and shook violently in place. She could feel the power and the freedom that the car was going to provide. The car wanted to go fast, run down the highway, and leave the past in the dust, just like its new owner wanted to do.
My, my, my…
***
Nathan walked into the office without knocking, surprising the three men. The sheriff was startled and stood up quickly as Ben and Jack turned abruptly to look at the agent. Nathan had been standing outside the door. He had been trying to listen to what was being said inside, but the door was too thick. When he heard the receptionist coming back to her desk, he decided to just walk into the office.
“I’m sorry to startle you fellas, but no one was out front,” Nathan said innocently enough as he used his thumb, pointing it back toward the receptionist desk.
“People normally knock around here instead of just barging in,” The sheriff announced in a displeasing tone.
“Agent Emerson, how is one of Mr. Hoover’s most trusted men?” Ben asked and smiled as he stood and offered his hand to which Nathan reciprocated the gesture by painfully raising his arm and slightly grimacing as Ben shook it aggressively.
“I’m fine, and you?” He said, grinning through the pain.
“I’m doing just fine as well. I’m glad you stopped by. You know I heard a rumor the other day that you played football for the Sooners.”
“I’m surprised that rumors about me would even start to spread. I’ve only been in town for a few days, and I really don’t know anyone. It sounds more like someone has been checking up on me,” Nathan remarked with a smile.
“I admit, I thought your name sounded familiar when we met, but I couldn’t for the life of me remember where I had heard it before. So, I made some calls and discovered that you played in the Orange Bowl of 1958 against our own Duke Blue Devils.”
The Secrets of Taylor Creek Page 8