"All my life they've intrigued me," Joseph said. "Of course, I don't mess around with the poisonous ones.
"One year when I was about 12 years old, we went on vacation and wanted to go up to the Gold Rush country. We headed towards San Andreas. I believe it was at the end of August, right before school started.
"En route, we went through a town at a lower elevation called Valley Springs. During certain times of the year, the male tarantulas migrate from one side of the road to the other searching for females.
"That year, they were in full migration as we passed through Valley Springs. I was fascinated. So we stopped. My dad assured me that they weren't dangerous and picked one up and held it in his hand."
"Here," he said, holding it out to me.
"Reluctantly, I took it and, as they say, the rest is history.
"When we got home, we visited a pet store and he bought me my first set up. I've had at least one tarantula ever since. I even got into trouble in college because I forgot one was on my shoulder and went to the cafeteria to get something to eat. Poor Mrs. Harris, one of the servers behind the counter, almost had a heart attack and they had to call 911.
"I didn't mean to frighten her and I was afraid they would make me get rid of my pet, but they said I could keep it as long as it stayed in my room, preferably in the terrarium. I apologized profusely to Mrs. Harris the next time I saw her and she forgave me."
"Yeah, we heard about that," Tom said. Did you ever deliberately frighten anyone with your spiders? Perhaps someone you were angry with or to play a joke on someone?"
"No," Joseph said, "these are not 'things', these are living creatures, just like humans, and deserve respect. They are not something you use against people. Are you thinking I had something to do with these murders?"
"No Joseph, we don't have any suspects at this time. We're just trying to understand the fascination some people have with spiders and figured you could help us out."
"Oh, OK," Joseph said
"Thanks for your information, Joseph. It's been very enlightening. I can see the difference in the outlook of someone who appreciates spiders and someone who uses them to harm others."
"You're welcome, Detective. I'm glad I could help. If you have any more questions, you know where to find me."
When Tom returned to their car, Annie asked him, "Well, what do you think?"
"I think he loves the damned things. At this point in time, he's not on my suspect list."
Then, he started to laugh.
"What?" Annie said.
"You should have seen your face when he lifted that tarantula - 'his name is Buster' - out of the terrarium. You turned as white as a sheet and your eyes got big and round, 'I think I'll wait outside'. I can't wait to get back and tell the guys that big, bad Detective Avants is afraid of a little spider named Buster."
"Don't you dare," Annie said, swatting him with her notebook.
He started the car and pulled away, still laughing.
* * *
In his house, Joseph watched from the window as the Detectives drove off and breathed a sigh of relief. Gently, he placed Buster back in his terrarium and went down to his basement. He knew what he must do to make Annie appreciate his pets.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Saturday, 25 August 2012, 10:00 PM
After standing in line for over an hour to get in, Annie, Tom and Jesse finally found a table with a good view of the stage at the Crystal Palace.
"Do people dance during the show?" Tom asked as he glanced at the dance floor just below the stage. "When I was here to see Collin Raye, there were people just standing in that area."
"Sometimes," Annie said. "A lot of people, like me, love to line dance. Usually when there's a popular guest artist, folks don't dance because they just want to watch him or her perform."
"You never told me you line dance," Jesse said.
"Me, either," Tom chimed in.
"Well, a girl has to have her secrets. I like to come here when Laine sings, have a glass or two of Merlot, and line dance. It's just my boots, the music, and me. I don't need a partner."
"I noticed your boots. They're very red - with fringe." Annie laughed. "They're specially made for line dancing. They're lighter than regular work boots and the soles aren't slick, so you don't end up on your derriere on the dance floor. Although, some people do anyway.
"If you wore regular boots to line dance, your legs would get tired fast."
"I like that 'Romeo' line dance video on YouTube with Billy Ray Cyrus and Dolly Parton. I ran across it by accident once and watched it a couple of time." Jesse said.
"Wow, I really feel out of place here," Tom laughed.
"You, a cowgirl and Tonto there, an Indian, complete with his long braids that the District Attorney loves."
"However, I'm just a hard-workin' redneck homicide detective. How boring."
Annie and Jesse both laughed at Tom.
"Keep in mind, Tom," Jesse said, "that everyone in America except the Native Americans came from another country. If you do some research on your family line, you may be surprised what you find out."
"That's true, Tom," Annie said. "My ancestors come from England, France, German and Scotland. I can even trace my line back to the 13th century to the short-term King of Scotland, John Bailol. Of course, y'all know I have a full-blooded Choctaw great-great grandmother."
"My maternal grandfather's family came from Poland," Jesse added.
"We're a regular UN here, aren't we," Tom said as he waggled his eyebrows.
All three of them laughed, then quieted down when the MC walked onto the stage. The show was about to begin.
* * *
The three friends enjoyed the show, and when the MC introduced Laine to the audience, Tom's jaw practically dropped into his lap.
Laine was dressed in a blouse with short puffy sleeves and a sweetheart neckline that showed off her cleavage, but discreetly. She wore a short denim skirt with a ruffle at the bottom and black and red fancy-tooled boots with fringe down the sides and a boot bracelet on her right boot that sparkled in the lights that rotated on the stage in different colors.
She wore a cowboy hat and her hair was in curls half-way down her back.
She was a bundle of energy.
"Hey, y'all," she shouted as the applause died down. "Are you ready?"
The crowd went wild. Laine was obviously one of their favorite singers.
She turned around to the 'boys in the band' and nodded. They fired up with the opening strains of "Redneck Woman" that had the crowd roaring and clapping along. Tom was clapping and stomping along with the rest of them, clearly having a great time.
She followed it up with "Any Man of Mine" and the dance floor was crowded with people doing the line dance "Go Go Stomp."
"Oh," Annie said, "That's one of my favorite line dances!"
"Well, get your butt out there and show us your stuff," Jesse said.
"No, I couldn't. You would laugh."
Tom got out up. He pulled Annie to her feet and gently propelled her onto the dance floor.
"They'll laugh at me if you make me stay here and make you dance," Tom said.
Annie laughed. She looked up at Laine who gave her a thumbs up and stepped into the line.
Tom went back to his seat and turned to Jesse. "Well, she can dance and Laine can sing," he said. "What else are they hiding from us?"
When the song finished, Annie returned to her seat.
"That was fun! Thanks for pushing me onto the dance floor," she said to Tom as she laughed.
For her next song, Laine was joined by one of the men singers for their rendition of the "Yellow Rose of Texas."
"You were right, Annie, she does sing it better than Lane Brody. I'm impressed," Tom said, and Jesse seconded him.
After several more songs, Laine stepped up to the microphone. "I always like to close with this song," she said. "Someone has been singing this song on this stage almost every Saturday night since it was released by Alliso
n Moorer in 1998 - 'A Soft Place to Fall'." The crowd went wild, and when they quieted down, Laine closed with this soulful song.
* * *
"Hey, girlfriend," Laine said to Annie when she sat down at their table, "you really stomped 'Go Go Stomp'."
"I tend to get carried away with that one. It gets rid of my hidden aggressions," she laughed.
Tom poured Laine a glass of wine. "Are you hungry, Laine? We waited for you to finish before deciding what to do for dinner."
"I'm starved! However, I'm ready to go somewhere a little quieter. There's a diner open twenty-four hours not far from here and the food is good. Do you want to go there?"
Laine was sitting with her back to the stage, and before they could answer, she heard the boys in the band strike up the opening strains to Mustang Sally. Her eyes got big and she visibly paled. She quickly turned around, wagged her finger at the MC, and mouthed 'NO'.
The MC laughed.
She turned back around and looked at Annie. Annie's face was bright red and she looked like she was ready to hide under the table.
"They wouldn't, would they?" Annie said to Laine.
Tom said, "What's wrong, Laine?" and then he noticed that Annie appeared just as distressed as Laine.
The group onstage played a few more bars.
"Oh, ladies," the MC said, "your presence is required on the dance floor," he said, talking to Laine and Annie. "OK, folks, clear the floor. You're in for a real treat." He turned around to look at the musicians. "Where are our favorite Chippies, Scott and Matt? Ahh, here they come."
"Our lovely ladies of the law love this song. It's one of their favorite line dances and they do it better than anyone we've ever seen. They really put their heart and soul, among other parts of their anatomy, into their dancin'.
"C'mon, ladies, don't be shy." He pointed at their table. "The beautiful homicide detective Annie Avants and our equally beautiful CSI Chief, and one of our favorite singers, Laine DelMonte."
Matt and Scott walked over to their table and pulled out the chairs for Annie and Laine.
"Chippies?" Tom said with a puzzled frown. "I know all the CHP officers around here, but not these two."
Jesse laughed, "Look at them, Tom. Now, picture them wearing a pair of skimpy underwear and a bow tie - nothing else. Get it?"
"Ah," Tom said as the light bulb went off in his head. "Chippies, Chippendales! Goodness, what else don't we know about these two ladies?"
The music started and the four dancers gave their all to the sultry music of Mustang Sally.
"Look at them dance. Geez, if the people at work could see Annie now, they wouldn't believe it. I didn't know she could move like that.
"Yee Haw," Tom yelled out as he stood up and pumped his fists in the air.
Jesse was laughing and snorting at the same time. "They'll never hear the end of this," he said between laughs.
When the dance finally finished, Matt and Scott brought Laine and Annie back to the table, shook hands with Tom and Jesse, and went back to their server duties.
Laine reached down and picked up her purse. "I don't want to hear a word from either of you," she said as she turned to leave, followed closely by Annie. "I'm ready to go to that quiet diner. Are you coming?"
The men agreed that they were ready to go to a quieter environment, so they left the Crystal Palace.
* * *
When they were settled in at the diner, Tom said to Laine, "I was really blown away by your singing, not to mention the dance you and Annie put on. I had no clue the two of you were so talented."
"You have no clue about a lot of things," Annie said.
Everyone laughed as Tom's face turned red.
"Thank you, Tom," Laine said, as she reached over and patted his arm. "I've been singing since I was three years old and always just took it for granted. It's my outlet, like line dancing is for Annie."
"Well, the two of you sure surprised the two of us," Jesse said. I knew you sang here, because Annie mentioned it before, but I wasn't prepared for the extent of your talent, not to mention Annie's moves."
"You guys are just too kind," Laine said, as she blushed. "OK, let's just drop this line of talk for the moment."
"How's Noelle doing?" Annie asked, changing the subject. Noelle, Laine's daughter, turned five years old in April, and was Laine's pride and joy.
"She's fine, she really likes school. She came home all covered with poster paints the other day and said she was making me some new dishes for dinner. I guess the teacher made up some 'clay' that they can mold, and after it dries, they paint it. I can't wait to see what she brings home. She talked about it all evening."
"Laine, did you know that Tom is a potter?" Annie said. "He has a studio and a kiln, the whole kit and kaboodle."
"Really? Tom, you've been holding out on us. How exciting! Do you have a wheel and everything?" Laine said.
"Oh, yes. It's a full-fledged pottery studio. I have a hand-built kick wheel and a couple of electric wheels. The kiln I built myself. Why don't you bring Noelle by some weekend and she can play with some real clay. Then I can fire it for her and it will last a long time, not like that 'play clay' they use in school. It sounds like she might have a strong interest in creating with clay."
"Oh, that would be wonderful. She'll be so excited. How does next Saturday afternoon sound?" Laine asked.
"Sounds great to me," Tom said. "It should be a lot of fun."
"Are we still on for tomorrow?" Jesse asked Annie. The four of them were going to have a potluck at Annie's house and go over the cases up to this point. Sometimes casual meetings like this would let ideas surface that stayed hidden during the rush of a normal workday.
"Yes, of course. I've been cooking special stuff for the last couple of days. You better not be late and you better be hungry," Annie laughed.
After a decent meal and more camaraderie, everyone went to the parking lot and headed home in their own cars.
Tom sat there for a few minutes watching their taillights disappear up the road. He knew he'd never look at Laine the same way he looked at her before. Annie was dropping hints that he should ask Laine out. He wasn't sure it would be wise to date someone he worked with - if she would even consent to go out with him. Nevertheless, the thought appealed to him, as did Laine. He would see how things went the next few weeks and then decide what to do.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Sunday, 26 August 2012, Noon
Everyone enjoyed get-togethers at Annie's home, whether they were business related or just for fun. Her front room was large. The main couch was a creamy off-white, with pleated skirts, and faced a white painted brick fireplace with a big mirror hung above. The coffee table was square and inset with glass tiles separated by light strips of oak. On the highly polished hardwood floor underneath the coffee table was a hand woven rug made by the Chimayo Indians in New Mexico. Two matching pillows graced each end of the couch.
On one side of the couch was a comfortable recliner in light gray Naugahyde draped with a colorful afghan that Annie had crocheted. Next to the recliner was a woven basket that held a collection of balls of yarn.
On the other side of the couch was a chair that matched the couch. Across one of the arms of the chair Annie had placed an Indian star quilt that her grandmother quilted for her many years ago.
On the wall behind the couch was a small entertainment center that housed her Bose stereo system and collection of CDs. The only televisions in Annie's home were a small portable television in the kitchen and a medium sized television in her spare bedroom, which doubled as her office.
Looking past the couch towards the back wall were a pair of French doors covered in sheers. They opened onto a patio and an English style flower garden planted with an assortment of wildflowers. Annie preferred this to organized flower beds.
Between the couch and the French doors was a square dining room table with four chairs. It was made of the same light oak as the coffee table.
On her off-
white painted walls hung an assortment of drawings and paintings of Indian women and children, with a brave or two interspersed between them. On the mantle of the fireplace were many photographs of Annie and her family as she was growing up.
The ambiance of the room was warm and inviting. Annie loved to sit in her recliner and read or crochet while she listened to her music. Right now she was playing "We the People" by Brule, one of her favorite Native American groups. She really did take her Choctaw heritage seriously.
In the days prior to the meeting, she spent her spare time cooking food she could serve cold today while they talked. She planned a menu similar to the old-fashioned Sunday box lunch socials she attended at her church in Mena with her family.
She fried chicken, made potato salad, coleslaw, corn bread, hush puppies, biscuits, and a chocolate cake and apple pie. Laine was bringing a pot of her famous Perdernales Chili, from President Lyndon Johnson's favorite recipe, and the guys were bringing the liquid refreshments. She didn't know exactly what they would bring, but figured it would be alcoholic. With that in mind, she also fixed a big jug of southern sweet tea.
Of course, Annie never removed original documents from the office, but made copies of the Murder Book for each person. Laine was going to bring copies of any reports that she hadn't distributed yet so they could be added to the Murder Books.
Right on the stroke of Noon, the doorbell rang. Annie opened her front door to Tom and Jesse, who arrived at the same time.
She laughed, "You guys must be hungry to be so prompt."
They came inside, put the beer in the refrigerator, and opened a couple of bottles of Merlot so they could breathe. They didn't know what kind of food Annie was going to serve, so they were prepared for anything.
Annie placed the food on the coffee table as she figured the first order of business would be to fill their empty stomachs.
A few minutes later, the doorbell rang again.
Annie opened the door and there stood Laine carrying a huge pot of chili. Jesse jumped up to help her and set the pot on the coffee table with the rest of the food.
Cause of Death (Det. Annie Avants Book 1) Page 14