Mississippi Blues

by D'Ann Lindun

  “Be careful what you say,” Jace snarled back. His hands curled into fists. “Someone might overhear and testify against you in court.”

  “I only told the jury what I saw. You were standing over Soloman’s body with a bloody knife in your hands.” Trey moved a few feet closer. “Should I have lied? Maybe said you didn’t do it?”

  “I didn’t.” Jace’s gaze never wavered. “But I’m wasting my breath with the almighty Trey, aren’t I?”

  “If you didn’t kill Soloman,” Trey said, ignoring the dig, “then who did?”

  “I don’t know,” Jace admitted, “but it wasn’t me.”

  “Every criminal in the world says they didn’t do it,” Trey said. “Show me some proof. A theory, even. Something besides this infernal cry of innocence. Maybe you might’ve been justified in what you did. But just admit the truth.”

  Lindy darted between them and wrapped her arms around Jace’s waist. “What if he is telling the truth? Did you ever think of that?”

  “He’s not.” Trey waved his hand in a disgusted gesture.

  “That’s right, I wanted to throw away everything,” Jace said. “I wanted to rot behind bars for the rest of my life. Don’t you get it? If I knew who offed Soloman, I’d be shouting it from the rooftops.”

  “Trey.” Lindy moved forward and grabbed his shirt. “Just listen. I know he’s telling the truth. He wouldn’t lie to me.”

  Trey looked into her eyes and what he saw there stilled him. She was in love with Jace. Trey lifted his gaze to Jace’s face. “You bastard. I ought to kill you where you stand for touching her.”

  “Yeah, you should.” Jace looked him in the eye. “The way I should’ve kicked your ass when you slept with my sister five years ago.”

  “That was a little different,” Trey said, staggered. How did Jace know? “I didn’t know you knew.”

  “Of course I knew.” Jace curled his lip into a mocking sneer. “You were hot for her your whole life. More people than you think saw you two go off alone on grad night.”

  “Your sister was an adult, not a kid.” Trey hands balled into fists. “Not a little girl. I wasn’t a convict.”

  “Hey, I’m standing here. I’m not a kid and it wasn’t his fault.” Lindy spread her palms over Trey’s chest and held him there. “Jace didn’t do anything that I didn’t want him to. Don’t you get that?”

  God help him, he did. He knew how it felt to love someone so blindly it hurt. To feel so deeply all others no longer mattered. The way he’d felt about Summer his whole life. This moment was the turning point. If he turned his back on her brother, did what his heart told him was right, she would never forgive him. If he held his tongue, Trey didn’t know how he could live with himself. He didn’t agree with Lindy’s choice, but it was hers to make. He looked at Jace. “You can’t run. There’s nowhere to hide.”

  “Then help us,” Lindy begged. Her big brown eyes again swam in tears. “The person who killed Soloman is still out there. With your help, we can find out who it was and free Jace.”

  He hesitated. He’d never doubted what he saw. Jace standing over the body. Maybe he’d been telling the truth all the time. Maybe, just maybe, there was someone else who wanted Soloman dead. But who? “We don’t have much time.”

  Lindy squealed and threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you, Trey. Thanks so much.”

  “You’re welcome.” He unwound her arms from his neck and said, “Let’s talk it through. Maybe we can come up with something if we all put our heads together.”

  Lindy turned toward Jace. “Did you hear that? Trey’s going to help you.”

  “What’s the catch?” Jace looked like he’d swallowed a lemon peel.

  “No catch.” Trey looked him the eye. He took a breath. Admitting the possibility of Jace’s innocence wasn’t easy. “Maybe because I do owe you one.”

  “Maybe you do and maybe you don’t. How do I know you don’t plan on running straight to your old man and turning me in all over again? I trusted you once before and you sold me out.”

  “Think what you want, but my sister thinks she’s in love with you. I’m doing this for her.” And Summer. “Take it or leave it.”

  Jace watched him warily. “I don’t have a choice, do I?”

  “No.”

  Lindy smiled at both of them. “I knew you two would be friends again someday.”

  They were far from friends, but Trey didn’t correct her. “Let’s start at the beginning and see what we can come up with.”

  “There’s coffee in the kitchen.” Lindy motioned toward the doorway. “Let’s go in there.”

  The three of them sat in awkward silence around the table.

  Trey studied his old friend’s face. There was little resemblance to the fresh-faced kid who’d been his buddy since pre-school. Harsh planes had replaced babyish features, the lanky limbs replaced by muscles that rippled under his clothes. But it was the bitterness covering the old sparkle that seemed the biggest change of all.

  Lindy kept darting glances at Jace, her expression unreadable. But she was unmistakably head over heels.

  “Besides you, who would’ve had a motive to make Soloman pay?” Trey figured there wasn’t any reason to beat around the bush and asked the hardest question first.

  Jace shrugged, his hands wrapped around his mug. “I don’t know. Mama was so out of it, she’s not a possibility. Summer? Not in her personality.”

  “I saw a car leave the motel,” Jace said, “just as I walked up. But I didn’t get a good look at the plates.”

  “What about the make or model?” As well as Jace knew cars, he’d remember it if he saw clearly enough.

  Jace shook his head. “No. A sedan. Light color.”

  “That doesn’t help much,” Trey said. “But it’s a start. Let’s go back even further. How did you hear Soloman was going to be released?”

  “Your old man called my house to tell us. He wanted us to know there wasn’t enough evidence to arrest Soloman. I couldn’t believe that bastard could do that to my mother and get away with it. I tore down to the station to yell at your old man. He told me he couldn’t help it. The physical evidence disappeared and Mama wasn’t lucid enough to finger Soloman in a lineup. I shouted at him, told him he was a piece of shit. I swore I’d kill Soloman.”

  “I remember,” Trey said with a nod. “I had come to the station to talk to the Chief and I heard you from the hall. You stormed by me. I tried to stop you, but you weren’t going to be deterred. But I didn’t think you meant to really kill someone.”

  “I went to Soloman’s room,” Jace said, a faraway look on his face. “The door was unlocked. I opened it and went inside. I saw his feet. I moved closer and saw the bed and the wall covered in blood. Soloman was stuck, facedown. I turned him over to check his pulse and saw the knife. I grabbed it, that’s when I got blood on my hands. He was already dead.”

  “I showed up right about then,” Trey said. “You looked at me like you didn’t see me and you said he got what he deserved.”

  “Yeah.” Jace looked at him. “I did.”

  “He died from the stab wound,” Trey said. “If you didn’t stab him, who did?”

  “Not me.” Jace stared back, unblinking.

  “No one else had the motive that we know of.” Trey took a sip of tepid coffee.

  Lindy, sitting silently between them, spoke up. “Soloman was a stranger in town. No one knew him or had seen him before.”

  The picture.

  Trey almost rocketed out of his chair. “That’s not true. Soloman knew MiLann. He also knew our mother and a couple other people in town. Hold on.”

  Racing to the car, he retrieved the photo Summer had stolen from the Chief’s locked file cabinet. Coming back, he showed it to the other two. “Look. Summer took this from the
Chief. He had it hidden in a locked drawer. How do you suppose these five people knew each other?”

  “My mother knew her rapist?” Jace dropped the photo as though it had acid on it.

  “Apparently.” Trey picked it up. “Where was this? Who took it? Summer says it’s the night of our graduation because that’s the dress MiLann wore that night. She has never worn it again.”

  “Yes, that’s the dress Mother wore to your graduation party, too.” Excitement showed in Lindy’s face. “What do you think this means?”

  Trey shrugged. “Do you know if the Chief and Mother went somewhere that night? After the party, I mean. Maybe they went out and took MiLann with them. The rapist waited in her car, and when she left the party he made her pull over and he attacked her. But what if this group went out somewhere and that’s where Soloman found her?”

  “I don’t know,” Lindy said. “They were still at home when I went to bed.”

  Frustrated by the message he knew was hidden in the picture, Trey stared at it. “If we could only see the background. Maybe we could tell something else.”

  “I didn’t realize Mama and Emily were so friendly with Buford Krebbs and Leroy Eaton,” Jace said. “I don’t remember either of them ever coming to the house. Another thing is strange here. Viola’s not in the picture. Isn’t she Buford’s wife?”

  “Maybe she was the photographer,” Lindy suggested. “Maybe a few couples went out after your graduation for a drink.”

  “Where’s the Chief if that’s the case? And Leroy didn’t have a wife. According to the Chief, Leroy was in love with our mother and carried a torch for her for years.” Something nagged at Trey. At the edge of his mind like an itch he couldn’t scratch, it was bugging him to death. “He hung himself yesterday after church. The Chief said Leroy’s been fighting a deep depression for years.”

  “Oh, poor Mr. Eaton. That’s weird, him dying so close to Mother.” Lindy wiped her eyes. “If he was really in love with her all those years it’s like, what do you call it, poetry something?”

  “Poetic justice,” Trey answered absently, his mind elsewhere. “Maybe the Chief didn’t want his picture taken. You know how he always hides when the camera comes out.”

  “What’s weird is that a group of friends would take a picture with a stranger,” Jace said. “Why would they let Soloman get in it with them?”

  “Were they all drunk?” Lindy wiped her red nose with a Kleenex.

  “Not likely,” Trey said. “We’re getting off the subject. We need a motive for someone to kill Soloman.”

  “Maybe he did something to one of them.” Jace pointed to the picture. “Insulted someone somehow. Hell, maybe your old man killed him for making a lewd comment to the missus.”

  “You’re stretching,” Trey said. “Be serious.”

  “We could ask them if so many of them weren’t dead,” Lindy said. “But three of these people have died, and out of the other two, one isn’t exactly an accurate source of information.” She shot Jace an apologetic look. “Sorry to say that about your mama.”

  Trey sat up like he’d been stung. “Let me see that again.”

  With a puzzled look, Lindy handed him the picture. “What?”

  “Don’t you see? Two of the people in this picture are dead besides Soloman. Mother and Leroy. Two down, two to go. Someone is going to kill MiLann Hill and Buford Krebbs. We have to warn them.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Jace grabbed the picture and looked at it like it was a magic mirror that would answer him.

  “Mother’s killer left a message on the mirror. It said ‘two down, two to go’. We assumed that meant Mother and Lindy, but, God help them, it meant Leroy and Mother. The other two are MiLann and Buford Krebbs. I’ve got to warn them.” Trey jumped up.

  “But who would kill them?” Lindy wailed. “And why?”

  “Figure that out and we’ll know who killed Soloman,” Trey said. “If only we could retrace his steps that night.”

  “He was at Jimmy Ray’s bar a few nights before he was killed.” At Trey’s incredulous look, she explained. “My friend Candy told me he was with one of the woman who lives at the river. Candy’s mother is … ”

  “I know who she is,” Trey interrupted. He waved the picture at her. “Do you realize what you just said?”

  Lindy shrugged. “No.”

  Trey’s voice throbbed with excitement. “Think about it. If Soloman was at Mugs-n-Jugs before he died, that’s probably where this picture was taken. A group of people drinking beer, Soloman included in the group, MiLann raped that night. I need to talk to this woman. She might’ve even been the photographer.”

  “She’s dead,” Jace said. “Candy told us that, too.”

  Trey’s euphoria faded. “Another fizzled lead.”

  “Maybe Carlene knows more than she told Candy,” Jace suggested. “It’s worth a try to ask her.”

  “I’ll see if she knows anything else.” Trey jumped up. “Lindy, come with me. You’re needed at home. Jace, stay here out of sight. Keep a low profile. If you see any sign of the Chief hide and hide well. We’ll come back as soon as we can. It might be a few days.”

  “But … ” Jace began.

  “Just do it. I think I’ve got an idea how to prove you didn’t kill Soloman.” Trey grabbed Lindy’s hand and dragged her toward the door.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  There was little conversation between Trey and Lindy on the way home. When had Lindy grown up? She was a woman now, in love with Jace Hill, for better and most likely worse.

  Finally, Lindy spoke. “Do you really believe Jace is innocent now? After all this time, you’ve changed your mind?”

  Trey glanced at her. He could hardly believe it himself. “Yeah. I think he took the rap for someone who got off scot-free.”

  “I’m glad.” She sighed and leaned back into the seat.

  “Lindy,” he began. “Do you think a relationship with Jace is smart? He’s twisted by prison, bitter, and mean.”

  “Don’t.” She wagged a finger at him. “I know what I’m doing.”

  “I hope so. I don’t want to see you get hurt.” Trey’s heart ached at the thought of his little sister in love with a man who might never gain his freedom. If they couldn’t figure out a way to prove his innocence, they would all pay for it.

  “I won’t,” she said. “What about you and Summer?”

  “What about us?” he hedged. “There is no me and Summer.”

  “There could be. Tell her that you believe in Jace. It’ll mean the world to her.” Lindy punched him in the arm. “So there, big brother.”

  He grinned at her wondering when she’d gotten so smart.

  His smile faded as they turned into LeFleur’s driveway. He glanced at Lindy, her face etched by sadness. A few cars sat in the lane, but not the Chief’s big Cadillac. Trey hoped Jody had found the Chief. Trey would check in with him as soon as he saw Lindy safely inside. He led her in the house.

  A few people stood in the front room, gathered around talking among themselves. Trey skirted them, his hand on Lindy’s lower back. “Let’s find Etta and let her know you’re home. I want to ask her if she’s heard from the Chief.”

  In the kitchen, Etta looked up from a cake she was cutting. Her knife clattered to the floor. She flew to Lindy and took her in her arms. “Oh, my baby.” She reached for Trey. “Both of you. You’re home.”

  Trey submitted to her tight embrace for a moment. Then he pulled away. “Any word from the Chief or Jody?”

  Etta shook her head. “Not a thing.”

  He reached for a piece of cake. “I’m going to call Jody. Then I have something I need to do.”

  “Let me go with you.” Lindy’s big, brown eyes pleaded with him.

  “You need to stay here,” he
said. “I’ll be back soon and let you know what I find out.”

  “Promise?” Her voice cracked.

  “I swear.” He hugged her and Etta again and went to the den. He picked up the phone and dialed Jody. He answered on the second ring. “Have you found the Chief?”

  “Not yet. No one’s seen him. I’ve looked everywhere I can think of,” Jody said. “But he’s faded like fog on a hot day.”

  “I need to talk to you. Where are you?” Trey asked.

  “Coming in from the lake. I thought the Chief might’ve gone to his boat, but it didn’t look like he’s been there anytime lately.”

  “Wait by the turnoff to Shantytown. I’ll meet you there in fifteen minutes.” Trey hung up and hurried to his car.

  In a few minutes, he climbed out of his car and in with Jody. “Drive toward Shantytown and I’ll tell what I found out today.” As Jody drove, Trey filled him in on the day’s events.

  At the end of his spiel, Jody shook his head. “Man, I can’t believe your sister’s been with Jace all this time. You really think if we find out who killed Leroy and your mama, we’ll know who killed Soloman, too?”

  “I’m convinced of it,” Trey told him. “It finally clicked what the message on Mother’s mirror meant. Not my family, like the Chief thinks, but Mother, MiLann, Leroy, and Buford.”

  “What about Jimmy Ray? He makes five, not four.” Jody waved his hand. “And Soloman’s six.”

  “I don’t think either of them counts in this equation. I believe the killer is referring to the four who are left now. If I could only figure out who wrote the message. It wasn’t Jace. Lindy was with him and she swears to his whereabouts.”

  Jody lifted his eyebrows and said, “Do you mean they were getting busy?”

  “Yeah.” Trey didn’t want to think about his sister and Jace in a sexual way. He blinked away the image. “Someone has to have a motive.”

  “Why are we going to Shantytown? Shouldn’t we be warning Miz Hill and Krebbs?”

  “Lindy said Candy told her one of the girls from out here was with Soloman at Jimmy Ray’s place partying right before he died. I think Carlene might’ve heard something about who he was with from her girl. Maybe even something about the person who killed him. If she does, we can head off the killer before they try to get the last two.”