Lie Down in Green Pastures

by Debbie Viguié

  She tried again. "Max Diamond murder." Her heart skipped when a dozen hits came back but quickly sank when she realized they were all environmental websites accusing the land developer of murdering trees.

  It was pointless, and she glanced at the clock to see that it was past one in the morning. She had to go to bed. She shut down her browser and headed for the bathroom. After brushing her teeth she sat down on the edge of her bed and yawned.

  It was hard to believe that Dr. Tanner's funeral was the next day. Could it really have been just an accident, a cruel twist of fate that had killed him and involved her and Jeremiah?

  It can't have just been an accident.

  Accident.

  She jumped to her feet and returned to her computer where a moment later she was typing "Max Diamond accident" into the search window.

  Several thousand hits came back and she scanned them closely. There were a lot of articles about a handful of accidents on construction sites for property owned by Max Diamond.There were several reports of a minor car accident he was involved in a few years before. She kept going through the pages, something telling her that she was close to what she was looking for.

  On the sixth page she found it. There was a two-year-old article from a Nebraska newspaper about the closing of a land deal between Max Diamond and an area rancher. The rancher had tragically lost his wife the month before to an accidental overdose of prescription medication.

  Cindy printed the article and then searched for more information.She found a couple of other articles about the death including the obituary. None of them gave more information than accidental overdose. The obituary came with a photo of a smiling woman in her late forties.

  Max Diamond's words came back to Cindy. I won't let anything get in my way.

  She stared hard at the picture of the woman. "Did you get in his way?" she whispered.

  Cindy was miserable in the morning. Worse, she had no one she could talk to about it. As she prepared to go to the funeral service for Dr. Tanner she dressed slowly. She was exhausted, having finally forced herself to go to bed around three. It was more than just the exhaustion that was bothering her, though.

  Cindy hated funerals. The first funeral she had ever attended was for her sister and since then she had done her best to avoid them, only attending two that she couldn't get out of. Both times she had nearly collapsed, the memories from the first one overwhelming her.

  She didn't want to go to Dr. Tanner's funeral. Indeed, there was no reason for her to go. They hadn't been friends or known each other. They had been acquaintances who shared nothing more than a casual nod when passing each other. There were no people there who would need her shoulder. Most people there probably wouldn't know or notice her.

  But something deep inside her wouldn't let her stay home.She couldn't forget what she had overheard Max Diamond say in the pub. In her gut she didn't think that Dr. Tanner's death had been an accident.

  Even if that's true, what do I possibly expect to find? she wondered.

  She was wearing a black skirt and a plain white blouse. The only all-black thing she owned was a little black dress she was saving for just the right occasion. Such a fairy tale. Like I'll ever have a reason to wear it or anyone to wear it for.

  She was tired. She hadn't slept well the last couple of nights and she knew her mind had been fretting over the death, unable to let it go. She had begun to wonder if she needed it to be a murder to help make sense of it. Otherwise, someone having a heart attack while driving and crashing into another car was just one more horror of the world that she couldn't protect herself from.

  No one is safe ever, not anywhere.

  She didn't like feeling that way. Ironically since her two brushes with killers in the last year the thought had slowly started to control her less. Murder was understandable even if abominable. Senseless accidents, random incidents, and fate weren't.

  She went to her jewelry box and selected a simple gold cross necklace. God understands those things even if I don't, she thought, trying to comfort herself. At last she was finished getting ready.

  Moment of truth. Are you going or not?

  She grabbed her purse and headed out the front door, trying to ignore the shaking of her hands as she locked it behind her. It was a short drive to the cemetery. By the looks of things a couple of funerals were scheduled for the day. She followed the small signs to the parking area for the Tanner funeral.

  They were having a graveside service and she followed several others across the grass to where chairs had been arranged near a casket. She hung back, not wanting to take a chair as they were already filling up fast. That way she could leave quickly and quietly if she needed.

  Just looking at the mourners was enough to make her chest tighten and she found a nearby tree she could brace herself against for support. You're okay, she told herself over and over again. She took several deep breaths, trying to remind herself why she was there.

  She tried to see the faces of the people as they passed by, but not their expressions. Grief, sorrow, confusion, anger, she didn't need to see the emotions to know that they were there.

  Joseph and Geanie walked past and Geanie gave her a little wave, which Cindy returned. Dave and his wife showed up close after them.

  As the funeral began Cindy looked around. Most were sitting or clustered around those who were. There were a few, like herself, who chose to be scattered farther away.

  Finally her gaze fell on Paul and a chill raced up her spine.Something told her that the detective wouldn't be there if they still believed Dr. Tanner's death was an accident.

  She began to ease her way slowly over to him, the heels of her black pumps sinking into the earth with each step. She noticed that, like she had been, he was surveying everyone and everything around them. With a grimace Paul dipped his head toward her to acknowledge that he saw her.

  When she reached his side she stood quietly, waiting for the service to conclude. Once it did, though, she intended to find out what exactly was going on. It was a relief to stand there with him because it let her focus on her purpose and not on the sounds of crying that reached her ears or the words of the pastor memorializing the deceased.

  When the service was finally over she turned to Paul. "It was murder, wasn't it?" she asked, careful to keep her voice low.

  "We don't know anything of the sort," Paul said, his voice frosty. "I'm here to pay my respects. And, if you must know, I'm here to talk with Joseph about a different matter."

  "A related matter?" she guessed.

  "No," he said, but the flicker of his eyes gave him away.

  "So, something is going on," she said triumphantly.

  "Miss Preston, leave well enough alone, for your own safety and my sanity."

  "But I can help," she protested.

  "No, you can't. Look, if you're really that bored and need something to occupy your time, might I suggest a hobby. Or a boyfriend."

  "I'm not bored," she said, allowing her anger to show."I helped out a lot the last two times something like this happened."

  "What you did was nearly get yourself killed. What you're doing now is interfering with a police investigation."

  She took a step back. Before she could think of any way to respond, Joseph and Geanie walked up.

  "Hey," Geanie said, giving her a quick hug.

  "Hi, Cindy. Detective, everything okay?" Joseph asked.

  "I have a few questions I'd like to ask you."

  "Sure."

  "Can we step over here a ways?"

  Paul and Joseph moved away from the gravesite and the exiting mourners and Cindy and Geanie followed. When they stopped walking Paul glared at Cindy. Joseph, following his gaze, said, "We can speak freely in front of them."

  "You're on the board for Green Pastures, correct?"

  "Yes."

  "And land developer Max Diamond is trying to buy the camp, correct?"

  "Yes."

  "Have you had any contact with a man named Randal
l Kelly?"

  Cindy felt her pulse begin to quicken. She had read in the papers that Randall Kelly was the environmentalist who had been killed.

  "No, but his name sounds familiar."

  Paul pulled a picture out of his shirt. "You haven't seen or talked to this man for the last few weeks?"

  "No."

  "Has anyone mentioned an environmental activist to you in connection with Green Pastures?"

  "No, sorry," Joseph said. "Why?"

  "We believe that he was murdered last week. We're trying to figure out why and by whom. Is it possible that Dr. Tanner could have had any contact with him?"

  "I don't think—" Joseph broke offin mid-stream, a thoughtful look crossing his face.

  "What is it?" Paul pushed.

  "Wednesday night Mel mentioned that he was going to be meeting with somebody who might be able to throw some more light on the whole situation."

  "Did he say who?"

  "No."

  "Did he say what time or where he was going to meet this person? Was the meeting for that night or the next morning?"

  Joseph shook his head. "I don't know. I wish I could be more help."

  "That's okay. Please call me if you remember anything else," Paul urged.

  "I will."

  Paul turned and headed for the parking lot, leaving the three of them alone.

  "What's going on?" Joseph asked.

  "I'm not sure," Cindy said, "but I'd bet it has something to do with Green Pastures and Max Diamond. I overheard him Friday night talking about the sale and I believe he means for it to happen, regardless of who has to get hurt."

  "Or killed?" Geanie asked.

  Cindy nodded.

  "That's ridiculous," Joseph said. "Max Diamond is a very wealthy man. If he loses this battle, he'll just move on to the next one without breaking a sweat."

  "I'm not so sure about that," Cindy said.

  "I am," Joseph countered.

  "I'm sure the police will figure it out," Geanie said quickly.

  "I hope so. I did want to ask your opinion on something else, Cindy," Joseph said.

  "What?"

  "Tomorrow night we're having another board meeting.Among other things we need to find a replacement board member. I was thinking of throwing Jeremiah's name out for consideration. Do you think he'd do it?"

  "Why are you asking me?

  "The two of you seem pretty close, so I wanted to try and gauge his reaction by talking to you first."

  "We're not exactly close," she said. "I really don't know, but you can try. He'd make a wonderful addition to the board, I'm sure."

  "That's what I think. Well, I'll see what can be done. Are you going over to Dr. Tanner's house?"

  "No, I was just here for the funeral."

  "Okay. Take care, Cindy, and don't worry. The police have everything under control." Joseph and Geanie turned to go.

  How he of all people could say that was beyond her. If it weren't for her, he himself could have been killed or falsely imprisoned based on everything that had happened with his purebred dogs, the murderer, and the homeless charity back in November.

  She stayed until the last mourner had left. Frustration was building within her. It felt like every two seconds someone was either telling her that she was crazy or that she was in the way.

  She glanced back toward the casket and pain nearly overwhelmed her. It was about more than just her sister this time, though. Dr. Tanner had been a good and decent man and someone had killed him. She was sure of it.

  "No one believes me now, but I'll prove it," she vowed.

  Funerals are hard on everyone, Jeremiah reflected as he stared upon the faces of the mourners. They were there to grieve the loss of a young woman who had passed away after a long illness.

  He read some words from one of the Psalms and then gave a brief eulogy for the woman. Then the older family members passed around a small knife, which they used to cut their clothes on the right side, representing the hole the deceased had left in their lives. It was an outward sign of mourning.Some of the younger family members chose to wear a black ribbon instead of rending their clothes. "Dayan Ha'emet, Blessed is the Judge of Truth," Jeremiah said as they performed the ritual.

  At the conclusion of his words the coffin was lowered into the ground and many came forward to take their turn shoveling some dirt upon it. This act was the ultimate act of love and kindness, for the deceased could not do it herself, nor ask others to do it, nor thank them for their labor on her behalf. It also offered closure to those grieving.

  When that was finished the mourners then recited the Kaddish prayer. "Praised be the name of G-d. He created the world according to his will. Life has a plan and a purpose. We hope for the coming of G-d's kingdom on earth, when things as they are, will be changed to things as they ought to be."

  Those in attendance who were not immediate family then formed two lines facing each other, which the mourners passed through on their way to the cars.

  "May you be comforted among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem," Jeremiah said as they passed by. Others also offered condolences.

  When it was over, the crowd dispersed. Some would be going to her home to sit quietly with her family and discuss her life and to provide a simple meal, probably hard-boiled eggs and bagels. He had been to a couple of non-Jewish funerals and had been surprised at the amount of food and people that showed up at the house of the bereaved after the funeral.It had seemed too festive to him.

  He was the last to leave and as he headed toward the front of the cemetery he tried not to let the images of other funerals, ones where he had been a mourner, fill his mind.

  He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket, preparing to call a taxi to take him back home when a familiar car rolled up beside him.

  "Need a ride?" Cindy asked.

  "Yes," he said, pocketing his phone and moving around to the passenger side.

  "What are you doing here?" she asked once they had begun moving.

  "I was presiding over a funeral. And you?"

  "Attending one. Dr. Tanner's."

  "Were you close?"

  "No, but I wanted to go. I still don't think it was an accident.I think he was killed."

  "And what makes you think so?" he asked.

  "My gut tells me."

  "And your gut's never been wrong?"

  "I—I don't know," she stammered slightly.

  "Look, Cindy, leave those sorts of determinations to the police. That's what their job is."

  He could tell that he had irritated her. They drove in silence the rest of the way to his house.

  "Thanks for the ride," he said, forcing a smile as he exited the car.

  She stared at him stonily. "You're welcome."

  He sighed as she drove away.

  Monday morning Mark was sitting at his desk going through and cleaning up his notes about the Kelly case and waiting for Paul to get offthe phone. His partner had been on the phone since Mark had gotten in and his curiosity was beginning to get the better of him.

  Finally Paul walked over, his face grim. He pulled up a chair and sat down.

  "I'm not going to like this, am I?" Mark asked.

  "No, because I hate it."

  "What did you find out?"

  "We got hold of the manuscript Kelly was working on. I've got a couple guys reading through it. I skimmed it. It's inflammatory, but he doesn't name names or point fingers as much as I expected. I don't see anything in there that could have gotten him killed."

  "Okay."

  "I called up to the administration office at Green Pastures."

  "And?"

  "Randall Kelly did go up there on Wednesday to look around and talk to some of the staff."

  "Did you get names?"

  "Better than that. He spent most of his time talking to a gentleman who fancies himself a park ranger. I got that guy on the phone and he was more than happy to tell me all about Kelly and their conversation. Apparently all that land up there is not o
nly a camp but also one of the only breeding grounds for a rare type of bird."

  "And that could have sent Kelly on a crusade easy," Mark said. "Did our would-be ranger have any idea why he might have been in the burn zone?"

  "No, because when Kelly left apparently he was in quite a rage and said he was heading to talk to Max Diamond and get the whole project stopped."

  Mark whistled low. "I guess we're going to be paying a visit to Mr. Diamond this morning."

  Paul nodded.

  Mark stood up but his partner didn't join him. Mark looked at him questioningly.

  "There's more," Paul said.

  Mark sat back down. "What is it?"

  "Autopsy report came back on Dr. Tanner. He had a heart attack all right. It was induced by poison."

  5

  MARK BLINKED AT HIS PARTNER. "DR. TANNER WAS MURDERED?"

  "Yes."

  "Two deaths and they were both connected in some way to Green Pastures."

  "We were right; I don't think it's a coincidence," Paul said.

  "Then we definitely need to go see Max Diamond this morning."

  "He's staying at a local hotel while he's working on this deal."

  "Let's go, then."

  "Ready when you are."

  They got up and headed outside to Paul's car. When they arrived at the hotel they were relieved to find the land developer was still in his room. They headed on up and were admitted by the man himself.

  Max Diamond would be imposing under any circumstances.He was well over six feet tall with the build of a linebacker and an iron handshake. Mark looked him dead in the eyes and didn't give an inch as the developer tried to use those facts to his advantage. Mark didn't care who Max was or how big he was; he wasn't going to be intimidated by anyone.

  "Detectives, come in and sit down," Max said after they had introduced themselves.

  The living room area of the suite was tastefully furnished despite the fact that it was larger than most apartments. As soon as they had taken their seats Paul pushed a picture of Randall Kelly across the coffee table toward Max.

  "Have you ever seen this man before?"