Up Shute Creek: Rose Gardner Investigation #4

by Denise Grover Swank

  My stomach did a little somersault, but I told myself it was a coincidence. Texas was a huge state with a whole lot of people in it. No reason to think they were all out to get us.

  Neely Kate pulled up behind the small economy car. The windows were rolled down, making me wonder how long she’d been here, but I reasoned it couldn’t have been that long. Mason must’ve passed this spot fifteen minutes ago, and there was no way he would have driven right past her, meeting or no meeting.

  As soon as the woman realized we were stopping, she gave us a wary look and took a step backward, nearly falling into the ditch behind her.

  All thoughts of her being a potential threat flew out the window, and I got out, standing behind my opened car door so I didn’t look threatening. “Are you okay?”

  She flung her arm toward the car. “My car broke down and I don’t have a cigarette lighter to charge my phone. I thought it charged last night, but it got unplugged, and now it’s dead and I can’t call…” Her voice trailed off, and she left her sentence unfinished. “I’m fine.”

  Neely Kate had already gotten out. “Well, it’s a good thing we both have fully charged cell phones,” she said, walking around the front of the car. “You got someone around here to call?”

  The woman stared at Neely Kate as though assessing her threat level, before she shook her head and said, “No.”

  “Who were you gonna call?” Neely Kate asked. “AAA?”

  She started to answer, then said, “No. I guess a tow service.”

  “Do you know what’s wrong with it?” Neely Kate asked.

  “No,” she said, irritation creeping into her tone. The way she glared at the car made it clear what she was irritated with. “It started making a noise, then it just stopped running.”

  “I can look under the hood and check it out,” Neely Kate said. “My car was a total junker, and I was always havin’ to try to figure out what was wrong with it.”

  She grimaced. “I’d hate to trouble you.”

  “We’re already stopped,” Neely Kate said. “It’s no trouble at all.”

  “Well, in that case,” she said, sounding cautiously optimistic. “That would be great. Thanks. I really need to get back on the road.”

  “Don’t let Neely Kate’s girly-girl looks fool you,” I said with a warm smile. I shut my car door and then followed Neely Kate to the broken-down car. “She grew up on a farm and her favorite cousin is a mechanic.”

  The woman smiled even though worry still filled her eyes. “Then the right girls stopped to help me, huh?”

  “The only support I can offer is moral,” I said with a laugh. “I’m Rose by the way, and you probably already figured out that’s my friend Neely Kate.”

  Neely Kate gave her a little wave as she reached through the open window to pop the hood.

  “I’m—” She cut herself off, then said, “Carly.”

  That was weird, but she still seemed harmless. Now that she’d figured out we weren’t a threat, she seemed a lot friendlier.

  “Are you visiting someone in Fenton County?” I asked.

  “No, I’m just passing through,” she said. “My phone died, and this car is so old it doesn’t have a USB port to charge my phone. Like I mentioned, the cigarette lighter doesn’t work either, which means no GPS. I got off I-30 to find a gas station to go to the bathroom, and when I tried to make it back to the interstate, I guess I got turned around. I thought I was headed in the right direction, but clearly I’m not…”

  “I’ll say,” Neely Kate said. “You’re about an hour from the interstate, but we’ll get you goin’ in the right direction.” She looked over the engine, opening a few lids and peering in, pulling out the dipstick and putting it back. “But it might be a bit before you’re headed anywhere.” She unpropped the hood, which dropped with a loud thud. “You’re completely out of oil.”

  The woman’s mouth twisted into a grimace. “I’m guessing that’s bad.”

  A grim smile spread across Neely Kate’s face. “Yeah, it’s pretty bad, but at least you weren’t on the interstate when it happened. I bet there was a slow leak, and when the levels got low enough, the engine seized up. Did the oil light come on?”

  “I don’t know,” she said. “I don’t know what that looks like.”

  “Well, lucky for you, my boyfriend and cousin have a garage and can look at it for you today.”

  The woman blinked, then blurted out in shock, “Your cousin is your boyfriend?”

  “What?” Neely Kate burst out laughing. “I know it’s southern Arkansas and all, but no. They’re two separate people. My boyfriend Jed, and my cousin Witt.”

  Carly’s face flushed. “Oh crap. Sorry.”

  Neely Kate laughed and waved a hand. “Don’t think a thing about it. Do you want me to call them and have it towed to their garage?”

  A serious look filled her eyes. “I guess I don’t have much of a choice, huh?”

  “Not if you want to leave Fenton County drivin’ this car,” Neely Kate said. “But you can always have it towed somewhere else. You can use my phone to look up other garages if you like.”

  “No,” she said, her brow furrowed. “Let’s call your cousin boyfriend.” A half-hearted grin lifted the corners of her lips, and I had to give her credit for having a sense of humor despite the breakdown and whatever else was bothering her.

  Neely Kate pulled out her phone and called Jed. She told him about Carly’s problem and explained where she’d pulled over. When she hung up, she stuck her phone in her pocket and said, “Jed’s sending a tow truck and says he’ll meet us at the garage.”

  “You don’t have to come with me,” Carly said, but it was obvious she didn’t want to be left alone. “I’m sure you have things to do.”

  “We’ve got time,” I said. “And we don’t mind.”

  “Plus,” Neely Kate added, “Jed said the driver was already headed out this way on a call that had been canceled. The truck should be here in no time.” She moved to the front of her new car and rested her butt on the hood. “Are you on vacation or on a business trip?”

  “Neither,” Carly said, looking a little anxious at the question. She glanced down at her phone, then lowered her hand as though remembering it was dead.

  I turned to Neely Kate. “Do you have a charger cord in your car yet?”

  “Jed put one in there along with a spare,” Neely Kate said with a laugh. “He said I’d have no excuse for lettin’ my phone die.” She reached out her hand toward Carly. “I can plug it in for you.”

  Carly tightened her grip on the phone as though worried my friend would snatch it up. “Thanks, but it’s an old phone, so I doubt your cord will work. I’ll just plug it in myself.” She grabbed the charging cord from her car, then stooped into Neely Kate’s car and plugged in the phone.

  She sure was protective of that phone. Was she hiding something?

  “Are you on your way to visit family?” Neely Kate asked, obviously not willing to let it go.

  Carly hesitated, then said, “I’m on my way to visit my cousins in Georgia. They’re going to be worried about me if I don’t check in soon.”

  That was likely a lie. She might be warming up to us, but she was still cautious. Smart woman.

  “Neely Kate’s brother is the chief deputy sheriff,” I said. “I understand that we’re complete strangers, so you’re smart to be wary. If it would make you feel better, I’m sure Joe wouldn’t mind comin’ by or at least sending another deputy to stay with you until the tow truck comes.”

  Her eyes flew wide. “No. That’s okay. I’d rather not involve law enforcement.”

  Neely Kate and I exchanged looks. She was definitely running from something, perhaps illegal. Still, she seemed harmless enough and I found myself still wanting to help her.

  She must have noticed, because she quickly added, “I don’t want to take them from something important.”

  “Okay,” Neely Kate said with a warm smile. “If you feel comfortable enoug
h with us, we won’t call him.”

  Guilt flooded Carly’s face. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to insinuate you weren’t trustworthy. I’m just… nervous. I literally have no idea where I am.”

  “Well,” Neely Kate drawled, “you’re about twenty miles north of the Louisiana border and about two hours south of Little Rock, but don’t you worry. Jed and Witt will get you fixed up.” She pointed down the road. “There’s the tow truck now.”

  The truck pulled up beside us, made a U-turn, then parked in front of Carly’s car.

  “It’s gonna be a hot one today,” the driver said as he got out. “If you’re gonna break down, now’s the time to do it.”

  “Meaning he only wants to work while it’s cooler,” Neely Kate mumbled under her breath.

  He was wearing a pair of grease-stained overalls. He had a scruffy beard, his salt-and-pepper hair had needed a haircut about two years ago, and he likely hadn’t seen a hairbrush for a month or two.

  Some of Carly’s wariness returned as she watched him walk toward the car.

  “How long’s it gonna take to get it hooked up and delivered to Witt and Jed’s garage?” Neely Kate asked.

  “Not long,” he said, scratching his belly as he studied the car. “We can have it unloaded in a half hour.”

  Neely Kate cast me a questioning glance.

  “Carly,” I said. “We have a pretty clear morning, so we can take you to the garage and stay until the guys look at the car. We can help you figure out what to do next once we know what’s wrong with it. It sounds like your car might be there awhile.”

  She turned to watch the tow truck driver, then shifted her gaze back to me. “I’d hate to put you out.”

  “You’re not puttin’ us out at all,” Neely Kate quickly answered.

  While I knew my best friend really did want to help, the gleam in her eyes confirmed that she was dying to know Carly’s story.

  “I’m wantin’ to see their new garage, anyway,” I said. “So this will give me a good excuse. Then, after we get your car taken care of, we’ll introduce you to the best biscuits this side of the Mississippi.”

  Her eyes lit up. “I think I might risk getting into a car with a serial killer for the promise of good biscuits.”

  Neely Kate laughed. “She’s our kind of people.”

  Maybe so, but Carly was hiding something, and just like Neely Kate, I planned to find out what.

  Chapter 4

  Carly reluctantly handed her keys to the tow truck driver. I wasn’t sure why. Did she think the driver was going to steal her clunker of a car? It struck me that the car didn’t match its owner. With her perfect blond highlights, impeccable French manicure, and name-brand purse slung over her shoulder, she looked like a woman who should be driving something a whole lot newer.

  We suggested she get out all her things, so she grabbed two large suitcases out of the trunk and a tote bag out of the back seat. We fit the luggage into the trunk of Neely Kate’s sedan while the tow truck driver looked on, scratching his beard, and then we got into the car, Carly in the back seat.

  “You have no idea how much I appreciate your help,” she said as she fastened her seat belt.

  “No problem,” Neely Kate said. “Where did you say you were from?”

  “I didn’t.”

  My phone buzzed with a text, and I checked the screen, surprised to see it was from James.

  Let me know if you run into any trouble today.

  I glanced down at the phone, smiling to myself.

  I typed back—You too. ;)

  Neely Kate watched as I sent the text, but I just lifted my eyebrows and didn’t say a word.

  The driver finished loading Carly’s car onto the wench, and then we followed the tow truck to the garage. It was a building just to the west of Henryetta on County Road 75. There were only a few cars in the small parking lot, and I recognized two of them—Witt’s and Jed’s. They didn’t have many customers yet, but they couldn’t expect to be overrun with business on their first day.

  They must have been watching because the garage door opened, and both men walked out as the tow truck backed up into one of the three bays. We got out of the car and watched as they got Carly’s clunker unloaded and rolled into the garage.

  “This is gonna cost a buttload of money,” Carly murmured to herself.

  I had a feeling she was right. The worried look on her face suggested she wasn’t sure she had enough to pay for it. Yet another mystery.

  We walked into the waiting area of the garage, and I was surprised by how fresh and clean it looked. The back door opened, and Jed walked through, his gaze zeroing in on Neely Kate within a millisecond. His face lit up with a huge smile, and in that moment I knew it wouldn’t be long before Neely Kate moved in with him. She’d be crazy not to. Most women would kill to have a man look at her like that.

  I cast a glance at Carly, and sure enough, she was watching too. She looked to be on the verge of tears. I knew she was worried about the cost of the repairs, but these tears looked like they were related to the way Jed was watching my best friend.

  Oh my word. Was she one of Jed’s ex-girlfriends? But then again, after Jed swept Neely Kate into his arms and gave her an affectionate kiss, he turned his attention to the woman beside me and showed no recognition whatsoever.

  “Witt’s looking under the hood right now, but if it’s really out of oil, you’re likely lookin’ at a pretty costly repair that’s gonna take us some time. It’s not gonna be easy to get parts for a 95 Ford Escort. We’re either gonna have to order parts or start callin’ around to junkyards to find them.”

  Her mouth drew down. “How much are we talking?”

  “Hard to say until we get it torn apart, but probably close to a couple of thousand.”

  Her face paled. “Isn’t there some kind of patch job you can do?”

  Witt walked in through the door behind the counter and said, “If the engine seized up, then this is bigger than a patch job.” He stood at the edge of the counter, wiping grease off his hands. “The oil’s like sludge. How long’s it been since the car was driven before you took it out?”

  She pushed out a sigh. “I don’t know. Maybe a couple of years. Maybe longer.”

  Both men looked surprised at that, but Witt said, “Yeah, it’s a wonder you even got the thing started. I can’t believe the battery wasn’t dead.”

  “We had to jump it.”

  We? The more I heard, the more intrigued I became. I could only imagine what Neely Kate was thinking.

  Witt gritted his teeth and grunted. “Well, for future reference, you can’t let a car sit that long, then just up and drive it, but we’ll deal with that part later.” He paused. “I’m gonna be real honest with you.”

  “Okay.”

  “Your car’s older than dirt and it’s got close to two hundred thousand miles. Frankly, it’s not worth the cost of repairs. We’ll have a better idea of how much it’ll cost after I dig into it, but I suspect it would be in your best interest to scrap it and buy something else.”

  Her eyes widened in shock. “I need to have a running car. Sooner rather than later.”

  “Let me take a look, but the soonest I could have it done is tomorrow, which is unlikely. The longest is probably around three or four days, depending on how quickly we can get parts. Depending on what those turn out to be.”

  She frowned. “What if you give me an estimate, and I decide it’s not worth repairing? How much will I owe you?”

  Jed and Witt exchanged looks, then Jed turned back to her. “One hundred.”

  “But then you’ll have to put it all back together, right? How much will that cost me? I don’t have a lot of money.”

  Witt started to answer, but Jed interrupted, “Witt’s the expert and I’m his apprentice. How about you let me tear it apart under Witt’s supervision? We won’t charge you since I’m using the experience to learn.”

  Her eyes narrowed in skepticism. “Why would you do that?”

>   “Because I really do need the experience,” Jed said. “And I had an old Escort back in high school. Call it nostalgia.”

  “What happens if I decide not to fix it? Obviously I won’t be able to drive it away.”

  “You could sell it,” Witt said. “A junkyard would likely buy it, but they’ll want a title.”

  She didn’t meet his gaze. “I don’t have one on me. And I need to get back on the road as soon as possible.”

  “You could always rent a car,” I said. “But that doesn’t take care of the issue of this one.”

  She shook her head, looking adamant. “No. I can’t rent a car.”

  Jed glanced at Neely Kate, then back to Carly. “Are you in some kind of trouble?”

  Alarm filled her eyes. “Trouble? Why would you think I’m in trouble? I just don’t want to waste my vacation stuck in some tiny Arkansas town.” Then, realizing what she’d said, she grimaced. “Sorry, no offense.”

  “None taken,” Witt said with a lazy grin. “Most of us feel the same way. But we could hold on to the car until you can get the title sent to us.”

  “What happens if I can’t get you a title?” she asked.

  Both men looked at each other again before Jed said, “Then we’d have to presume it’s not yours.”

  “It’s mine,” she said a little too hastily. “But I’m stuck here, and no one can get the title out of my safety-deposit box for me.”

  It was a reasonable answer, yet the way her gaze darted to the side suggested she was lying.

  Everyone was quiet for a few moments before Jed said, “How about this? We’ll tear it apart and see what’s what. All of this is speculation until we know what’s going on under the hood.”

  She nodded, looking embarrassed. “Yeah. Okay.”

  Witt said, “It’s likely gonna be a few hours. You want the girls to drop you off at a motel?”

  Carly looked apprehensive. “Is there a place in town that doesn’t require a credit card?”

  Neely Kate made a face. “Yeah, the Broken Branch Motel, but that place isn’t fit for a mangy dog. If you need a place to stay, you can stay with me and Rose.” Then, as though realizing she’d potentially overreached, Neely Kate lifted her gaze to mine. “Isn’t that right, Rose?”