Diana Anderson - Entering Southern Country 01 - Famous in a Small Town

by Diana Anderson

  He heard sirens and looked out his window behind his desk. Two fire trucks and a brush truck flew down Main Street. He stood, grabbed his hat, and headed for the door.

  Justin met him in the lobby by the front door. “The Neals’ place is on fire. Carl Gentry called it in. Said it looks like the woods are on fire.”

  They went out the door, down the steps, and each got into their own squad car. Their emergency lights flashed and their sirens blared as they headed out of town.

  As they neared the turn off from the main highway, a glow in the east lit up the night sky. The closer they got, the brighter it became. They pulled off the side of the road and parked behind Carl Gentry’s truck. His boys sat side-by-by side on the tailgate and watched the firemen try to contain the blaze. Carl was leaned against the driver’s side door with his cell phone to his ear.

  The trailer was engulfed in flames. Embers flickered up into the night sky. The grass, weeds, and a few scrub trees around the trailer were on fire. The fire had worked its way closer to Virgil’s old truck.

  Cal and Justin walked up to Carl. He disconnected his call.

  “Carl, what’s going on?” Cal asked.

  He shook his head. “I don’t know how it got started. The boys came runnin’ inside the house and told me that the woods was on fire. They kept sayin’ it was a witch that set it on fire.” He chuckled. “We piled into the truck and went to check it out. I called 911.”

  Cal looked back at the boys. They hadn’t taken their eyes off of the firemen. He stepped back to the tailgate. “I heard y’all were the first ones to see this place on fire. Good work.” He gave them a thumbs up. “Did you see who set it on fire?”

  They all talked at once.

  “It was a witch,” Tom said.

  “A bushy headed old woman,” Ben said.

  “She was real scary,” Parker said.

  “Whoa!” Cal put his hands up. “One at a time. Tom, tell me what happened.”

  “Well, we were out tryin’ to round up Digger.”

  “Digger?”

  “Yeah, our dog. He took off across the road after a rabbit. He’s just a pup. We’s afraid a coon’d get ‘im. Coons can kill a dog, ya know?”

  Cal nodded. “Go on, tell me about the witch.”

  “Well, we trailed Digger to ol’ Virgil’s and Miss Wanda’s trailer.” He pointed across the road to what was left of the Neals’ trailer. “And she was lookin’ out the window at us. She was holdin’ a candle in her hand under her chin. Her face was all lit up. We took off runnin’. Even Digger was scared of her.”

  “Yeah,” Ben said. “She had bushy white hair and huge black eyes.” He held both hands up, and made circles with his thumbs and index fingers, and held them over his nose like a pair of glasses.

  “We were scared she was gonna eat us.” Parker’s eyes were big.

  Tom rolled his eyes and gave his head a shake. “Witches do hocus pocus, stir up potions, and cast spells that turn you into toad frogs, they don’t eat kids. That’s just storybook stuff.”

  “They do too,” Ben said.

  “Nuh uh!”

  “Uh huh.”

  “Hey, hey!” Cal raised his hands again. “Just the facts, boys.”

  “Anyway,” Tom scowled at Parker and then looked back at Cal. “By the time we got home, there was a glow back in the woods.”

  “We would’ve gotten home sooner, but Digger took off again,” Ben said.

  “Yeah,” Parker said.

  “I bet she used that candle to start the fire,” Tom said.

  The other boys nodded.

  “Did you see what she was driving?” Cal asked.

  “A broom,” Parker said.

  Tom snarled his nose at his youngest brother. “She wasn’t drivin’ no broom.”

  Parker looked down and swung his legs out from the tailgate. “I seen a broom on the front porch. I betcha it was hers.”

  The corners of Cal’s mouth twitched. “Okay, boys, y’all have been a big help in this investigation.” He held out his hand and shook each one of theirs.

  He walked back to stand beside Justin. “Looks like she was here.”

  Justin looked at him and waited for more.

  “I think the witch the boys saw looking out the window was Callie.”

  Justin gave him a doubtful look.

  After talking with the captain, they left and headed back to headquarters. At the time, there wasn’t any way to tell how the fire had started. They did know that it wasn’t from faulty wiring as the electricity had been turned off a few days ago. They hoped to know more in the next day or so.

  On the way back, Cal got a call from the D.A.. He had his arrest and search warrant. He drove by and picked them up. He met his team at the Wallaces’ home.

  Maggie let him in and stepped aside when he showed her the warrant. Several deputies followed.

  “Is Mrs. Wallace here?” Cal asked as he stepped into the den.

  “No, sir. I haven’t seen her since yesterday afternoon. I left here a little before five.” She watched the deputies, Hendrix, Miller, and Porter, fan out and head in different directions through-out the house.

  “Is Dr. Wallace here?” Cal asked.

  “No, sir. He packed a couple of bags the night before last and left. He hasn’t been back while I’ve been here.”

  “Anyone else here?”

  “Just the gardener.”

  “Where’s he?”

  “Making himself out to be lord of the estate in the rec room.”

  “Where’s the rec room?”

  “Right this way.” She headed toward the stairs, made a right, and walked down a hallway. She stopped, stepped aside, and pointed toward the door at the end of the hallway. “Right in there.”

  “What’s his name?” Cal asked.

  “Salvador Márquez, but Miss Wallace calls him baby, baby all night long when Dr. Wallace is away on business.”

  “Márquez?” Justin asked.

  She nodded.

  Cal looked back at Justin. “That’s Lupe’s last name.”

  He walked by her with Justin on his heels. He opened the door and stepped inside. Salvador had a cue stick in one hand and a bottle of scotch in the other. Food wrappers littered the floor. His eyes grew wide when he saw their uniforms.

  “I did nothing wrong. Callie knows I am here.”

  “I never said you did anything wrong. I’m looking for Mrs. Wallace.”

  He shook his head. “She is not here. I do not know where she is.”

  “When’s the last time you saw her?”

  “Last night. Oh no … last evening.” He fidgeted from one foot to the other.

  “Do you know where she might be?”

  He shook his head. “No. She did not tell me anything. I am just the gardener.”

  Cal studied him a moment longer. “Do you live on this property?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Where do you live?”

  He looked away. “The name of the street is hard to say. It is a long name. I am still learning English.”

  “Do you have a key to this house?”

  He shook his head.

  “Well, I think Miss Maggie is fixing to leave for the day. Why don’t you run along home so she can lock up?”

  He nodded. He set the bottle down on the pool table and propped up the cue stick. He walked around the table and headed toward the door. He kept his head down as he walked by them.

  After he was out of hearing distance, Cal looked at Justin and said, “Follow him, and find out where he lives. Might be the same place where Lupe is staying.”

  “Will do.” Justin headed back down the hallway.

  Cal looked around and then left the room. “Maggie?”

  “Yes, sir?” She stepped out of the kitchen and into the den.

  “Would you mind directing me to the Wallaces’ bedroom?”

  She dried her hands on her apron. “I’d be my pleasure.” She walked to the foot of the stairs. “
I got to tell you though … the Mr. and Mrs. don’t share the same quarters. Haven’t in months.”

  “Is that so?”

  64

  Justin eased the squad car down the street while he kept a safe distance from Salvador’s beat up old blue sedan. Salvador pulled alongside the curb and stopped. Justin pulled over to the curb a block away and waited. A moment later, Salvador got out of the car, looked up and down the street, and then walked toward a duplex. He opened the front door and then disappeared inside.

  Justin pulled away from the curb and drove down the street. He took note of the house number as he drove by it. He headed on down to the end of the street, turned around, and parked against the curb. He could see the duplex from his position. He took out his cell phone and tapped the speed dial number.

  When Cal answered, Justin said, “I’ve got the house number. Well, it’s actually a duplex. 188 South Trenton. It’s not the same place that I dropped Lupe off, but it’s not far from here. It’s walking distance.”

  “That’s the next street over from Mayfield Elementary, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah. He’s inside the duplex. I don’t know if he’s alone or not. There are several cars parked along the street, but none of them are Mrs. Wallace’s. What do you want me to do?”

  “Head on back to headquarters and get the unmarked car. I want you staked out there for awhile.”

  “Will do. Did you find anything?”

  “Nothing of any relevance but a broken mirror in Mrs. Wallace’s bedroom and a copy of Raven’s novel. Seems Mrs. Wallace was a tad upset being depicted as the villain that she is. I left Hendrix and Porter there to search the rest of the house, the garage, and the outbuildings.”

  “Do you think everything in that book is based on fact?”

  There was a moment of silence before Cal spoke. “From my perspective, growing up in this town and what I knew of Raven as well as what little I knew of Virgil and Mrs. Wallace, I’d say yes. I’m headed back to headquarters. I think it’s time to have a serious talk with Raven about her novel.”

  Justin disconnected, pocketed his phone, and drove away.

  65

  Cal walked into the lobby of the sheriff’s department to find Angus seated near the door. As soon as he saw Cal, he jumped up and hurried to stand in front of him.

  “Did you ever find Lupe and arrest her?” Angus asked.

  “Yes and no.” Cal noticed a red scabbed-over scrape on Angus’ chin. It looked too large for him to have gotten it while shaving.

  “What is that supposed to mean?” Angus asked.

  “I found her but didn’t arrest her.”

  “Why the hell not? She stole my mon … she stole from me.”

  “Why don’t we finish this conversation in my office?”

  Cal led the way, unlocked his door, and walked inside. Angus followed him.

  “Close the door behind you,” Cal said as he sat down behind his desk.

  Angus closed the door, walked over, and stood in front of the desk beside a chair. “Well?”

  “Why don’t you just come out with it and tell me exactly what she stole, and don’t give me a bunch of bullshit about some cufflinks?”

  Angus’ face turned red with anger. “I told you what she stole. It’s your job to arrest her.”

  “I find that hard to believe that you’re more upset over stolen cufflinks than your name being smeared all over town.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Who’s smearing my name?”

  Cal stood up, splayed both hands on his desk, and leaned toward Angus. “You know what I’m talking about. The book! Shattered Lives!”

  Angus took a step back and placed his hand on the back of the chair next to him. He looked down at the floor for a moment and then back at Cal. “It’s lies. It’s all lies!”

  Cal shook his head. “Every character in that book lives in this town. The names are different, but I know everyone of them personally, including you. You were one of the easier ones to figure out.”

  For a brief moment, Angus had a look of defeat. He gritted his teeth. “It wasn’t my fault. That bitch came onto me. I’m a man. I couldn’t help myself.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me? You knew and didn’t tell me that Agnes … Raven is your own daughter.”

  “I … I couldn’t.”

  “To save your own ass, you’d rather let your son date his half-sister.”

  Angus flexed his fingers.

  Cal’s face was red. He clenched his teeth as he worked his jaw muscles. “You need to leave. I’ve got nothing else to say to you right now.”

  “What about Lupe?”

  Cal reached over to the telephone and pressed the intercom button. “Deputy, please come escort Mr. Rayburn from my office and from this building.”

  Cal and Angus glared at each other until the door opened. Cal broke eye contact when he heard Suzanne’s voice at the door.

  “Excuse me,” she said to Deputy Miller. She brushed by him and came into the room.

  Angus turned toward her. “What the hell are—”

  Suzanne slapped him across his face. “That’s for Imogene. She told me everything.” She drew back her foot and kicked him between his legs.

  Angus doubled over, dropped to the floor onto his knees, and groaned.

  “That’s for me,” she said.

  The deputy got between the two. “Ma’am, you can’t do that.”

  Cal stepped around the desk and hurried over. He took Suzanne by her arm to lead her out of the office and into the hallway.

  With his hands covering his crotch, Angus gritted his teeth and tried to stand up. “You bitch!” He reached for the chair arm and pulled himself up. “She assaulted me.” He jabbed his index finger toward her. “I’m filing charges. I want her arrested.”

  Cal turned. He looked in through the doorway at Angus, then raised his eyes to the ceiling, and thinned his lips.

  “Sheriff, do what you have to do,” Suzanne said. “I don’t care. I’d rather rot in jail than ever live in the same house with that man again.”

  Cal looked at her a moment, then he turned his attention to Angus. “You don’t want to do that.”

  “I didn’t ask for your opinion. Either you do your job, or you’ll lose your job. I’ll make sure of it.” He continued to hold onto the chair.

  “I’m not concerned about my job, but putting Suzanne in jail is not the answer. This town is stirred up already over what you’ve done. I doubt anyone will listen to your bellyaching anyway.”

  “I’ll go to the mayor. If he won’t do anything, I’ll go to the county commissioner. They’ll fire your ass. I’ll get you out of here somehow.” He straightened up and adjusted his belt.

  “You seem to forget that I was elected, not hired.”

  “I’m going to the D.A. about this.” Angus shoved past them and on out the door.

  Deputy Miller followed him out into the lobby.

  Cal stood silent for a few seconds. Suzanne stepped in front of him, looked up into his troubled eyes, and placed her hand on his cheek.

  “It’s okay, Cal. You do your job. I’ll be fine. I’ll call my attorney, the judge will set bail, and I’ll go home. It’s still my home. It was handed down to me by my parents. He has no claim to it.”

  A crease formed between his brows.

  “My attorney talked me into getting a prenuptial agreement signed. I’m glad that I did.” She smiled.

  “Would you mind waiting here?” He motion toward the chair across from his desk.

  She walked over to the chair and sat down.

  “I’ll only be a minute,” Cal said, and then stepped out into the hallway, and made a call to Justin.

  66

  Salvador stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist. He looked in the mirror over the sink, ran a hand over his chin, and then reached for his shaving cream.

  A knock on his door came from the other room. He walked out of the bathroom, into the living
area, and headed for the front door. A quick succession of knocks came from his back door. He turned and headed into the kitchen to the back door. He peered through the shades but couldn’t see anything, so he flipped on the light. He unlocked the door and yanked it open.

  “Why are you here?”

  Callie pushed past him. “Let me in and turn off that light.”

  He flipped the light off, shut the door, and turned toward her. “Why are you using the back door?” He eyed her appearance. “What happened?”

  She placed her hand over her heart. “I’ve been through hell. Ted came back home.”

  “But I thought he moved out.”

  She turned away. “He came back and …” she turned back, leaned against him, and pressed her cheek against his chest, “oh, Sal, he … he hurt me.”

  “You will get over him.”

  A creased formed between her brows. “No, you don’t understand. He … he raped me.”

  He grabbed her shoulders and held her at arms length. “What? He raped you?”

  “Yes. He was vicious. He was a mad man. I managed to get away. I fled the house with only my cell phone and car keys. I have no money to buy gas or anything. He called me on my cell phone and said he would find me and would kill me.”

  “Oh,” he said with a look of concern. He let go of her and stepped back. “I am sorry, but you can not stay here.”

  “Oh.” She stepped forward and placed her hands on his chest. “I just want to get out of town for awhile. You know, until things blow over, and then we can go away together.”

  He looked away for a moment. When he looked back at her, she had a hopeful expression on her face. “How much do you need?”

  “I don’t know, but I’m afraid to be seen in public. He has many friends, and they would tell him if they saw me. If only …” She looked off in thought. “I don’t know. Maybe if I disguised myself in someway.” She looked back at him.

  He eyed the floor. “Let me get dressed.”

  He left her in the living area and went into his bedroom. He slipped on a pair of jeans, a shirt, and his shoes. He came back into the room a few minutes later and grabbed his keys off of the coffee table. She was seated on the sofa.