If Reilly hadn’t already been dead, I think I would have gone after him myself. I loathed men who tried to take advantage of women in such a sleazy fashion. Lisa was young enough—barely—to be my daughter, and my protective instincts came to the fore.
I took a moment to master my temper before I spoke. In the meantime, Diesel meowed and rubbed his head against Lisa’s leg in a determined fashion, and I could see that his attentions helped her keep her composure, at least for the moment.
“You told your boyfriend about what Reilly did,” I said.
Lisa nodded.
“When?”
“Last night, around nine thirty.” Lisa gazed at me, terror in her eyes. “Brent went crazy. I’d never seen him like that. He put his fist through the wall in my apartment. He swore he was going to find Reilly and rip his head off. He stormed out of the apartment. I went after him, telling him not to do anything stupid, but he wouldn’t listen. He jumped in his truck and drove off. I haven’t seen or talked to him since.” She burst into tears, and Azalea, who had been standing near the stove, came quickly to her side and bent to wrap her arms around Lisa.
After a couple of minutes, Lisa pulled away. She looked up into Azalea’s concerned face and thanked her. Azalea patted her on the shoulder and resumed her position by the stove.
“Lisa, I’m so sorry you’ve been through all this. Reilly was a despicable man for subjecting you to that.”
She nodded. “I was going to talk to HR about it when I filed my complaint. I never should have told Brent, but I had no idea he would react so violently.” Her eyes filled with tears again. “Charlie, what should I do? I’m so worried about Brent and what he may have done.”
“My best advice is to talk to the officer in charge of the investigation, Kanesha Berry,” I said. “She’s Azalea’s daughter, I don’t know whether you knew that.”
“No, I didn’t.” Lisa frowned at Azalea. “No offense, but if I had known that before, I might not have talked so freely.”
Azalea fixed Lisa with her unflinchingly forthright gaze. “I don’t go running to my daughter with every little thing I hear.” She snatched up a dishrag and marched into the laundry room.
“Oh, dear,” Lisa said, gazing after her. “I’ve offended her.” Diesel warbled loudly, and Lisa grimaced. “Sounds like he’s not happy, either.”
“Yes, you have offended her,” I said. “Diesel is reacting to the tension he feels. I understand that you’re distraught over the situation, and I repeat, my best advice is to talk to Kanesha. Right away. If your boyfriend is that violent, you might need protection from him. I’m not saying he murdered Reilly, but his reaction to what you told him concerns me.”
Lisa stared at me. “Oh my Lord, I never thought about that. I don’t think Brent would hurt me.”
“I would hope not,” I said. “I don’t think you should take any chances. He ought to understand, if he’s innocent, why you went to the sheriff’s department.”
“I don’t suppose you would go with me,” Lisa said, entreating me with her eyes. “I’m nervous about going on my own.”
“Kanesha is planning to come here at some point before too long,” I said. “Why don’t you stay here? You can talk to her here, instead of downtown. I might have to leave for a while, but Azalea will look after you.”
“I’d better apologize to her first, though,” Lisa said. “Thank you, Charlie, I will stay here if you don’t mind. I don’t feel safe now, going back to my apartment alone.”
Diesel meowed, and Lisa patted his head. “Thank you, sweet kitty.” She pushed back her chair. “I’m going to apologize.” She headed for the utility room, from whence I could hear sounds of the washing machine in operation.
Have mercy, what a mess. Another suspect in the murder, and definitely one much more convincing than poor Melba. After a moment’s thought, I pulled out my cell phone and started composing a text message to Kanesha.
Come soon as you can to my house. Have someone here who may have vital info.
I hit the Send icon and held the phone, anxiously watching the screen for a reply. I waited for two long minutes before Kanesha responded.
There in about ten.
Feeling much relief, I put the phone down on the table. Lisa walked back into the kitchen, Diesel at her heels.
“I apologized, and she accepted,” Lisa said. “I wish that deputy would get here soon.”
“I heard from her a moment ago,” I said. “She’ll be here in about ten minutes.”
“Good.” Lisa picked up her mug from the table. “Okay if I help myself to more tea?”
“Certainly.” I went to the fridge to retrieve a can of diet soda. I was in the mood for more caffeine, but I wanted it cold.
Back at the table, I regarded Lisa with concern. She appeared calm now, and I hoped she would remain that way once Kanesha arrived.
“Deputy Berry can be stern and look like she’s annoyed when you’re talking to her,” I said. “That’s simply her way. You can trust her, because she’s fair and won’t jump to conclusions. Do you understand?”
Lisa nodded. “Thanks for telling me, otherwise I might have been freaked out.” She sipped her tea. “I’m pretty nervous, actually. I’ve never had to talk to an officer of the law like this.”
“It will be okay,” I said. “Don’t hold back. Tell her everything.” I didn’t know whether it had occurred to Lisa yet that she herself could be a viable suspect in the murder. Reilly’s harassment of her could be considered a strong motive.
My phone rang, and I saw that Sean was calling. “Excuse me a moment. I need to take this.” I scooped up the phone and walked into the hallway to answer it. Diesel followed, watching me closely.
“Hi, Son, what’s the latest?”
“I’m in the office,” Sean replied. “Can you come now?”
“I need to stay home for a while,” I said. “Kanesha is on her way, and I have one of my fellow librarians here with me. She needs to talk to Kanesha, and it could be important. I can’t say anything more at the moment, but this could be a big help to Melba.”
“Okay, Dad,” he said. “I should have known you’d be a magnet for anyone involved in this mess.” He didn’t sound critical, more slightly amused. “Give me a call as soon as you’re done with Kanesha.”
“Will do,” I said. “How is Melba holding up?”
“Fine.” Sean chuckled. “She, of course, knows everybody at the jail, and they’re treating her more like a guest than a potential murder suspect.”
“Good for her,” I said. “She’ll be out of there soon, I hope.”
“Doing my best,” Sean said and ended the call.
I had made it halfway to the kitchen when the doorbell rang, and Diesel and I turned around to admit Kanesha.
“Come on in,” I said.
She stepped inside. “So who is it you’ve got here?” She patted Diesel’s head, and he chirped for her. She was no longer standoffish with him, and he had grown comfortable with her, having seen her so often. I preferred not to think of the reasons why he had seen her so often.
“Lisa Krause, a librarian at the college. She has a story that could have a bearing on the murder.”
Kanesha nodded and headed for the kitchen.
I followed closely. “Your mother is here, by the way,” I said in an undertone. She nodded again.
Lisa rose from the table as we approached. I performed a hasty introduction, noting my coworker’s expression of apprehension.
“I understand you have information for me, Ms. Krause,” Kanesha said.
“Yes, Deputy,” Lisa replied.
“Perhaps you’d prefer somewhere more private?” I said.
Kanesha responded with a brisk nod. “That would be best, I think, unless Ms. Krause is okay with you being present.”
Lisa hesitated.
> “I’m okay either way,” I said. “Whatever you feel more comfortable with.”
“Thank you,” Lisa said. “I think I’d like to talk to Deputy Berry on my own.”
“Of course.” Frankly I was a bit surprised by her choice, but I really didn’t need to hear her story again. “Why don’t you go into the living room? You’ll have privacy there.”
“Thank you,” Kanesha said. “Ms. Krause, if you’ll come with me.”
Lisa followed Kanesha out of the kitchen. Diesel started after Lisa, but I called him back. Kanesha had grown accustomed to his presence, but I didn’t think she would want him along this time.
Diesel meowed at me, as if in protest.
“I know you’d like to keep an eye on Lisa,” I told him, “but she’ll be fine without you.” At least, I hoped she would. Kanesha didn’t always cope well with weepy females.
Azalea walked in from the utility room. “That Kanesha at the door?”
“Yes, she and Lisa are in the living room, talking,” I said.
“Good. That child needs to hand her burden to somebody stronger.” She shook her head. “She just asking for trouble, being with a man got that kind of temper. I’ll be praying he don’t hurt her.”
“Me, too,” I said. “I think maybe I’ll suggest to Lisa that she might want to stay with a friend until the investigation is done.”
“That’s a good idea,” Azalea said. “That child don’t need to be on her own, just sitting there brooding on her troubles.”
The ringing of the house phone broke into our conversation. I got up from the kitchen table to answer it.
“Good afternoon, Charlie Harris speaking.”
“Good afternoon, Mr. Harris. Would you hold for a moment? I have President Wyatt on the phone for you.”
“Certainly.” Why was the college president calling me?
“Charlie, how are you?” Wyatt’s bass rumbled through the line.
“I’m fine, Forrest, how are you?”
“Tolerable, Charlie, tolerable.”
He always said that, I realized.
“What can I do for you?” I asked.
“I’m glad you asked,” he said. “As I am sure you are aware, there have been some problems in the library since Vanderkeller left so abruptly. I thought we had found someone able enough to steer the ship until we found a permanent replacement, but that obviously did not work out. And now we find ourselves dealing with a murder investigation.”
I began to feel uneasy. I had an idea now why Forrest wanted to talk to me.
“Yes, the library is not a happy place right now,” I replied.
“No, it is not, and I deeply regret my error in judgment.” Forrest did not mince words. One of the things I admired about him was his willingness to own up to mistakes. He didn’t shift the blame for bad decisions onto others. Fortunately for the college, he had made few errors over the seventeen years of his tenure.
“To put it bluntly, Charlie,” he said, “I need a new interim director for the library. The search for a permanent head is ongoing, and we have some excellent early candidates. But it will be at least another four months before we can bring someone on board. If this latest development doesn’t put off potential candidates, that is.” He paused. “However, we will forge ahead. I have just come from a meeting of our board of trustees. Your name cropped up in our discussions about finding a new interim, and I know you have been a library director before.”
“Not exactly a director.” I hastened to make this clear, although I didn’t think it would make the slightest bit of difference to Forrest. “I was a branch manager in the public library system for nearly fifteen years, but I wasn’t head of the whole system.”
“The point is, you have the administrative and managerial experience we need,” Forrest went on as if I hadn’t spoken. “I am calling on you, Charlie, to act as interim director for us. I hope I can count on you and your love for your alma mater to help us out when we need a man with your abilities.”
Neatly played, I thought. If I declined now, I would feel like a jerk. I sighed. “Very well, Forrest. I will accept the job.”
“Good man.”
“There is one condition, however,” I said.
“I think I know what it is.” Forrest chuckled. “You want to bring that giant cat of yours to work with you. Well, that’s fine with me. As I remember, he’s a well-behaved boy, and I know the staff all love him.”
“Yes, that’s it.” If Forrest had been opposed to my having Diesel with me, I might have found the courage to decline the temporary position. Our canny president, however, was obviously determined to leave me no room for wiggling out of the spot I was in.
“Excellent, excellent. If possible, could you be in the office first thing tomorrow morning? There are a number of issues to address.”
“Yes, that’s fine,” I said. I’d better lay in a large stock of headache pills first, though.
“Excellent,” Forrest repeated. “I appreciate this tremendously, Charlie. I will be talking with you again soon. I would like you to take an active part in the search for a permanent director.”
“I’ll be happy to do that,” I said.
Forrest ended the conversation, and I put the phone down, still in a daze.
NINETEEN
“What’s wrong, Mr. Charlie? You look like a man that’s looking trouble right straight in the face.” Azalea regarded me with concern.
Diesel meowed and put a paw on my thigh. I patted his head and replied to Azalea, “I’m okay. That was the president of the college. He wants me to take over as director of the library until they find a person for the position.”
“Don’t see anything so terrible about that,” Azalea said. “They must think a mighty lot of you to want you to do that.” She sniffed. “Somebody there’s got some sense.”
“Thank you, Azalea, I appreciate that.” I shook my head. “I hadn’t expected this. There will be quite a few headaches with the job, even though it will be temporary.”
“How temporary, you don’t mind my asking?”
“No more than three or four months, I’m hoping. If it’s any longer than that, I may be bald by the time I’m done.” I smiled, yet I was serious. There were significant challenges ahead, and I hoped I was up to the task of leading my fellow librarians through it. Having Melba would be a huge help because she had been administrative assistant to the library director for many years. If there was anything she didn’t know about the day-to-day activities of the director’s job, it wouldn’t be something I’d have to worry over.
Provided, of course, that Melba isn’t in jail.
That unpleasant thought brought me up short. I had forgotten for the moment that Melba was in a difficult position right now. Well, Sean will just have to get her out of it.
Diesel tapped my thigh with his large paw again and meowed. “How would you like to go to the library five days a week? Think you would like that?”
The cat stared at me for a moment, as if he were considering the question. Then he warbled loudly, and I took that as an affirmative.
“What about the public library?” Azalea asked. “You going to have to give that up for a while, I reckon.”
“You’re right,” I said. “I’d better call Teresa Farmer right now and let her know I won’t be able to volunteer for several months.” I felt a sharp pang. I enjoyed my Friday volunteer shifts at the Athena Public Library, and Diesel loved going there and spending time with his friends among the staff and the patrons. There would be a lot of disappointed faces when Diesel didn’t turn up on Fridays. I doubted they would miss me nearly as much. I had to smile at that thought.
Before I could call Teresa, however, Kanesha walked into the kitchen. “I’m going to have to postpone our talk until later today,” she said after greeting her mother. “I need to act on the informat
ion Ms. Krause has given me, and that has to take priority.”
“No problem,” I said.
“When you going to let Miss Melba go?” Azalea asked. “You know she didn’t kill that man, even if he needed it.”
Kanesha glared at her mother. “Mama, I am not going to argue with you. I am doing my job, and I’ll do it as I see fit.”
Azalea glared right back at her. “I know that, Miss Chief Deputy. I also know you’re smart enough not to go chasing down the wrong street after somebody’d never hurt no one like that.”
“Mama.” Kanesha packed those two syllables with a mixture of exasperation and affection. “If you must know, we’ll be releasing Melba soon as I get back to the department. I can’t say why, but although she remains a person of interest, she is not an official suspect. Satisfied?”
Azalea sniffed. “Knew you’d have to see sense eventually.”
Kanesha’s poker face did her proud in the midst of such maternal provocation. I was thrilled to hear the news about Melba, and at the same time I was trying hard not to laugh at the interchange between the two women. It wasn’t really funny, I supposed, but seeing the immovable object meet the irresistible force, so to speak, had a certain entertainment value.
Kanesha turned to me, and I put on my best bland expression.
“Miss Krause will be coming to the department shortly to make a formal statement. Thank you for your help in getting her to talk to me.” She nodded in turn at me and her mother. “I’ll check in with you later.”
She left the kitchen, and moments later I heard the front door open and close. Right after that Lisa came in, her shoulders slumped and her eyes downcast.
“Are you all right, child?” Azalea asked. “Would you like more tea?”
“No, thank you.” Lisa raised her head and smiled at Azalea. She turned to me. “Thank you, too, Charlie. You were right. I had to tell Deputy Berry everything. I’m going to keep praying that Brent isn’t responsible.”
“Do you have a friend you can stay with for a couple of nights?” I asked. “I really don’t think you should stay by yourself in your apartment.”
No Cats Allowed Page 12