by Gen Griffin
“Why do you think I put a gun to his head?” Addy jammed both his hands in the pockets of the light raincoat he was wearing. “I talked to Uncle Frank a few minutes ago. That body they found is female and she's been dead a long time. Benny Brownstone thinks she's been dead for more than 20 years. You have any idea who she could be?”
“Twenty years ago, I was four. So, no. Sorry. Fresh out of potential victims.” David kicked the side of Trish's car. “Go ask Grover. He says he knows whose body it is but he won't tell me.”
“Oh, nice. He ain't going to tell me shit either. Want me to sic Uncle Frank on him?”
“No point,” David said. “He'd just lie.”
“True.” Addison waved for David to follow him back into the shelter of the garage. “You're in a shitty mood.”
“I just spent four hours doing legal paperwork. You have any idea how much shit the driver's license office gives you when you go in needing a new license but don't have any copies of any of your fucking paperwork. Momma finally had to come down there and deal with them.”
“Bet they got off their asses and got you your license once Miss Loretta showed up.”
“Of course they did.” David stared at the crumpled metal for a long minute and then followed Addy back into the shop. “I told Trish about Casey last night.”
“You did what?” Addison spun around so fast that he nearly slipped in a puddle that had formed next to the first garage bay.
“I told Trish about Casey. I felt like she had a right to know what she was getting into with me,” David said.
“How did she take it?”
“I didn't share the details. I just told her that I knew what had happened,” David said.
“I'm guessing she was okay with it,” Addison said. “Seeing as you stayed with her last night instead of me.”
“She took me being an accomplice to murder pretty well. She even told me she thought she might be falling in love with me,” David said with a shake of his head. “She's a keeper, Addy.”
“I get that now,” Addison said with a small nod. “You're really serious about marrying her, aren't you?”
David nodded.
“What are you going to do when the dickwad she was married to comes back?” Addison asked. He pointed at the car. “He wants to hurt her. He's not going to change his mind just because I told him to go on down the road. Trish wouldn't let me shoot him.”
“I'll deal with him when he shows back up.”
“How are you going to deal with him?”
“Hell if I know. I reckon I'll ask him nicely to sign the divorce papers and leave.”
“And when that fails?”
“When that fails, Cal gets to hide another body.” David smirked at Addison. “You've got my back on this shit, right?”
“I've always had your back. Besides, I ain't forgot what you did for Gracie last fall.”
David hesitated and then frowned at him. “You don't know what I did for Gracie last fall.”
“I know enough. If you had told me the truth about why Gracie came home from college, I would have had your back.”
“Gracie came home from college because she was desperately in love with Cal. All I did was help them work out their differences and get back together,” David said flatly.
“Sure you did,” Addison said. He opened his mouth to say something else but he stopped when he saw a familiarly battered black Ford truck pulling into the shop parking lot. “But speaking of Trish, she's here.”
David smiled for the first time all morning. He started towards the parking lot but Addison's voice stopped him.
“David, you didn't tell Trish about what Gracie did, did you?” Addison asked.
David stopped in his tracks and turned back towards his best friend. “No. There are some secrets I'll take to my grave.”
Chapter 44
“I'm guessing my car's done for?” Trish asked ruefully as she parked her grandfather's truck in front of David's shop and got out.
“I'm sorry, baby girl.” David's t-shirt was soaked with rain and he had grease running down both arms as he walked towards her. “I'm feeling like a pretty shitty mechanic today. Your car is totaled and I'm about to have to tell Frank Chasson that his cruiser is too. Lucas and his buddies must have taken Kerry's patrol car on a hell of a joy ride before they sunk it in the fountain. Engine block is cracked. Transmission has 3rd gear and 3rd gear alone.”
Trish held her arms out to him. “Sounds like we're having the same kind of crappy day.”
He hesitated. “Not sure you want to hug me. I'm filthy.”
“I don't care.” Trish wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her face into his chest. “I'm really not having a good day.”
David wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him. He put his chin on top of her head. “You want to talk about it?”
“Grover's dying,” Trish whispered.
“I thought we already knew that.”
“No. He's really dying. We just got back from a visit to his oncologist. The cancer's not just in his lungs anymore. It has spread through his entire body. The doctor recommended we call in hospice.”
“I bet Grover loved that idea,” David commented.
“He threw his urine sample at the doctor. It was bad.” Trish pursed her lips and looked up at David. “He's no longer a patient of the Baker County Cancer Center. In fact, he's banned from ever coming on the property again. We were escorted off the grounds by a deputy.”
“Jesus. You could have called me. I could have come up there-.”
“And done what?” Trish asked. She pushed his dark hair out of his eyes for him. “Grover was acting like Grover.”
“I'm sorry.” David ran one hand through her hair. “I'll have a chat with him later tonight. Evidently I should have included 'don't throw your own bodily fluids at people' in the rules I spelled out for him this morning.”
“You can't make him behave.”
“Maybe not, but I'm not going to let him put you through hell either. You're my girl. It's my job to make sure you're treated with respect.”
“You're such a good guy,” Trish told him.
“I try,” David said. “Not always with a hell of a lot of success, but I try.”
“No one ever has any success when it comes to dealing with my grandfather.” Trish snuggled into his arms, not caring in the slightest that he was sweaty, wet and dirty.
“When's his next doctor's appointment?” David asked.
“It was supposed to be next Thursday but now I don't know. I have to find a different doctor. I may have to start driving him all the way to Silver City,” Trish told him with a sigh.
“Let me know the day and the time. I'll make sure to stick Addison with the shop and I'll come with you,” David said.
“You're going to stick me with what?” Addison walked out of the shop's office with a coke in one hand and his police issue radio in the other. “Sorry, I was trying to occupy myself inside the office but I got a call. Technically, I think we both just got a call. Three car pile-up on the interstate and Ian needs me to assist him with it. Hell if I know why. He's been a cop for more than six months. He should be able to handle writing up an accident report by himself at this point.” Addy sounded decidedly annoyed.
“I'm going to need you to babysit the shop for a few hours,” David told him.
“Not today,” Addison said.
“No. Not today. The next time Grover has a doctor's appointment. He's throwing his piss at people now. Trish shouldn't have to deal with that alone.” David and Addison exchanged a look.
After a moment, Addison shrugged and nodded. “And to think I thought it was bad when he was throwing eggs. Just let me know the date and time so I can stick Ian with my shift.”
Trish smiled. “I love you guys. You both really are awesome.”
“We love you too,” Addison said with a grin. “And we know we're awesome. At least, I'm awesome. David's still an asshole
.”
Trish leaned against David's chest and shook her head. “You guys would really rearrange your work schedules just so you can prevent Grover from throwing his pee on anyone else?”
“Grover will not be throwing any more pee,” David said flatly. “I promise.”
Addison laughed. “I would not want to be Grover when David gets his hands on him tonight.”
“I'm already running low on patience,” David admitted. “Its probably not a good idea to intentionally piss me off right now.”
“And yet here comes someone who is undoubtedly going to do just that.” Addison pointed to the road in front of the shop.
David and Trish both watched as a pale blue convertible turned into the shop parking lot. It had sticky black mud covering most of the hood and windshield.
“Who is that?” Trish asked.
“Kerry.” David released her from the embrace and began walking towards the filthy car.
The driver’s side door of the car opened and Kerry climbed out. The legs of his khaki pants were every bit as muddy as his car.
“I don’t recall giving you permission to go onto my property to retrieve that piece of shit, Deputy Longwood.” David crossed his arms over his chest. He stayed leaning just far enough inside the shop door that he wasn’t getting rained on while intentionally making it difficult for Kerry to walk into the shop and get out of the rain.
Kerry’s dirty blonde hair was plastered to his skull by the rain. His cheek and jaw were bruised and swollen from where David had punched him. The sudden change in temperature had fogged up his glasses. His pin-striped button down shirt was soaking wet, but he tried to use the hem of it to wipe his glasses off anyway. “Sullivan Briggs thinks being the assistant fire captain and a former police detective gives him enough clout to drive around without his seat belt on. I’ve written him six tickets in the last month. It’s nothing personal. I’m just concerned about his safety.”
“How thoughtful of you.” David rolled his eyes and glanced over at Trish. “Seat-belt tickets come with a $150 fine,” he explained.
“They do,” Kerry confirmed. “But I told Sully I might be inclined to look the other way if he did me a minor favor. Seeing as my car was stuck on property that is technically part of an arson investigation. He pulled me out with a fire truck.”
“That was rather manipulative of you,” David said. “I thought you didn’t believe in using the law to your own advantage.”
“Why play fair when I’m the only one who does?” Kerry crossed his arms back over his own slightly paunchy chest. “Baker County is processing the DNA results from that body that was under your trailer. I called the lab this morning and they said they would have the results ready within the next 72 hours. They're running the DNA from that corpse against Casey's DNA.”
“So what?” David feigned casual indifference. Every muscle in his body was tense as he stared into Kerry’s angry, gloating eyes. “Casey Black wasn’t buried under my trailer. I don’t know who Tate found, but I sure didn’t put her there.”
“You’re a liar,” Kerry said angrily. His left eye twitched slightly but he ignored it. “You’ve always been a liar. I’ve been over every missing person’s case filed in Callahan County in the last 30 years. There were only 3 women under the age of 30 who are still missing.”
“I didn’t kill Casey,” David said.
Kerry ignored the denial and kept talking. “One of the missing girls fell off a boat in the river during a storm, she’s presumed drowned but her parents never filed an official declaration. One ran off with her boyfriend and the parents thought they were headed for Mexico. The third was Casey. You’re fucked, Breedlove. You can deny it all you want to, but I’ve finally found Casey.” Kerry had a strange, twisted smile on his face that grew as he spoke. “You better enjoy your last couple days of freedom, David. I’m going to arrest you the minute the lab confirms we've found Casey's body.”
David took a step towards Kerry. Trish grabbed his arm and pulled him backwards. Her grip was shockingly strong. She stepped in between David and Kerry, putting herself directly in the line of fire.
“Deputy, are you aware that your current behavior constitutes an abuse of power and illegal harassment?” Trish phrased the question so that it wasn’t really a question. “Your current behavior is offensive and illegal.”
Kerry scowled at her, his irritation obvious. “This is official police business. I wouldn't expect you to understand. But if I were you, I'd be finding myself a new boyfriend. The monster your currently hanging all over is about to be serving 20 to life.”
“Excuse me?” Trish brushed her frizzy curls back from her face. “Deputy, I’d like to officially request that you refrain from referring to my client using derogatory terms. You can be sure that your behavior is going to be noted in the official complaint I’m filing on behalf of Mr. Breedlove against yourself as well as the Callahan County Sheriff’s Department.”
“Your client?” Kerry stared at Trish, dumbfounded.
David was just as confused as Kerry was, but he knew better than to let his confusion show in his expression. He stared stonily at Kerry while waiting for Trish to explain where she was going with this bluff.
“My client. Your behavior and constant unfounded accusations against Mr. Breedlove are more than adequate grounds for a civil lawsuit. I’m thinking we won’t be settling for less than five million. Police officers aren’t allowed to run around slandering citizens.” Trish smiled icily at Kerry.
Kerry appeared to be struggling to get enough air to breathe. “You…You’re…You’re not an attorney,” he stammered angrily.
“Oh yes, I am. Didn’t anyone tell you?” Trish smiled beautifully at Kerry as she cast a sideways look towards David. “I graduated from law school last May. I passed my bar right after that, in July. Just because I don’t currently have an active practice doesn’t mean I’m not a lawyer, sweetheart. I am most definitely an attorney and I’m an attorney who is about to collect a hell of a lot of cash from your employer on behalf of my client.”
“You’re bluffing.” Kerry had turned an even brighter shade of blotchy pink and red.
“No, I’m not. My client is innocent and presumed so by the law until proven guilty. You don’t even have a quality circumstantial case against David. If you did, he’d have already been arrested. Circumstantial cases go to court all the time.”
“Y..y..you’re lying,” Kerry stuttered.
“I’m not. You can arrest David if you want to. Every minute he spends in jail will be thousands of extra dollars in the settlement.” Trish was still smiling as she spoke. “You should leave now, Kerry. The more you open your mouth, the longer my complaint gets.”
Kerry’s mouth was hanging open like a guppy’s. His right eye began twitching violently. He stammered and stuttered and cussed under his breath for another full minute before he turned and stormed back to his car, splashing through the puddles in the parking lot at almost a run.
Addison started laughing. “Damn. I'm officially impressed.”
David turned to Trish. She had a look of satisfaction in her pale blue eyes as she watched Kerry jam his car into reverse and peel rubber out of the parking lot. “You weren’t bluffing.”
“Of course not,” Trish smiled prettily at David. “I’ll draw up the papers tonight and file them down at the courthouse first thing tomorrow morning.”
“You never told me you were a lawyer,” David said softly.
“I offered to help you with Kerry the other day. You told me not to worry about it.”
“I know, but-.”
“I’m not a practicing lawyer and you didn’t ask.” Trish's cheeks were flushed slightly pink. “Please don’t be mad, David. I’m not a good lawyer. In fact, I’m a really lousy lawyer. Horrible, actually.”
“You didn’t sound horrible just now. You sounded good.” David watched her closely. The confident girl who had stared Kerry down just a minute ago was rapidly fading into the shy
, self-conscious girl who David had come to know so well in the last few days.
“I’ve never tried a case,” she said. “Curtis says I don’t have the backbone to practice law or work with clients. He offered to get me on with the law firm that hired him, but I would have been a secretary.”
“Curtis is an asswipe,” Addison chimed in.
David reached out and took Trish by the arms. “You’re smart, Trish. So smart you scare me just a little bit sometimes. You got that degree on your own, didn’t you?”
“Curtis talked me into going to law school with him,” Trish confided. “It wasn’t my idea to go.”
“But you did it?” David pressed her.
“I did graduate and pass the bar,” Trish said quietly. “I can file the lawsuit against Kerry. No issues there. It’s just paperwork and the county will probably settle it well before it hits a courtroom.”
“If you’re smart enough to get the degree, then you’re smart enough to do the job.” David smiled down at her. “You need to quit underestimating yourself.”
“You’re not mad at me?” Trish asked abruptly.
“Mad at you?” David gaped at her. “Why would I be mad at you?”
“Because I didn’t tell you I had a law degree?” Trish guessed.
“If I'm mad at anyone, I'm mad at myself. I knew you had gone to college but it never even occurred to me to ask you what you'd gotten your degree in. I'm a shitty fiance.”
“You’ve been busy.” Trish reached up and brushed her fingers down his jawline. Her touch sent a thrill of happiness down his spine. “I don’t blame you for not asking. I never brought it up.”
“I wish you had brought it up,” Addison cut in.
“Why?” Trish asked. “So you guys could have asked me to get rid of Kerry sooner?”
“Possum Creek needs a lawyer. Bad. We can get you your own office,” Addison said.
“I’m not aggressive enough to practice law, Addy. The thought of being in some huge courtroom with dozens of people watching my every word scares the heck out of me,” Trish confided with a slight quiver to her voice.
“Trish, there is a big difference between Possum Creek law and big city law. We had an attorney here up until five years ago. He died of a heart attack at his desk. He was 92. The man didn’t even own a suit for the last 30 years he was practicing law. He’d show up to the courthouse in his fishing shirt, file whatever business needed to be filed and then amble out to the bayou. He mostly handled divorces and DUIs. You could handle Possum Creek law. Kerry’s likely to be the worst problem you come up against here.”