by CC Abbott
Dr. K read the name of the third place winner, a girl from CCCC for an experiment in using light waves to kill salmonella on vegetables.
“Second place goes to Gretchen Nunzi.”
The applause drowned out the topic of her experiment. Gretchen Nunzi had a lot of fans.
"Gretchen?" Boone said.
"You sound surprised," Luigi replied. "Ah, you are good at human remains, Boone-san. At human beings, not so much."
Good point. Boone had to admit he was right.
“Our first place winner,” Dr. K began before she had to pause for a sip of water.
“It’s going to be some guy,” Cedar said. “A girl has never won first place.”
“Girls just won third and second place,” Boone said. “There's first time for everything.”
Luigi took a deep breath.
“Ahem,” Dr. K said, “our first plan winner is Cedar Galloway for “By A N.O.S.E: Using Synthetic Devices for Detecting Compounds.”
Cedar was the first to clap. Boone and Luigi followed quickly, and it took Boone a second to realize that Cedar was clapping merrily away but not moving.
“Cedar?” Boone said. “They called your name.”
Slowly, she stopped clapping. A hand went to her mouth. “Really? Oh. Yeah. Really?”
“Really,” Luigi said and swatted her on the ass. He gave her two thumbs up. “Good job.”
She looked as if she were going to throttle Luigi. Boone spun her around and walked her a few feet toward the stage before letting her go. To Boone, she seemed to be floating. And when she bent her head to accept the gold medal, her face beamed.
“Sorry you didn’t win, Luigi,” Boone said as he finished applauding. “I don’t understand why. Your invention is amazing.”
“Thank you, but I could not win. I was only allowed to enter as an exhibitor.”
"What?"
“Because I am an exchange student. Olympiad is only for North Carolina residents.”
“So if you couldn’t win, why did you enter?”
Luigi pointed to Gretchen across the patio. “To meet hot girls. See you later, homely.”
"That's homey."
"That, too," he said as he made a straight line for Gretchen.
After the announcements, parents and guests mingled around the entries to take pictures and try out some of the projects, which had been hands off before the judging. Luigi’s wi-fi PA system was the hit of the fair, but Boone got to it first and quickly hijacked the signal to Dr. K’s mic.
“Attention shoppers,” Boone said into the Bluetooth set in his ear, “would the owner of a pink Cadillac please move your vehicle?”
His voice filled the courtyard. On the other side near the podium, Dr. K was speaking to a group of reports. She patted her chest to check the mic. Boone saw her pull the mic closer to her mouth and speak, but nothing came through the system.
“This is so cool!” Boone’s voice reverberated loudly. “Sorry,” he said sheepishly. “Just testing.” He clicked off the Bluetooth and killed the connection to the signal.
“You are bad boy,” Luigi said but laughed. “All this tension made me hungry. I’m buying.” Luigi never turned down hot dogs, and Boone never turned down free food.
Cedar untied Chigger from the tree. She walked away, expecting him to follow, but once again, he sat and refused to budge.
“That’s weird,” she said, bending down to stroke his back.
“He did that before,” Boone said. “At the Red Fox Java. Right before we left the patio. Is he okay?”
“He’s fine.” Cedar stood up slowly. “That’s his signal. He was trained to sit until the release command.”
“Try it,” Boone said.
“Fish sticks,” she said, and the dog popped to his feet, ready to go.
“Holy shit!” Boone said, remembering who Chigger had been near when they left. “Deputy Mercer? No way.”
Finding the deputy was the easy part. Boone remembered that Hoyt had instructed Mercer to meet back at the bandstand after he finished at the Red Fox Java. They could hear Hoyt's gravely voice twanging over the PA system as they walked across the street to the courthouse green.
"He has to be in the crowd somewhere," Boone told Luigi and Cedar, who had left Chigger with her parents, telling them that they wanted to see Queen Bragg get crowned. "Let's split up. Luigi, get close to the bandstand. Cedar, take the south side of the courthouse. I'll go north. If you see him, send me a text, but don't do anything to alert him."
They spread out the way Boone had suggested. Cedar headed toward the rear of the courthouse, which was also the rear of the stage. She would be close to the girls in the pageant, as well as the sound system. It was a logical place for Hoyt to post a deputy so he could provide security for the girls, as well as the equipment.
Luigi's job was more difficult. The area around the bandstand was packed tight with folding chair and people sitting on the grass up front. It was almost impossible for a Japanese teen dressed in tight sliver pants, a sleeveless black shirt, and a hairdo that looked like it had be sculpted by a blender to look inconspicuous. In fact, Boone was counting on him drawing attention.
The north end of the green was the least populated area. It was on a slight rise, with magnolia trees whose thick leaves gave good cover. From there, Boone could see the whole area. It was a great plan. All he had to do now was wait.
Up on the bandstand, Sheriff Hoyt took a cordless microphone from the emcee, who had seconds earlier finished introducing the candidates for Little Miss Bragg. One of them with a red head girl in a ribbon covered yellow dress, whose name Hoyt called a minute later. She squealed and almost hopped off the edge of the bandstand.
The sight tickled Boone, and he laughed out loud.
The phone is Boone's pocket buzzed. A text message.
Abner Zickafoose: Y R U HIDING IN TREES?
Boone: ON STAKEOUT
Abe: FOR WHO?
Boone: TOP SECRET
"Top Secret?" Abner said behind him.
Boone jerked like a fire ant had stung him. Abner was standing six feet away, hidden by the same leaves that hid Boone. "Doc. Geez. How did you sneak up on me?"
"Been here the whole time, getting out of the sun and hiding from your mama. The woman's meaner than a prison bull. What're you up to?"
"Nothing."
"Don't lie to me. Not after you slunk up here like a dog looking for a place to hide a bone. You're watching for somebody. Who is it?"
"Deputy Mercer."
"That's the one that writes all the tickets?"
Boone explained about Chigger's sniffing ability. "We turned him loose on Eugene Loach, and nothing happened. But later, he signaled on Mercer."
"You sure about this?"
Boone shrugged. "It's the only lead we’ve got, Doc."
"Guess we best follow it, then."
"We?" Boone said and then tried to protest. "You're out on bail. Technically, you're still charged with interfering with an investigation."
"You want to find the man who killed that woman, don't you?"
More than he wanted to breathe. "Yes, sir."
"Then turn your head to the left, young man, because your suspect is about to slip right by you."
A hundred yards away, Deputy Mercer walked briskly down the sidewalk toward the front of the courthouse building. Boone tapped out a lightning quick text message to Luigi and Cedar: FRONT COURTHOUSE. NOW!
"Eyes on me," Boone told Abner, and they jogged around behind the tree until they were in the open again and then walked the rest of the way on the sidewalk. They turned the corner of the building in time to see Mercer leave the last of the front steps and pull one of the heavy oak doors open.
"Hold on," Boone said, blocking his way until the door squeaked, signaling that it was closing. "Let's go."
Keeping close to the building, they eased up the same steps and ducked out of sight into an alcove.
"We wait here for Cedar and Luigi." Boone sa
id. "What do you think he's up to?"
"Looking for a place to take a leak?"
"Seriously."
"At my age, taking a leak is serious business."
Cedar was the first to reach the front of the courthouse. When the text came, she ran around the opposite side of the building. She was halfway up the front steps before she saw Boone waving her over. Luigi came around the building a few seconds later.
"He's in the courthouse," Boone told them as they gathered by the entrance. "Once we're inside, stick close to the walls and walk as quietly as you can. The acoustics are terrible, so sound really travels."
"Boone," Cedar said, a hand on her hip. "It’s not like we've never been in the courthouse before."
"Oh. Yeah. Sure. Sorry." He pulled on the long brass handle. The door opened slowly. "The hinges squeak."
And then they were in.
The first thing Boone noticed the darkness. It was bright outside, but the overhead lights had been turned low. The next thing he noticed was Mercer's voice. He was talking to someone.
Mercer's voice drifted down from the stairway that led to the second floor. "Another one? You said the last one was it."
Boone's first step on the polished floors made a slight squeak. He signaled for everyone to stop. He removed his shoes and moved on down the wall, sock footed. When he had a clear view of the second floor, he motioned for the group to move up to the stairwell.
They stayed in the shadows. Waiting. Listening.
"The main goal here is to create an utopian society populated by whites," said a second person, a man. The voice was older but more confident. There was something familiar to it. “His problem is that he needs the money to do it, so he buys up the property along a freeway route and sets his son lose on the historical towns that his father tried to create. He wants to finish his father's work. So if he has to burn out a few buildings and run off some Mexican squatters, even better. This group of blue haired biddies has thrown the proverbial monkey wrench into our plans.”
They moved further down the hallway. The sound of the voices diminished to a hum. Boone had no choice but to follow them up the stairs. He motioned to the group that he would follow and they should stay, but Luigi shook his head, no.
He pointed at the wi-fi apparatus that Boone was still wearing. He pressed a button on the chest plate, then removed the listening fork from its slot and pointed it upstairs.
Boone took the fork. The second man's voice came through loud and clear. "When a monkey wrench is in the way, the only recourse is to remove the wrench. Starting with the leader."
Mom! Boone thought. They were talking about removing Mom.
"What's the plan this time?" Mercer said.
"The office of the Registrar of Deeds has some surveys, plait maps, etc. of the Tin City property. It would be good for us if they were conveniently lost. Here's a list."
Boone heard paper shuffling.
"Is that all?" Mercer said.
"No, there's a second thing. The Bragg County Historical Society has a little building chock full of important historical documents about the location of that bone yard. I recall that the building still uses its original LP heating system. "
No, it wasn't just Mom. They were going to burn the whole historical society.
"I've only got one fuse left."
"If all goes well, Peter, it'll be all you need."
"You said the last job would be it, and I could get out of this rat hole town."
"I miscalculated."
"I'm sick of playing Barney Fife for you."
"Alas, until your gambling debts are paid off, it's a role you'll be stuck with."
"Some uncle you are."
"Grand uncle, Peter. Now go about your business. I'm due on stage in a few minutes. There's a Miss Bragg to crown." He sighed. "It's a hard job, but someone has to do it."
His footsteps grew louder. Boone waved for everyone to hide, and they slid into the shadows on the either side of the risers as the first footfalls sounded on the risers. Boone noticed the shoes first. Highly polished black leather Oxfords, merino wool slacks and matching jacket. Light bounced off the fabric, which was clearly tailored. Only one man in town can afford that suit, Boone thought. His suspicion was confirmed with the back of man's head appeared, a coffered mop of silver hair trimmed right at the top of the collar.
But something was wrong. The hair was too silver, and his body was thinner and shorter.
It wasn't Trey Landis.
It was his father.
The man who slept his life away wasn't asleep at all.
"Goddamn." The words escaped Boone's lips before he could stop them.
Ahead, Landis stopped in his tracks. His head turned side to side as he listened. "Idiot sheriff," he murmured as he checked his watch. "My introduction wasn't supposed to be for another two minutes. You've ruined by entrance."
He stalked down the hallway and to the front door. He pulled a wheelchair out of a darkened alcove, sat down, the drove it to the door. Light flooded the building, and G.D. Landis rolled his electric wheelchair toward the handicapped ramp. If his head turned at that moment, he would have seen the peculiar sight of three college students and an elderly man in with long hair and a straggly beard trying to hide behind a potted plant.
"Mercer's the arsonist!" Boone whispered after the door had closed and they were in shadow again. "He's been working for Landis all along. But not Trey Landis, his father. The old man has been faking it all along."
"I knew it!" Cedar said softly.
Luigi shrugged. "I did not."
"Me, neither," Abner added. "What're they up to?"
"They're going to destroy evidence of the cemetery," Boone whispered "and burn the Historical Society, too."
"How are we going to stop them?" Cedar asked.
"Y'all three, take Landis. He's announcing Miss Bragg in a couple minutes. Keep an eye on him. I'll try to catch Mercer in the act." Boone patted his pockets. "Where's my cellphone?"
"I got a camera,” Cedar said.
"Let me borrow it?"
"I'm coming with you,” she said.
"It's dangerous."
"It's my camera."
Upstairs, there was a crash and the sound of cursing. Clearly, Mercer was a better arsonist than burglar.
Abner snagged Luigi by the sleeve. "We'll follow Landis. You two take Mercer. Be careful."
A few seconds later, the door opened, and they were outside. When the light faded again, Boone and Cedar dashed up the stairs.
They followed the sounds to the office of the Registrar. Boone had passed by it several times in the past. It was an old fashioned kind of door: Patterned glass that you could only see shapes through, with the names of the occupants hand-lettered in gold and black on the glass. Before, the door had always been closed. Now, it stood ajar.
Boone bent down to one knee. He pressed against the wall. With Cedar literally breathing down his neck, he peeked inside.
The front office was dim. A receptionist counter separated it from three offices behind it. The middle door stood open, and light shone from the high open window. Mercer stood in front of the window, his body a hunched silhouette, as he flipped through the open drawer of a filing cabinet.
Boone crept in. He stayed low, at eye level with the reception counter. Cedar followed him on hands and knees.
"Camera," Boone whispered.
Cedar pulled it from a pocket then set the flash function to off. She set it in Boone's palm and gave the thumbs up.
Slowly, Boone worked his way down the counter. The light behind Mercer made it hard to get a good shot. The deputy's face was hidden in shadow. He needed a better angle.
Hurry up! Cedar pantomimed to him.
I am! Boone mimed back.
He kept moving, the muscles in his thighs on fire. He wanted desperately to stand up, but doing so would alert Mercer. Near the copier at the end of the corner, he finally got the shot.
Mercer turned into the ligh
t as he pulled a packet of materials out of the drawer. Boone hit record on the video function and watched as the deputy ripped the material in half and then stuffed it into a stray manila folder.
He slammed the drawer shut then pulled the office door closed behind him. Boone ducked and waved for Cedar to do the same. Mercer crossed into the dim light and reached for the outer door as the camera reached its capacity and sounded a warning chime.
Mercer stopped, turned, and saw Cedar hunched up against the reception counter, her arms wrapped around her knees.
"Hi," Cedar said.
Mercer pulled his gun. "Now what am I going to do with you?"
"Give me some sugar?" Cedar said.
The tips of Mercer's lips curled up. "I got a better idea."
Mercer shoved a plastic vial into Cedar's hand. He tore strips of duct tape from the roll and wrapped them around her hand so that she couldn't let go of the vial. Mercer then taped the hand to Cedar's thigh.
Boone stayed behind the copier. It had been his hiding spot from the instant that Mercer had seen Cedar. He hid there the whole time that the deputy had Cedar up. It killed him to hide, but he had to wait for an opening.
Through the walls, he could hear Landis' muffled voice on the PA system, announcing the runners up for Miss Bragg. He couldn’t make out the words, but from the sound of the crowd applauding, they liked the choices.
Nervously, Boone stroked his chin and tapped his chest. The tips of his fingers touched the chest plate of Luigi's listening device.
That's it, he thought.
He detached the listening fork from the slot on the plate, pushed one of the buttons, and pointed the receptor at Mercer. The sound of his breathing, which was erratic, filled the buds in his ears. He jerked back, almost hitting the wall behind him.
Whew. The sound was coming in loud and clear. He hit another button on the device and waited.
"You know what that is, girl?"
Cedar shook her head, no, and Boone clicked a third button, directing his signal to override the wireless microphone that Landis was using. He mentally crossed his fingers that it would work.
"Of course you don't," Mercer said. "Because you've never seen anything like it before. I invented myself. It's a sodium fuse, like the ones I used to burn down those houses for Landis. Want to know how it works?"