Deadly Secrets

by Jude Pittman

  Jake shoved his head against Kelly’s leg reminding him to continue scratching and Kelly laughed. “You’d pay more attention if it was a female shepherd I was talking about, wouldn’t you, boy? I’ll give Martini’s a call, then we’ll go for a walk.”

  Kelly still hadn’t caught up with Frank and he still wanted to talk to him, even if it was just to confirm the worst.

  There was a crisp chill in the air and they set a fast pace toward the Hideaway. “Gets your circulation going, doesn’t it?” he teased Jake as they loped up the hill.

  The grass along the roadside had faded to brown and the trees were all decked out in their fall finery. A couple of pickups honked as they passed and Kelly waved. At the top of the hill, a car pulled up beside them and stopped.

  “Getting your exercise?” Gus leaned his head out the window.

  “Good for the paunch.” Kelly grinned and patted his stomach. “What are you doing out this way?”

  “One of the boys searching Anna’s cabin turned up a metal box that looks like it’s been rifled. I’m going over to take a look. You want to come along?”

  “You bet.” Kelly walked around the car and opened the passenger door. “Okay if Jake rides?”

  “Sure. Let him in.” Gus motioned to the back seat.

  “Was there any sign of a break-in?” Kelly asked.

  “Nope. Whoever did it was real good or had a key. Know any possibilities?” Gus took his eyes off the road and gave Kelly a sharp glance.

  “Well, Bubba of course but I can’t see him searching her cabin. Maybe she left the door unlocked. That’s not uncommon out here.”

  “Could be but it still gives me one more reason to have a little talk with your friend Bubba.”

  “Why don’t you let me talk to him? Bubba’s always been straight with me. If he knows anything, I’ll let you know and you can pull him in for an official grilling.”

  “I dunno. I’ll think about it. First let’s take a look inside. Maybe you’ll notice something that doesn’t fit. You’ve been inside before, haven’t you?” Gus pulled up in front of a small pine slab cabin. The front door stood open, a deputy framing the doorway.

  “Sure, I’ve been inside but I never paid much attention to what she had in the place.”

  “Howdy, Fred,” Gus acknowledged the deputy. “Where’s the box?”

  “Over here, sir.” The deputy led them into a small, wood-paneled bedroom. The bed had been shoved aside and a floorboard pried up, leaving a hole in the floor. A green metal ammunition box was on the floor next to the hole. “You can see the lock’s been pried off.” Fred pointed to a small padlock hanging, still locked, on the frontispiece of the box. “Looks like somebody used a pry bar on it.”

  “What’s this stuff?” Gus indicated a pile of papers stacked alongside the box.

  “The thick one’s her will. The rest of it’s all financial stuff—stock reports, bonds, the works. There’s a couple of bank statements too and wait’ll you get a load of the balances on them suckers.”

  “Have the lab boys finished going over the place?”

  “Yep. They wrapped it up just before I called you.”

  “Okay. I’ll take things from here. You and Mike head back in. I’ll bring the papers along when I’m done.”

  Gus picked up a thick envelope that bore the words ‘Last Will and Testament.’ He removed the document and crouched on the floor scanning the pages.

  “Take a look at this.” He handed the will to Kelly. “Except for a couple of bequests, she’s left the whole lot to Krystal. Of course, since we know she’s the daughter, that’s natural enough but read the third paragraph.”

  Kelly scanned the page to find the passage Gus had indicated. “In the event that my said daughter, Krystal Marie Davis, is not living at the time of my death, or is prevented for any reason whatsoever from claiming the proceeds of my estate, I designate my good friend and companion, James Bubba Tate, to be the recipient of the residue of my estate.”

  “I don’t see anything odd about that.” Kelly handed the document back to Gus. “Bubba and Anna had been together a long time.”

  “It looks like she left a nice chunk of change.” Gus swept his arm across the stack of papers spread out on the floor.

  “Yeah, well, there’s always been talk about Anna having money hidden away out here. I knew she was smarter than that.” Kelly picked up one of the passbooks. “It seems she was a pretty shrewd investor.”

  “I wonder if Bubba was aware of that passage.”

  “What difference does it make?” Kelly shrugged. “Krystal’s very much alive and she gets the bundle. Now if Krystal had been murdered, you might be justified in wondering about Bubba.”

  “Providing nothing happens to Krystal between now and when they probate the estate.”

  “Horse shit,” Kelly grumbled.

  Gus let out a chuckle, then folded the will and put it back in the envelope. “Don’t get your tail in a knot,” he said. “I’m just looking at all the angles. I’ll tell you something I am wondering about. I don’t see any sign of that note your friend Cam was so het up about. That strikes me as odd. It’s the kind of thing you’d expect to find with the rest of this stuff. You got any ideas?”

  “I don’t know.” Kelly frowned. “Maybe Bill Shipton’s got it. Do you want me to ask Cam?”

  “No. You stay away from him. I’ll take care of that end. Go have a talk with Bubba. Find out what he knows about this will and that scarf. I’m going to dig around here awhile. I’ll get back to you later tonight or in the morning.”

  “Okay. If it’s tonight, you’ll have to leave a message on the machine. I’ve got a dinner date with Krystal.”

  “Didn’t waste any time did you?”

  Kelly blushed. “She’s a nice kid and I want to find out a little more about the Davis clan and what happened between them and Anna.”

  “Just watch your step. The Davises are in a position to cause me a few headaches and I don’t need that right now.”

  “Don’t worry. I won’t cause any flack. I’ll slip a few pointed questions into the conversation and watch her reaction. If she gets skittish, I’ll back off.”

  “See that you do. Now get the hell out of here and let me do some work.”

  Kelly stepped out the door and whistled. Jake came bounding out of the woods and together they headed down to the creek.

  “Gus is up to something,” Kelly mused aloud, his mind busy reviewing their conversation.

  The bait house was deserted but the door was open, so Bubba wouldn’t have gone far. Kelly leaned back in a chair and propped his feet against a fish tank. It was relaxing inside—once you got used to the smell.

  Before they’d found the metal box, Kelly hadn’t been too concerned about what Bubba was holding back. Now he needed to know what it was but Bubba was inclined to be touchy when you questioned his word and Kelly was pondering his approach when Bubba walked in and stepped over to the fish tank with a large pail in his hand.

  “Hey, Kelly, what’re you doing here?” Bubba asked.

  “I just dropped by for a chat. What have you got there?” Kelly pointed at the pail.

  “Minnows. I can’t keep enough of these suckers in the tanks this time of year. Hang on a sec while I dump them in the trough, then I’ll grab a coffee with you.”

  It seemed like Bubba was in a good mood. Kelly grabbed a couple mugs from the shelf, lifted the pot off the stove and poured them each a cup of Bubba’s brew. More than one newcomer to the bait house had tried to talk Bubba into an electric coffee pot but they’d all been scoffed at. As far as Bubba was concerned, coffee needed to be hot and black. He always made it that way and he wouldn’t have anything to do with the “watered-down, lukewarm shit that comes outta them fancy pots”.

  “What’ve you been up to?” Bubba pulled up a stool and took the mug Kelly handed over.

  “Just nosing around. I found out something that might interest you. Anna had a daughter she hadn’t seen
in eighteen years.”

  “So you found out about the kid.”

  “You mean you knew?” Kelly raised an eyebrow.

  Bubba shrugged his shoulders. “Anna had some lines you didn’t cross and the kid was one of them. I respected that. She never came out and talked about her daughter but yeah, I knew she had one. You don’t think the kid killed her, do you?”

  “No, nothing like that. Her name’s Krystal and all she wanted to do was find out why her mother deserted her. She sure has started me wondering about why Anna took off the way she did and I plan to try and find some answers.”

  “I hope you find something. I know damn well Cam didn’t kill Anna. The cops probably think he did it but they don’t know Cam. He gets squeamish just watching me gut fish. No way could he strangle anyone—especially not an old friend like Anna.”

  “Well, they’ve got to go by the evidence. That and what they find out from talking to friends and relatives. By the way, the police went through Anna’s cabin and found a metal box stashed under the floorboard in her bedroom. You wouldn’t know anything about that box, would you?”

  “What makes you think I’d know anything about it?” Bubba narrowed his eyes.

  “Because you knew Anna better than anybody else and I figured she might’ve told you.”

  “Yeah, I knew about it. So what?”

  “So, somebody busted the lock and went through Anna’s papers, that’s what.”

  “And you think it was me that busted into her box,” Bubba glared.

  “Don’t be so touchy.” Kelly snapped the words. “I figured you’d rather talk to me than get hauled down to the station and talk to Gus. I didn’t say you broke into the box but I did figure you might have an idea who did.”

  “How should I know?” Bubba hunched up his shoulders and rested his chin on his collarbone.

  Kelly’s eyes bored into the top of Bubba’s head. The bait man was dodging and Kelly was sick of it. “What is this crap, Bubba? I had to do plenty of talking to get Gus to let me question you about this. I figured you’d be grateful. So what happens? I come in here to ask a few civil questions and you give me a ration of shit. I don’t know what’s got into you lately but I’m beginning to wonder what the hell you do know about Anna’s murder.”

  “Hey, I’m sorry.” Bubba’s face turned red. “I didn’t mean to give you a rough time. I know you’re trying to help Cam outta a hole but I don’t want to end up taking his place.”

  “I can understand that, Bubba but you’re only making it worse by copping an attitude.”

  “Okay, I get the message.” Bubba’s lips twitched into a sheepish grin. “The answer to your question is yes, I did know about Anna’s box and no, I didn’t break into it.” Bubba reached into his pocket and pulled out a key ring. “Why the hell would I do that when I’ve got a key?”

  He selected a small silver key took it off the ring and handed it over. “You can check it yourself. When Anna made that note with Cam, she stashed it away in her box. Then, she showed me where she kept it, gave me a key and said if anything was to happen to her, I should get the note and tear it up.”

  “Did Cam know where she kept the note?”

  “I don’t think so but I can’t be sure. There’s something I need to tell you and you ain’t gonna to like it much.” Bubba paused and took a sip of coffee. “I wanted to tell you earlier but I was afraid of making things worse for Cam. You see I went to Anna’s cabin to tear up the note like she said. The box had been pulled out of the hole, just like you’ve described it and when I looked through the papers, the note was gone.”

  “I assume you read Anna’s will.”

  “Yeah, I read it and I know she put my name in there. But, what the hell? The daughter’s alive. Nobody’s got any call to think I bumped Anna off to get hold of her money.”

  “Nobody’s thinking that Bubba. We’re just trying to piece everything together and find out what happened down there.”

  “Well, you know everything I do now. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the box earlier but what was I supposed to do? I figured blabbing about that note would be like putting a noose around Cam’s neck. I even thought about hiding that box but I was scared the cops would find out.”

  “Good thinking.” Kelly shook his head. “You’re right about me not liking what you say about the note. Gus was already wondering why it wasn’t with Anna’s papers and when he finds out you went through that box looking for it, he’ll rake you over the coals good.”

  “Do we have to tell him?”

  “Damn straight we have to tell him,” Kelly snapped. “And the sooner the better. Your prints are on that box. I’m just wondering if Cam’s prints are there too. I’d sure like to ask him a few questions but Gus has already warned me to stay away from Cam.”

  “Gus ain’t said nothing to me.” Bubba flashed his mischievous grin.

  “I didn’t hear that. But if you do happen to run into Cam, you might mention whoever took that note probably left their prints all over the box and they’d better come clean with Gus in a hurry.”

  “Gottcha! I think I’ll close up here and mosey on down to the Hideaway. I’ll catch you later.”

  “One more thing.” Kelly raised his voice. “I promised Gus I’d ask if you saw a red scarf lying around Anna’s stall after that ruckus with Krystal Saturday afternoon.”

  “I didn’t see no scarf.” Bubba frowned and the puzzled look on his face was answer enough.

  “Okay, it’s not important. Just something I told Gus I’d check on. I’ll catch you later.” Kelly moved toward the door. “You might pass the word that if anybody knows anything about Anna’s murder, they’d best come clean. Cops don’t have any sense of humor where murder’s concerned and it pisses them off when they catch people lying.”

  Satisfied, Kelly said goodbye to Bubba and headed back to the cabin. It was past five and if he was going to pick up Krystal at seven, he’d have to hustle.

  Thirty minutes later, showered, shaved and dressed in slim cut slacks and a dark blue sport coat, Kelly gave his hair a once-over with the blow dryer, added a splash of cologne and stepped up to the mirror. He’d had a few casual dates but nothing special since Lynda. This was the first time and already he found himself fighting butterflies. Of course, this wasn’t really a date but all the same, the tension was there.

  “You’d think I was back in high school,” he stopped to give Jake a pat. Jake flopped his tail and watched Kelly go out the door.

  Kelly sped up the hill, then hit the brakes. Two police cars were parked in front of the Hideaway and Bubba stood on the steps with his hands in his pockets. Kelly pulled onto the shoulder. Spotting him, Bubba dashed across the road and jumped into the truck.

  “Well, you was right,” Bubba croaked. “The shit’s hit the fan.”

  “What happened?”

  “The cops showed up twenty minutes ago. With a search warrant. They took Cam back to his place. It weren’t more’n five minutes before they brought him back out and took off in one of the cruisers. I guess they’ve arrested him.”

  “Did you get a chance to ask Cam about that box?”

  “Yep and it’s like I figured. He went up to Anna’s cabin after they had that fight up on the bridge. Cam claims he didn’t bust open the box though. Says he found it open same as I did.”

  Kelly frowned and shook his head. “Damn fool! Did he say what he did with the note?”

  “Yep! He put it in his desk. The cops came while I was still talking to him, so he didn’t have a chance to get it outta there.”

  “What’s going on now?” Kelly pointed at the police cars.

  “Oh they’re just talking to Darlene and looking around the Hideaway. They didn’t bother the rest of us none. It was Cam they wanted.”

  “Well, I’m late, so I’ve gotta get going. I’ll give Gus a call in the morning.”

  “Okay. They haven’t asked me nothing yet but I guess I’ve gotta tell them when they do, huh?”

>   “You tell them the truth, Bubba. It won’t help Cam none for you to get yourself tossed in a cell alongside of him.”

  As he pulled away from Bubba, Kelly shook his head in disgust. “Goddam Cam!”

  Chapter Ten

  Krystal had her blonde hair tied back with a narrow black band, a simple act of mourning in her mother’s memory, that touched Kelly’s heart.

  “You seem a little more rested tonight,” he said, as he helped her into the truck.

  She smiled, a pink flush tinting her cheeks. “After you and Detective Graham left, Penny chased me to bed. I was asleep the minute my head touched the pillow.”

  “Well, a good night’s sleep has sure put the roses back in your cheeks.” Kelly’s eyes lingered admiringly and Krystal’s flush deepened.

  “You must’ve thought I was horrid when you saw me in that scene with my mother,” she said, lowering her eyes and nervously twisting a strand of hair.

  “Not horrid—just scared. I saw the panic in your eyes when you came to and I really wanted to pick you up and give you a hug but being strangers, I’m sure you’d have misunderstood.” He gave Krystal a grin and she answered with a shy smile.

  “I’m embarrassed about the way I acted,” she said, looking into his eyes.

  “Hey, you had a good reason for the way you acted,” Kelly said, reaching over and patting her shoulder. “Now let’s forget about that meeting and enjoy ourselves. Okay?”

  “Yes, please.” This time her smile was full and happy and her eyes sparkled. “Where are we going?” She asked.

  “A little place on the lake called Martini’s. Have you ever been out there?”

  “No, I’ve never even heard of it. What’s it like?”

  “You’ll see pretty soon. It’s over on the far side of Eagle Mountain Lake.”

  Krystal leaned back in her seat and Kelly concentrated on his driving until he pulled off Jacksboro highway onto the access road that followed the lake.