by C. L. Bevill
But nothing happened on the way into the courthouse, and it was very nearly anticlimactic. At the very least, a bombshell model should have leapt out and declared that Bubba’s evil twin brother with a goatee was the father of her identical triplets in Brazil. Really.
They paused in front of the metal detector that the county had installed the last spring. (The county board of commissioners was alarmed at the rate of things happening in Pegram County and decided to be proactive, and after all, their offices were inside the courthouse. It was the first time that Bubba could recall the county board being proactive about anything.) The single guard in charge of the metal detector gave Bubba and Dan’s chains a long look. He also gave Jesus a long look, but that was clearly for another reason. Most prisoners went in through the back doors, but they had been locked for hours since it was after regular business hours. “I reckon you searched them,” he said finally.
“Of course we searched them,” Smithson snapped.
Miz Demetrice eyed the machine with some alarm. Bubba nearly grinned as he caught her dismayed expression. He didn’t know what she had tucked into her oversized purse or down her cleavage, but it was something that wasn’t easily going through the metal detector. That would keep her out of harm’s way until she was able to talk herself out of the situation. Once, she had convinced a TSA official that a six inch long dagger was a religious icon.
Amazingly, she went right through the machine without as much as a single beep. Bubba glowered, and she grinned brightly. God alone knew what she had on her person that had briefly concerned her.
Jesus went through without a beep, as well, and it obviously thwarted him. “Aaaare you certain you doooon’t want to seeee my jock strap?” he asked disappointedly. “Iiiit has little crosses on iiiit. And they gloooow in the daaaark, too.”
“Move along,” the guard said quickly. Then he looked back at Dan and Bubba.
The guard had second thoughts about Dan and wanted to pat down the larger man. The prodding simply made Dan giggle. “Hey now, I’m ticklish there.”
Bubba waited with Officer Haynes and Tee Gearheart by a community display of local heroes. For some reason Bubba’s head turned toward the display, and he looked it over with casual boredom. He was waiting for the fireworks inside the courtroom. If his suppositions were correct, and they were kind of a stretch, then Judge Stenson Posey would be waiting inside.
The judge couldn’t condemn them because then he wouldn’t be able to kill Bubba off in order to protect the secret of the mysterious note. He would have to let them go, and then it was game time.
One side listed all of the people from Pegram County to die in foreign wars. There were only twenty names on it, but the spread was extraordinary. There were some listed from the Civil War (four names there, three for the Confederacy and one for the Union), the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, the Korean Conflict, the Viet Nam Conflict, and there was one young man listed from the first Gulf War.
The other side of the display commemorated two people from Pegram County who had gone to the summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. One was Vaughn Stanlick who had placed tenth place in badminton. The article beside the photograph and donated ribbons said that Vaughn owned a car wash in Tyler, which had all his Olympic paraphernalia framed on the wall of the front office. Bubba happened to know that Vaughn’s parents still lived in Pegramville and were very proud of their son. They had one of his racquets and several shuttlecocks bronzed, and they hung over the fireplace in their living room.
The other Olympian was Constance Nunngesser who participated in the summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. She came in fourth in the snatch at the lowest weight range. There was a little article that said Constance Nunngesser had been doing weightlifting since she had been in high school. She had donated three of her medals from various competitions for the display. She was also a legal assistant to then-attorney Stenson Posey, who fully supported her competition, even after they were married, which occurred after Stenson Posey’s first wife’s death.
Bubba perked right up. His brain took in the information, turned it over, digested it thoroughly, and made meatloaf with cheese on top. Mentally he threw a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
For some reason, reading the information made Bubba think of something he’d seen lately. There had been a photograph in the paper of Stenson Posey giving a speech in Dallas the previous Sunday without Missus Hizzonor Posey in it.
Nunngesser? Where have I heard that name before? This also made Bubba’s head work in overtime as he mulled it over. After about twenty seconds, he had it. He watched television occasionally. One of his favorites was the Discovery Channel and the History Channel was another. He had an unusual addiction to Pawn Stars. But a few months ago, he and Willodean had sat down to watch something about how large buildings were demolished. It was an intricate process that involved detailed planning and considerable expertise. The focus had been on a company out of Dallas called Nunngesser’s.
The most important question wasn’t answered. Who was Mary?
“Ma,” he said to Miz Demetrice, who stood beside him. “What do you know about Stenson Posey?”
“Good politician,” she said immediately. “Smells like lilac and ets steak and eggs for breakfast. I believe he’ll make a fair governor, better than the other guy. He’ll get us out of this dadburned recession.”
“And his wife?”
“Constance,” Miz Demetrice sighed. “Not so much. She’ll stand by him. While wearing that stupid apron. I wish they’d rethink that. It makes her look like Betty Crocker on crack.”
Hadn’t one of the officers said something about an apron found at the place they found Justin’s body? Why, yes, he had. It hadn’t been Bubba’s apron.
Bubba turned his head to look at the picture of Constance Nunngesser of Pegramville dressed in her weightlifting costume. She was a little taller than his mother but not by much. She didn’t weigh much more either. But she was an expert at the snatch and the clean and jerk. She could lift things. Dang.
The pieces just fell together like purist serendipity.
“I mean Mary,” he said. It was only a guess. If Stenson had a first wife, then Bubba figured her name must have been Mary.
“Oh, Mary,” Miz Demetrice sighed. “Poor woman. They never did find her body.”
She had vanished? Why wasn’t her name on Kiki’s list?
“— jumped into Sturgis Falls, and the police searched for a full week,” Miz Demetrice was saying when Bubba comprehended he should be listening.
“Why ain’t I heard that before?” Bubba asked.
“It got swept under the rug and all,” Miz Demetrice said. “That was the first year that Stenson ran for the judicial position. I don’t think anyone wanted to know about his wife committing suicide.”
“Suicide,” Bubba repeated thoughtfully. “How do they know Mary committed suicide?”
“She left a note. Poor dear. She couldn’t take all the attention of the political offices that Stenson sought.”
“A note,” Bubba said. Bet it don’t look like the other note. Why keep a lady locked in a room in a defunct factory? Make her sign a will? Make her sign over bits of her bank account to someone else? No other reason than that, otherwise, she would have bin kilt right away. “This lady was well off?”
“Somewhat,” Miz Demetrice said. “Her father was old money from back east some place. I reckon she had a nice trust fund.”
“And she left everything to Hizzonor,” Bubba said. Be interestin’ to see who were the witnesses on that will. Justin Thyme, mebe? The mysterious William Johnson?
“Stenson was heartbroken,” Miz Demetrice said. “You should see the monument at Longtall Cemetery. It’s the biggest one in the graveyard.”
“But then he married Constance,” Bubba said.
“Three years later.” Miz Demetrice frowned. “It was hardly the next day.”
Dan giggled again and said loudly, “Oh, stop before I tinkl
e.”
“Mary, Mary, Mary, muh— ?” Miz Demetrice repeated. “You don’t think that— is that why you were out at that old factory? You don’t really believe that— ?”
A suicide would explain why Mary Posey wasn’t on the list Kiki had made. Bubba had seen the tendency in a lot of people to truly believe what was in a printed newspaper as absolute gospel. Historians had that tendency, as well. A fella reads an account in the news, and that’s the way it really happened. Never mind that the person who writes an objective account is as human as anyone, and the written word is never truly unprejudiced.
Kiki wouldn’t have made the connection between Justine Thyme and the old GM factory and blackmail and weightlifting and a demolitions company with an unusual name. In fact, it all seemed somewhat weak to Bubba.
Where was the note? Why Big Joe had it in his evidence locker in the Pegramville Police Department offices. Big Joe might hate Bubba, but he wouldn’t destroy evidence. Big Joe also might not like the fact that Bubba was innocent again, but he would come around. If Bubba could make it through the court hearing, that was.
The guard finished with Dan, and the man wiped some sweat away from his forehead in abject relief.
“In the court room,” Haynes commanded Bubba and Dan. They were directed into a side entrance.
Bubba wasn’t surprised to see the empty bench where the judge generally sat. A single bailiff waited beside the bar that divided the courtroom into the two main sections. A court clerk wandered in and started chatting with the bailiff, neither of them looked happy to be there. Then a court reporter came in with her equipment and started setting up.
Bubba and Dan were attached to a specialized set of seats next to the gallery. Tee instructed Smithson and Haynes to return the prisoners immediately when the arraignment had concluded and then left.
The prosecutor came in and chatted with Officers Smithson and Haynes while giving Bubba and Dan the once-over.
Bubba looked around the courtroom glumly. He had been in this courtroom before. How many times? I don’t recollect.
The spectators filed in through another door. Miz Demetrice was telling Lawyer Petrie the particulars of the case. “They don’t have motive. They don’t have witnesses. They don’t have a bloody knife. There isn’t a confession. There’s only one stupid, anonymous phone call. They don’t have anything. Big Joe is a man who never, ever will need hemorrhoid cream because he’s such a perfect a-hole.”
Lawyer Petrie nodded solemnly as Miz Demetrice spoke. He raised a hand to wave at Bubba and Bubba shrugged.
Dan said, “Kin I borrow your lawyer?”
“Shore,” Bubba said. “He’s actually in family law, but I’ve given him considerable experience in criminal law. So has Ma for that matter.”
“Great,” Dan said. “I cain’t recall how many times I’ve bin in this courtroom.”
Jesus fluttered in and sat next to Miz Demetrice. He raised his sheet as he sat and both Bubba and Dan were forced to look at the ceiling. Bubba’s head went back down as he heard a hearty, “Arrr.”
Willodean Gray, resplendent in her sheriff’s deputy’s uniform, came in with David Beathard trailing behind her. David waved enthusiastically at Bubba. Willodean glowered.
Then Miz Adelia came in and glared at Bubba as if he had done this on purpose. Several other residents of Pegramville walked in. Mary Lou Treadwell wandered in, her red hair the brightest thing in the room. She was followed by Mary Jean Holmgreen, who was in her late seventies, and who seemed to believe Bubba had a secret affection for her. For some dang reason.
There was also Lloyd Goshorn, Kiki Rutkowski, and Dougie. Kiki waved at Bubba. Dougie said, “Sup, dude.” Kiki whispered loudly, “Dougie wanted to see the court in action. You remember he’s pre-law?”
Sheriff John came in, along with Big Joe, and Mayor John Leroy, Jr., who tottered as he walked. The locals were followed by non-locals and obvious festival participants. H.H. Holmes and Edwina Kemper had given up the murder investigation outside to see what was happening inside.
The festival participants were followed by newspeople, along with their cameras. Soon the courtroom was jammed full of curious people.
Bubba would have been disheartened by the sheer amount of well-wishers and gawkers, but he didn’t think anyone would try anything in a courtroom. After all, there were security cameras in the corners and armed officials everywhere.
The bailiff cleared his throat loudly and began his spiel. “All rise. This court is in session. The Honorable Stenson Posey presiding.” As he began to speak, the judge swept in, wearing his black robes and appearing very official. Everyone in the gallery stood. Bubba and Dan stood awkwardly, rattling chains as they did. The judge immediately went to the bench and sat, arranging paperwork to his satisfaction.
Bubba stared at Stenson Posey, certain that he had the murderer of the woman he now knew as Mary Posey. Long ago, he had wanted her money but not her. Perhaps she had threatened to divorce him. Even then Texas was a community property state, and the assets that came with her into the marriage would leave with her in a divorce.
“All be seated,” the bailiff announced, and Bubba sat down. He waited for the judge to look at him, but Stenson Posey did not.
When the judge finally spoke, it was to say something Bubba hadn’t expected. “I find,” the judge said in his crystal clear voice, the voice of a born politician, “that there are two reasons to recuse myself from this arraignment. One is that the mother of one of the defendants is a vital promoter of my campaign. Two is that the property involved in the alleged crime belongs to my family. Therefore, we will hold the defendants over for the arrival of Judge Arimithia Perez from Dallas, who will preside over the events on the morrow.”
“Uh?” Bubba said loudly, and everyone looked at him, to include Judge Posey.
“Yes, Bubba?” the judge said. Bubba looked into the man’s eyes and didn’t see anything to condemn him. Bubba was confused. Either the judge was the best kind of actor about, or he simply didn’t know about what Justin Thyme meant to him or his campaign.
“Just clearin’ my throat, Your Honor,” Bubba said and rose halfway up as he spoke.
The judge nodded. “Don’t fret, Bubba. I don’t believe there’s much to the charges.” His judicial gaze settled on Big Joe. “Believe you might have jumped the gun on this one, chief,” he said.
Big Joe made a strangled-cat noise. The prosecutor said something under his breath that rhymed with luck.
“In any case, Judge Perez will sort this out tomorrow as to the legality of the case.” Judge Posey smiled. “Court dismissed,” he said and banged his gavel down on the block.
“All rise,” the bailiff called as the judge stood up.
That was when there was a great boom from outside the courthouse, and nearly everyone ducked instinctively. The room was windowless, but they could hear other windows rattling and cracking. The sound of glass hitting the floor was louder than the boom.
“Oh crap!” Judge Posey yelled. “I mean, carp!”
Chapter Twenty-four
Bubba and the Murderer
Wednesday, August 22nd
Bubba or Dan didn’t duck. But then both men were restricted to a sitting position or a bent-over stand due to the overabundance of chains encasing their persons. Bubba saw the newspeople scramble out of the back of the courtroom, searching out the origins of the explosion like starving dogs intent on spareribs. The newspeople were followed by Sheriff John, Big Joe, and Willodean in that order, and Willodean was only in the back because of where she had been sitting in the gallery. David yelled, “Avast!” and chased after Willodean. The bailiff escorted the judge out of the court through the back entrance. The court reporter and the court clerk scuttled after them.
Someone yelled from outside the courtroom, “One of them fancy news vans done blew up! Call the fire department!”
The rest of the people apprehensively peeped over the tops of the benches. H.H. Holmes leaped up and de
clared boldly, “It’s probably part of the festival! Quick, Edwina, bring your detective kit!” Then he dragged the woman out. Edwina said as she went along, “I don’t know about this, H.H. News vans don’t just blow up by themselves.”
Other people followed sluggishly at first but then the remainder quickly made up time. In a matter of two minutes the only ones left were Bubba, Dan, Miz Demetrice, Jesus, and Officers Smithson and Haynes.
Smithson said to Haynes, “You watch the prisoners, and I’ll go see what’s up.”
Haynes said, “You watch the prisoners. I’ll go see.”
“I outrank you.”
“By three weeks. I got a higher score on the city po-lice test, and I’m taller than you are.”
Smithson looked at Bubba and Dan. “Oh hell, they ain’t goin’ anywhere.”
Both men tromped out.
Miz Demetrice looked after them. “Was that a real explosion?” she asked.
“I shall heeeeal all that are injuuuured,” Jesus proclaimed and exited the courtroom in a hurry to do all things biblical.
“I reckon it was a real explosion,” Bubba said. “Could have been the Murder Points Committee. Mebe the cannons in front of city hall. Might have been that display the Pegramville Women’s Club paid for to thwart drugs and violence.”
“No!” Miz Demetrice said and rushed out.
“Violence sucks,” Dan remarked.
“You know, the judge dint really seem to know anything about what we was doin’ out at the old factory,” Bubba said. Judge Posey had seemed somewhat oblivious, and Bubba hadn’t even gotten to issue any thinly veiled warnings in an effort to make the judge confess.
“He was in front of a crowd of people, Bubba,” Dan said scoffingly. “And reporters, too. Was you expecting the big reveal?”