Murder Deja Vu

by Polly Iyer

  From the beginning, Clarence pegged Payton for a sharp cop, so he had no doubt the sheriff stayed on top of things. “I’m betting one of the men with Reece Daughtry that night in Cambridge killed Rayanne Johnson. All four have alibis, including Reece’s brother, and no one could shake them. But I have an idea how the murderer did it.”

  “Want to share?”

  “Not yet. First, I’m going to Atlanta to check on the man I think killed Lurena Howe.”

  “Harry Klugh?”

  Yeah, Payton was a smart cop. “How’d you know?”

  “One of my deputies saw Minette with someone at a diner way out of town yesterday. He thought it strange, so on a hunch he took down the Georgia license plate. I ran it, found out a little about him. I wondered what Minette had to do with an out-of-town PI, so I pulled his phone records. He never called Klugh, but Klugh called him. Proves nothing. Just curious.” He pursed his lips. “Not really kosher to check on the district attorney of your own county, is it?” Payton didn’t look one bit ashamed.

  “I’d do it if I thought he was doing something crooked. My boss says Minette keeps getting re-elected because he’s cleaned up the county.”

  “He gets results. You don’t have to like someone to think he’s doing a good job, although—”

  “Although, what?”

  “There’ve been a couple of cases where I think he acted overzealous. Like I said before, he prosecutes everyone like they’re serial killers, even if the crime’s nothing near.”

  “One way to make a name for himself. What did you find out about Klugh?”

  “He keeps a low profile. I didn’t really dig back very far, but I imagine he does the dirty work for others like Minette.” Payton took a stick of gum, offered one to Clarence, who reached across the desk and slipped one out of the pack. “How am I doing for a yokel?”

  “You got an inferiority complex or something?”

  “Nope. I know how you guys think. Gotta admit, though, you don’t come off like most of them who come down here thinking they’re in Mayberry.”

  “Boy, that show left an indelible mark on North Carolina law enforcement. Like I explained to the chief over in Corley, I’m from a small town in the middle of the country. Hicksville, though that isn’t the real name. I rather like it here. Pretty scenery. Nice weather. Friendly people. Cheap compared to Boston. Might drag Jeri here to retire.”

  “You could do worse.”

  “I believe I could.”

  “Here’s my problem, Mr. Wright. A guy visiting Minette doesn’t make him a murderer-for-hire. Not unless someone can ID him with Lurena Howe, and so far no one’s stepping up to the plate.”

  “I know.”

  “Even though Minette has an investigator on his staff, nothing says he can’t consult with someone else. I’d bet he pays Klugh out of his own pocket to keep things on the up and up and to keep him off the radar. So we’re back to square one. We can think whatever we want, but proving it is another story.”

  Clarence rubbed his chin. “Earlier, I thought I’d go to Atlanta to do a little digging, but I don’t have any bargaining chips to put to Klugh. I think I’ll hop on over to Minette’s office and irritate him.”

  Payton worked his gum with a slow steady grind, then curled his mouth in a lopsided smile. “Watch yourself with Minette. He might set Klugh on you.”

  “I hope he does. I’ll call you if anything good happens. These are your cases. I don’t want to step on your toes.”

  “They’re mine until someone else comes to take them over.”

  “Been there, back when.”

  “And if Daughtry left North Carolina,” Payton said, “you can be sure the federal boys will be on his ass.”

  “I know.”

  “I might do some more checking on Klugh. Let’s keep in touch.”

  “Definitely.” Clarence left the sheriff’s office and found the courthouse in the middle of town. As the DA for three counties, Minette employed a sizeable staff of ADAs. Reece would be his ticket to the big time. A national case, eyes on him. Clarence hoped he could stop the snowball from gathering more speed. Then he thought of Reece on the run and figured too much speed had gathered already.

  The receptionist in the lobby regarded him with a smile. “May I help you?”

  “I’d like to see District Attorney Minette.”

  “Do you have an appointment?”

  “Tell him the investigator for Reece Daughtry is here.”

  The woman looked confused, but she picked up the phone, punched a couple of numbers, and conveyed Clarence’s message. After listening, she said, “Mr. Minette is with someone right now, but you can wait in his outer office. Down the hall.” She pointed to the only hall off the lobby. “You’ll see the sign.”

  Clarence smiled at her. “Thanks.” He found Minette’s office and entered. The secretary greeted him, said Mr. Minette would be with him shortly, and to take a seat. Clarence did. About ten minutes later, a well-dressed man came out of the office and left, nodding to Clarence as he passed. A few minutes later, the secretary answered the phone, then ushered Clarence into Minette’s office.

  The district attorney looked exactly as what Clarence expected. Slick, tanned, expensive suit, and he wore a pinky ring. Beware of pinky rings, his mother told him. They said something about the men who wore them. He’d found his simple, Midwestern mother had made a good observation, and over the years, he decided men who wore them fell into one of two categories: either they’d gained too much weight since they bought the ring for another finger or they weren’t trustworthy. When he stood to offer his hand, Minette didn’t have an extra ounce on him.

  “How can I help you, Mr. Wright?”

  “Actually, you can’t. But I can help you.”

  “Really. How?”

  “I thought I’d give you a heads up. I’m going to prove you’re complicit in murder.”

  Minette’s face turned red, then he burst out laughing. Between guffaws, he managed to say, “And you’re going to do that how, exactly?”

  “Harry Klugh.”

  Minette’s laugh came to a halting stop, until his expression turned serious. “You’d better be sure of your facts before you sashay into my office making slanderous remarks.”

  “You mean you don’t know Klugh?”

  The DA didn’t miss a beat. “Of course I know him. I’ve known him for years. He’s worked for me on occasion. In fact, he drove here from Georgia a couple of times this week to help me on a case.”

  “So I heard. And here I thought Klugh came here to murder Lurena Howe. How misdirected was I?” The flush started on Minette’s neck and blossomed to his face. Clarence saw how imposing he could be when drilling a witness.

  “Reece Daughtry murdered Lurena Howe to stop her from testifying that he and Rayanne Johnson were lovers. He killed Ms. Johnson too, the same way he killed that woman up north years ago. And I’m going to prove it.”

  “Reece Daughtry didn’t kill the woman in Cambridge. Someone else did, and that someone came down here and killed Rayanne Johnson to make it look like Daughtry’s handiwork.”

  “Why would your so-called killer do that after twenty-one years? He was home free.”

  “Because I started looking deeper into the case. My poking around scared him into thinking I’d uncover the real murderer. He couldn’t have that. Not after fifteen years of freedom denied to Daughtry.”

  “Nice story, Wright, but I don’t buy it. And I had nothing to do with Lurena Howe’s murder. Saying otherwise could get you slapped with a lawsuit. I’d win too. As far as Harry Klugh taking orders from me, you obviously don’t know Harry Klugh.”

  “Maybe he did it on his own, maybe not. But if he’s tagged for the murder, he’ll shift blame in a New York second. And if I’m right, you’re in a shitload of trouble.”

  “You’re wrong, Mr. Wright.” Minette chuckled. “Wrong, Wright. Bet you’ve heard that a few times.”

  “Like my boss says, Mr. Wright is r
ight almost one hundred percent of the time.”

  “Well, you’re wrong this time. Rayanne Johnson and Reece Daughtry were lovers, and I have Lurena Howe’s affidavit as proof.”

  “Everyone around here knows that Reece and your ex-wife are lovers. How many men besides you would leave a woman like Dana? Certainly not Daughtry.”

  Minette was out of his chair. “I didn’t leave her. She left me after she had an affair with a dyke. How many men would have kept her? Tell me that, Mr. Always Right. I did. For years after.”

  So that’s what happened? Knowing Robert Minette, there was more to the story.

  “And when Daughtry’s caught, my ex-wife is going to jail right along with him. I’ll see to it. Now, you can take your accusations and get the hell out of my office. I should arrest you.”

  Clarence made sure he smiled. “For what?”

  Minette, clearly flustered, said, “I’ll think of something. Defamation of character.”

  “It’s only defamation if you prove I’m wrong. I’m not.”

  “Get out.”

  “I’m going, but I think I’ll leave my accusations here, where they belong. No doubt we’ll be seeing each other again. And tell Mr. Klugh I’ll be looking forward to seeing him too.”

  Clarence had done what he intended. He’d better warn Payton that he pissed off Minette big time. Nothing like stirring up a hornet’s nest. He sauntered to the door and turned. “Have a nice day.”

  “Fuck you, Wright.”

  “What language from an elected official. Shocking. Do your constituents know you have a foul mouth?” Clarence left, closing the door silently behind him. The red-faced secretary refused to look in his direction. Thin walls in the district attorney’s office. When Clarence got to his car, he called Payton. “I think you’ll be hearing from Minette.”

  “Madge told me he’s on the other line. I assume you riled him, and now he’s after my ass.”

  “I didn’t do anything to suggest you knew about my visit, but he’s pissed. I mentioned Klugh. He cleverly acknowledged him. Said Klugh’s been here twice this week on business.”

  “I guess since you started this, I’d better follow through. Knowing Minette, he’ll be on the phone to Klugh as soon as he hangs up from me. I wonder if he has another hit man on his payroll.”

  “I wouldn’t be surprised. Now you watch your back, ya hear?”

  “Thanks for all this, Wright.”

  “You can handle it.”

  “Yes, I can, but I like to have the facts before I go off half-cocked.”

  “My man can’t wait. Every police force in the eastern United States is looking for him. We gotta shake things up.”

  “So you leave me with a mess and off you go. Where to?”

  “Catching a flight home. Then I’m going to find me a killer, if Reece doesn’t get him first. You can have him when we’re finished, along with the one you’ll bag down here.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Brotherly Love

  New England

  Reece had been driving an hour, trying hard not to think about the danger he’d put Dana in. Every last shred of common sense had told him not to bring her with him, yet the thought of leaving her behind seemed incomprehensible at the time. Frank would keep her safe. If the authorities found her, Reece would swear he forced her to be his hostage.

  Was his life preordained to be an almost life, where he reached a point of almost achieving or almost attaining those things he’d worked so hard for, only to lose them in the final stretch? Still, no matter what a mess the third phase of his life was at this moment, he selfishly blessed the fact that Dana was in it.

  Forcing her from his mind, he took note of the things that mattered. The gas gauge registered full, the road atlas Frank mentioned sat on the passenger seat, phone numbers scrawled on the inside cover. It had been a long time since he’d been home—he stopped at the word. Portland wasn’t his home any more. He grew up there, but his heart belonged elsewhere.

  He brushed off the bitterness that surfaced whenever he thought of Thom Daughtry. He’d seen Carl, spoken to him often, but even thinking of his brother reminded him of another life, one that ceased to exist when he went to prison. Reece would visit for one thing only. To clear himself of a murder that would otherwise haunt him for his remaining days. Now that he could see what might lie ahead, he wanted more than physical freedom. He wanted to be free.

  A steely determination drove him, coupled with a sense of dread at what waited after the two-hour drive up the northern coast of Massachusetts through a slice of New Hampshire to Portland.

  Had his father died?

  If he hadn’t, would Reece find the nerve to face his demons? He knew the stuff he was made of. Prison cut away all the extraneous delusions he’d fostered about himself and left a core truth. In that black and white world, you either survived or you didn’t. Freedom was turning out to be far more dangerous.

  No doubt the Portland police would be waiting for their prodigal son’s return. He needed to talk to Carl face-to-face, but not where the police would expect him. That eliminated the family estate and Daughtry Custom Homes.

  He’d call Carl rather than make an unannounced appearance. His brother wouldn’t turn him in. Or maybe he would. Who knew anyone’s motivations? Everyone had a dark side. In his youth, Reece never thought people were inherently evil, but prison taught him how wrong he’d been.

  He pulled into a rest stop near Portsmouth and called the business, hoping the police weren’t monitoring Carl’s calls. When he heard his brother’s voice he almost slammed down the receiver. It took him a moment to gather his courage to speak. “Carl?”

  “Reece. Where are you?”

  “Near Portland. Is it safe?”

  “Probably not. A cruiser checks the house occasionally. Here too, I think.”

  “Are your phones tapped?”

  “No, I don’t think so. No one asked permission.”

  Reece snickered to himself. How naïve. Like the police tracking a suspected murderer would ask permission to tap a phone. “Where is it safe?”

  “I thought I might hear from you. There’s a dog park where the old landfill used to be near the intersection of Ocean and Presumpscot. Can you be there in an hour?”

  “Make sure you’re not followed.” Reece returned to the car for the last leg of the journey. He hadn’t seen Carl in a couple of years. A chasm had grown between them, and it made him sad. They had been close before that night. Brothers in every sense of the word.

  It wasn’t Carl’s fault. He was waiting at the prison to celebrate Reece’s release six years ago and vowed to be there if ever Reece needed him. But Reece couldn’t admit needing anyone. Later, when he let go of the anger that had kept him alive, he analyzed why he’d turned on Carl. Envy—one of the seven deadly sins. Carl was living Reece’s life and he was jealous and ashamed.

  He found the park easily. Some things retain a place in your memory, like the city where you spent the first eighteen years of your life. He arrived early and parked the Civic. Fencing enclosed the multi-acre dog park—good for dogs, not so good for someone needing a quick exit. Well, he was there. No turning back now. The park’s bridges and trails, woods and hills, made Reece wish he had his dogs. But his large property offered the animals plenty of room to roam before hitting an electronic fence. He walked around to get a feel for the place, found a bench and sat down to wait. Five minutes later, his brother arrived.

  Carl looked different than the last time Reece had seen him. Heavier, hair a little thinner, age showing more in the set of his jaw. He looked like their father.

  “Hello, Reece.”

  “Carl.” The moment might have been one of the most awkward in a life full of awkward moments. He couldn’t read his brother’s expression, and he had no idea what showed on his own face.

  “You look good,” Carl said. “Different somehow.”

  “Must be because I’m not wearing prison clothes.”

&
nbsp; Carl looked away, chewed his bottom lip. “Don’t.”

  Reece didn’t want to start that way. The sarcasm slipped out unintentionally. He wanted to apologize, but he didn’t. “I take it you checked to see if you were followed.”

  “I wasn’t. I doubled around the block a few times from the business. They’re not watching me that closely. The police warned me to report to them if you contacted me. I said I would.” He looked at Reece. “Of course I won’t.”

  Reece wondered if that were true, then thought sadly how cynical he’d become. “I need your help. I want to talk about the guys with us the night of Karen’s murder.”

  Carl rolled his eyes, released an exasperated puff of air. “We’ve gone over this a hundred times. What more can I tell you?”

  “Were you sleeping with her too, Carl? You can tell me that.”

  Carl’s gaze shifted, his jaw muscles tensed. “What difference could it possibly make now?”

  “Were you?” Reece waited. The anxiety on Carl’s face broadcast the answer before he spoke the word.

  “Yes.”

  Reece had expected the reply, but he still wasn’t prepared for the internal jolt. He turned away. “Why didn’t you tell me what everyone must have known but me?”

  Carl shook his head. “No one knew. I didn’t know about the others until earlier that day. Karen juggled all of us. I didn’t want you to know about me. I was ashamed. Still am.”

  “Yeah, now, confronting me. But you didn’t have any problem screwing your brother’s girlfriend back then, did you?”

  A dog ran past them, the owner jogging behind. “I’ve asked myself that for twenty-one years. But when I found out about her, I convinced myself I was protecting you by not exposing her. I had hoped you’d see for yourself. You were so oblivious, so trusting. But the answer is much more complicated and selfish. I didn’t want Marcy to know I screwed around because she’d never marry me if she found out. I loved her and didn’t want to hurt her. Turns out I’m not very good at holy matrimony, even without cheating.”