Deadly Summer (Darling Investigations Book 1)

by Denise Grover Swank

  When Lauren called for a lunch break, Dixie, Bill, and I didn’t waste any time before heading out to the Dollar General. We’d stopped by the strip mall the previous evening to talk to Otto’s friends, but neither of them had been there. Not knowing what else to do, Dixie and I had gone home for dinner with Meemaw. Teddy hadn’t come back until late, long after we’d gone to bed—something both Dixie and I had noticed but hadn’t discussed.

  But now we were on our way back to the Dollar General with Bill in tow in his own car. I pulled into the parking lot and heaved a sigh of relief when we saw the two guys sitting at the table.

  A goofy grin spread across Fred’s face, and he broke into a raunchy song about “goin’ down south on Dixie” when he saw us.

  “Hello, gentlemen,” Dixie said as we got out of the truck and walked toward them, Bill following us with the camera. “And I use the term loosely.”

  “Ladies,” Al said with a wink.

  “You guys weren’t around late yesterday afternoon,” I said. “I hear that’s unusual. Where were you?”

  “We ain’t got to tell you nuthin’,” Al grunted, taking a sip from his paper-covered bottle.

  “We stayed at home,” Fred mumbled.

  “Together?” Dixie asked.

  Fred nodded.

  Dixie sat down next to Fred. “What scared you?”

  His face jerked up. “Nothin’ scared us.”

  Dixie frowned. “Okay, sorry. I can see you’re tough guys who don’t get scared. So why’d you stay home?”

  Al grimaced, then said in a lowered voice, “We heard they found that guy in Otto’s apartment.”

  “Why do you think he was there?” I asked. “Do you think he was lookin’ for something?”

  Both men gave a noncommittal shrug.

  “We want to find the guy who scared Otto,” I said. “Do you think he really drank himself to death?”

  Both men shook their heads. “Otto never got drunk off his ass,” Fred said. “Never.”

  “When Summer found him, he had a bottle of Jim Beam,” Dixie said.

  Again, they shook their heads. “Nope,” Al said. “He wouldn’t have drunk that.”

  “Not even with his extra cash,” Fred said.

  “Where did he get the extra cash?” I asked. “What was Otto mixed up in?”

  Both men were quiet for several seconds, then Fred glanced up at us. “He was running errands for this guy. He carted things to the dry-cleaning business, then back. ‘Easy money,’ he called it.”

  “The rules were he couldn’t look in the bag,” Al added. “But week before last, he did.”

  “What did he see?” I asked.

  “Money. Lots of money.” Al said.

  Fred shot a glance at Al, then turned back to us. “And drugs. He told us not to tell anyone, and we didn’t. That’s why we didn’t tell you when you was here before, on account of we thought Otto was still alive, but now he’s dead. I’ll bet anything it’s because he looked in the bag.”

  “How would anyone know he’d looked?” Dixie asked.

  “Dunno,” Al said.

  And who was the “anyone”? I couldn’t get it out of my head that Maybelline had seen Otto talking to Teddy the Friday before his disappearance.

  No. Teddy was not involved in this.

  “Do you know if there was a schedule?” I asked. “Did he usually drop the money off at the same time or different times?”

  Fred shot Al a look, then said, “A few times he left on his bike and told us he was meeting some guy in an alley.”

  Dixie stiffened next to me.

  “Which alley?” I asked as I tried to control my rapid breathing. No. No. No. Teddy couldn’t be involved in this.

  “Dunno,” Al said.

  “But other than that, no schedule?”

  Both men shook their heads. “But it was usually during the day and on weekdays.”

  “When the dry cleaner’s was open,” I said.

  “Yeah, I guess so.”

  I tried to collect my wits to think of what else to ask, but I was so thrown by the apparent connection to Teddy that I was struggling to concentrate.

  Oh, God. What if the reason my cousin had told me to stay out of the Otto investigation wasn’t just because he wanted to protect us? What if he didn’t want us making the connection?

  “Thank you,” I told them, and waited a few seconds before saying “Cut.”

  We headed back to the truck and Bill’s car, and once we had some privacy, I brought up the point none of us wanted to address. “We need to look at the two incidents in the alley. The one I saw with Mayor Sterling and Ryker, and the other one Maybelline saw with Teddy and Otto.”

  “Teddy didn’t do this, Summer!” Dixie protested.

  I took a deep breath and tried to swallow the lump in my throat. “We have to be objective, Dixie.”

  “Surely you don’t believe Teddy had anything to do with those murders or Otto’s death!”

  “I don’t,” I said in defeat as I sagged into the side of the truck. “I can’t. So let’s focus on Mayor Sterling and Ryker.”

  “I find it hard to believe the mayor’s mixed up in drugs,” Dixie said. “Mayor Sterling is as straight as they come.”

  “Then why was he talking to Ryker? We can’t forget that Ryker dropped a bag of money outside the dry-cleaning business . . . or that he was later found dead.” I tried to say that softly, or at least as softly as someone can when talking about a murder victim.

  “Good point,” Bill said.

  Why was Teddy seen talking to a man who turned up dead?

  I turned to Dixie with wide eyes, and she stared back with an equal amount of horror in hers. Was her mind wandering to the same places mine was?

  “Dixie . . . Teddy . . .”

  “We need to focus on Mayor Sterling and Ryker right now,” she said in a brisk tone.

  I glanced over at Bill. The sheepish look on his face suggested he thought we shouldn’t dismiss Teddy’s possible involvement either.

  “Okay,” I said. “We need to go to that dry-cleaning business.”

  Dixie gave me a half grin/half grimace. “We need to get rid of your tail first.”

  I glanced back over my shoulder to see Luke halfway across the parking lot, leaning against his police car with his arms folded over his chest.

  Dammit.

  “He’s obviously here to see you,” Dixie said. “What are you gonna tell him?”

  I frowned as I watched him. He didn’t look happy. “I don’t think withholding information from the police chief is a good idea.”

  “He’s not investigating Otto’s death.”

  “But he is investigating a murder that I’m pretty doggone sure is connected.”

  “No, Cale is investigating the murders.”

  “It’s not a huge department. I’m sure they work cases together.”

  Bill didn’t say anything for several seconds. “Look, I hate to be the one to bring this up, but are you really sure he’s not using you? Lauren’s been pretty generous when it comes to doling out stuff to benefit the community. Maybe Chief Montgomery got in line.”

  I shook my head. “The Luke I know wouldn’t do that.”

  “You knew that guy ten or twelve years ago, right?” he asked. When he saw my look of surprise, he added. “It’s a small town. People talk.”

  Luke was still waiting and was starting to look irritated.

  “People grow,” Bill said. “They change. Sometimes you don’t even recognize them anymore.”

  He looked like he was speaking from personal experience.

  “I’ll meet you at the dry cleaner’s,” I said. “Dixie and I will be there shortly.”

  “Make sure he doesn’t follow.”

  I walked over to Luke, feeling that familiar warmth when he watched me walk toward him, his gaze dropping to my legs since I was wearing a dress again. I needed to keep reminding myself this was strictly business.

  “You need somethi
ng?” I asked when I was about six feet away.

  “You look good in that dress,” he said, lifting his gaze to my face. “I thought you wearin’ a dress yesterday was a fluke. This must be Lauren’s doin’.”

  “Are you here to discuss my clothing choices, or do you have another purpose?”

  His attitude shifted. “What are you doin’ talkin’ to Al and Fred? I thought I told you to leave this case alone.”

  “Excuse me?” I asked. “I’m a registered PI in the state of Alabama with a client who hired me to look into her missing brother’s whereabouts. Now she’s asked me to look into the circumstances of his death. What I’m doin’ is perfectly legal, Officer.”

  His eyebrows rose. “Officer? We’re back to formal now?”

  “Are you here on official business?”

  “Yeah, I’m here to tell you to stop this nonsense, Summer. You’re treadin’ on dangerous ground. Are you doin’ this to piss me off?”

  “What? No! Do you really think the world revolves around you? Well, I’m not some half-witted woman who’s enamored with you. I’m trying to save my family farm, Luke, and this stupid show is crap. The only way to save my family is to figure this out. And even if Lauren canceled the show tomorrow, I’d still want to look into it because I promised Gretchen.”

  He leaned his head closer to mine. “It’s not worth losin’ your life over, Summer.”

  “I’m not so sure of that.” I turned away and started toward the truck, but he grabbed my arm and spun me around to face him.

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means I’m an insignificant nobody despite my name and my past. And no, I don’t have a death wish, and I definitely don’t plan on doing anything reckless, but I’m still doing this. I’m giving Gretchen closure. And I’m saving the farm, because other than that summer with you and my cousins, my life has been a string of insignificant experiences that don’t even add up to a pile of dog shit.” I took a breath. “So I’m doin’ this one good thing, Luke. One good thing that benefits somebody else. And you can’t stop me.”

  Anger and shock covered his face. “You truly believe that?”

  I studied his face. “Yeah. I do.”

  “Summer.”

  His grip loosened, and I tugged my arm free. “I’m not lookin’ for your sympathy. And I’m not lookin’ for you to save me. I don’t want you to. I need to do this myself.”

  “Sebastian Jenkins is free on bail, and there’s a murderer out there who is connected to Otto Olson—I just don’t know how yet. You’re flittin’ around like this is some kind of game, but it’s not, Summer!” he said in frustration. “There’s something dangerous goin’ on in this town, and you’re puttin’ yourself smack-dab in the middle of it. Yeah, you have a legal right to do this, but it’s dangerous. That plot of land isn’t worth your life.”

  “Maybe it’s the perfect price.”

  He put his hand on my upper arm and tugged me closer, close enough that my chest almost touched his. “I’m worried about you.”

  “Why do I think you’re talkin’ about Teddy now and not Otto’s case?”

  “I’m not going to deny it. You’re right. I think Teddy’s tied up in something bad. He seemed pretty angry the night I was out at the farm. Has he been prone to losin’ his temper since you came back?”

  “What? No!”

  I started to back up, but Luke’s hold tightened slightly. “I don’t want to keep anything from you. I . . . I’m goin’ to tell you something so you’re not caught off guard.”

  My heart slammed into my rib cage. “What are you talkin’ about?”

  “Teddy’s a person of interest in Ed Reynolds’s murder.”

  I gasped. “Why?”

  “Summer, we have evidence tying it to him.”

  “What kind of evidence?”

  “The murder weapon. It was next to Ed’s body, and it was covered in Teddy’s prints.”

  I shook my head and mouthed a silent no. But I also couldn’t believe he was sharing something like that with me. Wasn’t this the kind of information police officers kept to themselves?

  “I know this is a shock,” Luke said as he held my gaze with soft eyes, “but I need you to tell Teddy that I want to help him. If he cooperates, maybe we can get the DA to lessen the charges.”

  “How?” I asked, trying to gather my wits about me. He gently rubbed my arm, but it did nothing to ease my tension. “Murder is murder.”

  “If he gives the DA information about the operation, I’m sure he’ll work with Teddy. Will you talk to him?”

  “What operation?”

  “Drugs.”

  I wanted to protest that Teddy would never have anything to do with drugs or a murder—or the two together—but I couldn’t seem to find my voice. I had my own doubts. Desperate men were capable of terrible acts, but surely this was too much for Teddy.

  “I think Otto is connected to all of this,” Luke said. “Which is why you need to stop investigatin’.”

  “So you’ve already become Teddy’s judge and jury?” I asked in horror. I took a couple of steps back. “Just like you were Dixie’s?”

  His mouth parted in surprise. “What are you talkin’ about?”

  “Teddy told me you arrested Dixie. How could you?”

  His face hardened. “I was doin’ my job, Summer.”

  “You berated me for doin’ my job,” I shouted, “but your job ruined my cousins’ lives! My job never hurt anyone!”

  He was angry now. He pushed way from his car. “You so damn sure about that?”

  “What the hell does that mean?”

  “Your job hurt me, Summer. Don’t I count for anything?”

  “With all due respect, Luke,” I said, “arresting my cousins and putting them in jail is a hell of a lot different than bein’ separated by a freaking job!”

  I spun around and stomped to the truck, half expecting him to stop me.

  Dixie was behind the driver’s wheel, so I slid into the passenger seat.

  “Everything okay?” she asked.

  “No. Let’s go.”

  We were quiet for a minute before Dixie said, “I heard part of what you said.”

  “Which part?”

  She grimaced. “Almost all of it.” She turned to me. “What’s goin’ on with the farm?”

  Crap. Crap. Crap. How could I be a PI if I couldn’t keep a damn secret? But I told her everything. I was finishing up as she pulled into the parking lot of the dry cleaner’s.

  “Does Teddy know?”

  “Yeah. I told him a couple of days ago.”

  “But not me?” The hurt in her voice sliced through my heart.

  “Dixie. What was the point? I only told Teddy because I wanted to know how much new trouble the farm was in—and what he was planning to do about it.”

  “What did he tell you?”

  “Not a damn thing other than that he has it covered.”

  She pushed out a heavy sigh. “That’s what he tells me too.” Then she added in a quiet voice, “Are we gonna lose the farm?”

  “I’m not gonna let that happen,” I said. “I’m gonna fix this. I promise you.”

  She glanced over, her face pale and her eyes filled with tears. “Okay.”

  “This is why I didn’t want to tell you. I don’t want you to be worried.”

  “You haven’t been back for years. Why do you even care?”

  “I didn’t come back before because I was ashamed. But my heart has always been here. I won’t let you lose the land.”

  “Us,” she whispered.

  “What?”

  “Us. We won’t let us lose the land.”

  It felt good to be back in the Baumgartner kids’ club again.

  “Teddy hates Luke for arresting me,” she said in a small voice. “But he was right to do it. I was to blame.”

  “He arrested you for an accident. Teddy was right to be pissed.”

  “That’s not the whole story,” Dixie said. “You n
eed to give Luke a break. He was doin’ his job.”

  My mouth parted. “I can’t believe you’re saying that! Your arrest devastated Teddy. Gutted him. And now Luke’s wanting to arrest him!”

  Her lips pressed together in grim determination. “Then we have even more reason to find out the truth. To help clear Teddy’s name.”

  “Yeah.”

  But those doubts wouldn’t lay themselves to rest. I was such a traitor.

  I grabbed my phone and sent Teddy a text.

  I need to talk to you. It’s important. Text me.

  We were silent for the next couple of minutes until Dixie pulled into the parking lot. “Bill’s already here. Let’s find out what’s goin’ on.”

  We got out and went over to Bill’s car. He rolled down his window.

  “This looks incredibly obvious,” I said. “Us walking up with a camera. They’re not gonna talk this way. Besides, they could potentially be dangerous. If they think we’re trying to record anything, we could get hurt or worse.”

  “Which is why I’m going to film you from outside and pick everything up from the mike. Dixie,” he said, “I think you need to stay with me for this one. What if they recognize you?”

  “They’re more likely to know Summer.”

  “But they might be more willing to talk to Summer since she’s wrapped up in this.”

  It seemed unlikely—why would they talk to someone they knew was playing detective? But I wasn’t about to send in Dixie alone.

  “I should be the one to go in,” Dixie said in a firm voice. “I was Ryker’s girlfriend. It makes more sense I’d show up askin’ questions.”

  Bill gave me a grim look. “She has a point.”

  “I’m the licensed PI,” I said. “Luke said that for this to be legal, I have to take the lead on the questions.”

  Bill glanced up and held my gaze. “You’re right. It has to be you.”

  I nodded. “Are you ready?”

  “Give me a second . . .” He lifted his camera and aimed it at the dry cleaner’s. “Ready.”

  I took a breath and walked over to the store. My pulse pounded in my ears as I opened the door. Racks of clothes looped from the front to the back, and a young woman walked up to greet me.

  “Can I help you?” she asked. She looked like she’d had a hard life. Her clothes were worn and faded, and her eyes were dilated, even though the reception area was bright with the noonday sun.