Death in Dahlonega (A Trixie Montgomery Cozy Mystery Book 1)

by Deborah Malone

  “That hardly seemed fair.” I touched the recorder and hoped the batteries wouldn’t die before she incriminated herself.

  “He acted like he was doing her a favor.” Joyce sniffed her distaste and continued. “She didn’t have a choice. She had two children to support. After they moved off the land, he supposedly discovered gold. Daddy always said Grandmother believed Joshua Tatum killed my Grandpa so he could get the gold. She could never prove it, though. The Haygoods were considered nobodies. She would’ve never stood a chance against Joshua Tatum.”

  I looked over at Dee Dee and Nana. The way their mouths lay open, they could’ve easily been mistaken for Venus Fly Traps. I mirrored their thoughts, I’m sure. How could this nice, sweet lady be involved in something so sinister?

  “Why seek revenge now, Joyce?” Keep her talking. “That was so long ago.”

  “Why, indeed,” Joyce spat, words full of venom. “My family poured their sweat and blood into this inn. When Grandmother moved into town all those years ago, she began working at the inn as a maid. A maid! She labored like a slave for years so she could take care of her children.

  “When we were old enough and had saved enough, my sister and I bought the inn. We wanted to take care of our family and pay them back for all their years of hard work. Of course, the Tatums owned the place.” Her eyes narrowed and her face reddened. “We’d been making payments to the Tatums all these years so we could own it out right.

  “We just about had it paid off, too, when she got cancer and died. Her insurance policy barely paid for the funeral expenses. It didn’t begin to cover her medical expenses. Leroy and I have been trying our best to make ends meet so we could continue the payments. We were a couple behind and, according to the contract, John had the right to call in the loan if we missed any payments.

  “We begged him to work with us. Oh no, not Mr. Fancy Pants. It wasn’t enough that he’d bought up most of the town. He wanted the inn, too. He came to me, demanding that we pay the loan in full. Yeah,” she snorted, “like that was going to happen. He knew it was an impossible task.” She stopped to get her breath, and stared where my hand, holding the recorder, made my pocket bulge. Her brows lifted.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  She stepped closer, fists curling.

  “Wait a minute,” I blurted, and slipped my hand out nonchalantly. My mind whirled, thinking back to the image of Mr. Tatum on the day we arrived. “Is that what he was doing here Friday, when he came storming out of the lobby and ran into Dee Dee?”

  “He was as angry as a raging bull,” she nodded. “He told Leroy he wasn’t going to wait any longer to start proceedings to call in the loan. Leroy and I talked it over, and decided we didn’t have a choice. We had to move quickly if we wanted to keep the inn. We figured he deserved whatever he got. Leroy followed him over to the museum Friday afternoon. When he saw the chance, he took it.”

  “Stop talking. You’ve said too much.” Leroy lifted the gun again.

  Joyce actually looked contrite. “I really am sorry I had to involve you and Dee Dee. I liked you. But when a scapegoat fell right into our hands, we couldn’t pass it up. Then you wouldn’t leave well enough alone. How was I to know you would be as stubborn as a bulldog when it came to defending your friend? I sure never had any friends like that.”

  I was sorry she hadn’t, but good grief, that wasn’t any excuse for murdering someone. She let Leroy take another man’s life and was going to let Dee Dee take the rap. To me, that came from the heart of someone very evil. Gooseflesh skittered over my arms, as if a shadow fell over the room.

  I will fear no evil…Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me…I prayed for guidance, for deliverance, for Dee Dee, for Nana, and even for poor, greedy Mr. Tatum.

  “Yeah, and when the sheriff arrested Frank Dalton, you could have gotten Dee Dee off free and clear. But no, you had to play the part of a bleeding heart,” Leroy waggled the gun at me. “Isn’t that right, Aunt Joyce?”

  “Isn’t that right, Aunt Joyce?” Nana mimicked, breaking any spell that may have fallen over the hushed room. My goodness, was she trying to get us killed? I reached over and gave her arm a hearty squeeze in hopes of hushing her up.

  “I said keep your hands to yourself,” Leroy barked. “Aunt Joyce, what are we going to do with them? They know everything now.”

  I’ve heard you can never know too much. In this case, I definitely knew more than I wanted to. I couldn’t imagine how we’d escape. “This is a fine mess you’ve gotten us into, Ollie,” popped into my head, and I pressed in an insane laugh.

  A banging at the door was an answer to our silent prayers. “EMTs! Open up! Someone called for the ambulance.”

  Leroy’s focus shot from us, to the door, to Aunt Joyce. He motioned to her to take care of it, waving the gun off his target, and I saw my chance to make a move.

  Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

  Fist curled around my cane, I crashed it down on his wrist as hard as I could. A sickening pop resounded on contact. The gun flew out of his grasp and it clattered to the floor.

  “Aunt Joyce!” He hissed, hugging his broken wrist, and shoved me down with his other hand. “Send them away before they call the cops!”

  Joyce moved in what seemed slow motion as my vision tunneled on that flash of silver laying on the floor. In the background, I could hear Nana and Dee Dee yelling toward the door for all they were worth.

  “Help us!”

  “We’re kidnapped! Call the police!”

  I looked from the weapon to Leroy, and held my gaze steady. One of us was going to pick it up and shoot the other. We stood, equally frozen, unmoving.

  Lord, give me strength to save us. I prayed.

  He flinched first in our game of Chicken. He knelt, reaching toward the gun, but I was closer. Before Leroy had a chance to get the weapon, I lunged between it and him.

  When I came to, I was in a hospital bed with Dee Dee on one side and Nana on the other.

  They twittered around me like mother hens protecting their chicks. I was sore all over and had a ferocious headache, but I was alive! I tried to move my leg, but pain seared my knee like a branding iron. I cried out in a hiss.

  “Whoa there, Missy,” Nana cooed. Her musical voice soothed my ears. “You’ve hurt your knee again, and the doc wants you to take it easy. I’ll call the nurse and let her know you’re awake and need some pain medicine.”

  I looked from Nana to Dee Dee. “What happened?” They started talking at the same time, and I waved at them to stop. “Hold up; I can’t understand what you’re saying.”

  “Dee Dee, you tell her,” Nana acquiesced.

  “Oh, Trix. I’m so glad you’re all right.” Dee Dee stood grinning like the cat who ate the cream. “I never figured you for the hero type, but you’ve sure proved me wrong. Do you remember getting the gun from Leroy?”

  “The last thing I remember is taking a nose dive to the floor so he wouldn’t get it after I knocked it out of his hand.”

  “You mean broke his hand! You should have seen yourself, flying through the air. You moved quicker than an alley cat chased by a dog. You and Leroy got there the same time and you butted heads. I thought for sure you’d have a skull fracture. Knocked you both right out.”

  “The EMTs?” I asked, wondering about the knock at the door that saved us.

  “Sueleigh asked one of her EMT friends to come and offer us a hand. She was worried about you. When they heard the ruckus, they broke the door in.

  “I thought Joyce was going to have a heart attack right then and there. And if that wasn’t enough excitement, Sheriff Wheeler saw the ambulance heading towards the inn and followed them. He and Deputy Ray showed up the same time they did.”

  “Nana and I told them what happened, and he arrested Joyce and Leroy right on the spot. Put handcuffs on them and escorted them out to the sheriff’s car.”

  “Leroy was blubbering like a baby when he came to. I knew from the start there was someth
ing about that boy I didn’t like.” Nana frowned.

  I would’ve rolled my eyes if they didn’t hurt so much. “You and I both, right Nana?”

  She nodded in acknowledgment as she gave my hand a big squeeze.

  “Oh, honey. I thought you were dead. Well, maybe not dead, but I was so concerned.” Big tears dripped from Nana’s watery blue eyes. “But, we’re in for another long haul.”

  “It’s all right, Nana. We’re safe.” I blinked back tears that wanted to flow.

  Dee Dee balled her fists and dragged a chair up to sit eye to eye with me. Voice low, she laid out the skinny. “Joyce was screaming circumstantial evidence, and that she knows a heck of a good lawyer. Sheriff will have to go back to the drawing board to prove our story in court.”

  “I have a big surprise for Joyce and Leroy. Where are my clothes? Is my sweater here?” I surveyed the room. If Dee Dee had taken any longer to answer I would’ve panicked.

  “Sure, they’re in the closet.” Dee Dee pointed to the white door. “But you’re not going anywhere, yet. I’m your private guard until the doctor says you can go.” She looked like she was taking this guard position very seriously.

  “I don’t want to wear my sweater. Get it and I’ll show you.”

  Someone hesitantly knocked on the door. It opened just enough for a head to poke through.

  “Is it all right if I come in?”

  “Sure, Sheriff, come on in.” I held my head as high as I could and grasped my sweater from Dee Dee. “You’re just in time.”

  Chapter Thirty

  How are you feeling? You gave everyone quite a scare.” I swear Sheriff Wheeler winked at Nana.

  “I think I’ll live. Thanks for asking.” Did I just thank the enemy? Maybe it was the result of being under the influence of pain meds. Or maybe it was the image of a handsome man in a crisp, form fitting uniform.

  I held my breath as I reached into my sweater pocket. Yes! There it was—the tape recorder. I took it out and presented it to Sheriff Wheeler.

  “Sheriff, I hope this will help in the case against Joyce and Leroy. I think I got her full confession on tape. It should be enough to put them away for a long time.”

  He stared at the recorder as if it were made of gold.

  “How about it Sheriff, can we listen to it?”

  He nodded and I handed the small unit to my best friend. “Dee Dee, you want to do the honors?”

  After all, it was her freedom at stake, plus I was just too dang tired.

  She took it from me and switched it on. Silence veiled the room as we listened to Joyce tell her tale of woe. Yes, the Haygoods had been done wrong, but as the saying goes, “Two wrongs don’t make a right.”

  Sheriff Wheeler left a happy man. He assured us that with the evidence they had, and now the taped confession, he had enough for the DA. Not only had the murder of John Tatum been solved, but the long ago murder of Donnie Haygood could be put to rest.

  I thought nothing could shock me after all that had happened that weekend. I was wrong. The sheriff had one more trick up his sleeve. After thanking me profusely for my help, he walked over and kissed me gently on the forehead. “You did good, Trixie.”

  Before I had time to respond, he turned on his heels and made his escape.

  Nana and Dee Dee snickered like teenage girls. Since I couldn’t throw anything, I took a play out of Nana’s book and stuck my tongue out at them.

  My how I love those two girls!

  It was hard to believe a month had passed since that terrible time in Dahlonega.

  Remnants of Thanksgiving dinner, turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans and all the trimmings, garnered Mama’s table. Mama and Nana were cleaning up the kitchen. I sat on the couch, my leg propped up on pillows. The fall I took on my knee had forced me to undergo surgery at long last. The doctor cleaned it out and repaired what he could. A total knee replacement was delayed, he told me, but not for long.

  I heard Beau’s laughter from the kitchen, and my heart rate kicked up a notch. Since returning home, Mama’s handsome neighbor and I had tiptoed into a budding relationship.

  “You want some pumpkin pie?” Beau brushed his hand across my chin, and kissed me lightly on the lips.

  It felt so good to be home among family and friends. The heat from the fire warmed me on the outside while my family and friends warmed me on the inside.

  Beau tucked an afghan over my legs. “Sure you don’t need anything?”

  “All I need is right here.” I gave him an appreciative look, a blush rising from his attention—but just under the flush of newfound affection, there lingered that dull ache of loss.

  “Well don’t you two look snuggly?” Nana came in carrying a tray of mugs filled with hot chocolate. She didn’t miss a thing.

  “Nana, don’t get jealous. You know you’re still my best girlfriend,” Beau shot back. He went over to Nana, bent down, and gave her a kiss on her cheek.

  She turned red as a beet, and playfully slapped him on his arm, “Oh, Beau, get outta here.”

  My heart melted a little watching him treat Nana with such kindness and caring. Maybe, just maybe, this heart of mine would mend under Beau’s attention.

  “You know? I could use a boyfriend, too. You think that Sheriff in Dahlonega might want to take me to the movies?” I couldn’t believe my ears. Dee Dee hadn’t mentioned the idea of a boyfriend since had Gary died.

  For better or for worse, the incident in Dahlonega had changed all of us.

  Dee Dee and I had gone over the events more than once. Our near death experience had deepened our friendship, and neither of us looked at life the same way.

  Joyce and Leroy had decided to take matters into their own hands when life hadn’t gone their way. And for what? Not only were they unable to save their beloved inn, but irony had kicked them in the bum.

  I’d just recently received a note from Sueleigh with good news. John Tatum had come through for their daughter after all. Unbeknownst to everyone except his lawyer, he’d changed his will to read that if something should happen to him, she would inherit a large portion of his wealth, including the inn. Joyce and Leroy handed it to her on a silver platter.

  Sueleigh’s daughter finally received what she deserved. Not the inn, but recognition from her father. Sueleigh expressed her undying love and told us that if we ever needed a place to stay while visiting Dahlonega, it was on the house. As for me, I didn’t plan on going back anytime soon.

  Frank Dalton, Sueleigh’s father, was exonerated on murder charges, but had to stand trial for blackmail. Donnie Haygood’s murderer had long since been dead. But at least Donnie could rest in peace knowing the truth was out in the open.

  I wrote the story of a lifetime for Harv. Two murders solved made for a happy editor, but I told him not to expect every story to be so exciting. I was in Harv’s good graces and I had passed my six-month probation period. Life was good!

  Thank you, Father.

  Questions For Discussion

  There was a period of time, after Trixie’s difficult divorce, when she struggled with her faith. Have you ever experienced a time in your life similar to Trixie’s. If so, what are some ways you overcame those feelings?

  When Trixie moved home she rekindled a friendship with her long-time friend Dee Dee. She encouraged Trixie to let go of past hurts and move towards a faith-filled future. Do you think it’s important to have friends who will encourage your faith? If so, why?

  When Trixie first met Sueleigh Dalton, she judged her on her appearance. She then realized there was much more to Sueleigh than how she looked. Have you, or someone you know, been judged on how you look? Can we miss out on knowing a person for who they really are if we judge on appearance only?

  Joyce and Leroy took matters into their own hands when life didn’t go their way. They felt justified in taking the life of another person. Can you think of a time in the Bible when someone did wrong, but felt justified in doing so?

  Nana
is a little spit-fire. She is not going to sit in a rocking chair just because she has a little age on her. Do you know a Nana or have a Nana in your life?

  What was your favorite scene? Why?

  Who was your favorite character? Why?

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  Contents

  Acknowledgements

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Questions For Discussion