“I’ll be sure to take care of that easement, Mrs. Englewood,” Kurt said.
“And I’ll make sure it’s mentioned in the listing information should he decide to sell,” Stella added.
“Thank you,” Maureen said curtly. “I’ll show myself out.”
No one spoke until we heard the click of the front door.
“You don’t think…?” Kurt began.
Stella’s brow creased. “She’s awful, but I don’t think she’d follow Gladys to Red Clover and hit her with a baseball bat.”
“Then again, she lives next door and the bat was here in the yard,” Kurt said. “She could’ve easily taken it.”
“But there were no prints except yours,” I said.
“She was wearing gloves,” Kurt said.
“She’s always wearing gloves,” Stella said. “I swear she wears them all the way until Memorial Day. She’s cold inside and out.”
It was something to consider.
“I should go,” I said.
“Oh, let me get your gift,” Kurt said. “It’s in my trunk.”
I gave Stella a polite peck on the cheek. “It was nice to see you again.”
“Make sure you tackle that garden now that the police have gone,” she said.
“I will.” I followed Kurt out of the house and he opened the trunk of an older blue sedan.
“A token of my appreciation,” he said, lifting an object from the floor of the trunk. “I have a little money now, thanks to Aunt Gladys. I wasn’t sure what would be appropriate, so I just bought a bunch.”
It was a gift card tree. Each branch had a gift card clipped to it for what I assumed was a local store.
“Kurt, this is incredibly thoughtful. Thank you.”
“I figured you could use them to get to know places in town. Help you acclimate.”
“You have no idea how helpful this is.” I felt overwhelmed with gratitude. This simple gesture would buy me more time. Help me figure out next steps.
“It’s the least I can do,” he said. “You saved me from a life sentence.”
“I just wish we knew who the real killer was,” I said.
He closed the trunk. “Same. It’s hard to sleep at night, not knowing the truth.”
“It will come out. It always does. Hey, the truth already set you free.”
He smiled. “Which means I’ll see you around. Maybe at the library.”
“I’m warning you now—I’ll be a regular there.”
I carried the gift card tree to the scooter and placed it in the basket. I was glad Kurt retreated inside the house and missed seeing me nearly smack myself in the nose with the helmet. Graceful I was not.
Unfortunately, I only made it a quarter of a mile before I realized there was a nail in the front tire. I debated pressing onward since Red Clover wasn’t far, but I worried about a blowout. In the interest of caution, I coasted to a stop on the side of the road. Now what? I could walk back to the house, but I’d have to carry the gift card tree and I hated leaving the scooter behind. It could be easily stolen and then I’d have no wheels at all.
I texted Patrick and then Scarlet but no response. I considered texting Dane but didn’t want to seem needy, even though I was actually in need.
Well, I’d texted my only two friends in town. There was nothing to do now except wait.
Chapter Nineteen
Help arrived a few minutes later in the form of Chief Tuck and a pickup truck.
“Looks like you need a hand,” he said, walking over to investigate.
“Nail in the tire,” I said, pointing. “Can you drive me to the auto body? Buddy’s Body or something?”
He chuckled. “Nonsense. We can do better than that.”
“We can?”
“Sure. We can mend it ourselves.” He stood in front of the scooter. “Might want to empty your basket first.”
I removed the gift card tree and put it on the floor of the passenger seat. Chief Tuck opened the back of the truck and together we lifted the scooter into it.
“Where are we going?” I asked, once he pulled onto the road.
“My place. I’ve got everything we need to teach you a valuable lesson.”
I laughed. “Sounds ominous.”
“Everybody should know how to patch a tire. It’s a basic skill.”
“I think you’ll find I’m lacking many of those.”
“You’re too hard on yourself. My wife was like that, too. I wonder what we teach girls that they grow up being so tough on themselves.”
He turned down a long driveway and a small white farmhouse came into view.
“Your house is like a postcard,” I said.
“I don’t keep it as nice as my wife used to.” He parked in front of a huge shed. “Everything we need’s right in here.”
The shed was overflowing with…stuff. I counted at least three transistor radios on a table, a set of walkie-talkies on a shelf, two CBs, and a myriad of other gadgets.
Chief Tuck walked over to a table and cinched a tool belt around his red flannel shirt. The tool belt had ‘Tuck’ etched in the leather strap.
“What’s Tuck a nickname for?” I asked.
He peered at me. “Never you mind, young lady.”
I glanced around the shed. “This looks like the place where objects come to die.”
“No, this is where they come for a new lease on life.”
“How many of these have you actually fixed?” I asked.
“There’s no rush. I enjoy the process of tinkering.”
His phone rang and he reached into his back pocket to answer it.
“You’re the chief of police and you use a flip phone?” I blurted. The chief was as much of a relic as everything in his shed.
He shushed me and listened to the caller. “Have Tony take care of it. Thanks.” He hung up and fixed his Paul Newman eyes on me. “The more electronic a thing is, the faster it breaks and the more expensive it is to fix. Flip phone serves my purposes just fine.”
We removed the scooter from the back of the truck and placed it on the ground. The shade made it harder to see.
Chief Tuck must’ve noticed me squinting because he said, “You should always have a spare flashlight. Didn’t your father teach you that?”
“My father died when I was young. Besides, I don’t need one.” I activated the flashlight on my phone. “You, too, could have this miracle if you gave up your flip phone.”
Chief Tuck gave his pocket an affectionate pat. “I’m all set, thanks.” He looked at me with renewed interest. “Your dad died?”
“Yes, a long time ago. That’s how I’m related to Hazel. On my father’s side. It’s one of the reasons I never knew her. I told you it was complicated.”
“Your mother didn’t encourage the relationship?”
“The only relationships my mother encourages are the ones that result in an engagement ring—for her or me. Doesn’t matter which.”
He cast me a sidelong glance. “You ever been married?”
“No, but Mom’s on her third husband. Maybe this time she’ll get it right.”
“Do you really believe that?”
“Nope.”
He chuckled. “I was married for forty years. Irene wanted me to retire years ago, but I was resistant. Then she died and I saw no reason to stop working.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“Breast cancer. She put off her mammogram by a couple years and, by the time she had it, the cancer was too advanced.”
No wonder Chief Tuck was reluctant to give up his work. It was all he had in his twilight years. Well, work, tinkering, and fishing.
“What happens once you fix one of these things? Do you sell it?”
“No, no. I usually donate it or I keep it, depending on what it is. I like listening to the chatter. Keeps me from getting lonely.”
“I can’t imagine you’re ever lonely in a town like this, not when everyone knows you.”
He smiled at me. “You’d be su
rprised. I do like my solitude, though.”
“Is that why you go fishing?”
“That’s one reason. I go alone and try to stick to the part of the river where nobody can reach me.” He gave me a pointed look, remembering our conversation from my backyard. “Sometimes that doesn’t quite work out.”
“Next time I see you drifting by, I promise to ignore you.”
He grunted. “Good. I appreciate that.”
I motioned to the shed. “So is this place your sanctuary?”
Chief Tuck looked around, as though viewing the space with fresh eyes. “I suppose it is.”
“Does that mean you’d rather not be bothered in here either?”
“I mind being bothered anywhere, but I’m the chief of police. I don’t have the luxury of minding.” He gestured to the tire. “We should get back to business. Do you know anything about tires?”
I held up my hands. “Let’s assume I don’t know how to do anything.” I had my super change the lightbulbs in every apartment I’d ever lived in. Chances were good that I didn’t know how to do anything he wanted to teach me.
He assessed me. “Yeah, I think that’s a fair assumption.”
“Don’t judge.”
Chief Tuck kneeled beside the scooter. “Fair enough. Come down here and I’ll show you what to do.”
I crouched down and hoped I didn’t lose my balance. “Thanks. This is my only mode of transport, so I really need it.”
“You’ve got two legs, don’t you?”
“I do and, if I must say, they’re my best feature. But there are no sidewalks on the main roads and it would make me nervous to walk in the dark.”
Chief Tuck leaned over and examined the injured tire. “Yep, that’s a nail all right.”
“Is this the same situation as when you’re impaled? You’re not supposed to pull it out or you risk blood loss?” I glanced at the tire. “Or, in this case, loss of air.”
“I guess there’s an analogy there. In this case, though, we have to take out the nail or you’ll end up destroying the tire.”
“We don’t want that.”
He flicked a glance at me. “It’s a commendable thing—what you did for Mr. Wiggins and Mr. Garcia.”
“Thanks, that reminds me. I have a new suspect for you. Maureen. Gladys’s neighbor.”
“Sorry, that’s a dead end. We already interviewed Maureen Englewood.”
My hopes crumbled. “And I guess you cleared her.”
“She has a rock-solid alibi.”
“She also has a rock-solid horrible personality.”
“Maybe so but, last I checked, being horrible isn’t a crime.”
“It should at least qualify as a misdemeanor.”
He chuckled. “Try not to worry. We’re back on the case now that Kurt’s been cleared. Detective Fairfax is working in the field and I’m doing mental legwork.” He tapped his temple. “I find keeping my hands occupied also keeps my mind occupied. Helps me think through a puzzle.”
“You treat a murder investigation like a puzzle?”
“Sure, why not? I do some of my best thinking when I’m fixing or making something. It stimulates a different part of my brain.”
“So does weed. Have you tried that?”
He suppressed a smile. “Can’t say that I have.”
I winced. “It’s not legal here, is it?”
His mouth split into a grin. “Don’t think it’s legal where you come from either.”
“No, but it’s the city. There are way worse crimes to worry about.”
“I’ll put your mind at ease, Mia. Newberry may be a small town, but we don’t make a habit of arresting people for smoking dope, much the same way that we don’t turn over information to federal immigration enforcement agents unless it’s in connection with a serious crime.”
“Good to know.”
“Now the goal here is to remove the nail and plug it. It’s not a long-term fix, but it will buy you time before you need to spring for a new tire.”
“That’s perfect.” Another financial savings.
Chief Tuck set out the tools and explained what to do. “Let me grab my gun. It’s on the table.”
I balked. “You leave your gun lying around?”
“My heat gun,” he clarified. “We need it to cure the site.”
He returned with the gun and showed me how to use it. I was nervous about burning a hole straight through the rubber, but somehow I managed to follow his instructions.
“All finished,” he said. “You’re good to go now.”
I felt a rush of pride as I surveyed the mended tire. “Really?” My mother wouldn’t believe me if I told her, which I wouldn’t. She’d only find a way to make me feel stupid.
“Don’t forget this.” He retrieved the gift card tree from the truck and placed it in the basket.
“This is from Kurt,” I said. “A thank you present.”
Chief Tuck kept one hand on the basket. “Goodwin,” he said.
“Excuse me?”
“You asked about my name. My first name’s Goodwin. It was my mother’s maiden name and she wanted me to have it.”
“That’s nice,” I said.
“Always felt too fussy for me. I started going by Tuck when I was a boy and it stuck. My grandkids even call me GranTuck.”
“That’s sweet. Are they local?”
“Not quite but close enough.” He released his grip on the basket. “I wish Irene was still here to watch the little ones grow up. She would’ve loved seeing them learn how to walk and read and all the other milestones. She was the one who kept the pencil chart on the wall of everyone’s heights. I haven’t been able to keep it going. Reminds me too much of her.”
I started the scooter. “You’ll just have to enjoy the kids for the both of you.”
He gave me a dour smile. “I guess I will.”
Feeling upbeat after my triumph over the tire, I decided to stop by Carlton’s office to see if he could squeeze me in for an appointment sometime soon. I wanted to keep the productive momentum going. The office was located on Ferry Road, one of the smaller side streets downtown, and I figured it would be a chance for me to match some of the gift cards to their respective locations.
I parked in the driveway that ran alongside the building. A black Audi was the only sign of life. I removed the gift cards from the tree and stuffed them into my purse. No need to attract any opportunistic thieves.
I entered through the front door and was surprised to see an empty room. No furniture. No artwork. Nothing.
A woman emerged from a back room, gripping a broom.
“I’m sorry. I must be in the wrong place. I’m looking for Carlton Spencer.”
The woman directed her gaze to the back room and started to sweep.
“Thank you,” I said.
I found Carlton alone, packing files into cardboard boxes. This room was also devoid of furniture.
I knocked on the doorjamb. “I guess this isn’t the best time to offer myself as a potential client.”
Carlton seemed startled to see me. “Oh, hey. I’m between offices. Maybe give me a call in a week or two.”
“Yes, I can see you’re in casual mode.” I gestured to his mesh shorts and Penn State sweatshirt.
“I came straight from the gym,” he said. “Figured I’d shower when I get home since I knew this place would be dusty.”
“Did Jax find you a better deal on a lease?” I asked.
“Please don’t say anything to Jax,” he said quickly.
Okay, that was odd. “You’re slinking off like a thief in the night?” I asked, half joking.
“No, I just want to be the one to break the news.”
“You’re a brave accountant,” I said. “Taking a vacation to Mexico and moving offices during the busiest time of year.” It would be like a teacher taking a vacation in September.
“No risk, no reward, right?” He crossed the room to retrieve another stack of files and I noticed a ma
rk on his calf.
“Ha! We’re twins.” I removed the bandage from my hand and showed him the wound inflicted by Ophelia.
Carlton glanced casually at the back of his leg. “I’d kept it bandaged to start with, but the doctor suggested I let it air out. Helps the healing process.”
“Another souvenir from Mexico?” I asked.
“Jellyfish sting,” he said.
Huh. Strange that a jellyfish sting resembled a cat bite. I glanced at my hand again and an idea began to take shape.
A very, very bad idea.
“Is that why you were taking antibiotics the night I met you at Jama?”
“Yeah,” he said, nodding. “I saw the doctor as soon as I got back and he put me on them. Said it was standard practice.”
Except at Jama, they said he was taking the antibiotics for Montezuma’s revenge, not a jellyfish sting.
“Carlton, are you really moving offices?”
He flinched. “Of course. Why would I lie about a thing like that?”
“Because you’re embarrassed. Listen, I get it. I lost my job in spectacular fashion. There’s even evidence of it on the internet.”
“Fine,” he said, relenting. “I went to Mexico to drown my sorrows after my business folded. I figured it might be my last chance to live it up for a bit.”
“You’re an accountant. How could your business possibly go under?”
Carlton licked his lips. “I lost my CPA license.”
I sucked in a breath. “Does your family know?”
“Nobody knows.”
I remembered him at the bar at Jama in his suit. “You weren’t coming from work that night I met you,” I said. “You’d been on a job interview.”
His guilty look was the only answer I needed.
“It didn’t go well, did it?”
Carlton scowled. “Kind of hard to get hired somewhere without a license.”
“You must be getting desperate for money. Believe me, I know the feeling. Tell me, Carlton, did you even bother to ask your mom for money before you killed her?”
Carlton clenched his hands into fists. “I hinted around, but she didn’t take the bait.”
“So you decided it was better to kill her for the money rather than bruise your ego and admit to your mom that you’re not the superstar she thought you were?”
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