by Jay Heavner
“I sure did just like we talked about.” She looked at the boys and said, “I sure hope you fellows like Mexican. Papas is one of our favorite restaurants. We thought you two would probably be hungry and tired after your trip. Y’all welcome to spend the night. We have a guest bedroom we keep handy for guests and family.”
Roger looked at Bill. “Sounds good to me. We met a guy on the way up who told us Papas was good. What do you think, Bill?” Bill said, “It would be greatly appreciated. Mr. Miller, I know you’re quite aware of what a cop gets paid.”
Mr. Miller said, “I am. That’s why I suggested it. You won’t be disappointed. There’re fresh towels in the bathroom for you to use when you clean up, shower, or whatever.”
The doorbell rang. Mr. Miller said, “Looks like the restaurant’s delivery man is here. I’ll get it and Cindy, could you get the table ready?” “Sure thing, Clyde. The thought of the food is making my mouth water,” she said.
Mr. Miller left the kitchen, and Cindy went to the cupboards and opened them. “Can we help?” Bill asked.
“Sure thing,” she said. Soon the table was set and the food, burritos, was passed out to eat. After a short prayer, all chowed down on the Mexican food. “Oh, I forgot,” Cindy said, “Are you guys good with Mexican beer to wash this all down? How about a Corona?”
“Sounds good to me,” Bill said. “Yeah, me too,” Roger said. She looked at her husband, and he nodded too. Cindy got up, got the beers from the refrigerator, and passed them out. The men all thanked her. She looked at Roger. “Say, had anybody ever told you that you looked and even sound like Sam Elliott?”
“Yup, happens all the time. Wish I had his money,” Roger said. “These burritos are very good. They were next to none existent where I grew up in West Virginia. The standard fare was meat and taters.”
“Seems each area of our country has its own local cuisines. Have you sampled grits or barbeque or greens yet?” she asked.”
“Barbeque yes, but not the others yet,” Roger replied. “You don’t know what you’re missing,” she said. “I’ve eaten some strange things while on digs in foreign countries,” Roger said. “They tasted good, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to know what they were. Ever had scrapple, or puddin’ or souse Cindy?”
Roger caught a knowing smile slip onto Clyde’s face. She said, “No can’t say I have. I’ve heard of souse. Can’t be any more interesting than what chitins are made from. What’s scrapple anyway?”
Roger said, “Scrapple and puddin’ are mainly and normally scrapes left over from the butchered pig with cornmeal added. You fry it and put butter and syrup on it. I like it, but some others find it repulsive. Now, souse is even more interesting.
It’s a form of head cheese. They take scrap meat from the pig mainly from the feet, head, heart, and tongue, pickle it, add salt and sometimes peppers and vinegar, mix it all up, and cook it. It has a very interesting taste.” She smiled, “I’ll bet it does. I’d try it. As I said, can’t be any worse than anything I’ve already eaten.” Roger said, “Could I ask you two a personal question?” His eyes shifted from Cindy to Clyde and back. Bill frowned. “It’s kind of the elephant in the room, and I’ve been accused of having curiosity to a fault. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. It is kind of nosey, but this is the South, and you guys are a mixed race couple. There’s a story there, and I’d like to hear it if you don’t mind.”
The couple looked at each other and smiled knowingly. “You wanna start on this Clyde?” “Sure. No, it’s not the first time we’ve been asked this. It wasn’t some - thing we sought out or planned. After my wife died, there were too many bad memories for me back in Florida, and I moved up here. I have a son working for General Electric in Greenville, so I knew a little about the area already. He suggested I come to church with him. Said there were a lot of good people there. Don’t know what got into me, but I said yes, and I’m glad I did. The church was a mixture of black and white folks, and they all seemed to get along. I liked that. Most times, Sunday morning is the most segregated time left in America. I met Cindy the first day going in the church. You want to take it from here, Cindy?”
“Okay. I was still recovering from my surgery where I got shot in the leg. I was a cop in Spartanburg. What a time that was. Our force was still integrating, and it wasn’t always smooth and being a black female made it even harder. I was out on patrol one night, stopped a car with a light out. I no more than got out of the car when the driver opened fire. I was hit in the leg and went down. I got three shots off at the fleeing car. It was found the next day in a shopping center parking lot. There was blood on the seats. The car had been stolen, but they never did find out who was driving. I nearly bled to death from the wound
that went through my leg. It took a long time to recover, and the doctor said I would have a limp and need a cane the rest of my life, so my days as a cop were over. I try to do without it around the house, but need it when I’m out and about.”
Clyde said, “She thanked me for opening the door. We were a bit late, and the only seats were in the front. They sat us up there. Cindy was next to me, and her singing sent chills through me.”
Cindy said, “Growing up, I sang in the choir at an all-black church. Some of us were into Rock and Roll, and we formed a band. Called it the Black Cats. It was some of the best times and worse times in my life. I loved the singing and the crowds, but the booze and drugs and rowdiness wore me down. I knew if I kept on that path, I’d end up dead at a young age. I’d seen so many of my friends come to bad ends. My momma never gave up on me. She was a prayer warrior and not afraid to storm the very gates of Hell. She’s the reason I’m still alive, my Momma and Jesus. She died about five years ago. How I miss her. I know she’s waiting for me in Heav- en.” She lowered her eyes, and the boys noted a tear in her eye.
Clyde smiled and put his arm around his wife. He kissed the side of her head. “She gets worked up when she talks about the shooting and her momma.” He hugged her. “I was kind of floundering too when I came here. She kind of saved my life too, her and Jesus. We weren’t planning on any of this. We weren’t trying to make any kind of statement. It just happened, and I’m glad it did. Can you guys understand that?”
Bill looked at Roger, and they both nodded. Bill said, “Yeah, makes sense to me. I’m glad you two are happy together and moving forward.” Roger said, “I’m sorry if I caused you any distress, ma’am.” She wiped away a tear. “No foul, young man. You gave me an opportunity to tell you about us and Jesus. God is good, and sometimes you got to go through some hard times before things work out. It felt like I was being pulled through a knothole. Like the Good Book says, ‘There may be pain in the night, but joy comes in the morning.’ Sorry if I’m getting preachy.”
Roger said, “No, thanks for sharing.” He paused. “I’ve been going through some hard times myself, and it’s always good to hear about people getting through their problems and it all working out.”
Bill cleared his throat. “Hey, these burritos are getting cold and the beer warm. Let’s eat ‘em all up, clean up, and then talk about what we came here for. Sound good?”
All nodded in agreement. They ate quickly and cleaned up just as fast. They sat down at the table again. Clyde spoke, “I’d like Cindy to sit in on this. She’s never heard the whole story, and she may have some new insight and take on it. Is that okay?”
Roger and Bill nodded approval. Clyde said, “Good. I was cruising US 1 just south of Titusville looking for drunks leaving the bars. We’d had a lot of trouble there lately after closing time. I was just done with a safety check on a guy when I got the call. He was stone sober and cool as a cucumber. No problem with him. So, it goes something like this,..”
CHAPTER 9
Clyde continued, “As I said, I had been looking for drunk drivers when I got the call. It had been a quiet night for me, a pleasant surprise when the call came across the radio. Seemed there had been a big fight at a bar party on the north end of
town and just about all of the Titusville cops on duty were up there trying to restore order and clean up the mess. There had been several stabbings, and at least one person had been shot. As you well know, all the police forces in the county have a mutual assistance agreement. Brevard County Deputies assist the city cops when needed, and vice versa, and I was the closest unit.
“I pulled into the parking lot at the Canaveral Diner a little after 4 o’clock. The report I got from the 911 people was of a stabbing with injuries. I was met at the door by the owner who I knew. He was a train wreck with tears flowing down his face, and he was visibly shaking. His eyes said it all. I knew it was bad.
“He told me she was on the floor in the kitchen and sat down in a booth. He asked if I had a cigarette, and I said no. He said he quit years ago, but could sure use one now. I opened the swinging door into the kitchen and was not prepared for what I saw, and I’ve seen a lot. She was laying there nude face up spread eagle with multiple stab wounds in her body, my guess was at least twenty.
“There were two things that struck me as odd. One, with all the stab wounds, I expected blood splattered everywhere. It was not so. And two, her clothing was neatly folded in a pile nearby. Blood ran from under her body to a nearby floor drain. A bloody butcher knife lay on the counter, and it had a broken off point. I thought she may have been raped. She was definitely dead. I secured the area and called in a quick report. It was at that time Chief of Police of Canaveral Flats Bill Kenney showed up. He was in street clothes. Bill, I think we need your input now.”
“Okay, I can give some information. I was in the area and had my radio on. I heard the call and decided to help. Seemed there weren’t too many cops available because of the big fight. The owner let me in and pointed to the kitchen. He said another cop was already there. I opened the door and found Clyde, Officer Miller, in the kitchen, and there was crime tape around the area. He did not recognize me at first and asked, quote, ‘What the hell are you doing here, and who the bleep are you?’ I told him, and he remembered me. He said he hadn’t expected me here and out of uniform, too. Remember that?”
Clyde said, “I do. The bad old days. My language has changed and improved over the years.”
Cindy cut in. “What were you doing there at that place at that hour of the morning and in street clothes?”
Bill replied, “As I said, I’d been in the area and was on my way home when I heard the call.”
“What had you been doing?” Cindy asked. “I’m not at liberty to say,” Bill said.
Cindy shot her husband a questioning look, but Clyde let it pass. Bill said, “I know what you’re thinking, and I don’t blame you. And FYI, it gets more complicated for me. The dead woman was my former girlfriend, and our recent breakup had been high volume. Apparently, we weren’t on the same page when it came to seeing other people. In no uncertain terms, she let me know she thought I’d betrayed her by being with other women, and she was mad as hell about it.
“She was yelling and tried to hit me several times, but I deflected the blows. She threw a glass ashtray at me. Glad I had fast reflexes and ducked, but it nearly hit a county Deputy who showed up at the time. He saw who’d thrown it and took charge. He kept us apart and sorted things out. She said she never wanted to see me again, and I could rot in hell for all she cared. The Deputy asked if I wanted to press charges as he could see the marks on my arms and knew she had winged the ashtray at me. I said no. I wasn’t interested in seeing charges were filed. By then, things were calming down. The Deputy asked us what we wanted. She said she wanted me to get the bleep bleep out and never come back. I told him I’d do that and left. I never saw her again until that night in the restaurant kitchen.”
“Why won’t you tell us where you were earlier?” Cindy inquired. “An alibi would come in real handy right now. It seems you had a motive.” Bill said, “An alibi would be real handy. That is correct, but I have my reasons for my silence. Jumping ahead, the inquiry did list me as one of the suspects, but lack of evidence soon turned this into a cold case, and here we are today. Roger helped various police departments solving crimes when he lived up north. He had his reasons for coming to Florida. I’ll let him give them if needed. He’s a forensics expert and helped solve a murder in our little town recently. A body was found buried in a peat bog swamp during a housing development construction. I deputized him, and he has agreed to help on this cold case.”
“I hope this one doesn’t almost get me killed like the last one did,” Roger said. “I can still see that green laser light from that sniper’s gun. If it hadn’t been for a rescue dog I’d recently got at the pound who alerted me, I wouldn’t be alive today.”
“So a rescued dog rescued you?” Clyde said.
“She did as the Shaman said she would, but that’s another story,” Roger said.
Clyde and Cindy looked at Roger and then to Bill when Roger said no more. Bill said, “It’s a long story best told another time. It’s got nothing to do with our cold case, and I’d like to get this over. It’s been a long ride here, and I’d like to get some shuteye soon if that’s okay. Clyde, could you finish this off for now? If we have any more questions, or you remember anything additional, we can discuss it before we leave town tomorrow morning.”
“We’re glad you guys are leaning on staying with us tonight. We have a king size bed in the guest room. There’s only one bed. If you don’t mind sharing a bed, we have one available,” Cindy said.
“Sounds good to me,” Bill said. “What about you, Roger? You game with that?” Roger looked a Bill sideways and said, “Bill, you certainly aren’t my first choice for a bedmate. Last time I slept with another person was my late wife. I bet you snore and have stinking feet.”
“I’ll shower up and take care of the feet, but I do snore some, I’m told,” Bill said. Roger said, “It’s against my better judgment on having Bill for a bedmate, but I’m tired too, and the price is right.” He stopped. “What more do you have to add, Clyde?”
“Not sure I have much more. The forensics guy showed up, took lots of pictures, dusted for fingerprints, took the bloody knife, took statements, checked us for blood splatter, found none, and looked for anything else out of place. Clues are always left, but this one gave us only a few, and those all lead to dead ends. If I remember correctly, the ex-husband was another suspect, but he had an alibi of some sort. The other possibility considered was an unknown suspect who took advantage of the situation and went on a bloody frenzy.”
“Thanks, Clyde,” Bill said, “And the money that was in a flimsy locked box in the back was not taken. Robbery didn’t seem to be the original motive.”
“That is interesting,” Cindy said. “Think it’s time to turn in. I’d like to sleep on this and see what if anything comes from the little gray cells as Poirot likes to say.”
Roger said, “Ah, I see you’re a fan of Agatha Christie.”
“I am,” Cindy said. “I really loved, ‘And Then There Were None,’ even if the stories’ title has been changed several times.” “I didn’t know that,” Roger said. “’Murder on the Orient Express’ is my favorite.” He paused and yawned. “It’s time. We’ll get out stuff from our vehicle, clean up, and see you in the morning.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Cindy said. “If you need anything just holler. Good night.”
Good nights were exchanged, and the boys retrieved their suitcases from outside. Bill told Roger to use the bathroom first, and he did. A quick shower and he stripped off to his undershorts and slipped into bed. Bill took a quick shower and entered the bedroom. He stripped off all of his clothing, tossed them carelessly on the floor, and crawled into bed under the sheet.
Roger looked at Bill. “You never told me you slept in the nude.” Bill said, “It’s not something I usually shout to the world. You got a problem with that?”
Roger gave a harrumphing sound. “I’ve slept with a lot of naked women, but no, I’ve never slept with a naked man.” “First time for everything. You
could sleep on the floor if it bothers you.”
“You sleep on the floor with your clothes you threw everywhere. Is your place in Canaveral Flats as messy as you made this place?” “No, it’s more so.” “Pig.”
“I’ve been called that before, sometimes on the job.”
The two men said nothing for a moment. Roger asked, “You’re not going to kiss me, are you?”
“Sorry, not even if you beg me. You’re not my type.” “Bill, you’re disgusting.” “And naked.”
“Naked and disgusting.”
Bill said, “Now we have that revelation, will you shut up, and we can get some sleep?”
“And no kissing.”
“No kissing, not even if you beg. Satisfied?” “I’d be more satisfied if you sleep on the floor.”
“Ain’t gonna happen. You could sleep on the floor.”
Roger said, “Oh, never mind. If you touch me, I’m not responsible for what happens.” “Okay. Happy now?” “Not really.” “You’ll get over it.” “I’m still not gonna like it. If word of this gets out…”
“It won’t. That’s funny coming from the guy whose dog liked to ruined my truck.”
Roger snickered, “Now that was funny. So they’re still calling you names from when she vomited and crapped in it?”
“Not funny. Not funny at all.”
Roger laughed. “Good night, Bill. Sleep tight. Lots of skin exposed for the bugs to bite.” Roger thought he heard a growl. “Good night, Roger.”
Roger whispered, “Good night, Stinky.”
“I heard that. You make me want to hurt someone very close to me.” With a lilt in his voice, Roger said, “Good Night, Bill.” “Good night.”
It was only a short time before the two tired men were sound asleep, and Bill was snoring loudly, but Roger made it a duo. In another room on the other side of the house, another couple was talking in their bed.
“Well, what did you think, Cindy?”