by Carolina Mac
“I’m Ranger Blackmore, the head of Violent Crime, ma’am, and I’d like to ask you a few questions.”
“No, I’m sorry. My day has been interrupted enough by that other Ranger demanding office space and ruining the day for all of my employees.”
“He’s just doing his job, ma’am. I sent him to do the interviews and he’s doing his job.”
“Are you telling me that you are his boss?” She looked him up and down and frowned at his clothes and his long hair. “I can’t see that being possible. How old are you?”
“Twenty-two, ma’am. I’d like to come in and talk to you for a couple of minutes, then I’ll take all my people out of here and leave you to catch up on your work.”
Laura blew out a breath and seemed relieved. “I’m happy that you’re leaving soon. It’s been such a disruption for my staff.”
“How long have you worked here, ma’am?” asked Blaine. He followed her into the office and sat down in one of the guest chairs.
“Thirty years, but not all that time in this building. This is a relatively new library. That’s how long it took me to become head librarian.”
“Admirable,” said Blaine. “Who on your staff would look into overdue books?”
Laura instantly froze, and Blaine figured he’d hit a nerve.
“The girls send out email reminders,” said Laura, “or give them the members a call,” Blaine noticed the tremor in her voice, “and if the books aren’t returned in a timely manor after the third reminder, the names are put on a list and the members are notified by mail.”
“And if they still don’t bring the books back? Then what?”
“Nothing more we can do except bill them for the book and cancel their membership.”
“And that’s it?” asked Blaine. She seemed on the edge and he wanted to get tough with her but not here in the library. “I’d like you to come to headquarters with me, Miss Schell. There are a few more things I’d like to ask you.”
“No, I’m sorry. I can’t do that. I’m much too busy.”
Blaine stood up and pulled his handcuffs off his belt. “We can walk out of here quietly or I can handcuff you. Your choice, ma’am.”
“You can’t do this. I haven’t done anything.”
“If you haven’t done anything, ma’am. You will have every opportunity to clear up the misunderstanding at headquarters.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you. You look like one of those young gang people.”
Okay, I’m going for it.
Blaine turned and looked her in the eye. “Your nephew called me.”
“Todd called you?” Laura began visibly trembling and her lips quivered.
The nephew is the key.
“What did Todd say? Where is he?”
“Miss Schell, I’m arresting you on suspicion of murder, three counts.” Blaine handcuffed her and led her into the hallway. He stuck his head into the office Farrell was using.
“Finish up and everyone can go home. I’m taking Miss Schell to headquarters.”
Farrell grinned. “Aces, boss.”
Ranger Headquarters. Austin.
LAURA SCHELL never said a single word during the trip from the library to DPS. Blaine booked her, read her the Miranda and explained what would be happening.
“You will be staying here overnight, Miss Schell, and in the morning Ranger Quantrall will formally interview you. After that, you’ll be arraigned. Do you understand your rights?”
“I understand. I don’t need a lawyer. I’m sure of it.”
“If you change your mind,” said Blaine, let one of the Rangers know and they’ll make the call.”
“Thank you.”
“No problem.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Tuesday, June 9th.
Ranger Headquarters. Austin.
JESSE left Laura Schell sitting in interrogation room one for twenty minutes while he drank a coffee with Chief Calhoun.
“Blacky thinks it’s her,” said the Chief, “and the kid is rarely wrong.”
“Jeeze, Chief, I know, but a librarian?” Jesse shook his dark mop of hair. “What kind of motive would be strong enough for a woman like her to knock people off?”
The Chief smiled. “I’ll leave that little problem up to you to solve. If anybody can make her cough up the motive, you can. You have the gift.”
“A librarian is a new murderer for me. She looks more like my housekeeper than a killer.”
“Poison is a woman’s weapon,” said Calhoun, “according to history. Make her tell you why she did it.”
“Let me get it straight in my head before I go in there,” said Jesse. “Blacky thinks her young nephew was coerced into killing the first two victims and then he ran away because he didn’t want to be a murderer?” Jesse shook his head. “Don’t know. Sounds weird to me.”
“Blacky’s the criminologist,” said the Chief. “Blacky says the kid did the first two and took off for parts unknown, then Aunt Laura did the third one on her own and made a mess of the last victim’s house. That’s the gospel according to young Einstein.”
“But Blacky doesn’t know the motive,” said Jesse, “and without a motive and some physical evidence tying the woman to the crimes, we have to have a confession. Leighton won’t take her to trial without evidence placing her at one of the scenes, at least, and we don’t have it.”
“Do your best,” said the Chief. “All you can do.”
Jesse stood up. “Okay, I’ll give it a shot.”
JESSE sauntered across the hall, set up the recorder and sat down across from Laura Schell. “Miss Schell, ma’am, I’m Ranger Jesse Quantrall and I’m going to ask you a few questions about the murders of Leslie Milburn, Bren Chavez and Sandra Beckman.”
“Ask your questions, sir. I have to get home and feed my cat.”
“Let’s start with the third victim, Sandra Beckman,” said Jesse.
“Who’s she?”
“She’s the lady you killed while she was sitting helpless in her wheelchair, ma’am. Why would you do a thing like that?”
“I don’t want to answer your questions, sir.”
“Your nephew phoned us, ma’am, and he was concerned about you and what you were doing.”
Laura looked up a Jesse. “I need to talk to Todd. Did he leave a number?”
She’s a whack job.
“Did your nephew kill Doctor Millburn? We know he did, we just want you to confirm it for us.”
“I don’t want to get Todd into trouble. I raised him to be a good boy.”
“Ma’am,” said Jesse, “both you and your nephew are in huge trouble already. Texas is a death penalty state and you and your young nephew are heading for death row in Huntsville.”
Laura broke down and began sobbing. Her first show of emotion.
Now we’re getting somewhere.
“I don’t want to go to death row. I’ve read books on the prison system—we have a whole section on it at my library—and Huntsville is not a good place.”
“It will be hard for you to avoid it, ma’am. You and your nephew, Todd, have killed three people.”
Jesse passed a box of tissue to her and forged ahead. “How old is Todd?”
“Fourteen,” she sobbed.
“Just a boy in high school. That’s a terrible shame, ma’am. You’ve ruined a young person’s life, and why? What possible motive would you have for killing these people? Sandra Beckman was a defenseless woman in a wheelchair.”
Laura continued crying into the wad of tissues.
“Your conscience must be heavy, Miss Laura. May I call you, Laura?”
She nodded her head slightly.
“You would feel better if you told me why you had to kill Sandra Beckman, wouldn’t you?”
“I can’t talk about it right now. I’m sorry.”
“Okay then,” said Jesse, “Let’s get you to your arraignment and we’ll talk more about it tomorrow.”
Laura’s face brightened. “Can I go ho
me now?”
“No. You’ll be taken to the courthouse for your arraignment and then you’ll be coming back here to spend the night. I’ll come and see you again tomorrow.”
“Who will feed Plato?”
“I’ll send someone to your house, ma’am. Don’t worry about your cat.”
“Thank you, Ranger.”
Jesse turned Laura Schell over to Ranger Ruskin and went across the hall to the Chief’s office. “Were you watching?”
The Chief nodded. “I’ll get warrants ready for her house and for her office at the library and see what we come up with. There must be something.”
“If I have anything solid to put in front of her tomorrow,” said Jesse, “I think she’ll give it up. She’s almost ready.”
“I’ll work on the warrants,” said the Chief. “Three counts of murder, there won’t be any bail.”
West of Austin.
TRAVIS and Luke spent the day listening to Leggatt and got nothing useful. He was rarely in the house during the day.
They tailed Cory Lebovic to the market, picked up take-out at Wendy’s while Cory shopped for food and tailed him back to the ranch. They drove back to their hiding place and waited.
At ten after five, Farrell arrived driving Luke’s truck and sent Luke home for the day.
“What time is Annie coming for dinner?” asked Travis.
“Six, six-thirty,” said Farrell.
“How’s she planning to do it?”
Farrell shrugged. “No idea. That’s her job and I leave it up to her.”
Coulter-Ross Ranch. La Grange.
ANNIE sat on the side of her bed and tugged on turquoise leather boots. She wore a white cotton dress with spaghetti straps, accessorized with an assortment of turquoise jewelry from her extensive collection. After brushing her mane of long black hair, she sprayed Light Blue liberally, picked up her purse and headed for the kitchen.
From the Sub-Zero, she took the coconut cream pie she’d baked earlier and placed it in a container to protect the meringue.
Let’s do it.
She carried the pie carefully to her truck and placed it on the passenger seat with her purse. Not wanting to arrive early, she cruised along listening to a Lukas Nelson CD and arrived at the Lazy L about six thirty.
Lazy L Ranch. West of Austin.
ANNIE parked her truck close to the long porch that ran across the front of Paul’s ranch house.
He came out to greet her wearing a big smile and a lot of expensive cologne. Annie didn’t recognize the scent. He hadn’t worn it before. Maybe it was new.
“You look gorgeous, Annie, and you smell heavenly too.”
“Thanks, Paul.” She winked at him. “You clean up well yourself.”
He chuckled and kissed her on the cheek, then took the pie from her, opened the door and led her inside. “I have beer on ice. Would you like one?”
“Love one. It’s Texas hot again today.”
“We need rain,” said Paul. “I’ll have to buy water to top up the holding tanks. This hot weather makes the cattle extra thirsty.” He got the beer, opened two and poured Annie’s into a glass. “Come and sit down, Annie. The barbeque is heating up and the steaks won’t take long. Everything else is ready.”
Annie sat down next to him on the sofa in the sitting room attached to the kitchen. “Your house is comfortable, Paul. It has a cozy feel to it.”
“Thanks, but I can’t take credit for the décor. One of my wives took care of it. I can’t remember which one at the moment. When you’re around, you are the only woman I can think of.”
“That was romantic,” said Annie with a giggle. “No lasting impression from former wives?”
“I guess not.” Paul smiled at her and finished his beer. “Is it too hot for you to come outside and keep me company while I cook?”
“No, of course not.” Annie stood, straightened her dress and followed him out to the stone patio behind the house. She watched Paul at the grille and he seemed quite proficient.
I wonder what other skills he has?
When the meat was ready, Paul forked the thick steaks onto a platter he had ready and led the way inside. The table was set in the dining room and he pulled out a chair for Annie before returning to the kitchen to fetch the salad from the fridge.
Annie cut into her meat and took a bite. “Mm this steak is cooked perfectly, Paul. You are a master at the grill.”
“Now you’re the flatterer.”
He made small talk throughout the meal and Annie could feel the tension building. He was working up to something. Probably going to ask her to stay the night. That was her guess.
When they finished dinner, Paul took the plates to the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. Annie chatted away to him and told him about the Panama blend she was particularly fond of and he made a note of it.
“Can I cut you a slice of pie, Annie? It looks delicious with all that thick meringue.”
“I couldn’t, Paul. Maybe in an hour or so, but you go ahead.”
Annie heard his cell ring and he walked down the hallway towards the bedrooms to answer. She couldn’t hear much, but the conversation was brief. Paul said a few words and from his tone, Annie could tell he was angry.
He returned unsmiling, moments later, and his body language said he was still annoyed by the call. “I’ll have pie later too, dear. The coffee is almost ready.”
They moved into the sitting room for their coffee and Leggatt was nervous and fidgety. His hand shook as he poured cream into his cup.
He’s furious about something.
“What is it, Paul? You seem distracted.”
“Distressed is more like it.” He heaved a sigh and seemed to release some of the tension. “I wanted to enjoy a relaxing dinner with you and then lure you into spending the night with me, but I have an emergency meeting that I can’t get out of.”
“That’s okay,” said Annie gently touching his arm. “I have lots of emergencies myself. We’ll get together another night.”
Paul left his coffee and stood up. “Thanks for being so understanding.”
He’s rushing me out of here for a reason.
Paul walked her to her truck and gave her a quick kiss goodbye.
Yep. Something is going down.
TRAVIS AND FARRELL listened in on all of the dinner conversation but were especially interested in the last bit. The phone call and the impending meeting.
“I hope the meet is in the house,” said Farrell. “We might get something solid.”
Travis’ cell signaled a text.
“I got the bum’s rush, sugar. Have you got ears on?”
“I do, girl. You on hold for tonight?”
“Maybe, maybe not. Give me a count.”
“Where will you be?”
“Not far.”
“Is that Annie?” asked Farrell.
“Uh huh. She’s staying close and want’s a count.”
“Aw, shit. What’s she thinking?”
Travis held up a hand and removed the headphones. “Listen.”
“Now that you’ve ruined my evening, what’s the big emergency that you couldn’t discuss on the phone?”
“I heard through my contacts in DC that there’s a watch on you and the level was raised yesterday.”
“Of course, there’s a watch. The Homeland people watch any activity that could be construed as terrorist. That’s why we’re being extra careful and playing it close to the vest. We’re almost ready. A couple more weeks.”
“You should put a hold on the training for awhile until things cool down. Getting rid of Marshall in front of the Capitol like that was a mistake, in my opinion.”
“It was necessary. Marshall was loose lipped and talking to all the wrong people. Blackmore was ready to bring him in and squeeze him. He was a weak link.”
“We should take Blackmore out.”
“Do you not realize what a move like that would do right now? No, you don’t. It’s all about timing. We’ll s
ave him for later. Don’t rock the fuckin boat, Stokes.”
Farrell looked at Travis and mouthed the name. Stokes.
“I’d better get home. My wife will be worried.”
“It won’t be much longer. Stop worrying.”
The door slammed, and an engine started up.
“I’ve got coffee on, Cory. We might as well have a piece of this gorgeous looking pie that Annie baked. Because of that nervous old coot, I had to cut my evening short with her.”
“She sure is a looker, boss.”
“Damn right she is. Perfect face and a perfect body that I’d like to see more of.”
They laughed, and Farrell set his jaw.
“How big a piece do you want?”
“Big. I’m hungry.”
“Here you go.”
Travis and Farrell sat and waited. Five minutes passed and then ten. They looked at each other and Farrell said, “No more sound, partner. What’s happening?”
Travis checked the equipment. “It’s working.”
“Did they eat pie and fall asleep?” asked Farrell.
PARKED out of sight on the county road, Annie watched the big black sedan turn down Leggatt’s laneway. Once the tail lights of the vehicle disappeared, she reached over the console for the duffel in the back seat and changed from her dress into jeans and a t-shirt.
She hopped out of her truck, took her Remington from the back seat and locked up. It took her ten minutes to hike from her position on the road, across Leggatt’s front pasture field, around behind the barn and the bunkhouse to a copse of trees where she had a clear view of the front of the house.
From where she stood, the visitor looked like an older man. He was slightly stooped and walked very slowly to his car, but she couldn’t see who it was. Probably wouldn’t know him anyway.
After he left, Annie stole quietly through the warm, dark night to the back of the ranch house. The patio doors were open with only the screen pulled across, so as she stood close to the back wall of the house she could hear Paul talking to Cory Lebovic. Paul offered Lebovic a piece of pie and he accepted.
Annie stood quietly for five minutes waiting, then she thought she heard a plate drop. She edged closer to the door and peeked inside. Both men were in the sitting room and appeared to be sleeping.