Deadly Secrets (14 page)

Kelly stepped out the door and whistled. Jake came bounding out of the woods and together they headed down to the creek.

“Gus is up to something,” Kelly mused aloud, his mind busy reviewing their conversation.

The bait house was deserted but the door was open, so Bubba wouldn’t have gone far. Kelly leaned back in a chair and propped his feet against a fish tank. It was relaxing inside—once you got used to the smell.

Before they’d found the metal box, Kelly hadn’t been too concerned about what Bubba was holding back. Now he needed to know what it was but Bubba was inclined to be touchy when you questioned his word and Kelly was pondering his approach when Bubba walked in and stepped over to the fish tank with a large pail in his hand.

“Hey, Kelly, what’re you doing here?” Bubba asked.

“I just dropped by for a chat. What have you got there?” Kelly pointed at the pail.

“Minnows. I can’t keep enough of these suckers in the tanks this time of year. Hang on a sec while I dump them in the trough, then I’ll grab a coffee with you.”

It seemed like Bubba was in a good mood. Kelly grabbed a couple mugs from the shelf, lifted the pot off the stove and poured them each a cup of Bubba’s brew. More than one newcomer to the bait house had tried to talk Bubba into an electric coffee pot but they’d all been scoffed at. As far as Bubba was concerned, coffee needed to be hot and black. He always made it that way and he wouldn’t have anything to do with the “watered-down, lukewarm shit that comes outta them fancy pots”.

“What’ve you been up to?” Bubba pulled up a stool and took the mug Kelly handed over.

“Just nosing around. I found out something that might interest you. Anna had a daughter she hadn’t seen in eighteen years.”

“So you found out about the kid.”

“You mean you knew?” Kelly raised an eyebrow.

Bubba shrugged his shoulders. “Anna had some lines you didn’t cross and the kid was one of them. I respected that. She never came out and talked about her daughter but yeah, I knew she had one. You don’t think the kid killed her, do you?”

“No, nothing like that. Her name’s Krystal and all she wanted to do was find out why her mother deserted her. She sure has started me wondering about why Anna took off the way she did and I plan to try and find some answers.”

“I hope you find something. I know damn well Cam didn’t kill Anna. The cops probably think he did it but they don’t know Cam. He gets squeamish just watching me gut fish. No way could he strangle anyone—especially not an old friend like Anna.”

“Well, they’ve got to go by the evidence. That and what they find out from talking to friends and relatives. By the way, the police went through Anna’s cabin and found a metal box stashed under the floorboard in her bedroom. You wouldn’t know anything about that box, would you?”

“What makes you think I’d know anything about it?” Bubba narrowed his eyes.

“Because you knew Anna better than anybody else and I figured she might’ve told you.”

“Yeah, I knew about it. So what?”

“So, somebody busted the lock and went through Anna’s papers, that’s what.”

“And you think it was me that busted into her box,” Bubba glared.

“Don’t be so touchy.” Kelly snapped the words. “I figured you’d rather talk to me than get hauled down to the station and talk to Gus. I didn’t say you broke into the box but I did figure you might have an idea who did.”

“How should I know?” Bubba hunched up his shoulders and rested his chin on his collarbone.

Kelly’s eyes bored into the top of Bubba’s head. The bait man was dodging and Kelly was sick of it. “What is this crap, Bubba? I had to do plenty of talking to get Gus to let me question you about this. I figured you’d be grateful. So what happens? I come in here to ask a few civil questions and you give me a ration of shit. I don’t know what’s got into you lately but I’m beginning to wonder what the hell you do know about Anna’s murder.”

“Hey, I’m sorry.” Bubba’s face turned red. “I didn’t mean to give you a rough time. I know you’re trying to help Cam outta a hole but I don’t want to end up taking his place.”

“I can understand that, Bubba but you’re only making it worse by copping an attitude.”

“Okay, I get the message.” Bubba’s lips twitched into a sheepish grin. “The answer to your question is yes, I did know about Anna’s box and no, I didn’t break into it.” Bubba reached into his pocket and pulled out a key ring. “Why the hell would I do that when I’ve got a key?”

He selected a small silver key took it off the ring and handed it over. “You can check it yourself. When Anna made that note with Cam, she stashed it away in her box. Then, she showed me where she kept it, gave me a key and said if anything was to happen to her, I should get the note and tear it up.”

“Did Cam know where she kept the note?”

“I don’t think so but I can’t be sure. There’s something I need to tell you and you ain’t gonna to like it much.” Bubba paused and took a sip of coffee. “I wanted to tell you earlier but I was afraid of making things worse for Cam. You see I went to Anna’s cabin to tear up the note like she said. The box had been pulled out of the hole, just like you’ve described it and when I looked through the papers, the note was gone.”

“I assume you read Anna’s will.”

“Yeah, I read it and I know she put my name in there. But, what the hell? The daughter’s alive. Nobody’s got any call to think I bumped Anna off to get hold of her money.”

“Nobody’s thinking that Bubba. We’re just trying to piece everything together and find out what happened down there.”

“Well, you know everything I do now. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the box earlier but what was I supposed to do? I figured blabbing about that note would be like putting a noose around Cam’s neck. I even thought about hiding that box but I was scared the cops would find out.”

“Good thinking.” Kelly shook his head. “You’re right about me not liking what you say about the note. Gus was already wondering why it wasn’t with Anna’s papers and when he finds out you went through that box looking for it, he’ll rake you over the coals good.”

“Do we have to tell him?”

“Damn straight we have to tell him,” Kelly snapped. “And the sooner the better. Your prints are on that box. I’m just wondering if Cam’s prints are there too. I’d sure like to ask him a few questions but Gus has already warned me to stay away from Cam.”

“Gus ain’t said nothing to me.” Bubba flashed his mischievous grin.

“I didn’t hear that. But if you do happen to run into Cam, you might mention whoever took that note probably left their prints all over the box and they’d better come clean with Gus in a hurry.”

“Gottcha! I think I’ll close up here and mosey on down to the Hideaway. I’ll catch you later.”

“One more thing.” Kelly raised his voice. “I promised Gus I’d ask if you saw a red scarf lying around Anna’s stall after that ruckus with Krystal Saturday afternoon.”

“I didn’t see no scarf.” Bubba frowned and the puzzled look on his face was answer enough.

“Okay, it’s not important. Just something I told Gus I’d check on. I’ll catch you later.” Kelly moved toward the door. “You might pass the word that if anybody knows anything about Anna’s murder, they’d best come clean. Cops don’t have any sense of humor where murder’s concerned and it pisses them off when they catch people lying.”

Satisfied, Kelly said goodbye to Bubba and headed back to the cabin. It was past five and if he was going to pick up Krystal at seven, he’d have to hustle.

Thirty minutes later, showered, shaved and dressed in slim cut slacks and a dark blue sport coat, Kelly gave his hair a once-over with the blow dryer, added a splash of cologne and stepped up to the mirror. He’d had a few casual dates but nothing special since Lynda. This was the first time and already he found himself fighting butterflies. Of course, this wasn’t really a date but all the same, the tension was there.

“You’d think I was back in high school,” he stopped to give Jake a pat. Jake flopped his tail and watched Kelly go out the door.

Kelly sped up the hill, then hit the brakes. Two police cars were parked in front of the Hideaway and Bubba stood on the steps with his hands in his pockets. Kelly pulled onto the shoulder. Spotting him, Bubba dashed across the road and jumped into the truck.

“Well, you was right,” Bubba croaked. “The shit’s hit the fan.”

“What happened?”

“The cops showed up twenty minutes ago. With a search warrant. They took Cam back to his place. It weren’t more’n five minutes before they brought him back out and took off in one of the cruisers. I guess they’ve arrested him.”

“Did you get a chance to ask Cam about that box?”

“Yep and it’s like I figured. He went up to Anna’s cabin after they had that fight up on the bridge. Cam claims he didn’t bust open the box though. Says he found it open same as I did.”

Kelly frowned and shook his head. “Damn fool! Did he say what he did with the note?”

“Yep! He put it in his desk. The cops came while I was still talking to him, so he didn’t have a chance to get it outta there.”

“What’s going on now?” Kelly pointed at the police cars.

“Oh they’re just talking to Darlene and looking around the Hideaway. They didn’t bother the rest of us none. It was Cam they wanted.”

“Well, I’m late, so I’ve gotta get going. I’ll give Gus a call in the morning.”

“Okay. They haven’t asked me nothing yet but I guess I’ve gotta tell them when they do, huh?”

“You tell them the truth, Bubba. It won’t help Cam none for you to get yourself tossed in a cell alongside of him.”

As he pulled away from Bubba, Kelly shook his head in disgust. “Goddam Cam!”

Chapter Ten

Krystal had her blonde hair tied back with a narrow black band, a simple act of mourning in her mother’s memory, that touched Kelly’s heart.

“You seem a little more rested tonight,” he said, as he helped her into the truck.

She smiled, a pink flush tinting her cheeks. “After you and Detective Graham left, Penny chased me to bed. I was asleep the minute my head touched the pillow.”

“Well, a good night’s sleep has sure put the roses back in your cheeks.” Kelly’s eyes lingered admiringly and Krystal’s flush deepened.

“You must’ve thought I was horrid when you saw me in that scene with my mother,” she said, lowering her eyes and nervously twisting a strand of hair.

“Not horrid—just scared. I saw the panic in your eyes when you came to and I really wanted to pick you up and give you a hug but being strangers, I’m sure you’d have misunderstood.” He gave Krystal a grin and she answered with a shy smile.

“I’m embarrassed about the way I acted,” she said, looking into his eyes.

“Hey, you had a good reason for the way you acted,” Kelly said, reaching over and patting her shoulder. “Now let’s forget about that meeting and enjoy ourselves. Okay?”

“Yes, please.” This time her smile was full and happy and her eyes sparkled. “Where are we going?” She asked.

“A little place on the lake called Martini’s. Have you ever been out there?”

“No, I’ve never even heard of it. What’s it like?”

“You’ll see pretty soon. It’s over on the far side of Eagle Mountain Lake.”