Killerfind (35 page)

lthough
Rhetta knew it
was
Adele, the woman could have been mistaken for the other zombie in the movie
Rhetta had seen. Rhetta’s initial appraisal of the woman’s injuries was way off
the mark. Adele’s face was blackened with soot, her shirt was covered with
scorch marks and burn holes ringed in black. Her arms were red and oozing from
the burns. What was left of her grey hair was singed and stuck out at every
imaginable angle from a tiny head, and her eyebrows were completely gone.

Yet she stood defiantly in front of them, waving the
rifle, as though in no pain at all. A wicked grin split her blackened lips.

That must hurt.
Rhetta wondered how this old lady
could have such a high pain threshold. Mylene ignored the woman and lay on her
back, still breathing in shallow gasps. Rhetta leaned against the tree and held
her hands up, palms out. “Adele, you’re finished. The sheriff’s department is
on its way here with the fire department.”
God, I hope that’s true!
“Unless you get out of here this instant, they’re going to catch you and arrest
you.”

“I’m going to tell them you two were trespassing and
set my shed on fire, and I caught you red-handed. You tried to run away, so I
shot you. That’s what I’m going to tell them.” Adele’s voice was high pitched
and her head bobbed furiously as though convincing herself.

“Should we stand up and start running so you can
take us down, to make your story work?” Rhetta heaved to her feet. “Otherwise,
how are you going to explain shooting us under the tree, here?” Rhetta turned
toward the tree, and Mylene, still on the ground. “Or do you plan on dragging
our bodies and positioning them. You could always hook up a chain to your truck
and drag us. Honestly, Adele, don’t you think the cops would figure that out?
And really, you don’t have time for all of that.” She turned back and threw her
hands up. “So, if you don’t mind, I’m going to find a more comfortable spot and
try to get my breath. I suggest you hit the road while you still can.” Rhetta
turned, pretending to search for a spot to lie down.

Her stomach spasmed. She was going to puke. She
never thought about how people’s knees could knock together before now, but she
was learning firsthand how that phenomenon feels. Her heart was running the
Kentucky Derby. Absurdly, she realized her side didn’t hurt any more.

In spite of her quaking, she formed a plan. While
talking to Adele, she’d spotted a fallen limb roughly the diameter of a ball
bat, about four feet in length. It nearly touched her foot. If she could
distract Adele even for an instant, she’d grab the stick and try to smack her
head. She only had one chance. If she missed, Adele would shoot. Adele meant to
shoot anyway, so anything was worth a try.

Rhetta calculated that Adele was at least six feet
away, which meant that she’d have to grab the stick and lunge forward in order
to connect with her. Precious seconds could be lost. Enough time for Adele to
turn the gun and fire. Rhetta swallowed down the bile, praying she wouldn’t
throw up.

She leaned over Mylene and inventoried her
condition. She’d need to get her to a hospital soon. Her breathing was still
shallow, her responses nil.

Rhetta straightened and glanced toward the road. Did
she see a cloud of dust? Maybe two or three? Was help coming? Would they get
there on time?

“Too late, Adele,” Rhetta pointed to the road and
the dust clouds. “The cops are on their way.”

With a stricken look, Adele turned sideways. That
was the distraction Rhetta had prayed for. She snatched the deadfall limb and
surged toward Adele, screaming at the top of her scorched lungs, “You miserable
hag!” She swung at her head as hard as Babe Ruth had ever swung a bat. She
miscalculated and connected with Adele’s upper arm, instead—her scorched upper
arm. Adele howled in pain and grabbed her arm, dropping the rifle. Rhetta
pounced on it and swung the business end around towards Adele. “Enough of this,
you old bat. Get over there and sit down and shut up!” She ordered Adele to the
driveway and forced her to sit on the hard gravel. “There, that ought to suit
you.”

Three clouds of dust materialized in the driveway
and morphed into a sheriff’s car, a fire truck and Randolph’s truck. The fire
truck roared past them and on down to the burning shed. The sheriff’s deputy
stopped short of running over Adele. Rhetta had no idea who’d called the cops,
but she was overwhelmingly grateful that they, and her husband, had arrived in
time.

Randolph’s truck squealed to a stop behind the
patrol car. He threw his door open and rushed to his wife.

Rhetta collapsed in his arms.

Four Weeks Later

re you
sure Mylene
is
coming from Paducah for this shindig?” Randolph asked as he padded into the
kitchen. He poured them each a cup of coffee and joined his wife on the newly
cleaned and spruced-up patio. They’d both enjoyed an exhilarating morning run,
followed by a spoil-your-wife breakfast that Randolph had prepared. She’d
snarfed down the blueberry pancakes without a single thought about any calorie
budget.

Rhetta’s birthday had fallen on Columbus Day—a bank
holiday and a Monday this year. Randolph wanted to throw a party. He’d promised
to get everything ready, but she decided to help him. She wanted to have the
yard and flower beds looking their best.

She took a day’s vacation on the Friday before, and
spent the entire day mowing and trimming. The weather had co-operated with
plenty of brilliant blue sky and warm breezes. She strung white lights around
the patio and onto the potted trees she bought on clearance to decorate. She’d
lucked into end-of-the-season cushions for the wicker furniture at Trees n
Trends and Randolph had splurged on a new gas grill.

They left early Saturday morning for Bollinger
County. After a country breakfast at Merc’s in Marble Hill, they stopped at
Green’s Grocery for the world’s best fried bologna sandwiches. They tucked them
into a picnic basket and spent the day at Billy Dan’s fishing with Ricky and
Billy Dan. They’d caught a mess of catfish, and stayed late cooking them and
enjoying a fish fry with Billy Dan as chef.

Early Sunday morning, Rhetta left Randolph sleeping
soundly and, instead of running, she drove into town to the Lutheran church and
sat in the back pew for early Sunday service. She scooted out just as it ended,
and was home before Randolph had awakened. She had plenty to be thankful for
these days, and was exploring a reunion with her former church. She’d talk to
Randolph about it and maybe he’d accompany her next Sunday. They spent the rest
of the day shopping for food for Monday’s party, and relaxing.

Now, hours before the party, Rhetta relieved
Randolph’s concerns. “I talked to Mylene this morning and she said wild
jackasses couldn’t keep her away.” She sipped her coffee and grinned. “She
really is a great gal, and although we met under peculiar circumstances, I’m
glad we’ve become friends.” Rhetta stroked Greystone, who had commandeered her
lap. The other cats purred lazily.

Randolph raised an eyebrow. “Peculiar circumstances?
You have a way with words, Rhetta.”

Rhetta ignored the comment. “She must’ve threatened
the Alexander County muckety-mucks. Or, she may have had video of the cops and
the prosecutor relaxing at her establishment.”

“Stop.” Randolph coughed, nearly spitting out his
coffee. “I don’t even want to know how she got the charges dropped.” He put his
hands up in a surrendering gesture. “I never thought my wife would be best buds
with a pole dancer.”

“Former pole dancer,” Rhetta corrected. “Business
woman, now.”

“Right. Whatever you say.” He tried another sip of
coffee.

“I know she’s one tough cookie,” Rhetta said,
emptying her cup. “She only spent one night in the hospital after the fire. I
was scared for her. For a while out there I thought she was a goner.”

Randolph stood, collected her empty coffee cup and
kissed her cheek. “For that matter, I thought you might have been a goner,
too.”

She hugged his neck in return. Then she stood back
and straightened his collar. “Lucky for me the neighbor across the road heard
the explosion and ran to see what happened.”

 “And that Ricky called me as soon as she got a
signal, to tell me she thought you might head out to the cabin. She was right.”
Randolph kissed the top of her head. “As I told you before, I hope this teaches
you a lesson about not getting involved in police work.” Randolph carried the
two cups.

Rhetta followed him into the kitchen. “I wouldn’t
have gotten involved, if the police had actually done their work.” When he shot
her The Look, she added, “What’s going to happen to Adele? Will she go to the
pen?”

“I doubt if the State of Missouri will show much
mercy for a cold-blooded killer, no matter what her age. She pled guilty to
second-degree murder in the deaths of her husband and Jeremy Spears, so she
saved the State from trying her. However, she still has to stand trial for the
attempted murder of you and Mylene. Either way, she’ll be off to the Big House
to enjoy her retirement.”

“How exactly did she kill her husband? Did she say?”
She stroked an appreciative Greystone, whose purring motor revved on high.

“According to her confession, she asked him to go to
the barn and look at the Z28. She said she was thinking about buying it for
Mylene. When he got there, he was leaning in, checking out the motor. She came
prepared with a wrench, and smashed it over his head. He must’ve lost his
wallet in the struggle, and then she lost the wrench after she walloped him. Just
as you had figured out, she dug a hollow grave, pushed him in it, then went to
their construction site and got a truck to push the Z28 over his grave. He
stayed undiscovered all these years.”

Randolph slid the door aside and slipped into the
kitchen. The cats meowed, expecting food, no doubt. When Rhetta set Greystone
down, he signaled his disapproval by swishing his tail and yowling.

She followed Randolph into the house and tapped on
his shoulder as he stood at the sink rinsing out their cups. “You said you were
getting me something special for my birthday. I’m ready now.” She grinned and
folded her arms.

“Not yet. I plan on giving it to you when everyone
gets here.”

Rhetta feigned annoyance. “You know Ricky will be
late. You’re going to make me wait until she gets here?”

Randolph smirked. “Yep.”

Rhetta pretended to be miffed. “If that’s the deal,
then I’ll go clean up.”

Rhetta headed for the shower, and Randolph followed
her. They had a couple of hours before their guests would arrive.

*
* *

Woody
and Jenn got there first. Jenn strode through the kitchen and set a large bag
bearing the logo for Primo Vino! on the island counter top. “Happy Birthday,
Rhetta,” Woody said, and Jenn hugged her, joining in, singing, “Happy Birthday
to you!” Rhetta hugged them back.

When the doorbell next chimed, Rhetta spotted Mrs.
Koblyk peering in through the glass in the front door. Mr. Koblyk stood by her
side, smiling. Rhetta opened the door wide. “Hello, Missus,” her neighbor said,
handing her a large pan containing a spectacularly sinful dessert. “This is for
having birthday. Much chocolate. Special occasion.” She beamed at Rhetta.

Mr. Koblyk grinned broadly and bobbed his head in
agreement. “Very special day, you wait and see,” he said. They trooped in and
joined the others in the kitchen.

Mylene’s red Viper slithered up the driveway and
stopped behind the Koblyk’s car.

“My, my, such a red car,” Mrs. Koblyk said. Rhetta
waved to Mylene.

By two o’clock, the party was in full swing and everyone
had arrived but Ricky and Billy Dan. Randolph had donned a white apron and
chef’s hat and commanded the grill like a captain at sea. Steak and chops
sizzled, and the mouth-watering aroma wafted across the yard. The cats were
languishing expectantly at the base of the grill. The guests sipped wine and
milled around the patio.

“Who’s bringing the birthday cake?” Mylene asked,
swirling a light wine in her tall glass.

“Ricky,” Randolph answered. “She called and was
running a bit late. She said the bakery at Schnuck’s was ten deep with people
waiting for their cakes.”

“Must be a popular day for birthdays,” Rhetta said
and giggled.

Ricky came bursting through the front door loaded
down with a gigantic sheet cake. She rushed it to the kitchen, set it on the
island countertop and sighed. “Whew, glad I made it here without spilling it
all over the white upholstery.”

Rhetta said, “What white upholstery? Your car has
tan upholstery. And your truck is, well, dirty. What did you drive?” She
started toward the door to peer outside at her ride, but was interrupted by
Billy Dan who’d followed Ricky into the kitchen.

 “Happy Birthday, Rhetta!” he said, and picked her
up and swung her around. She began laughing.

Randolph appeared waving a red bandana. “It’s time
for your birthday present, but I have to blindfold you first and spin you
around.”

“Are we playing
Pin the Tail on the Donkey?
”
Rhetta asked as she allowed Randolph to snug the scarf and block the light.

Placing his hands on her shoulders, he spun her
around until she was properly disoriented. It didn’t take much, since she’d had
two glasses of wine. Cupping her elbow, he steered her around the house,
dodging furniture and doorways until he stood at the garage door. He held his
finger to his lips to caution everyone to be quiet, then silently opened the
door, and guided her through. She sniffed. “Are we in the garage?” she said and
extended her arms as though to feel her way. Randolph took both her hands and
walked backward, leading her. He nodded at Ricky to remove the blindfold, which
she did with a flourish.

“Happy birthday, darling.” Randolph sidestepped so
she could enjoy the full impact of her gift.

There, in her regular spot, gleaming and shiny, sat
Cami. Impossible as it seemed, her ’79 Camaro had been returned to her.

“But how…I thought…Is it really Cami?” She ventured
to the car and caressed the hood. Tears runneled down her cheeks. She opened
the driver’s door and eased into the luxurious white interior. She closed her
eyes and inhaled the sweet fragrance of new.

Her baby was truly home.

*
* *

It
was nearly ten o’clock when everyone finally left. Rhetta and Randolph picked
up the remnants of the evening’s fun, put the dirty dishes into the dishwasher,
then sat exhausted, but happy, at the kitchen table. She reached over and
grasped both his hands in hers. “I still can’t believe that I really have Cami
home again. I can’t wait to drive her. I’m taking her to work tomorrow. She’s
beautiful and I love you.”

Randolph kissed the back of her hands. “I was lucky
to get her bought from the insurance company after they totaled her, but the
real miracle was what Ricky did with her. Ricky certainly had her work cut out.
The hardest part was keeping it a secret. Woody nearly found her when he was
out there, as did you one time. Ricky said you are just too snoopy for your own
good.” He angled over to gaze straight at her. “And I agree. You’ve got to stay
out of trouble for a while.”

Rhetta smiled, and tears leaked again.

Randolph pulled her to her feet and hugged her. “Your
birthday isn’t over yet, my girl. I have one more gift for you.” He reached
into his pocket and removed a small blue velvet pouch with a corded drawstring.
He opened her hand and placed it in her palm.

She turned it over and looked at him, puzzled. “Sweets,
you more than made my birthday the best ever. What is this?”

“Open it.” He stood back and smiled as she studied
the pouch, turning it over in her hand.

Carefully, she unfolded the velvet cloth. Nestled
inside on the end of a gleaming liquid gold chain, lay her mother’s locket—the
one she believed lost forever with Cami. Today had to be a dream. If it was,
she never wanted to wake from it. She threw her arms around Randolph’s neck and
hugged her amazing husband. She was the luckiest woman in the world.

“How in the world did this survive?” Rhetta said,
caressing the locket. “It looks perfect.”

“The chain had melted, but the locket had slipped
down under your leather calendar book, and was protected from the heat. Mr.
Koblyk spent many hours restoring it.” Randolph flicked his thumb across the
tears streaming down her cheeks. He pulled out his handkerchief and handed it
to her.

“I’m going to go over there tomorrow and give him
the biggest hug,” Rhetta said.

The house phone interrupted them, and Rhetta, still
sniffling and mopping her tears, strode across the kitchen to answer it.