Mississippi Blues (36 page)

“You're insane.” She struggled to free herself from his iron bracelet. “I didn't do anything.”

“Jody, let her go. She's not the killer,” Trey said. “You're forgetting ‘two down, two to go.' Even if Carlene wanted my mother out of the picture after all this time, who are the other three?”

“You, Lindy, and the Chief,” Jody insisted, holding the twisting woman with both hands. “Sometimes revenge is sweet no matter how long you have to wait.”

“Let go of me, you nutcase,” Carlene shrieked, flopping like a bass on the end of a line. “I didn't kill anyone.”

“Lindy's not dead,” Trey said. “So, she's not one of the two down.”

“Carlene didn't know that,” Jody grunted. “We told her ourselves a couple days back we thought Lindy was a goner. I think this lady saw an opportunity to get even with your daddy and jumped for it. What better way to throw us off the trail than to lay a false lead? You saw her leaving Leroy's place and she left a strand of red hair at the scene of your mother's death.”

“Why now?” Trey wondered if his lifelong friend had gone off the deep end. He was reaching, really reaching to make Carlene the culprit. If she wanted revenge this badly, wouldn't she have exacted it five years ago when the Chief had turned his back on her?

“Simple. You're back in town.” Jody sounded so sure, and he had a point. “Until now, she hasn't been able to get all of you.”

“What about Leroy?” Even as he asked, Trey remembered the Chief saying Leroy suffered from depression and there was no forensic evidence to suggest he had been murdered.

“He hung himself because of his depression,” Jody said. “End of his story.”

“If you're even halfway right, and I don't think you are, what made her snap now?” Trey looked at the flopping woman and had to admit she did look a bit off her rocker with her long auburn hair flying around her angry face.

“Simple. Your daddy hasn't just turned his back on her. This time he turned his back on his baby girl.”

“Lindy? He hasn't shown much interest in her I'll admit, but turn his back on her? I don't think … ”

“Trey, man, I'm not talking about Lindy. I mean your old man's other baby girl.” Jody snagged Carlene around the middle. “I mean her little girl. The Chief's other daughter. Candy.”

Trey's jaw hit his chest. “What?”

“I saw the resemblance the other day when I was here, but it didn't click until just now. When the lady here was talking about her affair with the Chief, I realized she'd had a child by him.” Jody brushed her hair out of her face. “Am I right? I know I am.”

With a jerk of her head she confirmed his story.

“But why would that make you want to kill us?” Trey could hardly believe any of this. He had a half-sister he never knew about. “Why not sue for child support or go public or something? Isn't murder a little drastic?”

“I didn't kill nobody.” Carlene aimed a kick at Jody's crotch. He dodged her foot.

“Not when the Chief would move heaven and earth to find his legitimate daughter. He turned his back on Carlene when she went to him to report a rape. But she thought he would do anything to find Lindy. When you and I came out here combing the woods for Lindy, she snapped. Isn't that right?” Jody continued, “What she doesn't know is the Chief isn't that worried about his legitimate daughter any more than he worried about his mistress's child.”

“Is this true?” Trey's entire body ached. Because she had been disbelieved, this woman had taken his mother's life. He wanted to hate her, but all he felt was sorrow for all of them. So many lives ruined because the Chief hadn't made the right choice.

“No,” she spat, “but you got it all figured out, don't you?”

“You killed Soloman, too, for what he did to you, didn't you?” Trey looked at Carlene, but saw Jace. He saw his mother. He saw MiLann. He saw Summer. And finally himself.

Bile rose in his throat.

He forced it down with Herculean effort.

A series of events had been set in motion one night five years ago that had stolen so much from so many.

Now it was over.

Lindy stared in the mirror, but not really seeing herself. She toyed with the dozens of bottles of nail polish, makeup, and hairbrushes scattered across her vanity. She couldn't get Jace off of her mind. Was he okay? Was Trey having any luck finding the true killer? Even if he did, it didn't mean Jace would want to be with her. He hadn't made any promises. She reached for a brush, but stood instead.

Over Etta's protests Lindy said, “I have to run an errand. Don't worry. I'll be back by dinnertime.”

A few minutes later, she pulled into the parking lot of the Curl Up and Dye. Taking a deep breath, Lindy hoped Summer would see her. She jumped up the steps and went inside. Glory and Lilah were both with customers. Lindy didn't see Summer anywhere.

Glory looked up, her mouth full of bobby pins. “Can I help you?”

“Is Summer here?” Lindy twisted the ring on her right hand. Would she throw her out?

Glory removed the pins. “She's in back. Can I do something for you?”

“Um, no thanks. I really need Summer.” Lindy perched on the edge of one of the chairs. She didn't know what she was going to say exactly, but she knew she had to let her know Jace was safe.

Summer came out of the back room, wiping her hands on a towel. When she spotted Lindy, she stopped mid-step. A small frown played around her mouth.

Lindy stood. “Hi, I um, need a haircut. Can you fit me in?”

Summer gave her a jerky nod. “Come back here and let me shampoo you out.”

Lindy followed her to the farthest corner of the room where a row of sinks lined the wall. Waiting until Summer wrapped a bib around her neck and she'd leaned back into the sink Lindy whispered, “Jace is safe.”

Summer's hands stilled and their eyes met. “How do you know?” She poured a capful of peach scented shampoo into her palm and rubbed it into Lindy's hair.

“I was with him.”

“Did he … force you to go?” Lindy could feel the other woman's hands trembling against her scalp.

“No. I wanted to be with him.” She took a deep breath. “I love him.”

Summer gasped and her hands stilled for a millisecond. “Does the Chief know this?”

Lindy shook her head. “No.”

“Thank God,” Summer whispered. “Where's Jace?”

“At my Granny's. Safe.” Lindy looked up at Jace's sister then closed her eyes for a minute. “Have you heard about my mother?”

“Yes, and I'm sorry.” Summer had turned off the water and toweled her dry.

“Thank you.” Lindy sat up and squeezed the water from her hair. “But that isn't why I'm here. I wanted to let you know about Jace and I want to tell you Trey knows, too.”

Summer swayed and grabbed the chair. “Oh, no.”

“Listen,” Lindy said, “Trey knows Jace didn't kill that awful man who raped your mama. He's helping us now.”

“Helping to send Jace straight back to Angola.” Summer's voice rose. She took a breath when Lilah and Glory looked her way. “Trey has always believed my brother killed Soloman. He came back here to prove it.”

“That might've been true before, Summer, but it isn't now. I trust Trey to help.” Lindy bit her lip. How to convince Summer, Trey was on the up and up?

“If you truly love my brother, then go to him and tell him to run before it's too late,” Summer insisted. “Trey betrayed him before, he'll do it again. If Trey knows where Jace is, he'll be arrested and returned to prison before the sun goes down.”

Lindy bit back an angry reply. It wouldn't do Jace any good for her to fight with Summer. Trey probably wouldn't appreciate her interference either. Still she said, “There's one more thing. I love your brother with my whole heart. And my brother loves you the same way. If you feel half of what I feel for Jace, then you'll try to give Trey another chance. Jace has.”

“What would you like me do to your hair?” Summer avoided her gaze.

“Dye it a couple shades darker than yours.” Lindy thought of how Jace had said he liked her blonde. She probably had just messed up things worse between Summer and Trey, but at least she'd tried to help.

As Summer applied the pre-color to Lindy's hair, she asked, “When is your mother's funeral? And where?”

“Wednesday at St. Francis Chapel,” Lindy answered. “It would mean a lot to Trey if you could come.”

“I'll think about it.” Summer was unwilling to make a commitment. Her mind was on what Lindy had just told her. It had taken a lot of guts for her to come here and voice her opinion. But she couldn't be right. Trey wouldn't just throw away five years of conviction and help Jace now. Would he?

About an hour later, Summer guided Lindy back to the main area, ignoring Lilah and Glory's stares, and held up a medium blonde dye. “How's this one?”

“A little lighter, please.” Lindy touched one end of her damp hair. “My real color is pretty light. Not quite as pale as yours, but light. Mother always loved my hair.”

“Okay, how about Butterblonde?” Summer suggested. “It'll flatter your complexion.”

“Sounds good.”

Acting as if she were concentrating on the job at hand, Summer didn't talk for a while. Glory and Lilah were busy with their own clients, not paying her any attention. Finally she said, “You had the most beautiful hair when you were a little girl.”

“I always wanted yours.” Lindy looked into her lap.

Summer chuckled. “We looked like sisters.”

“We were close enough,” Lindy said.

Her good feelings disappeared and Summer snapped her lips together.

About the same time, both the other two clients left.

“We're going to get a sandwich at the Dairy Queen,” Lilah said, “do you want us to pick up something for you?”

“A turkey on wheat, no mayo for both of us,” Summer said, “and thanks.”

“We'll be back in a bit,” Glory said as they went through the door.

After a minute, Lindy asked, “How's your mama? Is she any better?”

“Some, not much.” Summer sighed. “She still won't go outside. I keep hoping, but no luck yet.”

“She will sometime.” Lindy met Summer's eyes in the mirror. “Does she know about Mother?”

“No,” Summer admitted. “I didn't think it was a good idea to tell her. You never know how she'll react to things.”

“What about Jace? Will you let her know he's okay?”

“Of course,” Summer said. “That'll make her happy.”

“And me? What about that? What will your mama think of the way Jace and I feel about each other?” Lindy's soft brown eyes followed her in the mirror. Hope filled them.

Summer smiled a little. “I think my mama knows how you feel. I think she's known her whole life.”

Lindy laughed, a twinkly sound. “Yes, I believe you're right.”

“Can I ask you something?” Summer asked. “How did you know loving Jace was the right thing to do? Surely the Chief wouldn't be too pleased. He might turn his back on you if he finds out.”

“I don't care. Jace is the most important thing.” Lindy's voice and gaze never wavered.

“Does he love you, too?”

Lindy looked to her lap. “He hasn't said so. It doesn't matter. I love him enough for both of us.”

“You're willing to give up your entire family for a man who isn't sure he loves you in return?” By turns, amazement and shame filled Summer. Amazement that this girl-child was willing to walk away from everything she'd ever known for love. Shame that she didn't have the same conviction.

“He's the one.”

Not sure what to say about that, Summer said, “Time to wash this out.”

Surprisingly, she was enjoying Lindy's company. She'd always been fond of the younger girl. After she rinsed the extra color out and steered Lindy back to her seat, Summer turned her away from the mirror. Retrieving her scissors from the drawer, she expertly cut Lindy's hair. Then she dried it. Summer spun her around toward the mirror. “Ready?”

Lindy didn't speak as she faced her reflection. Her eyes widened and she lifted a hand to touch her pale blonde hair. Tears filled her eyes and she blinked furiously. “It's awesome.”

“I think so, too.” Summer lifted her hair and dropped it a few times. The horrible black had been replaced by a sunny blonde, the dead ends gone, a shoulder-length blunt cut now in place that showed off her angled jaw and big eyes to their best advantage.

“Thank you, Summer. Thanks so much.” Lindy stood up and hugged her. “Don't forget what I said.”

Summer nodded. “Take care of my brother and give him my love.” She escorted Lindy to the door and watched her drive away.

In a heartbeat, Glory and Lilah were through the door. Glory was all over Summer. “What was that all about? When did the princess come home? Where's Jace? Did he kidnap her?”

“I don't know,” Summer evaded. “But she's been with Jace, and no, he didn't make her go. He's safe for now.”

“Where were they?” Glory dug sandwiches out of a sack.

For some reason, Summer didn't want to answer. She took the sandwich and turned away. “I don't know. She didn't say, only that he's safely hidden. Another thing she wanted me to know was that Trey has had a change of heart. He no longer thinks Jace killed Soloman.”

“What?” Glory's mouth fell open. “Why not? And who does he suspect?”

Summer sat at her station and unwrapped her meal. She shrugged. “I don't know.”

“I wonder if Jace gave him a lead?” Lilah took her meal to her workstation and sat. “Maybe Jace knew something that Trey's checking on while Jace stays out of sight.”

Glory placed her uneaten sandwich on the desk. “Like what? If Jace knew something, wouldn't he have said so a long time ago?”