Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction (17 page)

He
wanted to help her back to his car, but she refused. On shaky legs she paced back and forth next to her husband’s car, while Mrs.
Baker ran to a nearby home to call the police. Bug Preston was on the scene within twenty minutes.

This
couldn’t be happening, Maye thought. Her husband couldn’t be dead. He wouldn’t leave her alone to raise their four children. Her boys needed a father. He was the love of her life. He wasn’t dead. He just wasn’t. She couldn’t stop pacing. Her hands, feet, nose, and ears were so cold they were hurting, yet her feet wouldn’t stop. The pain was a sign she was still alive. She couldn’t feel anything else. The reverend finally got her to stand still, and they prayed together, the car’s lights illuminating them along with the snowflakes. After the prayer, she slowly sank to her knees, and then to a sitting position on the ground, tears streaming down her face.

Bug
found three bullet holes in the front and driver’s side windows of the car, but discovered only one had struck Hobb.

“
It looks like he was hit rightchere.” Bug pointed behind Hobb’s right ear to his deputy, “with the bullet emerging rightchere.” He indicated the wound right behind John’s left temple. “I want fingerprints taken and bloodhounds out here right now. And that means ten minutes ago! And let’s do a spiral sweep.”

John’s
revolver was in his right hand and somebody suggested
suicide. But that was quickly ruled out because the gun did not appear to have been fired.

“
This may not be the scene of the crime. He might have been
murdered somewheres else, and his body was driven back here and left. I'd say they put his gun in his hand to make it look like suicide, but the dimwits forgot to fire it. Or he knew he was in danger and got his gun out but never got a chance to use it.”

“
Why’d they leave the car runnin’?” a deputy wondered aloud.

“
I reckon they’uz in a hurry,” Bug told him . “I want men goin’ door-ta-door. Let’s find out if anyone saw anything. I want prints, bloodhounds, and witnesses. And I want it fast as greased lightnin’.”

The
bloodhounds arrived and took off, with men following. Someone had found P.D., and he arrived to take Maye home. She sat in his car like a statue on the way back. She was cold. So cold. She didn’t think she’d ever be warm again. Inside or out.

[ 
June
2010  ]

The rain had stopped completely, and the sun was bright once again when Tess started out for work. After locking her door, she looked at the keys, specifically the one she'd found. It was still on the key ring, and she ran her fingers over it, as if it were a rabbit’s foot, before putting the keys in her purse. She walked, preoccupied, for about a block, until she noticed a jogger coming toward her. As he got closer she realized it was the mayor.

Just
wave and pass on by please
. But he didn’t make it that easy for her. He slowed and came toward her with a huge smile.

“
Mornin’ Tess,” he said, doing a U-turn around her, and falling into step. “I see you got home last night without meltin’.”

“
Good morning, Mayor. Yes, thank you, I got home just fine.”

“
Aw, now you don’t have to be sa formal. Call me Buck, long’s I’m not on official bidness.”

“
Do you jog often . . . Buck?” she asked, wishing she could just call him Mayor.

“
At least five times a week. But I’m in trainin’ now for the Fourth a July mini that’s comin’ up. Have you heard about our town fair on the fourth? It’s a real shindig, let me tell you!”

“
I did hear something about it. It sounds like a lot of fun.”

“
Lou told me you’re a baker. You oughtta enter somethin’ in
the
bakin’ contest. They have purt near everything . . . pies, cakes,
cookies . . . long as it’s homemade, you can enter it.”

“
Well, I just might do that. Don’t let me keep you from your
run, now.”

“
Oh, you can keep me,” he said, looking sideways at her and smiling. “Shoot, I can run any ole time, but it ain’t often that I can accompany a purty lady to town.”

Tess
glanced in the window of the hardware store as they walked past, and saw Jack inside talking to Art, the owner. She waved, and he raised his chin in a nod, his eyes going to Buck.

When
they reached the bookstore Tess said, “Thank you for the
escort, Mayor…” He gave her a look, so she said, “ . . . Buck. This is my stop. Have a good day.”

She
took a deep breath and let it out as she disappeared inside her safe haven. In the back room, she found Pickle eating a jelly donut. A blob of jelly oozed out onto his shirt, right above the writing: “Runs With Scissors.”

“
Mornin’ Ms. Tess! Hireyew?”

“
I’m just fine, Pickle. How are you?” she said, reading his white
t-shirt. “Do you really?” Her lips slowly curved at the corners.

“
Do I really what?” He gave her a blank look.

“
Run with scissors.” She pointed to his shirt.

“
Aw, ya got me! Good’un, Mizz Tess!”

“
You ought not to do that you know, it’s not safe,” she kidded him.

“
No, Mizz Tess, I don’t really run with scissors. It’s just a t-shirt.”

* * *

Tess
didn’t know Willy had come into the bookstore until he sidled up a little too close to her and leaned over her shoulder saying, “What doin’, doll?”

Tess
jumped to her right, out of Willy’s personal space.

“
I’m working, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t sneak up on me like that,” she said, hand over her heart.

“
Aw shucks, darlin’, don’t get cross on me. I’s only bein’ friendly.”

“
Can I help you, Willy?” Tess demanded.

He
looked her up and down and purred, “You’re lookin’ fine today, Ms. Tess. Do you by any chance have any raisins?”

Confused,
she said, “No. Why . . . “

“
Well then, how ‘bout a date?” He gave her a Cheshire grin.

Tess
briefly closed her eyes, then turned to walk away from him. “Excuse me, I need to do some things in the back room.”

Willy
called out, “Wait!” She stopped and turned, hands on her hips. “My apologies. I was blinded by your beauty. So, I'm going to need your name and number for insurance purposes!” He came too close again, into her personal space.

“
Willy, please stop.” Tess backed up, feeling uneasy. She didn’t want to be rude but couldn’t get over the audacity of the guy.

“
I know I don’t have a chance, but I just wanted to hear an angel talk,” Willy tried yet again, continuing to move toward her.

She
tried to catch Lou’s eye, but she was busy talking to Chief Price and his son, the candidate for governor, who had come into the store just before Willy.

When
Tess looked back at Willy, he startled her by being so close their clothes touched. She jumped again, knocking over a stack of books, along with a sign. Lou and the men looked over at the commotion. Tess gave her a pleading look before she bent down to gather the books, and Lou made a beeline for them.

“
My stars and garters, Willy! How’d you sneak in here ‘thout me knowin’ ‘bout it?”

“
Mornin’ Mizz Lou. I didn’t do no such thing. I walked in through the front door, big as daylight,” Willy defended himself. “Mornin’ Chief. Henry Clay,” he said, as they walked up.

“
Mo’nin’ Willy. Whatchew doin’ in here? You wouldn’t know a book if it hit you in the face.” John Ed laughed and turned back to share his joke with his son.

“
Hey now! I like ta read. You just don’t know me well ‘nuff.”

“
Don’t go givin’ him no store credit, Lou,” John Ed warned. “He doesn’t have a pot to pee in or a window to throw it out of.”

Wil
ly shot the chief an angry look. “Who licked the red off yer candy cane?”

Lou
said out of the side of her mouth, “He don’t cotton to your
sarcasm, John Ed.” More loudly she said, “Are you sayin’ yer in here to do some bidness?”

“
I’d like to look around, if you don’t mind,” Willy said indignantly.

“
Hep yourself. Just keep yer lookin’ ta the books and not my
employees! You ain’t in a grocery, but I can see what you’re checkin’ out.”

“
Yeah, well, I feel like I’m in a grocery. There’s somthin’ in here
I wanta bag,” Willy mumbled as he walked away.

Henry
Clay smirked at the remark. He turned toward Tess, held out his hand, and introduced himself. “’Scuse my manners, ma’am, I’m
Henry Clay Price.”

Tess
shook his hand, saying, “I’m Tess Tremaine. I’ve seen your campaign signs, but I didn’t know you’re the chief’s son.”

“
Well, ever now and then he claims me.”

“
Find any
more mysterious footprints lately, Ms. Tess?” John Ed looked smug.

“
Actually, Chief, I did. Under my bedroom window.” Tess glared at him.

“
Well lands sakes, that coulda been anyone. I sure am glad you didn’t call me over for that one.”

“
Don’t mind him, Tessie,” Lou said of John Ed. “He’d gripe with a ham under each arm. But he has a good heart. He’s takin’ your case more seriously than he’s lettin’ on. I’ve known this man for forty-eleven years. He’s good people.”

Lou
pulled Tess with her toward the register desk, adding in a low voice, “But Willy? I suwan-ee, child. Jesus loves him, but he’s the only one. You best watch that booger.”

* * *

Tess walked home slowly, deep in thought. She enjoyed working
at the bookstore but hadn’t planned on putting in as many hours as Lou was asking for. When she volunteered to lock up for her, she never
realized how long of a day it would end up being. But with Lou’s
daughter going through a divorce, she needed to be at home to help her daughter and granddaughter move in, and Tess was happy to help. Things would settle down again soon, she told herself.

Her
body was tired, her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Lou’s family, and her eyes were enthralled with the streaks of red, pink, and blue in the early evening sky. Walking past Ernestine & Hazel’s Sundries, she waved at Ernestine, who was locking up for the night. She’d heard the woman’s name wasn’t really Ernestine, but they just called her that ever since she bought the store.
Funny town
, Tess thought. Next was Rhubarb’s, the fruit market named for its owner, Barbara Ruther; her store was already dark inside and locked up tight. As she crossed the street, her eyes went to the beautiful sky again.

She
stepped up on the curb and started toward The Silly Goose, an upscale bar and grill. Totally entranced by the unusual red color of the setting sun peeking through the buildings, she was caught completely by surprise when
someone suddenly reached out and pulled her into the bar and grill’s dark doorway.

hare
:  adverb \hair\  here

What’s he doing hare?

[  1937  ]

“Trevor Hobb is the black sheep of the family,” Bug Preston told his deputy. “Always has been. I remember old Mrs. Cox in fifth grade sayin’ to him, ‘You certainly are
not
like your brother.’”

“
I know what you mean, Chief. Trevor ain’t smart, or charming, or particularly handsome like his brother was. John had it all, and poor Trevor barely had any.”

“
He wadn’t known for his honesty, neither,” Bug said.

“
Say . . . how come some people call him Blister?”

The
chief chuckled. “On account a him bein’ so lazy. Folks started callin’ him “Blister” because he never showed up until the work was
finished.”

“
Whatta you make a him pointin’ fingers at Nate Hunter?”

“
He told me that, and I laughed in his face. Told him he was lyin’ like a no-legged dog. Told him to git on outta here and stop spoutin’ nonsense like that. Said not to breathe a word of it to Maye. Poor old widow woman, left to raise them kids all on her own. She don’t need that worry.”