No Cats Allowed: A Cat in the Stacks Mystery (10 page)

“Here you go now.” Azalea set a mug of hot tea in front of Lisa. “You want anything to go in it?”

“Thank you,” Lisa said. “If you have milk or cream, and a little sugar, that would be great.”

Azalea nodded and retrieved a carton of heavy cream from the fridge, and I found the sugar bowl and a spoon for her. I waited until Lisa had prepared her tea to her liking and had a couple of sips before I questioned her about her dramatic claim.

“How could you be the reason that Reilly was murdered?” I asked gently. “I really don’t understand.”

Lisa stared into her tea. “I’ve been dating one of the assistant football coaches, Brent Tucker. They call him Tuck.” She smiled briefly. “Tuck the Truck, because of the way he used to barrel down the field, knocking other players out of the way.”

I did indeed know Tuck the Truck, although not personally. He had played collegiate ball at Athena, then gone on to a brief stint in
the NFL before serious injuries ended his career. As I recalled, he was about six foot five and weighed nearly three hundred pounds. Not as massive as Porter Stanley, but still a big guy.

“Yes, I know who he is,” I said. “Are you afraid your boyfriend is responsible? What did he have against Reilly?”

“Brent is really protective of me, you see,” Lisa replied.

When she failed to continue, I prompted her. “And?”

Lisa paled, and her hands tightened around her mug. “I told you how Reilly accused me of lying. Well, that wasn’t the whole story.” She paused for a sip of tea. “He, well, he touched me and said he was sure everything would be okay if I cooperated with him.”

If Reilly hadn’t already been dead, I think I would have gone after him myself. I loathed men who tried to take advantage of women in such a sleazy fashion. Lisa was young enough—barely—to be my daughter, and my protective instincts came to the fore.

I took a moment to master my temper before I spoke. In the meantime, Diesel meowed and rubbed his head against Lisa’s leg in a determined fashion, and I could see that his attentions helped her keep her composure, at least for the moment.

“You told your boyfriend about what Reilly did,” I said.

Lisa nodded.

“When?”

“Last night, around nine thirty.” Lisa gazed at me, terror in her eyes. “Brent went crazy. I’d never seen him like that. He put his fist through the wall in my apartment. He swore he was going to find Reilly and rip his head off. He stormed out of the apartment. I went after him, telling him not to do anything stupid, but he wouldn’t listen. He jumped in his truck and drove off. I haven’t seen or talked to him since.” She burst into tears, and Azalea, who
had been standing near the stove, came quickly to her side and bent to wrap her arms around Lisa.

After a couple of minutes, Lisa pulled away. She looked up into Azalea’s concerned face and thanked her. Azalea patted her on the shoulder and resumed her position by the stove.

“Lisa, I’m so sorry you’ve been through all this. Reilly was a despicable man for subjecting you to that.”

She nodded. “I was going to talk to HR about it when I filed my complaint. I never should have told Brent, but I had no idea he would react so violently.” Her eyes filled with tears again. “Charlie, what should I do? I’m so worried about Brent and what he may have done.”

“My best advice is to talk to the officer in charge of the investigation, Kanesha Berry,” I said. “She’s Azalea’s daughter, I don’t know whether you knew that.”

“No, I didn’t.” Lisa frowned at Azalea. “No offense, but if I had known that before, I might not have talked so freely.”

Azalea fixed Lisa with her unflinchingly forthright gaze. “I don’t go running to my daughter with every little thing I hear.” She snatched up a dishrag and marched into the laundry room.

“Oh, dear,” Lisa said, gazing after her. “I’ve offended her.” Diesel warbled loudly, and Lisa grimaced. “Sounds like he’s not happy, either.”

“Yes, you have offended her,” I said. “Diesel is reacting to the tension he feels. I understand that you’re distraught over the situation, and I repeat, my best advice is to talk to Kanesha. Right away. If your boyfriend is that violent, you might need protection from him. I’m not saying he murdered Reilly, but his reaction to what you told him concerns me.”

Lisa stared at me. “Oh my Lord, I never thought about that. I don’t think Brent would hurt
me
.”

“I would hope not,” I said. “I don’t think you should take any chances. He ought to understand, if he’s innocent, why you went to the sheriff’s department.”

“I don’t suppose you would go with me,” Lisa said, entreating me with her eyes. “I’m nervous about going on my own.”

“Kanesha is planning to come here at some point before too long,” I said. “Why don’t you stay here? You can talk to her here, instead of downtown. I might have to leave for a while, but Azalea will look after you.”

“I’d better apologize to her first, though,” Lisa said. “Thank you, Charlie, I will stay here if you don’t mind. I don’t feel safe now, going back to my apartment alone.”

Diesel meowed, and Lisa patted his head. “Thank you, sweet kitty.” She pushed back her chair. “I’m going to apologize.” She headed for the utility room, from whence I could hear sounds of the washing machine in operation.

Have mercy, what a mess
. Another suspect in the murder, and definitely one much more convincing than poor Melba. After a moment’s thought, I pulled out my cell phone and started composing a text message to Kanesha.

Come soon as you can to my house. Have someone here who may have vital info.

I hit the Send icon and held the phone, anxiously watching the screen for a reply. I waited for two long minutes before Kanesha responded.

There in about ten.

Feeling much relief, I put the phone down on the table. Lisa walked back into the kitchen, Diesel at her heels.

“I apologized, and she accepted,” Lisa said. “I wish that deputy would get here soon.”

“I heard from her a moment ago,” I said. “She’ll be here in about ten minutes.”

“Good.” Lisa picked up her mug from the table. “Okay if I help myself to more tea?”

“Certainly.” I went to the fridge to retrieve a can of diet soda. I was in the mood for more caffeine, but I wanted it cold.

Back at the table, I regarded Lisa with concern. She appeared calm now, and I hoped she would remain that way once Kanesha arrived.

“Deputy Berry can be stern and look like she’s annoyed when you’re talking to her,” I said. “That’s simply her way. You can trust her, because she’s fair and won’t jump to conclusions. Do you understand?”

Lisa nodded. “Thanks for telling me, otherwise I might have been freaked out.” She sipped her tea. “I’m pretty nervous, actually. I’ve never had to talk to an officer of the law like this.”

“It will be okay,” I said. “Don’t hold back. Tell her everything.” I didn’t know whether it had occurred to Lisa yet that she herself could be a viable suspect in the murder. Reilly’s harassment of her could be considered a strong motive.

My phone rang, and I saw that Sean was calling. “Excuse me a moment. I need to take this.” I scooped up the phone and walked into the hallway to answer it. Diesel followed, watching me closely.

“Hi, Son, what’s the latest?”

“I’m in the office,” Sean replied. “Can you come now?”

“I need to stay home for a while,” I said. “Kanesha is on her way, and I have one of my fellow librarians here with me. She needs to talk to Kanesha, and it could be important. I can’t say anything more at the moment, but this could be a big help to Melba.”

“Okay, Dad,” he said. “I should have known you’d be a magnet for anyone involved in this mess.” He didn’t sound critical, more slightly amused. “Give me a call as soon as you’re done with Kanesha.”

“Will do,” I said. “How is Melba holding up?”

“Fine.” Sean chuckled. “She, of course, knows everybody at the jail, and they’re treating her more like a guest than a potential murder suspect.”

“Good for her,” I said. “She’ll be out of there soon, I hope.”

“Doing my best,” Sean said and ended the call.

I had made it halfway to the kitchen when the doorbell rang, and Diesel and I turned around to admit Kanesha.

“Come on in,” I said.

She stepped inside. “So who is it you’ve got here?” She patted Diesel’s head, and he chirped for her. She was no longer standoffish with him, and he had grown comfortable with her, having seen her so often. I preferred not to think of the reasons
why
he had seen her so often.

“Lisa Krause, a librarian at the college. She has a story that could have a bearing on the murder.”

Kanesha nodded and headed for the kitchen.

I followed closely. “Your mother is here, by the way,” I said in an undertone. She nodded again.

Lisa rose from the table as we approached. I performed a hasty introduction, noting my coworker’s expression of apprehension.

“I understand you have information for me, Ms. Krause,” Kanesha said.

“Yes, Deputy,” Lisa replied.

“Perhaps you’d prefer somewhere more private?” I said.

Kanesha responded with a brisk nod. “That would be best, I think, unless Ms. Krause is okay with you being present.”

Lisa hesitated.

“I’m okay either way,” I said. “Whatever you feel more comfortable with.”

“Thank you,” Lisa said. “I think I’d like to talk to Deputy Berry on my own.”

“Of course.” Frankly I was a bit surprised by her choice, but I really didn’t need to hear her story again. “Why don’t you go into the living room? You’ll have privacy there.”

“Thank you,” Kanesha said. “Ms. Krause, if you’ll come with me.”

Lisa followed Kanesha out of the kitchen. Diesel started after Lisa, but I called him back. Kanesha had grown accustomed to his presence, but I didn’t think she would want him along this time.

Diesel meowed at me, as if in protest.

“I know you’d like to keep an eye on Lisa,” I told him, “but she’ll be fine without you.” At least, I hoped she would. Kanesha didn’t always cope well with weepy females.

Azalea walked in from the utility room. “That Kanesha at the door?”

“Yes, she and Lisa are in the living room, talking,” I said.

“Good. That child needs to hand her burden to somebody stronger.” She shook her head. “She just asking for trouble, being with a man got that kind of temper. I’ll be praying he don’t hurt her.”

“Me, too,” I said. “I think maybe I’ll suggest to Lisa that she might want to stay with a friend until the investigation is done.”

“That’s a good idea,” Azalea said. “That child don’t need to be on her own, just sitting there brooding on her troubles.”

The ringing of the house phone broke into our conversation. I got up from the kitchen table to answer it.

“Good afternoon, Charlie Harris speaking.”

“Good afternoon, Mr. Harris. Would you hold for a moment? I have President Wyatt on the phone for you.”

“Certainly.” Why was the college president calling me?

“Charlie, how are you?” Wyatt’s bass rumbled through the line.

“I’m fine, Forrest, how are you?”

“Tolerable, Charlie, tolerable.”

He always said that, I realized.

“What can I do for you?” I asked.

“I’m glad you asked,” he said. “As I am sure you are aware, there have been some problems in the library since Vanderkeller left so abruptly. I thought we had found someone able enough to steer the ship until we found a permanent replacement, but that obviously did not work out. And now we find ourselves dealing with a murder investigation.”

I began to feel uneasy. I had an idea now why Forrest wanted to talk to me.

“Yes, the library is not a happy place right now,” I replied.

“No, it is not, and I deeply regret my error in judgment.” Forrest did not mince words. One of the things I admired about him was his willingness to own up to mistakes. He didn’t shift the blame for bad decisions onto others. Fortunately for the college, he had made few errors over the seventeen years of his tenure.

“To put it bluntly, Charlie,” he said, “I need a new interim director for the library. The search for a permanent head is ongoing, and we have some excellent early candidates. But it will be at least
another four months before we can bring someone on board. If this latest development doesn’t put off potential candidates, that is.” He paused. “However, we will forge ahead. I have just come from a meeting of our board of trustees. Your name cropped up in our discussions about finding a new interim, and I know you have been a library director before.”

“Not exactly a director.” I hastened to make this clear, although I didn’t think it would make the slightest bit of difference to Forrest. “I was a branch manager in the public library system for nearly fifteen years, but I wasn’t head of the whole system.”

“The point is, you have the administrative and managerial experience we need,” Forrest went on as if I hadn’t spoken. “I am calling on you, Charlie, to act as interim director for us. I hope I can count on you and your love for your alma mater to help us out when we need a man with your abilities.”

Neatly played
, I thought. If I declined now, I would feel like a jerk. I sighed. “Very well, Forrest. I will accept the job.”

“Good man.”

“There is one condition, however,” I said.

“I think I know what it is.” Forrest chuckled. “You want to bring that giant cat of yours to work with you. Well, that’s fine with me. As I remember, he’s a well-behaved boy, and I know the staff all love him.”

“Yes, that’s it.” If Forrest had been opposed to my having Diesel with me, I might have found the courage to decline the temporary position. Our canny president, however, was obviously determined to leave me no room for wiggling out of the spot I was in.

“Excellent, excellent. If possible, could you be in the office first thing tomorrow morning? There are a number of issues to address.”

“Yes, that’s fine,” I said.
I’d better lay in a large stock of headache pills first, though.

“Excellent,” Forrest repeated. “I appreciate this tremendously, Charlie. I will be talking with you again soon. I would like you to take an active part in the search for a permanent director.”