by Jana DeLeon
“It doesn’t have to be that way,” she said.
“Yeah,” Percy said. “I think it does.”
He stood back and gestured to us to walk out. Starlight gave him one final glance, apparently cluing in to the fact that he wasn’t joking, then spun around and headed toward a late-model Mustang parked at the curb. We hurried out and headed down the walk.
“This isn’t the last you’ll hear from me,” Starlight said without looking back. “I want my share of my daughter’s things.”
Percy slammed the door so hard the porch shook. Starlight got into her car and pulled away from the curb, tires squealing. We headed to Ida Belle’s SUV and climbed inside, none of us saying a word. Finally, Ida Belle looked over at us.
“Things just got very interesting,” she said.
Chapter Ten
We followed Starlight into downtown. Not because we were trying to follow her, per se, but simply because the shortest distance between Percy’s house and Main Street was the direction she was going. She didn’t stop anywhere, but instead kept driving through downtown and toward the highway.
“You think she’s going back to New Orleans?” I asked.
“Something tells me no,” Gertie said.
“I agree,” Ida Belle said. “She didn’t drive all the way out here just to razz Percy for a minute, then turn around and leave. Starlight always had an angle. And you can bet that if she’s darkening Sinful’s doorstep, she has one now. She’s probably holed up at the motel.”
Ida Belle pulled up in front of the sheriff’s department and parked next to Carter’s truck. I looked over at her, somewhat confused.
“You said you needed to pick up a food order at the General Store,” Ida Belle said. “And I figured while we were here, we should probably let Carter know that Starlight is back.”
“Oh, right,” I said. “Yeah, I don’t want him to get surprised by that one and then find out I knew.”
Ida Belle nodded. “And I figure while you’re doling out that information, you can go ahead and tell him that you’ve taken on Whiskey as a client.”
“How do you know I didn’t already?” I asked.
“Because you were entirely too pleasant when you got to Gertie’s, and there’s no way you had that conversation with Carter and were still smiling.”
I sighed. “Fine. I didn’t stop before I went to the Swamp Bar because I figured there was a chance Whiskey had slept on it and changed his mind. I called dispatch on my way back, but they said Carter was out on police business. I didn’t figure waiting around was an efficient use of my time, especially as I had no idea how long said police business would take, so I headed to Gertie’s and figured I’d tell him later.”
Ida Belle stared at me, one eyebrow raised. “That was a whole lot of talking.”
I threw my hands in the air. “Fine! I was happy Carter wasn’t available. But it’s not like I was going to try to keep it a secret. You know, for someone who doesn’t want any input into her own personal life, you have an awful lot to say about mine.”
“That’s true,” Gertie said.
Ida Belle shot her a dirty look. “You’re one to talk. You’re always butting in.”
“Which I’ve already learned to accept and ignore,” I said. “But you’re a different story.”
Ida Belle stared silently at the sidewalk. Finally, she shook her head and said, “Maybe I just don’t want you in my position when you’re my age. This kind of conflict with professions is bound to happen over and over again. You both need to figure out how to handle it like it’s any other part of your regular life, because once people get comfortable with the idea that you’re really good at what you do and you’re here to stay, you’re going to be busy, and a whole lot of it might cross police lines.”
“I hate to admit she’s right,” Gertie said. “Especially since she usurped my position as the nosy friend, but I have to agree.”
I slumped in my seat. “I really hope this doesn’t put a damper on dinner. I have two awesome rib eyes in that grocery order and nobody grills a steak like Carter.”
“I give up,” Ida Belle said. “I’m trying to help smooth the path for your relationship future and your biggest concern is rib eyes.”
“Steak is serious business,” Gertie said.
I nodded. “But your point is taken. However, I’d like to state that I still think my policy is going to be, I don’t speak to Carter about my clients until I have a contract. One, because anyone is subject to change their mind, and two, because I want confidentiality to be firmly in place.”
“I think that’s entirely reasonable,” Ida Belle said.
We headed into the sheriff’s department and went through our standard Southern greetings with Gavin, the young and fairly new daytime dispatcher, and then asked to speak to Carter. Gavin had a brief phone conversation, then waved us back.
I started down the hall, then realized Ida Belle and Gertie hadn’t moved. I looked back at them.
“You first,” Ida Belle said. “Then holler for us.”
I headed for Carter’s office and he looked up and smiled at me when I walked in. I gave him a quick kiss before sitting. He looked tired and I felt bad that I was about to cause him more grief, but it couldn’t be helped. This was my new life. And Ida Belle was right. Our paths were bound to cross more often as my business picked up.
“I need to tell you something,” I said.
He looked over at me and frowned, my tone letting him know that what I was about to say probably wasn’t going to be well received.
“I have a new client,” I said.
“That’s great…isn’t it?”
“I think so. But I’m not so sure you’re going to be as excited about it. My client is Whiskey.”
He stared at me for a moment, then sat back in his chair. “Can I ask why he hired you?”
“Because he’s afraid he’ll be railroaded for Venus’s murder. Given his record and the fact that he threatened her in a bar full of people the night she was killed, he figures the DA might want to move forward.”
“You know I’m not going to settle for maybe. I won’t stop investigating until I know for certain who did this.”
“I know that, but I don’t have the same confidence in the DA. And neither does Whiskey.”
Carter blew out a breath. “I wish I could say you’re both wrong…”
“But you can’t. And Whiskey doesn’t have the money for bail on a murder rap, assuming he even got it. If he’s locked up for any length of time, the bar income dries up, since Nickel’s back in jail.”
“Then there’s no one to take care of his father,” Carter finished. “I know all of that. And I don’t like it, but I can’t gloss over the facts to keep the DA from making a move on him.”
“I don’t expect you to, and neither does Whiskey. But he wants someone working solely for him—preparing an argument for the defense, in case it comes to that.”
Carter nodded. “I’m not going to say that I’m thrilled you’re going to put yourself on the trail of a killer, but I think Whiskey is playing this smart.”
I stared. “You’re not mad?”
He gave me a small smile. “There’s no future in it. You are who you are and you’re going to do what comes naturally to you and what gets your blood racing. I might not have known that when I started pursuing you, but I was really clear on it when I decided not to stop my pursuit. You can’t change who you are and neither can I. And to be honest, I don’t want to. So I’m going to ask you to be careful because there is a killer out there, and he thought he got away with it.”
“He’ll be on the defense.”
“Or worse. Panicked.”
“Do you think Whiskey did it?”
“I think he’s capable given the right circumstances. But no. I don’t think he did it.”
“Good,” I said. If Carter didn’t believe Whiskey was involved, then he wouldn’t be pushing him at the DA unless he had no other choice. He’d be fol
lowing the forensics, trying to track down the real killer. Our task was a little more broad, at least for now. We needed to find two or more potential suspects. Enough to create doubt.
But if we happened to find the killer, I wasn’t going to be sad about it.
“Thank you for being so cool about this,” I said.
He frowned. “Were you worried that I wouldn’t be?”
“No. Well, maybe a little. And I have rib eyes for pickup at the General Store. I really wanted dinner to go well.”
Carter perked up. “From that butcher in New Orleans?”
“That’s the one.”
He rose from his chair and extended his hand, pulling me up from my seat. Then he gathered me in his arms and kissed me soundly. “I love you, Fortune Redding. I’m not going to say that I won’t worry or that you won’t ever make me mad, but nothing you do is going to keep me from wanting you.”
“Good. Because there’s one more thing, and this one is probably going to frustrate you a little but I swear, it’s not on me.”
He released me and stared. “Since you led with Whiskey being your new client, I’m not sure I want to know.”
I opened his office door and yelled for Ida Belle and Gertie.
He went back to his chair and dropped into it, probably figuring if I was calling in the Troublesome Twosome, it couldn’t be good. They headed in and Carter gave them a half-hearted hello while they each took a seat. Ida Belle glanced over at me and I gave her a tiny nod, letting her know the air was clear in the relationship games.
“We know you’re busy,” Ida Belle said, “so we won’t take much of your time. But we figured you needed to be warned.”
“I’m almost afraid to ask,” Carter said.
“We were at Percy’s earlier,” Ida Belle said. “Doing the whole Southern Baptist someone-died routine.”
“And pumping him for information for your new case,” Carter said.
“Yes, but we would have taken over a casserole and offered to help with arrangements whether we had a case or not,” Gertie said. “Certain manners are not optional.”
His lower lip quivered. “You’re right. So what is so disconcerting that you felt you had to tell me about it?”
“When we were leaving, Starlight showed up,” Ida Belle said.
Chapter Eleven
Carter immediately straightened, his expression one of both surprise and dismay. “You’re kidding me.”
“I wish we were,” I said. “I didn’t like her.”
“You’re not the right sex or foolish enough to like her,” Carter said. “What did she want?”
“Said she wanted half of her daughter’s things,” Gertie said. “Which makes no sense because Venus didn’t have anything to speak of.”
Carter frowned. “How did Percy take it?”
“As expected,” Ida Belle said. “He turned white as a ghost when he saw her standing there, then got mad as a hornet and told her to get off his property or he’d have her arrested for trespassing. Told her if she came lurking around, he’d load his shotgun.”
“That is trouble I don’t need,” Carter said.
“We were behind her as she drove away,” Ida Belle said. “She headed through downtown and toward the highway, but that doesn’t mean she’s headed back to New Orleans.”
“No,” Carter agreed. “I don’t imagine she is. If Starlight showed up on Percy’s doorstep, then she had a reason. And since her reason is usually money, I’m a little at a loss as to what her angle is.”
“Me too,” Gertie said. “She’s certainly not getting anything out of Percy.”
Carter rubbed his jaw and I could tell he was trying to figure out what Starlight could be getting at and coming up as short as we had.
Finally, he shook his head. “Well, I don’t know what to make of it, but thank you for warning me. The last thing this town needs is Starlight to descend on it again.”
“Looks like she’s not going to give us a choice,” Ida Belle said. “Anyway, we’ve all got work to do, so we’ll get out of here. If I hear any gossip on that end, I’ll let you know.”
“I appreciate it,” he said.
We all rose and I gave him a quick kiss before leaving.
“Starlight showing up bothers me,” he said. “Makes me think there’s something going on that we aren’t seeing. The kind of thing that surfaces and bites you in the butt. Please be careful.”
I nodded. “You too.”
We headed out of the sheriff’s department and climbed into Ida Belle’s SUV but instead of starting the vehicle, they both stared at me.
“Well?” Gertie asked. “How did it go with Carter?”
“Oh,” I said, now understanding the anticipatory expressions. “Sorry, I was back in case mode.”
“Good,” Ida Belle said. “That means the discussion went well.”
“Very well,” I said. “I’m afraid we didn’t give Carter enough credit. He was cool about the whole thing. I mean, he gave me the whole ‘be careful’ routine, but that’s normal given that it’s a murder.”
“Even in Sinful, a missing cat can become something it never should,” Gertie said. “Lately, it seems we’re geared for the more dramatic side of things.”
“And then there’s your purse,” I said.
“My purse isn’t dramatic,” Gertie said. “It’s practical.”
“That purse is a cross between a horror movie and a postapocalyptic story,” Ida Belle said. “I don’t suppose he felt so generous that he gave you cause of death?”
“I don’t think Carter will ever feel that generous,” I said. “But I think we have to assume it wasn’t basic drugs or the death might be deemed accidental and the crime would be hiding the body.”
“That still leaves a bunch of options,” Gertie said. “Poison, gun, strangling, suffocating, a conk on the head…”
“I’m going to do a preliminary rule-out on gunshot and poisoning,” I said.
“Why those two?” Gertie asked.
“Gunshot because neither Whiskey nor Percy mentioned Carter asking them about the weapons they owned. Also because he hasn’t issued a search warrant for Percy’s house or the Swamp Bar. So it makes me think it was a hands-on kind of deal.”
“Smart,” Ida Belle said. “You’re really thinking like a pro.”
“I’ve been doing a lot of studying,” I said. “And watching all those forensic shows. The other thing with poisoning is that it’s a premeditated sort of crime. And the way the body was dumped doesn’t say planning to me.”
Ida Belle nodded. “It was a good spur-of-the-moment option, but it was a lot riskier than doing a bayou dump.”
“Exactly,” I said. “Plus, the killer not only had to dispose of the body but get rid of the car, which I figure he did that night. Then he came back the next day when Percy was at work and got rid of her things.”
“The chances of us finding them if they’re buried in the woods behind Percy’s house are slim to none,” Gertie said.
“I agree,” I said. “And I don’t think finding them would tell us anything anyway. If Venus had something of value to the killer—blackmail notes, or something else to that effect—the killer would have destroyed them.”
“So what now?” Ida Belle said. “Do you want to start running down the interview list?”
“I suppose we should,” I said. “But there’s something I keep coming back around to. And I know it’s one of those needle-in-a-haystack things, but I can’t stop thinking about it.”
“What’s that?” Gertie asked.
“The car,” I said. “Where is her car? The killer had to take it to make it appear as if Venus really left, so where is it? If it had just been abandoned somewhere publicly, it would have been reported by now and Carter would have been asking questions then.”
“We assume that maybe it was used to transport the body and then dumped somewhere that it hasn’t been found, right?” Ida Belle said.
“But it could be anywhere
,” Gertie said. “The killer could have hightailed it to New Orleans and sold it for scrap metal or to illegals for cash. For all we know, it could be out of the country.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think so. Whoever killed Venus was back the next day packing up her things. I doubt you’ll find an Uber in the middle of the night ready to haul you from the city to Sinful.”
“Maybe they had an accomplice,” Gertie said. “Someone who followed them into the city and gave them a ride back.”
“That’s possible,” I said. “But it doesn’t feel right. If we leave out premeditation and also eliminate gunshot, then the remaining options fall more under crime-of-passion sort of things.”
Gertie sighed. “You know what all that speculation means, don’t you?”
“What?” I asked.
“That it’s highly unlikely some stranger from Venus’s past in New Orleans hiked down here and did it. What are the odds that they’d know about the construction site and where Percy’s house is? What his work schedule was? How to get to it from the woods in the back?”
“I agree that a local is a better bet,” I said. “And I’m thinking if we find the car, that might lend even more to that train of thought.”
“Someone commits a crime of passion and has such a short amount of time to get it covered up, they are bound to have made a mistake or two,” Ida Belle said.
“Doesn’t look like it so far,” Gertie said. “If that turkey hadn’t gotten away, the body would have never been found. It’s not like anyone from Sinful was going to go looking for Venus. And even if they did, she wasn’t exactly the kind of girl to take on a lease or any other daily living stuff that made her easy to track down.”
“I agree that someone was very clever,” I said. “And that’s something we have to take into account while we’re investigating, both during the interviews and watching our back.”
“So…the car,” Ida Belle said.
I nodded. “I know it sounds like looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack, but it has to be someone near Sinful. Whoever dumped it had to walk back from the dumping site. I don’t figure they went any farther than they absolutely had to. So any ideas?”
