Murder Creek

by Jane Suen

  The waitress came by to check on me, topping off my coffee cup without asking me. I noticed her name tag, Darlene, as she leaned over. The place had cleared out a bit by now.

  “What would you do, Darlene?” I asked her.

  She gave me a sympathetic look. I’m sure she had coddled many an upset, tipsy, or rowdy customer, and charmed others.

  “Hey, hon, it’ll make sense.”

  “I haven’t figured it out yet, but I will. I’ve got to write my paper.”

  “Just write what you know,” said Darlene, giving me a wink. “It’ll all work out.”

  I heard a text arrive on my phone. Mike Deen.

  Seconds later, my phone rang. Apparently, Mike was never one to wait for a text back. I pictured him impatiently tapping his fingers. I took the call.

  “Hey, Mike, what’s going on?”

  “How’s your research?”

  I laughed. “You should see me pulling my hair out.”

  “That bad?”

  “I don’t know if I’ll find anything new about Lacey.” I wanted so desperately to make some sense out of all this, or uncover a new clue. “You know everyone in town, Mike. How about introducing me to more people who knew Lacey?”

  “Well, people have moved on, or passed away. It’s been so many years.”

  “I’ve got to run,” I said abruptly. I’d just had a thought. I needed to ask Mrs. Walken about Lacey’s missing persons files and if I could see her old room or her stuff. She was Lacey’s mother, her next of kin.

  Chapter 30

  TOMORROW I’D HAVE my work cut out for me. I went back to my motel room to shower and to get a good night’s sleep. As my head touched the pillow, I found myself back at Murder Creek. Back in the 1800s. In the same scene, before the murders occurred. These men, offering to share their food with a group of strangers, having a meal together. Their last meal.

  The young sandy-haired guy was speaking, laughing at someone’s joke. Their guard was down. They had warm food in their bellies and were getting ready to settle down for the night. The others, the group of strangers, retreated to another area close by.

  The main group stayed by the tree overlooking the creek. They were headed back south to their families from Georgia. After gold was found in north Georgia in late 1828, the Georgia Gold Rush was on with the discovery of the Dahlonega Gold Belt in 1829. It didn’t pan out for some, but they had been lucky. Maybe it was more than luck, just the sheer determination to put everything they had into it. The adventurous eager-eyed youngsters learned quickly and worked together and adapted. The fittest survived. They were careful to hide their gold. For along with the gold miners came the bandits and robbers.

  I tried to fall asleep, but the images of the men at Murder Creek reappeared; they sat around a campfire; the flames flickering as the dusk settled. The men eating together, fellow travelers sharing their food. Greed, betrayal, bloody violence, and death. There wasn’t any way to warn these men.

  I tossed and turned increasingly in futility, wanting to alert them, to shout out before it was too late—before they were murdered in their sleep. Exhausted, I finally sank back down on my pillow as my eyelids grew heavier, even as I became more distraught, deliriously mouthing, “No, no! Get up, don’t fall asleep!”

  Chapter 31

  I WENT BACK to talk to Lacey’s mother. This time I didn’t call ahead. I just knocked on the front door.

  She looked surprised. I wasn’t sure how glad she was to see me again.

  “I couldn’t sleep last night,” I said. It was true, but not the real reason I came. I looked for empathy and thought I saw a glimpse.

  We stood there. She didn’t ask me in. “Is there something I can help you with?”

  “Well, I was just thinking, and seeing as I was in the neighborhood, I thought I’d stop by again,” I said politely. “To ask about Lacey.”

  She held the screen door open, but still didn’t invite me inside.

  “I’d like to see what files you have on Lacey’s disappearance,” I said.

  “What files?”

  “You know, on her disappearance—I mean, the investigation.”

  “Why are you asking me?”

  “Seeing you’re her mother and all …” I stopped before any tone of accusation crept in. Could she have been involved in her daughter’s disappearance? And I didn’t want to kill her hopes of finding Lacey alive. However, I was beginning to wonder. Was she hiding anything? And if so, why?

  “Mrs. Walken, I’ve been down to the sheriff’s office, but they can’t release the files to me. So I was wondering if they had shared them with you, perhaps?”

  She really would not budge. “I’m afraid I can’t help you there.”

  I forced a smile to hide my disappointment. You know honey attracts bees and all. “Perhaps I can see some of Lacey’s things, you know, to get to know her better?”

  She shook her head. “She didn’t leave all that much behind when she left.” I detected a note of bitterness.

  “I’m sorry to have bothered you, ma’am,” I said. “But if you think of anything else or have something of hers to show me, please call me.”

  Chapter 32

  “HAVING A BAD day?” The motel clerk took one look at my face and knew.

  My crappy, sour look. I was pissed. I dragged myself back to the motel to check on room availabilities.

  “It’s too early to say, isn’t it?” I answered without hissing at him.

  “What can I help you with today?”

  “You wouldn’t happen to know where to find Clint Madden, would you?” I asked, as his name popped up first. I would go down my list until I got to a name he knew.

  He looked startled, but quickly gathered his composure and coughed delicately.

  Bingo!

  “Clint Madden,” I repeated, sure this time. I was like a fisherman ready to reel in a catch. “You know him,” I said, more of a statement rather than a question. Something told me the clerk’s reaction was not normal.

  He snorted. “Who wouldn’t know a pompous ass when you see one?”

  “So I take it you aren’t friends?”

  “Hell no,” he said emphatically. “Shit, that man would rob me of my last nickel and dime.”

  “How do you mean?”

  “Well, me and him, we used to hang out together. Not real tight, but you know.” He looked at me to see if I knew what he meant.

  “Go on,” I said.

  “He came to me with this sob story, like he was down on his luck with nobody to turn to, and could I lend him a hand?”

  “Did he want money?”

  “Heck yeah. I didn’t have much, but he swore up and down he just wanna borrow the money, and he’d return it to me.”

  I had a feeling what was coming up, and it didn’t sit right with me. “So you lent him some money.”

  “Yep, fifty bucks.” He shook his head. “It may not be a lot to you, but it was to me.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said, thinking he never got it back. “And he never …”

  “Nope.”

  I leaned against the counter, getting chummy and real friendly. I looked him in the eyes and then glanced down at his shirt, searching for a name tag but finding none. “Look, uh,” I mumbled. “Uh … what’s your name?”

  “Randy.”

  “Yeah, Randy,” I said. “Man, that sucks.” I shook my head and gave him a sympathetic look.

  “You know, I thought he was my friend.”

  “When was the last time you saw him?”

  “After the news died down about Lacey, he left town I guess,” Randy said.

  “And you haven’t seen him since?”

  “Nah.”

  “Did he ever talk to you about Lacey?”

  “Not much. I mean, he mentioned helping her when she got a job at the pizza place. You know, showing her the ropes and all.”

  “Was he the manager then?”

  Randy frowned in deep thought. “I think it was earlie
r, but he became the manager.” He shrugged. “You know him, he was all about money.”

  “He got promoted to the manager?”

  “I guess. I mean … that was in the news. He and I didn’t talk then.”

  “I see. And you never met Lacey?”

  He hesitated, then shook his head. Then he changed the subject real quick, probably hoping I wouldn’t notice. But I did.

  “You here to pay for another night?”

  “Seeing how this is Sunday already, I need to stay at least another couple of nights.”

  “You’re in luck. Our rates are going down,” he said, smiling. “You know, after the funeral and all.”

  “I see,” I said, giving a conspiratorial wink. “In that case, I’ll stay for three more nights.”

  Chapter 33

  I STOPPED BY the diner to pick up breakfast biscuit sandwiches and fresh-brewed coffee. I sipped my coffee while I waited for my food.

  Darlene was busy with the breakfast crowd, but she gave me a wink as she walked by. I felt like today would be my lucky day. I thought, Heck, I think I’ll go to church this morning. I heard my name called, and I looked up to see a girl holding a paper bag. I walked to the counter, my mouth already salivating, as she handed me the biscuits.

  “Would you like a refill?” she said, glancing at my cup.

  Her name tag said “Sophie”. I looked at her in appreciation. I hadn’t seen her before. She was about my age I guessed. “Thanks, that’s so sweet of you.”

  Sophie beamed, filled my cup, then popped on a new lid.

  “There you go,” she said.

  “I haven’t seen you here,” I said.

  “Oh, today’s my first day,” she said brightly, her enthusiasm bubbling. “I don’t know how to use the cash register yet, so they have me helping here.”

  She grabbed a towel and wiped down the counter. I liked a self-starter, someone who could multitask and keep herself busy.

  “Well congratulations,” I said. “They’re lucky to have you.”

  She looked like she was ready to squeal if she could. I had made her day.

  I was humming as I walked to my car. Five minutes later, I rubbed my buttery fingers on the napkin and smacked my lips.

  Everything looked brighter today. The sun was out, warming the inside of the car to just the right temperature. I took a final sip of my coffee, sucking out the last drops.

  It was too lovely a day to waste. I stretched as I got out of the car to walk. The church was less than a mile away, an easy hike. At the moment, I envied the easygoing life in a small town. Just one lazy day I’d allowed myself.

  I slid in the back pew, not bothering to go back to the motel to change into my little black dress. I was in my comfortable jeans, and I told myself God wouldn’t judge me for dressing this way. I relaxed into the pew, joining the chorus in singing praises to the Lord. Actually, I wasn’t much of a singer and not that religious. But I was in town, and this was what most folks here did every Sunday. The pastor spoke about life and death, the passing of a beloved member of his congregation, Travis Madison III, and how much he was missed. I narrowed my eyes to see farther up front, recognizing Jim and his brother Jeremy near the front. I didn’t see Mike though. And the folks who had to work weren’t here.

  I felt a tap on my shoulder as I walked out after the service.

  “Good morning, Eve.”

  I turned, basking in Jim’s effervescent smile. Jeremy was standing next to him with a slight scowl—or was it a figment of my imagination?

  “Hi, Jim,” I said, turning up my charm. “And Jeremy, how are you today?”

  He muttered a reply which sounded like “yeah,” before Jim ribbed him. “Great,” he said.

  I ventured to ask, “Jeremy, I wonder if you could spare a few minutes to talk?”

  He raised his eyebrows. “About?”

  “Lacey Walken.”

  Chapter 34

  THIS DAY WOULD get better. I would not let any clouds rain on my day. If Jeremy wasn’t up to talking, I was unfazed. I jumped right to the point.

  “You knew Lacey.”

  I knew this, because Jim had told me yesterday. Jeremy was a couple of years older, but he knew her. In fact, he hadn’t been immune to her beauty. No one was.

  Jeremy glanced away, his eyes fixing on something in the distance. “It was a long time ago.”

  “I need to know whatever you can tell me about her.”

  He took a step back, almost bumping into Jim. “I have something to confess.” Seeing the alarmed looks on our faces, he added quickly, “Oh, gosh no! I didn’t harm Lacey.” He held out his hands.

  I relaxed. I could see Jim’s jaw muscle twitching. Brother or no brother, he was tense.

  “Lacey asked me to help,” Jeremy said. “She, uh, was having some problems with her mom, and things weren’t going well at home.” He looked at us, shaking his head. “She wanted to run away, drop out of school.”

  I watched Jim’s face, the look of surprise. “Why did she come to you?”

  “I could only guess. Perhaps she didn’t want to trouble you,” said Jeremy, looking at Jim. “I had to think fast, to talk her out of it. The first thought that popped out was to help get her a part-time job at the pizza joint. I gave her an advance, you know, to help tide things over so she could move out. But I convinced her to stay in school.”

  I did not understand Jeremy’s role in this. “Why the pizza place?”

  “Well, Dad owned the place, and I was pretty sure I could convince him to give her a part-time job. It was the only thing I could think of, come up with fast. At least she would have a job.”

  I could see the logic in that. “You talked to your dad?”

  Jeremy nodded. “He had some questions, and he didn’t want me to get too involved.”

  “Did your dad know Lacey?”

  “He’d met her. And he knew she was in classes with Jim. I mean, he’d heard us talking about her.”

  “So he was okay with your plan?”

  “Well, he was, but he had some conditions.”

  “Conditions?” Jim spoke up, surprised.

  “First, he wanted Lacey’s mom to know this and to reassure her that Lacey would not leave town, so this way at least she’d still be close to her.”

  “She didn’t protest?” I asked, a bit incredulous a mother would agree to a plan that would help her daughter leave home.

  Jeremy stared at me. “You didn’t know Lacey. Once she’s made up her mind, no one could talk her out of it.”

  “She always had this stubborn streak, and I admired her for it,” said Jim. “In some ways, she was also mature beyond her years.”

  “Okay,” I said, knowing that Lacey wasn’t all alone. I admired her, as a matter of fact. “So, then what happened?”

  “Well, she’d put up a note and asked around at the pizza joint about a room. And Sally offered to let her stay at her place. Sally needed the money and Lacey needed a place,” said Jeremy.

  “A win-win all around,” I said. “Did she have any enemies you know of?”

  “Enemies?” Jeremy replied. He looked at Jim.

  “I mean, were you aware of any problems she was having? Anyone who would want to do her harm?”

  Jeremy spread out his fingers and cracked his knuckles. “I could speak about her finances. She came to me again, sometime later.”

  I was on alert, feeling I was getting closer to what happened.

  “She had initially agreed to pay me back, a bit at a time, from her part-time salary. But when her first checks came, and she realized how little money was left after all the deductions and taxes, well, there wasn’t much left,” said Jeremy.

  I could relate to that. The burden of finances was a problem I’d dealt with in my life. “Then what happened?”

  “Lacey had her back to the wall. She asked Sally for more time to pay her rent. But Sally refused to give her an extension. She turned to me.”

  “And what did you do?”
>
  Jeremy had the saddest look on his face. “I thought I was doing the right thing. I mean, if she learned the lesson, however hard, maybe she would move back home.”

  “But you know better than that,” said Jim, his anguished tone rising.

  “Yes, in hindsight. I was tough on her. I told her she had to pay her loan on time too. I laid down a hard line, and I didn’t budge,” Jeremy said.

  I clenched my hands. What had seemed to be an almost perfect solution had turned to crap. Lacey had been in a hole and digging deeper.

  “She gave up on school. At that point, it was the only thing she could do, to work full time at the pizza joint,” Jeremy said. “I couldn’t talk her out of it. She became a dropout and cut off relationships with kids in her class.” He turned pale and looked uncomfortable.

  “She became isolated from her family and her circle of friends at school,” I said. “And working to pay you back, struggling to make ends meet.” I really felt for her.

  “Why didn’t you come clean and tell me before?” Jim said, angry at his brother.

  “Lacey had confided in me. She was going through a difficult time, and I’d promised I wouldn’t tell,” Jeremy said.

  “I wish I had been there more for her,” Jim said. “I mean, she was pinned into a bad position, and then it was made worse. You’re a businessman, Jeremy. You know the pain of losing money and your life, your friends.”

  “I can’t agree with you more,” said Jeremy. “But my hands were tied.”

  “Your hands? You were the one that tied her. I’m surprised Dad didn’t come to her rescue.”

  “I didn’t tell Dad until later, toward the end.”

  “The end?” I gasped. Did Lacey meet her end?

  Chapter 35

  I CHOKED. I didn’t want to hear any more. What had started out to be a beautiful day had turned gray, ugly gray. It was tragic enough, what happened in Lacey’s short life. But the end sounded so final. Jeremy left abruptly and didn’t say more after our conversation.