Toni Donovan Mysteries- Books 1-3

by Helen Gray

  Toni laughed. “You shouldn’t have taught him how to text. Now you’ll have to talk to him all the time. Tell him we’ll be there about six. If that’s okay with you, that is.”

  He shrugged and pulled out his phone. “Will do.”

  Toni watched her husband go on out the door. He hadn’t said a word about the meeting that had made him so late getting home. His manner toward her was hard to read. Something was bothering him, and he was avoiding telling her about it. Should she press, or wait until he was ready to talk? Knowing Kyle, he would level with her, no matter how hard it was. But not until he was ready. She would wait.

  When they arrived at the Nash home that evening, Russell met them at the door. “Good to have you home,” he greeted Kyle. “The ice cream is made and waiting for us. I have something I want to show you after we eat.”

  Faye came from the kitchen carrying a platter. “It’s ready, so let’s go ahead and eat. Then we can visit.”

  Her barbecue pork steaks and potato salad were good country fare. After finishing off with ice cream, Gabe put his spoon down and pushed back his chair. “May we be excused? We want to ride Grandpa’s ATV before it gets dark.”

  Toni aimed a questioning glance at her dad.

  “They’ve been practicing. They’ll be fine,” he assured her.

  “Watch the speed,” Kyle cautioned as they dashed out the back door.

  He and Russell took cups of coffee to the living room. Toni and Faye loaded the dishwasher and followed them.

  Russell took a tape from the top of the entertainment center. “Do you two remember that Faye gave me a game camera for my birthday last month?”

  Kyle nodded. “I should. I helped her buy it. Have you been getting any interesting pictures?”

  “I sure have.” He popped the tape into the player.

  In addition to following Cardinal baseball, Russell hunted wild game, but what he preferred to do was just tramp the woods and watch the wildlife. Faye had decided he might enjoy getting pictures of the deer that came up close to their house. The game camera would let him do that without spooking them.

  The picture was dark at first. Then it turned bright, the camera having been activated. There was a moment of silence, and then the sound of approaching footsteps.

  Expecting to see a deer walk into the picture, Toni and Kyle were stunned to see their two boys, hands tucked up under their chins with the fingers hanging down, come prancing into view. Toy reindeer horns protruded from their heads.

  They pranced around in the picture a bit, turned, and pranced out of camera range.

  Kyle was still chuckling under his breath when they got home.

  “That’s just what I needed,” he said when he and Toni were alone in the living room. “It was a good pressure release.”

  Toni squeezed his hand. “Good. I’ve been feeling some guilt about leaving them so much this summer, but that tape proves they’re not suffering too much.”

  They snickered together.

  “You want the shower first?”

  She shook her head. “I need to do a couple chores. You go ahead. I’ll probably be finished by the time you’re done.”

  He headed to the bedroom, unbuttoning his shirt as he went. Toni went to the computer and printed a copy of the test she had worked on earlier. She tucked the original in her grade book, ready for making copies in the workroom before class Monday morning. When Kyle came from the shower, she went to take her turn.

  When she returned to the living room, Kyle was sitting on the couch. The boys were nowhere to be seen, but she could hear sounds coming from their room.

  Her husband looked up, his expression somber. He reached over and patted the cushion next to him. “Come here.”

  Toni sat close to his side and slid an arm behind his back. “Why did you need cheering up? What’s bothering you?”

  Kyle sighed. “It was a gloomy meeting last night. We were told…”

  “Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it,” Toni interrupted, sensing his need for reassurance.

  He made an effort at a smile, but it wasn’t quite successful. “You’re sure?”

  “I’m sure.”

  He studied her face a moment, gauging her sincerity. Then he cleared his throat. “I already told you the company is in trouble.”

  “Have you lost your job?” she asked bluntly, meaning to meet the problem head on if that was it.

  He shook his head. “No, but I’ve been reassigned. Effective the first of September I have to either move to the coast—or resign.”

  For a moment no words would form. “I’m sorry you’ve been put in this position,” she said finally. “We’ll do whatever you want. The boys are young. They’ll adjust. The house won’t be hard to sell, and I can find a teaching position anywhere.”

  Kyle pulled her to him, nestling her head under his chin. “Don’t get in too big a hurry to pack,” he said, his voice strained. “Let me think about it.”

  She nodded against his chest. “I won’t say anything to the boys unless you tell me we’re moving. School starts in four weeks. If we have to move, we need to make the transition as quickly as possible so they can enter a new school at the beginning of the term. I think that would be easier for them.”

  “Hey, I said don’t jump too far ahead,” he chided gruffly. “I’ve hardly digested the situation. Let me explore the alternatives. I know time’s short, but I’ll try to make a decision before next weekend.”

  “Will you be able to get home in time to bring the boys to Springfield Friday for a barbecue dinner like your mother asked?”

  “I’ll try. If I see I can’t, I’ll let you know.”

  *

  Toni was troubled as she and John traveled back to Springfield Sunday afternoon. While John slept, her mind wandered. She was happy with her small town existence and didn’t want to live anywhere else. But she would do whatever was necessary for the sake of her family. If Kyle couldn’t do what he loved to earn a livelihood here, they would go where he could.

  She and Kyle had become sweethearts when she was in the seventh grade and him the ninth. At a basketball game, she had lost her purse with her spending money in it, and he had helped her look for it. When they were unable to find the purse, he had bought her a Coke.

  When Kyle graduated from high school two years ahead of her and left for college, Toni had been overcome with loneliness. They even tried dating other people, but both felt guilty for thinking of one another while on a date with someone else. Failing that, they had committed themselves for life, but delayed marriage until both of them finished college.

  As soon as Toni completed her bachelor’s degree and teaching certification, they had married, and she had signed a contract to teach at Clearmount. The first years had been hard, learning to balance teaching, working on her Master’s in biology, and having babies. But they had learned to compromise when necessary and work through problems. Their love had weathered storms and kept them together, and Toni knew that Kyle considered the needs of his family above his own. In this case, though, she felt that his needs needed to be top consideration.

  Toni’s mind returned to the murder investigation. But thinking back over the facts she had learned made her feel like she was spinning her wheels.

  Jesse Campbell had created a gambling operation of shocking size. He had also been a philanderer. Which of those had gotten him killed?

  She began to categorize. Of the adults she had met who were connected to Jesse in some way, none of them struck her as a murderer. Grant Volner still seemed the one with the best motives—friendship betrayed and wife lost. But Toni didn’t think he fit the profile. He seemed more victim than victimizer.

  His ex-wife, Sheila, was too weak to rebuff Jesse’s advances. Which meant she surely didn’t have the strength to do something as violent as killing him. Even if she did, why would she lure him to the park to do it? Or use a knife? There were easier and cleaner ways, all of them closer to home.

  The secr
etary, Joyce Franklin, struck Toni as stronger and more purposeful. The relationship between her and Jesse must have been ending as the one with Sheila Volner was starting. No, wait. There was the guy, Malcolm somebody, at the construction company in Nixa. When she spoke to him, he was pretty plastered, but she couldn’t exclude him as a suspect. Should she take a second look at Joyce and Mr. what’s-his-name? Burk, that was it.

  Toni’s thoughts moved on to students. Vince Harcourt and Dean Patrick were still in high school. Her gut said they were both involved, but they seemed too young and inexperienced to be the brains and muscle behind the gambling operation. Also, there had probably been hero worship for Jesse that had gotten them involved in the first place. It was unlikely they would have killed their hero. But they, or at least Vince, could be involved in trying to take over now that their hero was dead.

  Toni knew by now that there were more high school students involved, but those were the only ones she had met and talked to personally. However, there were former students of Jesse’s to consider. Barry Kuzman had been an assistant to him at Glendale, his first teaching position. Then came Branson and the girls, Nicole and Sonya. At Kickapoo the secretary’s son, Corey, had played basketball for Jesse. It was impossible for Toni to picture the girls stabbing Jesse, and difficult to see a knife in the hand of either of the young men. But she had to consider all of them as potential suspects. Except maybe Nicole. Toni would bet money that Nicole’s act of bringing her that newspaper and asking about it had been from genuine concern. And she surely wouldn’t have brought up the subject if she were guilty.

  The rectangular green sign on the roadside alerted Toni that she was nearing Springfield. She delivered John to where he was staying. It was seven o’clock when she rolled the van into the visitor parking space in front of Quint’s apartment. She scooped her purse and satchel from the passenger seat and got her suitcase and garment bag from the back. Feeling like a pack mule, she trudged to Quint’s door and set the suitcase down, wishing he were home. She dug into her purse and found the key he had given her.

  Just as she clicked the lock of the door, her cell phone rang. She grabbed her suitcase, hurried inside, and dropped it at the door. Everything else she tossed on the couch and fished her phone from the front pocket of her purse.

  “Toni,” Quint said as soon as she answered.

  “What’s up?” she asked, detecting a somber undertone in his voice.

  “There was an explosion. Barry Kuzman’s car blew up. He’s dead.”

  Chapter 16

  “He’s dead?” Toni repeated stupidly. “I thought he was in jail.” She dropped onto the couch, unable to grasp this news.

  “He was released Thursday, right after you left town.”

  “What happened?” Visions of flying car parts, and worse, passed through her head.

  “We’re assuming he spent the morning in his apartment, probably sleeping. When he went outside and started his car, it exploded. The bomb was crude—but effective.”

  “When did this happen?”

  “A couple of hours ago. I knew you were on your way in and would have no cell service most of the way, so I waited until I thought you could be in town to call you.”

  “I just got here,” she mumbled, thinking how terrible it would have been to die that way. She hadn’t known Barry personally, and what she knew about him was not good, but no one should die like that.

  “I don’t get off until two a.m. You’ll be in bed then, and you’ll be gone before I get up, so we won’t have a chance to talk until you get out of class. Will you be coming straight back to the apartment?”

  In other words, would she be going out snooping and possibly getting into trouble? His babysitting was so obvious.

  “I’ll most likely come straight here,” she said, leaving herself some wiggle room. “I don’t know what time I’ll get here, though. Students sometimes stay after with questions, and because finals are so near, there will probably be more of those than usual.”

  “I have to go,” he said. “See you tomorrow.”

  Toni just sat there holding the silent phone, stunned and horrified at this latest development. There was no doubt in her mind that it was connected to the other murder. Besides Barry, the one other person she was positive was involved was Vince Harcourt. Now, who did she know who was linked to both Vince and Barry?

  Dean Patrick popped into her mind. Barry had mentioned Dean by name, and he attended the same school as Vince. She dialed John.

  “Your friend, Barry Kuzman, will never mug you, or anyone else, again,” she said when he answered. “He was killed this afternoon.”

  John emitted a long whistle. “That’s awful.”

  She related what little she knew. “I want to talk to Dean again because he’s the one person I know who has links to both Barry and Vince. Would you be interested in running out to Ozark with me?”

  “Sure,” he said without hesitation. “Where should I meet you?”

  “I’ll pick you up in thirty minutes. I want to grab a sandwich first. I just got here and I’m starving.”

  After a quick turkey and cheese sandwich, the only thing Toni found in Quint’s fridge, it didn’t take long to go get John and drive to Ozark. She was beginning to feel a familiarity with the neighborhood.

  There were no cars in the driveway at the Patrick residence, but Toni knew they could be parked in the double garage. She rang the doorbell.

  Dean’s mother opened the door and stared a moment before recognizing Toni. “You’ve been here before. What do you want now?”

  “Just to speak to Dean for a moment,” Toni said, remembering that she was supposed to be a college rep.

  The woman stared at her long and hard before seeming to decide she and John looked harmless. “He’s not here right now. He got a phone call earlier that upset him, and he left.”

  “Do you know where he might go when he’s upset or needs time alone?” Toni asked, trying to sound sympathetic.

  There was no answer.

  “Mrs. Patrick, there was an explosion this afternoon that killed a young man of Dean’s acquaintance. I don’t know how close they were, but I’m sure your son is suffering from shock and grief. We want to find him and be sure he’s all right.”

  The woman swallowed. “He goes to Springfield a lot. He hangs out at the gym in the winter and the ball fields in the summer. He umpires Little League games and plays in an older age one at the Ewing Complex. There are five or six fields there. I know he didn’t have a game today, but sometimes he hangs out and watches other teams play.”

  “Does he have a cell phone?”

  She shook her head. “He did, but he lost it a couple of days ago. He was upset when, for some reason, the phone company wouldn’t give him an immediate replacement.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Patrick.”

  They took their leave and headed back to Springfield. “It’s a long shot, but let’s drive out there,” Toni said, weaving into the left lane and passing a slow moving truck.

  John just nodded.

  When they rolled into the complex, only one game was underway, but cars were parking at a couple more of the fields, boys climbing out of them carrying baseball gloves.

  The players in the game in progress looked to be junior high age, too young to be Dean’s pals. But they went over to check it out anyhow. A few yards from the bleacher seats they stopped and scanned the faces in them.

  “I don’t see him,” Toni said, turning away in defeat. Just then the door of one of the buildings that housed restrooms opened. When a figure stepped out, Toni halted and looked closer, hardly able to believe their luck.

  “Is that him?” John asked.

  She nodded. “Let’s watch where he goes and try to get a seat near him.” She started walking toward the boy.

  They slowed when Dean rounded the seats and worked his way to the bleachers not far from those they had passed minutes earlier. He climbed to the bench next to the top and sat.

 
Toni and John waited a moment to be sure he was settled, and then followed him. Toni sat next to the boy, and John settled on the other side of her. The late July heat was still over eighty, but an occasional waft of breeze stirred the air.

  Dean’s muscular body leaned forward in a dejected pose, his chin on his fists. He squeezed his eyes tight, obviously in pain.

  “Dean,” Toni said quietly.

  He glanced over, not happy at having his space invaded. Suddenly his eyes widened. “Don’t I know you?”

  “We met once. I’m with the college,” Toni said, hoping he would not ask which college, or in what capacity. “My colleague and I are also working with the police department on another matter.”

  “You’re here about Barry,” he said dully, his nasal voice evidence he had been crying.

  “That’s right. Are you willing to answer some questions?”

  He shrugged, dropping his eyes to stare at his hands that were laced together so tightly his knuckles were white.

  “What was your relationship with Barry?” she asked.

  “We were just friends,” he muttered without looking up.

  “I think you were more than friends. You both spent a great deal of time with Coach Campbell.”

  Dean’s eyes closed, and his mouth tightened, but he didn’t look up or speak.

  Not quite sure what approach to take next, Toni shifted the subject. “What about Vince Harcourt? I know you go to the same school. What else do you do together?”

  He remained silent.

  Toni let her breath out slowly. “Okay, Dean. Here’s how it is. Barry has been killed. Vince has been arrested. Your name has been linked to both of them. Now tell me again that you were just friends with them, and nothing more. But keep in mind that I know Jesse Campbell was involved in some bad things and Vince and Barry were both working for him.”

  For several more long seconds Dean still didn’t reply. Then he raised his head enough to stare out over the ball field, but she was sure he wasn’t seeing the game. He turned and faced her, his eyes clouded with unshed tears.