by R A Wallace
Delia gave him the name then excused herself for class. She had just enough time to tidy her hair again before the students began filing in. She spent the entire period hoping her distraction wasn’t as obvious to her students as it was to her. She followed the last student from the room at the end of the class. As she descended the stairs, she debated going to the principal’s office to find Bennie.
She was happy to find him just inside the entrance of the Glennon Hall. “You found something?”
He nodded toward the fireplace. They crossed over and took a seat. Since Bennie sat on the sofa, Delia took the burgundy and white chair across from him.
“I cannot stay long,” Bennie said. “I looked up the record for Bob Hinkle. He was, indeed, the night watchman here for a short time.”
“Why did he leave?”
“No definitive reason was given.”
It was the way he said it. She could tell he was holding back information. “But?”
“His record indicates that Mr. Hinkle often had health issues.” Bennie made a face. “It said he was indisposed.”
“Indisposed,” Delia repeated.
Bennie made another face. “What do you suppose that means?”
Delia didn’t have a chance to answer.
“What the devil are you up to now?” Wes demanded.
Delia flashed her eyes at Bennie then shifted them to the entrance before standing to face the irate principal. From the corner of her eye, she saw Bennie steal away from the building.
“Captain Glennon. I do not appreciate your tone.” The surprise she saw in his eyes emboldened her to continue. “I do not believe that Arch Keaton is a murderer.” She sincerely hoped he wasn’t.
Only part of his bluster returned. “What are you planning to do about it?” His eyes narrowed. “You aren’t planning any more late-night walks, are you?”
“If needs must, Captain.”
He opened his mouth to speak then noticed a group of students gathering to watch. He lifted his brows and offered a stern look. The students began to scatter.
He lowered his voice. “Darkness can hide all manner of bad things, Miss Markham. Things that could harm you. I would not wish to have that on my conscience.”
“I absolve you of any responsibility, Captain.”
His hand came up to rub his face in exasperation. “That is not the point.”
“I promised my help, Captain. I will not go back on my word.” Delia began walking away.
His words stopped her. “Even if the man in question specifically said he doesn’t want you in danger either?”
She spun around to face him. “You’ve spoken with Arch?”
“I went to see him at the jail.” He put his hand up to stop her next question. “He is fine. As fine as a man can be when charged with murder.”
“What did he say? Did he give any indication if the poison that was used might have come from here?”
“My concerns exactly, Miss Markham. According to Arch, it was possible small amounts of poison could have been taken from his stock over time but there was never a large amount. There was never a noticeable amount taken from the school’s supply.”
Chapter Twenty
As soon as her final class for the day was over, Delia prepared to leave the normal school. Although she was finally learning her way around the campus rather well, she had yet to spend the necessary time exploring the town of Glennon to navigate its streets as easily. At most, she knew her way to the church that she and Hazel had attended the previous Sunday.
As she reached the edge of the campus in the front of Glennon Hall, she paused to get her bearings. From where she stood, there were roads leading away from the school in multiple directions. Those roads were lined with houses located on the northern point of the town of Glennon. She knew that the main road leading from the campus to downtown Glennon was well kept and modern. Many others that led away from that road into the lesser occupied areas most often were not.
She waited until the trolley arrived on schedule in front of the school. According to Bennie, the route between the town and the school still ran regularly, even with the conservation efforts. There were too many employees and students that relied upon it and too many businesses in town that relied on the patronage of those from the school.
Following Bennie’s instructions, she managed to make her way to the tree-lined road where Elbert Greenlee lived. The trolley didn’t take her to his modest home. It dropped her off at the end of his unpaved road. She walked the short distance from the corner to his house grateful that they hadn’t received much rain lately. Removing a layer of dust from her boots should prove easier than removing mud.
The Greenlees lived in a two-story house that had been painted white. The posts supporting the front porch were painted with both white and dark green to give it a decorative touch. She climbed the wood steps leading to the porch and tapped on the outer screen door. There was no answer.
Delia stepped away from the door and looked both directions down the road. There was no one about to ask if the night watchman was home. She decided to try again. This time she opened the screen door first and knocked loudly on the wood door.
The man that answered looked rumpled from sleep. Elbert Greenlee ran a hand through his hair as he peered at Delia curiously.
“Mr. Greenlee?”
“Yes, ma’am. My wife isn’t home if you’re interested in selling something.” Elbert reached for the door to close it as he began to turn away.
“No, Mr. Greenlee.” It came out louder than she’d intended but had the effect she needed. The man froze in place with his arm in the air.
“I’m here about Arch Keaton.” Delia watched curiosity chase away confusion on the man’s face. “My name is Miss Delia Markham. I’m Hazel’s cousin.”
Understanding replaced confusion. Delia wondered how much of a secret Arch and Hazel really were.
“I’m very sorry about his situation, but I’m not certain how I can help.”
Delia considered her options. Asking to speak with the man alone in his house was summarily rejected. It wasn’t the reputation she wanted to earn.
“If you wouldn’t mind.” She motioned to the porch. “I won’t take long.”
When Elbert stepped outside, she continued. “I apologize for coming unannounced. I assumed that you would sleep during the day but would be awake in the afternoon before your shift tonight.”
“Yes, miss. I woke not long ago. My wife went into town to pick up a few things at the store there.” Elbert looked toward the road as though hoping his wife would appear and save him from the woman on the porch.
“I understand that a man named Bob Hinkle used to work for you as a night watchman at the school. Can you tell me about that?”
She watched the confusion return to his face. “Why was he asked to leave?”
“Oh, that.” Elbert rubbed a hand against the stubble on his face. “Well, he was often indisposed.”
“Are you saying that he was drunk?” Delia offered a small smile at the look of surprise on his face. “This conversation would go more quickly if we could speak a common language.”
“Yes, miss. He was either drunk or sleeping it off. I felt sorry for him at first, of course.”
“Because of the business he used to be in?” Delia guessed.
Elbert looked impressed. “Exactly. He was a big man then. Made good money with the shoe repair. I thought it would be a good fit for him at the school being as how he lives so close to it. That is, he did after he lost all his money. Had to move into a different neighborhood, as you might imagine.”
“What happened with his business? Do you know?”
Elbert made face. “Be hard not to. It’s all Bob talked about when he was drinking. Of course, I only know what he told me.”
“His side of the story,” Delia murmured.
“Right. He’d get into his rye whiskey and go on about it for hours. About how Frank Lawton cheated him out of business
.”
“He didn’t go into specifics?”
“Claimed it was how the business document was written up. I’m guessing Bob didn’t read it closely enough when he first signed it. Frank was giving Bob money from the business. Bob just assumed it was from what they made there.”
“From the business proceeds,” Delia supplied.
Elbert pointed. “That’s it, right. Bob thought it was just the business proceeds from the earnings.”
“It wasn’t?”
“No, miss. It was Frank’s way of getting Bob out of the business. Not only that, but Frank did it at a fraction of the cost.”
“He cheated the man out of business?” Delia remembered what Elbert said about the contract. “No. He had the contract written up to buy Bob out of business.”
“Smart of him, wasn’t it? Frank used Bob’s money to start the business but then paid him off at one tenth of what Bob put in. Frank owned the whole lot of it after that.”
“Bob didn’t take him to court?”
“Claims he tried, but he lost. The contract was written up that way. Bob signed it.”
In the distance Delia could hear the whistle of the trolley.
Elbert heard it also. “That’s your ride, miss. You’ll want to catch it or you’ll need to wait for the next trip around to make it back to the school.”
Delia didn’t want to miss her ride but not because she wanted to get back to the campus. “Do you know where Bob Hinkle is working now?”
“I’ve seen him delivering coal. He works for Speers. Not that it’s likely you’ll find him engaged in such an industrious undertaking much of the time.” The corners of Elbert’s mouth turned down. “From what I’ve heard, the man rarely shows up for work. And if he did, there’s no way you can be chasing him down while he’s doing it.”
Delia knew he was right. “Today is Friday. Even if he only worked a few hours this week, he’ll be wanting any pay that’s owed to him.”
It took him a moment to catch on. When he did, he shook his head. “And no doubt it won’t be long in his pocket before he hands it over to the barkeeper. Even if you waylay him at the main office when he shows up for his pay, I still don’t think it’s a good idea. The man is a hothead under any condition whether he is drinking or not. It’s just not safe, miss.”
Delia asked for the directions to the main office. Elbert Greenlee was still shaking his head as she moved quickly to catch the trolley. He told her that Bob would need to fill his supply truck at Speers Run outside of town to make deliveries, but Mr. Speers kept his office in town. It was where he conducted his business transactions. Delia alighted from the trolley several minutes later just a half a block away.
Rather than walking to Speers, she turned to look in the window of the grocer. It occurred to her that she should pick up some tea. Hazel’s tea tin was nearly empty. The sign on the wall behind the counter showed the prices for some of the goods. Delia winced at the number for loose tea. Forty-five cents per pound.
The sound of a truck passing by interrupted her thoughts. She turned to watch it. She didn’t have to guess that it might stop at the main office for Speers Coal Company. The form of the Quad truck indicated its primary function was to transport heavy loads. That ability is what made the vehicle and others like it so popular for the war effort.
Delia began walking toward the office. She was close enough to see the man who climbed from the truck enter the office. He didn’t match the description she was given. She slowed her steps and stopped in front of another shop.
This one had a display of hats in the window. Most were women’s hats but there were also several hats for men including one similar to what Arch wore.
She turned back to check the activity in front of the coal company office. A man was walking toward her from the other direction. Delia moved quickly to intercept him before he reached the front door.
“Mr. Hinkle. If I might have a word?” Delia positioned herself between Bob Hinkle and the doorway to his weekly pay.
A scowl contorted a heavily lined face with unkempt facial hair. “What’s this?”
“I understand your former business partner was murdered.” Delia watched the man’s bloodshot eyes shift to the door behind her.
“What’s it to you?”
“Answer my questions and your pay will be in your hands within moments,” Delia said. “It stands to reason that you knew Frank Lawton better than many. Aside from yourself, who else would wish to see him dead?”
A momentary flash of confusion crossed Bob Hinkle’s face as he tried to follow Delia’s meaning. When her words penetrated his fogged brain, his scowl deepened as a flush colored his cheeks. “See here, now. Who are you to make such a claim? I am a respected man of this community.”
Although he attempted to move around her, Delia stepped back to block his entrance. “I understand you often have time on your hands, Mr. Hinkle.”
“I can hardly be blamed for the coal shortage,” he spat out. “I’m entitled to the meager earnings of a reduced schedule because of it. Let me pass.”
This time he managed to brush past her though Delia didn’t put up a fight. She assumed she heard as much as he planned to tell. She retraced her footsteps quickly not wishing to miss the trolley. She wanted to speak with Hazel at home before she had to go out again and she still needed to do a little shopping first.
Chapter Twenty-One
Delia knew Hazel was home the moment she opened the rear door of the house. It was the smell that greeted her as she stepped into the kitchen.
“You’re home then.” Hazel stood next to the gas cabinet range.
Delia slid out of her walking coat and crossed the kitchen on her way to her room. “Not for long. I bought some tea. I’ll put it away in a moment.”
When Delia returned to the kitchen, Hazel already had the loose tea in the tin and was pulling dishes from the cabinet.
“I can help.” Delia stopped in the middle of the kitchen. Hazel was moving about so quickly, she didn’t want to get in her way. “Perhaps you should sit for a few moments. You have been on your feet all day.”
Hazel shook her head as she moved back to the range. “I don’t want my thoughts to be idle.”
“You’re worried about Arch.”
Hazel froze for just a moment before turning back to Delia. “Have you learned anything?”
“I would not wish to raise your hopes needlessly,” Delia warned.
“Tell me.” Hazel lifted her apron and began to wipe her hands.
Delia walked over to the range. After checking the pot of simmering stew, she moved the tea kettle to a burner. She used the flame from the burner under the stew to light a match for the water.
“I have managed to learn a little about the victim. Have you ever been to his shoe repair shop?” Delia went to the cabinet.
“It’s been years. That was before Arch and I. Well.” Hazel’s fingers began to worry the edge of her apron.
“Before you were together,” Delia finished for her. She took two teacups out and set them down before reaching for the tea tin. “You knew he had a partner?”
“Yes, of course. What about it?” Hazel joined Delia and nudged her out of the way as she reached for the tea tin. She took out the measuring spoon.
Although Delia was not large for a woman, Hazel’s slight frame still had little effect. Delia held her ground and reached for the tea ball to hold it for Hazel. “I’m told the victim cheated the former partner out of the business.”
Hazel’s hand shook, spreading loose tea everywhere. “That must be it. You have to tell the police.”
Delia gave an apologetic look. “That is why I did not want to raise your hopes. The police would already know about the former partner.”
“Oh. Yes, of course.” Hazel began brushing the tea into a pile on the porcelain workspace of the cabinet. A tall piece of furniture made of waxed oak with a white enamel interior, it held many of the kitchen necessities.
�
�It still gives me a starting point,” Delia said. “In fact, I spoke with Mr. Hinkle not long ago.”
“You did?” Hazel abandoned her efforts with the tea and put one hand on Delia’s arm. “You will be safe, won’t you?”
“Of course.”
“But Delia, whoever killed Frank Lawton will not wish to be found out. He might hurt you also.”
“I am aware of that.”
“I don’t want you in harm’s way.”
“I can take care of myself.” Delia measured the tea into the tea ball.
“You were nearly killed just this summer.”
“But I was not killed. As I said, I can take care of myself.” Delia put the ball into the tea pot and carried it over to the range. “Besides, the murderer may well be a woman.”
“What? A woman?” Hazel followed her. “Surely not.”
“Frank Lawton was poisoned,” Delia pointed out.
“You think that’s important?” Hazel lifted her spoon and stirred the stew.
Delia reached for the kettle when it whistled. “That is what I wish to find out. Poison seems more of a weapon for a woman. We shall see. In the meantime, I need to learn more about Bob Hinkle. I understand that he lives very near the campus.”
“That he does. Promise me you won’t be hurt.” Hazel set the spoon down and turned to Delia. “I want Arch to be free, but I don’t want you injured in the process.”
“I promise I will take care.” Delia returned to the cabinet for the teacups. “Tell me about the coal shortage here.”
“Coal shortage?” Hazel remained near the range but watched Delia. “It was troublesome last winter. We all made do, of course. Just as we should. The boys overseas needed it more than we did.”
“But this year? I understood that areas such as Glennon shouldn’t have as much trouble.”
Hazel lifted the teapot and carried it to the table. “That is my understanding as well. The larger cities may suffer but areas such as ours with our own local supplies shouldn’t be as hard hit. We all have been so careful to follow the recommendations to economize since last year.”
