Jake's Burn

by Randy Rawls

  At eight o’clock, I called the Cat Hotel and spoke with the Concierge. She assured me the boys were fine and having a wonderful time visiting with the other guests. She complimented me on their manners in the dining room, and said the maitre d’ and the headwaiter were thrilled with them. Their meticulous hygiene habits also drew her praise. Yeah, she used the word meticulous. It’s not in my normal vocabulary.

  Her comments made me wonder if she knew which two cats I was calling about. Her comments didn’t fit the two alley cats I’d rescued from the SPCA. But I found the whole conversation to be surreal—we were talking about cats in a kennel, not two rich humans in a hoity-toity hotel. Kind of makes you wonder where society is heading, doesn’t it? I felt better when I hung up. The boys were okay.

  I showered and dressed, killing time. My eye looked better, more gray than black mixed with the blue. Apparently, Terri’s slap hadn’t caused any new damage. At nine-thirty I called the school and left a message for Terri.

  While I waited for her to return my call, I walked across the road to the restaurant for breakfast. The buffet was the fastest so I loaded up on scrambled eggs, sausage links, grits, toast and coffee—lots of coffee.

  I made it back to the room to find the phone ringing. Terri was returning my call during her ten-thirty break.

  I started the conversation by saying, “Last night was wonderful, but I realize it was our last. We need to talk more about Joey, though—maybe after school today.”

  “Sorry, Ace, I can’t,” she responded. “I’m heading for Fort Worth to meet Jake for dinner and an engagement ring. I’ll probably stay over.”

  “Oh,” was all I could manage. I looked around the room for the cherubs. The bums were still absent.

  “Please, Ace, don’t make this any harder for me. You’ve got my head spinning, but we both have to remember I’m engaged to Jake. I’m going to marry him.”

  Talk about a kick in the chest to help you digest your breakfast. She’d given me a mule-kick that might keep my heart on hold forever. I swore off women.

  My silence must have bothered her because she continued, “I wish things were different, but I’ve made a commitment, and like you, I can’t back away.”

  All I could think of to say was, “Have a nice evening.” Again, I proved I had the perfect response for any situation.

  I hung up feeling like I’d lost everything important. It was a good thing I hadn’t brought a case of Killian’s. I’d have been into it and wouldn’t have quit until I’d reached the bottom. I never expected to be lucky in love and had been afraid to try again after Janice. The pain that coursed through my chest convinced me I’d been right. Love is for those sentimental saps with the courage to accept rejection. I didn’t qualify.

  After I’d sat for twenty minutes feeding my feelings of inadequacy, I made a conscious attempt to pull myself together. I had to get back to the case. First, I needed someone to talk to, someone who could fill me in on the rumors that circulated around the Down Home. I thought of tracking Hojo down, but remembered he still guarded his throat every time I came near. Besides, he’d want to meet at the bar, and I wanted neutral ground. Bubba? No, he was still too close to Sheila to give me any rational help. I wondered about Sammy Waltham. He’d said he wanted to help and had been friendly last night. Maybe I could get in touch with him.

  I found his name in the phone book, dialed his number, and, to my surprise, he answered. He told me he took the day off for honey-do’s around the house. I told him if he’d meet me, I’d treat him to lunch. He agreed.

  I had about an hour to kill. I decided to visit Mom and Dad again.

  The cemetery was the same as on my previous visit—quiet and stately, paying proper homage to those who had passed on. The same six black goats, or their twins, grazed, keeping the grass and weeds down. I stopped and admired them as they searched out every weed and blade of grass that had managed to sprout since their last visit. I asked them where they went when the guys with the lawnmowers came in. They chewed and refused to answer.

  I walked back to the Edwards plot, cordoned off from encroachment with concrete rails. “I’m back again. Bet you’re surprised. Most I’ve visited in a long time. I came to tell you about a woman I met—met, loved, and lost. You would have liked her. She’s the most wonderful woman I’ve ever known, and I love her more than I’ve ever loved any woman, except you, Mom.” I stood there for the better part of forty-five minutes telling them about Terri and how I felt about her. And how I lost her to Jake before I had a chance to win her. I didn’t tell them about the lust I felt for her, how we almost ended up in bed in my motel. Not only were they old-fashioned, but they thought teachers were above reproach, and I didn’t want them to think badly of Terri. When I finished my story, I felt better, better than I'd felt since Jake had busted me with the news about Terri and him.

  As I walked away, I remembered when I was young, my folks told me I’d feel better if I shared my troubles with a friend. They had also said they’d always be there if I wanted to talk. I knew now they’d been right, and I was thankful. The talk had helped.

  Right brain took that opportunity to kick in and remind me of what Sheriff Yardley had told me about the jerry cans. It was Joey’s dad who had called to report three cans full of gas stolen. Another piece of the puzzle that fit.

  At twelve-ten, I walked into the restaurant and looked around for Sammy. He sat in a booth along the wall. I slid in across from him.

  “What’s up, Ace? You got news?”

  “Maybe. Sammy, you know the folks around here, and I’m sure you hear all the rumors.”

  “Hey, Sammy, long time no see.”

  I looked toward the voice and saw the waitress walking toward our table with pencil and pad in hand.

  “Do you want the buffet, order from the menu, or can I get something just for you?” She gave Sammy a special look as she said it.

  Sammy ducked his head and answered, “I’ll take the buffet and coffee.”

  “You still drinking decaf or have you grown up enough to take it hot and strong?”

  Sammy’s head stayed down. “Decaf, please.”

  There was an undertone that Sammy didn’t choose to face.

  I knew I didn’t want to go there. “I’d like to see a menu, please.”

  The waitress tore her gaze off Sammy and acknowledged me. “Okay. Want something to drink?”

  I ordered a diet cola and, after reviewing the menu, a chicken salad sandwich with chips. Sammy loaded his plate three times. Made me glad he’d selected the buffet. I wasn’t sure my expense account could afford to feed him from the menu, even with Jake footing the bill.

  We both ordered a slice of lemon meringue pie, my favorite. When he was halfway through his slice, which was twice as big as mine, I brought him back to the reason for our lunch. “Were there any rumors about Joey Hart and Sheila?”

  Sammy choked on his pie, which brought on a coughing binge. After he'd drunk a glass of water and cleared his throat about twenty times, he said, “Joey Hart? Not a chance. Most of the women around Cisco won’t go near him.”

  “Why, what’s wrong with Joey?”

  “I asked my sister the same thing. She said he’s a dried-up, pimply, little pipsqueak who abuses women. She said she’d like to buy him for what he’s worth and sell him for what he thinks he’s worth. She told me he’d punched several women who wouldn’t put out for him.”

  I sat, trying not to show my agreement with everything he said. He had echoed what I found in Joey’s police record.

  Sammy continued, “I don’t know if it’s true, but I’ve heard rumors. Also, I don’t know any woman who’s been with him recently. What makes you think there could be rumors about him and Sheila?”

  “Just wondering,” I replied, cranking up the sincerity in my voice.

  Sammy gave me a look I could only interpret as a glare. “She already had Bubba and could have darn near any man she wanted. You know Bubba. I’d be awful surprised if
she ever gave Joey the time of day. If you had somebody like Bubba, would you take on a jerk like Joey?”

  “Guess it did sound like a silly question. How about the lawyer? Did Joey have any connection with her?”

  “Not that I know about. About the only thing I ever heard about her was she hated men. She was a terror when she represented a woman against a man. Rumor said she’d do anything to win, not just to win, but to humiliate the man. I know she was a bitch during the Adams’ divorce. I went to court a coupla times, and she was something to watch.”

  “Interesting. Was she married, or have a boyfriend?”

  “No, never married as far as I know. Boyfriend? No, never heard nothing about her having a male friend of any kind, romantic or otherwise. But, you gotta remember, she was from Fort Worth. Hell, them city-folk and their doings might as well be a thousand miles from Cisco. Like I said though, she was a man-hater, or that’s what I heard.”

  Sammy took his last bite of pie and sat back in the booth. “That was a mighty fine meal. I shore appreciate you inviting me. Now, if you don’t have any more questions, my wife’s home thinking up more chores for me.”

  He looked at the waitress. “Hmmm, I might have a chore for her. Nothing like a nooner to settle a big meal.”

  “One more thing, Sammy. If you were in my shoes and somebody had killed Sheila, her lawyer, and Sonny, and was gunning for you, who would you suspect?”

  “That’s tough. I’m shore glad I ain’t in your shoes. I wouldn’t have a clue. But, I betcha you’re ready to wrap this up, ain’t you?”

  “Ah… I’m getting closer.” What else could I say? “You’ve helped me a lot and I appreciate it. Don’t work too hard.”

  After we shook hands in the parking lot, I went back to my motel room and hung the Do Not Disturb sign on the door.

  I sat at the table with an empty pad of paper and started with my collection of facts and guesses again. I was convinced Joey was the one who broke into my place, the one Sweeper chased away. Terri had as much as verified that. I knew he was abusive to women, documented by his arrest record and what Sammy had said. But that still didn’t add up to the murder of Sheila, the lawyer, or Sonny. I had no motives. Hell, I couldn’t connect him to any of them, or not in any way that counted.

  Despite the lack of motive, I penciled in a sequence of events. It started with Joey showing up at Sheila’s house for an unknown reason. Next, he killed either Sheila or the lawyer. It didn’t matter who went first. Killing one would have forced him to kill the other since they were together. He set the house on fire to cover his crimes, and it burned to the ground. At that point, he probably believed he had destroyed all the evidence. Then I showed up in town with Jake telling everyone I was the best. Joey panicked and tried to take me out. Sonny paid the price on that one while I hid under a tree. He searched my motel room trying to find out what I knew. Same thing with his attempt to break into my house. Once he'd done a thorough search, he probably intended to leave it in ashes. I grinned when I thought how surprised he must have been when Sweeper sailed down the stairs into his face. Mixed in along the way, he tried to scare me off with the warnings he passed through Terri.

  Logical guesses, but still guesses. I could think of only one person who could verify my mental gymnastics—Joey, himself. I got up from the table. It was about time I picked up a sympathy card for him. After all, falling into a prickly pear cactus—or getting clawed by a cat—was worthy of a card—even if it wasn’t sympathy I felt.

  TWENTY-TWO

  I strapped on the Beretta and headed out the door. After stopping by the drugstore to pick up a suitable card, not an expensive one, I drove toward the Hart homestead. The front of the card showed a man lying in a hospital bed covered with bandages. The inside of the card said, They say a stitch in time saves nine—but didn’t you overdo it? Get well soon. I thought it appropriate.

  I drove, trying to remember the directions Terri gave me. Their place was near Nimrod off Route 2526. It was a one-story ranch style house with a porch across the front, holding comfortable looking rocking chairs. I could see to the rear of the house and saw cattle grazing in a pasture. I looked and wondered if that was a burro I saw with the cattle. All in all, it was a nice setting and reminded me of Terri.

  When I pulled into the driveway, a couple of hound dogs stirred themselves from under a shade tree and ran out to check me, barking loudly. I froze, and they gave me a few sniffs. They must have figured I wasn’t much of a threat because they turned and went back into the shade. I was glad my cats weren’t there. It would have been embarrassing.

  I knocked on the door and it swung open, revealing an older version of Terri. The blaze had faded in her red hair and her face wore wrinkles, but the remnants of her youthful beauty were there. If I’d seen her in the middle of the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, I’d have known she had to be Terri’s mother.

  “Hi, I’m Ace Edwards. I came by to see if Joey’s all right.”

  “Hello, Mr. Edwards.” The voice was Terri’s but with more maturity. I liked it and wished I’d be around when Terri’s voice aged.

  She stuck out her hand to shake, and I saw the evidence of hard work in it. “Come on in. Both Joey and Terri have spoken of you. You’re the cop that’s investigating Ms. Adams’ death, right?”

  “Not cop, ma’am. A private investigator working for Jake Adams.”

  “Well, whatever. Ms. Adams took him to the cleaners, didn’t she?” She grinned, then turned serious. “The deaths of those two women were terrible but I think it was inevitable for Ms. Adams. For the last few years, she’s been after almost every man in the area. She even made a play for my Joey, if you can believe that.” She paused and chuckled, a deep-throated laugh that brought pain to my chest because it reminded me of Terri. “Don’t know why she’d want to go after Joey. He’s got a face only a mother could love.”

  She nodded toward the inside of the house. “Come on in. Joey’s stretched out on the couch watching TV. That cactus did a pretty good job on him. He’s gotta be the most accident-prone boy ever born. This time, though, he topped his record. He injured himself with that cactus different from any I’ve seen before. How ’bout coffee? I just started a fresh pot.”

  I listened to her with a comfortable feeling. It almost made me hope she was right and I was wrong. “Thank you, that would hit the spot.” I followed her into the house and saw Joey napping on the couch.

  “Joey, wake up. You’ve got a visitor.” She shook his shoulder.

  He woke and looked first at his mother, then me. His hand went to his ear, and his eyes grew large. “Ace, what are you doing here?”

  “Thought I’d check in on you. Terri said you were hurt. Here, I brought you a card.” I handed him the card, giving me a chance to get close enough to examine the scratches on his face. Didn’t look like cactus pricks to me. I’ve seen evidence of Sweeper’s claws on my furniture and my arms too many ties. His face matched my memories.

  He swung around, putting his feet on the floor and opened the card. His left ear was bandaged, keeping me from checking his ear lobe. “So, how’s the investigation coming?”

  “Not bad. In fact, I got a big break. I might be able to wrap it up pretty soon.” I stared at him, looking for a reaction.

  He cut his eyes toward me, then away. “Care to tell me what you found out?”

  “Nothing I can show you. But I’m pretty sure I know who’s been dogging me, and I figure he’s the same guy that killed Sheila, her lawyer, and Sonny.”

  “Uh, that’s great. I knowed you'd figure it out. Wanna tell me?”

  “Why don’t we walk outside?” I didn’t want to get into it in front of his mother. “No need bothering your mom with stuff like this. Not very pretty.” I couldn’t be sure of her reaction, and I didn’t want a she-cat at my back.

  “I get the message,” his mother interjected as she re-entered the room with my coffee. “I’ll go start supper. Can you stay, Mr. Edwards?”

  J
oey spoke up. “I’m sure he’s got some place to go. Don’t you, Ace?”

  “Thank you, ma’am, but Joey’s right. I have to be leaving in a little bit.”

  “Well, nice to have met you.” His mom walked into the kitchen.

  “Let’s go outside,” I said as soon as his mother was out of the room. “I need to talk to you. Terri says you can help me with the case.”

  He rose from the couch. “Sure, I'll do whatever I can.”

  We went outside and sat in the rockers.

  “What can I do for you?” he asked.

  “First, you can tell me how you got those scratches. I grew up here. You didn’t fall into a cactus.”

  “Oh? I say I did. Can you prove otherwise?” He was relaxed, not taking me seriously.

  I pulled the earring from my wallet and held it up where he could see it. “Yeah, I think I can. The police found this earring interesting. After they ran it through special tests, they said somebody left blood on it. They’re doing the DNA thing right now. Any guesses about who the tests will identify?”

  Okay, it was another of my bald-faced lies. I needed to shake him, and my words did. He leaned forward in his chair, much more interested than he’d been a moment ago. His cheek jumped as if he had a tic. His eyes cut from left to right, refusing to lock in on anything, especially me.

  I continued. “Want to know where I got the earring? Before you answer, I should tell you the police picked up prints at my house and in my motel room. My bet is they’re from the same guy—my bet’s on you.”

  Joey’s eyes narrowed as he stared at me. “Bullshit. I’ve never seen that earring before.” He hesitated, then added, “Unless it’s the one I lost last week. Yeah, I lost mine. I wuz gonna get another, but I fell into that cactus.”

  “Where’d you lose it?”

  “Umm, I’m, um, not sure. Must have been, um, the Down Home. Yeah, it wuz in the Down Home.”

  I laughed. “You’re a lousy liar. Don’t ever take a lie detector test. Now, want to try again about how you got all scratched up? And I bet your ear lobe is torn. In fact, I bet this earring was ripped out, leaving a nasty tear and blood on the earring. I bet an orange tomcat ripped this earring right out of your ear.”