by Tonya Kappes
“You already talked to Hank?” I asked.
“Yes, I did. I know it looks bad that we had a public fight and I knew it was all over town, but like I told Detective Hank, I was clipping another client when Fifi’s nanny was murdered. He even took copies of my schedule and my client list with their phone numbers. Now, Rosco and I have an appointment with Norman Pettleman. He’s a very busy man and I can’t miss my appointment. Let’s go, sweet boy,” she baby talked the grunting little dog and gave him a gentle tug before he decided to move.
Surely if Hank had talked to Ethel, he’d already talked to the gardener and Nicki. Well, maybe not with Nicki on a professional level, but by the way he looked at her at the Summer Sizzler party, he was still as smitten with her as Ty Randal. I wanted to gag right there but ran back across the street to get to book club. The girls were going to kill me and I wasn’t ready to join Camille Braun.
Abby Fawn, Betts Hager, Queenie French, and Dottie Swaggert were already sitting at the card table near the bookshelf in the back corner of The Laundry Club. They’d left an open seat for me with a cup of coffee already waiting.
“Just where have you been?” Abby asked. Her hair was pinned up into a bun on the top of her head. She had on her Normal Public Library short-sleeved button shirt with a pair of khakis. It was how I knew she’d been working today.
“I had to go to the police station to see Bobby Ray.” I glanced over at Dottie. She had the look of I told you so on her face. “He didn’t do it.”
“He had the watch on him.” Betts Hager brushed her bangs out of her eyes. “At least that’s what Tammy Jo told Lester.”
“Of course, she did. It seems like she’s going around telling everyone how innocent she is, but something is fishy. And I can’t help but think it’s because of her daughter.” I gave a direct look to Dottie.
“Listen, I don’t know her well enough to even worry with her. She stopped by the campground to say hello because she was in town.” Dottie’s forehead puckered. “I thought it was strange because she didn’t even come to Harrison’s funeral. She didn’t have use for him since he didn’t have the fortune to pay her law school loans.”
“From what I heard, there was a will reading.” Queenie cocked her head to the left and rolled her eyes to the right corner of the ceiling. “And I heard our very own Betts and Preacher Hager were invited.”
“Listen,” Betts pushed back from the table. “I can’t discuss what happens between a member of the church congregation and what business they leave the church. But it’s not unusual for a member to put their church in their will.”
“You mean to tell me that you know what the will says?” I licked my lips. This was some news that I sure needed to get the real killer. “I’ve got Ava Cox getting Bobby out of jail, because you and I both know,” I gestured between me and Dottie, “He was at the campground when Camille was murdered.”
“I can say that Lester is in charge of the scholarships for Fifi’s heirs.” Betts was trying really hard to pull in the smile that was battling to form on her lips. “They are going to be taken care of.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me?” Queenie smacked the table, causing us to jump. “That woman is crazy. Maybe whoever killed the dog nanny was really wanting to kill Tammy Jo.”
I looked down at my phone when a text from Ava chirped in.
Ava: I got Bobby Ray Bond released. Can’t leave town. You’re in charge of him. I couldn’t take him to Happy Trails. Have to go to Tammy Jo’s for a meeting.
Me: Okay. Thank you. I’ll get him and be in touch.
I leapt up, my feet hammering across the laundromat floor towards the door.
“Where are you going?” Abby asked.
“I’ve got to go get Bobby Ray.” I pushed open the door of the laundromat and ran across the street. Queenie’s suggestion about Tammy Jo being the target was something that I’d let myself forget about when I’d initially thought about the murder.
Maybe Camille gave the watch to Bobby Ray as a distraction for something greater, but what?
“Watch where you’re going.” I jerked up when I nearly tripped over my own feet when a familiar voice interrupted my thoughts.
“Ethel.” There was a second of silence while I processed why she’d be standing in front of me on the sidewalk. I looked down at Rosco. He gave a few grunts and snorts. I’m sure it was his way of expressing his disapproval about seeing me again. “I thought you were off to see Norman.”
“He had an emergency meeting or something at Tammy Jo’s. That Fifi is apparently his number one client.” Ethel rolled her eyes. “She’s a floozy.”
“Fifi?” I asked.
“Mmhhh.” Ethel ho-hummed with a contorted face. “She flaunted her pedigree in front of my Rosco.”
“Well, it was good seeing you two again.” I gave a nod and strode around them to get to my car. “Emergency meeting?” I whispered to myself when I got into the car and wondered exactly what the emergency was, but more importantly, if everyone at Tammy Jo’s was in a big meeting, that meant Ralphie, the gardener, just might be alone and I really wanted to talk to him.
SEVENTEEN
Bobby Ray was sitting on the curb outside of the police station. Even though he didn’t have a lot of hair, it was still greasy and a bath was a much-needed event in his future. When I pulled over to pick him up, I noticed Hank’s car was parked in the lot.
“May-bell-line,” Bobby Ray gushed when he got into the car. “I don’t know how you did it, but I’m so glad you had that lawyer come help me. She was a good one too.” He rambled on. “She told that Detective Sharp which way was up and how he didn’t even take into consideration my ali-bi,” he accent came back in spades. “Where we goin’?” He pointed behind us. “That’s the way to the campground.”
“I want to see the guest house Camille had you sleep in.” I headed out of town towards Tammy Jo’s. “And talk to the gardener.”
“Why? They let me go.” He truly had no idea that letting him leave the jail didn’t mean that he wasn’t a suspect. “I did ask Camille why the gardener wasn’t pulling the weeds and she said he was busy getting the rest of the grounds ready for the big party they were having.”
I knew he was talking about the Kentucky Kennel Association.
“They told you to stay in town and that means you’re still on the suspect list. And it means that there’s still a killer out there, which means the tourists don’t want to come to Normal, which means cancellations for Happy Trails. I’m not going back there.” It was funny how this was all connected. “Not that I don’t want to make sure you’re proven innocent, but I haven’t worked so hard to let Camille’s murder be the thing to bring me down.”
“Well, if it’s all the same to you, I’m gonna sit in the car because I don’t want no part of this.” He crossed his arms, folding them across his chest. His chin jutted out to the side in a defiant sort of way.
It was fine with me. I didn’t need the distraction of him while I tried to talk to Ralphie and snoop around a little bit. I wasn’t even sure what I was looking for in the guest house and Hank had probably scoured it, but I had to scratch the itch of my curiosity.
There were many cars at Tammy Jo’s. I recognized Ava’s and Norman’s, but not a couple of the others. Hopefully, they were all so involved in the meeting, they didn’t notice me pull up.
“The house is way back there behind that big barn.” He pointed out the window.
“I never even noticed that barn back there.” I had to squint to even see the top of it, it was so far back. I’d say it was about ten acres away and a good hike from the car. “You stay here. If I’m not back in at least an hour, you come look for me or call Hank.” I gave him my phone.
“That makes me think you’re worried about something.” He looked down at the phone. “Maybe I should go.”
“No. I’m fine. I’m sure it’ll be good. It’s just that there’s a killer who came here to kill and is still not captured. The k
iller could still be here and if I’m caught snooping around, they might do to me what they did to Camille.” I gulped.
“I think I need to go.” He put his hand on the door handle.
“No. You stay here and keep watch.” I put my hand on him to stop him because the very last thing I wanted was to be babysitting Bobby Ray when I could slip in and out of there practically unseen.
“Alright. One hour.” He gave a good hard nod.
My best course of action was to not be seen. Taking the long way around the tree line towards the barn to do that might’ve been a little longer walk, but it was shaded and kept me out of the glaring hot sun and sight of the house.
The shade sounded like a great idea, but the humidity crept up on my skin, giving me a sweaty glow that even the shadow of the trees couldn’t help. I scrambled as quickly as I could across the ten acres until I reached the small guest house Bobby Ray had said was there.
I took a look around to make sure everything was clear before I decided to turn the knob of the door. There was a clear view of the back of the house from here and the tents that were on the lawn for the party were long gone.
I squeezed the door handle, and somehow I convinced myself that if the door was open, it wouldn’t necessarily be breaking and entering if I got caught. . . uninvited.
As if it were meant to be, my hand curled around the knob and it turned. The air conditioner whipped out cold air that flooded over me. Then, time slowed. Almost to a standstill. My heartbeat pounded, the veins in my forehead pumped with the beat, my entire body began to shake at the sight of Ralphie, lying just behind the door on the floor with blood oozing out of his chest.
“No!” I screamed as loud as I could. I couldn’t tell you really what happened next or how things progressed because the only thing that snapped me out of the kinda hell I was in was Nicki Swaggert, who came running in behind me.
Of all people.
“Mae,” she called my name, shaking me back into my right mind. “Let’s get you out of here.” She had a hand on each of my shoulders. She tried to shift me right. My feet didn’t move. My eyes focused on the poor gardener. Nicki’s grip shifted me left. Again, my feet and eyes didn’t move.
“Call Hank” was all I could get out of my mouth.
“I think we need to get you out of here first.” She squeezed even harder.
Under normal circumstances, I’d felt the pain of her fingernails as they pressed into my skin, but I was numb. Nothing seemed to be working.
“Are you okay, May-bell-ine?” I heard Bobby Ray huffing and puffing, running up to us. My mouth opened, nothing came out, my mouth closed. “Camille? I thought you were dead.” His words brought me right on out of my shock, causing me to jerk from her grip.
“Camille?” I twirled around. “This isn’t Camille. This is Nicki Swaggert.”
I remembered Camille’s face when we were standing in front of the mantle and the dome-covered watch when she looked at the dirt spot on the carpet. She really didn’t know how the stain got there and it was Bobby Ray’s.
“Did you pretend to be Camille?” My heart started to race, my palms began to sweat, and goosebumps crawled up my arms.
“Now, May-bell-ine,” Bobby Ray’s eyes dragged past my shoulder and he looked at Ralphie. “Let’s me and you get on out of here and leave Camille alone.”
“Bobby,” I gasped, “this isn’t Camille.” Like a puzzle, I saw all the pieces coming together. “You!” I pointed to her. “Bobby Ray, use my phone to call the police. Now!”
“I didn’t do anything. You just stop right there.” She pointed her fancy manicured finger at Bobby. “I never told you I was Camille.”
“But you gave me the watch and the paper said you were dead.” Bobby’s brows furrowed. He looked all sorts of confused.
“Call the police with my phone. Call 9-1-1,” I instructed him.
“Let’s just all go back to the house and we can get this all straightened out.” Nicki sounded a little anxious as she tried to come across slick.
All I could do was shiver and shake in my shoes.
“Nah,” Bobby Ray’s nose curled. “I think May-bell-ine might be right. We should just call the police here.”
“Yeah. I don’t think so,” Another familiar voice came from behind us. “I’m going to have to ask you to take a seat on the couch over there.”
Norman Pettleman was standing behind us with a gun that I can only assume was the same gun used to kill Ralphie. A blanket of fear choked out the cool air from the air conditioner. Even Nicki Swaggert seemed to be shaking and nervous.
“Norman?” Nicki’s voice cracked.
“I’m sure you’re a nice girl, but after all of this, you’re going to be the one going to jail for killing him, him, and her.” He pointed his gun at Ralphie, Bobby Ray, and me.
“I’m sorry, Nicki. I thought you were the one who wanted your mother’s money, but all this time it was Norman.” The last piece of the puzzle was fitting into place.
“Nicki here thought she was being sneaky when she took the watch and gave it to Hillbilly Bobby over here.” Norman pointed the gun at Bobby and snickered at his cleverness.
There was fire in Bobby’s eyes that I’d not seen since the day he beat up a kid in high school who called Bobby Ray a hillbilly.
“What? I hurt your feelings?” Norman snorted and the gun twitched. It was then that I knew Norman felt just as much anxiety as we were feeling.
“Norman, take the watch. I don’t want it.” Nicki and Norman began to have a conversation as I continued to put the last of this insane puzzle together.
“You thought you’d come back in here and just get all the money, when I’m the one who put up with that stupid dog. The entire insurance community is talking about what an idiot I am for insuring the cloning of a dog. Well, I’m not so stupid now that your mother is about to make me the beneficiary now that poor Camille is dead.” Norman kept the gun pointed at me as he slowly walked over to Nicki, pulling her by her arm and lifting her off the couch to stand. “Get over to the kitchen table and I want you to write a note.”
Norman exhaled a frustration of impatience and pushed Nicki forward.
“I don’t have time for all of this. Hurry up.” His eyes darted between everyone in the room. “I want to you write, Dear mother,” he told Nicki what to write. “I’m sorry. I really wanted to be back in your life, but the jealousy about your loving a dog more than me is just too much for me to take. I couldn’t stand the sight of Camille and how much you trusted her. Out of rage, I had to get rid of her and gave the watch to that low-life drifter. When his alibi cleared and I picked you up from jail, I came home only to find Ralphie. He was going to blackmail me because he’d seen me run from dad’s office that morning.”
Norman thought he was so brilliant. He made his letter sound so dramatic like something you’d see in a movie. All the shows I’d been watching made this look fishy, but I kept my mouth shut and looked around to find a way to get out of this.
Bobby didn’t move. His hands were fisted in tight balls on his thighs, his back was straight, his jaw was tense, and his eyes didn’t move off of Norman, even when I tried to get his attention by sliding my foot over to nudge his.
“Unfortunately, Mae West couldn’t keep her nose out of my business or control her jealousy about how much Hank and Ty are still in love with me and not her,” Norman stopped talking and looked at me. An evil grin on his face.
My eyelids lowered. There was so many emotions bubbling up inside of me.
“What?” He grunted my way. “You don’t think I didn’t notice those two men fawning over you these past few months? It just makes it real convenient that the two of you have something in common.”
He turned back to Nicki.
“Write.” He poked her with the gun in her arm. She winced and let out a little cry. “Mae had to die too. The hillbilly, well, no one is going to miss him.”
“You’re telling me that you killed Camil
le because my mom didn’t name you as the beneficiary of the insurance?” All of the sudden Nicki found her voice.
“You’re telling me that you stole the watch because you knew your mom would handsomely reward you if you were the one to find it and you were willing to throw this hillbilly under the bus?” Norman mocked her.
Then it was clear. The puzzle was complete. There were two crimes here. Both of them trying to scam Tammy Jo out of her money.
“You two weren’t working together?” I suddenly couldn’t move or think when Norman rushed over, sticking the gun in my face.
“You’re smarter than I thought.” His eyes grew big and scarier, like Jack Nicholson in the Shining.
“Here’s Bobby!” Bobby jumped up, knocking the gun out of Norman’s hand.
Nicki and I both lunged to grab the gun after it hit the wall, landing on the floor.
“Yes!” I screamed in delight when my hand grabbed the barrel of the gun, jerking from Nicki. “Now it’s my turn.”
I held the gun on Nicki, then pointed it toward Norman. “Call 9-1-1,” I instructed Bobby Ray, who was now sitting on top of Norman Pettleman, nearly squishing the life out of him. I dragged my phone out of my back pocket and tossed it to him.
“You’re going down. Both of you.” I said.
“No one calls me a hillbilly,” Bobby bounced a little on top of Norman. “There’s been a murder at Tammy Jo Bentley’s guest house and the killer is currently being detained,” Bobby said into the phone.
