The River Waits for Murder (The Burgenton Files Book 2)

by C. Ruth Daly

  She nodded in agreement as they approached the Y in road where one way led to Burgenton and the other further north. Glynda turned the wheel toward the town and to the left sat the Jameson farm. It was still regal and full of splendor. The beautifully landscaped lawn stretched for an acre before the stately brick home and behind the house rested acres and acres of fields while the cow pasture jutted off toward the north, clipping the horizon. The balding tires of the car careened up the winding gravel lane to the house. The new swimming pool filled an empty space of lawn at the edge of the field and reclining by its side was Lori, her legs stretched out before her on the plastic chaise lounge. She was clad in a two piece shimmering blue suit and large, round sunglasses covered her eyes. The noise of the car on the gravel did not seem to disturb her and as the two opened the doors and walked toward her, Donna noticed a tall glass resting on the side of the chaise, available and within reach of Lori’s tanned hand with its long, bright red painted fingernails.

  The pair faced each other, rather lost in the moment and unsure if they should disturb the woman basking in her bride-to-be moment beneath the hazy Indiana sun. They were now close enough and within ear shot, and Glynda noticed the yellow ear plugs in Lori Bell’s ears. The woman’s hair was pulled back and a dark headband stretched around and under her curls. Glynda reached over and gave Lori’s leg a hard shove, “Hey, Jameson, wake up. It’s me, Glynda. Didn’t Trevor just call you?”

  In her somewhat drunken state, Lori awakened from her stupor and removed the plugs from her ears. Her mouth opened in a yawn and then peeking above her glasses, “Shit, it is you! I thought my fiancé was giving me crap because I’ve been talking about you, Donna. I told him I want you to be in my wedding but you were so far away in Arizona, and seems like you hardly ever picked up your mail, well, I thought screw it—I will just have to find someone else to take by good friend’s place.”

  Donna was hardly flattered by the remark and still weary from her long distance drive and the irritating meeting with Trevor she snapped back, “Yeah well, good to see you too, Jameson. It’s been a long time. We were just on our way back to town and thought we’d stop by and see how the future Mrs. Morreli was doing.”

  “Lori sat up, got off the chaise, and told the two of them to go inside the house. “It’s getting too hot out here,” she said as she stumbled a little and caught herself on Glynda’s shoulder. “The AC is on in the house, so let’s go.”

  Inside the 1800s house, Lori grabbed a silky robe by the door and flung it around her shoulders. The three of them sat down at the old farm table in the kitchen where they had sat so many times years ago, and where they munched on hot dogs before sneaking across the river that Halloween night in 1974—the night Lori ditched them for Trevor and Glynda and Donna found Thelma, the mother of the murderer Hollis, knocked out and tied up in a horse trailer. The table brought back memories as Donna sat down. The country table cloth was gone and an ornate table runner ran down the middle. A vase full of red roses sat in the center and Donna could see the attached card was from her adoring fiancé, Trevor. “He sends them to me once a week.” Lori remarked when she saw Donna reading the card.

  “Nice.” Donna mustered, and thought the mentioning of Trevor might be a good sedge way to ask about Trevor’s land development. “Wow Lori, we just came from the river and Trevor’s development. Well, he did it! The dream came to fruition.” Donna exclaimed, “You guys have a lot going on with the wedding and the vacation development.”

  For a bride-to-be, Lori was not too enthused. “Yeah, it’s a lot right now. While Trevor’s planning for the opening in three weeks—you know he already has reservations all the way through the end of September, I’m doing all the wedding plans. We are getting married at the Presbyterian Church just like his mom and dad did. It’s important to him. I thought a wedding along the river would be nice but Trevor said that’s too trashy and it would affect business. He wanted to start renting the vacation spots now.”

  “Yea, well it looks like Trevor has done very well for himself, and how about you Lori Be—Lori?” Donna caught herself before she carried out the Bell. “Things are looking good for you, too. You look great and so relaxed.” Donna couldn’t help but notice the constant tall glass that was beside Lori at the pool and now beside her at the kitchen table and it was not yet high noon.

  Lori removed her sunglasses, showing the raccoon shadow around her eyes. It was obvious she had fallen asleep by the pool and Donna wondered how the bride would handle this new change in her appearance. “I’m much more relaxed than I was working at the radio station. Relaxing and hanging by the pool suits me very well. I don’t think I will ever have to work again, and once Trevor gets the vacation cabins going, he will hire someone to manage them and the two of us plan to live the life we were born to have.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, Donna could see Glynda’s jaw drop slightly. Donna was direct, “So Lori Bell, how did you guys do it? The pool. The vacation resort—it appears very rich and I’m sure your clients are stinking rich. I know Trevor isn’t that shrewd to make all that cash selling real estate around here and you sure didn’t make the money working as a DJ. What did you do with the gold, Lori?” Donna was firm. Three years’ worth of anguish and despair over the gold came out of her mouth with every word in the question.

  Their mouths dropped and both Lori and Glynda stared at Donna. The gold was a taboo topic and when they discovered the map fourteen years ago, the three of them dismissed it, not thinking it was anything of value until they were right out of high school and discovered they were truly on to something big. That’s when Trevor got Evan to live in the horse trailer in the woods and watch the spot where they thought the gold was harbored while the three of them were busy starting their own lives: Glynda as a wife and mother; Lori in Arkansas with her mom and attending college; Donna off to Kentucky for college and Trevor jetting from college to college and then returning to Burgenton to take up his dad’s real estate business.

  Lori’s eyes narrowed and she spoke, “We did with it what anyone who has any sense would do. We sold it. And you know damn well we sold it so why’d you ask, Donna?”

  The three sat in silence divided by time and values. They who were once inseparable and shared a common goal were now grown adults with different priorities. Donna knew better to ask to whom or where they had sold the gold so she remained in awkward silence, annoyed with herself for being direct and losing any possible opportunity, she thought, to discover the name of the buyer.

  It was Glynda in her innocence who opened her mouth, “Well hell, Lori, you’ve seen how I live, maybe you can tell me where I can sell my portion?” Glynda turned to Donna, “And we can do it another time, when Donna’s not around.”

  Donna felt completely alone at the table. She was not certain it was a ruse Glynda had devised to find out from Lori Bell where their portion of the gold had been sold, or if it was Glynda’s way to find out the truth. She would only know once they were in the car, so Donna remained silent for the next half hour while the two of them spoke of local events, wedding plans, Glynda’s kids, and Trevor’s development. Donna only appeared to be interested in their conversation as the two of them ostracized her from their exchange.

  After goodbyes were said and Glynda and Donna were back on the road to Burgenton, Glynda spoke, “What’s wrong with you, Donna? Even I know they sold it but I’m not going to ask like that. I do want to sell it but not now—and like I said, it is bad stuff and I think it’s karma. What comes around goes around and I think Lori Bell and Trevor are going to see that karma come their way. You see how he treated us and look how Lori is living. It’s dirty money, Donna. One half of me says to make a good life for my boys and the other half says follow you and do the right thing. I just don’t know what the right thing is now. Let’s just talk about something else and you can tell me about what all you did in Arizona—and what the hell was it like living with Evan because now, I’m his keeper.”

&nb
sp; The two chit-chatted about niceties the four miles back to Burgenton where on the corner of the town square near the coffee shop, Donna spotted a familiar tan station wagon. She did a double-take and strained her eyes to see the license plate. They were Arizona plates! Her heart beat faster as she told Glynda to take another turn and go back around the town square.

  “What for, Donna?” Glynda asked as she followed her friend’s directions and turned the wheel to the left, making their way around the square. On the south side of the square a tractor was backing up from a parallel parking space and the station wagon came to a halt. The two sat and waited while both lanes of traffic were stopped. “Why again are we going back around, Donna. You didn’t answer.”

  “It’s weird, Glynda, but I saw this car with Arizona plates—“

  “There’s more than one car with Arizona plates in Camden County, Donna.” Glynda interrupted.

  “Yea, I know, but Evan and I ran into this car I think twice on the way here. The odd thing, Glynda, the guy in the car looks like this guy I saw outside the professor’s office when I last went to the university to find out about the gold. That wasn’t long before we left for Indiana. I can’t imagine why he’d be in Burgenton—except for one thing.”

  Glynda turned to Donna, her forehead scrunched and eyes narrowed with concern. The tractor was now out of the parking space and the cars it had stopped were now moving. The station wagon rounded the corner to see the Arizona car was gone. Donna strained to see down the road toward the river—and Lori’s farm and Trevor’s development, and the only other directions to head were the routes into Burgenton or toward the home of Thelma Carson. The pair scanned the roads in all directions before heading back to Glynda’s house.

  “Who is this guy, Donna?” Glynda asked as they pulled up in front of her house.

  “I don’t know, Glynda, but I think I better call the professor and ask him if he knows.

  Chapter Six

  “Hello, Donna. It’s so nice to hear from you,” Professor Lucero’s voice rang through the phone in Glynda’s kitchen. “I thought you would be in Indiana by now. When do you plan on leaving?”

  “I am here, Professor Lucero. I’m in my hometown of Burgenton and calling from my friend’s kitchen. I—I just want to ask you something, Professor.”

  “Sure, Donna, what is it?”

  “The last time I was at your office, and when I left, there was this guy outside your room. I thought he was a graduate student. He’s young—maybe late twenties to early thirties and slender with dark brown curly hair. Do…do know who he is?”

  “This is an odd question, Donna. I hear a sense of urgency in your voice. Is everything okay? I believe the man you are speaking of was here on a sabbatical. I can’t remember from what university he came—or maybe he is a graduate student. I’m not quite certain, why?”

  “I’ve seen this guy maybe three times since I left Arizona. I am just concerned. That’s all.”

  “I don’t know what your concern might be, Donna. Are—Are you concerned about that gold coin? I think you might be over thinking things. Uh…please call me if you have any questions about the Confederate gold. Thanks for calling, Donna. Bye.” The professor hung up the phone.

  Donna put the receiver down and turned to Glynda. She felt as if she were thirteen again, having been dismissed by the professor.

  “What’s going on, Donna? What are you thinking?” Glynda wanted to know. “

  “Evan, are you around here?” Donna yelled. “Glynda, I think someone is after our gold. Hey, Glynda. I’m going to see if I can find Evan and head back out to the river. I’m worried about this. I’m not sure what’s going on, but something is wrong.”

  “What do you think is wrong, Donna?” Glynda implored, “I don’t want any trouble. I’ve had enough trouble already in life and now that the whole Hollis thing is behind us—or at least I thought it was behind us, I just want to not have to worry and live normal.”

  “I don’t know if it’s trouble or not, but here’s the thing. The week before we left, I went to the university to see Professor Lucero—he’s the professor who had researched the gold. After he and I spoke and discussed the authenticity of the coin, I left his office and there was this guy standing outside near his door. He was young and kind of cute; he smiled at me and I thought nothing of it. Then this is even weirder, when I was headed out to the truck I passed this woman who looked like Rita Brennan. I haven’t said anything about the woman to Evan. I’ve just been hanging on to it because I thought maybe I was feeling paranoid. She just seemed so familiar, that’s all. Now this guy’s car was in the downtown and Evan and I ran into him a couple of times on our way here. Why would he be in Burgenton?”

  “I don’t know, Donna. Do you think that guy heard you and the professor talking about the gold? I mean—it’s only one coin, right? That’s all you had? That guy sure wouldn’t follow you for one coin. Do ya think?” Glynda put her index finger to her mouth and began biting her nail, then reached to the kitchen table and grabbed a cigarette. “I don’t want no more trouble in my life, Donna,” she said while reaching for the lighter. Now what? I wished we had never ever looked out that window on New Year’s Eve back so many years ago. That’s what started it all. Grandma was right that we should stay out of everyone’s business.” She shook her head, “This is all wrong. I knew things wouldn’t settle down. It’s starting all over again, ain’t it?”

  “I don’t know, Glynda. No one’s been murdered, and that’s a good thing. I think we just need to calm down and think about this and where this guy could be going. Maybe he is just passing through town and he’s on his way to the university in Hamilton City. We have to be rational about this.” Donna’s voice began to relax. “I think I will tell Evan, though. After all, he talked to the guy when we stopped to eat dinner and he just happened to be at the same restaurant where we were at.” Donna tried to reassure herself and Glynda. Maybe she’s convincing Glynda, she thought, but I’m not convincing myself. “Let’s not worry about it, Glynda. Maybe it’s just a coincidence…” Donna’s voice trailed off when she heard a knock at the door.

  Glynda put her cigarette out in the glass ashtray on the kitchen counter and went to the front room to peek out the interior door. “I’m glad I shut the door,” Glynda whispered to Donna as they entered the room because through the beveled glass of the door, the two of them could see the image of a tall man with a dark haired ponytail. His back was to the door and he was standing with his attention directed toward Ned Hollis’s old house.

  “Oh shit, Glynda! That looks like the guy.” Donna whispered as she grabbed Glynda’s shoulder and pulled her away from the door.

  It was too late, though. Rodney heard the knock upstairs and came down the steps to the door. “Hi, how can I hep you?” Rodney asked as he opened the door to the stranger.

  “Hi, I’m from out of town and I’m wondering if you can tell me anything about that house over there?” The man asked and pointed in the direction of Ned Hollis’s old house.

  Through the side of the door window Donna watched and strained to hear the exchange on the front stoop.

  Rodney proceeded to tell the stranger that Ned Hollis lived there over fourteen years ago; where Hollis is buried; the name of his biological mother; where she lives; the names of everyone he murdered; and the names of Glynda, Donna, and Lori Bell.

  Donna’s mouth dropped when she saw Rodney gesture to the interior door where Glynda and Donna were hunkered down. “Shit, Glynda. What the fuck is your brother doing?” Donna’s voice lowered as Rodney led the stranger to the door.

  The two of them jumped back as the door opened and in walked Rodney, motioning to the women. “Oh, dere you are, Ginda. Dis man wants to talk to you and Donna. Here dey are. Dis is Donna and dis is my sister Ginda.”

  “Hello Donna,” the man gave her the same broad, close-mouthed smile as he did at the university. “Hello Ginda. Your brother told me all about you. My name is Dan Green. I’m here to
learn more about Ned Hollis. I—I have an interest in him. You may remember me, Donna. I was at the university when you stopped by to see Professor Lucero. I believe I spoke with your companion at a diner in Oklahoma.” Dan smiled again and this time his lips parted to show his overlapped front teeth. Donna noticed his dark brown eyes and wavy dark hair parted in the middle of his greasy head. “You must be wondering why I was at the university. You see, I was completing a practicum at the university in the English department. I worked with Professor Ferguson and I just happened to be outside Professor Lucero’s office that day running papers from Ferguson. It’s quite a coincidence, isn’t it? You know—that I saw you at the university and then in Oklahoma and now here.” He smiled again and clasped his hands behind his back.

  “Yes, it is a coincidence, isn’t it Glynda?” Donna turned to her, furrowed her forehead and motioned with her eyes in the direction of the door.

  “Oh, yeah it is.” Glynda caught Donna’s subtleties. “Well Dan, it is nice to meet you but we were just on our way out.” Glynda said moving toward the door to usher Dan to the front.