by BJ Bourg
“Randall Rupe was about to give up something big before he killed himself. I believe he was going to reveal the man who killed Hays Cain.”
“What if he was about to confess to the killing, but he couldn’t stand the thought of going to jail?”
I dismissed the idea with a wave. “No, he was scared of someone, that’s for sure.”
Mayor Landry frowned, but remained quiet.
“What were y’all meeting about?”
“What are you talking about?”
“The five of y’all…what were y’all meeting about? It had to be something important because two people were murdered over it and another killed himself.”
“I don’t know where you heard that nonsense, but we never had any meetings. The only time we get together is once or twice a year to honor our fallen children.”
“Then tell me this…” I shot a thumb to the front of the building, where Mayor Landry’s town car was parked. “Why was your car seen out at that plantation house at the end of Paradise Place with the rest of them?”
I thought I saw the front of Mayor Landry’s neck jump in response to my bluff—right where his carotid artery was located—but I couldn’t be sure.
“I don’t know where you’re getting these wild theories, but I don’t appreciate your implications.”
“It’s no theory,” I said with feigned confidence. “I can show you the surveillance logs.”
Mayor Landry’s eyes flashed. “Need I remind you that the chief of police in Mechant Loup serves at the pleasure of the mayor? In this case, that means you serve at my pleasure. If I tell you to tie my shoes and you refuse, I can fire you.”
I stood and smiled. “Try giving me that order and see what happens.”
“God damn it, Clint.” Mayor Landry took a deep breath and blew it out forcefully. “Look, I brought you here because I need you—want you—to run this police department the right way. The way it should be run. You share my values and my vision for this town and we’ll do great things together.”
“I don’t think we share the same values at all.”
“You’re right in that we don’t share every single value, but the important ones are there.” Mayor Landry stood to stare down at me. “For instance, I don’t agree with the lies you told today, with the way you came at me, but I’m willing to overlook them and let bygones be bygones so we can move forward with tomorrow’s ribbon cutting.”
“What lies are you talking about?”
“The lies about my license plate being on some surveillance log. That vehicle has never been out that way.”
I felt my own carotid artery pulsate and studied his expression closely. He was cool under pressure—that was for sure. As I wondered if I should acknowledge my bluff or double down, Mayor Landry lifted his hands in the surrender position.
“Look, I appreciate your tenacity. It’s what we need around here. But the truth is I’m not dirty. I’m one of the good guys, just like you are. We’re on the same team. I want you to solve the murder of my friend as bad you want it solved.” Mayor Landry’s eyebrows came together above the bridge of his nose. “I don’t know anything about these meetings you keep talking about and I don’t know who killed one of my closest friends, but when you find out, I want to be the first to know. As God is my witness, I’ll be there when that asshole is put to death.”
I nodded, sighed. If he knew anything about the killings, he certainly wasn’t putting off any vibes. “I need to bring Mark in for questioning. I’ll do it with a warrant if I have to.”
“A warrant? For what?”
“He threatened me. Said I wouldn’t be alive long enough to see him pay for his crimes.”
Mayor Landry’s eyes narrowed. “That does sound like a threat.”
“I also need to bring Daniel Blackley in. He might know something.”
“I agree with you.” Mayor Landry dropped to his chair. “Can you at least wait until Monday to bring them in? I need you to focus your efforts on the ribbon-cutting ceremony, if you don’t mind. This is important to everyone in town. I want tomorrow to be perfect. I want it to be the greatest day in the history of Mechant Loup. Not just for me, but for my boy.” Mayor Landry quickly lowered his head and grabbed his face.
After several minutes of silence, I asked, “Are you okay?”
When he lifted his head, his eyes were red. “I miss Alex so much. If I do nothing else with my life, I just want to honor his memory and the memory of Mechant Loup’s other children who died serving their country. This dedication that we’re doing tomorrow…I’ve been working on it for several years. The day is finally here. It’s finally going to happen. They’ll finally get the recognition they deserve. And I don’t want anything messing it up, so if you’ll please put the case on the back burner for one day, I’ll do whatever I can to help you break Mark down and make him confess.”
I thought about it and finally nodded. If I could do something to honor the memories of Abigail and Michele, I sure wouldn’t want anyone screwing with it. “I can do that. I’ll suspend the case until Monday. We have some evidence to work up anyway.”
“Thanks.” Mayor Landry stared off into the distance. “I just wish Hays and Randall could be here to see it happen. Whatever they were into, they didn’t deserve to die.”
CHAPTER 46
It was sunny outside, but the light was waning fast. Even though I decided to call it a day, I stopped at the police department. William and Melvin were in the break room. “Where’s Susan?”
Melvin looked up. “She’s on a complaint.”
“William, I put a note on Jack’s desk along with a crime lab submittal form. When he gets in tomorrow morning, can you make sure he delivers the sex crimes kit to the lab?”
“Sure thing.”
“How’s your wife, Melvin?”
“She’s good. She spent all day picking out paint for the baby’s room, so guess what I’ll be doing this weekend?”
“If you need help, let me know. Unless Chloe’s got plans for me, I’ll be free this weekend.”
“Chloe, the news reporter?” William asked.
I nodded.
Melvin said, “I might take you up on that offer, Chief.”
“Well, I’m heading out. Stay safe, William. Melvin, I’ll see you in the morning.” I turned to walk out of the break room, but Susan rushed in, and we nearly collided. She put both hands on my chest to stop herself, then looked up into my eyes. Her lips were parted and deep lines of concern were etched into her face. “Clint, we need to talk.” She leaned to look behind me. “Y’all come with us!”
Susan turned on her heel and hurried to my office and held the door until Melvin, William, and I were inside.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
She slammed the door shut. “Someone wants you dead.”
I just stared, her words bouncing around inside my head. “Wait…what’d you say?”
“You heard me. This is real—it’s not a drill.”
William and Melvin gasped, asking in unison, “Someone wants him dead?”
“Who?” I asked. “Beaver?”
Susan shook her head. “Pauline Cain called earlier, said she needed to talk to me or you right away—in person. You weren’t in, so I drove out to her house.”
“I was just at her house earlier today. I just saw her.”
“She told me you were there. Anyway, it seems not long after you left, she receives a call from Jennifer McNeal—”
“Mark’s wife?” I asked.
“Yeah. Their kids, Allen and Gina, had dated since high school, so Pauline and Jennifer are close. It seems Mark rushed home after you met with him and a man she’d never met showed up at the house. They were talking about you.”
My brows furrowed. “What did the man look like? Did she say?”
“She didn’t get to see him; she just heard them arguing. And then the man told Mark to settle down and not worry about a thing. He said…” Susan bit her lip, shook her head
. “The man said you’d be dead by the weekend.”
A chill reverberated up and down my spine. Sure, I’d been threatened many times in my line of work and it had never bothered me, but to be given a time frame—to be told you only had a couple of days to live? That made it real. Made it seem like a bullet was already in flight, heading my direction with my name all over it, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I whistled. “Mark told me to my face that I wouldn’t live to see him punished for his crimes.”
“Mark McNeal threatened you?” Melvin asked. “I’ll go out and kill his ass right now!”
“I’m with you.” William smashed his fist on my desk.
“Simmer down, boys,” Susan said. “We don’t know who else is involved, so getting Mark will only tip our hand.”
I took a seat behind my desk to ponder what I’d just learned.
“Randall told your girlfriend all of this was part of a larger scheme,” Susan said. “You might be that larger scheme.”
Melvin’s head bobbed up and down. “She’s right. There’s nothing bigger than killing a cop—especially a chief of police.”
Susan placed her palms on my desk, her face inches from mine. “Please listen to me. You need to keep your head down. Give yourself a few days off. Lay low until we figure out who wants you dead. At least until the weekend is over.”
I scowled. “I will not let these bastards interfere with my life. If they want me dead, they can come for me. If they do, they’ll be killed, and we’ll know exactly who they are.”
“That’s what I’m talking about,” William said. “I’m with you, Chief.”
“Cut the bravado shit, William!” Susan straightened and crossed her arms in front of her chest. “This is not some shoot ’em up game. This is real life, where death plays for keeps. What would you do if someone threatened to kill me? Would you expect me to go to work as usual? Or would you make me stay home and avoid danger?”
“Sorry, Susan. I’m not going into hiding. If someone wants me dead, they know where to find me.” I got up and started to walk past Susan, but she grabbed my left bicep. Her grip was firm. I looked down at her hand, then back up into her dark eyes. “I won’t go into hiding.”
“I’m not asking you to go into hiding. I’m just asking you to stay home. Give yourself a day or two off. You’re constantly working overtime, so you definitely have time on the books you can take.”
I smiled. “I’m salaried. I don’t get overtime.”
“Clint, this is not a joke. Someone wants you dead.”
I turned from Susan to look at Melvin, who stood with jaw set, his face a few shades lighter than I was used to seeing. “Chief, you have to listen to her. If something happens to you, what’s going to happen to us?”
“Okay,” I said. “I’ll pick up the governor in the morning and bring him to the new town hall. Then I’ll head home.”
“Not going to happen,” Susan said. “Melvin will pick up the governor.”
I shook my head. “Mayor Landry was explicit—I was to pick up the governor in my new Tahoe at nine sharp and bring him straight to the ribbon-cutting ceremony.”
Susan shot her thumb at Melvin. With her other hand firmly on her hip, she said, “Give Melvin your Tahoe keys.”
I hesitated.
Melvin stuck out his hand. “She’s serious, Chief. You’d better do it.”
“But what about the mayor? He’ll be pissed.”
“He’ll never know,” Susan said. “I’ll meet Melvin in the parking lot and escort the governor to the ribbon-cutting area. And since when did you give a shit what the mayor thought?”
I glanced at the clock on the bottom corner of my computer screen. It was getting late, and I needed to hurry home to make dinner for Chloe and me, so I didn’t have time to argue. “Fine, y’all win.” I’ll come in tomorrow and settle this shit. I fished my keys from my pocket and handed them to Melvin. He handed me the keys to his patrol cruiser.
I looked at Susan, raised my eyebrows. “Can I go home now, Mom?”
“Yeah, but go straight home—don’t pass Go and don’t collect two hundred dollars.”
As I walked out, I heard Susan tell William to follow me.
“I don’t need a babysitter,” I called over my shoulder.
“It’s called an escort,” Susan retorted.
I called Chloe as I drove home. She answered on the first ring.
“Hey, Clint, how are you?”
“I’m good. Are we still on for tonight?”
“Absolutely. I’ll be there in an hour.”
“Great!” I said. “Dinner should be done by then.”
I hung up, then stopped at the grocery store for two thick ribeyes and other miscellaneous groceries. I frowned when I saw William pull into the lot and park facing Melvin’s car. I walked over to him and leaned into his window. “William, you don’t have to follow me. I really believe this is just a hoax. Nothing to worry about.”
“Chief, I know you’re my boss and you can fire me if you want, but Susan can kick my ass.” He nodded as if to reinforce his statement. “No offense, but I’m more scared of her than I am of you.”
I laughed, nodding my understanding. “Well, thanks for the escort.”
When I was done at the grocery store, I rushed home and lit the pit. While it was heating, I took Achilles out to pee. When we came in, I turned on the flat screen television in my living room and prepped the meat on the kitchen counter. The local news anchor was talking about the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and I groaned. The mayor is going to be pissed at me when he finds out I’m not bringing the governor! The thought of his puffy cheeks stretching to the point of ripping brought a smile to my face.
Achilles danced at my feet, his body wriggling with excitement. I looked down, nodded. “Yeah, buddy, I’ve got one for you, too.”
CHAPTER 47
Twenty minutes later, I was on the back porch with Achilles and had just placed the slabs of meat on the hot grill. The steaks sizzled and the aroma of searing meat rose to greet me like an old friend when my phone rang. My stomach growled.
“Damn that smells good!” I pulled the phone to my ear. It was Melvin.
“I need to talk to you about something. It’s serious.”
“Did Susan put you up to this? She’s really going too far.”
“No. I came on my own.” Melvin’s voice sounded different, like he was upset. “I need to show you something.”
“Wait…are you here? Are you at my house now?” I leaned over and stared through the back door glass to where I could see a shadow through the front curtain.
“It’s urgent, Chief.”
“Um…okay. I’m coming.” I put the tongs on the table beside the pit, walked inside and through my house, opened the front door. Melvin stood there wringing his hands, a camera slung over his shoulder. I glanced across the street, where William was parked watching my house. I shook my head and turned to Melvin. “What’s going on?”
“Chief, I don’t know how to say this. It’s kind of… I feel awkward being here.”
“What is it?”
Melvin took a deep breath, exhaled. “You know that Chloe Rushing used to date Beaver when he was chief of police, right?”
I nodded slowly. “Yeah…and?”
Melvin stared at his boots. “I was on my way home and…well…I saw…”
“Melvin, just spit it out.”
“I saw Chloe with Beaver. They were together in her car. They were parked at the end of the boat launch. It’s where people usually meet for…you know…to…um…to have sex sometimes.”
“That’s not possible. You must’ve seen wrong. She should be heading this way right now.” I pulled out my phone and started to dial her number.
“Chief, wait.” Melvin removed the camera from his shoulder and messed with the buttons. “Look, I’m not wrong.”
I slowly took the camera from him and looked at the display screen. It was a clear shot of Chloe’s car. She was in th
e driver’s seat, her body facing Beaver, who was apparently talking. His mouth was partially open, and his hands were in the air.
“I’m sorry, Chief.” Melvin’s voice was soft, nearly a whisper.
“It’s okay. Thanks for telling me. I appreciate the loyalty.” I handed him the camera and went back inside, then closed the door behind me. I stared at Chloe’s number on my phone, frozen. Do I call her? If so, what do I say?
I pressed the call button and was still trying to figure out what I would say when she answered. It startled me, and I stammered.
“Clint? Is that you?” asked her sweet voice.
“Um…yeah, I was…um…wondering how long you’d be? The steaks are almost done.”
“Oh, shit, I’m so sorry.” There was a long pause. I thought I heard her whisper and a door slam, but the phone was muffled so I couldn’t be sure. “Baby, I’m sorry. I’ll have to take a rain check. Something’s come up.”
My heart sank to the soles of my boots. “Something’s come up?”
“Yeah, I’m working on a story and it’ll be a while. Maybe tomorrow night?”
“Sure.” I ended the call and let my phone fall to the floor. I felt numb. My chest ached. How could I have been such a fool?
Achilles, sensing something was wrong, whimpered as he strode beside me. I walked to the back porch, stared down at the smoking pit, walked back into the kitchen. I stood there, the weight of my body pushing down on my haggard legs. Slowly, I sank to my knees, realization swarming over me. Achilles sidled up beside me and nestled his cool, wet nose in the crook of my arm. I’d been played—first by Michele and now by Chloe.
“God, I’m such a fool!”
Achilles whined as he tried to squirm closer to me. I rubbed his neck with an idle hand. I don’t know how long I knelt there, but smoke billowing in the back door drew me from my stupor. My feet dragged as I made my way to the pit. Using the tongs, I opened the hood and nearly choked when the thick gray smoke engulfed me. My eyes smarted. The smell of burnt meat singed my nostril hairs.
