“I heard you, Grandfather,” said Sammy, “and I think you’re wasting your breath. She doesn’t do ‘beware Eve’ at all. Haven’t you noticed?” Sammy wasn’t smiling.
At Grandfather’s house, Sammy helped me out of the truck, while Grandfather headed down the path to his place. Sammy and I walked to the canal, where the canoe was pulled up on the bank. He settled me into the craft and pushed off, then dipped his paddle into the canal. The boat cut through the water soundlessly.
I trailed my fingers through the ripples and watched the shore go by. Silhouetted by the moon, a silver wading bird, probably a snowy egret, trod with careful steps at the edge of the reeds. It was bright enough for me to see the head of a turtle poke through the surface, then submerge as we slid past.
I broke the silence. “Thank you. This was what I needed.”
“Grandfather knew it would be. He said it would heal you better than all those medicines.”
I looked down and was surprised to see I still held my release papers and prescriptions. “Maybe I should just toss these all away then.”
Sammy laughed. “Grandfather did not say this was a replacement for white medicine. He just said it was better.”
“Do you think Grandfather knows that we … well, you know.”
“Grandfather says we remind him of my mother and father.”
A chill moved through me. “I’m really bad at commitment stuff, Sammy. I can’t promise you anything.”
Sammy stopped paddling for a minute and used the paddle like a rudder to direct us toward the shore. We slid onto the soft bank. “Do you feel like a short walk?”
I nodded. He took my hand and led me into the dense vegetation, along a path that felt somewhat familiar.
My heart did a quick skip. “Sammy … it’s the place where we spent our night in the swamp, when those two brothers dumped us here, hoping we’d get lost. You told me you didn’t know where we were, but that we weren’t really lost.”
“I don’t want you to promise me anything, Eve. I’ll take my chances. We’ll find our way from here just like we did when we first came to this place.”
Sammy didn’t want a promise now, but I knew someday he would. What would I say to him then?
We continued to walk along the path, our way lit by the shimmering moonlight. Soon the vegetation gave way to a clearing in which sat an old shack. One side of the structure stood, its roof supported by a palm tree that had grown up through the floor. The corner post had long since fallen and decayed on the floor. The other side of the roof had fallen in. It was just as I remembered it that night we used it for our temporary housing. This night, however, instead of offering me rainwater from an old metal pan, Sammy led me to the center of the shack where a cloth lay on the floor, and on it, a picnic basket. Sammy opened the basket to reveal two slices of pound cake. He took out a thermos and poured us each cups of a hot, steaming liquid. From the chocolaty smell, I knew it was cocoa.
“I wanted this to be dessert, but I guess given your earlier adventure, it will have to serve as your dinner.” Sammy handed me a cup and offered me a piece of the cake.
Saliva collected in my mouth. “Oh, yummy, just what I need.” I hadn’t realized how hungry I was.
I stuffed the cake into my mouth and took a sip of cocoa, burning my lips on the hot liquid.
“Slow down, Eve. We have plenty of time here. All night if you want.”
“Are you going to eat the rest of your cake?” I asked.
“I tell you we can stay here all night and all you want to know is if you can eat my cake too? You are a true romantic.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m starved.”
Sammy split the remainder of his slice with me, and we leaned back on the blanket and looked up into the stars.
“Tell me about your parents,” I said. “I know your mother is coming to visit soon. You talk about her a little, but you never say anything about your father.”
“My father left us when I was a kid.”
“And where is he now?” I asked.
Again Sammy dodged the question by acting as if he hadn’t heard it. Instead he began to talk about his mother.
“She was a white woman who moved here from the North just like you did, Eve. She was young, and as Grandfather tells it, kind of wild. When she met my father, I guess she thought it would be an adventure to be married to a Native American. She found it hard to fit in with our people. Once I was born, she tried for my sake. She could see how I loved the life among my cousins and the other tribe members, and she could see how I loved this place, this land of the Big Lake. Grandfather knew she was unhappy here, so he told her she should go find a place for herself, that he would raise me. I missed her. I still miss her. She is truly an unusual woman. Where I am calm water, she is fire. You are like her, Eve.”
He took my hand, brought it to his lips and breathed on it, so gently I thought at first it was the wind fluttering across my hand. Soon I knew it was the breath of his soul weaving into my fingertips.
“And because you are like her, you are the fire that burns me, that can warm me. You can also sear me and wound me.”
“Sammy, I don’t know what to say.”
He leaned away from me and looked into my face. A smile slowly curved his lips. “I can hardly believe it. I thought for certain you’d have something sassy to say to make this moment light. I didn’t intend for this night to be a torment for us.”
“Then if I am fire and you water, perhaps you can bank these fires into harmless but toasty embers.”
“That’s better.”
I wanted to reward the revealing of his most precious thoughts with a smile, but it turned into a yawn.
“I’m so sorry. I guess the day has caught up with me.”
“And I’m being insensitive. This was meant to heal you, not to aggravate your injuries.” He gathered up our picnic items, took my hand, and pulled me up. “Let’s go, gal.”
“I guess this wasn’t the night you had planned.” I leaned on his arm as we walked the path back to the canoe. Each step was like lifting a concrete block.
“Not exactly as I’d planned, but any night alone with you is fine with me. There will be other times for us to mix fire and water.”
I must have drifted off in the canoe on the ride back to Grandfather Egret’s. I only remember being lifted out of the canoe and into Sammy’s truck, then carried into my house and put to bed.
Later that night I woke up, the cuts and abrasions from the glass nagging me out of sleep. The night with Sammy was not what I’d anticipated, but perhaps it was even more than I could have imagined.
What did my feelings for Sammy mean? He had reached deeper into my soul than any other man. He complemented me with his understanding and acceptance of the person I was. That was something I’d never had in a relationship with a man. It was a new aspect of loving. And I was betting it wasn’t the only surprise I’d find with Sammy.
I didn’t want to hurt Alex, but I now understood better why I couldn’t commit to him. As much as we had chemistry together, it wasn’t enduring, and his love for me wasn’t enough to sustain me. Alex loved his vision of me, not the me Sammy knew me to be—the me Sammy loved. I hoped Alex would come to understand that my caring for him wasn’t what he needed either.
I smiled to myself and fell back asleep, wondering why Sammy had ducked all my questions about his father.
Chapter 12
I awoke and rolled over to check the time on my bedside clock, which read six a.m. Out my bedroom window, the sun was coming up over the eastern horizon. It cast light on the clouds sitting low on the coast and turned the sky indigo and coral. Too early to get up. I rolled over for another hour of sleep, but my eyes popped open, and I stared at the ceiling.
Frida told me the medical examiner was working on Jenny’s body—or her head and what they’d found of her body near the Egret’s airboat business—so the funeral couldn’t be scheduled for several more days. I was convinced that D
arrel had put pressure on Shelley to re-up the contract for the mud bog races. Darrel and I seemed to be in a tug of war for Shelley’s allegiance. What other of her decisions would he influence? What right did I have to try to convince her my opinion should count more?
A voice sounding very much like my friend Frida’s whispered in my ear, “It’s not your problem, Eve. Stay out of it.”
I couldn’t do that.
What the hell. Maybe it wasn’t too early to get up. I threw off my covers, intending to make a run for the bathroom. I put one foot on the floor, followed by the other, the usual way I got out of bed. This time I fell onto the floor. My body wasn’t interested in obeying my brain. Someone took a shot at you yesterday and you spent part of last night in the hospital and then went for a canoe ride with Sammy.
Mmmm. I could still taste chocolate on my lips.
I slowly got my feet under me and grabbed the side of the mattress to steady myself. Pulling my body back onto the bed, I sat for a moment, then eased myself to a standing position. There.
When I glanced into the mirror over the dresser, I was horrified to see a skinny, wounded animal looking back at me. What the …? Some swamp creature had crawled into my room. Nope. Not true. That thing reflected in the glass was covered with cuts, bruises turning all the colors I’d never considered wearing, and was sporting a set of eyes that used to be blue, I was sure, but now were so bloodshot they looked like sunset on the lake when a storm was brewing—deep carmine with streaks so dark they looked black. That wounded creature was me.
There was a soft tap on my bedroom door.
Grandy entered, carrying a tray of food. “Are you up for a little breakfast, Eve?”
“Food? No, I couldn’t eat a bite.” Or could I? The smell of bacon and eggs infiltrated my nostrils and journeyed into my stomach, triggering a growl of welcome. Of course I was hungry. I’d only had a slice and a half of cake last night—not enough food to keep this gal moving. Besides, I had wounds to heal.
As if she had read my mind, Grandy said, “Don’t forget to take your meds. I got them filled for you late last night.”
Between her and Grandfather Egret, my thoughts were not my own.
“Did you enjoy your evening with Sammy?”
“It was a canoe ride. And dessert. That’s all.” I wondered if I sounded defensive.
“Sure it was.” She winked at me as she closed the door.
I ate everything on the plate and considered going for more but decided against it. Instead I tried out my legs again. They worked well enough to get me into the bathroom and under a hot shower. The water made my cuts sting in places, but I didn’t care. It made me feel human once more.
Grandy poked her head into the bathroom as I was toweling off.
“There’s a call from Sammy. I think you’d better take it.”
Grandy was usually so protective of me that I was surprised she’d let anyone intrude, even Sammy.
“Here.” She handed me the phone.
“The police arrived several minutes ago with a search warrant. It’s very specific. They want to search Grandfather’s shed out back.”
“What’s in there?” I asked.
“Well, you know how he’s always making items peculiar to tribal customs?”
I thought of the talisman he’d made me.
“Yes.”
“So it’s filled with leather, feathers, animal skeletons, animal teeth—material he uses to create items we use in our rituals and celebrations, dances, festivals.”
“Call Attorney Lightwind. I’ll be right there. Is Frida with them?”
“Yes, but why do we need a lawyer? Do we have to let them search?”
“You know, Sammy, one of your most sterling qualities is that you avoid watching too much television. However, I’ve learned some things from all those cop shows you avoid, and one of them is that you do need to let them search if it’s a legal warrant.”
“But—”
“And that’s about all I know about the law in this case. So call Attorney Lightwind, and do it now.”
I disconnected and tossed the phone to Grandy. As I threw on some clothes, I told her what Sammy said.
“You need to take it easy, Eve. You shouldn’t be running out to the Egrets’ place.”
“Are you coming along or what?”
“You’re in no condition to drive,” said Grandy.
I dashed into the kitchen, grabbed my keys off the counter and tossed them to Grandy. She burned rubber out of the drive and passed every truck hauling oranges and horse trailers. A motor home about to turn onto the highway from a secondary road in front of us reconsidered when Grandy blew the horn and shook her fist. She fishtailed into the airboat business drive and raced down the dirt driveway to Grandfather’s house.
“Where did you learn to drive like that?” I asked.
“I watched you.”
As I jumped out of the car, I saw two officers leading Grandfather down the front steps of his porch. He was handcuffed. Attorney Lightwind pulled up behind me.
“Do something!” I grabbed Mr. Lightwind by his arm and tugged him toward the house.
“Everything will be fine, Ms. Appel. Let me talk with my client before they put him in the patrol car.”
The two officers allowed the attorney to speak with Grandfather, but they pushed Grandy and me out of the way.
“Why am I not surprised to see you here?” Frida stood behind me, a look of disgust on her face.
“Why am I surprised to see you party to this … this stupidity?” I knew the arrest was not Frida’s responsibility but I was so distraught and angry I needed someone to blame. Who better than my good friend who had the misfortune at this moment to be part of the police department?
“She doesn’t mean that.” Grandy put her arm around my waist. Her touch had the intended effect. My anger was still there, but I felt awful about what I’d said to Frida.
“Sorry. I’m just so ….” I dropped my arms to my sides and held out my hands to her.
Frida’s stern look softened. “I know. But trust me, will you? We’re doing this by the book, and he has his attorney to guide him through.”
I watched as a familiar figure approached. Where Frida might have been able to appeal to me, I knew she’d have little luck with Sammy.
“The tribe will hear of this. It’s nothing more than harassment. You’re going to have a dandy lawsuit on your hands.”
I’d never seen Sammy so furious. Standing next to him, I felt as if he were a lit rocket about to go off.
“You were right there when we found it. You know how incriminating that is.” Frida stood her ground, standing toe to toe with Sammy.
“Found what?” I asked.
“You tell her. I’ve got work to do.” Frida turned her back on Sammy and strode toward several officers who were carrying what looked like evidence bags.
“What did they find?” I asked, this time of Sammy.
“A hand. They claim it’s Jenny McCleary’s. They also confiscated Grandfather’s rifle from the shed.”
I gulped down the bile that rose in my throat. “Why were they looking in Grandfather’s shed, not the house or the business?” Why so specific a place?
Grandy had pushed her way toward the officers when we first arrived. Now she retreated from the authorities and approached Sammy and me. “I overheard someone say the police got a tip early this morning to look in the shed.”
“And how would they know it was Jenny’s hand? It could be anybody’s.” As the words exited my mouth, I realized what I was saying. It didn’t have to be the hand of anyone we knew. It was a hand that only could have come from a person who was now probably deceased. That meant Grandfather would be considered a killer no matter whom it belonged to.
“I’ve got to go, Eve. I need to be at the police station with Grandfather.” Sammy ran toward his truck.
“They probably won’t let you see him!” I yelled as he retreated. He didn’t hear me.
“Thanks. It must be difficult being a cop in a town this small. Everyone is either a friend or the friend of a friend.”
“You want to be helpful, Eve?”
I nodded.
“Did Jenny wear any rings on her fingers?”
I thought back to the last day I saw Jenny. She was a kind of no-nonsense gal, but I did recall seeing an engraved gold band she wore on the pinky finger of her right hand. You couldn’t miss it; it was so large that it would have looked odd on anyone except Jenny, who had large hands and long, thick fingers. I shared this detail with Frida.
“That’s exactly what the person making the phone call said to us this morning.”
My mouth dropped open. “You can’t possibly think I called you.”
“I know better, but my boss wonders if the call was from someone who knew something … something that would get him or her off our suspect list.”
I felt relieved that Frida knew I’d never make such a call.
“So it was a woman who called?”
“I can’t tell you that.”
“But surely everyone can see it was a ploy to falsely implicate Grandfather Egret. Your boss must know that. And what’s with the rifle?”
“We’ve determined the cause of death wasn’t because she was decapitated.”
I shuddered, remembering Jenny’s head in my hands. “What was it then?” I asked.
“Gunshot wound to the back. I think the decapitation was simply to slow the police down in the investigation. The killer must have thought an alligator would be interested in the body. As it turns out, one was.” Frida’s glance traveled to the canal behind Grandfather Egret’s house.
“All my boss will want to believe once he knows what we’ve found is that the ring was our murder victim’s, and it was in the possession of Mr. Egret. The rifle would be additional evidence. You do the math.”
“You know that rifle didn’t kill Jenny. Won’t anyone try to track down who made the call?”
Mud Bog Murder Page 12
