Murder in Madden

by Raegan Teller

  The deputy walked around inside the inn with Enid by his side. He knew Cassie and, in fact, had been a friend of Cassie’s son, Mark. Enid told him she didn’t think anything had been taken, but told him Cassie would have to do a thorough check when she got home.

  As the deputy was finishing his report, Molly knocked on the front door, which was partially open, and came inside. “Enid, it’s me, Molly.”

  Enid ran to Molly and, without thinking, threw her arms around her. “Oh, Molly. I’m glad to see you.”

  “I got a call from the officer at the front desk. He told me you had reported a break-in, so I got here as quickly as I could.”

  Enid filled her in on what had happened while the deputy finished his report. Molly assured the deputy she would make sure Enid was alright before leaving her alone.

  “I don’t understand what they were looking for,” said Enid. “I don’t have anything of value, at least not to anyone else.”

  Molly surveyed the room. “Perhaps you showed up before they found something worth stealing. Cassie’s got some nice things here.”

  “Who would try to steal this heavy antique furniture?” asked Enid, gesturing around her.

  Molly shrugged. “Who knows. May have just been some kids looking for money or other valuables they could sell. Anyway, why don’t you come down to the station and stay with me until Cassie gets home.”

  “No, but thanks. I need to call Cassie and let her know what’s happened. I’ll be fine here until she and Jack get back tonight.” Because of Molly’s loyalty to Chief Jensen, Enid decided not to tell her that the last place she wanted to be was anywhere near him or his jail. She also decided not to tell Molly that Chief Jensen had threatened to lock her up.

  “I’ve already called Cassie. She and Jack are headed back now.” Molly walked toward the door. “If you change your mind, you’re welcome to hang out with us at the station.”

  * * *

  A few hours later, Cassie and Jack arrived at the inn. Cassie immediately began fussing over Enid, who assured Cassie she was fine.

  “What do you think they were after?” asked Cassie. “Everyone around here knows the inn is closed for renovations, so we don’t have any cash. In fact, even when we’re open, we rarely have anyone pay in cash these days.”

  Jack looked at Cassie. “Don’t you think we need to tell Enid about our trip to Columbia?”

  Puzzled, Enid looked at Jack, who was standing at the kitchen counter munching on a muffin and drinking a Diet Pepsi, and then at Cassie, who was sitting across from her at the kitchen table.

  “I just feel so bad about what happened,” said Cassie. “Something told me not to leave you here alone.”

  Enid slapped her hands down on the table. “Will someone please tell me what’s going on.”

  Jack pulled a paper towel from the holder and wiped his mouth, and then he sat down at the table with Cassie and Enid. “We weren’t intentionally keeping you out of the loop. Well, I guess we were, but our intentions were good. I hope you’ll understand that.”

  Enid looked at Jack, more puzzled than ever.

  “When you came to town and started looking into Rosie’s murder, and then when Cassie told you about Mark’s murder, she realized how much she regretted never pushing the police on Mark’s investigation,” said Jack. “So Cassie asked me to start doing some digging around about the Madden Police Department.”

  Cassie put her hand on Enid’s. “I want to know why Chief Jensen never arrested the bikers for what they did. They killed Mark, plain and simple.” Cassie’s voice wavered. “Jack has a good friend who works for SLED, and he asked him to do some checking on the chief.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me this when we talked? Were you afraid I’d say something?” asked Enid.

  Cassie put her hand to her throat. “Oh, no. It’s just that I didn’t want to influence your research or pull you into my problems. Jack was afraid you might jump to conclusions about Rosie’s murder if you learned that the chief was taking bribes. After all, it may or may not have anything to do with Rosie.”

  Enid looked at Jack. “You don’t have much faith in my journalist objectivity, do you?”

  Cassie jumped to Jack’s defense. “I insisted that Jack not tell you about our own little investigation.” Cassie wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “The truth is, your determination shamed me into doing something about Mark’s murder.”

  Enid walked over to the sink and looked out the window at the dark clouds still overhead. “Do you have hard evidence that Chief Jensen took a bribe from the bikers?”

  “My contact at SLED has done some off-the-record checking, but if anything is really going to be done, it has to become an official investigation. I’m not sure we have enough information to get them to open a case against Jensen.”

  Enid walked back to the table and sat down beside Cassie. “Who knows about what you and Jack are doing?”

  Cassie and Jack looked at each other. “No one, that I’m aware of,” said Jack. Cassie agreed.

  Jack pushed his chair back from the table and stretched his legs. “I know what you’re thinking, but I don’t think the break-in had anything to do with our trip. Besides, it was your room they tossed.”

  “My office was messed up some too,” said Cassie. “But, other than someone going through my file cabinet, very little was disturbed and nothing taken that I can tell.”

  Enid rubbed her temples to ease the tension. “I think someone wanted to know what I’ve learned about Rosie.”

  Jack pulled his chair back up to the table. “You could be right, but it may be something less sinister.”

  “I need to find out what’s going on,” said Enid.

  Jack slapped his leg with his hand. “No, we need to find out. That is, unless you’ve fired me as your assistant.”

  Enid pointed her finger at Jack. “No more secrets. Understand?” She then looked at Cassie. “You too, understand? There’s enough of those in this town without you two adding your own.”

  Cassie nodded. “I promise. But you need to be careful. If Chief Jensen has been taking bribes from the bikers all these years, then you need to stay away from them … and him.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m doing my best.” Enid shivered as she thought about her encounters with the bikers and the chief.

  “Cassie told me she gave you a gun,” said Jack. “You need to carry it in that big tote of yours you live out of.”

  Enid nodded. “I left it on top of the bookshelf in the library, next to Rosie’s box and the coroner’s report.”

  “Well, it won’t do you much good there. Get it now and keep it with you … just in case.” Jack stood up. “I’m going to check around, make sure everything is locked up tight before I go. Maybe we’re all getting paranoid and it was like Molly said, just kids seeing what they could find.”

  Cassie walked up to Jack and kissed him on the cheek. They reminded Enid of how much can be said between people who care for each other without saying a word. Enid felt a wave of sadness and loneliness wash over her.

  CHAPTER 40

  When Enid went down for breakfast, Cassie had already set a place for her on the library porch. Enid envied Cassie’s cooking skills and vowed to cook more when she returned to Charlotte. The thought of home saddened Enid, and she longed for her old life, even if it hadn’t been ideal. She and Cade had been happy once. Or at least she thought they had been. When did they begin to drift apart?

  Her mother’s illness had certainly put pressure on their relationship. Cade resented having to spend most of their savings for medical bills and private nurses. And then Enid gave up her career and starting working at a bank job she hated. While no one was to blame, the damage had been done. Somewhere along the way, Enid had lost herself. Learning about Rosie’s murder had triggered something inside her—a desire to reclaim something that was missing in her life.

  Cassie walked out onto the porch. “I hope you like the granola. It’s a recipe Molly gave
me. After Mark’s funeral, well, you know how it is. You get lots of casseroles and chocolate cakes. Don’t get me wrong, I was grateful. But I was especially thankful when Molly brought me a big container of homemade granola. It seemed to be the only thing I had an appetite for at the time. Later, I asked her for the recipe, and I’ve been offering it for breakfast at the inn ever since. In fact, I named it Molly’s Grand Granola in the welcome packet where guests pick their breakfast choices.”

  “Molly seems like the quintessential mother hen.” Enid ate one of the juicy strawberries on top of the granola.

  Cassie sighed. “Yes, she was a blessing. Still is, for that matter. In fact, I’m going to stop by and ask her to have one of the county deputies check on the inn while I’m gone to Charleston. I think those guys would do anything for her. She mothers them too.”

  “I hope you’re not doing that on my account. I feel safe here while you’re away.” Enid wiped a drop of milk from the tabletop with her napkin. “The more I think about the break-in, the more I think it was just kids. Since mine was the only guest room occupied, it would be natural for them to go through my things. Besides, you’re only going to be gone for one night.”

  “Oh, I know you’ll be fine. I just feel bad about leaving you here alone, but this trip has been planned for a while. I’m looking for a few things for the inn, and Jack offered to go with me.”

  Enid smiled. “Ah, so Jack’s going with you.”

  Cassie blushed slightly. “Oh, stop. It’s just a shopping trip. You know, business. He’s got some friends in Charleston who invited us to dinner, and I thought, well, you know, that it would be fun, since we’ll be there anyway.”

  “I think that’s great. Please go and have fun. Don’t worry about me at all. I promise I’ll be fine.”

  Cassie leaned over and hugged Enid’s shoulders. “Just the same, I’d feel much less guilty if one of the county deputies at least drove by tonight.”

  Not for the first time, Enid was thankful the inn was in the county’s jurisdiction, not Chief Jensen’s.

  * * *

  Enid tossed and turned, unable to sleep. It was one of those nights that Cade used to describe as “all the snakes slithering into your head.” Random thoughts kept popping up. And then she began to think about Cade and wondered if they could ever repair their marriage.

  She tossed a while longer and tried all the tricks she knew for overcoming insomnia. First, she counted backwards from one hundred, but after two rounds, she decided that method wasn’t going to work tonight. Another often-used trick was to name everything she was thankful for. Usually, the positive thoughts made her relax and go to sleep. Tonight, it was hard for her not to focus on Cade and what they had lost.

  After another hour of tossing, she considered going downstairs for a cup of tea but decided against it. Around 3:00 a.m., she heard a car on the gravel driveway in front of the inn. Since her room faced the lake, she went out into the hallway and looked out a front window. A county police car was sitting there. He got out of the car and walked around the house before leaving a few minutes later.

  Enid smiled at Cassie’s fussing over her. Cassie reminded her so much of her own mother before she became too ill to worry about anything other than fighting for her own life. And then Enid thought about Fern. She was just as protective of Cade, but in a different way. Fern worried about image and appearances, not so much about his physical or emotional needs. Enid wished she and Fern could have been closer, but sparks had flown between them almost from the day they met, and the tensions had never eased. They had different values and different perspectives on what was important.

  Enid crawled back into bed and finally dozed off.

  The next morning, the sound of rain hitting against the windows woke Enid. She got out of bed and looked outside. It was pouring, and she heard thunder in the distance. The clock by the bed indicated it was nearly eight o’clock, so she must have gotten at least several hours of sleep.

  Cassie had left Molly’s Grand Granola and some muffins for Enid, but Enid decided to go into Madden and eat at the diner. With Cassie and Jack in Columbia, she was on her own. Today, she felt the need to be near people.

  * * *

  By the time Enid dressed and left the inn, the rain had stopped. The sky was still dark with heavy clouds, but at least it wasn’t raining. Enid went out the front door and around to the side of the inn where her car was parked. The snakes were gone from her head this morning and she was ready get back into her research. Enid pulled out onto the highway and headed toward Madden. Driving down the two-lane road, she thought of Rosie and what kind of woman she might have been today if she were alive.

  A short distance later, Enid noticed a dark green pickup truck following her. It never got close enough for her to see the driver, and after several miles, the truck pulled into a driveway, turned around, and headed back in the direction it had come. Don’t jump to any conclusions. There are lots of green pickups around here.

  CHAPTER 41

  Enid walked into the diner and sat near one of the windows. A few older men in overalls sat at the table behind her, arguing about the reliability of the Farmer’s Almanac predictions. A television was playing at the back of the dining area, and a newscaster from Columbia was talking about the danger of being outdoors during a thunderstorm.

  After the waitress took her order, Enid stared out the window. Few people were out this morning. It was a workday, and in Madden, most people ate breakfast at home. Unlike Charlotte, where there was a Starbucks, Panera, or a fast-food place on every corner, Madden had one diner.

  From where Enid was sitting, she had a clear view of the street in front of the police station. She was staring at it, lost in thought, when the door opened and the man she recognized as Ray Jensen came out and started walked briskly down the street. She watched as he walked in the direction away from town. The paved sidewalk ended about a block past the police station, so Ray walked on the shoulder of the road.

  The waitress delivered a steaming plate of grits and scrambled eggs. Before Enid could stop her, the woman refilled Enid’s cup with coffee.

  Enid smiled at her. “That’s tea.”

  “Oh, honey. I’m so sorry. I’m not used to anyone drinking anything but coffee.” She picked up the cup and saucer. “I’ll bring you a fresh cup.”

  Enid took a bite of the buttered grits and was amused at how her eating habits had changed since she had been in Madden. In Charlotte, she would have ordered a bagel and espresso at the coffee shop. Part of this change was her trying to blend in with the local culture, but partly it was because she had to admit she had been ready for changes in her life, even if it was only what she ordered for breakfast. Her marriage was in danger because she had foolishly thought only of what she wanted, without including Cade’s needs. Isn’t that what she had accused him of doing?

  “Here, honey. Here’s your hot tea.” The waitress set the cup on the table. “You really like that stuff? I mean, I drink iced tea and all that, but I never had hot tea. Well, I take that back. I do sip it hot when I’m brewing a pitcher, just to see if I’ve got enough sugar in it. Know what I mean?” She smiled. “Enjoy.”

  Enid called out to the waitress as she was walking away. “Excuse me. May I ask you a question?”

  “Sure, shoot.” The attractive, thirty-something waitress put her hand on her hip and cocked her body slightly to one side.

  Pointing to the town’s main street, Enid asked, “What’s down that road, past the police station?”

  “Well, let’s see. Nathan’s Body Shop is right there past the station. And, well, that’s about it. Funny, I never really go down that way much.” She leaned in toward Enid to whisper. “Not the kind of place a lady goes unless she wants some real body work.” She winked at Enid. “You know what I mean, ‘hon?”

  “Thanks. I appreciate the information.”

  * * *

  After leaving the diner, Enid decided to drive past the police station to the
edge of town, in spite of the waitress’ comments. After all, it was broad daylight, and she was just going to ride by. Besides, even though Madden was small, she was still learning all the little side roads and shortcuts the locals knew so well, and she was just curious.

  A little way down the road, a small frame house had several wrecked cars sitting in the yard. On a metal building next to the house, a wooded sign with crude white lettering confirmed it was Nathan’s place. She drove past Nathan’s, and on the next block was an abandoned brick building. The windows were boarded shut, and knee-high weeds were growing in front. A weathered sign painted on the side of the building indicated it had once been Jensen’s Feed and Seed.

  Enid drove past the building on the narrow two-lane road and passed a large oak tree that had apparently been hit by lightning, considering the long scar in its bark running nearly the entire length of it. The familiar tree reminded her that his was the road Jack had turned down when they went to see where Rosie’s body had been found.

  Glancing around to see if she was alone, Enid turned down the dirt road she and Jack had taken. After driving a short distance, she stopped suddenly. A dark green pickup with a rusted fender was parked in the same area where Rosie’s body had rested. Two men were sitting in the truck talking, but Enid could only see the backs of their heads.

  Suddenly, one of the men, the one in the driver’s seat, saw her in the rearview mirror and turned to look at her. She was close enough to recognize Eddie, the biker. He started to get out of the truck when the second man in the truck turned to look at Enid. It was Ray Jensen. The shock of seeing Ray with Eddie momentarily hijacked Enid’s attention, and she didn’t notice that Eddie was out of the truck and walking toward her. When Enid saw him approaching, she put her car in reverse and backed up quickly. Eddie pointed his finger at her, pretending to shoot a gun.