Peaches and Scream (Georgia Peach Mystery, A)

by Susan Furlong

  “Hello, Maudy,” Ray greeted.

  She nodded in reply and turned her head toward me. “Heard you were back in town,” she said, adjusting her Stetson over her brown, boyish-cut hair. I’d known Maudy since grade school and she never was one for makeup or fussy hairstyles. As Mama always used to say, Maudy Payne just wasn’t in touch with her feminine side. Of course, most people probably said the same about me. “Someone call in a murder?” she asked.

  “Yes. He’s in the orchard.” I stepped off the porch and started to lead her toward the tree line. Ray hung close, neither one of us offering any more comments as we crossed the yard. We’d just made it to the first row when another sheriff’s car roared down the driveway.

  Maudy paused and held up her hand for us to do the same. “Hold up. That’s my deputy.” She took off her Stetson and waved it in the air as the deputy stepped out of his car and headed for the house. “We’re over here, Travis,” she shouted, then stuck two fingers in her mouth and let out a shrill whistle when he couldn’t seem to locate us.

  Travis’s head snapped our way and he gave a little wave before breaking into a jog across the yard, keeping one hand on his rattling utility belt. “Hey, Sheriff. Hear we got a murder on our hands.” He seemed almost excited at the prospect. “Should we call in the county crime scene guys?”

  Maudy shook her head. “Thought I’d see what we’ve got first.” She took off her hat and swiped at her brow with the back of her hand. “Well, let’s have at it, folks. I’d like to get the body out of here before it gets much hotter. Lawd knows, the heat we’ve been having lately could about melt the skin off a person.”

  I cringed at her wording and continued down the path, retracing my steps through the rows until I came to the right spot in the orchard. I pointed at the body and hung back while the others moved in for a closer inspection. Seeing it once was enough for me.

  The deputy removed his hat right away, exposing a head of thin brown hair cut close in the front with longer pieces curling over the back of his collar. “I’ll be! That’s Ben Wakefield.”

  “Sure is,” Maudy agreed. She ripped off her sunglasses, revealing a brow bushy enough to be mistaken for a woolly worm, and started circling the body. She finally stooped down carefully, peering into Ben’s glazed eyes, and put a couple fingers where his carotid artery should be—used to be—pulsing. “Well, someone finally did in the old bastard,” she mumbled. “Travis, why don’t you call ahead to the county CSI unit and tell them to get their butts over here? Then give ol’ Doc Harris a call and tell him we’ll be needing an autopsy.”

  Travis nodded enthusiastically. “Sure thing. I’ll get right on it.” He whipped out his phone and started punching numbers.

  Maudy creased her brow and gave the overeager deputy an impatient look. “Also,” she added with a long sigh, “give J. B. Cain and Sons a call and tell them we’ll need a transport once the crime scene guys are done. Doc can do the examination down at the funeral home. I think it’s going to be pretty straightforward.” Housed in a prominent federal-styled home a block off the square, J. B. Cain & Sons was the only funeral home in Cays Mill. It was said that mostly everyone within a thirty-mile radius of town passed through J.B.’s hands on their way upward. And, when they did, J.B. gave them a proper send-off, complete with a satin-lined bed and a limo-escorted parade in their honor. Everyone, whether they knew the deceased or not, gathered from far and wide to pay their respects. Yes, here in the South, we love a good funeral. I silently wondered whether the funeral home was big enough to handle the crowd this service was sure to draw.

  Travis stepped aside to make his calls as Maudy slipped some plastic gloves on and squatted down to examine the body. Curiosity overriding my queasiness, I moved in a little closer myself and watched as she lifted each hand and examined his nails. “He’s got a knot on his head the size of a watermelon,” she commented before leaning in and giving a quick sniff around his face. “Whew! Peach Jack and a whole lot of it. I don’t think he was in much condition to put up a fight.”

  “He had a drink in his hand most of the night,” Ray commented. “Must have been tying one on.”

  Maudy nodded and fingered the scarf. “Belongs to a woman.” Standing, she eyed Ray and me. “Did you happen to see a gal wearing this scarf last night?”

  I rubbed my palms on the sides of my shorts and glanced at Ray, who seemed to be studying the ground with intense interest. We knew this question was coming, but still, neither one of us seemed able to form an answer. “It belongs to our sister, Ida,” I finally managed.

  Maudy ran her tongue along her lips. “Is that so? I reckon it does look like something Ida Jean would wear. She being the type that goes for frilly stuff and all.”

  I shuddered, realizing what Ida was up against. Maudy always did seem a bit prejudiced toward the pretty types. I glanced toward Ray for some support, but he remained silent. I was just debating whether or not to tell Maudy about Hollis when I heard the sound of a car door off in the distance.

  “Go see who that is,” Maudy ordered her deputy with a nod toward the driveway. Travis took off through the trees, still talking into his cell as he headed back toward the house.

  “It’s probably Ida,” I blurted. “She’s supposed to be coming over to help with the cleanup.”

  Maudy faced me head-on, widening her stance and placing her hands over the center of her gun belt. “Perfect timing, if you ask me.”

  Again, I shot a look toward Ray, wondering why he was being so quiet. Didn’t he want to come to Ida’s defense? We both knew Hollis was the last person to have the scarf. Why wasn’t he saying anything? Maybe I should’ve kept my mouth shut, too.

  We all stood in awkward silence until the rustling of underbrush announced Travis’s return. Ida was close behind, picking her way carefully over the uneven ground, one hand holding her sun hat in place, the other protectively resting on her protruding belly. “Travis Hanes, you’d better tell me right now what’s going on,” she was saying. Then, looking up, she stopped short, seeing Ray, Maudy and me standing before her. Before she could say anything, her eyes took in the body behind us and a loud scream escaped her lips. “That’s Ben Wakefield!” She pointed a shaky finger toward the gruesome scene before us. “And my scarf!”

  Ray moved in quickly. “Ida, I advise you not to say another word.”

  But Ida blathered on, her eyes wide with shock and her voice becoming shriller by the second. “How could he? How could he have killed him?” she shrieked over and over.

  I ran to her side, wrapping my arms around her shoulders. “Hush up, Ida,” I warned her.

  It was too late. With two quick steps, Maudy closed in on us. She placed her thick hand on Ida’s arm and wheeled her around in an about-face. “Exactly who are you talking about, Ida Jean?” Maudy’s chest puffed out as she took in my sister with a look that reminded me of a hungry dog.

  Finally coming to her senses, Ida clamped her mouth shut, her eyes darting between Ray and me with indecisive panic.

  Maudy narrowed her eyes. “How about we go inside where it’s a bit cooler, so we can have a nice long talk.” Glancing over her shoulder, she said to Travis, “Secure the crime scene until the crime scene guys get here. Make sure everything stays just as it is.” Keeping her hand on Ida’s elbow, she motioned with her other hand. “The rest of you, come with me.”

  As soon as Maudy turned her back, Ray snatched my arm and hissed into my ear, “As soon as you can, get ahold of Hollis. Tell him to stay put, don’t do anything stupid and, above all, don’t say a word to anyone about anything until I’m there to represent him. Got it?”

  I nodded. “Sure, but maybe we should call Daddy and—”

  “No!” Ray snapped back. Then he softened his tone a bit and added, “I mean, let’s not bother them until we know more about what’s going on.”

  • • •

  Back in
the house, Ida and the sheriff, with Ray close behind, headed for the privacy of Daddy’s den. As soon as the door shut behind them, I scurried to the kitchen, rummaged through one of the drawers for the telephone directory and snuck up the stairs to my bedroom. Cell phone in hand, I dove onto my unmade bed, landing between the rumpled pink coverlet and my wadded-up blue silk dress from the night before. It seemed like an eternity ago that I’d ripped off the dress, barely able to pull my old Bulldogs jersey over my head before collapsing into bed, contentedly exhausted from the party. Incredible how much things can change in just one day.

  I punched in Ida’s house number, just in case Hollis was still at home sleeping it off. Not receiving an answer, I paged through the directory until I found the bank’s number. After a few rings, a woman answered, “Cays Mill Bank and Trust. Candace speaking.”

  I scrunched my face and sighed. It would be Candace who answered. “Hello, Candace. Is Hollis there?”

  “Well, I’ll be darned. Nola Mae Harper? I’d heard you were back in town. What’s it been?”

  “Uh, a few years, I guess.”

  “Bet your mama’s glad you’re back. Oh, but she’s on her cruise now, isn’t she? Bless their hearts, your mama and daddy sure do deserve a trip like that. I was gonna come out to y’all’s party last night and help celebrate, but my bunion’s been acting up so bad, I just couldn’t bear to put on a pair of dress shoes.”

  I sighed. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Oh, don’t be. I spent the evening soaking them and they’re feeling much better now.”

  “So, is Hollis in?”

  “Hollis? Why, no, he’s not. I wonder where he’s at? He’s usually in by now. You want me to leave a message for him?”

  I glanced at my watch. Almost nine. Where is he? “No, that’s okay. Thanks, Candace.”

  “Well, come up to the house sometime. I got a great crop of zucchini this summer. I’ll fry you up some. Course, with my back being the way it is, I don’t know if I can get it picked or not. Doc says I’ve got—”

  “I’ll try back later, Candace. Thank you.” I hung up before she launched into another one of her illnesses. Over the years, Candace had been afflicted with almost every ailment known to mankind. By now, Hollis had probably given her enough sick-time pay to cover the cost of two secretaries.

  Shoot. Where is he, anyway? I got up and started pacing the floor. I could try down at Red’s Diner. Maybe he stopped in for coffee to clear the fuzz, or perhaps he was down at the barbershop getting a trim; he could have used one before the party, I’d noticed last night. I threw up my hands and heaved a sigh. He could be anywhere. Heck, for all I knew, he was on the lam, running from the police. I shook my head. No, I wouldn’t allow myself to go down that path. There just had to be some other explanation for why that scarf was cinched around Ben Wakefield’s neck.

  The screen porch door creaked and I moved across the room to look out my window. Pushing aside my lace curtains, I glanced down and saw Maudy Payne crossing the yard toward the orchard. A couple more official-looking cars had gathered in our driveway, including a hearse from J. B. Cain & Sons. Seeing that she was out of the house, I ran back downstairs to find Ray and Ida. They were still in the den: Ray at the desk, hunched over with his face buried in his hands, Ida balled up in one of Daddy’s oversized club chairs. I went directly to her, kneeling down by her side.

  “What’s going on, Ida?” I gently asked, noticing her tear-streaked face and puffy eyes.

  Her eyes took on a slightly madcap look. “Maudy Payne’s just sure Hollis killed that man. But I know better than that. Hollis isn’t capable of murder,” she bit out.

  Of course, her words when she saw the body belied that statement, but that might have been just the shock of seeing a dead body with her scarf. Whatever the reason for her initial outburst, she’d changed her tune now.

  I patted her arm and stood, moving to the comfort of the other chair. The stiff leather made a loud sighing sound as I collapsed into it. Ray looked up, added his own sigh and said, “Why don’t you ask her where Hollis is now?”

  I looked from Ray to Ida, who was now sitting ramrod straight, with a look of defiance on her face. “Ida?” I prompted, but she just sat there, chewing on her bottom lip. I continued, “I just tried calling the bank and he’s not in yet. He wasn’t at your house, either. . . .”

  She turned toward me with blazing eyes and threw up her hands. “Okay. So, I don’t know where he is. He didn’t come home last night. But that doesn’t mean he killed that man.”

  “Yes, but it sure doesn’t look good for him,” Ray pointed out.

  I nodded. “I agree. You have to admit, Hollis has a lot stacked against him.” I held up my hand and started ticking a list off my fingers. “He was the last person seen with your scarf. We know he left our table to find Wakefield and discuss something with him. And now he’s missing the morning after Wakefield is murdered.”

  Ida shrugged. “There’s not really anything that suspicious about Hollis being gone. There’s been plenty of nights lately where he hasn’t come home.”

  Both Ray and I did a double take. “He’s done this before?” Ray asked.

  Ida nodded and began rubbing her belly again. “The drinking has become a problem. It’s not Hollis’s fault, mind you. There’s just so much stress lately at the bank. He can’t help himself.”

  I narrowed my eyes at my sister. When did she become such a doormat?

  “It’s all this stuff with that timber deal,” she added.

  Ray leaned forward. “The Wakefield Lumber deal?”

  “Yes.” Ida lowered her chin and started fussing with her blouse. “I don’t understand all of Hollis’s business, but something went bad with the deal last week. Like I said, I don’t know what. I was so busy decorating for Mama and Daddy’s party, I’m afraid I didn’t really pay much attention to anything else.”

  “Was Hollis upset or something?” I asked.

  Ida’s head bobbed up and down. “I’d say. He came home one day after work and locked himself in his office with a bunch of papers and a bottle of Peach Jack. I could hear him screaming on the phone at someone. I finally had to take the girls down to the Tasty Freeze for a dip cone just so they wouldn’t hear all those ugly words.”

  Ray was scribbling a few notes on a legal pad. “But you don’t know what it was about?” he asked.

  “No. Like I said, I’ve been so busy I’ve hardly had time to breathe, let alone sit down and talk things over with Hollis. Then there’s all this stuff with Daddy.” As soon as she’d said it, Ida’s hand flew to her mouth. She let out a little gasp, looking like someone who’d just let the cat out of the bag.

  I sat a little straighter. “What do you mean? What’s going on with Daddy?”

  Ray shot Ida a look and sucked in his breath. “He’s having financial trouble. Things haven’t been going so well around here lately. We had a warm spell late winter and a lot of the trees blossomed out. Then a late frost hit.” He shrugged. “Well, you know how it goes.”

  I nodded. So much of fruit farming relies on Mother Nature’s cooperation. One bad frost can wipe out an entire crop. Still, we’d weathered through many a bad growing season and come out just fine. “Sure, but Daddy always has money in reserve for the bad seasons, right?”

  Ida squirmed a bit in the chair, readjusting her body and pulling her legs up to one side.

  Ray continued, “It’s just that there’s been so many things going wrong lately. The price of fertilizer and pesticide has almost doubled in the last couple of years. Then we had to replace one of the trucks and redo some of the irrigation lines. So, the reserve has dwindled.”

  This was all news to me. “Why is this the first time I’m hearing all this?”

  Ida let out a long sigh and rubbed her temples.

  Ray squinted her way before responding, “Mama and
Daddy didn’t want to worry you. Besides, Hollis was bringing them in on the Wakefield deal. Daddy was leasing the rights to the timber on the back twenty. He stood to make good money off it. Things were looking up.” He paused for a second as if considering his words. “It’s just that all this financial stress has been hard on him. You should probably know that he’s been having some health issues.”

  “Health issues?” I about fell out of my chair. “Like what?”

  Ida cleared her throat and sighed impatiently.

  “Just a little trouble with his heart,” Ray continued. “Palpitations, that’s all. Nothing real serious. Doc Harris said this trip would be good for him. A little time away from all the stress is just what he needs.”

  Ah, so that’s why Ray was so adamant that we not call our parents. He was trying to shield Daddy from any additional stress. Which made me wonder just how bad things really were. Did Ray know more than he was saying? Was he trying to protect me, too?

  “Listen to you two!” Ida, who’d grown more restless by the second, blurted out. “Daddy’s stress? What about me? What about Hollis? I know it looks bad for him, but there’s just no way he killed that man. But that dim-witted Maudy Payne is out there right now, hot on Hollis’s trail, like a hound on a coon. Lawd knows what she’ll do once she catches up to him. And what if she throws him in jail? What will I do then?” She looked toward Ray and me, her eyes filled with worry. “I’ve got the baby coming, and the girls to think of. . . .” Her voice broke away into a fresh round of hysterics.

  “I’ll do everything I can to help Hollis,” Ray was quick to promise. “First, though, we need to find him. I’d like to have a chance to talk to him before Sheriff Payne gets ahold of him. Especially if he hasn’t sobered up yet. Hard telling what he’ll blab.” He leveled his gaze on Ida. “Any idea where we should start?”

  She shook her head. “No, no idea. The last I saw him was when we were leaving the party. The girls were getting tired, so we decided to leave around ten. We drove separate cars, so I said good-bye to Mama and Daddy and took the girls on back to the house. I just assumed Hollis was right behind me, but he never showed up.”