by Tim Myers
“Blast it all, she should have told me,” I said, the anger flowing through me.
Paulus put a hand on mine. “I asked her not to, Ben. It was my decision, not hers. If you’re going to be angry with anybody, it should be with me.”
That took some of the anger out of me. “I know you had your reasons, but you should have told me.”
“I’m an old man,” he said. “Maybe I made a mistake erring on the side of caution.”
I’d never seen him so humble. “It’s fine. You’re not keeping anything else from me, are you?”
He shook his head. ‘That’s it. Evidently I attracted some unwanted attention when I was snooping around. I’m afraid I bungled it.”
“You did fine,” I said, “and you dug up more than I managed to get.”
“So what are you going to do now?”
I looked steadily at him and said, “I’m going to keep looking.”
“Ben, it’s dangerous. Think of the family.”
I snapped, “I am. The best way to protect them is to solve this case and end the threat. Otherwise, we’re all going to be looking over our shoulders for the rest of our lives.”
He appeared to think about that, then said, “You’re right. Funny, I would have probably felt die exact same way myself thirty years ago. What should we do next?”
“I think you did exactly the right thing, Paulus,” I said. “Whoever you spooked is looking for you. Can you stay in Sassafras Ridge until I get this mess straightened out? How are you set for money?”
“I’m fine,” he said. “As a matter of fact, I’m sleeping on Lois’s couch.”
I remembered the crabby woman I’d talked to a few days before. “Listen, I can float you a loan if you want to get a hotel room instead.”
“I wouldn’t go back to the Beverly Inn if they were giving rooms away, and the other place I was staying was a real dump. Besides, Lois isn’t as bad as she must seem to you. She’s good company when she wants to be.”
“If you’re sure,” I said.
Paulus studied me a few moments, then asked, “What are you going to do now, Ben?”
“I’m going to try to find out how Earnest Joy managed to accumulate so much money under everyone else’s radar.” I handed him my cell phone. “Keep this. I might have to call you if I need something else.”
“I hate those things,” he said, staring at my phone as if it were a snake.
“Yeah, well, I don’t want to lose you again.” I took a bite of pie.
“If I keep in touch, will you take it with you? I don’t want it.”
I picked my phone up and stuck it in my pocket. “Fine. But I expect you to call Kate at the shop every day. Understood?”
“If it will keep me from using one of those things, I’d agree to just about anything.”
I grabbed his check as well as mine as I stood. “I’ll take care of this on the way out.”
“I can buy my own meals,” he said, reaching for the bill.
“You get the tip and we’ll call it even,” I said.
He reluctantly agreed, and we walked out of the Lazy Spoon together. Paulus patted me on the back. “Good luck, Ben, and be careful.”
“You know it,” I said. As I drove back to Harper’s Landing, I tried to figure out how Earnest had accumulated enough money to live the extravagant lifestyle he was enjoying at the resort community. I wondered if his own children even knew about his second home. Or other name. Andrew wouldn’t tell me even if the truth would suit his purposes better, but I still had a relationship with Terri, no matter how tenuous it was at the time.
When I got back to Harper’s Landing, I drove to the jewelry store instead of the soap shop. If I was lucky, Terri would be working. But if Andrew was there instead, I was still going to grill him. And if he happened to take a swing at me when things got rough, I wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to put him on the floor. The animosity between us hadn’t eased over the years, and though I was a bit surprised myself by how much I disliked him, I couldn’t do anything to soften it. Andrew knew the exact spot to push to get me going, and my reactions were beyond my understanding. I’d have to watch my temper and keep it in check, though. Protecting my family took priority, and I had to stay focused on that.
When I walked in the door of the jewelry shop, I saw Terri standing alone behind the counter. Some of the tension went out of me, and I realized I’d been bracing myself for a confrontation with her brother.
Terri wasn’t all that happy to see me. “Ben, you might as well drop your pretense about buying something for your new girlfriend. I know what you’re doing.”
I nodded. “I am dating someone new, but you’re right. I’m trying to find out who killed your father. I would think you and your brother would want to help me, not block me every time you could.”
“We think you should leave it up to the police,” she said. “Of course we both want Dad’s killer caught.”
“Let me ask you one thing, then I’ll get out of your hair. How do you like Blowing Rock?”
“What’s that got to do with anything?” she asked.
“I’m just curious,” I said.
“I think it’s overpriced. Whenever I go through there on my sales route, I eat in Lenoir before I go up 321. Why?”
“So you don’t ever stay there?” I pushed
“It’s two hours from here,” she said. “I won’t stay anywhere that close to home overnight if I can help it.”
“How about your father? Has he spent much time there lately?”
She had clearly had enough of my questioning, but she replied, “He mentioned a few times that he enjoyed the mountains, but that’s about it. Ben, what has this got to do with anything?”
If she was lying to me, she was very good at it. “What would you say if I told you your father had a second home up there, a nicer place than the one he lived in here?”
“I’d say you’ve lost your mind. If you’d ever seen our books, you’d know what a ridiculous idea that is.”
“Still, it looks like it’s true. So if he didn’t make the money through this shop, where did it come from? Did he have any other sources of income?”
She shook her head. “Not that I know of, but I wasn’t privy to all of his businesses. I knew he liked to dabble in things on the side, but there’s no way he could make the kind of money you’re talking about without me knowing about it.”
“How about Andrew?” I asked. “Would he know?”
Terri laughed. “He was even less in the loop than I was. Ralph Haller probably knew more than either one of us did. They even had a business together.”
“Do you know what they were doing?” I asked. This could be the break I’d been hoping for.
“No, you’ll have to ask Ralph. I’ve never been a big fan of the man, and he’s never cared for me either, truth be told. There’s something that’s shifty about him, you know?”
“Trust me, I agree with you. You know he’s been in jail, don’t you?”
“Twice,” she said. “Dad said he was reformed, though, and he wouldn’t listen to a bad word about Ralph.”
That was news to me. “I knew he’d gone to prison for burglary,” I said, “but what else was he convicted of?”
“I don’t have a clue,” she said. “Ben, don’t ask me anything else. If Andrew knew I was talking to you now he’d have a stroke. I don’t know why you two have always hated each other, but it’s pretty obvious to the world that you do. I’d appreciate it if you’d just let this drop.”
“I can’t, not with my name on top of the police’s list of suspects.”
She shrugged. “I suppose I understand that, but don’t ask for my help anymore, okay? I’m trying to put this all behind me, and every time you come in, I have nightmares all over again.”
“I’m truly sorry about that,” I said as I left.
I thought about going over to Ralph’s house to ask him about his second conviction, but I sincerely doubted he’d tell me the
truth. When I’d been at the library looking into his history, I’d stopped the second I’d found a reference to him. It looked like I needed to do a little more research.
Corki was still behind the reference desk, scanning a book about ancient Egypt. The second she saw me, she closed the book. “Please tell me you’ve brought me something challenging today.”
“As a matter of fact, I think I might have missed something the last time I was here.”
She smiled. “I thought you might be back. I would have called you, but I didn’t know your name.”
I extended a hand. “I’m Ben Perkins.”
She pointed to her nametag. “And you already know I’m Corki. Hang on one second, I made a copy of it and filed it away.” She browsed through an accordion file filled with papers. As she looked, Corki explained, “When I get an intriguing question, I keep digging sometimes. It’s a lot of fun.” She studied a sheet, then pulled it out. “Here it is. We finally got the printer working. Is this what you’re looking for?”
I studied the reproduction of the newspaper article and saw that Terri had been right about Ralph. There was another conviction I’d missed the last time. The brief article said that two years after being released from his burglary sentence, Haller had been tried and convicted for counterfeiting. I remembered that Molly had complained that she’d been working on a counterfeiting case in Harper’s Landing, as well as Earnest Joy’s murder. Could the two be connected? I started playing with scenarios until I came up with something that fit. If Ralph and Earnest were working together on something illegal and highly profitable, it could be reason enough for murder. Ralph could make the bad bills and Earnest could distribute them on his travels searching for artifacts to convert into jewelry. It could be a profitable sideline for both of them, unless Ralph got too greedy and wanted a bigger stake.
I thanked her, then started for the door.
Corki said, “You look like you’re in a hurry to get somewhere.”
“I am,” I said as I raced off to find Molly. This was the kind of proof I needed. If only she’d believe me.
It took me half an hour to track her down, but I finally found Molly at the courthouse.
“I need to talk to you,” I said.
“Sorry, I don’t have much time. I’m waiting to testify in a case.”
“This is important,” I said.
Molly stared at me a few seconds, then reluctantly said, “Go ahead.”
“I think I’ve got it all figured out.”
“What’s that, all of the problems in your life? Congratulations.”
“I’m talking about Earnest Joy’s murder.”
She looked around us, then hissed, “Keep your voice down, Ben. The last thing I need is for everyone in town to know that you’re digging into this.”
In a softer voice, I said, “You never told me Ralph went to prison twice. I just found out that the second time, he was convicted of counterfeiting. Didn’t you tell me you were working on a case that involved counterfeiting? What if Ralph and Earnest were partners, and Ralph got greedy?”
She actually laughed loud enough for the people nearby to look at us.
“What’s so funny?” I asked.
“This is exactly why I don’t like amateurs trying to get involved in my cases. There are a few things wrong with your theory. Would you like to hear them, or should I trot over to Ralph’s house and arrest him on your say-so?”
“I’m listening,” I said.
She replied, “Here goes. Ralph was convicted of passing bad twenties, and the counterfeit case I’m working on isn’t money at all. At least nothing you could spend in a convenience store. Second, I already looked into that possibility, and Ralph was in the dentist’s office waiting for his appointment. Doc Lace was running behind, and he sat there for three hours waiting to be seen when Joy was murdered. So much for your theory. By the way, thanks for the bum steer earlier.”
“What are you talking about?”
She looked upset. “I drove out to the Mountain Lake Motel to talk to this Linda Mae, but she wasn’t there.”
“So go back later. I’m sure she was probably just shopping or something.”
Molly shook her head. “You don’t understand. When I say she wasn’t there, that’s exactly what I meant. She checked out, and on her way she told the desk clerk she was getting as far away from Harper’s Landing as fast as she could. He said something had spooked her, and she tore out of the parking lot like she was on fire.”
“You need to talk to her, Molly. She might have had something to do with this.”
Molly snorted. “So now you’re shifting the blame to Linda Mae? Wow, that was quick, even for you. Go home, Ben.”
I wasn’t giving up that easily, though. There was something else I wanted to know. “What kind of counterfeiting case are you working on if it’s not money?”
She started to answer when a bailiff came out of the courtroom. “Molly, they’re ready for you now.”
“Sorry, Ben. I’ve got to go. Why don’t you give it a rest? I’ve got it covered.”
After she slipped into the courtroom, I decided to go talk to Kelly. If Linda Mae had really left town, her attorney would know it. I was dreading the conversation with Kelly, but I couldn’t help it. I walked across the street and into her office.
Her receptionist was there, talking on the phone as he filed some papers in his drawer.
“Yes, ma’am. Hold on one second.” He cradled the telephone between his cheek and his shoulder and asked, “May I help you?”
“I need to see Kelly.”
He rolled his eyes. “Haven’t we gone over this before? Without an appointment, you can’t get in. Sorry.” He didn’t seem to be sorry at all.
We were both surprised when Kelly walked out of her office. “Ben? I thought I heard your voice. Come on back.”
The receptionist looked at me as if he wanted to set fire to me. It was all I could do not to smile at him as I walked past him into the inner sanctum.
There were a thousand things I wanted to say to Kelly, and none of them had to do with Earnest Joy’s murder. She looked absolutely lovely in her business suit with her blonde hair pulled back, though I still preferred her in blue jeans.
“Ben, I’m not sure why you’re here,” she said.
“I need to ask you something. Is Linda Mae still in town?” I asked.
“What? Is that why you came here?” She looked startled by my question, as if she’d expected something completely different.
“I saw her going into your office yesterday, and I need to know if you’re her attorney.”
“I can’t tell you that,” she said.
“Don’t give me some guff about attorney-client privilege,” I said. “This is important.”
“And my principles aren’t?” Kelly asked.
“Is she gone?” I asked.
Kelly looked as if she wanted to cry. It was hard seeing. the saddened expression on her face. She was normally a strong, vibrant woman. Had my presence done this to her? No, there had to be something else going on in her life.
She sighed, then admitted, “I don’t know why I’m sparring with you. She’s not a client.”
“I saw her here,” I said.
“She came by,” Kelly admitted. “But after we talked, she decided to drop her case. The woman has absolutely no proof that she and Earnest Joy were ever married. All it took was one call to the Bureau of Records in Clark County to prove that.” Kelly’s voice softened as she added, “How are you, Ben?”
“I’ve been better,” I said. “How about you?”
She shrugged as her receptionist came in, handing her a briefcase.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he said, “but you’re late.”
She glanced at the clock, then said, “Ben, I’ve got to go. Sorry to make this so short.”
“I got what I came for,” I said. “Thanks for the information.”
We walked out of the office together, but didn’t sh
are another word until she said good-bye in a muted voice. It had been pretty painful for me to be around her, but she’d dumped me. So why was she acting that way? Maybe it was guilt from the way she’d handled it. I couldn’t be mad at her anymore, though. Kelly was trying to put her family back together, and I knew it couldn’t be easy for her. The best thing I could do was to stay away from her.
I drove toward the soap shop, but I couldn’t take the grilling I was going to get from the family, at least not yet. I decided to circle the block a few times to clear my head. As I approached the jewelry store—a natural part of my route—I looked toward the front door and saw a woman coming out. She looked familiar, but with a scarf covering most of her face and large, dark sunglasses over her eyes, it was hard to say who she was. Then I saw her beige raincoat open and underneath it, I caught a glimpse of leopard Capri pants. It had to be Linda Mae. But she was supposed to be out of town, according to Molly. I tried to find a place to pull over, but by the time I’d realized it was her, I was past the store, and there was no place else to park on the street. When I finally managed to find a spot to pull the Miata into, I raced back to the shop on foot, but she was gone. I hesitated before going into the jewelry store. If there was another body in there waiting to be found, I didn’t want to be the one to stumble over it. I peeked in through the front window, and saw Terri working on one of the displays with jewelry made from gold coins.
At least she was safe. As quietly as I could, I slipped away and walked back to my car.
I was nearly there when I heard an ambulance racing down the street. My stomach did a flip as it neared. I had a feeling that I knew exactly where it was going.
As I suspected, it was headed toward the nearby neighborhood where Earnest Joy and Ralph Haller lived. I’d pictured Ralph as the killer, but what if there had been a third partner in the operation? Could he have taken drastic action to get the whole pie? It sounded far-fetched even to me, and I wouldn’t dare try it out on Molly. Okay, forgetting the phantom third partner for a second, maybe someone knew what Ralph and Earnest were up to. Could they have tried to move in on the scam, whatever it was that had afforded Earnest Joy’s expensive getaway? Possibilities were flying through my mind as I neared their street. I was surprised to see the ambulance in front of the Joy house, not the Haller place, though. As I got there, they were wheeling someone out on a gurney.
