Music, Murder, and Small Town Romance

by K C Hart

  “Yes ma’am, I’m fine.” She patted the skin under her eyes again. “I just need a little time to get myself together.” She hugged Katy again, tighter this time. “Would you do one more thing for me?”

  “Sure Emma,” Katy paused with the doorknob in her hand. “Whatever you need.”

  “Would you mind praying with me before you leave?”

  Katy felt the tears forming in the corners of her eyes. “Of course I will. I’m just embarrassed that I didn’t offer to do that when I first got here.”

  Katy prayed with Emma, asking God to help her and Tubby have peace as they worked through this scary time. When she finished and was back in her car alone, she prayed again. This time she asked God to help them quickly find this killer, and to keep Tubby calm when Todd or the sheriff came today to question Emma.

  Katy figured she would track Todd or Sheriff Reid down around one. That would give Emma and Tubby time to eat, discuss the missing guitar strings, and most importantly, give Tubby time to calm down when Emma told him she would have to go back in for more questioning. She looked at her phone. She had over three hours to kill, and Saturday was her new grocery day. Buying groceries on a weekday was good in theory, but she always managed to procrastinate the chore until they were down to bread and water. She decided to run to The Pig and get that chore over.

  She pulled into the parking lot and dug around in her purse for the shopping list as she walked to the entrance. For some reason the list always dropped to the bottom of her bag. The blast of cold air felt good on her face as she stepped through the sliding glass doors.

  It took a little muscle to pull the buggy from the long train that was waiting in the corner, but she managed it and headed down an aisle. She listened as an instrumental version of and old Bee Gee’s song played with a ballroom orchestra flair. She didn’t know who decided that “Stayin Alive” was good shopping music, but today it seemed appropriate. She moved across the store from left to right, quickly finding everything on her list.

  She threw a bag of frozen butterbeans in the cart and was starting toward the checkout when a sign caught her eye through the frosty glass at the end of the refrigerated dairy section. She knew she should turn around and exit the aisle on the end with the vegetables, but the image of her husband sleeping with the empty carton balanced on his stomach popped into her head. The sign on the glass door, Smithville Premium Ice Cream, Buy One Get One Free, pulled her in like a pig to slop in the summer time. She reached in the freezer and pulled out two containers of rocky road and put them in her buggy. They weren’t for her, after all.

  “I guess you’re still buying enough food for two.”

  Katy jumped as she looked up from her buggy, feeling guilty but not sure why. “Oh, hey, Mrs. Edna.” She glanced down at the two cartons of ice cream, feeling the red heat creep up her neck and across her face. “I only buy two when it’s on sale.”

  “I used to have to do that.” Edna raised her chin and looked down her nose at Katy. “Now, since some people started meddling, I just have to buy for myself.”

  Katy’s eyes darted up and down as she quickly examined the woman in front of her. Edna Morse was not a pretty woman, but she was a neat woman. At least she always had been before. Today she had on a pair of faded black sweatpants with a bleach stain on the knee and a wrinkled I Donated Blood tee-shirt. Her hair looked like she had stuck her finger in an electric socket.

  “I’m sorry, Mrs. Edna,” Katy stammered, “but I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Sure you don’t. Just like you don’t know about the police telling my husband I was having an affair with Rob Clay.”

  “But Mrs. Edna,” Katy’s eyes stretched wide, “they had Emma Robinson in jail because of a note that you wrote. She could have been put in prison for a crime she didn’t commit.”

  “You don’t know that,” the woman hissed. “I’m sure they would have found out who really killed Rob without you spreading that gossip to my husband.”

  Katy’s mouth dropped open like a piece of lead was stuck to her chin. “You mean you weren’t having an affair with Mr. Clay?”

  Mrs. Edna quickly looked away from Katy’s face and studied the groceries in her cart. “I didn’t say that.” She slowly looked back up. “He’s left me. After forty years and two kids he’s left and filed for divorce.”

  Katy’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh Mrs. Edna, I am so sorry.”

  “You should be. It’s all your fault,” Edna spat, stomping away with her buggy.

  Katy stood still as a statue, staring at the woman’s back in disbelief as she disappeared around the corner of the frozen food section. She finally shrugged her shoulders and pushed her buggy to the check out. She watched from her place at the end of the line as Mrs. Edna snatched her bag from the cashier and stormed from the store. Apparently, the poor woman was mad at the entire world. Maybe she would eventually calm down and accept the fact that the fault of her divorce was at least partly her own, certainly not Katy’s.

  Eleven o’clock. The checkout girl seemed to move at a turtle’s pace as she placed the items in the thin plastic bags, popping her mint-smelling gum as she went. Her jaws were moving way faster than the rest of her body.

  “Let me help you with those.” Katy grabbed the bags and tossed them in her buggy then swiped her card through the machine. The checkout girl was still tearing the receipt from the register as Katy pushed the buggy through the exit doors.

  She wanted to let John know what she had learned. He had gone to his brother’s house to help mend a fence where a cow had gotten out but was supposed to be home by noon. Maybe he could talk to Tubby before the sheriff got there. After her run-in with Edna Morse, she’d about reached her limit on the amount of drama she could handle for one day. “Lord, please help my attitude,” she prayed as she tossed the groceries in the back seat of the car. “I am about tired of this mess.”

  John blew the puff of steam off the fish stick, waiting for it to cool. “I think we should just drive on out to Tubby’s as soon as we get through eating.” He stretched his mouth wide as he took a bite so his lips wouldn’t touch the hot crust. “That will give me time to talk to him before he has a chance to get riled up.”

  “Alright. I’ll just call Todd on the way out there.” She popped the last fish stick in her mouth and folded the paper plate in half. John picked up his final stick. She reached down and grabbed his plate before he had time to protest. “You finished?”

  “I guess I’m done unless I plan on eating from the counter top.” He wiped his hands on a paper towel and stood. “Might as well get this over with.” He walked to the cabinet and began digging around behind the bread and buns while Katy grabbed her purse. “Ahh-haa,” he smiled as he held up his find. “I thought there was one more Twinkie in there somewhere.” He followed Katy to the truck as he unwrapped the rather squished treat.

  Katy slid her cell phone back in her purse just as they pulled into the trailer park. “Todd said they’ll be right out.”

  Tubby opened the door as they got out of the truck. “Y’all didn’t have to come babysit me.” He shook hands with John and hugged Katy’s neck as they walked past him into his trailer. “Emma’s done told me what you figured out, Mrs. Katy. I know the sheriff will need to talk to her again.”

  Emma propped against the counter separating the living room from the kitchen. “I wanted him to hear everything from me, so I told him while we ate our grilled cheese.”

  “Have you told the sheriff yet?” Tubby asked. He shut the door and walked into the living room, which was beginning to feel crowded.

  “I just got off the phone with Todd,” Katy nodded. “They should be here in a second.”

  “Good. I want to get this over with.” Tubby stuck his hands in his jeans pockets and looked from John to Katy.

  “You mind if we sit down?” John asked.

  Emma popped up from where she was propping and picked up the throw pillows from the couch. “I’m sorry, Mr. Jo
hn. Y’all have a seat.”

  Katy sat down beside her husband and waited as Emma sat on the love seat. Tubby continued to stand in the corner. “Tubby, you know this is actually good news. It helps show that somebody is setting Emma up,” she said.

  “I know.” Tubby slipped one hand from his pocket and ran it through his hair. “I just get worked up over the fact that somebody would even try to do that to her.”

  A crunching noise came from outside as wheels ran across the gravel and a faint puff of red dust started to stir outside the window. A second later the sheriff’s car pulled into view. “At least they didn’t turn the siren on,” Tubby mumbled. He opened the front door and stepped outside.

  “Why don’t you and Emma just wait in here?” John said, standing to follow Tubby through the door.

  Emma’s eyes sparkled with unshed tears, and she swallowed hard as she nodded. Katy moved over next to her where they would both have a view of the men from the window.

  “He seems to be handling this well,” Katy said, watching Tubby and John descend the steps to meet Todd and the sheriff.

  “He is. He just feels useless is all.”

  “Hopefully this won’t last much longer.”

  They watched as the four men came back up the steps and listened as the front door opened again. A lawn mower could be heard from a yard down the street as the door closed behind them. Nobody was talking.

  “Honey, they need to take your guitar and check it out,” Tubby said, crossing the room to where the case stood propped in the corner. “I told them that would be fine.”

  “Yeah, that’s fine,” Emma mumbled.

  “Mrs. Robinson, I told your husband that we need to write down everything you told Mrs. Cross earlier today,” the sheriff said. He turned his gaze to Katy. “I need to get a statement from you, too, since you were here when she discovered that the strings were missing.”

  “Alright,” Katy said.

  “Y’all take a seat on the couch, Sheriff.” Emma pointed toward her gray sofa that didn’t seem so inviting anymore. “Tubby, get a chair out from the kitchen table for you and Mr. John.”

  “That’s alright, Mrs. Robinson.” The sheriff held his hand up like he was a crossing guard stopping traffic. “I actually need everybody to come down to the station so I can make it official.” His voice softened as he looked at Emma’s face. “It will just save time and you can leave as soon as we’re done.”

  Emma stood and glanced at Tubby. “Do I have to ride in your car, or can Tubby drive me?”

  “You can ride with your husband. We’ll just meet you there.” The sheriff stepped toward the door to leave. Todd took the guitar case from Tubby and followed.

  “We’ll be right behind you, Sheriff,” John said, shutting the front door behind the two men. He turned back to Tubby and the women. “I think we should have a quick prayer before we leave.”

  Tubby reached for his wife’s hand as they formed a circle to pray. “I know I said y’all didn’t have to come, but I sure am glad you did.”

  The echo of the truck door slamming disappeared as Katy followed John into the house. “I’m glad that’s over with.” She flopped onto the stool and sprawled out over the bar like a wet mop and watched John as he walked to the freezer.

  “Get a couple of spoons.” He opened the lid and moved a pack of corn to the side.

  The burst of cold air tickled the tip of her nose as she watched, knowing what he was fishing around for. She sat up and reached into the silverware drawer to retrieve the spoons, then turned to get two bowls.

  “That won’t be necessary.” He shoved a half gallon carton of rocky road in her direction then lifted the lid off the other one. His lips turned up at the corners and he wiggled his eyebrows. “They come in individual, ready-to-eat containers.”

  “Good grief. This will ruin your supper.”

  “You are tired, and I love ice cream. This is my supper.”

  Katy peeled the lid off her container and stabbed the spoon into the forbidden treat. “If you insist.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Katy leaned to the left and peered around a soprano on the front row of the church choir. She watched as John stepped into the aisle and let Tubby and Emma squeeze into the pew beside him.

  “We might have to sit on the row ahead of them,” Joe Phobs whispered from the baritone section behind her. “I’m glad they’re back.”

  Katy glanced over her shoulder. “Me, too.”

  Later, after the choir had sung their final hymn, Katy followed the soprano section from the loft behind the pulpit. The piano softly played, allowing everyone time to get settled into their seats before the sermon began. John stepped out of the back pew and stood in the aisle, grinning as Katy approached. He bowed slightly and motioned his arm to the second row. She stepped in and he followed. She looked over her shoulder as Joe stepped into the seat by Tubby. “Good to see you,” she whispered to Emma as she sat on the pew in front of her young friend.

  “Good to be here,” Emma whispered back.

  Katy listened to the sermon with focused attention for the next thirty minutes, refusing to let her mind wander to the events of the past week. She needed to recharge and remember who was really in control, and the best way to do that was to deliberately turn her thoughts toward her Creator.

  After church, the traffic down the center aisle slowly made its way toward the back door. She squeezed into an open spot behind Joe and in front of John, careful to avoid the town criers.

  Tubby and Emma must have made a run for the door as soon as the amens were said. They were nowhere in sight. Katy shook the pastor’s hand and smiled at his greeting as she reached the rear entrance, but her mind was already on afternoon plans. The warmer air coming in the back door felt good compared to the chilly temperature in the church house.

  She stepped into the sunny parking lot and scanned the vehicles. “I’m going to see if Tubby and Emma want to eat lunch with us,” she said over her shoulder to John who was now standing next to the pastor.

  Tubby opened his truck door. Katy waved her arm above her head as she walked in their direction at the far end of the parking lot. He waved back and waited until she got closer.

  “Why don’t you two come eat lunch with us?” she asked, the words coming out in little puffs. The warm air didn’t feel quite as good after the brisk walk.

  “We were planning on going to the seafood place. Why don’t we just meet you there?” Tubby asked. “We’ll save you a seat.”

  “Wonderful! See you in a few minutes.”

  Katy walked to her truck. She could see John near the front of the church. His head was tilted down as a gray-haired woman appeared to be lecturing him on something important. Several other older women were gathered round and had him cornered. He glanced up and Katy caught his eye. She motioned toward the truck cab with her head and John took the hint. He nodded at all the women and began to back out of the group until he could finally turn to walk away.

  “You didn’t have to hurry on my account, dear,” Katy grinned.

  “You could have come and rescued me, you know.” He opened the truck door and reached for Katy’s arm, lifting her into the seat to slide across.

  “I think you had them under control. Besides, one trip across the parking lot about wears me out. I couldn’t have made it a second time.”

  “Where to?” John asked.

  “Seafood, if that’s alright with you. What did they have you cornered up about?”

  “The usual. Trying to find out if I had heard anything else about Rob Clay and should they be worried about staying at home by themselves.” He pulled the truck into the after-church rush and headed to the restaurant.

  “I guess it would be scary being a woman alone right now.” Katy turned the air conditioner vent away from her face. “What did you tell them?”

  “That the police were doing a good job and to keep their doors locked. I also made sure they all have our numbers.”

  �
��Well, that was nice.”

  “They also wanted to know if I knew anything about what was going on with the Morses.” He pulled into the restaurant parking lot and killed the engine. “I’m pretty sure that’s what they were really interested in.”

  “What did you say?” Katy slid out of the truck behind John.

  “Not a blessed thing.”

  Katy grinned. “Good for you.” Her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting of the restaurant as they walked into the cool building. The aroma of hushpuppies and blooming onions wafted toward her nose, causing her stomach to growl.

  “There they are,” John said, leading Katy through the maze of tables. Two tables had been shoved together to seat six. Tubby and Emma sat on one end waiting.

  “I thought we were going to have to order without you.” Tubby stood as they walked up. “Those fried onions are smelling good, and my navel’s about to touch my backbone.”

  “Who else is coming?” John pulled out a chair for Katy. “Or did you just get extra room?” He sat down in a chair across from his wife.

  “Mr. Mike and his wife,” Emma said. “I hope y’all don’t mind. She asked me if they could have lunch with us before church, but I didn’t get a chance to mention it to Tubby.” She waved her arm toward Misty and Mike, who had just come in the door. “I know y’all are friends, so I figured it would be okay.”

  “The more the merrier,” John said.

  “I’ll order last, if y’all don’t mind.” Emma looked at the waitress then around the table. “I can’t ever decide what I want.”

  “I want an oyster salad with comeback sauce,” Misty said. “I’m not bashful.”

  “I want that, too.” Katy stuck her menu back between the salt and pepper shakers. “But add avocado.”

  The men each ordered a seafood platter. Everybody turned to Emma as she continued to study the menu.

  “Oh, I don’t know. I guess a fried catfish plate.” She handed her menu to the waitress, who stuck it in its spot in the center of the table. “I want to be adventurous and order the frog legs or alligator, but I always chicken out.”