Music, Murder, and Small Town Romance

by K C Hart

  The parking lot really was a zoo. Two police cars were blocking the exit and entrance to a small section of the apartments so that no vehicle was allowed through. Katy crept by the lot then pulled her car onto the curb in the next housing section. The normally quiet neighborhood was abuzz, with small clusters of men and women standing around on the miniscule front porches smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee. All heads were turned toward the excitement next door. A white van with the call sign of one of the TV stations from Jackson was pulled into a yard across the street. Yellow police tape hung across the door of the end apartment, as well as the porch and the two parking spaces in front of the home. People in uniform, or the standard khakis and button-down white shirt of work attire, were parading in and out of the apartment while the neighbors, mostly in robes or t-shirts and jeans, casually watched from their perches nearby. Katy grabbed her nursing bags from the back seat and headed across the dirt yards to the neighboring complex.

  “Hey, Aunt Katy.” Todd stood with his arms across his chest inside the yellow-taped perimeter. “This area is closed off unless you have a reason for being here.” He lowered his voice and leaned across the tape as Katy drew near. “If you’re here to see Pam Newman, her body has already been taken away.”

  “Pam Newman? The hairdresser?” Katy set her bags down and grabbed the corner of the apartment building to hold up her shaking knees. The rough bricks pricked the palm of her hand. “Something happened to Pam Newman? I just saw her yesterday.”

  “Whoa, Aunt Katy, you’re getting white as a ghost.” Todd ducked under the police tape and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Apparently somebody hit her over the head last night with the marble base of a lamp. A neighbor called the station when they heard the noise in the apartment and then the screeching tires in the parking lot.”

  “Oh.” Her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth as she tried to swallow. “I’m, uh,” she pushed back at the lump that was rising in her throat. “I’m not here to see Pam. I’m here to see Mr. Cleveland next door.” She ran her dry tongue over her equally dry lips. “He’s one of my patients. I need to change his dressing.” She took a deep breath and pulled her shoulders back. “He’s expecting me this morning.”

  “Mr. Cleveland’s wife is the one that called last night, or, I guess you could say, early this morning.” Todd picked up her nursing bags with one hand and lifted the yellow tape with the other. “Come on, I’ll walk you to his door. You’re looking a little better, but you’re still mighty pale.”

  Katy ducked under the yellow tape and glanced around at the enclosed area. The apartment door was ajar so that she could see Pam’s living room. The small area held just a few pieces of furniture, but the place had obviously been ransacked. A shudder ran down her arms as she spotted a dark wet spot on the thin gray throw rug near the overturned couch. “Who would do something like that to a defenseless woman?”

  Todd stopped and looked over her shoulder. “Sheriff thinks it was a drug deal that went bad.” He pointed to the stained rug and the glass shards lying around nearby. “She was found face down right there with the broken lamp by her head.”

  “Why does he think drugs were involved?” Her eyes moved around the room, taking in the broken glass on the floor, ripped up couch cushions, busted up coffee table, and television. “Couldn’t it have just been a domestic dispute, or even a robbery?” Even as the words were coming out of her mouth, Katy thought about Pam’s brother being in jail on drug charges. But Pam had seemed so levelheaded, so concerned that her brother was heading down such a destructive path. Had she really misread the woman so terribly?

  “I think the sheriff is probably right on this one. We found meth in her jeans pocket. We figure her dealer brought her new supply or either showed up to collect on a previous deal. Either way, she must have not been able to give him what he wanted, so he knocked her out and tore the place up looking for money.”

  “I guess it looks that way.” Katy blew out a sigh as they continued past the door. “She was such a nice woman. Seemed very practical. I wish I would have gotten to know her sooner.”

  They stopped at the next doorway, and Todd handed Katy her bag. “I’m going to get back to work. You have a little more color in your cheeks now, but it probably wouldn’t hurt for you to sit down for a while once you get in there with Mr. Cleveland.”

  “Thanks, Todd. I’m fine. That was just a very big shock.”

  “You’re welcome. And take care of yourself. You still look squeamish.”

  Katy tapped on the apartment door and listened to the shuffling steps make their way to let her in. The chain tingled softly as the old man’s fingers moved the slide bar along the lock. This was followed by the more substantial click from the release of the deadbolt lower down the doorframe. “Good morning. I’m sorry you’ve had such a heartbreaking night.” She hugged the old man’s cheek as he let her through a crack in the door. She noticed that his normally smooth face still had the prickles of unshaven whiskers.

  “Good morning to you, ma’am. And don’t you go worrying about me. I’m in a sight better shape than that poor young neighbor of ours.” He eased himself into the worn brown chair and motioned for Katy to sit on the nearby dining chair. “That was just an awful, awful mess.” He shook his head as his fingers stroked the growth of hair on his chin. “We’ve been living here quite a few years, and ain’t nothing this bad ever happened. Poor ole Stella had to take one of her little nerve pills and go lay down. She hasn’t needed them but one other time, and that was when her sister died in that car wreck four years ago.”

  “Y’all just heard them fighting and called the police?” Katy took her blood pressure cuff and stethoscope out of her bag to check his vital signs. She expected his blood pressure to be high. He didn’t look pale, but the fatigue in his voice and around his eyes was obvious.

  “The dog woke Stella up, then she woke me up.”

  “I completely forgot about the dog.” Katy made a mental note to ask Todd about that later. “Did you hear a lot of fighting? The living room kind of looks like a war zone.” She paused as she pumped up the blood pressure cuff, then released the valve and allowed the air to hiss out. “One-forty over eighty-four. That’s a whole lot better than I expected after the night you’ve went through.”

  “I took my meds about five-thirty this morning. You don’t need to do my leg unless you just want to. I mainly wanted you to check my pressure. I’m doing alright, but poor ole Stella is shaken up.” The old man looked in the direction of the bedroom and stroked his chin again. “If she gets to feeling scared all the time, I expect we’ll have to be moving into the old folks’ home. I sure ain’t looking forward to that.”

  Katy gently lifted his foot onto the overturned laundry basket and rolled his pant leg up to start the wound care. “Don’t start fretting yet. Mrs. Stella will probably bounce back after a few days of rest, and then things will get back to normal.”

  “And at least now she won’t have to worry about that dog keeping her up at night.”

  “Did he run off after your neighbor, uh…well after it was over?”

  “No. He was pitching a fit, like I said before. Then Stella heard a crash, like somebody dropped something heavy, and some glass breaking. After that the dog just went plumb crazy.”

  “So, you didn’t hear any shouting?” Katy’s hands paused wrapping the gauze around his leg. “Or fighting?”

  “No, just the crashing and the dog. In about a minute we heard another crash, then the door slammed, and a car peeled out of here like the devil himself was on its heels.”

  She taped the fresh bandage in place on the patient’s leg and rolled his pant leg back down. “Is that when you called the cops?”

  “No. After that everything got really quiet for just a few seconds, then that crazy dog set to howling like the world was coming to an end. We waited about fifteen minutes but when he wouldn’t quit, we finally called the police.”

  “You didn’t call to re
port a break-in or disturbance? You called to get them to do something with the dog?” Katy eased his leg back to the floor and pulled off her rubber gloves. “You had no idea someone had been killed next door?”

  “Not at all. Poor Stella was ranting and raving about the dog and the girl and how they needed to move and let the decent folks live in peace. Then, the next thing we know, they got the dog catcher here getting that dog, and they’re taking the poor girl out in one of those black bags.” He paused and looked in the direction of the bedroom one more time. “I think that’s the reason she’s so upset. She was just going on and on about that girl and her dog, then the next thing she sees is the girl being carried out to the funeral parlor.”

  “Poor Mrs. Stella.” Katy tied up the bag of soiled bandages and stood up. “Why don’t I drop back by tomorrow, just to check on you and Mrs. Stella and make sure you don’t have any delayed effects from this ordeal?”

  “Honey, if you don’t mind, that would be much appreciated. I ain’t too worried about myself, but I just don’t know what I would do if something happened to Stella.”

  “Do you want me to peek in on her before I go? It’s no trouble.”

  “No, I will call you if I need you. She just needs to rest for now. But I sure do appreciate you seeing about us tomorrow.”

  “I sure will, and I’ll be praying for you in the meantime.”

  “Thank you, honey. That’s always a help.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  “I can’t help but feel guilty. If I had told the sheriff, or at least Todd, what Pam had said the other day, then she might still be alive.” Katy stared out the windshield of John’s truck, not really seeing the stretch of road. “She either knew something that got her killed, or somebody thought she knew something and that got her killed.”

  “First of all, you can’t be responsible for the well-being of the entire town of Skeeterville. There’s a town-appointed official who we pay with our tax dollars named Buster Reid who already has that job.”

  “Okay, okay.” Katy rolled her eyes. “I know I’m not the sheriff, but John, I talked to the woman about her brother selling drugs, and a couple of days later she’s found dead. You have to admit that what her brother said about checking out the music store is very suspicious.”

  “I’m not disagreeing with you about any of that,” John said, reaching over and squeezing her hand. “All I’m saying is that you told her to contact the sheriff, and you told her to be careful. She decided that she didn’t want to have the law involved. That’s on her, not on you.”

  “I guess so, but it’s just all so tragic.” Katy scooted over as far as her seatbelt would allow and laid her head on John’s shoulder. “At least we can save Moose.”

  “Now, don’t get the cart ahead of the horse.” John let go of her hand and put it back on the steering wheel. “I said we could go to the pound and look at the dog. I didn’t say we could bring it home. You’ve only been around this dog for about three minutes. He might be dangerous.”

  “He’s not dangerous. I could tell. Besides, if we don’t get him, they’ll put him down. They said that he only has a week to get a new home, and then his time is up.” She laid her hand on John’s arm. “We certainly don’t need that on our conscience.”

  “No, I’m sure we don’t. And speaking of conscience, I went by and checked on Tubby on my way home today. He said Emma’s holding up well. The sheriff picked her up when they found out that information about the auditorium keys. Tubby’s been to the bank to take out a loan against his business so he can pay for her bail and get a good lawyer.”

  “She’s home?”

  “For now. I didn’t see her, but Tubby said she’s holding up like a trooper. We just stood on his front porch and talked. I didn’t go in their house.”

  “What about Tubby? How is he holding up?”

  “Not so well. He looks like he’s decided to grow a beard, then use the beard for storage of a lot of day-old food. He smells like a locker room after a football game, and I think he’s lost a few pounds.” John slowed the truck and made the turn into the driveway of the county pound. “He said that he wants to drop out of the Battle of the Bands contest next Friday, but Emma said they have to stay in it. She said that if they give up now, then they’ll never make it through the trial.”

  “Wow. Who would have ever thought that Barbie Doll Emma would be the strong, levelheaded member of that family?” Katy scooted back to the passenger door and unhooked her seatbelt. “I think she’s right though. If they ostracize themselves from all their friends and stop doing the things they are expected to do, then people will assume the worst.” She sighed and reached for the door handle. “That’s one brave woman.”

  “Yep, and one heartsick man.”

  “You see, they’re going to get along just fine.” Katy took a sip from her tea glass as she looked across her back yard. The massive black German Shepherd trotted around the perimeter of the chain link fence enclosing the spacious back yard. He would stop every few yards to sniff the grass, then inevitably lift his hind leg. “He sure is a pretty boy. And I think he’s going to enjoy not being cooped up in a tiny apartment all day.”

  “He is a good-looking dog.” John smiled. “I need to get him to the vet next week. We need to get him checked out to make sure he’s healthy and get him a little snip-snip.” Belinda, the red-bone bloodhound, stretched at his feet, perfectly content to watch her new yard-mate stake his claim to her home. Her surplus of skin, covered with short, honey-red fur, puddled softly from her neck and jowls. Hearing her name, she lifted her head and nudged John’s leg with her wet, shiny nose. “Now, you be a smart ole girl. Don’t you let that sharp-dressed city boy lead you astray before we can get him to the doctor.” He leaned down and rubbed her floppy ears. “The last thing we need is a litter of shepherd/hound puppies. They would have the face only a mother could love.”

  “Ain’t that the truth,” Katy said, watching Belinda’s droopy eyes stare up at John. “Talking about health and getting checked out reminds me, I have an appointment in the morning with Dr. Roberts to get my meds refilled. Don’t let me forget.”

  “You’re going to have a mighty busy day.”

  “I know. Trudy Mae said to text her when I drive up at the office, and she’ll meet me at the front and take me straight back to a room. Hopefully, I’ll just be in and out, and he won’t try to change anything.”

  “It must be nice to know people in high places,” John said. Moose lifted his head from the far side of the yard to look at his new family. John patted his leg and let out a quick, sharp whistle. “I hate what happened to that girl.” He pulled his gaze from the dog to look at Katy. “Do you think having her dog around will make you sad?”

  Moose trotted toward the back porch and slowed to a stop in front of the patio chairs where they were sitting. He looked from one to the other then sat on his hind legs directly in front of Katy.

  “Well, look at that.” Katy leaned forward and rubbed the dog behind his ears. “No, I think it will help me. I couldn’t help her, but at least I can help Moose.” Moose turned his head to the side and licked Katy’s hand. “You are such a good boy. I’m going to enjoy being your new momma.”

  Gravel crunching on tires brought the calm afternoon scene to an end. The muscles along the German Shepherd’s back knotted into chords, and his ears twitched as he whipped his head toward the sound. He looked back at Katy and let out a slow whimper, then trotted toward the locked gate leading to the driveway.

  Belinda stood with much less enthusiasm. A languid shake started at her head and worked its way down her back. She strolled over to the gate, unsure of what her new friend found so interesting. The distant knock on the front door was rapidly drowned out by the thunderous base of Moose’s bark, mingled with the baritone of Belinda’s baying.

  “That’s Todd.” John rose from the patio chair and swatted the dog slobber from the knees of his pants. “We better move this party inside. I don’t think
our boy is quite ready to meet friends and family.”

  “I believe you’re right. One thing is for sure, though. A robber would have to be three shades of stupid to break into our house after hearing all of that.”

  “If he was lucky, Belinda would tree him.”

  “And if he was unlucky, Moose would eat him.”

  “The sheriff had a background check run on Pam Newman. She only had a couple of speeding tickets on her record, but that brother is a different story.” Todd tapped his finger on his pocket-sized notebook. “Between her family connection and finding the drugs in her pocket, we’re pretty confident about what happened.”

  “Now, wait a minute. Just because she had a sibling who led that sort of life didn’t mean that she led it, too.” Katy looked from one man to the other. “My sister Lotta and I are about as different as daylight and dark.”

  “But, Aunt Katy, we found the meth in her pocket.”

  “It could have been planted. I spoke with her a couple of days before this happened...”

  “Wait,” Todd held up his hand. “That’s one of the things I wanted to ask you about. Why were you talking to her, anyway? I thought you had decided to stay out of harm’s way.”

  Katy pointed to her head with both hands. “She’s a hairdresser. Notice anything different?”

  “Oh.” The corners of Todd’s mouth slowly curled up. “It looks nice.”

  “Thank you, but that’s not what I want to tell you. Pam went to see her brother the night he was arrested. She was worried that Rob Clay might have somehow been involved with Brock’s drug dealings.”

  “What exactly did she say?”