The Trees Beyond the Grass (A Cole Mouzon Thriller)

by Reeves, Robert

  “Okay Daniel, so, as you have been informed, someone is running around with the name Poinsett and we are just trying to figure out if it is important. Anything you can offer would surely be of help.”

  “Well, as we discussed, I called my contacts in D.C. to pull any records of Poinsetts around Charleston.” Daniel paused to look over at Leas to see if there was any objection to a layperson using D.C. contacts but Leas just nodded him to keep talking. “Okay, I have to say, there are a hell of a lot of them around here and then out west. But, here… None seemed to really stand out but the one guy, Laurence Poinsett. And the only reason he stands out is because he disappeared around the time you and the Calhoun boy were taken. Cole, he worked for SCE&G back before it was SCANA, as a lineman or something.”

  “The electric and gas company? It makes sense, I guess. They work this area and every house and home. So they would know the best place to hide, to take someone so no one would know.” Cole’s mind turned to the suffering his mom likely went through; those days stuck in that make-shift cabin, dehumanized and knowing that her son was left to watch. Anger brewed up against the wall, threatening to frustrate Cole’s ability to decipher all the facts he was hearing. “Where is this cabin?”

  “Sorry, Cole. That has been gone for some time. After your mom and you were discovered, they bulldozed that thing. A few years later a developer put houses on it.” Officer Hershel spoke for the first time in the two days he had been Cole’s personal security guard. He seemed to have surprised even himself by speaking out.

  Cole turned back to the printouts Daniel had spread across the dining room table. “What’s this, his criminal record? Nothing really there, is there? Driver’s license looks clean for those years. Georgia, Portland, Wyoming. He moved around, didn’t he?”

  Daniel responded. “Yeah, as you see, the South Carolina one didn’t get renewed. That’s the end of the trail.”

  Agent Leas looked down at the papers and then got a doubtful face. “Why do you think this is the guy? So the guy disappeared. People disappear all the time. Why is he the kidnapper?” Leas had once again lost patience with the information he was hearing.

  Daniel leaned up, and spoke with irritated words. “Man, I have no clue. But, if someone with the name Poinsett kidnapped Cole and killed his mom, my money is on this guy. How that helps now, I don’t know.” Daniel wasn’t impressed with Leas and his questions.

  Ignoring the disagreement, Cole’s mind kept brewing, How was this person involved? Perhaps a relative? He needed to figure out the connections fast before someone else died at the hands of this killer. Within thirty minutes it was obvious no answers were going to be found in that meeting. Daniel left what he had found with Cole. Agent Leas skulked off feeling his time had been wasted. Jackie was the only one still chipper. “We’ll get him Cole, you wait. It’s just not as easy as we’d like.”

  CHAPTER 62

  DR. WINTERS SAT back in her poolside chair at MidCity Lofts on Spring Street. A young couple was playing intimately in the corner of the pool while another, much-older woman with too-red lipstick read a cheap romance novel beside her. The doctor had moved there several years ago for the view, of both Atlanta and Rob Marciano, who’d lived there until getting hitched and accepting his new position with Entertainment Tonight. Sure, her frequent run-ins with Joe Manganiello and other stars brought to town for the city’s booming movie industry were nice. But in her building… Rob’s departure had left the view mediocre at best, with little more than Turner Studios complex across interstate 75 to spark interest.

  Her fantasy of having once rubbed his freckled back down with sunscreen was interrupted by the buzzing of her phone against the glass table beside her chair. “This is Beth.”

  “Dr. Winters, uh…this is Agent Leas from the FBI. I hope I’m catching you at a good time, and sorry to interrupt your day, but I have some questions if you have time.”

  Watching the couple in the corner getting a little too acquainted, she responded. “Oh, Agent, I’m out of the office today…just editing a toxicology article, but I’ve got time for you.”

  “Well, you see, a name has come up that, and this might be a stretch, but I wanted to see if you had any insight on this. The name is Poinsett. A Joel Poinsett, I believe.” Still slightly hung-over from the night, Leas stumbled as he tried to read his handwritten notes from the meeting just moments ago at the Mouzon home. It was a stretch to him; but it was his job to follow any lead, even if he thought it was stupid.

  The doctor took a sip of her Riesling. “By all means, Agent. Hmm, Poinsett, as in poinsettia, I believe. My specialty isn’t botany, per se. But the poinsettia certainly fits with your case.” As she finished her last sentence, the lipstick lady pushed the doctor’s arm with her book for attention and then pointed at the couple, clearly sharing her shock as to what they were observing in the pool.

  Leas continued talking on the phone. “And how is that?”

  Shaking off what she was seeing, the doctor continued. “Well, poinsettias are in the plant family euphorbia. Plants that produce a milky sap that oozes when they’re damaged. Almost all in the family are toxic to some degree, from mild irritant to deadly poison.”

  “Hmm, that definitely helps. Anything else you can think of?”

  “No, not really.”

  “Doctor, let me ask you one last thing. Are poinsettias poisonous?”

  “That’s a common misconception. No. Other than being a mild stomach irritant, there is little toxicity in poinsettias. Why do you ask?”

  “Oh, just curious. I’ve got some information here I’m tracking down. If needed, can you come to Charleston to assist? I know it’s short notice, but…”

  Dr. Winters sat up in her chair and interrupted with excitement, “Are you kidding? A chance to visit Charleston and enjoy your company? Sounds wonderful. Just let me know, okay?”

  Leas was surprised by her excitement and grateful for her response. “Well, I will let you know. Again, thank you for your time. I’ll let you get back to whatever you’re doing. Perhaps we can grab that drink down here.”

  “Just let me know. Ciao.”

  Agent Leas withdrew the phone from his ear with a smile on his face momentarily before he refocused on his priority—Find Poinsett.

  CHAPTER 63

  “JACKIE, LET ME take Billy while you get some work done.” Cole looked down at his nephew and smiled. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you, hanging out with Uncle Cole?”

  On cue, Billy responded, “Can I, Mom? Pleeease.” Billy played his mother with his large brown puppy eyes.

  Mimicking his nephew’s pitiful look, Cole said, “Sis, it’s the safest place in the world. I have my own muscle thanks to the kind taxpayers of Mount P. And I haven’t had a chance to hang out and whip his butt in LEGO Lord of the Rings.” Cole stuck his tongue out at Billy, prompting Billy to respond with a waved fist and a smile.

  Relenting against the pressure of two boys, Jackie smiled. “Cole, I don’t want him staying in the house all day and playing video games. You hear me? He needs to get outside and do something.” Jackie wagged her finger at both of the boys.

  “Wow, you just sounded like Mom there…”

  “I am a mom, if you haven’t noticed.” Jackie snapped her neck in a playful way.

  “Sweet! Boys’ time! I can’t wait to take you down on the Xbox…” Looking back to his sister with Billy alongside him, he amended, “I mean…to hang out with you outside. Woo-hoo.” Cole feigned excitement.

  Looking around the wall into the living room, Billy located Cash on the couch texting. “Cash, you want to come?”

  Cole felt awkward at his nephew’s invite. “Oh, Billy, I don’t think Cash wants to hang out here all day. He has…”

  Cash interrupted, “Hmmm, I’d love to! But my bet is on Billy beating you.”

  Surprised by his acceptance and challenge, Cole playfully responded, “Uh, those are fighting words, sir.”

  Jackie decided she had seen and
heard enough boy talk. “Okay. I should be back by six or so to pick him up. Cole, he better have been outside, mister, or the only person going down will be you.”

  “Ooooooh.” All three boys responded simultaneously.

  Throwing up her hands and turning, Jackie shouted out, “Boys!” Half-way out the door, they heard her repeat, “Cole, not all day, hear me?”

  Cole waited until he heard the door shut before speaking. “Okay, before we get started, we need to eat. I’m starved. How about you, mister, are you hungry?”

  Billy was twisting back and forth on one of the bar stools at the kitchen counter. “Yes, sir! Mom made oatmeal and it was cold.”

  Cole wrinkled his nose. “Oh no! Not cold oatmeal. What kind of craziness is that?”

  “The worst, Uncle Cole.”

  “Oh I bet. Hey buddy, can you do me a favor? Yeah? Can you ask Mr. Cash over there if he would like a tomato sandwich and chips?”

  Billy walked over to Cash who had now sat himself at the dinette in the corner of the kitchen. “Mr. Cash, would you like a ‘mato sam’ich and chips?”

  Cash looked down. “Well, I think that would be wonderful. I love tomato sandwiches. Extra mayo and pepper for me, sir.”

  Clapping his hands together and looking around the counter for supplies, Cole said, “Then it’s a plan; tomato sandwiches, then we better get outside before a storm runs through here. Don’t worry, you aren’t safe from your whipp’in in LEGO Lord of the Rings, Mr. Billy. You’re going down.” Cole channeled a WWE wrestler for his last three words.

  Cash chimed in. “I play the winner!”

  “I guess you’re playing me then…” Cole’s mouth dropped as Billy said the words. He admired the wit of his nephew.

  Cole said, “Well, okay then. While you’re planning your celebration, can you go grab some tomatoes off Granny’s bushes out there? Nice and red, but not too crazy soft, please.” Billy bounded out the back door and down the steps to his grandmother’s garden.

  Walking into the kitchen, Cash spoke. “That kid is crazy smart.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know. He clearly takes after his unk Cole over here.” Cole grabbed an imaginary shirt collar and tugged with bravado.

  Cash laughed and pushed Cole’s arm playfully with his elbow. “Ha, that remains to be seen.”

  Cole cut his eyes. “Oooh, rotten tomatoes for you, sir.”

  “Num num, my favorite.”

  “Figures,” said Cole.

  Billy had returned with three large, reddish-orange tomatoes. Sitting at the kitchen counter, Cash watched as Billy pulled up alongside him and the two formed an assembly line for the meal. Cole sliced the tomatoes as Billy laid out the bread on paper plates and slathered the slices with a thick coat of Hellmann’s. Tomatoes placed, the three plates were dusted with pepper and salt before the sandwiches were closed, juices flowing out from the edges.

  “Earth to Cash, uh, earth to Cash. Would you like some more tea?” He had drifted off and his mental absence had been caught.

  “Oh, sorry, yes please.”

  “So are you in? We’re going down to the dock to cast. Billy says he’s cooking dinner. Game?”

  Cole smiled as he tried to reconnect to the present. “Ha, for casting or dinner?”

  “Both if you want.”

  Shrugging, Cash said, “Sure, why not.”

  Lunch was scarfed down quickly with the anticipation of play. On the back porch, Cole asked, “Billy, will you go grab the cast net out of the garage and a bucket for the shrimp?”

  “You didn’t say please.”

  “Ha. No I didn’t, did I? Please.”

  Using Billy’s absence, Cole asked, “So, what was that about?”

  “What do you mean?” The two worked together to clean up lunch as they talked.

  “That daze just a second ago. Everything okay?”

  Caught, Cash awkwardly smiled. “Yeah, I was just thinking of Mark.” He explained that though the good times had been rare, they were still there. Watching Cole and Billy was like watching Mark and himself, the rumble from the jungle, they called themselves. It was a name their father had given them because they made so much noise playing, “You would think two gorillas were outside.” Mark had been his closest friend when they were really young. It was only when Mark entered his teens that he started to completely withdraw, to step away from the family. But, in this moment, Cash chose to remember their youth and how much he dearly loved his older brother.

  The discussion ended when Billy returned quickly with a white net overflowing from a yellowed pail, thrusting the bucket in Cole’s hands without notice and causing it to fall. “Mister, what do you think you are doing?”

  “You carry it, Uncle Cole. I’m going to race Cash.” Cole looked over and with a faux look of anger and matching hand movements proclaimed, “See my pinky, see my thumb, see my fist, you better run!” Both boys took off out of the kitchen and off the deck toward the dock as though the threat were serious.

  CHAPTER 64

  “LET THE MASTER show you how to do this. Step back.” Cash clasped the tangled white plastic mesh netting, shaking it until the weighted ends fell completely down. Billy stood on the dock, fixated, as Cash waded into the water slowly avoiding the sharp edges of oysters with his feet. Cole joined in on watching the show, sitting on the edge of the floating boat landing and dipping his feet into the milky brown water. Cash looked at home in the marsh as water wicked up the edge of his linen shorts. The sun beamed on his tanned, muscular back, causing small beads of sweat to blend with dark freckles along his shoulders and collect in streams where the ribbons of his muscles ran.

  Wrapping some of the main line around his left wrist, he went step-by-step, instructing Billy just how to throw the perfect net. The net was airborne with an effortless sling of Cash’s left arm, landing in a perfect circle on the rippled water’s edge. A Carolina wren swept in and under the edge of the landing for a meal as though he hadn’t noticed the fluid display. Slowly, Cash pulled the line and tugged at the weights now fighting against him. Inch by inch, the net was revealed at the water’s surface, its captives flicking with shock of being extracted from their salty pool. Ravens called in adjacent loblolly pines as Cole let the moment wash over him.

  “My turn, my turn.” Billy was ready for his lesson. He jumped feet first into the water with his Wild Kratts green shorts. Cole cringed, fearing he would land on a bed of oysters hidden under the water. There were only screams of happiness as he swam, well, dog paddled, to Cash. Cash bent down and lifted Billy with one arm onto his shoulders and resumed his casting lesson, Billy absorbing his every word.

  Cole pushed himself off the dock and slid into the water to partake in the lesson. The grey pluff mud held his feet, only to give way with a loud ‘slurp’ with every lift of his feet. Standing side-by-side, Cash impishly pushed Cole’s shoulder in an effort to throw him off balance. “Oh, you don’t want to start that, mister. You’ll be the one with mud in your face, little man.” Laugher engulfed all three of the boys.

  FOR THE NEXT hour or so Cash had Billy hoisted on his shoulder, describing in detail the best way to cast the nylon net to perfect its flare into a perfectly opened circle just before entry into the tidal water. Long after Billy bored of the lesson and crawled back onto the dock, Cash continued netting the random creek shrimp and dumping them in bucket to flick around and occasionally escape to their freedom. Cole had grabbed a coloring book and crayons from the house and assisted his nephew in figuring out just what was the best color for Lightening McQueen’s racing stripes. There was silence, perfect silence between them.

  Eventually, Cash looked over and realized he had lost his audience. Folding the damp net in large movements, he pushed through the soft bottom of the creek to where Cole and Billy were still coloring, leaned into the dock with his chest and folded his arms across the top of its weathered edge.

  Cash asked, “What made you move away?”

  With his head still do
wn, Cole looked up with his eyes to find Cash inches from his face. The deep intensity of his sky blue eyes and their gold flecks felt calming and safe. Cole noticed a small, thin scar under his right eye. Working to ignore the turbulence trying to well up inside him, he looked back to the coloring book and said, “From Charleston? Oh, I don’t know.”

  Cash craned his neck down and under Cole’s gaze trying to reestablish eye contact. “I mean the South.”

  Cole paused and took a deep breath before he softly patted the deck next to him to suggest Cash crawl up and get comfortable for longer conversation. “Billy, I bet you can’t land a crab!” Billy’s eyes rose up from his waxy masterpiece. “I bet I can, too. Just watch me.” Billy jumped up and shuffled over to the opposite end of the floating dock and dug into the bucket Cole had brought out earlier, withdrawing a raw chicken neck with a long piece of white string attached. He threw it in and dropped his feet in the water as he sat.

  CASH AND COLE lay back on the dock’s upper deck while Billy occupied himself with crabbing. Bands of storm clouds crossed the sky in fat, slow movements as they continued.

  “Where were we, oh yeah…leaving the South. Yes. I miss the South terribly most days. What’s not to miss? But I have the luxury of making enough to fly wherever I want and I would rather wake up where I don’t feel sticky from humidity. Have you ever been to Denver? It’s a pretty amazing place. It doesn’t mean I’m not still a Southern boy at heart. I still cook Southern and talk Southern. The only thing missing is other Southern folk.”

  “Yeah, I guess. Would you ever think of coming back?”

  “Part of me would like to raise my kids here, but that’s not really in the cards right now.” Cole turned to Cash to see his response to that little bomb.

  One brow was lifted. “Kids?”

  “Tons of kids! Yellow ones, blue ones, pink ones, green ones.”

  “You getting abducted by aliens or something?” Cash returned the look and smiled.