“By shooting in the middle of a crowd?”
“If you’d a let me take everyone’s firearms as they came inta town this wouldn’t a occurred.”
He was bout ta yell some more when he looked over and saw the three bodies. “What in fuck’s sake did you do?”
Andy said, “Mayor they was bout to shoot down on us. Every person here’ll tell you the same thing. I was just defending myself and the Sheriff and any poor bastard those drunken fools mighta hit.”
The mayor looked ta me and I thought he might have a heart attack right then and there. But he just said, “Get their bodies off my streets.”
Andy and I moved the bodies and placed the one that lived under arrest. We didn’t talk as we did it. It felt awkward cause I know I coulda taken down two a em, but that third one woulda put a hole in me. Andy just saved my life and I didn’t know what ta say ta thank him.
When we’d moved em between the buildin’s where no one could see em, I told Andy ta get a wagon and put em in. We’d take em out ta the cemetery for burial later.
I went back ta my house and saw Betty and Dr. Haywood sittin’ on the porch. I stepped up and sat down right next ta em and it felt good ta sit for a spell.
“What was that shooting we heard?” Betty said.
“Nothin’. Just drunk fools is all.”
“Anybody hurt?”
“You could say that.” I sat a time fore I stood up. “Better get. Glad you stuck round, Doc. This place gets even more excitin’ at night.”
“My stagecoach to the next town actually cancelled.”
“Well I’m glad either way.”
I went out back inta the parade. A band was walkin’ down the street playin’ music and twirlin’ things and they was followed by several more wagons, each more decorated than the first. I ignored em and kept walkin’ down the road, lookin’ at all the folks.
I stood round nother half an hour or so, watchin’ the crowds, and I felt good that there weren’t no more men with guns gettin’ drunk right here in the street. Seemed like a lotta families had come down this year and I was grateful for it.
The parade was goin’ well. We had some clowns doin’ horse tricks and they was makin’ the crowd laugh. Somethin’ bout that laugher lightened the mood. Youngins was runnin’ up ta the clowns and they would do magic tricks for em and throw down little candies.
A show would be startin’ soon. It was a comedy played by folks that had done some actin’ or at least wanted to. It was bout two brothers that tried ta rob trains but they was so inept they kept gettin’ caught. Though I was workin’, I got Betty and Dr. Haywood and we went down near the livery as the show started. People sat on quilts or stood round and I leaned on a fence post as the show begun.
Was a scene in the comedy when a group a kids comes out and stops the brothers from tryin’ ta rob a school. I saw Betty’s face and it was lit up with a smile. But there was a sadness behind it that only I, as her husband, could see. And apparently Dr. Haywood. I walked up and kissed her and put my arms round her till the show ended. The crowd was hootin’ and clappin’ and everyone was havin’ a good time.
“Better get back ta it,” I said.
“Be careful.”
Walkin’ up the main street, the parade had ended and two other shows, one on each side a town, was goin’ on. The folks was split tween the two ends and it cleared up the streets a bit. I went by Gunner’s where most a the trouble seemed ta always occur but it was calm inside. Packed ta the brim with drunkfolk but calm. I nodded ta Gunner and he nodded back, indicatin’ everything was all right.
Standin’ outside the saloon, Doolin leaned against a post and lit a pipe. He smoked some and nodded ta me as I walked over.
“Sheriff.”
“Glad you were able ta stay Mr. Doolin.”
“Never miss a parade,” he said with a grin.
“Figured you woulda left. Must be other bounties elsewhere need collectin’.”
“There is. But I figure this one will be quite lucrative.”
“Bounty’s been collected. The town ain’t need nother one.”
He sucked on his pipe and let the smoke out through his nose. “We’ll have to see bout that.”
I stood by and watched the crowds a bit as Doolin smoked and I was goin’ ta turn away and head up the opposite direction when I saw Doc Stevens runnin’ full bore at me. He was outta breath.
“You gotta come with me, Sheriff,” he said.
“What’s wrong?”
He didn’t say nothin’, just looked at me, and I knew what it was.
CHAPTER 30
After a few minutes a walkin’, I knew where we was goin’. Ned was already standin’ on the porch. He was lookin’ at the ground and I saw his hands tremblin’. He saw us and looked up and his face was white as bone.
It was Ruth Ann’s house.
I stepped inside and the house was quiet. Doc and Ned both stayed by the door. Doc said, “Young woman saw the door open and peeked inside. Then she came and found Ned.”
I went in farther ta the house. Right there in the front room was a body. It was Ruth Ann’s mama. She was nude and been stabbed all over. I took my hat off and turned away.
“You seen Ruth?” I said.
“No.”
I walked the rest a the house. She weren’t anywhere ta be seen but then I remembered she had a cellar. I walked down the stairs and at the bottom were two doors. I looked in the one ta my left and weren’t nothin’ in there but old clothes and some trunks. I looked in the other room.
On a bed, Ruth Ann’s body had bled out everythin’. It looked like the entire room was soaked in blood. She was nude and strapped ta the bed with leather, her wrists and legs. She was ghostly white and gazin’ at the ceiling with fish eyes, glossy and wide. She’d been cut up somethin’ awful. Worse than the other two. I swallowed and closed my eyes and said a prayer, askin’ the Good Lord for mercy on her soul.
I turned and made my way down the stairs. I went outside on the porch and sat down on the steps and rubbed my lips and cheeks with my hand just ta feel some movement.
“Should we tell the mayor,” Ned said. “I know they was—”
“Go find him.”
I sat on em steps over an hour till I saw Ned makin’ his way back. It was afternoon now and people was gettin’ ready for the town luncheon. They was congregatin’ in the center a town and I watched as families made their way over, oblivious ta the horror right there next ta em.
The mayor was with Ned, as was some a the mayor’s friends. He didn’t say nothin’ ta me as he walked past and went inta the house. I kept quiet. I heard him scream.
He came out, tears runnin’ down his cheeks.
“You son of a bitch,”
“Weren’t his fault, Tom,” the Doc said.
“You son of a bitch. You’re the damn sheriff. You couldn’t do shit for her!”
I didn’t say nothin’. It wouldn’t a helped if I did. I just stood up and put my hat back on and walked away.
The parade went on a good three hours that mornin’ till past noon. When it was done, the tradition was ta have a nice big luncheon paid for by the mayor himself. Tables would be brought right out in the street and chili would be served along with hot bread, roast, potatoes and water and beer. It was, I reckoned, the main reason folks came out ta Cosgrove for this parade.
The food was out, but the mayor weren’t anywhere near. I saw Ned and he walked over ta me.
“Doc wanted ta see you. The mayor’s askin’ for you.”
“Reckon he is.”
“He was in hysterics, Jesse. I ain’t never seen him like that. He’s a stoic man. Didn’t expect it. But he was ballin’ like a little baby.”
“Well, when it comes ta the heart all bets are off I suppose.”
“He’s with the Doc right now.”
I started headin’ over there and watched the crowds. Kids was laughin’ and playin’ and the adults was gettin’ drunk and swappin’ stories
. There were a lotta noise, somethin’ that would usually be comfortin’ but right now I couldn’t hear myself think.
I got up ta the Doc’s and went inside without knockin’. The mayor was on the couch. His eyes were closed and he was layin’ with his arm over his head. I pulled up a chair and sat next ta him but didn’t say nothin’. He stirred and then glanced over ta me. His eyes were bloodshot and had a gloss ta em.
“You should have protected her,” he said. His voice was off somehow and I wondered what it was the Doc had given him.
“I know.”
“Your doctor came and looked at them.”
“Haywood?”
He nodded. “She said it happened sometime last night. Based on how cold the bodies were. That means he probably spent the night here so he could leave the door open today. He wanted us to find them with everyone here for the parade.”
I nodded. “We hung an innocent man, Tom. We’re as guilty as the sumbitch doin’ this.”
“She was with child.”
I didn’t say anythin’. I didn’t have ta ask whose child it was.
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry ain’t gonna bring her back.”
“No, it ain’t. But I’m sorry just the same.”
“Give me your badge.”
I looked down at it. I didn’t even notice I was wearin’ it. I unclipped it and handed it ta him.
“Andy’s the new sheriff.”
“It’s an elected position, Tom.”
“With final confirmation by the mayor. They’ll elect who I want them to elect.”
I nodded. We sat in silence a little while but neither one of us had anythin’ ta say. I stood up and left the house.
CHAPTER 31
I walked back ta the house. On the side a the road, a man lay on his back in the street. Several people were round him and one a em was Doc Stevens. He looked at me and stood up and walked over.
“What happened?” I said.
“Looks like the damn fool drank too much. I always told the mayor to charge for the beer. You give it away and this is bound to happen.”
“He blacked out?”
“No, he’s dead. Alcohol poisoning.”
I shook my head. “He’s just a young man.”
“Young man with a wife too. But she’s young. I reckon she’ll find someone else in short order. How are you doing?”
“Tom let me go.”
“As sheriff? You’re kidding?”
“If I am I ain’t got much a sense a humor.”
“This wasn’t your fault. You want me to talk to him?”
“No. You got nuff on your plate. See ya round, Doc.”
I made it through the town as the womenfolk were cleanin’ up the lunch. I got home and Betty was sittin’ on the porch in a rocker readin’ a book. I sat down in the rocker next ta her and we looked out over the streets.
“How was your day?” she said.
I glanced ta her and smiled. “I look that bad, huh?”
“You’ve looked better.”
“They fired me.”
“For what?”
“For not bein’ able ta catch this man.”
“That’s not your fault, Jesse. Dr. Haywood said these men are difficult to capture, even if you got an entire police force. Much less if it’s just you.”
“Maybe, I don’t know.” I exhaled. “When she headin’ out?”
“Tomorrow morning. She said she’ll be writing an article about this, Jesse. About the death of an innocent man and how you tried to stop it.”
“Tried is the word. All my tryin’ didn’t amount ta nothin’.”
She looked out over the people passin’ by a while and then said, “What are you going to do now?”
“Don’t rightly know. I used ta own a little general store back East, fore we were married. Maybe I’ll do that again. Where is Dr. Haywood?”
“Don’t know. Haven’t seen her today.”
“I’m sorry, Betty.”
She rose and began goin’ inside. She placed her hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry too. You don’t deserve this.”
“Deserve ain’t got nothin’ ta do with it.”
I sat outside on my porch until night fell. The town was dark but a lotta folks was still here. They would get drunk, sleep with whores, gamble away money their families needed, and then head out miserable and stinkin’ in the mornin’.
I got up and walked down ta Gunner’s. My legs was cramped and I’d have ta stop ever’ once in a while and shake em out. When I got there the space was crowded and the piano was bein’ played again. I saw Suzie here in a revealin’ outfit, talkin’ ta some men from outta town. She saw me and turned away. I walked ta the bar.
“Whiskey,” I said.
“On me.”
I looked over and saw Doolin saunter up ta the bar and sit down next ta me. He put his hat down on the bar and I did the same. Gunner poured the whiskeys and we took a drink. I finished mine in a gulp and he took two.
“Thanks,” I said. “Seein’ as how I’m unemployed now.”
“Heard bout this mornin’. Hate to say I told you so.”
I shook my head and ordered another whiskey. “I couldn’t protect em. I’m outmatched.”
“He’s probably too smart for anyone in this town. You ain’t got nothin’ to be ashamed of.”
“I couldn’t protect em,” I mumbled.
“You can’t protect anyone. Not really. Safety’s a mirage. You wanna know why people are so devastated when things like this happen? Cause they don’t expect it. They expect to be happy. But that ain’t life. Life is chance, nothin’ else. If folks accepted that, they’d have peace with everything that happens.”
I finished my drink. “Didn’t know you was a philosopher.”
“I spend a lotta time by myself. Man ain’t got much else to do but think.”
I drank nother two whiskeys fore I got up and walked out. I stood in the street and just looked both ways. The moon was out and dark clouds were in the sky. The air was moist and had that buzz ta it you get fore a rain. A buzz the town had had for a week now with no rain.
As I was standin’ out there, it began ta drizzle. The drops bouncin’ off my clothes and mixin’ with the dirt.
I started walkin’ over ta Doc Stevens’ house and the rain was full-bore now. My clothes was soaked and water was pourin’ over the brim a my hat. I didn’t move it. I thought ta myself that I should go ta the barn and check on April. But I realized the error a my thinkin’ and just went over ta the Doc’s.
Rachel Stevens answered the door holdin’ a lamp though the moon was bright nuff ta see.
“Doc in?”
“You’re all wet, Jesse. Get inside.”
I walked inta their house and stood by the door. I took off my hat and held it in my hands, water drippin’ down inta my eyes. A paintin’ was up near the door and it was old. A woman in a blue and white dress. She was lookin’ down at us and an orchard was behind her.
Doc Stevens came out in slippers. “I’m sorry, Jesse. Bout your job. I tried talkin’ to the mayor but he wouldn’t hear it.”
“Well nothin’ ta be sorry bout. Even creation ain’t gonna last forever.”
“Suppose so.”
“Doc, I need ta ask a favor. I need you ta let me look at Ruth’s body.”
“Mayor gave instructions that no one except that alienist of yours is supposed to—”
“I know. That’s why it’s a favor.”
“Well what you want to look at her for?”
“I don’t know.”
His face twisted up a bit and then he said. “Over here.”
We went inta his medical office and two bodies was up on two separate tables. They was covered in sheets and he walked ta the one on the far wall and placed the lamp there.
“I’ll give you a minute,” he said.
I stood in the room, the glow from the lamp flickerin’ and castin’ shadows on the walls. I looked round and saw a chair and pu
lled it up next ta the body. I sat there a long time, my fingers up ta my chin, starin’ at the sheet. Reachin’ over, I pulled it off.
Ruth Ann was nude. I glanced over her body. The wounds looked like red grotesque bugs crawlin’ over her flesh. A waft a pubic hair was up tween her legs and it was dark compared ta the skin which was ghostly white.
I sat back in the chair, and looked her over. I started at the head and went down. Over the face and neck, down the wounds, over the torso, over her pubic area and her legs ta her feet. This man that did this, what did he want from you, I thought. Why you?
I damn near stared at her over an hour. The Doc came in at one point and checked up on me but I told him I was fine. And I went back ta starin’.
I gazed till my eyes strained and my head began ta hurt. I didn’t even know what I was lookin’ for really. I just didn’t want ta go home right now and face Betty and tell her I had failed completely. She already knew it, but she would read it on my face now. She always had the ability ta read me and there was no hidin’ this. I had failed.
He had ta have surprised you by doin’ this, even if you knew him. Would you have fought?
I stood up and stretched and walked over. I took her hand. It was cold. I held it and said a prayer. When I was done, I said, “I’m so sorry.”
As I went ta place the hand back on the table and put up the sheet. I noticed a darkness underneath one a her nails. I lifted up the hand and looked at it. Three a her fingernails had the darkness under em and I touched it and it flaked off.
“Doc,” I shouted. He ran in like I had shouted fire.
“What is it? What’s going on?”
“Look at this here.” He came and stood next ta me. “Would you say that’s skin? Like she scratched somebody?”
He put his glasses on and leaned forward. “Yes, I would think so.”
I nodded and placed the hand back and pulled the sheet over her. “Lemme see your neck and arms.”
“What?”
“Lemme see your neck and arms, Doc. I ain’t foolin’.”
He looked at me a moment and then pulled down his collar and hauled up his sleeves.
Black Sky (A Mystery-Thriller) Page 12
