Murder in South Carolina

by Agnes Alexander

  “No ma’am. Since you’re his legal widow, we’re turning the car over to you.”

  “That’s real nice. The old clunker I was driving gave out on me six months ago and I’ve had to bum rides, take cabs, and ride the bus since then. This will be a Godsend for me and the kids. It don’t look too good, but Arthur always believed in keeping it in good running shape.”

  “I’m glad you can put it to use.” Joe handed her the keys. “I’ll help you get the title changed, and you’ll have to get new tags, but as far as we’re concerned, it’s yours.”

  “Thank you. Do you want to come in and have a beer or something?”

  “Not this time, Nellie. But, there is one thing I want to ask you.”

  “Sure.”

  “Do you know where Arthur got the piece of paper you gave me at the funeral?”

  She dropped her eyes to the floor. “I don’t guess it can hurt him now if I tell. He give it to me and said that it was his insurance that Mr. Smith would hold up his end of the deal. He said he trusted the man, but sometimes when a lot of money was involved, these businessmen get greedy.”

  “Did he say how this would insure him getting his share?”

  “No. I told you all he told me.”

  “Thank you, Nellie.”

  “Thank you, Officer Joe. Come back anytime.”

  In the car, Joe related what Nellie told him, then added, “We’re getting close, Bett. I can feel it.”

  She glanced at him. “But nothing has changed, Joe. How can you say we’re getting close?”

  “Call it gut instinct if you like. We’ve rattled enough cages and I think we’re going to find something when we least expect it.” He smiled at her. “It’s experience, I guess. By the way, how are you coming on tracing down those numbers?”

  “I’m sure they’re bank account numbers, but I doubt we’ll be able to find where they are without finding the other half.”

  “I guess we’ll have to put it down as a useless lead.” He looked at his watch. “It’s almost six and I’m hungry. Let’s stop and get a pizza.”

  Bett’s heart leapt. “Sure,” she said lightly. She didn’t want him to know she was thrilled he’d asked her to join him for dinner. It almost made up for hearing him call Nola Dean honey on the telephone.

  Chapter 29

  The telephone rang as Rex and Megan were leaving the office.

  “Shall we answer it?” She looked at him.

  “Maybe we should.” He looked at his watch. “It’s late, but it could be one of those million dollar investors.”

  He snatched the phone it from the cradle. After the initial greeting, he said, “Well, Dad. I didn’t know you were coming back...Oh, I see...Sure...someone was using it because I went by there today...I see...Of course. I’ll meet you there.”

  He turned to Megan. “I’m sorry, but our plans will have to be canceled for the night. Dad’s in town and wants to have dinner with me.”

  “I heard you mention the condo; where is he staying?”

  “He said the people were leaving and he would be staying there tonight. I guess that means I have to stay there too.”

  She sighed. “I guess if you have to...”

  “If I can get away, I’ll call you.”

  Megan knew she would have to be satisfied with that.

  Rex walked her to her car and closed the door when she got in. She watched as he walked to his car and began to maneuver it out of the parking place. She started her car and let him get into the traffic on Kings Highway. She followed.

  Megan didn’t know why she was tailing Rex. Maybe it was because he had acted funny ever since they’d left the condo this afternoon or maybe it was because the phone call gave him a convenient way to ditch her tonight. For some reason she was compelled to see if Grady Collier was in town or if someone else had called the office.

  Rex drove on the Highway 17 bypass for a few miles then he turned on his signal and turned toward business seventeen. She was beginning to get very suspicious, then she saw him turn into the Flamingo Grill parking lot. She hurried by so he wouldn’t see her when he got out of the car.

  Two blocks later, she turned around and drove slowly by the restaurant, knowing he would be inside by now. She saw Rex’s Mercedes parked beside an almost identical one. It would have to be Grady Collier’s. Felling somewhat foolish, she pushed down on the accelerator and headed for home.

  * * * *

  “Are you sure Megan didn’t suspect anything?” Grady asked when Rex returned to the table from the men’s room.

  “I told you she didn’t. She knew I was talking to you, Dad.”

  “Good. We have to be careful around her.”

  “I know. You want to buy her out before she sells Briggs or Burton her share of the firm.”

  “You’re right about that, but it is more important she not find out what Walter Overton was doing.” Grady took a bite of his shrimp. “I’m glad you called and informed me.”

  “I’m surprised I found it so quickly, but it wasn’t very well hidden.”

  “You did a good job of keeping her away from the office when I got back today. It gave me a chance to check things out.”

  “That wasn’t hard. She likes me.”

  “I know and we have to use that to our advantage.”

  “I like her, too.”

  “So do I, Rex, but we can’t let emotions interfere with business.” For the moment, he let Nola Dean Buckingham cross his mind and wondered how she was doing, but he pushed the thought away. He would have to deal with his feelings about her later.

  “I can assure you I won’t do that, but on the other hand, as long as Megan thinks there is a chance for us to get together, she won’t sell out to anyone else.”

  “Humph...I hadn’t thought of that. But of course, you’re right.” He cocked his eye at his son. “Keep it away from your mother. You know how she is.”

  “I know. I wouldn’t want her to call Colleen back from Europe.”

  “And she would if she thought you were wandering down the wrong path.”

  “Don’t worry. I know how to be discreet. I learned it from the master.”

  For a minute their eyes locked and neither had to say anything. In that instant, Grady knew his son was more knowledgeable than he gave him credit for. He also knew the indiscretions his son knew about or suspected were safe. For the first time in his fifty-eight years, Grady Collier knew there was somebody he could trust. He was surprised it turned out to be the son he’d always thought of as a mama’s boy.

  “Maybe it’d be better for you to stay in the hotel than to come back to the condo with me.”

  “Actually, I’ve been invited to be a house guest whenever I desire.”

  Grady smiled. “That would be fine, too. Do you think you should call her and say I decided to go on back to Columbia tonight?”

  “It really might be for the best.”

  “Then after dinner, why don’t you do that. I’ll be going back in the morning because I’ve lent the condo to another group of potential investors who’ll be coming in tomorrow with Briggs.”

  Rex nodded.

  “In the meantime, we’ve got to work out a plan to see if we can cover up what Walter has taken from the company. We certainly don’t want Briggs or Burton to find out about it.”

  “Of course not.” Rex paused with his fork in the air. “You don’t suppose Dolly knew what was going on, do you.”

  Grady shook his head. “Not Dolly. She’d be buying a villa in Greece if she had access to that kind of money.”

  Rex chuckled. “You’re probably right.”

  “You keep Megan happy and in the dark and I’ll see what I can come up with.”

  “I’ll do that.”

  Grady smiled and the two men finished the rest of their meal in silence.

  * * * *

  Though Dolly swore she wouldn’t go back into her house, she really didn’t have a choice. She had to have some of her personal items. She slipped t
he key into the lock and prayed she would find things as she had left them, except for the snake, of course.

  Dolly knew the instant she stepped inside she wasn’t going to get her wish. Her normally orderly home had been turned into a jungle of overturned furniture and strewn papers. With her heart pounding, she backed out the door and ran to her car. She had no intention of staying there until the police or anyone else arrived.

  She was out of the neighborhood before she picked up her cell phone and dialed Nola Dean. There was no answer. She then tried Shane Norrick. After paging him, she waited a few minutes for him to return the call. When he didn’t call right away, she dialed Megan’s number. She didn’t get an answer there either.

  “Where the Hell is everyone?” She yelled into the dead phone.

  Before she could think of anyone else to call, the phone rang.

  “It took you long enough to call back, Shane.”

  “I’m afraid you’re mistaken. This isn’t Shane.”

  Dolly almost ran out of the road. “Who are you?”

  “It’s your friendly neighborhood murderer. Unless you give me the list, you’re going to be next, Dolly Overton.”

  “What list?”

  “I’m tired of your games. You know about the bank accounts. I want the other half of the list. I know Walter tore it in half. If I don’t get it soon...”

  The line went dead.

  “Oh, God,” Dolly cried. “And I thought he wanted the money.”

  * * * *

  Nola Dean tried to get to the phone, but whoever called hung up before she could get the door open and answer it. She’d been out with Maxie for his evening walk, and she hoped it wasn’t Emily or Joe. She stopped short when she realized she had included Joe in her hopes of callers.

  “You’d better cool it, old girl. You’re in no position to get involved with a busy policeman.”

  She leaned over, took Maxie’s leash off and hung it around the door knob. She then proceeded to look in the refrigerator. She was getting hungry and she hadn’t planned what she’d have for dinner. Standing with the door open, she didn’t see anything she wanted to cook. “I think I’ll cut up a salad,” she mumbled and began taking vegetables out of the bin.

  The salad makings made her think of Joe again. “Darn,” she said. “What’s getting into me?”

  She dropped the vegetables back into the bin and pushed it shut. “Maybe I’ll make a sandwich.”

  She grabbed the loaf of bread and popped two pieces into the toaster. Ten minutes later she was sitting on the balcony, watching some storm clouds gather and eating a peanut butter and apple jelly sandwich. She was drinking a cup of coffee and wondering why she hadn’t called a friend to go out and eat.

  Then the feeling of guilt descended. She should’ve called Dolly. After all, they were friends and the poor woman was having a lot of trouble. Nola Dean knew she hadn’t been as attentive to her friend as she should’ve been. And she knew the reason why. Instead of maturing and becoming a more gracious person as she hit her thirties, Dolly was more selfish than she had been when they were in high school.

  Nola Dean finished off the sandwich and gulped down the rest of the coffee. She’d go call Dolly right now before she thought of a dozen reasons why she didn’t want to.

  The telephone rang while she was looking up the hotel number where Dolly was staying. She was secretly thankful. It would mean she could put off the call.

  “If you found a piece of paper with numbers on it in your condo, it’s mine and I want it.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me. I want it now or you could end up like Walter Overton.”

  Nola Dean didn’t answer. She simply slammed the receiver down to disconnect the call.

  She then dialed the police department.

  Chapter 30

  “What do you mean, you’re pulling out?” Shane looked over his plate of stuffed shells directly at Link. “I thought you wanted to make a little extra money.”

  “I don’t mind making money, but I’m not about to get mixed up in anything where the police are nosing around. It’s not worth it.”

  “This has nothing to do with the police. This old lady is dealing strictly with me. We can pay her off and make a quick turnaround and pocket a tidy sum.”

  “Wasn’t that what you were doing with Walter?”

  “Yeah, but he was supposed to run all the deals through his company. When Mr. Smith came aboard, he wanted to do some side deals and pocket the money. Walter agreed. I never did, and that’s when I pulled back and let the two of them do it their way.”

  “Then why don’t you get Smith to do this deal with you?”

  “Well for one reason, this isn’t big enough for him. He deals in millions of dollars, not hundreds. And for another, I don’t know who he is.” Shane sighed. “I wish I did know him. We might work something out.”

  “I still say, count me out. I’m going to Ohio. The widow has invited me. If I can get it worked out with her, I won’t need to make a lot of money because she has plenty.” He pushed back his plate, now empty of noodles.

  “I think you’re a damn fool, but if you want to go to Ohio, go. I’ll find another partner or I’ll do the deal by myself.”

  Link stood and tossed some money on the table. “That’s exactly what I’m going to do. And you’d better watch your step. You know what happened to Walter.” Without another word, Link walked out of the restaurant.

  Seething, Shane picked up the money and motioned for the waitress to bring the bill. This was certainly not the way he planned to spend his evening meal at Olive Garden.

  On his way home he calmed down and began to think of people he knew with enough money to invest large sums. He had Dolly hooked and Nola Dean came to mind again. He decided he would try to contact her once again and see if she would go into the deal with him. He could easily fool her into thinking it was a very legitimate deal. Their other deals with her company had always been above reproach. She wouldn’t suspect him of doing anything underhanded. Yes. She’d be a great partner. Smart, but not aggressive or greedy like Walter or an idiot like Link.

  By the time he pulled into his parking place at the office he was whistling.

  * * * *

  “Joe Randell, please,” Nola Dean said into the telephone.

  There was a pause then Joe’s voice came on the other end of the line. “Hello, Nola Dean.”

  “Joe, I received a threatening call from someone. I’m scared.”

  “What did they say?” He gripped the phone as she talked.

  “They want some kind of paper and said if I didn’t give it to them I could end up like Walter.”

  “I’ll be right there.”

  Joe drove fast and used his siren going down Ocean Boulevard. His mind was racing as well. He almost knew this was the other half of the paper Nellie Brown had given him. So that was what all the threats were about. It was their link to the killer and it was probably the killer’s link to the money. Now they were after Nola Dean.

  A call came through on his cell phone. “Randell,” he said.

  “Joe, it’s Bett. Dolly Overton called. Somebody ransacked her house.”

  “Someone is threatening Nola Dean. I’m on the way there.”

  “Okay. I’ll get back-up and check out things at Dolly’s.”

  “Thanks, Bett.”

  * * * *

  Mr. Smith flipped on the jets, sat back in the oversized garden tub and smiled. Now he was getting somewhere. That piece of paper had to be with one of those women. Walter would have never kept it on his person. He either hid it at home or managed to do something with it while he was at Nola Dean’s condo. Since he hadn’t found it at Dolly’s house, he was betting on Nola Dean. He’d give her a few days to think about it. Then he’d make his move.

  Feeling pleased with himself, he picked up the remote control from the side of the tub and turned the channel of the elevated television to the eleven o’clock news.

  * * *
*

  Megan Eller was getting ready for bed when her doorbell rang. Frowning, she pulled her blue silk robe close around her and looked through the small security hole. Her frown immediately became a smile. She swung the door open and said, “Rex. What a surprise.”

  He held a bottle of champagne toward her. “Dad decided to go back to Columbia tonight. Want to celebrate?”

  “That would be wonderful. Come in.”

  He came through the door and planted a kiss on her forehead. “Thanks for not turning me away.”

  “I’d never do that.”

  “I don’t know. Now that you’re a big deal business woman…”

  She blushed. “I’ll get some glasses.”

  When she returned, Rex was seated on the yellow-flowered sofa. He’d removed his coat and tie. “Do you mind?” He indicated the discarded clothing.

  “Of course not. You need to get comfortable.”

  She sat down beside him. “So your father went home?”

  “Yes. He called mother and there’s some kind of event she needs him to go to in the morning. You know how she is about those things.”

  “I do know,” she half smiled as she thought of Hazel Collier. “She can be very demanding.”

  “But in you, she has met her match, hasn’t she?”

  She ducked her head and said, “Whatever do you mean?”

  “I mean the trick you pulled on her when you invited Dolly to grandfather’s funeral.”

  “I’m sorry about that, Rex. I know you didn’t want Dolly Overton there, but I was upset.”

  He chuckled. “It was worth having her there if only to see the look on Mother’s face when Dolly walked up.”

  Megan sipped her champagne. “This is good. Thank you for bringing it.”

  “You deserve the best, my dear.”

  She smiled at him again. “Because I’m a partner?”

  He winked at her and said, “Maybe someday you’ll be a partner in more ways than one.”

  Her heart felt as if it was going to melt. This was the first time Rex had ever indicated their relationship would be more than a business one. She set her glass on the coffee table and looked at him.

  He set his down beside hers and opened his arms for her. She was immediately lost in his embrace.