A Fair to Die For (16 page)

“I’ll get a table,” Carrie said. “How about that one by the window? Place for four, and no one is seated nearby if we need to talk privately. We can see the road and parking lot from there.”

Edie and Henry nodded, and Carrie went to secure their place and wait for her food.

Except for exclamations of pleasure, not much interrupted eating for the next twenty minutes. Finally, after a bit of conversation about probable recipes for what they’d eaten, Edie came back to the business at hand and said, “I’m worried. Milton is over forty-five minutes late. How long can we occupy this table after we finish?”

“Do you suppose he hooked up his own trailer and just drove off?” Carrie asked. “Perhaps the sheriff didn’t post anyone to guard it after all. But Sales would have had to move it in a short amount of time, since there was only a two-and-a-half hour window between when he called you and when we got here.”

“I guess I shouldn’t have told him you were bringing me,” Edie said. “That may have spooked him, and he decided not to come.”

“No, it didn’t spook him,” Carrie said, looking out the window. “I see him getting out of his truck right now. Let’s each order a biscuit to put honey on. That way we have something to do while he eats, and he won’t feel uncomfortable eating alone.”

Milton Sales nodded briefly to them, went to order his breakfast, and took the seat next to Edie. He said, “Sorry I’m late, couldn’t be helped.” Then he looked across the table at Carrie and Henry. “First thing I want to tell you is that I had nothing to do with the powder-filled toys Edie describes. In fact, I’ve never seen them.”

He went to pick up his breakfast tray, and, after taking a few bites, continued, “I understand John Harley supposedly found them on the shelf under my sales counter, said I’d forgotten them, and gave them to you, Ms. McCrite?”

“Calling me Carrie is fine. And yes, that’s exactly what happened. Since we’re talking about the drug business here, and you claim you never saw those toys, I begin to wonder about John Harley.”

“Uh-huh. Did you see anything like them when you came to my booth on Thursday morning?”

She shook her head. “I don’t remember seeing toys like that, no.”

“As you think about the cars and other toys I do make, and those four animals on wheels, does the style of craftsmanship, the wood used, and anything else you remember look the same, or even similar?”

“No, but many artists work in more than one style.”

“Perhaps, but I assure you I never saw those animals and never touched them, as any fingerprint expert can learn if someone cares enough to test them. Edie said they had a smooth finish. Probably take fingerprints well.

“What’s more to the point, John Harley knew I didn’t make them when he gave them to you. Even if I’d decided to branch out with new items since I saw him last, the first thing we always do when we meet here each year is show off any new items we’ll be selling. Conclusion? He knew those wheel toys weren’t mine. They were a plant and he knew it.”

He looked around the table as if expecting someone to say, “Of course you didn’t make them,” while he ate a few more bites, but no one spoke until Henry said, “The whole situation with those toys does raise questions. Any ideas about the powder inside them?”

“Maybe to cast suspicion on me—to confuse the real issue of who is bringing in drugs to sell in the Ozarks. Now, I don’t mean the primary dealer has to be John. He’d almost have to be involved, but the real boss could be someone he fears, or owes allegiance to.”

Carrie said, “Well, at least it looks like he knows something about the drug business.”

Henry added, “Yes, and I understand he’s been a friend of yours for a long time.”

“That’s true, he has. Ergo, why should you believe me? I’ll give you that. I don’t blame you for being cautious.”

He chewed in silence while looking at each of them in turn.

Henry asked, “I’m curious about why you chose to meet Edie here. Odd location under the circumstances.”

Sales laughed, and gestured toward their plates. “What about that, really? How could you wonder after you’ve each finished one of their meals? I eat at the mill whenever I get a chance.”

“Hmmm,” said Carrie, licking honey off her fingers.

Henry said, “Okay. We’ll assume for now that you had nothing to do with those four toys or the powder in them. What about John Harley?”

“Major King, I . . .”

“Ah, so you know something about my history in the Kansas City Police Department?”

“Yes, I did pretty thorough research which, along with what Edie tells me, makes me think I can trust you and your wife.”

“Trust us? For what? Not to turn you in on suspicion of being a drug dealer?”

Sales’s smile faded, and he mashed a piece of biscuit, stirring it into his gravy.

Watching him, Carrie thought,
He’s wondering what to say next.

“No, not that, but I’d like to believe I can trust you. You must keep what I’m about to say in total confidence. Will you do that Edie? Ms. McCrite? Major King?”

Carrie thought,
More secrets. This is high drama. Maybe we should all prick our thumbs and smear a drop of blood on paper.

Henry said, “You must realize that depends on what you plan to tell us.”

“Okay, I concede that. But at this point you need to know that, like you, I’m connected to law enforcement. In that capacity, I’ve had my eyes on John Harley for a couple of years, though I’ve known him much longer. In fact, I was chosen for this current job because of my attachment to craft fairs, and a long-time friendship with him, as well as a background in drug interdiction.

“My history as an undercover agent for the old Bureau of Drug Abuse Control came to the attention of the sheriff’s department in this county, and you might say all things worked together. They approached me, and I agreed to join the effort to curb drug distribution in this part of the Ozarks, with my special focus being craft fairs.”

Carrie looked at Edie. Was her cousin surprised? Did she know? Hard to tell. She had a blank look on her face.

Henry asked, “So you live in this area?”

“Yes. I normally only use the RV to travel to other craft fairs around the Ozarks. Crafting is my full-time business these days, and it provides good cover for research into drug trafficking. I had the RV here this year in order to keep a full-time watch on what seemed like a rapidly developing case centering on John Harley. But things are more complicated now that it seems John—or someone—suspects my law enforcement connection.”

Henry gestured in the general direction of the fairgrounds. ”Did you know your RV is gone from the field over there?”

“Yes. Deputies had it towed in last night. They’ll keep it safe for the time being.”

“What were the people or person who searched the RV looking for?”

“Probably something that showed I was either part of the drug trade or an agent against it. They wouldn’t have found anything because I never keep paperwork, computer files, or other information that would connect me to law enforcement where it could be located by a searcher. I’m guessing the vandalism was more because they were angry they hadn’t found what they were searching for than a product of the search. There was sure no reason to cut up bed sheets, though I can understand dumping out boxes of cereal and dry food.”

“What about tampering with the gas lines?”

“That could be part of the same thing, a kind of vengeance, or they could have unfastened the connections in the hope I’d come back, and, in spite of finding the mess, try to light the stove to make tea or coffee. I guess they might also think I smoke, but that would mean they don’t know me well, and I think the people who did this know me very well. Or it could just be they thought law enforcement would suppose I had unfastened the gas lines myself to destroy evidence of drug-dealing, or injure someone I expected to come in.

“How come you didn’t either fix the leak or report it?” Carrie asked.

“I didn’t know about it until after deputies discovered it.”

“Oh? Really?”

He looked at her but didn’t seem angry. “Yes, really. The excessively destructive search and the gas leak could not have happened at the same time. I saw the results of the search but I didn’t know about the leak. After discovering the vandalism, I decided the best thing I could do was remove myself completely from the scene before a more intense attack ruined all the undercover work done thus far. Better for someone to think I’d skipped and wonder why, than for me to stay and perhaps risk exposure, or a more dangerous personal attack. I’m guessing the disconnected gas lines were one form of personal attack.”

Carrie said, “Did you have a chance to check and see if anything was missing?

“There was only time for a quick look, but I didn’t see anything. I had my laptop, memory sticks, and a few important papers with me in the truck since an RV is not really a secure place.”

Edie said, “What next?”

Sales put his hand over hers. “One important thing now is for me to testify that your father was an honest man, trying to do his job. I hope to clear his name for you.”

“And yours as well?” Henry asked.

“Already done as regards the past, I assume, or they wouldn’t have asked me to be part of the current task force working to shut down a pipeline of drugs into the Ozarks.”

“Maybe. Also a good way to keep an eye on you.”

Sales laughed. “That, too,” he said, “though I’m sure it wasn’t their reason.”

Henry finished the last bite of his honey-smeared biscuit and asked, “What evidence have you found in the way of drug distribution through craft fairs?”

“Nothing at all until this peculiar incident with Harley. As soon as sheriff’s deputies learned about the powder-filled toys on Saturday night they contacted me, then went to the fairgrounds and did a thorough search through John Harley’s booth and his stock of bird houses and feeders. Everything was clean, maybe only because he’s very careful.”

Carrie changed the subject. “Did you know Edie before this past week?”

“Only by name and reputation, though, in a way, I feel like I’ve known her for years. Her father and I worked together—spent a lot of time together. He talked about his Edie a lot. He often said she was near my age, and that he’d like me to meet her. I am so glad to have finally accomplished this, though it’s been more than forty years since he died. Meeting her brings me back to those days with him. For a while we were good friends. Once this is over, I hope to go east with Edie, meet her mother, and give her news about her husband.”

Carrie noticed Milton’s hand was still curved over Edie’s on the tabletop. “So, what next?” she asked.

“I have a date to meet John Harley and his wife for dinner at the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs tomorrow. John and Liz Harley and I are old friends, remember? They’re from Little Rock, but he told me Thursday that they’d decided to stay in this area for a few days to go antiques shopping, sightsee, and relax after the intensity of the fair. Of course that may also mean they have drug business to accomplish in this area. If they do, I’d sure like to catch them at it.”

Carrie said, “His wife? If she was here, why didn’t she help him out in the booth? He was alone every time I saw him and could have used some help.”

“She has helped him off and on in other years, but he said she aggravated a back problem carrying some of his merchandise in on Wednesday. Other than a visit to a chiropractor, she didn’t leave the motel until Sunday night, and supposedly spent a lot of time in the motel’s hot tub.”

“What motel?” Henry asked.

Sales looked at him for a long minute, then grinned. “Well, well, you’re on the same track I am. It was Ozark Suites, and the housekeeping staff I talked to said Mrs. Harley wasn’t in the room when they cleaned it on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, and no one saw her anywhere in the building during the day, though of course they couldn’t be everywhere. And, get this, the hot tub was emptied for cleaning and repair last week.”

“How did you find that out?” Carrie asked.

“Desk clerk. I hit it lucky. This morning I went there and asked about a room later in the week. I said one thing I’d heard recommended was their superior hot tub. Clerk told me it had been out of service for repair and cleaning for several days, but would be ready to go today. Had a hard time keeping a stone face when she told me that.”

“What about other information?” Henry asked.

“Ah. Well, they provide breakfast, but only coffee the rest of the time. There had been no food deliveries during the day for several days, according to the clerk.”

“I see,” Henry said. “How did you get her and the housekeepers to talk to you without raising suspicions? I assume you didn’t want to show any official identification, faked or not. That could call attention to you and might get back to the Harleys through gossipy staff.”

“While I was at the front desk, I said I would have a lot of office work to do if I stayed with them, and asked about order-in meals. She handed me a list. I pointed to one name on the list at random, said I had heard that one was closed, had any of the others delivered in the last few days? She said no, because the guests last week were mostly craft fair exhibitors or fair visitors, and all of those were away during the day.”

“I speak some Spanish, and I gave the housekeeper on the Harley’s floor the impression that I have a romantic eye for Elizabeth Harley, who’s husband is a beast and demands she stay in their room all day while he’s gone. She said the lady had not been in her room when it was cleaned on any of the days they stayed there.” He laughed. “I think she suspects the woman has more than one boyfriend on the side.”

“Good work,” Henry said.

Edie said, “Milton, I think I should go with you to the meeting in Eureka Springs.”

He answered her immediately. “Edie, that’s not a good idea.”

“Y’know, Milton,” Carrie said, “When I first talked to John Harley about you, and made up a story about my cousin being a friend of yours, he said if my cousin came back, I should tell her that Milton wasn’t married. The implication was that my cousin and you should become better friends.”