Mississippi Blues (17 page)

“What? How? I don't understand,” Lindy cried. “Who lost it?”

“You tell me,” Jace muttered. “But it's gone. Disappeared. The nurse on duty had it and by the time it got to the police it was gone.”

“My God.” Lindy stared at him. “Are you saying what I think you're saying?”

He met her eyes. “Yeah.”

“You can't mean to say that the Chief did something to the evidence?” She shook her head. “No way.”

He didn't answer.

“He wouldn't do that,” she protested.

Jace held his tongue.

“Why?” she cried.

“You tell me. If I knew the answer to that one, I wouldn't have been locked up like a dog in a pound.”

“You're saying the evidence was lost by the Chief and he let Soloman go.” Lindy took a deep breath. “Then what happened? How did you find out?”

He smiled bitterly. “Trey. He was down at the police station. He called and let me know.”

“What did you do?” She reached for the pen. “I've heard the story, but you tell me in your own words.”

“I lost my head.” He paused and gathered his thoughts. “I left Mama's hospital bed and tore over to the Chief's office. It was late. Around nine-thirty. No one else was around and I told him he'd rot in hell. That I'd see to it.” He met her wide-eyed gaze. “I told Trey I was going to kill the fucker who hurt Mama.”

“Then what?” she whispered.

“I ran out.”

She leaned forward, perched on the edge of the couch. “To go after Soloman?”

“Yeah.” He looked lost in memories. “I went back to the Blue Cat on the hunch Soloman would go back to the scene of the crime. I was right. The door was unlocked and I went in. He was in his room.”

“Alive?”

He shook his head. “No. Dead. He was on his stomach. I hauled him over intending to give him a beating. I wanted him to confess to me at least. But he was dead. He had a knife sticking out of his chest.”

“You touched it? Why?” She breathed the word.

He whirled around. “I don't know.”

“That's when Trey showed up?” Her question was more of a statement.

“Yeah.” Jace laughed without humor. “He came to the rescue just in time to find me with a bloody knife in my hands. The rest, as they say, is history.”

“Who else could've done it? Who had a motive? Your Mama was still in the hospital. What about Summer? What did she do?”

Jace snorted. “You're really reaching if you think Summer would kill anyone. Besides, she was with Mama.”

“I didn't say she did it. I asked who had a motive, no matter how farfetched. If we're going to do this we need to be open to all the possibilities.” She made another note.

“Fine. Summer was as mad as I was when your old man turned Soloman loose. But she isn't capable of killing anyone.” He paced. “I can't think of anyone who would want him dead.

Lindy leaned on her fist. “Who else? We have to figure out who else was as upset as you and your sister. Like your mama's friends, for instance. Did she have any men friends?”

Jace bristled. “People talked trash about her, but she never even went out.”

“Okay, okay,” Lindy tried to soothe him. “What about colleagues?”

“No one she was close enough to that would kill on her behalf. Your mama was her best friend. Can you picture Miz Emily Bouché killing anyone? Not hardly.” He continued to pace. “This is hopeless.”

“No, it's not. We just have to keep thinking. Maybe we're going at this from the wrong direction. Maybe Soloman was killed for something that had nothing to do with your mother at all. Maybe it happened because he said the wrong thing to someone. It's a possibility he mouthed off to the wrong person and they did him in for it.”

“Too much time has passed. No one would know now.” He turned the other direction. “It came out at my trial that he had been seen drinking at Mugs-n-Jugs right before he was murdered. Maybe someone there would remember seeing him.”

Lindy shivered. “That's a great idea.”

He shook his head. “That's probably a dead lead. We're sure not going to stroll in there and start asking questions. But I might be able to get some information out of old Jimmy Ray.”

“How?”

“If he's in the shape I think he is, a little gentle prodding might persuade him to open up.” He stopped moving and grinned at her. “Give him a little of his own medicine.”

“You can't hurt him.” Horror crossed her face. “Surely you don't intend to use force, much as I'd like to see Jimmy Ray squirm.”

“Why not?” His expression mocked her. “Change your mind about screwing him?”

She froze. Then her hand snaked out and slapped his face. “Let's get one thing straight, Mr. Hill. You don't speak to me like that. Ever. And another thing. I never did, nor do I now want to be with Jimmy Ray Hunt in any way. Have I made myself clear?”

“Clear as glass.” He grinned. “You sure get riled up in a hurry.”

“Don't forget it.” Picking up her paper she asked, “What do you think he'll tell you?”

He shrugged. “I dunno. Probably less than nothing.”

“What time is it?”

He shrugged. “I guess around six-thirty. Why?”

“This is a perfect time to go see him.” She jumped up. “Let's go.”

“No way. You're not going.”

“You're not leaving me here alone.”

Mugs-n-Jugs' parking lot stood empty save for one classic pickup. Trey pulled in alongside it and turned off his engine.

At the door, Jody said, “Let me do the talking.”

Trey nodded and they stepped inside. A few early bird drinkers sat at the bar, but Jimmy Ray was nowhere in sight. A bleached blonde in a neon blue, skintight mini dress approached them and flashed a smile. Her upper teeth were crooked, but she was pretty in a harsh way. “What're you boys having?”

Jody flashed his badge. “Jimmy Ray around?”

Her eyes went cold. “In the back.”

“Get him.”

“He's busy.”

“That's okay. I'll find him myself.” Jody pushed by the blonde, Trey following. They walked into a room off the hallway marked private. Jody went through the door first, Trey on his heels. They both came to an abrupt halt. A man lay sprawled across a maroon sofa, his leather pants undone, a dark haired girl kneeling in front of him sucking his dick. He looked up, but didn't seem to be terribly affected by their presence. “Hey! Get out! This ain't the bar.”

The girl jumped up and darted by them, pulling her top together.

“We're closed.” The guy made no move to button his pants. His erection seemed to stare at them, mocking.

“Jimmy Ray Hunt?”

“Who wants to know?”

“I do.” Trey wondered what Lindy saw in the guy. Skinny, with a pockmarked face, Jimmy Ray wouldn't attract a lot of girls on looks alone. The large purple knot he sported on his forehead and two black eyes didn't help his position. A ragged scratch ran down his right cheek.

“Zip your pants.” Jody pulled a little notebook out of his shirt pocket. “I don't want to see that little bitty thing.”

Jimmy Ray's face flushed. “Fuck you.”

Trey fisted his hands. “I'll ask again. Are you Jimmy Ray Hunt?”

“Yeah.” He tugged his pants together, but left the top button undone. He reached for a glass on the nearby table and poured himself a shot of tequila. Downing it in one quick motion, he poured another and stared at them belligerently. “Who wants to know?”

“What happened to your face?” Trey countered.

He shrugged. “Bar fight. I had to break it up.”

“Can anyone corroborate that story?” Jody asked.

“Why do you want to know?” Jimmy Ray poured another drink and tossed it back like water. “Cops don't give a shit about my problems.”

“Did you see a girl named Lindy Bouché in here last night?” Jody asked.

“I saw a lot of chicks last night. What's so special about this one?” Jimmy Ray downed yet another shot. “They come and they go … if you get my meaning.”

“This girl we want to talk to you about is Lindy Bouché. Maybe you recognize the name?” Jody met the other man's eyes with a cold stare. “The police chief's teenage daughter. Too young to be in this place, too young to drink, and way too young to run with your kind.”

“I don't know what you're talking about.” Jimmy Ray's gaze darted around wildly.

Trey jumped in. “Give it up, Hunt. You know who she is. Apparently, you allow Lindy and her friends to hang out in here. An eyewitness told me you were with Lindy last night. So why don't you tell me what happened after you left here, and I won't go to the Chief and tell him about the teenage crowd that hangs out here?”

“You always have your daddy fix your problems? I heard you run when the going gets tough.” Jimmy Ray grinned.

Trey leaned over and took hold of Jimmy Ray's wifebeater tank and twisted it until their noses nearly touched. “I can handle you if you prefer me instead of the Chief. I'll be gentle since it looks like you'll fall over if I breathe hard. From the looks of things, someone else didn't like your act either. Can you take another pounding? Cause I'm fixing to hand one out if you don't start talking.”

“I'd suggest you listen to him. We can do it here, or we can go down to the station and you can look Chief Bouché in the face and tell him why his little girl didn't come home after she left here with you,” Jody shrugged. “Your choice.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Jerking away so hard his stained tank ripped, Jimmy Ray glared at him. “She was all over me like white on rice so I offered to give her a ride on the old one-legged pony. We went to the lake to fu … ”

“Watch your mouth,” Trey warned. “My sister is eighteen years old. You're what? Thirty?”

“So? You always shag girls the same age as you?” Jimmy Ray smirked.

“Who Trey dates isn't the issue,” Jody said, “but who you were with last night is.”

Jimmy Ray reached for the half-empty bottle of tequila. Jody got to it first and moved the booze out of reach. “Quit stalling.”

Jimmy Ray sat back and glared at him. “The little bitch has been in here every weekend for the last three-four months letting me see every way she can she wants to get to know me real well. Understand what I mean?”

Trey made a noise in his throat and Jody shot him a warning glance. “And?”

“I know underage when I see it, but last night I lost my mind and thought a little tangle with the kitten would be a sweet way to spend the night. We get out to the lake, we're halfway to the point of no return and the bitch changes her mind and runs off like she's never seen a dick before. She stranded me out in the woods. I had to walk all the way home with my balls achin' so bad I could hardly manage.”

Trey dug his fingers into his palms until they hurt. Hearing his sister called a dirty name by this pond sucker was nearly more than he could stand. If he did it again, Trey figured he might have to teach him some manners. “Lindy did that to your face?”

Jimmy Ray touched the knot on his head and grimaced. “I guess it wasn't enough that she left me with blue balls, but she had to try and brain me too.”

“I'll not ask you to watch your mouth again,” Trey warned softly. Before Jimmy Ray could react, Trey moved and took him by the back of the neck and squeezed. “Please.”

“I'm right sorry. The chick left me with aching nuts.” Jimmy Ray grabbed his crotch and grinned at him. “Bet you know how that feels, don't you?”

“What'd you do to her to make her hit you?” Trey tightened his hold. This guy was pushing every button he had. “Maybe talk to her the way you're talking to me?”

Jody stood near the door and kept watch. “I was wondering that myself.”

Trey shoved Jimmy Ray's forehead between his knees and held him there.

“Nothin'. I've told you everything.” Jimmy Ray flailed around, but couldn't break free. “That chick's nutty in the head if you ask me. She don't know her own mind. For all I know, she's in Jackson or Memphis by now.”

“Lindy is perfectly sane.” Trey pushed a little harder. “I'll ask one more time. What did you do to her to make her scared enough to hit you? Did you harm my sister in any way? If you tried to force her you'll live to regret it.” Trey's hands shook with effort not to throttle him.

“No, man.” He struggled like a bass on a line. “I never touched her. I'm the one who's hurt. Just look at my face.”

“You're claiming a tiny little girl gave you those shiners?” Jody asked in disbelief.

“That's right. Only because she used a stick.” He put on an innocent tone. “I didn't do nothin'. When she ran off I followed her. Just wanted to go home and forget the whole thing ever happened, you know? But she hid behind a bush and waylaid me. When I came to I was alone, stranded.”

Jody raised one eyebrow. “Where exactly did Lindy ditch you?”

“I don't know. I wasn't looking at the trees. The scenery inside the car appealed a lot more. You know what I mean? But, I guess it was out by the old blowout road. I got back on the highway at mile marker twenty-nine.” He twisted in Trey's grasp.

“If Lindy was driving, she should've been home in less than half an hour. What time did you last see her?” Trey tightened his grip on Jimmy Ray, wanting to strangle him until the guy begged for mercy. He'd seen men broken like that and he longed to demonstrate the technique here.

Jimmy Ray panted. “I locked this place at two
A.M.
The drive took about twenty minutes, so I guess the last time I saw the chick was about three.”

Jody kneeled close to Jimmy Ray's face. “One question remains, Hunt. Where is Lindy now? What's your explanation as to why she didn't come home last night?”