Murder in Marietta (A Trixie Montgomery Cozy Mystery Book 2) (6 page)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

D
oc, do you want a drink?” I didn’t wait for an answer. It was obvious he needed something stiffer than diet cola, so I sent Dee Dee to get him a high-test Coke.

He took a couple of sips, sat up and shared his story. “Like I said on the phone, I’m in trouble. Detective Bowerman took me to the station and questioned me for over two hours. I know I’m on top of his suspect list.”

“What makes you think that, Doc?” I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. “Maybe he just thinks you know more than anyone else, because of your position at the museum.”

“He told me I was their person of interest.” He emitted a nervous laugh and ran his fingers through his thinning hair.

Dee Dee interjected, her fork flinging bits of cake around the table. “Trixie and I discussed the fingerprint issue. They must be on everything in the museum. I can’t imagine he’d base his suspicions on the appearance of your prints?”

I remembered he did have motive. “Did he discover you fired Jacob?”

Doc nodded, and with this confession, turned white as the flour Nana used for her biscuits. Like a bolt of lightning, it occurred to me Detective Bowerman must have something else on Doc.

I leaned forward. “Doc, what aren’t you telling me?” My whispered question rustled the petals on the rose between us.

Doc’s lips trembled. Silence prevailed before he shared an unbelievable tale. “It began a long time ago. After I finished my tour of duty in Vietnam. I didn’t want to come back to the states and face what so many fellow soldiers endured when they returned.

“So I naively decided to go as far away as possible. The Bahamas seemed like the perfect place to escape from reality.” He sucked in a deep breath and continued.

“I wound up in Nassau. I worked a year on one of the local fisherman’s boats. It wasn’t the most glamorous job. I cleaned fish, scrubbed the boat, helped with the line fishing and any other job that needed done. It didn’t pay much, but it was enough.”

Doc took a long drink. I had no idea where this was going, but I could tell the memories were troubling this kind man. Dee Dee and I exchanged glances, anxious to hear the rest of the story. Doc gingerly sat the glass down on the table. He studied the container as if the answer to his problems lay at the bottom.

“There was a local man who worked on the same boat as I did. He stayed in trouble and made more enemies than friends. Mickel was extremely knowledgeable about the fishing trade and became an asset to the boat owner. I’m sure it’s the only reason they kept him on. I tried to stay out of his way, and I did for a long time. Then one night we were in the same bar – The Golden Conch. He drank enough to kill a normal man, but it didn’t kill him; it just made him meaner than the devil himself.

“Mickel badgered me because I wasn’t an islander. He’d goaded me since I started working, and I guess he wasn’t too happy I hadn’t responded to his taunts. He went wild. He pushed me around, and when I didn’t fight back, he sucker-punched me. I wasn’t going to stand by and let him beat me to a pulp so I fought back.” Beads of sweat dotted Doc’s forehead.

“When he saw I wasn’t going to give up, he pulled out a machete, and charged like a raging bull. Without thinking, I grabbed the closest thing I could reach, and hit him over the head. I wanted to stop him. I didn’t mean to kill him – it was just a beer bottle.”

Doc dropped his head. I saw tears in his eyes before his hands covered his face. Maybe it was emotional exhaustion, or maybe he didn’t want us to see him cry.

Dee Dee shrugged her shoulders, and I knew what she thought. How could this gentle man have killed someone – even in self-defense? A thousand questions flowed through my mind.

While we gave him a few minutes to collect his composure, we ordered another drink. I ordered Doc a piece of raspberry cheesecake. I hoped the treat would comfort him in some small way.

Dee Dee and I made small talk and sat quietly out of respect for Doc, but I couldn’t help wondering. I’d gauged Doc for a gentleman. Was I wrong? He’d just admitted he was guilty of murdering before. Was it possible he’d felt threatened enough again?

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

A
re you telling us Detective Bowerman found out about your barroom...um, brawl?”

“Yes, he did. Interpol, I guess. It happened so long ago; I haven’t thought of Mickel in years. At the time, I feared I might spend the rest of my days locked away in a Nassau prison.

“But, it seems this man was hated by a lot of people – some in high places. After spending less than six months behind bars, without a trial, they released me. They demanded only one condition for my release – leave the island. I happily complied. I never wanted to see that place again.

“This was a wake-up call for me. I decided then and there living in the United States was a wonderful privilege. I turned my life over to God, and determined to put the terrible experience behind me. I’d pretty much convinced myself it never happened – until the detective confronted me.”

“Doc, I’m sorry you’re going through this. What can we do to help?”

“I heard you solved a murder in Dahlonega, and I hoped you’d help me. I don’t know where else to turn.”

I thought of the harsh words I spoke to Nana this morning. I promised I wouldn’t get involved in this murder, and Detective Bowerman’s warning resonated. I knew very little about Doc, and now he had confessed to killing in self defense. But, I wasn’t convinced the man who sat across from me could be a cold-blooded killer.

I looked over at Dee Dee. She shrugged her shoulders, which didn’t give me much to go on. If I helped Doc, I’d have to eat the words I’d spoken to Nana this morning.
Lord, what should I do?

I didn’t hear a distinct voice, but a feeling of peace settled over me. I knew the answer. I had to help Doc. I’d want someone to do the same for me.

“I’ll do what I can. I don’t even know where to start,” I said.

Dee Dee took this as a cue to share her thoughts. “What about other people who might have a motive to kill Jacob? Trixie, we could make a list of acquaintances who Doc thinks might have it in for him.” She rummaged around in her purse.

“A list is a great idea. Doc, do you know of any enemies Jacob made while he worked at the museum?” I sipped my now watered-down soda.

“Yes. Yes, I do.” Doc’s face brightened. He pushed the cheesecake away that he’d only picked at.

Dee Dee found a pad, and with pen poised said, “Go ahead Doc. I’m ready.”

“Well, let me think. There’s Susan Gray. She’s a board member and the main reason I fired Jacob. He made unwanted passes at Susan and harassed her, to boot.” Doc’s face turned beet red. “She’s engaged to marry Jeffrey Jones. Not only is he a board member, too, he’s a big supporter of the museum as well as a historian and collector of Civil War memorabilia. I guess Jacob didn’t think she’d tell anyone, but she pretty much shouted it from the rooftops. Jeffrey was hopping mad and demanded I get rid of Jacob. I would have done it anyway, but he insisted I fire him.” Taking a long swig of his high-test Coke, he wiped his brow with a dainty paper napkin.

“Write down all those names.” I watched Dee Dee scrawl. “Not only did Susan have a reason to dislike Jacob, but her boyfriend, Jeffrey, did too. Maybe he wanted to dispose of him for good.” I began to perspire; Southern ladies don’t sweat. The air conditioner had either quit, or couldn’t keep up with the heat and humidity building outside as the afternoon approached.

Dee Dee wrote furiously. “Got ‘em down. Anybody else you can think of Doc?” She held up her glass and showed the waitress we all needed a round of drinks.

He rubbed his forehead. “I don’t know. I feel like my head is full of cotton and I can’t think.”

“Who are all the board members? Maybe one of them had an axe to grind,” I prompted.

“We only have five at this time. Samuel Brooks, you met him yesterday. He’s the acting director. Gloria Hamilton, she’s the one Penny told you about. You remember – her purse went missing. She’s determined to wreck havoc in my life. She wants her son, Steven, to take over my position when I retire and she’s hoping it will be soon.” Doc let out a big sigh.

“Go on, we’re listening.” Dee Dee encouraged.

“I’ve already mentioned Susan Gray. She’s the one Jacob harassed. And of course, me. I’m on the board.”

“There is another person I haven’t mentioned, but I don’t think she would hurt a flea, much less commit murder. When I found out Jacob made unwanted advances toward Susan I wondered about someone else. I asked Marianne, our receptionist and bookkeeper, if he’d bothered her. She denied it at first, then later admitted he’d harassed her, too.” Sweat continued to bead on Doc’s brow.

“All right, that’s a start. Can you get me their addresses?”

Dee Dee gave me a funny look. I know she was thinking “what do we need their addresses for” and I wondered the same thing. Was I willing to put myself in danger by investigating this murder?

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

I
decided the challenge was worth the risk. I encouraged Doc to continue.

“That’s easy, they all work downtown. You can easily catch them at their businesses if you want to talk to them. Except for Gloria, who lives on the edge of town within walking distance.” Doc drained his refill of Coke. I’d lost count of how many he’d guzzled.

“Dee Dee, did you get all this? We’ll need it later for reference. Neither one of us have the memory we used to.”

She gave me a scathing stare. “Speak for yourself – I take Ginkgo biloba faithfully. That is, when I remember to. You should, too, memory herbs might do you some good.”

I shook my head. Leave it to Dee Dee to add some humor to the difficult task we faced. I don’t know what I’d do without her.

I noticed bags under Doc’s bloodshot eyes. “Doc, why don’t you walk back to the museum, and Dee Dee and I’ll figure out where to start. I need to check on Nana. We’ll stop by the museum later on today.”

Doc raised his head slowly and offered me a half-smile. “Thank you so much, Trixie. And you, too, Dee Dee. I don’t know what I’ll do if the killer isn’t found.” He wiped the moisture from his brow with the now shredded napkin that came with our refreshments. “I’m anxious to tell Penny you’ve agreed to help. Your involvement will give her some hope to hang on to. My heart aches to see her so upset.”

I gave Doc a little pat on his arm. “What a great idea. Why don’t you ask her if she can think of anyone who might want to kill Jacob Wallace?”

“Dee Dee, write down our numbers for Penny in case she thinks of anything?”

“I’d be happy to, boss.” She grabbed her pen and pad and handed our contact information to Doc. She took her job as my scribe seriously.

We bade Doc good-bye and walked back to our car. Though the air remained muggy a slight breeze tickled my arms.

Downtown historic Marietta represented a fading part of Americana. In the center of the square, townsfolk moved past park benches. I took a stroll down memory lane, as the children chased each other around a statue of a soldier on horseback, standing guard over them.

“Why the melancholy smile, Trix?”

We stepped back as the kids circled us then continued on. “Thinking how much I miss those carefree days.” I changed the subject to more serious matters. “I’m concerned about Doc. I’m not sure where to start. We can ask questions, but will our investigation be enough?

“That’s a good question,” Dee Dee said. “But our help gives him hope. Everyone needs hope in their lives.” We stopped at the curb to wait for the light to change. “It hasn’t been long since you helped me out of a hopeless situation. If you hadn’t been there, I might be sitting in prison for a murder I didn’t commit.”

No one is immune to hopelessness. After Wade divorced me, I had sunk to the depths of despair. Dee Dee stood steadfast with me through the tough times.

“I remember my circumstances when we went on the trip to the Gold Rush Days. With the Dahlonega assignment being the last before my six-month probation, I felt hopeless, too. I suppose we all face the possibility of defeat head-on at some time during our lives.”

Dee Dee grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the curb. “Chin up, girlfriend. We’ll help out Doc and then get you back on the beat.”

In a few minutes we were in my Jeep and on the way to the hospital. I jiggled all the buttons, but couldn’t get the air conditioner to work. I hoped the double duty deodorant I’d applied this morning worked.

“What are you doing, Trixie? We passed that store a minute ago.” Dee Dee’s voice raised an octave “We’re going in circles.”

“These are one way streets, and I’m looking for the road we took yesterday.” I quickly pulled over into the next lane and hung a sharp right.

“Are you trying to kill me?”

“Sorry. I just remembered the turn.”

Dee Dee pulled her seat belt a little tighter and grabbed the handle above her door.

“Aw, come on. I’m a good driver.”

She made some weird choking sounds.

“What about the collection of tickets you’ve accumulated since moving back to Vans Valley?

“The only reason I’ve received so many is because Vans Valley’s a small town, and their patrolman has the hots for me.” I winked, and she grinned.

“I’m telling Beau on you.” Dee Dee reached over and patted my arm. “I’m glad you’re having some fun. I know you felt pretty low after Wade left.”

We chatted about my new life for a few minutes, until at last, we pulled into Kennestone Hospital’s parking lot. I snatched my cane for support. Dee Dee grabbed her gigantic bag. The multi-storied brick hospital towered above our heads as we walked to the entrance. This time around, we maneuvered through the maze of hallways much easier.

Dora sat up in bed, dressed in a pretty pink gown. I was pleasantly surprised. “Well, look at you, Dora.” She rewarded me with a big smile.

“Hi, Dora. Hi, Nana,” Dee Dee chimed in. “Where is Doctor Hotty?” Nana and Dora laughed. I didn’t think it was
that
funny.

“Oh, don’t worry. He’ll make his rounds soon.” She poured a drink of water for Dora and handed the plastic cup to her. “Why don’t you stay a while, Trixie? I know you’d love to see him again.” It might be true, but she garnered way too much pleasure in trying to fix me up. I rolled my eyes. Besides, she knew I’d been dating Beau.

“I saw that, Missy. Don’t you roll those eyes. I’ll catch you every time.” True to her word, she always did. Almost always.

I surveyed the bland walls and the scarred linoleum floor. Why couldn’t hospitals jazz up the décor with cheerful colors? At least the nurse’s uniforms had evolved into colorful garbs, instead of the drab white they used to wear.

The door opened wide and in walked a small, diminutive looking nurse. She reminded me of a bunny rabbit until she opened her mouth. “Out! Everybody out!” She barked the orders. “I have to check Miss Dora’s sutures and change her bandages and she doesn’t need an audience.”