The Killing King of Gratis (13 page)

“Delroy, you know I have always been a friend of your family. You also know that I have always been a friend to all the good people of this community, especially those who have been hurt through no fault of their own. What can I do to for you today?”

Johnnie mustered up a smile so matronly and sweet that Delroy almost believed she really had a good heart. His mind flashed to visions of the snake in the Garden of Eden, tea cookies resting in its coils.

“Miss Johnnie, you are so right. My family has always thought the world of you, and I always read your column first when I get the paper. It’s clear you have your finger on the pulse of the people, and maybe you can help me with my problem. I really need your guidance right now.” Delroy almost laughed at the ridiculousness of what he was saying.

Johnnie seemed genuinely touched. She took Delroy’s hand. He almost grimaced.

“I am more than glad to give you my guidance, if nothing else. What can you tell me?”

Amy looked on. Her beautiful round, dark eyes were now only narrow slits.

“Well, you know that my niece and nephew stumbled onto Millicent’s body, or part of it, anyway. It was a heartbreaking day for the children. I don’t know if they’ll ever be the same. You, more than anyone else, can imagine how this has affected them. Everyone in Gratis knows that you are a champion of our children.”

Johnnie smiled.

“We sent them away to make sure they’re safe. God knows what their mother or I would do if they got hurt by the horrible person who hurt Millicent, and who has obviously killed again.” Finally, something he said to Johnnie was true. “Now, the Sheriff has arrested their mother, and the D.A. is accusing her of neglect when all she has done is sacrifice to keep her babies out of harm’s way.” He was laying it on thick at this point.

Johnnie thought for a moment and let go of Delroy’s hand.

“Well, isn’t it true that you are helping Millicent’s killer, that horrible Newt MacElroy? It seems to me that you can make those children safe by getting Newt to turn himself in.” She turned cold, and her once matronly eyes now glinted.

“Johnnie, I always tell my clients to turn themselves in if an arrest warrant is out for them. What they do with my advice is beyond my control. In either case, arresting my sister-in-law is a baseless act. I can guarantee you that the folks who are aware of that arrest are starting to get unhappy about the whole thing. They’re starting to get unhappy about the sheriff, the DA, the judge, and everybody associated with a mother getting arrested for protecting her children.”

Johnnie knew whom he meant by “everybody associated” and did not appreciate the none-to-subtle threat.

“Well, I can assure you that I am in no way associated. I can’t believe you would accept the hospitality of my home and make such insinuations in my own living room.”

“Miss Johnnie, I don’t think you have to sit here and listen to this from Mr. Jones. I would advise you to invite him to leave.” Amy had to say something as she was beginning to feel left out.

Delroy kept staring straight at Johnnie and decided it was time to set the hook.

“Oh Lord, Miss Johnnie, you misunderstand me. I know you have nothing to do with that. I’m here to see if you can help change their minds about my sister-in-law. You may be the only one with that kind of sway in this town.”

Johnnie was listening now. Her ego had a sweet tooth.

“Let me tell you something. I know that Newt had nothing to do with Millicent’s murder. He left her in the company of another man the night she was murdered.”

“How do you know that? I bet that’s what Mr. MacElroy told you.”

“Well yes, he may have told me that, but I have a little more.”

“Well, what is a little more?” Johnnie’s eyes glistened.

Delroy thought for a moment about how to phrase his reply. He fumbled for the perfect words.

“Miss Johnnie, at the risk of sounding unkind, the powers that be dropped the ball. They messed this up when they started focusing on Newt. They messed this up when they allowed so-called private investigators to run all over this county roughing up people. They messed this up when they failed to protect Althea Lacey, who had information to give to them about the murder. I don’t think they’re capable of figuring this thing out. The DA and Sheriff just want to close this thing and be done with it because they’re afraid of not making an arrest. In the meantime, they expect you and me to go along with their plans. Think about it Miss Johnnie, what have they done so far besides put some pressure on one fairly honest lawyer and his poor sister in law?”

Johnnie smiled and nodded her head. “Well, what can you give me? I have to have something to help out. I’m a journalist after all. I can’t just throw words on paper.”

“Of course you can’t. First, you have to do one thing for me, Miss Johnnie.”

She nodded.

“I have to deal with you one on one. This information is just too delicate to have Ms. Delahunt present. Like you said, she’s not your attorney, and this information is extremely confidential.”

Amy exploded.

“Delroy Jones, there is no way I’m leaving Miss Johnnie in here without me to help her. Miss Johnnie, you can’t trust this man. As far as I know he might be the one killing all these women!”

Johnnie sat back in her chair and studied the two attorneys in front of her.
What children
, she thought.

“Amy, Delroy wouldn’t hurt a flea. Why don’t you go into my den and do some lawyering on my computer. I have the internet, you know. Let me talk with my old friend Delroy alone.”

“But Johnnie, this is a poor idea.”

Johnnie cut her short. “Dammit, Amy, if you don’t want to go to the den, you have to leave my house.” The women glared at each other. Amy rose, as dignified as she could, and strolled out of the room as if it was her choice. Delroy missed her as soon as she was gone. Johnnie turned her full attention to Delroy.

“Alright, Delroy, let’s cut the crap. I’m going to find Millicent’s murderer. I’m going to make sure everyone knows that I did the finding, especially Franklin Knox. What can you do for me so that I help you? I can’t think of a thing.”

“It seems that I have a witness in this case. A witness who can give details to your readers, to Franklin.”

“What, you mean Newt? I don’t know that I care what he has to say. As far as I’m concerned, he’s a drunk womanizer whose dissolution has driven him homicidal. You have to do better than that.”

“Johnnie, you think I don’t have better than that? Hell, I got an eye-witness who saw Millie leave with a stranger the night of her murder. He saw her with her murderer. I have that eye-witness’ name, address, and shoe size, and that eye-witness ain’t Newt.”

Johnnie couldn’t help it. Her jaw literally dropped. She composed herself, but Delroy could hear the tremor in her voice as she asked a one word question, the only question that mattered.

“Who?”

“Well Johnnie, let’s talk.” Delroy felt his hand shaping up nicely.

They talked for an hour, maybe more. From the den, Amy heard their voices raise at times and then lower to a humming duet. She tapped away at Johnnie’s computer, looking for any dirt on Delroy Jones she could find. She didn’t like being underestimated, and she didn’t like Delroy. She definitely didn’t like wanting to peer into those blue eyes of his again.

That jerk
, she thought, and kept tapping.

T
hree mornings later old men read the Proclaimer while spooning their grits and drinking their coffee. Moms and Dads read it after getting their children fed, while storeowners sat behind their counters and read between the occasional customer. No matter where they read it, they all had some reaction to Johnnie’s column.

Some of them probably chuckled. Some of them probably believed their eggs were making them queasy. All were unsettled after reading it, like they were sitting in a dead quiet house after hearing a burglar’s footfall.

Franklin Knox’s secretary placed a number of calls that morning. Shortly before lunch Knox was sitting at the Neck Country Club as those called filtered in. They found Franklin drinking a scotch, neat, and smoking Viceroys from a nearly empty pack. He was slouching in a large leather chair, the cigarette smoke clouding his eyes as much as the scotch. In his lap sat a Proclaimer opened to Johnnie’s column. All those present knew that this was not a good sign.

“Well, damn, I’m glad you ladies could make it. sheriff, Mr. DA, Judge, Judge’s little shit son named after his deadbeat granddaddy, the old moonshiner. Judge, at least you still have your child, such as he is.” The Mottes just looked at Knox, not saying a word.

Knox continued, “This is the son from the same wife whose nose you broke twenty some-odd years ago? Damn hell, I wonder if he’s gonna follow in your footsteps and be the second most mediocre jurist we’ve ever seen here.”

“Look, Franklin.”

“Shut the hell up. Don’t ever goddam “look” me. Sheriff, glad to see you and the DA here. Were you able to finish your breakfast? I would hate for you not to have enough time to get a good, filling meal in the morning.” Franklin stopped and poured himself another scotch. His hands shook as he reached to get another cigarette after pouring his drink.

“Franklin, you’re drunk and acting like an asshole.” Everyone in the room froze and turned their eyes away from the speaker. Tommy didn’t care. The words tasted like honey as they flowed from his mouth.

“Really, Tommy, why don’t you hand me your badge right now? Tell you what, Mr. DA, I think you might want to start a grand jury investigation of the sheriff’s office. I think you could probably find something. Maybe theft of public money, ’cause they definitely ain’t doing shit over there.”

“Franklin, I’m done listening to this. You want something from me this morning? Fine, then let’s get to it. If you don’t, I’m going back to my office.” Tommy didn’t care to be threatened. He knew too many of the secrets of everybody in the room to worry about any threat.

“Well Sheriff Tom T. Dumbass, old fella, let me read you something I read from the old Proclaimer. I ‘spect y’all have read it already, but let’s go over it again, let’s see, “ I loved Millicent Knox. She was my best friend; y’all know that. I also know what kind of person she was. She loved families. She loved people. She loved children.”

Tommy couldn’t help but think that
she also loved cocaine. She loved threesomes.
He suppressed a smile.

“I know what she didn’t love. She didn’t love children being hounded by thugs. She didn’t love mothers being put into jail for protecting their children. Those are things she was against. It has come to my attention that these things are being done in Millicent’s name, which I find deplorable and heartbreaking because, if she were alive, she would never have allowed it. The various law enforcement officials have lost their way in this case. I implore them to stop. I am sure that the Knox family would join me in this request; no, in this demand.”

“It has further come to my attention that an eye witness in this case has been found who saw Millicent get into an older, green Ford truck with a man wearing tan pants, an orange shirt, and a blue hat. They were behind CJ’s pool hall. Worse, this man knew our Millicent. She was smiling when she got into the truck. It breaks my heart.”

Franklin stopped reading and put the paper down. He was crying. When the judge handed him a tissue he batted it away and lifted his glass to drink. He kept the glass to his mouth, his tears mixing with the scotch. Then, putting the glass down, now empty, he continued reading.

“The eye witness is currently in hiding. Given the actions of law enforcement in this case, he is afraid of coming forward, both for his safety and the safety of others. I pray that our Sheriff will put all his efforts into finding the killer. I pray that the DA will set free those who are now unfairly being held. I pray for Gratis. I hope you will all join me.” Franklin put the paper down, spent from the effort of reading.

“Really, how have y’all let this thing get away from you? I gave you one job, just one. Find Millicent’s killer. Not only have you failed to do that, but folks are starting to turn against us on this thing. Worse yet, you’re getting shown up by an old lady with a pen. Y’all disgust me.”

The others in the room read the Proclaimer earlier that morning and shared Knox’s opinion of the situation. Tommy was mad as hell when he read it, and ready to lock up Johnnie for obstruction by withholding evidence. It would be a bad charge, but he didn’t like being held up to public contempt.

“Well, Franklin, why doesn’t Tommy just go pick up Ms. Lee?” The judge spoke before Tommy could. “I believe he could get the name and location of this witness, and we would be that much closer to finding who hurt your daughter.”

“Really, that’s the best a judge can come up with? Piss poor as always.” Franklin snorted. “Here’s what we’re gonna do. First, let that momma out of jail.”

Tommy stared at the floor, hoping no-one would see the disappointment in his eyes. He would miss Anna dearly.

“Next, Tommy’s gonna see Delroy. Everyone knows that he gave this info to Johnnie. Half the town was at Le Café when Delroy came rolling in there. Don’t spend all your time on Newt. The simple son of a bitch probably didn’t have anything to do with it, and we know he’ll be hiding up in Walton County if we need him.”

“Let’s be clear, ladies. I didn’t get where I am by putting on a good show. The things we do have to have a purpose. I don’t want to just look like I’m catching my baby’s murderer. I want to catch him and watch him die. I want the son of a bitch to be afraid.”

“Franklin, I don’t know of any charge we can hold Delroy on.” The D.A. took seriously Delroy’s threat to go to the State Bar.

“Who said anything about holding him? We’re gonna let him head up this whole thing, unofficially, anyway. He’s the only one who’s gotten any traction at all. I don’t like the bastard, but we’d save the county a whole lot of money if he was the sheriff and D.A. at the same time. Really, he checkmated you two with an old woman’s typewriter. I don’t know if you’re that dumb or he’s that smart. I do know when I see talent, and I’d rather work with it than against it.”