The Last Clinic (26 page)

“Where did you get this DVD?” she asked Shelby.

“Well now, that’s what I wanted to talk about. I didn’t get it. Tommy got it.”

Could anything have been worse?

“Who gave it to him?”

“He won’t say. Could have been Bobby, Bobby’s attorney. Maybe Lenore found it. Maybe somebody from the church. What’s the difference? It’s admissible.”

“Shit.”

“And Kendall has an SUV registered in her name,” he said.

“A black Infinity, but so do you. Everybody in the state of Mississippi drives an SUV or a pickup, except me. I’m the only person in the state that doesn’t feel like they have to ride around in a tank.”

“It don’t matter who does and who doesn’t. Reverend Jimmy was shot from the cab of an SUV. Kendall owns an SUV. And we know she owns guns, lots of guns—a 12-gauge among them. Tommy checked registration.”

He picks this time to act like a cop
, thought Darla.

“Which kind of brings me to the part about your house.”

Darla understood immediately. “He broke in, didn’t he? He busted down the door to my house? Did you know about this?”

“I just found out before I called you.”

“That’s why you didn’t want me to go home first.”

“Tommy got the DVD last night. He won’t confirm it, but my guess is somebody left it under his door and he found it when he got home. Probably when the bars closed, say about one a.m. unless he got a last dance hook-up, which I seriously doubt. Well now, Tommy plays the DVD and his heart starts pitter-pattering. He’s gonna be the big hero. He found the killer all by his lonesome. And guess where? Right under the nose of the big city policewoman, whom he sees as a rival for my professional affections. Ain’t much of a contest, but that’s not to the point. Tommy figures he’ll pay you two girls an early morning visit, but just in case you and your roommate are not there, he concludes he better get a search warrant, at which point, he says he called me.”

“But everybody knows you won’t answer the phone after nine at night.”

“And this leaves Tommy with no recourse but to call the district attorney, who calls up Judge Carthage at about two a.m. Tommy hops in his Caddy and drives over to Eastover, to the Judge’s estate, and picks up the search warrant. It’s a knock warrant. Tommy would, of course, have rather had a no-knock warrant, let him bust right in. But one has to accept the world as one finds it. I’m guessing at somewhere around four a.m. Tommy comes a-knocking on the door to your cute little cottage up the street from where the great Mississippi treasure, Miss Eudora Welty, used to live. Tommy, as is the practice in these matters, comes accompanied by two patrolmen, a crowbar, and a sledgehammer.”

“He knocks on your front door, and announces himself, panty-raid style I’m sure, hoping to find you and the former Mrs. Goodhew in your respective nighties. When there’s no answer, Tommy, in full accordance with the rules of the Hinds County Sheriff’s Department Procedures Manual, uses, and I quote, ‘enough necessary force to execute an entry.’ In short, he kicks your front door in, busts it up pretty good, so all your neighbors will be aware of his visit.”

“The little shit,” said Darla.

“A hasty but thorough search ensues. I suspect a number of drawers have been emptied on the floor, that sort of thing. At last he discovers the incriminating evidence he’s been looking for.”

“He finds the 12-gauge. It was in a locked gun case in the hall closet. He didn’t have to ransack the place.”

“The thoroughness with which he conducted the search is a reflection of the low degree of personal regard he holds for you.”

“So after he trashed my home he found Kendall’s 12-gauge?”

“Along with a box of double ought shells, a few of them missing.”

“Proving that old saw about the blind squirrel.”

“And not finding the accused present, and also because you are not there to report on her possible whereabouts, Detective Reylander, like a good police officer, inquires of the next of her kin.”

“He called Bobby, and Bobby asked the kids. She always tells the kids where she’ll be, so they tell Dad that Mom went up to the cabin. Right?”

“Very good, Detective Cavannah. You’re right with me.”

“So, what you’re saying is Tommy is headed to the cabin to pick up Kendall?”

“Left about two hours ago. Called me as he was getting up there.”

“Who’s he got with him?”

“Cowboy Tommy? He’s going solo. Wants to make the collar all by himself. Doesn’t want there to be any confusion about who busted the case open. Probably will call the news stations on his way back. Make sure they get a picture of him and her with the bracelets. How are the roads on the property? Maybe he’ll get stuck in the mud.”

“I’ve heard enough. I don’t have enough time to go home. I’ve got flats in my office, some cuffs, and binoculars. I’ll call Kendall on the way up, but she usually turns her cell off if she’s out in the woods. Won’t even put it on vibrate. She’s sure the wildlife can sense it.”

 “Look. Miss Darla, this thing could go a lot smoother than you think. Tommy may not be a Grade A officer, but he’s not dumb enough to shoot somebody if he don’t have to.”

“I wish I could say the same thing for Kendall. She’s got her bow.”

“Tommy can take care of himself.”

“I saw her take out a wild boar at twenty yards. One arrow, perfect hit, right through the lungs and heart. Sorry, Shelby, but I don’t like Tommy’s odds.”

25

Gobbler’s Lake Rendezvous.

Kendall’s cabin was situated on a hill, overlooking a twelve-acre pond, surrounded by five hundred acres of timber that butted up against a national forest. The lay of the land being more or less one hundred miles northeast of Jackson, in what locals called the Red Hills.

The previous owners of the parcel had dubbed the property Gobbler’s Lake because of the wild turkeys that were supposed to be cavorting about. The land surrounding the lake, like most of the land in the area, was thick with Southern yellow pine, but also various varieties of oak, hickory, and sycamore.

Darla liked the name Gobbler’s Lake. It sounded like something out of
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
or a scary ghost story that kids told each other sitting around a campfire.

The cabin sat roughly a mile back from the main road. The gate was usually secured by a combination lock but was open when Darla arrived. This meant Kendall was on the property. Presumably, so was Tommy. Darla had tried both of their cell phones on the way up, hoping she could defuse any possible confrontation. Neither of them had picked up.

When Darla arrived at the cabin she found Kendall’s SUV parked in the driveway and next to it, Tommy’s Caddy.

She checked the cabin first. No one was inside. A second key opened the utility room, where Kendall kept her weapons and ammunition. Kendall’s favorite bow was missing, along with a half-dozen arrows.

Next, she slogged down the muddy interior road on foot to the tin shed, looking for the “mule,” the covered four-wheeled ATV used to get to the hunting stands on the other side of the lake, the best place for deer. The mule was gone. Kendall took it. She was the only one with a set of keys.

Darla took one of the hunter’s orange jackets and slipped it on. Hopefully, Tommy had enough of his wits about him to do the same.

Tommy had a big head start on her but she knew her way to the stand and he didn’t. If she hurried, maybe she could catch up with him before he found Kendall.

The shooting stand was at the top of a hill, the highest point in the county. It had thirty feet or so of meadow around it in all directions. The stand, fifteen feet off the ground, resembled a tree house. It was 6’ by 6’ square, enclosed by a roof and four walls, with windows cut out on each side and a ladder leading up.

When Darla reached the clearing, she caught sight of Tommy. He was a good forty feet from the stand, looking up at the stand as if he was trying to see in the window. He had his Glock drawn. Darla tried to see if Kendall was inside, but couldn’t make out one way or the other. Then she heard Tommy.

“Okay, Kendall. I’m tired of playing games with you. I know you’re up there. Don’t make me come up after you.”

He didn’t sound very sure of himself.

“You’re looking in the wrong place, Officer Asshole.” Kendall’s voice came back.

Tommy turned to his rear in the direction of the voice, and brought his Glock out in front of him, but with one hand, keeping his free hand up to shield his eyes from the sun. Kendall was thirty yards from Tommy at the edge of the meadow, her bow fully drawn, the arrow fixed on Tommy.

Darla drew her .380 Taurus and took a bead on Kendall. The three of them formed a triangle.

“Come on, you two. Play nice,” Darla said.

They glanced in her direction, each becoming aware of her presence for the first time and each of them seeing Darla had Kendall in her sights.

“What are you doing up here, Sister? I thought you didn’t like to hunt?” said Kendall.

“I figured you and your high school sweetheart here might need a chaperone.”

“He was never my high school sweetheart,” said Kendall.

“I’m taking the collar on this one, Darla,” said Tommy.

“ Good. That means you get to write the report.”

The sun seemed to be getting to Tommy. He was bending at the knees and squinting more now.

“Can’t see very well, can you, you stupid jack-off?” said Kendall. “You better put that gun away before you get hurt.”

“Kendall Goodhew, you’re under arrest for the murder of Reverend James Aldridge. Drop that bow and arrow and put your hands up.”

“What, did that bitch Marietta Simmons change her story and say it was me?”

“Drop your weapon, or I’ll blow you away.”

“You couldn’t hit me even if you could see.”

“Nana, nana, nana. What is this, third grade?” said Darla, still with Kendall in her sight.          

“You got the shot on her, Detective Cavannah?” Tommy said.

“Yeah, I got the shot on her, and she’s got the shot on you. The only one who doesn’t have the shot is you.”

“Well, are you going to take the shot or what?” said Tommy.

“Look, you two, this is like the farmer and the fox and the hen and the grain. We’re going to have to do things in a certain order, or somebody is going to get hurt.”

“You’re beginning to sound like Shelby,” said Tommy. “Reciting Bible parables like you was the lay reader at First Baptist.”

“The fox and the hen and the grain. I remember that one,” said Kendall. “The farmer has to get all three across the river, and he can only take one at a time. But if he takes the fox, the hen will eat the grain, and if he takes the grain, the fox will eat the hen.”

“This better not be some code between the two of you, all this fox and hen talk,” said Tommy.

“Here’s what we’ll do,” said Darla. “Tommy, since you can’t really get a good shot off at Kendall, you’ll be the first to put down your weapon. Kendall won’t shoot you because I’ll shoot her if she does.”

“How about if we let her go first? Put that Indian missile down? Wouldn’t that work better all around?” said Tommy. “I’m the arresting officer. I shouldn’t have to go first.”

“You dumb shit,” said Kendall. “Don’t you get it? The farmer takes the hen first because the fox won’t eat the grain. Darla, you didn’t actually think he was my sweetheart, did you?”

“How about it, Tommy?” Darla said. She could see Tommy trying to think the matter through.

“As long as Kendall is the hen, and I get to be the fox. I’m not being no damn hen. That’s not what the Bible intended.”

“It’s got nothing to do with the Bible. It’s just a kid’s puzzle, you dickhead,” said Kendall.

“You sure you got her?” said Tommy.

“I got her. Kendall as soon as he holsters his weapon, I want you to ease off on the bow and put it down. Then I’ll put away my weapon, and we’ll all meet in the middle, join hands, and sing ‘Kumbaya.’”

“What if it slips in my hands, and I accidentally shoot him in his Little Elvis?”

“I love you like a sister, Kendall, but if you discharge an arrow, I will shoot you through the brain.”

Kendall threw a quick glance Darla’s way.

“Shit, I think you would.”

“Okay, team, here we go. You first, Tommy.”

Darla was worried that the sequence wasn’t going to work—that Tommy would fire on Kendall, miss, and Kendall would shoot him through the heart like she did that whitetail. Then Darla would be forced have to take Kendall out.

But Tommy surprised her and did what he was told. He lowered his Glock and put it in his holster.

“Okay, the fox did his part,” said Tommy.

“Your turn,” Darla said to Kendall.

“I’m not a killer despite what fat ass over there thinks,” said Kendall, and eased back on the pull, lowered the bow, and removed the arrow.

Darla followed suit. Weapons away, the three more or less converged on each other.

“Let’s be clear, here,” said Tommy. “I got a DVD where she threatened Reverend Jimmy’s life if he helped Bobby get custody of their children, which he did. And then Reverend Jimmy gets shot, so I’m placing her under arrest.”

“Did my ex-husband send that to you? That shit tape made by that blackmailing prick Jimmy?”

“Can I talk to you alone for a second, Detective Reylander?” said Darla, taking Tommy by the arm.

“I hope you ain’t planning on making a run for it,” he said over his shoulder to Kendall.

Darla and Tommy walked to where they were out of Kendall’s hearing.

“You can bring her in and arrest her, and you can hold her just like you did with Dr. Nicoletti. You can get the collar. You can be the primary interrogator. You can run the show here, Tommy, but you’re probably not going to be able to charge her. You have motive, yes, but she may be able to establish her whereabouts at the time of the shooting.”

“What are you saying? That she was with you at the time of the shooting?”

“She was not with me. And she may not have an alibi. But unless you connect her to the crime scene or the actual murder weapon, you don’t have a case.”