At Monty’s Diner, Wednesday morning’s newspaper disappeared faster than Leo’s blueberry pancakes. Mark Steele stood at the counter behind George Gentry and read over his shoulder.
SHEILA PAXTON’S BOYFRIEND MURDERED
AUTHORITIES LOOKING FOR CONNECTION
Richard Boatman, 36, was found murdered yesterday in a Raleigh suburb, just one day after burying his girlfriend, Sheila Paxton, who was fatally wounded in last Friday’s freeway shooting in Atlanta.
Raleigh police are reeling today after yesterday’s bloodbath that ended with three dead in the quiet, upscale neighborhood of Haverly Heights.
The grisly events began unfolding early yesterday morning when a cleaning woman reported finding two men shot and killed in an office building. Both victims suffered a single gunshot wound to the head. Police say both victims were armed.
Then late yesterday afternoon, Raleigh police were led to the body of a third victim, this one in Haverly Park, a few blocks from the office building where the two shooting victims were discovered …
Mark read slowly through the lead story, suddenly aware that the morning crowd was engaged in conversation.
“That’s one couple that’s not battin’ a thousand,” Rosie Harris said, making her way down the counter pouring refills. “Talk about lousy odds.”
“Eerie,” Reggie Mason said.
Mort Clary took a bite of pancakes. “Gotta be tied together somehow. Maybe this Boatman fella was her pimp.”
“Oh, brother.” Hattie Gentry rolled her eyes. “Just when we thought you were coming around.”
“Pimp?” George Gentry said. “Mort, are you nuts?”
“Before you go name callin’, Georgie, think about it. Maybe this Sheila Paxton was workin’ fer Thompson Tire, tryin’ ta close deals by usin’ her feminine ammunition, if ya git my drift.”
“Oh, we got your drift, all right—and it’s offensive!” Rosie tapped Mort on the head. “That’s about the meanest, stupidest accusation I’ve ever heard come out of you.”
“Hold yer horses, I don’t mean nothin’ mean by it. But the lady was a looker, and—”
“Looker—not hooker.” Mark threw a piece of peppermint at Mort. “Big difference.”
Rosie pointed her finger at him. “Listen, mister. I resent the implication that Sheila Paxton was some kind of a vamp whose irresistible charms overpowered our defenseless mayor and caused him to make a bad business deal. Mayor Kirby is smarter than that. And the woman can’t defend herself. Let her rest in peace.”
“Just tryin’ ta figure out how they fit together, that’s all,” Mort said. “You can bet them murders is related.”
Reggie blew on his coffee. “Could be just a weird coincidence. Authorities haven’t found a connection.”
“Maybe they have, Reg. And they just ain’t tellin’.”
FBI Special Agent Jordan Ellis was taking a bite of an already soggy BLT when his cell phone rang. He washed the mouthful of sandwich down with a gulp of milk and hit the talk button. “This is Jordan.”
“Well, Special Agent Ellis. This is a voice from your past.”
“Brad? Brad Winston, is that you?”
“Hey, you haven’t lost your touch. Good shot.”
Jordan chuckled. “Let me guess: You’re in charge of that mess up in Raleigh.”
“Righto. And you’re in Atlanta up to your ears in the freeway shooting. What’s your spin—are the two are linked?”
“Proving it may be impossible,” Jordan said.
“Was that a yes?”
“What’s the skinny on Boatman?”
“Same old Jordan. Not going to offer me a crumb till you get something first.”
“What do you know about him, Brad?”
“We’re digging. He was a CPA. Did well, too. You should see his house and his bank accounts. Can’t find anything that would lead us to his family, though. His friends have been cooperative, but when it comes right down to it, no one knows much about him beyond the obvious.”
“And with all the media coverage, still no family?”
“Nada. But get this … the other two victims? Deputy U.S. marshals.”
Jordan rubbed his chin. “Yeah, I figured. We ran up against a brick wall with the girlfriend, too. Went back to her law school and had them dig her college transcript out of archives. Showed she graduated from Ravenhurst College in New Hampshire with a 4.0. So we checked it out. Wanna guess what we found?”
“No record that Sheila Paxton ever went there?”
“You got it.”
Brad laughed. “Think we’re stuck in our own briar patch?”
“It’s got the Justice Dapartment’s thumbprints all over it. If she was in the witness protection program, she was effectively erased.”
“Well, Jordan, they do know how to make them disappear.”
“Yeah, but this is one time when I wish they weren’t so good.”
Ellen Jones picked up her phone and dialed Charlie Kirby’s office.
“Mayor Kirby’s office.”
“Hi Regina. It’s Ellen Jones. May I speak with Charlie, please?”
“Of course. Please hold the line.”
Ellen glanced out the window and relished the mosaic of fall color lining the street below. She would much rather have been out for a walk than doing what she was about to do.
“Hello, Ellen.”
“Hi, Charlie. I trust you made it home from Raleigh without incident?”
“I did. No problem. What’s on your mind?”
Ellen lowered her voice. “Charlie … we’ve known each other a long time. I’m uncomfortable doing this, but I need to ask you to comment on a rumor that’s come to my attention.”
“Which rumor? The one started by Avery Stedman that I had an affair with Sheila Paxton, or the one where Jeremy Adler says he saw me making out with her in the parking lot behind my office building?”
“I’m so sorry to have to even ask, but I felt an obligation to stop the rumor if I can.”
“I doubt you can, Ellen. It’s like chasing the wind.”
“I take it you’ve been dodging bullets since last we talked?”
“That’s putting it mildly. I’ll tell you what I told the elders: I did not have a romantic relationship with Sheila Paxton. I saw her in office meetings—period. Avery Stedman is a sore loser and he’s turned his anger into a personal vendetta to ruin me.”
Ellen twirled her pencil like a baton. “What about the Adler boy. What’s that about?”
“I went to his home and spoke first with his parents and then to Jeremy. Though he can’t prove it was me he saw with Sheila, he won’t recant. Said he’d rather be grounded. You should’ve seen him: the kid was eating up the attention. But what difference does it make now? The cat’s out of the bag, so to speak. Good luck trying to put it back without getting clawed to death.”
Ellen got up and shut the door. “You must be sick over this. How’s Marlene?”
“Depressed. Can you blame her?”
“How’re the older kids handling it?”
“Kaitlin doesn’t quite grasp what’s happening. Kevin’s the hardest hit. No child should have to defend his father’s honor. It’s infuriating, Ellen. I’m innocent of these allegations.”
“Why don’t you make a public statement?”
“I shouldn’t have to, that’s the point.”
“If you don’t, this may get worse.”
“And if I defend myself, it might be construed as covering my tail. What I’d like to do is wring Avery Stedman’s neck.”
“But you can’t.”
“I know that, Ellen.”
She walked over and stood at the window, her eyes resting on Charlie’s office building. “So why don’t you let me report on this? I’m getting calls anyway. People trust what I print. I can help put a stop to it.”
“How?”
“I’ll talk to Jeremy Adler and Avery Stedman and find the holes in their allegations. I’ll make sure it’s reported in a way that’s fair to you.”
“I don’t know … it’s hard enough for Marlie knowing the rumors are circulating. But seeing them in print might send her over the edge.”
“Charlie, I have to address this in some fashion, and preferably before KJNX gets wind of it. Heaven knows what spin they’ll put on it.”
“You’re sweet to offer, Ellen. I hate to put you in such an awkward position.”
“Don’t worry. That’s what I do. Besides, most people in town hold you in high regard. It won’t be hard for them to believe the truth.”
Charlie hung up the phone and caught a glimpse of dried egg on the window. He remembered an old saying, ‘Always tell the truth so you won’t have to remember what you said.’ He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. He’d been consistent in his story.
How could he admit to Marlie how close he had come to having an affair with Sheila? He had always been careful to guard his heart against that kind of thing. One time he failed. What good would it do for Marlie to know he had wanted another woman? It would devastate her. Women never seem to understand the temptations men have. She’d probably never be able to forgive him. She certainly wouldn’t trust him. And probably would never respect him again.
Marlie might come around if he stayed consistent. But could he find peace, knowing he hadn’t been completely honest with her?
I didn’t do it. That has to mean something. But even as he argued with himself, Charlie knew he was only justifying his thought life. That’s where his sin had started. And for all he knew, the only thing that had kept him from acting it out was Sheila’s death.
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The passage from James flooded his soul. Why should he confess his failing to Marlie—or to anyone else? Hadn’t he asked the Lord’s forgiveness? Hadn’t he promised God he would never allow something like this to happen again? That should be enough.
Charlie rubbed his temples, then opened the top drawer and pulled out a half-empty bottle of water and two Extra Strength Excedrin. He popped the pills in his mouth and washed them down, then reached up to his in box and pulled out a stack of today’s mail.
Dennis Lawton flipped on the Six O’Clock News and flopped on the couch. His twin boys, Bailey and Benjamin, ran giggling through the family room and crawled on top of him.
“Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!”
“Hey, you two, it’s time for Dad to watch the news. Why don’t you go ask Mommy for a cracker? After dinner, we’ll go outside and kick the ball.” Dennis smiled at the thought of their short little legs kicking furiously at the soccer ball. “Wait till after dinner and Daddy will play with you.”
“Me kick ball!” Bailey shouted.
Benjamin climbed down from the couch, Bailey right behind him, and raced toward the kitchen.
Dennis picked up the remote and turned on the local news.
“Baxter Mayor Charlie Kirby was unavailable for comment following allegations that his clandestine affair with Sheila Paxton, Thompson Tire’s corporate attorney killed in last week’s Atlanta freeway shooting, caused him to pressure the city council to rush a yes vote on the Thompson Tire relocation.
“Reliable sources have confirmed for KJNX that allegations of sexual misconduct were made at a meeting of the merchant’s association last Friday. Merchants who operate businesses on the town square have repeatedly objected to the tire plant and believe the decision was a poor one, and that the mayor’s relationship with Ms. Paxton influenced the outcome.
“KJNX has also confirmed that a sixth grader at Baxter Middle School told teachers that on Thursday night of last week, he saw Mayor Kirby with Sheila Paxton in the parking lot behind the city office building, engaged in passionate kissing.
“KJNX is still trying to get Mayor Kirby to respond to these allegations, but as of this hour, the mayor is not talking. Back to you, Monica …”
Dennis put the TV on mute and walked to the kitchen. “Jen, did you hear anything today about this supposed affair Charlie had with Sheila Paxton?”
Jennifer looked up from the kitchen island where she was working. “Everyone at the grocery store was talking about it. Makes me sick. I can’t believe it.”
“Well, I don’t believe it.”
“You think he’s innocent?”
“Don’t you?”
“I don’t know. Why would a middle schooler make that up? And after the allegations being hurled from the merchant’s association, it’s hard to know what to think.”
“So, why not think he’s innocent until proven guilty?”
Jennifer picked up a chicken breast and placed it on the grill. “How can you prove something like that?”
“Honey, that’s my point. You can’t. But look at Charlie’s track record. He’s never done anything like this. Plus, he loves the Lord—and his family. He’s got too much to lose.”
“It’s hard for me to believe he’d do it either. But don’t you think it’s weird that two different allegations have been thrown out there?”
“Doesn’t prove anything.”
Jennifer placed two more chicken breasts on the grill and added the vegetable skewers. “You’re right. Of course it doesn’t.”
“Your dad seemed somber when he came home from the elder’s meeting last night. He’s not at liberty to say, but I think the issue came up. He seems worried about what this will do to Charlie and his family.”
“Poor Marlene. This must be horrible for her. But what if he did do it? Will he have to resign?”
“I imagine he’d opt to resign, Jen. He couldn’t be effective if people don’t respect or trust him.”
“Has he made a statement yet? He hadn’t earlier.”
Dennis shook his head. “Not according to KJNX. Guess we’ll have to wait to see how the newspaper reports it.”
“Aren’t you supposed to play golf with Charlie on Friday?”
“Yeah. Hope he doesn’t cancel. I’d like to hear his perspective on this.”
Jennifer took the rice off the stove and turned to Dennis, her eyebrows arched. “Oh, right. Like he’s going to tell you if he’s guilty.”
“We’ve gotten to know each other pretty well, Jen. I’d like to think he’d trust me if he had something to get off his chest. And by Friday, he may be looking for a friend.”