Chapter Twenty-Two

“Mama don’t go and lose your mind,” I insisted while I took photos of the burglary scene. I had finally gotten her and Mrs. Brown to settle down.

It was a little hard to get the photos with Mama shuffling around the RV with protective police slippers on her shoes and her phone right next to my eyes.

Finn had already taken some of his parent’s prints off their coffee mugs and hair brushes for quick identification so when we did brush out the finger printing powder, we’d be able to see which ones weren’t theirs.

“I’ve been saving all the wedding stuff on this new thing called Pinterest.” Mama used her finger to scroll through the wedding board she’d created just for me.

“It’s not new and . . .” My mind rolled back to Avon’s computer. “Avon was on Pinterest.”

“That dead girl?” Mama jerked back. “What on Earth does she have to do with your wedding?”

“Mama.” I turned around. “Finn didn’t propose. He’s going to take the sheriff’s position in Clay’s Ferry.”

“He’s w...wh…what?” Mama never stutters. She was shaken to her core. Probably even more than me.

“The sheriff’s position is open in Clay’s Ferry. He went over to interview and they’ve offered him the job.” I knew that would stop Mama from carrying on about any sort of wedding.

“He can’t do that,” she protested. “He lives here, and he serves Cottonwood. Did you tell him that?”

“No. He’s a grown man that can make his own decisions,” I said under my breath when I heard him in the living space near us. It wasn’t my place to explain to Mama what was in Finn’s head and I didn’t want him to think I didn’t support him.

Ultimately, I did think it would be very hard not to see him first thing in the morning and I sure was going to miss our afternoon rendezvous when we had the time.

“He needs help. He’s obviously lost his mind.” Mama’s voice cracked. “I mean, stress with his own mama sick and all can do funny things.”

“He’s not stressed.” I snapped a few more photos and continued to put fingerprinting powder over most of the things in the RV. It sure would help if I found Reagan’s prints in here. “He is too good to be a deputy all his life.”

“Then you be the deputy and he can be sheriff. That’d make us all happy.” She never was able to give up a good jab.

“I’m not going to stop him. That’s that.” My voice was stern enough to get her attention.

She’d opened her mouth, shut it and then curled her lips together to keep from saying something.

“How’s Shelby doing?” I asked. “I know you’ve already gone to see her.”

I really didn’t know. But I knew Mama. Her Southern hospitality would never let someone be in the hospital without her checking on them first thing, especially since it was Finn’s mom.

“According to Lulu’s contact, I heard they were going to let her go on home.” She nodded.

“Not until I release this crime scene.” I looked around.

“Crime scene?” Mama drew back.

“Why do you think I made you put booties on your feet?” I stood there looking at her in shock.

“I don’t know.” She willy-nilly waved her hand in the air. “I figured you and Finn were cleaning up after them. They are dirty people. You’d never know it by looking at her.”

“Mama, they were robbed last night.” My mind went right back to Reagan. “And so was Lita Brumfield.”

“Were Herb and Reagan working things out? Did they kill Avon? What about Reagan’s job? How would that help them? Then there were the break-ins. Were they working together?” Poppa ghosted in and started to ask me questions like I was just going to start playing our little “what if” game.

All great questions, but my lips were zipped.

My heart stopped. Poppa did make a lot of sense. Who all knew Herb was having an affair with Avon?

“Well, I better get out of here then.” Mama scurried towards the door.

The day was getting much hotter than yesterday. A sure sign it was full blown summer. Even some of the neighborhood kids were riding their bikes up and down Free Row.

“Let me get this clear.” Mama stopped shy of the door. “Finn didn’t ask you to marry him, so I can’t tell anyone what I saw.”

“No, Mama.” I wanted to make sure she heard me loud and clear. “Finn did not ask me to marry him.”

“Then I’ll see you at the town council meeting tonight.” She switched her purse to the other arm, nestling it in the crook of her elbow before she left the RV.

“Any luck?” I asked Finn when he walked up behind me.

“Nope. None. It’s like they had on gloves.” Finn inhaled.

“Gloves as in medical gloves,” Poppa gasped. “Reagan has access to those too.”

“It looks more and more like Reagan’s behind these and Avon’s murder.” When Finn gave me a strange look, I realized he had no idea what I’d uncovered at the bank from Vernon.

“You can bring her in on suspicion of murder,” Finn said after I’d told him everything.

“I just might after I meet with her at the rehab here in a few.” I looked at the time on my phone.

The day had gone by so fast and I still wasn’t sure I was any closer to solving this murder. But I knew with all the information I’d gathered, I was on the right track.

“It would be perfect timing to get someone in custody not only before tonight, but before Avon’s funeral tomorrow.” I curled my lip under my teeth as I thought of the Meyers and wondered how they were doing.

“We need to talk about my departure.” Finn put his warm, strong hand on my shoulder. “I need to give my resignation to you and tell the town council tonight.”

All I could do was nod my head because the tears were filling my eyes.

“Are you going to be okay? If not, I won’t take it.” He had the puppy eyes going.

“How can I not let you fulfill your dreams? We’ll be just fine,” I told him even though my heart was breaking and I wasn’t sure we would be. “Now.” I got my act together. “Let’s get this crime solved.”

“I’ll finish up here since it only appears they took the money. Then I’m heading over to see Mom. I think they’re going to release her to go to her doctor. Dad said he can drive home faster than a plane ride.” He was right.

Chicago was only about a five-hour trip from Cottonwood and I was sure Shelby would be more comfortable in the RV than an airplane.

“I love you, Kenni.” He pulled me into his arms, bending his chin down to kiss me.

Right as I was getting back into the Wagoneer, leaving Finn to finish processing the scene and release it back to his parents, Scott called my cell phone.

“Sheriff, I’ve got an update on the Brumfield break-in,” he informed me.

“Was anything of value taken?” I asked thinking that if Reagan and Herb were behind this, they would try and throw us off by making it appear as if his own mother’s house had been broken into.

Some people might think that was far-fetched, but when people are desperate, they’ll do just about anything to get the heat off of them.

“They took a TV and the police scanner.”

“That’s it?” I asked to make sure. “TV and police scanner?”

“Those are the two main things pawn shop owners have told me are big sellers right now. So I think this person is trying to collect as much money as they can.” He continued, “Also the background check on Reagan came back. She does have a Ruger SP10. Its bullets are an exact match as the bullet that killed Avon.”

“Go to the judge right now and get a warrant to search her house.” This was the break we needed. There was enough circumstantial evidence to at least hold her until we did a sweep of her house, fingerprints and checked on her alibi. If she had one.

“How do we tie this to Herb?” I asked him and started up the Wagoneer, going towards Main Street. I wasn’t convinced Reagan’d done this on her own. Especially after seeing her and Herb together at the bank. It was a little too suspicious to me.

“If he and Reagan did this, maybe they are trying to get out of town because she’d lost her job.” I wondered how much time she had until it was taken, unless they gave her an extension now that Avon was gone.

If Avon was her replacement.

The images of Avon’s lifeless body haunted me every time I passed Rock Fence Park. My heart ached, but it told me what I had to do. Bring Reagan in on suspicion of murder.

It was perfect timing too. Just as I was pulling into the parking lot of the Cottonwood Acre Rehab, Reagan Quinlan was getting out of her car.

“Scott, I’ve got to go. Reagan is pulling in to meet me and I’m going to bring her on in.” I hit the gas to catch up to her before she even had a chance to step foot in the building. “Good work.”

Reagan put her hands out in front of her like I was going to hit her.

“Are you crazy?” She smacked the hood of the Jeep. “You’re nuts.”

“Don’t hit my car. This is an official sheriff’s car and that’s ground for arrest.” I jerked my handcuffs off my utility belt.

“What do you think you’re going to do with those?” She spat.

“Reagan Quinlan, I’m taking you in for questioning on the murder of Avon Meyers.” I grabbed her by the arm and did a quick behind her back move, clipping the cuffs on her wrists.

I loved when that move went exactly like it was taught in class.