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Right after Carter draped the yellow crime scene tape over branches and logs, he knocked on my backdoor. Gertie waved him inside.
Carter removed his hat as he joined us in the kitchen. “I’ll be back early tomorrow morning. I have to testify in court this afternoon but before I do anything, I’ll talk to Sherriff Lee and fill him in, let him know what happened here. In the meantime, try not to disturb the crime scene. I may swing by later but it will be too dark to prowl around tonight.”
I didn’t mention my new security lights or how we could always park our vehicles down by the bayou and keep the investigation open until it was solved. Carter didn’t like it when I tossed in my two pennies.
“Court?” Gertie perked up. “Today? It’s Saturday.”
“This month court is in session on Saturdays. They’re using the old Mudbug Elementary while they fix a leak at the courthouse.”
“You’re in the know,” he said, grinning at Ida Belle. Shifting his focus to Gertie, he asked, “Why the sudden interest in my Saturday activities?”
“No reason,” Gertie said, kicking Ida Belle. Even though the nudge happened under the table, it was obvious thanks to Ida Belle’s jolt. Her sneers gave away Gertie’s lack of discretion, too.
“Going to court for anyone we know?” Ida Belle asked. They knew pretty much everyone within sixty miles of Sinful’s city limits.
“Not unless you know folks out in Mudbug.”
“Of course we do,” Gertie stated proudly, turning to the coffeepot and retrieving a ceramic mug from the cabinet. After she filled it to the brim, she offered the steamy cup to the overworked deputy. “You look tuckered out, Carter. Why don’t you sit for a bit?”
“That sweet country girl talk doesn’t work on me, Gertie. I can’t and won’t discuss the case with you.”
“Which one?” I asked.
“Both,” Carter replied.
“Mudbug is just a traffic violation,” Ida Belle said. “Carter saw old man Gravels run a stop sign. Gravels hit Mrs. Lowery’s station wagon. He was drunk and Carter was the first on the scene after Gravels fled from the accident.”
“Where’d you get your information?” Carter asked.
“Weren’t you a little out of your jurisdiction over in Mudbug?” I asked, wondering if Carter had the slightest clue as to why news traveled through Sinful at the speed of sound. The Sinful Ladies more or less governed the town. According to some, their reach tapped the edge of Mudbug and other nearby cities.
Thanks to their power and political pull, little escaped Ida Belle and Gertie. They were always in the know.
“I’m a witness today.” He accepted the coffee. “Thanks, Gertie.” Before he took a sip, he asked, “Do you have someone tailing me?”
Ida Belle and Gertie laughed. I resisted. Given his expression, he might believe something so ridiculous. “Want to add something, Fortune?” He drank his coffee. Since he didn’t wrinkle his nose, I safely assumed the brew wasn’t laced with moonshine. “I’m waiting for your expertise, maybe a divine intervention that will help bring some clarity to the charades you play.”
“No games here, Carter. I want you to feel like my kitchen is a safe place.”
“She doesn’t like it when we gang up on you,” Gertie fibbed.
“Isn’t that special?” Ida Belle drawled. I shot her a quick glare and she added, “It’s a Yankee thing.”
Carter’s lips twitched. “Thank you for that, Fortune.”
“Safe place,” I mouthed.
“Where were we?” Carter asked, lifting his mug. “Oh that’s right. You’re about to tell me who’s watching me.”
Gertie shook her finger at Ida Belle. “Oh for crying out loud. Just tell him the truth.”
“I can’t reveal my sources.” Ida Belle unfolded the newspaper and scanned the front page. When no one said anything, she added. “And you know better than to ask.”
Carter finished off his coffee and set the mug next to the sink. “Thanks for the coffee.” He nodded at me. “I’ll be back tomorrow. Keep your doors locked at all times.”
“So you decided not to arrest her?” Gertie asked.
“That was never a consideration,” Ida Belle said. “Guess you missed the memo while you were doing all those pre-run stretches.”
“And thanks for pushing the issue,” I grumbled. “I didn’t know Casey. I’m sure he was a nice person.”
“He wasn’t,” Gertie said, taking a seat at the table. “That’s beside the point. I wanted to be sure we’re all on the same page.” She threw her arm over the back of her chair. “I have a motto. If trouble is headed my way, I want to see him coming.”
“When you find yourself digging a hole...” I let my voice trail.
“Oh I’m not digging one for me,” Gertie said, seemingly proud of herself. “But I’ll stop digging and let Carter be on his way.”
“I may be new in town but I understand Gertie-speak.” If she didn’t stop this ridiculous matchmaking, I would soon pay Sheriff Lee a visit and ask him if he would teach Gertie how to ride his horse. That would keep her busy for a few days.
“Well since you won’t take her in for questioning...” Gertie opened the door and waited. “Better be on your way.”
“For crying out loud, why would Carter haul Fortune in for questioning?” Ida Belle lowered her newspaper. “She found a body. End of story. She didn’t have motive. She didn’t have opportunity. Everyone thought Casey was still in New York.”
“And that’s the part that doesn’t make sense. Casey came all this way when he hasn’t been home in years?”
“Something tells me he won’t be going back to the city anytime soon,” Ida Belle said.
“Unless he wants to be buried there,” said Gertie.
“Well too bad we can’t ask him,” I said, ready for Carter to leave. Maybe he’d take Gertie with him.
“Those among the living should honor a dead man’s last wishes.” Gertie shrugged. “Course his mother will probably want to bury him here in Sinful.” Gertie looked burdened.
“Go ahead and say it.”
“What?” Gertie sighed. “Just hate to spoil the earth here. We’ve buried enough bad seeds in this town.”
Ida Belle said, “Maybe, but there’s no need to send him to New York to stir up the dust when the winds of his troubles followed him here.”
I shook my head. I didn’t know what it was about this peculiar day, but everyone seemed so philosophical. Murder had a way of making ordinary people act quite bizarre.
“Bet Casey wishes he hadn’t made the trip now,” Carter said.
“If he’s still in your boat, we could go ask him.” Ida Belle kept a straight face.
“Bet he’d agree that sometimes hindsight is much better than foresight,” Gertie added. “He can’t curse his missteps now that his blood runs cold. Poor Casey.”
“Poor Casey?” My voice cracked and Ida Belle looked up, shooting me a stern look of warning. “Of course. Right. Poor Casey.” Unless he was a hired gun and sent to Sinful to kill me.
“I’m out of here, ladies.” Carter looked positively bored. “Remember. Keep your doors locked, Fortune.” He then waggled two fingers at Ida Belle and Gertie. “And you two stay out of trouble.”
“We’ll do our best.” Ida Belle ducked her head again and her lips moved as she pretended to read the newspaper.
“Right,” Carter grumbled. “I always forget. Your best is barely a step above your worst.”
Before they could argue, Carter walked out the back. A knock came from the front.
“I’ll get it,” Ida Belle said, pushing away from the table and the newspaper she wasn’t reading.
I returned to the coffeepot and poured another cup. As soon as I turned around, I almost dropped the darn thing thanks to the unannounced guest in my kitchen.
Sudden heat in my cheeks must’ve alerted everyone else to what I was thinking.
Gertie perked up immediately. “Well, look at this. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Fortune blush before introductions.”
For a split second, I really wanted to kill her. And I wanted to do it with my bare hands.