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Kate got up early, fixed a pot of coffee and parked herself on the sofa in the living room. She was sure Tom would call with an update about his trip to Arkansas soon. She still didn’t understand why Sid couldn’t take care of everything with the Sheriff. Since the murder charge would be made by Boone County Arkansas, it wouldn’t even be Tom’s case. Her head ached with a thousand questions about who hired the men and who was involved with the bribery. She sipped from her third cup of coffee and stared impatiently at the phone.
“You haven’t moved for over thirty minutes,” her dad said on his way to the kitchen.
“You missed the first four hours of my vigil.”
Roger returned shortly with a steaming mug of coffee. He made himself comfortable in his recliner and cleared his throat. “I hate to ask, but did you and Tom have a fight? Margie and I both noticed things were a bit strained during dinner.”
“We’re okay. He went to Arkansas about a case not long after you and Margie went out.”
“And he was supposed to call, I take it.”
“Don’t you think he should? I mean, we were having a serious conversation.”
Roger smiled and took another sip.
She said, “You think I’m being selfish.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“I’m worried that’s all.”
He raised a fatherly eyebrow.
“Okay. I confess. I wanted to discuss an idea with him about the skeleton case. I was about to run it past him when Sid called.”
“I would offer my advice, but I don’t want to know what your idea is. I have a feeling Tom would be skittish too.”
Kate got up and huffed toward the kitchen, throwing her parting comment over her shoulder. “You have no sense of adventure.”
***
THE SWING MOVED WITH the southern wind, but the veranda was deserted—no warm welcome from Etta today. Kate opened the screen door and started to knock, but let it close quietly and pressed the rusty doorbell.
“I didn’t expect you for another few minutes,” Etta said, her hand on her chest and slightly out of breath.
Kate took her usual position on the end of the sofa next to Etta’s chair and placed her recorder on the end table.
“Is this an official interview?” Etta asked pointing to the small device. “You said you had important news to tell me.”
“Force of habit,” Kate said picking up the recorder and dropping into her bag. “Have you spoken to Jack in the last few days?”
“I’m supposed to have dinner with him and Randy later this week.”
“For your birthday,” Kate said. “I forgot.”
“That’s okay. You don’t have to keep track of my birthday.”
“This wasn’t a good idea. I better go,” Kate said.
“You can’t ask me about Jack and not tell me why. Should I call him?”
Kate regretted the obvious concern showing in Etta’s eyes. “I didn’t mean to alarm you. It’s just that the police have identified the remains found on your lot as Lex Porter.”
Etta said, “That’s not possible.”
“I’m afraid there’s no doubt.”
The octogenarian shook her head, coming out of her chair and walking to the mantel. She touched the picture of Clay.
“I’m not sure of details, but the investigation has shown Porter was murdered. As you know the detectives have questioned those close to Porter, yourself included. I guess they were in the process of interviewing Jack again, laying out all the evidence they have, when apparently Jack confessed,” Kate lied.
Etta turned, took a few steps, and leaned on one arm of her chair. She lowered her head and squeezed her eyes shut, then eased onto the seat.
“Are you okay?” Kate asked.
Etta shook her head, then rested it on the chair back, her eyes searching the ceiling as if for clarification. “It was my fault,” she whispered. “If I had told Jack when I found out, he would have begged Lex to come back. Once I knew Lex wasn’t the one who stole the money and stock items from the store, I should have gone to Jack.”
“That’s why he broke up the partnership?”
Etta nodded and said, “But Lex did nothing wrong. When the stealing resumed, I realized Randy was the guilty party. When I confronted him, he promised to stop and begged me not to tell his father. Before long Lex left town. In time I assumed he wouldn’t come back. But I was wrong.”
“You saw him?” Kate said out loud, more a realization than a question.
“I was in my office, but I heard them arguing, so much anger between them, and each friend thinking he’d been betrayed by the other. The fight escalated. By the time I went up front, Lex was choking Jack. I don’t know why I pointed to the shovel. He took it out of the display. Lex let go of Jack’s throat, but it was too late.”
Etta buried her face in her hands and sobbed.
Kate tried to process the woman’s declaration, but it didn’t make sense. As the reporter visualized Etta’s description of the event, something—or someone—was missing. “Who took the shovel from the display?” she asked.
Tears flowing down her cheeks, Etta raised her head. “He was so young. I only wanted him to help his father. I didn’t mean for him to kill Lex. He didn’t know his own strength.”
***
KATE PAUSED IN THE entranceway. Tom and Sid didn’t notice her at first. They were busy sorting papers at the conference table. Occasionally they reviewed the notes on a large pad attached to an easel in the corner of the room. She wasn’t sure she knew where to begin to explain what happened, unsure if it would help or hurt the case. She stared at the two detectives until a passing patrolman greeted her by name and Tom turned around.
“Katie. I didn’t see you,” he said. “What’s wrong?”
“I need to speak to you,” she said.
“Can it wait? I’m in the middle of getting stuff ready for an indictment. We’re on a tight schedule to get the package to Arkansas.”
“I understand, but you should listen to this first.” She held out her hand and revealed the small recorder in her palm. “It was in my purse, so I’m not sure how clear it will be.”
Tom accepted the device and said, “Let’s go in the office.”
The three listened to Etta’s version of what happened the night of the murder. By the end Tom was massaging his temples and Sid was leaning back in his chair shaking his head.
Kate lowered her chin and said, “I know it’s lame to say I wanted to help. I was convinced Etta had information she was hiding. And now you know who killed Lex.”
Tom said, “I’ll have to admit this is one notch above listening to a private meeting from the office next door. Unfortunately, it has the same impact. You tricked Etta into telling you her account of the events.”
Sid said, “And, to be precise, we know only what Etta says about Lex’s death. I’m sure Hawthorne will have a good time with this.”
“I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry seems a little shallow.”
Sid pushed away from his desk and said, “I need a refill.”
“I’ll be out in a minute,” Tom told him.
He took her hands in his. “I’m not saying I’m not furious with you. I know you were trying to help, but I wish you had discussed the plan with me first.”
“I was about to when you ran off to Arkansas.”
“We’ll discuss this later. I have to get back to work.”