Рита Браун - Nine Lives To Die

Turning on the heavy vehicle, he gunned it out of the driveway just as Esther stepped from the house, shaking her fist. “Stop!”

“Crank up the heat,” Cletus ordered Flo.

Frightened of her sister, she was also brimming with admiration for Cletus. “What are we going to do?” she asked.

“We’re going back to Margaret and pray, and I mean pray, Flo, that we get there before the cops get us.”

“Why would they get us?” Flo rubbed her upper arms as the heat was flowing out of the vents.

“Because your sister is on the phone right now calling the sheriff, declaring we stole her car. My wall phone is hard to miss. The second call she’ll make is for Al to pick her up.”

He was right.

As Esther calmly explained to the police about the drunk and her crazy sister who stole her Lexus, citing the license plate, Buster shouted to The Terminator. He had to bark loudly at the deaf old dog, “Have you had your rabies shots?”

Nodding his head, ears forward, The Terminator replied, “Yes.”

“Damn,” Buster cursed.

“Why?” the ancient dog asked.

“You could bite her.”

This made the old boy laugh, then Buster joined in. Esther, fuming, thought they were snuffling.

A wary Cletus slowed down while driving the back roads, most of them gravel. The car would shimmy out now and then, but he’d steer it back on track. “Do you have a cellphone?” he asked.

“Cletus, I don’t have squat.”

“Well, what good are you?” He half laughed.

“Good enough to give you the most exciting New Year’s Day you’ve had in years.”

He thought for a moment, then grinned. “Got that right, girl.”

Carefully, they hugged the back roads, alert for state troopers and sheriff’s department vehicles. Fortunately, most of them were working the major highways and interstates today.

At long last, Cletus turned down Harry’s snow-covered road, as she hadn’t had time to plow the new fallen snow.

“Traffic. Look at the tire marks,” he noted.

“Reckon she called the sheriff about Margaret?”

“Flo, what the hell would you do if you came home and found a skeleton sitting under a light in front of your barn doors?”

“You’re right. I don’t remember you being quite so forceful, Cletus.”

“Get used to it,” he barked. “Now, this is what I want you to do. You find the highest-ranking officer, tell him your story. I’ll back you up. They probably won’t believe you. And if they don’t know already, they will soon enough that this is Esther’s stolen Lexus. So you will be put in jail.”

“No.” Flo turned the door handle, and he grabbed her left arm.

“Flo, do what I tell you and everything may turn out okay. Tell them everything. Everything.”

“Oh, it’s so horrid. So very horrid.”

“Flo!” He leveled his gaze at her. For a second, she glimpsed the man he once was.

“I will.”

“They’ll still lock you up. I’ll do what I can. The first people I will ask to help us are Fair and Harry. They were good kids. I expect they’re still good. I’ll do my best for you.”

“Cletus, you already have.” Flo’s eyes were getting watery, but she brushed them clear.

He pulled up next to one of the squad cars. Everyone was in the kitchen eating. Margaret remained in front of the barn doors.

Tucker barked, “Intruders.”

Harry walked to the back door, looked out the glassed-in porch. “It’s Flo and Cletus. Dear God, who next? The Rockettes?”

Cooper stood up. “I’ll bring them in.”

“I’ll put more food out,” said Harry. “Whatever they’ve been up to, they’ll be hungry. I’ve seen how they live.”

Cooper stepped outside. “Come on in.”

Neither Cletus nor Flo wore a coat. Still, they were apprehensive about coming in.

“Come on, Flo. Your sister reported you missing and her car pinched. You can have breakfast before we deal with that.”

“She tell you I stole her car?”

“I took that call a half hour ago,” said Cooper. “She called the department.”

Dabny stood up, as did the other two sheriff’s department men, when Flo entered the room. Their mothers taught them well.

As did Flo’s. “Please sit down,” she said.

“Let’s all have a New Year’s breakfast before we worry about details.” Cooper helped Harry put filled plates on the table.

“You must be cold.” Harry placed two heavy mugs before them.

“Deputy Cooper, are you the senior officer?” Flo asked.

“I am.”

“Jump up on the counter with me. We don’t want to miss any of this.” Mrs. Murphy effortlessly soared onto the counter.

“Anyone want some cookies?” asked Harry. “Every Christmas, Fair and I receive these wonderful shortbread cookies from a couple in Wyoming.” She rose, opened the tin, placed rich shortbread cookies from Scotland onto a plate.

Once on the table, everyone reached for them at once, which caused laughter.

How wise Cooper was to let everyone eat, and let the warm food do its work. Her time with the churches had taught her what a hot meal can do.

“Wyoming?” Dabny bit into the glorious food. “I’ve always wanted to go there.”

“Gorgeous. Flat-out gorgeous.” Harry beamed. “We made such friends there. These are from Mimi Tate and Jim Smith. They own a ranch right up near the Montana border called Wymont. You know how you bump into people and suddenly you’re friends? That kind of thing.”

Cletus finished his plate. He was full and most grateful not to be talking about the huge problem by the barn door. He nudged Flo under the table.

“Deputy Cooper, I should tell you, tell everyone, why we’re here,” said Flo. “First, I apologize to you”—she indicated the Haristeens—“for putting Margaret Donleavey in front of your barn.”

“Miss Donleavey!” Harry and Fair exclaimed.

“Yes.” Flo twisted her napkin in her hands under the table. “How beautiful she was, remember? I was surprised you didn’t recognize her bracelet.”

“Of course.” Harry’s hand flew to her cheek. “But so many ladies of her generation or their mothers wore them. It didn’t click.”

“I nearly passed out when I saw that wonderful gold piece.” Flo continued, “First. I did not kill Margaret. Esther did. Everyone was at the football game against Louisa; the crowds went wild. No one paid much attention to anything after that game. People ran everywhere, tooting horns, celebrating. Margaret was in charge of cleanup, the light stuff. Another crew would come in the next day. Al went off to celebrate with the team, the assistant coaches. Margaret and Al were a hot item. Esther knew. She watched Al like a hawk. So she lured Margaret over to her car after everyone left the lot. Said they could go to the little beer joint and celebrate with the others. Said she’d come back in the morning and help if needs be.”

“Didn’t Miss Donleavey know how Esther felt about Al?” Harry asked.

“I guess she did, but Margaret wasn’t a person who thought badly of others, and Esther had never treated her badly. And she wanted to celebrate, too. But, you see, my sister was obsessed with Al. Esther still is to this day.”

“How’d she kill Margaret?” asked Harry. She couldn’t help herself.

“She drove through town, heading toward where the team was celebrating. Said she had to stop for a minute. Pretended to check a tire. Said it was flat. Margaret got out to help. That’s when Esther shot her. She laid her flat in the back seat. Put a towel under her back, in case she’d bleed. She’d shot her through the heart. Picked me up, told me I had to help her. She was as cool as a cucumber. She swore Margaret did not suffer, never knew what hit her. She said it was a humane ending.”