Рита Браун - Pay Dirt

Tucker stuck her nose in the bag. " It's not Kerry's scent ."

"Whose scent, then?"

"Rubber gloves. No scent other than Normans cologne."

"Mrs. Murphy, you're as big a troublemaker as Tucker." Cooper disgustedly picked up the shredded bag.

" If you had a brain in your head, you'd realize we're trying to help . "Murphy backed away from Cynthia. " Tucker, just to be sure, go sniff Kerry ."

Tucker eluded Cynthia's grasp and ran over to Kerry, who was standing by the squad car.

"Tucker Haristeen." Kerry's eyes filled with tears. "At least I've got one friend."

Tucker licked her hand. " I'm sorry ."

Rick moved toward Tucker, and the dog spurted out of his reach. "Tucker, come on back here. Come on, girl."

" No way . "The dog barked as she rejoined Mrs. Murphy, lying flat on her belly in the orchard grass.

"Let's head back before they take us to the pound for punishment."

" They wouldn't do that . "Tucker glanced back at the humans.

" Coop might . "Murphy giggled.

"Kerry's scent isn't on the cord. After checking, I'm doubly positive."

As they leisurely walked back toward their farm, the two animals commiserated over Kerry's fate. The killer planted the murder weapon in the trunk of her car. Given Kerry's threats to kill Norman, which every human and animal in Crozet knew about by now, she had as much chance of being found innocent as a snowball in hell. Even if there was doubt about her shooting Hogan Freely, there would be no doubt about Norman.

By the time they reached the creek, they both felt down.

"Think we're far enough away from the beaver?"

"Murphy, it's not that deep downstream. If we fool around and try to find a fording place you can clear with one leap, we'll be here all day. just get your paws wet and be done with it."

"Easy for you to say. You like water."

"Close your eyes and run if it's that bad."

Tucker splashed across the creek. Murphy, after ferocious complaining, followed. Once on the other side, Tucker had to wait for her to elaborately shake each paw, then lick it.

"Do that when we get home."

Mrs. Murphy, sitting on her rear end, had her right hind leg straight up in the air. " I'm not walking around with this creek smell on me ."

Tucker sat down since she couldn't budge Mrs. Murphy from her toilette. " Think Norman was in on it ?"

"That's obvious."

" Only to us . "Tucker stretched her head upward.

" The humans will accept that Kerry killed him. A few might think that he was getting too close to the killer in the bank — or that he was her accomplice and he wimped out ."

"Kerry could have killed him and used rubber gloves. It's possible that we're wrong."

"Doesn't everything come down to character?"

"Yes, it does."

"Tucker, if Norman wasn't the person behind the computer virus, do you think he was the type to track the killer? To keep on the case?"

" He wasn't a total coward. He could have unearthed something. Since he works in the bank, he'd tell someone. Word would get around —"

Mrs. Murphy finished her ablutions, stood up, and shook. " True enough. But we've got to trust our instincts. There men have been killed with no sign of struggle. I could kick myself from here to Sunday fir not running into the alleyway to see the car. I heard the killer's car the night Hogan was shot. Both Pewter and I did ."

" I've told you before, Murphy, you did the right thing ." Tucker started walking again. "/ don't think the murderer will strike again unless it's another bank worker ."

"Who knows?"

37

Harry, Fair, Mrs. Hogendobber, Susan, Ned, Blair, Big Marilyn, and Little Marilyn watched out the cafe window as Cynthia Cooper drove by in the squad car. Kerry McCray sat in the back seat behind die cage. No sooner had the dolorous spectacle passed than Aysha Cramer, pedal to die metal, roared past the cafe' in her dark green car. Fair stood up, and as he opened the door, a crash could be heard. Within seconds Rick Shaw screeched by, a cloud of dust fanning out behind him. He hit the brakes hard, fishtailing as he stopped.

By now the remainder of the group hurried outside to join Fair, who was running at top speed toward the site of the wreck. Aysha had deliberately sideswiped Cynthia Cooper's squad car, forcing the deputy off the road. Cynthia, ever alert, stayed inside the car and locked the doors. She was talking on the radio.

"I'll kill her! Unlock this door! Goddammit, Cyndüa, how can you protect her? She killed my husband!"

Rick pulled in behind Cooper. He leapt out of the car and hurried over to Aysha.

"Aysha, that's enough."

"You're protecting her. Let me at her! An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."

As Rick and Fair struggled with Aysha, who would not release the door handle, Mrs. Hogendobber quoted under her breath, " 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord'—"

From inside the car Kerry screamed, "I did not kill him. You killed him. You drove him to his death!"

Aysha went berserk. She twisted away from the two men, strengthened by blind rage. She picked up a rock and smashed the back window of the car. Fair grabbed her from behind, slipping his powerful arms inside hers. She kicked backward and hit his shin, but he perservered and, with Rick, Ned, and Blair, pulled her away from the car. She collapsed in a heap by the side of the road. Aysha curled up in a ball, rocking back and forth and sobbing.

Cynthia prudently used fhe moment to pull away.

Rick motioned for the men to help him put Aysha in his car. Fair picked her up and carried her. He placed her in the back seat. She fell over and continued weeping.

Big Marilyn walked around to the other side of the car. Ned stepped in. "Mim, I'll go. If she loses it again, you may not be able to restrain her."

Til get in the front with Sheriff Shaw. We'd better get her to Larry." Larry Johnson, the old town doctor, and his partner, Hayden Mclntire, treated most of the residents of Crozet.

"That's fine," the sheriff agreed. "I've had to tell many people terrible news, but I've never been through one like this. She ran right over me and jumped into her car."

"Takes everyone differently, I guess." Harry felt awful. "Better call her mother."

As if on cue, Ottoline sped down the road, slammed on the brakes, and fishtailed in behind her daughter's car. She got out, leaving her door open.

"This doesn't bring him back." Ottoline slid into the back seat of Rick's car.

"I hate her!" Aysha sobbed. "She's alive and Norman's dead." She scrambled out of the other side of the back seat. Ottoline grabbed for her, but too late. Aysha stood by Deputy Cooper's car, screaming, "Why didn't you put her in jail after she shot Hogan Freely? You left a killer out among us, and now…" She collapsed in tears.

Ottoline, by now out of Rick's cruiser, helped her to her feet.

Rick hung his head. "There were extenuating circumstances."

"Like what?" Ottoline snarled.

"Like the fact that Kerry McCray had a goose egg on her head and was knocked out cold," Cynthia answered.

"And she had the gun that killed Hogan in her hand!" Aysha lurched away from her mother. She faced Rick. "You're responsible. Norman is dead because of you."

"Come on, honey, let me take you home." Ottoline tugged at Aysha.

"Aysha," Harry said coolly, "did Norman have a close friend in the bank?"

Aysha turned a bloodshot eye on Harry. "What?"

"Did he have a buddy at Crozet National?"

"Everyone. Everyone loved him," Aysha sobbed.