beyond the grave 03 - a ghostly demise (13 page)

“I’m fine,” I assured Granny from the comfort of my bed. “I promise. I don’t need to see Doc Clyde.”

Granny wasn’t happy with my answer but hung up anyway.

“I’m ordering you to stop looking into Cephus’s death.” Jack Henry sat on the edge of my bed. “I swear I will lock you up in the cell with Vernon Baxter if you don’t. That way I’ll know that you are safe.”

“I’m fine.” I bit my lip. I had yet to see what the papers I had confiscated said. “Where is my car?”

“I had one of the firefighters drive it back.” He rubbed his hand along my face. “I don’t know what I would have done if you were in there during the explosion.”

He bent down and gently kissed my lips. I put my hand behind his neck to keep him there. His kisses were better than any headache medicine.

“I’m fine,” I assured him again when he pulled away.

“Can you remember what happened?” Jack Henry pulled out a notebook from the pocket of his cop shirt.

“Really?” I asked.

“Someone wanted that place gone. And I can’t help but have a feeling that someone knew you were out there.” He tapped the pad with his pencil. “I’m not going to let them get away with it.”

I flung the covers back and swung my feet around to the floor to sit next to him.

“All I know is that I went to the mill to see if I could see any remains of the newspaper.” I rubbed his leg, hoping it would help him forget some of the questions he was about to barrage me with.

It didn’t work. He stood up and paced back and forth, drilling me.

“Why?”

“Because I can’t help but think Cephus was somehow in that gambling ring. I want to talk to the editor.”

“Did you make it inside the mill?”

“Yes.”

“Did you see anything?” he asked, his eyes focused on me as though I were in the interrogation room.

“Nope. Not a thing.” I pressed my lips together in a frown. “I walked out, and the next thing I knew, there was an explosion.”

“You weren’t inside when it exploded?” he asked.

I shook my head.

“Hmm.” He wrote on the pad. “The explosion was from a few pipe bombs. One would have destroyed it, but two would destroy any contents, including you.”

“I get it.” I threw my hands in the air. The clock said it was about time for Granny’s meet-the-candidate grill out. “I’m starving.”

I steadied myself on the bed and stood up.

“Where do you think you are going?” He rushed to my side.

“I’m not going to let someone scare me. I’m going to Granny’s event.” I walked into the bathroom and turned the faucet on.

“Emma Lee, I don’t like this one bit.” He followed my every move. “I’m calling a deputy to come in so I can stay by your side. At least until I can get some answers back from the fire marshal.”

I grinned ear to ear. “If I’d known a little explosion would help us spend more time together, I’d have put myself in danger a long time ago.” I batted my lashes before I headed into the shower.

Tonight, I would be a good girl, but tomorrow was a different story. I had the article the editor was working on and I hoped there was a name or a clue for me to look into. Yes, tonight I would be the good granddaughter and girlfriend. But tomorrow . . . I would follow up any leads. No one was going to try to kill me and get away with it.

It was personal now.

Chapter 16

I
’m fine,” I assured everyone who asked me during Granny’s meet-the-candidate affair.

Granny was busy handing out flags and buttons. Jack Henry never left my side. Even Hettie Bell gave me some yoga moves to help with my sore body.

“I still don’t know why you were out there.” Disappointment settled in Charlotte Rae’s deep hazel eyes.

She wasn’t buying the whole story that I was just taking a drive.

“I’m glad you are here.” I changed the subject. “Granny appreciates it.”

“Ummhmm.” She gave me the wonky eye and brought the glass of tea up to her lips.

“I’m going to grab a pulled-pork sandwich. Do you want one?” I asked before I scurried away.

Even if she did want one, I wasn’t going to return to talk to her. Charlotte Rae had good instincts and she knew when I was lying. Jack Henry and I had agreed to the story I was telling everyone.

If there was someone trying to kill me or scare me off the gambling track, we didn’t want them to try again.

“How’s she doing?” Mary Anna walked up and pointed to Granny.

“Hey!” I was thrilled to see Mary Anna, Leotta and Teddy standing there. “I’m so glad you are here.”

“I’m not saying I’m voting for Zula.” Leotta wanted to make it clear. “I’m just here to see what all the candidates have to say. Bea Allen has been my best friend for years and I’m trying to spend time with her while she’s here.”

Leotta tucked her arm into the crook of Teddy’s elbow.

“Plus Teddy and Mary Anna wanted to come support her since she’s doing everything she can for O’Dell’s campaign.” Leotta smiled.

Cephus appeared next to her. It was the first time I had seen him since the accident at the mill this afternoon. He was so proud, looking at his family. There were tears in his eyes, making my eyes tear up.

Leotta reached out and grabbed my hand.

“We heard about the accident at the old mill.” She squeezed my hand. “I’m so glad you weren’t hurt.”

“That’s terrible.” Teddy shook his head. “Do they know what happened?”

“Not that I know of.” I shrugged. “I was on my way to a pre-need funeral arrangement appointment and I had forgotten about that old mill. When I saw it, I decided to pull over and look at it.”

“Oh my God, Emma Lee.” Mary Anna’s eyes popped. “Were you inside when it exploded?”

“No.” I was getting good at this lying stuff. “I was by my car and the next thing I knew, pow!” I threw my hands in the air, gesturing an explosion.

“Can I have your attention?” Granny’s voice boomed over the crowd that had come to see her.

The carnival music and kids’ screaming from the rides were in the background.

“I wanted to take the time to thank everyone for coming out tonight.” She did a good job of looking around the crowd as she talked. “I made all sorts of goodies for you and some of my sweet tea, so be sure to grab something before you go over to the carnival.”

Dottie Kramer stood near the tree. I was surprised to see her there. We all knew she was for O’Dell Burns. Sanford Brumfield wasn’t too far away from her though you could tell they were keeping their distance.

“Emma Lee, I wanted to talk to you before you leave tonight.” Leotta’s face was serious. The lines around her eyes deepened.

I wasn’t sure, but it looked like she knew something important and wanted to tell me, but right now wasn’t the time.

“Okay,” I said before the three of them walked off.

“What is that about?” Cephus asked.

“I don’t know,” I whispered. I glanced over at Jack Henry, who had been talking to some of the citizens who were inquisitive about the explosion. “I don’t know.”

Leotta knew something and she wanted me to know. I made a mental note to be sure to talk to her before the night was over.

“Tonight, I’m excited that Teddy Hardy has come to town to be our official ribbon cutter for the carnival fun.” Granny pointed to Teddy, who raised his hand to the crowd. “A true star.”

Teddy’s face turned a bright red, like the color of Granny’s hair.

“Before Teddy comes up here to cut the ribbon, I’d like to ask you for your vote. You let me take care of your loved ones when they moved beyond the physical world. I’m asking you to let me take care of you.” Granny smiled and raised her hands in the air.

The crowd applauded and started to chant
Zula Fae
.

“Lordy.” Charlotte Rae walked up and leaned in. “Just one more thing to make her head even bigger.”

“Stop it.” I laughed. Charlotte was right. Granny loved the attention.

The rally went on for a few more minutes. Teddy took the big scissors and was surrounded by the town-council members. He cut the ribbon. Everyone went crazy.

Some small children had photos of Teddy in his wrestling uniforms and had him autograph them, along with some posters. Leotta, Mary Anna and Cephus beamed as they watched our local celebrity.

There was a little pride in all of us. As far as I knew, there weren’t any other celebrities who had come out of Sleepy Hollow. It was kind of exciting.

“You ready for that elephant ear?” Jack Henry asked.

“You bet.” I entwined my fingers in his and let him lead the way. “I’ve been watching them set this thing up over the past couple of days, craving the fattening things.”

The carnival was in full swing. Lines for the tilt-a-whirl and the Ferris wheel are always long. The zero-gravity ride, where you stand up, that twirled around and around, sideways and backward, made me sick just watching it.

“Anyone wanna go faster?” the carnie screamed in the microphone at the Himalayan ride. “Screeeeeammmm!”

The riders erupted in screams. The carnie did what he said he was going to do and shot the juice to the Himalayan, sending the ride faster and faster around the track.

Jack Henry and I laughed. Everyone was having a good time and I had even forgotten about my unfortunate run-in with a pipe bomb this afternoon.

“You better go save Zula Fae.” Cheryl Lynne nodded toward the dunking tank.

The clown was on the small seat, dangling over the water. His feet barely skimmed the water level. Granny had her fist in the air, her mouth going a mile a minute. O’Dell Burns and Bea Allen Burns were laughing hysterically next to her.

“Oh no.” My eyes grew big and I glanced over at Jack Henry before I darted off in Granny’s direction.

“Knock me in the water, water,” the clown taunted Granny. His voice rang over the crowd from a speaker on a tripod stand. “Come on, old lady, knock me in the waaaater, water!”

Granny grabbed a ball from bucket at her feet and threw it at the target as hard as she could. I could see the anger written all over her face. I wasn’t sure if she was mad at his taunting her or calling her old.

“Waaaa.” The clown put his hands up to his eyes like a crying baby. “You can’t knock a clown in the water. How are you going to run a town?”

“It’s on!” Granny yelled, and grabbed a ball for each hand.

She turned her body to the side, lifted her leg, and did a windup of her arm. The ball whizzed through the air, missing. A second time. Missed again.

“Waaaaa! I wouldn’t vote for you!” He pointed and laughed at Granny. He put his hand up to his ear like a telephone. “Hello, nursing home. We have a live one. Come get her!”

“That sonofa . . .” Granny started, but I interrupted her.

“Granny.” I grabbed her arm, and whispered, “Stop this. People are looking at you. It’s a stupid clown trying to get your goat.”

I kicked the bucket of balls out of her way and looked up at the clown. His eyes were haunting. His grin was evil.

“You should be ashamed of yourself!” I jutted my not-so-nice, ladylike finger toward him.

I probably shouldn’t have done it, and it wasn’t a good-Southern-girl thing to do. But as we all know—in the South, do not mess with my granny.

“Aw, Emma Lee, I was just playing around.” The clown’s makeup made his frown even more frown-y. He pointed to his outfit. “Part of the job. What about that beer?”

“Ugh. Digger Spears, I’m telling your momma when I see her!” I warned, and stormed off to find Granny.

“Wait. Digger Spears?” Jack Henry tried to keep up with me. “Beer? What did that clown mean by beer?” Jack sidestepped. “Is that clown Digger Spears, and did he ask you out on a date?”

“Yes and sort of.” I didn’t want to get into it with Jack Henry about it.

“Did you tell him that we were an item?” He grabbed my arm and stopped me in my tracks.

“No. I didn’t.” I jerked away. “I was too busy trying to get over to the Inn to help Granny. He was nice enough to say hello and tell me about the carnival and his life dreams.” It struck me that Jack Henry was jealous. And it was kind of cute. I had never pictured Jack Henry being jealous of anyone with me. “If I’d known you were going to react like this, I might have told you.”

“Oh stop it.” His dimples deepened. “I love you and that clown was out of line asking you for a beer while he was working.”

“It’s Digger Spears. He’s harmless. I’ve got to go to Granny.” I pointed to the Auxiliary women who were over at Granny’s side of the carnival shouting about voting for Granny.

“Need an ice-cold Stroh’s, Teddy?” Digger Spears asked over the small microphone, ending with a cackle.

Teddy waved him off. It was just enough to keep Digger going.

“Big bad Teddy is going to get me in a headlock and give me a noogie. Wooooo . . .” Digger stuck his hands out in front of him. “I’m so scared.” Digger stood up on the little diving board and made some muscle-building poses with his skinny arms.

Teddy grabbed a ball and flung it toward the target, missing by a mile.

“Hee, hee.” Teddy plopped back down on his butt. A crowd had really started to gather to hear the funny clown. “Knock me in the waaaater, water!”

Leotta and Teddy laughed it off, fueling Digger’s fire.

“O’Dell Burns! Burns Funeral!” Digger swung his feet back and forth, laughing hysterically. “Who in the hell would want to be buried at a place called Burns Funeral?”

O’Dell shook his head and kept walking past.

“No wonder Eternal Slumber has more business. Plus that little Emma Lee Raines sure has grown up to be a looker.”

“That asshole,” Jack Henry muttered, glancing back at Digger.

Digger pointed at him and laughed, getting Jack Henry’s goat even more.

“Ignore him. It’s his job to piss people off.” I flung my arms around Jack Henry’s neck and gave him a good long kiss.

“He’s still a little jerk,” Granny spat.

We continued to ignore Digger and he finally stopped making jokes about people he knew.

A few more minutes and Granny was back to her old self. A little bruised ego never hurt anyone. At least that was what we all told her. She was going to have to fight harder for mayor. With the election a week away, she was bound and determined to win.