Kentucky Murders: A Small Town Murder Mystery (10 page)

“That depends. What kind of music do they play?”

“They play a combination of country and rock; it varies.”

“Sounds good. Point the way.”

Zack shifted into fourth gear and brought his hand down to rest on the parking brake handle between the bucket seats. He unexpectedly found Kate’s soft hand waiting there. They turned toward each other and smiled. Her fingers closed over his and gave a little squeeze. She smiled again and turned to watch where they were going.

A few miles out of town, she directed them into a dirt parking lot filled with lots of cars and pickup trucks. A big, lit-up sign read “Zeb’s.” Zack found a spot along the grass, parked, and they went inside. Not quite eight-thirty, the dance floor was already crowded with two-stepping couples, the air was thick with smoke, and loud country music was blasting from the speakers.

Zack leaned over to Kate so that she could hear him over the Johnny Cash song that the band was playing. “Don’t expect me to two-step,” he said. “No way.”

She grinned, and they found a table along the wall, directly across from the band. Unless they talked directly into each other’s ears, regular conversation was impossible while the band played. So, instead, they sat quietly, held hands, watched people dance, and tapped their toes to the beat.

Zack looked over at Kate. He tried to remember any girl he’d known who could compare to her. He knew that none had even come close. It wasn’t just her looks; she had a quality that none of the other girls could touch. She had this innocence about her. Perhaps it was because she wasn’t tainted by the moral decay of the big city, like the girls that Zack was used to.

Lighting a cigarette, Kate nodded to a passing group of giggling girl friends who had obviously come by to check out Kate’s new boyfriend. Zack smiled proudly.

Sitting back, Zack scanned the bar. Just as his eyes passed the entrance, Tommy Ray and his usual, four disreputable followers stepped inside. Zack sighed deeply.

Kate heard him, leaned over, and said in his ear, “What’s wrong?”

Putting his mouth close to her ear, he said, “Tommy Ray and his pals just arrived.” Just then, the band went on a twenty-minute break.

“You know Tommy?” she asked worriedly. She searched in the direction Zack had been looking.

“Unfortunately, yes.” He sighed again. “We almost got into a fight at work. That guy is always looking for trouble.”

“Zack, I’ve got some bad news,” She lifted her margarita and took a long drink. “You see,” she continued hesitantly, “Tommy and I went steady off and on since high school. Not long ago, I broke up with him for good and he still hasn’t gotten over it. We didn’t always get along very well. He still occasionally hassles me.”

Zack lowered his head and shook it slowly. “That’s just great,” he stated ironically. He looked over to see where Tommy and friends had found a table. Their shocked eyes met across the room as Tommy was bending over to sit down. He regained his balance and stood, staring angrily. His friends were busy ordering drinks while Tommy started across the bar toward Zack and Kate’s table.

His eyes narrowed, and his jaw moved, as he clenched his teeth tightly beneath thin, whitened lips.

Zack thought about coincidences, and about luck and how he didn’t have any. He had to keep in mind that Michaeltown was a small town. Everyone knew everyone in town, and everyone knew everyone else’s business. He should have expected this.

Arriving in front of them, Tommy planted his boots firmly on the wooden floor with his legs spread, stared at Zack a full ten seconds, and then shifted his heated gaze to Kate.

Zack stood, so he wouldn’t be looking up at Tommy, “What do you want?”

With his eyes still fixed on Kate, Tommy spoke in a low voice. “Now you’ve gone and done it.” Tommy turned quickly and stomped back to his table, where his friends were noticeably watching. They stood to show their support, but Tommy motioned for them to sit and rejoined them at the table. They all shot smug sneers at Zack and Kate.

Kate leaned over to Zack, her eyes pleading, “Let’s leave. I don’t want any problems tonight. Please, Zack!”

“We came here to listen to music and dance. Let’s have a good time. I’m not going to leave just because some sorry excuse for a man over there doesn’t approve of us being together.” He watched Kate’s eyes drop toward the table. She was frowning. “I have a feeling that he’s spoiled your day more than once.” He reached out and touched her chin, causing her to look up. “Smile.” She didn’t, so he added, “Pweeze?” in baby talk, and she gave in, smiling a little.

“It’s just that I don’t want you to get hurt. This is between Tommy and me.”

“Now, wait a minute, Kate; it involves both of us now. At least I thought we walked in here together.”

With that, Zack led Kate by the hand to the dance floor. At first they were both a little uncomfortable, feeling the heat of Tommy and his goons’ eyes on their backs. But they slowly got caught up in the rhythm of the music and forgot about Tommy for a while. Occasionally, Zack noticed Tommy and his group’s hooting and hollering, which was increasing mathematically as the mountain of empty beer cans grew taller on their table.

Finally, Kate leaned over to Zack. “It’s eleven o’clock. I’d better get you home. Remember, you have to go to work early tomorrow.”

“Okay, let’s go.” He checked Tommy and found his group occupied. They might be able to slip away, unnoticed. Arm-in-arm, they made their way to the front door and stepped outside. The warm night was lit by a crescent moon.

“I don’t think they saw us leave,” said Kate. “Let’s get out of here.” She tugged on his arm. “Come on, let’s go!”

“Boy, he seems to have you scared.”

“Not scared, exactly.” Actually she had been very afraid the other night, but she wasn’t going to tell Zack. “I just don’t want any trouble tonight. When you’re talking about Tommy, you’re automatically talking about trouble.” They weaved in and out between the rows of parked cars, heading toward Zack’s Camaro.

“If you feel that way, why did you date him for so long?”

“I was young and stupid. You know, it was that bad boy thing that women tend to fall for. I guess I thought it was cute, for a while. I grew up, but he never did. That’s all.”

When they reached the car, all four tires were slashed. “Damn it,” Zack said, leaning against the car.
When did anyone have time to sneak out here and do this
, he thought? “That son of a…”

Headlights came on across the parking lot and shone directly in their eyes. Zack raised a hand out in front of his face to shield his eyes from the blinding light.

When an engine started, Kate said, “It’s Tommy. I’d know that engine sound anywhere.”

Tommy’s truck pulled out from a row of parked cars and came slowly toward them. Two men sat in the front seat with Tommy, and two others stood in the truck bed, looking over the cab.

Kate stepped in close to Zack and slid her arm around his waist. Zack stood his ground, ready to go down fighting, if that’s what it came to.

Tommy turned and passed them slowly. “Have a nice night, ya’ll,” he called out mockingly, while driving toward the parking lot exit. His guys laughed uproariously at his supposedly nice farewell.

Zack listened to their laughter fade as the truck disappeared down the road and into the darkness.

They hitched a ride into town with one of the friends Kate had seen in the bar. She asked her friend to drive them directly to the police station, and she insisted on going into the station with Zack. They found an overweight deputy, his feet propped on a desk, watching Johnny Carson on a portable television.

When he noticed them, he quickly swung his legs down and stood. “Uh, yes, can I help you? Hi there, Kate,” he said, when he noticed her.

They explained what had happened at the bar. He picked up the telephone receiver and said, “I’ll call Fred and have him bring his tow truck out. He’ll probably charge extra at this hour. What size tires do you need?”

They worked out the details and started for the door. “Could we drop off Kate at her house first?” asked Zack.

“But --”

“Wait.” Zack cut off her protest. “There’s nothing else you can do tonight, Kate. Go home, and stay safe, please.”

She let out a loud breath through her nose. “Sure?”

“I’m sure.”

They dropped a reluctant Kate off at her house and drove out to Zeb’s. Along the way, Zack explained who he thought had slashed the tires and why, but the deputy only shrugged his shoulders, seeming unconcerned.

“I’m sorry this happened to you, since you are so new in town, Mr. Taylor. The sheriff will still need proof. I’d sure like to help you, but you said yourself that you didn’t see the crime being committed. Without witnesses, what do you expect me to do? I can’t go arresting people just because you
think
they did it.”

Zack finally climbed wearily into bed at about 3:30
am
, less than three hours before he had to get back up for work.

---

For the rest of the week, Zack avoided Tommy and his friends at work as much as possible. He ignored their comments, as he delivered material to their machines and as he ate lunch. In fact, he and Max decided to eat their sandwiches outside on the grass behind the building on most nice days.

Kate reported that Tommy had not bothered her at the diner all week. She thought that he might have finally gotten the message, but Zack wasn’t so sure. What was he up to? He wasn’t the type to just give up.

Chapter 19

The following Thursday, Zack found a group of men gathered around in a circle in the parking lot after work. The men seemed to be cheering at what looked like another fight. Then Zack heard Tommy’s voice. “Come on you retarded dummy. Come on, hit me.”

Zack, figuring that Max had taking his advice and was standing up to Tommy, hurried over and pushed his way to the front to get a better view of what was happening. This time, Max didn’t cower before Tommy. He stood tall, his hands clenched in tight fists at his sides. “You leave Max alone!” he shouted.

“You stupid bastard, come on, fight like a man.” Tommy continued to try to provoke him to swing. Max was larger, but Tommy knew he didn’t know how to fight.

Zack stood back. He wasn’t going to interfere this time unless Max really needed him. So far Max was doing fine.

Max showed no fear. He stood ready, but he wasn’t going to make a move unless it was in self-defense. If Tommy struck first, like in an old Western gunfight, he would appear to be the guilty one. At least five minutes passed, with nothing but Tommy’s insults being thrown. Spectators began to lose interest and drift away, piling into their cars. The standoff was no longer exciting enough to hold them.

Finally, Tommy gave up. “I’m not wasting any more time on this stupid asshole.” He turned away and pushed out through the thin remaining crowd with a deep scowl on his face.

As Tommy walked off to his truck, men came up and patted Max on the shoulder to show their approval. He’d been the first to stand up to Tommy, and he had done it without even throwing a punch!

After the men had all gone, Max turned to Zack. “Max stand up,” he said, smiling with pride. “Max do good?”

“Max did good.” Zack put his arm around his shoulder. “Come on. I’ll give you a ride home.”

---

Zack set down his empty beer can as the sun started setting in the treetops behind the modest cabin. A beer after work at Max’s had become an almost daily routine. Also, tonight they had to celebrate Max’s victory over Tommy Ray. Max lifted his lemonade--he didn’t drink beer--and he grinned and swallowed.

“Well, Max. I’d better get going. See you at work tomorrow.”

“You stop here after work?”

“Sorry, I can’t. I’m taking Kate to her first Cincinnati Reds game tomorrow night. The Dodgers are in town.” Zack stood and walked to the door. “I can give you a ride home, but I can’t stay.” Outside, he got into his car and waved as he drove off. “Take it easy, buddy.”

---

When the deep, throaty sound of Zack’s Camaro faded and was replaced by the chirping of crickets, Max lit his lantern and pulled out his favorite book to relax and look at the pictures. He couldn’t seem to concentrate, and he kept going back over the lesson Zack had taught him earlier.

He paused when he heard the chugging of another engine. Had Zack forgotten something? He jumped up and moved to the window. “Zac
k
?” He cut his sentence short. Not Zack’s car, but a blue pickup truck approached the house. Five men climbed out.

Tommy? What did he want? Max did good that day, standing up to Tommy. Zack was proud.

Max moved the makeshift drape and peered out of the window as he heard the men gathering at the front of the truck. Tommy stepped to the front, keeping his hands behind his back. Was he hiding something? Max wasn’t sure. Then he saw the look on Tommy’s face; Tommy looked sad. No, not sad. He was mad.

Max remembered that look. His mother had that same look whenever Max had broken a plate, a window, or had done something else wrong. Back then, Max would sit silently until his mother stopped yelling at him. After a while, the look would go away, and she would be nice again.