Leftover Dead (13 page)

“Well, no,” Wanda Nell said, after having thought about it for a moment. “No heavy makeup, or long sleeves, or anything like that. And she didn’t move around like she was hurt. Just sluggish.”

“I’ll check with the police and see if there’ve been any complaints about that address. But I don’t think there’s much anybody can do, until she makes a complaint herself.”

“I figured that, but I still felt like I had to tell someone.”

“I’ll talk it over with the police, and they’ll be alert in case any calls come from over there,” Elmer Lee said. “And now that y’all have found her, I’ll need to talk to her about her brother. That’ll give me a chance to assess the situation.”

“Good. Jack’s hoping maybe she’ll call him at some point, if she can ever get away from that husband of hers long enough. We think she knows where her brother is.”

“Then we sure need to talk to her.”

“You’re not going over there right now, are you?”

“No, now don’t get all upset,” Elmer Lee said. “Going over now wouldn’t do a whole lot of good, probably. I’ll give her a day or so, to see if she gets in touch with Jack. If she doesn’t, then I’ll for sure go and see her when her husband ain’t around.”

“Good,” Wanda Nell said, much relieved. “Thanks.”

“I’ll see y’all in a little while for dinner,” Elmer Lee said.

Wanda Nell said goodbye and put the phone back on its cradle. She was still concerned for Sandra June Baker, but at least now Elmer Lee knew about the situation. If there was anything to be done, he would see that it got done.

Wanda Nell walked down the hall to the door of the study and peeked in. Jack was engrossed in working on his computer, listening to music, and she decided not to interrupt him. She tiptoed away, deciding she would read for a while. Soon she was engrossed in her book, and when she finally glanced at the clock, she saw that they would need to leave in a few minutes for dinner with Tuck and T.J.

Setting the book aside, Wanda Nell went back to Jack’s study. He was dozing in the recliner in the corner. She sat down on the arm of the chair and brushed his hair back from his forehead. “Time to wake up, honey.”

Jack blinked at her. He yawned. “I guess I did nod off there for a while. What time is it?”

“Almost time to leave for dinner, if we’re going to get there on time.”

“Good thing we don’t have to change, then,” Jack said. “All I need to do is hit the bathroom and put my boots back on, and I’m ready to go.”

“Go right ahead. We might need to go by Miz Culpepper’s and pick up Juliet on the way. T.J. may have picked her up already, so I’ll check with him first.”

Jack pulled his boots back on while Wanda Nell went back to the kitchen to use the phone. She punched in the number, and after three rings, Tuck answered the phone.

“Hey, Wanda Nell. Y’all heading this way soon?”

“We are. I was just calling to see if T.J. had picked up Juliet, or if we need to do it.”

“She’s here already,” Tuck said. “So y’all just come on. T.J. probably already told you it’s just going to be us and Elmer Lee, I’m afraid. Miranda called. They can’t come.”

Wanda Nell heard the slight note of hurt in his voice, and she wanted to jerk a knot in Teddy’s tail. “Don’t pay any attention to that. It’s just something he’s gonna have to work through.”

“I know. What I don’t get, though, is how he doesn’t seem to mind being around us at Mrs. Culpepper’s house, or other places. What’s the big deal about coming to our house and having a meal?”

“I don’t know,” Wanda Nell said. “But I’m gonna have to sit him down pretty soon and have a talk with him. It’s really starting to bug me.”

“If you find out what the problem is, let us know,” Tuck said. “Maybe he’s afraid of my cooking.” He laughed, but the sound was strained.

“Who knows? Now, you stop worrying about it.”

“Yes, ma’am. Now, y’all don’t be late.”

Wanda Nell assured him they would be leaving in a minute, then hung up the phone. She stood staring at it, thinking about her son-in-law. She really was going to have to have a talk with Teddy. This situation couldn’t go on, because it was creating a strain in Miranda’s relationship with her brother. Miranda had always adored T.J. and looked up to him, and she had quickly accepted Tuck as part of the family. But she was also loyal to her new husband, and that had caused some friction.

“I’m ready, love,” Jack said from behind her.

Wanda Nell turned. “Juliet’s already there.”

“Good, then we don’t have to worry about trying to get away from Belle without hurting her feelings.” He wiggled an eyebrow at Wanda Nell.

“No we don’t, thank goodness. Otherwise, we might not get over there until it’s time for dessert.”

They shared a smile for a moment. Belle was a dear, but as Wanda Nell’s mama would have said, she could talk the horns off a billygoat, and his hind legs, too.

“I’ll be ready to go in two minutes,” Wanda Nell said.

Jack looked at his watch. “I’m timing you.”

Wanda Nell punched his arm lightly.

“Ow, I thought you didn’t hit.”

“That was a love tap,” Wanda Nell informed him. “Now let me get by, and I’ll be ready to go, I promise.”

Jack grinned as he stood aside. Wanda Nell hurried down the hall to their bathroom. She wanted to check her makeup and wash her hands.

Just under two minutes later she was back. Jack waited by the door. He opened it with a flourish. “After you, ma’am.”

Wanda Nell picked up her purse and went out the door. The late afternoon heat was still oppressive, but not as bad as it had been at midday.

The drive to Tuck and T.J.’s house was a short one. Several years ago Tuck had bought a house in one of the up-scale subdivisions in Tullahoma, only a few miles from Wanda Nell’s trailer park. All the houses in the development were two-story, with two- or three-car garages, large lots, and expensive landscaping. Wanda Nell had no idea how much money Tuck made with his law practice, but he seemed pretty comfortable. He came from a family with money, too.

An unfamiliar pickup was in the drive when they pulled in. “Must be Elmer Lee’s,” Jack said.

“I guess so,” Wanda Nell replied. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him in anything but a Sheriff’s Department car.”

“Just as well he didn’t show up in one of those,” Jack said, putting the car in Park and switching off the ignition. “What would the neighbors think?” His tone made a joke of it.

“In this neighborhood,” Wanda Nell said, “who knows? Thank goodness, they don’t seem to have much problem with two men living together.”

“It’s nice to know there’s at least one enlightened part of town.” Jack got out of the car and came around to Wanda Nell’s side to open the door.

Wanda Nell stepped out, and Jack shut the door behind her. She started walking toward the front door, Jack right behind her. His cell phone began to ring, and they both paused.

Jack pulled the phone from his jacket pocket and glanced at the number. “It’s Sandra Baker’s number,” he said, a note of excitement in his voice.

Jack flipped open his phone and punched a button. The phone to his ear, he said, “This is Jack Pemberton.” He listened.

Wanda Nell stood, her back to the evening sun, hoping that it was Sandra June calling, and not her scary husband.

“Yes, I see,” Jack said, a slight frown on his face. “No, I understand. That’s fine with me. How about the Kountry Kitchen? Do you know where that is?” He listened for a moment. “Sure, I’ll be there around ten tomorrow morning. My wife will be there, too.” After a few more reassuring words, he ended the call, folded his phone, and tucked it into his pocket.

“Well? What did she say?”

“She wants to meet me, but she doesn’t want me coming back to their house.” Jack took Wanda Nell’s arm and steered her toward the front door. “Her husband allows her to go grocery shopping on Monday mornings, and she shops at the store right across the highway from the Kountry Kitchen.”

“So she’s going to meet you there at ten,” Wanda Nell said. They had reached the front door, and Jack pushed the doorbell.

“Yes. She won’t be able to stay long. She didn’t say why, though I can guess.”

“Her husband probably times her.” Wanda Nell grimaced. “That’s horrible. Doesn’t he have to go to work?”

“He’ll be at work, according to Miz Baker. I don’t know the details. Maybe she’ll tell us tomorrow.”

The door opened, and T.J. stood there, smiling. “Come on in.” He stood aside to let them enter.

Wanda Nell smiled up at her son. He was such a handsome young man, and the older he got, the more he looked like his daddy. Bobby Ray had been very good-looking—way too much for his own good. Though he got his looks from Bobby Ray, T.J. took a lot of his temperament from her. After a few rough years, he had finally settled down, and Wanda Nell often gave thanks to see him so happy.

“Elmer Lee’s already here,” T.J. said as he shut the door. “He and Juliet are in the living room. Let me get you something to drink. How about a glass of wine?”

“Sounds fine,” Jack said.

“Me, too,” Wanda Nell added.

“Red okay?”

“Sure,” Jack and Wanda Nell agreed.

“Y’all go on in the living room, and I’ll be back in a minute with your wine.” T.J. headed down the hall to the kitchen, a large room at the back of the house.

Jack and Wanda Nell stepped across the hall to the living room. Pausing on the threshold, Wanda Nell glanced around the room. She remembered the first time she had come to Tuck’s house, right after T.J. had moved in with him. She hadn’t known what to expect, being half afraid she’d find the place full of all kinds of frilly curtains and strange colors. She had been ashamed of herself for thinking that way, especially after she saw how tastefully the whole house was done. There were no frills anywhere, but neither were there animal heads, gun racks, and bearskin rugs. The furniture was comfortable, some of it antique, but overall the impression was one of ease and understated good taste.

Elmer Lee and Juliet sat on opposite ends of an old-fashioned, high-backed sofa. Elmer Lee sipped from a glass of wine, and Juliet cradled a glass of iced tea in her hands.

“Hi, Mama, hi, Jack. Mr. Johnson’s just been telling me some stories about when you were in high school.”

“I’m not sure I like the sound of that,” Wanda Nell said. “I hope he’s not been telling you any of the bad things I got up to.”

“Now, you know you didn’t get up to that much.” Elmer Lee rose from his seat. “Except breaking a lot of hearts, that is.”

Wanda Nell blushed. “I did not.”

“Juliet’s going to be doing the same,” Elmer Lee said, and now it was Juliet’s turn to blush. “She looks just like you did when you were that age.”

“Thank you, Mr. Johnson. I hope I’m as pretty as Mama is when I’m her age.”

Wanda Nell smiled at her younger daughter.

“She’s not just pretty,” Jack said, “she’s beautiful.” He beamed at his wife.

“Enough,” Wanda Nell said. “Y’all are going to have me blushing again.”

“Blushing? What for?” T.J. asked as he came into the room. He held a glass of red wine in each hand. Tuck came in right behind him, also bearing two glasses of red wine.

T.J. offered a glass each to Wanda Nell and Jack, then took his own glass from his partner. Tuck slipped his arm around T.J.’s waist and raised his glass. “To family and good friends.”

They all responded to the toast, and when they had done, Tuck said, “Glad you could be here. I hope you’ll like what we’ve made for dinner.”

“I’m sure it will be delicious, as always,” Jack said. “You’ve never disappointed us yet.” He smacked his lips, and the others laughed.

“There’s always a first time,” Tuck said in a self-deprecating manner.

“Don’t listen to him,” T.J. said fondly. “If he wasn’t such a great lawyer, he could open his own gourmet restaurant. You wouldn’t believe how much I have to exercise because of his cooking. If I didn’t, I’d be as big as the side of a barn.”

“I don’t see how you have time to do all the things you do.” Elmer Lee’s tone betrayed his envy. “And cook, too. Heck, I eat out of a can most of the time at home, or else heat up a frozen dinner in the microwave.”

“I love to cook,” Tuck said. “It’s a good way for me to relax.” He grinned. “And it doesn’t hurt to have someone to clean up after me, either.”

T.J. sighed and shook his head. “Now you hear the truth. He just keeps me around to clean up the mess he makes in the kitchen.”

“Yeah, right,” Juliet said amidst the laughter her brother’s remark had evoked. She held up her right hand, rubbing her thumb and index finger together. “You see this? This is the world’s tiniest violin, and it’s playing “My Heart Bleeds for You.’”

T.J. turned to Tuck. “Are you sure that’s just iced tea in her glass? She’s sounding pretty big for her britches.”

Juliet giggled, and the others laughed with her.

“Let’s eat,” Tuck said. He turned to lead the way to the dining room. “Juliet set the table for us, so if everything’s in the wrong place, you’ll know who to blame.” He turned to grin over his shoulder. Juliet retaliated by sticking out her tongue at him.

In the dining room Tuck stood at the head of the table and directed everyone to his or her seat. T.J. sat at the foot, Wanda Nell on his left and Jack on his right. Elmer Lee took the chair to the left of Tuck, and Juliet was on Tuck’s right. “Help yourselves to the bread and butter,” Tuck said. “T.J. actually made the bread. I’ll be back with the salad.”

“I’ll help you.” T.J. followed Tuck out of the room.

“T.J. actually made bread?” Wanda Nell asked, impressed. “I didn’t know he could do that.”

“He used the bread machine,” Juliet said.

“It looks delicious.” Elmer Lee picked up the basket and parted the linen cloth to peek inside. “And it smells great.” He served himself a piece before offering the basket to Juliet.