Moonshine Murder [Hawkman Bk 14] (23 page)

"Not until evening."

Chandler put his notebook back into his pocket. “Mrs. Hutchinson, I'll be back. Tell your husband and son not to leave. I want to talk to all of you at once."

She nodded.

Back in the car, Detective Chandler turned around and headed toward the main road. “You notice that ribbon she had around her hair?"

"Yeah,” Hawkman said.

"Sure looks similar to the one around the victim's neck."

Hawkman suspected the detective noticed many things. He was the type.

When they reached the Casey's, Chandler stepped out of the car. “I want to speak to the boy. What's his name?"

"Randy."

"You said he told you about finding the car; am I right?"

"Yes."

The two men went inside. Randy quit playing with Miss Marple on the floor, and stood up. Jennifer arose from her chair and advanced toward the two men. She held out her hand. “I'm Mrs. Casey, and assume you're Detective Chandler."

"You're right,” he said, smiling. “A pleasure to meet you."

She turned toward the boy. “This is Randy Hutchinson."

After the introductions were over, Hawkman said, “Randy, Detective Chandler would like to speak to you."

A wave of fear swept across the boy's face. “Okay."

"Let's have a seat on the couch, son,” the detective said, giving the boy a pat on the back.

Randy slid to the far end of the sofa, not taking his eyes off the big man.

"I promise not to bite,” Chandler said.

Randy threw him a nervous smile, but immediately turned somber.

Chandler reached into his chest pocket, pulled out a small recorder, and placed it on the coffee table. “I'm going to record what you tell me, because I won't be able to remember everything. I hope you don't mind. First, I want you to tell me your name."

After the initial recording, the detective started the interrogation in a soft voice.

"Tell me how you found the car this morning."

Randy started talking, but almost in a whisper.

"You're going to have to speak up. I can barely hear you."

He took a deep breath and started again. “I was riding my bike and decided to come see Mr. and Mrs. Casey, when I saw a reflection in the trees. I'd never noticed it before, so decided to go see what was causing it."

"When you found the car, did you look inside?"

Randy nodded.

"I need you to say yes or no."

"Yes."

"What did you see?"

"Tami, sitting under the steering wheel. I thought she was asleep and knocked on the window. When she didn't turn her head, I looked closer and her eyes looked glassy like marbles. I tried to get the doors open, but they were all locked. So I rode down here to tell Mr. and Mrs. Casey."

"How come you didn't tell your mother?"

Picking at a hole in his jeans, he shrugged. “I don't know, guess cause I was scared."

"Why?"

Never taking his eyes off the threads, he said, “Cause, she looked dead, and she was my Mom's friend. I didn't want to make her cry."

"What made you think Tami wasn't just asleep?"

"For one thing her eyes were open, and she never blinked or moved, even when I kept calling her name. She just stared straight ahead."

"Did you notice anything else that might make you question whether she was dead or not?"

Randy shot a look at Jennifer and Hawkman, his lip quivered, and his eyes filled with tears. “Yes,” he said, his voice a little above a murmur.

"Could you tell me?"

The boy took a deep breath, then blurted, “There was a ribbon wrapped around her neck. Looked like she'd been choked."

"Are you sure it wasn't a piece of jewelry, like a necklace?"

Randy finally made eye contact with the detective. “I don't think so. There were two or three layers, and her neck was red."

"Have you ever seen a cord like that?"

"Not really. My Mom uses bands to hold her hair out of her face, but they're usually just torn from rags, nothing fancy."

"Did you like Tami?"

"No."

The detective shifted in his seat, and scratched his chin. “Want to tell me why?"

"She always caused trouble when she came to our house."

"What kind?"

"I don't know, but my Mom always acted angry after she left."

Detective Chandler reached over and turned off the recorder. “I think I've asked you enough questions. I'm going to go back up to your cabin and talk to your folks. When do your dad and brother usually get home from hunting?"

"Before dark."

The detective stood, then approached Hawkman and Jennifer. “I'm going back to Yreka and check with the coroner. The boy doesn't have to be there when I question his folks. It's up to him."

"Can I stay with you Mrs. Casey?” Randy asked, with pleading eyes.

"Of course, but the detective will have to let your folks know when he goes there tonight.” Jennifer said.

"I'll tell them. Are you going to spend the night or be home later?"

"Just tell them, he'll spend the night with us. If he wants to go home later, I'll take him,” Hawkman said.

[Back to Table of Contents]

Beth fed Marcy, put her down for a nap, then paced the cabin, wringing her hands. She peeked out the small window numerous times or opened the door to see if she could hear Jeb and Earl riding in on the horses. When Mr. Casey told her Randy had stayed with Jennifer, she wondered what part he'd played in this Tami deal. She stopped in the middle of the floor and put her hands to her face. “Dear Lord,” she said aloud. “He must have found her body and rode down to tell the Casey's. They had to be the ones who called the police."

Suddenly, she jerked her head around at the sound of hooves beating against the ground. She hurried and flung open the door, then ran into the yard.

Jeb yanked his horse to a short stop. “What's the matter? Looks like you've seen a ghost."

"Have Earl take care of the animals. I need to talk to you quickly, before the police get here."

Jeb frowned, as he dropped to the ground, removed his shotgun from the scabbard, then motioned for his son and handed him the reins. “Earl, take the mounts to the barn. Remove the saddles and brush both horses. While you're at it, put the game in the smoke house.” He followed Beth into the cabin, and placed his rifle in the gun rack on the wall. “Now, what's this about the police?"

"They'll be here shortly. Tami's dead body was found inside her car on this property."

The color drained from Jeb's face. “Damn! Where?"

"I don't know, but I think Randy discovered it, then hightailed it to the Casey's. They must have called the authorities, as Mr. Casey came with the detective earlier. He told me Randy had stayed with Jennifer."

"What did you tell the police?"

"They only asked if I knew Tami, and of course, I told them I did. This was before I knew she was dead. He wants to talk to you, me and Earl together, so he said he'd be back tonight."

Jeb frowned. “Finding her on our property puts us in a real predicament."

Beth bit her lower lip, then looked into her husband's face. “Did Tami show up here last night?

He shook his head. “No, Atkins came by himself. He said he would have no use for her anymore, now that he knew where to come. He'd just pick up his own whiskey and not have to share the profit."

Beth sat down on the couch, shoved her hair out of her face, and tied it with the ribbon she had draped around her neck. Marcy had awakened, but lay cooing at the strand of colorful ornaments strung across top of the crib. Beth stared at the baby. “Jeb, I'm scared. What will we do if they think we had something to do with Tami's death? They'll take my babies away from me."

He sat down in the chair opposite her. “Before that happens, I'll get you out of here."

She threw up her hands in despair. “How? In the buckboard? How much of a chance do you think I'd have getting away?"

"That's the way we got here."

"Yes, but we weren't running from the law."

Earl came in the door and placed his rifle in the gun rack. “Got everything done.” He studied his parents for a moment. “Is something wrong?"

Jeb turned toward his son. “While you were on watch last night, did you see Tami?"

"No, I only saw the guy in the truck drive up. You were out there, and said he was all right to let in."

"Where'd you head afterwards?"

"I walked the boundary behind the barn, then came in for supper. I didn't think I needed to go toward the road, as you and that man were out in front talking."

"The police found Tami, dead in her car on our land.” Beth said. “We don't know where, but they'll be here shortly to talk to us."

Earl's mouth dropped open. “Did someone kill her?"

"We don't know how she died,” Jeb said.

"Where's Randy?” Earl asked, glancing around the cabin. “I didn't see him outside."

"He's with Jennifer Casey,” Beth said.

Earl grimaced. “What's he doing there?"

"I think he found Tami. He didn't know what to do, so he went to them."

"Why didn't he come to you, Mom?"

"I have no car, no way to make an emergency call, and you guys were gone."

The boy nodded. “Yeah, makes sense.” He jerked his head toward the outside. “I just heard a car."

The sound of slamming car doors echoed through the room. Fear crossed Beth's face as she clasped her hands together, stepped back, and stared at the entry. A rap on the wood sent Jeb to the door. A man in a dark suit, with three uniformed police officers flanking him, met Jeb's gaze.

"Yes, what can I do for you?” Jeb asked, his attention drawn to the detective's shiny badge he held out for him to examine.

Chandler folded his wallet and pushed it into an inside pocket of his jacket. “Are you Mr. Hutchinson?"

"Yes."

"I'm Detective Chandler from the Yreka Police Department. May we come in? I'd like to talk to you about Tami Spencer."

Jeb moved aside and motioned for the men to enter.

The detective turned to the officers behind him, and pointed. “You two stay out here. Mike, you come with me."

Just as they stepped inside, Marcy let out a yowl. Beth picked her up and headed for the bedroom.

"Where are you going, Mrs. Hutchinson?” Chandler asked.

She stopped, and turned on her heel. “It's time to feed my baby and I don't care to do it in front of strangers."

He motioned toward the officer. “Mike, check the room for any guns. Mrs. Hutchinson, leave the door open, and come back in when you're through."

Mike returned in a matter of seconds. “Room clean."

Meanwhile, Earl had moved behind his dad, and eyed the officers.

"Is this strapping young man your other son?” The detective asked.

"Yes, this is Earl,” Jeb said, then gestured toward the small sofa. “Have a seat."

"Before I forget, the Caseys said to tell you Randy will spend the night with them. I've already spoken to the boy about the Spencer woman."

"Did he find her?” Jeb asked.

"Yes, and he's a bit traumatized by the whole event."

Jeb ran a hand over his neck. “I can imagine. Where was she?"

"In her car, pushed into a covey of trees just before you get to the paved road. My team has already removed her body and the car. How well did you know her?"

"She's been a friend of my wife's for years, but they'd never been close enough to visit until Tami moved to Yreka some time ago."

"What did Ms. Spencer do for a living?"

Jeb shrugged. “I have no idea."

Beth wandered back into the room holding Marcy. She put the baby in the crib with some toys and faced the detective.

"Mrs. Hutchinson, do you know what Ms. Spencer did for a living?"

"She used to be a waitress in a small cafe, until it closed. I don't know what kind of job she had recently,” Beth said.

"I thought you were good friends?"

Beth shrugged. “To a point, but you have to realize we live quite a ways from Yreka, and gas is very expensive. I have no way of getting into town, unless I use the buckboard or ride one of the horses, which is a bit hard with a nursing baby. So we really didn't see each other very often."

"When did you see her last?"

"It was two or three nights ago when she brought a man out to meet my husband. She said he might have a job for him."

Chandler turned toward Jeb. “What kind of work, Mr. Hutchinson?"

"Something to do at his bar, but being we have no vehicle, it didn't pan out."

"I see.” The detective put his attention back on Beth. “How many ribbons do you have?"

Beth stared at him in shock. “Are you talking about my hair ribbons?"

"Yes."

"I have a drawer full, because I'm always losing them."

"May I see them?"

"I can't imagine what they have to do with Tami's death,” she mumbled as she opened the chest and handed him a handful.

The detective sorted through them. “Looks like most of these are handmade."

"They are, I tear them off of rags."

He pulled a red satin one out of the pile and held it up. “This one looks store bought."

"Yes, I had a couple of those, a red and a blue. I lost the blue one somewhere; they're so slick they slide off real easily. It's probably out in the yard. They were on a gift I received when I moved here.” She frowned. “Why are you interested in these?"

"Because Ms. Spencer was strangled with a blue ribbon."

[Back to Table of Contents]

Beth narrowed her eyes as flashes of red anger exploded. Jeb and Earl both stepped back when she grabbed the hair ribbons from the detective's hands and tossed them on the chair. “How dare you come into my home and suggest one of us strangled Tami. You can buy these for a dime a dozen.” She pointed to the door. “Get out! And don't return."

Taken aback by the sudden outburst from Beth, Detective Chandler stood, held up his hands, and retreated toward the entry. “Mrs. Hutchinson, I didn't mean to insinuate any such thing. I just wanted you to know how she died."

"That's a bunch of bull,” she said, advancing toward them, then she reached for her husband's rifle on the gun rack. “We're not murderers, but you may make me one if you don't get off our property."