Paint the Town Dead (22 page)

“I'll give her a call.” He turned to Caleb. “I'm going to let you to drive on over to the station. You know where it is?”

Caleb nodded.

“Officer Bryant,” he said, nodding to the man at Caleb's side, “will follow you. I'll be along shortly.”

When Caleb was far enough away, I looked up at Eric. “I'd prefer it if you didn't rip into me in front of all these people. The Six Silver probably know about this adventure by now. I'd rather not compound the gossip.”

“Agreed. Why don't you take T.C. and Amber home and join me at the station?”

I held his bland gaze. “What for?”

“I thought you might want to observe the interview.”

I blinked. “You did? I mean, yes, I do. But why are you inviting me? What about compromising the case?”

“You're my witness. You're the one who first mentioned Rusty to me and connected Rusty to Caleb Collier. Besides, you caught the guy. You should hear what he has to say firsthand.”

He didn't have to ask me twice.

*   *   *

Okay, he didn't let me charge into the inner sanctum bold as brass, much less into the interview room.

Since the emergency phone lines were manned by the sheriff's office, no one sat at the reception desk at night. I cooled my heels in the front foyer alone. I hope it stayed that way.

I'd taken the critters to my apartment, and was relieved they didn't seem to mind being left alone. At least Amber didn't whine, and neither of them scratched at the door when I closed it behind me. As I hit the back door to go to my car, I called Sherry. She had heard I'd been involved in some “hubbub.” I told her it was nothing, but that I would be hanging out with Eric for a while. From the lilt in her voice, she assumed I meant we were having an impromptu date, and I didn't correct her. If a little white lie kept Sherry and crew at home tonight, it was worth the penance I'd have to do later.

At last Eric came for me.

“Officer Bryant is back on patrol for the rest of the night shift, but that could change if he makes an arrest. Just be quiet and wait for me.”

I nodded, and slipped into a space the size of my apartment's small walk-in closet. Being short, I decided sitting in the single chair would cut my view of the interview room. I elected to stand, and watched through the one-way glass, where I had a side view of Caleb. In the bright fluorescent
lights, and with his New Orleans Saints ball cap off, he looked haggard. From being on the run, or was he distressed that his sister was dead?

Eric entered the interview room, sat across the metal table, and placed a tape recorder and a manila folder on its smooth surface.

Recorder running, Eric stated the date, time, and the names of those present in the room.

“Do you understand this is an interview, Mr. Collier?” Eric was every inch Detective Shoar at the moment, but not coming on strong. Put Suspect at Ease 101. “You are not under arrest.”

“I understand, Detective.” He touched the cap on the table.

“I know you've been in Lilyvale since Friday. Did you arrive that day or earlier?”

“Just to be clear, I haven't been in the area all the time. I told you I maintain pumpers. I've been working near here, but also in north Texas.”

Eric opened the folder, clicked his pen twice, but reminded silent. Oldest cop trick in the books, and Caleb caved.

“Friday morning.” His shoulders slumped and his hands stilled. “I was in town Friday morning about nine. Kim called me out of the blue Thursday night and asked me to help her steal something.”

I gasped, and instinctively backed from the window, hoping Eric hadn't heard me. But wow. Kim had been more obsessed than I'd imagined if she wanted to involve her brother in theft.

“She told me her fiancé—is it Ernie?” Eric nodded, and Caleb continued, “Kim said Ernie's ex-wife had something of his and wouldn't give it back. Kim wanted to give it to him as a wedding present.”

“Did you know she was engaged?”

Caleb snorted. “Except for an e-mail at Christmas every
year or two, I hadn't heard from her since she married her last husband. I seldom heard from her before that.”

Eric nodded. “We understood from Ernie Boudreaux that you and your sister weren't close.”

“We were closer as kids, but grew apart pretty fast after our parents died in a car accident. Our mother's sister took us in, but she was all about Kim's ambition to win beauty pageants. She couldn't've cared less about me, and neither did Kim.” He paused, scowled. “Unless she wanted something from me.”

“Then why ask you to help her now?” Eric asked sharply.

“I guess because I'd been in trouble as a juvenile,” Caleb blurted out. “I boosted cars, burglarized some houses, lifted jewelry from some sorority girls at a couple of casinos.”

Well, well. He sure wasn't holding back. My opinion of him rose, and I stepped closer to the window.

“Is that where you were caught?” Eric probed. “At a casino?”

“I was caught in a house where no one was supposed to be home. I thought I was helping Kim pull a prank on a friend of hers.”

“And you took the fall.”

He jerked a nod. “Home invasion. I got a light sentence, did my time, and then a friend's parents let me stay with them when I got out.”

Eric glanced at the open folder. “Would these be your friend Ray's parents?”

He inclined his head. “Did you meet his grandmother?”

“No. Ms. Nix did.”

Caleb's eyes bugged. “Is that the crazy woman who ran out in front of my truck? The one I nearly hit?”

“That's her.”

Were Eric's shoulders shaking with silent laughter? They'd better not be.

“Mr. Collier, have you been in legal trouble as an adult?”

He sat board stiff. “If you ran a background on me, you
know I haven't. I straightened myself out, got my education, and got a good job.”

“When your sister called, did she mention Ernie Boudreaux? Any trouble between them?”

“I told you when you notified me Kim—” His breath hitched, and he swallowed hard. “Kim had died that she complained they'd been arguing.”

“Did she seem to fear for her life?”

A look of cunning flitted across Caleb's expression, like he'd just been handed an out. But then he shook his head.

“She sounded ticked off, not scared, but I didn't trust her calling me like she did.” His gaze drifted over Eric's shoulder. “I haven't trusted her since I was a kid.”

My detective made a note. “Then why did you come at all?”

He shook his head, not in denial, but as if hindsight had caught up with him. “I had work up this way, and I was curious about what Kim was up to. I kind of hoped I could talk her out of whatever scheme she was cookin' up.”

“When you got here Friday morning, what did you do? Call your sister?”

Caleb sighed. “This may sound creepy, but first I found the bed-and-breakfast where she told me she was staying. I wanted to observe her, just to see what she was up to. I figured she'd go shopping sooner or later, so I hung out in the square—mostly in the gazebo— and watched for her.”

The courthouse gazebo. Caleb had watched his sister, and Ernie had watched the storm from the same place. Fitting, I supposed.

“She hasn't changed much, in habits or looks, so she was easy to spot. She went to four or five stores, maybe more, then went to that café. An hour or more later, I saw her again. She was with Ernie and that other woman, and they went into the gift store. I waited awhile, then went in myself.”

“Weren't you concerned Ms. Thomason would recognize you?”

Caleb shrugged. “If she did, she did, but she hasn't seen me in ten years. I kept this cap on to cover my hair, and wore sunglasses. I stayed for the art thing, but Kim never noticed me.”

Gift shop and art thing?
Nice to have another perspective, but really?

“When did Ms. Thomason know you were in town? Did you call her?”

“Yeah, after she left the gift shop. I asked her to meet me, but she said she couldn't. She told me she'd call when she saw the opportunity to get Ernie's property back. I started to warn her I wouldn't drop work to come running, but she'd already disconnected.”

“Mr. Collier, if you haven't had contact with your sister in years, how is it she had your phone number?”

He smiled, but not with a lick of humor. “Actually, it shocked me she still had it, but I've had the same number since I first got a cell phone.”

Eric looked doubtful, but went on. “Let's talk about Saturday and Sunday. Did you see Ms. Thomason either of those days?”

“Saturday afternoon I followed her and Ernie to the gift shop again. I texted her afterward, but she didn't answer. Then she called me Sunday afternoon. I was driving back from checking on a pumper, and happened to be at the edge of town.”

What time was that?”

“Three thirty or so.”

I nodded to myself. It didn't take much more than fifteen minutes to drive from one end of Lilyvale to the other if you didn't hit a traffic light. The timing worked.

“She told me to come to the back door of the place she was staying,” he went on. “She gave me the door code, and said to hurry.”

“What happened then?”

I leaned closer to the window so I wouldn't miss a thing.

Caleb rubbed a hand over his short red hair. “I went upstairs to her room. She told me Ernie's ex-wife had an opal that belonged to him. She wanted me to help search the woman's room.”

“Was the room open?”

“No, Kim had the key.” He crumpled the soft part of his cap. “She started going through a suitcase. She told me how much she appreciated me and that she'd pay me for my help. I wasn't doing anything but standing by the door. She was talking to me, but she never once looked at me. She was more interested in that opal than her brother, I guess.”

He looked painfully bewildered by that memory.

“She didn't find the stone?”

He shook his head. “That made her more agitated. She dumped jars of stuff down the sink, threw clothes around. Kim was single-minded, but I'd never seen her like that. I told her I was out of there.”

“You left right away?”

“I didn't look back. She was alive and still tossing the room and cussing last time I saw her.”

“What time was that?”

“Four o'clock or so.”

“What did you do then, Mr. Collier?”

He fingered his cap. “I went on to Oklahoma for my job.”

Liar.
I thought surely Eric would call him on it, but he didn't. He made another note.

“All right, just a few more questions. Did you happen to notice any vehicles in particular when you arrived to see your sister?”

“There may have been a red truck parked at the curb. I didn't pay that much attention.”

“And when you left the inn?”

“There was definitely a sedan. Late-model Honda, I think. Odd color of blue.”

Aha! Ernie's car was a Honda Accord. I hadn't paid attention to it being a two- or four-door, but I remember thinking it looked bluish-purple.

“Did you see anyone else around?”

“An older gentleman walking a German shepherd.”

Hmm. I hadn't met a dog or owner of that description, but Caleb's answer was specific enough to be true.

“There's one more point to clarify, Mr. Collier. You said you left for Oklahoma immediately. You didn't. Your truck was seen leaving the alley behind the inn close to five twenty.”

Wham!
Nailed. I hadn't seen that coming, and neither had Caleb from his reaction. He jerked and slapped his Saints cap on the table. For a long moment I thought he'd ask for an attorney. Instead, his shoulders sagged, and for the first time he looked haunted.

“You went back to see your sister, didn't you?”

“Yes,” he admitted raggedly, “but not to kill her. I didn't even go inside. I called her cell, but she didn't answer. There was an Audi in the parking lot, and I thought maybe her fiancé had come back. I got out of there as fast as I could and drove until I got to Antlers.”

“Antlers, Oklahoma.”

“I stayed overnight in a little motel. The receipt is in my glove box.”

Now Eric gave the suspect his laser cop-stare. “If you're lying again, I'll arrest you.”

“But I didn't kill her!”

“Maybe you did, maybe you didn't, but by lying you're impeding a murder investigation.”

“I'm not lying. I hardly knew Kim anymore, and I didn't trust her, but she was still my sister.” He paused, then said softly, “My sister, Detective. That means something to me.”

He dashed the back of his hand over his eyes, and I felt the surge of his grief. I also noticed he said “means” instead of “meant.” He wasn't used to the idea of her being dead.

Eric tapped the open folder with his pen. “Here's what we're going to do, Mr. Collier. The Inn on the Square is a few blocks from here. I'm going to let you get your overnight gear from your truck. I want that receipt, too, and your keys. I won't impound the truck, but it stays here until I get more answers.”

“You need a warrant to search my truck.”

Eric arched a brow. “Something you're hiding? Clothes spattered with your sister's blood?”

Caleb blanched. “I'm not hiding anything, but I keep a pistol in the truck. I have a permit.”

“Why are you carrying a weapon?”

“Rattlesnakes.”

“They hang around oil well pumps?”

“When I do the maintenance, sometimes I can get close to the pump driving the truck. Other times I have to park and walk through high grass.”

Eric gave him the silent stare again.

He threw up his hands. “All right fine, never mind the warrant. I'll give you permission to search the damn truck.”

“Thank you. I'll walk you to the inn now, and show you to your room.”

“I can settle in myself,” Caleb said mulishly.

“Ernie Boudreaux and his sister are staying at the inn. I want to head off any problems, but if that doesn't suit you, I can put you in a holding cell at the Hendrix County Sheriff's Office. Your choice.”

Caleb picked up his Saints ball cap and crammed it on his head. “Fine.”

Kim's brother left the interview room looking defeated,
but I didn't think he'd killed her. In spite of his former thieving ways, his story had a ring of truth.

How interesting that he'd seen the Audi in the parking lot when he'd come back to the inn. Maybe Margot
had
killed Kim. Maybe that's why she'd driven out of the parking lot like a woman possessed.

*   *   *

I'd been instructed to stay put, and I complied, but I plopped into the chair to wait. I pulled out my cell, but left the volume off just in case some of Lilyvale's finest came back before Eric did. To combat the sleepiness brought on by let-down and being in the dark room, I played solitaire on my phone. That helped my drooping eyelids until the door cracked open and my tardy detective stuck his head in.

“Hey, sorry that took so long. Ready to go?”

We exited through the back door, where a picnic table and benches sat in the glow of the security light. I hadn't noticed them when I talked to Eric back here days ago.

“You look exhausted, so I'm not going to read you the riot act about jumping in front of a moving vehicle.”

“Thanks,” I said dryly.

“What I am doing is driving you home and seeing you upstairs.”

“I'm fine,” I protested as he grasped my elbow.

“I'm not. When I heard what you'd done tonight, it took years off my life.”

“You probably heard an exaggerated version.”

“I don't think it was too far off. Keys?” he added, palm open.

I dropped the set that had my apartment and store keys on same ring as my car fob. At ten thirty on a Thursday night, the ride took all of two minutes from door to door, and we didn't speak until I let him in the apartment.

Amber woofed and wagged her whole body as she
bounded to greet us. T.C. wound herself through my legs, then moved on to Eric's.

“Good girls,” I praised when I glanced around the space and didn't spot any wreckage. “How about a treat?”

The critters took the nibbles I offered, but were far more interested in attention. Getting it, and giving it. They hopped onto the couch when Eric sat. He patted the cushion beside him.

I sank down slowly, gauging his mood. “I guess you still have to write a report.”

“I should go back to the station long enough to make some notes, but I don't think I can type coherent sentences tonight.”

“You want something to drink?”

I started to move Amber, but Eric shook his head so I kept her close. Not that I had much in the way of food or drinks in the house, but I felt had to offer. That Southern training. Plus, let's face it, I felt guilty that he had worried about me.

“So what do you think about Caleb's story?” I asked.

“Overall, it's believable. He didn't do himself any favors ducking me for so long, but I think he's genuinely grieving.”

“Did he stay away to give himself an alibi?”

Eric snorted. “If he did, it was an epic failure. He doesn't have receipts for the lodging, or food, or gas while he's been in the area. He says he paid in cash for all of that. He only has a receipt for his Sunday night stay over in Antlers.”

“Where
did
he stay while he was watching Kim?”

“A chain hotel in Magnolia. I can follow up, see who remembers him. Before tonight, I leaned toward him being the killer. After talking to him, he just doesn't feel right.”

“Have you eliminated Margot Vail? Caleb saw the Audi in the parking lot.”

“He saw Mr. Boudreaux's car, too. He didn't know it was Ernie's, but he saw it.”

“Yes, but he saw the Honda when he left Kim alone and alive. He didn't mention it later.”

Eric frowned. “I didn't ask him about that, did I? Damn. That's why I need to go over my notes.”

“You can question him about it tomorrow. Heck, you can walk him through what he did and what or who he saw.”

“I'd planned to do that anyway.”

“Well, you have his truck locked up. He won't be going anywhere tonight.”

He scrubbed at his face, then set T.C. aside and rose. “I've got to go.”

Amber jumped down and followed Eric. “You'll have more answers tomorrow. You might even hear back from Kim's attorney.”

He gave me an odd look.

“You know, about who inherits her estate.”

“If it's Caleb, he doesn't act like he knows about it. Oh, by the way, I looked over the inventory. Two diamond rings are listed.”

“So if Margot killed Kim, she didn't stick around to search Kim's room for the heirloom.” I tilted my head. “Or was that room searched?”

“I'm not commenting.”

“Horse hockey.”

“Excuse me?”

“You just allowed me to observe your interview. What's the big deal about telling me if Kim and Ernie's room had been searched?”

“Horse hockey, huh?” He gave me a slow, wide grin. “You're sound more and more like the seniors. Is that a Fred phrase?”

I shook my head. “Go home, Detective Shoar.”

He opened the door, but stopped and turned. “When this case and your grand opening are over, you and I are having dinner. And not at the Dairy Queen.”

I cocked my hip at him. “You're on, big guy.”

He ran a finger down my jaw. “Just stay out of trouble, okay?”

*   *   *

I'd always been a fan of comfort food when I needed it. I was fast becoming sold on comfort cuddling. Amber and T.C. sprang into bed with me, but wouldn't settle at the foot of the bed as they had been doing. They burrowed under my summer-weight comforter and snuggled, one on each side, each resting chins and one paw on my stomach.

Okay, I'd have pet hair on my sheets as well as the bed cover. I had a passing thought that I would have to put a stop to them sleeping with me at all, but quickly forgot it as I soaked up their warmth.

*   *   *

I slept late the next morning. The Silver Six had not. They were in the workroom when I came down at eight forty to walk the critters, who exploded out the door and down the stairs the second I touched the doorknob. Both animals greeted each senior, but positively danced around Fred and Dab.

“Were we supposed to do something this early?” I asked, and then noticed the murder board open to our last page of notes.

“We want a full report of last night's bust,” Maise barked.

“It wasn't a bust. I flagged down the guy Ruth Kreider told us about.”

“Rusty, yes,” Sherry said.

“And it turned out that he is Kim's brother.”

“Caleb Collier, we know,” Aster supplied.

“Tell you what, let me walk the pets and I'll fill you in on what I can.”

“I do believe we have a better idea,” Eleanor said. “We'll go to the café for breakfast.”

“But you always have breakfast at home.”

“We can't get the latest scoop from Lorna at home.”

“Oh. Okay,” I agreed, thinking I was off the hook.

“Don't think you're home free, child,” Sherry intoned in her stern teacher voice. “If the café isn't filled with diners, we'll grill you right there. Otherwise, we'll get to your story when we get back.”

Fred chortled. “Wouldn't wanna be in your shoes, missy. Come on, fur buddies, let's go.”

Fred began clomp-clacking his loaded walker to the back door while Dab took the leash from my limp grip, then patted my shoulder. “Later.”

The four ladies and I left the men behind, and they all but frog-marched me to the Lilies Café. As soon as I stepped inside, my appetite kicked in and the ambiance took me to another time.

Just like the emporium did. Just like this whole town did.

Then I noticed the silence and the eyes of two dozen people trained on me. Whatever news the grapevine was spreading, apparently these people had heard it.

“There's a table in the back,” a harried Lorna said, waving us to a round table by the staircase that ascended to the second-floor inn.

Since the café was packed, I was off the hook for now. We didn't want to be overheard. Plus, if Ernie or Caleb came down to eat while we were here, we couldn't miss seeing them.

Today green cloth napkins with sparkling flatware and green mugs sat on pristine white tablecloths. The single-sheet menus listing breakfast items were wedged between the white sugar packet holder and the salt and pepper shakers.

I was right. The Silver Six had eaten at home. Still they ordered a fruit plate to share. I went for the two-egg cheese omelet because I was going to need the protein fix, and we had coffee all around.

Bushy-beard Clark came out of the kitchen swinging
doors, and snatched a coffee carafe from the warmer. He grunted what I assumed was “Good morning,” filled our mugs, then did a refill round at the other tables before striding back to the kitchen.

“Don't say a word about him, child,” Sherry advised. “He and Lorna seem to be working things out, and we support her.”

I doctored my coffee and sipped as the conversation flowed to the upcoming events of the day. We'd scheduled two presentations, one at eleven, and one at two. The first would feature Colleen Watson, who'd be demonstrating the art of wineglass painting. Fran Givens would do a program on collages with a twist. Then, from four to seven, the big finale to the grand opening with fruit and veggie trays, Ida's pear bread, and of course, cookies and sweet tea. I'd insisted we buy the food trays from the grocery store, and had been happily surprised that the ladies of the Silver Six didn't fight me on the decision.

We did ask Lorna to cater first, but she was swamped with club luncheons.

“I have news,” the woman herself said sotto voce as she delivered our meals. “Let me refresh your coffees, and I'll sit with you a minute.”

Lorna didn't do gossip. She imparted news.

I'd just put a bite of omelet in my mouth when she pulled up another chair, dropped into her seat, and leaned toward me.

“You need to know,” she said in hushed tones so as not to be overheard, “that it's all over town that you stopped a murderer at gun point.”

I nearly choked. Sherry handed me a water, and Maise smacked my back hard enough to make my eyes bulge.