Fat hen farm 01- Killer tracks (2 page)

“Thank you, yes. That would be perfect!”

“It wil just take about 15 minutes to get a car setup for you. We’l have your truck fixed as soon as possible and give you a cal when it’s ready to be picked up. David, can you type up the paperwork please? And Ms. Wilson, there wil be no charge. We pride ourselves on having happy customers.”

“Thank you, Mr. Garcia. I was starting to lose faith in your service but this sounds like a good compromise.” Kitty sat back down in David’s cluttered office waiting for the paperwork. Looking around while she waited, she noticed how disorganized everything was. Piles of folders, empty soda cans and old takeout food containers were piled everywhere. She wondered how he could keep track of anything in this mess. He busied himself but said nothing to Kitty. She could tel he was fuming about what had just happened. She regretted buying the truck from him but Roger wanted her to give David her business. Roger had borrowed money from David over the years when they were having trouble making the rent. It certainly had been a sore point between them.

Kitty signed the papers for the loaner, got the keys and headed home. She stil had a lot of unpacking to do before meeting Roger for dinner at the Wil ow Fal s Diner.

***

Kitty saw Roger’s car in the parking lot of the diner. She drove slowly looking for a parking spot in the crowded lot. She was starving after al the running around she’d done and was looking forward to a nice, simple meal with Roger. She hoped he was in a better mood from the last time she’d seen him that morning. She was always optimistic about their relationship getting back to what it used to be.

Waving to Roger when she walked inside, she headed to sit with him at the booth. The diner had been in Wil ow Fal s for as long as she could remember and she recognized most of the people as she slid into the seat across from Roger.

“How was your day?” Kitty asked, hoping it would be the start to easy conversation.

“It sucked!” Roger said without even looking up to greet Kitty. “You’re late. I already ordered for you.” Kitty was having trouble being patient with his lousy attitude. “What did you order for me? I was looking forward to the seafood platter.”

“I got you a cheeseburger and fries. If you don’t like it, don’t eat it.” Kitty was trying not to let the tears overflow down her cheeks. She didn’t know why Roger was always so angry with her and she was trying hard not to let it dampen her excitement of moving to the farm.

David and his girlfriend, Candy, walked over to the booth where Kitty and Roger were sitting. Kitty didn’t notice until she heard David yel ing at her.

“You got me fired. I hope you’re happy now! Come on Candy, I don’t want to spend one more second in here!” Candy smirked at Kitty and fol owed David out the door. The diner was suddenly deathly quiet. Kitty saw Roger looking at her.

“What the hel was al that about? What did you do to get my brother fired?” Roger asked with venom in his voice.

“I didn’t get him fired. I was just trying to get my truck fixed and he wasn’t helping me. Jimmie came into David’s office and gave me a free loaner.”

“I told you I would take care of it. You always ruin everything Kitty.” Roger glared at her, got up and walked out.

Kitty looked around. Everyone was pretending they hadn’t heard the argument. Her friend Gloria came over and sat down next to Kitty.

Gloria put her hand on Kitty’s arm and quietly said, “Don’t let him treat you like that Kitty. He’s always blaming other people for his problems.

Hey, here’s your food. You may as wel eat something. I’l keep you company. If there’s extra, I’l take it home to Watson. He loves this diner food.”

“You’re a life saver Gloria. I don’t think I can eat much, I’m too upset. I’m happy to send it home to your beautiful black lab. Keep an eye open for a dog like that for me. Martha gave me a stray kitten and it would be great to have a dog at the farm too. I’d love to adopt one from your shelter.

Here, take al this. I’m heading home to see if I can straighten this out with Roger.”

“Kitty, you don’t have to put up with that, you know.”

“I know, Gloria.”

Kitty found her keys for the loaner and headed home. It wasn’t far. The farm was just on the north edge of town. There was a light dusting of snow on the driveway. She fol owed the tracks from Roger’s car to the house. His car was parked out front. The headlights were on. The driver door was open. She saw footprints going to the barn.

This didn’t make any sense.

Kitty pul ed her car next to Roger’s, got out and cal ed his name. “Roger? Roger? Are you in the barn?” Silence. The silence that accompanies snow gently fal ing, muffling al other sounds. Spine tingling silence when something doesn’t feel right.

Kitty walked toward her beautiful new barn, stepping in the footprints so snow didn’t get in her shoes. Her heart raced faster and faster the closer she got to the open barn door.

Peering into the blackness of the barn, she couldn’t see anything. Her eyes needed time to adjust to the darkness inside. A shape was on the floor. “Roger?”

She ran to the body. Roger was face down on the new floor. Dead. She didn’t need to touch him to know. Her scream was carried away by the wind and the deathly silence returned. In shock, she backed out of the barn, closing the door quietly and retracing her steps. Like a sleepwalker, she got in her car trying to think. Time seemed to be frozen like the air outside. This was her home now. Leaving the car, she went into the house.

This cold, scary nightmare surrounded her like a fog.

Chapter 2

Kitty pul ed herself together as best she could and got out her phone. “Tina, come here . . . quick . . . there’s been an accident . . . or something.”

“What are you talking about? Are you okay?”

“Yes. It’s Roger.”

“Is he okay?”

“I don’t think so, come fast,” Kitty pleaded.

“Did you cal an ambulance?”

“No. Should I? I don’t know what to do. I think he’s dead. I’l cal the police chief. Tina, please hurry.”

“I’m on my way. Where are you now?”

“In my house.”

Kitty could barely punch in 9-1-1 with her trembling fingers. “I need to talk to Herb . . . the police chief.”

“Who’s cal ing please?”

“Kitty Wilson. There’s been an accident. I don’t know what to do.”

“Are you alright Ms. Wilson?”

“Yes. It’s my husband, Roger Wilson. I think he’s dead.”

“I’l send the chief right over, and an ambulance.”

Sirens broke the quiet. Kitty could see headlights coming up her driveway. She stood looking out the window, her feet glued to the floor. Two police cars pul ed up with the ambulance right behind. Tina’s car was the last in the line.

Tina flew out of her car but the police chief stood in her path, holding her back.

“Why are you here? You can’t go to the barn,” Herb was tel ing Tina when Kitty opened the door and stood, listening to the noises.

“Kitty cal ed me. It’s my brother in there. Let me go in the house. I need to see if Kitty’s alright.”

“Okay. You can stay in the house with her.”

Tina found Kitty staring out the doorway but not actual y seeing anything. Wrapping her arms around Kitty she could feel her trembling. “Kitty, tel me what happened.”

Kitty slowly turned her head to look at Tina. “I don’t know. Roger and I met at the diner for dinner. David came in and yel ed at me, that it was my fault he got fired. Roger got mad and left. I talked to Gloria for a little while, then drove here. Roger’s car was out front with footprints going to the barn. I fol owed them and I found him in the barn. This is like a dream. Tina, am I dreaming?”

“No, Kitty, this is al real. I’l stay in here with you until Herb comes in. He’l probably want to get a statement from you. Come on into the kitchen and sit down. I’l make you some tea.”

The front door opened. David stormed into the kitchen, glaring at Kitty and Tina. “What did you do now Kitty? How can you sit here with this murderer Tina? She kil ed our brother.”

“Calm down. How did you hear about this so fast David? Murder? What are you talking about? You don’t know that. We don’t even know if he was murdered or maybe he had a heart attack or something like that. Kitty is upset enough. You need to leave.”

“I can’t wait to see you in jail!” David shouted and slammed the door behind him as he stormed out.

The police chief came in looking for Kitty. “You need to come to the station with us for questioning.” Careful y putting her teacup down, she fol owed Herb and Louise Carlson, the deputy officer, out to the police car.

***

It was a short drive to the station. Kitty was numb in the back seat. Her brain frozen with the image of David lying on the floor of her new barn.

Nothing made any sense.

“Okay Kitty, let’s get this over with.” The police chief guided her into a smal hot room that smel ed of stale body odor.

Kitty sat at a table with a light hanging over her head. Nervous sweat was dripping down her side. Herb sat across from her with a tape recorder, pen and pad. Louise stood by the door.

Putting a glass of water on the metal table in front of Kitty, the police chief told her, “Ms. Wilson, I wil be recording our conversation. Please tel us what you did this afternoon.”

Kitty noticed the switch to a more formal conversation and thought that Herb was trying to put some space between their long acquaintance. “I went to see David Wilson at Jimmie’s Auto about the car I bought from him. We argued. Jimmie came in and took care of everything. He gave me a loaner until my truck gets fixed.” Kitty took a sip of water. “I went to the diner to meet Roger for dinner. David came in and yel ed at me, said it was my fault that he got fired. Roger got mad at me and left. I stayed a little longer talking to Gloria, then drove home.” The police chief leaned closer to Kitty. “What did you do when you got home?” Kitty glanced down at her hands. “I saw Roger’s car at the house with the headlights on, the driver side door open and footprints going to the barn. I cal ed his name a couple of times but there was no answer. I went to the barn. I didn’t see anything at first because it was so dark inside.” Kitty’s voice broke, she could barely talk.

“And then?” The police chief quietly urged Kitty on with her story.

Kitty looked up at him with tears about to spil over the rim of her eyes. “Then . . . I saw Roger’s body. I’m not real y sure what I did after that. It’s al a blur. I guess I cal ed 9-1-1. I think I cal ed Tina too.”

“Why did you cal Tina? Is that Tina Wilson?”

Kitty pul ed herself together and continued. “Yes. Tina Wilson. She’s my best friend and Roger’s sister. She’s always who I cal when I have a problem.”

Herb placed a gun that was inside a plastic bag, on the table. “Have you ever seen this gun before, Ms. Wilson? We found it next to the body.” Kitty leaned forward to get a better look and her eyes widened with surprise. “That looks like the gun Roger gave me several years ago,” she said, confused.

“This is your gun. Where did you keep it?”

“In the glove compartment of my car. But I haven’t real y paid much attention to whether it’s there or not. I’ve never used the gun except for a few lessons when Roger first gave it to me.”

“Why did Mr. Wilson give you a gun?”

Kitty sighed and told him, “When I was working nights at the potato chip factory, there was a creepy guy who kept harassing me and Roger thought I should have some protection. I real y didn’t want the gun, but he insisted. I kept it in the glove compartment.” Looking directly into Kitty’s eyes, the police chief asked, “When was the last time you saw it in your glove compartment?”

“When I bought my truck from David, I transferred everything from my old car to the new truck. That was two weeks ago.”

“Did anyone else know about your gun and where you kept it?”

Kitty paused to think about who might have known. “Roger knew and I told Tina about it. I guess David might have seen it at some point, and the other people working at Jimmie’s Auto might have seen it. Why was my gun in the barn?”

“Someone shot your husband. Where is your car now? Is it at the farm? We need to check it for evidence.” Kitty’s mouth fel open. “I left my car at Jimmie’s for repairs. They gave me a loaner.”

“Did you move the gun to the loaner?”

“No. I didn’t. Jimmie said he would have everything transferred from my truck to the loaner. I never checked though.”

“I think that’s everything for now. Thank you for your cooperation. Please don’t leave town, we may need to question you further as this case goes along. You are free to leave. Ms. Carlson, would you give Ms. Wilson a ride back to her farm please.” Kitty looked from Herb to Louise but saw nothing in their expressionless faces. She was going to have to figure out what happened and make sure this murder didn’t lead to her.

“I don’t need a ride. I’l cal Tina to pick me up.”

Kitty turned and walked out of the police station with her head held high, only to nearly crash into David and Candy heading into the station.

“You haven’t been arrested yet?” David sneered as he looked at Kitty.

Kitty glared right back at David as she noticed the smirk on Candy’s face. “What’s going on? How do you know so much already?”

“Oh, don’t put on that cutesy innocent attitude. It was your gun that kil ed my brother. And Candy saw you driving home from the diner in a big hurry.”

Kitty didn’t know how to respond, so she turned and walked down the steps just as Tina pul ed up. Kitty slid into the passenger seat, glad to get away from David and Candy. This had been a long day and it wasn’t close to being over yet.

Driving back to Kitty’s house, Tina reached over and held Kitty’s hand. “Are you okay? This is a nightmare. I saw David and Candy going into the police station. Are they being questioned too?”

“I don’t know. But David accused me of kil ing Roger. Does he know something already that we haven’t been told?”

“After you left with Herb, the paramedic said it looked like Roger had been shot. But I don’t know how David got that information so quickly. He seemed to know something before the police even left the barn.”