Law and Author (20 page)

Mark sighed. “I guess there's no way we can avoid that topic today. I still am without a definitive motive for his murder but his alleged involvement with Eddie Riser is raising all sorts of red flags. I will allow that you could be right about his supplier. From what we know about this guy, he would stop at nothing to prevent someone from horning in on his territory.”

“So he, whoever he is, is the main suspect?”

“He's pretty close to the top of the list but like all things to do with this guy, there's no way to prove it. Amber Craig does believe that Shannon was into more than being the muscle for some shady guys. She thinks he's a mule, transporting drugs between supplier and dealers. She also has proof that he's been doing some small-time dealing himself.”

“Wow. That's gotta be it then.”

“It could be and we're looking at ways to prove it but so far, nada.” He turned slightly to face her. “I'm telling you this in the hopes that you'll show some restraint in future. You know we're working on it so there's no need for you to go getting involved again. Got it?”

“Uh-huh. By the way, did anything come from Bob's surveillance gig?”

Mark shook his head.

She didn't know if that meant that nothing had happened or that he wasn't telling.

She glanced back outside. “Look. That's Wade. There he goes.” Lizzie opened the door but turned back as Mark did the same. “I think I should go in alone. If she sees you, she'll
think you're there to arrest Wade and you know how that went over last time.”

Mark stared at her a moment. “All right. I'll keep an eye out for Wade in case he returns quickly.”

“What should I do if he does?”

“I'll show up at the door right behind him. Believe me, he won't try anything.”

Lizzie smiled her thanks and hopped out of the Jeep. She checked for traffic, then sprinted across the street. She paused before knocking on the door. What would she say? Just try to talk some sense into her, she guessed. It also wouldn't hurt to find out just how much she knew about Rafe's other career.

Darla answered on the fourth knock. Lizzie had been ready to start pounding on it in exasperation but quickly tacked a smile on her face. “Hi, Darla. We've all been worried about you. Can we talk?”

Darla started to close the door, shaking her head. “Wade will be really, really mad if he finds you here.”

“Don't worry about that. I've got backup.” She looked behind her at where Mark was parked.

Darla's eyes widened. “So, he might not get mad at you but he'll take it out on me when you leave.”

Lizzie saw her opportunity. “Why do you stay with him then?” She put her arm around Darla's shoulder and eased her way through the door.

Darla looked bewildered. “Why? 'Cause he loves me. He just has a small problem with his temper sometimes.”

“But do you love him?”

Darla shrugged. “Yeah, I guess. I mean, he's all that I've got.”

“Not true. Your mama's worried about you.”

Darla shot her a glance. “How do you know that?”

Uh-oh.
“There's been contact with her. She's really
worried and I'll bet, if you went on home, things might be a bit different.”

“Not likely. You don't know what's going on.”

“You mean, your gambling debts?”

Darla looked like she'd been slapped. “How do you know? Did Mama tell you? How could she? I hate her.”

“No you don't. She did talk about it because she loves you and is worried about you.” Lizzie watched while Darla wandered around the room.

“How much do you owe?”

“Huh? Oh, I'm not really sure. About nine thousand, I think. Maybe a bit more.”

Wow.
“We know that Rafe Shannon has worked for various casinos and bookies over the years. Was he really here following you to try and collect the debt?”

Darla shook her head. “No. At least, he said he wasn't. He did try to get it, of course. Like I'd said before, I just happened to run into him downtown. He was as surprised to see me as I was him. But he said, since he'd found me, he'd take the money back with him. He gave me two days to find it or else.”

“Why two days?”

“He said he'd be finished with his business by then and would head back to Atlanta.”

“Did he say what the other business was?”

Darla shrugged. “Why would he tell me?” She sounded like she was beginning to lose patience.

Aha, you lied. You said you didn't know him. What else are you keeping from us?

“Well, the main reason I'm here, as you can probably guess, is we'd all like you to go back to Molly's. Why would you move back with Wade when you said yourself that he has a bad temper?”

Darla shrugged and flopped on the bed.

Lizzie wondered how to convince her. How could they get her out of Wade's grip?
Wade. I wonder .
 . . “
Darla, did Wade know Rafe Shannon?”

“He could have. I don't know all the dealings Wade has.”

“Does he gamble also?”

“Naw. He's more into making money than losing it. Always working on a new scheme and they're usually foolproof, or so he says.”

Lizzie had an idea that was forming but she needed to focus on Darla at the moment. “Darla, get off that bed and come with me, right now.” She hoped some tough love would work.

Darla sat up looking surprised. “I don't want to.” She stared up at the ceiling. “I'm afraid to. He really would come after me.”

“But you know we can protect you.”

“No, you don't know that. You don't know what he's capable of. And, besides, he threatened to harm my granddaddy and Molly if I don't cooperate.”

Lizzie's jaw dropped. Oh boy, this guy was scarier than she'd imagined.

Darla was off the bed in a shot and grabbed Lizzie's arm, shoving her toward the door. “Look, I know you think you're trying to help but I do love Wade and I'm not leaving him. Now, you'd better get going before he comes back. If he finds you here, that means trouble for everyone.”

She'd shoved Lizzie through the door before she could react. Lizzie glanced quickly up the street and then over to the Jeep. No Wade but no Mark, either. She rushed across the street and looked through the window. No one. She heard Patchett bark and turned to see Mark with Patchett on leash, heading toward her.

“No luck?” he asked when he reached her.

“No. Maybe we should get out of here before he gets back. I'll tell you all about it on the way over to Molly's.”

Lizzie had just finished filling him in as he turned into Molly's driveway. Fortunately, Bob's pickup was parked there. They got out, Mark leaving Patchett in the Jeep with windows open, and went around back to find Bob and Molly working in the garden.

“You've got a new gardener, Molly,” Lizzie called out.

Bob turned around at the same time as Molly and grinned. “Just working toward a meal here. What brings you two around?”

“Now, Bob,” Molly said, brushing off the knees of her khaki pants, “that's a rather forward question.”

“What? I'm just asking is all.”

“It almost sounds as if they're not welcome, and that could not be further away from the truth. Can I get you something cold to drink?”

“Why don't I get that?” Lizzie asked. “You two look like it's time for a break.”

Molly nodded and sank into a wicker chair. “Those gardenias seem to need a lot more care every year. There's a pitcher of lemonade freshly made in the fridge, honey.”

When Lizzie returned with a tray of glasses and the pitcher, the others were talking gardens. Lizzie poured everyone their drinks and sat across from Mark.

Bob drank almost half of the glass at once and then asked, “Any news on our mutual friend Wade?”

Mark shook his head. “We were just over at the Mountain View Motel. We waited until he left and then Lizzie talked to Darla.”

Bob stiffened. “Did you talk her into coming back?”

“She wouldn't budge but I think it's because she's not only scared for herself but also for you two,” Lizzie added.

“What? What's that hooligan been saying?”

“He's threatened both of you if she leaves him.”

Bob bolted out of his chair. “Just let me at that guy.”

Mark stood, too, and put a hand on Bob's arm. “That's not the way to handle this and you know it. Just sit back down and let's figure out something that will work.”

Bob took a few moments, then looked at Mark and nodded. When they'd both sat down again, Mark continued. “I'd say that Darla sharing that information with Lizzie tells us that she really doesn't want to be there even though part of her says she's staying because she loves him. So I think if we put him away behind bars and convince her that you two won't be harmed by him, then she'll come along.”

“What can you charge him with?” Lizzie asked.

“That's just it. At the moment, all we have is suspicions that he beat on Darla.” He held up his hand as Molly was about to protest. “Darla won't testify and no one saw him do it so there's nothing I can really do about it. And the only other thing is his meeting with Eddie Riser. If he has dealings with Riser, we may be able to get him there.”

“But you don't know that for sure.” Lizzie knew that if Mark had any evidence from their ongoing investigation into the drug business, he would have used it by now to arrest Wade.

“We're looking at it, Lizzie. I said that already. It takes time.”

“But we don't have time if he starts beating on her again.”

Lizzie wasn't about to give up. “And what if they send someone else to deal with Darla and her debts?”

“I thought she said Rafe Shannon was surprised to see her here.”

“But he may have told his bosses and they may be doing something about it.”

“Hm. That may be the way to get her to move back in. If I tell Darla that I'll have someone keep an eye on the motel to protect her from the debt collectors, I'm sure that if Wade's up to no good he won't want the police hanging around at the motel. So he may be willing to let her move back here.”

“That makes sense,” Molly said. “I like that idea very much, although I wish you hadn't thought of the possibility that her life is back in danger.”

Bob touched Molly's arm. “If they wanted to really harm her, they would have done it by now. Although nine grand seems a lot to us, to them it's peanuts. They know they'll wring it out of her at some point so I think it makes sense, economically, that they use their heavies to collect the larger debts.”

Molly sighed and nodded.

“Now then,” Bob continued, “I think you and I should go right over there, Mark. And I am going with you so don't try talking me out of it.”

“I wasn't about to.”

“And me,” Lizzie threw in.

“Only if you stay in the Jeep and keep Patchett company. I think we'll impress Wade more if there's just the two of us, but it would be a good idea for you to settle Darla down once she's left with us.”

It took just a few minutes to reach the motel and Lizzie did as told, waiting in the Jeep with Patchett. She watched as Wade opened the door and the two men entered. She realized she was holding her breath, ears attuned to any loud noises that might reach the open window. Just as she checked her iPhone clock the third time, the door opened and Bob
stepped out, holding Darla by the arm. He carried a backpack in his left hand.

Mark emerged a minute later, waiting by the closed door until Bob and Darla were safely in the Jeep, and then he joined them.

“Are you all right, Darla?” Lizzie asked as Darla pressed her forehead against the side window, staring at the motel.

“Sure, why wouldn't I be?” She sounded hostile once again.

“Look, we know this isn't what you want but it's for the best. You have to trust us on that.”

Bob shifted in his seat to look back at Darla. “Lizzie's right. Once things have settled down a bit, we'll try to work all this out with Wade. All I ask is that you give our way a try. We really do have your best interests at heart.”

Darla continued staring out the window even though the motel was far behind them. “What about the money?”

“What about it?”

She turned to glare at Bob. “The nine thousand I owe. Well, y'all are right. Now that they know where I am, they'll come again and try to get it off me and I don't have the money to pay them.” She sniffled but Lizzie wasn't sure if it was more for effect than real.

“I thought you told Lizzie you bumped into Shannon unexpectedly.”

“I did but it's just like you told Wade, they could be coming to get me. And I don't have their stupid money.”

Lizzie could see Mark's eyes in the rearview mirror, shifting from Darla and over to Bob. This was something only those two could take part in.

Bob finally sighed. “We'll come up with it somehow. Don't you worry yourself about that. Even if I have to borrow it, we'll make sure those goons are paid off, but you
will have to give me your solemn promise that that's it for the gambling. And, you will have to pay me back. I'll help you find a job if you decide to stay here in Ashton Corners. And, if you decide to go back to Atlanta, I'll try to work something out for you with your mama.”

Darla was silent for longer than Lizzie was comfortable with. Finally she answered in a soft voice, “Fine.”

“No. She's cleared out.”

FINGER LICKIN' FIFTEEN—
JANET EVANOVICH

L
izzie slid an eye open and tried to focus on the clock. Three in the morning and who was on the phone. She bolted upright, knowing it couldn't be anything good. Her mama, Molly, Mark . . . all raced through her mind in seconds. It was Molly's voice that greeted her.

“I'm so sorry to call at this hour, honey.”

“What's wrong, Molly? Are you ill?”

“No, I'm fine. It's just that Darla has gone sneaking out. Something awakened me and when I went to check the doors and everything, I noticed her jacket was missing from the hall where she'd left it. Then I checked her room and she wasn't there.”

“You think she went back to Wade?”

“I don't know what to think but I'm worried sick. I don't
want to call Bob but I certainly don't want you going out looking for her either. That's not why I called. I just needed to talk it through. I hope you don't mind.”

Lizzie rested back against the brass headboard of her bed. The cats returned to their sleeping spots, and ignored the conversation.

“I'm sure she went back to him and I don't think he's going to start in on her tonight anyway. He'll probably see it as reaffirmation that she loves him.”
Or beat her up for leaving in the first place.
“I'm certain the guys put the fear of jail in him with that visit
.
Why don't you just try going back to sleep. She might even be back when you get up in the morning. If not, give me a call and we'll think of what to do next. Okay?”

“Umm, that sounds like the most reasonable approach. I'll try to sleep and I will call in the morning. Thanks for listening to me. I'm so sorry to have awoken you.”

“Don't worry about it, Molly. We'll talk tomorrow.”

Lizzie had a hard time getting back to sleep. She toyed with the idea of driving right over to the motel to check on Darla but realized it might cause the girl more trouble than help. If she couldn't physically help her then maybe she could work through to another solution. But first, she'd really have to get into Darla's head and try to figure out what really was going on with her.

She tried to picture Darla as she'd first seen her at Molly's door a couple of weeks earlier. Darla had come across as defiant and yet, Lizzie had sensed a vulnerability in her when Molly had appeared. Darla had seemed eager to meet Bob and readily came to the barbecue the next day.

So, I'm a young woman about to meet the granddad that everyone's been dissing all my life. How do I feel
?
Angry, unsure, afraid of rejection?
Darla's reactions that afternoon
had seemed in keeping with all those emotions. But Lizzie had sensed a cold, unemotional side, too. Like someone with a goal in mind, something other than being enveloped in warm, loving arms.
Or, am I projecting that on her
?

Lizzie's next impression had been that Darla wanted money from Bob or Molly, mainly because she'd admitted to being destitute. How valid was that impression? Had Darla wanted money to survive or, as it turned out, to pay her debts? Of course she hadn't mentioned the gambling to start with. She'd probably known that would not put her in a sympathetic light.

And then there was the Rafe Shannon thing. He'd obviously upped the pressure on her to pay up but had he followed up on it? Is that what he was doing at Molly's that night? It made sense. But it didn't make sense that Darla would kill him. If he'd put her on the spot right then and there she could have just appealed to Molly. Lizzie was certain Molly would have paid right on the spot. And Darla would have figured that all out by that point. So there was no real motive for Darla to kill Rafe.

Then who?

She realized she'd spend the rest of the night wandering around this mind maze unless she did something drastic. Without disturbing the cats, she slid out of bed and went downstairs, checked the cupboards and pulled out a box of chamomile tea.
Okay, not really drastic but it might do the trick
. By the time she was back in bed, her mind was focused on a new list, fifty places to travel before she retired.

A run was definitely in order that morning. Lizzie pushed herself hard and covered an extra mile by the time she had slowed to a walk for the final block home.

Lizzie started to open the back door and stopped in her tracks as strains of a heavy metal band assailed her ears.
Someone's in the house
. She knew to get out immediately and call the police. But surely a burglar wouldn't play music to rob by.

She'd opened the door when Darla's voice rang out. “Is that you, Lizzie?”

Lizzie spun around and, bouncing between relief and anger, marched into the living room to find Darla reclining on the love seat.

“How did you get in here?”

“It's real easy picking your back door lock. Did you know that? You really should get a better one. I'm surprised your cop boyfriend hasn't told you.”

Lizzie gritted her teeth. “This is a quiet community.
Till now.
Do you really think that was appropriate, your breaking in?”

Darla pouted. “I thought you'd want me to get out of sight in case Wade came looking for me.”

Lizzie softened a bit. “Did you go back to him last night?”

“I did but he wasn't there and I didn't have a key to get into the room.”

“What did you do?”

“I slept on a bench down by the river. Don't look so shocked. I've done that before and at least here you're not bothered by creepy street people trying to grab your spot.” She shrugged. “I helped myself to some food. I was real hungry. Anyway, I went back to the motel this morning but still no show.”

“Do you think he's left town?”

“Not without me. Believe me.”

“Well then, do you think he's involved in drugs or something illegal?”

Darla shrugged again and the neckline of her T-shirt slid down her arm, revealing the ugly yellow and purple of a
slow-healing bruise. “He always has to have an angle. That's how he survives. In fact”—Darla lowered her eyes, which Lizzie thought was pretty effective—“he told me to hit on Molly and my granddaddy for money. He thought they couldn't say no if I told them we needed it to survive.”

Lizzie bristled.
And he was right.
“How long had he planned on mooching off them?”

“I'm not sure. He has something else in the works and maybe once that's done, we'll leave.”

Lizzie watched her closely, trying to figure out just how sincere she was and why she was sharing this now. “You're saying you'll go with him?”

“He'll just come after me if I don't. Might as well skip all the in-between.”

“Why not go home? It sounds like your mama really wants to make things up between you.”

“She's saying that now but believe me, when Wade shows up, and he will, the door will slam on me again.”

Lizzie wondered what she could say. She wasn't a social worker nor was she used to butting in, unless it was in pursuit of a murderer. That's where all this had started and they were still no closer to solving the case. By this point, she was pretty certain Darla didn't do the deed. Now Wade might be another matter. She'd seen his temper.

“Did Wade have any dealings with Rafe Shannon?”

“Not that I know.”

“Hm. What about with someone called Eddie Riser?”

Darla's mouth twitched ever so slightly that Lizzie wasn't certain that's what she'd seen, but it did take Darla a few seconds to answer.

“Never heard him mention that name.”

“So, let me ask you, what's your take on the murder?”

“The murder?” Darla sounded incredulous. “Why are you still bothering me about that? I'm not a killer. I'm the victim here. And I need help.”

“You say that but you're the one who left Molly's voluntarily last night.” Lizzie wasn't about to let her off the hook on that one.

“I told you, I love him.”

Oh, boy.
“Why don't we get you back to Molly's? She's been worrying about you.”

Darla looked surprised and then shrugged. “That's like, nice of her and all, but I have to go back to the motel room first. There's something I have to do.”

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“No way. I might, like, stay a while.” She looked Lizzie in the eye. “Don't worry, I know what I'm doing.”

Lizzie felt helpless watching Darla sauntering down the driveway. She felt in the pit of her stomach that this was a bad idea but she couldn't see how to prevent it. She phoned Molly to let her know that Darla was all right and quickly explained what had happened.

“Why didn't you keep her there?” Molly asked, rather sharply, Lizzie thought.

“How? Sit on her?” Lizzie regretted the words as soon as they'd left her mouth. She hadn't meant to sound so flippant. She was just so totally exasperated by both Darla and Molly, at this point.

“I'm sorry,” she said. “I really couldn't force her to stay or go to your place even, although I did try that.”

“I know you did and I'm the one who is sorry. I spoke too abruptly. It's not your fault she left and furthermore, she's not your responsibility. I'm just so worried about her.”

“I know you are, Molly. But she did say she knows what
she's doing.” Lizzie left out the part about Darla saying she had something to do. Even Lizzie didn't like the sound of that.

Lizzie tried reassuring Molly some more before hanging up. She thought about phoning Mark but he was due over in a couple of hours. It could wait.

She hoped.