Leftover Dead (17 page)

“I don’t think he killed her,” Wanda Nell said.

Jack sighed. “I don’t, either, though I’m only going on my instincts when I say it. I like him. He seems like a good man, despite all he’s been through.”

“I know,” Wanda Nell said. “He didn’t even sound bitter about any of it. He just got on with his life the best way he could, as far as I can tell.”

Jack headed the car out of the parking lot and back toward home.

“So, are we going to Hattiesburg now?” Wanda Nell asked.

“Tomorrow,” Jack said. “Let’s go home first, and tomorrow we’ll drive down there. You think you can talk Melvin into another day or two off? We might have to spend the night down there.”

“We’ll see. Maybe Ruby won’t mind filling in for me at lunch, and Gladys is still working the evening shift. Betsy or Patsy might be willing to put in an extra shift.”

“Good,” Jack said. “I don’t want to go without you.”

Wanda Nell smiled and settled back in her seat for the drive home.

They reached Tullahoma in plenty of time for Wanda Nell to work her shift at the Kountry Kitchen. Jack dropped her off, and Wanda Nell promised to talk to Melvin right away about the time off. “If he says I can’t, I’ll tell him I’ll work some extra Saturday nights. Okay?”

Jack grimaced. “I guess it’s for a good cause, but I hate you not being home on Saturday night.”

Wanda Nell kissed him again. “I hate it, too, but we’ll see.”

Inside the restaurant things were pretty quiet before the evening crowd started drifting in. Monday nights weren’t usually too busy, but they were busy enough. Wanda Nell took advantage of the lull to talk to Melvin.

During the drive back from Memphis, she and Jack had discussed how much they should tell Melvin about what they were doing. “He’s a good man,” Wanda Nell said. “And I think if we tell him the whole story, he’ll be willing to help by letting me take the time off. Plus, it’s early in the week. The evenings aren’t as busy, and he’ll have enough help at lunchtime.”

“I guess you ought to tell him,” Jack said. “I just don’t want what we’re doing to get to be general knowledge. We’re going to be stirring up something pretty nasty, and the more we can find out before the you-know-what hits the fan, the better.”

“Melvin won’t talk to anybody about it. We can trust him.”

“I know. I guess I’m just being a little paranoid.”

Melvin was at the register, talking to a customer, when Wanda Nell entered the restaurant. She waited until the customer was on his way out the door before saying, “Can I talk to you a minute? Back in your office?”

Melvin’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not sure I like the sound of that. Sounds like you’re going to ask me for some more time off, or some other favor. I know that tone.”

Wanda Nell gave him a sweet smile. “Come on back, and I’ll tell you.”

Melvin rolled his eyes, but he followed her. “Let’s stop here,” he said when they reached the back door. “I need a smoke break.” He opened the door and stepped outside.

“Okay.” Wanda Nell watched as he lit a cigarette, and she sniffed the air appreciatively, watching the smoke drift into the hot evening air. She had quit smoking when Miranda was pregnant with Lavon, and she still missed it sometimes.

“So what’s going on?” Melvin asked. “Do you want some more time off?”

“Yes, but it’s for a real good reason.” Wanda Nell launched into an explanation, and Melvin listened without interruption. By the time she finished, he had smoked two more cigarettes. He flicked the butt of the last one toward the Dumpster; where it hit the side and bounced onto the pavement below.

“That poor kid,” Melvin said. “I remember it now. I guess if you think you can find out who killed her, you ought to go ahead with this.” He shook his head. “But you might be stirring up something mighty nasty. Have y’all thought about that?”

Wanda Nell nodded. “Of course. That’s why Jack wants to keep this as quiet as we can until we have something pretty concrete. And since Elmer Lee knows about it, well, he’s there if we need him.”

“That’s good,” Melvin said. He ushered her back inside and shut the door. “I guess you can take the next couple of days off, then.”

“But not with pay. You were real sweet to pay me while I was on my honeymoon, but I don’t expect it now.”

“Good. Business is slower in the evenings right now. I guess it’s just too hot for folks to get out.”

“I know how they feel.” Wanda Nell was looking forward to a glass of water after standing outside. “I’ll let you know how it goes when we get back from Hattiesburg.”

By the time the Kountry Kitchen closed at ten, Wanda Nell had earned some decent tips, but Melvin was right. People just weren’t coming out to eat in the evenings. Or at least, not to the Kountry Kitchen. Her car was still warm inside when she left the restaurant.

She drove home with the windows down, and when she pulled her car into the driveway behind Jack’s, she glanced over at Mayrene’s trailer. The lights were out, and there was no sign of Dixon Vance’s pickup. She wondered how things were going with her best friend, and resolved to call her tomorrow before they left for Hattiesburg.

Jack met her at the door with a kiss. “I sure do like coming home,” Wanda Nell said, smiling, as he released her. “It makes going to work even better, knowing I’m coming home to you.”

Jack grinned. “Glad to be of service, ma’am.”

“Is Juliet home?”

“Yeah, I picked her up. I think she’s probably still up, reading, if you want to say good night to her.”

“I’ll do that. And then we’ll talk about tomorrow. Melvin’s letting me take the time off.”

“Good.”

She walked down the hallway toward Juliet’s bedroom. The door was slightly ajar, and there was a glow from the bedside lamp. Wanda Nell knocked on the door.

“Come in, Mama,” Juliet called. Laying aside her book, she sat up on the bed as her mother came into the room.

Wanda Nell sat down on the bed, glancing over at the book her daughter was reading. “I’ve never heard of Georgette Heyer,” she said, reading the author’s name and the title,
The Grand Sophy
.

“She’s wonderful, Mama.” Juliet’s eyes were alight with enthusiasm. “They’re historical novels, and I really love them. You’ll have to read her.”

“I’ll give her a try,” Wanda Nell promised. “Now, did Jack tell you we’re going to Hattiesburg tomorrow?”

Juliet nodded. “He told me what y’all found out in Memphis. I’m so glad you found out what her name is. I kept thinking about her, and how awful it was that we didn’t even know who she was.”

“I’m glad, too, baby,” Wanda Nell said. “And I’m so glad you understand what we’re doing, and why.”

“It’s important.” Juliet’s face clouded. “What I don’t understand, though, is why somebody didn’t come looking for her. Do you think she didn’t have any family, Mama? Like maybe her adoptive parents were dead, or something?”

“That’s possible. It bothers me, too. Maybe we’ll be able to find out more about that in Hattiesburg tomorrow. Now, what are we going to do with you tomorrow? And the next day, if we end up staying overnight?”

Smiling, Juliet said, “Jack and I already worked that out. I called Belle, and she and Grandmama said I could stay with them.”

“Are you sure that’s okay, baby?” Wanda Nell frowned. “There can’t be much for you to do over there.”

“It’s okay, Mama,” Juliet said, placing a hand on her mother’s arm. “I really don’t mind. Belle and Grandmama like having me there, and I can go up to my room and read whenever I want to.”

Juliet loved to read. Wanda Nell sometimes worried that she spent more time reading than doing anything else, like hanging out with friends her own age. Her youngest child had always been shy, though, and she hadn’t really pushed her into being more sociable. She didn’t know if that had been a mistake, but Juliet seemed happy enough with a couple of friends and spending a lot of time reading, or sitting at the computer.

“Then I guess it’s all right.” Wanda Nell kissed her daughter’s forehead. “Now, you turn out that light soon, and get to sleep, okay? I don’t want you hurting your eyes by reading till all hours of the night.”

Juliet smiled, but she didn’t promise she wouldn’t. Wanda Nell paused at the doorway, looking back. Juliet was already absorbed in her book. Suppressing a sigh, Wanda Nell pulled the door nearly closed.

Jack was in their bedroom, already in bed. He put aside a book when Wanda Nell entered. “Everything okay, love?”

Wanda Nell nodded. “Juliet said y’all have already talked about her going over to Miz Culpepper’s while we’re gone.”

“It was her idea. I really do think she likes spending time over there.” He watched as Wanda Nell began to undress.

“Thank goodness,” Wanda Nell said. “But I do worry about her spending so much time with adults, instead of with kids her own age.” She put aside her blouse and jeans and, barefoot, padded into the bathroom.

Now clad in her nightgown, she returned to the bedroom.

“Don’t worry so much about her,” Jack said. “She’s a very bright girl, and reading makes her happy. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if she turned out to be a writer. She spends a lot of time in her head, and that’s not such a bad place to be.”

“I hope you’re right.” Wanda Nell slid into bed beside him. “What about tomorrow? What time to do you want to leave?”

Jack reached over and turned off the bedside lamp. “We can talk about that in the morning.” He moved closer and kissed her.

Wanda Nell didn’t argue.

 

The next morning, Jack went over to the high school to run. While he was gone, Wanda Nell did a bit of laundry and packed a few things for them, in case they did stay the night in Hattiesburg. She tried calling Mayrene, hoping for a chat to see how her friend was doing, but Mayrene had already left for work. Since she didn’t want to bother her friend at the beauty parlor, Wanda Nell decided she would try calling her at home that night.

Finally they were ready to set out for Hattiesburg a little after ten. After a quick detour to drop Juliet off at Mrs. Culpepper’s house, Jack headed for the highway, turning south.

“We ought to hit Jackson around lunchtime,” Jack said. “Shall we stop and get something to eat there?”

“How far is it to Hattiesburg?” Wanda Nell asked.

“A couple hundred miles. About a four-hour drive, depending on how many times we stop along the way.”

“Let’s see how hungry we are when we get to Jackson,” Wanda Nell said. “We had a pretty big breakfast.”

“That’s true.” Jack grinned. “I’m really spoiled now. I used to have just some cereal and a piece of fruit. I hardly ever cooked eggs and bacon for myself.”

“I probably shouldn’t be cooking them for you every morning,” Wanda Nell said in a slightly rueful tone. “I don’t want to make you have a heart attack.”

“Maybe we can compromise. As much as I’d love to have that every morning, you’re right.” He sighed. “Aging is no fun, but I guess the alternative is worse.”

“Then we’re going to start having cold cereal or oatmeal for breakfast during the week. And we can have the bad stuff on the weekends for a treat.”

Jack agreed, and conversation lapsed for a while.

“We didn’t have much time to talk this morning,” Wanda Nell said, turning the volume down on the Reba McEntire CD they had put into the player. “So what are we going to do when we get to Hattiesburg?”

“No, I guess we didn’t have much time. Especially last night.” Jack flashed a wicked grin at Wanda Nell, and she could feel herself blushing.

Wanda Nell repeated her question, and Jack sobered. “After Juliet and I got home last night,” he said, “I spent some time on the computer. I looked up the name Howell in Hattiesburg, and I found about twenty-five of them.”

“Did you call any of them?” Wanda Nell asked, her heart sinking. Twenty-five of them was a lot, and it might take a long time to track them all down.

“No. I made a list of them, and their phone numbers and addresses. But then I had another idea. You remember what Rocky told us about the strange remark Jenna Rae made about going back to Hattiesburg?”

Wanda Nell thought back to yesterday’s conversation. “Yeah. Something about how she was tired of the stink of death.”

“Yes. And what do you think she meant by that?”

“I can think of two things right away. One of them’s a funeral parlor, and the other’s a slaughterhouse.” She shivered suddenly. “I sure wouldn’t want to work in either one, and I can imagine they both have a stink of death about them.”

“Exactly,” Jack said in a tone of grim satisfaction. “Those are the same two things that occurred to me. So I looked through businesses in Hattiesburg and the surrounding area. Guess what I found?”

“What?”

“There’s a funeral home named Duckworth-Howell. I figure we ought to start there.”

“Good thinking. Did you find out anything more about the place? Like who owns it?”

“Yeah, I found quite a few items about it on the Internet. It must be a very successful business, because I got lots of hits through obituaries.”

“Was that all?”

“No. There were some articles about their support of various charities, among a few other pieces. They mentioned a Jackson Howell a number of times, and I figured he’s as good a candidate as any for being Jenna Rae’s adoptive father.”

“So we’re going straight to the funeral home when we get to Hattiesburg?”

“Might as well. And if we’re lucky, we find her family right away. If not, we keep trying. Surely there’s still someone in town named Howell who was connected to her.”

“Or somebody who will remember her, even after thirty-one years.”

“That’s what I’m counting on.”

They reached Jackson around a quarter to noon, but they decided not to stop for lunch. Neither of them was hungry, and they both felt an urgency to reach Hattiesburg. Wanda Nell confessed as much, and Jack agreed.