Redemption (19 page)

“
Yeah. Some people have no taste. Anyway, by the time the secretary comes back, he’s gone, Miss Ledbetter’s gone. We’re calling all the literary agents and publishing houses to see if he or his manuscript shows up with them. It’s supposed to be a corker.”

I got a corker for you.
“What was it about?”

“
Nobody knows, but it was titled
Succeed
.”

“
What about the videotape?”

“
Totally lucky shot, and CNN paid twenty-five grand for it. Wish I was that lucky.”

Lucky?
“So some person focused on that particular window on that particular floor of that particular building at precisely the right moment.”

“
Yeah, it’s a little unusual, but considering that glass had already fallen to the street and hit a few people, we didn’t press it. Have you seen the tape?”

“
Not yet.”
And I don’t intend to.
“Describe it to me.”

“
Not much to see, really. Kinda grainy. Miss Ledbetter comes out headfirst, arms flailing, and she hits the ground.”

Do jumpers come out headfirst?
“She came out headfirst? Don’t they usually just … drop?”

“
Most do.”

“
Could she have been pushed?”

“
Possible, but I doubt it. You have any reason to believe otherwise?”

Oh yes, but I can’t tell you that yet.
“Just asking questions, trying to make sense of it.”

“
So are we. Miss Ledbetter had it made, even without the mystery author. You know she pulled in a million-five last year? Just from representing writers.”

“
That’s a lot of money.”

“
You’re telling me. We already talked to a Jimmy Lee Sellers thinking he was her brother.”

There’s that name again.
“When did you call him?”

“
Right after it happened. His number was on her Rolodex. Thought she might have called him before she took the dive.”

“
Did she?”

“
No. We checked. Mr. Sellers said they were engaged once. That true?”

Autumn will know.
“Don’t know.”

“
Mr. Sellers is still listed as her beneficiary. He could get a half-million or so.”

Damn.
“Even in a case of suicide?”

“
In all cases
except
suicide. If we can prove it was due to an accident or foul play, he can collect. Right now, we’re thinking suicide, but you never can tell. The investigation’s going to take a while.”

And Jimmy Lee doesn’t have time to wait,
Overton thought.

“
I have heard of policies that pay off even in a case of suicide, though. Weird, isn’t it?”

No. It’s downright vile.
“Uh, I have an assistant who keeps up with all the social goings-on around here, so if you call back later, I can tell you what relatives of Margaret’s are still around.”

“
Will do. Thanks for your help.”

Overton buried his head in his hands.
Four suspicious deaths in four days. Four people directly connected to Jimmy Lee. Four deaths that benefit Jimmy Lee financially except for Margaret unless they can prove foul play, and they might if I let them know what I know.

And all four people are somehow connected to J.

“
What are you up to, Jimmy Lee?” Then he sunk even lower. “Who’s next?” He sighed. “Who’s left?”

23

“
We’re gettin’ out of town, Jimmy Lee.”

“
You worried about the hurricane?”
If that was my only worry, I’d be straight. .

“
Nah. We just gettin’ out.”

I need to get out, too.
He had been up all night drinking and toasting his father with curses. “Just hold tight.”

“
You hold tight! I ain’t stayin’ where I’m liable to get killed by you.”

What?
“I haven’t killed anyone.”

“
You
could
have, or had someone else do it, like that dumbass cousin of yours.”

“
Come on now, I have no reason to—”

“
That’s bullshit! You’re gonna make some money off all of them, right? I’m on your daddy’s property, too, right? You gonna take me out?”

“
Relax.” He downed a shot of whiskey. “You talked to me yesterday, remember? I was here in Snow.”

“
I don’t believe that shit! You probably got call-forwarding or something. You could have been in New York.”

“
I wasn’t in New York.” He poured and drank another. “Look, we’ve been friends since way back in the day, since we were kids. I’m not doin’ any of this, I swear.”

“
Well, it sure as hell looks like it, and I can’t afford to take no chances. I’m takin’ the family to Florida, and I’ll need some money to get there.”

No shit.
“I’m all tapped out.”

“
Bullshit.”

“
Really, I am. I won’t have the money till after the auction next week.”

“
Next week?
Jimmy Lee, folks are droppin’ around here like flies. I ain’t waitin’ another damn minute! We’re outta here tonight, so get me some money right now!”

“
Can you at least wait till Sunday? Sheriff Overton said the tape—”

“
No! And I don’t want to see your ass around here either. Just deposit the money into our account like usual.”

After the loud click, Jimmy Lee looked through the blinds and saw Sheriff Overton’s Crown Victoria crawling up the driveway. He drank two more shots, one for luck and one for courage, and went out the front door. When he saw Ramsey waddling up the walk, he cursed. “What you doin’ here, Ramsey? Where’s Sheriff Overton?”

Ramsey still munched on a few potato chips. “Back at Lester’s. Got some good news for you, Jimmy Lee.”

“
What?”

“
The tape’s down. All of it. You can go on and have your auction.”

Jimmy Lee closed his eyes then embraced Ramsey and patted his back. “Thank you.”

“
Don’t mention it.”

He stepped back and smiled. “I have another job for you,
cuz
.”

23

Overton called the Calhoun City jail and asked for Creed Rydell.

After an interminable wait, Creed said, “Howdy, Miles.”

“
Howdy, Creed. Got a few questions for you. It shouldn’t take too long.”

“
I got lots of time, Miles, but why ain’t you comin’ to visit me?”

“
I’m stuck down here. Car trouble.”
And I don’t want to deal with your lawyer again.
“First, where’d you disappear to for ten years?”

“
I didn’t tell you?”

“
No.”

“
The Baptist Hospital,” Creed said softly. “Had to get my mind right for what I done.”

“
That place is expensive, or so I’ve heard.”

“
Yep.”

“
Who paid for it?”

“
Don’t know.”

Sellers Senior could have afforded it.
“Were you, uh, committed, or did you go there voluntarily?”

“
I was voluntary. Cured my drinkin’ and whorin’ and got me closer to God. Nice place.”

“
So why did you leave?”

“
I felt better. I heard my grandson was havin’ a decent life, and I thought I might have a shot of maybe seein’ him, gettin’ to know him. But I clean forgot all about the tickets.”

“
So get your fancy lawyer to get you out. Go find your grandson.”

“
Not allowed. And it ain’t safe. Hey Miles, got another guy wantin’ to use the phone. Thanks for callin’, an’ come visit real soon.”

“
I thought you had lots of time, Creed.”

“
Um, yeah, well, you know how it is. Gotta go.”

“
What isn’t safe, Creed?”

“
Oh, and next time, bring that Autumn gal, too. Bye.”

He isn’t allowed? Is that why it isn’t safe? What happens if he leaves?

Overton spent the next hour making two diagrams, one for 1983 and one for 1999. He centered “J” on the first and listed the names of everyone even remotely connected to J’s death, including himself. It was by no means an exhaustive list, but the many names floated in a circle around J, four of them dead. He then worked on the second list—with “Jimmy Lee Jr.” in the center—and found himself listing the same names.

“
Jimmy Lee is J is Jimmy Lee,” he muttered as Ramsey skidded to a stop in front of the door. “Don’t go so hard on the brakes, kid,” he said to Ramsey as he entered.

“
Just checkin’ to see if they worked.”

Not a bad idea considerin’ the “accidents” happening around here
. He tucked his notes into his shirt pocket. “All finished?”

“
Yep. Told Jimmy Lee, and he still wasn’t happy. He said we never shoulda put up the tape in the first place. I thought he was gonna hit me.”

“
He wouldn’t have.”

“
I don’t know. He got him a temper.” Ramsey yawned. “What you been doin’?”

None of your damn business.
“Just waiting for Autumn to call.”

“
So call her house.”

“
She’s in Calhoun.”

“
No she ain’t. I just passed her place. Her car’s parked out front.”

What the hell? Oh shit!
Autumn’s on both lists!
He dialed her number and waited, counting fifteen rings. “No answer.” He grabbed his hat. “Come on.”

Ramsey held the door. “Where we goin’?”

“
Just get in!” Overton yelled, and he threw open the door. He slid into the seat and heard a series of crunches as he put on his seatbelt.

Ramsey got in and buckled up.

Overton looked between his legs. “Ramsey, you are not to eat potato chips in this car again!”

“
Yes sir.”

“
Hold on!”

Overton hit the accelerator and peeled out of the parking lot, fishtailing onto Poplar. The Crown Victoria topped out at fifty before Overton skidded to a stop three blocks later in front of Autumn’s house, a gray brick foursquare with cranberry shutters.

“
I thought you said to go easy on the brakes!” Ramsey yelled.

Overton ignored him and ran up stone stairs to the front door, threw it open, and yelled “Autumn!” He slid down shiny hardwood floors to the staircase and was halfway up when he heard water running to his right. He backed down and yelled “Autumn!” again, heading for the kitchen, where he found her rinsing lettuce, headphones on her ears. He caught his breath and took two steps toward her when she turned around and jumped.

“
Jesus!” she screamed, and she grabbed her chest, the headphones falling to the floor. “Ever hear of knocking, Sheriff?”

Ramsey caught up, panting. “You nearly knocked the door clear off its hinges, Sheriff!”

“
You did
what?”
Autumn shook her head slowly as she picked up her headphones. “What the hell are you doing?”

“
I thought ...”
I thought you
were dead, Autumn. I thought you were dead, too.
“Why didn’t you answer your phone?”

She shook the headphones in Overton’s face. “I had these on.”

“
Don’t you have a stereo?”

“
Yes, but the neighbors complain. You gonna tell me why you broke into my house?”