STATE OF ANGER: A Virgil Jones Mystery Series (Detective Virgil Jones Mystery Series Book 1) (20 page)

25

__________

T
he
next day, late in the morning Virgil was back at the kitchen table, his case
notes and files spread out around him. He’d tried working at his desk, but
there were two problems: one, there was not enough desk space for everything he
wanted to look at, and two, he just couldn’t get comfortable. There wasn’t a
good way to prop his leg up. Sandy helped him move everything to the kitchen,
then kissed him goodbye before she left to go downtown and hammer out the
details of her new position with the academy.

Two hours later and halfway
through his reports the phone rang. He followed the ringing and saw the phone on
the end table in the other room. Should have thought about that. The machine was
turned off, and by the time he got the crutches under him and over to the phone
the ringing had stopped. He brought up the caller I.D., saw who it was, and
punched the number back in.

“Marion County Prosecutor’s
Office. How may I direct your call?”

“Hi, Detective Virgil Jones, for
Preston Elliott, please.”

“One moment, Detective, I’ll see
if he’s in.”

Virgil started to tell the
receptionist that he knew Elliott was in because he’d just missed his call, but
she had already clicked off. But then she clicked right back on, again. “I’m
sorry, did I cut you off? I think you were saying something.”

“No, no, that’s fine. I was just
saying I just missed his call, is all.”

“Very well, sir. One moment.”

Virgil thought he could hear her
eyes rolling on the other end of the phone. A few seconds later, the line
clicked again and Elliott picked up. “Jonesy, thanks for calling back.”

“Sorry I didn’t get to the phone. Takes
me a little longer to get around than I’m used to. How are you, Preston?”

“I’m doing well. The question is,
how are you?”

“Pretty good,” Virgil said, then
winced at his grammar. “Behind on my paperwork, though. I’m guessing that’s why
you’re calling?”

“I knew there was a reason they
called you detective. We want to get everything filed and get this one off the
books. How much time do you need for your reports, you being crippled and all?”

Instead of answering, Virgil said,
“How many times have you watched the tape?”

“The one with Pate where he takes
the back of his head off, or the one with the Governor tossing his lunch?”

“The one with Pate,” Virgil said,
hoping the sarcasm was not as obvious as it sounded in his head.

“Only twice, unless you count the
nightmares I’ve been having.”

“Anything jump out at you.”

“Like what?”

“That’s what I’m asking you,
Preston. Anything at all?”

“Nothing other than the obvious,”
Elliott said. “He cried a river, admitted he was not only a sexual deviant but
a pedophile as well, admitted torching his Houston church and then, well, I
guess you know the rest of it. He punched his own ticket. Case closed.”

“Yeah, I guess we’ve seen the same
tape, then.”

“What is it, Jonesy?” Some
impatience.

“It’s not what he admitted. It’s
what he didn’t.”

“What do you mean?”

“Why pack every seat in the house,
go on TV and confess your sins then pop yourself without telling it all?”

“You’re speaking of the fact that
he didn’t mention his connection with the Senior and Junior Wells?”

“You got it. But not only didn’t
he confess, he didn’t even mention them. These two nut jobs are driving around
the city taking people out with a sniper rifle, and we know they’re connected,
Pate and the Wells. It just doesn’t make sense to me.”

“Hey, who knows what these
psychopaths are thinking? It was obvious he was going to go out on his own
terms. Maybe he just got ahead of himself and popped his top before he said
everything he wanted to say. I could sort of see that happening.”

“I don’t know. Seems off to me.”

“Hey, at their heart, suicides are
cowards, right? Maybe he just didn’t have the stones to admit it.”

“But he had the balls to put a gun
in his mouth and pull the trigger?”

“Do you have any physical evidence
that puts him at the scene of any of the other murders?”

“No.”

“But we do have forensics that
puts Wells and his daughter there, am I right?”

“And they’re both dead. So if Pate
was pulling their strings, why not just admit it, along with everything else?”

“You know what? I don’t know. But
it’s case closed, Jonesy. Send me your reports so I can get on with my life,
will you?”

“I’ll have Detective Small bring
them over to you tomorrow.”

“Hey,” Elliott said. “How is
Sandy? I’m hearing a rumor that you two are some kind of an item. What’s the
skinny on that?”

“So long, Preston.”

__________

Virgil carried the phone back to
the kitchen table and as soon as he sat down it rang again.

“Hey good lookin’. What’s
cookin’?” Sandy.

“Nothing much. Just doing the
paper. You finished down there already?”

“Nope. That’s why I’m calling. I’m
going to be here a little longer than I thought.”

“Well, God damn. How long?” Virgil
said, instantly regretting the tone in his voice.

“What’s the matter, Jonesy?”

“Ah, nothing. I didn’t mean to
snap at you. These pills, they help with the pain, but they make me sort of
cranky or something. I’m sorry. What I really want is for you to be here, at
our place.”

“Maybe you should call the doctor,
see if there’s something else he could give you.”

“It’ll be all right,” he said, then
told her of the conversation he’d just had with Preston Elliott. “It seems like
a hell of a loose end to me.”

“Yeah, I can see that. But I think
I agree with what Elliott said. Guys like that have got a screw loose
somewhere. They’re completely unpredictable. Maybe he left that part out on
purpose.” Then, she added, “About the pain, It’ll get better. You’re in the
hard part, right now, this period of a few days after surgery. They say that’s
always the worst. But you’ll get through it. Look at what we’ve got ahead of
us, Virgil. It’s all going to work out beautifully. Hey, you know what I’m
excited about?”

“What?”

“Excited and a little scared too.”

“What?”

“Getting to know your dad. I don’t
have any preconceived notions about it or anything, but in the back of my mind
I’ve got this idea that he’ll be able to help me fill a gap I’ve been carrying
around with me for a long time.”

“You know what? I’m sure my dad
would want that, but he’s not the easiest guy in the world to get along with
sometimes. He doesn’t really open himself up that way. At least not with me.”

“It’s probably hard for him too. You’re
his child, Virgil. No matter how old you are, or how grown up you are, you’ll
always be his child.”

“I think in many ways, my dad
could give you what you’re looking for. All I’m saying is he’s the kind of guy
that gives on his own terms and not necessarily the needs of others. I just
don’t want to see you get hurt because of an expectation you might have that
he’s not willing to fulfill.”

“Your father could never hurt me,
Jonesy.”

“You’re probably right.”

“Probably, he says. Hey, did you hear
yourself a minute ago? You said ‘our place?’”

__________

They said goodbye to each other
and as soon as he set the phone down, it rang yet again.
Christ
.

“Hey Bud, I was wondering if I
could borrow your truck today. I’ve got to run over to the lumber store and buy
a few pieces of board for the bar top. Don’t think I can fit them in my car.”

“Sure thing, Pops. Door’s open,
just come on in.”

Twenty minutes later he heard the
front door open, then close. “That you, Dad? I’m in the kitchen.”

Mason came around the corner just
as Virgil was moving away from the sink. “Hi, Virg. Looks like you’re moving
around pretty well.”

“Yeah, I’m starting to get the
hang of these things,” Virgil said, as he wiggled a crutch in the air. “Still
hurts pretty good, especially in the mornings.”

“I’ll bet. I put my car next to
the garage, out of the way. Sure you don’t mind letting me use the truck?”

“Naw, it’s fine. But listen, how
about I go with you? This just sitting around the house is driving me nuts. Sandy’s
downtown and I could sure use a change of scenery. I’ll sit at the bar and keep
you company while you work.”

Mason looked at his son, the
skepticism clear upon his face. “Gee, bud, you sure you’re up to it? I’d hate
to get all the way over there then have to turn around and bring you back.”

Virgil let out a sigh. “I just
need to get out, Dad, okay? Sandy will be done in a couple of hours or so. I’ll
leave her a message and she can probably swing by and bring me back here.”

“Okay, if you’re sure.”

“I’m sure, Dad. Let’s go, huh?”

“You bet. Hey, I’ll pull the truck
around to the front. Shorter walk, right? You want some help getting out
there?”

“Yeah, maybe.”

__________

They rode together in silence for
a few miles, a familiar routine. After the stop at the lumber
store—Virgil waited in the truck—they headed for the bar. “Which
boards need to be replaced?”

“The ones on both ends that butt
up against the cross-members, just above the sinks? They’re fine on top, but
they’re getting soft underneath. All the water that splashes up there is taking
a toll. I thought since I was going to sand and refinish the top, now would be
the time to swap them out.”

“Yeah, probably right,” Virgil
said. “So, uh, how’s things with you and Carol?”

Mason shifted his eyes from the
road without turning his head. “Okay, I guess,” he said. “Why?”

Virgil shook his head. “What do
you mean, why? I was just asking. Making conversation, you know?”

“You pissed at me or something?”
Mason said.

“No…I’m sorry. It’s these fucking
pills they’ve got me on. For the pain. I’m snapping at everyone.”

Mason nodded. “You’ll be okay,
Virg.” After that, neither of them spoke for the rest of the ride over to the
bar.

Way to go, Virgil thought.

__________

Mason brought the boards in from
the back of the truck while Virgil hobbled over to the jukebox and put some
music on, then hobbled back to the bar and sat on one of the stools and let his
leg hang down below the brass railing underneath. It felt good to get the
weight off of it. He looked at the clock above the back of the bar and checked
the time, thought
close enough
, and took a couple more pills.

Mason placed the boards on top of
the bar and set about prying the old ones from their mount while Virgil took a
sanding block and began to work the area in front of where he was seated, father
and son communicating the way men often do, not with words, but by working
together.

__________

Later, while they were taking a
break, Virgil picked up the phone and called Sandy to let her know where he was
and to see if she’d pick him up. “You boys having fun?” she asked.

“Oh yeah. Nothing better than bar
upkeep. Think you could swing by and pick me up when you’re finished?”

“Sure,” Sandy said. “But I thought
I’d stop and pick up something to eat. You think maybe the three of us could
have dinner tonight?”

“Hold on. “I’ll check.” He pulled
the phone away from his ear and said, “Hey Pops, Sandy wants to cook for the
three of us tonight. What do you say?”

Mason wiped the sweat from his
brow. “Ah, geez Virg, I don’t know…”

Virgil put the phone back to his
ear, his eyes still on his dad. “He says he’d love to.” He listened for another
minute, then said goodbye and set the phone down.

“Don’t be such a stick in the mud.
She wants to cook for you.”

Mason let out a sigh, then went
back to work.

Virgil did too.

__________

When Sandy got to the bar she
walked in, smiled and kissed him hello. “Thought you were going to the store,”
Virgil said.

“I was going to, but I thought I’d
stop by here first and see what sounded good to you guys. Any suggestions? Hi
Mason.”

“Hi little darling,” Mason said. “You
know how to make a meatloaf?”

“I sure do,” Sandy said. “As a
matter of fact, I’ve got a meatloaf recipe that’ll make you love me forever.”

Mason laughed. “Won’t need a
recipe for that Missy. All you’ve got to do is take care of my baby boy, here.”

Virgil thought, huh…and felt the
love in his words.

__________

Sandy excused herself to the
ladies room. “That’s one you don’t let get away, Virg.”

“I know, Dad. I know. This one’s
going to work. Meant to be, you know?”

“That I do,” Mason said. He was
marking a series of cut lines on the boards with a carpenter’s pencil. He
didn’t look up when he spoke, but it didn’t stop the words. “You know, Virg,
you and I, sometimes it sort of seems like neither one of us has the right thing
to say to each other. You ever feel like that?”

“Yeah, I guess sometimes I do,
Dad.”

Mason put the old board on top of
the new one and traced the cut points out. “My dad, your grandfather, he wasn’t
much of a talker. I used to get mad at him when I was a kid because he wouldn’t
say anything to me except to correct me when I did something wrong. It wasn’t
until you were born that I finally figured out how much he loved me. Wasn’t
until he died that I figured out how much I loved him, faults and all.”