Lights, Camera, Bones, page 22
“No record of her, either. Unless the Brandons have some private store of papers and documentation. That is possible. A lot of the original settler families kept their own records, either at home or in a church. The family Bible was a record of births, deaths, marriages. Some of the family recordkeeping is very detailed and, depending on who was making the written record, deliciously catty.”
I could only imagine. “Thank you, Elton. I owe you a drink.”
“Call me when you have time. I’m particularly fond of Mojitos.”
“I can make that happen.”
We hung up and I called Tinkie back and relayed the information about a possible member of the Muscogee tribe in the Brandon lineage.
“That would be fascinating,” Tinkie said. “It could have ruined the family at one point in time. Especially if this impacts the senator. There were laws against interracial marriage, and community standards against illegitimate babies. That child would have likely had a terrible life.”
“Bloodline purity is not of any interest to me, but what I’m wondering is, what if the word ‘Muscogee’ was left with that young boy as a clue of where to find answers? Clues to figure out where Marlon is?”
“That would be fabulous. What are you going to do? Go to the estate and confront the senator with what we’ve found?”
“Definitely. I’ll see if I can flush out a reaction from the senator. That’ll tell us plenty.”
“Marlon isn’t the only person in his family who can act. Remember that,” Tinkie said. “The senator is very controlled and an excellent poker player, according to Harold. Our friend says the senator has nerves of steel.”
“And Harold has often told me that I can get on the nerves of the most implacable humans on the planet.”
Tinkie laughed loud and long. “It’s true. You could worry the warts off a frog, Sarah Booth.”
“I love you, too.” I eased the car down the long drive. The suspension system of my new ride handled the ruts and potholes. Coleman had done big, and I was eager to thank him. The fact he’d taken the initiative meant the world to me.
34
When the big house came into view, I slowed again, idling on the drive before I pulled up in front of the porch. What secrets did Muscogee hold? Was there something here—evidence or clues—that I had overlooked earlier because I didn’t know what I was looking for? As I was about to exit the car, I noticed two men standing in front of a big window. They were arguing aggressively. Brandon and Bilbo. What did those two have going on? Were they partners or enemies?
Hoping that neither would recognize my new vehicle—if they noticed me outside at all—I backed out of the drive, turned around, and left. No point in confronting the senator after he’d been fighting with Bilbo. Harold’s assessment that Brandon was a good poker player didn’t hold water. Even from a distance of thirty yards or so and through a window pane, I’d seen the heat in his face and the fury in his words as he’d stabbed the air with his finger while talking to Bilbo. He was anything but cool, calm, and collected.
When I came to the paved road, I stopped for a moment. Why was the road into Muscogee in such terrible shape? The county road graders would probably take care of it for the senator at no charge. It was how the good-old-boy network worked. But Bilbo probably sold the county the heavy equipment they used. Had he pulled some strings to make the senator suffer? It was an interesting thought.
Undecided where to go next, I idled by the side of the road. Finally, I took a left and headed back to Greenville. Other than asking the senator about his family’s history, I didn’t know how I’d find out about the Muscogee woman. There had been some paperwork about the Brandon family tree in the papers that we’d stolen from the safe deposit box. I shot Tinkie a text and asked her to take a look at the Brandon lineage.
With no firm destination, I drove to the bookstore. To my surprise, Mary Dayle was behind the counter. She waited on two people before she waved me over to the counter.
“I thought you were shark hunting?”
“They called off the search until later today. What do you want?” she asked.
“A history lesson.”
“I don’t like the sound of that.” She checked her watch. “I’m supposed to meet the sheriff in an hour. The missing Graham child was found safe. That likely saved the shark.”
“Why aren’t you working on the capture of the big fish?” I asked.
“I intend to. A little later, when it is near their feeding time. So if I can help you find a book, you better ask now. I have to go soon.”
I nodded. “I’ll be quick. What does the Brandon family have to do with the Muscogee tribe?”
“That’s a question for the senator to answer. Not my business.”
She knew something! She hid it, but I’d caught a glimpse in her eyes. I changed the direction of my questions. “Did you bring the shark upriver and set it loose here?”
She blew out a breath. “You won’t believe me, but I’ll answer. No. I would never do that to a shark. Or any other living creature. The shark can adjust to living in fresh water, but the humans are never going to allow it. That shark is on death row, just waiting for the right hunter with the right gun to kill her. She doesn’t deserve this for simply being what she was born to be.”
“That matters to you?”
“Yes, it does. These creatures are not ours to toy with and destroy. I believe that totally.”
“Do you know where Marlon is?”
She held my gaze. “I don’t believe he’s dead. I think Bilbo has him. You won’t believe this either, but I was hanging out with Bilbo to try to find out what he was up to. He’s been plotting against the movie ever since he heard about it. He’s pulled some dirty tricks on the Brandon family, and I believe he’s behind all of this trouble. I could have told you, or the sheriff, but if word had gotten back to Bilbo, I would have been totally ineffective. I played the cards I had.”
“Dirty tricks?” I was curious.
“He was bragging about how he threatened the county supervisors that if they took care of the road to Muscogee, he would up the price of the heavy equipment he sells and leases to the county. I’m sure you’ve noticed that the road to Muscogee is a series of potholes, bogs, and ruts.”
“I had noticed that.”
“The means to an end, Sarah Booth. I’m sure you’ve done the same.”
“I haven’t.” It was true. I’d never dated someone for gain.
“Well goody, goody for you.” She laughed. “There are times in life when you do things you never imagined. Bilbo is loathsome. Yet I needed to get close to him to see what he was up to. And just so you know, I wasn’t that close. More than a lover, Bilbo needs an audience. That was the role I fulfilled.”
Rather than debate the ethics of the tactics she’d employed, I went straight for the nut. “And what is Lamar Bilbo up to?”
“Oh, you wouldn’t date him, but you’ll be glad to have any information I weaseled out of him while dating him with an agenda.”
I shrugged. “Well, yeah.”
She laughed out loud. “You’re a hypocrite, Sarah Booth.”
“And you’re a liar.” That wasn’t exactly the proper description, but I couldn’t think of a better word.
“Well, we’re both just badass Bs, aren’t we?”
“We are.” And I found that I enjoyed the banter with Mary Dayle. She had a sense of humor about herself and a little devil sitting on her shoulder. She no longer cared what people thought about her. An admirable position to be in, and a rare one for a member of the upper crust in a small Delta town.
“I’ll tell you what I found from Bilbo,” she said, waving me into an armchair in the front window of the store. She took a seat in the other chair. “Lamar hasn’t had an original thought in his head, ever. He’s easily led and manipulated. He’s fighting the movie and all progress in Greenville that comes from outside sources, but the question is why. Why is he so opposed to those things? The growth, I get. The Bilbos and Brandons have held power in the state for decades. They fear that anyone new moving in will build more power than they have.”
“Power to do what?” I asked.
“There’s always money to be made for a person in a position of power. Senator, mayor, sheriff, police chief—lots of opportunities for gifts and kickbacks. Any road building or facility building project is just a gravy train for corrupt officials.”
“The movie won’t change any of that, and I’m pretty sure Ana and Marlon would cross some palms with silver to catch a break.”
“The movie people are dangerous because they think differently than the locals. The entire structure put in place by corrupt officials requires that the population stay asleep. The movie brought excitement, new ideas. New hope. Those holding power are afraid it will upset the status quo.”
She had a point I’d never have come to on my own. Mississippi was a poor state. One of the poorest in the union. But there was plenty of money for a criminal to feather his or her own nest. It was the age-old problem of greed.
“You’ve made your point. But who is pulling Bilbo’s strings?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. For all that Bilbo has never read a book in his life, he’s a cunning man. I’ve searched his vehicles, but he would never leave me alone in his house long enough for me to really look around. Ugh. The dinners I ate there, hoping he’d pass out or at least run an errand. Not a chance. He doesn’t trust anyone. I was making headway, but that’s all over. By pretending to be dead and trying to save the shark, I’ve lost his confidence. He knows I’m not trustworthy, and he’ll be more wary than ever now.”
She had lost her “in” with him for sure. Pretending to drown while helping the enemy was going to cost her. I had an urge to confess that Tinkie and I had checked out her house, but I bit my tongue. No point in going there. And also no point in telling her that if she called Bilbo to come talk to her, I’d break into his house to see what I could find. I didn’t need her permission, only her unwitting cooperation.
“Call Lamar.”
She stared at me. “Why would I do that?”
“To distract him. Keep him off balance. I can’t figure out which angle you’re playing, Mary Dayle. Are you for the movie or against it?”
“I’m for the shark. How about that? I can say that with total honesty. I’ll do whatever I can to protect the shark and get it back into open water.”
“I need to know which side you’re backing.” I didn’t trust her. I wanted to, but I didn’t.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t get the court order where I had to tell you squat.”
One thing about Mary Dayle, she felt no need to win hearts and minds. “If we’re working toward the same goal it will be easier. For both of us.” I tried to sound reasonable and persuasive.
“Look, I did what I had to do in an effort to slow Bilbo’s roll. I’ve given Marlon a lot of help and advice about the history of the town. I’ve given the sheriff and your fellow all the help I could in trying to capture the shark.”
“I understand. Coleman really wants to save the shark, too. He’s determined. And I’m glad that kid wasn’t really missing this morning. That would have been the kiss of death for the shark.”
“I’m glad the kid wasn’t hurt, but the shark’s days are numbered.” She checked her watch. “Which is why I have to meet those men who are willing to help me catch her.”
“Before I go, I want to ask one more time. What’s the connection between the Muscogee community and the Brandon family? If you know, please tell me.”
All emotion drained from her face. “You need to be careful, Sarah Booth. Marlon was asking me the same thing right before he disappeared.”
35
I checked in at the sheriff’s office only to learn that the divers and rescue team were still out on the water. Since Larry Graham had been found safe and sound, the attention had turned to wrangling the shark into the submerged cage. They’d found a boat and captain who could take the shark back to the Gulf. Mary Dayle was going to rejoin the team just before dusk. No one would tell me how she was going to lure or drive the shark into the cage, but everyone seemed pumped that she could do it. I hoped so, for the sake of the shark.
I stopped by the tax assessor’s office and looked up the property owned by Senator Brandon. Even though the family had sold off some holdings, they still owned at least four thousand acres in Mississippi. I dropped by the county agent’s office, which was also in the courthouse. Bamboo and hemp were the big topics for agriculture. Senator Brandon was one of the first landowners preparing to convert to both crops, the agent told me. Interesting. I understood crop rotation was the best way to care for the soil, but both bamboo and hemp, as commercial crops, were unproven in many regards. The senator was a risk-taker.
I moved on to the chancery clerk’s office. I was an outsider, but also a child of the Delta. I told a few jokes, got the workers laughing, and accepted the offer of a cup of coffee. I didn’t ask questions. No one would tell a nosy outsider squat. But I listened to the divorce cases that were hot news and leafed through the minutes of the county supervisor meetings. I was looking to find any discussion of the Muscogee road, but mostly I was doing busywork so I could eavesdrop.
Lawyers came and went, leaving files and chatting up the staff. I listened to talk about contentious divorces, land disputes, charity events, and sports. Always sports. When talk turned to the movie, I eased in a little closer. The consensus in the office was that the film would somehow get finished. Two local lawyers had been cast, and they talked about the excitement. One lawyer was holding forth. “As soon as Marlon returns and the weather breaks, they’ll finish the filming. Ninety-five percent of it is in the can.”
I had no idea the movie was that close to completion. I wondered where the lawyers were getting their facts.
“Can I get anything else for you?” One of the clerks was standing in front of me.
“I’m good. Thank you.”
I was drawing too much attention to myself, so I walked over to the two lawyers. “When will Marlon be back on set?”
One lawyer was a good-looking young man. His smile was quick and friendly. “I heard he’d gone to some hospital for treatment of a medical condition. He’s supposedly fine and on his way to finish the filming. And a good thing. They need those action scenes of him on the boat and rescuing people. My friend and I get to play Greenville merchants who help rescue the people stranded on the levee. It’s exciting.”
“Judge Freeman is going to fine you both if you’re late for court again,” the clerk said, teasing them. “He won’t take the fact that you’re movie stars into consideration if you disrupt his court schedule.”
“If we’re movie stars, no one will fine us,” the other lawyer said.
I returned the reference books I’d been exploring and prepared to leave. I had to go back to Muscogee. I didn’t want to, not by myself, but it was the only move left to me. It had to be done. I could only hope the senator was there. I had questions only he could answer. I had a sudden inspiration.
On the way to Muscogee, I called Sheriff Nelson’s office. Neither Coleman nor Nelson was there, but I left a detailed message telling them where I was and what I was doing. The dispatcher who took the message swore she’d deliver it as soon as they came back from trying to wrangle the shark.
Nothing left to do but drive to Muscogee.
Twenty minutes later I pulled up to the house, got out, and rang the bell. Brandon himself opened the door. He took no notice of my vehicle, so I hoped he hadn’t seen me on my earlier stop. “Do you have news of Marlon?” he asked.
“I was hoping you had something for me.”
He scoffed. “My grandson has vanished. The movie he put his personal fortune and life into is going down the drain. The persons hired to find him are wandering around Greenville like lost souls. Sorry, I don’t have anything good to add.”
His contemptuous attitude pissed me off, but there was no point in accelerating the ill will. “Tell me about the Muscogee woman who bore a child for Jefferson Brandon.”
He stepped back and I slipped into the foyer. “Who told you that?” he asked.
“You can try to hide and delete history, but you can’t. Not really. The truth always resurrects and comes after you. So who was this woman?”
“I don’t have to tell you anything.”
“No, you don’t, but if you want Marlon back, you’d better be straight with me.”
“How can something like that from the past play a role in what’s going on with Marlon today?”
“I don’t know, but I need the truth to find out. Your grandson may be in terrible danger. He may be hurt and waiting for rescue.” The more I talked, the angrier I became. I was done with games. The entire Brandon family seemed to feel they were free to manipulate everyone and all the facts. “Was Marlon including any of that history in his movie? I didn’t see it in the script.”
“I don’t think so, and to be honest, I don’t care. It was a long time ago, well before my time.”
“Why all the big secrets?”
“Jefferson Brandon was a man who felt no law applied to him except the ones he chose to obey. Times were different, and Jefferson had great ambitions for his family. The woman, Tsianna, didn’t fit into those ambitions, no matter how much he loved her.”
“What a skunk.” The words slipped out before I could stop them.
“Yes, he was a skunk. But he did return her to her people. That’s in his favor. And this information isn’t relevant. It’s not even near the time period of the Great Flood. Since the child never returned to the Brandons, it’s not an issue. So far, I don’t see you’ve accomplished much in the way of finding my grandson. Now I’d like you to leave.”
I had one more thing to say. “If there’s any chance something from the past has come back to haunt you, maybe you should address it before it catches up with you.”
The senator had drained the last bit of energy from my bones. I couldn’t get home fast enough.
