Forever My Hero, page 27
Hunt made another note. “I’ll notify the medical examiner. In the meantime, where can you be reached?”
“We don’t have any place to stay. Everything we owned is gone. I reckon for now, we’ll be sleeping in the barn…either on the hay or in our truck.”
“Did you have insurance on the house?” Hunt asked.
“A small policy. Nothing that will replace what we lost.”
“Alright,” Hunt said. “I think I have enough to get the investigation started. Don’t move or clean up anything. Leave it all where it lies until the crime scene team collects all the evidence.”
J. B. paled. “Crime scene? There is no crime scene. Just what’s left of our lives.”
“I’m sorry,” Hunt said. “But when anyone dies in an unexplained accident, it has to be investigated to prove there was no foul play. You should have remembered that from when your brother Marty blew his home up.”
Moses wiped a shaky hand over his face. “Yes, sir. I just didn’t think. We’ll be there. Do you think it will be today when they show up?”
“Yes,” Hunt said. “It will be today.”
“Then as soon as we find something to eat and get a few supplies, we’ll be on our way home.”
“There’s a shelter set up at the Baptist church here in Hinesville. Go down there and tell Preacher Jordan that Hunt Terrell said you needed a little help and something to eat. There aren’t any stores open as yet, so that’s the closest place around here you’ll find for a meal.”
“Thank you,” Moses said.
“Yes, thanks,” J. B. added.
“I’ll walk you out,” Hunt said, and led the way up the hall to the front lobby, then watched them leave. As soon as they were gone, he turned to the clerk. “I’m going to the ME’s office. Notify my crime scene team by handheld radio. Tell them to meet me here at the office, and that we have a death at an explosion. They’ll know what to do.”
“Yes, sir. Will do,” she said, and reached for the walkie-talkie on her desk as he left through the back door.
Chapter 20
Moses and J. B. were numb. Talking to the law about what had happened had seemed surreal—like they were talking about someone else’s life. And they were both silently wondering how this second explosion on the same property was going to play out, since both had resulted in a death.
They found the church and sat down to chili cooked over camp stoves, made from meat that had been donated by the local grocer. The shelter didn’t have food to give away, but the Gatlin brothers were grateful for what they had in their bellies when they left.
As they drove out of Hinesville, Moses glanced over at his brother. “Do you think we should try to find Alice and the kids and tell them about Mama?”
J. B. didn’t bother to hide his surprise. “Why?”
Moses sighed. “I don’t know. It just seems like the right thing to do.”
“We didn’t once do the right thing by them when Marty died. She’s not gonna want to see our faces. And this isn’t the best time to go hunting her down. Go home. We got cops coming.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Moses said, and let go of the impulse.
* * *
Ruby was feeding Lovey her lunch when Peanut came into the room with a smile on his face. “The hurricane has been downgraded to a tropical storm and is moving inland. I don’t know how long it will take to get power back, but the good news is that the process can begin today,” he said.
“That’s wonderful!” Ruby said, and spooned another bite of soup into Lovey’s mouth that she quickly chewed and swallowed.
“It’s sure good news,” Lovey said. “This means I will be able to start cleanup and rebuilding on my house.”
“Is there anything I can do to aid in that process?” Peanut asked.
“Just find me a good building crew,” Lovey said.
“I’ll see what I can do about that,” Peanut said.
Ruby spooned another bite into Lovey’s mouth, then chased it with a sip of sweet tea. “Honey, as soon as Lovey finishes lunch, I want to go home, clean up, and sleep a bit, because I’m spending the night here with her again.”
Lovey frowned. “No, I don’t need you to do that. I’m mostly sleeping off pain meds, anyway, and if I need something, I can buzz a nurse. They were able to get enough people in here this morning to change shifts.”
Ruby started to argue, but Lovey shook her head.
“Nope. I’m serious. You were a lifesaver last night, but I had just come out of surgery and was loopy as all get out. Go home. Rest. Come see me tomorrow.”
“Really?” Ruby asked.
Lovey smiled. “Yes, really. And just for the record, I don’t want company, so if anyone asks, tell them I’m not ready for that yet. Once people find out what happened, they’ll just want to come and stare at me out of curiosity. I’m not ready to share the bald head and cuts. I look like Freddy Krueger paid me a visit.”
Ruby laughed. “Okay, but right now, you need to get through dessert. It’s pudding.”
“I wish it was a piece of one of Mercy’s pies,” Lovey muttered.
“There’ll be time enough for them in the days to come,” Ruby said. “Today, it’s pudding.”
* * *
Instead of going straight home from the sheriff’s office, Big Tom and Albert headed for Blessings. With no other way to communicate with his boss, Big Tom needed to find out when he planned to open up again.
As they came into town, it was both shocking and sad to see the devastation. It was obvious some homes had flooded, because they could see the watermarks on the outside walls. And the wind had done a number on quite a few of the fine old trees that lined the streets.
Big Tom noticed, as they passed, that the police station was open and decided to stop in and let Chief Pittman know what had happened to Junior. The streets were virtually empty, so he made a U-turn and parked.
“Want to get out, Albert?”
“Yes sir. We’re in this together.”
So again, Tom dealt with the wheelchair, and then getting Albert in it, before they went inside.
* * *
Chief Pittman was standing at the front desk talking to Avery when the door opened, and when he saw who it was, and that Albert was with Big Tom, Lon was surprised. The very two people he’d wanted to speak with about Elliot’s attack.
“Good afternoon,” Lon said. “Albert…how are you doing?” he added.
Albert shrugged. “It’s been a hard day, sir.”
Big Tom added. “We need to talk to you, if you have the time.”
“Sure do. Come on back,” Lon said, and led the way.
As soon as they were seated, Big Tom started talking. “We just came from the sheriff’s office and were coming here to talk to my boss about work when it occurred to me that I should probably notify you as well.”
“Notify me about what?” Lon asked.
Big Tom leaned back in his chair, as if bracing himself for the g-force of what he was going to say. “We lost Junior yesterday during the calm.”
Lon leaned forward, startled by the news. “I’m so sorry, sir. What happened?”
Tom felt another breakdown coming. He’d thought he could handle it, but he’d obviously been wrong as he choked on a sob.
Albert reached for his daddy’s arm. “Let me, Daddy.”
Big Tom nodded, swallowing back tears as Albert began to explain what had happened, all the way from finding the creek out of its banks, the back of the corral gone, and all of the cattle missing. Then he went on to explain about the cougar and what had happened to Junior on his way back.
“So you witnessed this happening?” Lon said.
“Daddy saw it. From where I was standing, I never did see Junior…only Daddy’s reaction.”
Big Tom nodded. “I was looking straight at him when the bank caved in. He fell backward into the flood and never surfaced. I ran after him but never even had a glimpse, and then the hurricane amped back up and I had to run to get home. I knew Albert needed me, and there was nothing more I could ever do for Junior. I’m telling you this on the off chance someone shows up here with a story about finding a body.”
Lon’s heart went out to Big Tom. He remembered all too well nearly losing Mercy in floodwaters. “That is a horrible thing to witness, and my sympathies for your loss,” he said, then glanced at Albert. “I heard a bit about how you injured your feet. So, care to tell me the story?”
Albert’s shoulders slumped. “To tell you the truth, Chief, the past few days have all been a blur, and that seems like a lifetime ago. The bottom line is I was on the dock. Junior was out on the lake in our boat. I was messing around pulling in my stringer and getting ready to leave when I fell in. I got myself out and pulled off my shoes and socks. I was dumping water out of my shoes when a black bear got between me and my truck. It challenged me, and I panicked like a little girl. I threw my catch of fish at it and did the one thing Daddy always told us not to do. I turned around and ran.” He wiped a shaky hand over his face.
“It was the dumbest thing I’ve ever done, and I’m paying for it now. If I hadn’t been hurt, I would have been outside with Daddy and Junior. I can’t help thinking that might have made the difference. Maybe I would have been able to grab Junior’s arm as he was falling. Maybe we would have taken a different route besides right along the floodwaters. But maybe doesn’t change facts. My feet are a mess, and Junior is gone. If you hear anything, we would appreciate the information.”
“Certainly,” Lon said, and led the way out for them.
He thought about Albert’s story even more after going back to his office, but hearing it from the victim himself made a difference in his first opinion of what Dan Amos had overheard. Albert straight up admitted it had been stupid. People make stupid mistakes when they’re scared. The man with bad feet had had nothing to do with an attack on a man on the other side of the lake, and the only one who had been in the boat was now deceased.
Lon crossed off that lead and decided to go by Dan Amos’s house and check up on Elliot. Maybe he’d remembered something else.
* * *
The rain was down to a drizzle when Chief Pittman arrived at Dan’s house. As he got out, he heard the sound of a motor running, saw lights inside the house, and remembered they had a generator running. He climbed up the steps and rang the bell.
A few moments later, Dan opened the door. “Morning, Chief. Come in!”
Lon stopped on the doormat. “My shoes are wet. I’ll deliver my message here.”
Dan grinned and pointed behind him. Patty was lying on the floor, using Booger as a pillow, and Charlie was flat on the floor watching TV. Elliot was reading, and Alice was coming from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel.
“Wet shoes are not an issue here. Come sit, unless you need privacy. If so, we can go to the kitchen.”
“The kitchen would be ideal, and Elliot needs to join us.”
Elliot looked up. “Did someone say my name?”
“Yes, sir,” Dan said. “The chief requests your presence in the kitchen.”
“Of course,” Elliot said, and followed them, then joined them at the table.
“So what’s up?” Dan asked.
“Regarding what you overheard Big Tom Rankin talking about at Lovey’s last week… You were wondering if his sons could have had anything to do with Elliot’s attack, or if they might have witnessed something.”
“Oh yes,” Dan said. “Did you ever get to talk to him?”
“No. The hurricane hit too fast, but oddly enough, he and his younger son, Albert, came into the station this morning. The older son, Junior, died yesterday during the calm. They were out checking livestock. A creek had flooded behind their barn, and Junior was standing too close to the edge. The ground on which he was standing suddenly collapsed, throwing him backward into the floodwaters. He went under and never surfaced. Big Tom witnessed it.”
“Oh my!” Elliot said. “Poor chap!”
Dan’s empathy for the man was instant. He knew exactly what it felt like to witness the tragic, unexpected death of someone you loved.
“To cut this short, I did question Albert about what had happened to him, and I came closer to believing the incident than I had before. And Junior, the one closest to where Elliot was found, is dead. So, right now I have no more leads as to who hurt you, Elliot, but that doesn’t mean I’m stopping the investigation.”
“It feels over,” Elliot said. “I won’t lose sleep about it.”
Lon watched the old man’s face and, not for the first time, wondered how his head worked. He was certainly one of a kind in Blessings. “Okay then. I just wanted to update you with what we know.”
“Thanks,” Dan said. “Is there anything you know about the power outages? I’m sure the utility companies are overwhelmed, but I thought I’d ask.”
“Haven’t heard anything definite, but then our communication systems are down to handheld radios.”
“I have a CB radio at my house,” Elliot offered. “If you have vital info you need to share anywhere, come and get me, and I’ll gladly open my house to the police. Your day dispatcher, Avery Ames, has one, too. He is one of my CB friends. We talk some late at night.”
“That’s much appreciated, but if needed, we’ll just have Avery relay messages for us.” Then he got up. “I’d better get back to the station.”
Dan walked him back to the door, and after Lon left, he sat down and quietly told Alice what was going on.
“Hurricane Fanny has caused so much tragedy. I thank God every night for you and Patty. You both came far too close to being early victims,” Alice said.
“Thank Booger and Charlie,” Dan said. “They found her. I just helped with the rescue.” Then he kissed the back of her hand and changed the subject. “I checked the fuel gauge on the generator. We’re good for hours here, but I need to get out and check the rental properties and assess damages. I know there will be repairs needed on some, if not all. I hate going anywhere and being unable for us to contact each other, but this has to be done.”
“Take your cell phone, in case we do get cell coverage again. And in the meantime, we’ll be just fine. Go do what you have to do. I found stew meat in your freezer. Are you okay with me using it?”
“I’m okay with you doing whatever you want to do here, and stew would be great. I’ll get back as soon as I can,” he said, and this time he leaned over and kissed her. He picked up his phone as he went out the side door and then drove away.
Alice went straight to the kitchen to get out the stew meat. It felt good to be useful again.
* * *
When Dan returned later that afternoon, the mailman had finally made his route. Dan spent part of the evening going through mail, then sat down to a full meal of beef stew and corn bread, and said a prayer of thanks for the passing of the storm.
* * *
It was the middle of the night two days later when Dan’s phone suddenly signaled a text. He woke abruptly and turned on the light. “We have a signal…and bars,” he said, then rolled over to sit on the side of his bed and read the message.
It was the latest in a series of very anxious messages from his family. Several were from his parents, and then others from both of his brothers. He immediately sent back texts letting them know all was well and that the cell coverage had just this moment returned. He promised to stay in touch and then hit Send.
It was an uplifting moment to know things were finally being repaired, and Dan was too amped to go back to sleep, so he decided to check on the generator and get something to drink.
He slipped into a pair of sweatpants and an old long-sleeved T-shirt and went out into the hall. The first thing he noticed was that the door to Alice’s room was open, and then he saw Patty curled up in the hall a few yards away. He darted into Alice’s room and flipped on the light.
“Alice!” he said sharply.
She sat straight up in bed. “What? What’s wrong?” And then realized Patty wasn’t there. “Patty? Where’s Patty?”
Dan motioned for her to come. “She’s out here.”
Alice flew out of bed without reaching for a robe and came running, her dark hair disheveled and her eyes wide with panic.
Dan grabbed her arm. “Don’t scare her,” he whispered.
Alice nodded and was grateful for Dan’s hand on her shoulder as they hurried down the hall. She dropped to her knees beside Patty and felt of her forehead. It was cool. Her arms were cold, and her little feet were freezing.
“She’s so cold,” Alice said.
“Let me,” he said, and scooped her up, cradling her in his arms before following Alice back to their room. As he sat down on the side of the bed, Patty slowly opened her eyes.
“I’m cold,” she said.
Dan put her in Alice’s arms and then covered both of them up with the blanket at the foot of the bed.
Alice gently brushed the hair from her eyes. “Patty, darling, were you dreaming?”
Patty shrugged. “Maybe.”
“What about?” Alice asked.
“Bad Grandma,” she whispered.
“Oh my Lord,” Alice said, and began rocking her where she sat. “You’re okay, sweetheart. We don’t ever have to see her again, and she can’t hurt you. She’s a long ways away.”
Dan frowned. “Who is this woman?”
“Marty’s mother,” Alice said.
“Oh! The one who—?” Then he stopped when Alice nodded. “So what was Bad Grandma doing in your dream?” Dan asked.
“Just looking at me,” Patty said, and then burst into tears. “She wouldn’t go away, so I ran.”
“I’m so sorry she scared you,” Dan said, and then remembered a night when his little boy had a bad dream about being teased at school, and what he’d seen Holly do to console him.
