Smoke and Mirrors

Leigh continued, “Which made it the poorest county in the country. You know what’s happened around here since those casinos came in? We’ve gotten the absolute dregs of humanity, political corruption, crooked cops and highway patrolmen. The last sheriff and deputies were caught protecting drug dealers-and there’s been all sorts of rumors about people not getting the money they won and being threatened by employees of the casinos when they made waves. In exchange we get cheap license plates, new schools, low taxes, paved roads, and a fancy golf course for visitors. It’s been a deal with the devil.”

“Do you think mobsters are interested in your land?” Winter asked.

“That land is worth zip.”

“Is it near the other casinos?” Winter asked.

“Not at all,” she said. “Way south of them. The improvements they’ve made for the casinos have caused even more flooding down there than there was before. But Jacob Gardner would sell the gold out of our children’s teeth and blow the money before their gums quit bleeding.”

“I’ll check it out,” Brad said. “Where is Jacob now?”

“He stayed at my house last night. He’ll sleep until sometime this afternoon.”

“More coffee, Leigh?” Brad asked.

“Can’t do it. I have to stay busy, and I’ve got plenty of work to do.” Leigh stood and started for the front of the house. “By the way, some press people have been on the road this morning filming the house. And one of your prowl cars is obviously tailing me.”

Brad shook his head. “I meant to tell you. We thought it was a good idea to have deputies watching you and the kids until we get this solved. I’m sorry for any inconvenience, but it’s something Winter and I felt was necessary.”

“You decided to have me followed without telling me,” Leigh said, frowning.

“You can’t be too careful. I think it’s absolutely necessary, since we have no idea who we’re dealing with,” Alexa lied.

“Then you can tell them to follow closer, because I’m afraid if they miss a light and run through it someone might be killed,” Leigh said.

“Not much I can do about the press,” Brad said. “As long as they don’t trespass.”

“‘Not much I can do’ seems to be your mantra,” she said. “Finish your Wheaties. I’ll show myself out.”

After Leigh left, Brad said, “Cyn’s always doing this.”

“But with everything that’s happened…” Alexa said.

“Cyn is…well, she more or less has to be the center of attention,” Brad said. “I’ll put through a description of her car, and make sure the Memphis police get it. Leigh is right. She’s done this ‘meeting a friend’ thing since she was fifteen or so.”

Winter could see that Brad was troubled, and offered the only reassurance he could think of. “Well, she did send that text message, at least.”

34

Alexa volunteered to go to the courthouse to check the records on the parcels surrounding Leigh’s land while Brad and Winter drove out to Six Oaks to interview Jacob Gardner.

Estelle opened the door and looked out, smiling broadly. “Brad Barnett again! I remember back to a time when every time I opened this door you was standing right where you standing now.”

“Any word from Cynthia?” Brad asked Estelle.

“Lordy. That child! All the advantages she has and she shows her butt like she do. She is unresponsible and always has been. I told her a million times that proper young girls don’t chase after boys like she do, but do she listen? No.” Estelle shook her head sadly. “People gone think she a loose woman who don’t have a heart, the way she torture her mama. Miss Leigh ain’t home.”

“We’re here to see Jacob.”

“Come on in. He’s layin’ up in the guest room bed like he the king of the world. He wakes up, he gone commence to ringing that little bell.” Estelle stepped aside. “Like having a invalid in the house.”

“Thanks, Estelle. I know the way,” Brad said, stepping into the entrance, Winter shadowing him up the wide stairway.

Without knocking, Brad opened the door to the guest bedroom. The interior was made cave dark by thick curtains. As Brad flipped on the light, Winter was treated to the sight of Jacob Gardner lying on his back with his mouth open, the bed linen twisted around his feet like a binding. His comb-over stuck straight up, flying from his head like a flag. On the nightstand sat an almost empty bottle of Glen Salen and a glass partly filled with light brown water.

“Rise and shine, Jacob!” Brad hollered.

Like a doll, Jacob’s eyes rolled open, and he stared up at the ceiling for a solid three count. He then sat bolt upright and looked at Brad and then Winter before gathering the sheets to cover himself. He tamped down his brown hair and blinked rapidly.

“What the hell are you doing barging in here?” Jacob asked.

“Investigating a murder,” Brad said.

“In my room?” Jacob said.

“At the moment, yes,” Brad replied, opening the curtains to let in daylight. He sat in a chair beside the bed and indicated that Winter should take the fabric-covered chaise lounge. “We need to ask you some questions.”

“How about you do it after I get showered and dressed?”

“How about we do it now,” Brad countered. “That way you can go back to sleep when we leave.”

“Christ,” Jacob said, lying back down and rubbing his eyes. “My head is killing me.”

“If it does, I guess I’ll have three deaths to investigate.”

“So ask your questions,” Jacob said, looking over at Winter.

“Sherry was killed accidentally,” Brad said.

“Damned poachers,” Jacob said. “Shooting wild. Jesus, it’s terrible. How the hell are you going to catch the bastard?”

“No, the shooter was a professional killer. I have reason to believe that Leigh was his actual target, and Sherry looked enough like her in the hooded coat for him to assume she was Leigh. He obviously didn’t know Leigh was out of town.”

“How the hell can you know that? You caught the bastard?”

“Not yet,” Brad said. “But we’re closing in on him.”

“It sounds like wishful thinking,” Jacob said. “Why do you think anybody would try to kill my wife?”

“Ex-wife,” Brad corrected.

Jacob rubbed his bloodshot eyes. “What would be the motive?”

“Money.”

“In case you don’t know it, only the kids would gain from her death. Maybe they’re behind it. I’d look close at Hamp. He’d kill to have the money to buy a genuine beaver fur top hat.”

“Nonetheless, I can’t rule you out,” Brad said.

Jacob looked at Brad like he was an idiot. “Me? And how would I profit from Leigh’s death? Leigh has it fixed so if she dies, I’m left twisting in the wind. Not that I don’t deserve it. I’ve made some mistakes. My life is an open book, Barnett. Her death would be a lose/lose situation for me. And when Sherry was shot I was in bed in Memphis with a former Miss Tennessee, whose number I will happily furnish.” He grinned.

“The bottomland Leigh bought from you comes to mind as a motive.”

Jacob frowned, but his eyes reflected the fires of concern. “She owns it outright, in case she didn’t tell you that when she told you about it.”

“Why do you want it?”

“It’s been in my family since eighteen ninety.”

“It’s still in your family.”

“Well, not exactly. I mean, yes, it is. But a man who doesn’t own land is a second-class citizen. And in case it