has escaped your astute powers of deduction, if I wanted to piss in a pot, I’d have to borrow one from my ex-wife. And odds are my bladder would explode while I was waiting for her to mull it over.”
“I can’t figure out how a man without means can afford to buy worthless land for hundreds of thousands over value. Leigh would expect hard cash,” Brad pressed.
“I can use the land as collateral,” Jacob said quickly.
“No offense, but based on your track record, you’d probably lose it to the bank or whoever loaned you the money. I understand a corporation wanted it for a duck club,” Brad said.
“She did tell you about it. Well, one has expressed interest, and mentioned a figure,” Jacob said. “And maybe I could sell to said corporation for even more than I offered her. Did you think of that?”
Brad said angrily, “You should tell one story and stick to it so you won’t have to try to keep the lies straight.”
“Gamblers might just want to shoot ducks, or hogs, or frigging bison. They’ll pay for the pleasure same as they pay for sex.” Jacob smiled as though he’d just made a closing argument that had the judge and the jury nodding.
“I see,” Brad said. “You have big plans, as usual.”
“I can’t believe you think I’d kill Leigh,” Jacob said. “You’re wasting my time. Of all the things I might be, I am not a killer. Like I said, I was in Memphis yesterday morning.”
Brad shook his head. “I didn’t say you fired the shot, Jacob.”
“Mr. Gardner,” Winter said, “do you gamble?”
Jacob shook his head.
Winter said, “See, if you owed money to someone, you might not be aware of that person’s plan to kill your ex-wife in order to get his hands on her land. That someone might figure if she dies you inherit enough to cover the loan. If you told someone that, you don’t have clear title, but you would if Leigh wasn’t around…”
“No,” Jacob said. “That’s not possible. I don’t owe anybody money. I don’t gamble anymore.”
“I’ve heard you don’t gamble any less,” Brad said.
“I have a law background and I know how things work,” Jacob said.
“If you are being threatened,” Winter said, “we can help. Whoever did this failed, but they may try again.”
“If they harm Leigh, and I find out you’ve lied to us about anything, I will see that you pay,” Brad said.
“Your affection for my ex radiates from you like sunshine, as always. That’s what this is really about. You’re white knighting to impress her by trying to make me look bad. Don’t threaten me, Barnett. You’re a sheriff, not a judge and jury.”
“Fine,” Brad said. “And I’m glad you aren’t worried about your daughter being out of pocket.”
“Out of pocket? Please. Cyn’s been sexually active since she discovered she was cute. If she isn’t at my mother’s, she’s shacked up with some boy.”
“Your mother isn’t answering her phone,” Brad said.
“She turns off the ringer.”
“Leigh has left messages.”
“My mother hates Leigh. If Cynthia wasn’t there, she’d call. Mama loves Cynthia.”
“Let me know when you hear from her so
Jacob Gardner’s eyes relaxed and he smiled. “If that’s all,” Jacob said, lying down, “Cyn’s an adult. Cut the light off and get the hell out of my room.”
“Tell you what. If we talk about this again, it’ll be in
Brad walked to the door, which Winter had opened.
“By the way,” Jacob said. “I didn’t take Leigh away from you. You threw her to me.”
35
As Brad and Winter entered the main drag near the courthouse, the radio came to life.
“Sheriff, what’s your twenty?” Chief Deputy Roy Bishop’s voice crackled.
“I’m almost at the courthouse.”
“Me too,” Bishop said.
“I see you,” Brad said.
A cruiser flashed its lights ahead and pulled over on the opposite side of the wide street. Roy Bishop got out and hurried over as Brad rolled down the window. “What’s up, Roy?”
“The damned press is driving me crazy. We have to tell them something soon.”
“Soon,” Brad told him. “Tell them we’re getting close on the Adams murder, and as soon as we have things sorted out, we’ll let them know. You met Winter last night.”
“I did.” Roy reached over Brad to shake Winter’s hand. “Bettye said you were some kind of specialist. Welcome aboard.”
“Winter’s a retired U.S. marshal. Grew up in Cleveland, Mississippi. He’s agreed to help us with the Adams homicide and Beals. As a personal favor.”
The chief deputy gave Winter a quizzical look. “Wait a damn minute,” he said, his face reddening. “You’re
“So did my mother,” Winter said.
“We don’t get many murders around here,” Roy said. “Now we get two in one day. Jack Beals was a first- class prick, but he didn’t deserve to die like that. Hey, is this something bigger than it looks?”
“Looks plenty big to me as it is,” Winter said.
“Where’s David Scotoni?” Brad asked.
“At the Best Western with Walters watching him. He wants to get the hell out of Dodge.”
“No problem,” Brad said. “He’s told us everything he knows. Get his phone numbers and escort him to the state line.”
“Sure thing,” Roy said, straightening as a speeding Lincoln Navigator flew past, then made a sweeping U- turn. “Damn,” Brad said. “Go on, Roy. If you need me, use the cell. I don’t want to use the radio with the press all over the place.”
Winter saw a red-faced man in a suit who looked like a newscaster get out of the Navigator and race toward the truck. The man maneuvered around Bishop and looked into the cab.
“Brad,” he said.
“Ed,” Brad said. “I want you to meet Winter Massey. Winter, this is our prosecuting attorney, Ed Moore.”
Moore nodded at Winter. “I had a call from the head of MBI. They want in on these killings now. They said you’re blocking them so they want me to make the request. I wanted to clear it with you as a courtesy before I did it.”
“Don’t need them,” Brad said. “This is proceeding nicely.”
“Two homicides, Brad. Why wouldn’t you need them, for Christ’s sake?”
“That’s why I asked Massey in. He’s a specialist in this sort of thing and has no dog in the fight. Lab assistance is all I need from the MBI for now.”
“Captain Mackey was very insistent,” Moore said.
“He said I’m in over my head, right? They only want in on the Beals killing because it’s tied to a casino employee, and they want to clear it up however they can. We’re already on top of it and it’s staying that way.”
“Damn it, Bradley. If it concerns the casinos…” Moore said nervously.
“Relax, Ed. It concerns an ex-deputy dead guy who worked security at a casino. If you want, you can tell them it was an armed robbery gone bad. We both know that MBI will only come in and make us look bad if they can, to make sure the casino doesn’t get any negative publicity. They’re always working in the casinos’ best interests.”
“That’s not something I know at all,” Moore said defensively.
