At Witt's End (21 page)

Aanders’ foot twitched against the table leg setting the surface in motion. “I already know what will happen. You told me a million times. He'll disappear and never get to see his mom and dad."

"I trusted you, young man. You let me down. How will you ever earn your rainbow if you can't honor the rules?” Sadie's jaw tightened. “Someone obviously made a mistake when they selected you."

"I'll do it. I promise. If someone dies I'll make sure Tim goes through their light.” Aanders’ chest began to heave as he fought the inevitable loss. Giving in, he let the tears come. “I couldn't stand it if he didn't get to see his mom again."

The screen door slammed and Belly yelped as Rodney tripped over him. “Get the hell out of my way, you stupid dog."

A rumble erupted from Belly. The dog rose and walked stiff legged towards the surly man. Belly's jowls puffed a snarled warning while the rumble grew deeper.

"Belly. Go back to the rug and lay down.” Sadie pointed toward the door when Belly looked at her in annoyance. “I said lay down."

A louder growl escaped the dog. He circled and then plopped back into his previous position. A snort finished his protest, but his eyes remained fixed on Rodney.

"It ain't raining,” Rodney said. “You're talking about rainbows and there ain't a cloud in the sky."

Flicking at her blue gelled hair with his fingers, Rodney said, “You're losing it, old woman."

Sadie batted at his hand. “You're late. Sit down and join the session.” She gestured toward an empty chair with her foot.

"I don't need to. I've got my plan ready to go.” Rodney shot Lora a side-glance. He opened the door to the inner room. “I'll be leaving this dump real soon. You can count on it."

Lora winced as Rodney slammed the door. She crossed her arms over her chest and squeezed tight before taking a peek toward the inner room. Sadie's voice redirected Lora's attention to her fellow crossers.

"We need to hear why Tim thinks his dad was murdered,” Sadie said. “I believe you told me he had proof."

"It isn't exactly proof. But he saw something that might make you believe it.” Aanders sat forward and leaned his chest against the table.

"Before they picked me up to go to the movie, Tim heard his dad argue with his business partner. Tim's Dad accused Paul of doing something bad.” Aanders paused, looked at Sadie. “Then Paul threatened his dad."

"Lots of people argue. But that doesn't mean they commit murder,” Sadie said.

"I know that. He told Tim's Dad if he turned him in, it would be the biggest mistake of his life. He said he wouldn't live to see another day."

Theo leaned toward Aanders. “Son, you have to learn that people make threats they never act on. Threats are a way of scaring people. It lets them know they mean business."

Aanders looked at Tim for guidance. “When they were arguing, the man got so mad he pushed everything off the desk onto the floor."

Tim looked up at Sadie. “Mom cried when she helped Dad pick up the papers. She told Dad to call the police. She said things were getting out of control and she was afraid Paul would do something drastic."

"Paul's been dating my mom,” Aanders said. “I need to tell her about this, but I don't know how. I'd have to tell her I talk to dead people. That will freak her out.” He scowled at Sadie. “And you said I can't tell anyone."

With eyebrows raised in curiosity, Theo said, “Do you know what was on those papers that made Paul so angry?"

"Not really,” Tim said. “Dad is Mr. Brink's bookkeeper. He does the books on our computer and won't let me play games on it because it's strictly for business."

"Do you know if the papers are still there?” Sadie pulled her arm from behind Tim. “Or did Paul take them with him?"

"I think they're still there. I didn't see him take anything when he left.” Tim looked from Theo to Sadie. “After Mom helped him pick up the mess, Dad locked the papers in a drawer. But I know where he hides the key."

"That still isn't enough to prove he was murdered,” Theo said.

"But Tim saw Paul shoot at them.” Aanders shrunk back when all heads turned toward him. “He saw Paul with a rifle."

"What?” Sadie stared in disbelief. “You saw Paul with a gun?"

"A rifle,” Tim answered. “Mom saw him, too."

"You mean Paul brought a rifle to your house?” Stunned, Theo sat forward on his chair

"No. He was standing in the woods."

"Where?” Sadie said.

"Right near where we had the accident. After the movie we dropped Aanders off and headed home. I had my earphones in my ears. Mom told Dad I had my music on and couldn't hear them. They always tell secrets when they think I'm listening to my iTunes. She didn't know I hadn't turned it on yet."

Tim paused; Aanders took the lead. “She asked Tim's dad if he could prove Paul was stealing the old people's money. His dad said he had proof his partner bezzled."

"Embezzled?” Theo offered.

"That's the word,” Tim whispered.

"But where does the rifle fit into this?” Sadie said.

"When Mom and Dad were talking about him stealing the old people's money, I saw Mom point out the window. When I looked, I saw Mr. Brinks pointing a rifle at us. He was on the edge of the woods. I knew it was him because he had on the same camouflage he wears when he shoots with Dad."

The group drew a collective breath trying to absorb the information.

"Are you sure, Tim?” Sadie asked. “You're not making this up?"

"See?” Tim's voice caught in his throat. He looked at Aanders. “I told you she wouldn't believe me."

"I believe you,” Theo said, rising from his chair. He crouched near Tim. “What happened after you saw Mr. Brinks with his rifle?"

"I heard a pop and then Mom screamed. She must have seen the flash from the rifle, too. Right after that, the car skidded toward the ditch. I could see Dad fighting with the steering wheel, but the car shot across the highway and into the ditch on the other side. It seemed like grass was flying everywhere. Then all of a sudden Dad's door flew open and that's all I remember."

Sadie's hand covered her lips. “Oh my God. Paul shot at Richard. That's what caused the car to go off the road.” She looked at Theo. “Deputy Friborg was right. It wasn't an accident."

"Were autopsies done on the bodies?” Theo said.

"Just Richard's. But Nan didn't mention any bullet holes when she prepped their bodies. If they would have found bullet holes, it would have been considered murder. Everything I read in the newspaper indicated it was an accident. They think Richard swerved to miss a deer."

"That's what I heard them say,” Tim whispered. “I could hear people talking. I tried to talk to them, but they wouldn't listen. I tried to tell them about Mr. Brinks."

"Maybe you were already dead,” Aanders said.

Tim rolled his head to look at Aanders. “I wanted to tell them that after the car hit that tree, I heard a motor start up and drive away. Then I couldn't hear it anymore."

"You mean like another car's engine?” Theo asked.

"No. It was a four wheeler. It sounded just like the one Mr. Brinks has because it backfires a lot."

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"You can't be serious,” Jane said, as she listened to Sadie's plan. “What if someone catches you? Wouldn't it be safer if you called the sheriff and told them about the murder?"

Sadie stared at her sister while she let her impatience settle to a simmer. “That sounds like a good idea. I'll call Carl and tell him that Tim, who is deader than a doornail, told me all about a murder. Then I'll tell him the murderer, and his best friend, are one and the same."

"I don't get it,” Mr. Bakke said.

"What do you mean you don't get it?” Sadie said. “Carl already thinks I'm loony. Telling him I've been talking to a dead boy isn't going to make things better."

Mr. Bakke folded the newspaper. “I mean about the doornail. Who ever came up with the saying doornails are dead? Or better yet, who ever thought they were alive?"

"I'm talking about murder.” Sadie turned her disbelieving gaze from Mr. Bakke to her sister. “You two make a good pair."

Theo grabbed Sadie's arm as she dug for her keys in her purse. “I'm going with you.” He spun her around. “You might get into something you can't handle."

She batted at his hand. “Why don't you say what you really mean? You don't think I'm capable of doing it myself."

"Precisely.” Theo took her by the elbow.

Jane cocked her head. “It's not that I don't think you're capable. I think it's too risky. Do you really think you'll find some evidence?"

"Don't you think Paul would have gotten rid of it?” Mr. Bakke said.

"Nan said Richard's sister isn't coming back for a few more days. I'm hoping that means no one's been in Richard's office. If there were signs of a break in, it would give Lon even more ammunition to investigate. I'm betting Paul's waiting for Richard's sister to let him in. Tim told me where his dad hid his desk key. If we can find a way to get in the house, the rest should be easy."

Jane wiped her hands on her apron. “Do you think I should go with you?"

"Theo's going with me."

"What can he do that I can't?"

"Drive the getaway car? Stay out of sight?"

"That's not funny,” Jane said. “I can help you look for whatever it is you're looking for."

"Tell her there'll be less risk if one person is seen going into Richard's house,” Theo said. “You could say you were getting some of Aanders video games. People would believe that."

"Theo's right, Jane. He says it makes more sense that you stay here. If I'm not back in an hour, you can come looking for me."

"Where's Theo sitting?” Jane said.

"He's standing by the door."

Jane and Mr. Bakke looked at the door. Jane wagged her finger. “You keep an eye on her. Don't let her do anything stupid."

Mr. Bakke tipped his head back and puckered his lips. As Sadie glared at him, he turned an imaginary key to seal his lips. “I didn't say a word. Quit giving me the evil eye."

"I know exactly what you were thinking because death coaches can read minds."

"No they can't,” Mr. Bakke said. “If that were the case, you'd have kicked me out years ago."

Theo hung on to the back of the van seat with both hands when Sadie cut the corner too close. “Don't drive so fast. You're going to attract attention.” The rear tire hit the curb and bounced hard as the van bottomed out against the pavement.

Sadie adjusted the rear view mirror. “As long as Carl doesn't see me, we'll be okay. That fool pulls me over every time he sees me driving this van. If I fart, he makes a federal case out of it."

"Vulgarity.” Theo exhaled deeply. “Don't you remember we talked about purging those words from your vocabulary?"

"Are you saying judges don't fart?"

"When and if we do, we don't talk about it."

"Didn't you ever have a chuckle over a good healthy fart?"

"Certainly not,” Theo said.

Hearing scrambling in the back of the van, Sadie looked in the rearview mirror. “What are you doing here?"

Belly made his way to the front of the vehicle, trying to keep his balance although the ruts in the road made it difficult.

"You just went through a red light,” Theo shouted, looking back at a man who gestured with his middle finger.

"I know,” Sadie said.

"You could have killed somebody."

Belly rolled onto his side and stared at Theo.

"Your dog should be kept on a leash. Then he wouldn't pester your guests or go where he's not wanted.” Theo braced his body as Sadie turned sharply causing the van to veer to the left. “Please keep your eyes on the road. That's a perfect example of why your dog should stay at home. He's distracting you."

"He's not my dog."

Holding his hands up at the futility of the conversation, Theo said, “Have you ever met any other death coaches?"

"Not really,” Sadie said. “Just the one who trained me. Why?"

"I wonder if the experience of living with another death coach would have been as unorthodox."

"Probably,” Sadie said. “You might have gotten a death coach who didn't give a rat's ass about you. Or worse yet, you wouldn't have the pleasure of my company."

"I'm truly damned then, aren't I? It's like one of those dreaded court cases—the kind where you're damned if it's assigned to you or you're damned if it isn't. There's always that need to control the outcome versus curiosity. Be glad you're not a judge."

Sadie turned the van into a narrow tree-lined drive and edged into the woods until the van was hidden by the lush greenery. She eased the door open and climbed down.

"I'd make a good judge. I've always wanted to wear one of those long robes. Just think of the things I could wear under them. Or not."

"Spare me the lurid details.” Theo grabbed the back of her shirt to stop her progress before she walked toward a clearing adjacent to the Fossums’ yard. “How do you know nobody's in there?"

"You don't see any cars in the driveway, do you?” She pushed Theo's hand out of the way. “The Fossums have neighbors on the other side of the bushes, but they have a separate driveway.” She looked back over her shoulder. “A good judge would have known that."

"I don't know the first thing about the Fossum's property, but I do know breaking and entering is against the law.” Theo watched Sadie cup her hands over her eyes and peer through the front door.

"Nobody home,” Sadie said under her breath. “I don't see any movement.” She pressed the latch on the brass handle with her thumb, but the catch didn't release.

Theo followed her around the porch to the back door. The results were the same.

"Let's try a few windows,” she said.

Theo ran his fingers along the wooden frame, attempting to find an indentation where his fingers could leverage the panel upward. The first four windows refused to budge. On the fifth attempt, the panel gave way and he forced it open. “I don't think I can fit through there. Are you willing to give it a try?"

Sadie placed her foot into Theo's cupped hand and pulled herself up. She placed a leg through the opening. “There's a shelf or some kind of board under the window.” She wriggled in through the opening.