Bring Your Own Poison (24 page)

“It looks pretty bad,” Elmer Lee said when Tuck finished. “But I just don't know.”

“Can you think of any other explanation?” Tuck asked.

Elmer Lee shifted in his chair. “No, I can't. I'm not saying you're not right. I guess I'm saying it's going to be harder than hell to prove.”

“But you're going to try, aren't you?” Wanda Nell asked.

“Yeah, I am,” Elmer Lee said. “But I'm going to have to be mighty careful about it, because I don't want Warren getting wind of what I'm up to.”

“Maybe there's some way to force his hand,” Wanda Nell said. “Bill's, I mean.”

“Now look here,” Elmer Lee said, “you just mind your own business. I don't want you getting tangled up in the middle of this. Something bad could happen to you if you do. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, I do,” Wanda Nell said, frost in her voice. “And for your information, I wasn't talking about me doing something. I was thinking maybe you, Mr. Sheriff, could do it.”

“Like what?” Elmer Lee's eyes narrowed in suspicion as he looked at her.

Wanda Nell shrugged. “I don't know. Something.” She thought for a moment. “Maybe you could set some kind of trap. Leak something so that whoever's in your office will make sure Bill hears it.”

“You been reading too many mystery books,” Elmer Lee said, shaking his head.

“You don't know,” Wanda Nell said. “It might work.”

Elmer Lee just gave her a disgusted look.

“You do like I said, and stay out of this,” Elmer Lee said. “I've got somebody watching Warren at all times, and I've talked to the right people at the MBI—Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. Turns out they were already interested in him.”

“Good,” Wanda Nell said. “The sooner something's done about him, the better.” She stood up. “Now, if you'll excuse me, gentlemen, I'm going home.”

All three men stood. T.J. went to open the door for her. “Bye, Mama. Take it easy.”

“I will. I'm going home and do some housework and maybe have a nap until it's time to pick up Miranda and Lavon,” she said. “Don't you worry about me.”

A couple of minutes later, as she was getting into her car, she realized she hadn't had a chance to tell Tuck and T.J. about Lisa. That could wait till later, she decided. Right now, she just wanted to go home and have some time by herself. Before she drove away, she tried reaching Jack on his cell phone to find out how Lisa was doing, but it went right to his voice mail. She left him a message, asking him to call her when he had time.

Ten minutes or so later, as she was pulling her car into its spot, she was surprised to see that Mayrene was still home. She thought about knocking on her door, but she figured if Mayrene hadn't gone to work today, it was probably because she wasn't feeling too good. Guiltily aware that she was probably responsible for that, Wanda Nell decided she would talk to Mayrene later.

She put her purse down on the kitchen table, where she found a note from Mayrene. “Call me later,” it read. “I stayed home today to get some sleep, but I'll be up by noon.” Wanda Nell dropped the note back on the table. She owed Mayrene a big apology for making her miss work like this.

She was heading for the refrigerator for something to drink when the phone rang. She turned and went to the phone.

“Hello.”

“Howdy, Wanda Nell.”

Wanda Nell went cold. She recognized Bill Warren's voice.

“What do you want, Bill?” She was surprised her voice came out clear and strong.

“I want to talk to you,” Bill said. “We've got some unfinished business, and I think we need to get it settled right away.” There was an undertone of urgency in his voice, and that seemed strange to Wanda Nell.

“I don't have anything to say to you,” Wanda Nell said as firmly as she could. “You just leave me alone.”

“Too late, I'm already on my way,” Bill said. “You just sit tight, and I'll be there in a few minutes.” The phone clicked in her ear.

Wanda Nell stood staring at the receiver, her mind racing. What was he up to?

She couldn't afford to panic. What should she do first?

Without really thinking about it, she punched in Mayrene's number. “Answer, answer,” she said.

Mayrene picked after two rings. “Hello.” She sounded a little sleepy.

“Bill Warren just called. He's on his way here.”

“I'll be right there,” Mayrene said, instantly alert. “Call Elmer Lee. Now!” Her phone clicked off.

Wanda Nell pressed down on the button to disconnect. She took a deep breath. What was the number for the sheriff's department? She had it memorized. Why couldn't she remember it now?

As she was taking deep breaths, trying to calm herself, the phone rang. She was so startled she almost dropped it.

“Hello.”

“Bill Warren is coming your way,” Elmer Lee said. “I don't know what he's up to, but I don't think you ought to be there if he's coming to your place. You understand?” His voice practically throbbed with tension.

“He is coming here,” Wanda Nell said, her heart beginning to race faster. “He just called me, and he sounded kinda desperate.”

“Get out of there,” Elmer Lee said.

Wanda Nell's front door burst open, and Mayrene came through it carrying her shotgun. She shut the door behind her and locked it. Seconds later she was in the kitchen with Wanda Nell.

“It's too late,” Wanda Nell said. “And Mayrene's here with me.”

Elmer Lee swore. “I'm on my way, but I'm going to come as quiet as I can. Be careful, and don't do anything to set him off.”

“Okay,” Wanda Nell said. She hung up the phone, her hand trembling.

“Elmer Lee?” Mayrene asked.

Wanda Nell nodded. “He's on the way.”

“Good,” Mayrene said. “Okay, here's what we'll do.” She caught hold of Wanda Nell's hand and drew her from the kitchen into the living room.

“I locked the door, but it ain't going to keep him out if he's determined to get in here,” she said. “So you try to keep him here in the living room. Try not to let him get close to you, and try to keep him so his back is to the kitchen.”

Wanda Nell nodded.

“I'm gonna be in the utility room,” Mayrene said. It was the first room down the hall toward Miranda's bedroom. “I should be able to hear him from there, and if he tries anything, I'll come after him. If you hear me or see me coming, you hit the floor. Okay?”

Again, Wanda Nell nodded. All of a sudden, she felt calm. Mayrene never panicked, and Wanda Nell knew she could count on her friend. Bill might not mean her any harm, but the fact that he insisted on coming to her house worried her. Was he really feeling desperate, or had she only imagined she heard that in his voice?

Mayrene disappeared down the hall just as Wanda Nell heard a car pull up outside. She concentrated on breathing steadily and deeply in order to maintain her calm. She wouldn't show any fear in front of Bill. She was determined about that.

Moments later there came a knock at the door. “Wanda Nell. Let me in.”

“I don't want to talk to you, Bill,” she called out. “Leave. You're just wasting your time.”

“Open the door. I'm warning you,” Bill said. He thumped the door hard, and Wanda Nell watched it bulge inward.

“Okay, okay,” she said, moving forward. “Don't break down the damn door, you fool.”

She unlocked the door and stepped back several feet. “Come in.”

Bill Warren pushed the door open hard enough that it rocked back on its hinges. He caught it on the rebound and slammed it shut.

“If you damaged it, you're gonna be paying me for a new door,” Wanda Nell said. “What the hell do you want, Bill?”

Wanda Nell had taken up a spot near the couch, and as Bill advanced into the room, she turned slowly so that Bill kept moving in front of her. When he stood with his back toward where Mayrene was hiding, Wanda Nell stopped turning. Thank the Lord he didn't seem to notice what she was doing.

“This is what I want,” Bill said. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out some folded papers. He held them toward Wanda Nell.

She kept her hands crossed over her chest, refusing to take them. “And what is that, pray tell?”

“It's your statement,” he said. “The one in which you say you saw Gerald Blakeley put something into his brother's drink.”

Wanda Nell laughed. “I told you I wasn't going to sign any such thing. I didn't see that, and I'm not gonna say I did.”

“You're going to,” Bill said, staring hard at her. “Just tell me, Wanda Nell. How much do you love your son?”

Her body went ice cold. She struggled to appear nonchalant. “What does that mean?”

“Just what I said,” he replied. “You're a good mother, aren't you? You wouldn't want to see your only son, mangled and dead in a car wreck, would you? Just think about that for a minute, and maybe then you'll want to sign this statement.”

If she had had a gun in her hand, Wanda Nell would have shot him through the heart right then and there. She was not going to let this cold-blooded bastard do anything to hurt her son or anyone else in her family.

“Why do you hate T.J. and Tuck so much, Bill?” She spoke in a quiet, conversational tone. “Is it because you hate yourself for being like them?”

“That's a damn lie,” Bill said. His eyes narrowed in anger, but as she stared into them, Wanda Nell could also see the fear.

“Did you think you could go to gay bars in Memphis and nobody would notice you?” Wanda Nell said. “You're a very attractive man, at least physically, that is. You probably have guys hanging all over you.”

Bill's body tensed, and for a moment Wanda Nell was afraid she'd gone too far. He looked like he wanted to hit her.

Then Bill relaxed. He smiled. “You ought to be writing books, you know that? You've sure got an imagination.” He stopped smiling. “Now sign this damn statement.”

“It's not my imagination,” she said, ignoring the hand he had thrust out again. “Somebody saw you, and more than once.” She paused, smiling. “And I believe I heard about some pictures, too.”

As she watched, he tensed again, and she could see his nostrils flaring. His breathing accelerated. To her surprise, however, he quickly regained control and calmed himself.

“I don't believe you,” Bill said, contempt in his voice. “Since I've never been in a gay bar, how could there be any pictures? Somebody may have made some up to make it look like I was there, but it's a damn lie.”

For a moment Wanda Nell almost began to believe him. He seemed so sincere and self-righteous, but there was still that little flicker of fear in his eyes.

“Why is it so important to you that I sign this statement?”

“Because Gerald Blakeley killed his brother, and he needs to be put away for it,” Bill said. “Don't be stupid, Wanda Nell. I know you're not that dumb. You can make this easier for everybody if you just cooperate.”

“Well, I guess you think I am stupid,” she said. “But I'm not. And I reckon I know why you're so desperate to get this statement signed.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

Wanda Nell regarded him coolly for a moment. “Now, I don't know for sure how much money you lost gambling, but I figure it has to be a hell of lot. So you're desperate for money.” She nodded. “And the man who promised to pay you a lot of money if you got somebody else convicted for the murder isn't gonna pay off until he knows you can get it done.” She smiled sweetly.

While she was talking, she watched Bill carefully, alert for any sign of movement on his part. To her satisfaction, however, he appeared too stunned to do anything except stare at her.

“Cat got your tongue, Bill?” She smiled sweetly. “And just in case you're wondering, I'm not the only one who knows about all this. We even know who's got the money you want so bad, and who really killed Travis Blakeley.”

From the corner of her eye, Wanda Nell caught a glimpse of Mayrene. She had been so focused on Bill that she hadn't heard a sound as Mayrene left the utility room. She had to hope Bill hadn't either.

A phone started ringing, startling both her and Bill. Wanda Nell went cold again when she realized it was Bill's cell phone. His hand shook a bit as he pulled it from the holster on his belt. He flipped it open. “Warren.”

He listened for a moment, and his eyes narrowed as he stared at Wanda Nell.

She had a bad feeling about this. He was looking like he was ready to kill her. He dropped the papers on the floor and started reaching under his jacket. At the same time he flipped his cell phone shut and popped it back into the holster.

Wanda Nell stared at the gun he was now holding.

“What's that for?” she said.

“You bitch,” Bill said. “So you think the sheriff's going to come riding in here to save the day? Well, I got another idea, and I think you're going to help me out with it.”

He took a step forward, and Wanda Nell got ready to hit the floor.

“Hold it, buddy,” Mayrene said. She cocked her gun.

Bill froze in place.

“Now you just put your hands up in the air, real nice and slow like,” Mayrene said. She might have been discussing the weather or what she was going to have for dinner, her voice was so casual.

Bill didn't move for a moment.

“You know, it's been a while since I've had a chance to shoot a jackass, and I reckon that head of yours would look pretty damn good mounted on the wall.” Mayrene laughed. “What do you think?”

Bill started moving, and Wanda Nell dove for the floor between the coffee table and the couch. As she went down, she caught a glimpse of Bill spinning around toward Mayrene. Wanda Nell put her head down and waited for the explosion.

The only thing she heard was something hit the floor. Mayrene laughed, and Wanda Nell cautiously peered between the legs of the coffee table.

She saw Bill's gun on the floor.

“Now why don't you just back up against the wall over there,” Mayrene said. “Yeah, just like that. Believe me, you give me any excuse to pull the trigger, you sonofabitch, and I'll do it. It'll be worth it.”

Wanda Nell heard footsteps, and when they stopped, she slowly got up from the floor. She turned to see Bill, his back against the wall opposite the front door. His hands were up, and Mayrene stood a few feet in front of him, her shotgun aimed right at his gut.

“Kick that gun out of the way, honey,” Mayrene said. “And then stick your head out the door and see if Elmer Lee's managed to get his scrawny butt here.”

Wanda Nell followed orders. With her foot she nudged the gun well out of the way before going to the door. She opened it, praying that Elmer Lee really was there. She stepped outside onto the small landing.

Elmer Lee was there, just a few feet away near the corner of the trailer, and he had never looked better to her in his life. When he saw Wanda Nell step outside, he motioned with his hands as he moved slowly forward. There were several men in uniform with him, and one man in a suit and tie. He looked to be in his fifties, and Wanda Nell wondered who he was and why he was there.

“It's okay,” Wanda Nell said. She realized, with some surprise, that she was cold and trembling. She crossed her arms and rubbed them, trying to warm herself. She walked down the few steps into the yard. She jerked her head toward her door. “Mayrene's got him cornered.”

Elmer Lee frowned as he walked past her, followed by his men and the stranger in the suit.

Wanda Nell walked farther out into the yard, letting the heat of the midday sun warm her. She made herself breathe deeply and slowly. She could hear talking going on inside her trailer, but she couldn't make out what they were saying.

She turned around to face her door. Two of Elmer Lee's men came out, Bill Warren in handcuffs between them. Next came the man in the suit, and finally Elmer Lee, a couple more of his men, with Mayrene and Old Reliable bringing up the rear.

Bill Warren shot her a baleful glance as he was escorted past her, but Wanda Nell could only look at him with pity. She could easily hate him for what he had done and what he could have done, but she felt sorry for him.

Elmer Lee stopped in front of her. He reached out and grasped her shoulder. “Are you okay?”

The concern in his face touched her. “I'm fine,” she said. “Really.”

“I'd like to read you the riot act,” Elmer Lee said, “but I don't think it would do me a damn bit of good.”

Wanda Nell grinned. “You oughta know that by now. Besides, I didn't have much choice, did I? He came looking for me.”

“Yeah, I guess so,” Elmer Lee said. “But you better get down on your knees and thank the Lord that Annie Oakley was home today.”

Wanda Nell cast an affectionate glance at Mayrene, still cradling her shotgun in her arms. “Believe me, I will. I don't know what I would've done without her.”