The Crossing (14 page)

“Mrs. Whitmore, please don’t blame yourself.
 
I’m sure you and Thomas did all the right things, and please remember, Tammy was an adult; she had the right to do with her life as she wanted.
 
She didn’t deserve to die, but certainly had the right to make her own choices.
 
What can you tell me about her husband, Sonny?”

“He was the love of her life in high school.
 
I never really liked him, but she was happy and that is all that counted.” Nora reached into her handbag and retrieved a small handkerchief.

“What about now?” I asked.

“He’s a hothead and a drunk.
 
I was amazed that they still lived under the same roof.
 
I’m pretty sure he didn’t care for Tammy anymore.”

“Could he have killed her?” I had to ask.

“Could he – yes.
 
Would he – I doubt it.
 
I don’t think he really cared anymore, but I’m sure you will be talking to him and can decide for yourself,” she said while wiping her tears.

“What about your son, her brother, Richie?
 
Did he know about her seeing a colored man?”

Mrs. Whitmore gave me a hard look. “Mr. Reno, you may talk with Richie, but leave him out of this.
 
He and his sister were very close, and I don’t know whether he knew or not, but he does know that their father would not approve, so he would never have said anything.”

“Thank you for your honesty,” I said sincerely. “May I stop by your house during the next couple of days to talk with you and Thomas?”

“Yes, certainly.
 
But he is not to know about this conversation, ever!
 
Now, I must go before he starts to wonder where I am.
 
Thanks for your time, and please remember this is about the death of my little girl – my daughter.”

Nora had continued to clutch the purse to her chest during the entire conversation.
 
As she stood up, she opened the purse and handed me a 5” x 7” black and white high school graduation photo of Tammy Whitmore Blurton.

“I want you to have this, Mr. Reno.
 
Please remember her.”
 
Nora was crying as she walked out the door and crawled back behind the steering wheel of her truck.

I sat for another 10 minutes collection my thoughts then headed the Ford back toward Chiefs.
 
It had been a long day.

Tensions

J
oe’s car was parked in front of his cabin and I found a spot for the Ford in front of mine.
 
The crowd had grown significantly since my visit there earlier, and I was wondering if any seats would be available in the restaurant or bar.
 
Circling cars were two wide and stretched from the highway and side street in a seemingly never- ending parade.
 
The carhops were extremely busy and Chiefs was having a very good night – as usual.

Nickie and Joe were sitting at my favorite end of the bar and both waved when they saw me enter. The noise level was already exceeding safe limits, and I swear somebody had turned the volume up on that damn jukebox!

“Where you been, handsome?” I heard Nickie ask, when I finally made my way through the crowd.

“Checking out your competition,” I yelled over the crowd noise. “And it seems they need help!
 
Is this normal for a Thursday night?”

“Not really,” Nickie answered as she got up and gave me her barstool. “I see some locals and regulars, but I also see many faces that I just don’t remember.
 
Tommy says the back parking area is full of dirty pick-up trucks with rebel flags draped in the back windows!
 
Everyone seems to be having a good time, but I suspect they’re not in town just to party at Chiefs.”

“Unfortunately, I’m afraid you’re right,” I commented shaking my head.

“Boss, sit down and let Nickie get you a drink,” Joe said nervously. “You’re going to need it.
 
I’ve got some bad news.”

Nickie scooted off to get me that drink and I settled on the barstool next to Joe.

“Okay, Detective Richardson,” I laughed. “But before you tell me, let me see if I can’t guess what that bad news might be.”

“What?” Joe said frowning.

“You’ve been in Jackson this afternoon talking with Tammy’s co-workers, and they told you that Tammy had several boyfriends who frequently visited her at ‘
Skeeters
’, right?” I asked.

“Right, but that’s not it boss,” Joe interrupted.

“And these co-workers told you that one of her boyfriends was a colored man, right?” I said.

“How did you know that?” Joe shouted.

“Because I just came from a meeting with Tammy’s mother and she told me the same thing.”

“No shit?” Joe exclaimed.

“Yes, shit.
 
And you were right, that’s not good news.
 
She didn’t know who he was, so I didn’t ask her about Henry.
 
And if Henry was ever going to tell us he was seeing Tammy, that time is long past.
 
So, on the surface that’s not good news for Henry Walker, and I suggest we keep it between ourselves.
 
It will come out soon enough anyway, and I see no reason to pour gasoline on the fire that’s already burning here.
 
Does that make sense?” I asked.

Before Joe could respond, Nickie appeared with my drink and pushed her order pad in front of me on the bar.
 
“If you can’t hear, can you read?” she yelled over the noise.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Glancing at her order pad, I saw my messages.
 
Jack was in town and would see me tomorrow.
 
Leroy was busy tonight and would see me tomorrow.
 
Elizabeth Teague had called with instructions for me to return her call, regardless of the time.
 
I gave Nickie thumbs up, and then pushed my way through the crowd to the front door and the outside payphone.

I called Liz at her Memphis apartment and she answered on the first ring.

“Carson,” she said anxiously. “Where are you?”

“I’m in Humboldt.
 
Isn’t that where you called me?” I asked with a laugh.

“What?
 
Oh, yeah.
 
Well, stay there.
 
I’ll be in Humboldt on Saturday and we’re going to a party.”

“A party?”
 
I sighed.

“Yes, a party.
 
Mary Ellen is having a fundraiser Saturday night and we’re going.
 
I talked with Judy, and she said Jack would also be in town, and they are going too.” As usual, Liz was excited – a party did that for her!

“Another fundraiser?
 
Mary Ellen is always having one of those, and they are always the same – boring!” I was walking on thin ice, and knew it.

“No!” Liz exclaimed. “This one is different, and even if it isn’t different, we are going anyway!
 
I’ll see you Saturday, no argument.”

“But Liz,” I protested. “Jack and I are here working on a murder case, we may be busy.”

“You won’t be,” Liz demanded. “I’ll see you Saturday; the party is at the Country Club and starts at 5 PM.
 
I should be in town by 4 PM or earlier, see you then.”

And with that, the conversation was over!
 
At least I was relieved to know that I wouldn’t be busy on Saturday, which was good information!

~

B
ack inside, Joe and I discussed tomorrow’s activities.
 
He was going to visit the sheriff’s office early and get some information on the fight that had, evidently, happened earlier today.
 
Then we were going to find Sonny Blurton and see what he could tell us.
 
I told Joe I would meet him for breakfast at 10:30, and then I headed toward my cottage.
 
Joe headed toward the dance floor!

~

I
awoke to cloudy skies and was thinking while working on my order of Ronnie’s ham and eggs, ‘maybe it will rain and put a damper on those demonstrators – I hope’.
 
I was almost finished when Joe returned from his visit to the sheriff’s office.

“Carson,” he said sliding into my booth. “It’s a powder keg down there.
 
That group we saw yesterday at Colleen’s house is playing and marching at the sheriff’s office, while a large group of young white men has set up camp across the street.
 
The colored folks are singing and the white folks are jeering; it’s got to boil over at some point!”

“Did you also drive by the City Hall?” I asked.

“Yep, sure did.
 
Same situation, just smaller groups and not a police uniform in sight at either location!” Joe answered shaking his head.

“What happened yesterday, did you ask Leroy about the fight?” I asked.

“Yes, and Leroy said the fight yesterday was between two of the rednecks – the white guys.
 
Jeff broke it up and, that was the end of that.
 
However, he told me this morning that he has a writ from the DA to produce Henry on Monday at the local court for arraignment at 9:00 AM.
 
Jack was there this morning and he is aware of the DA order.
 
I guess you’ll need to talk with him.”

“I’ll catch up with Jack later.
 
Have you had breakfast?” I asked.

“It’ll have to wait, let’s go see if we can’t find Sonny Blurton,” I said, as I grabbed a coffee to go and we headed toward the Ford.

It only took a few minutes for our drive to H & R Plumbing and Electric.
 
I actually didn’t figure Sonny would be working today, but this was a good place to start.

Chester Hagler was standing behind the counter when we walked in and he yelled across the store. “Carson Reno, I knew you were coming to see me,” he laughed. “How are your parents?”

“Good, I think,” I responded, as Joe and I walked up and stood at the counter.
 
“I’ve been here three days and haven’t found time to go see them yet, maybe I’ll make it tomorrow.
 
How have you been, and by the way, how’s business?”

“More than we can handle,” Chester offered, “but, that’s nothing new.
 
I guess you’re here to talk with Sonny Blurton, right?”

“Well, yes that is why I stopped by, but I figured he might not be working and thought that perhaps I could talk with you for a minute.
 
Did I get it right?”

“Carson, now you know I would not let that boy work with his wife lying on a slab at the morgue; he’s on leave, and I told him to not come back until he was ready.
 
Why do you want to talk with me?” Chester frowned.

“Chester, I’ve known you for a long time and we can talk honestly with each other.
 
As his employer, what kind of guy is Sonny Blurton?” I asked seriously.

Chester thought for a minute, removed his cap and then scratched his head. “Well, he’s a good worker, but somehow I don’t think that’s what you really want to know.
 
Is it?”

“Chester, his wife has been murdered and Henry Walker has been arrested for that murder.
 
But, I don’t think Henry did it, so that means I need to look at other possibilities, and the husband is always somewhere close to the top of a suspect list!”

“I hear you,” Chester said still scratching his gray-haired head. “Look, I know he and Tammy were having trouble, that’s not really a secret.
 
And I know Sonny is a…well, let’s just say he’s got a quick temper.
 
I know his wife has been running around with some other men, Sonny knew that and told me.
 
However, I don’t think he cared anymore; I mean I think he knew it was over between them and wouldn’t have acted in jealousy.
 
Does that make sense?”

“Yes, it does,” I said nodding. “Did he ever mention who these other men were?”