Who'll Kill Agnes? (30 page)

“You’re not gonna believe what came over on the fax.”

“What?”

“Ole Man Tucker escaped from prison.”

“The hell you say! When? Right now? This morning?”

“Probably last night. They discovered him missing for roll call or whatever. He rolled up his bed covers to make it look like he was sleeping.”

“How’d he get out?”

“The fax didn’t say. They probably don’t know. He’s a sneaky old bugger, I’ll give him that.”

“Think he’ll come back to Magnolia Creek?”

“Not if he’s got any brains at all in that peanut head of his.”

“Yeah, everybody’ll be looking for him here. But where else would he go?”

“Don’t matter none. That smarmy little varmint can’t stay out of trouble no matter where he is. He’ll pick a fight with someone, get caught and sent back.”

“Of course he can’t go back to the trailer park. His family ain’t there anymore.”

Donovan laughed, “Oh lordy, and he sure wouldn’t be welcome at, pardon the expression, Robeson House.”

Metson walked over to the window and looked out at Magnolia Creek and the reflections dancing in the early morning light.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” he said quietly.

“What?”

“You know them rocks that look like bodies?”

“Yeah? So?”

“Some damn kids must’ve been playing pranks last night, because those rocks got clothes on them.”

“Let me see.” Donovan got up ponderously from his new chair and strolled over to the window. “Metson, you jackass! Get the hell down there. Those aren’t the rocks. Those are real bodies floating in the creek!”

Donovan walked down the creek bank where Rupert Norrison, the medical examiner, was already there bending over the bodies.

“How did you get here so fast, doc?” And not giving him time to reply, asked, “Who are they? Can you tell?”

“Yeah, Chief, despite the fact that their heads have been bashed in with a crowbar or something and dragged down here, I’d say I know who they are. I’m surprised you can’t guess especially after hearing about Ole Man Tucker getting out.”

“What do you mean?” he asked, exasperated, the hairs on his neck were bristling.

“Them bodies are what’s left of Ole Man Robeson and his son Mark.”