Bicycle Shop Murder 40

“This better be important. It’s two o’clock in the morning.”

“Ms. Hammerly, this is Greg Tenorly.”

The D.A. perked up. “Yes, Mr. Tenorly. Where are you? We’ve been trying to locate you.”

“We’re up on Lake Fork, at Johnson’s Cabins.”

“Did you say we?”

“Yes. Cynthia Blockerman is here with me.”

Angela Hammerly jumped out of bed. “What are you two doing up there?”

“It’s kind of a long story. But now we have a dead man in our cabin.”

“Who killed him?”

“I did. But it was self-defense. He shot me in the arm. I was lucky he didn’t kill me. Anyway, I already called 911, and reported the shooting to the local police. But I thought you might want to come up here too. I think this man might have killed Troy Blockerman, and maybe Dorothy Spokane.”

“Thanks. I’ll get there as soon as I can. You said Johnson’s Cabins?”

“That’s right. We’re in Cabin 17.”

“Okay. And please don’t go anywhere.”

“We won’t.”

**********

Marty Crumb prayed as he drove to Dallas.

“Lord, I really do want to keep my vow this time. Yes, I know—I tried to murder John X tonight. Thank you for saving me from that horrible mistake. I am very accurate with the rifle, as you well know. But you made me shoot a little high, so I would graze the top of his head, instead of killing him. Thank you for helping me keep my promise.

“But John X allowed Satan to control him. He tried to kill me. He would have murdered me in cold blood. But you are righteous and wonderful, Lord. You caused him to aim the gun at his genitals instead of at me.

“Through your power, you protected me, your servant, while causing him to shoot off his own sex organs. And I know at this very moment that he is surely dead. Your will was done tonight.

“I confess that I used to be no better than John X. I have murdered many innocent people in my lifetime. But in prison, I prayed for forgiveness. And you granted it to me. I thank you again for providing Chaplain Cross, who helped me to see things your way.

“So, I made a vow to you. I promised that I would never again commit murder. But then I did. Several times, in Corey­ville. I don’t count the pimp I killed a couple of weeks ago in Dallas.

“No, that was not murder. It was you, using me to bring righteous judgment upon the head of a rapist. The 16-year-old girl that he had raped, and tried to force into prostitution has been rescued by your hand, through me. But that was not mur­der.

“I may have been a little out of line when I tortured him by shooting him in the legs, arms, and stomach. Instead, I could have put him out of his misery quickly. But I believe that you looked upon the tortured with favor. Let’s face it, Lord—he deserved it.

“And now there’s the question of what to do with Buford. Clearly, he deserves to die. Yet, I have vowed to you that I will not commit murder. So, what can I do? Because of him, many innocent people have died.

“I will confront Buford Bellowin. And I will depend on you for direction. I know that you can provide a way to bring jus­tice to him, without causing me to break my vow. And I am trusting you to do so. Amen.”

**********

“I don’t think we should give the police a description of the man with the rifle,” said Cynthia.

“Why?”

“For one thing, he kept the hit man from killing us when he shot him through the window. So, we owe him.”

“Yeah…”

“And if we give the police a description, and they go after him, he might come after us.”

“But we can’t lie to the police.”

“Maybe just a little white lie.”

**********

They had already given the local police a full account of what had happened. Then Angela Hammerly and Andrea Newly showed up, along with the sheriff and two deputies. So, Greg and Cynthia went through the entire story all over again.

“So, the man with the rifle—what did he look like?”

“I couldn’t see his face very well. He was wearing a stock­ing over his head—pantyhose,” said Cynthia.

Greg was not comfortable with lying to the D.A., and he hoped they wouldn’t regret it later.

“Okay. We’re going to have a lot more questions for you. A deputy will drive your car back to Coreyville,” said Angela. “She­riff, please cuff them, and take them to jail.”

“What? We called you,” Greg said. “We’ve been running from that man all day. We were nearly killed twice. And now you’re putting us in jail?”

“I told her not to leave town. But she did. And you helped her. So, this is what you get,” the D.A. said.

“Buford Bellowin is the one you need to be questioning,” said Cynthia. “Ask him why he sent this killer after us.”

“Yeah. And ask him why Dorothy Spokane blamed him for all of the murders in Coreyville,” said Greg.

“When did you talk to Dorothy Spokane?”

“Right before she was murdered. I was talking to her when she got shot.”

Angela Hammerly looked at Andrea Newly. Things were getting a lot more interesting. What would it do for Angela Hammerly’s career if she could bring down the mighty Buford Bellowin? Prosecutors hated him. He had made them look like fools too many times. She would be their hero if she could slay that dragon.

**********

Kantrell Jamison’s mother, Ella, sat in the ICU waiting room, talking to her daughter, Jolee.

“Mama, what if Kantrell doesn’t make it?”

“Then we can kiss that money goodbye.”

“But maybe we could still find it.”

“Where, Jolee? We’ve already looked everywhere. Come on—it’s time. We can go in again now.”

“This time, I’m gonna make sure he wakes up, and tells us.”

Kantrell’s eyes were closed. And they would have thought he was already dead, had it not been for the monitor displaying his heartbeat.

“Kantrell, this is your sister, Jolee. Can you hear me? Come on—wake up, Kantrell. Remember all those times I called you a ‘stupid ugly?’ Well, I didn’t really mean it, Kantrell.

“You’re my brother, and I love you very much. You mean so much to me. And to Mama. We’ve had so many great times together as a family. And we’re so sorry you busted your head open tonight.”

“Jolee.” Ella whispered in Jolee’s ear. “Don’t remind him about his head. Just ask about the money.”

Jolee went on. “But you need to let us take care of the money for you. We know it’s your money. We’re not trying to take it from you. But what if somebody else finds it? Then none of us would get anything. Kantrell?”

Her brother did not move.

“Kantrell?” Jolee was losing her patience. She wanted the money now. She deserved a new car. Not anything big or fancy. Just a cute little new car. Sometimes he was such a pain in the butt! “Kantrell?”

Still nothing.

“Okay. So, that’s how it’s gonna be? Then, you know what? I did mean it when I called you a ‘stupid ugly.’”

“Jolee, hold your voice down,” Ella said.

“Yeah, and not only are you a ‘stupid ugly, Kantrell—you’re an ‘ugly stupid’ too!”

Kantrell began to stir.

“You better wake up, Boy.”

Kantrell jerked violently, and then lay perfectly still. His heartbeat flatlined, and an alarm started beeping.

“No! My baby!” Ella cried.

No! My money! thought Jolee.