Full Bloom

  “Why is that?” Wes asked.

  “A woman finds a body in her backyard and claims it’s her missing husband, and all she can think of is having her floors sanded?” Lamar reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a small notebook. “I’d better write that down. Might prove helpful in the investigation.”

  Max and Wes exchanged looks. There was a hint of a smile on Max’s lips.

  “Actually, Annie is taking it pretty hard,” Danny said. “She’s lying down.”

  “I’ve known Annie since she was a bookkeeper at Bates’s Furniture,” Lamar said. “I bought several rooms of furniture there. Used to go in once a month to pay on my bill. You know Herman Bates sells good-quality furniture at reasonable prices, and he offers discounts if you buy multiple rooms.”

  “So what do you think?” Max asked, nodding toward the grave.

  “Well, I questioned Annie when Mr. Fortenberry first turned up missing and his mother started making all kinds of wild accusations. I’ll tell you, that Eve is a piece of work. But I saw no reason to suspect foul play. ’Course this changes everything. By the way, who found the body?”

  “Doc Holden’s gardener.” Wes pointed to the man, who was sitting on a tree stump, shaking his head and muttering to himself.

  “Who’s he talking to?” Lamar whispered.

  “He’s still pretty upset,” Max said.

  Lamar motioned for the officer who’d finished taking pictures. “I need for you to question that fellow over there,” he said, nodding toward the gardener. “And go easy on him; he looks just shy of a straitjacket.”

  A car pulled into the driveway. Editor Mike Henderson from the Gazette hurried toward them, accompanied by Vera Bankhead, Jamie’s secretary and assistant editor. She held a camera.

  “Oh, cripes,” Lamar said. “Just what I need. Let me do all the talking.”

  “We heard the news on the police scanner,” Mike said. “Somebody found a body in Annie Fortenberry’s backyard,” he added. “What can you tell us?”

  Despite the grave expression he wore, it was hard for most people to take Mike seriously, not only because he was young and still had that fresh-out-of-college look, but also because he was so noticeably unorganized. He seldom ironed his shirts, and scraps of paper fluttered from his pockets when he reached for his stash of pens, which often leaked and had stained most of his clothes. He was known to chase women, and he’d had his eye on Destiny Moultrie for months. Jamie often claimed she was trying to raise him to be a real editor.

  “No comment,” Lamar said.

  Mike just stared back as if unsure what to do.

  Sixty-year-old Vera Bankhead planted her hands on her hips. She looked younger than her age thanks to a complete makeover the year before, which included a Susan Sarandon hairstyle, and a new wardrobe that had put Vera on the top ten best-dressed list for the women at Mount Zion Baptist Church. The fact that Vera never missed a Sunday and could quote Scripture word-for-word did not deter her when it came to getting what she wanted. She could be quite formidable.

  “Cut the bull, Lamar,” she said. “It’s our job to report the news. You know how hard it is to come up with a decent headline in this town.”

  “Are you armed?” Lamar asked.

  “Not at the moment.”

  Lamar looked relieved. “All I can say right now is yes, we do have a body, but we don’t know anything yet.”

  “Do you suspect foul play?” Mike asked.

  Vera looked at him. “That has to be the dumbest question I’ve ever heard. Of course there was foul play. Dead people don’t bury themselves.”

  Mike’s face turned a bright red.

  Vera looked at Lamar. “Do you have a suspect?”

  “If I did I certainly wouldn’t spill my guts to the newspaper.”

  Vera gave a menacing frown. “Are you smart-mouthing me? Because if you are I’ll tell your mama and she’ll slap you from here to Texas. She didn’t raise you to talk back to your elders.”

  This time when Wes looked at Max he was having just as much difficulty keeping a straight face.

  Lamar glanced their way. As if sensing their amusement, he hitched his chin high and squared his shoulders. “This is police business, Vera,” he said, “and I’d appreciate it if you’d keep my mama out of it.” He gave them a stern look. “And I don’t want either of you going near the crime scene, you hear? The medical examiner will raise holy hell if he gets here and finds anything disturbed.”

  Vera tapped her foot impatiently. “How am I supposed to get a picture?”

  Lamar pondered it. “Tell you what. You can take a picture of me pointing to the crime scene.”

  Vera sighed and shook her head. “It’s shameful what you’ll do to get your picture in the paper, but I guess that’ll have to do for now.” She raised the camera to her eyes and focused.

  Lamar threw back his shoulders, sucked in his paunch, and gave a big smile, one arm outstretched, his index finger pointing to a small mound of dirt beside the open grave.

  Vera lowered her camera. “What do you think you’re doing? I’m not taking this picture for your high school yearbook. You need to look serious.”

  “Oh yeah.” Lamar frowned at the camera and waited for Vera to snap his picture. “Now, if you will excuse me,” he said, “I have work to do.” He glanced at one of his deputies. “Nobody goes near the scene,” Lamar said, cutting his eyes at Vera. The officer nodded and crossed his arms over his chest as Lamar headed toward the house.

  Vera pursed her lips and looked at Mike. “If I weren’t a good Southern Baptist I’d give Lamar Tevis the finger.”

  Annie blew her nose again and tossed the tissue into the wastebasket beside her bed. Jamie and Theenie sat on either side; Destiny and Lovelle stood at the foot. “I feel so guilty,” Annie said. “All this time I’ve been telling people Charles left me for another woman. I never once suspected he was dead.”

  “Don’t feel guilty, sweetie,” Theenie said. “Charles probably would have left you anyway had he lived.”

  There was a knock at the door. Lovelle opened it. Lamar walked into the room. His gaze immediately fell on Jamie. “Your, um, editors are outside looking at the crime scene. I’d appreciate it if you’d make sure they don’t mess with anything. You know how ornery Vera can be.”

  “Mike and Vera are professionals,” Jamie said, although she knew Vera would stop at nothing to get a story, even if it meant breaking the law. And since she intimidated Mike, he would pretty much follow along. Jamie looked at Annie. “I’d like to touch base with them before they head back to the office. Will you be okay?”

  Annie nodded.

  Lamar waited until Jamie was gone. “Mrs. Fortenberry, I was hoping I could ask you a few questions if you think you’re up to it.”

  “There’s no need to be formal, Lamar,” Annie said, offering him the closest thing she had to a smile. “Is it okay if my friends stay?”

  “Whatever makes you comfortable.”

  “Why don’t you grab that chair?” she said.

  “Thanks.” He picked up the ladder-back chair and placed it closer to the bed. “Okay then,” he said before pulling out his notepad once more. “I understand you have reason to believe the body out back is your husband’s.”

  “I’m positive.”

  Lamar looked regretful. “Well then, let me offer my sincere condolences. I know this can’t be easy for you.” He paused a moment. “I’m thinking maybe we could go over what happened the day Mr. Fortenberry disappeared if you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t know what more I can tell you,” she said. “We covered everything when my mother-in-law filed a missing person’s report on Charles three years ago.”

  “Sometimes people think of things later that might help,” Lamar said. “I haven’t had a chance to look at the file, and I want to make sure I have everything. Could you tell me again when you saw him last?”

  Annie gave Lamar the exact date. “It was around six AM,” she s
aid. “Our conversation was brief because I was getting ready to drive to my mother’s house in Atlanta. She’d been sick with the flu, and it turned into pneumonia. I was with her for a week.”

  “Did your husband appear to act differently in any way? Like maybe he was worried about something?”

  “Not that I remember, but then, I was really concerned about my mom at the time, so I wasn’t paying close attention.”

  Lamar nodded as he took notes. “Do you know of anyone who disliked your husband enough to kill him?”

  A tear slid down Annie’s cheek as she shook her head. “I don’t know anyone who would actually commit murder.”

  “In most cases, the killer knows the victim.” Lamar paused. “I think I need to be up-front with you, Annie. The spouse is usually the first person we look at.”

  Annie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Are you saying I’m a suspect?”

  “Hold it right there, Lamar!” Destiny said, stepping closer, her jeweled hand on one out-thrust hip. “I happen to know a little about the law, and if you’re charging Annie with murder . . .” She paused and looked at Annie. “You need to keep your mouth shut and call an attorney.”

  “I’m not charging Annie with anything,” Lamar said defensively, his eyes flitting to Destiny’s low-cut blouse, “but if it comes to that I’ll certainly notify her of her rights. I happen to know a little bit about the law myself.”

  “I’ll answer your questions,” Annie said. “Only I’d appreciate it if you’d take down that crime scene tape as soon as you possibly can. I’m having a big wedding here.”

  “Uh-oh.” Lamar arched one brow and started to make a notation in his book. “That’s going to look bad for you.”

  “It’s not my wedding!” Annie said, wondering how Lamar could be so dense at times. She saw Destiny shake her head.

  “Annie doesn’t even like men,” Theenie said. “She almost killed the last one who showed up at her door.”

  “Uh-oh,” Lamar said.

  “It was an accident,” Annie said, giving Theenie a would-you-kindly-shut-your-mouth? look. Theenie offered a sheepish smile. Annie explained what had happened the morning of Wes’s arrival. “Now the whole world knows,” she said.

  Lamar looked thoughtful. “I know about Erdle’s drinking,” he said. “Have you ever seen him get violent?”

  Annie shook her head. “Never. Besides, he wasn’t here at the time. An old army buddy from Mississippi rented a condo in Hilton Head that week and invited Erdle to join him. The guy even wrote out an affidavit on Erdle’s behalf.”

  “Was anyone else in the house? Any guests?” Lamar added.

  “All this happened before I turned the place into a bed-and-breakfast. Doc checked on Peaches several times while I was away, made sure she had plenty of food and water. I knew Charles wouldn’t bother; he hated that cat. But Doc said he didn’t bother stopping over until the day after I left because he knew I always put out extra.”

  “Yes, I questioned Doc at the time,” Lamar said. “He claimed he didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. He’s so senile; if he had seen anything, I don’t think he would remember.”

  Annie nodded. “His memory comes and goes, but he’s ninety years old, so I’m not surprised. Now, about that crime scene tape.”

  Lamar looked apologetic. “I can’t take it down till we’re done. My men will be going over the area during the next couple of days, sifting through dirt looking for evidence. I can’t have folks traipsing about, disturbing the crime scene.”

  “Come on, Lamar, cut me some slack here. It’s going to be bad for business.”

  “I’ll see what I can do,” he mumbled, although he seemed more concerned with finishing up. “I only have a couple more questions. I’ll probably find the answers in Mr. Fortenberry’s file, but I want to make sure I have the name of his dentist, and if he had any broken bones that would prove without a doubt that the, um, remains are his.”

  “He saw Dr. Hensley. As for broken bones, I know he fractured his left wrist in high school playing football.”

  “I assume we’ll find a wallet on him, unless he was robbed, of course. Did he carry a lot of cash on him?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Any jewelry? A watch or wedding ring?”

  “He claimed he couldn’t wear his wedding ring because it caused his finger to swell,” she said. Lamar didn’t see her roll her eyes at the others as he jotted the information on his notepad. “He wore a Seiko watch with a gold band that I bought for his birthday, but I don’t remember what kind of wallet he carried.”

  “Anything engraved on the watch?”

  “No.”

  “Anything else you can think of that might help?”

  “The yellow jacket with his initials, of course.”

  “This is a good start,” Lamar said, closing his notepad. “If you think of something else, give me a call.”

  “Do you know how long they’ll keep him?”

  “I can’t say for sure, since it’s a murder case.” Lamar stood and put the chair back in its place. He continued to stand there for a moment as though he had something on his mind. “Do you have plans to travel anytime soon?”

  “Are you telling her not to leave town?” Destiny asked. She didn’t wait for his reply. “See, Annie, I told you to hire a lawyer.”

  “I can’t afford a lawyer,” Annie said.

  Lamar tossed Destiny a dark look. “I never said she couldn’t leave town.” He looked at Annie. “You haven’t been charged with anything; I just wanted to know if you’d be around in case I need to ask you some more questions. And don’t worry about the cost of a lawyer. If it comes to that and you can’t afford representation, the court will appoint someone.”

  Annie felt a sense of dread wash over her. She tried to keep the sarcasm from her voice. “Well, that certainly eases my mind.”

  Wes knocked on Annie’s door an hour later. When he didn’t get an answer, he opened the door quietly and peeked in. She was alone, lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. “Is it okay if I come in?” he asked.

  “Sure.”

  He approached the bed. “I thought I should tell you, they’ve taken the body away.”

  “Thank God.”

  “I’m sorry, Annie. I know this can’t be easy.”

  She nodded. “Charles was only thirty years old at the time of his death. I may not have liked him very much, but I never wanted him dead.” She suddenly gasped. “Oh, I forgot. Somebody is going to have to break the news to his mother. I don’t want her to find out on the six o’clock news.”

  “I’ll make sure it’s taken care of,” Wes said. “You’ve got enough on your mind right now.”

  “Lamar said they always look at the spouse first, which means I’m the main suspect.”

  “Don’t take it personally; it’s normal procedure.”

  “How do you know that?”

  He shrugged. “That’s always been the case.”

  “Do you think I killed him?”

  “No.”

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “I can’t see you killing anyone, much less dragging a body across the backyard and burying it.” He smiled as if to ease the tension. “You’re a bit of a runt.”

  “I’m stronger than I look.”

  “Remind me not to arm wrestle you. I’d hate to lose to a girl, especially a half pint like you.”

  Annie knew he was teasing her in hopes of cheering her up. “My mother-in-law thinks I’m responsible for his disappearance. She’ll probably hound Lamar to arrest me.”

  “Did the two of you get along?”

  “Not because I didn’t try. But I think she was jealous. If Charles didn’t call her every day she’d pout. Later, she became as resentful as Charles when I refused to sell this place.”

  The door squeaked. Annie looked up and found Danny peeking in. He glanced at Wes, then back at Annie. “How’re you doing, sport?”

  She smiled. “I’m
hanging in there.”

  Wes seemed to take that as his cue to leave. “If there’s anything I can do, please let me know.”

  “Thank you.”

  Danny stepped aside so Wes could exit. Annie swung her legs over the side of the bed. “I need to get up and start dinner.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ve already placed an order for several large pizzas. They’ll arrive by suppertime.”

  Annie couldn’t hide her relief. “What would I do without you?”

  “That’s what I keep telling you. Now wash your face and come downstairs. Everybody is worried about you.”

  “What’s wrong with my face?”

  “Your eyes are swollen, and you’ve got black gunk under them. Matter of fact, you look like hell.”

  Annie winced. Lord, Wes Bridges had seen her looking that way and hadn’t mentioned it. “Gee, thanks,” she muttered.

  “At least I’m honest.”

  Annie nodded. That much was true. Danny had been the only friend to tell her the truth when she’d first suspected Charles of cheating. Most people didn’t want to become involved in a couple’s marital problems, but Danny felt as though she should know. “I’ll be down in a few minutes,” she said.

  He started to leave and then turned. “Annie, I don’t like to interfere in your business, but . . .” He paused. When she looked up in question, he went on. “It’s Wes. I don’t completely trust him. Be careful, okay?”

  The light was fading when Wes parked his motorcycle in front of Eve Fortenberry’s. She met him at the door wearing a frumpy dress, bedroom slippers, and holding a cigarette. She took one look at his face and stepped back as though she knew something terrible was coming. “What is it?”

  “We’ve found your son.”

  “And?” Her eyes were cold and hard, daring him to give her bad news.

  “Eve, I’m sorry.”

  Her face crumpled. “No,” she said, shaking her head. She covered her mouth. Wes stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

  Erdle arrived home the following morning. Annie stepped outside the minute his car pulled into the driveway. “I need to talk to you.”

  “You’re throwing me out.”