tell him she's not here Read online

  “It just came in, Andrew. Hang on.”

  He heard the rustling of papers and yawned. He was getting too old to go so long without sleep.

  “Yes, here it is,” she said. “I don’t know what you’re looking for but it doesn’t look like they found a body.”

  “Damn.”

  “I take it you wanted them to find a body.”

  “It would have made things a lot simpler. Anything else?”

  “No, not really, they found a lot of blood in the yard. The report said it looks like he managed to drag himself out of the trailer before the fire got going good. They looked around the area but couldn’t find anything else. Sorry.”

  “That’s okay, Marie. Thanks for your time.”

  “Anytime you know that, Andrew. Do you want me to fax the report over or just send it in the mail?”

  “Fax it over love, thanks.” Andrew hung up and was about to call Casey. No Casey could wait. Hopefully he was sleeping.

  Andrew would have to go see the Stewarts. This news was not the kind anyone would want to hear over the phone. Grabbing his hat, he forced himself up, better get it over with. He’d need to place a guard at the hospital door. He made it a practice never to underestimate a suspect. Especially one like Jimmy Joe. Someone who would do something like that to an innocent girl would be capable of anything. Giving Carol a tired salute, he walked out.

  ***

  Emma sat at the end of the hospital bed and stared at her sister. Kerry did not look like the sister she knew. Gone was the vibrant happy girl. The one who pouted when she didn’t get what she wanted.

  The girl on the bed looked skeletal. Her hair was dull and her eyes had dark circles under them that were so prominent it was the first thing you noticed. Her arms above the blankets were covered in bruises and what looked like cigarette burns.

  What kind of animal would do something so wicked to another human being?

  She swallowed a lump in her throat and glanced at her parents who had finally dozed off. They were sitting in chairs flanking the bed, their heads resting beside Kerry’s legs.

  She wondered how her father managed to keep from blowing. She had never seen that look of total rage in his eyes before. When he first saw Kerry, her mild mannered father had looked murderous.

  And, if she ever met Jimmy Joe, she hoped she had a weapon in her hands. She wouldn’t mind doing something equally horrible to him.

  ***

  Andrew tapped his hat against his leg and hesitated outside Kerry’s hospital room. He wondered what the best way to tell them would be. He felt bad, but there hadn’t been much time to gather information. Even in the fast-paced age of data collection, in cases such as this one, most of the legwork had to be done the old-fashioned way.

  It would probably be best to tell them that Jimmy Joe hadn’t died in the fire, and to let them know he’d be in touch as soon as he had more information.

  The biggest question in his mind was how in the hell had Jimmy Joe had walked away. Perhaps it wasn’t all Jimmy Joe’s blood… if that was the case, there might be another victim. And, if it was only Jimmy Joe’s blood, it would be reasonable to assume someone had helped him get away. Sighing, Andrew decided to think about it after he’d had some rest.

  He knocked and pushed the door open enough to stick his head inside. Kerry was asleep, a blanket had been pulled up and tucked under her arms. She looked so tiny and frail in the expanse of the hospital bed. Her arms looked almost translucent against the bruises and cigarette burns that ran the length of her arms.

  Looking up, his eyes met the large gray eyes of the sister. Putting a finger on her lips, she motioned to her sleeping parents. Rising, she followed him outside into the corridor.

  “They haven’t been sleeping very long,” she explained, leaning against the wall.

  “Maybe you should lie down too. You look all in,” the sheriff said studying her.

  “I’m fine, Sheriff, I’m stronger than I look. Have you heard anything about Jimmy Joe Walters?”

  “Do you mind telling me where you got that name?”

  “As a matter of fact, Sheriff, I do mind. Even given the small amount of time we’ve been here, everyone seems to know our business, so it’s not so surprising that we know some of yours.”

  He gave her a thoughtful look, “I guess not.”

  “So, do you have any information on Jimmy Joe Walters?”

  “Yes, tell your parents there was no body found in the trailer.”

  “You mean that bastard is still free and running around out there?”

  “I don’t know how much running he’s doing but he is still alive, as far as we know.”

  “How do you think he got away, I mean, if he is hurt as bad as you think?”

  “I haven’t read the report yet. To tell you the truth, we don’t know for sure if the blood was Jimmy Joe Walters’s or not.”

  “I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying. It wasn’t Kerry’s?”

  “What I’m saying is, there might have been another victim. We won’t know what happened until we can talk to your sister.”

  “Another victim, how horrible. The doctor doesn’t want her disturbed. He said maybe tomorrow or the next day.”

  “Look, I know the most important thing in this case is the welfare of your sister but we need her help.” Sighing, he looked at Emma. “You can let your folks know I’m placing a guard outside your sister’s room. I don’t expect any trouble but it’s always better to be on the safe side.”

  “Thank you, Sheriff. I’ll tell them when they wake up.”

  Emma reached out to grab his arm as he turned away, “Do you know him, personally I mean?”

  “Yes, I do know him, and his family.”

  “Will he, I mean is he the type to come after my sister again?”

  Andrew put his hat back on his head before replying, “Let’s hope for everyone’s sake that he’s not.” Giving her a small pat on her shoulder, he turned and walked toward the elevator.

  Emma watched the elevator doors close. So Jimmy Joe was loose, the bastard who kidnapped and raped Kerry. She wished she knew what he looked like. He could walk right up next to her and she wouldn’t know it. The more she thought about it, the more she thought they should bundle Kerry up and get her the hell out of here.

  Emma gathered her hair up and twisted it onto a knot. Closing her eyes, she thought about Casey. She would like to talk to him again, if only to thank him for all his help. Maybe she would see him before they left.

  Emma returned to her sister’s bedside. Kerry hardly resembled the girl she’d grown up with. All those bruises. She wondered how many bruises there was on the inside, where you couldn’t see.

  She dragged a chair in front of the door. Better stand guard until the deputy came on duty. If anyone wanted Kerry, they’d have to go through her first.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Orley pushed the garbage off the table with his arm and dropped the bag from the drugstore onto the kitchen table. Worried and upset, he tugged on his ear with dirty fingers. Jimmy Joe’s gotten himself in big trouble this time, Orley thought. Jimmy Joe was also damn lucky he had been nosey enough to check on what he‘d been up to. Imagine kidnapping some northern girl and keeping her chained in a closet. What the hell? At least he could’ve told Orley about her, seeing as they are best friends and all.

  He emptied the medicine on the table and hoped he’d bought the right things, then wrinkled his nose. Shaking his head, he leaned against the kitchen wall. Jimmy Joe looked real bad. He was damn lucky the little bitch hadn’t killed him. He’s also lucky to have a best friend like me, he thought self-righteously. Jimmy Joe owes me his life, he does, and as soon as he woke up, Orley was going to tell him so.

  Orley crossed over to the bedroom and pushed the door open a crack, then peeked in. Damn, Jimmy Joe looked as if he’d been chewed up and spit out. Walking back to the table, Orley looked down at the medicine. Maybe he should go for help. For all he kne
w, his friend might be dying.

  God’s sake knows he weren’t a doctor or nothing like that. The problem would be in getting someone who wouldn’t tell on his best friend.

  He could go get Bonnie, Jimmy Joe’s big sister. He figured she’d probably come, and besides, he’d always wanted some of her and she‘d probably be real grateful for all the help Orley had done. Yep, she’d be real grateful, Orley thought. She might even fall in love with him or something. He’d like that. Not many women looked Orley’s way.

  Uneasy, Orley tiptoed back to the bedroom, being real quiet, like he did when he went rabbit hunting. Staring down at Jimmy Joe made Orley feel kind of sick. There was an awful lot of dried blood all over his shirt and pants and the smell was fearsome. Damn Yankee bitch.

  He leaned over and tapped Jimmy Joe on the shoulder, whispering his name. Maybe he was already dead. Bending close to his face, Orley was immediately cheered. He weren’t dead, he was still breathing.

  Orley tiptoed back out, and then stopped at the door to whisper. “I’m going after Bonnie, Jimmy Joe. I’ll be right back,” he whispered to his friend.

  Not getting an answer, Orley turned and fled to the car.

  ***

  Orley stood timidly inside the front door and peered around the dark tavern. Not a whole lot of people yet. Of course, it was early, not even five o’clock. Nodding casually to the two old men who sat at the bar, Orley made his way to the back of the building. Taking a seat at a small table still covered with empty beer bottles, he glanced around miserably. Where was everyone, there wasn’t even someone behind the bar.

  Hearing bottles rattle, Orley looked toward the kitchen door. Jimmy Joe’s sister Bonnie appeared, carrying a case of Old Style on a narrow hip. Spotting him, her face red from the weight of the beer, she gasped, “I’ll be right with you Orley, just need to put this beer away.”

  Orley nodded okay, and pushed the beer bottles away so he could rest his elbows on the table. How to tell her, that would be the problem. He wasn’t much good with words and when he was around women, he was a lot worse. Best thing would be just to spill it out.

  Bonnie walked over carrying a cold draft and slid into the seat across from him. Handing him the beer, she asked, “Have you seen Jimmy Joe? The Sheriff stopped by my house asking all kinds of questions. Told me Jimmy Joe’s been accused of kidnapping some northern girl and keeping her in granny’s trailer. In a closet of all places! I let him have it, I did. I told him that Jimmy Joe was either working or deer hunting. Told him no way would Jimmy Joe do a thing like that."

  Orley bit his lip and stared at Bonnie. She weren’t no raving beauty that was for sure. Her shaggy dishwater blonde hair was plastered against her scalp from sweating and her body was so thin, her bones stuck out. Nevertheless, Orley thought she had nice eyes when she wasn’t mad and her teeth weren’t all crooked like his were. He wasn’t sure how she’d take what he was about to say, so he scrunched down in his seat a little. “Bonnie, I just came from Jimmy Joe, he’s hurt real bad.”

  “Jimmy Joe’s hurt?” She gasped. “How did he get hurt?”

  “Well,” Orley started and then looked helplessly at Bonnie.

  “God damn it, Orley, don’t go telling me Jimmy Joe done all that shit the sheriff said he did.”

  “Yea, I reckon he might have, Bonnie. I got myself all curious why he was never around to shoot pool or go hunting lately, so I drive out to your granny’s old trailer last night. When I pulled up the whole place was a fire and burning like hell and Jimmy Joe was a lying by the steps. I never seen so much blood, ‘cept maybe the time we butchered that old hog for your mama. Anyway, I drug him out a piece, then brought my car right up to him, and shoved him in my car. He’s been out at my house ever since. He’s bad Bonnie. She pert near killed him.”

  “Oh my God, what’s my mama going to say? She’s always bragging about Jimmy Joe, what a good boy he is. This here is going to kill her. It surely could.”

  She put her head in her hands then looked right at him, “Is he needing a hospital?”

  “Yea, I think he does but if we take him they’ll arrest him for sure.”

  “All right, Orley, you did the right thing coming to get me. I’ll call Tom back to work and come with you. You just sit here and drink your beer and I’ll be as quick as I can.”

  ***

  Bonnie sat on the toilet in the bathroom and smoked a cigarette while she waited for Tom to arrive. She couldn’t believe Jimmy Joe had been so all fired stupid. And poor dumb Orley, following her all over the bar, telling her that Jimmy Joe may already be dead. He wanted her to leave right away.

  But she had to wait for someone to relieve her at the bar. What the hell was she supposed to do? Her boss would have her ass if she left without waiting for Tom.

  She crossed her legs and leaned forward, deep in thought. Why in the world had Jimmy Joe kidnapped some young girl? Sure, he wasn’t so hot in the women department but neither were any of the men she knew. They took what they could get, just like women settled for what they could get.

  Bonnie knew very few people, men, or women, who were madly in love with their mates. Her own parents weren’t in love or even liked each other. Her daddy beat the living shit out of her mama every time he got drunk, the mean old bastard.

  And now Jimmy Joe! Her mama would be heartbroken. She bragged on Jimmy Joe all the time. What a hard worker he was, how he never asked her for money. Her mama would be upset.

  When she heard a tapping at the door, she sighed. “What do you want, Orley?”

  “Tom’s here,” he shouted through the door.

  “I ain’t hard of hearing, Orley,” Bonnie snapped. She heard a mumbled apology followed by shuffling feet.

  She flicked her cigarette into the toilet and stood for a few minutes looking at her reflection in the mirror. She would help Jimmy Joe out for her mama’s sake. Heaving a heavier sigh, she opened the bathroom door and headed toward Orley.

  Chapter Nineteen

  As they rode over in Orley’s old car, Bonnie felt fury rising up inside her. This was so typical of her brothers, getting into some jam then expecting her to bail them out. She was getting pretty damn tired of it too. She had a life. Maybe not a great one, but she didn’t get herself all messed up with the law and then expect them to bail her out. If it weren’t for her mama, she’d leave them to rot in hell.

  Orley pulled up in front of his house and cut the engine. When Bonnie caught sight of the dilapidated house, she shook her head. What a dump. The house sat right up on the edge of the road. Big ruts and loose gravel led to a driveway that stopped at the back of the house. The roof above the front porch had mildew and maple twigs were growing out of the gutters. It sagged under rotting shingles. The slats on the house were peeling and the soffit hung down in some places. The house had two windows facing the road. Both were both covered in dirt and grime from years of never having been cleaned.

  She glanced over at Orley and sighed. Ain’t none of us got two pennies to rub together, she thought? Her poor old mama was surely going to have a heart attack if they weren’t careful. Her mamas had always been so proud of Jimmy Joe and now look what he’d gone and done. The stupid pecker, screwing up this bad.

  She pushed the car door open and jumped out. When Orley didn’t move, she snapped. “Well, come on for heaven’s sake. He might already be dead and you’re just sitting in the car daydreaming.”

  Orley felt his face redden and stumbled out of the car. This is just great, he thought fuming. How was he supposed to screw her when she was yelling at him like he was a damn kid? Slamming the car door, Orley rushed ahead and opened the front door.

  Bonnie walked in behind him and caught her breath. The smell was God-awful. The house stank like a dead carcass. She made it a practice to stay away when her brothers went hunting. Not ‘cause she was squeamish about the killing, but because of the smell.

  Orley gestured toward the bedroom. Walking over, she pushed the door open and slipped in.
The stench was worse in there. “Can you turn on the light?” she asked.

  Orley reached behind her and flipped on the overhead light. The sudden brightness of the 200-watt bulb hanging from a wire attached to the ceiling, blinded Bonnie for a few seconds. Bonnie walked to the bed and stared down at her brother. Appalled, she gasped and stepped back.

  Jimmy Joe’s face was caked with blood and torn skin and his shoulders looked like ground beef with bits of flesh hanging off his body. Skin and dried blood had rolled up and twisted in strips along the side of his face. Pulling down the blanket, she looked at the blood that had dried and caked on his stomach. Feeling like she was gonna puke, she turned away from him. “We have to get him cleaned up, and then we’re gonna have to find him a doctor. Someone who won’t turn him in.”

  “We’ll have to hurry,” Orley said earnestly, looking at Bonnie. “I heard on the radio on the way to get you, that they had a warrant out on him.”

  “When were you going to tell me that? When we were on our way to jail?” Bonnie snapped.

  “No Bonnie, I was going to tell you right away, I just forgot.”

  “Damn, damn. We have to hurry. Go get some warm water and a towel. We’ll clean him up and get the hell out of here.”

  Orley tried to look cool and macho. “You’re the boss,” he said happily, then bit his lip. Macho men were always the bosses.

  Chapter Twenty

  Exhausted, Casey rolled over and tapped the alarm off. Yawning, he stretched wearily and glanced at the clock. Five o’clock in the afternoon. He’d slept seven hours. Usually, that would have been enough but after the events of the last twenty-four hours, he didn’t feel rested.

  He pushed himself out of bed and stumbled to the bedroom window. It looked cold outside. The wind seemed to be hurrying to shake the leaves off the trees before winter set in. November in Arkansas varied a lot in temperature. Some days were mild and the sun shone, other days were like today, cold and windy. Turning from the window, he walked into the bathroom. Maybe a shower would loosen him up.