Permanently Deleted

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

There was a collective gasp from the gathered crowd. Juliet recovered first. “Clint, there’s no way Nellie killed Mike.”

“ I didn’t say she did. Anyone who came into contact with the victim over the past twenty-four hours is a person of interest and has to be questioned,” Clint explained. “That includes Nellie. Everyone needs to head home. We’re in the early stages of the investigation. I’m sure Sheriff Dawes will let everyone know what’s going on once we have more information.”

“ You better treat Nellie Jo with respect or you cops will have to answer to me,” Charlie said with a bravado that belied his age. “She’s like family.”

“ That’s right. Nellie’s family,” Corrine chimed in.

“ I care about Nellie, too, folks, but we have a job to do, so let us do it,” Lu said, stepping forward. She herded everyone towards the door. “The best thing you can do for her is go home and let us investigate.” She held the door open and practically pushed us outside.

I gave Clint one last look before grabbing Juliet by the elbow. “Let’s go. Lu’s right. There’s nothing we can do tonight.”

“ This sucks!” Juliet protested. “I can’t believe your boyfriend arrested Nellie.”

“ She’s not under arrest. You heard what he said. She’s answering questions. It’s typical for any murder investigation. The cops have to talk to the spouse and family.”

“ I can’t believe Mike’s been murdered.”

“ Me either,” I said. “It’s weird, but as long as they’ve lived here, I can’t say I knew Mike very well. Nellie’s like everyone’s favorite aunt, but Mike…well, he was so beige next to Nellie. I can’t imagine him doing anything to make someone kill him.”

“ I never thought about it, but you’re right. He didn’t associate with people in Miller’s Cove. I’ve run into him a time or two at some town festivals, but I rarely saw him at the coffee shop.”

“ I guess he was busy making pickles.” I heard a loud rumbling in the distance. “Is that thunder?”

“ Nope. It’s that.” Juliet pointed to a large, black truck rolling down the street.

The truck pulled to a stop in front of us. “Is that an alligator on the hood?” I asked Juliet.

“ It is.” Her eyes were wide as she took in the alligator, a large snorkel on the hood and oversized tires.

“ Holy tacky tacos. Who in the heck drives around Miller’s Cove with a dead reptile on their vehicle?”

In answer to my question, the door of the truck opened. A mountain of a man stepped out of the truck. Alligator skin cowboy boots landed on the sidewalk. The sun glinted off the shiny silver tips. He wore a black cowboy hat, a tight, white t-shirt and even tighter blue jeans.

“ Ladies, is that the sheriff’s office behind you?” he asked in a Southern drawl.

“ It is,” Juliet said. She stepped forward and held out her hand. “Juliet. Nice to meet you.”

Her hand disappeared into his hairy bear paw of a hand. “Eddie. Mike Johnson is – was my uncle.”

“ I’m Phee Jefferson. I knew your uncle. I’m sorry for your loss. If there is anything my sister and I can do to help, please let us know.”

“ I appreciate your condolences, Miss Jefferson. I’m aiming to bag me a killer. It’s open hunting season in these parts on whoever killed my uncle.” He patted the small holster attached to his belt. I hadn’t noticed the g*n. Perhaps because my eyes were too busy being bedazzled by the large belt buckle featuring silver and gold fighting roosters.

“ The police are working hard to find out what happened to Mike,” Juliet said.

“ Well, that may be, but I don’t hold much faith in law enforcement. We got our own brand of justice where I hail from, and I’ll just say it’s fast and permanent. Uncle Mike was a good man and didn’t deserve the end he got.”

“ What happened? The police wouldn’t tell us much,” Juliet probed. I shot her a cautioning look. I wanted to hear what Eddie had to say as much as she did, but this man was like a coiled rattler ready to strike at the nearest moving target. I didn’t want to be that target.

“ I just left the factory. I’ve been traveling back and forth between here and Louisiana the past few months learning the business. Best I can figure, two workers found Uncle Mike face down in a pickle vat. Looks like he drowned. Now what kind of grown man goes swimming in a pickle vat? None. Somebody pushed him in and held him down. When I find out who did it, I’m gonna make them pay with their life!” Eddie punched his left fist into his open palm. He spun on his heel and stalked into the sheriff’s office.

“ Whew! I wouldn’t want to be in the killer’s shoes right now. Alligator Eddie looks like he would kick butt and ask about guilt later. I wonder if he skinned the gator for those boots he was wearing,” Juliet mused.

“ I wonder who hated Mike enough to murder him,” I said.