Bring Your Own Poison (21 page)

Business was slow at the restaurant when she arrived, but it started picking up around six-thirty. For once, Wanda Nell was hoping Jack wouldn't come by for dinner. She didn't think she could face him without telling him about his cousin, and she wasn't quite ready to do that. He knew her so well by now, he would realize something was bothering her, and she hated not confiding in him.

To her relief, he didn't come. He did call, however, and they spoke briefly. He had a lot of papers to grade, and he was keeping an eye on Lisa. She had decided not to stay at Mayrene's any longer, so Jack was letting her stay with him. Wanda Nell didn't say anything, and thankfully Jack didn't notice her silence on the subject.

T.J. and Tuck turned up around seven, and Wanda Nell was glad to see them. She showed them to a table in the back room, and she decided she had time to sit down for a minute with them.

“I'll get you something to drink in a minute,” she said. “First, any news?”

“Not a lot,” Tuck said. “We did talk to Elmer Lee, and I also passed along the information you gave me from Mayrene.”

“What did he say?” Wanda Nell asked.

“Not much,” T.J. replied. “He's interested, but you know how the sheriff is.” He grinned. “He doesn't like anybody knowing what he's really up to.”

Wanda Nell sighed. “Yeah, I know. We'll just have to trust him to do what's right.”

“I'm sure he will,” Tuck said. “He really is a good guy, you know.”

“As much as I hate to admit it, you're right.” Wanda Nell laughed. “But don't you dare tell him I said that.”

“I won't,” Tuck promised. “Can you come by the office some time tomorrow morning?”

“Yeah,” Wanda Nell said. “What time?”

“How about nine? Is that too early?”

“No, it's fine,” Wanda Nell said. “I'll take Miranda to work and drop Lavon off at day care, and then I'll be by your office.”

“Good,” Tuck said. “I want you to take a look at that list of men who were at the party. I want to be sure we're covering every angle we can.”

“Sounds like a good idea to me,” Wanda Nell said. She stood up. “Okay, boys, what will it be? Can I interest you in something fried, with lots of gravy?” She grinned.

T.J. made a point of shuddering. “Now, Mama, you know we can't eat that kind of stuff and not be as big as the side of a barn.”

“Speak for yourself,” Tuck said, poking a finger in T.J.'s side. “Just because you don't like to get up in the morning and work out as much as I do, don't blame your mother.”

T.J. rolled his eyes at his mother, as if to say, “See what I have to put up with?”

Wanda Nell sometimes still had odd feelings, thinking of the two of them as a couple. But when she saw the way they looked at each other, she realized it didn't matter.

“Okay, Tuck, you're doing the big talking,” she said. “Does that mean you want chicken-fried steak?”

Tuck laughed. “I do, but I know if I order it, T.J. will rub it in for a week. No, I'll have a steak, medium well, with baked potato, green beans, and salad.”

“Me too, Mama,” T.J. said.

“Next time I'm not even going to ask,” Wanda Nell said, shaking her head. “I'll be back in a minute with some tea and water.”

After that, Wanda Nell didn't have much time to chat. She and Ruby stayed pretty busy until around eight-thirty, when business really slacked off. By nine, the restaurant was empty except for the staff.

“Go home,” Melvin said to her and Ruby. “It's going to be dead until ten, and there's no sense in you hanging around.”

“Good,” Wanda Nell said. “I can use the break, since I don't have to go to Budget Mart tonight.”

“Thank you, Melvin,” Ruby said. “I've got a big test in the morning, and I can use the study time.” Ruby was taking courses at the community college, and she took her studies very seriously.

“The side work's done,” Wanda Nell said, “so everything is set for the morning crew.”

Fifteen minutes later, she was pulling her car into its covered space beside her trailer. Mayrene's lights were on, and Wanda Nell was glad to see them. Mayrene might very well have had a date with her cop tonight, but Wanda Nell really wanted to talk to her.

She knocked on Mayrene's door, and Mayrene answered it right away. “Hey, girl, what are you doing home? Is Juliet sick again?”

“No, she's fine, far as I know,” Wanda Nell said. “Melvin let us go early, and I swapped nights with one of my coworkers, so I don't have to go in tonight.”

“Well, come on in then, and let's talk,” Mayrene said.

“I was hoping you'd say that,” Wanda Nell said, “but let me just pop my head in at home and make sure everybody's okay.”

“Sure, just come on back when you're ready,” Mayrene said. “I'll leave the door unlocked.”

Wanda Nell crossed over to her trailer and unlocked the door. Juliet, Miranda, and Lavon were watching TV. She explained why she was home early, and after finding out they were fine, she told them she would be over at Mayrene's for a little while.

“Okay, Mama,” Miranda said. “I'm going to put Lavon to bed in a few minutes.”

“Good,” Wanda Nell said. “And if you're still up, maybe we can talk for a few minutes?”

Miranda nodded, though she didn't look too happy at the prospect. From that Wanda Nell figured Miranda hadn't talked to Teddy yet. She would deal with that later.

“You better go to bed soon, too, honey,” she told Juliet.

“I will,” Juliet said. “I'm fine, Mama.”

Wanda Nell left them and went back to Mayrene's. She opened the door and went in. Mayrene was in the kitchen.

“You want something to drink, honey?” she called.

“Maybe just some water,” Wanda Nell said, walking into the kitchen.

“Here you go,” Mayrene said, handing her a glass. “But I would have brought it to you.”

“I know,” Wanda Nell said, “but I was coming this way anyway.” She grinned. “You want to talk in here?”

“No, let's go back in the living room,” Mayrene said. “I want to sit back and stretch out my legs. I was on my feet every minute today at work.”

Wanda Nell headed for Mayrene's couch. There was a newspaper in her favorite spot. She picked it up, holding it while she sat down and got comfortable.

Mayrene plopped down in her recliner and pulled the lever to bring her feet up. “That's better,” she sighed. She squirmed for a moment in the chair. “This is worth every penny I paid for it.”

Wanda Nell was about to drop the newspaper on the coffee table when Mayrene spoke again.

“I was going to show that to you,” she said, indicating the paper.

“Why?” Wanda Nell asked. “Is there something about the murder in here?”

“There is,” Mayrene said, “but that's not why. I wanted you to see a picture in it. You remember I told you about my friend Teresa, and how we saw her boss at that casino in Tunica? With some woman besides his wife?”

“Yeah,” Wanda Nell said. “Is his picture in here?”

“It sure is, right on the front page,” Mayrene said. “And just look at him, standing there with his wife, like he ain't never cheated on her.” She shook her head. “I tell you, some men ought to be turned into steers after they get married.”

Laughing, Wanda Nell held the paper closer to the lamp on the end table beside her. The light shone down on a couple who smiled in strained fashion into the camera.

With a shock, Wanda Nell realized she recognized the man, though his name wasn't familiar to her.

He had been at the bachelor party. He was the baldheaded man who had been talking to Gerald Blakeley just before Travis collapsed and died.

Wanda Nell read the caption beneath the picture. “Mr. and Mrs. Barnard Roberts at the opening reception for the Tullahoma Family Center, which they have generously helped fund.”

“So he owns a factory?” Wanda Nell said. “What do they make?”

“I don't know,” Mayrene admitted. “It's one of those plants out in the industrial park. That's all I know.”

“He was at the bachelor party,” Wanda Nell said.

“Really?”

“Yeah, I saw him talking to Gerald Blakeley.”

“Guess he must be a friend of the family, then,” Mayrene said.

“I guess so,” Wanda Nell said. She kept staring at Barnard Roberts' face. Another memory surfaced. He was also the man she saw in the hall of the courthouse building coming out of Bill Warren's office. But he hadn't been wearing an expensive suit then. He was dressed in coveralls. That seemed odd. Was it supposed to be some kind of disguise?

What kind of business could he have had with Bill Warren? Maybe Bill has asked him to come in and make a statement about the night of the murder. That was only natural.

But why would a rich businessman show up dressed in coveralls? Unless he was just really eccentric and went around dressed like that, but somehow Wanda Nell doubted that was the reason. He was sure dressed up in the picture in the paper.

The coincidence niggled at her. She would talk it over with Tuck tomorrow when she went to his office.

“Pretty funny,” Mayrene said, “him giving money to help fund a family center, and there he was, hands all over some floozy at the casino.”

“Sounds like a real nice guy,” Wanda Nell said. “Thank the Lord for men like Jack.”

“Amen to that, honey,” Mayrene said, “and I'm hoping like Mr. Dixon Vance, too.”

“For your sake, I hope so, too.”

“Enough about all that,” Mayrene said. “I want to hear all about this Bill Warren guy.”

“It's going to take a while,” Wanda Nell said.

“I got the time,” Mayrene said. “So shoot.”

“It all started at the bachelor party,” Wanda Nell said. “Or really, afterwards, when they were starting the investigation.” She described Bill Warren's arrival, and from there went on to tell Mayrene all that had happened since. Mayrene occasionally muttered a word like
jerk
or
slimeball
, but otherwise she let Wanda Nell talk.

By the time Wanda Nell finished it was nearly eleven o'clock. She was surprised when she saw the time. She wasn't too tired, but she figured Mayrene must be getting sleepy by now.

“He sure is some kind of jerk,” Mayrene said. “I'd like to hear him say some of that crap to me. You should've slapped him a lot more than you did, honey.”

“Believe me, I sure felt like it,” Wanda Nell said. “I don't know when I've been so angry. And he was so cold-blooded about it, too. How he can play with somebody's life like that is beyond me.”

“He better not try to do anything to T.J. or Tuck,” Mayrene said, “or I'll fix his little red wagon for him. Me and Old Reliable.”

Mayrene's shotgun had been persuasive on more than one occasion when Wanda Nell needed backup. She didn't doubt for a minute that Mayrene meant what she said. The expression on her friend's face actually made her a little uneasy. If Bill crossed Mayrene's path anytime soon, he would surely regret it.

“What I can't quite work out,” Wanda Nell said, “is exactly how he's connected to this business, other than investigating. I just know something else is going on here, but I can't put my finger on it.”

“You think Mr. Factory Man there,” Mayrene said, pointing at the newspaper on the coffee table, “is involved?”

“I'm not sure,” Wanda Nell said. “I mean, he was at the party, and then I saw him again at the courthouse when I went to see Bill. He came out of Bill's office, but maybe he was just there to make a statement. I can't figure out how he's connected, other than that.”

“If he is, you'll find out somehow,” Mayrene said, “and when you do, I hope that nasty Bill Warren lands deep in the doodoo where he belongs.”

“I still can't believe how Bill is acting,” Wanda Nell said. “He was such a nice boy in high school.”

“Well, if the boys are right about him,” Mayrene said, “he's real mixed up. I can't imagine hating myself that much, twisting myself into that kind of a knot.” She shook her head. “Why can't he just accept who he is?”

“I don't know,” Wanda Nell said. “What makes me really sad is to think about T.J. and what he must have been going through all those years. And I never knew. Maybe I could have helped him if he'd've talked to me.”

“Don't be blaming yourself,” Mayrene said, her tone sharp. “You did everything you could for that boy, and you never stopped loving him. He knows that, don't you think for a minute he don't. He just had to work it out for himself, honey, and thank the Lord he did. Otherwise he could've turned into somebody like Bill Warren.”

“You know, I actually feel sorry for him,” Wanda Nell said, surprising herself. “I really do. I mean, I'd like to take a baseball bat and beat the crap out of him for what he's tried to do. But at the same time, can you imagine how miserable he is?”

“You got a lot more compassion for him than I would in your place,” Mayrene said. “I'm not sure he deserves it, frankly.”

Wanda Nell shrugged. “I don't imagine he'd be too happy if he knew I felt sorry for him.”

“No, he wouldn't,” Mayrene said. “It'd just make him act like more of a bastard.”

“Maybe it will all be over soon,” Wanda Nell said. “I sure hope so. I've got too many other problems to think about.”

“Like Lisa, you mean?” Mayrene said.

“Well, there's that,” Wanda Nell said, hesitating. She had to confide in someone and share her frustrations. “There's Miranda, too. I found her throwing up in the bathroom twice in the last few days. This morning I finally figured it out.”

“She's pregnant,” Mayrene said in a flat tone. “I swear, sometimes I'd like to jerk a knot in that girl's tail.”

“I know,” Wanda Nell said. “Believe me, I've been tempted to do it many a time myself. But there's no point in getting angry about it.”

“Are you sure she's pregnant?”

“She's pretty sure,” Wanda Nell said. “And the way Miranda's life seems to go, well, I don't doubt it for a minute.”

“She hasn't told Teddy yet, has she?”

“I don't think so,” Wanda Nell said. “I told her she needed to talk to him right away, but you know how she is. She always tries to put things off.”

“Well, she damn sure can't this time,” Mayrene said. “How far along is she, do you think?”

“I'm not sure,” Wanda Nell said. “Probably not more than a month or six weeks.”

“How do you think Teddy's going to take it?”

“Who knows?” Wanda Nell said. “He seems like a very mature, responsible young man. And I know he wants to marry Miranda. They've already talked about it. But he told Miranda he wouldn't be ready to get married for another year or two. He wants to save up enough money for them to get a house or their own trailer.”

“Smart boy,” Mayrene said. “He's got his head on straight.”

“I think so,” Wanda Nell replied. “But with something like this, who knows? He may feel like Miranda's trying to force him into getting married right now.”

“You think she got pregnant on purpose?”

“I hate to say this about my own daughter,” Wanda Nell said, wincing as she spoke, “but I wouldn't put it past her. She has this crazy way of looking at things sometimes, and I know she's really crazy about Teddy. So…” She threw her hands up.

“Yeah, I know,” Mayrene said. “I'm sorry, honey. I know this is the last thing you need right now. Have you had a chance to talk to Jack about it?”

“No, not yet,” Wanda Nell said. “And I can't imagine what he's going to say. If I have to help Miranda raise this baby, I wouldn't blame him if he asked for his ring back.” She stared at her left hand. “I just can't turn my back on my daughter because I want to get married.”

“No, I know you. You can't, and you won't,” Mayrene said. “That girl doesn't know how lucky she is. A lot of mamas would have put her hiney out by now.” She shook her head. “But don't underestimate Jack, Wanda Nell. He's a good man, and I don't think he's going to stop loving you or wanting to marry you because of this.”

“I know,” Wanda Nell admitted. “Deep down I know that. I guess I'm just feeling selfish. It took me a long time to admit I really loved him and wanted to be married again. And when I finally say yes, look what happens.”

“Don't let all this get you down,” Mayrene said in bracing tones. “You've got a lot of people on your side, and I know things will turn out okay.”

“If you say so,” Wanda Nell said with a wan smile. She pushed herself off the couch. “I better go and let you get to bed. Plus I need to talk to Miranda before it gets too late.”

Mayrene got up and walked with Wanda Nell to the door. She gave her friend a fierce hug. “Don't worry.”

“I'll try,” Wanda Nell said. “Good night.”

“Night, honey,” Mayrene said.

Wanda Nell stood outside for a moment, gazing at the sky. The night was cool and clear. Beyond the glow of lights from the trailer park, she could make out the stars. She stared at them until her neck started to ache. With a sigh she climbed the steps to her trailer and let herself in.

Everything was quiet inside. She moved softly down the hall to Miranda's room. Pushing the door open, she found both Miranda and Lavon sound asleep.

She didn't have the heart to wake Miranda. She would let her sleep, and they would talk in the morning. She might have to give Miranda an ultimatum, or just invite Teddy over herself so he and Miranda could talk. She didn't like being high-handed like that, but with Miranda, that was the only way sometimes.

At the other end of the trailer, she checked on Juliet. Her youngest child was also sound asleep. She looked so young and so innocent, lying there. Wanda Nell said a quick prayer of thanks for her sweet baby who never gave her a moment's trouble.

In her bedroom she found a note in Juliet's handwriting on her bedside table. “Jack called,” she read, “and he wants you to call him no matter how late it is.”

Wanda Nell's stomach did a couple of flip-flops. For some reason, this alarmed her. Jack was normally in bed by ten-thirty, and here it was, just past eleven-thirty.

She sat down on the bed and picked up the phone. Her hand trembled as she punched in the number.

The phone rang four times before Jack answered. “Hello,” he said, and in those two syllables Wanda Nell heard a note that scared her.

“Honey, it's me,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady. “Is everything okay?”

“No, it's not,” Jack said. “My god, Wanda Nell, what am I going to do with Lisa?”

“What happened?”

“About three hours ago, I found her passed out on the floor of her room,” Jack said. “And there was an empty pill bottle beside her.”

“Oh my Lord,” Wanda Nell said. “She tried to kill herself?”

“Yeah,” Jack said. “I called for an ambulance, and they got here pretty quickly. They took her in, and I followed.” He paused, and Wanda Nell could tell he was trying hard to hold it together. “They got her into the emergency room and pumped her stomach. The doctor said she would be okay, but they're going to keep her in the hospital for a few days. After that, I'm not sure what we're going to do.”

“Oh honey, I'm so sorry,” Wanda Nell said. “Why didn't you call me to come with you?”

“It all happened so fast,” Jack said, “and I knew you were still at work. Besides, there wasn't really anything you could do. She was in good hands.” He sighed. “I got home about ten-fifteen and called you. Juliet said you were next door talking to Mayrene, but I told her not to bother you.”

“Lord, Jack, you should have had her
bother
me,” Wanda Nell said. “Now, listen, I'm coming over there. I'll be there in about ten minutes, you hear?”

“It's too late,” Jack said. “I'll be okay. You need your rest.”

“You think I can go to sleep after hearing this?” Wanda Nell said. “I'm too worried about you. No, I'm coming over there. You just sit tight.”

She didn't give him time to argue. She hung up the phone and almost ran down the hall to the kitchen to grab her purse and keys. The girls and Lavon would be fine for a little while without her. Once she was on her way, she pulled out her cell phone and called Mayrene.

“Honey, what's up? Where are you?” Mayrene said, recognizing the number.