“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked. It’s none of my business.”
Miss Eva wiped at a non-existent spill on the countertop. “Judy just up and left them both when Jason was almost seven. Sent divorce papers in the mail and never looked back. Can you imagine leaving your child like that?” She queried softly, then shook her head before deftly changing the subject. “Can I get you anything else, dear?”
“Oh, no, thank you, I’m fine. And thank you for lunch. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I started eating. Everything was delicious.”
“You’re welcome, dear. Dessert? Fresh apple pie.”
“Oh, goodness no. I’m stuffed.”
“Well it’s here if you decide you need something later. And there’s always coffee on the stove.” Her voice glowed with pleasure as she continued. “I never know when Coop will be in, so I make sure there’s always a fresh pot on.”
Sam wanted to ask about her relationship to the sheriff, but decided it crossed the line of casual conversation, and switched to neutral topics. “Do you happen to know Dr. Harper? I understand he’s a local physician.”
“Oh yes, he’s been a fixture in this town for over forty years. Do you know him?”
“Not really. His niece, Barbara Walker, is my best friend. In fact, she’s the one who suggested your lovely home for my vacation.”
“How sweet of her. Poor dear doesn’t make it back home very often anymore.” She tilted her head to one side as though in thought. “I believe she works at a big hospital in Dallas.”
Sam nodded. “We met at Central Valley Hospital and became best buds right away. I promised to check in with her uncle while I’m here. Now, what is there to do in Bakersville? I understand it’s a fairly small town.”
There was something warm and enchanting in the older woman’s laughter. “Well, we’re a little behind the times here, Sam. No malls or fancy stores. But, we do have a drive-in theater.”
“Really? I had no idea those things still existed.”
“I am proud to say The Sundown Drive-In Theater is one of the few still operating in Texas. It’s only open on weekends. And they use the old speakers you hang on your car window. You can also tune in on your radio, but it takes the fun out of going to the drive-in.”
“I’ll make sure to give it try while I’m here.”
“They do double features on Friday and Saturday nights. The late shows are always old movies. I just love those, though I can’t stay up as late as I once did. And then a single feature on Sundays. There’s a playground area for the kids and the best hot dogs you ever tasted.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely. They’re open year-round, though the weather can be unpredictable sometimes and affects the schedule.”
The next hour passed in pleasant conversation as she gave Sam tips on scenic places she could photograph, the history of Baker County, and some of its more interesting people.
Sam headed up to her room filled with peace and contentment for the first time in over a year. Paul’s cheating, the quarrels, and finally, the drawn-out divorce process, robbed her of all spirit and drive. But, here, in this place, strength returned and despair lessened.
I was right to come here. Now I can figure out what to do with my life.
Monday, 5:30 a.m.
Coop parked and killed the engine, hands resting in his lap as he leaned back and closed his eyes. The two-hour drive from the morgue in Dallas took his last reserve of energy. No time to rest. A quick shower, hopefully decent coffee, then off to the office to continue the process of finding out who the victim was, and who killed her. And, just as important, why.
He sighed and recalled the coroner’s observations.
“This little lady definitely didn’t give up without a fight. Preliminary COD (cause of death) is strangulation, with time of death sometime between midnight and 4 a.m. She took one hell of a beating, too. All the bruises are pre-mortem, a couple of broken ribs, haven’t gotten the full tox screen yet, blood alcohol was point-0-two, so she wasn’t drunk, still could’ve been drugged, though. No tattoos or scars. Doubt I’ll find anything under her fingernails”
“Why?”
“Looks like they were scraped clean, but we’ll see if he left anything. And he used a condom.” He pointed to the woman’s right hand. “Her right index finger is broken”
Coop was bone tired and not sure he heard right. “What?”
“Broken. In two places, like maybe he pulled it, then snapped it like a twig.”
“Why on earth would he do that?” An instinctive and rhetorical query, he didn’t expect an answer.
“They pay you to figure out the whys. Me, I just tell you what I find.”
He opened his eyes and stared at the trucks’ roof. Why the finger? What the hell does it mean? Is it significant or not?
A former combat soldier, with two tours in Afghanistan, Coop was no stranger to death. Murder was a totally different matter; depravity personified; everything vile and heinous one human could do to another, with no regard for the victim or those who must deal with the carnage left behind.
After his stint in the military, he joined Dallas PD and worked his way up the ladder to homicide detective. Faced with violence every day took a toll on you, destroyed your ability to feel normal. Which was why he returned home and took a deputy job in Bakersville after Judy left. He wanted a normal life for him and Jason, not one filled with images like he faced today.
No wait, that was yesterday. A full twenty-four hours had passed since he last closed his eyes. He rolled his shoulders to loosen the tightness. He had to get moving or fall asleep where he sat. A light in the kitchen window lifted his spirts. Miss Eva no doubt waited for him with food and hot coffee in hand.
Except wasn’t Miss Eva.
Sam yelped and jumped at his entrance, dousing her hand with hot coffee.
“Crap.” He rushed over, grabbed paper towels from the roll under the cabinet and formed a dam to keep the liquid from rolling to the floor. “I’m sorry I startled you. Can I help?”
