Diana Anderson - Entering Southern Country 01 - Famous in a Small Town (27 page)

He shook his head. “You’ll never believe who’s on the run.”

“I’ve got to guess? C’mon, Cal.”

“Callie.”

Her lower jaw went slack. “Wha … what could she have to do with all of this? I mean, I understand that this guy was her gardener, but—”

“Callie managed to steal some evidence from the department’s safe. Now, she’s on the run. When we searched the Wallaces’ home, we found more evidence.”

“I suppose you’re not going to tell me how she managed to steal from y’all’s safe, or what was in it.”

He shook his head.

“Then there’s no need for me to even ask what was found at her house.”

He shook his head again.

“Well, this is not what I’d expected to hear about her,” she said.

“Don’t forget, Mom, she wasn’t always a Wallace. She grew up poor and married poor her first go-round.”

She pushed her bottom lip out and looked off in thought for a moment. “But she had money, Cal, and tons of it. Why would she leave all of that?”

“She didn’t have it with a Latin lover though.”

“He’s that good looking?”

“It’s just an expression I heard from Deputy Porter.”

“Callie likes men, money, and herself, more than anything else,” she said. “Poor Ted.”

“Ted will be all right. Their housekeeper told me that they hadn’t been sharing a bedroom for a long time.”

Janie’s eyes rounded along with her lips.

He continued, “I just haven’t figured it all out.”

“Do you think Ted was wise to this?”

He shook his head. “No. I don’t think he’d put up with it. I think that he would have said something as soon as he’d found out.”

“What has he said about all of this?”

“I haven’t spoken with him about this yet.”

“Oh.”

Cal looked over Janie’s shoulder and watched Angus make his way over to their booth. She looked to see what had his attention. She turned back, made a face, and crossed her eyes.

“I saw that, Mom,” he said as Angus stepped up to the table.

“You just had to go and let that bitch out of jail, didn’t you?” Angus asked.

Cal picked up his coffee cup and said, “Suzanne’s attorney took care of that for her.”

“I know you could have kept her longer if you tried.”

“No, and I wouldn’t have if I could have.” He took a sip of his coffee and then set his cup down.

“Well, I hope you’re happy now that she had me vacate the premises.”

Janie looked up at Angus. “I guess that little pre-nup thing you signed came back to bite you in the ass, huh?”

“Shut the—”

“Hey!” Cal slid out of the booth. He towered over Angus and looked down his nose at him. “Don’t even
think
to talk like that to my mother.”

Janie grabbed Cal’s fisted hand.

Angus took a quick step back but soon recovered. He shook his head. “You pussy!” He turned and stomped out of the diner.

Cal watched him leave. Janie let go of his hand. He slid back into the booth. His jaw clenched.

“You shouldn’t let him get to you like that,” she said with a look of concern.

“How did you ever manage to hook up with someone like him?” He looked into her eyes.

She gave him a half smile. “He came at me like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, just like he did Suzanne.” She adjusted herself in her seat, folded her arms on the table, and leaned forward. “You were too little to remember when we divorced. We split up on your fourth birthday. I threw you a small party. Had a few of your little neighborhood playmates over. He came home from work, ran them off, and found a reason to slap me around. I was used to it, if a person can get used to something like that … let’s just say, I was conditioned to it. Anyway, you were trying to be a little man and come to my rescue. Angus did something that he hadn’t done before. He made the mistake of putting his hands on you. I got his .380 out of his dresser drawer, pointed it at him, and pulled the trigger—over and over again. He shit himself and then left.”

“You shot up the house?”

“Nah, the gun was empty. I just kept pulling the trigger, hoping there was at least one bullet in there. Anyway, he came back several days later and packed all of his things, left, and never came back.”

“I can’t believe you shot at him.”

“I snapped, Cal. What can I say? He had broken my arm before. I wasn’t about to let him do the same to you. He towered over me, so there was no such thing as a fair fight. And back then, I’d been too afraid to leave him. It’s like I had a wake up call and snapped at the same time. I never want to be put in that position again. Life in prison over a piece of crap like him isn’t worth it. I’ve often wondered if he ever laid his hands on Suzanne.”

“You had to raise me alone.”

“Not at first. My dad was around during that time for three years before he passed.”

Cal smiled as he remembered.

“He took you fishing,” she continued, “taught you how to ride a bike, and steal cookies from the cookie jar without getting caught.”

He laughed. “I still miss him.”

“Me too.” She patted his hand and then got a serious look on her face. “I wonder what Angus is going to do now?”

“What do you mean?” Cal picked up his coffee cup and brought it to his lips.

She shrugged. “He’s been a kept man for years. Now, with no money to call his own … well actually, he never had any money he could call his own.”

He straightened in his seat and set the cup down. He stared through her.

“What is it?” she asked.

He lowered his gaze and scanned the table in thought. He looked back at her. “You said you shot at him with a .380?”

She nodded.

“Do you still have that gun?”

She shook her head. “No. Like I said, he came and got all of his stuff and that included the gun.”

He grabbed his hat and scooted out of the booth.

“What?” She looked up at him.

“Thanks for breakfast.” He turned.

“But … Cal?” She grabbed his hand.

“Mom, I’ll talk to you later. Right now, I’ve got work to do.”

She watched him hurry out the door.

* * *

Twenty minutes later, Cal stood in Suzanne’s den. Mavis had left the room to find her. A minute later, Suzanne walked into the room.

“Sheriff, is there something I can help you with?”

“Maybe. Who takes care of your personal finances?”

She clasped her hands in front of her. “My accountant, James Wrigley, but Angus took care of all the correspondence with him.”

“Would you mind calling him?”

“James?”

“Yeah, give him a call.”

“Can you tell me why?”

“Let him know that Angus will no longer be involved in handling matters concerning your finances from now on and see what he says.”

She nodded, turned away, and headed toward the hallway. “His number is in the study.” She glanced over her shoulder.

He followed her into the study and waited by the desk. She looked up the number and placed the call.

“James Wrigley, please. This is Suzanne Rayburn.” A few seconds later, she said, “James? I wanted to let you know that Angus and I are separated. He will no longer be involved—” She was quiet as she listened. “Thank you.” She slowly lowered the receiver and cradled it.

“Suzanne? Are you okay?” Cal stepped closer.

She blinked several times, looked at him, and said, “Yes, I’m fine.” She took a deep breath. “Angus fired him a few months ago.”

“Does my father own a gun?”

“Yes, he kept it in the safe.”

“Would you happen to know what kind of gun?”

“A handgun, but I couldn’t tell you exactly what kind.”

“I’m sure he probably took it with him when he moved out,” Cal said.

“I’ll check.” She walked around the desk, took a painting down from the wall, and set it on the floor. After she had unlocked the safe, she went through the contents. She shook her head and looked at Cal. “It’s not here and neither is our emergency money.”

“Call the bank.”

She nodded.

“Suzanne?” Raven stepped in the doorway. She saw Cal and froze.

He turned toward her.

“Raven,” Suzanne said, while trying to locate the phone number on her desk. “I’ll be with you in a few minutes.”

Raven nodded and stepped out of view. Cal walked to the doorway and saw her going down the hallway.

“Raven?”

She stopped and turned.

He walked down the hall and stood in front of her. “I want to apologize for detaining you, and … the way I had you detained.”

She nodded. “I understand … I think.”

“It doesn’t matter now, as your mom has skipped town with the money anyway. I guess word leaked out about the duffle bag full of money. I don’t know how she could have found out about it. Unless …”

“Cal, I didn’t say a word.”

“I know you didn’t. She got into the safe by seducing one the nightshift deputies. There was a lot of joking going on within the department, and I think that’s where the leak originated.” He lowered his head. “And truth is, the first time I arrested you … well, I didn’t want you to leave, and it’s before I found out—”

“I know.”

“You do?” He looked back at her.

She nodded.

“This is awkward to say the least.”

She smiled but didn’t say anything.

“So, you’re leaving?”

“Yes, I’ve got a flight out late this afternoon.”

“I’m sure you’re homesick.”

“Oh, yes! I miss …” Her eyes stayed on his a long moment. “I miss being home.”

“Cal?” Suzanne called from the door of the study.

He turned. “I’ll be right there.” He looked back. Raven was gone.

73

Late that afternoon, Suzanne came through the door of the sheriff’s department with Cal following.

“You can wait in my office,” Cal said. “I’ll be along in a few minutes.”

She walked out of the lobby and down the hallway.

Cal stepped over to Justin’s desk. “No sign of Lupe?”

Justin shook his head. “If she’s at her apartment, she’s not answering her door.”

“Call my father, and tell him we have a lead on his stolen property and need him to come down here.”

Justin gave Cal a questioning look. “We do?”

Cal grabbed a slip of paper, jotted down the number, and handed to it to him.

“Did something happen while I was asleep?” Justin asked.

“Yes,” Cal said as he headed for the hallway.

“Uh, sir?”

“Yeah, “Cal called back over his shoulder.

“Imogene’s out. She met bail.”

Cal stopped at the hallway, looked back, and said, “When my father get’s here, give me a heads up before sending him into my office, and I want you stationed outside the door after he goes inside. Just in case there’s a problem.”

“Sure.” Justin watched him disappear around the corner. He looked down at the slip of paper and then made the call.

Just as Cal expected, sixteen minutes later, Justin called him, and then Angus barreled through Cal’s door. After he entered and closed the door, he did a double take when he saw Suzanne in a chair off to one side of the room.

He pointed a finger at her and looked at Cal. “What the hell is she doing here?”

“Filing charges against you.”

He dropped his hand to his side and eyed both of them. “For what?”

“Embezzlement.”

The room fell silent. Suzanne and Cal watched him while he mulled it over.

Angus shook his head. “You can’t prove I embezzled anything. Judge Walker is a friend of mine. We get together at the club for a friendly game of poker once a month. He’s not going to take anybody’s word over mine.”

“Well,” Cal said, “the D.A. talked Judge Walker into signing off on an arrest warrant for you an hour ago.” Cal stood up. “Angus Rayburn, you’re under arrest. You have the right to remain—”

“Son, you aren’t arresting me.” Angus turned on his heel went toward the door. He grabbed the knob and opened it. Justin stood in his way on the other side.

When Angus turned around, Cal was right in front of him. Angus pointed a finger in his face. “You’re no son of mine.”

“I honestly wish that were true.”

With anger in his eyes, Angus looked at Suzanne. “You’ll regret this.” He looked back at Cal. “Consider yourself dead to me.”

Cal reached for him. Angus fisted his hands and took a swing. Cal leaned his upper body back out of his reach. From behind Angus, Justin grabbed him. Angus bent over, lifted Justin off his feet, and spun him around as he tried to get through the doorway. Cal tried to grab Angus’ arm. Angus growled as he threw Justin off his back and onto the floor. Angus barreled out of the office with Cal at his heels. Cal tackled him, and they both hit the floor.

The dispatcher jumped up, tossed his headset aside, and rounded his desk. Justin got to his feet and hurried into the lobby. Cal wrestled with Angus as he tried to get the handcuffs on him. The two deputies helped restrain him.

Cal cuffed him, stood up, and took a step back. The dispatcher and Justin lifted Angus off the floor and onto his feet.

Angus’ eyes were bloodshot with anger. His face was red, and his whole body shook. He looked at Cal and said through gritted teeth, “I’ll get out of this, and when I do, you and that bitch in there will pay. Now, I want my lawyer.”

74

“Would you like a beverage?” the flight attendant asked.

Raven looked up from her notepad, smiled, and shook her head. “No, thank you.”

As soon as she’d taken her seat on the plane, she had taken a notepad and pen out of her purse to work on her next novel. At least, she had tried to work. She couldn’t focus, because of what Ted had showed her earlier that morning. Her life would never be the same again. All of the lies and deception over the years was beyond her scope of understanding. And Cal—poor Cal, she knew he would never forgive her. And could she blame him? She pressed her lips together. Even she was guilty by omission.

Well, he’ll know in a few days.

She had at least a few days before he would find out. There would be lots of questions. Maybe he’d have her mother in custody by then. She had some questions that she wanted answered as well.