Chapter 14
The scent of grilling burgers wafted in the air. Blake flipped them over and closed the lid to the grill. He glanced at Drew,
who had paced the backyard after the explosive discussion with Booker Lewis and then Bea. Paradise sat on the deck reading
a story to the boys, while his mother finished making potato salad to go with the meal.
They all appeared a little shell-shocked. Even his mother had been taken aback at Booker’s bombshell and Bea’s refusal to
provide more information. They all turned to stare at Drew when his phone rang. Maybe it was the report on the Davises’ finances,
though they’d all thought it might be hard to track that down over twenty years after the fact.
Drew’s expression was grim, and he talked in a voice too low for Blake to make out. Paradise finished the picture book and
set it aside. The boys scampered over to the swings, and she descended the steps to stand by Blake. “Can you hear what’s happening
with Drew?”
He shook his head. “Whatever it is, it doesn’t appear to be what he’d hoped to hear. You okay?”
She slipped her arms around his waist and leaned against his chest. “We knew it was a tangled web, but we didn’t know just how convoluted it was going to become.”
“I’m praying Bea’s conscience starts bothering her and she tells us what she knows. She was clearly terrified. Maybe we should
be scared too.”
“Why would Drew’s father ask Gerald to protect Mom? And that brings up my next question of whether Dad would have been killed
too if he’d been gone. Mom appears to have been the target.”
Blake rested his chin on top of her head. “We don’t know who was killed first. Did the killer hit your mom first, then your
dad came in and was collateral damage?”
Her arms tightened around his waist. “I’m ready to get life back to normal. I hate that you’re sleeping on the sofa again.
Drew and I could go to my place, and you could take back your apartment.”
“Drew and I both think it’s safer to all be together until the danger to you has passed. Besides, if the goal is to keep the
truth of the murders hidden, Drew is likely in as much danger as you. He’s safer here than by himself at your place.”
Paradise nodded. “I suppose so.”
“I don’t mind sleeping on the sofa.” It wasn’t the most comfortable spot, but he’d slept on the ground in Afghanistan often
enough while stationed overseas. Being near enough to protect the woman he loved was worth sleeping on a wire rack. “I’d better
flip the burgers.” He kissed her and stepped away when she let go of him. “Want to grab the buns? These burgers are ready
to come off. The hot dogs are done too.”
She wheeled toward the door. “I’m on it.”
Drew had finished his call and strode toward Blake with his jaw set and his eyes narrowed.
He spared a glance at his sister and waited to speak until she returned with the plate of buns.
“The bank doesn’t keep financial records that far back.
By law they have to keep them seven years, but some hang on to them internally for longer periods.
This bank kept them for ten years, but that’s still not long enough. ”
“What about tax records?” Paradise asked.
Drew blew out a huff of air. “Same situation. The IRS only keeps them seven years.”
“What’s next?” Paradise asked.
“I’ll talk to Adams and see if he knows anything. And we can move on to the next item on our list.” He consulted a note on
his phone. “My partner found an address for the PI, William Fletcher. Seems to still be a PI, though he’s got to be in his
seventies.”
“Road trip?” she asked.
Her brother nodded. “In person would be best, and he’s in Pascagoula so that’s an hour and a half away.”
Blake put the burgers on the buns. “When do you want to go?”
“As soon as possible. Tomorrow if we can.”
Drew wasn’t letting any grass grow under his feet. Blake nodded. “I’d like to have Mason send a drone over Creed’s property
and see if he’s behind the leopard scares targeting Paradise, but we wouldn’t have to be here for that.”
“Works for me,” Paradise said.
“Before we go, I’ll make sure Fletcher will be around. I have his number.” Drew held his phone to his ear and walked a few
feet away.
“I haven’t been to Pascagoula in ages,” she said. “I wish there was time to enjoy the trip.”
“What would you like to do there?”
“I’d go to the lighthouse and maybe get pictures of the boys under the Gateway Oak. The town has probably changed a lot since we were in our teens. Remember when we went with your mom and you gave me that plastic ring?”
“How could I forget?” He’d thought she’d pushed it out of her memory along with so many other things. “You kissed me for the
first time on the Ferris wheel.”
She poked him with her elbow. “I remember it very differently. You kissed me, and I thought for sure it was over because I was so surprised I couldn’t figure out how to kiss you back.”
He chuckled. “Oh, you knew how just fine. I was ready for seconds but was afraid to scare you off.”
“I still had that plastic ring until my cabin caught fire five months ago.”
“Really?” A plan began to form. What if he gave her the real ring in Pascagoula? It would take some arranging to get pictures
and the family involvement he knew she’d love, but it would be worth it to bring their relationship full circle.
Drew turned. “No go for tomorrow, guys. Fletcher’s in California and won’t be back until late Sunday evening. I snagged a
lunch appointment on Monday though. Let’s talk to Mr. Phillips instead. And I still want to talk to Lloyd Adams.”
Which would give Blake time to make those plans.
It felt like every prisoner in the place was staring at them. While Blake tugged on his collar, Drew didn’t appear to be uncomfortable
at the jail in Bay Minette. Blake assumed he was used to interviewing suspects as part of his job.
They waited on their side of the glass for Adams. It wasn’t long before the man came through the door with a guard. His light brown hair was stringy and greasy. He took a seat and grabbed the phone with a meaty hand. Drew reached for the one on their side.
Adams’s gaze went from Blake to Drew and puzzlement lingered in his hazel eyes. “You look like Paradise.”
Drew stared back. “I’m her brother.”
“Didn’t know she had one. Where were you when she needed a home?”
“I didn’t know about her then. I’m Detective Drew Bartley, and I have some questions for you.”
“Can’t say I have answers.”
Blake clenched his fists and wished he could smash one into the man’s insolent face. Jail hadn’t improved Adams’s attitude.
Blake drew a deep breath and resolved not to let his anger control him. Drew knew how to handle men like this.
“You know Bea Davis.”
Adams snorted. “Doesn’t sound like a question. Everyone knows Bea.”
“Why were you at her house before you landed in here?”
Anger flashed in Lloyd’s face, and he let out a string of curses. “So now it’s against the law to visit an old friend? She
and the sheriff were best friends with me and my wife for thirty years. I was just checking in while I was in town. And she’s
always been good about helping me out on occasion.”
“We know you were trying to get information about Paradise. Was there any other reason you were at Bea’s house?”
A crafty expression lurched onto Lloyd’s face. “I don’t have to tell you anything.”
“No, you don’t, but I can let law enforcement know you cooperated in an ongoing investigation.” Drew stood. “But that’s fine.
Go back to your cell if you don’t want to help us out.”
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t help. What’s this all about?”
“We’re investigating the deaths of Paradise’s parents,” Blake said.
“I never met them so I can’t really give you any information.”
Blake could tell this wasn’t going anywhere. Paradise was right. “Bea’s husband was the sheriff when it happened. She led
us to believe he was having an affair with Paradise’s mother, Becky. It wasn’t true. If you were such good friends, maybe
you know why she’d tell us that.”
Amusement crinkled Lloyd’s crow’s-feet. “You’d better look elsewhere. It’s all your fault I’m in here. Yours and hers.”
What a dud of an interview. Their time was up, and the men walked to the parking lot in silence. The fresh air cleared away
the stink of the jail.
A truck rumbled by, and Wade Greene’s eyes went wide when he spotted them. He turned around at the next drive and drove in
beside them. Smiling, Wade got out and walked toward Blake with his hand out. “I was on my way to the clerk’s office and couldn’t
believe my eyes when I spotted you. I’ve been meaning to stop over and see you, buddy. Thanks for coming to Elowen’s rescue
the other day. That was a tight spot, and I couldn’t get to her.”
Blake gripped his hand, and Wade clapped him on the shoulder. Drew came around to join them, and Blake introduced him to Wade.
“We were glad to be able to help. King Julien is doing well now. He’s enjoying being with other lemurs.”
Wade’s smile faded. “Creed was livid. Our relationship has been strained for a long time, but I’d guess it’s beyond repair
for the moment.”
“I’m sorry. He came by demanding the lemur back, but we refused. Julien was in a bad way, and we couldn’t do it. Rod backed
us up, and the state gave us custody.”
“Glad to hear it. Since we aren’t speaking, Creed hasn’t updated me on the lemur’s situation. He sure hates you guys.”
“Do you know why? We’ve never been able to figure it out. It all started when he made a pass at Paradise and she turned him
down. When that activist Danielle Mason was found murdered on our property, he was determined to find me guilty.”
Wade shook his head. “We had different fathers, and his was awful. Creed showed up after visits with bruises and injuries,
but Mom was never able to get those visits stopped. He has always taken his unhappiness out on other people. Any slight has
to be punished forever. If Paradise rejected him, he’ll never forget it. You’re likely collateral damage and lumped in with
her. Try not to take it personally. Just stay out of his way and hope he moves on to another victim.”
“Kind of hard to do when he keeps showing up to investigate.”
Wade’s gaze swung to Drew. “You have to be related to Paradise.”
“I’m her brother. I’m in town helping her try to find out who killed our parents, and someone seems determined to drive us
away,” Drew said. “Maybe once we get to the bottom of the murders, there won’t be any incidents Creed has to check out. If
he comes to the park again, I’ll handle him.”
But Drew had no authority in Alabama, and Blake couldn’t see Creed backing down. They’d have to deal with him until this was
over.