“And on a bad day?” I asked, not sure I wanted to hear the response.
“He’d cuss us out and threaten to throw us in jail for interfering in the official business of the law.” Jack grinned. “He’s not too fond of me, you see. I told Wanda Nell he’s jealous, because he’s had a thing for her for years, going back to when she was married to his best friend, Bobby Ray Culpepper.”
Even though it was none of my business, I was about to ask Jack what had happened to Wanda Nell’s first husband, but he saved me the trouble.
“Bobby Ray got himself murdered a few years ago. He and Wanda Nell were already divorced, and Elmer Lee had a big mad on over her dumping his best friend. He treated her like the chief suspect, but frankly I think the whole time he wanted her for himself. He was just too stubborn and too loyal to his dead best friend to do anything about it. He thought the world of Bobby Ray, who was, basically, a no-good good ol’ boy. He ran around on Wanda Nell most of the time they were married.”
Jack obviously didn’t think much of the late, unlamented Mr. Culpepper. Couldn’t say I blamed him, given what he’d told me. This was more than I really needed to know about his wife’s life, but I supposed it did help explain the sheriff’s potential attitude toward Jack and anyone associated with him.
“I have never understood men like that,” I said. “I know there are a lot of them out there, though. Look, about talking to the sheriff, it’s up to you. I’ll go along with what you think is best.”
Diesel, from his vantage point in the backseat, added his opinion. He meowed loudly. Jack laughed.
“Okay, I get the hint. Decision time. Let’s go talk to Elmer Lee,” Jack said. “The sheriff’s department is off the square in beautiful old downtown Tullahoma.”
“Off we go, then,” I said. “Just tell me how to get there.”
Jack gave me the directions, and in about ten minutes we pulled up in front of the sheriff’s department. We got out, and I took Diesel’s leash in hand.
“If he’s out of the office,” Jack said, “I’ll see if we can make an appointment with him for sometime today. I think it’s best to get this over with as soon as we can.”
“I agree.” Diesel and I followed Jack into the building. We hung back while Jack approached the desk and asked to talk to the sheriff. The woman at the desk picked up a phone and talked to someone. After about thirty seconds, she put down the receiver and nodded.
Jack turned and motioned for Diesel and me to join him. “We’re in luck,” Jack said, “he’s here and can see us now. Thanks, Thelma.” He smiled at the receptionist, and she grinned back at him.
“You’re welcome, Jack,” she said, batting her eyelashes at him. “Anytime.”
Jack chuckled, and I smiled at Thelma as we left the desk. Her eyes grew big when she finally caught sight of Diesel. I kept smiling and following Jack down a hallway.
He paused in front of an open door and knocked on the door frame. “Come on in,” a gruff-sounding voice said.
Jack entered, and Diesel and I went with him.
“Thanks for seeing us, Elmer Lee,” Jack said. “I know you’re busy, but we think this is important.” He stood aside and motioned me forward. “This is my colleague, Charlie Harris, and this is Diesel.”
Sheriff Johnson rose from behind his desk and walked around to shake my hand. Then, to my surprise, he squatted until his face was almost level with the cat’s. He held out a hand to Diesel and let him sniff. After a moment, Diesel butted his head against the hand, and the sheriff scratched the back of Diesel’s head. The cat responded with a couple of happy chirps. The sheriff rose from his squat and looked at me.
“I know who you are, Mr. Harris. Kanesha Berry has talked about you at the Mississippi Sheriffs’ Association meeting. I been knowing her for a few years. She speaks pretty highly of you.”
“I’m happy to hear that, Sheriff Johnson,” I said. “I would also like to thank you for talking with us this morning.”
Johnson nodded and moved back around his desk to resume his seat. He waved a hand to indicate that we should sit. Jack and I pulled chairs in front of the desk, and Diesel sat between us.
Johnson leaned back in his chair and regarded Jack. “So what is this all about, Jack? What have you got your nose stuck into this time?”
“The Barber case,” Jack said.
The sheriff’s eyes narrowed. “How come you got interested in that?”
“Perhaps I should explain,” I said. “I recently made the acquaintance of Bill Delaney.” I noticed that Johnson stiffened slightly at the mention of the name. He obviously recognized it immediately. “It turns out that his biological father was married to my late aunt. He apparently only found out who his father was when his mother, Sylvia Delaney, passed away recently.”
“Where is Delaney now?” Johnson asked.
“In the ICU in the Athena hospital.” I gave him a quick summary of the situation. “I haven’t had a chance to call the hospital to get an update since this morning when they told me he was still in stable condition. He’s in bad shape physically, though, so his long-term prognosis isn’t good.”
“Why are you so interested in the Barber case?” Johnson asked again.
“Because of Bill Delaney,” I replied. “I know he was suspected, but his mother gave him an alibi that no one could break.”
“That’s true,” Johnson said. “I was a young deputy at the time, and I worked on the case. His mama was a tough lady. Looked sweet as they come but tough. But again, why are you poking into this?”
How could I explain that I felt a responsibility toward Delaney because of my aunt? I wasn’t sure whether Johnson would buy it. I settled for a simpler answer. “I need to know the truth because of his connection to my family.”
Johnson shrugged. “Okay. So are y’all here to ask me questions about the case? What’s going on?”
“We have information that could help break the case, once and for all,” Jack said. “We’re ready to give it to you, but we want something in return.”
“What information could you possibly have?” Johnson sounded skeptical.
“Information about an alibi,” Jack said.
Johnson stared hard at both of us, his eyes narrowed again.
Jack continued, “In return for that, we want to know the details of the autopsies.”
Johnson laughed. “You don’t want much, do you? Do you seriously think I’m going to give you information like that?”
Jack sounded confident when he replied. “If you want to hear what we found out, you will.”
They looked like two combatants about to engage. All I could do was sit there with my cat and wait to see who emerged victorious.
THIRTY
Evidently Elmer Lee Johnson’s curiosity won out over his desire to deny Jack the information we wanted to barter. “All right, Jack, I’ll let you see the autopsy report.” The sheriff leaned forward and put his elbows on his desk. “So what’s this big new information about an alibi? You talking about Bill Delaney?”
“Yes,” Jack said. “Charlie and I came from interviewing the Delaneys’ next-door neighbor, Mrs. Cooper, and her son, Ronnie. Do you know them?”
Johnson snorted. “Everybody in town knows Ronnie Cooper and that expensive car of his. What did he have to say?”
“Not anywhere near as much as his mother did. That woman sure can talk,” I said. “But what Ronnie told us will probably surprise you.” Diesel meowed, and Johnson looked startled. Then he grinned.
“I heard that cat acts like he knows what you say.” Johnson shook his head. “Next thing you know, he’ll be reading a book. Okay, now, what did Ronnie Cooper tell you?”
“He heard—and saw—Bill Delaney leave the house that night around ten and come back a little after midnight,” Jack said.