"Then you better do it. That way when you leave the resort, everyone will agree it was for the best. Half the town already knows you're crazy. If you go to the newspaper with that asinine story, it will confirm it for the other half."
"Going to the paper will make everyone adore me even more than they already do."
Carl puckered his lips and rolled his eyes. “Sure it will."
"When I tell everyone Lon helped me solve the case, maybe he'll be elected sheriff. Heaven knows he deserves it."
With a quick side glance, Carl said, “What does Lon have to do with this?"
"If you hadn't been so nasty over the years, maybe he wouldn't be so eager to prove it was murder."
Sadie beamed, tipped her head, and toyed with an anchor earring. “I haven't had this much fun in years. I've got you right where I want you. Actually, I've never wanted you. But seeing you this uncomfortable is better than sex."
"That's it,” Carl shouted. He pressed the call button on the speaker attached to his shoulder. “Angie? I'm on the east end of Nordeen Point. Send a cruiser to pick me up."
Static blared through the speaker as Angie said, “You're where?"
As Carl pressed the button to repeat his location, Sadie said, “The rim on Richard's tire has a bullet hole in it."
Carl released the button. “What?"
"Well not actually a bullet hole, but evidence a bullet struck the rim. Lon's friend towed the car from the junk yard to his garage and found an indentation on the rim. They went back to the scene of the accident and did a thorough search."
Thrilled that she had piqued Carl's curiosity, Sadie continued, “They searched the area this time as if it had been a crime scene. They gathered the rubber tire shreds you didn't even bother to look for."
Dropping down on the top step, Carl leaned his head against a support pole and closed his eyes.
"They tested the rubber shreds and found traces of lead fragments. And you know what else they found?” Sadie watched Carl's right eyelid pop open. “They used a metal detector and found some shell casings. Lon said they were able to match the casings and fragments to the type of rifle used to fire the shot."
Releasing a deep sigh, Carl stared straight ahead. “It's a Winchester.300 Win Mag, isn't it?"
Clapping her hands together, Sadie said, “Give that man a prize. Isn't it peculiar Paul owns the same type of rifle? Lon also told me it was the same type you use when you compete in contests. He even said Paul's rifle was in your possession more often than it was locked up in Paul's gun cabinet."
Grabbing the support bar and pulling on it, Carl said, “Now wait just a second. If you think I had something to do with Richard's murder, you're wrong. Dead wrong."
"Murder? You're admitting it was murder?” Sadie jabbed a finger toward him. “That's what I needed to hear.” Pointing toward the seat next to the passenger door, Sadie said, “Sit. Now we're going to barter."
Carl stared at his feet. “What do you want?"
Smoothing the fabric on her shorts and tugging at her shirt hem, Sadie wagged her head in contemplation. “Here's exactly what I want. If you drop the lawsuit against us, I won't go to the newspaper. I'll even let you be the hero for solving the case. That, of course, comes with the stipulation you stop harassing Lon. He didn't rough up that guy last summer, you did."
"I'm going to take credit for solving this case by myself,” Carl said, before Sadie could draw a breath and start her next sentence. “No one would ever believe you were capable of solving it."
"Lon's ready to back me up. He'll tell everyone I was the one who came forward with the proof and you failed to find the evidence. And don't forget you're Paul's partner. If Paul committed fraud, and if news gets out that you're in cahoots with him, you'll not only lose the election, you'll lose your job. You'll be named as an accessory."
Grinning, Sadie said, “Don't you just love those legal words? Lon educated me on what to tell the authorities in case anything happens to him."
"You bitch,” Carl muttered under his breath.
"Now was that nice?” Sadie bent down to gaze into his face.
"It fits."
"It may fit, but you forgot to put ‘clever’ in front of it. Once Lon listened to me, it didn't take long for him to locate the evidence. The hard part was finding information on Paul's business holdings and tracking down his cash flow."
Sadie smiled at Carl's discomfort. “Don't look so surprised. Did you really think he'd stop digging once he had proof the tire was shot? Once he discovered that, he couldn't wait to look deeper into Paul's business holdings. What excited him most was finding your name buried deep within Paul's corporate records."
"That doesn't prove I was involved."
Gesturing with an open palm, Sadie said, “It also doesn't prove you weren't involved. Or that you weren't aware of what was going on. I would guess being a silent partner is enough to sway people's vote."
"How do I know I can trust you?"
"You don't. That's the beauty of it,” Sadie said. “I've got you either way. If you take the resort away from us, I'll go to the press and your career will be over. If you agree to drop your lawsuit now, but try to get the resort at a later date,” Sadie explained as she reached into her purse, “I've got a signed copy from Lon verifying your silent partnership with Paul and my involvement in solving the case."
Sadie waved the folded paper under his nose. “I'm not stupid. I've got copies in my safety deposit box. You might end up owning the resort, but you won't be able to enjoy it from prison."
She tucked the sheets back in her purse. “Don't forget there'll always be a record of your involvement in Paul's corporation. It might interest you that a client of Paul's who was cheated out of money is Mrs. Fading Sun. Does that name ring a bell? You wouldn't want the diversity crusaders to find out you're Paul's partner."
"Oh, and one more thing,” Sadie said. “There's no guarantee I've told you everything. Maybe I've got a little tidbit tucked away for safekeeping."
Sadie turned the key in the ignition. “I expect you to be at my cabin by ten o'clock tomorrow morning with a signed statement indicating you've agreed to drop the lawsuit. If you're not on time, I'll go to the newspaper and tell them what I know."
Carl closed his eyes in resignation.
"My favorite restaurant is Yerry's on the Bay. I believe a gift certificate for three dinners will be an adequate apology for all that nasty name-calling you did earlier."
31
Sounds of laughter and rejoicing drifted from the cabin as Jane, Sadie, and Mr. Bakke hugged and offered congratulations to one another on their pending victory.
"What if Carl backs out? What if he decides to go to the newspaper by himself?” Jane said.
"From what Sadie told us, I'd bet Carl's dropping the lawsuit as we speak.” Mr. Bakke pulled Jane to his side and kissed her cheek.
Sadie bobbed her head from side to side as she danced an impromptu jig by the kitchen sink. She held a hand out to Theo to join her as she celebrated.
Theo reached for her hand, grasped it, and held it to his lips. After placing a gentle kiss on her knuckles, he said, “To quote our eloquent friend, Rodney, you're one hell of a broad.” He twirled her around the room, dipped her in a graceful sweep, and escorted her to the table. He bowed low as she took her seat.
"Will wonders never cease?” Sadie said. “Theo just complimented me."
"He did?” Jane said.
"He did.” Sadie relished in the glow of Theo's compliment, a hard-won morsel of praise.
"Who else is here?” Mr. Bakke asked.