Peg’s voice was gentle. “Johnny, it simply can’t be. She’s been so ill and weak. It was a struggle for her to go up and down the stairs.”
Johnny’s face set in stubborn lines. “She knew me. She called me Johnny and she said she was glad I’d done well at the police academy. She knew my mom. She had on this black mink coat. And she didn’t look a bit sick. She looked the way she did when we were kids. Anyway, the lady who was with her will confirm that it was Mrs. Flynn. She and the lady had been to a sick friend’s house. The other lady was young and real pretty.”
I smiled at Johnny. What a sweetheart.
“The other lady had red hair, really bright red. Mrs. Flynn said she was visiting over Christmas.”
Detective Sergeant Price drew a small notebook from his back pocket, flipped it open. He looked at Jake. “I’d appreciate the name of Mrs. Flynn’s friend. It will help sort out what happened this evening with the car.”
Jake fumbled with her shawl. “Susan didn’t have a friend with red hair.”
Peg’s eyes squinted in thought. “There’s Midge Baker.”
Jake sniffed. “Midge isn’t a real redhead. Auburn and plenty of gray.” She turned toward Johnny. “Was this a real redhead?”
“Yes, ma’am.” His reply was swift. “Curls red as fire and green eyes and she had a friendly smile.”
Honestly, what a sweetheart.
Peg turned her hands up. “I can’t imagine who it could be. No one has been to see Susan over the holidays. Several people called and Susan said to tell them she wasn’t feeling up to visitors. Anyway, none of them are redheads.”
Price closed the notebook. “That’s interesting. We’ll have a sketch made, try to identify her.”
Gina twirled a long strand of dark hair between a thumb and forefinger. “Maybe I’m not quick, but I think there’s a disconnect here. Johnny”—she nodded toward Officer Cain—“told us what happened the first time he stopped Jake’s car. Does that mean he stopped her car a second time?”
“The first time Mrs. Flynn said she was sorry about going too fast and I gave her a warning ticket. The car went on.” Johnny’s face was strained. “About forty minutes later I was parked on the shoulder of Persimmon Hill with my lights off, the motor idling. You know how kids go flat out down the hill because it’s the steepest one in the county. A car came over the rise and took off hell-for-leather down the slope. I turned on my lights and gunned the cruiser. The car swerved big-time, like somebody had jerked the wheel. I thought there was going to be a crash. The car whipped back and forth across the road but somehow it didn’t go into a full spin—”
No thanks to Wiggins. I felt I’d managed a nice piece of driving.
“—and slid to a stop just past the bridge.”
Gina leaned forward, intent. “Now we’re getting somewhere. You stopped the car and it turned out to be Jake’s Ford. Who was driving?”
Johnny moved uncomfortably. “The redheaded woman was at the wheel. I caught a glimpse of her hair and her fur coat, kind of a light golden brown one. I didn’t see anybody else.” He licked his lips, swallowed. “By the time I got to the car window, she was gone. I looked everywhere. I didn’t find a trace of her. I searched the car and there wasn’t anybody in it, not in front or back or in the trunk.”
“That’s crazy,” Jake exclaimed. “You must have been awfully slow getting there.”
Johnny flushed. “I got there quick. I don’t know where she went or how she got out of the car. The door never opened.” He looked haunted.
As well he might, poor sweetie. But I didn’t see what other choice I could have made.
Peg looked troubled. “The redhead must have already brought Susan home.”
Gina’s brows drew down in a questioning frown. “That doesn’t make sense. Why would this woman still have the car?”
Jake was aggrieved. “Susan certainly was welcome to drive my car, though I don’t believe the driver the first time was Susan. She was too sick. Besides, Susan wouldn’t let some stranger take my car without even a word to me.”
Price gave her a level look. “We have a great deal to find out, including where Mrs. Flynn was going when she was first stopped and the identity of the red-haired woman who apparently was alone in the car on Persimmon Hill. We’ll hope to make progress tomorrow. If it is agreeable”—he spoke with a calm assumption of acceptance—“Chief Cobb will meet with you here at two o’clock this afternoon. Are there any others who were in contact with Mrs. Flynn yesterday?”
After a moment’s silence, Peg said abruptly, “We had a family dinner last night. My cousin Tucker Satterlee was here and Susan’s husband’s cousin Harrison Hammond and his wife Charlotte.” She looked bleak. “And a friend of mine, Dave Lewis. He’s staying at his brother’s house. Everett Lewis on Peace Pipe Lane.”
Price quickly obtained addresses and phone numbers. “We’ll be in touch with them and”—he glanced at Jake—“with your permission we will include them in the meeting with Chief Price.”
“None of them were here after midnight”—Jake looked puzzled—“but ask them if you want to.”
Gina looked thoughtful. “Detective Price, you said Jake’s car is being fingerprinted and searched. Was that ordered before you came here and discovered Susan’s body?”
“Yes.”
“Is that routine procedure for an abandoned car?”
Price’s cool blue eyes accorded her a quick respect. “Only because of attendant circumstances.”
“Attendant circumstances?” she pressed.
“During Officer Cain’s search for the driver, loud voices were heard, a shouted conversation between a man and a woman. At one point the woman cried, ‘Murder.’ Officer Cain mounted a search, but he was only one man. There are woods and ravines along the road. When reinforcements arrived, the decision was made to speak with Mrs. Flynn since she was earlier seen with the redheaded woman.” He gave a short nod. “Chief Cobb will bring you up to date on the investigation when he meets with you.” He turned to go.
Johnny moved forward. “Sir, Miss Satterlee earlier asked to make a telephone call. Is it all right for her to do so now?”
Price turned toward Gina. “Miss Satterlee, thank you for helping us follow procedure. Certainly at this time you are free to make any calls you wish.” He looked at Johnny. “I’d like a word with you, Officer.” Price jerked his head toward the hall.
The two men stepped into the foyer, moved out of vision of the living room. A low murmur sounded.
I moved to the foyer and hovered above Detective Sergeant Price and Johnny Cain.
Price spoke softly to Johnny. “Keep talking. Repeat the story about stopping the car.” Price edged nearer the doorway, head cocked, listening.
I, too, was curious about Gina’s call. I returned to the living room.
“Throw me your cell, Jake.” Gina held out her hand.
Jake fished in her purse. “Should you call Tucker this late?” She tossed the phone.
Gina caught the small pink plastic oblong. She didn’t answer. She flipped up the lid, punched a number.
“I suppose I’d better call Harrison when you finish.” Jake sounded desperately weary.
I perched on the broad arm of the sofa quite close to Gina, close enough to see the dark shadows beneath her eyes, the stiffness of her face, the tight set of her shoulders. She took a deep breath. “Tucker…”
I popped to Burnt Creek.
CHAPTER TEN
A dim glow marked a second-story window in the frame Victorian ranch house.
Tucker Satterlee, groggy with sleep, held a portable phone as he swung over the edge of the bed. His dark curls were tangled. He blinked sleepily. The low-wattage light from the lamp on the bedside table was flattering to the slender young woman clutching a sheet to her bare shoulders. “Who’s calling? What’s happened?” Her voice was shrill.