A Missing Suspect

DEAD AS A GIRDLE, our mystery/romance, continues with…

Chapter Nine

Ben tapped a pencil on his desk as he spoke into the phone. “I’m afraid I didn’t learn much, Sheriff. But somehow I can’t imagine Corrine Hackle killing my dad just because he wouldn’t liquidate the company and become her VP.”

“Sounds like a weak motive, all right.”

Ben pictured Sheriff Mike Horton on the other end of the line—sipping hot coffee, a big fan blowing on him, since the sheriff’s office in Greenvale had no air conditioning. But the fan wouldn’t move one hair of his graying crew cut. He was a big man, someone Ben wouldn’t want to meet on the wrong side of the law.

“So,” Sheriff Horton concluded. “We can’t really pin anything on Ms. Hackle. At least, not right now. On the other hand, your mother is still at large.”

Sitting up straight, Ben’s pencil snapped in two. “My mother didn’t kill him!”

“Have you heard from her recently?”

“Not yet.” His mom used to call him every few weeks from her home in Dallas, but she hadn’t called for a month. When he tried to call her, he got the answering machine, and that worried him. He seemed to have lost both parents. “I know my mom, Sheriff. She’s a good person—not the type to kill someone.”

“You’d be surprised how good people can turn bad.” Horton sounded matter-of-fact. “Jealousy has driven many a woman to kill her ex-husband. The fact is, your mother might have a number of motives to murder your father. I sent a deputy down to Dallas yesterday to look for her. He discovered an empty house that no one seems to be watching.”

“What? It’s empty?” Ben took a breath. “Did he talk to the neighbors?”

“Yep. Seven people in the neighborhood. We learned a few things.”

         Ben leaned forward. “What did they say?”

         “Well, one guy saw her put a suitcase in her car and take off about three weeks ago—two days before your dad was killed.”

Ben’s heart skipped a beat.

“So your mother could have driven up to Missouri, murdered your father, and then disappeared.” The sheriff cleared his throat. “Very incriminating that no one has heard from her since.”

This couldn’t be happening! “How about her pastor? He might know where Mom is.”

Sheriff Horton paused. “She goes to church?”

“Yes. I don’t remember the church name, but I think it’s Baptist.”

“Oh, that’s helpful.” Sarcasm oozed from the sheriff’s voice. “With a Baptist church on every corner in Texas, we’ll find her real fast.” The sound of paper rattled over the phone line. “I’ll call Reynolds, tell him to contact the Baptist churches down there. That will keep him busy.”

“I’d appreciate it, Sheriff. I have been worried about Mom.” Ben shook his head. “But she’s not the type to kill someone. She’s a good Christian who lives her faith.”

“Well, it probably wasn’t her.” The sheriff’s voice softened. “Listen, I’ll call you as soon as we find her pastor.” The papers rattled again. “Anything else?”

“No.” Ben picked up the broken pencil. “I just want to know who murdered my dad—and why.”

* * *

Tomorrow, we'll see what Janelle discovers.

Until then, God bless!