Dead to Rights Read online

  Burt clasped his hands together. “Good. So, who are you folks, and what do you want to know about Isaiah Drake?”

  Cal offered his hand. “Cal Murphy, and this is my wife, Kelly,” he said as the two men shook. “We’re here on assignment from The Seattle Times. I’m writing a story about Drake. He’s close to running out of appeals, and my editor sent me down here to write a story about him and what’s happened in those dozen years since he was sentenced to death.”

  “Life has a funny way of stayin’ still in the swamp,” Burt said. “Time goes by, but there’s no tide around here to measure it by. We all seem stuck in our lot in life. Hell, if you hadn’t told me it’d been twelve years since they convicted Drake, I wouldn’t have known it.”

  “So, same ole, same ole?” Cal asked.

  “Pretty much. Avoid the Gators and find a job that can pay your bills. That’s how the people around here live their lives.” He turned around and gestured toward the patrons behind him, imbibing and laughing. “And find joy where you can. Life’s too short to be bitter about it all.”

  “Not everyone around here thinks like you,” Kelly said. “We’ve met a few who take an opposite perspective.”

  “I pity those people,” Burt said. “But you’re right—there are a few who haven’t yet learned that life is more than money and prestige. Those people fight for scraps at the table.”

  Cal took a swig of his sweet tea. “So, let’s talk about someone from here who didn’t have to fight for scraps when he left town.”

  Burt broke into a grin. “Ah, Isaiah Drake. He was poetry in motion. I loved watchin’ that kid run the football. It was like he was dancin’ through a minefield. Nobody could touch him. Still the most amazing athlete I’ve ever watched in person.”

  “What do you remember about the night of May 7, 2004?” Kelly asked.

  “It was a night I wish I could forget,” Burt said. “But I’ve been asked too many questions about it. It’s the one date that’s seared in my mind more than the day Betty decided to take our kids and split.”

  “Were you working here that night?” Cal asked.

  Burt nodded.

  Cal glanced at his notes. “And did you get any sort of strange vibe from Drake?”

  “Not really. He and his buddies looked like they were just here for a good time. Nothin’ out of the ordinary as far as I could see.”

  “What about Susannah Sloan? Was she here that night?” Kelly asked.

  “Oh, Susannah,” Burt said with a sing-song tone accompanied by a wry grin. “She wasn’t here that night. After she was assigned the position of county prosecutor, she almost stopped coming in here altogether. Didn’t want to fraternize with the enemy, I guess. But I knew her well from all the times before when she used to visit, especially when she was coming home from law school at the University of Georgia.”

  Kelly leaned forward on the table. “What can you tell us about her?”

  “She was a bright girl, a little on the flirtatious side, the type who always had to have a boyfriend. She was super friendly to everybody, which I think got her in trouble sometimes.”

  “How so?”

  “If she was nice to a guy, he’d start to think she liked him. Then Drake would have to lay down the law—at least that’s how it went down when the two of them were dating.”

  Cal wrote down a few more notes. “So, do you know what happened with her after she stopped coming here?”

  “Well, she never really stopped coming here.”

  Kelly furrowed her brow. “I thought you said—”

  Burt held up his hands. “Just during business hours. I used to let her in after we closed the place down and ran off the riffraff. She’d talk to me about all her problems. And if I let her drink long enough, she’d tell me about her romantic interests.”

  “Interests?” Kelly asked.

  “Like I said, she was real flirtatious and always found comfort in the arms of a guy. Of course, it never really lasted long—except for Drake . . . and Tanner.”

  “Who’s this Tanner character?” Cal asked as he jotted down the name.

  Burt chuckled. “Tanner Thomas, lawyer extraordinaire from Jacksonville. He specializes in personal injury lawsuits. Just a high-dollar ambulance chaser, if ya ask me. He has billboards all up and down I-95 around Jacksonville. I get so tired of seein’ his face when I’m on the Interstate I just wanna punch him in the mouth.” Burt stopped and shook his head. “What’s even worse is that while I’m drivin’ to Jacksonville, I sometimes get the treat of listenin’ to him as well with his obnoxious radio ads.”

  “But Susannah was drawn to him?”

  “Like flies to a pig pen. She couldn’t stay away. Guess he’s good lookin’ or somethin’.”

  “Wealthy?” Cal asked.

  “Stinkin’ filthy rich,” Burt said. “He’d sometimes fly up to Pickett from Jacksonville on his fancy jet. It didn’t take long before word got around that when that noisy airplane was landin’ at the county airfield, it was none other than Tanner Thomas. I think they tried to be discreet about their relationship or at least convince everyone it was just a professional one. Susannah even went as far as to tell people that his law firm was courting her. But the truth is it was just Tanner himself courting her. I guess after all his overtures, she just couldn’t resist. Hell, I just might go on a date with him too if he came to pick me up in a jet.”

  Cal and Kelly both laughed politely.

  “So, she was mulling over her options between Drake and Thomas?” Cal asked.

  “For the most part. One of her girlfriends told me that she met a new guy two weeks before she died, another lawyer in Jacksonville, some guy who played backup quarterback at the University of Florida before becoming a tort lawyer. It was probably nothin’. But for what it’s worth, I do remember my last conversation with her two nights before she was murdered.”

  “Did you tell the sheriff’s office about it?”

  “Nah, I didn't want to dish out any gossip before she was even in the ground.”

  “Will you tell us about it now?” Kelly asked.

  “Oh, I reckon,” Burt said. “But gimme a sec to check on that table over there.”

  Burt hustled across the dining room to another table where four men sat with empty glass mugs.

  “What do you make of this?” Kelly asked.

  “Love triangle gone wrong? Jealousy? It seems likely that one of her lovers had something to do with it.”

  “Looks like we’ve got some more people to check out.”

  “I’ve never even heard the name Tanner Thomas during the trial either. And I read just about every newspaper report I could get my hands on.”

  Burt returned to the table and sat down again.

  “Sorry about that. Duty calls. Can’t ignore some of my best customers.”

  Cal nodded. “So you were telling us about your last conversation with Susannah.”

  “Ah, yes. She got really drunk, and the truth elixir was workin’ overtime. That’s when she confessed that she was distraught about which man to pick. She slapped a pair of diamond rings down on the bar. I then asked her why it was so hard for her to pick Drake after she’d been datin’ him for so many years. That’s when she looked up at me and shook her head. I remember her exact words like it was yesterday: Burt, I’m not choosing between Drake and some other man. And that’s when I realized what was goin’ on. She had two marriage proposals and a promising career in law, so it was obvious she wasn’t interested in becoming arm candy for Drake just to be relegated to a player’s wife for the rest of her life.”

  “Did she tell you that or is that your own conclusion?” Kelly asked.

  “She basically said it, just not in those exact words. I can’t remember how she phrased it, but that was the first time I ever even considered that she might not marry Drake. I mean around here, a ring on the finger isn’t a done deal, but it might as well be.”

  “So, do you think Drake knew about all this?” Ca
l asked.

  “I didn’t tell him, if that’s what you’re gettin’ at,” Burt said. “It’s really none of my business even if people tell me their life story. Loose-lipped bartenders don’t get good tips in small towns.”

  “Could anyone else have told him?”

  Burt shrugged. “It’s possible. Susannah’s love life wasn’t some state secret, but it wasn’t common knowledge either. She did her best to remain discreet about what she was doing. As far as I could tell, she wanted to milk her sugar daddy for as long as possible. He’d just bought her a nice car and a huge ring, not to mention always sending her gifts.”

  Another customer across the room yelled for Burt.

  “Duty calls.”

  “Well, you’ve been most helpful,” Cal said, shaking Burt’s hand. “Thanks for your time.”

  Burt nodded. “If it wasn’t Drake, I hope you figure out who the bastard is who did this. It’s been a deep wound in this town for a long time now.”

  “I’m taking this assignment very seriously; that much you can count on,” Cal said.

  ***

  A HALF HOUR LATER, Cal and Kelly got into their car and started heading toward the Okefenokee Inn just outside of town near one of the entrances to the park. The sun slipped away on the horizon as dusk turned to nightfall.

  “What do you think?” Cal asked Kelly as he glanced at her.

  With wide eyes, she shook her head. “I really don’t know. If I had to make a decision based off what we just learned from Burt, I’d say Drake did it. He had a strong motive, means, and opportunity.”

  “Even with all the other shady activities taking place, like Sheriff Sloan? And the possibility that one of the other men Susannah was dating knew about what was going on?”

  “That’s where it gets tricky.”

  Cal gazed at the road ahead. “It’s further complicated by the fact that Sheriff Sloan was in charge of the investigation. I think any reasonable law enforcement official would perform due diligence in such an investigation. It’s apparent that wasn’t the case here.”

  Kelly nodded. “True, but that doesn’t mean he got the wrong guy.”

  Before Cal could protest, he lurched forward in his seat.

  What the—

  Cal glanced in his rearview mirror to see the grill of a large white truck pulling back.

  “Cal!” Kelly screamed.

  Their car started to veer off the road. Cal resisted the urge to yank the steering wheel back in the opposite direction. Instead, he gradually guided the car off a soft shoulder and back onto the road. Once he regained control, he looked up in time to see the truck roar past him.

  Kelly had her camera out and was focusing on the truck.

  Cal stomped on the gas, but couldn’t make up any ground on the truck that was racing down the road.

  “Leave it, Cal. He obviously wasn’t trying to kill us, just scare us.”

  “Did you get his license plate number?” Cal asked.

  Kelly stared at the display screen on the back of her camera. “Sure did.”

  “Good. We need to visit Sheriff Sloan first thing tomorrow morning,” Cal said. “He’s gonna get an earful from me.”

  CHAPTER 9

  WHEN CAL WOKE UP on Wednesday morning, he stepped onto the small porch from his second story room in the Okefenokee Inn. His view consisted of a forested area that included some marshland. The burgeoning sunlight trickled through the thick canopy, casting a warm glow on the raw nature scene in front of him. A pair of white ibises waded into the swamp, pecking at the water in search of food. The birds’ actions mesmerized Cal so much that he didn’t notice the bloody carcass of a deer lying at the water’s edge or the man cleaning it up.

  “Hello there,” the man called to Cal.

  Taken aback, Cal jumped. “Oh, hello,” he said, trying to remain composed. “I didn’t see you down there.”

  “But ya saw what Gus did last night, didn’t ya?” the man said, gesturing toward the dead deer.

  “I guess so,” Cal said, leaning forward on the railing to get a closer look. “Who’s Gus?”

  “Gus is our resident gator, though he isn’t always so friendly.”

  Cal laughed nervously. “That’s funny. I don’t remember reading about him on the website.”

  The man chuckled as he shoveled the deer into a thick plastic back.

  “There isn’t exactly a place to list dangerous exotic animals when you’re filling out all your information for those websites. Besides, Gus would never hurt a human.”

  “Guess I’ll have to take your word for it.”

  The man laughed again. “This is the Okefenokee, Mister. It’s a beautiful place, but it’s still very wild. Anything can happen out here—and I mean anything.”

  “Except for Gus eating another human being.”

  “There’s always a first time for everything.”

  Cal’s eyes widened as he waved at the man and returned to his room.

  “Making some new friends?” Kelly asked as she emerged from the bathroom.

  “More like trying to avoid some four-legged ones.”

  She cocked her head to one side. “Such as?”

  “Gus the Gator. Step outside if you want to check out his handiwork from last night. He mauled a deer.”

  “Right below our window?”

  Cal nodded.

  ***

  WHEN CAL AND KELLY stepped into the Pickett County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Sloan was standing behind the counter and leaning on it while he perused a stack of papers attached to a clipboard. He didn’t look up when they entered as he remained fixated on the reports in his hand.

  “Morning, Sheriff,” Cal said. “I need to report a crime.”

  Sloan didn’t acknowledge him.

  “It’s best not to bother him until he’s downed at least two cups of coffee,” the woman at the front desk said.

  “I don’t think you understand. We need to report a crime.”

  Still entranced by the papers in front of him, Sloan finally spoke. “Let Betty fill out the paperwork for you. I’m sure it was a terrible crime. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a busy day ahead.”

  Kelly stamped her foot. “We were almost killed last night, Sheriff. The least you can do is hear us out. I’m sure you don’t want everyone finding out what a dangerous place Pickett County is.”

  Sloan finally looked up. “Our crime numbers speak for themselves.”

  “Is this a game to you, Sheriff?” Cal asked. “Because it isn’t to us. Last night, a white pickup truck with the license plate of PFB5661 tried to run us off the road. I swerved onto the shoulder and was fortunate to regain control and avoid an accident.”

  Sloan laughed softly and shook his head. “Sounds like you met Jacob Boone yesterday.”

  “So you know who this punk is who almost killed us?” Kelly asked.

  Sloan nodded slowly. “Yeah, everybody around here knows who Jacob is. He’s a few cows short of a herd, if ya know what I mean.”

  “You’re not gonna do anything about it?” Kelly asked.

  “Probably not. He’s a pain in the ass, but if your vehicle isn’t damaged, there’s really no use in it. It’d be more of a hassle than it’s worth.”

  Kelly glared at him. “I can’t believe this.”

  Cal put his arm around her in an attempt to calm her down.

  “Is it a common practice in Pickett County to gloss over crimes or just ignore them altogether—or maybe even refuse to question the veracity of one’s claims?” Cal asked.

  Sloan narrowed his eyes and stared at Cal.

  “Just what exactly are you insinuating, Mr. Murphy? That I’m ignoring criminal activity? Or that I’m guilty of committing it?”

  “Both.”

  “Those are lofty claims. Care to elaborate?”

  “You’re obviously ignoring the fact that someone in your town almost killed us, someone who must be such a constant nuisance that you know his license plate number by heart and�
��”

  “It’s a small town.”

  Cal kept going, “And when we were going through the logs on the night of May 7, 2004, we found that you actually logged out of the office, even though you told us that you never left. In fact, you were out of the office between nine-thirty and eleven that evening. I’m sure you remember what happened during that time.”

  “I think it’s high time you leave this office, Mr. and Mrs. Murphy—and all of Pickett County, too,” Sloan said. “We don’t have time for the kind of trouble you’re trying to bring to this town.”

  Cal didn’t flinch. “Interesting. You didn’t even deny it. I guess the logs are true. I wonder what a judge would think about this information coming to light, especially from the sheriff who supposedly conducted the murder investigation.”

  “That's enough,” Sloan growled as he pointed toward the door. “Out now.”

  Cal eyed Sloan closely. “Remember, it’s always better to give your side of the story than to leave the truth up to conjecture. Or is that what you’re hoping will happen? Conjecture doesn’t hold up very well in a court of law, does it?”

  Sloan kept his arm stiff, pointing toward the door. “I said now.”

  “We’ll be seeing you around, Sheriff,” Cal said.

  CHAPTER 10

  CAL AND KELLY HUSTLED down the street toward the Pickett County Courthouse in silence. It wasn’t until they’d traveled a block before Kelly spoke.

  “I think that went over well,” Kelly said.

  Cal sighed as he kept walking. “That probably wasn’t the best idea to confront him right then, but I couldn’t help it.”

  “Sheriff Sloan’s absence during that time certainly doesn’t look good. Wonder what he was trying to hide?”

  Cal shrugged. “It could’ve been a number of things, but it was something. He didn’t just pop out for a late dinner and lie about it.”

  They finally reached the courthouse and hustled up the steps. Once inside, they spoke with one of the clerks.

  “Hi, my name is Cal Murphy, and I submitted a records request a week ago,” Cal said as he pushed his driver’s license through the small slit beneath the window.