A Flicker of Doubt - Tim Myers [75]
“It’s up in my office. Why did he want that?’
“Becka found out Runion was dumping barrels of chemicals on Cyrus’s land, and she was trying to turn him in. He got wind of it, so he killed her.” I stared at Morton. “He admitted it to me, sheriff.”
Morton shook his head as the ambulance sped off. “Harrison, I’m sorry. What can I say? I dropped the ball on this one. Is that all you have for me? I’ve got his weapon, and Markum told me Runion took a couple of shots at you up on the roof. If nothing else, we can get him for attempted murder and assault for what he did to you and Cyrus. Harrison, you should get that cheek looked at”
“It barely scratched me,” I said as I watched Jeanie’s expression. She looked absolutely ecstatic that I hadn’t said anything about the money to the sheriff.
Morton was just about to his cruiser when I called out, “One more thing you should know.”
“What’s that?”
I pointed at Jeanie. “He kidnapped her, too, but she’s not entirely innocent here. If you search her, you’ll find the number for a secret bank account worth two million dollars, jammed with money that rightfully belongs to Grover and Cyrus. She was getting ready to steal it for herself when Runion caught her.”
“You fool,” Jeanie said as she launched herself at me. She never made it Markum grabbed her shoulders and restrained her, then Morton took over from there. “You could have been rich, you idiot,” she snarled.
“It wouldn’t have been worth it if I had to keep looking over my shoulder for you every second of the rest of my life,” I said. “Thanks, but no thanks.”
Morton shoved her in the back of the patrol car. “What say you come downtown with me and we’ll talk about this?”
“I didn’t do anything,” she screamed.
“Not from a lack of trying,” the sheriff said.
After they were gone, Markum said, “You’ve had a busy night, haven’t you? It’s not every man who could turn down a million dollars like that.”
“You would have, though, wouldn’t you?”
Markum thought about it a moment then said, “Let’s just say I’m glad I wasn’t the one she offered it to.”
Chapter 21
Ruth Nash came by the candleshop the next day. “I understand you had some excitement out here last night.”
Too much for me,” I said, touching the bandage on my cheek. I didn’t want to think about what might have happened if that bullet had hit me a few inches over. As it was, I’d endured a tetanus shot at the hospital, but it hadn’t required stitches. “Have they told you what Runion was doing on your brother’s land?”
“I’ve been on the telephone with the Environmental Protection Agency all morning. I finally found someone with enough authority to look into it and they now reluctantly admit they received Becka’s information and were getting ready to act on it.”
“Do you believe them?” I asked her.
“I do, since my favorite congressman happens to be on the Ways and Means committee. They’ll have a team here by nightfall, and clean-up should begin by morning.”
“Harrison, you’ll have your park before you know it, I promise you that. It’s the least I can do, given all you’ve done for us.”
Ruth startled me by offering a hug. I stepped into her arms, held her for a full minute and then she released me. She said, “If you’re ever in West Virginia, I hope you visit us. It’s beautiful country up there, too, you know.”
“If I can ever take a few days off, I might just take you up on that.”
“You’re always welcome in my home, Harrison. Cyrus is waiting out in the limousine. He’d like a moment of your time, if you can spare it.”
“You know it,” I said, and I followed her outside. Cyrus looked good sitting in the back of the car, though he had a blanket wrapped around his waist. I gave him my hand, and he did his best to give a firm shake in return.
“I don’t know what to say,” Cyrus said.
“Just say you’re coming back someday,” I said. “That’s all I need.”
“Thank you,” he said simply.
“You’re welcome,” I replied.
We locked gazes, then he said, “Ruth, are you quite ready? If we’re driving, let’s do it now.”