Poison Branches Read online

  Cora spun around, “Yes! Oh, my goodness, I just don’t know what to think. Susan works over in the court building. She came over to tell me and Jennifer, Jennifer works here with me, about Amy Barrow being found dead in the old cemetery. I guess they are saying she was killed, because the man who found her said it wasn’t natural. I just don’t know what to think. This is scary”

  “Did you know her well?” asked Nina.

  “Well enough to say hello and talk a bit when we saw each other. I know her mother better than I do Amy, but …” her voice trailed off, her brows knit tightly over her scrunched-up face. Then her face opened and her eyes grew large, “Margie is going to be upset! I should go by there. She shouldn’t be alone. This is awful!”

  “I’m so sorry. I can imagine it is a shock to hear about someone you know being killed nearby. What cemetery was she found in?” inquired Perri. She could see Nina’s side-eyes.

  “Oh, it was, um, shoot, we call it the Old Burial Ground, but its name is something like a bird, a bird name.” She puckered her mouth as she concentrated. “Whippoorwill Cemetery. That’s it. It’s down the road a good piece. It’s been there for a hundred and fifty years at least, probably longer. It isn’t really used much anymore. They say there are people buried there who first came to Logan County, way back.”

  “Would Amy have gone there for some reason if it isn’t used much now?

  As she thought about it, Cora stared straight into Perri’s eyes without seeing her. “Well, yes,” she said quietly.

  After a few moments’ pause, Perri nudged, “Why do you think she might have gone there?”

  Cora shook herself slightly and said, “She probably went to visit a grave. A friend of her was buried there recently.” Seeing Perri’s surprised look she said, “I know, the cemetery really isn’t used much, but a friend of Amy’s died last week, the burial was Monday of this week, and she…didn’t have any family left here and didn’t have a plot that anyone knew about.”

  “So they buried her in Whippoorwill Cemetery?”

  “Yes.” Cora turned and continued copying.

  Nina ventured, “Is there an area of the cemetery for people without family or plots? I mean, there were plots available for someone who needed one?”

  “Yes. To be truthful, plots there are available for people who can’t afford one anywhere else. Like a pauper’s section, I guess. That sounds really terrible. But, basically that’s what it is.”

  Perri quietly asked, “Amy’s friend didn’t have money for a plot?”

  “I guess not. No, I’m sure she didn’t. Her name was Patricia. She and Amy went to high school together and were pretty close friends for a while. They had a falling out and didn’t talk for several years. Patty didn’t get along with most people. Her family either died or moved away, I guess. I just know she didn’t have anyone here.”

  “You say they went to school together? How old were they, Amy and Patricia?” asked Perri.

  “They would be in their early or mid-thirties now, I guess. Margie, Amy’s mother, is my age. I really should go by there and see if she has someone with her or needs anything.” Cora seemed lost in thought as she handed the copies to Perri and turned off the copy machine. “Oh, was that all you needed, or…?”

  “No, no, this is all I need, but I need to pay you for them.”

  “Oh, darn it, yes. It’s a dollar a copy and there were, oh gosh, ten copies.”

  “I think there might be more than….”

  “No, I think it was ten. $10.”

  Perri got the money out of her purse and handed it to Cora, who tossed it in the drawer. Perri said, “Thank you very much for your help today. I don’t want to keep you any longer. I’m really sorry for what’s happened. I wish we could help somehow.”

  Cora looked at Perri with welling eyes and a reddening nose as she took the original documents and placed them in the Nichols folder. “Thanks. I don’t know what anyone can do right now, we don’t even know what happened yet.”

  “Yes, of course. We’ll get going. Again, thank you so much for your help, Cora.”

  Cora nodded and disappeared into the maze of partitions.

  Chapter 8

  Nina and Perri got into the car and shut the doors. The sun was still very warm, but was dipping behind the old stone building. Nina asked, “Did you get what you wanted from the probate records?”

  “I didn’t get all the actual names I wanted, but I think I got something I can use anyway. It’s a plat description of a land parcel passing from father to son, and it names the father clearly. I have a separate record of that same parcel being owned by the son, from twenty-two years later, including his name. That will probably be good enough for documentation of the relationship.” She paused, “I wonder what this murder stuff is about?”

  “I don’t know,” replied Nina, “it doesn’t sound like anyone really knows yet.

  “No. But I sure would like to know.” Nina didn’t respond, so Perri turned toward her, “Wouldn’t you?”

  “Ye-es. What are you saying?” Nina smiled. “I know that tone. Are we making a ‘diversion’ in our plans now?”

  “Of course. I want to find out. I want to go to that cemetery. We came here to go to cemeteries, what’s one more?”

  “I don’t think you’ll be able to go poking around in there right now, sweetie. Crime scene and all that.” Nina smiled a crooked smile with more than a little relief that they probably wouldn’t be able to get in.

  “No, that’s true. But there are sure to be some people standing around, there always are with stuff like that. Maybe we can find out what happened.” They sat in silence for a minute or two. “Better yet, we have to eat, right?

  “I certainly hope we are going to eat. What are you thinking, Perri?”

  “I think we need to eat and we are already here in town. We should find a small place, not a chain restaurant, but more like a diner or pizza place. Somewhere the local people go.”

  “I’m not going to argue about food, that’s for sure. I’m hungry. We didn’t eat lunch, did we? I didn’t even think of that until now. Now I’m starving.”

  “It’s just after 5 o’clock. The downtown businesses are letting out. Let’s have a look around town and see if there is anywhere with a lot of cars.”

  Perri started the car and backed out of the parking spot. As she stopped at the street she glanced in her rear-view mirror and saw Cora exit the building and hastily jog over to a brown sedan, unlock it, and toss her purse into the passenger seat. Perri pulled out behind a plumber’s van and followed it to a stop sign where the road circled around a small grassy park. A fountain was visible and what appeared to be flags and a plaque or historical marker. She pointed and said to Nina, “We need to go there tomorrow and have a look at that little park, see what it is.”

  Nina pointed and said, “I think there might be a café on the other side of this. See the building with the bright red awning?”

  As the rounded the curve, they could see a sign hanging next to the entry way, The Arrogant Rogue. Perri exclaimed, “Hey, I like the sound of that! Let’s try it. Think there are any handsome rogues loitering about the place, or do you think they are just all arrogant?”

  Nina shook her head. “I’m sure if there is an arrogant rogue anywhere in this county you will find him.”

  “Rogue seems to be a popular term here. I’ve seen it twice today now. On the wall outside our room, there’s a photo taken sometime in the 1800s of a bunch of naughty looking devils outside a tavern called Rogue’s Harbor. They looked like they could get up to some shenanigans, for sure.” As she pulled past the front of the tavern, Perri said, “This place seems popular enough. There aren’t any parking spots in front of it. I’ll go around again to find one.”

  They curved left again halfway through the adjoining block and found a spot at the next curve, almost back to the stop sign. Perri pulled in and raised the roof of the car, waiting to get out until it snapped into place. “I’m
going to put my stuff in the trunk.”

  “You don’t think someone wants to steal your copies of centuries old probate records, do you?” Nina laughed.

  “NO…I just want them in the trunk, ok?” Feigning injured dignity, Perri popped open the trunk and nestled the satchel between the emergency road kit and the duffle bag with her cemetery kit. “Let’s go, I could use a beer.”

  Chapter 9

  The two friends walked along the sidewalk, rounding the curve in the opposite direction they had driven. Most of the buildings were occupied, which surprised Perri. So many times, these smaller towns had half-empty downtown areas. There were the expected attorney’s offices, dentists, and optometrists. But there was also a barbershop, a men’s clothing store, a breakfast café that closed at noon, and some scattered boutiques selling everything from clothing to handcrafts to vintage items. The area between the sidewalk and the street was planted with Bradford pear trees; a couple missing where previous storms had snapped them off.

  The door to the Arrogant Rogue was an enormous wooden one with a pane of old glass that was wavy in places. The walk was ramped upward from the sidewalk to the door and covered with black and white tiles, only a few were missing. The name “Heath” was spelled out in the center in slightly larger black tiles and surrounded by a red diamond shape. There was a large window with a display area on both sides of the entry, going from the door to the edge of the building, like Perri had seen in photos of old general stores. No telling what had been displayed in those windows over the decades. There was still a transom over the doorway, but it was sealed shut. The heavy door stuck a bit before it opened, but swung easily once it started.

  Out through the door and into Perri’s nostrils wafted the aroma of food, good food, battered, hot, crispy fried food. She looked back over her shoulder to Nina, sighed, and said, “I love the smell of hot grease and salt.”

  “Hey there” came a greeting from a tall, slender girl in an apron approaching them from the back of the room and carrying a round tray as big as a table top that was laden with plates. “You can have a seat anywhere. Someone’ll be with you in just a minute.” The waitress put the tray down on a nearby table and distributed the food and a fistful of craft beers around the table of five people then whisked off to the kitchen.

  Perri pulled out a chair at a table for four along the wall and hung her purse on the back of the chair next to her. The walls were exposed brick, with some of the plaster still clinging to the rough surfaces. The ceiling of pressed tin was mostly intact but had a few water damaged areas. The walls were covered with an assortment of framed posters and images and souvenirs of some of the best bad boys and girls. There were actors, sports stars, musicians, characters from movies and books, you name it. Craning her neck and twisting about in her chair, Perri took it all in. Filling in the spaces between the posters was a variety of items: holsters, a Zorro mask, a sword, handcuffs, sunglasses, a tricorn hat and eye patch, even a whip with a braided leather handle. “Looks like Indiana Jones has been here.” The tavern occupied two adjacent buildings on the street; a doorway had been put through halfway along the wall to the bar area. The other side appeared to be just as full of patrons as the side in which Perri and Nina were seated.

  “This place is great. I like it” smiled Perri. She opened a menu and scanned through the appetizers, sandwiches, and daily specials. Nina did the same.

  “Can I get you ladies something to drink?” the waitress arrived at their table. She was probably late 20s, long highlighted hair pulled back into a ponytail.

  “I’ll have whatever dark beer you have on tap,” replied Perri.

  “And I will have…do you have any wines that are sweet?” Nina asked.

  “We do have a sweet red table wine. Is that ok?”

  “That sounds perfect.”

  “You want a glass or a carafe?” Nina hesitated, the waitress said, “The carafe is a better deal.”

  “Ok, a carafe it is.”

  “I’ll give you some time to look over the menu and take your food order when I come back with the drinks.” The waitress hustled to the bar and said to the bartender, “A Dead Guy and jug of red table.”

  Nina was facing the bar, Perri had her back to it. Nina leaned slowly to the left of Perri and said, “Yummy. There’s a tasty looking morsel.”

  “You aren’t talking about food, are you?” Perri asked knowingly. She nonchalantly turned around to look, then back again. “The bartender? What are you doing, scoping him out? I’m telling Tom.”

  “Come on, I’m shopping for you. He’s pretty choice, Perri dear. Tall, dark hair not too long, not too short, nicely shaped 5 o’clock shadow, a little peek of a tattoo at the neckline, looks lean, can’t see below the waist but the top half is primo.”

  Perri risked a second look just as the bartender looked their way, “Crap. I have terrible timing. You sound like you are sizing up a buffet, but, yes, I agree.”

  “Call it what you will” she bobbed her head to the music. “I’m imagining him starkers behind that bar. I’d stay and drink all night.” Nina thrummed her fingers on the table. “I don’t know if I can drink a whole carafe.”

  “You’d stay and drink all night but you don’t think you can drink a carafe of table wine? You goofball. I can help you if you can’t manage it all,” Perri offered. “We’ll just have to eat a lot and walk around for a while. I don’t want a DUI, that’s for sure.”

  “No, that would not be good for either of us. You may be between contracts, but I’m staff and I don’t think that would go over well and I have to be able to drive to get to work.”

  “I know. I wish you could go prn too. Did you and Tom get a chance to talk about that any more?

  “Yeah, a little. I think he’s ok with it, but he has to get used to the idea, just like anything else. I have to approach him the right way, meaning in a way that he thinks it is his idea.”

  They both laughed as their drinks were deposited on the table. “Now, what can I get for you?”

  Perri started, “Is the cole slaw creamy or sweet/sour?”

  “It’s creamy” replied the waitress.

  “Alright then. I am going to have the fish and chips platter, with cole slaw and fries as the sides.”

  Nina took her turn, “I want the fried tenderloin with sweet potato chips and cole slaw.”

  “Got it. We’re slammed right now, but I’ll have your food out as soon as it’s ready.”

  Perri and Nina replaced their menus behind the condiment tray and sat back to start on their drinks and take in the crowd. Joan Jett’s ‘Bad Reputation’ was playing, loud enough to feel the rhythm, but not too loud to carry on a conversation, or try to overhear a little of the conversations around them.

  Perri sipped her beer. It was ice cold and served in a frosted glass. She turned her chair a little sideways to get a better view of the room. A table of seven people was leaving, which cut down on the extra noise in the room. Nina poured herself a glass of the red wine and took a few small drinks. “Not bad for a tavern. Sometimes it is a little off, you know, vinegary.”

  Nina turned her chair as well, and they both ended up with their backs against the brick wall. After a period of no talking between them, Nina could discern that the group at the table behind her was talking about Amy Barrow. She made a very small nod of her head toward the table. Perri turned toward Nina and leaned forward to try to hear what was said. Evidently, one of the diners at the table was Emily, the dispatcher. Emily had an eager audience as she talked about her day.

  “I have to tell you I have never been more shocked in my life when Will Parker called that in. I just about fell off my chair! Of course, I have to be professional and handle the calls calmly, but I sure had a hard time of that.” Emily looked at her fellow diners and shook her head, lips pursed.

  “Tell us again what Will sounded like when he called in.” said a plump blond at the table. Her hair was relentlessly bleached, she wore a Clash t-shirt and a pink rin
g through the right side of her upper lip. The very thin young man in a camo shirt sitting next to her had his arm across the tops of her shoulders. The fifth member at the table was a curly headed man with what Perri usually described as spectacles. His suit coat was draped over the back of his chair and his tie was loosened, he wore suspenders in lieu of a belt. The man sitting next to Emily had his hand on the nape of her neck.

  Emily took a healthy swig of the ‘lite’ type beer in a bottle in front of her, placed both palms face down on the table, drew in her breath and began, “It had been a pretty quiet day, you know, for a Friday anyway. I was glad it was the afternoon, most of the day over with and about time to go home. This call comes in and I answer it. I’m kind of relaxed and figured it’d be another call like I get most of the time, like Mrs. Balemann calling to say that someone walked through her yard or tossed out trash again, or another call about drag racing out on Hopkinsville Road. Real urgent stuff, you know?”

  She polished off the beer with a final long, noisy gulp and the man to her right asked if she wanted another one. “You know baby, I think I do. I’m just all shook up over this still.” Her companion waved the empty at the bartender who nodded, then turned back to his wife.

  Emily had everyone’s attention, and she knew it. Even the couple at the next table were leaning almost imperceptibly toward her table to listen. “No one will notice, or care I don’t think, if we join in,” observed Perri. She stood up and Nina stood up with her without thinking about it. Perri walked over and said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but we heard you say you took the call for the body found today. That’s amazing. We were in the Clerk’s office when the news came through, but we haven’t talked to anyone who was personally part of what was happening. We’re curious about it, do you mind if we listen to what you have to say?”

  “Honey, I don’t mind at all, you all just pull your chairs right over here.” The group scooted around the table to make room for Perri and Nina, who took their drinks with them and joined the table, Perri between Emily and Clash girl and Nina between Camo and Suit. Emily started right back in on her tale, introductions could wait.