Part 6 (1/2)

”Yes.” Annie Mae closed the door. ”Let's get the fraud.”

”Or at least find out where he was when Lucy was killed. That would help us decide if he's a suspect or not.” With Annie Mae at my heels, I marched to the front door and then rang the bell.

Bert opened the door after the fourth ring. ”What are you two doing here?”

”Hi to you, too.” Annie Mae glowered at Bert.

Bert's wet hair clung to his round head. He wore a pressed short-sleeve cotton s.h.i.+rt over his protruding belly and khaki shorts showing his white, hairy legs. A fruity scent a.s.saulted me. It must have been Bert's shampoo.

Bert ran a hand through his hair. ”What do you gals need?”

”Nothing but the truth,” Annie Mae said.

”I'm not sure what you're talking about.” Bert stood in the doorway, neither letting us in nor coming onto the porch with us.

”Let me try to explain. There are some things that are not adding up. As you know, my dad was killed, and now Lucy is also dead. I'm thinking that somehow their deaths may be related, although I'm not sure. That's why we are here,” I said.

”Is that so?” Bert smoothed his hair. ”Still, I'm not getting what you want from me.”

”I'd just like to clear up a few things.” I said. ”Ask you some questions, if that is okay with you?”

”Humph.” Bert s.h.i.+fted from his right to left foot.

”Where were you when Lucy died?” I asked.

”Uh, well, I don't know if I will answer that.” Bert placed his hand on the doork.n.o.b.

”Please? I need to know.” I tilted my head.

”Listen, ladies, you interrupted something important.” Bert began to close the door.

Annie Mae stuck her foot in the door. ”Hold on. We know your alibi stinks like a big old dead fish. So please answer Cat. It's really important.”

Bert held the doork.n.o.b. He didn't make eye contact with us.

”Listen, Bert. You have to help us help you. Because right now, I can call my friend at the police department and tell him that you were not where you said you were when Lucy died.” I gave him my practiced pleading look, which included a sweet smile and a slight sideways glance.

Annie Mae wagged a finger at Bert. ”Bert, I know we are all grieving here over Lucy. Because of that, we sometimes don't act like ourselves.”

”And?” Bert asked.

”Emotions can run hot. I know I have been cranky and upset. But we all have to work through our grief. Some of us, like Cat and me, have too many unanswered questions around your wife's death. And because we loved Lucy, we need to find out what happened to her. It will give us closure on her death. We need to do this for our own sake,” Annie Mae said to Bert.

”What happened to her? Everyone knows that she committed suicide,” Bert said. ”The police even said so.”

”Do you believe she did that?” Annie Mae asked Bert.

”Whether I believe it or not, that doesn't matter. It's what happened.” Bert's eyes watered up.

”That's what most people believe, but not us. We think someone may have killed her.” I placed a hand on Bert's shoulder.

”You do? Why?” Bert looked at me.

”I'm not sure yet. That's why we are talking to you. We need some answers.” I removed my hand from Bert's shoulder.

”Could you please help us out here? I'm getting a little shaky standing in this heat,” Annie Mae said to Bert.

”She's sugared up,” I added.

”Huh?” Bert asked.

”It's a sugar and caffeine overload. I'm just fit to be tied. I'm just saying that it's not a good combination,” Annie Mae said. ”I think I need some real food soon. But that's not important. What I need right now is for you to please tell us the truth.”

”About what?” Bert said.

”Where were you the night Lucy died?” Annie Mae asked.

”Not that I need to tell you. But I was fis.h.i.+ng,” Bert said.

”Oh no, you were not. I'm calling you out. We got it from a reliable source that you were not fis.h.i.+ng. Bert, why aren't you telling us the truth?” Annie Mae said. ”Please don't insult our intelligence.”

”It is the truth. I was at my friend James' lake home in the North Carolina mountains.” Bert looked down at the ground.

”That's a tall tale for sure.” Annie Mae leaned into the door next to Bert. ”You need to level with us. A good start would be to be honest.”

I implored, ”We're just trying to get a straight answer from you. You don't want your name tied to two murders, do you?”

”Two murders?” Bert stammered.

”Lucy's and my dad's.” My heart sank thinking of them.

”Whoa, now. You're going off the deep end.” Bert waved his hand side to side. ”I didn't kill anyone. Let alone two people.”

Annie Mae fanned herself with her hand. ”It's so hot out here. Why don't you invite us in?”

”Um, I...I...can't,” Bert stuttered. ”I'm a little occupied right now. Could you come back later?”

Annie Mae folded her arms on her chest. ”We'll leave as soon as you answer us. And if you don't, we'll just camp out here all night. You may need to get us a fan, and maybe a chair, and some cold drinks.”

I stared him in the eye. ”Please, Bert. We think Lucy was killed, and since we found out that your fis.h.i.+ng alibi fell apart, you may be considered a suspect.”

”Unless you can tell us where you were,” Annie Mae added.

Bert wiped a bead of perspiration from the top of his lip.

A voice behind Bert called out, ”Honey, where's the hair dryer?”

Bert turned and shouted into the house, ”Under the sink.”

Annie Mae leaned into the screen door. ”Do you have a new lady already? My goodness. Lucy just died!”