A Timely Vision

“There were bloody gloves in Miss Elizabeth’s purse. I guess something like gardening gloves. The police and SBI think they go with the garden shovel. They think Miss Mildred was trying to hide them before she had her breakdown. They say she couldn’t deal with it. They believe the blood on those gloves belonged to Miss Elizabeth. The chief was right when he told you the case was all but closed.”

It wasn’t as if I didn’t know about the gloves in the purse. I’d seen them before anyone. But the whole idea bothered me. It all fit together so neatly, crushing Miss Mildred with its perfection. One part bothered me more than the rest. I explained my doubts to Gramps and Kevin. “All of that makes sense, I guess, except for the part about the gloves. You know yourself, Gramps, Miss Mildred has hands like sandpaper. She’s never worn garden gloves.”

“Maybe not,” Kevin said. “But that’s a small detail compared to the whole picture. I’m sure you would’ve picked her up on the strength of this evidence too, Horace. I know I would’ve considered myself lucky to get all of this together.”

“I agree.” Gramps stroked his white beard. “But Dae makes a good point. If you would’ve told me there was a pair of white church gloves in that purse, I would’ve gone along with that. But Millie has the roughest hands in the county and proud of it.”

“I think what Kevin is saying is that it’s not enough to force Chief Michaels or the SBI into looking at this crime from another angle.” I glanced at Kevin. “Right?”

“Yeah. The SBI is looking at Wild Johnny’s death now. They’re done with Miss Elizabeth.”

Gramps laughed. “You know, I was the sheriff for a long time in this county. When it doesn’t involve you personally, you can think whatever is necessary to get a conviction. Knowing Millie the way I do, I can’t believe anyone would think she could kill Lizzie.”

“And yet the chief seems to think so,” I reminded him.

“He’s doing his job, Dae,” Gramps argued. “You don’t know what that’s like.”

“Except it sounds like the chief might be doing his job a little too well,” Kevin said. “He certainly helped put her away.”

“I don’t think he’s involved in setting up Miss Mildred. Other than keeping Silas up-to-date on what’s been going on, he’s stuck to doing his job, like Gramps said,” I replied. “I think the murder is tied to whoever wants those properties. Either Jerry Richards’s alibi is bogus, or Chuck Sparks killed Miss Elizabeth. Either one of them could have set up Miss Mildred.”

“What about the power of attorney?” Kevin asked. “I know Luke didn’t seem crazy about the idea, but he doesn’t know what you can do, Dae. Maybe you should go and see Miss Mildred before it’s too late. If there is a document, maybe you can sense its location from her.”

“I think that’s the best idea,” Gramps agreed. “Why don’t you and Kevin go do that, and I’ll watch the shop?”

I knew a done deal when I heard one. I hoped Kevin didn’t. He seemed oblivious to it and agreed right away. “It shouldn’t be that hard to get in to see her.” He took out his cell phone. “Let me see what I can do.”

It turned out that Kevin couldn’t do anything, but when I called Luke, he agreed to set it up for me. He apologized for leaving so quickly and said he hoped I didn’t take offense.

I assured him it was fine and that I hadn’t noticed anything unusual about the way he’d left. After I ended the call, I noticed Kevin and Gramps staring at me. “What? Were you listening in?”

“What do you think?” Gramps smirked. “Is there a little romance in the air between you and Luke?”

“I don’t think this is a good time to discuss that,” I told him and turned to Kevin. “I’m ready if you are.”

“I need a few minutes. In fact, maybe you can help me. I’m looking for the Duck Museum of History. Somebody told me they stored the old records from the Duck Gazette there. I’m looking for some information about Bunk Whitley.”

“Sure. I know right where that is. We can stop there on the way out of Duck. I’ve been meaning to see Max Caudle for a while.”

I started to give Gramps a key to the shop. He reminded me that he didn’t need one and pulled his copy out. “I thought it would be good to have for an emergency.”

“Like sneaking in there with your girlfriend?”

“I don’t ask you when you sneak out. I don’t think it’s polite for you to ask me when I sneak in.” He laughed and hugged me. “Besides, Mary Lou wanted to take a look around. She thought you might have something in that hodgepodge of stuff that you could donate for the raffle on Wednesday.”

My eyes narrowed. “You know the rules.”

“I know. I won’t let her take any of your special items.”

With that in place, I walked out with Kevin into the watery afternoon sunshine. Despite the overcast skies, it was sweltering. I could never understand how it could be so hot when there was a constant breeze blowing across the island. As soon as we stepped out of the air-conditioning, my clothes felt limp on me.