The Homewreckers(132)

“There was a big rock, like an old piece of coral or something. I kind of went crazy. I grabbed it. And I hit her. And then she was quiet.”

“You mean she was dead, Davis. You killed her. Then what? You ran away and hid?”

“No! I was trying to figure out what to do next. It was raining so hard. I went back to our house and waited for the storm to stop. After a while, I snuck back over there. I saw Holland’s mom. She had a flashlight, and she found the body. I kind of hid behind those big oleanders by the seawall and waited to see what would happen next. Pretty soon, old man Creedmore showed up. I watched them get a tarp from that shed in the backyard. They wrapped her up in it and put her in the shed. Then they left and they took Lanier’s car. It was parked in the driveway over here.”

“When did you move the body?”

“As soon as it was light outside. Holland must have left earlier. I saw his car was gone. I was afraid the Creedmores would come back and call the cops. I thought, if nobody knew where Lanier’s body was, they might think she ran away. Then I saw the big metal manhole cover back there. The rain had washed away a lot of the dirt that had been on top of it. I found a crowbar in the shed, and somehow, I jacked it open. I put her in there, then I got a rake and smoothed the dirt back on top of it, and then I went back to my grandmother’s house. I still had some weed, and there was some vodka left, so I got drunk and then I got stoned, and I guess I fell asleep.”

From off in the distance they heard an approaching police siren. Ribsy raised his snout in the air and began to howl.

Davis lowered his head to his knees and covered his ears with both hands.





70

Blue Light Special 2.0




The flashing blue lights of four police cruisers lit up the Tybee night. Makarowicz read Davis his rights. A uniformed officer led him away, in handcuffs. “I need to see a doctor,” Davis protested. “My hands are bleeding and I think I’m concussed.”

“Just as soon as you give us a statement, we’ll take you to the ER,” Makarowicz called. He looked over at Hattie, who was still holding onto Ribsy’s leash. “I know it’s late, and maybe you’re in shock or something, but I need to get a statement from you, too.”

“Hattie?” Mo’s voice cut through the darkness as he walked up from the seawall. He rushed over to her, and she leaned gratefully into his arms. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” she managed. “Tired, but okay.”

Mo looked over at the detective. “Can I take her home now?”

“Afraid not. She needs to come back to the station with me.”

Hattie allowed herself to rest her head on Mo’s shoulder for a moment. “What did he say?” Mo asked. “Did he admit to anything?”

Hattie managed a weak smile. “He confessed to everything, including killing Lanier Ragan and dumping her body in the septic tank pit. Also, he had a gun.”

“Did he hurt you?”

“No. I’ll explain the rest later.” She leaned down and scratched the dog’s ears. “This guy’s gonna get the biggest steak they’ve got at the IGA tomorrow.”

“But in the meantime,” Mak said, gesturing toward his police cruiser.

Hattie closed her eyes and sighed. Mo wrapped an arm around her waist. “Can I go with you to the police station? I won’t say anything. I just don’t want you to be alone.”

She looked to Makarowicz for approval, who nodded. “Okay. That would be nice,” she said.



* * *



Hours later, Mo tapped her gently on the shoulder. “Hey. You’re home.”

She managed to drag her eyelids open and yawn. “This is the second time this week that you’ve had to come to my rescue, Mo.”

“My pleasure.”



* * *



Hours later, she sat up and glanced frantically at the bedside clock. It was after nine. Ribsy was asleep at the foot of her bed and sunlight shone through the thin slats of the bamboo blinds. She staggered into the bathroom and splashed cold water onto her face. She looked a hot mess.

“Hey.” Mo’s voice called from outside the door. “Are you okay in there?”

“I missed my call time,” she said, opening the door and peeking out. “Did you stay here last night?”

“Yeah. I couldn’t see leaving you alone. That sofa of yours sucks, by the way.”

He handed her a mug of coffee. “I talked to the boss, which would be me, about this morning’s shoot and explained. This one time, you get an extension. Are you hungry?”

“Starved. But I gotta get out to the house. There’s still so much left to do.”

“Let Trae take care of it. He owes you. How about breakfast?”

“Let me grab a shower first. Can you let Ribsy out and then feed him?”

“On one condition.”

“Name it.”

“After you shower, you let me borrow a toothbrush.”



* * *



They drove Hattie’s truck back to Tybee, then waited in line at The Breakfast Club for ten minutes before taking the last two stools inside at the bar.

When Mo ordered shrimp and grits, Hattie feigned shock. “Are we finally turning you into a southerner, Mo Lopez?”