Murder at the Mission (Texas-Sized Mysteries Book 1) by Pamela Martin & Sweet Promise Press

Author:Pamela Martin & Sweet Promise Press [Martin, Pamela]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sweet Promise Press
Published: 2018-12-13T22:00:00+00:00

10

Murder in the Park

by Norah Sewell

Chapter Five

“Hey, Willy, hold up!” Paul called out as he and Gracie saw the other man heading into the mess hall for lunch.

“What's up, Paul?” Willy asked. “Oh, hello, Miss Wells; how are you today?”

“I'm doing well, Mr. Weber,” she answered. “I wonder, though, if we might speak with you for a few moments? Perhaps the two of you could bring your lunch out here to that table under the trees? I had my lunch before I came to the camp, so it would be perfectly fine for the two of you to enjoy yours.”

The men agreed, and they joined her at the table shortly.

"Paul, I just heard about Charlie. I'm so sorry for your loss. Do you know yet what happened?" Willy looked concerned.

"No, not yet," Paul replied. "The sheriff didn't say for sure, but I got the feeling that he didn't think it was a natural death."

"No?" Willy said. "I guess that makes sense. Charlie was pretty young for a heart attack or something like that, and he hadn't been sick, had he?"

"He hadn't," Paul said. "I'm trying to piece together what happened. The sheriff said that it looked like Charlie had been in a fight just before he died."

The trio was silent for a moment, as Willy processed the news. "But Charlie wasn't the fighting type," he finally said. "He was so even-tempered, and he was the peacemaker of the group."

Paul nodded, but he didn't speak.

"Mr. Weber," Grace began. "The other day, I overheard you and Mr. Graham arguing. I wasn't deliberately eavesdropping, but I couldn't help but hear him tell you that he would keep your secret, but that he was sure someone else would find out." She paused for Willy's reaction.

Willy's eyes widened, and then he dropped his head into his hands. His whole body seemed to droop in resignation.

"Yes, Miss Wells," he said. "Charlie knew a secret about me, and he did promise that he would not tell the authorities. But I think he was right; I do need to tell it, and I will begin by telling you and Paul here."

He drew in a deep breath. "As you may know, Miss Wells, the camp workers make about $30 a month, but we are required to have around $25 sent to our families. When I signed up for the CCC, I claimed that I had no family. That portion of my earnings is put into a savings account each month instead of being sent to anyone."

"All right; why does that need to be kept secret?" Grace encouraged him to continue his story.

"Oh, that's not the secret Charlie was keeping for me," Willy replied. "The secret is that I am married. I have a wife in Bavaria."

"Are you estranged, Mr. Weber? Is that why you didn't want the money sent to her?" Grace asked gently.

"No, no," Willy said. "We are very much in love. But the family members she lives with are greedy; if the U.S. government send part of my wages to her, they would take it from her and leave her nothing.

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