Riverbottom Emperor by W.D. Edmiston

Author:W.D. Edmiston [W.D. Edmiston]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: OGSB Authors
Published: 2024-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

9

Guilty Conscience

Jack and Danny walked across the street to a hole-in-the-wall called the Crossbar Diner. According to a historical marker the old wooden building and its false front was from the late 1800’s. It was full of what looked like lawyers and loggers. Jack found a table near the front. The server took their order for chicken fried steaks and iced tea, a quintessential order at a restaurant in that part of the world.

“I know what you are doing, Danny,” Jack said. “And as a Christian, I don’t mind helping you. I know you feel strongly about this stuff, helping ex-cons and strays, but this one is green. She hasn’t hit rock bottom yet; she still thinks she can do this on her own.”

“Look who is talking,” Danny said. “You know I didn’t understand Christianity until you really explained it to me. Now I know these things do not happen by coincidence. This is in God’s hands unless Jeri bungles it. Of all the people I know, you, Mr. Derrett, by your own admission, are the first to get in God’s way with your own life and forget to ask him to help you.”

“Guilty. Let’s take the puppy home and see if mommy will let us keep her?”

“That’s not it,” Danny said. “She needs help. It may not take this time around, but she will know where to turn if she needs something in the future.”

“Your daughter-in-law is a saint!”

“A real saint. My boy’s got good taste.”

Two men in overalls, and a sweaty boy in a tee-shirt and jeans, sat at the booth next to them. The boy was one of the Cross brothers. Jack recognized another of them was with the older men who argued with Tim Freeman at the Flower Branch store. The older man was Charmen Canton’s defender at the table who swore the police came to their house, to take Melissa away for sex.

“Alton?” Jack asked.

The man looked surprised at hearing his name. The other two men looked at Alton and then at Jack suspiciously.

“You are Tim Freeman’s friend,” Jack said. “We met a while back at the Flower Branch Store.”

“Yeah,” Alton said, fumbling with his silverware. “You are the investigator fellow ain’t cha?”

“Yessir. This is my partner, Danny. Have you seen Tim lately?”

“Naw, he’s awful busy.”

The server interrupted their conversation by serving their steaks.

They were just the right blend of hamburger meat and hammered gristle covered in white gravy, with side orders of beans and fried okra. They ignored Alton and talked about guns and anything but the case.

“You know everyone in here knows who we are, or think they do, right?” Jack asked.

“Yeah, I’m facing the door and I’m getting looks from everyone that comes through it.”

“You should see the folks in the main dining room,” Danny said.

“Did you see the blackberry cobbler on the menu?” Jack asked.

“Let’s leave it here,” Danny said. “We have things to do.”

Jack pushed himself toward the end of the booth. “You can drive Danny!”

“That command voice works on Wanda and Jeri, but not me, mister policeman.

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