Murder and a Texas Brisket (Texas-Sized Mysteries Book 2) by K.M. Waller & Sweet Promise Press

Author:K.M. Waller & Sweet Promise Press [Waller, K.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sweet Promise Press
Published: 2019-04-18T22:00:00+00:00

8

“Rat poison?” I asked Deidre and Terry to make sure I understood. “Is that from your truck?”

Terry wiped a hand across his face. “We sprinkle the pellets around the smoker when we travel to keep the mice from crawling into the drum to eat the drippings. If you don’t keep ‘em out you could accidently set the rascals on fire. Have you ever smelled smoked rat? It’s nasty.”

I recoiled at the image of setting a poor mouse on fire.

“I use the same stuff for my food truck,” Big Joe added. “You’re not supposed to rodent proof that way, but sometimes it’s easier to kill them than keep them out. They say to put steel wool in your tailpipe, but I ain’t one to be bossed around when it comes to de-ratting my truck.”

Marlin turned to Big Joe. “You have that poison on your truck right now?”

He raised his hands as if to ward off any accusations. “In a safe container, mind you. Not sitting out near the barbeque.”

“Ours was in a container too,” Terry said. “In the toolbox on the back of the truck. Nowhere near the food.”

“What about you, Ricky Lynn?” I asked. “Do you and the pirate have any deadly substances on your truck?”

The pirate grunted and adjusted his eye patch. Ricky Lynn sniffed and turned her back to us.

I bit my bottom lip hard.

“Just one smack,” Marlin whispered.

“No,” I said, hoping the firmness of my tone put an end to the slap her cousin debate. As much as the silent treatment irritated me, if the earlier fights didn’t slap sense into Ricky Lynn, nothing would.

Craig didn’t approach us with the find and the guards kept searching the other trucks.

Deidre blinked hard and leaned toward me. “Go see what’s going on, deputy.”

I wrung my hands together. I didn’t see what kind, if any, contribution I could be to diffusing the madness other than trying to keep everyone at the tables calm. The band had packed up their instruments and was in the process of loading their van. Mr. Spudson stood in front of the tent with Karen who dabbed beneath her eyes with a napkin.

Craig’s cell phone rang, and he waved for me to come over. “It’s your daughter.”

I pulled the phone to my ear. “Alicia, sweetie. Are you and Jackie okay?”

“We’re fine, Momma.”

“I’m a little upset you stole my phone from my bag. Just so you know, you’re grounded when I get home. Put Jackie on the phone.”

“He’s at a friend’s house right now.”

“What friend?” When she didn’t answer I asked again in a firmer tone. “What friend, Alicia?”

“Luke or Lucas or something like that. He only has the one, doesn’t he?”

“You mean, Levi?” Good. I’d known his parents forever and could trust he’d be in good hands. At least that’s one thing I had under control.

Alicia sighed into the phone, long and dramatic. “Momma, I gotta go.”

“Wait…” I needed to explain my situation without getting kicked to the back gates.

“Love you, Momma. Bye.”

I pulled the cell phone away from my head and Craig’s lock screen came up.

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