Guilt by Association (A Murder in the Mountains Book 3) Read online

  “Yes?” She sniffs.

  “I’m Tess Spencer.”

  She gives me a blank look, and I know what I have to follow up with.

  “I’m Pearletta Vee’s daughter.”

  She brightens a bit. “Of course! Tess! She was so excited you were coming to visit.” She peers behind me. “Where is she?”

  “Long story,” I say. “Did the police stop by here?”

  She nods. “They did. Why don’t you come on in? I just made some peach sweet tea—trying to keep myself busy.” She glances down at her shirt. “Oh, rats, I meant to change shirts after breakfast. All my stuff is dirty, so I grabbed one of my daughter’s shirts. Then the cops came, and I totally forgot.”

  “Where is your daughter now? Does she know about Mason?”

  “I’ve texted her several times, but she hasn’t texted back. I have no idea where she is.” She shoves a glass up to the freezer dispenser and fills it with ice, then pours tea over it and hands me the drink. “Ruby is…well, she’s sort of still looking for herself.”

  I nod, swilling the amber nectar on my tongue. “This is wonderful tea,” I say, knowing Nikki Jo would definitely approve. “Have Ruby and Mason been friends a long time?”

  “Thanks. The secret is heating the peach right along with the sugar water. Anyway, to get back to your question, Ruby met Mason right out of high school last year. He’d already graduated high school a year earlier. They both took jobs at a rehab facility not far from here. Drug rehab, mind you. And the next thing I know, I find drugs in Ruby’s purse.”

  “What kind?”

  “Oxy.”

  My tea seems to curdle in my mouth, so I gulp it down. Surely my mom wasn’t dealing to these kids.

  Sally absently swipes beaded water from her glass, oblivious to my tortured musings. “Didn’t make sense that my girl, who’s never looked at drugs twice and kept a 3.4 GPA in high school, suddenly decided to start using, you know? So I figured the only new factor there was Mason.” Mama Bear anger sparks her green eyes as she spits his name.

  “And now Mason’s dead,” I add.

  “Right. So I have quite a few questions to ask my daughter, if she’d ever get her fanny home. She’s been out for three days.”

  Worry streaks through me as I start to understand. “You think something happened to her, don’t you?”

  She drops her gaze. “It doesn’t make sense Mason was here at the trailer park without Ruby tagging along. Why did he come here by himself, when he doesn’t live here? And why would he go to Pearletta Vee’s place, anyway?”

  I feel like a noose is tightening around my neck. Why, indeed? There can only be one answer, Tess.

  I swig the last of the tea and come clean with Sally. “My mom ran off after she saw Mason’s body,” I say. “I don’t know why. But would you call me if she stops in?”

  Sally nods. “Sure, and I’ll give you my number in case you see Ruby around.”

  “What does she look like?”

  Sally strides over to the mantel above a faux fireplace, gingerly retrieving a framed photo of a striking, dark-haired girl in a white graduation gown. She points to it with her coffee colored fingertip. “This is Ruby, but you wouldn’t recognize her now. She has about seven piercings on each ear, as well as a nose ring. She’s cut her hair super-short and it’s purple. She wears goth makeup.”

  I think the correct term might be emo now, but I could be wrong. Petey usually keeps me apprised of such things, and it hasn’t come up in our recent conversations.

  “Gotcha. I’ll keep an eye out, as long as I’m here.” It’s anyone’s guess how long that will be.

  “You’re an angel,” Sally says. “And I hope your momma shows up.” Her gaze softens, as if she’s doubtful that is going to happen.

  A final question pops into my head as I walk down the porch steps. “Say, what do you know about that grandma in number eight? The one with the little boy?”

  Sally leans against her door. “Effie Butler. That boy belongs to her son now, because the momma ran off when the kid was born. Then, three months ago, Effie’s son up and moved to Alaska. Now she’s saddled with caring for a kid and she’s no spry fox—she’s up in her eighties, I think. Sooner or later I figure he’ll get shuffled off to some other family member.”

  We can only hope.

  I wave and walk out into the falling twilight. When I pass Effie’s place, there’s no one outside and a light shines from a slim crack in the pulled curtains. My steps drag as I make my way to Mom’s trailer. There’s no car outside, so she probably hasn’t returned.

  As I mount the steps, a man’s rumbling voice sounds behind me. “Tess?”

  I whirl around, trying to pinpoint the speaker. A larger man emerges from the side of the trailer and when I see his backward baseball cap, I realize who I’m talking to.

  “Billy Jack.” The trailer park owner always wears his caps backward, probably trying to project a youthful vibe.

  “Tess. Police came by, huh?”

  “Yes.” I fall silent, wishing Billy Jack might shed some light on things. I’m so worn out, I don’t even bother to ask what he was doing.

  He seems to register my hesitation. “Heard your momma ran.”

  “Yeah.”

  Billy Jack is the one who opened this trailer park, and he knows Mom’s history as well as I do. When Mom was in prison, he didn’t kick her out. Instead, he kept her trailer livable and didn’t charge her a thing.

  He hands me a small key ring. “Here’s a spare key for the trailer. You keep it while you’re here. I guess your mom took her copy.”

  “I guess so,” I say, fiddling with the metal loop.

  His voice takes on a firm tone. “Tess, don’t worry about her. Pearletta Vee can take care of herself.”

  “I know.”

  He pauses, like he’s choosing his words carefully. “She’s changed. I know she’d do anything for that little girl of yours. She told me she’s determined to stay clean for her.”

  Great. Too bad that determination didn’t kick in when I was a teen. But bygones need to be bygones, and I have to stop assuming Mom hasn’t changed. It’s entirely possible prison and rehab ended her drug habit.

  “Thanks, Billy Jack. I’ll be here tonight, at least.”

  “Stay as long as you need to. And please let me know when Pearletta Vee comes back.”

  “Will do.”

  Inside, I flip on the living room and kitchen lights. I check the fridge, hoping that part of Mom’s transformation includes stocking more food than she used to. But it looks like I’m stuck with the basics.

  Eggs, onions, and frozen shredded cheddar seem to provide the most viable option, so I mix up an omelet. After adding a couple slices of toast, I sit at the small table and try to piece things together in my head.

  It does seem incongruous that two teens who were working in a drug rehab center got their hands on drugs. And it’s also strange that Mason showed up dead outside my mom’s trailer, with Ruby nowhere to be seen. Maybe I can check in at Tranquil Waters tomorrow and do a little information recon. I doubt Ruby’s been showing up for work, but who knows?

  After watching several episodes of The Twilight Zone, one of which will likely give me nightmares, I’m ready to call it a night. Thomas hasn’t called yet in response to my text, but he’s probably working late.

  I wander into my old room, rummaging through my drawers. Sure enough, Mom kept some of my clothes. I pull out a short tee emblazoned with the Powerpuff Girls, then scrounge up some low-rider pants. After taking a quick bath, I put sheets and a blanket on my twin bed and climb in.

  The trailer feels so quiet. I miss snuggling with Mira Brooke as I read her a bedtime story, listening to her happy babbling as she tries to repeat my words. Nikki Jo probably has her all tucked into the gold metal crib up at her house. Mira Brooke actually has her own room there, complete with a dangling rose color chandelier. It was a given that Nikki Jo would spoil Mira Brooke something awful, since she never had any girls of her own.

  I slide my gun purse closer to the bed. My baby Glock is loaded, as usual, and tucked into the gun pocket on the side. I drop a final text to Thomas, telling him I’m pooped and we can talk tomorrow.

  Thoughts tumble as I try to process the day. As I drift off, it registers that Billy Jack clicked off a flashlight after emerging from the side of the trailer. What had he been looking for?

  5

  Halfway through the night, some noise wakes me and I sit bolt upright, trying to figure out what it was. A door? No. More like a window being shoved up.

  I grab the gun and tiptoe into the living room, which is so dark, I’ll likely trip on something. I pause, listening for movement, but there’s no sound except the whir of the air conditioner unit. The wall isn’t far from me, so I back toward it, taking up a shooter stance before flipping on the light.

  A slash of purple hair catches my eye, only partially hidden behind a chair.

  I lower the gun. “Ruby?”

  The teen peeps out at me, her eyes rounding as she sees the gun. But her reply has an accusatory edge. “How do you know who I am?”

  “Why are you in my mom’s trailer?” I counter.

  She sweeps her purple bangs from her face. “You’re Pearletta Vee’s daughter? As it happens, your mom and I are friends.”

  “Yeah, right. I’ll bet. Why don’t you tell me the truth?”

  “It is the truth! Me and her have been talking about stuff.”

  I cringe at her bad grammar, mostly because I’m betting she knows it’s incorrect. “What kind of stuff?”

  “I’m not answering your questions. Where is she?”

  “Pearletta Vee isn’t here right now. She took off for parts unknown. But your mom is looking for
you, young lady.”

  Did I just say young lady?

  Ruby slowly stands. Her outfit is entirely black—black ripped jeans, black T-shirt and boots, and a black leather cuff that has metal studs sticking out of it. Chains connect the cuff to the black leather bands around each finger.

  Her black eyeliner and lipstick have smeared, giving the impression she hasn’t cleaned her face in days.

  My motherly instinct takes over. “Sit down and have something to eat.”

  Shockingly, she obeys without question.

  My adrenaline is super-charged, but I brew a small pot of coffee just to make sure my brain is functioning properly. I cook a small egg and cheese omelet for Ruby, and she picks at it, eating only about a third. Maybe she doesn’t like eggs. As she drinks her coffee, I try to come up with a gentle way to broach the topic of Mason.

  Unable to think of anything, I decide to plunge right in with questions. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

  “None of your business.” She gives a long yawn.

  “I heard you and a guy named Mason were tight.”

  “Yeah. Who wants to know? And why’d you say ‘were’?”

  She hasn’t heard. I sit down next to her. “Ruby, there’s something you need to know, but it’s hard. I know you’re tough, though.”

  She nods, eyes wide. I’m reminded how young she really is.

  “Mason died. I don’t know when he died, or how, but we found him near the trailer.”

  Her eyes harden and I can almost see the defensive walls going up. “So?”

  “So, what do you think he was doing here? And don’t try to tell me he was ‘friends’ with my mom, too.”

  “He wasn’t. Anyway, he lives over on Beaver Point Road. He only comes here to see me.”

  “And where have you been hanging out lately?”

  Her face turns stony. “Why should I tell you?”

  Anger flashes through me. “Because my mom might be in trouble, that’s why. If you really are her friend, you might try to help me clear her name.”

  “What, they think she had something to do with Mason’s death? That’s ridiculous.”

  “Why so ridiculous?”

  “Because Mason didn’t like her. You know why? Because she was telling me to stay away from him. So there’s no reason he would’ve been hanging around her trailer. He didn’t want to talk to her.”

  I take a split second to appreciate the fact that Mom was using her time to counsel a troubled teen, then I repeat my question. “Where have you been, though? Was he with you for a while?”

  “You really wanna know? I quit working and I’ve been sleeping in my car, since I didn’t want to go home.”

  “But why not? You have a lovely home.” I think of all the times I wanted to run away from the confines of this very trailer, mostly because there wasn’t a sense of home about it. But Sally’s obviously an attentive and caring mom.

  Ruby glares at me. “Yeah, I know. It’s lovely.”

  I don’t know if she’s insinuating her home life isn’t what it seems, or if she’s acknowledging I’m right. Even though I speak sarcasm fluently, this girl is hard to figure out. And I get the feeling she’s hiding something…

  I look at her, more closely this time. She looks a little green around the gills and she’s gripping her stomach. She didn’t eat much at all. She’s been yawning furiously ever since she got here. As she wipes her runny nose, yet again, on a napkin, all the pieces fit into place.

  “You’re coming off drugs,” I say.

  “Whatever.”

  “And you didn’t want your mom to know, so you stayed away. What about Mason? Was he trying to get clean too?”

  She laughs. “Not him. He even drove on the juice.”

  “How did he ever get a job at the rehab?”

  “He wasn’t using then. At that point, he said he wanted to help others get past it, like he had. It was only during this past month he’d been using. And since he wasn’t stingy with his stuff, I helped myself a little.”

  “What was it?”

  She shrugs, and her shirt inches down her shoulder. “I’m not telling you. That’s like a confession or something.”

  “Fine. You can tell my police detective friend. I’m sure he’ll be very interested.”

  She gives me a hateful look. “A few pills and a little heroin. It was no biggie, okay?”

  All the more reason to get her home tonight. “Your mom’s worried out of her mind, now that Mason’s dead. You should at least check in with her.”

  “I know, I know. She was leaving all kinds of messages on my phone, but my battery died and I didn’t have my charger cord.” She dry-heaves as if she’s going to vomit. “Fine. I guess I’ll go home for now, but I’ll probably need some help, because I’m not feeling really steady. Oh, and will you let me know when your mom comes back?”

  She’s the third person today who’s asked me to do that.

  I make a demand of my own. “If she comes back, I’ll give your mom a call, so you’ll have to stay home a while.”

  Ruby’s mouth gapes open in yet another yawn, as if she’s lost the will to fight me. “Yeah, whatever.”

  “Speaking of calling, I’m going to text your mom and let her know we’re coming over now. Would she read it at this time of night?”

  “Yeah, she’ll hear the text tone. She told me she was keeping her ringer on high so she wouldn’t miss my next text.” Ruby actually has the good sense to drop her head in shame after admitting this.

  I run into my room and grab my Glock. In the living room, I open my purse and unzip a sturdy interior pocket. I slide the gun into it. Ruby’s eyes are wide as I sling the leather straps of the bag over my shoulder. “Just in case—I mean, it is the middle of the night.”

  Ruby sighs, and I lock the door behind us as we walk down the porch stairs. Billy Jack has installed three large post lights in the trailer park. Yellowy light flickers over us, making our movements look like something out of a bad horror flick.

  Ruby falls behind, her steps sluggish, as if she’s ready to tumble over. I pray her mom can figure out the best way to detox her girl. Maybe Tranquil Waters will give Ruby some kind of deal for switching from the working end of things to the treatment end.

  Sally answers the door on the first ring, her hair backlit like she’s wearing a fuzzy red halo. She takes one glance at me, then catches sight of Ruby, who’s making little gagging noises.

  I step aside and Sally sweeps Ruby into her arms, hugging her with that fierce, unstoppable, always-forgiving mother love. I can barely squeeze words out, but manage, “She’s in drug withdrawal.”

  Sally nods, tears running down her face. It’s obvious she’s just relieved her daughter is alive.

  I try to imagine my Mira Brooke as a teen, getting lured into drugs by some boyfriend. I know exactly what I’d want to do to that guy, although Thomas would probably get there first. But I can’t see that we’d go as far as murder, and I doubt Sally would, either.

  I glance around, now able to make out the greenish haze of trees on the mountain. Dawn is coming before long, and I have to get some sleep. And copious amounts of coffee, which is the one thing Mom seemed to stock in abundance.

  “See you later.” I know it’s not the most poignant thing to say, but I’m too exhausted to come up with something better. I turn and walk back toward the trailer, one hand resting on the purse pocket where my Glock sits. It’d be easy for someone to get the jump on me, even with the flickery lights. There are plenty of dark corners.

  My steps slow as I near Mom’s porch, because I can make out the shape of a car in her driveway. A barely discernible glow shines from a crack in the tightly pulled curtains, but I thought I’d killed all the lights when I left.

  I tiptoe up and try the door. It’s still locked, but that doesn’t mean someone didn’t pop in through the window like Ruby did. I pull the gun and slowly unlock the door, easing my way in as I flick on the living room light.

  A feather could knock me over when my eyes clap on someone walking down the dimly-lit hallway, just as casually as you please.

  My mom.

  This night is never going to end.