He finally threw a handful of treats over the fence, which distracted the dogs as John pulled his legs through the hole, but his shoe got caught on a prong and yanked it off.
The dogs were barking and growling at us so there would be no way to retrieve John’s shoe. We walked down the road past the main gate. The dogs followed tugging and ripping the shoe to shreds.
“What’s your story going to be for the missing shoe?” I smiled at John and. “Do you want me to dig mine out of the trash from yesterday?”
“What would I do with a tiny shoe the size of my little sister’s?”
I laughed, and then changed the subject. “Great shooting Mike, you should enter a competition . . . as long as the target is a big red barn.”
“Ha, Ha. Really funny.” Mike hurled a dog treat at me.”
We hoofed our way back to town when old lady Parker waved at us. “Well, if it isn’t my best customers.”
We were surprised by her comment. She knew about our pie fetish, and wasn’t clueless at all.
The old lady curled her finger and said. “Come on over. I’ll make you boys some lunch and y’all can try my new pie recipe. Can’t set them on the on the porch to cool anymore. They always come up missin’.” She wiped her hands on a towel she was holding and laughed.
I sighed and Frank covered his mouth, but none of us hesitated to follow her. It was too late, since she already had us pegged. The nice old lady made us grilled cheese sandwiches with two kinds of cheese.
“Wow!” Mike exclaimed. “This is fancy.”
“Thank you sweetie, I’m glad you like it.”
When we sat down to enjoy our sandwiches she walked into another room. “Don’t go anywhere I’ll be right back.”
We were starving and didn’t comment about her leaving. There was no way we were going anywhere without a slice of her delicious pie. She walked back in the kitchen holding a pair of cowboy boots, slightly worn but in good condition. Looking at John. “Ya only have one shoe?”
“Yeah, I had a run in with two dogs. They got the shoe but I kept my foot.”
We all laughed.
“These look to be your size. Try them on.”
“Really? I never . . . had no cowboy boots.” John pulled off his one shoe and slipped on the boots. He strutted around the kitchen like Roy Rogers. “These fit great!”
“They’re yours now.” Old lady Parker picked up a knife to cut the pie. “They were my old man’s. He done passed away nigh on two years ago.”
Mike’s eyes widened. “Dead guy boots!”
The old lady laid a big slice of hot peach pie on a plate and slid it over to Mike, then pulled it back. “Oh wait Hun! Let me get yous some ice cream.” She put a scoop on top and pushed it back to him. “Try it now fore the ice cream melts.”
We ate well that afternoon and felt a little guilty about stealing her pies in the past, but then I wondered if she left them for us. From that day forward we no longer called her old lady Parker. We called her Grandma Parker.
Our bellies were full when we left and headed over to the sheriff’s office.
Mike, never without words said, “I wonder if old man Parker died with his boots on. Isn’t that what they say about cowboys?”
“That’s what I’ve heard.,” Frank agreed. “What do you think John? Did the old cowboy have his boots on when he died?”
I joined in. “Knock it off guys. If he did, I’m sure he was wearing socks . . .well pretty sure.”
John tried his best to ignore us, but we continued to harass him all the way to the station.
* * *
It was mid-day by the time we stepped into the sheriff’s office. Sheriff Carson called in a big city special investigator from the next county to help with this case. He knew it was more than they could handle. Greg Hawkins was now in charge of the murder investigation. He had been updated with the facts of the case from a phone call, so he already did some work before he showed up.
The investigator had Lindy Thomas under surveillance for the last six months. She was not an innocent victim.
They took us into a separate room so we could tell the investigator what we saw on the property. He took the film and said he would get it developed. Investigator Hawkins pulled out his wallet and gave me three dollars to cover the cost of the film and flash bulbs.
When we finished telling him about the cave and all the stuff inside, he asked. “Is there anything else? Did you find any money?”
We all froze like we just saw a ghost. The look on our faces gave us away. Hawkins immediately knew we had more information. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
Sweat beads formed on my temples. I whispered. “What are we going to do?”
In a low voice Frank said., “We need to stick to our story.” Frank jabbed his finger at us. “There was NO money.”
The rest of us nodded our heads in agreement. When the inspector walked back in we tried to act calm and in control, but Mike was rarely calm and never in control.
Greg Hawkins didn’t say anything for a long time when he returned. He flipped through some papers he brought with him while he peered over his glasses watching our every move. He stood up and said, “I need to talk to each of you, but one at a time.” He saw Mike fidgeting and pointed at him. “How about you go first? Follow me.” He put his hand on Mike’s shoulder and guided him out of the room.
As the door closed I said, “We’re dead. Mike can’t keep his mouth shut.”
“We need to be prepared to tell them the truth.” John rubbed the peach fuzz on his chin. “It’ll go easier on us if we tell the truth. After all we don’t have the money.”
Ten minutes later the investigator brought Mike back in the room.
“I know about the money, tell me the details and I’ll go easy on you.”
Frank was the first to speak. He gave up our story without any resistance.
“This is serious, but telling the truth will go a long way to ease your punishment.”
The sheriff opened the door, and asked Inspector Hawkins to come with him for a minute. He had some new information that he wanted to share.
We all glared at Mike. If only he had stuck with the plan and kept his mouth shut. Mike noticed the looks. “It’s not my fault. I didn’t say a thing.”
“You were gone for ten minutes. What did you tell him?” Frank said accusingly.
“Nothing, he bought me a Coke and put me in a room. The inspector didn’t ask me any questions. He didn’t return to the room until he brought me back here.”
I shook my head. “He tricked us.”
Frank’s head dropped between his knees. “It’s my fault.”
“We were never going to get away with it anyway,” John insisted.
Both the sheriff and the special investigator entered the room.
“I can let you off any charges, but you’re going to have to help me out.”
We all nodded, and I said, “Okay, what do we need to do?”
“Suppose there was $50,000 instead of $30,000?”
“Was there?” Mike inquired.
“No, but there could have been $50,000 in the bag. Only you kids and the dead woman would know. So, let’s pretend there was and see who comes out of hiding.”
John frowned. “Seems a little dangerous for us.”
“Well, it’s your choice, juvenile court or helping us catch the crooks.”
Mike rubbed his chin. “Is there something else in it for us?”
Greg Hawkins stood and scooted his chair under table. “Yes. Here’s the plan.”
He went into great detail about circulating a rumor of a missing cash bag containing $50,000 dollars. He knew the thieves would suspect the kids, since we found the bag. He told us we would each be given $200 to flash around town. The idea was to draw attention to ourselves. He knew the bad guys wouldn’t let some kids get away with $20,000 they thought was theirs.
Pointing at John, the inspector said, “Buy some things for yourself. Maybe fancy boots like your buddy.”
“Sounds a little dangerous.” I squirmed in my seat.
Sheriff Carson held his hand up. “Don’t worry we have a contact in town that will keep an eye on you to make sure you’re safe. She’s a tough old bird, used to be a rodeo clown with her old man. Worked on the circuit when Wilkie was breakin’ into the music business.”
Mike shrugged his shoulders. “Well! Who is she and how can she help?”
The sheriff narrowed his eyes and smiled. “Y’all know her. She makes pies, but she’s a deadeye with a Winchester. I call her Parker.”
We all looked at each other and in unison said, “Grandma Parker?”
* * *
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