Murder in Humboldt Read online

  He sat Judy at a table, and then he approached the bar to order drinks. As he walked up and stood next to me I interrupted, “Mr. Maxwell, I need to speak with you. Do you have a minute?”

  He looked directly at me and quickly responded, “Mr. Reno, correct? You were in my office today, and I believe you made an appointment with my secretary, Brenda, Mrs. Patterson, right?”

  “Right, but it simply won’t wait until tomorrow. I have some money that belongs to your wife, Mary Ellen, and I need to return that money. My attempts to contact her have failed, so if you could tell me where to find her, I’ll be on my way.”

  “What? Money?” he stuttered and seemed surprised by my statement. “Look, Mr. Reno, I’ll see you tomorrow. As you can see, I am busy,” he said turning away from me and signaling Nuddy. His arrogance and comment did not go down well with me.

  “If you’ll just tell me how to contact Mary Ellen, we can resolve this quickly,” I offered with a nod.

  “She is in Miami, and I don’t know when she is returning. Please see me in my office with a scheduled appointment,” he said ignoring me and gathering the drinks Nuddy had prepared.

  “Do you have a number in Miami where I can reach her?” I was trying.

  “No, and I’m not going to repeat myself. I am busy this evening. Please see me in my office tomorrow. Now get lost!” he said as he turned to leave. This conversation was going the wrong way!

  “Look, JR, today has not been a good day. I am just trying to return some money, and I run into trouble wherever I look. Earlier today thugs attacked me, and told me to leave you alone. I don’t understand that, but maybe you do. I just want to return some money. Obviously, you have time for General Samson, maybe I should I speak with him?” That was the wrong thing for me to say!

  “What are you doing, asshole? You were following me?” JR shouted.

  I didn’t see it coming. The right cross caught me on my left jaw and put me down across two customer tables and three empty ones; it made a mess. I ended up sitting in the lap of Henry Clark’s wife, Diane, while Henry ended up in the floor sitting on his rib-eye steak! Now, sitting in Diane Clark’s lap was not the worst place one could imagine being, but with Henry looking up from the floor, it just somehow didn’t seem appropriate.

  By the time we got ourselves untangled, JR and Judy were gone. I guess I scared him away – huh?

  Trying not to draw attention to myself had become a complete failure. I made apology with the crowd, and of course, to Henry and Diane. I paid the drink tabs for the customers whose tables I had unwillingly danced on, and left an extra $20 with Nuddy. On my way out, I stopped by the kitchen and asked Roger to replace Henry’s misplaced rib-eye steak. He agreed.

  ~

  It was almost midnight when I finally got back to Chiefs. On the way to my room, I stopped by their take-out bar for a tall boy Colt 45. Not to drink, but to hold that big cold can on my jaw –it helped.

  I’d had enough! I was going home tomorrow. I’ll just keep the $100, and forget any of this ever happened.

  Where does the time go? It’s already after midnight, and Chiefs is still rocking with country music and party. Some of these people never go to bed, I guess.

  It was hard to hear over all the noise, but I thought I heard a car pull up in front of my cottage and a door open, then close. Based upon the happenings of today, I wasn’t comfortable with anything, and I was really ready to get back to Memphis.

  I was looking around my room for any kind of weapon when someone knocked on my door. It’s almost 1AM and I had not requested any kind of room service!

  Of course my gun is still in the car, where it belongs. So, I cautiously opened the door with my left hand while holding my half-full Jack Daniel’s bottle in the right. I’ll kill them with my whiskey, I guess!

  It was Judy Strong.

  “Mr. Reno,” she said shyly through the partially open door. “May I talk with you?”

  “Of course, Miss Strong, please come in.” I was in shock!

  “Please call me Judy, I will be more comfortable,” she said with a timid voice as she walked in my Cottage and I closed the door behind her.

  “Okay, then please call me, Carson. So, now that we have our formalities out of the way, what can I do for you, Judy?” I’m still in shock, but listening.

  “Were you drinking?” Judy asked staring at me still holding the Jack Daniel’s bottle by the neck.

  “Uh…yes…I mean no. I mean could I offer you a drink?” I stuttered as we both stood in the middle of the room looking at each other.

  “Yes, thank you, but just a small one,” she smiled.

  “Okay, please sit down and I’ll make us a drink while you tell me what I can do for you,” I offered pulling one of the small desk chairs from the corner for Judy to use.

  Judy started talking almost immediately. “JR, I mean Joe, is in real trouble. I’m not sure why you are in town, and if you are trying to help him, he doesn’t think so. Mary Ellen, his wife, doesn’t know about his problems, but also doesn’t want to help him. I know she loves him, but they just don’t communicate.”

  “Do you and JR – Joe communicate?” I asked handing her the drink I had prepared.

  “That’s not a nice or fair question,” she snapped. “I know what you mean, and the answer is NO! I work for him at Maxwell Trucking as Executive Vice President Sales. Our meeting at the club this afternoon was business, a business meeting. Whatever you said to him set him off like a bomb, I have never seen him act or react that way, ever. He drove me back to my car and never spoke a word, not about your fight or about anything. He was silent, and that is not like JR.”

  “Well, Judy, what I said to him should not have made him angry. I was just asking to speak with Mary Ellen regarding a business matter, and he went off the deep end,” I lied.

  “Perhaps he was just on edge,” she offered. “But I do know that Mary Ellen is out of town, Miami I think, and isn’t scheduled to return until next week.”

  “You said that JR was in trouble. What kind of trouble?” I asked.

  “I’m not sure, but it is real trouble. We’ve had union officials in our office, from the Hosiery Mill strike, most every day. Then, last week I got a letter from the Army requesting an audit concerning the container shipments we handle for the Milan Arsenal. Then yesterday, I saw some real shady characters leaving his office and they all looked upset, including JR. And Carson, I think they were carrying guns under their jackets. Can you believe that?”

  “Yes, Judy. Based upon today’s adventures, I can believe some or most of what you are saying.” She was getting more upset every minute.

  “And this morning, before you came by, Gerald Wayne shows up – unannounced. He marches into JR’s office, and they get into an awful shouting match.”

  “Do you know what they were arguing about?” This was getting interesting.

  “No, but I heard Dorothy’s name mentioned, more than once. And they were yelling about trucks, the strike, the Army – but I just couldn’t put it all together,” her voice was shaky as she continued. “I’ve been there, with Maxwell Trucking, for almost 4 years. The books are terrific and profits are over the top. But, sometimes I wonder where all the money comes from. I handle sales, so I should know the revenue, but when I see the numbers I just question what I read. Something is not right – I just don’t know what it is.”

  “Tell me about, JR. Is he fooling around – involved with another woman?” She knew I meant her, but I didn’t say it.

  “Carson, to my knowledge he had never seriously looked at another woman, not even me. This is a small town, and if you don’t want it known, you best not do it. You know what I mean?”

  Yes, I did.

  For reasons I will never understand, I told Judy about the letter and about my day. I left out the part about Bubba Knight, but told her pretty much everything else in detail. I explained that I was only trying to return the money to Mary Ellen, and I had no business or interest in
becoming involved in anything else.

  By the end of my story, we had punched a healthy dent in the Jack Daniel’s. She was not only a good-looking woman but also my kind of drinker. I like that in women – good looks and a good drinker!

  “Carson, you’ve gotten me drunk,” she said with slight giggle. “Were you trying?”

  “Judy, I have simply poured, mixed and handed them to you. The rest you must take responsibility for!”

  “I am sorry to have bothered you with my problems,” she said as she stood up. “I just wanted you to know that what happened at the club tonight was not JR, at least not the JR I have known for the past 4 years.” With that, she walked to the door, opened it and looked at the crowd still around Chiefs. Then she turned around, closed the door and locked it.

  It’s now 3AM, and the noise outside is still as strong as ever.

  “Carson, I don’t really want to go home tonight. Can we communicate?”

  DAY THREE

  Saturday

  N ickie was working the counter when I wandered in the restaurant sometime after eleven o’clock. She, and husband Ronnie, have owned and operated Chiefs for as long as I could remember. He runs the kitchen and does most of the cooking. Nickie handles everything else – including Cottage rentals, the books, and the inventory and keeping Ronnie in line. Ronnie has a ‘wandering eye’ and probably other ‘wandering’ parts, which does keep Nickie pretty busy sometimes. However, along with a couple of waitresses and Nickie’s supervision, everything always seemed to go like clockwork. She also manages the carhops who served outside patrons.

  Carhops are a different breed – they are either good or just plain terrible. Tommy is my favorite and has been with Nickie and Ronnie since the beginning. I guess you would call him the ‘team leader’ carhop. Whatever you need – and I mean ‘whatever you need’ Tommy Trubush is your man. Everybody knows there is a lot of underage drinking – but Tommy keeps it straight and never lets it get out of hand. I have many times seen him put tough guys on the ground and when he asks someone to leave – they leave. He runs the outside show – no question about it.

  “Rough night?” Nickie asked when I sat down at the counter.

  “No, great night but a very difficult day, and I guess breakfast time is over. Can I just have a burger patty, toast and large milk?” I asked rubbing my eyes.

  “Whatever,” Nickie said shrugging her shoulders. “Are you sure you don’t need a Jack and Coke?”

  “I probably do, but I’ve got to get back to Memphis, and I don’t need any distractions. However, you can add a fresh bottle of Jack Daniel’s to my bill. The one I have seems to have sprung a leak!” Wonder why?

  “Then you’re checking out?” Nickie asked. “I need to know because we’ve got a waiting list. This town is full of strangers, mostly union people I guess, and there just aren’t enough rooms to go around.”

  “Yep, figure my tab and color me gone. I have no return plans, so it might be a while before you see this handsome face in Humboldt again.” I didn’t know how wrong that statement was.

  “Speaking of your handsome face, where’d you get that bruise? You been bar fighting again?” she laughed.

  “Actually, yes, that is just exactly what I have been doing, and let’s not talk about it now. Unfortunately, I got surprised by this one, but it won’t happen the next time,” I said with some embarrassment.

  “Next time?” Nickie was curious.

  “Scratch that last comment. I’m outta here today and plan to stay outta here for the foreseeable future. And speaking of the future, what do you know about Mary Ellen Maxwell?”

  “Well, well, Mr. Reno,” Nickie said peeking over her glasses. “Is that what brought you to town? You have been snuggling up with Mary Ellen when JR isn’t looking? Shame on you and you know that really hurts my feelings. You haven’t made a pass at me since, well, I can’t remember when! Have I really lost my appeal?”

  “Nickie, stop that. You are making things up! And besides, what would Ronnie say?” I was trying to dig myself out of this hole.

  “He would probably kill you, or at least that is what I hope he would do. On the other hand, he might just say – good riddance! Wanna find out?” she laughed.

  “No and please stop this. Seriously, what do you know about Mary Ellen Maxwell?” I asked again.

  “Well, she is married to JR Maxwell, who owns Maxwell Trucking and they seem to be quite well off, financially. They certainly have a big nice home, drive big nice cars and take big nice trips.”

  “Anything else?” I know she knows something, but is talking all around it.

  “Like what?”

  “Like do they… are they happy in their marriage?” I stuttered.

  “Can’t say – it’s none of my business.”

  “Please, Nickie, get serious. I’ve got a problem that I need to get to the bottom of and only information will help. It started simple and got complicated quickly. Anything you tell me is between you and me, promise."

  “Carson, it’s only bar talk, you need to understand that, but rumor is that JR and this Judy Strong are a number – a big number! If you haven’t seen her, she is a ‘looker and a taker’. Know what I mean?”

  “Yes Nickie, I have seen her and I do know what you mean.” Brother, was that an understatement!

  “Then, you understand where I am coming from with the ‘looker and taker’ comparison - right?” Nickie asked.

  “Yes, but what about his business? Have you heard anything?”

  “Oddly, yes. These union guys like to drink, and the more they drink the more they talk. It seems that when the Hosiery Mill went on strike, Maxwell Trucking had several trailers backed up at the mill warehouse. The union won’t release the trailers because they claim they are full of pantyhose, and their picket line is there to prevent any shipments – coming or going. So there they sit, and as I understand it, these trailers aren’t permitted to leave the property.”

  This was getting stranger by the minute. “Nickie, why wouldn’t JR just unload the pantyhose back into the warehouse and remove the empties? That makes no sense.”

  “Well, as one union guy said, evidently these trailers are carrying other cargo, and were already partially loaded when they parked at the dock. According to him, they will remain there until the tires rot or this labor dispute is settled. His words not mine. Guess it is leverage they are using against Hosiery Mill management,” Nickie said shaking her head and walking away.

  I finished my burger patty and toast, just in time to greet Ronnie as he came out from the kitchen. We said a quick hello and good-bye as I threw my stuff in the Ford, getting ready for my trip back to Memphis.

  ~

  Curiosity is a dangerous thing – especially in the hands of an amateur! But I am a professional – right? For that reason, and none other that I could think of, I decided to pay one more visit to Mary Ellen’s house before hitting Hwy 79, and my drive home.

  The house looked just as before, no cars in the driveway other than the 60 white Edsel; however, something had changed. Although parked in the same spot, this car had been driven since my last visit; the leaves were no longer covering the hood and trunk, and had obviously blown away when someone drove it down the road.

  I didn’t bother to knock or try the bell; maybe I was afraid someone might really answer. I did take a walk around the pool and into an area at the rear of the main house. That’s where I saw what I wasn’t looking for. Somebody had recently broken the glass in a door pane and, apparently, gained entrance to the Maxwell residence. Glass was still on the ground and the pane opening was just above the door handle. It was then simple to reach inside and unlock the door.

  Making my way back around the pool, I walked over to the guesthouse to see if similar things had happened here. If they had broken into the guesthouse, it wasn’t evident. But, I guess they wouldn’t need to, because the door was partially open already!

  Coming to my senses, and knowing I had absolutely
no business here, I walked back to my car and left. I had a two-hour drive to ponder the events of the last two days, and still plenty of time to make happy hour at ‘ The Starlight’ .

  Here’s what I know – or think I know.

  Mary Ellen Maxwell has written a letter to a Private Detective asking them to gather evidence on her cheating husband.

  JR Maxwell’s closest associate, Judy Strong, gives a very convincing story that Mary Ellen’s husband is not cheating.

  JR Maxwell had a secret meeting with General Sandy Samson at an out of the way motel, obviously not wanting others to know.

  However, others DO know because some thugs with the Memphis Mafia were also watching this meeting. Obviously, they knew about it in advance, because they were already at the golf course when I arrived.

  JR Maxwell is very sensitive about his dealings with General Samson. And my jaw is sensitive from his reaction to my knowing about it.

  Maxwell Trucking has some trucks locked in the Hosiery Mill compound and is desperate to get them released.

  Undesirable members of the Memphis Mafia know I am somehow involved, and I have no clue as to how they would know this.

  Judy Strong is a knockout, and I can’t wait for a return match!

  ~

  The afternoon ‘tea dance’ at ‘The Starlight’ should be listed as the eighth Wonder of the World, but Saturday night happy hour is something that every red blooded man needs to witness at least once in their life. They say ‘it’s a jungle out there’. Well, on Saturday night, it is a ‘jungle in here’! By comparison, there are at least three ‘unattached’ women for every man. You will NEVER hear NO when asking for a dance. You will NEVER hear NO when offering to sit and buy them a drink and (I assume) you will NEVER hear NO to any other questions or offers that might be made.

  I don’t ‘fool around’ here. Remember that these are my potential clients and that would be bad for business. Besides, Rita watches me pretty close, and lets me know if I start to stray from that narrow path. I do, however, enjoy hanging with old, and sometimes, new friends.