Bring Your Own Poison by Jimmie Ruth Evans Page B

now,” Wanda Nell said. She moved away from Gerald, trying not to attract any attention. She glanced over her shoulder, and the deputy had taken up his spot by Gerald again. He didn’t appear to have seen her talking to the boy.
    She hurried through the kitchen, back to Melvin’s office where she could use the phone in private. She punched in the number of Tuck’s cell phone and waited for an answer.
    She was afraid the call was about to go to voice mail when she heard Tuck’s voice.
    â€œTuck, it’s me, Wanda Nell,” she said.
    â€œHey there,” Tuck said. “What’s up?”
    Wanda Nell explained the situation in as few words as possible. When she finished, Tuck didn’t respond for a moment.
    â€œTuck? Can you be his lawyer?”
    Tuck expelled a short breath into the phone. “I’ll be glad to, Wanda Nell. I think he’s going to need one.”
    â€œDo you know him at all?”
    â€œA little,” Tuck said. “I knew his brother better.”
    From the tone of his voice, Wanda Nell figured Tuck hadn’t cared for Travis Blakeley all that much.
    â€œYou didn’t like him either,” she said.
    â€œNo,” Tuck said. “He was the kind of man who should never have been allowed to wear a badge, and frankly, I’m not too sorry he’s gone.”
    â€œThat’s what I’ve heard from several people, more or less.”
    â€œI don’t think there’ll be many people crying at his funeral,” Tuck said. “More than likely, they’ll be dancing on his grave. Look, I’d better get going. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
    Wanda Nell put the receiver down. She hadn’t even asked Tuck what he was doing. He and T.J. were supposed to be going to the movies with Juliet, Miranda, and Teddy. If that’s where they were, then Tuck could be here pretty fast.
    She thought for a moment about what Tuck had said, that no one would be crying at Travis Blakeley’s funeral. For the first time, she thought about the girl Blakeley had been going to marry. What about her? Wouldn’t she be upset?
    Wanda Nell felt sorry for the girl, but if everything people said about Travis Blakeley was true, maybe the girl was better off without him. She shivered. Who would want their daughter to marry a man like that?
    When Wanda Nell came through the kitchen door, she found Elmer Lee standing at the counter, frowning.
    â€œWhere have you been?” he asked.
    â€œI had to make a phone call,” she said.
    Elmer Lee’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Did you call Tucker?”
    Wanda Nell nodded.
    â€œProbably not a bad idea,” Elmer Lee said, surprising her. “That kid’s going to need him.”
    Then he looked like he was sorry he had said anything. His expression hardened. “Come on over here,” he said, jerking his head to the left. “We need to talk to you.”
    Wanda Nell walked around the counter and followed Elmer Lee to the back table in the front dining room. Bill Warren stood as they reached the table, and he motioned for Wanda Nell to take a seat.
    There was activity all around them, but neither Elmer Lee nor Bill appeared to notice. All their attention focused on her. She sat down, took a deep breath, and folded her hands in her lap. She faced Bill Warren squarely.
    â€œIt’s been a long time, Wanda Nell,” he said.
    â€œYeah, it has,” Wanda Nell said. “Twenty years or more.” Now that they were this close together, she examined Warren as discreetly as she could. He had aged well. He was far more attractive now than he had been in high school. There was something about a confident man that Wanda Nell couldn’t help responding to.
    â€œAbout that long,” Warren said. He examined her, not discreetly at all. “Sorry you have to be involved in all this, but from what Johnson here tells me, it’s not the first time.”
    Wanda