He would pay it, that he was sure of, whatever it cost.
13.
The Lean
D ays after Millie’s funeral the Proclaimer came out with a front page different from any before. It exclusively covered the life and death of Millicent Knox, lauding her works and accomplishments. It also exalted her family, reminding everyone what the Knox family meant to the community. This was to be expected. The murder and funeral were the biggest news to hit Gratis in decades.
The most noticeable change to the paper was that Johnnie’s column, previously on page seven in the Local Lifestyles section, was now on the front page. Johnnie easily convinced the editor that the paper needed to take a stand in the matter of the Millicent Knox murder investigation. Her column would lead the way.
Johnnie put down her gossip and picked up her cause. She would not rest until someone paid for Millie’s death and intended not to let anyone else rest, either.
“Today, friends, I put Lee’s Little Secrets down. Every secret is indeed little, and not worthy of my time or yours, until we find the horrible person who murdered my dear, best friend, Ms. Millicent Knox. I will keep vigilant, asking questions, making sure that our local law enforcement doesn’t rest until her killer is shackled. There will be no such thing as “all leads have been exhausted.” This is a wound that time itself cannot begin to heal until justice prevails. If anyone knows anything, or has any information, all you have to do is call me. The information will get into the rights hands, and those hands will get busy.”
“Unfortunately, the Sheriff has still not made an arrest, and it is my understanding that private investigators have been assaulted when making inquiries. Believe it or not, the assaulters have yet to be arrested by this Sheriff’s Office, which is rather puzzling. Why would our own Sheriff impede justice? Remember, Sheriff, Millicent was a daughter of this town, and this town loves its daughters. We will be safe. God bless you all, and I will keep you informed.” She signed off without a catchphrase and retitled her article “For Millicent.” When Johnnie committed she was all in.
What horseshit
, Tommy thought after he read the column. He never liked Johnnie. It riled him that this woman held so much sway in his hometown.
He knew about the fight that occurred at Daddy Jack’s. Kero told him about it the day after it happened. He had known Kero all his life. He ran an establishment that by and large observed the law. Tommy would go there himself if he wasn’t the high sheriff.
Still, Tommy’s summer was getting hotter every day. Franklin Knox was thoroughly raising hell about someone getting arrested, and Johnnie was killing him in the paper. Even worse, quasi-legalized thugs were roaming the town not so much asking questions as demanding answers. Tommy had not survived as sheriff this long without getting others to help when he needed them. That’s why he scheduled a meeting with Delroy for later that morning. Tommy needed help and needed it right now.
Delroy knew most of the criminals in town, and they told him things they wouldn’t tell anyone else. If Delroy asked questions of his former clients about Millie’s murder, he might get answers. Tommy knew politics and people. If you leaned hard enough, people would do things that surprised them. Tommy knew how to lean. It was just a matter of finding a weak point and attacking it. Delroy’s weak point was family. He would fight for his family, rabidly. Tommy believed Delroy would compromise his integrity for them as well.
He was looking forward to talking to Delroy. He didn’t hate him so much as find him smug and self-righteous. Delroy had a way of talking down to a person and Tommy wouldn’t be talked down to. He anticipated Delroy’s face when he gave him the choice between either betraying a confidence or his niece and nephew being detained as material witnesses.
I’ll wipe the smug look
13.
The Lean
D ays after Millie’s funeral the Proclaimer came out with a front page different from any before. It exclusively covered the life and death of Millicent Knox, lauding her works and accomplishments. It also exalted her family, reminding everyone what the Knox family meant to the community. This was to be expected. The murder and funeral were the biggest news to hit Gratis in decades.
The most noticeable change to the paper was that Johnnie’s column, previously on page seven in the Local Lifestyles section, was now on the front page. Johnnie easily convinced the editor that the paper needed to take a stand in the matter of the Millicent Knox murder investigation. Her column would lead the way.
Johnnie put down her gossip and picked up her cause. She would not rest until someone paid for Millie’s death and intended not to let anyone else rest, either.
“Today, friends, I put Lee’s Little Secrets down. Every secret is indeed little, and not worthy of my time or yours, until we find the horrible person who murdered my dear, best friend, Ms. Millicent Knox. I will keep vigilant, asking questions, making sure that our local law enforcement doesn’t rest until her killer is shackled. There will be no such thing as “all leads have been exhausted.” This is a wound that time itself cannot begin to heal until justice prevails. If anyone knows anything, or has any information, all you have to do is call me. The information will get into the rights hands, and those hands will get busy.”
“Unfortunately, the Sheriff has still not made an arrest, and it is my understanding that private investigators have been assaulted when making inquiries. Believe it or not, the assaulters have yet to be arrested by this Sheriff’s Office, which is rather puzzling. Why would our own Sheriff impede justice? Remember, Sheriff, Millicent was a daughter of this town, and this town loves its daughters. We will be safe. God bless you all, and I will keep you informed.” She signed off without a catchphrase and retitled her article “For Millicent.” When Johnnie committed she was all in.
What horseshit
, Tommy thought after he read the column. He never liked Johnnie. It riled him that this woman held so much sway in his hometown.
He knew about the fight that occurred at Daddy Jack’s. Kero told him about it the day after it happened. He had known Kero all his life. He ran an establishment that by and large observed the law. Tommy would go there himself if he wasn’t the high sheriff.
Still, Tommy’s summer was getting hotter every day. Franklin Knox was thoroughly raising hell about someone getting arrested, and Johnnie was killing him in the paper. Even worse, quasi-legalized thugs were roaming the town not so much asking questions as demanding answers. Tommy had not survived as sheriff this long without getting others to help when he needed them. That’s why he scheduled a meeting with Delroy for later that morning. Tommy needed help and needed it right now.
Delroy knew most of the criminals in town, and they told him things they wouldn’t tell anyone else. If Delroy asked questions of his former clients about Millie’s murder, he might get answers. Tommy knew politics and people. If you leaned hard enough, people would do things that surprised them. Tommy knew how to lean. It was just a matter of finding a weak point and attacking it. Delroy’s weak point was family. He would fight for his family, rabidly. Tommy believed Delroy would compromise his integrity for them as well.
He was looking forward to talking to Delroy. He didn’t hate him so much as find him smug and self-righteous. Delroy had a way of talking down to a person and Tommy wouldn’t be talked down to. He anticipated Delroy’s face when he gave him the choice between either betraying a confidence or his niece and nephew being detained as material witnesses.
I’ll wipe the smug look
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