HELL'S HALF ACRE a gripping murder mystery full of twists (Coffin Cove Mysteries Book 2) by JACKIE ELLIOTT (classic literature books .txt) 📗

Vega hesitated before he answered, “Just a thought, ma’am, that’s all.”

There was a pause. “There were a lot of bad things going on in Coffin Cove back then, Inspector. Havers was involved, and I think you’ll remember Summer Thompson was right there in the middle of it. Except back then, she was a victim.”

“Victims sometimes seek revenge, ma’am,” Vega said simply.

“You’re right, Inspector. Sometimes they do.”

They ended the call, and Vega stared down at his phone. He couldn’t tell his superintendent he was following Andi Silver’s “gut feeling”, could he? And yet, nothing was making any sense at all.

“Damn it, I need ten times the manpower,” he said out loud.

And if Summer was telling the truth about Jade’s disappearance, then he was running out of time.

There was a knock at the door and Charlie Rollins was standing there, looking miserable.

“Do you have a minute, sir?”

“Not really, Sergeant, but come on in.” Vega was irritated. Hadn’t this idiot done enough damage?

Charlie walked into the room, and without waiting, slumped down in a chair and held his head in his hands.

Vega stared at him. What now, for Christ’s sake? He took a breath and tried to keep the annoyance out of his voice.

“What’s this all about, Charlie? Come on, man, I’ve got multiple murders on my hands. Let’s have it.”

Charlie Rollins straightened up.

“Yes, sir. Sorry.” His voice trembled a bit. Vega looked at him. Oh God, had he been crying?

“Sir, Dennis Havers and me, well, we were good friends. We went way back.”

Vega nodded and cursed himself for being so insensitive. Of course Charlie would have known the Haverses well.

“Charlie, I’m so sorry. Forgive me. I completely forgot how close everyone is in this town. The last few days must have been very hard for you.”

Charlie waved his hand. “Thank you, sir, but it’s not that. It’s just . . . well, I used to help Dennis once in a while. Nothing illegal or anything . . . but . . . well . . .” The man was stammering.

Vega closed his eyes.

“Charlie. Please tell me everything. Now.”

“Dennis didn’t mean to get Ricky killed. He just . . . he was frustrated with his kid. Ricky never worked a day in his life and Dennis knew he would cut corners with this weed store. It was all about the money for Ricky. And Sandra gave Ricky everything he wanted. Dennis just wanted to scare him. . . you know, try to teach him about real life, so . . .”

“So he told you not to pay any attention if Ricky was reported missing?” Vega finished for him. “Good God, man, what was supposed to happen? Did Dennis get someone to abduct him?”

Charlie shook his head slowly. “I don’t know, sir. He told me that Ricky would be gone for a while, and when he got back, he and Sandra would toe the line.”

“What did he mean by ‘toe the line’?” Vega exclaimed. “You do remember that kidnapping is a crime, right? Even if it’s someone you know? What happened to you, Charlie? Been so long in the back of beyond you forgot everything about being a police officer? Jesus.”

“I’m sorry,” Charlie mumbled.

“So you think Dennis had his kid killed?” Vega demanded.

“No, no, sir. After a couple of weeks, Dennis was worried. He said the people he’d hired to . . . teach Ricky a lesson, they hadn’t got him. They couldn’t find him. So then Dennis started thinking someone else must have grabbed him. And that’s when you came over, and I got some searches underway . . .”

“But by that time, it was too late,” Vega finished for him.

Charlie nodded.

“Why didn’t you come forward before?” Vega asked, trying not to leap up and throttle the man sitting opposite him.

“I was going to . . . When we found Ricky, I tried to call Dennis. I thought he should tell you everything. But Dennis wasn’t answering. And now he’s dead.” Charlie hung his head.

“OK. Have you told anyone else?” Vega asked.

Charlie shook his head. “But then the article came out. And now the whole community blames me for Ricky’s death. I can’t . . . live with myself.” His voice cracked again.

Vega suddenly felt sorry for Charlie.

“Listen, man, no one’s blaming you for Ricky. We have a killer in Coffin Cove. I need you. You know this community. You made a mistake and so did I. But now, I need you to focus and help me, can you do that?

“Yes, sir, I’ll try.” Charlie still had his head down but didn’t sound so desperate.

Vega patted him on the shoulder. “Good man. We’ll talk again later.”

“Thank you, sir.” Charlie left the room, standing a little straighter.

Vega felt like his head would explode. He and the team were being buffeted in all directions. Were they being manipulated? As soon as they started chasing down one investigation, another bomb went off. These killings were connected. And whoever was behind this spree must be laughing at them all racing around chasing their tails.

First, Vega had Dennis under the spotlight for Ricky’s death, and considering Charlie’s confession, he might have been on the right track. But now Dennis was dead, and so was Sandra. Maybe Dennis’s hired thugs made a mistake. And then took Dennis out, in case he came clean. But how was Nadine connected to this? She and Dennis were having an affair, but why kill Nadine? And how on earth did Jade Thompson fit in to all this, except to unseat Dennis as mayor? And who the hell was Daniel Ellis?

Vega was suddenly tired. Tired of this investigation and tired of Coffin Cove and its damn secrets. That was the problem with this town, everyone was still living in the past. Everyone was looking back, not forward.

Vega sat up. Maybe that