If Catfish Had Nine Lives(74)

            “No! That’s terrible. Is he okay?”

            “He’ll be fine.”

            “Oh my gracious, I’m so glad to hear that.”

            “I heard he’d been drinking quite a bit earlier that night.” I looked at Cody to see if he would waver from his earlier comments. I didn’t want to believe that he had been correct about Teddy’s behavior, but Cody gave no sign that he wanted to change his story. I turned my attention back to Jezzie. “Teddy doesn’t remember much. Any chance you saw anything suspicious?”

            “No, and when I saw him he certainly wasn’t acting like he was too drunk, but I left early in the evening so I could get some rest. I’m not as old as the old ones around here, and not as young as the young-uns. I’m right in the middle group who likes a good night of sleep more than not.” There was no humor in her words, but if she’d been in a better mood, I might have laughed.

            Instead, I hesitated to respond, which caused both her and Cody to look up at me.

            “Jezzie, were you upset with Orly that night?” I finally asked.

            “I don’t . . . oh, yes, I was. Well, not really, but we were having a discussion.”

            “May I ask what it was about?”

            “It wasn’t much of anything, just rehearsal schedules and such. Nothing important.”

            “That was it?”

            “That was it.”

            “Oh.”

            I looked back and forth at Jezzie and Cody, and I couldn’t help but wonder what they were hiding, or just keeping to themselves, maybe. They both now had that forced, wide-eyed innocence that pretty much always indicates some sort of guilt.

            But any more questions I might come up with would have to wait to be asked. I saw Cliff’s car moving along the road at the edge of the campsite. I excused myself and hurried to greet him.

            The snake story had made it back to the police station, and Cliff’s first item of duty was to tell Orly that the snake would be disposed of by the police, and that waving a shotgun in public, even if a murder hadn’t recently occurred, was a bad idea. In fact, I’d been correct—no one was supposed to have a firearm in the first place. The police had taken possession of all weapons. Or so they thought. The shotgun was now also in the possession of one of the other officers.

            I didn’t think Orly cared much that the police weren’t happy with him, but he was dutifully obedient with Cliff, apologizing and promising to never to do such a thing again.

            “How are you?” I said to Cliff after he took the tied-shut cooler and placed it in his police car. He’d driven his official vehicle, though he had changed out of his official uniform into some jeans and an appropriate Western shirt. I didn’t know if he’d decided to be more casual since we’d be together this evening or if he didn’t want to look so much like a cop. Jim must have given the okay on the clothes.

            “I’m fine. How about you?” he said. “I’ve been a little busy the last few days, haven’t I?”

            I shrugged. “Goes with the job.”

            “It does. Seriously, you doing all right?”

            “Yep. I’d like to find out who killed Norman and who beat up Teddy. I’ve been trying to ask some questions. You and Jim find out anything more about either of those crimes, though I realize the murder is much more important? Maybe you’d like to share the details with me?”

            “You’re much more curious than you used to be in high school.”