Free Deadly Secrets by Jude Pittman

back and try to remember if you saw any strangers hanging around here yesterday.”
    “I did.” Marty Jenkins, who’d been sticking close to the beer keg, walked over and joined the group. “I don’t know if it means anything but did you see the blonde that drove up in the Mercedes convertible yesterday afternoon?”
    “I’ve already mentioned her to the police,” Kelly said, “but she left long before the market closed. Why? You got any idea who she was?”
    “Nope.” Marty pulled out a chair and joined the table. “That car she was drivin’ was sure a honey, though. It was one of them silver-gray convertibles. Brand new, I’d say.”
    “Did you happen to get the license number?”
    “Never thought to look.” Marty shook his head and fixed Kelly with a questioning gaze. “You ain’t gonna go shootin’ off your mouth that I said anythin’, are you? I never paid no attention to that gal. It was the car what caught my eye. Isn’t no way I want nuthin’ to do with the cops. First thing you know they’ll be figgering I’m the one that murdered Anna.”
    Kelly returned Marty’s look, then shrugged. “They might consider that withholding information.”
    Marty set his lips and shook his head again. “It ain’t up to me to talk to the damn cops just ’cause I happened to admire a good-lookin’ car.”
    A commotion broke out across the room and Kelly stood up and peered through the smoke to see what was going on. A circle of men had formed around Bubba, who was standing nose-to-nose with Frank Perkins and shaking with anger.
    “What’s up?” Kelly walked over and stepped inside the circle.
    “Aw, Bubba’s just touchy.” Frank sidled over to Kelly’s side. “I didn’t mean no harm. I was just askin’ him about his fish camp. He’s been braggin’ for months that he and Anna were goin’ down to Florida to buy one.
    “Just yesterday I heard Anna tell him he could shove that fish camp up his ass, then she goes and gets herself murdered. It kinda got me to wonderin’.”
    “You son of a bitch,” Bubba growled. “She was just lettin’ off steam ’cause she was pissed about something. Everybody around here’s got your number, Frank. You’re just tryin’ to start some shit. You’d gut your own mother given half a chance.”
    “Don’t mind him.” Kelly took Bubba’s arm and eased him away from the circle. “You know Frank,” he said. “His own life’s such a pile of crap that stirring up other folks is all that keeps him going.”
    “Yeah, I know but Anna and me was gonna buy us a fish camp.” Bubba turned his head and glared back at the group of men clustered around Frank. “She was just blowin’ smoke when she told me to shove it.”
    “Don’t worry about it,” Kelly said. “You don’t owe anybody an explanation.”
    “I keep thinkin’ I oughta have paid more attention to what was rilin’ Anna. Something was sure enough stuck in her craw last night and if I’d asked, she mighta told me. Now it’s too late. On top of everything, I don’t need that asshole reminding me that I’ll probably never get my fish camp now.”
    “There’s no use kicking yourself over what you might’ve done,” Kelly said. “Don’t let Frank get you down. We all know what he’s like.”
    “Thanks, Kelly. I’ll be all right.” Bubba attempted a smile. “I think I’ll grab a beer and cool off for a bit.”
    As soon as Bubba left, Frank, his fat face glistening with sweat, moved over to stand beside Kelly. “I heard some stuff up on the bridge last night,” he said.
    “And just what did you hear, Frank?” Kelly fought the tension that edged his voice.
    “‘Fraid I can’t say. I had to tell the cops, though and they told me to keep it under my hat. I know you used to be a cop but you isn’t on the force now, are you?”
    Frank reminded Kelly of Humpty Dumpty with his short fat body and dainty little hands that looked like they belonged in white gloves. Now, waiting for