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NICK SMILED WHEN HE SAW Jim coming in: “I thought I might see you tonight.”
“Set ’em up. I just had to come by and thank you for all that you’ve done for us.”
“I did do good, didn’t I?”
“Yes, sir, you did. I’ll never be able to repay you.”
“Yeah. You will, just tell that baby I’m its uncle.”
They both laughed.
“Nick, I need to ask you a serious question.”
“Shoot.”
“How am I going to get Peggy out of jail?”
“That’s a hard one. The only way I can think of is an appeal and I understand her lawyer has nothing on which to base one.”
“What if we could find the real killer?”
“Well, that would do it, but the evidence only points to Peggy. It would take a death-bed confession, well...almost, to get her off. How do you plan on finding the killer?”
“I just don’t know. Do you have any suggestions?”
“Not really.”
“What if I confessed to doing it myself?”
“That’s a noble idea but no judge would accept a confession from you. He would know it’s only because you want to take her place.”
“I can’t just give up. I know she is innocent. I’ve just got to prove it.”
“Good luck, son. I just don’t know what to tell you.”
“Do you think talking to State Trooper Wright could help?”
“It couldn’t hurt. I think the same GBI agent that investigated Billy Bob’s death investigated the murder of Craig and Mr. Bob. You know it’s not too often a town loses two sheriffs in less than a month.”
“I think I’ll give Sam Wright a call. He’s a close friend of Mike’s.”
The next morning he waited until he saw that Mike was alone then asked if he would come outside for a few minutes. He didn’t want Mother to know he was trying to get in touch with Sam Wright.
“Sir, I’m trying to find a way to get my Peggy out of jail. Nick tells me I need to find some strong evidence before her lawyer can file an appeal. I was thinking that maybe Trooper Wright could give me some help. Do you know how I can get in touch with him?”
“Sure do. I’ve got a telephone numbers for both his home and work. He gave me the numbers the last time he was here.”
“Do you mind calling him for me?”
“I’d love to do anything to get Margaret, I mean Peggy, out of that jail. Let’s go. I’ll do it right now.”
“You don’t mind?”
“No. Let’s not waste time. Let’s do it.
Mike used the phone on his desk. Sam came on line a few seconds later.
“Sam, this is Mike Barkley.”
“Is there anything wrong, sir?”
“No, my missus and I are fine. I was wondering if you might help Jim Coleman and his new wife, Peggy Taylor.”
“She’s married?”
“Yesterday. Jim is trying to find evidence so they can file for an appeal. We thought you might be able to help.”
“Sir, you know I would do anything for you, but it seems an open and shut case. I guess I could talk to you both about it.”
“Jim and I could drive down to see you if that’s okay?”
“No need. Jane and I are looking to buy a cabin on the lake up there. This will give me an excuse to drive up.”
“When do you think you’ll come?”
“This Saturday is open for us. We could meet you at the post office around ten o’clock?”
“That’s great. See you then.”
Saturday, ten o’clock came and went. Jim was really getting worried by 11:15 a.m. and no one showed up.
“Do you think he changed his mind?”
“No, son, I don’t. Highway 5 isn’t the best road in Georgia. Saturday can be a busy day with all the farmers coming to town.”
The words were hardly out of his mouth when a new Oldsmobile drove up to the post office. Sam quickly got out and ran around the car to open the door for his wife. She was busy with something in the back seat. Then they could all see what she was doing, helping a little boy from his car seat. Sam looked up at Mike: “You remember my wife, Jane?”
“Of course I do! Hello, Jane. And who is this little guy?”
“That’s Michael.”
“Michael, my name is Michael, too. How old are you?”
“Four” —was the answer— which was accompanied by four fingers being thrust in front of Mike’s face with a proud smile.
“Michael, do you like ice cream?”
Michael just nodded yes.
Mother scolded her husband: “You better ask Jane first!”
Jane replied that it was okay as he was so good on the way up, even when they were following the tractor.
“Well, Mother, let’s take Jane and little Michael to the Tastee Freeze for an ice cream and let these men talk.”
Jim invited Sam to his apartment and asked Sam if he would like something to drink. As Trooper Wright accepted the Coke, he invited Jim to call him Sam.
“I really appreciate you taking the time to talk with me.”
“What is it that you think I can do?”
“I’m not sure, but from what I read about you in Michael Barkley’s letters you can be trusted.”
“Michael’s letters?”
Jim explained how he had found the letters in the shed. He went on to explain to Sam about the heartbreaking troubles of Michael and Susan.
“Now I know what he meant about ‘settling the score.’ Where are the letters now?”
“I burned them. I was afraid the Barkleys would read them and felt they had suffered enough.”
“I agree. What do you think I can do for Peggy?”
“Nick informed me that the same GBI agent that was with you the first time we met also investigated these murders.”
“That’s true, and that reminds me. What did Mike say your last name was?”
“Coleman. I was using Cole then because I didn’t want the Barkleys to know about my past.”
“Do they know now?”
“Yes, sir. I have explained it to them and what’s wonderful is that it didn’t make any difference with them.”
“It’s amazing that the truth usually hurts less than a lie, but we still lie first.”
“Sam, I want the complete truth to come out now so Peggy can go free.”
“What is the truth?”
“I shot them. I need you to help me prove it.”
“I remember this case well. You were a suspect at first but you were the first one removed from the list. Believe me, the prosecutor tried to make you an accomplice. He dropped that approach when it was shown, not proved, you weren’t in town. Are you just saying this to trade places with your wife?”
“Nick said that would be the judge’s reaction.”
“Nick Turner?”
“Yes. Nick is my closest friend outside of the Barkleys.”
“He’s a good man.”
“I think so. What I need to do is prove that I came here to kill Craig on my own. I didn’t even know Peggy at the time. I must prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was me.”
“If we prove that, the judge may decide you were an accomplice and let the sentence stand. You haven’t convinced me yet, much less a judge. I’m afraid you’re just saying you did it so Peggy can go free. Why would you come to Blue Ridge to kill Craig?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Well, I’ll listen. Convince me.”
Jim began to give his life history to Sam, trying not to leave anything out...
Sam tried to summarize what Jim had told him. “Your father signed a pact with Boss Carter in Washington, so you went to jail instead of the son for a hit and run accident? The son raped your sister and she committed suicide. Both the father and son were killed which prevented you from getting even. So you came to Blue Ridge to get your revenge on the Fosters? Revenge by proxy was the motive. Is that it?”
“It sounds so stupid when you say it like that.”
“It is stupid. Revenge never works. It never makes anyone happy, solves nothing.”
“I know that now. Do you believe me?”
Well, it’s hard to believe you could just make this up. Let me get GBI Agent Rodgers to make a few calls. If this proves true, I will see what I can do.”
“Thanks, Sam.”
“Don’t thank me yet, as the best that can happen is that you trade places with Peggy. Why don’t we go over to the Tastee Freeze and get some ice cream. I’m hungry.”
“Then would you mind dropping me off at the jail. They said I could see Peggy this afternoon.”
“Sure thing.”
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