SIXTY
Jack stood with Nathan at the farmhouse. They believed Leif’s murder had taken place around the grain silo and away from the home.
The door opened and an older woman—maybe late seventies, even early eighties—stared back, surprised. Nathan flashed his credentials. “I’m Detective Nathan Campbell, and this is Detective Jack Tanner.”
“I already told the others everything I know, which is nothing, but come on in.” She opened the door wide, and Jack followed Nathan into a small but comfy living room with decades-old furniture. Doilies and all.
“Have a seat, detectives. Can I get you anything to drink?” she asked.
“No thank you.” Nathan sat. “We won’t be here too long. Just have a few more questions.”
Jack remained standing. The plan was for Nathan to ask the questions. Jack perused the photographs on the walls. The fireplace mantel. The side table. Then he turned his attention back to the conversation.
He approached and eased into the chair nearest the woman while Nathan engaged in small talk. Jack was anxious to get down to business and leaned forward.
She smiled at Jack. “Detective.”
“Just call me Jack.”
“And you can call me Ruby, please.”
“All right, Ruby.” Jack shared a look with Nathan, letting him know he would take it from here. “I was involved in the shooting last night.” Then again, might as well get right to the point.
Her eyes widened, and her gaze dropped to his arm. “You’re wearing a sling. Is that because of last night?”
“Yes, ma’am. I was almost killed, along with another law enforcement officer, who also happens to be a dear friend.” Jack didn’t miss that I-told-you-so expression on Nathan’s face. Terra would be a “dear friend” to Jack even if he had no romantic feelings for her. He cleared his throat. Focused on the topic. “When I heard that you insisted you hadn’t heard the gunshots last night, I had to hear that from you myself, Ruby.”
Ruby’s demeanor shifted to one of shame. Her shoulders sagged, and she stared at the floor. “My Will died this last spring. My son Butch comes from the next town over to check on me now and then. He manages the crops. Drives the combine. Hires help as needed. But at night, I’m alone. I still can’t get used to this old house. Every creak, every noise wakes me. I stopped watching those murder mysteries. That did help me some, but then...”
“It’s all right, Ruby. Take your time, dear,” Jack said.
She gave him a shy smile. “When I heard the guns go off, at first I thought it was firecrackers. I went to stand on the porch, and I realized someone had machine guns. I ... I was scared. I did like Will always instructed me to do. I ran down into the basement. He kept a loaded shotgun for me down there. It’s our safe room. I bolted the door and grabbed the shotgun. Down there, I couldn’t hear the gunfire. I’d planned to call the police, but I’d left my cell upstairs.” Ruby glanced at Jack. “I waited for what I thought was a good long while, then I started back upstairs. But that’s when I heard someone come inside the house. I thought I would have a heart attack. I froze in the shadows down under the stairwell, holding that shotgun I never had need to use in over six decades.”
Tears slipped from Ruby’s eyes, but she straightened, sitting tall in the chair. “That’s when I heard Will’s voice in my head. To be the strong person I had always been. I stomped right up those stairs and pointed the shotgun at a man standing in the hallway. I told him to get out of my house or I’d blast a hole through him.”
Jack shared a look with Nathan.
“What happened next?” Nathan asked.
“He lifted his hands as if he meant no harm. Didn’t say nothing, but he marched out the front door. I ran to the door and bolted it. I guess I hadn’t locked it earlier, so I only have myself to blame for him coming inside. I tell you, my heart was pounding so hard. The sirens came then. The police. So I knew I was safe.”
“Ruby,” Jack said. “Why didn’t you tell the other officers this story?” Jack tried to keep his incredulity concealed.
Ruby hung her head again, then just as quickly lifted it. “I’m ashamed, son. I truly am. But it was always my Will’s mantra that we mind our own business. We don’t borrow trouble. We stay out of it. I thought I was doing what Will would want. After all, what does it matter that the guy came in the house and left of his own accord? He’s dead, I hear.”
“Yes, and he was found inside your silo.”
“I didn’t kill him.” Determination carved deeper into the lines on her face.
Jack could almost smile at that. She was a feisty woman, ready to defend her home and herself. He couldn’t blame her for that. “We know you didn’t, Ruby.”
He couldn’t see her climbing up the silo ladders or steps, much less carting Leif’s body up and dumping it, though he wasn’t clear on the events of the murder. Then again, Leif could have made his last stand up on the catwalk at the top of the silo, battling it out before being shot and killed. Even then, Ruby wasn’t a suspect. He glanced at Nathan. “Just how did we learn Leif was in the silo?”
Nathan cleared his throat. “Tracks through the cornfield. More bullet holes in the tower.” He looked at Ruby. “Sorry, ma’am.”
“I already know this. No need to be sorry. Anything else I can answer for you?”
“Did you get a good look at the man in the house?” Jack asked.