A Baked Ham by Jessica Beck Read Free Book Online

to let my grandfather respond to it, not if I wanted to get
any information about Benny from Vern.   “We can appreciate that,” I said, “but we need to know a little about
your past before we can invest any of our future with you.”
    Moose started to add something,
but I could see him bite the remark back.
    Vern shrugged, and then he threw
his pen down on his desk.   “Yes, it’s
true that Benny and I ran an agency together for sixteen months.   It was a mistake, something I realized as
soon as we got started, but how big a mistake it was I’m just beginning to find
out.”
    “In what way?” I asked.
    “I hate to speak ill of the dead,
but the man had a way of making money vanish that still confounds me.   It wouldn’t surprise me if they have to screw
him into the ground; he was that crooked.   Does that answer your question?”
    “Where does that leave you,
besides bitter towards him?” I asked.
    “Of course I’m bitter.   He took something good of mine and ruined it
for his own benefit.   Now I’m picking up
the pieces and trying to start over again.”
    “It sounds as though you had
quite a grudge against him,” Moose said.
    “I’m not denying that I did, but
the last thing I wanted to happen was for someone to kill him.”
    “Would you mind explaining that?”
I asked him.
    Vern took in a deep breath, and
then he let it out slowly before he spoke again.   “While Benny was still alive, I had a chance,
no matter how slim it was, to get my money back.   With him gone, the money’s lost as well.”
    “How much are we talking about
here?” Moose asked.
    “Six figures, at least,” Vern
said.  
    “Just out of curiosity, where
were you last night when it happened?” I asked.
    “I was the same place that I’ve
been every night since I went out on my own; I was here behind my desk, trying
to figure out how I’m going to make this business a success.   So far, I’m not having much luck.”   He reached forward, moved his pen, and then
closed the open folder on his desk.   “I’m
guessing this meeting is over.”
    “What makes you think that?” I
asked.
    “It’s obvious you came in here to
ask me about Benny.   You never were
interested in a new insurance policy, were you?   At least not from me, at any rate.   I’m not even saying that I blame you.   I’m too old to start from scratch again.”
    “We might be interested,” Moose said.  
    “If that’s true, call me later
for an appointment, and we’ll discuss it.   I’m just not in the mood to deal with this anymore today.”
    “Thanks for your time,” I said as
we all stood.
    “You’re welcome to it, for
whatever it was worth.   For the record, I
hope you figure out who did it.”
    “What are you talking about?” I
asked as innocently as I could manage.
    For the first time since we’d
come into his office, Vern Jeffries actually smiled.   “You’re investigating Benny’s death, and I
don’t blame you.   Moose, you must be
feeling the heat pretty solidly right now, but if it helps any, you aren’t
alone.   The sheriff’s already been here
grilling me, so I’m not surprised that you’re in the thick of it, too.   I’ll tell you what I told him.   If you really want to know who killed Benny,
you should look at his ex, Amanda Lark.   She could scare the label off a paint can, and from what I saw, he was terrified of her, and
that’s when they were getting along.   After he dumped her, I heard that she threatened to come after him with
a butcher knife.”
    “Do you happen to know where we
might find her?” I asked.
    “The last I heard, she was
working at Mad Dog; you know, the furniture outlet on the edge of town.   Watch yourself around that woman.   She bites.”
    “We’ll be careful,” Moose said.   “Thanks for the information.   We’ll see you later.”
    “Have your people call my
people,” Vern said with a hollow laugh.   “Except I don’t have people, at least not