Bring Your Own Poison by Jimmie Ruth Evans Read Free Book Online Page B

away.
    â€œSheriff Johnson,” he said, his voice deep and raspy.
    Elmer Lee turned to face him. “Warren.”
    â€œWhat’s going on here?” the state cop asked. He and Elmer Lee moved a few feet away and conferred, their heads bent together.
    Wanda Nell was staring at Warren. She hadn’t seen him in over twenty years, but as soon as she realized who he was, her heart fluttered in her chest.
    Back in high school, before Wanda Nell had fallen so hard for Bobby Ray Culpepper, she had briefly dated a nice boy in her class. That boy’s name was Bill Warren. At the time he had been a nice-looking guy—tall, thin, a bit awkward, but cute in a goofy kind of way. Wanda Nell’s parents had liked him, but her interest in him waned once she caught Bobby Ray’s eye. She broke up with Bill and started dating Bobby Ray. Not the best decision she had ever made, she told herself ruefully.
    So Bill Warren was a cop now. As she watched him and Elmer Lee, she couldn’t help noticing that Bill was no longer thin and awkward. He had filled out nicely, and he stood with an ease and confidence he had lacked as a teenager. After Wanda Nell broke up with him, she lost track of him. She vaguely remembered that he had gone off to college, maybe Mississippi State, and after that she hadn’t a clue what he had done.
    Now he was a state police officer, and he was back in Tullahoma. She shook her head over the coincidence.
    Warren and Elmer Lee turned to face the group. Warren spoke. “Gentlemen.” He glanced in Wanda Nell’s direction, and his eyes widened in recognition. “And lady.” He nodded slightly at Wanda Nell. “Sheriff Johnson and I’ll be conducting this investigation. It’s my sad duty to inform you that Officer Blakeley is dead.” He paused a moment for the words to sink in. No one spoke.
    â€œBecause of the circumstances, we are treating this as a suspicious death,” Warren continued. “We appreciate your cooperation, and we’ll try to get you out of here as soon as possible. For the moment, we’re going to ask you all to move to the front of the restaurant so we can begin the investigation back here.”
    The partygoers started moving out of the back room. Warren and Elmer Lee stood aside, as did Dixon Vance and the other police officers. Wanda Nell stayed where she was for the moment, keeping an eye on Gerald Blakeley. He hadn’t moved from his chair, still nursing his cup of coffee. Wanda Nell didn’t think he was aware of anything going on around him.
    Elmer Lee came over to Wanda Nell. “You need to clear the room, too, Wanda Nell. We’ve got work to do back here, and we can’t have you standing around in the way.”
    â€œNice to see you, too, Elmer Lee,” Wanda Nell said, giving him a sweet smile. She nodded toward Gerald Blakeley. “But I think somebody needs to look after him.”
    Elmer Lee turned to stare at the young man. “Gerald.” He put his hand on Blakeley’s shoulder. “I’m sure sorry about your brother.”
    Gerald stared up at him. “What do you mean?”
    Elmer Lee squeezed his shoulder. “I’m afraid your brother died. They couldn’t save him.”
    Gerald didn’t respond for a moment. He fixed his eyes on the cup in his hands. He nodded.
    â€œWe need to clear the room.” Bill Warren had come up behind Elmer Lee.
    â€œWanda Nell,” Bill said. He stared down at her. “You’re looking good.” He paused. “It’s been a long time.”
    Wanda Nell nodded. “It sure has.” Bill had been really upset when she broke it off with him, and even now she felt a bit guilty just thinking about it. At the time, she hadn’t given much thought to the way he felt.
    At the moment, though, she could read nothing in his eyes. He had a disconcerting, noncommital stare, and she dropped her gaze.
    Wanda Nell remembered