While we danced around and acted like we didn’t have any good sense, someone knocked on the door. I opened it to see a distraught Sueleigh Dalton standing in the doorway. Her blouse was unevenly buttoned, and her hair stood askew. She was crying. “You’ve got to help me, Trixie. You’ve just got to help me.”

“Sueleigh, what’s the matter?”

“Don’t just let her stand there. Ask her in,” Nana quipped.

“Uh, sure. Come on in, Sueleigh.” I grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into the room.

“I’ll get you some tissues.” Dee Dee headed to the bathroom.

I had visions of Dee Dee holing up in the bathroom in order to escape the inevitable. She wasn’t getting off that easy. “That’s a great idea Dee Dee, but don’t get lost,” I called as she hurried off. My attention turned to the distraught young woman.

Nana led her to one of the beds and wrapped a grandmotherly arm around her. “There now, dear. Dry up those tears. We can’t understand a word you’re saying through all that hiccupping.”

Dee Dee reappeared. Sueleigh took the tissues and blew her nose, honking like a sick penguin. I didn’t realize an attractive young woman could make such a disgusting sound.

Dee Dee and I sat on the bed across from them.

Nana gave Sueleigh a minute to wipe her nose and dry her eyes, then launched in. “All right, young lady. What is it that you think Trixie can help you with?”

“They arrested Daddy. They said he killed John,” she managed to get out between sobs. “I know he didn’t do it. You’ll help me prove it, won’t you?”

Chapter Twenty-Five

What makes you think I can help?”

She sniffed and snorted before answering. “You helped your friend, and I thought you might help me, too. You seem like such a nice lady.”

I wanted to help, but I had a deadline to meet.

“Sheriff Wheeler told us someone gave a confession. I didn’t know it was your father. I don’t know what I can do to help.”

“He confessed to blackmailing John. He never confessed to murdering him,” she said.

I couldn’t believe this was happening. My head spun, and I struggled to breathe. The room was out of focus. A minute ago we were celebrating; now it felt like the air had been let out of my balloon. I imagined Dee Dee wasn’t feeling much better because she grabbed my arm and gave it a death squeeze.

Thoughts swirled around in my mind. If Frank Dalton didn’t kill Tatum, who did? Would the focus turn back to Dee Dee? I had been riding an emotional roller coaster since this had begun. I didn’t know how much more I could stand.

“Sueleigh, what makes you think he didn’t kill John?” It was a practical question, so I couldn’t understand why she looked at me like I’d gone around the bend.

“Because he told me he didn’t,” she sputtered with indignation.

“I realize he’s your father, Sueleigh, and you love him dearly. Of course, you want to believe him. Just because he said he didn’t kill Tatum doesn’t mean he didn’t do it.”

“That’s right,” chimed in Dee Dee. I dared to glance over at her. All the happiness I’d seen a few minutes ago had vanished and had been replaced by eyes as wide as saucers.

“Let’s all calm down. Sueleigh, start from the beginning. What did you mean when you said your daddy confess he had blackmailed this man?”

“It’s like I told you. He was blackmailing John. As soon as I found out they had arrested Daddy, I went straight to the jail. He told me all about it.” She had calmed down enough to talk without gulping for air.

“What did he tell you?” I asked, attempting to be as encouraging as possible.

“I know it wasn’t right that he blackmailed John, but I don’t blame him. After the way John blew me and the baby off, it’s no wonder Daddy found a way to get back at him.”

I agreed he had a reason, but that didn’t make it right.

She blew her nose and proceeded with her story. “Daddy said he was just getting John to pay us what he owed. He’s never paid one red cent in support for the baby. Daddy said it was his responsibility to pay and if I wouldn’t make him, he would. I always thought he was just blowing off steam. But he did. He didn’t feel guilty about it, either.” She looked me straight in the face. “He may have been blackmailing him, but I know for a fact he didn’t kill him.”

“You’ve told us that before Sueleigh, but how do you know that for a fact?”

“Because he told me what happened.” She stopped. I silently willed her to continue. “It’s like this.”

As we leaned closer, she studied the wadded tissues.

“A couple of months ago, Daddy was volunteering for the Community Charity Auction. He was helping sort through the donations. You should have seen some of the stuff. You couldn’t give it away, much less sell it. Daddy found this box that was donated by the Tatums.” She hesitated, drawing a deep breath.

“He went through the contents of the box to see if there was anything of value. He was so mad at John. I guess he figured there might be something he could sell on the side and give the money to me and the baby. He picked up an old family Bible, to move it out of the way, and something fell out of it.”

“What?” we asked in unison.

“It was an envelope with instructions to be opened when old man Tatum died. It never was.”

“Which old man Tatum? John’s father?” I tried to put the pieces together.

“No, Joshua Tatum, John’s grandfather. Daddy read the letter and found a deathbed confession by Joshua Tatum. Back in the thirties, a family named Haygood owned quite a bit of land during the gold rush days. Donnie Haygood had promised to sell the land to Joshua, but right before the deal went through, Donnie backed out.”

Bang!

A sudden pounding at the door made us all jump.

“What now?” I got up to send whoever it was away.

I opened the door.

“Hi, Ms. Montgomery.” Leroy pushed his head around the door so he could see who was in the room. “Just wondered how y’all are doing and if there’s anything you need. Hi there, Sueleigh.”

She gave him a little wave.

“We’re doing just fine, Leroy. Thanks for asking. Now if you don’t mind, we’re kind of busy right now.” I held the door firmly to keep him from coming in any further.

“Well, all right, but be sure and let me know if there’s anything I can get y’all.”

“We sure will.” I pushed the door closed with a click and bolted the lock, and rolled my shoulders. That guy still gave me the willies.

Chapter Twenty-Six

I know the Haygood story. I read about it last night.” I plopped down and bid Sueleigh continue.

She nodded. “Local mystery, you know. But, here’s the part that no one knew. Donnie Haygood decided not to sell the land to ole’ man Tatum. Tatum already knew that the land held gold when he offered to buy it. Donnie had discovered gold right before he signed the papers. That’s when he decided to back out of the deal.”

I wondered what connection this story had to John Tatum’s murder, but kept quiet.

“This made ole’ man Tatum madder than a wasp with an infected stinger. He wrote in the letter that he had killed Donnie. Can you believe it? John’s grandfather a murderer.”

We shook our heads back and forth.

“They never caught the murderer,” I offered, remembering the story.

“Where did you read about this murder Trixie?” Dee Dee asked.

“I was researching old murder cases for an article. The Haygood case was one that I read about.”

I crossed my arms, looking to Sueleigh. “This solves the murder of Donnie Haygood, but what about John?”

“After he killed Donnie, he bought the land from his widow. He acted like he was doing her a favor so she could move into town and get work. He admitted he gave her a pittance for her land, but nowhere near what it was worth. Shortly after the purchase, he ‘discovered’ gold on the property. The Tatum Empire was built with blood money. I’d have loved to see John’s face when Daddy showed him that letter.” Tears glinted in the corner of her eyes.