This story is purely a work of fiction. Any resemblance to person's living or dead, or to events that may have occurred, is purely coincidental.
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Mark Stevens
I would like to welcome my previous as well as hopefully new readers back to enjoy this story. However, should you have not read any of the Porterville books before you should do so
- Porterville 2. Murder in Porterville 3. Silver Candlesticks
All three stories are stand alone, however, a lot of the same characters from the first book return for more adventures.
To my old readers: Welcome back. To my new ones, welcome aboard.
Please feel free to write me with any thought you might have. Please keep comments positive. I already have an editor that keeps me walking the line. Ha ha. You can email me at:
jetdesk2@yahoo.com
Chapter Three
Britt and Devon were sitting around the kitchen table with their two houseguests. The day had finally arrived when Alice and Brian were to be married. Because of the event, one guest was Jerry Poteet, father of the groom. The other guest was not only a good friend, but Britt's lawyer as well, Glenn Redding. When some legal problems popped up while Britt was uncovering the McKenzie secret, he had turned to Glenn for some legal advice. By the time things were settled, Glenn had not only remained Britt's lawyer, but had become a very good friend as well.
Britt and Devon were also enjoying Jerry Poteet's stay as well. Although they had known the man less than forty-eight hours, they had both come to think highly of him. The retired police officer had the same winning personality as his son Brian, which made the man very likeable.
"Brian tells me that the two of you have been very helpful to him at different times," Jerry Poteet said as he took a sip of coffee from the cup he was holding.
Devon gave the man a smile. "I think your son is misleading you. It's Britt who has helped him out."
"You've helped," Britt assured the man he loved.
"Well, maybe a little. Still, it's been mostly you."
Britt shrugged his shoulders. "I've had a bit more free time than you. You have a company to run." He was referring to the textile company Devon had inherited with the death of his parents.
"How's that going for you, Devon?" Glenn Redding asked.
"It's getting better," Devon answered. "After I learned to run it and not let it run me."
Glenn turned to Britt and asked, "How's the new book coming? I really enjoyed reading The Grave Marker."
Britt shook his head. "Not so well," he answered. "I just can't seem to put it together. I have most of the pieces in mind. I just can't seem to make them fit the way I want them to."
Devon reached over and covered Britt's hand with his own. "I heard these same words as he began putting his last book together. It worked out then, and it will work out now."
"I must confess," Jerry Poteet said, "I haven't read The Grave Marker yet. I keep thinking I will pick up a copy."
"Remind me, and I'll give you a one," Britt told the man. "No use for you to waste your money buying a copy. I've got plenty in my office."
"It was a very good book," Glenn agreed. "I also found it exciting because I knew I played a small part in putting the facts together."
"Your help was very much appreciated," Britt assured his lawyer friend. He turned to Brian's dad and said, "Speaking of having free time, how are you enjoying your retirement?"
"I'm liking it very much."
Britt, always looking for ideas on hatching new plot lines for his books, asked Jerry, "So, tell me. What was the most interesting case you ever worked?"
Jerry Poteet was silent for a moment. Finally he said, "I would have to say the Littlefield case. There were so many unanswered questions about the case. One of the persons involved disappeared from sight. The Littlefield woman was found on the floor next to a brick flower bed. It was finally determined the woman had leaned over too far while looking at the flowers and fell out of her wheelchair. Her head hit the side of the bed. The woman's cook had been out running errands and discovered her employer's body when she returned. What made the case so interesting was the fact nothing was ever decided. Whether her death was an accident or a robbery," Brian's father added. "It was finally labeled as a cold case and filed away."
Britt was immediately interested in Jerry's story. "Was there anything missing?" he asked.
"The woman's cook wasn't sure. She thought there might be a couple of candlesticks missing from the mantle over the fireplace. She said Mrs. Littlefield was always moving things around. She thought that might be the case with the candlesticks."
"You say it was finally listed as a cold case?" Glenn asked.
"It was finally decided the woman had been the victim of a home accident. Other people in the area, however, still think to this very day it was something more. The entire incident was written off as an accident."
"How long ago did this happen?" Britt asked.
"Lord, a long time ago. Must be thirty years or better. I hadn't been with the police department very long when it happened. I was there for thirty years. And I've been retired almost a year now," Jerry added.
"I find that very interesting," Britt remarked.
Devon grinned and said, "I hear those wheels rolling, Britt Williams. You're going to get a story out of this, aren't you?"
Britt gave the man a wink. "You never know about me."
The conversation around the table was interrupted when Wallace, the butler, came into the room with an announcement.
"You have a telephone call, Mr. Poteet. Your son is on the line and would like to speak with you," Wallace told Jerry.
Britt eyed the big round clock on the kitchen wall and said, "I guess our busy day is starting off." He pushed his chair back and stood to his feet. He told Glenn to make himself at home, adding, "I'm heading for the shower. If you need anything, Glenn, let Wallace or Edna know."
As Britt and Devon were leaving the room, they were joined by Jerry Poteet.
"What did your son want?" Devon asked.
"He wants me to drop by his apartment and see him."
"He wants to spend the last of his `free' time with his dad," Britt said with a grin.
"You are right," Jerry said.
"I think we're supposed to be at the church by one o'clock," Britt reminded.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
"I now pronounce you man and wife," Larry Owens said. "Brian, you may kiss your bride."
Following the minister's words, the wedding guests responded with the clapping of hands. They watched as Brian Poteet gently raised Alice's veil and placed his lips on hers.
Britt, standing beside Devon, reached over and gave the man's hand a gentle squeeze.
"I love you," he mouthed.
Devon smiled and repeated the words with a whisper.
The two watched with the rest of the guests as Brian and Alice made their way down the aisle toward the church entrance. Britt turned and saw his mother wiping her eyes. He shook his head at her. The look Catherine gave her son made Britt grin. He watched as Brian and Alice disappeared into the foyer and out of sight.
From the front of the church, Larry Owens announced the reception was to be held at the Porterville Event Center, formally known as the McKenzie Mansion. "Everyone is invited," he ended.
"Oh, and one other thing," Larry said. "All of the family and wedding party members need to come up front. I understand wedding pictures are going to take place. Everyone else may head out to the event center."
"I'll meet you out there," Britt told Devon.
Devon reached out and clamped onto Britt's arm. "You are family. You will be in the pictures. End of discussion."
Brian and Alice soon returned to the front of the church where the photographer had already set up his camera. Half an hour later all of the pictures had been taken, and the wedding party headed for the reception.
Much later, after the guests had all been through the line to congratulate the new couple, Britt found a chair. He was soon joined by two of his friends.
"Nice wedding, I think," Ronald James said, taking a seat next to Britt.
Ron James was the head of the accounting department at Porter Textile Company, a company that Devon had inherited when John and Elaine McKenzie had died two years ago. Ron's partner, Marty Wilcox, was a doctor at Porterville hospital. He had recently received a promotion and was currently Chief of Staff, overseeing its operation.
Dr. Marty Wilcox took a seat beside Ron. "Tell me, Britt, when are you and Devon going to get married?" He took a bite of cake from the plate he was holding.
"You're not the first person to ask me that in the last few days," Britt answered. "Larry Owens asked Devon and me the same question."
"What did you tell him?" Ron asked.
"Actually, he told us we should make it a double, joining Brian and Alice at the altar."
"But you didn't," Ron pointed out.
"We told Larry that this was Brian and Alice's time. "We'll have our moment. When the time is right," Britt ended.
"Mr. Williams, may I have a word with you?"
Britt looked up and saw Mary Nell Thomas, one of Alice's aunts standing in front of him."
"You may," Britt said to the old lady.
"In private, if you please," Mary Nell said giving Ron and Marty a glance.
"Pardon me, fellows," Britt said standing. He followed Alice's aunt a short distance away.
Mary Nell Thomas placed a hand on Britt's shoulder. Looking him in the face, Mary Nell said, "I'm charging you with something very important, Mr. Williams. Very important indeed," she repeated.
Britt didn't speak, and the woman continued.
"This Brian Poteet had better treat my niece with the highest respect given to any woman. If not, he will have me to answer to. And I can assure you," Mary Nell continued, "If he doesn't, I will bring such misery into his life that being in a cell in his jail will seem like a stay in an elaborate hotel. Can you deliver that message for me, Mr. Williams?"
Britt had tried many times to get both of Alice's aunts to address him by his first name, but the two old ladies had refused to do so. They continued calling him "Mr. Williams".
"Have you spoken to Brian about this?" Britt asked.
Mary Nell gave him a curt nod. "I have. However, I know that you seem to like and respect Mr. Poteet very much. I think it would be good if you were to speak to him as well."
Britt gave Mary Nell a pat on her arm and said, "I think when you get to know Brian, you will come to respect him as much as I do. Still, I don't mind talking with him about the subject."
"Thank you, dear boy. Your mother is so lucky to have you."
Leaving Britt standing with a smiling, but puzzled look on his face, the elderly woman made her away across the room and took a seat beside her sister.
"What was that all about?" Marty asked when Britt returned to his seat.
"Let's just say that if Brian values his life, he had better take very good care of his new wife," Britt answered giving both men a grin.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
The wedding reception went off smoothly, and all of the guests seemed to enjoy themselves. Most of them had left by the time Brian and Alice were leaving. They were driving to Tulsa and then flying out to New Orleans. They would leave the next day on their cruise.
Britt walked up to Brian and placed a hand on the man's shoulder. He repeated Mary Nell Thomas' words ending with, "I told her she just needs to get to know you."
Brian's face turned red. "Yeah, she's talked with me. I guess I'm going to have to prove myself when we return home from our cruise."
"They are both very dear to me," Alice spoke up. "In time, Brian, I know you will win them over." She reached up and gave her new husband a quick kiss.
"I don't know. I think working with prisoners would be easier than winning the two of them."
Britt's mother had walked up in time to hear Brian's comment. "Don't worry, Brian," she said. "It won't take you long. They will soon come to love you the way we do."
"Speak for yourself, Mom," Britt retorted. "Do you honestly think I will love the big lug?" He grinned at Brian.
The teasing soon came to an end as they stepped outside where Brian's car was waiting to take the newly married couple away. Brian told his father goodbye, and Alice hugged everyone, including her new father-in-law. Then the two climbed inside Brian's car and took off.
"Man, what a day," Devon groaned. "I'm ready for some relaxation time this evening."
"Same goes for me," Britt agreed. "Are you ready to leave, Jerry?"
Jerry Poteet was spending the night with Britt and Devon. He had plans to be on the road early the next morning, returning to his home in Little Rock, Arkansas.
The man said he was very ready to get into some comfortable clothes and get off his feet. "This wedding has worked me harder than working on the police force used to."
"You fellows go on," Catherine told them. "I'll stay behind and see if there is anything I can do to help Kathy with the cleanup. Even though she has a new helper, there's still an awful lot to be done."
"Are you sure?" Devon asked. "We'll be glad to stay."
"I'm sure." She smiled at Brian's father and said, "Take this man home and let him rest. Kathy has LaDonna, so the three of us should get things wrapped up rather quickly."
Jerry Poteet gave Catherine Williams a light hug and thanked her, ending with, "It was great getting to know you, Catherine. I hope we can meet again sometime."
Britt went for his car and soon pulled into the circle driveway. He honked the car's horn as he brought the vehicle to a stop. Jerry and Devon got inside and waved to Catherine as Britt pulled out of the driveway. It had been a busy day indeed, and the three of them were ready to relax for the rest of the evening.
As Britt drove the men back to the cabin, silence reigned inside his vehicle. Suddenly Jerry broke the silence.
"Have you fellows known this Kathy Applebee very long?" he asked.
"I think she opened up her catering business twenty years ago in Porterville," Britt answered the man.
"She has been catering all of the meals for the church ever since I can remember," Devon added.
"Why? Are you interested in getting to know her?" Britt asked. "She's single, same as you."
"God, no, I'm not interested in her that way," Jerry Poteet objected. Then, "Has she always walked with a limp?"
"I suppose she has," Devon responded. "I've never really paid her much mind until Alice began planning her wedding."
"Same goes for me," Britt replied. "I can ask Mom. She knows the woman much better than I. Like Devon said, Kathy Applebee does a lot of work for the church. Mom and the woman have worked together many times."
"Again, why the interest?" Devon asked.
"Just curious, that's all."
Jerry Poteet fell silent, and the rest of the trip continued in silence.