As he exited his cruiser, a rush of tepid air blew Joshua's Stetson from his head. It caused a chill to run down his spine. After retrieving his hat, he stood atop the dam and gazed across the expanse of the lake. The only indication the Hudson was ever in the lake was the marred hillside where the tow truck dragged from its resting place of the last 38 years.
“Are you sure you're ready for this, Hoss,” asked Joshua's oldest, dearest friend, James “Hook” Fortner.
“No, I ain't. However, there's no avoiding it now, is there.”
“No it ain't, Hoss. You've been working toward this for the last few months- ever since you discovered those Dixon boys granddaddy was killing women back when your mama disappeared, you've suspected she was murdered.”…show more content… You said yourself that the three skeletons recovered had what appeared to be gunshot wounds to the head- that sounds like a hit to me.”
“Yeah, it could have been...”
“Some thugs must have killed the three of them and then shoved the car off into the lake. The lake gets fished everyday, I wonder why it wasn't discovered long before now.”
“I don't have a clue, Hook. Back in the 1930s there were plenty of gangster types around this part of the state; hell, there still is.”
“Was the Dixie Mafia around back in those days?”
“I don't think the D-M became organized until the late 50s or early 60s- there has always been criminals of one sort or another around here though. The KKK started up after the Civil War- and Mobile is a seaport, so there's been gambling, trafficking- (narcotics and human), labor racketeering, bootlegging, drugs, prostitution- you name it, we've had it.”
“See, that's what I mean, Hoss. It could be three dudes that were in that car. They were probably killed for one of those dealings you were talking about. Those skeletons and that car in the lake might not have anything to do with your mama's disappearance.”
“Maybe not... I wish there was- “
“Was what?”
“Someone I could talk to that was in law enforcement back…show more content… There is one, a man named Joseph Jernigan, a retired city detective– After his retirement, he did extensive work organizing the county's unsolved case files. His granddaughter, Sandy works in our records room. She told me that he has 'old timers'. She said he has good days and bad, and she never knows which it will be when she visits him.”
“My uncle Woodrow has old-timers. Some days his memory is good and he'll talk for hours telling stories of his youth – other days, he don't even know who anyone is. It would still be worth a try to go and talk with Jernigan. Maybe you'll catch him on a good day.”
“You're right, Hoss. I'll get with Sandy and see if we can set up a meeting.”
“Good.”
“I reckon I'll take you back to the Hickory Pit and grab a bite to eat before I head into town. Maybe John will have something on those skeletons recovered yesterday. Science has come a long way from back in the day,”said Joshua as they walked toward his patrol
