Dead Man's Puzzle by Parnell Hall Page A

Overmeyer died, there’d be a record. The guy Overmeyer used to pal around with is Rudy Clemson. Korean War buddy. Guy from his platoon.”
    “Why do I get the feeling I’m not going to like this?”
    “The war wasn’t over when they went home. Overmeyer took a round in the shoulder. Rudy had a head wound and shrapnel in his hip.”
    “You making a case for post-traumatic stress?”
    “Relax. You don’t have to defend these guys in court. They’re both dead.”
    “What?”
    “Like I said, the only way we’d have a record of Overmeyer is if he died. Well, same thing with Rudy What’s-his-face. Guy kicked the bucket just last year.”
    “You’re kidding.”
    “Not according to the Macon County News Leader . If Overmeyer had a change of heart late in life and decided to come clean, there’s no reason for anyone to want to stop him.”
    “Too bad,” Becky said. “Otherwise, he’d be just the age of the gentleman peering at us through the window.”
    “Where?”
    “Behind you.”
    “I don’t want to turn around. Is he a little guy with his pants up to his armpits?”
    “That’s him.”
    “That’s the Geezer. Another heir I don’t know the name of. But you’re right, he’s just the age to be his partner if he didn’t happen to be dead.” Cora frowned. “I suppose that’s a careless use of pronouns.”
    “Wait a minute. How do we know the guy who died was Overmeyer’s partner?”
    “Good point. We don’t. At least, not for sure. But in the next twenty-four hours Dan Finley’s about to learn a lot more about Mobile, Alabama.”
    The Geezer came in the front door, approached the table. “You look like Becky Baldwin.”
    Cora cocked her head. “She does, doesn’t she? I think it’s the way the light plays off her hair.”
    “You’re Overmeyer’s attorney.”
    “There even seems to be some dispute about that,” Cora said.
    “I ain’t interested in semantics. No offense meant. I know you’re that puzzle person.”
    “How politically correct of you.”
    “I understand you’ve been out to the cabin.”
    “How do you understand that?” Cora said.
    The Geezer made a face. “Why is it I speak to her and you answer?”
    “That is unusual, isn’t it?” Cora said. “Usually, a lawyer speaks for you. Here I am, speaking for a lawyer.”
    “Yeah, well, let the lawyer speak for herself. Come on, missy. Was you out there or not?”
    “What’s your interest in the matter?”
    “I’m Herbert’s cousin on his mother’s side. If you made an inventory, I’d like to know what you found.”
    “You fixing to inherit?”
    “Yeah. But not like them other ones, looking for cash. Grave robbers, that’s what they are. Rush in here, lookin’ for loot, find out he’s been killed. Serve ’em right.”
    “You’re different from them how?” Cora said.
    “Ain’t lookin’ for money. Lookin’ for things with sentimental value. Like the glove.”
    “What glove?”
    “Used to play catch. Out in the backyard. Herbert had a Rawlings glove. All beat up. Ain’t worth a damn.”
    “You think one of the others would try to ace you out of it?” Cora said.
    “Just ’cause it’s worthless don’t mean some idiot don’t wanna have it. Get some piece of junk ain’t worth a darn, sell it on eBay. If the glove ain’t mentioned in the will, they’ll be fightin’ over it. Glove mentioned in the will?”
    “I’m not in a position to comment on that.”
    The Geezer nodded. “ ’Course not. ’Cause that’d be useful. Did you happen to see the glove when you was takin’ inventory? Surely you can tell me that.”
    Becky sighed. “I’m not in a position to confirm or deny.”
    “Why not? You either saw it or you didn’t.”
    “I can’t set that precedent.”
    “You can’t what?”
    “If I tell you if there’s a glove, some other heir’s gonna ask me if I found a safe.”
    “Didja?”
    “See? If I tell you I didn’t see a glove, they’ll say, ‘Well, you told him there’s no