Death By Rodeo Part IX
My name is Sunny Alexander. And I’m Henry James and we’re writers for Dark Sides of the Truth magazine.
Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII
Whoever killed Randy Culpepper was doing a darned good job of covering their tracks.
With the help of the ghost of Daniel Culpepper, a rodeo clown who’d died in the very arena we were in, we’d managed to find the barrel Brent, Randy and David used the night Randy was killed.
What we didn’t find, and we were almost positive we would, was how someone managed to do it. The straps missing from the inside of the barrel held the key and the killer knew it.
Even with the Daniel Culpepper’s help, we kept coming up a day late and dollar short.
“So now what?”
“Don’t have the slightest Sunny. I guess we go back to Damen’s house and figure out our next steps.”
“You know Dr. Struthers is going to turn this over to Houston PD Monday morning right? After she does, it’s going to complicate things.”
“Yeah I know. Guess we’ll have to play things by ear like we always do. I don’t know about you but I don’t have a ghost of a clue how this one’s gonna roll.
“Me neither.”
“Speaking of ghosts. You see your new boyfriend around?”
“Very funny Henry. No. I guess he figured he’s done what he set out to do. Lead us to the barrel.”
We flipped the light switch as we left, plunging the room into darkness then locked the door and closed it. We were heading back the way we came when our tour guide showed up again forcing an awkward and abrupt stop to our exit.
“There he is again Henry.”
“I kinda figured when you refused to budge another inch and almost yanked my arm off. What’s he doing?”
“Pointing.”
“Pointing where?”
“Behind us. Now he’s gone again.”
We did an about face, of course lacking any semblance to a crisp, military version of turning around and stared into the shadows of the hallway.
“Well?”
“He’s pointing to the exit sign and waving at us to follow.”
“Fine. I guess one exit is as good as another.”
When we opened the door we realized this exit led us back onto the rodeo grounds outside the arena. It was still pouring buckets of rain, and dawn was breaking late. The grounds were shrouded in low hanging sheets of gray clouds. Every now and then thunderous reverberations rattled the tin walls of the building.
“Ah crap. Looks like I’m gonna get drenched again. And me without a bar of soap.”
“It’s only a short distance to the car Henry. No problem.”
“Easy for you to say princess. You’re the one with the umbrella.”
“And it’s going to stay that way. Now come on.”
When we stepped out of the exit we heard the door lock behind us. We knew the only way to get back into the arena at this point, not that either of us had a reason to, would be if we walked all the way around and unlocked the gates again. It seemed a certain clown only one of us could see had something else planned.
“Okay I’m guessing you stopped for a reason right Alexander? Or do you want to make sure I’m soaked to the bone this time?”
“There he is again Henry.”
“Where?”
“See those dumpsters?”
“Yeah and?”
“He’s standing on top of one and waving at me.”
“As in waving goodbye?”
“No. He wants us to see something. My guess is it’s in one of the dumpsters.”
“Perfect. I suppose you expect me to go dumpster diving now? Could this day get any worse?”
“Oh stop whining.”
We centered ourselves between the two dumpsters. Then while one of us continued to wipe stinging drops of rain from their face, the other chose to stand beneath the protection of an umbrella and chat up a dead clown.
“Daniel. There’s something in these dumpsters we need to see? Oh, not both but the one you’re standing on? Okay. If Henry gets in will you help us find it? Perfect. Henry you’re up.”
“So how do I know you’re really seeing him and not just paying me back for those pictures I took of you outside 8 Seconds?”
“Hadn’t thought about that. But I guess Karma does have a way of making things right doesn’t it? Mr. James, the dumpster please.”
“Fine. Which one?”
“That one. You can use those crates to make you a stairway. Daniel and I will lead to whatever you need to find.”
“Oh God this thing reeks. Who in the hell tosses loose food in a dumpster?”
“What Henry? I can’t hear a word you’re saying. Okay Daniel is pointing at his feet. My guess is it’s right beneath him.”
“Hang on Alexander, I’ve…got…to move…these damned trash bags out of the way. Okay I’ve got about ten or twenty chili cheese dogs and a mess of fries. You want one?”
“You’re kidding right?”
“Well maybe not the fries, but the hot dogs don’t look too bad. Of course it’s so damned dark in here I won’t be able to see the mold on ‘em.”
“You’re disgusting old man. You know that? Okay Daniel’s nodding and clapping his hands. Where are you?”
“I guess I’m right below him. There’s three big ass garbage bags here. I’m going to lift the lid and toss them out. Then I’m coming out.”
As the rain continued to pelt us we stared at the three garbage bags. Thoughts of opening them up and searching the contents right there in the storm were pretty much out of the question. Of course nobody but us had a ghost clown who could come to the rescue.
“He still here?”
“Yeah, so which one Daniel? Henry pick up the trash bag nearest you.”
“Daniel, is it the one Henry’s holding?”
“Okay Henry toss that one back in and pick up the next one.”
“Daniel this one? Yes? This is the one?”
“Bingo Henry. The one you’re holding.”
After tossing the third bag back in the dumpster we knew we needed to get out of there, get back to Damen’s house and open it up.
There is a benefit to standing in the pouring rain and getting drenched. Water does an amazing job at washing the dumpster smell from your clothing.
“Aw Henry he looks so sad.”
“Sunny we need to go. What the hell are you doing?”
“Well he blew me a kiss, and I’m catching it and blowing one back.”
“Wait, let me get this straight. You’re blowing kisses to a dead clown? If memory serves me correct clowns terrify you. Now you’re playing cutesy with one?”
“Hush Henry. Take care of yourself Daniel. Maybe sometime I’ll come back and see you. Would you like that?”
“Oh for the love of God Sunny. Will you just come on?”
“Bye Daniel. Say hello to Randy for us.”
“You done?”
“Yeah. I think I’m going to miss him.”
“Alexander, you are without doubt the most paradoxical woman I’ve ever met in my life.”
“Are you sure you even know what that word means Henry?
“Bite me. Let’s get the hell out of here.”
READ ON — DEATH BY RODEO PART X
Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX, Part X, Part XI, Conclusion
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