It's Murder at the Buy-Right

26

"You gotta keep the store open, Daisy Ann."

It felt like the hundredth call. 

Her shoulders slumped as she looked around her kitchen, trying to decide whether to mop first or cook some beans. The mere thought of going down to the unemployment office to collect her pittance turned her stomach. 

A deputy's car pulled into her driveway.

It was Monroe Willis.

"What is it, now? Famine, earthquake, or something worse."

"I want to talk with you, Miss Daisy Ann."

"How's Deke?"

"About the same," the deputy said.

"Oh. I was hoping for good news."

Daisy Ann looked beyond him to the trees on the horizon.

"I've told you all I know, Monroe. I really don't think going over it all again would help."

"Oh," said Monroe, "It ain't that, exactly."

"Come on in," she said. "I got some coffee brewing. You want some Danish? Homemade."

Monroe looked squeamish.

"Not by me. By Iggi. She's adamant that I have a house full of homemade goodies. When the goin' gets rough, Iggi starts cooking."

"Bless her heart," said Monroe. "I'd love some."

When Monroe was settled in at the kitchen table with coffee and a huge piece of mouthwatering Iggi magic, Daisy Ann sat down across the table from her visitor.

"Shoot straight, Sonny boy," she said. "What's on your mind."

"You have to reopen the Buy-Right and run it for Deke. My daddy is adamant about it. He said that grocery store's the life blood of this town. If the Buy-Right closes, this town folds."

Daisy Ann was shocked.

"Not you, too. What is it with all you people? I feel like I'm being railroaded right back into the front door of that place."

"I know," said Monroe. "I've been talking to a lot of others around here. My daddy's heart is set on this. I've told him it was asking a lot of you. He made me promise I'd come over and speak to you. Think about it."

Daisy Ann looked skeptical.

"But why me?"

"An eye for an eye," said Monroe.

"You're always saying that," said Daisy Ann. "What does it mean? Biblical justice?"

"Monroe justice," he said. "Just hear me out. I'm only here on behalf of my parents. They made me promise I'd talk to you."

"Your family's good people," she said.

"Thanks. Well, here's what they want me to tell you.

Mama says that when Deke retired, he could have set up home anywhere he wanted. Chicago. New York. Atlanta. What made him come back here to a one-horse little backwater with two stoplights and one old fire engine?"

"He liked the taste of the water. I don't know, Monroe. He wanted to come back home and settle down where his roots were."

"Well, that's part of it," the deputy said. "Mama says that running that store is my uncle's dream. Mama says Deke wanted to make a difference around here. He wanted to give something back. Deke's a deep man, Mama says."

"Deke Dewitt? Monroe, are you pulling my leg? Deke was always saying he was a shallow creek. The rock wouldn't even make a splash when you pitched it in," said Daisy Ann.