Page 580 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

“We have two scheduled for this morning and four this afternoon.”

Avery leaned back in his chair. “Are the Whites on the list? They’re supposed to bring in a load of cherry. We need to get it sawed and dried in time to ship to Thomasville. They’re expecting their order in about eight weeks.”

“I don’t remember seeing them, but I’ll check.”

A couple of minutes later, Barb walked back into his office. “Sorry, they’re not on the list.”

Avery swore under his breath. “Would you please call them and tell them we need that load ASAP?”

She nodded.

“You’re a gem.”

She stopped midstream and turned to look at him. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Do you have plans for this weekend?” Barb paused in the door and fidgeted with her long, perfectly manicured nails as she waited for him to answer.

Oops. He’d stepped right into that one. “Why do you ask?”

Her next words came out in a jumble. “Um, well, do you think there’s?—”

Sam Barnes, a shift supervisor, burst through the door, and Barb’s words were lost in the commotion that followed. “Avery, there’s been another accident! Buford’s hurt—it’s real bad!”

Before Sam could elaborate, Avery was out of his chair and halfway out the door. He turned to Barb. “Call an ambulance!”

“We’ve already done that,” Sam said, running behind Avery.

Avery pushed his way through the crowd of workers and over to Buford. The paramedics were already there. “Get back,” they shouted, then lifted Buford onto the stretcher and put him into the ambulance.

“Hang in there ol’ timer,” was all Avery had time to say before the doors closed.

Avery lightly trailedhis finger across the gold letters that spelledWalter Pike, General Manager, Sawmill Division.He knocked once and then pushed open the door a hair and looked inside.

Walter was leaning back in his chair. One hand was holding the phone, the other was propped behind his neck. He motioned for Avery to enter. Avery pulled up a chair. He could tell from the forced sweetness in Walter’s tone that he was talking to Maurene, his wife. “Honey, how could you let this happen? You were going to balance your checkbook every month. Remember?”

Walter groaned and Avery smiled inwardly. Everyone knew Maurene was a spend-a-holic.

“How much are all of the bank charges?” His voice crescendoed. “What? That’s ridiculous!”

Walter glanced at Avery and then back at the wall. His face was beet red. “I’ll call Henry. See if he can erase those charges. That’s highway robbery.”

Avery knew that Walter was channeling his anger away from Maurene and straight to the bank. And if he knew Walter, Avery guessed that Henry Tate would most definitely forgive all of the charges.

Walter hung up the phone and shook his head. “I reckon Maurene thinks money grows on trees. That woman spends it faster than I can make it.”

Avery remained silent. Even though Walter blustered and complained about Maurene, he would do whatever it took to keep her happy.

“Anyway, enough about that. What’s on your mind?”

“I’ve been going over the report on Buford Phillips.”

“And?”

“Something just doesn’t fit.”

Walter sat up in his chair. “Shoot.”

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