Part 8 (2/2)
”Like I said before, I didn't wanna lose my job,” Middleton continued, ”and the guy I was workin' with, his wife was about ready to have their second kid, so he couldn't afford to lose his.”
”What did you do?”
”Couldn't do much else except empty the tank and start diggin'. Didn't take more than a few turns with the backhoe 'fore the hole filled with water and the tank came floatin' to the top.”
”What happened then?” Stella prodded.
”I called Mr. Weston and told him the tank had come up and all the connections most likely needed replacin'. He was madder than all h.e.l.l. He said to get outta there as quick as we could. I didn't like leaving ol' man Reid with that mess, but I figured Mr. Weston was gonna send over another crew or even come over to fix it himself. That's what I would have done if it were me. I had no idea he'd write it off the way he did.”
”He didn't make the repairs?” Nick said in amazement.
”Nope. Ol' man Reid had to call in Jake Brunelle to drain the hole, sink the tank, and fix the connectors. Cost him thousands to get the system up and runnin' again. Jake let him slide as much as he could, but with Mr. Weston at his back, he couldn't give his time away for nothin'. That's when Mr. Reid called a lawyer.”
”Seems logical that he'd sue Weston.”
”Yep, and I was glad he did 'til ...”
”Until when, Josh?” Stella gently asked.
” 'Til I found out Mr. Weston meant to blame the whole thing on me. I was supposed to take the rap. I-I couldn't let him do it ...”
”I understand why you'd be angry; I'd be angry too. But even if he blamed you, it was still Weston's company,” Nick rejoined. ”He'd ultimately be responsible for the damages.”
”I know, but it's more than that. I do good work-work I'm proud of. I don't want my name mixed up with that whole deal. I weren't the greedy one. I tried to stop it.”
”But Hank Reid knows that, doesn't he? You said he overheard the conversation.”
”Yup, that's why his lawyer asked me to make a statement.”
”And, naturally, you agreed. So Weston set out to discredit you.”
Middleton nodded. ”Wanna hear somethin' else? When I finally got 'round to workin' on my truck, I found out someone had messed with the starter. I figure Mr. Weston did it so I'd miss my parole meeting. He didn't 'spect me to ask for the truck. But when I did, he got an even better idea-framin' me.”
”Do you have any proof?”
”That the truck was messed with? Or that Weston did it?”
”Both.”
”The wires to the starter were cut. I don't know who else'd have reason to do it besides Weston.”
”But you didn't see him do it.”
”Nope. But I know it was him.”
”And now that Weston's dead, where does that leave you?”
Middleton became oddly silent.
”Come on, man. I'm sure you already spoke with your lawyer. What did he say to you? If you don't tell us, we'll go look him up.”
”He said I still have to go to trial,” his voice cracked, ”but without Mr. Weston around, the charges prolly won't stick.”
”And the Reid civil suit?”
”I dunno. I didn't ask. Sounds bad, I know, but I was more worried about going to jail.”
”Which you've luckily avoided.”
”Look, I know what you're gettin' at, but you're forgetting somethin' important: how'd I know Mr. Weston was gonna be at your house?”
”I'm sure you have friends who still worked for Speedy Septic. Besides, Weston was driving one of those bright yellow well service trucks the day he died. It wouldn't be very difficult to follow him to our place.”
”I didn't. I swear I didn't.”
”Where were you yesterday?”
”Work.”
”Where are you working?”
”Nowhere. No one will hire me with the truck thing hangin' over my head. I've been doin' odd jobs here and there.”
”And yesterday?”
”I was up on the mountain cuttin' firewood for a friend.”
”You were there all day?”
” 'Til it started raining. Then I packed up and came home.”
”And this friend can vouch that you were there?”
”Yup. I'll give you his number if you want.”
”Save it for the cops. They'll want to speak to the person who can give you an alibi for the day. This friend was with you the entire time you were there, right?”
Middleton's face grew red. ”N-no ... he was at work all day. That's why he had me cut the firewood. He ain't got the time to do it himself.”
Nick frowned. ”Hmm.”
”Look, I know what you're thinking, and I ain't no murderer!” Middleton rose to his feet again. ”If you're looking to hang someone, check out ol' man Reid. When I got arrested, he lost his best chance at getting even with Mr. Weston. If that ain't motive, I don't know what is.”
Amidst the barks of Luke, Josh Middleton stormed into the trailer and slammed the aluminum screen door behind him.
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