Our Roving Reporter is blessed with an above average amount of curiosity, as are most reporters. She is drawn to Levi, Oklahoma, and its interesting inhabitants. Wanting to become better acquainted with the town’s citizens and the reasons behind so many mysterious happenings, she sets up an interview with a man who probably knows more about what is going on in Levi and the surrounding Ventris County than anybody, including the sheriff, Grant Hendley: Tony, the owner of Dilly’s cafe.
Roving Reporter: Thanks, Tony, for taking time out of your busy day to talk with me. I’ll bet that everybody who lives in Levi finds their way through your doors.
Tony: In the course of a month, most people do; that’s a fact. I think of my little establishment as a clearing house for gossip. (He shakes his head.) If these walls could only talk.
RR: I love the decor of this place. It feels comfortable. Formica-topped tables, black and white tile floors. Very 1960-ish.
Tony: Actually, Dilly’s began way back in 1946 and has stayed in operation since that time. The real drawing card, though, is the good food. We use only local produce and meat. It sort of makes a person feel like he’s home when he comes to my place.
RR: I can see that. Thanks for the delicious coffee too, and sitting down in your back booth with me for a few minutes. I’m curious, Tony, about the people who live here. Everything looks so quiet and peaceful on the surface–small town nestled among the green, quiet hills of northeast Oklahoma. The river runs near-by. Everyone is friendly but, well, my goodness! How many murders and disappearances have taken place?
Tony, shaking his head: Well, now, I don’t like to dwell on the negative. Lots of good things happen too. Actually, I guess every town has its share of trouble but not every town has such nosy, I mean, curious people as Darcy Campbell. Since she came back from Dallas to live with her mom, Flora Tucker, things have been a-poppin’. She’s got a nose for news and, although I don’t think she means to get into all the narrow escapes, she just has to find out the why, where, and how. You know? But, maybe that’s a good thing. Take, for instance, the murder of poor old Ben Ventris. She solved that one, although the murderer was a mean ‘un, that’s for sure. I think that sort of started things and then there were two other people who met untimely ends, but that Darcy, well, she figured out how they were all tied together.
RR: Yes, and wasn’t there something about a young woman who disappeared?
Tony: Yep. Nobody knew where or why but Darcy and Flora–they kept digging ’til they got an answer.
RR: Just recently, there was something else, something that involved Darcy and Flora’s grandmother, wasn’t there? And, Tony, I hate to say this, wasn’t a young woman poisoned right here in your cafe?
Tony’s face flames and he squirms in the booth: Let me tell you, young lady, it wasn’t because of my food. She was up to no good and her gruesome little joke sort of back-fired on her and, as for Darcy and Flora’s family–well, I knew Miss Grace and there wasn’t a finer lady anywhere. I’m not saying one word against her or any of the Tucker family. No sir!
RR (chastened): No, of course not. But, what about that old well? Didn’t Darcy find something in it? And, wasn’t there an ancient grave on her granny’s property that nobody knew about and…
Tony: Sorry to end this little visit, but I see the lunch crowd beginning to come in. My best advice to you, young lady, is to go meet Darcy and Flora yourself. Flora loves to cook and makes the best coffee around, except for mine, of course. She’d probably invite you right in and make you feel at home.
RR: Thanks, Mr. Tony. I believe I just may do that.
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If you, like our roving reporter, are curious about Levi, Oklahoma, and would like to meet Darcy Campbell and Flora Tucker too, you can find them within the pages of The Cemetery Club, Grave Shift, Best Left Buried, and Grave Heritage.
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