Southern Sass and a Battered Bride

by Kate Young

  “Persistent jerks.” Betsy grabbed another slice from the box. She didn’t mind cold pizza.

  Sliding off the chair, I went to the door and glanced through the peephole. I had to steady myself with my hands against the frame. Detective Thornton stood staring right into the opposite side.

  “Who is it?” Betsy wanted to know and crammed her mouth full. “Reporters?”

  Shaking my head, I leaned back and whispered, “Detective Thornton.”

  She dropped her pizza back on the plate and leaped from the stool. “This is it! I thought we’d have more time.” She started running in place and flailing her arms as her voice rose. “Why didn’t we spend our time buying fake passports on the black market and stockpiling money instead of sitting around here eating? Call someone! Do something!”

  “Calm down!” I hissed.

  “Miss Brown, you might as well let me in, I can hear everything out here,” Detective Thornton said through the door.

  “Be cool,” I mouthed to Betsy, who gulped.

  “I’m always cool. I’m as cool as a cucumber.” She bent over at the knees and started doing some deep breathing.

  After a couple of deep breaths myself, I let the detective in.

  The man waltzed right past me as if he owned the place. I supposed he familiarized himself with the layout earlier. He cast a glance over to Betsy. “Caught the news report, I see. Relax, Miss Myers.”

  “We better be on the same cell block is all I’ve got to say!” Betsy hollered, then slapped her hands over her mouth. She looked like she’d swallowed a stinkbug. She dropped her hands as my brows raised. “I mean, we’re innocent! I want my lawyer. We want our lawyers!”

  I’d never seen Betsy so panicked in my life. “Betsy, we haven’t done anything wrong and I don’t think the detective is here to arrest us.”

  The way the man walked in without reading me my rights or being in the company of another officer, he was probably here on a fishing expedition, which he was going to have no luck with, and I hoped he didn’t make up a tall tale about the big one he caught.

  The detective raised his hands defensively and smiled. The expression appeared awkward and forced. I’d never seen him smile before and for some reason, I got the distinct impression he didn’t smile regularly.

  “Miss Brown is correct. I’m only here to have a conversation with your friend. May I?” He motioned to the living room.

  “Of course.”

  Mr. Wrigley appeared out of nowhere and leaped on the back of the sectional sofa with his hair and back raised, looking positively possessed as a god-awful noise came from his overweight body.

  “Um, is that cat okay? It doesn’t have rabies or something, does it?” Detective Thornton scooted to the corner of the sofa.

  “No. He’s just old and doesn’t like strangers.”

  Betsy snatched her bag off the chair, grabbed the box of pizza, and said with the utmost speed, “Well, if y’all don’t need me around here, I’ll just mosey on my way.”

  “You’re leaving?” I gaped.

  She leaned toward me and whispered out of the corner of her mouth, “You know what they say about animals. They can sense evil. I advise you to come with me. Get out before whatever entity took over that man’s body is unleashed.” Before I could respond, Betsy hightailed it out of my cottage, leaving me alone with the detective.

  I straightened and faced my unwelcome guest, who was still watching Mr. Wrigley with what was clearly trepidation. He’d even begun to sweat a little.

  I walked over and stroked the cat’s gray head. “It’s okay, buddy. You run along.” I hefted the cat, making a mental note to talk to the vet about some diet cat food. Being so overweight couldn’t be good for my little fella. I kissed him on the head and placed him on the floor. “Can I get you something? A glass of wine or tea? I’d offer you some pizza, but Betsy took what was left with her.”

  “No, thank you. I’m fine.”

  “Very well then.” I perched on the far edge of my tweed sectional. “What can I do for you, Detective?”

  The man regained his composure the second Mr. Wrigley left the room. “I thought you and I should have a talk off the record.”

  I blinked several times before what he’d said actually registered. This had to be some trick to get me to entrap myself somehow. I got myself together. “Why would you want to do that?”

  “Because, Miss Brown, something about this case is off. Way off.”

  “Ya think?” I closed my mouth the second the last word slipped out. I knew better than to poke the bear.

  “I was hoping you and I could work together on this. You be forthcoming with me, and I’ll do my best to solve this murder case and leave this island. You’ll never see me again.” He stared at me with a different air. Not that I trusted him. No, not by a long shot. The air shifted and Mama sat next to the detective. This was an omen. Danger.

  “Be careful. There is a conflicted vibe coming off this one.” Mama kept her gaze trained on the detective.

  “I have been forthcoming with you. I told you what happened. It was the truth. I had nothing to do with Lucy’s death. And I don’t know who did.” I sat back against the sofa to show I was calm and collected. I hoped it portrayed a calm demeanor anyway.

  Having Mama here calmed my nerves a bit. She smiled at me.

  “You haven’t been when it comes to your relationships,” Detective Thornton said.

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “I’m sorry, honey.” Mama’s tone was full of emotion, and I couldn’t very well ask why.

  I scratched my brow to glance inconspicuously from Mama to the detective. The pitying expression on her face spoke volumes. Nerves took up residence in my midsection and began to spread throughout my body. Great, just great. I couldn’t stand being blindsided.

  “Oh, you didn’t know. Paul and Lucy had a relationship a few months back. Under the circumstances, I’m surprised he didn’t tell you.”

  I crossed my legs and laced my fingers around my knee. “Are you sure your information is solid? Alex and Lucy have been together for . . .” A head tilt from the detective halted my speech. First, I find out Lucy is fooling around on Alex with this biker fella, now he’s adding Paul into the mix. “Okay. Well, are you now inferring Paul might be responsible for Lucy’s death and is framing me?” Mild-mannered Paul would be the last person I’d suspect, which gave me pause, and instantly I suspected him. Probably the intent of the man sitting across from me. Although, something about him made me almost trust him. Almost.

  “I’m not inferring anything.” He sat forward. “We’re just having a friendly chat about how much you don’t know about the people in your life. The ones you keep close company with and seem to trust with your life.”

  I gave his words some consideration. I wouldn’t say I trusted Paul with my life. He felt different and, on some level, that gave me a sense of security. And from Mama’s drawn lips and sad eyes, I gathered Paul and Lucy hadn’t ended their contact months ago.

  “I’m not comfortable with this conversation. I’d like you to leave.”

  “We’ll have the lab results soon. Once they’re in, an indictment will be forthcoming.” He rose and strolled toward the front door.

  “You mean my indictment?” I swallowed the lump in my throat and rose to my feet.

  “Honestly, Miss Brown, I don’t figure you for the one behind this one.” The way he said this one didn’t bode well for his opinion of me. “Someone wants me to, and when all the pieces of the puzzle are this elementary, I begin to become irritated. Either the perp believes I’m a fool, or he is.” He left without another word.

  A text came through while I still stared at the closed door. Javy had to cancel for tonight. Something came up in the investigation. It took everything I had not to reply and ask for details or to tell him what I found out from Trixie. I set my phone aside.

  “He’s not coming.”

  “No.” I turned toward Mama. “It’s fi
ne. What’s going on? Why is this different from all the previous times the deceased sought my help?”

  She shook her head. “Are you feeling the pull to help Lucy like you have in the past with others?”

  No stranger to death, not anymore, anyway, I thought about it for a few long seconds. And most of the time I had a strong pull to locate the person responsible for ending a person’s life. The deceased were sort of like those in my support group. They’d been abused in the worst possible ways. This time with Lucy, it’d not happened like before. Perhaps because I hadn’t liked her in this life. My determination to find answers was mainly to protect Betsy and me from ending up in jail. The day of the wedding I’d felt confusion but nothing more. Now, though, and since the discovery of her body, I did. With all the commotion, I’d not given it the necessary consideration. This was what my life had been reverted to. Pondering motives and attempting to right wrongs in the only way I knew how. My life hadn’t exactly turned out the way I planned as a girl. A couple of years ago, I resented that fact. I let out a sigh. Today, though, I had the presence of mind not to fall into the depression trap. Because I wouldn’t be who I was today without all the trials and turmoil I’d had to endure. Now I certainly was a person who took stock of life. Made the most of every blissful moment and took people as they came. I never expected anyone to be anything other than who they were, and knew life wouldn’t always be a bed of roses. Yes, unlike the naïve Marygene, who ran away from home and expected to find greener pastures away from Mama and the island, I was a woman who could face death and live to tell about it and learn from it.

  “Yes,” I answered. “I need to find out who killed Lucy, not just for myself but for her as well. I’m not sure why, but I get the sense we never knew the real Lucy. And I plan to do everything in my power to find out who she really was. So far it hasn’t been easy.”

  * * *

  Paul and I met for dinner the next night. I studied him for a few minutes while he made small talk, and we enjoyed our favorite meal of fajitas for two. I thought about how much fun we’d had when we first started dating. There hadn’t been any expectations and we were just like two new friends hanging out and getting to know each other. We’d spend hours binge-watching old movies and eating popcorn. I thought of the day we went to Six Flags over Georgia because he said he’d never ridden a roller coaster in his life. I could still see his flushed cheeks and his eyes wide with excitement, coupled with a little trepidation, as we rode up the nearly two-hundred-foot incline of the coaster Goliath, and then his shouts as we careened right back down. Paul looked like a flushed child, giddy for his next adventure, when we exited the ride. Such a fun day we’d had. I realized it was a side of him I’d never seen again.

  Things seemed so different now. The more I considered it, the more I realized we were never going to cross from the initial flirty fun zone into a serious relationship.

  After his second beer, I came out and asked about Lucy.

  He choked on a forkful of rice and beans. I leaned back, wiping my mouth with my napkin. Then I sipped from my margarita while he got himself together.

  He laughed, but his upper lip had beaded up with sweat. “I don’t know where you heard that crazy rumor from.” He hadn’t said it wasn’t true. “People on this island sure like to talk.”

  “They do. Funny thing is, I didn’t hear it from an islander.”

  He glanced up, and I caught the tiniest flicker of panic.

  “Detective Thornton told me.” I scooped up a little guacamole on a chip and ate it casually.

  “Oh.” His face reddened. “Well, I can explain. It isn’t what you think.”

  “From your reaction, I think it is. Not that I care. I just hate when I’m lied to or kept in the dark about things that directly affect me. You were aware of the problems I was having with the law, and yet you thought it best to keep silent about a relationship you had with the deceased. You allowed me to be blindsided and look like a fool, since we’re supposed to be dating and all. And just the other day you asked if I’d take our relationship to the next level.” I snorted in disgust.

  He threw his napkin on his plate. “It isn’t like you were jumping for joy at my offer, though, was it? You could barely hold back your repulsion to the idea. And for your information,” Paul huffed, “Lucy came on to me. I resisted her advances because of you.”

  “I hope the fact she was engaged to Alex restrained you some!” I retorted with equal huff. “Still, even if what you say is true, you should have told me.”

  Paul looked exasperated and ready to blow a fuse. He and I had never had a blowout of this nature. “That goes both ways, baby. There’s loads you don’t tell me. You and that Javier are toying with a sexual escapade.” His voice rose. “Don’t deny it. Everyone can see it. You made me appear the court jester!”

  Court jester? “You’ve completely lost it.” We were attracting attention now.

  “I’ve lost it? Look at your disaster of a life.”

  The waiter slinked by and dropped the check and hurried away.

  “Keep your voice down. My life is none of your business, just like what you do is of no consequence to me. We were both fools to think this would work.”

  “You said it.” He stood so abruptly the chair clattered backward. “You’re as nuts as they say you are!” He stormed from the room, leaving everyone to gape at me. My face burned and I wanted the ground to open and swallow me whole. The jerk even left me with the check.

  Boy, Marygene, you sure can pick ’em.

  CHAPTER 20

  I slammed the door to my car and stomped up onto the stoop, shoved my key into the door, and swung it open. It was one disaster after the next. In the mood I was in, I dared an intruder to come at me. I’d rip him to shreds with my bare hands. Stupid Paul. Stupid need to date. Stupid murder investigation. I jerked open the refrigerator and grabbed a half-empty bottle of wine. When I closed it, Mama was there, then she vanished, then she was back again.

  “Mama, what’s going on?”

  She opened her mouth, and nothing came out, and once again, she faded away. I placed the bottle on the counter and called out to her a few times.

  When she finally appeared again, I could hear her speaking when her mouth moved. “I’m fighting the pull. I need to . . .” Her face contorted in pain. She doubled over at the waist, “Edward. No.” And she was gone.

  Everything else in my complicated life vanished, and Eddie consumed every thought. Without a moment’s hesitation, I called his cell. I called more than a dozen times, and each time it went to his voice mail. No, God, please! Please don’t take Eddie.

  As I fumbled with my keys and dropped my purse, everything scattered on the ceramic tile flooring. With shaky hands, I gathered up all my essentials and left everything else where it was and rushed out the front door. As I pulled out of the driveway, I had no idea where I was going. All I knew was I had to find my father. When the phone rang through the speakers, I jumped, and a squeak left my lips. I hit the answer button on the steering column. “H . . . hello.”

  Doc Tatum’s voice came over the speakers. “Marygene, honey, where are you?”

  “I’m in the car driving toward town.”

  “Pull over, dear.”

  A sob nearly overtook me. “Why? You’re scaring me.”

  “Stay calm and just pull over for a second. I need to tell you something.”

  I focused on the sounds of shells crunching under my tires as I pulled over into the sandy parking lot by the beach access entryway. “O . . . Okay.”

  My trembling hands were in my lap.

  “Your father had a heart attack.”

  The dam broke and an audible sob left my lips.

  “He’s in surgery now. Your brother and I are at the hospital. I can come and get you if you don’t feel as if you’re able to drive.”

  Hot tears traveled down my cheeks. “Is he going to be okay? They’re going to fix him, right?”

  “Honey, they’r
e doing everything they can.”

  “They need to fix him!” I sobbed.

  Mama had crumbled in front of me. I’d never seen her do that before. I couldn’t lose Eddie.

  “Sweetheart, let me come and get you,” Doc Tatum said.

  I heard Sam ask how I was in the background and got myself together.

  “No. You should stay there. I’m fine to drive.” I forced myself to stop and focus on my brother and Doc Tatum. I felt positive I wasn’t the only one paralyzed with fear. Sam must be gutted.

  “You’re sure?” Sweet Doc Lindy Tatum sounded so together, but I knew deep down she had to be feeling what Sam and I were. She loved Eddie. The two of them were even discussing marriage.

  I wiped the tears from my cheeks. “I am.”

  “Okay then. Do you want me to call Jena Lynn for you?”

  “Yes, please.” If I heard my sister’s voice, I’d break down again, and she had enough on her plate with a sick baby. “Betsy too, if you don’t mind.”

  “Of course not. We’re in the waiting room on the third floor. You’ll have to get a guest tag at the front desk. I’ll let them know you’ll be coming.”

  “Thank you.” I put the car into drive and pulled back on the road and punched Bay Memorial into the GPS. With my brain clouded, it would behoove me to have directions ringing in my ears.

  “I’ll see you soon. I love you, honey.”

  “Love you too. Tell Sam I’ll be there as fast as I can.” I disconnected the call.

  Eddie hadn’t looked good to me during the interview. And I prayed the Lord would see him through this. A lot of people made it. Eddie was strong and a fighter.

  “Mama!” I called into the empty space. “Mama, please. If there’s anything you can do, anything at all. Please help him.”

  It was a long shot, I knew that. She’d been able to intervene and help me in situations in the past when my life was in danger, but she’d told me she didn’t have the power to do more than that. Still, I had to ask.