A Sneeze to Die For

by Teresa Trent

  Tatty stood in the doorway in her pink bathrobe. “I thought I heard someone out here,” she whispered. “She’s asleep. Poor dear. It’s been quite a crazy few days for her.”

  “Yes, it has.” He whispered but their words were not waking the exhausted Nora up. “I was just about to ask if she could set up an interview with her mystery writer tomorrow, but she was already out.”

  Tatty eyes flashed in interest. “Why do you want to interview her? Do you think she did it?”

  Tuck smiled and shook his head. “No, but for some reason our victim wanted to interview her.”

  “I don’t think she did it.” Tatty pulled the flaps of her robe up to keep out the coolness in the evening air. “She has a trustworthy face. You know what I mean?”

  “Interestingly, that is not how I screen my suspects. Always remember some people are experts at lying.”

  “No. There’s just something about her face. This is going to sound funny, but it’s almost as if I’ve seen her before.”

  “Have you read her books?”

  “No, I don’t think so. When you get to be my age, you aren’t always sure what novels you’ve read, but she seems so familiar to me.”

  Tuck’s phone buzzed in his pocket. Nora’s eyes came open and upon seeing Tatty she smiled and pulled away from Tuck. He answered the call efficiently, “Tuck Watson … okay. Okay.” He ended the call. “Have to go.” He gave Nora a quick kiss. “Get some rest, sleeping beauty.”

  “Are you going back to work?”

  “Yes, but I’ll be thinking about you the whole time.”

  Chapter 18

  W

  The next morning when Nora went into work, she found Caesar pacing back and forth across the lobby muttering to himself. Wiley had brought Caesar on board when Jumbo Jim fired him after finding out about his allegiance to his runaway gumbo cook. The two men had shared a kitchen for years, and Caesar was glad to get out from under the greasy thumbs of Jumbo Jim.

  “What is the matter, Caesar? Is Wiley okay?”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t seen him since last night. He left even before we finished clean-up. He was very upset.”

  This was not what Nora wanted to hear. Today the convention offered classes, panels and shopping for the convention goers all within the hotel. The restaurant would need to provide breakfast lunch and dinner. Caesar was Wiley’s right-hand man, but Nora wasn’t sure if he could handle running the restaurant without his boss.

  “Did you try to call him?”

  “Yes. I’ve been calling him all night. I was hoping when I came in this morning he’d be here. He’s always the first person here.”

  There was an obvious conclusion about her uncle’s predictable behavior. Had the stress of the convention caused Wiley to fall off the wagon and return to his unhealthy drinking habits? She felt guilty for all the responsibility she had heaped on him selfishly not taking into consideration that when she met him he was deep in the throes of addiction. He had been sober longer in the last year than he had been in the last twenty years.

  “Have you called his son, Vernon?” Vernon had stuck by his dad even through the worst relapses. He worked at the Brockwell Distribution Center and tried to be there for him. Even though his dad didn’t try AA until late in his life, Vernon admitted to Nora that he started out in Alateen and worked his way into the adult group. Vernon was a big strapping guy with a warm heart, and what seemed like a fountain of unlimited patience for his dad.

  “Yes. I spoke to Vernon last night. He was going to search the bars for him.” Wiley’s favorite waterhole had always been Hades Alley, but there were a few even seedier establishments now on the edge of town. This was assuming that Wiley wasn’t passed out somewhere other than a bar.

  Caesar continued his rant. “I just got off the phone with Vernon and he couldn’t find him. We didn’t get our shipment this morning from Moore foods. They say they lost our order.”

  “Nora was beginning to feel like a hamster on a wheel of management problems. “I’ll call Val. She’ll straighten this out.”

  “That’s not going to work. Moore Foods fired Val when they found out she applied for a job here.”

  “You are kidding me. Who told them?”

  “I think she did. She must have really hated that job to get hired, and then tell them she put in an application somewhere else,” Caesar said shaking his head.

  Nora ran her hand through her hair pushing the auburn strands away from her eyes. She had opted to wear it long today and not pull it up into a ponytail. After everything that happened so far during the convention, she almost felt relaxed when she was getting ready this morning. Now she realized it was silly to relax until this group departed. “Okay what are you doing for breakfast this morning?”

  “We made pancakes. We had everything we needed. Wiley planned it out for us. He’s a good boss like that. I just wish he were here right now.”

  “I know. Maybe it’s nothing. I’ve been leaning on him a lot lately. Just keep flipping those flapjacks and I’m going to try to find Wiley.”

  Nora found Max hunched over the computer in the office finishing up his nightly bookkeeping duties. He had ditched the three-piece suit, and this morning was dressed in a polo shirt and khaki pants, his go-to wardrobe.

  Dominic was also in attendance. Each night he liked to set out tiny sound recording machines to try to pick up spirits having conversations. He called these little machines EVP recorders. Electronic voice phenomenon.

  “Any luck?” Nora inquired.

  “Don’t know yet. It takes me hours to listen to this stuff. Here’s hoping we got us a great big ghost.” He placed the recorders into a black leather bag. “I’ll be here a little later to do my shift.” Dominic went out the door with his treasure trove of background noise.

  “Any chance you had one of those things set up on the fourth floor when Alan Shaw fell to his death?”

  “I only have three recorders and that night I had them all set up in the banquet room. Sorry,” Dominic answered.

  Max started packing up his belongings as Nora took her place behind the desk. “Looks like Marty will be back in action today. I checked on her during the night and she seems to have recovered nicely.” Max was good like that. He was a giant of a man with a warm heart and an even kinder soul. Marty was lucky to have him, even if it was only a friendship.

  “You did, huh?” Nora asked winking at him. “And how often do you go up to her apartment at night?”

  Max blushed. “Almost never. Gee, Nora, you make me feel like I’m in junior high again.”

  “Well, can you blame me? You confessed to this undying love for Marty, and then I have to watch you not do anything about it?”

  “I know. I’m trying, but I’m not much of a Romeo type. I guess I never got much practice. Did you notice we had dinner together last night?”

  “I certainly did.”

  Max’s humbleness was one of the things that Nora particularly liked about him. “Did you hear about Wiley?” Nora asked as she plopped down in one of the black padded office chairs.

  Max yawned. “Sure did. Caesar’s been here since five. How did you get him to stop wearing out the carpet in the lobby?”

  “I sent him off to make more pancakes. Wiley left a schedule for them to follow, so we’re good until that runs out.”

  Max patted his ample belly. “Pancakes. First stop, the dining room. A few stacks can’t hurt my diet too much. So, no word on Wiley? I was hoping Vernon would find him.”

  “Nothing. Did you talk to Wiley last night?”

  “No. When I came in, Wiley was deep in conversation with your half-brother Corey.”

  Nora winced. Corey? The last thing Lucy had told her, Cory was going down fast. Nora expected to hear her half-brother was either arrested or dead. She didn’t expect him to be hanging out with
Wiley. Wiley couldn’t stand Cory and didn’t trust him. Why would he need to talk to him about anything?

  “Did you happen to hear what they were discussing?”

  Max shrugged. “No. Just that it was pretty serious.”

  “Do you think he would have gone off with Cory to Louisiana to drink and gamble?”

  Max yawned again and put his hands behind his head as he stretched out in the office chair. “I would be really surprised to see those two go off on a bender. Talk about opposites. They both have their addictions, but that would just be weird.”

  Nora pulled out her phone and found Cory’s number. She almost never called him, but because they were partners in Brockwell Industries, they were required to stay in touch. Nora put a call through and after about seven rings her younger brother answered, his tone groggy and rough. “Hello? Whoever this is it better be good.”

  “It’s Nora. Have you seen my Uncle Wiley?”

  “No.” He replied with the sass of a fourteen-year-old. “Why would I have seen him?”

  “Because Max said you were talking to him here at the hotel.”

  “So, what? Not everything is your business.” The line went dead.

  Chapter 19

  W

  When Marty came down to work the front desk, Nora was on the phone to Lucy. Marty stowed her purse under the desk. She was no longer using the cane but her walk still displayed a slight limp. She straightened the collar of her navy-blue blazer which was accented with a red scarf and a blue and white striped shirt underneath. Marty had the luxury of a full professional wardrobe after selling real estate for so many years. Lucy had been threatening to take Nora shopping to improve her own wardrobe, but Nora feared she would come home with uncomfortable above-the-knee skirts and four-inch heels.

  Lucy’s voice could be heard clearly over Nora’s phone even to Marty who stood a few feet away. “What do you mean he was meeting with Cory?” Lucy said. “What? Did he want to know how to play to an inside straight?”

  “I know that sounds crazy. I tried to call Corey, but he told me it was none of my business.” Nora sighed, feeling a headache coming on.

  “Okay. Let’s really look at this. What would Corey have to gain from an association with Wiley?”

  That was one of the things Nora liked about Lucy. She had a level head in a crisis. She thought about Lucy’s question. There was no connection other than herself.

  Lucy continued, “This is tougher than I thought it would be. What do both these men have in common?”

  “Me?”

  “Yes, but they don’t usually meet about you. They don’t have any reason to talk to one another.”

  Nora absentmindedly tapped her fingers on the desk. “I don’t know, but we’re back to Moore Foods messing with our orders because their newest employee put an application in to work here.” Nora’s voice pitched lower, “I’m afraid my uncle has given up sobriety. What am I going to do?”

  “Keep calm, big sister. We’re not even sure of that yet. Think positive. Maybe he’s dead in a ditch somewhere.” A wave of guilt washed through Nora. What if he was dead in a ditch? Had she driven him to it?

  “Listen, I have a full schedule of appointments this morning, but I could cancel them all and come over. You want me to do that?”

  “No. I can handle it. You just got back in town. Just if you hear anything at all from Corey or if you see Wiley, let me know.”

  “Of course, I will. Hang in there. You’ll figure it out and we’ll both keep an eye on our brother. I wouldn’t trust him for a minute.”

  “Don’t worry about me. So, you never said, did you meet any tall, dark and handsome types in New York City?”

  “I’ll never kiss and tell, but there were a few interesting men …”

  “A few? I’m so jealous.”

  “Oh, you stop. You have Longmire over there. I think you’re doing just fine in the man department.”

  Just talking to Lucy seemed to calm her down. After hanging up, she placed a quick call to Moore Foods.

  “This is Nora over at the Tunie. I was just making sure that our food delivery would be on time today?” Nora had decided it was best to call before they were skipped rather than after.

  “Yeah, yeah. I know who you are. You’re the one who underhandedly tried to steal our distribution gal. You should be ashamed of yourself,” the gnarly voice said on the other end.

  “I had no idea that Val was going to apply for a job here. It’s just that she knew my partner and …”

  “And she decided to jump ship. Let’s see,” there was a sound of paper’s shuffling, “Hmmm. Yes, we will be delivering to the Tunie in the future.”

  “In the future?”

  “You know. We’re a very busy wholesaler, but don’t worry. You’re on the list … somewhere.” As Nora ended her call, Marty came out with a fresh batch of brochures for the town sights. She had been so busy on the phone she hadn’t even seen her leave.

  “How are we doing on the food? Have you thought of anything?”

  A guest walked by with a t-shirt that said Cats Rule Dogs Drool. Nora started into a ferocious sneeze. More residual cat dander.

  “Did you take an antihistamine?”

  “Tatty gave me some allergy tea, but I just don’t think it’s strong enough. I suppose I should take a pill.”

  “Those teas are for lightweights.”

  Nora launched into another sneeze when a tall slender gentleman with blond stubble on his cheek was standing directly behind her. He wore faded skinny jeans and across the shoulder he sported a leather bag making him the only man in Piney Woods to ever carry a man bag. Nora stepped over to grab a tissue and ran into his broad shoulders.

  “I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

  She teetered slightly to the left and the man steadied her under her elbow.

  “Thanks. I didn’t see you there. I’m so sorry.” Nora looked him over from head to toe. He didn’t look like the cat type, but she had to ask. “Are you here for the Meow Meetup?”

  “Sort of. I’m here to snoop out the story Alan Shaw was trying to write about. I’m a journalist. Maybe that’s where I acquired my silent feet, sneaking up on unsuspecting victims of my next piece.”

  Nora stepped up. “Are you Rick?”

  “Yes. Are you the person I spoke to on the phone?”

  “Yes. I’m the owner.”

  Marty cleared her throat and Nora corrected herself. “Co-owner of the Tunie. I didn’t expect you so quickly. Actually, I’m surprised you came at all.”

  “Slow news month. I decided to find out how Alan went from reporting the story to being the story. I’m going to need to interview both of you for Alan’s murder.”

  Nora looked around nervously, hoping the Cats Rule lady hadn’t heard the word murder.

  “I hate to have to tell you this Rick, but we still don’t have any rooms,” Nora told him.

  “Fully booked.” Marty confirmed. “We can get you just as soon as the cat people leave.”

  “Is there any place else I can stay in town.”

  “Is Hickelby’s booked? That’s where Alan Shaw was staying,” Marty said.

  Nora thought of how she had dumped Alan Shaw at Hickelby’s. Things hadn’t turned out well for him. Maybe she should be a little nicer to this overflow guest.

  “How about the Piney Woods B&B?” Having Rick Stephenson staying at the Piney Woods Bed and Breakfast was the least she could do seeing as he had come a long way to pick up a set of pleather bags.

  Marty eyed Nora suspiciously. “That’s mighty nice of you to suggest that, Nora. I can call over and check for you, if you’d like.”

  “That would be great. Thanks.” Nora turned to Rick, feeling the back of her neck warm. “I can’t believe you came to Texas.”

  “I know. It seems a little sponta
neous, but that’s the way I roll. If I see something I want, or get a gut feeling on something I just go for it.”

  “You must be hell in the checkout line with all of those impulse items,” Nora joked.

  Marty broke into the conversation, “Nora, they have a room and Tatty wants you to bring over the list of menu choices Wiley gave you for their anniversary party. She needs to decide today.”

  Nora had forgotten to bring home the menus after the crazy day she had had yesterday. Even though it wasn’t as big as the Meow Meetup, the party would be attended by most of the town and could be a gateway to many more catered affairs from local clientele at the hotel.

  “Darn. Would you mind if I just ran over there with it? I was supposed to have given it to her days ago and got busy with the convention.”

  “No problem. I can handle it here. It would be my pleasure after leaving this place to you for so long.”

  “How about a personal escort, Mr. Stephenson.” Nora said as she slid her arm into his.

  “Please, call me Rick,” he answered his low bass rumbling in his chest.

  “I’ll be back shortly,” Nora said as they exited the lobby.

  As they began walking down the Main Street of Piney Woods, Rick Stephenson remarked, “Well, it’s not often I get accompanied to my lodgings by such a beautiful redhead. What are you, Irish?”

  “You should see my sister.” Nora said smiling.

  Chapter 20

  W

  During the short walk from the hotel, Nora filled Rick in on some of the town history. Piney Woods had gone from being an oil boom to an oil bust town giving it a rags to riches to rags reputation. They neared the porch of the Piney Woods Bed and Breakfast to find Ed Tovar up on the stepladder hanging a bright yellow piece of crepe paper. Even though the anniversary party was going to be at the hotel, Tatty had also opted to decorate the bed-and-breakfast. The yellow streamers contrasted beautifully with the whites of the gingerbread scrollwork on the two-story Victorian home.