“Yes, why?”
“What did she want?”
“I’d seen her in Brice’s store before he opened, and she wanted to make sure I didn’t think anything funny was going on between them. I told her it was none of my business anyway.”
“Was she friendly?”
“Do you mean did she get in my face? No, she didn’t, but I wouldn’t say she was exactly friendly either. She was on a mission, and once it was accomplished, she left.”
“Okay.”
“What’s all this about?”
“You know I can’t—oh, hell, Mother--sorry, heck--I’m going to tell you, but don’t repeat it, not even to Pawpaw.”
“You know I won’t.”
Bradley took a deep breath. “It seems somebody stole her film—all the pictures she’d taken of the upstairs for Wally Powers’ article.”
“If they took all of it, they got the pictures she took of the crowd outside the store while you were in there investigating his murder.”
“Huh?”
“It was the day after the murder, actually. Daddy was there and said she was outside snapping pictures left and right, asking people for their names, getting releases signed, all that stuff.”
“She didn’t mention that.”
“But she said all her film?”
“That’s what she said. Said she had it in a special box to protect it.”
“So she hadn’t had it developed.”
“She said she was going home next week and do it.”
“So what does she think happened to it?”
Bradley squirmed. “She said the box was upstairs, and she saw you going up there.”
“I blessed did not! I was out front the whole time. Ask Brice Dolan.”
“Well, that’s the problem—I can’t find him.”
“Can’t…”
“I checked with his wife in Little Rock, and she hasn’t seen him since this morning when he left to come here for the store opening. Nobody else has seen him either.”
“I’ll be Jill Jerome has seen more of him than…”
“Mother.”
Bradley’s pained expression tickled Penelope, but she shoved her amusement aside. “So she came to the police department tonight to report her missing film?”
“About two hours ago. I’ve been hunting for Brice ever since.”
“Why would I want her film?”
“She thinks you and the Hargroves are in cahoots.”
“We are, but not to steal film. What about Hal Greene? Those pictures would fill a special Sunday edition. Of course, Hal isn’t in the habit of filching film either.” Penelope’s tongue almost tripped over the alliteration. “Look, you and I both know I don’t have any reason to take her blessed film, but if she was taking pictures of a crowd outside the feed store while the police were inside investigating a murder, doesn’t it stand to reason that somebody might not have wanted his picture taken?”
Bradley’s eyes lit up with admiration. “You missed your calling, Mother.”
“No, you’d have figured it out already if she’d told you the truth.”
“I guess I would have. Now I guess I get to go back and see if she’ll tell it to me now.”
“Go get ‘em, Tiger.”
Bradley leaned down and pecked his mother’s cheek. “You used to say that to me before every football or basketball game I played.”
Penelope swallowed the lump in her throat. “I’ll tell Daddy and Shana you wanted to ask me about the Pembroke jewelry. You are giving that to Rosabel, aren’t you?”
“She’s not much on jewelry, but I’ll let her look at it and see if anything catches her eye.”
“Right. You want to leave through the front?”
“Yeah, I’m parked by the curb anyway. Thanks, Mother.”
“Bring Rosabel next time you come.”
Bradley waved over his shoulder on his way to the door.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Shana went home just before ten, and Bradley called the B&B a few minutes later. “I just thought you might like to know Jill Jerome backed down.”
“She admitted she lied about me?”
“Not exactly, but when she realized I’d caught her in the lie about all the film, she said the woman she saw going upstairs looked like you.”
“Uh-huh. What about Brice Dolan?”
“I still can’t find him, and Jill swears she left before he did. She’s staying at a hotel on the interstate.”
“So when did she discover her film was gone?”
“According to her, she went upstairs to get it just before the shop closed—said she carries it with her everywhere for safekeeping—and it wasn’t there, so she came straight to the PD.”
“Without mentioning it to Brice?”
“She said he had a late customer.”
“When I left at five, there were three people in the shop and not a soul on the street.”
“She showed up at the PD around five-thirty. I’m more concerned about Brice than about Jill Jerome’s film.”
“Surely you don’t think something’s happened to him like happened to Wally Powers?”
“Parnell searched the store twice. He’s not there.”
“Did Jill describe the customer he was supposedly with?”
“She said it was a man, that’s all. She couldn’t tell me anything about him.”
“She knows you’re my son. She knows you’re not going to believe I stole her blessed film.”
“I don’t know what she knows, Mother. I think she’s a little strange, and I shouldn’t even be talking about to you about her.”
“My lips are sealed.”
“I appreciate it. Look, I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow’s Sunday.”
“I’ll make Mass, don’t worry.”
“I’m not worrying.”
“Goodnight, Mother.”
****
When Penelope came out of the bathroom in her night shirt, still toweling her hair, a familiar voice came out of the semi-darkness. “Hello, Nell.”
She dropped the towel and stifled a scream. “Darn you, Sam! I might’ve walked out of there stark naked!”
He grinned. “That would’ve been all right with me.”
“What are you doing here in my bedroom?”
“It’s what I’d like to do in here that counts.” He fingered the hem of her short gown. “Nice.”
Penelope slapped his hand away and picked up the robe she always kept handy at the foot of the bed. “Didn’t your mother ever tell you it wasn’t polite to barge into a lady’s bedroom?”
“I knocked, but you didn’t answer.”
“I was in the shower.”
“I know. Give me credit for the restraint it took not to join you.”
“Get out of here, Sam. I’m done with you already.”
His face twisted into a mask of abject sorrow, making her laugh in spite of herself.
“That’s better.”
“How long are you going to be here this time? I’m booked solid from Thursday through next Sunday. Somebody’s family reunion.”
“Couple of days. That all right with you?”
“I guess it’ll have to be. Are you hungry?”
“Only for you.”
“Be serious.”
“I’d dead serious.” He reached for her, but she sidestepped him and jumped into bed, pulling the sheet under her chin. Laughing, he sat down on the end of the bed and massaged her covered toes. “What’s the scuttlebutt?”
“I thought you knew things.”
“I know about Wally Powers. In fact, I knew him in passing before he ever turned up in Amaryllis. Tell me the rest of it.”
By the time she finished filling in the details and bemoaning Shana’s decision not to see Peter for a while, it was midnight. “I just hope Bradley can turn up Brice Dolan, preferably alive.”
“I’ve funneled some information about Powers his way.”
“Why
?”
“Because I know these things.” He leered at her.
“You sound like a broken record. Harry Hargrove didn’t kill him, I know that much.”
“I’d agree that’s not his style, but sometimes a person can do something totally out of character if he’s pushed hard enough for long enough.”
“Harry couldn’t. Everybody knows that.”
“Powers was a talented writer, but he rubbed people the wrong way.”
“Oh, I forgot to mention Miss Maude Pendleton.” Penelope told the story. “It would be funnier if you’d had her for a teacher.”
“Everybody’s had a Miss Maude Pendleton at some time or another.”
“I guess so. She’s the stereotypical maiden-lady schoolteacher, although the rumor is she was engaged once, but he died or got killed. Something like that.”
“What about Brice Dolan? Could he have knocked off Powers?”
“He has a thing about this town—and Harry Hargrove. He came back for some sort of twisted revenge, and I don’t understand it.”
“And now he’s disappeared?”
“Well, Bradley can’t find him.”
“Oh, he’ll find him sooner or later. It’s the state he’ll find him in that makes a difference.”
Penelope shuddered. “Don’t say that. We’ve had enough murders around here, don’t you think?”
“Murder happens, Nell.”
“But not in my hometown. Not in Amaryllis. At least, not before you showed up.”
Sam shrugged. “I didn’t kill anybody. I’m going to bed unless, of course…” He wiggled his eyebrows at her.
“Goodnight.” Penelope slid down and pulled the covers over her head. “And close the door on your way out.”
****
I could get used to waking up to this, Penelope thought, hearing Sam’s laughter as she approached the kitchen the next morning. But I’d never get used to him coming and going. I want more than that. I want something permanent. She stepped into the kitchen. “Good morning, you two.”
“Morning, Nellie.”
“Sleep well, Nell?” Sam’s voice sent chills down Penelope’s spine.
“Yes, no…” She stopped short of saying no thanks to you. “Yes, I did, thanks. What do you two want for breakfast?”
“Scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, and a side of hash browns,” Jake said, glancing at Sam who nodded agreement.
“Fine.” Penelope went to the refrigerator. “How many eggs?”
“Three,” Jake and Sam said in unison.
“Peas in a pod,” Penelope said. “More’s the pity.”
“Brad was by earlier,” Jake said.
“It’s only seven-thirty.”
“He said he hadn’t been home at all last night.”
“But he found Brice Dolan,” Sam said.
Penelope froze. “Alive, I hope,” she managed to say.
“Dead drunk under the pool table at the Sit-n-Swill,” Jake said, guffawing again.
“What was he blessed doing there?”
“Not sure. Even Mike and Millie don’t know how he got there, or at least how he ended up under the pool table.”
Penelope broke eight eggs into a bowl and beat them with more force than necessary. “Does Brice know how he got there?”
“Well, he might when he sobers up,” Sam said. “Parnell Garrett hauled him in to the pokey to sleep it off. That was about two when the Dancers were closing up and discovered him. They said he came in about six-thirty, had two beers, and then left. Or they thought he left anyway.”
“So you talked to Bradley?”
Sam nodded. “It’s not the first time, Nell, but if you ask him, he doesn’t know me.”
“I see.”
“No, you don’t, not really, but it’ll have to do for now.” Sam got up and refilled his coffee mug. “Jake?”
“Half a cup.”
“Did Bradley mention Jill Jerome?”
Sam shook his head.
“I wish she’d leave town.”
“Aw, Nellie, she’s kind of cute.”
“Cute? Daddy, really, she’s my age. No, she’s older, because she went to college with Brice, and Brice was between Travis and me.”
“Well, she’s nice-looking then.” He dropped his voice. “Especially her legs.”
Sam roared with laughter, and Jake joined in. Penelope ignored them both.
****
Jake said he was going to dress for Mass. “And give you two some privacy.” He winked at Sam.
“I’d have a lot of privacy with you at the old folks home,” she retorted.
“Cheeky, cheeky,” he replied.
Penelope teared up. “I haven’t heard that since Mum died.”
Jake touched her arm. “I’d forgotten.”
Sam cleared the table and brought the dishes to the sink for Penelope to rinse. “I like your father more every time I see him.”
“He’s real special.”
“I bet your mother was, too.”
“They were a lot alike. He misses her.” She glanced up and saw Sam’s face harden.
“Yeah.” He dried his hands on the cup towel and tossed it on the cabinet. “I’ll be back tonight.”
“For dinner?”
“Probably.”
“I thought this was unofficial.”
“It is, but I thought I might nose around a little.”
Penelope closed the dishwasher and programmed the numbers. “It’s in your blood, isn’t it? Nosing around.”
“I guess it is.”
“How long have you been doing this sort of thing? Whatever sort of thing you do.”
“Long enough.”
“As in you’re ready to quit?”
He shook his head. “No, not yet. But when I am, you’ll be the first to know.”
“Thanks.”
He pulled her into his arms and nuzzled her neck. “You’re real special, Nell.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Mary Lynn arrived on Monday morning while Penelope was at the table double-checking her menu plans against the pantry list. “Are you going to be full?” She tossed her zebra-print bag into a chair and poured herself a cup of coffee.
“Looks that way.”
“Is that photographer person still in town?”
“As far as I know.”
“Harry said he talked to Chief Malone, and he said they’re no closer to finding out who offed Wally Powers than they were before. Also, Harry has everybody locking up the letterhead stationery since somebody’s using it to write Hal Greene.”
“I guess just about everybody has access to it.”
“Not anymore.”
“Well, that’s good.”
“Harry’s pretty hot about it. Chief Malone had Bradley send the letter over to the crime lab in Little Rock, but he says the chances of finding out anything concrete is pretty slim.”
“Well.”
Mary Lynn gave Penelope a long look. ‘What’s with you this morning? Wait, let me guess—the Gray Ghost.”
Penelope shrugged.
“Who is this guy anyway?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know, but he comes and goes here like…”
“Leave it alone, Mary Lynn.”
“If you say so.” She reached for her ringing cell phone, listened, and choked. “Oh, no! Oh, my stars!”
“What?” Penelope’s pencil lifted, poised like a snake ready to strike.
Mary Lynn, a shade paler than she’d been a few minutes before, held up her hand. “Harry, don’t get involved. Sure, right, I’ll be home at noon.” She clicked off and dropped the phone back in her purse. “That woman just told Brad that Brice tried to…” She swallowed hard. “You know. Upstairs in the same room where Wally Powers was murdered. So Parnell picked Brice up a few minutes ago. Harry was there.”
The pencil spiraled from Penelope’s fingers. “Jill Jerome’s a lying hussy. She told Bradley she saw me going upstairs at the feed store j
ust before all her film disappeared. I’ve never been upstairs in my life.” She shook her head. “Darn! I wasn’t supposed to tell anybody about that.”
“You know it won’t go any further. I won’t even tell Harry. But if she lied about you, she could be lying about Brice.”
“I’d bet on it. From what I hear, Brice was passed out dead drunk under the pool table at the Sit-n-Swill until Parnell found him at two o’clock this morning. When is he supposed to have tried putting the moves on Jill Jerome?”
“Harry only knew what happened because he and Brice were talking in his office when Parnell showed up.”
“What were they talking about?”
“Brice apologized for bringing in Wally Powers to write the story.”
“He ought to be blessed apologizing to Hal Greene.”
“He did that before he went to see Harry.”
Abijah padded over to Penelope and opened his wide clown’s mouth in a mournful meow. She scooped him into her lap and scratched his ears. “I wonder why the change of heart?”
“Will Bradley charge Brice just on that woman’s word?”
“I want to know what she has to gain by making these accusations.” Holding Abijah over her shoulder like a baby, Penelope went to answer the wall phone. “Shana,” she mouthed, pushing the speaker button.
“Did you hear about Brice Dolan?”
“How do you blessed know everything?” Penelope asked.
“I can see City Hall from the front door, and also, somebody came in here and asked me if I knew why Parnell was taking Brice Dolan into the PD. What did he do?”
“Oh, so you don’t know that. Well, Harry just called and told Mary Lynn that Jill Jerome accused Brice of trying to—um…”
“I don’t know why you can’t say the word in this day and age, but I get the picture.”
“It just sounds nasty.”
“It is nasty,” Shana said. “I’ve got to go check out some folks with books, but call me if you hear anything else.”
“I won’t hear it officially, but I’ll let you know.”
Abijah opened one eye as Penelope settled him in her lap again. “Well.”
“Well.”
The women looked at each other for a long, silent moment.
“So tell me something good,” Mary Lynn said. “Tell me about the Gray Ghost. Oh, I know you told me to leave it, but I’m your best friend. Maybe I could shed some light on the situation.”
The Feed Store Floozy (The Penelope Pembroke Cozy Mystery Series) Page 7
