“I think you’re right. I forgot about Louise, but I can’t imagine her killing a bug.” Dee Dee checked out her pictures on her camera’s tiny screen as we drove.
“Okay, start on the list for Ocean View.”
“George is next on the list. What are your thoughts on the gentleman extraordinaire?”
“What’s not to like about him? He’s handsome, a perfect gentleman, smart, and Nana loves him,” I said. “I can’t forget about the night he took off with the bracelet. Now that was just weird.”
“That leaves Bubba, Nick and KiKi Sanderson, and John Porter.”
“Well I hate to say it, but I don’t know why any of them would want to kill Grace. The one that concerns me is John Porter. And that’s because he met up with Ellie. I would like to know what they’ve been up to.” I looked over to see the sign for Fort Pulaski, a Civil War fortress. I would have loved to get some pictures, but the rain was really driving down now, and I felt we needed to focus on exonerating Laura. “Who’s next?”
“We still have Mary Sue Bartlett and Edna Jackson. If you ask me, Mary Sue is carrying a grudge bigger than my bootie. And that’s saying a lot, if you know what I mean.” Dee Dee laughed at her own joke.
“I’m not touching that one with a ten-foot pole. But you’re right; Mary Sue has a lot of baggage from dealing with Grace. She suffered quite a few losses at Grace’s doings. She lost her job, her home, and her dignity. We need to consider her highly as a suspect.” I liked Mary Sue and it would disappoint me if she were involved in Grace’s murder. But I’d learned that nice people could commit murder.
“Then there’s Edna. I believe if I had to live with Grace for as long as she has, I might have been tempted to strangle her myself.”
“Edna has the patience of Job.” Every time I’d say this I’d think about Job and the hand he was dealt. He was often used an example of patience. And it was true he had never cursed God as his wife wanted him to, but he had cursed the day he was born. God hadn’t been too happy with him, either. God’s booming voice asked Job, “Where were you when I made the foundations of the earth?” Job had changed his attitude right quick. But what I loved about Job was how he was human, just like we were. He had fussed and groused about the things that were happening in his life, just like us; and God still blessed him in the end.
“Hey, Trix!”
I came back from my musings and looked over at Dee Dee.
“Where did you go?”
“Sorry, what were you saying?”
“I said Edna might not be as patient as we’ve given her credit for. She might be someone else we need to keep a close eye on.” Dee Dee scooted around in her seat. “Good thing we’ll be back to the inn shortly.” She slapped her backside with her hand and released a hearty laugh. This time I laughed with her.
“I think that covers just about everybody we’ve talked to. Is there anybody we left out?”
She took a minute to study the list. “We haven’t mentioned Jasmine.” She held up the notebook and pointed to a name with her pen. “Now there’s a scorned woman. I’ll never understand why Grace made it her life mission to make other people miserable.”
“Well, we’ll never get the answer now.” I shook my head in bewilderment. I was as stumped as Dee Dee. Why would anyone enjoy making enemies? “Jasmine must have been furious when Grace brought up her past. The question is, was she furious enough to kill her?”
We pulled into Laura’s driveway. “Come on; we’ve talked enough about death and murder. How about we take the evening off and have a great time at the pirate’s festival.” Dee Dee helped me retrieve all our stuff from the car and lug it in the house.
Nana met us at the door. “I thought you’d never get back. We have to go get our pirate costumes for tonight.” She had her jacket hung over one arm and her pocketbook strapped over the other.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Whoa there, Nana. Let us catch our breath and we’ll go pick out something to wear.” Mama walked in the room.
“Are you going with us?”
“No thanks, sweetie. I think I’ll stay here with Laura. She’s really down in the dumps. I don’t want to leave her. I imagine most everyone will be downtown tonight.” Talk about having the patience of Job. If anyone symbolized patience it was Mama. How she dealt with Nana day in and day out mystified me. Then again, I knew Mama was a firm believer of prayer and spent a lot of time, metaphorically speaking, on her knees.
I threw my arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze. Mama had been my saving grace since I was a child. Where Daddy expected perfection, Mama knew perfection was impossible to achieve. When Wade left me and I was drowning in hurt and sorrow, she lifted me up and helped me out of the quicksand of despair. I was so thankful God saw fit to put us together.
I went up to my room and spent a few minutes in front of the mirror. I didn’t realize vacations could take so much out of you. I’d have to go home to rest. But then I remembered when I got home Beau would be expecting me to answer the important question. I’d be ready.
I had lain down across the bed to rest my knee for a few minutes, when the next thing I knew Dee Dee was shaking me. “Hey, come on and get up. We’ve got to hurry if we’re going to town.”
I reached toward the ceiling. “I could stretch a mile if I didn’t have to walk back.”
Dee Dee and I laughed until tears were rolling down our cheeks. I know, it wasn’t that funny, but we needed the comedic relief. The stress had been palpable.
“Come on; let’s get this over with. No telling what Nana will choose to wear. I’m afraid she’s going straight for the wench’s dress.” We arrived at the costume store to discover we weren’t the only ones who’d waited until the fifth hour.
I had to admit surprise when Nana came out in the cutest outfit. She had on black pants, a maroon vest, and a white blouse with ruffled sleeves. Black boots adorned her feet.
“Oh, Nana, you look so precious.”
She jabbed her hand on her boney hip and swung her fake sword around. “Arr, matey! Lady pirates are not precious.”
I’d been chastised. “Yes, ma’am.” Dee Dee and I decided to go with suits similar to Nana’s, but we didn’t look nearly as cute as she did.
We drove back to Seaside Cottage where Louise had set a table fit for a king. Fresh lobster tail, shrimp with garlic butter, cole slaw, asparagus, red potatoes, crab cakes, corn on the cob, and salad. We decided to wait and eat downtown.
All the guests were there and everyone, except Mama and Laura, had plans to attend the festival. By the time we arrived downtown the festivities had begun. Gaily dressed pirates danced in the street, swaying rhythmically to the music. The crowded street ran parallel to the beach. I looked across the parking lot and listened to the waves lapping gently onto the beach. I stood in awe at the magnificent sight.
Nana tugged on my sleeve. “Come on, Trixie, let’s get some action. I’m supposed to meet George in a little while, but I want to try some of the food while we wait.” I shot a glance at Dee Dee. She shoulder shrugged and raised her eyebrows.
“Nana you eat like a bird – all the time.” Our laughter faded in the midst of the noise. Though Nana stood with her hands on her hips, her face wore a grin. The mood was light and smiles adorned the faces of the festival-goers. Caught up in the excitement, I found it hard to believe I’d been reluctant to come.
We fought our way from booth to booth until Nana chose a corndog. I watched in bewilderment as she slathered mustard on the cornmeal coated hotdog and took a big bite. Dee Dee and I opted for a hamburger.
Dee Dee shook a french fry at Nana. “Now when are you supposed to meet George?”
Through a mouthful, Nana mumbled. “We’re supposed to meet at Pirate’s Treasure around seven.”
I reached over and wiped off a smudge of mustard on the corner of her mouth. “Well, we’d better hurry because it’s fifteen ‘till. It’ll take us a few minutes to walk over there.”
I
was surprised to see Ellie Sloan and John Porter in front of the store when we arrived.
Ellie spoke first. “Hi. Having a good time?”
John pulled off his pirate hat, bent over and swept his hat in a broad greeting. Somehow I’d never pictured him as a gentleman. I still didn’t. If Ellie and John didn’t know each other then why did they keep showing up together? “Hi, ladies. Are you looking for George?”
“Yes,” Nana said, “have you seen him?” Her eyes surveyed the surroundings.
“We sure have,” John said. “He said he had an errand he needed to take care of, so we told him to go ahead and we’d keep you company until he got back.”
Ellie nodded her head in agreement.
“Go ahead, Trixie. I’ll be all right.” Nana bounced with excitement.
I had a gut feeling not to leave Nana, but I didn’t follow it. I would pay for that mistake.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
We walked toward the booths now lining every square inch of the beach parking lot. “Think Nana will be okay?”
“Sure,” Dee Dee said. “George will be there in a little while.”
We browsed around makeshift shops filled with every imaginable Savannah and Tybee Island memorabilia. Several vendors sold pirate costumes and were doing a hardy business. Aromas of food, seawater, and crowds floated in the air. The sides of the tents flapped in a cool ocean breeze. The midway, filled with laughter and “Ahoy, mateys,” bore witness to the exciting atmosphere of the festival.
“Look, Trix! There’s a booth selling homemade ice-cream. Let’s get some,” Dee Dee said.
We opted for chocolate-chocolate chip, which could possibly result in our death by chocolate –what a way to go. We sat on a bench and people-watched while we deliberated over the list. There were a variety of costumes: men pirates, lady pirates, and more than a fair share of wenches.
“You know. I’m so glad Nana didn’t decide to wear a wench’s costume. Not that she’d even have enough to fill out the top.” Images of Nana in the hot pink bathing suit flashed through my mind. I’d never be able to look at a pink bikini the same.
“Speaking of Nana, is it time to meet up with her?” Dee Dee stuck the last bite of her cone in her mouth and licked her fingers. “Yummy.”
I looked at my watch. We told Nana we’d meet back at the General Store at nine and then we could hang out with her and George. “Yep, it’s almost nine. Let’s head over that way.” I ran my tongue over my lips in an effort to lick off some of the sticky.
We blazed a trail through the wall of people. I didn’t panic when I couldn’t spot Nana right off. I figured they were somewhere inside. We looked around several minutes. When Nana and George didn’t show, my heart thudded against my chest.
“Where are they, Dee Dee?” I didn’t recognize my voice as it was a couple octaves higher than usual.
She grabbed my arm. “Look! There’s Ellie and John over in the corner. She’s waving at us.” We hot-footed it in their direction. “I bet they know where Nana and George are.” Dee Dee shoved pirates out of the way to make a path for us.
“Oh, I’m so glad to see y’all. We can’t find Nana and George. They were supposed to meet us here and we thought you might know where they are.” John leaned in toward me. I figured he just wanted to get close so I could hear him.
He grabbed my arm and I felt something hard against my back. His hot breath tickled my neck and I could smell pizza on his breath. “Don’t move or make a sound. I’ve got a gun on you.”
“Why?”
“You know why,” John spat out the words.
“No, I don’t know why.” I looked over my shoulder and came face to face with my nemesis.
“If you want to see your Nana alive you’ll come with me quietly.
“What about Dee Dee?” I wondered if we’d discovered the killers. If they didn’t take Dee Dee she could go for help.
“Ellie has your friend. Do you think I’m stupid enough to let her go?” Well, I was hoping he was. “We are going to walk out to my car and you’d better not make a scene. You’ll never see her alive again.”
The pain in my rib convinced me he meant business. All I wanted to do was get to Nana and make sure she was all right. Lord, let Nana be okay and protect us from evil. We made our way to a small car. My mind whirled with ways to overtake John and make a run for it. He threw a tow sack over any ideas I might have had when he ordered me into the driver’s seat.
Ellie shoved Dee Dee in the back seat and got in with her. John directed me in what seemed to be circles. I wondered if he was trying to throw us off-course. We drove down a long sandy driveway that ended near the beach. A bungalow stood among a grove of palm trees.
“We are going to go in nice and easy. I don’t want to shoot you.”
Well don’t, then.
“We don’t want you to shoot us either.” Dee Dee said what I only had the courage to think.
John showed me where to stop the car, and we all got out, stumbling in the darkness.
“Shut up and keep moving,” he shoved me forward when I tripped on a root. A small shack loomed up, and I groped up the steps inside. And then I heard her before I saw her. Grunts and groans emanated from somewhere in the semi-darkness.
“Nana!” As my eyes adjusted to the dim light I saw her tied to a chair, duct tape covered her mouth. “Are you all right?” I broke free from John’s grasp and headed over to her.
“She’s all right. And don’t try anything funny.” John waved his gun in the air like it was connected to a ceiling fan. Ellie stood with feet apart and she held her gun sideways like a member of a street gang. One mystery was solved – they did indeed know each other before coming to Savannah.
Dee Dee’s eyes, wide with fear or maybe disbelief, reminded me of a deer caught in headlights.
“I guess y’all killed Grace.” Dee Dee stated the obvious.
John bellowed a maniacal laugh. “Yeah, I killed her.”
Ellie spoke up. “Hey, babe, don’t tell them anything.” She pointed her gun toward a bed beside Nana. “Get over there and sit down.”
“Don’t worry about what they know. They won’t be around long enough to say anything.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Ummm. Ummm.” Nana tried her best to speak.
“Can’t you remove the tape?” Shock rattled me when he walked over to Nana and ripped off the tape as fast as he could. Nana squealed in pain.
John laughed. “Well, you asked me to take it off. And don’t get any ideas about screaming, because I’ll shoot you faster than you can blink.”
We knew who killed Grace, but why? If I could keep them talking, maybe George would send for help. Then again, where did George fit into this scenario? He appeared to be a good guy, but why did he know so much about the bracelet Captain Jack found. Was he a jewel thief? Was he involved with Ellie and John?
I sat beside Nana and held her hand. “Why did you bring us out here?”
Dee Dee sat beside me.
“Oh, please. You know why.” John looked at us like we were aliens.
I really didn’t know for sure. I thought maybe they felt the heat of mine and Dee Dee’s questioning and wanted to get us out of the way, but the way he was posturing, I didn’t want to upset him anymore.
“I’ll go along with your little ruse. We know you work for International Insurance. Nobody would act as goofy as you two women if you weren’t putting on an act. And y’all were going around asking everybody questions. We saw right through it.”
“Hey, watch it. That’s my niece you’re calling goofy,” Nana said.
“Shut up old lady. You want me to slap some tape back on your mouth?” Nana didn’t answer, but she shot pure fire from her eyes. If those lasers were real he’d have been obliterated right on the spot.
Ellie joined in the fracas. “We knew when Captain Jack discovered the bracelet you’d figure out we’d lifted the jewels. We knew you’d come if we had your Nana. It worked, too, di
dn’t it honey?” She looked like a fox with a mouth full of feathers.
I tried to piece together this bizarre puzzle. They were jewel thieves being chased by an insurance detective. John thought we were the investigators. They had recognized the bracelet, so it must have been from their stash. How did Grace tie in with international burglars? My mantra became, keep them talking, keep them talking.
“I’m sure you realize any self-respecting insurance company will be keeping track of our every move.” I decided to play along and buy us some time. “You’d be a fool to hurt us.”
Dee Dee plunged ahead while Ellie and John exchanged glances, considering my dare. “And what did Grace ever do to deserve a death sentence?”
John snorted. “She snooped where she shouldn’t have. She stumbled on the stash of jewels we hid in our room and then tried to blackmail me. She might have been used to terrifying others with her bossiness, but she met her match in me. Nobody is going to threaten me and get away with it. So I lured her out to the beach, took the gnome, and used it as a weapon. It was a perfect plan. Until that bracelet turned up. I thought I’d recovered all the pieces she’d taken.”
“They’ll be here soon looking for us.” Dee Dee scooted around on the couch.
“Nobody is going to find us here,” John said. “Now, stop moving around and keep your hands in front of you or I’ll tie you all up.”
I don’t know how long we sat there while John and Ellie discussed our fates in hushed tones. I hoped we’d planted some doubts in their minds. I squeezed Nana’s hand.
“All right, I’m going to go out for a while and I’m leaving Ellie to guard you. You’d better enjoy your last few minutes on this earth, because when I get back you’re going to meet your maker.”
My stomach constricted and my heart palpitated. Maybe he was going out for a silencer. I could feel the sweat trickle down my forehead. A stray drop of sweat burned my eye. I reached up to wipe it off. Dear God, help us out of this terrible situation. Not that I don’t want to meet you, but I’ve got things I need to take care of first. And please hurry!
Terror on Tybee Island (A Trixie Montgomery Cozy Mystery Book 3) Page 13
