by Melissa Rees
Mildred leaned forward in her chair and scoured the bar for a good-looking man. There were always a few nice looking men in a bar.
When she caught an older man's eye, Mildred smiled. She was not surprised to see him making his way towards them.
He paused in front of Mildred and Louise and grinned. "Ladies, I wonder if you would permit me to buy you all a drink."
Mildred gazed up at him and did a quick survey. Late sixties. Gray hair that had gone slightly bald at the top of his head. Big nose, brown eyes, nice smile. Dressed in black Dockers with a pale yellow button down short-sleeved shirt. Not bad.
"Oh, you are so kind to offer us a drink." Mildred cooed, winking at Louise.
"It’s not kindness; I'd be honored to buy you ladies a drink." He assured them, turning to motion to the bartender for more drinks.
"Please sit down." Mildred offered, waving him to a chair.
He settled himself on a chair and turned to the women. "My name is Pete Hunter. You ladies aren't from Savannah are you?"
"Now how would you know that?" Mildred inquired, taking a sip of her Grasshopper.
"I know all the pretty ladies in Savannah." He said, flirting.
"We are from Beatty, Mississippi." Louise informed him happily, taking a sip of her Grasshopper, forgetting all about Loraine and Lynn.
"See, I knew it." Pete said, taking some money out of his wallet and handing it to the bartender. "You all on vacation?"
"No." Louise answered, grinning. "We actually came here to help our friends solve a murder."
"A murder?" He asked, surprised. "Are you two detectives or something?"
Mildred decided that being strangers in town had its benefits. "We are undercover agents."
The man raised his eyebrows at the two women. "Pardon my nosiness but aren't you two a little old to be investigating a murder?"
"Old?" Mildred gasped, insulted.
Pete saw immediately that he had offended her. He tried desperately to back track. "I don't mean you all are old." He said, intending to soothe them. "Just a little old to be going after murderers."
Mildred stood up and snapped. "Get away from our table."
"Now, please, don't be insulted." He begged, wondering why he had ever said anything about being old. "Sit back down and allow me to buy you all another drink."
Mildred pointed her finger away from their table and looked down on the embarrassed man. "Go away, now, before I scream!"
Pete hurriedly stood up, and then looked unhappily at the two women. "Please forgive me. I meant no harm."
Mildred sat back down and said crossly. "Next time you want to pick up a lady, maybe you should leave out insulting her."
Mortified, Pete hurried away.
Mildred took a quick sip of her drink, and then looked at her friend. "I think we should change bars. This one has an unfortunate philistinism atmosphere about it."
***
"What do you mean, they went out?" Miss Pettybone asked, looking at the woman behind the registration desk.
"Mrs. Bartlett said to tell you that they would be back later. She and Mrs. Baker left about fifteen minutes ago in a cab."
Miss Pettybone turned to Lynn and complained softly. "She knew we wanted them to go with us to the Home Show."
"Well, we'll just have to wait." Lynn said, walking towards the bar. "Let's have another drink and relax. They'll probably be back soon."
***
Two hours later, Miss Pettybone decided that they weren't going to be back soon. “I’m going to go lie down. My whole body is so sore that I'm actually thinking about taking another pain pill."
"You look all in, Loraine. Why don't you go lay down and I’ll stay and keep a look out for our friends."
Miss Pettybone got stiffly off the stool, and then looked at Lynn. "Are you going to be okay here by yourself?"
"Of course, I can't think of a better place to watch for them." Lynn answered grinning.
Miss Pettybone sighed, and then slowly walked out of the bar to the elevator.
Pushing the number of her floor, she thought about Mildred. Mildred was going to be a whole passel of trouble, she could just feel it. Deep in thought, she stepped off the elevator. Running to a solid male body, she grabbed his arms to keep from losing her balance. She winced in pain, and then glanced up to apologize. Her eyes encountered the deep brown ones of the man who saluted her at Roosters. Smiling slightly, he stepped back to give Miss Pettybone room to enter the hall.
"Good afternoon." He said, before stepping into the elevator. Pushing the down button, he stared at Miss Pettybone until the elevator door slid shut.
Her hand shaking, Miss Pettybone fitted the key card into the door. Watching the light turn green, she pushed the door open and hurried inside her room. What on earth was he doing near her room, in her hotel? Was he there just to intimidate her or to maybe do a lot worse?
She sat down on her bed and thought about the Wagner and Keel. She figured she was probably as smart as they were, so what was she leaving out of the equation that she was constantly being taken unaware?
Miss Pettybone sat straight up when it hit her. She realized what she had been missing and she should have thought about it sooner. The men were desperate. She could not only send them to prison, they could conceivably be condemned to die.
This was not a game for them, this was life or death and winner takes all. She would have to take precautions to make sure she and Lynn were protected. Neither of them should be out and about alone as long as they were in Savannah. This guy knew where they were staying. Therefore, they would have to move.
Miss Pettybone grabbed her purse and found Eli Rawl's card. Swallowing some of her pride, she picked up the phone and dialed his number.
***
Settled into the enormous bedroom at Shadowleaf Plantation, Miss Pettybone sighed and gazed around the room. She loved her farmhouse but the plantation was lavish living at its best.
Her bedroom was a stylish edition of a typical southern boudoir. The bed in her room was a custom made antique. Its dark walnut frame was elegantly carved with lively cherubs at play. The canopy raised high above the bed and was draped in white lace, with large white tassels hanging from its four posts. Luxurious pillows in varying shades of white were meticulously positioned on the bed.
Elegant hurricane lamps sat on small tables that were positioned on both sides of the bed. The table's legs curved in a graceful arch to the floor. The room whispered of lost loves and cool passion.
When she had called Eli earlier, he hadn't wasted a moment. He hurried right over and collected her and Lynn. He drove them to the plantation, gave them a short personal tour of the estate. He made sure they were settled into their beautiful bedrooms before returning to work.
He had been charming, insisting that they were doing him a favor by staying at the plantation. Lynn thought it romantic; Miss Pettybone thought it prudent and necessary.
At the hotel, no one questioned people coming and going. Here Wagner would have a hard time just waltzing in whenever he felt like it.
She had always heard that southern people were hospitable but Eli seemed too good to be true. She glanced at her watch and called the hotel again. She still hadn't been able to get hold of Mildred or Louise. Actually, by moving here she had killed two birds with one stone, she thought relieved.
Mildred could pat all the behinds she wanted to without Miss Pettybone standing over her, tsk, tsking. And she and Lynn were protected from roving killers wandering the halls.
She cupped the phone to her ear and studied her nails. She desperately needed a manicure. Ensconced in the beautiful bedroom had its drawbacks. Every human flaw she was more pronounced.
When the receptionist answered, she informed Miss Pettybone that Mrs. Bartlet and Mrs. Baker had just returned and she would ring their rooms.
She twisted her shoulders trying to get the stiff kinks out. Her body felt like it was in a permanent state of panic. Ready to flee at the first h
int of danger.
Miss Pettybone thought about Mildred. She and Louise had left the hotel at noon and they had just arrived back. They had been gone a good six hours. She probably didn't want to know what they had been up too.
When she heard Mildred's cheerful hello, Miss Pettybone figured that whatever it was, it had been fun.
"Mildred, its Loraine."
"Loraine, I told you I wouldn't pat anyone's behind around you. You didn't have to move bag and baggage to another hotel."
"I didn't move because of that. Just listen. When I went upstairs to lie down, after waiting hours for you and Louise to show up, I might add. I encountered the man I think is Aaron Wagner in my hall. I don't know if he had tried to get in my room or not."
"Oh my goodness. Is he the reason your face is so messed up?"
"Yes, Lynn and I believe he was the one who tried to run me down with a car two days before you all arrived. I don't want to take any more chances."
"Of course not. Where are you all staying? Maybe Louise and I should move there."
The thought of watching Mildred chase Eli Rawls through his elegant house rose up if front her eyes. Shaking her head to chase the image away, Miss Pettybone said, "I don't think that's necessary. Mr. Wagner hasn't seen you or Louise. When he finds out that we're not registered, maybe he will think we've gone home."
"But where are you staying?"
"I have to go right now. Lynn just walked in. I’ll call you later." Slamming the phone down, Miss Pettybone sighed. She felt bad, but well, she didn't want to have to deal with Mildred and Louise shenanigans all the time.
Chapter 42
Arriving at the hotel the next morning, Miss Pettybone navigated painfully out of the cab. Standing beside the vehicle, she waited patiently for Lynn to slide out.
"Have you talked to Edgar?" She queried when Lynn was standing next to her on the sidewalk.
"I don't think what we have been doing would be considered talking." Lynn answered, her hand steadying her friend, as they headed into the hotel.
"Lynn, why don't you go home? You've never stayed mad at him this long."
“I’m not mad; I'm waiting for him to apologize."
Miss Pettybone paused in front of the hotel's entrance and gazed at Lynn's set face.
"You're waiting for him to apologize? What did Edgar do?"
"What did Edgar do? You know what he did. He yelled at me and treated me like, like a ...."
"A wife?"
"Okay, take his side," Lynn snapped.
"Lynn, I'm always on your side. I just don't want you and Edgar in a huge fight because of me."
"We are not fighting about you. I am angry because he goes to all those conferences and I never say a word. But the minute I'm out of pocket, he gets angry."
"I thought you said he was angry because you didn't tell him where we went."
Lynn, deciding to ignore her friend, spotted Louise and Mildred sitting in a table at the far end of the restaurant and waved. "There's Mildred and Louise."
Miss Pettybone frowned at her friend's rigid back, and then walked slowly after her friend.
Louise was waving frantically at Miss Pettybone and Lynn. "We thought you would never get here. You all hungry?"
"I am." Lynn said, smiling at Louise.
"Sit down. We've been waiting for you all for twenty minutes." Mildred complained, waving at the chairs.
Miss Pettybone thought about pointing out to Mildred that she and Lynn had waited hours for them the day before and they hadn't even shown up.
Deciding she would be foolish to get Mildred's back up now, she picked up her menu. "Did you all have a nice day yesterday?"
“I’m sorry about that, Loraine, but it just happened so fast. You see, Louise and I decided to get something to eat. And then we kind of wanted to eat somewhere else beside the hotel, so we took a carriage ride and ended up at this small bar. And well, the next thing we knew it was late. I'm sure you all can understand that we wanted to see something other than the hotel before we started working."
"Working?" Miss Pettybone exclaimed. "All you have to do is identify Wagner and Keel."
"Which is what we are going to do today?" Mildred pointed out, politely. "Louise and I are having the shrimp platter." She added, changing the subject.
"That sounds good." Lynn agreed, folding her menu together and placing it on the table.
Miss Pettybone decided that it probably wouldn't be very smart to argue with Mildred. "I guess I’ll have the Cobb salad.
"So what are we doing after lunch?" Louise asked glancing at Miss Pettybone.
"Lynn and I are taking you to the Home Show. We thought you could look and see if the men are the same ones you saw in Mississippi."
“And what happens if they are the same?"
"Then we write down all of the information we have on them and we go to the police."
"So, all Louise and I have do is point these men out and we're free to enjoy Savannah." Mildred asked.
"That's it." Miss Pettybone said, picking up her Diet Pepsi.
"Doesn't that sound good to you, Louise?" Mildred asked, smiling at Louise. "After we help poor Loraine and Lynn out, we can have some fun. I want to do some sight seeing. And I really want to take the Old Town Trolley tour."
"That sounds divine." Louise answered, grinning at Miss Pettybone. "I’d like to take the Garden Tour." She reminded Mildred.
"So that's decided. Good, let’s eat and get going. You'll be able to take the tour and be back at the hotel bar in time for dinner. I know how much you like the nightlife, Mildred." Lynn snipped, picking up her glass of water.
***
The four women stepped out of the cab and looked at the beautiful brick building that was hosting the Home Show. It was a glorious four story architectural masterpiece.
The front entrance itself was breathtaking; with its huge cement flowerpots overflowing with mixed annuals. Etched flowers in concrete surrounded the sides of elegant glass doors. The whole effect was a stunning example of southern hospitality at its finest.
Miss Pettybone held the doors open for Louise, Mildred, and Lynn, and then sent a silent prayer to God.
She fervently prayed that Mildred would not do anything awful in front of so many people. She knew that if Mildred patted one young man's behind inside the show, she would never hear the end of it from Lynn.
The women grouped themselves just inside the door leading to the Home Show and gazed at the hundreds of waiting people holding various items clutched to their chests.
"Look at all the pretty boys." Mildred gasped, looking around.
Miss Pettybone grabbed her arm and pulled Mildred towards the middle of the large room.
"None of that." She warned, looking around for a sign of either Wagner or Keel.
"I told you I wouldn't pat behinds while you're around, Loraine. But it doesn't hurt to look."
Miss Pettybone rolled her eyes. "Do me a favor, Mildred. Just keep your eyes peeled for the men we are actually looking for."
"All right," Mildred grumbled, looking around. "But you are no fun. I mean after all, Loraine, you're not dead. Surely you enjoy looking at pretty boys?"
Miss Pettybone clutched Mildred's arm and steered her towards the tables that were lined up around the huge room. Dignified men and women sat on one side, while hordes of sweating nervous people stood in long lines in front of them. She glanced around looking for Louise and Lynn and spotted them strolling on the other side of the building. "This shouldn't take long with Lynn and Louise checking out the other end."
"I don't think I've ever seen such nice-looking men as they are in Savannah." Mildred whispered. “And I’ve been to a lot of different places.”
"Please look for Wagner and Keel." Miss Pettybone begged. She felt herself break into a nervous sweat as visions of Mildred bolting free and grabbing a man’s behind rose up before her eyes.
"There he is." Mildred hissed, looking over at a table ten feet away. "That's the man
I saw in Mississippi. He's very good-looking, don't you think?"
Miss Pettybone froze and met Aaron Wagner's surprised brown eyes.
After giving Mildred a calculating stare, Miss Pettybone saw recognition spring into his eyes as he remembered where he first saw Mildred. After sending Miss Pettybone a frosty glare, he looked up and greeted the people that were next in line.
He studied the piece of glass that sat on the table in front of him. The couple on the other side of the table were talking and waving their arms in excitement.
"He saw you." Miss Pettybone gasped, dragging Mildred back across the room.
"So, I'm not the one he’s trying to kill." Mildred said unconcerned, pulling her arm away.
"You and Louise have to go home." Miss Pettybone said, panicked.
"Go home? We just got here."
"Mildred, don't you understand? I believe she’s already killed once. He remembers you. You can place him in Mississippi when Warren Jones was killed."
"I could but I'm not," Mildred said, rubbing her arm. "You're really strong, Loraine. I swear my arm is going to be black and blue where you had hold of it."
"Mildred, I'm sorry I grabbed you, I am. Let's find Lynn and Louise and get the hell out of here."
"Huh, I don't think I've ever heard you swear, Loraine." Mildred pointed out. She rubbed her arm and stared at her friend.
Miss Pettybone shook her head as she guided Mildred towards the far side of the building. Catching a glimpse of Lynn, she hurried up to them, pulling an unhappy Mildred behind her. "Come on, let's get out of here."
Miss Pettybone gathered the women together and aimed them in the direction of the front entrance. Standing outside in the sunlight, she waited impatiently for a cab.
Wagner had followed the women outside. He leaned lazily against the brick wall of the building. Meeting Miss Pettybone’s eyes, he deliberately turned his head and stared at Louise and Mildred. Looking back at Miss Pettybone, he nodded and walked back inside.
***
Miss Pettybone pushed Mildred into the back seat of the taxi, then hurried and helped Louise shuffle into the cab. Waving at Lynn to sit in the back, Miss Pettybone opened the front door and carefully folded herself inside the automobile.
