by Rose Pressey
Ramon didn’t budge. Charlotte lured him away so that I could slip into the gown. After taking off my dress, I pulled on the wedding gown, though the back was still undone.
“How does it look?” I asked.
Hannah gasped. “It looks stunning.”
She moved around to the back. “Let me button it for you.”
Once she finished, she moved across the room and pulled a sheet off something in the corner. It was a full-length mirror. I looked at my reflection. The dress was even more beautiful than I had thought. The fabric fell in all the right places.
Charlotte gasped when she saw me. “Cookie, it is perfect.”
“You will make a gorgeous bride,” Maureen said.
Except I had no plans for marriage in the near future. That was kind of important in order for me to be a bride. I hadn’t really thought about a wedding gown or what type of wedding I might want.
“Here, hold these fake roses.” Hannah had pulled them from a box.
I held the roses in front of me and studied my reflection. Hannah hummed the bridal march. Movement caught my attention. When I glanced over, I spotted Ken. He stared at me.
“Oh, great. The poor guy will think you are planning a wedding,” Ramon said.
“No dating advice from you,” Charlotte warned him.
I tossed the roses onto the floor. “Hannah had some vintage clothing, so they talked me into trying on the dress.”
“You just said ‘they,’ Cookie,” Charlotte warned.
I’d been so flustered that I didn’t know what I was saying.
“They?” He quirked an eyebrow.
“I mean ‘she’.” I knew my cheeks were red since I felt the heat on my face.
Ken stepped closer to us. “I thought I heard voices up here. By the way, I think you look beautiful.”
“I think he’s getting ideas,” Charlotte said.
“Don’t do it, guy. Run the other way.” Ramon motioned toward the ladder.
“Oh, be quiet,” Charlotte said.
“I’ll just get out of this dress,” I said.
“We’ll wait for you downstairs,” Hannah said, looping her arm through Ken’s.
When they climbed down the stairs, I slipped out of the dress.
“That was embarrassing,” I whispered.
“He had hearts in his eyes when he saw you,” Maureen said.
“Cookie, you have a real dilemma on your hands,” Charlotte said.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Dylan or Ken? Which one will you pick?”
“I’m dating Dylan. There is no picking,” I said, stepping into my other dress.
“But you have feelings for Ken. I can see it in your eyes,” Maureen said, pointing at me.
“Ken is a nice man. I enjoy his friendship,” I said, checking my reflection in the mirror.
“Is everything okay up there?” Ken called out.
I moved over to the stairs and climbed down.
“Just fine,” I said with a smile when I reached the bottom.
“I thought you might have gotten lost in all those boxes.” Ken helped me down the last step.
I pushed the hair out of my eyes. “I thought you’d left.”
“What makes you think that?” Ken asked.
“I didn’t see your car this morning.” I studied his face.
Would he mention seeing me sneak in last night?
“I decided to go for a ride. It was such a beautiful morning. I would have asked you to go, but I figured you wouldn’t want to since you came home late.”
Okay, so he had seen me.
“You don’t have to explain anything to him,” Maureen said.
“She owes it to the guy,” Ramon said.
“No, she doesn’t.” Charlotte frowned.
“Maybe tomorrow morning,” I offered.
“I’d like that,” Ken said. “Are you busy now? I was thinking about doing some sightseeing.”
“That’s a tough one to answer,” Charlotte said.
“Can I get back to you on that? I’m not sure about my plans.”
A look of disappointment took over his face. “You know how to reach me.”
Ken turned and walked toward his room.
“That’s a bummer for him,” Ramon said.
Chapter 18
Cookie’s Savvy Tips for Vintage Shopping
It’s best to measure a garment rather than go by
sizing since it has changed over the years.
I had to find out who had access to the drug. Charlotte, Maureen, and Ramon all agreed that it would be impossible, but what other option did I have? So I decided I’d go to the backside and look around. Maybe I could talk to a few people. It was worth a try. Dylan had no idea that I was going. I suppose I could have used his help; after all, he did have detective skills. I didn’t want to disturb his sleep though. This was like a vacation for him, and he should sleep in.
“Cookie says she wants Dylan to relax and not have to wake up early to go with her, but I really know she just wants to solve the case on her own,” Charlotte said to Maureen as she turned around in the front seat. “She’s competitive like that.”
“I am not,” I said as I steered the Buick onto the road.
Charlotte stared at me.
“Okay. I’m a little competitive, but that’s a good thing. It makes me work harder.”
“All work and no play.” Charlotte wagged her finger in my direction.
She was one to talk. She had been the hardest worker to ever live in Sugar Creek before her untimely death. I drove across town to Churchill Downs. Luckily, the guy at the guard shack recognized my car by now and waved me on through. I parked under a shade tree and hopped out. The ghosts followed me across the parking lot like ducklings.
“Where are you going first?” Charlotte asked.
“I don’t know. I guess I will just look around. If I recognize anyone, I can talk to them,” I said.
“I know a lot of people. I could tell you what to say to them to start a conversation,” Ramon said.
That was tempting, but I would still feel weird about doing that.
“I’ll see how things go,” I said.
I passed by the barn but didn’t see Danielle. When I looked across the way, I spotted Mandy’s truck. No one was around.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Charlotte said.
“What am I thinking?” I whispered so that no one would hear me.
“You want to take a look in Mandy’s truck.”
I bit back a smile. “Would that be such a bad thing?”
Charlotte rolled her eyes and looked at Maureen and Ramon. “Cookie wants to know if snooping around Mandy’s truck would be a bad thing. What do you guys think?”
Maureen and Ramon shook their heads at the same time.
“What?” I asked. “You don’t think I should do it? What could happen?”
“You’re getting too brave for your own good,” Ramon said.
“Mandy will snap you like a twig if she catches you messing around with her truck,” Charlotte said.
I scoffed. “Never underestimate the power of Cookie Chanel.”
Charlotte chuckled.
“I’ll just walk over there. There’s nothing wrong with going near the truck. She can’t have me arrested for that.”
“Don’t be so sure,” Ramon said. “Mandy has a way of manipulating people to get what she wants. She could convince the police you were trying to steal it.”
He spoke as if from experience. Nevertheless, I decided to do it anyway. I’d take my chances. I headed over toward the truck, watching my surroundings the entire time. Strolling along, I tried to act casual. I didn’t want anyone to be suspicious. If they reported me acting weird, I would be kicked out.
I couldn’t believe that I was doing this. Regardless, I had to take some risks if I was going to solve this case. Charlotte was right again. Mandy was a bit scary. If Mandy discovered me looking in her truck, I had no i
dea how I would respond. At least the truck was parked under a tree, which would offer a bit of concealment.
When I reached the truck, I looked around once again to see if anyone was watching. Luckily, everyone was busy, and no one seemed to even notice I was around. I stepped up close to the driver’s-side window.
“Just be careful,” Charlotte said. “If Mandy catches you and decides to attack, make sure to go for the eyes. Poke her in the eyes.”
“That sounds kind of violent, Charlotte,” I said.
“You’ll do what you have to do if it comes down to life or death.”
I pressed my face next to the window.
“What do you see?” Charlotte asked.
“A mess,” I said.
Charlotte, Maureen, and Ramon moved over to the truck too.
“Whoa. It’s a pigsty in there. Ramon, did you ever ride in this car?” Maureen asked.
He shook his head. “We were always in my car.”
“It’s a good thing. You might have gotten lost in there,” Charlotte said with a laugh. “Mandy seems as if she is three gallons of crazy in a two-gallon bucket.”
I peered in. “I can’t see anything for the mess. I’ll have to open the door for a closer peek.”
“Good luck with that. You might need a hazmat suit and face mask,” Charlotte said.
I scanned the surroundings one more time before pulling on the door handle. Luckily, the door opened. Unfortunately, trash spilled out onto the ground. Oh, great.
“I don’t want to touch that stuff to put it back.”
“Just leave it.” Charlotte rubbed her arms as if she had a shiver at the thought of touching the stuff.
“That is littering,” I said.
“Mandy will get it when she comes back to her truck,” Charlotte said.
“That’s doubtful,” Maureen said.
“She’ll know that someone was looking in her truck,” I said.
“She won’t know that it was you.” Charlotte motioned. “Now hurry up before she comes back.”
I inched over to the seat and poked a few things with a tree branch I’d picked up from the ground.
“What do you see?” Charlotte asked.
The ghosts had moved away from the truck now as if it was actually a biohazard. Maybe it was, for all I knew.
“A lot of fast-food wrappers. I don’t think she cooks at home much,” I said.
“Totally unhealthy,” Charlotte said.
“What else is in there?” Maureen asked.
“There are books. They look like journals.”
“Bingo. Pull those out and have a look,” Charlotte said.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” Ramon paced back and forth.
“Do you want to find your killer or not?” Charlotte placed her hands on her hips.
I had to actually reach my hand in if I wanted to pick up a book.
I blew out a deep breath. “Here goes.”
I stuck my hand in and made contact with a wrapper.
“Ew.” I pulled my hand out quickly.
What I hoped was mustard was now on my hand. I managed to locate a napkin on the seat. Of course, it had been used.
“You’d better hurry up,” Charlotte said. “Quit goofing off.”
“Does this look like I’m goofing off?” I held up my mustard-stained hand.
“Actually, yes,” Charlotte said.
I sighed and made another attempt. This time I made contact with a book. After pulling it out, I saw it was a journal. I opened the cover and read the first page.
“What does it say?” Charlotte asked, now moving closer so she could peer over my shoulder.
“It’s a poem, I guess.”
Moonbeams surround me.
Take away the pain.
Harm anyone who dares cross.
“That’s an odd poem,” I said.
“It is the worst I’ve ever read,” Charlotte said.
“Is that even a poem?” Maureen frowned.
I flipped a couple of pages. The journal was full of similar writing.
“Don’t read any more of them.” Charlotte waved her hand.
A letter fell from between the pages and floated to the ground.
“Something fell out.” Maureen pointed.
I reached down and picked up the piece of paper.
“What is it?” Charlotte asked.
I unfolded it. “I guess I’ll find out.”
“I really don’t think you should be doing this,” Ramon said.
I didn’t understand why he was so concerned with my snooping if he really wanted me to find the killer. I had to look if I wanted to find any clues. I quickly read the paper.
“It’s a letter,” I said, turning to face Ramon.
“Oh, a letter to Ramon or from him?” Charlotte asked, picking up on why I was looking at Ramon.
“Is it a love letter?” Maureen asked.
“Not exactly,” I said with a smirk.
“Well, tell us what it is,” Charlotte said.
“Apparently, Ramon was breaking up with Mandy.”
“So much for denying that you weren’t having an affair,” Charlotte said.
Charlotte and Maureen moved away from Ramon. Now they were standing beside me. They eyed him up and down.
“We can’t stand cheaters,” Charlotte and Maureen said in unison.
“I think you’ve made that more than evident,” Ramon said.
“How could you?” Charlotte pumped her fist in front of his face.
“So despicable.” Maureen shook her head.
I would have added a comment, but they were doing a pretty good job of making him feel bad.
“Did you write this letter?” I asked.
Ramon stared at us. “Okay, so we were having an affair, but as you can see, I broke it off.”
Charlotte scoffed. “As if that makes it okay?”
“No, it doesn’t make it okay,” he said.
“So what did she say when you gave her this letter?” I asked.
“She was upset with me,” Ramon said.
“Mad enough to kill you?” Charlotte asked.
“I don’t think she would do that.” Ramon looked away from us.
“Look us in the eyes and say that,” I said.
Ramon looked at us again. “I don’t think . . . okay, maybe she could have killed me. Are you happy? I admitted it.”
“Okay, enough about that,” I said. “What did Mandy say?”
Ramon shrugged. “Well, needless to say, she was angry. She said I would regret breaking up with her.”
“Oh, that sounds like a threat to me,” Charlotte said.
“Anything else?” I asked.
“She said she would kill herself.”
“It looked like maybe she changed that plan and decided to kill you instead,” Maureen said.
“I still don’t think she would do something like that to me.”
“To be honest, Ramon, Mandy seems like an angry person. I mean, all of these poems are so negative.” I waved the book.
Ramon stared at us. “Do you really think she killed me?”
“That’s what we’re trying to figure out,” I said.
“Okay, we should get out of here unless you think there is something else to find in that truck,” Charlotte said. “I’m worried that Mandy will show up. Someone could have told her that you were snooping around in her truck.”
Charlotte was right. I was beginning to feel nervous about being there after reading Mandy’s dark words. If there was anything else in there, I didn’t think I’d find it underneath all the junk. I tossed the journal back into the car and closed the door.
“Don’t you think you should put the book back where you found it?” Maureen asked.
“How would she know where anything was in that junk heap?” Charlotte said.
Maureen peeked into the truck again. “You have a valid point.”
“Now come on, Cookie. Let’s go before she arrives.”
Charlotte gestured for me to follow her.
“It’s too late,” Ramon said. “Here comes Mandy now.”
I looked across the way and spotted Mandy. Thank goodness, she wasn’t looking at me. I guess she hadn’t spotted me yet. I needed to keep it that way.
“You have to hide,” Charlotte said.
I took off running away from the truck in the opposite direction from Mandy. The space was wide open, and I knew Mandy might spot me. Where could I hide? I spotted a nearby giant oak tree. When I reached the tree, I hid behind it. My breathing was heavy, and my heart thumped wildly. I had to calm down.
“What is she doing?” I asked.
I didn’t want to peek out for fear that she would see me.
“She’s walking up to the truck. Wait, she just paused. She’s looking around.” Charlotte reported.
“She’s looking for me, isn’t she?” I asked in a panic.
“We don’t know that for sure, so try to stay calm,” Charlotte said.
I took in a deep breath and released it, trying to calm my nerves.
“She definitely senses something. Maybe she noticed the trash on the ground and wonders if someone opened her truck.” Charlotte stood next to the tree, but not too far away from me.
“Based on the condition of her truck, I doubt she ever notices much,” Maureen said.
“What is she doing now?” I asked.
“Okay, she opened her truck door and got in. Now she’s leaving.”
I released another deep breath. Thank goodness, she hadn’t caught me. That was a close one.
Chapter 19
Grandma Pearl’s Pearls of Wisdom
Just smile and wave.
After getting away from Mandy, I made my way over to the barn. I wanted to talk with Danielle, although she wasn’t expecting me to show up this morning. As I approached, I heard someone using colorful language.
“Sounds as if someone is angry this morning,” Charlotte said.
The ghosts and I eased down the aisle toward the sound of the voice. I was almost afraid to find out what was going on. The closer I got, the more I realized it sounded like Danielle. I hoped that everything was okay. Maybe she’d had more problems with Mandy.
When I reached the horse stall, I stopped. Danielle had a rake and was shoveling hay. The entire time, she was complaining. She didn’t even realize I was standing there.
