The short drive to the Kozy Kove Trailer Park was uneventful. Wanda Nell was climbing out of her car when her neighbor’s backdoor light came on. Mayrene Lancaster stuck her head out the door and said, “Hey, Wanda Nell. Why ain’t you at Budget Mart? Something wrong with one of the girls or Lavon?”
“Hey, Mayrene,” Wanda Nell said, shutting her car door. “Everybody’s fine, far’s I know. I’m taking some time off from Budget Mart this week. Somebody’s got to run the Kountry Kitchen till they let Melvin out of jail.” She yawned, covering her mouth with one hand the way her mama had always insisted she should.
“You feel like coming in for a minute?” Mayrene asked. “Tell me what’s going on, girl. You know how nosy I am. I been about to bust till you got home, and here I thought I was gonna have to wait till tomorrow morning sometime.”
Wanda Nell laughed. She was tired, but she was itching to tell Mayrene about Jack Pemberton. “All right. For a few minutes, then I got to get to bed.”
Mayrene offered her something to drink before they sat down on the couch, but Wanda Nell declined. “Now, I’m gonna tell you some things,” she said, “but you gotta swear to me not to breathe a word. Not a word down at the beauty parlor.”
Mayrene pretended to pout. “Come on now, Wanda Nell, you know me better than that.”
“Uh-huh,” Wanda Nell said. “That’s exactly why I’m swearing you to secrecy.” She grinned.
Mayrene put a hand across her heart. “I solemnly swear I won’t blab any of this to a living soul.” She laughed. “Most of them old girls down at Lucille’s don’t qualify for living souls anyway.”
“Yeah, right,” Wanda Nell said. “Now listen here.” She quickly filled Mayrene in on all that had happened. Mayrene whistled when she heard about Fayetta’s savings account.
“Damn, I never figured that girl was smart enough to come up with that kind of money,” she said, shaking her head. “Just goes to show you. But I bet you anything she had some men about ready to strangle her. Not to mention their wives, if they knew.”
“Exactly,” Wanda Nell said. “Which is why I’m sure it wasn’t Melvin that killed her.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right,” Mayrene said. “What’re you gonna do next?”
“In the morning I’m going with Fayetta’s mama, Agnes Vance, to Fayetta’s house. Miz Vancc wants to get some things for the children.”
Mayrene frowned. “What’d you think of Miz Vance? Didn’t she use to sell Avon or something?”
Wanda Nell shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t know about that She’s Irinda hard to figure out She belongs to one of them real conservative churches, and I’m sure Fayetta acting the way she did was a real trial to her mama. She sure didn't hold with the way Fayetta lived her life.”
“And I bet you that’s why Fayetta was the way she was. She didn’t like nobody telling her she couldn’t do something,” Mayrene said. “I ain’t condoning Fayetta, but if her mama was real strict on her, that’s probably why she was kinda wild.”
“Maybe so,” Wanda Nell said. “But I guess that don’t really matter no more.” She paused. “Something else happened.”
“What?” Mayrene said, her eyes avidly searching Wanda Nell’s face. “Something good? Or something bad?”
Wanda Nell said, “Something good, I guess. But it sure does complicate things.”
“Come on now, girl,” Mayrene said impatiently. “Tell me.”
Blushing slightly, Wanda Nell said, “Well, Jack Pemberton came by the Kountry Kitchen tonight.”
“And?” Mayrene prompted her when she stopped.
“And he kinda told me he thinks he’s falling in love with me.” Wanda Nell watched Mayrene closely to gauge her reaction.
Mayrene’s plump face nearly split in two, her smile was so big. “Honey, that’s wonderful. He’s a helluva nice guy, and pretty sexy, too. If you like ’em a bit on the scrawny side, that is.” She laughed, a deep, rolling sound. “I like ’em big and kinda stupid; you know that. Jack’s too smart for me, but you and him oughta get along real fine.”
When Wanda Nell didn’t say anything in response to that, Mayrene poked her in the ribs. “Okay, give. What did you tell him?”
“Ow,” Wanda Nell said, rubbing her side. “I told him the truth. I told him I really liked him a lot, but I was still trying to get my head straightened out over Bobby Ray and all that And he was real nice about it, too.”
“He’s a good man, then,” Mayrene said. “You just better make sure if he’s what you want you don’t dillydally around and let him get away.”
“I know that,” Wanda Nell said, slightly exasperated. “I may not be as smart as he is, but I ain’t stupid, either.”
“I don’t recall saying you was,” Mayrene said loftily. “You just need a little help making up your mind once in a while, that’s all.”
“Then I guess that’s what I’ve got you for,” Wanda Nell said.
“Damn right,” Mayrene said, laughing again. This time Wanda Nell joined in.
“Now, how about you and this Mr. Padget?” Wanda Nell asked when the laughter had subsided.
Mayrene attempted to look coy. “Well, you know how they say still waters run deep.” She grinned. “And honey, I like to swim.”
“Yeah, and it sounds like you’ve done a few laps already,” Wanda Nell observed wryly. “You gonna keep him around for a while?”
“Oh, yeah,” Mayrene said smugly. “He’s plenty deep enough, and he sure seems to like me pretty well. Yeah, I think he may be a keeper.”
“Well, good for you,” Wanda Nell said, squeezing her friend’s hand. “You deserve a good man.”
“Don’t we all?” Mayrene said. “Sounds like things are looking up for both of us, honey.”
“Sure would be nice,” Wanda Nell said, standing up. “And now I think I’m gonna go home and hit the hay.” She covered another yawn with her hand.
“Good night,” Mayrene called as Wanda Nell headed out the door.
Wanda Nell opened her front door warily. She was hoping she wouldn’t have to nag Miranda to get to bed so she could get up for work in the morning. Then she remembered that Miranda was off on Tuesdays. “Thank the Lend for small mercies,” Wanda Nell murmured. She had worried for nothing, however. The trailer was quiet. She tiptoed down the hall to check on Miranda and Lavon, and they were both sound asleep. She closed the door softly and retraced her steps to the front door. Checking to make sure it was locked, she then went down the other hall to Juliet’s room.
The door was slightly ajar and Wanda Nell pushed it open. Juliet was hunched over the computer TJ. had brought her, staring at the screen. As Wanda Nell watched for a moment, Juliet began tapping the keys.
“What are you doing still up?” Wanda Nell said softly.
“Hi, Mama,” Juliet said, turning to look at her mother as she advanced into the room. “I’m just writing a little bit. I’m keeping my journal on the computer now. It’s good practice to learn how to use it.”
Wanda Nell brushed a stray lock of blonde hair from Juliet’s face. “Okay, honey, but you need to be getting to bed. Don’t stay up much longer.”
“I won’t Mama,” Juliet promised as Wanda Nell kissed the top of her head.
Before Wanda Nell could wish her good night Juliet spoke again. “Mama, do you think we could afford to get some kind of Internet service? I don’t think it would cost very much a month, and I promise I wouldn’t misuse it.”
“How much do you reckon it would cost?” Wanda Nell studied her daughter closely. She could tell this was something Juliet really wanted.
“There’s some different options,” Juliet said, “and there’s one that only costs about ten dollars a month.”
“That sounds fine, honey,” Wanda Nell said, vastly relieved. “Why don’t you talk it over with T.J.? He knows a lot about that kind of stuff now.”
“I did,” Juliet said, “and he said this is the one they use down at Mr. Tucker’s office.”
; “Then I guess it’s okay,” Wanda Nell said. She yawned again. “But let’s talk about it tomorrow, okay? I got to get to bed, and so do you.”
“I will. Thank you, Mama,” Juliet said. Her eyes were shining with excitement and gratitude.
Wanda Nell gave her another kiss, then went to her own room. She quickly changed into her nightgown and cleaned off her makeup, rubbing some moisturizing cream into her face afterward. She peered into the mirror for a moment. All those years of smoking had given her some tiny lines around the mouth, but her teeth were looking a lot better since she’d quit. She was about to turn forty-one in September, and she decided she didn’t look too bad for forty-one.
At least Jack Pemberton thought she looked pretty good. Smiling at that thought Wanda Nell switched off the light in the bathroom and went to bed.
Chapter 13
Wanda Nell had set her alarm for seven, and when the clock started buzzing, she emerged from a sound sleep and fumbled for the off button. She stretched in bed, yawning. She had slept pretty well and actually felt rested for once.
A few minutes later, she found Juliet and Lavon in the kitchen just finishing breakfast “Morning, honey,” Wanda Nell said, brushing Juliet’s head with her hand. She bent to kiss Lavon and tickle his chin. He giggled happily.
“Morning, Mama,” Juliet said, wiping away the last of his cereal from Lavon’s cheeks.
“Miranda still in bed?” Wanda Nell asked as she poured herself some coffee.
“Yes’m,” Juliet said, her voice neutral.
Wanda Nell just shook her head. Miranda was taking advantage of Juliet’s good nature and her love for her nephew. With Miranda being off today, there wasn’t any reason she couldn’t get up and feed her son herself. She knew Juliet would do it. Wanda Nell decided she was going to have to sit Miranda down again and have another little come-to-Jesus talk. Her having a part-time job didn’t mean she could ignore her responsibilities at home.
Wanda Nell sighed as she sipped her coffee. TJ. had finally grown up and started acting like a responsible human being, and admittedly he’d been worse than Miranda had ever dared to be. But when was Miranda going to grow up? Sometimes she despaired the girl ever would. Trouble was, Miranda was too much like her daddy had been, thought the world owed her a living. But Miranda didn’t have her father’s slick charm and was just plain whiny most of the time. Wanda Nell smiled sadly as she thought about her late ex-husband.
“Have you eaten yet, honey?” Wanda Nell came out of her reverie to question Juliet.
“No, ma’am,” Juliet said.
“Then how about I scramble us some eggs and cook some bacon? You hungry enough?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Juliet said emphatically.
Wanda Nell smiled. “Then I guess I’ll get started. You go wake up your sister, and tell her I want her up and moving around by the time, breakfast is done. Then you can come back and do the toast.”
Juliet made a funny face at her mother, then departed on her errand. Wanda Nell spoke to her grandson. “We’re gonna get that lazy ol’ mama of yours up, sweetie pie. She’s gonna clean all the bathrooms today. Yes, she is.” Lavon giggled and gibbered at her.
Wanda Nell kept an eye on him while she started breakfast. Moments later she heard a bit of a ruckus from the back of the trailer. It lasted for a few seconds, and then it was over. Juliet came back into the kitchen with a big grin on her face.
“What was all that noise?” Wanda Nell asked, whipping the eggs in a bowl with a little milk.
“Just me getting Miranda out of bed like you asked, Mama,” Juliet said, her face the picture of innocence.
Wanda Nell turned back to her eggs. She should probably fuss at Juliet for whatever it was she had done to Miranda, but she figured Miranda had it coming. Miranda shouldn’t take advantage of Juliet the way she did, and her mother couldn’t blame Juliet for getting her own back.
The eggs were heating up in one skillet and the bacon was popping and sizzling in another when Miranda came into the kitchen, muttering under her breath.
“Good morning, Miranda,” Wanda Nell said. “Glad you could join us for breakfast.”
“Mama, I swear I’m gonna snatch every hair out of Juliet’s head if she ever does that again.” Miranda stood, arms akimbo, her dark hair sticking up in all directions, a furious glare on her face.
“What did she do?” Wanda Nell asked in a mild tone.
“She like to broke every bone in my body, that’s what she done,” Miranda said, the familiar whiny note creeping into her voice. “She came in there and dumped me on the floor. I was asleep, and I didn’t know what on earth was happening. I thought maybe we was having an earthquake or something.”
“I called your name several times,” Juliet said as she buttered some toast, “and I even poked you twice. But you refused to wake up. And Mama said get you out of bed, and that’s what I did.”
“Well, I’m tired, and I’m going right back to bed,” Miranda said.
“I think you’d better sit down and have some breakfast,” Wanda Nell said, spooning scrambled eggs onto three plates. “Right there.” She pointed with her spatula.
“I’m not hungry.” Miranda folded her arms across her chest and pouted.
“You’d better eat something,” Wanda Nell advised her in a no-nonsense tone. “You’re gonna have a busy morning, young lady.”
“Whatta you mean?” Miranda moved slowly to sit in the chair her mother had indicated.
“I mean,” Wanda Nell said, as patiently as she could, “since you don’t have to work at Budget Mart today, it’s time for you to catch up on some of the chores you’re supposed to be doing around here.”
“Like what?’ Miranda eyed her mother suspiciously.
“Like cleaning the bathrooms,” Wanda Nell said, setting a plate of bacon and eggs in front of her. Juliet placed a plateful of toast in the center of the table, and Wanda Nell set another plate for her.
“Aw, Mama,” Miranda said. She hated cleaning the bathrooms about as much as she hating washing her son’s diapers.
“No arguments,” Wanda Nell said. “I’ve been cutting you some slack because you’re working part-time now, but the party’s over, Miranda.” She sat down at the table with her own plate and reached for some toast. “You’ve been taking advantage of your sister enough. You should’ve been up feeding Lavon yourself this morning. He’s your responsibility when you’re not working at Budget Mart, not Juliet’s.”
Miranda knew better than to argue with her mother at that point. The tone in Wanda Nell’s voice was a warning. Her mouth set in a mulish line, Miranda stared down at her plate while her mother and sister ate. Finally, after a long and pointed silence, she picked up her fork and began to eat.
By the time Wanda Nell was ready to leave to meet Agnes Vance at Fayetta’s house, Miranda had about stopped sulking. After they’d finished breakfast, Miranda had taken Lavon and given him his bath while Wanda Nell and Juliet cleared the table and tidied up the kitchen.
“I’ll be back in an hour or so,” Wanda Nell told them, checking to be sure she had her car keys. “And if you’re through with the bathrooms by then, Miranda, I’ll think about letting you have the car for a couple of hours. Okay?”
Miranda’s face brightened at that thought, and she even gave her mother a kiss on the cheek before she left.
It was five minutes to nine when Wanda Nell pulled up at Fayetta Sutton’s house. A car from the sheriff’s department was already sitting in the driveway. As she was getting out of her car, Agnes Vance arrived, parking her ancient, rusting Buick behind Wanda Nell’s Cavalier.
“Good morning,” Wanda Nell said, waiting for the older woman on the sidewalk.
“Good morning, Miz Culpepper,” Agnes Vance responded. “I sure do appreciate you helping me with this.” A shadow passed over her face. “I surely don’t want to have to go back in there after what happened, but I know the Lord will give me strength to do what I have to do. He has always done t
hat.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Wanda Nell said, taking Mrs. Vance’s arm as they made their way up the walk, the pavement crumbling and chunks missing in some places.
Wanda Nell knocked on the front door, and almost as she pulled her hand away, the door swung open.
“Good morning, Wanda Nell.”
Wanda Nell tried hard not to frown. She’d hoped Elmer Lee would be too busy to come himself, despite what he’d said yesterday. Maybe for once he wouldn’t be too annoying.
“Miz Vance,” she said, “this is Deputy Johnson.”
“We’ve met,” Elmer Lee said, interrupting the introduction.
“Yes,” Mrs. Vance said, turning her face aside slightly. “Deputy Johnson was the one who came to tell me.”
“Oh.” Wanda Nell didn’t know what to say to that. “Then I guess we’d better get started.”
Elmer Lee stood aside to let the women in the front door. Unthinkingly, Wanda Nell breathed deeply, then wished she hadn’t. Various smells, all of them unpleasant, assaulted her nose. The house had been closed up, with no air conditioning, and the heat had only made everything worse.
“Can’t we open some of the windows?” Wanda Nell asked. “Or maybe turn on the air conditioner?”
“Yes,” Mrs. Vance said, fanning herself with one hand. “It sure is mighty close in here.”
“I reckon so,” Elmer Lee said. “But I’ll do it. Y’all wait here a minute, and don’t touch anything until I get back. You got that, Wanda Nell?”
She just glared at him, not bothering to answer. While he went around the house opening windows, the two women stayed where they were. Wanda Nell glanced around the small living room. It looked like Fayetta had been spending a little money on furniture. The sofa and end table were new, as was one of the chairs. The other bits of furniture around the room seemed even shabbier in contrast.
Elmer Lee came back. “I got the windows open. Might as well let the place air out a bit first, and then I’ll turn on the air conditioner if need be.”
Murder Over Easy (A Trailer Park Mystery Book 2) Page 11
