The Childish Churl (A Nick Williams Mystery Book 15)

by Frank W. Butterfield

  "What were you dreaming about?"

  I reached up and pulled his head down. We kissed for a long moment. He pulled back and asked, "Are you OK?"

  I nodded. "It was Mack. I was taking a bus and he wasn't going with us." I'd met Mack on the transport ship that brought us home at the end of the war. We'd been lovers for a short while and then best friends until he'd gone back into the Navy during Korea. He'd died when his ship was hit by a mine.

  Carter stretched out next to me and ran his finger over my face. His green eyes looked into mine. "You miss him, don't you?"

  I nodded and sniffed. "Yeah. Do you think that'll ever end?"

  He smiled and ran his hand through my hair. "No. I miss him, too. And Evelyn."

  I nodded. She had been our neighbor on Hartford Street. When she'd been diagnosed with inoperable cancer earlier in the year, she'd decided to choose the time and place of when she would leave. Fortunately, we had both been with her the previous February when she'd passed away. It had been an experience I would never forget.

  I smiled wanly. "Well, this is a strange way to begin such a happy day."

  Carter sighed and put his head next to mine. "Did you see the way she looked at us last night?"

  "Yeah. I meant to ask you about that when we went to bed but you had other ideas."

  He put his arm under my shoulders. "I sure did, son."

  "I watched her watching us. And she caught me. I wondered if she would say something."

  "One step at a time."

  "Yeah."

  Sitting up, Carter looked down at me and said, "But I can only do so much of this hotel stuff."

  I frowned in confusion. "What hotel stuff?"

  "You know." He ran his finger up and down my chest. "The kind of things we can do in hotels so we don't make too much noise."

  "That's a good name for it. Hotel stuff."

  He leaned over and kissed me on the lips. "Hotel stuff."

  "Do we have time for some hotel stuff before we jump in the shower?" I asked.

  Carter wiggled his eyebrows. "Which would you prefer?"

  "I like the part where—"

  There was a banging on the door. "Uncle Nick!" It was Jimmy.

  "Yeah, what is it?"

  "Breakfast is ready. Gustuff"—that was how Jimmy had decided to pronounce Gustav's name and none of us wanted to correct him—"says you have to come down now. He says no shower."

  I laughed. "Fine. Tell him we'll be down in five minutes."

  "OK!" said Jimmy. I could hear him running down the hall.

  "Gustuff," said Carter with a laugh as he jumped out of bed. "I'm never going to be able to say his name right again."

  I grinned as I pulled out fresh pairs of BVDs for us both. "Me, neither."

  . . .

  As we walked into the great room, I said, "Mornin' everyone."

  Breakfast was a serve-yourself buffet again. Coffee pots were on the table. Ed was sitting in Carter's chair at the end of the table by the bar. Michelle and Kenneth were sitting next to him, both facing the great room. Peggy was opposite them.

  "Morning, sleepyheads," said Ed.

  "I saw a couple of valises in the hall. Have you been banished from across the street?"

  Ed nodded with a grin. "Lettie told me it was for my own good."

  Carter, as he was filling his plate, said, "I hope you like pink, because the Rose Room is the only one left."

  "Sure," said Ed. "I'm not staying overnight, you know."

  I nodded as I helped myself to three slices of chewy bacon. "Are you ever gonna tell us where you two are going?"

  I'd offered them the use of the DC-7. It could go to Hawaii and, if it stopped in New York, it could go to most places in Europe. Or that's what the captain had told me. I'd put Robert in touch with Ed and had him make all the arrangements, including working with our fabulous travel agent, Ralph Kelso, for lodging and anything else they would need. I'd told Robert that the sky was the limit.

  Ed looked around the table as I sat down in my usual spot and Carter sat next on my left. "The reason I haven't told anyone is that I haven't told Louise. I want it to be a complete surprise. But I can trust all of you, right?"

  We all nodded. Kenneth said, "Where is it, Dad? Paris?"

  Ed shook his head. "I'll give you three guesses, but I guarantee you'll never figure it out. At first, I didn't believe her."

  Carter took a bite of his eggs. "Chattanooga."

  Everyone turned and looked at him. Ed said, "Dang it, Carter. How'd you know?"

  "Someone painted one of those signs that said, 'See Rock City,' on a barn along the highway between Albany and Americus back in 1938." He bit into a piece of bacon. "She sent away for the brochures and everything. Once they arrived, it was all Mama could talk about for five days." He looked up and grinned. "Sorry, everyone."

  Michelle sighed. "I've been to Rock City. It's fun for a day. But surely you're not staying there for a whole week?"

  Ed grinned. "No. We'll be there a couple of nights. Then we're flying to Havana. That's the place she asked me to take her to."

  Peggy said, "I've always wanted to go to Havana. It sounds so romantic."

  I began to slather my toast with some of Louise's red plum jam. As I did, I looked up at Ed and, using my high-hat voice, asked, "What is your plan to make sure that jam production is maintained?"

  Carter said, "Yeah, Ed. Nick told me that Mama has some sort of agreement with her tenants that they have to let her have the plums. But, you know, as my stepfather, this is one of your most important duties."

  Ed mock-saluted Carter and then held up his hand. "I hereby promise to keep the jam flowing."

  We all laughed at that.

  "What about your house?" I asked.

  Ed smiled. "Well, son, thanks to your generosity with your mother's estate, I've bought a house in Sea Cliff that we both like."

  Kenneth asked, "What?"

  Ed took a sip of coffee. "You know we're going to live here."

  Kenneth nodded. "Of course. I just didn't know you bought a house already."

  "Should've told you already. Needs a little work. I've already hired a couple of fellows to paint the outside. When we get home, Louise and I will get it all painted on the inside and furnished."

  "What about Velma?" asked Peggy.

  Ed tilted his head in her direction. "She's looking for a roommate. She asked me to invite you to stay with her while Louise is gone. She said you don't have to, but she'd also like you to move in, if you'd like to."

  "What about Mr. Walters?" asked Carter.

  Ed shrugged. "There doesn't seem to be any rush there." Looking back at Peggy, he asked, "What should I tell her?"

  Peggy blinked a couple of times. "Well—"

  I said, "If that doesn't work out—"

  "No, Nick, that isn't it," she said. Looking around the table, she said, "I guess that makes it real, doesn't it?"

  "You really don't want to go back to Boston to get your things?" asked Michelle.

  I said, "You can go back with them and take a couple of days to sort things out. The plane can wait. I'm sure Captain Morris and Christine"—he was our chief pilot and she was his wife and our stewardess—"wouldn't mind spending a few days in Boston in the middle of October."

  Peggy nodded. "I'll think about it."

  Michelle reached her hand over to Peggy and said, "Whatever you think is best, hon."

  "Thanks, Michelle."

  Kenneth looked at Carter. "Do you mind if I borrow your Mercury?"

  "Sure," replied Carter. "The keys are upstairs. I'll go get 'em in a minute."

  "Thanks." He looked at his father. "Old man, you and I are gonna take a drive and see this new house of yours."

  Michelle and Peggy both clapped. Michelle said, "I wanna go."

  As everyone laughed, I looked around the table and asked, "Where's Jimmy?"

  Kenneth grinned. "That kid. We may never get him to leave. He and 'Gustuff' are now fast friends. He's al
ready had breakfast and is, supposedly, helping get things ready for today. He's probably making a nuisance of himself." Standing up, he said, "I'll go check on the little rascal."

  . . .

  By half past 9, the florist had arrived with a small army of helpers. Lettie, Geneva, and Aunt Velma came over as soon as the florists arrived. Carter and I decided to retreat to our bedroom for the duration. I knew, we both knew, that we would only be in the way.

  Carter was stretched out on the Chesterfield. It was a quarter past 11 and we had fifteen minutes before we had to get in the shower and get dressed. Guests would start arriving at noon. The ceremony would happen at half past noon. And the reception was set for right after that.

  I was sitting on the floor next to the big leather sofa and was leaning against Carter's thick left arm. We had the windows open and it was drizzling outside. There was a small fire in the hearth.

  As I watched the fire, I asked, "Where do you think Mrs. Grossman went to after she left here last night?"

  Carter sighed, lifted his arm, and put it around my neck. "I was just wondering the same thing. Hopefully, she went home."

  I nodded. "I'd feel better if—"

  He sat up. "Let me do it."

  I grinned up at him as he walked over me. "Go to it, Chief."

  He walked over to his side of the bed and picked up the phone. He put it back down almost immediately. "I forgot. Our phone will be tied up for the duration."

  I stood. "There's a payphone inside the lobby of the Huntington." That was the hotel across the park from us.

  "Come on, Boss."

  We both put on our coats and made our way down the stairs and managed to slip out the front door without getting caught.

  After crossing Sacramento, we jogged up the steps and made our way in the light drizzle over to the new fountain and towards the California Street side. As we got close to the steps that led out of the park, I thought I saw some movement in one of the big bushes that bordered the park. I stopped and looked again.

  "Carter."

  He stopped and turned. "What?"

  "I think there are some kids in those bushes."

  He walked in that direction. As he did, I heard a boy say, "Shh. Don't make any noise."

  Carter got up close and squatted. "Hi there. I'm Carter. What's your name?" I walked up behind him.

  I could see a boy's face peeking out. "Mommy says never to talk to strangers."

  "She's right. But I live here."

  The kid's eyes widened. "You live in the park?"

  Carter laughed. "No, I live across the street. Where is your mommy?"

  "She's gone."

  "Did she leave you here?"

  Suddenly another boy jumped out from behind the bush. He pointed at me. "Ronnie! That's him. That's Mr. Williams." The kid ran towards me and hugged me tightly. Not sure what to do, I patted him on the head.

  The boy named Ronnie said, "Golly, Johnny, you're right. That's him." He stepped out from behind the bush. I suddenly recognized him and his brother. They were one of the sets of twins I'd seen on Wednesday when I'd stopped to eat lunch at the Golden Gate Bridge. They were both wearing the same matching windbreakers they'd had on that day.

  "Where are your parents?" I asked as Ronnie came up to me and tried to hug me along with his brother.

  Ronnie said, "They're gone. Mommy told me that if anything happened that we should come to your house."

  I disentangled myself from the two of them and squatted down. "Where are your other brother and sister?"

  "Here we are!" That was the girl.

  Carter asked, "What's your name, darlin'?"

  "I'm Tricia. That's short for Patricia. And I'm 5."

  Her brother popped out and ran over to me. "Am I glad to see you." I let him hug me around the neck for a long moment.

  Carter patted the kid on the head and gently pulled him off me. "And what's your name?"

  "I'm Mike. And I'm 5, too. We're the same age." He pointed at his sister.

  I asked, "How long have you four been here?"

  Johnny said, "Not too long. But we sure are hungry."

  "Of course you are." I stood and thought for a moment.

  Carter looked up at me. I shrugged and said, "Let's get you kids inside. We have a lot of food and plenty of toys."

  Tricia asked, "Do you have a restroom?"

  I nodded. "Lots of those, too."

  She smiled. "Good. I don't know how much longer I can hold it."

  I patted her head and said, "You and Mike hold my hand and Carter can take Ronnie and Johnny. We live right over there."

  Carter stood as the kids looked up at him. Mike said, "Wow, mister, you're tall."

  Carter laughed as he took hold of Ronnie and Johnny.

  As we walked around the fountain, Ronnie said, "I didn't know what to do. I saw all those men going in and out. So I told the other kids we should wait in the park until everyone left. It looks like you're having a party."

  I nodded. "We are. It's a grown-up thing, so you can all play upstairs. We have a TV you can watch if you want."

  "That's neat," said Ronnie.

  . . .

  I left Carter with the kids in the office. As I closed the door, I heard him say, "Does anyone like model airplanes?"

  Mike said, "I do, I do!"

  I walked around the dining room and into the kitchen trying to figure out what to do. I saw Mrs. Kopek and said, "I need a plate of sandwiches and four glasses of milk."

  She was laying out lettuce leaves on a silver platter. She looked up at me with a frown. "You need now?"

  I nodded. "We have a kind of emergency."

  "What emergency?" she asked as she walked over to the cabinet where she kept the glasses.

  "We have four unexpected guests and they're all kids."

  She looked at me. "Four kids?"

  I nodded.

  "Gustav!" she shouted.

  He came up the stairs, his vest unbuttoned, and said something in Czechoslovakian.

  Mrs. Kopek said, "More kids."

  Gustav grinned at me as he buttoned his vest. "Yes?"

  I nodded. "Yes. In the office with Carter. They're hungry, they probably need to use the bathroom, and I think something bad has happened to them."

  Gustav nodded and called, "Ferdinand! Jimmy!"

  The two of them came scrambling up the stairs. Jimmy said something in Czechoslovakian. Mrs. Kopek, Mrs. Strakova, Ida, and Nora all burst into laughter.

  "What?" I asked.

  Mrs. Kopek, who was pouring milk into four juice glasses, grinned at me. "He just say, 'hello, comrade.'"

  I grinned at the kid. "Pretty good. Can you—"

  Gustav said, "We take care of these things, Mr. Nick. You and Mr. Carter must dress. I have your clothes out for you. You must go now."

  I nodded and said, "OK."

  He picked up the tray of milk glasses and said to Ferdinand. "Take those sandwiches."

  Nora said, "Those are for wedding."

  Ferdinand said, "Children more important, Nora," as he loaded up a plate of them and put it on Gustav's tray.

  I nodded. "Yes, children more important."

  I followed the three of them to the office. When we got there, Carter was showing them the model ship and telling them about how it came from Mexico.

  "Reinforcements," I announced.

  He looked up and grinned. "We were just—"

  Gustav said, "You go get dress. We take care."

  I said, "They can play in Jimmy's bedroom. There's lots of toys in the closet."

  Jimmy looked at Ronnie. "What's your name?"

  "I'm Ronnie. That's my twin. He's Johnny. That's Tricia and Mike. They're twins, too."

  "That's neat," said Jimmy with a big smile. "These two are Gustuff and Fred. They're from Czechoslovakia but they live here now."

  "Where's Chekomosakia?" asked Tricia.

  Ferdinand knelt down and lightly pinched her cheek. "Many, many miles from here."

&nb
sp; "You're funny," she said with a giggle.

  "You're cute." As he said that, she began to dance a little. "I think you need bathroom, no?"

  She nodded. "Yes, please."

  He stood and offered his hand. "Come. We go."

  Looking up at me, she asked, "Is it OK, Mr. Williams?"

  I nodded and said, "Oh, yes." I suddenly remembered the phrase that Mr. Whitcombe had used the day before. "He's as safe as houses."

  She frowned. "Houses?"

  I grinned. "He's fine. Do what he says and you'll be fine."

  She nodded as they walked across the hall where the guest bathroom was located. I watched them as he said, "You go. I wait here."

  As she closed the door, she said, "Please don't leave."

  He replied, "I will not leave. I stay here."

  . . .

  We were all dressed and I was brushing Carter's shoes when there was a knock on the door. I put the brush back on the shoe box and walked over to the door. Opening it, I found Geneva standing there.

  "Hello, Geneva. How are you?"

  She smiled and kissed me on the cheek. "What a glorious day this is."

  I nodded as Carter walked up and leaned over so she could kiss him.

  "Now, what about these children?"

  I quickly told her what I'd told Carter in the shower. How I'd met the father at the bridge overlook. How I'd given the mother some money, in case she needed it. How I'd told her my name and that I was in the book.

  Geneva nodded. "So, the father is in the Air Force in San Antonio but they're staying at the Presidio?"

  "Yeah. I assumed they were in officers’ housing because he sounded like he was a pilot. I know there's some housing available on different bases for officers and enlisted men to use when they're on vacation."

  She nodded and looked at me with her dark black eyes. "I talked to Ronnie. I have a feeling something truly horrible has happened."

  "Yeah. Me, too. They kept saying their parents were gone."

  "Did you know they walked here from the Presidio?"

  I could feel my jaw drop as Carter whistled. "That's what they said?" I asked.

  She nodded. "I'm so mad I could spit nails because Ronnie told me they asked two people on the street how to get here and not a one of them asked what they were doing or where their parents were. And they must have walked across the Presidio, because I don't think—" She put her hand on her mouth and took a deep breath. "Pardon me, Nicholas." She blinked back a couple of tears and said, "I don't suppose any of your people could call over there and find out what's going on?"