“Okay, what about the jade elephant? It’s important, or you wouldn’t have asked me to find it. Try to remember. Even the slightest hint. Nothing is too small or insignificant.”
She stared through me as if lost in the past. A golden glow pulsated around her. Not a halo, but a warm, loving light. Suddenly, her ethereal beauty struck me full in the face.
“Death becomes you,” I said. The words were out of character, but I felt as if I looked upon an angel. Surely, Scarlett was no angel—just a misplaced ghost with an overactive aura.
“Perhaps you might find this jade elephant in my house?” she said off-handedly. “That would be the logical place I would hide something.”
This wasn’t the first time the thought had occurred to me. However, thinking about it and actually breaking into her house was something else entirely. That was very dicey. Also, a scary kind of dangerous. I voiced my doubts. “Oh, I don’t know. The police know about the jade elephant. By this time, they’ve gone over your house with a fine-tooth comb. What if I get caught?”
“What if you don’t?”
“The police are probably watching the house.”
“My father had an elephant figurine from the Orient.”
“Made of jade?”
“Could be.”
“The police would have found it by now,” I reasoned out loud.
“I think I’ll go have a look-see.”
“By yourself?”
“Well, you won’t go, so I have to,” she said, sounding exasperated. “Come with me.”
I hesitated, instinctively knowing that to take this drastic step would mean that I’d crossed the point of no return. At this moment, I had enough demons on my tail without adding possible jail time, and prison orange wasn’t my best color.
Scarlett must’ve seen the indecision written on my face because she pressed me further by saying, “I’ll have your back. And you do have a gun in case we run into trouble.”
I stood up, still feeling uncertain. “I’ve never shot anyone in my life, and I don’t plan on starting, so nix the gun thing.”
“Got it—no guns. Stop worrying, you’ll be fine. I promise.”
A second later, I made my decision. “Okay, I’ll drive out to your house late tonight. See if I can locate any clues to identify the jade elephant or anything else that might solve this mystery.”
At my words, she glowed brighter. “Do you have my address?”
I shielded my eyes from the bright golden glow. “You’re not going with me like that. Turn it off. Or stop doing whatever it is causing you to light up like a Friday night high school football game.” I held up her client information card. “I have it right here. Ashland Drive in Westgate.”
She floated over the dinette table. “I’ll ask Vivian how to turn it off when I change into something more appropriate for house haunting, or whatever it is you said we’d be doing tonight. This is going to be so much fun. See you later.” She vanished through the wall.
Fun? This wasn’t meant to be a pleasant outing between friends. I’d be undertaking a dangerous mission. What if the Harts started snooping around and alerted the police? Or worse yet, what if the killer showed up? Someone could end up hurt or—heaven forbid—dead. Wait a minute. That someone could be me!
Chapter Twelve
Speaking of the Dead
I locked up the salon and headed straight home to a hot shower. I emerged from the bathroom feeling refreshed and slipped into a pair of black jeans and T-shirt. In the kitchen, I made myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, fed Tango, and went into the den to relax and eat my supper.
Wheel of Fortune had just started when I switched on the TV. Settling back into my recliner, I ate my sandwich and drank the cold milk as I formulated a plan for later tonight. With daylight saving time in full swing, it wouldn’t get dark enough to sneak around undetected until nine o’clock or later. Tango jumped up onto the recliner, settling in my lap. His purring lulled me to sleep.
The shrill ring of the phone woke me close to 9:25. Tango, angry at being disturbed, hissed at me when I dislodged him from my lap. The kitchen phone ID indicated the caller. Not really in the mood for conversation, I started to ignore it, but thought better. Mama would just keep calling until she reached me. And there was the slightest chance she might drive into town looking for me and I didn’t relish the thought of her on the roads after dark. I picked up the receiver.
“Hello, Mama.”
“Did I wake you?”
I smothered a yawn. “Yes, but I’m glad you did. What’s up?”
“Merriam called with a wild tale about the salon being haunted. Deena suggested I speak with you.”
“If you’ve spoken with Deena then you know the whole story. We’re experiencing some random incidents. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“So your invisible friend has moved on?”
“What invisible friend?”
Mama’s sigh echoed over the line. “That’s real good news. Now, the other reason why I called was to tell you Diane phoned. Scarlett’s body has been released for burial.”
That little bit of news was surprising. “Who claimed the body? She was an only child, and her parents are dead. I didn’t realize she had any other living relatives.”
“Wrong. Word from Kayla is a cousin from Dothan claimed the body this afternoon. A short memorial service is planned for Sunday afternoon at Beulah Hill Funeral Home.”
“Wow. I thought there’d be more of a fuss. She is a local celebrity of sorts. Why isn’t WXYB more involved? There hasn’t been a lot of coverage on the news about her death. Who’s this cousin? Scarlett never mentioned having a relative in Alabama.”
“I can’t answer your questions. Diane’s trying to find out all she can.”
“Is the cousin male or female?”
“Female. The grapevine spit up a doozy. Seems Scarlett was not only sleeping with a married man but also with a much younger man. Rich-and-married found out Scarlett was two-timing him, and that’s why they fought. Or so they speculate.”
Hmm. This information warranted consideration. Had rich-and-married killed Scarlett in a crime of passion? I grabbed a pencil and scribbled the question down on a notepad I kept by the phone for emergencies. “I don’t suppose the ladies have been able to come up with any names, have they?”
“Not yet. They have feelers spread throughout the tri-county area. Oh, before I forget, I expect the staff to attend the funeral.”
“They’ll be there. Have you heard from Carla’s mother?”
“Yes. She was in Florida and didn’t offer any explanations as to why she’d been unable to be reached. She’s home now. She did mention Carla was being released from the hospital tomorrow or Friday. Her doctor advised against her attending Scarlett’s funeral. She needs time to adjust.”
The clock over the stove read nine-thirty. So far, there’d been no further sign from my wacky ghost. Perhaps she was knee-deep in Vivian’s heavenly closet and had forgotten about my undercover excursion.
“Is that all, Mama? I’m in a hurry.”
“Beth asked me about Carla’s employment status, and I told her we’d discuss it another time. ’Bye.”
With those parting words she hung up. Anxious to get started, I slipped on black sneakers, fished my ankle-holster out of a drawer, strapped it on, and secured Mini Pearl with a snap. Grabbing up my purse and keys from the counter, I headed out the door into the dark, cloudy night—a night perfect for undercover work.
Dalton Road wasn’t crowded when I pulled into traffic off Roadrunner Drive. I was traveling west when I noticed a late model dark blue sedan tailing several cars behind. The car seemed vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t place where I’d seen it before. But I had seen it. And recently, of that I was certain. With my eyes glued to the rearview mirror, I shifted lanes, speeding up to put a little distance between my Mustang and the blue sedan, not exactly knowing why I felt the need to lose the tail.
I had jus
t swung off onto a side street when, without warning, Scarlett’s dark form appeared in the passenger seat, decked out in a mourning dress and veil like a great black vulture. Screaming with fright, I swerved into the opposite lane, which promptly sent a white van careening into the shoulder of the road. The driver shot me a bird, and I returned the gesture.
“Don’t do that,” I yelled. “I could’ve been killed.”
She raised her veil. Blue-green eyes snapped with glee. “I’m in a jovial mood.”
“Jovial mood? Ha. You’re planning my demise. Don’t you have enough neighbors on the Other Side?”
My transient specter flashed a wicked smile. “Are you fishing for your heavenly address? I know it if you’re interested.”
Swinging left at the intersection, I turned onto Virginia Court, checking the rearview mirror for any sign of the blue sedan. “Can I have a rain check?” I asked, relieved that I’d lost the sedan.
The veil dropped back into place. “Well, I don’t know. Depends on my mood at the time.”
“Fair enough. Are you in the mood to answer a question or two for me?”
“If it’ll help my case. I’m getting tired of all this back and forth.”
“The word around town is you were having multiple affairs. Can you name any of them?”
“There was only one man in my life. The others were merely pawns to obtain my goal.” She spoke with some bitterness.
“Uh huh. So, who was the man?”
“The mayor.” Her voice had softened, and a dreamy expression crossed her face.
I gasped with the impact of her confession. “Crap, Scarlett. Talk about sleeping with the enemy!”
“It started out innocently,” she answered defensively. “Those long, boring meetings…”
“The Mayor’s Advisory Committee.” I understood at once. Scarlett had purposely positioned herself to be appointed to the group—a cunning, but superb camouflage maneuver. Once inside, she had access to the big wigs of Whiskey Creek. And a lot of under-the-table dealings that would serve her purpose well.
“Yes. At first, I kept my mouth shut and my ears open, and I made good connections. Henry was so mixed up about his marriage that I just naturally took advantage of the opportunity.” She stopped, her sulky red mouth pulled tight.
“So you used any means at your disposal to get what you wanted.”
“At first I did.”
“And then you fell for him,” I added.
“Hard.”
In silence, we passed Westgate Country Club and made a left onto Lovers Lane Drive and drove around to the back of the neighborhood. “Your cousin from Dothan is burying you at Peaceful Valley Cemetery,” I told her.
Finally, she glanced in my direction. “I’ll be there. Are you doing my hair and makeup?”
I shivered at the thought. “No, I’ll leave that to someone else.”
“Why not? It’s a special day.”
“I believe it’ll be a closed casket ceremony. You wouldn’t want folks staring at your wrecked face, would you?” I shivered again.
“I’m glad you told me.”
“Speaking of the dead, have you seen Daddy over there? On the Other Side, I mean?”
Scarlett tapped her cheek as if in deep thought. “No, can’t say that I have. Would you like me to track him down?”
“That would be great if you can.”
“Hey, we’re having a bonding moment.”
I smiled at her observation and turned onto Ashland Drive which butted up against a huge wooded area and would afford some much-needed concealment. Slowly, I approached her two-story white house. I slowed down and pulled my car off onto the dirt alleyway leading to the back of the row of houses and turned off the headlights.
“We’ll have to drive in the dark. Better to be safe. I’ll park a ways down from your house so the neighbors don’t become suspicious.”
Scarlett’s laughter was low, throaty. “I see quite well in the dark. It’s one of the benefits of being dead.”
I inched the car down the alley toward her back yard. I’d just pulled under a giant oak and killed the engine when the moon peeked out from behind a cloud, bathing the two-story white house in silvery light. “It looks eerie. And haunted.”
“Don’t be afraid. The house isn’t haunted—you are.”
I reached for the door handle. “Thanks for reminding me.” I glanced over at the passenger seat. “Let’s get this over with fast.”
The seat was empty.
“That’s just great,” I muttered. “I’m a haunted woman without a ghost.”
Uneasiness settled over me, and I felt a reluctance to leave the safety of the car and go off into the unknown reaches of the empty house. Gathering my limited courage, I left the car and crept along the dense tree line banking the alley. Scruffy clouds passed over the moon, blocking the muted light, and I stumbled over ancient roots littering the dusty, alleyway. A warm breeze stroked the leaves overhead, rustling the branches as I cautiously picked my way toward the shadowy house.
I paused at the back gate, my hand on the latch. The eeriness of the night hadn’t helped my frayed nerves, and I was strongly tempted to flee before the phantom winds of fate had a chance to fling me forward into this creeping, whispering house. What waited beyond the gate? Answers? More secrets? A homicidal maniac waiting for his next victim? Before I could change my mind, I took a deep, shuddery breath, and pushed open the gate.
Chapter Thirteen
The Break-In
The front and back doors were locked. No surprise there. I slipped on a pair of latex gloves from the salon and tried several windows before the kitchen window eased open under heavy pressure. I managed to slip in with only scratched elbows, landed with a thud, and scrambled to my feet noiselessly. The small flashlight pinched my side when I landed, but thankfully, there was no real harm done.
I switched on the pencil-thin flashlight, and the tiny beam struggled to break through the wall of darkness. Wispy shadows shifted and swirled like a stalking alley cat ready to pounce on the slightest movement. With so little light, this was going to be much harder than I’d planned.
I started with the kitchen. The cabinets contained beautiful dinner and stemware. It looked like delicate porcelain and probably designer, knowing Scarlett’s expensive tastes. After I’d rifled through the kitchen without finding anything of interest, I moved on to the formal dining room.
Here the pattern repeated. The china buffet held more pricey china and crystal. An antique silver coffee and tea set dominated the heavy Sheraton sideboard. From what I could discern in the semi-darkness, the room was exquisite. Custom-made white wooden plantation shutters with paisley silk toppers dressed the floor-to-ceiling windows, matching the rug underneath the large table. Landscape paintings lined the ivory walls. A quick search revealed nothing of interest.
“Scarlett?” I called softly as I exited the dining room, and entered the foyer. My voice echoed through the cavernous entryway. Not receiving an answer, I found my way to the library. The walls were lined with built-in bookshelves overflowing with heavy volumes and covered in family portraits. I recognized Scarlett’s parents staring out from their gilt frames. Both had been tragically killed five years ago in a plane crash, which had left Scarlett a very wealthy woman according to the gossipmongers. At the time, she had been happily planning her wedding to a millionaire, but after the fatal accident, she broke off the engagement, disappearing from society. Two years later, she reappeared, footloose and fancy-free. That’s when she started husband poaching.
Sitting on the end tables were figurines of every kind and variety. I examined each one carefully, but there wasn’t an elephant figurine in the room. The bookshelves were extensive. Could the jade elephant be the title of a book? Had Scarlett hidden something vitally important between the pages of one of the hundreds of books? God, I hoped not. I’d need an army to help me go through the heavy, dusty volumes.
A cabinet under one of the shelves contai
ned family albums. I was leafing through one when a slight breeze brushed my face. “Is that you, Scarlett?” The hairs on my arms stood up as the breeze shifted in the opposite direction. “Stop, you’re scaring me.”
The grandfather clock standing in the corner chimed. I jumped, spooked. Crap, now I had to pee. Where was the downstairs bathroom located? And where was Scarlett? A tree branch tapped against the window. I leaped away in alarm, colliding with the square coffee table, and knocked several magazines to the floor. Feeling completely vulnerable and scared out of my wits, I bent down to pick them up. Creaking sounds echoed from the front of the house. This investigating idea wasn’t working out. God, I had to find the bathroom real quick.
Chills skittered up my spine as another breeze goosed me. I returned the magazines to the table and the photo albums to the cabinet.
“Come see what I found,” Scarlett said from behind me.
I peed my pants. “Aaugh! Look what you did!” Ready to strangle her, I stood there in my wet jeans feeling foolish and disgustingly unclean. Complaining all the way to the kitchen, I snatched up a couple of paper towels and wiped the hardwood floor clean, dumping the soiled towels in the trashcan under the sink.
Scarlett kept up a running commentary the entire time, and I made a point to ignore her. If she hadn’t startled me, this wouldn’t have happened. “Where’s your bedroom?” I grumbled.
“Just down the hall, why?”
“I need something to wear, that’s why.” I explored the rest of the downstairs until I found the master bedroom. A huge walk-in closet afforded a bevy of choices for a super-thin woman. I discarded most of the clothing until I found a dark, wraparound skirt large enough to cover my size twelve figure.
Everything in me rebelled at the thought of wearing Scarlett’s panties, so I’d go home commando. She followed me back to the kitchen to watch me rifle through her pantry until I found the zip-up baggies and a plastic sack for my wet clothes.
With supplies in hand, I headed into the master bath. With guidance from the small beam of the flashlight, I removed several items from beneath the vanity cabinet, and cleaned myself, dumping my soiled things into a plastic sack. With my ankle holster reattached, I dressed in the skirt and pulled on my damp sneakers.
Dixieland Dead Page 12
