Mixed Messages (A Malone Mystery)

by Gligor, Patricia

  She would never forget Nana’s words, “Everything happens for a reason. Only the Good Lord knows why He took your parents from us that night. It’s not for us to judge. We have to trust in God always. Remember, Ann, no matter what happens, life must go on. To be happy, we have to let go of the past. We have to forgive.”

  Ann stooped down to remove a few dried leaves from her father’s grave. “Why, Daddy? Why did you have to drink? Weren’t you happy? You had a family who loved you. Wasn’t that enough? Weren’t we enough? If only I could understand why you drank, maybe I’d be able to understand and help David. It’s horrible enough that I lost you and Mom. I don’t want to lose my husband too.”

  A slight breeze rustled the leaves in the trees along the perimeter of the graveyard. She glanced at her wristwatch. No time to visit Nana today, she realized. “I have to go now. I love you both,” she said. She turned and trudged up the hill toward the street and home.

  As soon as she walked in the front door, she saw the day’s mail lying on the table in the entryway. She picked up the stack of envelopes and flyers and separated it into two piles, one for the Bergers and one for the Kerns. There were the usual bills and advertisements, a coin collecting magazine for Lawrence, several election flyers and a plain white envelope addressed to her.

  She left her stack of mail on the table and picked up the Berger’s mail. I wonder why Olivia didn’t take her mail upstairs with her earlier, she wondered. Oh well, maybe the mailman came later than usual today. I promised to go up for a visit anyway. She went over to the staircase that led to the second floor, and started up the steps.

  As she reached the landing at the top of the stairs, she saw that the door to the Bergers’ apartment was propped open. She knocked softly on the doorframe and stepped into the room.

  As she always did every time she saw it, she marveled at the beautiful antique furniture and impressive collection of knick-knacks in Olivia’s living room. It was like stepping back into another era.

  The settee, as Olivia referred to it, the loveseat and the armchair were a matched set. They were made of a rich, dark mahogany, had elegant cabriole legs and were ornately carved with a decorative shell design. She knew that Olivia had had them reupholstered in the teal velvet material they now were in order to replicate the original fabric, which had become worn and discolored with age.

  She especially admired the incredible collection of Rookwood and Roseville pottery that filled a large glass display case in one corner of the room, and the old phonograph in another corner. Although she wasn’t an expert, she had seen enough episodes of “Antiques Roadshow” to know that most of the contents of the “sitting room,” as Olivia called it, were from the mid to late nineteenth century. Everything was in pristine condition and undoubtedly worth a fortune to today’s collectors. She knew that Olivia had inherited all of these beautiful things, along with the house.

  “Come in. Come in,” Olivia said. She was sitting in her wheelchair directly across the room from Ann. “We were just talking about you.”

  At first glance, Ann hadn’t realized that anyone else was there but, as she took a few more steps, she saw a woman, who appeared to be in her mid to late forties, sitting on an armchair in the far corner of the room. The woman stood up and ambled toward her. She was “heavy set,” as Nana used to say, with dyed red hair and a lot of makeup.

  “Hi, I’m Tina. You must be Ann,” she said, extending her hand.

  Ann shook the woman’s hand and said, “Hello.”

  “Come in and join us,” Tina said.

  Ann took a few more tentative steps into the room. “Olivia, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you had company.”

  “Doesn’t matter, dear. Tina is my psychic. She’s come to do my chart. I was just telling her you’d be stopping by and she had the most wonderful idea. Why don’t you let Tina do your chart?”

  “Oh, Liv, I don’t know. You know I’m really not into all that,” Ann replied.

  “Nonsense! It would be fun!”

  “What’s your sign?” the woman asked her.

  “I’m … a Capricorn,” Ann replied.

  “Ah, the goat. Reliable, trustworthy, steady.”

  Ann laughed. “That would be me. But I’ve got a lot to do. I really can’t stay now. Olivia, I just wanted to drop off your mail and let you know I got the job. I’ll work part-time as the secretary at St. Pat’s. I start tomorrow.”

  “That’s fantastic! Congratulations! Now, you know, anytime you need me to keep an eye on the kids, I’d be more than happy too.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate that. Well,” Ann said, “I’d better get going. Nice meeting you, Tina.”

  As she turned to leave, the woman reached out and grabbed her hand. “Just a quick look,” she insisted. She turned Ann’s hand over in hers and examined her palm carefully. Abruptly, she dropped Ann’s hand and took a step backwards.

  Olivia gasped. “What is it? What do you see?”

  The woman hesitated and, after a few long seconds, said, “I’m sorry, Ann, but there is danger awaiting you. Pay attention. Stay alert. And no matter what, don’t trust anyone.”

  Ann smiled halfheartedly and headed toward the door. “I’m sorry,” she said, turning around. “I don’t mean to be rude and I know everyone has the right to believe whatever they choose but I’m afraid I personally don’t believe in psychics.”

  “Olivia’s told me you’re not a believer but don’t be so quick to dismiss me,” Tina countered. “You have to admit there are things in this world that can’t be explained with logic.”

  “I’ll say this. I do believe there are people who have a heightened sense of intuition or, if you want to call it that, extra sensory perception, just like some people’s sense of smell is more keen than other people’s. But I don’t believe anyone can predict the future and definitely not by looking at the lines on a person’s hand. That’s a bit too much. Only God knows what the future holds for us.”

  “We could debate this,” Tina insisted. “I could prove you wrong.”

  “I’m sorry but I doubt that. Now, I really have to go,” Ann said, waving as she hurried out the door.

  “Be careful!” the woman yelled after her.

  As she went down the stairs, Ann shook her head. That woman is really annoying, she thought, as she picked up her stack of mail from the table and went into her apartment. She sat down on the corner of the sofa and leafed through the bills, advertisements and voting flyers until she found the white envelope with her name typed neatly in the center. Her eyes opened wide as she read.

  “Be sure your sins will find you out. Numbers, 32:23.”

  “What in the world does this mean?” she said aloud, wondering why Lawrence had written the Bible verse to her. “Why would he write this?” This wasn’t like the love poems he always gave her; this seemed almost like a threat.

  Chapter 15

  TINA BUTREAUX BACKED OUT of the Berger’s driveway and drove slowly down the street. “Well, you pulled it off again! You’re good, girl!” At the four way stop sign, she flipped down the mirror on her sun visor and peered into it. She smiled at her reflection. “Lookin’ good,” she said aloud. “You’ve still got it!” She thought of the tall, handsome man ten years younger than her who was waiting at home. “Yeah. You definitely still got it!”

  She put the mirror back up and started to pull out into the intersection. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a blue pick-up truck running the stop sign. She slammed on her brakes, barely missing it. She rolled down her window and yelled, “You stupid jackass!” at the top of her lungs. The truck kept going. She watched as the driver stuck his arm out the window and raised his middle finger. “Dumb son-of-a-bitch,” she muttered. That bastard could’ve destroyed my pretty little car, she thought angrily. She patted the dashboard. “Don’t worry, baby. I won’t let anybody hurt you.”

  She took a deep breath. Calm down, she told herself, as she looked carefully both ways to make sure no more cars were comi
ng. She turned at the corner and, as she headed down Harrison Avenue, she passed the beautiful brick and stone houses of lower Westwood that were once the homes of some of the city’s most affluent doctors and lawyers.

  Only a few of the houses retained the grandeur of those days, owned mostly by elderly people who had lived there for decades and refused to move. Meanwhile, the neighborhood around them had deteriorated. The houses screamed of neglect and abuse. Even in broad daylight, teenage gangs with bandanas on their heads called doo rags and wearing oversized, baggy pants that hung so low on their hips that it was a wonder they didn’t fall down, loitered on the street corners shouting profanities at passersby. Scarcely a day went by without a mugging, burglary or drug bust in the area.

  As she drove, she thought about her session with Olivia. It still amazed her, after all these years in the business, how easily people were conned. They believed what they wanted to believe. Olivia was convinced that Tina had the power to predict the future and, more importantly, to contact the deceased. Amazing! Truly amazing that anyone could fall for that crap. It’s a good thing they do though, she thought. Without the Olivias of the world, I’d have to earn a living working in a factory on an assembly line or waitressing in some sleazy bar, catering to drunks and perverts. She shuddered at the thought. Thank God for Olivia and all the other fools!

  She laughed out loud as she remembered her first “session” with Olivia. The séance: Olivia’s ridiculous attempt to contact Jeremy, her long lost lover and the father of her son. Tina could still see the look of disappointment on Olivia’s face when she’d told her that Jeremy was not ready to communicate with her yet. She’d convinced the old woman to schedule more sessions so “I can get to know you better so I can be more in tune with your spirit.” The promise of another attempt to get in touch with Jeremy was all it took to keep the checks rolling in. I spend a lot of time with her, she thought, but it’s not wasted; it’ll all be worth it in the end. A few more clients like her and I’ll be able to retire before I’m fifty. Someday, she vowed, I’ll live in a big house filled with beautiful things and I’ll have people waiting on me.

  Then, I won’t have to live in dumps like this, she thought. As she entered her apartment building, loud rap music and the smell of marijuana filled the hallway. She hurriedly unlocked the door to her apartment and went into the living room. She frowned as her eyes scanned the room: cheap mismatched furniture, dingy walls and worn, stained carpet. Then she sniffed the air and smiled. Something good was coming from the kitchen.

  “Greg, are you here?” she called out. “I’m home, Sweetie.”

  He peeked around the corner. “Hi, Teen. How’s my girl?”

  She sauntered over to him and put her arms around his neck, pressing her hips against him and running her fingers through his blonde hair. “Ummm, something sure smells good in here. What cha cookin’?”

  “I made a special dinner for my special lady,” he told her.

  “Yummy! I can’t wait! Let me go change my clothes and I’ll be right back.” She gave him her most provocative look. “Unless you want to help me?”

  “Go!” he said, giving her a gentle push. “You keep that up, you’ll make me burn our dinner.”

  As she walked down the hall to her bedroom, she didn’t hear him mutter, “Yeah, like you need more to eat.”

  * * * *

  Does she actually believe that those baggy dresses she wears hide the fact that she’s a fat slob? Greg wondered. He put his hand across his mouth, stifling the sound of his laughter. They used to call them muumuus, he recalled. Wow! Moo-moo! Cow! He shuddered, picturing her sagging breasts and the rolls of fat around her waist and on her upper arms and thighs. It was enough to make a man lose his appetite!

  He grinned as he set the table, dimmed the lights and lit candles. She’s gonna think this is so romantic, he thought. When really the darker it is, the easier it is to look at her. What a pig! And could she wear any more makeup? God, and that hair! Whoever did it must be colorblind. Well, my man, he said to himself, that’s the price you pay for a free ride.

  * * * *

  A few minutes later, they were seated at the table across from one another.

  “So, tell me about your day,” Greg said, trying his best to appear interested.

  “Well, I had my nails done this morning. You didn’t even notice,” Tina said, sticking out her lower lip and pouting.

  “Let me see,” he said.

  She held out her left hand.

  He reached out, grasped her hand and studied her nails. “Very nice! But, Teen, you always look nice. That’s why I don’t notice things like this.”

  She blew him a kiss with her other hand. “I love you!”

  “And you know I love you too,” he said, releasing her hand and leaning back in his chair. “But, tell me, what else did my lady do today?”

  “Oh, boring, boring. I had another session with that old bat, Olivia Berger. You know. I’ve told you about her.”

  “I’m sorry. Which one is she?”

  “Oh, like I have so many clients. You never listen to me.”

  “Wait a minute. I know. The elderly woman who lives in the old Victorian house, over by the Y, right?” he asked.

  “Yeah. That’s the one.”

  “Tell me about it. You know I’m fascinated with what you do,” he said.

  She rolled her eyes. “Well, she’s really old and crippled, pathetic. She spends most of her days either sitting at the window as the world goes by or watching the people on TV living their lives. When I go over, she talks a lot about the past. I guess her memories are all she has because most of her friends and family are dead.” She frowned. “I never wanna end up like that.”

  “Poor old lady,” he said. “That must be tough.” He reached across the table and patted her hand. “You don’t have to worry, Teen. You won’t end up like that; you’ve got me.”

  She smiled halfheartedly. “At least, she’s really rich. You should see all the antiques in her house and the family jewelry she showed me today was awesome.”

  “Well, that’s something. So, she lives alone?” he asked.

  “No. Her stupid son lives with her but he’s some kind of albino freak,” she said, jabbing her fork into her salad and shoving it into her mouth, oblivious to the rivulet of French dressing that was dripping down her chin. “And there’s some people who live downstairs.”

  “Who?” he asked.

  “There’s a woman, Ann Kern, and her two kids,” she said, as she chewed. “Olivia told me she has a husband but he must never be around cause I’ve never seen him. Anyway, the old lady wants me to try again to conjure up the spirit of her dead lover. Can you beat that?”

  “Wow! That’s interesting,” he said, sitting up straighter in his chair. “So, when is this conjuring supposed to take place?”

  She used the fingernail of her pinky finger to try to get a piece of lettuce out from between her front teeth. “Well, I’ve been putting her off for months but I think I better do it soon, before that Kern woman talks her out of it. Get this,” she said, smirking, “Olivia asked me today if I would do it on Friday, Halloween night. Isn’t that a hoot?”

  “Hmm,” he said, reaching across the table and grasping her hand, “Well, I think you’re right. I don’t think you should wait. Why don’t you call her after dinner and tell her you’ll do it? I think Halloween sounds like a good night for a ghost to appear.”

  Chapter 16

  “FOR SATAN FINDS SOME MISCHIEF still for idle hands to do,” Louise reminded herself as she forced herself to continue working. She certainly wasn’t in the mood to do it but she needed to finish dusting and waxing the beautiful ornate woodwork in the hallway outside of Father Andrew’s office. She was alone in the building now. A few minutes after the priest’s meeting with her daughter-in-law, Father Andrew had donned his hat and coat and, barely acknowledging Louise, left the church.

  She’d never forget the expression on his face when he’d op
ened the door and realized that she’d been listening to their conversation. How embarrassed she’d felt! Thinking about it now still made her so angry. The nerve of that girl! Airing the family laundry, discussing private, personal matters with someone she barely knew, priest or not. Proverbs 11:22, “As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.”

  The horrible things she had said about David. Lies! All lies! And telling Father Andrew that she planned to leave him. What was she thinking? She wasn’t the type who could make it without someone to take care of her and her two children. How would she support them? Unless, she thought, she planned to take David to the cleaners in court, claim some sort of mental or even physical abuse, saying she wasn’t able to work because of it, and make him financially responsible while she had a free ride. Just watch the news or read the paper; people pulled all kinds of things these days. Could she get away with that? Could that actually happen? She is cunning and lazy. Why, the woman wasn’t even dressed when I stopped by to visit today and it was almost lunchtime.

  She’s a fool! Where would she ever find a husband as good as David? Nowhere, that’s where. Unless she already had another man. The thought filled her with rage. If Ann was involved with another man and left David, she would take the children with her.

  Or, what if there wasn’t another man? What if she planned to take the children to South Carolina and move in with her sister, the big-shot attorney, who had a new “boyfriend” every time you blinked your eyes? Apparently, she thinks nothing of sleeping with every Tom, Dick and Harry that comes down the pike, she thought. I don’t think much of that woman; she isn’t a good example for the kids. That’s no place for Danielle and Davey to grow up. God only knows what goes on down there. If Ann were to live with her, well, ‘birds of a feather flock together.’

  If that happened, if Ann moved away, would David ever get to see his kids again? Would they forget him? That would kill David. He loved Danielle and Davey with all his heart and he was a good father, no matter what she said. He would never do anything to hurt them. In fact, she rationalized, he probably only stayed with Ann because of the children. He lived with someone who constantly belittled him, who gave him no support, someone who wasn’t a good wife to him at all. And he did it because he was so good. Unlike his father, David would never break up the family, even if it meant living in misery himself.