If Catfish Had Nine Lives (Country Cooking School Mystery)

by Paige Shelton

  “Did you tell anyone about it?”

  “I believe so. I think I told Elsa.”

  “Your lady?” Gram asked easily, as if asking about someone’s “lady” was a common question.

  “Yes.”

  “Jerome’s been remembering her this trip.”

  Gram’s head cocked slightly, and her mouth straightened into a tight line. “You’ve always had some memories of Elsa.”

  “It’s that I’m remembering . . .”

  “He’s remembering their connection better this time,” I continued for him.

  “Interesting. Perhaps it’s meant to be. You and Betts have been too squirrelly-eyed for each other. Maybe Jerome remembering how he felt about Elsa is good.”

  Jerome and I smiled at each other, more to share our humor over Gram’s observations than to flirt, but the gesture could have been misinterpreted.

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Gram said at our continued “connection.” “Jerome, tell me more about Astin Reagal’s remains, if you remember the details.”

  “I think that’s why I came back this time—to help you all find them.”

  “Really? Okay, I guess I won’t analyze that idea too much but just go with it. So, how are you going to find him?”

  “Keep looking, I guess.”

  “Why didn’t you tell anyone besides Elsa?”

  “I can’t remember exactly. I died a week later, so that could have played a big part in my secrecy. I think that at that time she was the only person I trusted. I don’t think I was well thought of by then,” Jerome said as he scratched a spot above his ear, tilting his hat sideways again. “But I sense that there was a good reason. I remember a couple things from back then—there was the newspaper article that talked about Astin and how he’d been lost. I think Jake found that same article. Then, I remember having a strange sense of where he might be. What’s missing is the part that explains why or how I knew.”

  “You sensed it, like psychic-ly? Had impressions or something?” I said.

  The hat settled back into position as Jerome stopped scratching. “I don’t know what you mean, Isabelle.”

  I was about to offer a quick explanation, but Gram interrupted. “Isn’t that Orly coming in?

  I turned to see Orly push through the front door. He saw me immediately and waved, so I returned the greeting and he moved quickly toward us. Though I had questions for him and hadn’t been able to find him during the Dutch oven demonstrations, I kind of hoped he wouldn’t join us. I still hadn’t told Gram about Teddy, and my lie by omission was only going to seem bigger if he was the first one she heard the news from. However, some of the questions I had for Orly were specific to Teddy. Maybe I’d be okay if he did join us, but I’d have to do a quick job of giving Gram at least a heads-up about Teddy.

  “Looks like we’re going to have some company,” Gram said.

  “Should I leave?” Jerome said.

  “No, it’s fine, but . . .” I hesitated, but I didn’t see any other way around it. “Gram, there’s something you should know. Teddy got into a fight and Orly helped him.” I didn’t need hindsight to know that the way I’d just handled giving her the news was cowardly and badly done.

  “Uh,” Gram said.

  “Betts, Missouri,” Orly said as he approached the table. “How are you lovely ladies? I must tell you that the Dutch oven event was a huge success. Everyone is buzzing about it.”

  “That’s great to hear. We’re fine, Orly,” I said as Gram continued to digest the news. “Would you like to join us?” I scooted over so he wouldn’t try to sit on Jerome.

  “Oh, I don’t want to intrude,” he said.

  “Not at all,” I said. “We’d love for you to join us.”

  “I can’t imagine better company. Thank you.”

  Orly sat next to me, which meant he was catty-corner from Jerome and directly across from Gram. We were two Winston women and two cowboys. Despite the slight transparency and different time periods, it was difficult not to notice the similarities between Jerome and Orly. The obvious one, of course, was that they were both cowboys, which I suspected made them somehow soul-brothers of sorts. The cowboy lifestyle had modernized over the years between their two lives, but nonetheless, they were the stuff of ruggedness, the type of people who lived outside more than inside. Ruddy skin and big shoulders were more their trademarks than mere aspects of their physical descriptions.

  Orly was older than Jerome had been when he’d died, but there was a congruity in the set of their jaws and—I peered at the table to confirm—strong similarities in their calloused hands and marred fingers—none were perfectly straight. I’d liked Orly immediately, but now I hoped my initial instincts hadn’t been off.

  “How’s everything at camp?” I asked Orly.

  “All right. A little subdued, but the Dutch oven cooking demonstrations were enjoyed by everyone. Thank you both for your kind hospitality this morning.”

  I nodded. “Our pleasure.”

  Gram kind of nodded, too, but I could tell she wished for a chance to talk to me without Orly present.

  Orly cleared his throat. “We’re trying to continue on without being disrespectful. It’s a difficult balance.”

  “Did you know the man who was killed?” Gram asked.

  “Just from the convention this year,” Orly said. “But I’m learning more and more about him every minute.”

  “Like what?” I asked.

  “He was interesting. He asked a lot about writing poetry. And, apparently, he asked a lot of questions about me, even though the two of us only had a couple brief conversations that were so unimportant I don’t remember them at all.”

  “Did you have any arguments or discussions with him?”

  “Not that I remember.”

  “You might need to be careful, Orly,” Gram said. “Remember, the killer hasn’t been found yet.”

  “Certainly, Missouri, but I’m pretty convinced that the killer was only planning on killing one person. I’ve been thinking about it. Almost everyone who was at the convention was there and watching the skit. The killer could have killed anyone, or more than just one person. None of us were prepared to shoot back, defend ourselves. I know that eventually the police would have figured out what was going on, but even a few moments of chaos . . . well, I don’t even want to think about it.”

  “So, what if we try to figure out who wasn’t there; someone who stayed back from the crowd maybe, someone who seemed to disappear. Maybe that would help the police find the killer,” Gram said.

  “My thinking exactly, Missouri,” Orly said. “That’s what I’ve been doing, talking to people to see if they noticed anyone go missing suddenly. It’s a backwards sort of task, but at least I feel like I’m doing something.”

  “Found anything?” Gram said.

  Orly laughed. “Well, it seems lots of people noticed that someone or a few someones were missing, but then when I look closer, ask more questions, I find that those people were actually there. I don’t think I’m very good at asking the right questions.”

  “Or maybe you could just use some help,” I said. “Gram and I will be there later this afternoon. After she fries up some catfish, the frying duty is going to go to some of your poets. We’ll stick around and snoop.”

  “Well, young lady, your grandmother’s words of warning apply to you, too. There’s a killer on the loose. You don’t need to put yourself on any potentially harmful path.”

  I thought a minute. “I think we can all be casual. I’ll get Jake there, too, and I’m sure Cliff was already planning on going.” I wasn’t sure he was, but I thought it was a good possibility. “We’ll blend in. Believe it or not, even if Jake’s the only one who plays a part during the tourist season, we all have a healthy supply of Western wear,” I said.

  “Alrighty. Same words of caution still apply, though.” Orly paused. “How’s your brother?”

  I gulped and kept my eyes away from Gram. “I think he’s better.”


  “We’re going to check on him after we eat,” Gram said.

  I sent out a silent wish that his face would miraculously look a million times better by the time we were done with lunch.

  “Oh, good. He’s up and around, then?”

  “Yes,” I said. “Mostly.”

  “Despite how he turns the girls’ heads, he is a nice young man,” Orly said.

  “His way with girls is more a curse than a blessing, believe me,” I said.

  Orly laughed. “I suspect that’s true.”

  “Orly, I need to ask you something specific about my brother,” I said. “And it’s going to sound like I’m accusing you of something.”

  “Oh. Well, goodness, then, accuse away. I think it’s always best to get to the meat of the nut. Don’t mince words, Betts.”

  “I was talking to Cody this morning at the cooking demonstration.”

  “Cody?”

  “Cody was the bad guy in the skit that Norman was in.”

  “That Cody. Yes, ma’am, I know who you’re speaking of.”

  “He mentioned that he saw you the night Teddy was beaten,” I said. I thought I heard Gram sigh heavily, but I didn’t look at her.

  “I’m sure he did. I’m all around that campsite.”

  “He said he saw you escorting Teddy back toward your tent.” I didn’t think I needed to add that the tent was the same direction as the woods where Teddy was found.

  Orly looked up toward the ceiling and thought hard. He looked down and at me a moment later. “Betts, my dear, I’m not sure you have any reason to believe me or believe anyone else at this point. You don’t really know any of us. But I can assure you that I didn’t escort Teddy anywhere. I have no recollection of seeing him that night. I wish I would have. Maybe I could have prevented what ultimately transpired.”

  “He doesn’t sound like he’s lying, Isabelle,” Jerome said.

  He didn’t. At all.

  “However,” Orly continued, “and I’m not trying to throw you off your game or anything, but I will tell you this: That young man Cody is an interesting fella. I’ve seen him lose his temper a time or two in just the past couple of days. Out of the blue–like, for no real reason at all.”

  I hadn’t seen Cody lose his temper during any of the rehearsals I’d watched, but I certainly hadn’t seen them all. Jake had seen many. I’d have to ask him if he observed any irrational behavior from the “bad guy.”

  “Thanks for telling me that, Orly.”

  “My pleasure.”

  “What can I get for y’all?” Bunny asked as she approached. She seemed less baffled by our bigger table request since Orly had joined us.

  We ordered and tried to talk about more pleasant things as we ate. I didn’t ask any other questions. I’d look for the opportunity to find some answers this evening.

  Shortly after our food was delivered, Jerome disappeared, saying that he was going to go look for Astin’s remains before meeting us that evening at the campsite. After he left, it was difficult not to see myself as the third wheel, because I had a distinct feeling that Orly became extra attentive to Gram, and it seemed she was okay with it. I wished I could squeeze in a question about Jezzie, but not only did it seem inappropriate but I might actually ruin Gram’s mood. I figured I’d done that enough for one meal, so I kept the question filed away for later.

  • • •

  “Theodore William Winston, how in tarnation are you not in the hospital?” Gram said as she leaned down and placed her finger gently under his chin.

  “I’m okay, Gram,” he said, but his eyes shifted in my direction. He wanted my help, but I figured we were now way beyond getting out of this unscathed.

  Gram stood and looked at me. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me. Do your parents know?”

  I looked at Teddy. He shook his head.

  “No, Gram, but it looks much worse than it is,” I lied. “Teddy’s fine.” He was, but it was still bad. “We thought that if the bruises and swelling could go down first, you and Mom and Dad wouldn’t have to worry.”

  “Oh, Betts, cut the crap. You just didn’t want to be the one to tell us that Teddy was hurt.”

  I sat on the couch next to my brother. “Yeah, well, there is that.”

  Gram sat on Teddy’s other side and sighed.

  “Oh, hell, I wouldn’t want to be the one to tell anyone about this. I understand, but I’m just worried, that’s all. Are you sure you shouldn’t be being monitored or something?” Gram said.

  “Doc said I’d be fine recovering at home. I’m feeling better, really. I know I still look bad, but my headache is mostly gone and I’m not dizzy anymore. Man, was I dizzy.”

  I hoped he’d stop there.

  “The man who was killed was the person who did this to you?” Gram said, asking the question based upon the bits of information I’d given her on the way over to Teddy’s.

  “I’m not sure . . . I think so. My last memory is that I was going with him, but some other things are coming back to me.”

  “What?” I said.

  “Noises . . . no, sounds are coming back, not noises. Actually, to be more specific, I think other voices are coming back. I think that while I was being beaten, I heard other voices. Guys and girls.”

  “Anything more than that, like who the voices belonged to?” I asked.

  “I’m just not sure. I think that the guy sounded familiar, but I can’t place how.”

  “What about Orly? Did the guy sound like him?”

  “No, Betts, I don’t think so. This was a younger voice, someone more my age.”

  “So, the voice might have belonged to Norman?” I said.

  “No, another male voice besides his,” Teddy said. “I think there were two male voices.”

  “What about the girl or girls?”

  Teddy shook his head. “I just can’t be sure. Maybe if I go hang out at the campsite again, I’ll hear something that clicks.”

  “No!” Gram and I said together.

  “I’m afraid you’re not going anywhere quite yet,” I said, though I wished it was a feasible idea for Teddy to come with us later that evening. It simply wasn’t, and it would be foolish for him to even try. He still needed rest.

  “Well, I’m making you some homemade chicken soup,” Gram said as she stood.

  “I’m not sick, Gram,” Teddy said.

  “No? Well, you’re not well either, and chicken soup cures just about everything.” She walked around the couch and moved to the small galley area.

  “I don’t know if I have all the ingredients,” Teddy said.

  “I’ll figure it out,” Gram said.

  Both Teddy and I knew not to mention that I’d already warmed up a can of chicken soup. Gram was going to make the soup no matter what.

  Once she was mostly out of earshot, Teddy leaned toward me and said, “I remember a little of the argument I heard between Orly and Jezzie.”

  I nodded surreptitiously.

  “I’m pretty sure I heard Orly tell Jezzie that she’d ‘never get away with it.’ And then, Betts, I’m also pretty sure he said something about Norman. At least I think I heard Norman’s name. Would you go ahead and tell Cliff?”

  “Sure,” I said. He wasn’t going to be happy that his cousin might have been involved in anything shady—a fight, a murder, whatever—but he needed to know.

  “Thanks.” Teddy relaxed and closed his eyes.

  My phone dinged quietly, announcing a text. I looked at the text as I stood and joined Gram in the galley.

  “Jake has our contact for the new letter,” I said.

  “Oh, good,” Gram said as she looked at the concoction in the pot on the stove. No matter what she’d put in it, I was sure its healing properties were stronger than the canned version I’d used. “I’ll have this done in a jiffy. Tell Jake we’ll be there soon.”

  I nodded. I didn’t tell Gram the most interesting part of the text. Jake had said: You won’t believe this one, Betts, an
d you won’t want to follow through and talk with the descendant, I promise.

  Chapter 16

  “Opie! Opie’s a direct descendant of Alicia Zavon?” I said.

  “Very direct,” Jake said. “It’s kind of amazing we didn’t know about it before, but I’ve never paid much attention to Alicia’s family tree.”

  “But Opie lives for this kind of stuff. If she knew she was related to an infamous Broken Rope legend, she would have been shouting it from the treetops.”

  “I guess she doesn’t know, then.” Jake shrugged. “Look, there’s the glitch of her daughter Elizabeth coming back to town. That’s where the error probably occurred. Elizabeth’s lineage just kind of got forgotten because she left her family back in California; a family of which one daughter was named Ophelia, by the way.”

  “Oh, no, Opie was named after one of Alicia Zavon’s granddaughters?” I said.

  “Seems that way,” Jake said.

  “But then she should know already.”

  “Maybe not. Maybe her parents only knew that Ophelia was a family name, even if they didn’t quite grasp the entirety of the true story of their ancestors.”

  “Ugh. If she doesn’t know about all of this, her world is going to be rocked, and then she’ll be beyond impossible to be around. She’ll want to be crowned queen of all Broken Rope legends.”

  Jake shrugged again. “Oh, she won’t be any more bothersome to you than she already is. As for the rest of us, I suppose we’ll adjust.”

  “I’ve never quite disliked her the way you have, Betts,” Gram said, “but, yes, she will want some sort of accolade. Maybe a parade.” Gram scooted off the stool. “But nevertheless, we’ve got to get this letter delivered. Right away would be better than later.” She glanced at her watch. We still had time, if our visit was brief.

  I tried to come up with a good case for not going out to Opie’s house and telling her about a non-delivered letter that would surely be the highlight of her life, or at least her week, but I couldn’t formulate one solid excuse. Even the fact that she recently broke up with Teddy wasn’t good enough. Teddy broke up with lots of girls, and lots of girls broke up with him.

  “Oh, criminy,” I said, using one of Gram’s favorite terms. “Let’s go get it over with. We need to get back for everything this evening.”