He picked up the story, “We didn’t get alarmed at first when she didn’t come home on Monday. We figured that she was having a good time with her friends and decided to stay longer. She didn’t leave us a phone number. We don’t even know the name of her friends. You see, she wasn’t used to checking in with us.”
“Plus,” Tilley continued, “we didn’t know she had a meeting planned for Tuesday afternoon. If we had known she was supposed to be back in BradLee on Tuesday, we would have gone to the Sheriff sooner and filled out a Missing Persons report. Then that woman officer and her deputy came to see us. They wouldn’t tell us much of anything, but we did find out that they were trying to identify a woman’s body. But now they can’t find it. Now isn’t that something for the books? Can’t find a body!”
Annie thought, Tell me about it! She’s talking about the body that travels.
Tony said, “As long as they can’t find her body, then I can hope.”
Annie grimaced inwardly; she hated to see his agony drag on.
The Tuckmans next told the women that the officers had asked for DNA material; so they took them over to Twila’s house where they found some hair in her brush.
DeeDee asked Tilley, “What color was Twila’s hair?”
“She had the most glorious deep auburn hair when she was younger. She’s been dying it the past few years, though, trying to keep it the same color.”
Tony said, “Please, if you know anything… anything at all … The police said a body had been found and then lost. Do you know anything about any of it?”
The girls exchanged glances. DeeDee nodded.
Annie said, “It was me, actually, that first found … something amiss.”
The Tuckmans were distraught, but they were anxious to hear Annie’s story. So she began the tale with her going to the drawer to look for Valentine decorations and feeling a dead arm in there. She mentioned seeing a gold bracelet.
“Was it a heavy gold link bracelet?” Tilley Tuckman asked.
Annie nodded.
“Twila’s husband gave that to her on their 35th wedding anniversary, not long before he died. It meant so much to her; she wore it every day. That’s not good news for us, though. It sounds like that body was … was our Twila, doesn’t it?” she asked helplessly.
“Was there a charm hanging on it?” Tony asked.
Tilley exclaimed, “That’s right. Did you see a heart-shaped charm on it? It was yellow gold, like the bracelet. The charm wasn’t quite an inch long, and it was puffy—pillow-like with etchings all over it. It wasn’t a locket; it didn’t open.”
“That describes what I saw, but I couldn’t say if the heart opened or not. I didn’t dare take time to examine it that closely.”
“And you say the bracelet had just the one charm on it?
“I only saw one; there could have been more tucked up under her arm. Come to think of it, I don’t think I told the officers about that charm when I first reported the crime,” Annie stated. “I guess I was almost in shock. I didn’t remember the charm until you mentioned it now.”
“It sounds like Twila’s. Oh, dear, that arm you felt in that drawer must have been our Twila’s.” She leaned into her husband’s chest and began to cry.
He held his sobbing wife and asked, “But why would she be in that drawer? She was such a kind and giving person. Who would want to kill her? Who in BradLee would kill her? Who would ever think there is a killer living in BradLee?” He bent his head down into his wife’s and cried too.
* * *
After they said good-byes to the Tuckmans, the four friends parted. Each headed to her own home to make lunch. On a whim, Annie decided to pedal a few blocks out of her way and ride past Kreeger’s house. As luck had it, Kitty was in her front yard, weeding furiously. Annie braked, then stood with her feet straddling her bike and called a greeting. Kitty looked up. There were tears in her eyes. Annie drew her left leg over the bicycle frame, hurriedly laid the bike down on the grass, and went to Kitty, asking, “What’s wrong?”
“What isn’t? Nothing’s right anymore. Karl’s doing the strangest things. And the Sheriff’s deputies were here. When they left, they took our golf cart with them. I think they said they were ‘impounding’ it. Had a court order. We couldn’t do anything to stop them, and it is practically brand-new.”
“Why’d they do that?” Annie asked, although she had a good idea why.
“They didn’t give us a good reason. Something about checking it over. I don’t know why.”
“What did Karl say?”
“Not much. But he was fuming. We just had to stand here and watch them drive it up on a trailer and take off.”
“Where did they take it?”
“I think they said to a lab someplace in Tampa.”
“Where’s Karl now?”
“Oh, he’s inside reading the paper. He’s acting like nothing has happened. I don’t know how he can be so calm. When I’m upset, it helps me to come out here and weed. Working with my flowers helps me when I’m upset.”
“Kitty, has something happened?”
“So much has happened these last few days that I don’t know what to tell first.”
“Let me ask this question. Was Karl home last night?”
“That’s funny; those officers asked me that same thing.”
“What did you tell them?”
“I said that last night was Thursday. So, right after supper Karl took off in the golf cart. He and Jiggs usually play poker on Thursday nights at seven o’clock with some other men over in the Little Clubhouse.”
Annie sensed that Kitty had not yet heard about Jiggs’ death. She decided not to be the one to tell her; so instead she asked, “When did Karl come home last night?”
“What time? I don’t know. He wasn’t home by ten o’clock because I turned to FOX to hear the news broadcast. I usually listen to that while I get ready for bed. Then I read for awhile before turning off the light.”
“What time was that?”
“Probably a little before 11 p.m.”
“And Karl wasn’t home yet?”
“No.”
“Didn’t you hear him come in?”
“I take my hearing aid out at night; it’s the one for my right ear. I like to sleep on my left side, and, of course, that’s my best ear. So, when that good ear’s buried in my pillow, I don’t hear much of anything. On top of that, I’m a sound sleeper. So, no, I didn’t hear him come in. I don’t know when he came home.”
“Did he sleep in this morning?”
“No. He’s usually up by 6 o’clock. He didn’t want any breakfast, just went right out and started washing the golf cart. Vacuumed it, too. He’s done that a couple of times recently. I guess it’s because he’s so proud of our new cart. Have you seen it?”
“Yes, I couldn’t help noticing it. I love that color of blue, and the gray curtains set it off.”
“I can’t believe the deputies just came and took it off.” Kitty stopped, looked at Annie and asked, “Why did you ask when Karl got up?”
Annie mumbled something about, “Oh, just wondering if I could help you figure out what’s wrong with Karl these days.”
Kitty seemed to accept that answer without question, much to Annie’s relief. Then she asked Kitty, “Are you really going to sell your home here and leave BradLee?”
Kitty sighed, “Karl says he wants to move back to Ohio, that he’s tired of Florida. He’s adamant. I guess I’ll have to go too. I don’t know what’s gotten into him. He’s like a different person.”
“When did he start acting differently?”
Kitty bit her lower lip. “I shouldn’t say anything bad about my husband… .” Her voice trailed off. Annie stood quietly waiting for her to continue. “But I’ve just got to talk to somebody. I can’t keep this all inside me any longer.”
“Would you like to take a little walk?” Annie asked, sensing that it might be easier for Kitty to tell something difficult if she weren’t standing
in her own front yard. They started out, and Annie gently directed them towards Memorial Pond. There were benches there, and they could sit and watch the ducks—white domesticated one, plus some Mallards, and Muscovies.
Once Kitty opened up, she couldn’t seem to stop talking. “Oh, Annie, Karl’s always had to make sure that I knew that he was the head of our house. He has to have the last word on everything—not so much the first years of our marriage—but he grew more demanding. We have four children. I wanted to make a happy home for them; so I’d just give in to him to keep the peace. After a while it was just easier that way. We have a good life—a lovely home. He was always a good provider. But he has to be in control. He doesn’t like me to have girl friends; so it’s kindda lonely now that the children are grown and gone. As long as I do what Karl says, life’s okay. He lets me go to Hobby Club and play golf in the Women’s League; so I do get out some, but I don’t have close friends like you do. I envy that.”
Annie was so shocked that she blurted out, “Kitty, we’re not living in the 18th century! For heaven’s sake! A woman can think for herself! I don’t always agree with my husband. Most of the time I do, but I’m not afraid to tell Art if I think he’s wrong. It’s a give-and-take relationship. I’m so sorry your marriage isn’t like that.”
Kitty pulled a tissue out of her jeans pocket and wiped away a tear. Annie waited for her to calm down, then went on, “You say Karl is acting differently lately?”
Kitty nodded, “I don’t know if he’s so different, but—well—he’s so belligerent.”
“When did that start? Can you tell me a day or week?”
She anguished, “It was just a little over a week ago. Something must have happened to him, but he won’t talk to me about it. I don’t know what’s bugging him.” Kitty started rambling on about Karl’s short-comings, like taking the golf cart after she’d told him she needed it. Annie listened with one ear, but to herself she thought: A week ago. That’s probably when the Board told Karl that they had appointed an assistant to work with him on Bingo. That’s when Karl’s troubles began, and he’s taking it out on Kitty.
As the two women walked back to Kitty’s house, Annie asked her, “Can you get him to see a doctor? Perhaps there’s a medical reason for his personality change.”
“I asked him to go. I asked him and asked him and asked him. I even made an appointment. He wouldn’t go. What else can I do? He’s not much on having someone tell him what to do, especially a woman.”
Annie shook her head. She did not believe that his problem was medical, but she was not about to say anything to Kitty about her suspicions. Instead, she changed the subject. “You always have something pretty blooming in your yard; it’s the prize of the neighborhood. That poinsettia bush at the corner of your house is huge; it must be five feet tall! It’s a treat to see so many red leaves still on it. And now your jasmine vine is blooming; it smells wonderful.” Annie stepped closer to another bush and said, “Spring is coming to Florida; look, your azalea bushes are almost ready to burst out.”
“And the dogwood will be blooming in a week or two.” Kitty proudly pointed to a small tree in her yard.
After hugging Kitty good-bye, Annie said sincerely, “Things aren’t going very well for you now; will you join me in prayer?”
“Thanks. I need it.”
“Good morning, Lord. It’s Annie down here with my friend, Kitty Kreeger. She needs You to walk with her and hold her hand as she struggles with a family problem.” She motioned for Kitty to join her in saying the 23rd Psalm:
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me, Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou annointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Annie hugged Kitty again, then climbed on her bicycle, still thinking of the power and beauty of the 23rd Psalm as she rode home.
* * *
Art came in the house smiling; he’d had low score in his golf foursome. Annie said, “Well, that is something to celebrate with a waffle.” She pulled her waffle iron out of a low cupboard and plugged it in to heat as she whipped up the batter. Art kept on smiling in anticipation of one of his favorite meals—homemade waffles with real maple syrup from Wisconsin.
As they ate, Annie said, “While you were playing, we women had a very productive morning.” She told him of Verna’s finding light blue denim threads caught on the Bouganvillea bush in Gilly’s field and then about visiting Tony and Tilley Tuckman. Finally, she told him of her talk with Kitty Kreegrer. “Oh, Art, I feel so sorry for Kitty. He abuses her mentally. I hope he never hits her, but with the pressure he’s under, he could snap. Also I’m sure she has no idea what Karl is up to. She told me that the Sheriff’s Department came and took their golf cart away, impounded it. She also told me that Karl got up early and washed and vacuumed the golf cart. In fact, that he’d cleaned it every day for the last three days now. Isn’t that interesting?
“When I was there, he was inside reading the newspaper just like he didn’t have a trouble in the world! He certainly is a cool one. I didn’t really learn anything much that was new or different from what Verna told us the other day, except that bit about the cart being impounded and Karl’s washing it first. Wonder what they’ll find? Will they find another piece of the puzzle in ‘Our Mystery’? Or did he manage to wash and vacuum away anything of importance?
* * *
Friday Afternoon
That afternoon the four couples all had appointments at the Sheriff’s office to take their depositions. When the gang went out of the park, the Andersens and Bradkowskis usually rode together because they lived close to one another. Likewise, Vigeauxs and Davises came in another car as they lived on the other side of BradLee. When Brad pulled into Art and Annie’s drive, he was behind the wheel of a brand-new silvery blue Buick Roadmaster. After the Andersens, “Oohed,” and “Ahhed,” over the butter-soft tan leather seats, Brad pointed out the built-in memory system that remembered what seat position was comfortable not only for him, but also for Barb. With just a press of a button, the seat automatically adjusted to fit whichever one of them was driving.
“Oh, Art, Honey, this is what we need. You’re taller than I am. I always have to fiddle and fiddle and try to adjust the seat when I get behind the wheel. This is wonderful. Let’s do get this feature in our next car.” Annie could wish, but she knew it would be several more years before they would even think of turning in their 1990 model. By that time, Brad assured her that she wouldn’t even have to push a button to re-position the driver’s seat; in the near future, each key would be coded, and the seat would adjust to that particular driver. For one who had learned to drive with a stick shift when that was the only kind of shifting available on a car, Annie was always impressed with new inventions that made life easier and easier. However, with the ease came the frequent warnings to exercise. Sometimes life seemed counter-productive to Annie.
They drove in style and comfort in the new Roadmaster to the Sheriff’s office where they joined the Vigeauxs and Davises. Sergeant Menendez and Deputy Juarez met with them and arranged to have each of them, singularly, make a deposition. This time, Annie remembered to tell of seeing the heart-shaped charm hanging on the gold link bracelet. Taking the depositions was a lengthy process. While they waited to take their turn with the stenographer, the friends discussed the case, endlessly going over the events, compiling all the data, but they could not answer the primary question: Where is the body now?
“We know he, or maybe they,” Annie corrected herself, “did not bury the corpse. At least, he didn
’t bury it in that unpaved golf path. We know because we were there watching. We saw the hole being dug, but the only body that ended up in there turned out to be Jiggs’s. So, we come back around in a complete circle: Where is Twila Thompson?”
“Well, I feel fer certain sure that her body was in Karl’s golf cart, at least for awhile,” DeeDee asserted.
“I think so too, but how are we going to prove it?”
Collectively they shrugged their shoulders and waited. At last, each of their stories relating to the mystery was on paper and signed and notarized. Barb felt better after all was neatly ordered. She asked Sgt. Menendez, “Will you let us know when you find anything?”
The sergeant looked at her with raised eyebrows, “Find anything?”
“On Karl Kreeger’s golf cart?”
The sergeant was sympathetic to the request, but she explained that she had to follow Department procedure before releasing any data; so no information was forthcoming at this time. Barb felt deflated. She shrugged and accepted the regulation.
When all the paper work was finished, it was after 4:00 p.m., and Verna suggested, “Why don’t we go straight to The Shack for our ‘all you can eat’ fish suppah? It’s not a bit too soon; all the restaurants fill up early during these busy wintah months.” The others were ready to go with her as they usually all ate out together on Friday nights. The Vigeauxs had grown up eating fish on Fridays, and although their church no longer required it, old habits are hard to break. Since they all liked fish, their friends adopted the ‘Friday Fish’ habit, too.
The Traveling Corpse Page 16
