I picked up a velvet, maroon dress I thought would fit me. I ran my fingers over the soft material.
“By the way, I’m Susan Gray. I volunteer at the museum and I’m helping out today. We’ve had a last minute run on dresses.” Her gaze swept over all of us. “You’d think people wouldn’t wait to the last minute.”
I literally dropped the dress I held. “Oh, I’m so sorry. Did you say your name was Susan Gray? Do you own the Magnolia Books and Antiques Store?”
“Yes, I do. How did you know?” The tone of her voice reflected her wariness.
“Uh, Doc. Doc Pennington told us you’re on the board of the history museum.” I picked the dress up from the floor. I wanted to try it on. “I’m Trixie Montgomery and I write for “Georgia by the Way”.
“Yes, I’m familiar with the magazine. We have some copies in the bookstore.”
“This is my friend and assistant, Dee Dee Lamont.” I’d called her my assistant so often; I’d begun to believe it. I placed my hand on Nana’s shoulder. “This is my great aunt, we just call her Nana.”
“Well, we need to get you ladies fitted if you plan to attend tonight.” She pulled out several dresses and held them up to Nana. Most of them would swallow her whole. She told us to wait and after a few minutes she returned with a sure-fire replica of Scarlett’s gown. Nana’s eyes lit up like a ten-carat diamond.
“We’ve just received this dress. The mayor’s wife was going to wear it, but she changed her mind. I see no reason why we can’t use it. She handed the dress to Nana. “Would you like to try this on, ma’am?” What a silly question. I don’t believe Sherman’s troops could’ve stopped Nana. She grabbed the dress from Susan’s hands quicker than a dog on a biscuit.
Now, for Dee Dee. After several more attempts we found one Dee Dee liked. I wasn’t sure it would zip up, but I wasn’t going to bring it to her attention.
“Dee Dee, why don’t you go help Nana, and I’ll wait here?” I wanted to question Susan alone.
Dee Dee didn’t take the hint. “Oh, come on. It’ll be fun if we all try them on at the same time,” she suggested.
I winked at Dee Dee, trying to grab her attention.
“Trix, is something in your eye?” Dee Dee asked. “You do seem to have a problem with that. Maybe you need to get your eyes checked.”
“Let me see. I’ll get it out.” Ever helpful Nana got right up in my face. I feared she would stick her finger in my eye and try to pluck out what wasn’t there. I popped up over Nana’s head and glared at Dee Dee.
“Please take Nana with you and I’ll follow in a minute.” She finally took the hint and off they went to try on their outfits.
“Susan, do you mind if I ask you a few questions for an article I’m working on about the Marietta History Museum?”
She jumped at the chance to share her expertise. I asked a few benign questions at first and she answered them willingly. Then I loaded for bear. “Susan, is it true you had an affair with Jacob Wallace?”
“Who are you, and what do you really want?” Susan’s eyes bore straight through me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Look. I’ve been working on an article for the history museum and we were in the museum when they found Jacob’s body. Doc’s been implicated in the murder, and I’m trying to help him.” I had no idea how long Dee Dee and Nana would be gone. I hurried to get as much information as I could before they returned.
“Velma, over at Kountry Kousins, told us you and Jacob met at the restaurant several times. I’m trying to understand why you’d meet someone you insisted Doc fire for making unwanted passes at you. Did you make that up?”
“No. I didn’t make it up.” She never took her eyes from mine. “And it’s none of your business.”
“I have a suspicion of what happened.”
“Then why don’t you tell me?”
I’ll give it my best try. “This is what I believe transpired. I believe Jacob did make passes at you. But rumor has it Jacob’s a nice looking man and possesses a way with the ladies. I think he charmed you into having an affair.” I hesitated, studying her reaction. Her wide eyes and “O” shaped mouth indicated I’d hit pretty close to the truth. I continued.
“In the meantime, you’d fallen in love with Jeffrey, who’d asked you to marry him. The choice was easy. A wealthy man over a handyman any day. You couldn’t let Jeffrey find out about Jacob, who had threatened to tell Jeffrey, so you cried wolf. Am I warm yet?”
“I don’t know what you think gives you the right to come in here and accuse me of anything. Even if you are on the right track, and I’m saying if, what would my having an affair with Jacob do with the murder?” Her shoulders dropped and her eyes narrowed, darting around the room.
“Maybe you wanted to shut him up. If he had threatened to tell Jeffrey the truth, it would certainly be motive enough to kill him.” Boy, I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. I was worse than Nana and Dee Dee.
She grabbed the dress out of my hands. “If you want to try this on then I suggest you do it now. You’ve worn out your welcome. And take those two biddies with you.”
Looking back, I’m surprised I made it out of there alive. I wouldn’t appreciate a stranger prying into my business. But, to get answers I had to ask questions.
Our dresses didn’t fit perfect, except for Nana’s. It fit like a glove. I admit Nana made a cute Scarlett O’Hara. Dee Dee and I would have to make do with ours.
“Y’all are not going to believe what Susan called you.” I couldn’t resist the temptation to pick at them.
“What?” Nana asked.
“She called you ‘biddies’.” I made sure to put an emphasis on biddies.
“Who is she calling an old biddy?” I thought I saw smoke swirl from Nana’s ears. Dee Dee quickly caught on I was toying with them. We laughed until I had tears rolling down my eyes.
“What’s so funny? You wouldn’t laugh if she called you a biddy.” She turned toward me from the passenger seat.
“Oh, Nana. Don’t get all riled up. I was just trying to lighten the mood. She was mad because I asked her some hard questions. You won’t believe what I discovered.”
A distinctive click alerted me Dee Dee had released her seat belt. She leaned up toward the front seat. “Well, give us a try,” she said.
“Actually, I guessed most of it, but her reaction confirmed I was on the right track. Jacob made passes at her, just like she said. But, after a while, she fell under his spell and they had an affair. At the same time she’d been dating Jeffrey. He asked her to marry him. There was no way she was going to give up the chance to marry money. Especially since her store was in jeopardy of being foreclosed on.” I stopped to get a breath. A chorus responded from “really?” to “wow!”
“By this time she was desperate, she didn’t want Jeffrey to find out about the affair, so she told everyone Jacob made passes at her. She insisted Doc fire Jacob to shove him out of the way.”
We pulled into Dora’s driveway. I turned toward Dee Dee. “What do y’all think? Did she kill Jacob to keep the affair from Jeffrey?”
“I’ve heard of people killing for less. Just watch that television show ‘48 Hours.’ People kill for the most bizarre reasons,” Dee Dee said.
“That’s right.” Nana held on to her Scarlett dress with a death-grip. “I’ve seen that show and those people are plum crazy. I’d say she’s definitely a suspect.”
“Well, come on. Let’s go in the house and figure out what shoes we’re going to wear with these get-ups, then take a long nap. I, for one, am getting too old for all this running around.” Dee Dee handed me the two dresses in the back. I leaned into the car and bumped my knee. Pain shot through my leg. I longed for a good long soak in that claw-footed tub, but knew that was out of the question.
“Speak for yourself, Trixie. I’m ready for the nightlife. Bring it on.” I just love my Nana. But I knew I would need God’s help to make it through this evening with her in tow. “Lord, please give me the
strength and patience to keep up with Nana.”
I don’t know how long I’d been asleep when I heard the doorbell. I struggled awake, slipped on a robe and answered the door.
“Hello, Ms. Montgomery.” Detective Bowerman pushed his way into the house. “Did I wake you?”
“Yes, sir. You did.” What does he want now? “May I help you?”
“Msss. Montgomery.” He drew out my name for emphasis. “I thought I told you to stay out of this investigation.” He hiked up his pants. Either they were too big for him or he’d acquired an ugly habit.
“I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.” I crossed my fingers behind my back.
“I think you do,” he said. “Susan Gray called me and she’s not happy. Actually, irate would be a better description. She said you asked her personal questions as well as questions related to the case. She claimed you harassed her. I explicitly told you to keep your nose out of this. What part of that did you not understand?” By that time Nana and Dee Dee were standing in the background, listening to the detective’s tirade.
“Detective. I am a journalist and it’s what I do. I ask questions. I was doing my job, gleaning information from a board member of the history museum.” Well, it’s the truth. I do have to ask questions for my job.
“That’s right, detective,” Nana spoke up. “She was just doing her job. And we were there on official business. I’m Scarlett.”
“Beg pardon, ma’am.” The detective gaped at Nana.
“Just what she said. She’s Scarlett. We’re going to the museum fundraiser tonight and we went to the Gone with the Wind Museum to borrow our dresses. In no way did we harass her.”
Nana had scooted out of the room and came back in holding up her dress.
“See?” She positioned the dress in front of her and twirled around. I hoped she didn’t fall over from dizziness.
“Oh, I see.” A slight smile crept across his face, then faded.
“Well, I don’t want to tell you again, Ms. Montgomery. And that goes for you two ladies, as well.” He gave Dee Dee and Nana a scathing look. Like that would deter them. “This is serious business and you could get hurt. I’d feel mighty bad if you were harmed on my watch.” This time he looked at me. “Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.” I understood perfectly well, but I didn’t promise him anything. He stuck his cigar in his mouth and took leave. The tobacco aroma lingered in the air after his departure. I much preferred the smell of sweet honeysuckle, which was in full bloom outside Dora’s window.
“Okay. Let’s grab a quick sandwich and get dressed. It’ll be time to leave shortly,” I said.
“Scarlett. May I help you with your dress?” Dee Dee used an exaggerated southern accent to address Nana. I had to laugh at their antics. Maybe it would be fun.
If we’d only known what the night held, we’d have stayed home and played checkers.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Nana looked precious in her dress. The moss green velvet overskirt with a chartreuse underskirt had a gold belt, imitating the drapery cords. It resembled the movie’s costume, right down to the little green hat perched on Nana’s head. There might be more than one Scarlett tonight, but none would be as cute as Nana.
Outside, the air was laden with a sweet summer fragrance from the gardenia bushes Dora had planted. Further down the walkway near the carport, honeysuckle and magnolia vied for my senses as we made our way to the car. What a fitting night for a ball.
When we reached my Jeep, I realized I’d given no thought to how we we’d fit three hoop skirts inside. Nana and I held Dee Dee’s dress while she attempted to climb into the back seat. After a couple of failed attempts, I placed my hands on Dee Dee’s behind and pushed for all I was worth. She shot forward.
“What did you do that for, Trixie? You almost killed me.”
“I didn’t mean to push so hard.”
“I bet you didn’t. You sure that wasn’t payback for something I did?” She gathered the voluminous dress and spread it around her.
“Of course not. Come on Nana, you’re next.” It wasn’t quite as hard to get Nana settled. She’s a lot smaller than Dee Dee, so I didn’t have to heave as much. I carefully arranged her dress. She grinned from ear to ear.
By the time I positioned myself behind the wheel, I was exhausted. I said a little prayer for my Jeep to start. Usually hit and miss, I’d threatened more than once to get a new car. The thought of a big payment kept me from making it happen. Now I’d passed the six month probation period on my job, it might be a good time to buy one. If I could get the story written and turned in, I reminded myself. I turned the key and let out a sigh of relief when the motor cranked.
“Tara, here we come.” Laughter reverberated throughout the car.
“Trixie, do you think the murderer will be at the ball tonight?” Dee Dee’s skirt swished as she repositioned it.
“I don’t know, but we should stick close together just in case. You can never predict what a desperate person might do.”
“Well, I want to find me a man. And this will certainly be the place to do it. Rhett Butler has to be around here somewhere and I aim to find him.” Nana said in her best Scarlett voice. She took her fan from her reticule and fanned herself. I didn’t know if it was for show or because she thought about Rhett. I’d have to keep my eye on her.
As we approached the country club, cars lined both sides of the road. “Wow, look at the crowd. We’ll never find a place to park.” I frantically scoured my surroundings for a space.
“Look! They have valet parking.” Dee Dee thrust her arm beside my face to make her point. She barely missed my nose.
A young valet, who scarcely gave us time to disembark, jumped in my Jeep and drove away. We stood behind several people waiting to enter. I noticed the attendees handed cards to the gentleman at the front door. Panic struck as I realized they were invitations.
I poked Dee Dee. “Look, they have invitations. Did Doc mention invitations?”
She poked me back. “No. He didn’t. What are we going to do?” We were next in line.
“Hi ladies.” The doorman gazed at Nana and smiled. “Ms. Scarlett, how are you tonight?”
“Just fine thank you,” Nana answered.
A mountain of a man, with baseball mitt sized hands, shoved a palm toward us. “Could I see your invitations, please?”
“Uh, yeah. You could if we had any. Doc Pennington invited us, but he didn’t say we needed an invitation.”
Dee Dee nodded her head in agreement.
“Sorry ladies. I’d love to let you in, but I can’t without that piece of paper.”
I panicked. My lungs tightened and my cheeks warmed with embarrassment. Here we were, standing around dressed like Scarlett wannabes without a way in the party.
Everyone gave us questioning stares as they moved passed us, presenting their embossed invitations. Dee Dee pushed me out of the way.
“Look, just go find Doc Pennington. He’ll vouch for us.” She no sooner had the words out of her mouth than the man himself walked up.
“Hi, Jerry. These ladies are friends of mine and are here at my invitation, please let them through.” Doc looked at Nana. “And who is this charming young lady? I don’t think we’ve met.” Nana actually batted her eyes at him.
“Why, I’m Scarlett, of course,” she said without missing a beat. Oh, puleease. Nana and Dee Dee were taking this way too seriously.
“This is my great-aunt, but everyone calls her Nana.”
He kissed her gloved hand. “Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am. Why don’t you ladies follow me and we’ll go and find Penny. She’ll be so glad to see you.” We gathered up our skirts and dutifully followed.
The room glowed, ablaze with color. The ladies were dressed in the most beautiful array of hues: green, blue, yellow, red, and every color in between. The men wore fine pants and coats with many of them wearing period military uniforms. Music filled the air and swirled arou
nd the room. A young man danced and sashayed his partner from one end of the dance floor to the other, keeping in time with the Blue Danube.
I noticed Penny, standing alone, across the room. She stood by the refreshment table kneading her hands. Face pinched, she didn’t look any more relaxed than the first time I’d met her. I suppose I wouldn’t be either, if my husband was a suspect in a murder case. We zigzagged through the maze of partygoers to where she stood.
“Oh, Trixie and Dee Dee. I’m so happy to see y’all. Doc told me you’re helping him clear his name.” She grabbed ahold of Doc’s arm like she’d never let go. “I’m so grateful to you both.” She turned toward Nana. “And this must be Scarlett O’Hara.” Nana grinned like the Cheshire Cat.
Doc pried Penny’s death grip loose and pulled me aside. “Is there anyone in particular you haven’t met on your suspect list I could introduce you to?”
“I haven’t met Jeffrey yet, or Gloria Hamilton’s son.” I glanced over my shoulder to see if anyone might be listening.
“Right. He seems like a nice kid. Gloria’s pushing for him to have my position. He’ll be here tonight.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention?” As if on cue, Gloria was standing at the podium. “Thank you all for coming tonight. Rest assured this fund raiser is for a great cause. Let me give a little background on the Marietta History Museum for those of you who are not familiar with its history.
“The building that houses the Marietta History Museum was built in 1845 as a cotton warehouse. Dix and Louisa Fletcher, from up North, purchased it in 1855, remodeled, and opened it as the Fletcher House Hotel.
“During the early years of the war, the hotel was used as a Confederate hospital and morgue. In addition, Andrews’ Raiders stayed in a second floor room on the evening prior to their theft of the steam engine, “The General.”
A smattering of oh’s and ah’s filtered through the rapt crowd.
“The Union Army eventually requisitioned it, and when General Sherman came through town on his “March to the Sea,” Fletcher House did not burn down, however, the roof did catch fire from cinders blown over from nearby buildings, and the fourth floor was never rebuilt.”
Murder in Marietta (A Trixie Montgomery Cozy Mystery Book 2) Page 9
