by Riley Adams
After rocking quietly for a few minutes (the better to munch cookies), Lulu said, “I really appreciate your helping us out this morning, Derrick. I don’t know what we’d have done if you hadn’t stepped in. The tech-support people would be ready to shoot me by now.”
“No problem. I like computers. And I was glad to help you out.” He scratched B.B. behind his ears. “I’m sorry I’ve given you a lot of trouble,” he added in a muffled voice.
“Trouble?” scoffed Lulu. “You’ve been no trouble at all.”
Derrick looked sideways at Lulu. “Well, you know. The police fine for that vandalism.”
Lulu arched her brows. “That desire to express yourself artistically? With highway overpasses as your palette?”
“And then I stole those garden gnomes from that lady down the street.”
“A wayward beautification effort,” said Lulu.
“And all the speeding tickets, of course,” added Derrick.
“You have an admirable bent toward punctuality,” Lulu helpfully interpreted.
“And now I’ve cut school the last few days,” finished Derrick.
“Maybe because the shock of the murder has left you feeling sick and upset?” This analysis was apparently more on target, since Derrick nodded in agreement with it.
They rocked quietly again, Lulu waiting on him to speak first. “Aunt Sara is worried about me,” he said slowly. “She knows something else that I did, but she didn’t want you to worry. I’d rather if you knew about it, though. The day Rebecca was killed”—his face flushed angrily as he said her name—“I didn’t go to school that day, either.”
“No?” prompted Lulu as he paused.
“No. I lurked around the restaurant for a while, watching from a distance. I don’t know why I was doing that. At first I told myself I only wanted to know how the barbeque tasting went.”
Lulu nodded. “Maybe we should have taken you out of school early that day anyway. To let you be part of it. Ella Beth and Coco, too.”
Derrick’s eyes shifted away. “That was only part of it, though. The other part was that I wanted to get back at Rebecca.” He reddened again.
Lulu stopped rocking. Would this turn into a full-fledged confession? Had this troubled boy done something to haunt him the rest of his life? “What did happen that night?” she asked. “The night before Rebecca Adrian was killed.”
He hunched his shoulders forward in his familiar slump at the memory. “It’s like she set me up to humiliate me. The Graces had left the Peabody and Tony wandered off, I guess to his room. Rebecca flirted with me and said she’d like to go out on Beale Street and see what it was like at night. So we walked to a blues club. People were dancing near the band, and I asked her if she wanted to dance. Then she started ripping into me. She had this weird look in her eye—like she loved every second of me being embarrassed.”
Lulu nodded. “That’s exactly how she was, Derrick. She also humiliated your Aunt Sara, Flo, and Miss Cameron, the writer and bookseller. That was her hobby—putting down other people to make herself feel good.”
Derrick considered this while he gulped down another cookie. Lulu bided her time, knowing he’d talk again when he was ready. Lulu was thrilled that Derrick was finally opening up to her. Ever since he’d arrived, he’d looked like the most miserable teenager that ever lived. But anyone abandoned by their own mother would have to feel that way. It made Lulu feel weepy just thinking about it.
She was fighting tears, thinking Derrick would not appreciate her pity, when she heard an ominous snarl. The Labradors edged back from them, and Lulu looked down to see tiny Babette growling at her with teeth bared. Lulu growled back, and Babette exploded in yipping, running behind Derrick’s legs. He scooped her up and held her, crooning until she calmed down.
“Well, I’ll be,” said Lulu. “Who’d have thought it?”
He shrugged it off. “Babette and I are buddies.”
“I wish I knew your secret. I keep having nightmares that Babette’s going to murder me in my sleep.”
“Yeah. It’d be a lot better if everybody liked me this much. That’s why Rebecca got under my skin so bad. I’d had enough of it. I get bullied at school since I’m new and don’t fit in. I’m not even sure how I fit in with Aunt Sara and Uncle Ben. They had me dumped on them and already have two kids of their own. Then, when Rebecca made fun of me . . .” He worked to get control of himself. “I’d had enough. I decided to get back at her. I followed her Cooking Channel truck to the Peabody. When she went inside, I slashed her tires.” He gave a huge sigh as if a large weight had been taken off of him.
“How did Sara find out about it, Derrick? Did you tell her about it?”
“No. Well—but she called right afterward, checking to see where I was. So I came out with it.”
Lulu gave him another cookie. It was amazing how fast they disappeared. And that Derrick stayed beanpole thin. “I think,” said Lulu slowly, “this is a good place to turn things around for you. We want you here, Derrick, and are happy to have you as part of the family. You don’t know what a huge help you were today.”
She took a deep breath, “But to move ahead, we’ll put the past behind us. Do the police know you slashed Miss Adrian’s tires?”
He shook his head.
“I’m guessing Sara is completely overwhelmed and doesn’t know what to do. We should let the police know,” said Lulu firmly, “as soon as possible. They’re bound to find out anyway, and it’ll be much worse if they have to come to you first about it. Is there anything else you need to let the police know?”
Derrick shook his head, and his long bangs flopped into his eyes, covering them. Lulu watched him wearily. The secrets everyone kept exhausted her. “Just you running around with a killer on the loose gives me the chills.” Lulu was being literal—she rubbed her hands against her arms to warm herself up. “Now listen, because I want you to be sure—how about the murder scene? Is there anything you saw at the hotel? Anything that the police need to know to help them solve this case?”
Derrick hesitated. Lulu waited.
“Not really. I mean . . . I saw one of the Graces at the Peabody.”
“Did you?”
“Yeah. The one who acts crazy sometimes.”
Cherry, thought Lulu. “Okay, honey. Thanks for letting me know. I’ll try to get to the bottom of it. This is probably something completely innocent, but I’ll find out, just to make sure. Nothing else?” The head shake again. “Okay, if you’re sure about that, then let’s go ahead and get this cleared up. Detective Bryce left me his card today with his phone number. We’ll give him a statement. Then we’ll start turning things around for you. Like . . . school tomorrow, for a start.” Derrick frowned and Lulu hurried on. “I know it’s rough over there for you. Sara and Ben should have a little talk with the principal to let him know what you’re going through. They’ll get it stopped, don’t you worry. Or else Sara and Ben can try enrolling you in another school. We’ll work it out. And, by the way . . .” added Lulu.
Derrick raised his eyebrows questioningly.
“That spray painting you did on the overpass was very good. Since you’re interested in art, why don’t I ask Sara if you could spend a little time in her studio?”
Derrick grinned and gave her an awkward hug before hurrying away, Babette still in his arms. Lulu smiled. Maybe things weren’t so bad after all.
Chapter 8
Shoot! Lulu’s mouth dropped when she saw Tony being seated in the dining room. Where were her manners? With all the hubbub, she’d completely forgotten about Tony’s existence. And he was a stranger in town! What must he be thinking about them all?
Tony raised his eyebrows in surprise as Lulu rushed over to his booth and sat down opposite him. “I am so sorry.” She clucked. “I should have followed up with you and seen how you were doing. What did the police say? What did Cooking Channel say?”
Tony laughed. “Don’t worry about it. I didn’t expect you to check on me,
you know. It’s been okay. The worst part was talking to Rebecca’s parents on the phone. The network broke the news to them, but then I didn’t feel right not calling them to give them some more information.” He shrugged uncomfortably.
Lulu winced. She could only imagine how awful it would be to get such bad news about your child.
“Her dad was pretty broken up over it all.” Tony frowned at the memory. “But Mrs. Adrian sounded cold as ice. She might have been upset, who knows? Sometimes people react different when they’re grieving. But she reminded me of Rebecca.”
“What’re they planning on doing? I know they’ve got a funeral to plan.”
“I think they’re waiting for the autopsy and that type of thing. The body . . . Rebecca . . . needs to be released. Then their funeral home in New York can make some arrangements. That’s what Mrs. Adrian said, anyway,” said Tony.
“How about you? Do you have to stay here in Memphis, or can you go back up to New York?”
Tony said, “The police said I could go home and back to work. They could tell there was nothing going on between me and Rebecca . . . no romance, no professional jealousy. There was nothing except normal aggravation from dealing with her in close quarters every day. I didn’t have any gripes with her; I simply didn’t like her.”
“Where are you going from here?” asked Lulu.
“I’ve got to get back up to New York and talk to my producer up there. Kind of a debriefing. Then I’m going to go back out with another scout on another assignment. Different town,” added Tony. “Sorry. They’re going to take a break from the Memphis production for a little while. Until everything calms down, you know. Then they’ll send me back here with another scout to taste the barbeque and do some filming.”
“What have you been doing since . . . ?” asked Lulu.
“Well, first thing I had to do was to go get some new tires for the truck. Damned thing. Some kid or someone must have slashed the tires. It’s absolutely unbelievable.”
Lulu flushed. “I might know a little bit about that, Tony. Actually, I found out a little tidbit about it this morning.”
Tony studied her face thoughtfully. “Was it Derrick?” he asked in a low voice so no one could overhear them.
Lulu sighed. “How’d you guess?”
“Rebecca was in a hell of a mood that night at the Peabody. She was bent on putting everybody down around her. I wondered if Derrick was heading for a fall. She was leading him on: putting her hand on his arm. Smiling and winking at him. That was her thing, you know—sort of like a cat playing with a hurt mouse. I left that night right after the Graces did because I was sick of dealing with Rebecca for the day.” He rubbed his eyes. “I shouldn’t have left him alone with her. He’s only a kid.”
“It’s not your fault, Tony. Dealing with rejection is one of those life lessons we all have to learn sooner or later. And Derrick has already had enough rejection from his mother to last a lifetime. Maybe things will look up for him from here on out.”
Tony’s order came to the table. He took a big bite of corn bread and chewed it while he thought. He washed it down with some sweet tea. “So the poor kid was trying to get back at her, right? That’s what I’d have done when I was his age and hanging out in the city.”
Lulu nodded. “He shouldn’t have done it. But that’s all he did.” Lulu hoped her voice sounded more positive than she felt.
Tony took a swig of his sweet tea. “You know the cops think the person who slashed the tires might be a murder suspect, don’t you? I’m only asking because the last time I talked to them, they didn’t seem like they knew who did it.”
“I was just telling Derrick that we were going to have to call the police this afternoon . . . soon as the lunchtime crowd thins out a little.” Lulu stood and gave Tony a quick hug. “I’m sorry your trip to Memphis was so eventful—for all the wrong reasons!”
“None of it was your fault. I got such a warm welcome from everybody here. It made me feel great. Usually Rebecca gets all the attention because she’s the scout and everyone wants to butter her up. But you guys were nice just because you’re nice people. I’ll enjoy seeing you again when I come back with the new crew.”
“Lulu, was Tony here?” asked Cherry. Lulu noticed Cherry had her very cutest bright-colored coordinating short set on, extra jangly bangles, and no helmet. This was a sure sign that the mating season was underway.
“Honey, I’m sorry, but he left a few minutes ago. He’s wrapping up his time in Memphis.”
Cherry groaned. “I missed him again! Unbelievable. Well, I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.”
“You’ve been trying to catch up with Tony?” Lulu looked confused.
“Lulu, you’ve been single for so long I guess your love radar broke. Tony is the best-looking single guy to strut into Aunt Pat’s for years. I even went back to the Peabody to find him. But he wasn’t in.” Cherry made a face.
Lulu felt a wave of relief wash over her. That’s why Cherry was at the Peabody . . . trying to make moves on Tony. She’d have to let Derrick know. “You’re right, Cherry. Besides, you wouldn’t have liked a long-distance relationship.”
“Relationship?” Cherry grinned wickedly. “Who said anything about a relationship?”
Lulu sat ramrod straight and right next to Derrick in the restaurant’s office as the police talked to him. They had their old friend and regular customer, Jed Sharpe, there to serve in the lawyer capacity. He was delighted to be paid for his services in free ribs with all the fixings. And that was a great deal for Lulu, because he was one of the finest lawyers in town.
“So what we’re saying,” reiterated Jed to Detective Bryce, “is that Derrick here made an obvious mistake—one that he’s very repentant for.” Derrick certainly did look sorry, thought Lulu. Or sick maybe. His face was completely white and perspiration dotted his forehead. He obviously realized this was much worse than his other scrapes with the law. This time, there was a dead body involved.
“But,” continued Jed, “he was not responsible in any way for Miss Adrian’s death. It’s unfortunate that his childish act of revenge coincided with the day of her murder. But he had nothing to do with it.”
“After all, Detective,” said Lulu, “I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but don’t you think if one of the Taylors wanted to kill somebody, we’d take one of our knives to them? We have one of the finest knife collections in town, you know. Why’d we go to the trouble of looking up poisons if we have the perfect weapon at the ready?”
Jed hushed her, but Lulu was rewarded by the trace of a smile on Detective Bryce’s lips.
The detective asked a few more questions. They mostly centered on where Derrick had been and what he had been doing the afternoon that Rebecca was killed. Unfortunately, Derrick’s actions that afternoon were comprised of slashing tires and skulking around the Peabody and the barbeque restaurant. Lulu grimaced. They had been so wrapped up with their own dramas that afternoon that no one had given a thought to Derrick’s whereabouts, even after school hours. If only they’d thought to call his cell phone and ask him to come back to Aunt Pat’s.
Since the police had no direct evidence that Derrick was involved in Rebecca’s murder, he was free to go. But Detective Bryce cautioned him sternly before letting them go. “Young man, we’re keeping an eye on you. You’re free to go, but you need to keep yourself out of trouble. We’re not done with you.”
Derrick nodded. He relaxed as the police left the restaurant. Lulu put an arm around him and said, “Jed, you saved the day. I can’t tell you how much we appreciate your help. You come in as often as you like, and we’ll heap a plate with the best barbeque ribs in town.”
Jed grinned. “That’s a great trade for only a few minutes of my time.” He patted Derrick on the shoulder. “I think they’re done with you, son. The police don’t have anything to link you to that murder. And you had nothing to do with it.” He looked piercingly at Derrick.
Derrick looked away from Jed. “
No. I had nothing to do with it.”
Lulu just hoped Derrick was telling the truth.
The day plummeted downhill when Lurleen Ashton popped her head in through the office door not long after the police left. She gave what she fondly considered a sweet smile, but what was closer to a simper. “I wanted to stop by and make sure y’all were okay, Lulu. I saw the police cars outside and that unmarked cop car, too. I sure hope there wasn’t more trouble here. Mercy! Between food poisonings and being suspected of murder, you’ve had a nutty week at Aunt Pat’s, haven’t you?” She shook her head until the black strands brushed against her shoulders in mock concern.
Lulu gritted her teeth. She just couldn’t stand this woman. Every bit of her, from her dyed-black hair to her over-the-top implants to her knock-off designer shoes, was fake, fake, fake. And everything that came out of her mouth was fake, too. She lied through her teeth every chance she got. And Lulu hated most of all that fuchsia pig that danced outside Lurleen’s barbeque restaurant.
Lulu collected herself with some difficulty. She answered sweetly, “I appreciate your concern, Lurleen. You’re right; the police were back over here. But you know how we give our public servants a big discount on our barbeque.”
Lurleen raised her super-plucked eyebrows. “They were here for a bite to eat? I thought I saw that detective who’s investigating the murder here. As I was coming in,” she explained hastily.
Lulu had to wonder how much time Lurleen spent observing the comings and goings at the restaurant. How could she possibly have seen who was leaving unless she’d been hanging out near the front of Aunt Pat’s? The Memphis police had left a good fifteen minutes before she came in. She looked into Lurleen’s all-too-innocent green eyes and summoned up her Christian principles to give the other woman the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she was making cell phone calls and was wrapping up her phone conversations before coming inside.
