“I'm wrong again,” he grinned as he moved behind her, fondling her breasts and kissing the nape of her neck.
Chapter Eleven
Betty grabbed a towel and quickly dried the dishwater from her hands before answering the telephone.
“This is Rita Holder of the Holder Advertising Agency. I am trying to locate a Betty Elizabeth Nading."
Betty's heart began to pump furiously and several seconds passed before she could manage to say, “I am Betty Nading."
“Good. The only listing in Max's Rolodex for you was the Tanglewood number. The man who answered gave me this number—said it was your day off."
Betty's pulse was racing. She realized she was speaking to Max's wife. “Is there something I can do for you Mrs. Holder?” she asked hesitantly.
“Max left Charlotte on a business trip Saturday morning in a small chartered aircraft. Something went wrong on takeoff. The airplane crashed just after liftoff. There were no survivors. The funeral was Monday."
“Oh, my God, Mrs. Holder. I'm so sorry."
“You probably wonder why I am calling you just the day after his funeral. Were you fucking Max? I need to know."
Betty was totally unprepared for both the news and the question. She sat in a kitchen chair in the doublewide and fumbled for words. She would never understand why she chose to give an honest answer. “Yes,” she said very softly.
“You didn't have to, you know. Your work is quite good."
There was a long pause.
“Betty, you do not need to be afraid of me. I knew Max slept around. How he met his sexual needs didn't matter as long as he kept his hands off me. I am a lesbian. I tried the straight path and have two children to prove it, but it just wasn't for me. Did you love him?"
“No,” Betty answered quickly. “I slept with him because he said it was the only way he would give me a start in the business."
“That's good. Then you are not any more broken up by his death than I am. You sound a little shook up, though."
“Yeah, I am."
“I guess I have a little of the voyeur in me,” Rita said, and Betty thought she detected laughter in the new widow's voice. “What the hell did you two do together?"
“I ... I don't know what you mean."
“They required me to identify the body after the crash. There was no body hair on Max—chest, arms, legs, or pubic hair. He was always so proud of his chest hair. You shaved him, didn't you?"
“He, uh, wanted me to shave so I..."
Rita interrupted with laughter. “I'll bet you beat his bottom too, judging from the purple whelps I saw. I think I'm going to really like you, Betty."
“There were only two, no three times, Mrs. Holder. I'm very sorry."
Rita was still laughing as she said, “Listen, can you discuss a little business now, or should I call back later?"
“I'm okay. What kind of business, Mrs. Holder?"
“Please call me Rita. Max never told you that we were partners in the business, did he?"
“No, he didn't."
“The man was full of ambition and ideas, but he would never have made a cent without my business expertise. I am going to run the agency myself now. I think I have some good ideas too. There will be a delay of a few days before I can cut a check for your latest artwork, but you do have $10,000 coming. The auditors have to do their thing before I can resume business."
“There's no hurry, Mrs., uh, Rita."
“I want to meet personally with you, Betty, to go over the plans I have for the agency and for you, but since I am not screwing you I must insist that you meet with me in my office. Can you arrange that?"
“I can try. When do you want to see me?"
“Tomorrow, if possible, and wear something sexy."
“Wear something sexy?"
“I'm kidding, Betty,” Rita laughed. “Did Max tell you we moved to Dot?"
“No, ma'am. He said you were building a home and moving your offices out of Charlotte, but he didn't tell me where."
“We moved last week. My office is in a converted hotel building on the main drag in Dot, second floor. They call it the Dollar Building."
Betty heard Bo returning from his golf game with Big Willie. “Rita, I'll call you back if that's okay. I'll have to talk with my husband and also see if I can get the day off from Tanglewood."
“You're married?"
“Yes, ma'am."
“Then why were you screwing around with ... oh, never mind. Call me back as soon as you can."
Betty jotted down the telephone number as Bo banged through the doublewide door.
“Man,” he bellowed, “have I got to talk with you. Oops, sorry,” he said and added in a whisper, “I didn't notice you were on the phone."
“I'll let you know something by the end of the day, Rita. Thanks for calling."
“Who was that?” Bo asked as he pulled a diet cola from the refrigerator.
“The Holder Advertising Agency. Max was killed in a plane crash last Saturday."
“Shit, Betty. I'm sorry,” he said without conviction. “You're good. You'll find other agencies that will buy your work."
Betty got a beer from the refrigerator and joined Bo at the kitchen table. “You seemed very excited when you came in. Did you beat Big Willie?"
“Hell no,” Bo replied, wagging his head causing perspiration to fly in all directions. “I was terrible. Big Willie wouldn't let me cheat. I think I wound up with a score of 105."
“I'm sorry, Bo, but what are you so excited about?"
“I told you I thought something other than golf was on Big Willie's mind. I was right. He didn't want to play golf as much as he wanted to talk privately with me, and between shots he told quite a tale."
“I assume that sooner or later you're going to get around to telling me what he said,” she grinned.
“Betty, I know I'm getting off the subject, but, well, now that you have some money in the bank, why don't you go on and get your teeth straightened. You look so good with the haircut you got yesterday. If you get you teeth fixed, I'll be the only ugly ducking in the family."
“You must really like my hair, to tell me so many times. For your information, I have an appointment with a dentist next Monday. Now tell me what Big Willie said, damn it."
He smiled at her. “Sure you don't want to go to bed first?"
“You stink after playing golf,” she teased.
“Okay then. How about taking a bath together?"
“Bo!"
“Okay. To make a long story short, Big Willie spent the whole day yesterday in Dot, a little town just outside of Charlotte. I told you several weeks ago a committee from Dot came up to look over the courses at Tanglewood and that I was afraid they were going to offer Big Willie a job as their pro."
Her heart skipped a beat. She remembered the conversations, but had forgotten the name of the town.
“Some rich guy down there named Dollar is building a huge recreational facility which includes golf courses. As I guessed, they offered Big Willie the job as club pro."
“Is he going to take it?"
“I'm pretty sure he will."
“And you don't think Tanglewood will offer you the greens-keeper job?"
“No. I asked Big Willie about it. He said he would recommend me for the job if I wanted him to, but he doubted I could get it. He said I didn't have enough experience and I know he's right."
“Maybe you'll like the new greens-keeper just as well as Big Willie."
“Maybe I won't have to."
“What is that supposed to mean?"
“The job they offered Big Willie is more than just the club pro. In fact, the official job title is Golf Course Superintendent. They want him to start immediately. He will supervise the final stage of construction and then be responsible for all aspects of the course, including greens keeping and serving as the pro."
“How does that affect you? Isn't that too much for one person to do? And what does poor Louise think of a
ll this?"
“Slow down,” Bo laughed. “One question at a time, please. Big Willie says Louise is all for it. She's afraid of living in their house in Winston now and wants to move. It seems one of the Dot people is paralyzed like Louise. He told Big Willie he wanted Louise to move to Dot so they can have wheelchair races. Big Willie said Louise laughed when he told her that. What else did you ask?"
“Isn't the job they offered Big Willie too much for one man?"
“That's what Big Willie told them. He said he would consider the job only if they would hire me as his assistant."
“Assistant greens-keeper?"
“Hell no. I would be the Assistant Golf Course Superintendent. They want Big Willie and me to meet with them in Dot tomorrow. Big Willie arranged it so I can be off. I'm to meet him at his house in the morning at six and we're going to drive down there together."
“Bo, that's great,” she beamed.
“It is? It will mean we must move quickly to a town we know nothing about."
“I told you before that I don't care where we live as long as it isn't too far from Charlotte, and remember,” she said, patting herself on the back, “I predicted Big Willie would want to take you with him."
“Damn, you look sexy with that new haircut."
She jumped up, hugged him while pressing her large breasts into the back of his shoulders, yanked two beers from the refrigerator and handed one to him. “Before we hit the sheets let me tell you about the rest of my phone call from the Holder Advertising Agency,” she said.
* * * *
“Big Willie, if it's more money you want, give me a few days to see what I can do."
“It's not just the money, Mr. Hathaway. I want to be a club pro, and this may be my only opportunity. Besides, I like the people, the town, and the challenge. They're even willing to sell me one of the swanky houses that they are building around the course at cost. Louise is in favor of it too. It just feels right and it's something I think I have to do."
“Do you have to take Bo with you? He is doing an outstanding job for us. He would be in line for your job, if you leave, and it would be one hell of a promotion for the young man."
“I know Bo likes working here, Mr. Hathaway, and he has a lot of respect for you. I'm sure he would like to be the greens-keeper at Tanglewood, but he doesn't have enough experience for such a complex job at this stage of his career."
“Don't you think that's a decision for me to make?” the Park Superintendent said, irritably shuffling papers on his desk.
“Of course it is,” Big Willie replied. “But I like Bo very much. If you give him the Tanglewood job now, he will fail and you will have to replace him. I'm certain of it. The kid isn't exactly overflowing with self-confidence as it is and a failure at this point in his young life might very well destroy him. If he works a couple of years for me in Dot, he'll be able to look after any course in the world."
“The truth is,” Mr. Hathaway said leaning forward over his desk, steel gray eyes flashing, “that you need Bo in order to succeed in Dot. You don't have the kid's best interest at heart. You're looking after number one. I'm disappointed in you, Big Willie."
“If they agree to hire Bo, I'm going to take the job in Dot,” Big Willie fired back, jamming his unlit cigar between his teeth.
“Perhaps,” Mr. Hathaway said through clenched teeth, “you better take the job regardless of their interest in Bo."
“That sounds like a threat to me,” Big Willie said as he abruptly stood up.
“Take it any way you like, Big Willie,” Hathaway hissed as he, too, sprang from his chair.
As soon as the door closed behind Big Willie, Hathaway punched his intercom. “Julie, please get me Bo Nading on the telephone. I think you will find him at his home."
Chapter Twelve
With Big Willie at the wheel, Bo beside him in the front seat and Betty in the back, the trio arrived in Dot an hour early for Betty's nine o'clock appointment. They dropped Betty off at the old hotel building after she assured them she would be all right on her own.
She surveyed what Rita called Dot's main drag, actually named the Old Charlotte Road. Immediately behind her was the town's only source for gasoline, the Dot Super Save. On the opposite corner of the intersection with Highway 13 was the Dot Grocery, which reminded Betty of a convenience mart without gasoline pumps. Across the street from the remodeled hotel was the Dot Discount House. She recalled that Big Willie said that at one time it had been a tobacco auction warehouse. Next to the Discount House was a branch of the BB&T Bank. She could see that the last building on the right side of the street was a church, but she could not make out the function of the two buildings between the church and the bank.
She could tell by the condition of the asphalt that the area next to the remodeled hotel was a new parking lot. She walked down the sidewalk and looked in the window of Dot's Diner, enjoying the aroma of country ham that emanated from the small restaurant. A staircase beside the diner seemed to lead to offices on the second floor. Next were a vacant lot and then the Dot Hardware. There was another vacant lot and an unnamed building that looked very much like the Dot Discount House building.
From this vantage point, she could see that the structure across the street, next to the bank, was the Dot Pharmacy. A parking lot separated it from the Dot Post Office and there was a small sign that indicated the offices of the Dot Courier were also in that building.
A small town, she thought as she retraced her steps, but they seem to have everything they need. She stepped inside the old hotel. Rita had told her that the first floor was now a medical clinic, but she was not prepared for the bright lights, polished chrome and colorful plastic furniture that greeted her.
She turned at the sound of a man's voice behind her. “May I help you, ma'am?” he asked.
“No, not really,” she replied. “I am early for an appointment with the Holder Advertising Agency. I'm just killing time."
“Sad thing about Mr. Holder. Did you know him?"
“Slightly. I have done some free lance art work for the Agency."
The man smiled and extended his hand. “I'm Dennis Hartman, the new Dentist in town. The agency is located on the second floor. You can take the stairs or elevator,” he said, pointing to his right.
She shook his hand. “Thanks. I'm Rita Nading. My husband and I are thinking of moving to Dot, and if we do, I'm going to need the immediate services of a dentist. Do you think there is anything you can do for me?"
He smiled. “I assume you are talking about your overbite."
“Overbite, hell,” she laughed. “I'm talking about my buck teeth."
He studied her face for a moment before replying. “I would need a careful examination and some x-rays, but I'm sure I can help you. We'll probably need to remove a couple of teeth to give your gums room for the redistribution braces will cause. My guess is that in a couple of years you will be well pleased with the difference in your appearance."
She glanced at the business card he handed her. “If we decide to relocate in Dot, I'll make an appointment."
“I hope you do move to Dot. Frankly I need the business,” he laughed as he moved away from her.
Betty watched him disappear into the brilliance of the clinic as she moved to the elevator and pressed the button. She got off on the second floor and was surprised to see that it resembled a mall. The elevator opened into a long hallway. On either side of the hall were retail business spaces. Most displayed “for lease” signs in their show windows, but there was a barber shop and beauty parlor in operation and one space sported a sign that read, “Coming Soon—Dot Billiards."
As she walked down the hall, the business spaces suddenly turned into office units. An office on the left bore a placard that read, “Carl Elliott, Contractor.” On the right a similar metal sign said, “Victor Kimel, Business Manager, Dollar Enterprises.” She chuckled at the sign next to the contractor's office. It read, “Edwin ‘Creasy’ Green, Insurance.” Across from C
reasy Green's office, with the door open, was the Holder Advertising Agency.
She began to tremble. For the first time it occurred to her that this meeting could be a trap. Max Holder's widow could be waiting for her with a shotgun. She peeked inside. Two men and two women, with calculators whirring, were hard at work.
“Those are the auditors I told you about,” said a quiet female voice from behind.
Betty whirled around and gasped, “You scared the crap out of me."
There was a silence that should have been awkward, but wasn't, as the two ladies studied each other.
Although Rita Holder camped at Tanglewood with Max, Betty did not meet her then and was totally unprepared for the bundle of feminine beauty who stood before her. Rita could not be more than five feet tall with sun-kissed light brown hair, a round face that gave her a childish appearance, light complexion and a well-proportioned body. She was wearing a loose fitting Charlotte Panthers’ tee shirt tucked into dark green jeans that seemed painted onto her curvaceous body. Betty was aware that Rita was staring at her chest, but it didn't bother her.
“You must be Betty,” Rita said, putting her arm around Betty's waist and walking her back towards the elevator. “We obviously can't have any privacy in the office today. I have an efficiency apartment upstairs. We can talk there."
As the elevator doors opened, Betty commented, “I thought you said you built a house in Dot."
“I did. In fact, Max and I moved the furniture and stuff before the accident, but the builders are still putting the finishing touches on the place. They are supposed to wrap it up this weekend. In the meantime I rented this little efficiency apartment,” Rita said, opening the apartment door. “It's not much, but it is convenient."
Betty thought the living room could serve as a model for a furniture advertisement and the aroma of fresh coffee caused her mouth to water.
“Make yourself comfortable,” Rita said as she walked to the kitchen. “Care for a cup of coffee?"
“Yes, please—black.” Betty settled into an overstuffed chair and wished that she were dressed casually, like Rita. In an attempt to appear businesslike, Betty was wearing her best dress, hose and high-heeled shoes.
Sintown Chronicles I: Behind Closed Doors Page 35
