Thursday Club Mysteries: All 7 stories

by Sheila Hudson

  “Sure. That would be great. Tell you what, I’ll check with Tom and call you back. We are just having a late breakfast.”

  “Who was that?” Hattie and Tom said in unison when I pushed the off button.

  “Suzy. She has her second dinner with Tony tonight and we were making arrangements. She doesn’t want Amy to be home by herself. I don’t blame her after all the hubbub we’ve had lately.”

  “Is Amy coming here?” Tom said as he chopped up bacon into his grits then stirred in shredded cheese.

  “I was just going to check with you and double check the calendar. What do you think Hattie? Wouldn’t it be fun? We could play card games, board games, or watch a movie?”

  “What about Clara?” Hattie asked.

  “Suzy said she was ready to go home.”

  “Okay, let me get this straight,” Tom asked. “Clara will home alone, but Amy will be here with us. What am I missing?”

  While I was turning over Tom’s logic in my brain trying to make some sense of it, my cell rang again. I looked at my congealed grits and rubber eggs. The powers that be were determined that I won’t have breakfast today. I looked at the caller I.D. It wasn’t one I had in my contact list. For a split second I was tempted not to answer, re-heat my breakfast, and ignore the world. But I’m glad I didn’t.

  “Ms. Thibideaux. This is Captain Cheek of the Athena Police Department. I wonder if it would be convenient for you and Ms. Hattie Sewell to come to my office today. We’d like to ask you a few questions about the Golden Palms incident. I understand Ms. Sewell is your house guest for a few days.”

  “Yes, Captain of course. Yes. Miss Hattie is here. Around one o’clock. We’ll be there.”

  Hattie and Tom got the gist of the message. I drank my tepid black coffee and wished for something stronger. Another round with the police to find out the truth about murders, poisonings, and tea that made people collapse.

  We arrived at the police station exactly at one o’clock in time to see Scarlett in the parking lot. Suzy was unloading Amy and Clara was with them as well. I unfolded Hattie’s wheelchair and we took the ramp toward the front.

  Captain Cheek left instructions for us. A secretary ushered us into a large conference room. Officer Kenny Nesmith, Elvira Honeycutt, and the Ledbetter sisters were already seated in the big leather chairs. The Captain presided and made sure we all knew each other— which we did intimately. The secretary took notes on a laptop.

  “Ms. Honeycutt. Would you begin these informal proceedings by telling us about the tea you brought to Clara Nesmith and Hattie Sewell on the day in question?”

  Elvira began to blubber. Clara patted her hand. Elvira managed to say that when she went to the kitchen to make tea, Blanche was already there. Blanche insisted that she take the pot of Earl Gray that she had just made. She said she would make another pot for herself and Maudie.

  “Is this the teapot?” Captain Cheek held up the Nippon china teapot decorated with a dragon.

  “Yes, that’s the one.” Elvira and Hattie agreed.

  “Did you drink the tea?” Captain Cheek looked at both of them.

  Hattie shook her head. “No, I was taking my pills and drinking lemon water. I was going to have tea next.”

  Elvira said that Maudie, another resident decided that she didn’t want tea, so she asked if she could join Hattie and Clara. Elvira poured the tea and added cream to hers. She was just getting ready to take a sip when Clara collapsed. In the confusion, the teapot disappeared along with the cups and tray of cookies.

  Blanche blanched while Leona turned a whiter shade of pale. Elvira started to shake and requested her ‘nerve pills.’

  Captain Cheek ignored them and continued, “All of the teapots and cups have been examined by our lab technicians. Guess what they found? Each has been coated with tetrahydrozine. Do you know what that is?”

  Before we could answer, he continued, “It’s the active ingredient in Visine. The reason Visine works to get the red out of your eyes is that it is a vasoconstrictor. That means that if you ingest it, the blood has a harder time pumping. By itself this toddy will make you dizzy, nauseous, and feel ill. But if you mix it with say, Lisinopril made to lower blood pressure, it could be fatal. Which is exactly what happened with Ms. Clara Nesmith. Is everyone following?”

  If there is a look that means ‘guilty as sin’ Blanche wore it. She began to cry. Leona began to shout at her sister. What was happening? Did Blanche intentionally put Visine into the Earl Gray tea meant for Hattie and Clara?

  “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone,” Blanche blubbered. “I only thought that if everyone got sick with something like stomach flu, Leona would take me to live with her.”

  Leona looked as if she had been stabbed. Never have I seen Leona at a complete loss for words. That is, until now. She stared at Blanche as if she’d never seen her before.

  “But you never asked to live with me. You acted like you loved it at Golden Palms, so I never mentioned it. Of course, I would LOVE for you to live with me. Oh Blanche! You silly, silly girl. What have you done?”

  Lieutenant Nesmith bowed his head. Clara hugged Blanche. They held each other. Clara whispered, “I forgive you. I know you didn’t mean to hurt me.”

  Suzy and I squeezed into the circle of hugs while Hattie and Amy grasped hands. We were witnessing some bona fide forgiveness of the highest caliber. Captain Cheek let us have our moment, but we all knew there would be consequences.

  Captain Cheek took Blanche’s hand in his.

  “Dear lady. It is obvious to me that you didn’t realize the gravity of what you did. It was certainly not attempted murder, but could be construed as such by a wily attorney. Miss Clara, are you willing to drop the charges?”

  “Of course. Blanche is my friend. We have our differences, but she certainly would not purposefully harm me.”

  Leona was still speechless. In a weak moment, I put my arm around her and she actually hugged my waist! I felt so sorry for her. I didn’t have any biological sisters, so I could only imagine her pain not to mention the fear.

  Amy spoke up. “Captain Cheek. Now that Blanche admitted her mistake, what’s the next step? Can she plead temporary insanity or something? Can we get her off on a lesser offense? Maybe she could do community service or something?”

  Finally Leona regained her voice, “Does Blanche need a lawyer?” Her voice cracked. Our hearts melted. Blanche searched her handbag. Hattie handed her a handkerchief.

  “I’ll see what I can do,” the Captain said. He left the conference room. The group was in shock, wonder, grief, and fear waiting to see what was coming next. When the Captain returned, we resumed our places around the conference table and waited for the hammer to fall. The Captain reappeared with a judge’s writ that he read to the group.

  The language was the usual legalese, but basically stated that Blanche was released on her own cognizance into Leona’s custody. Blanche would do community service for ten weeks at the Girls’ Club. All that was left was for Blanche and Leona to sign the writ and the rest of us to witness.

  Whew! I felt like we’d run a marathon. Adrenaline was high, and I knew it wouldn’t be very long before we’d all crash.

  “Mani-pedis for everyone,” shouted Hattie. "My treat."

  “But Hattie, I thought Bella closed Total Image,” I reminded her.

  “She did. But I still have the keys, and I know a few nail techs that could use a payday,” she winked. “Kenny that offer stands for you and the Captain as well.”

  “Thanks Miss Hattie, but I think we’ll pass.”

  The Captain nodded in agreement.

  With everything official, our merry band loaded up the vehicles. Hattie made a few phone calls and we headed to Nirvana aka Total Image Salon.

  ~15~

  A week later, Hattie moved back to Golden Palms. Because of their bonding during harrowing times, Elvira and Hattie decided to call a truce and become roommates which surprised the world. Leona helped Blanche pack up h
er things. After the going away party, catered by Pauline’s Café, the sisters left to enjoy living together again.

  Leona has been on her best behavior since the ‘scene’ at the police station. She even offered to have professional cleaners come to the parsonage before the Christmas Drop In. I took her up on her offer. Harold had done wonders in the front room. Aunt Merle had given her approval along with a check to cover said changes. Tom’s book was in the final edits. Just after the New Year, he was off to his editor and publisher in New York to handle the business end of things.

  I could finally breathe a sigh of relief. All my friends were well, happy, and where they should be. When the festivities were over, I could relax and read that stack of books beside my bed. Maybe I’d catch up on my knitting or take a class at the community college. One class I wouldn’t be taking is Profiles on Poison taught by none other than our own Professor Ramsey.

  The afternoon of the Drop In came and with it the entire community. Amy and Hattie posted themselves at doors to welcome the attenders. This was an annual much-looked-forward- to event at First Church. Everyone, whether member or not, was urged to attend.

  Suzy was busy at the punch bowl. Since her second date with Tony, we noticed a definite spring in her step. Leona and Blanche were in the kitchen keeping the coffee flowing and refilling the cookie trays. An amazing transition had occurred with those two. And they say miracles don’t happen!

  When the last load of dishes was taken from the dishwasher and the counters spick and span, the girls and I sat down to survey the past year.

  “Exciting year,” Hattie said. “Even with the ups and downs, we had a lot of fun. Didn’t we?”

  “Yes. The year took off in the fall when Mitchell died and Clara had her bad spell,” Suzy added. “Even having to have two dates with Tony wasn’t all THAT bad,” she admitted with a grin.

  “And by the way you still haven’t filled us in with any details,” I chimed in.

  Suzy beamed, “For now let’s just say it looks promising. Tony is in AA and we are in couples’ counseling.”

  Clara hesitated and then said, “Even the horrible hospital experience made me realize what good friends all of you are. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  Amy pulled a brochure from her side bag. “Glad to hear it because we will be bosom buddies for ten days on this cruise.”

  “What cruise?”

  “The one Suzy and I are treating everyone to.”

  “But I couldn’t possibly leave Tom for that long.”

  “He’s okay with it. We’ve cleared it with everyone. Hattie, Suzy, Clara, You, and I are going on the Royal Norwegian. In a few weeks, the Thursday Club will be sailing to the Caribbean and back for ten days of fun in the sun. Guaranteed. It says so right here in the brochure.”

  Amy passed the flyer around so all of us could gander at it. My first thought was ‘yippee.’ My second thought was ‘what could go wrong?’ Possibly everything. The Thursday Club on a vessel in the ocean with gambling, alcohol, men, and a lot of free time. Sure, it should be restful, but it would be just our luck to have a murderer on board.

  The End

  MURDER AT SEA

  A Thursday Club Mystery, book 2

  By Sheila Hudson

  Copyright 2015 Take Me Away Books, a division of Winged Publications

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the authors.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the authors’ imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, and/or events is purely coincidental.

  ~1~

  What I needed was a bottle of Prozac©. What I had was a splitting headache observing the mountain of luggage in my foyer. When I agreed to this, I never realized how much gear it takes for five women to go on a ten-day voyage. The baggage for the Langford sisters arrived yesterday. Clara hauled her suitcase in this morning. Only Hattie reserved the right to add hers to the load as we started for the airport. Consequently, the parsonage foyer was piled to Kingdom Come and looked like Serbian refugees had moved in.

  Along with that Tom was escaping to New York City with his briefcase containing finished memoirs. My husband of 30 years was off to the Big Apple without me. The board at First Church gave Tom a brief sabbatical to sign off on his final publishing contract and enjoy the fruit of his years of labor.

  I, on the other hand, had an opportunity to spend ten glorious days with my posse, the Thursday Club of Athena, composed of ninety-year-old Hattie Sewell, the reigning queen of Golden Palms Retirement Community, along with the mischievous Langford sisters, Amy and Suzy, plus Clara Nesmith, retired newspaper editor of the Athena Beacon. We were gifted this Caribbean cruise gratis Amy and Suzy Langford for solving the mystery of their poisoned feline, Mitchell.

  I slurped down a cup of instant Nescafe© and promised myself a large Starbuck’s latte at the Atlanta airport. I checked the time. At any moment, Suzy would wheel into the parsonage driveway in their red van dubbed Scarlett. Tom and I hadn’t been at the parsonage at First Church long when Amy had an automobile accident. It was then that Suzy moved in like Patton on Normandy beach. That’s when Scarlett became part of our group. Suzy drove Scarlett to transport Amy to physical therapy and doctor’s appointments. Fortunately, Amy was doing so well that she was down to a walker and sometimes just a cane. We were thrilled with her mobile ability, but Suzy insisted that we include a portable walker for Amy just in case. I suppose that would come with the last minute stuff today.

  I splurged on a swivel suitcase for our all-expense paid excursion. Royal Norwegian promised ten days of ‘fun in the sun’ and with today’s current temperature of 36 degrees Fahrenheit, I was anxious to swap my winter coat for a swimsuit.

  Royal Norwegian made everything easy for those of us who weren’t cruise savvy. They even sent an agenda and a checklist. I went over both of these like they were scripture carved in stone. Clara and I applied for passports, got our god awful pictures taken, and searched the web for tips on packing, tipping, and how to ease into the cruise community. Suzy, Amy, and even Hattie were old hands at this stuff. Although Hattie’s last cruise was some time ago, she kept her documentation up to date, just in case.

  Tom and I closed up the parsonage, stopped the mail, and said our goodbyes. Suzy was punctual as was her usual modus operandi. Those of us who were able bodied loaded the van with our bumper crop of suitcases. Suzy had picked up Hattie ahead of time so her scooter was loaded along with Amy’s portable walker. I was amazed that Scarlett was up to such a load. Tom helped with the heavy stuff before he turned his car toward the Greenville-Spartanburg airport. When we added last minute items, the van was packed as tightly as sardines in a tin. My posse loaded up and we headed south.

  Suzy and Amy drilled us for days on what was allowed on a flight and a cruise, what clothes to pack, what the ship provided, and what not to say on a plane after 911. Suzy confided to me that she wasn’t as afraid of embarrassment as incarceration. I had faith that one of us would slip up, so I suggested that she either get over it or don a disguise.

  But today was the day. After months of anticipation, our merry band was on the interstate headed to Hartsfield International Airport. Clara brought copies of the Athena Beacon for us to read on the way. I was too excited to concentrate, but Amy immediately set about solving the daily crossword. Clara read the editorials, aloud, to our dismay.

  At the ticket counter we dutifully handed over our tickets and passports. All except Hattie, who couldn’t locate her passport. This necessitated a search of purses, totes, and carry-on luggage. After a long delay with a line behind us slowly turning into a lynch mob, we located it underneath Hattie’s seat cushion where she had hidden it for ‘safe-keeping.’

  With Hattie’s behavior deemed suspicious, the Transportation Security Administration insisted we go th
rough the body scan machine which shows every bulge, wrinkle, and freckle on your torso. After that humiliation, I begged the ticket agent to seat us first aboard the airliner. With scooter, walker, and luggage stowed, I prayed for a smooth uneventful flight. I could read clearly on the flight attendants’ faces: ‘here comes trouble.’

  Much to my relief, Amy swallowed Dramamine tablets and dozed. I popped in ear plugs to provide equalized air pressure and began reading a cozy mystery. Suzy dozed while Clara flipped through the in-flight magazine. Hattie played with the buttons on her seat console until the flight attendant chastised her. In a huff, she pulled down her black fedora and feigned drowsiness but not before ordering a ginger ale. This was her little rebellion against Suzy’s prohibition on alcohol until we were safely aboard the Royal Norwegian.

  In a panic I asked if anyone let Pauline know we wouldn’t be at her Café on Thursday as usual.

  “Taken care of honey,” Suzy answered. “Sit back and relax.”

  The flight was uneventful until landing. It was then I tried to remove those ear plugs. The pressurized cabin had provided suction so that the left ear plug sank deep into the canal and my fingers couldn’t grasp the stem to remove it.

  I tapped Clara on the arm and motioned to my left ear.

  “Can you help me get this ear plug out?” I said much too loudly since my hearing was muffled.

  “Sure,” she said and peered into my ear. “I don’t see anything. Are you sure the plug is still in your ear?”

  A flight attendant offered assistance. Clara and I swapped seats while the rest of the plane looked on. Clara asked her question again. I tried not to sound irritated as I answered, “Of course I’m sure. Here’s the other one.” I held up the companion ear plug with the little blue fringe stem used to remove it.