“Hattie, how is your health?” Suzy inquired.
“Mostly good for my ninety-years. Howard makes me feel like a teenager. He is such a blessing,” she sipped her half-tea, half-lemonade concoction.
“I know I speak for all of us when I say that we pray for both of you daily. Howard has certainly been a blessing to all of us. Since the kidnapping episode Tom counts Howard as his best friend,” I smiled and stirred my now lukewarm cup of Java
“Are you up for a meeting of the Thursday Club?” I asked.
“Of course. Let’s meet here I’m anxious to show off my new digs,” Hattie answered.
“Um. Won’t that be a problem until the remodeling is done?” Amy asked.
“Good Gravy. I forgot. The dining room is dug up and will be until the investigation is over,” Hattie said. I saw the disappointment in her eyes.
“Don’t worry, dear. We’ll think of something. The meeting date isn’t set yet so maybe all this will be over quickly,” I said patting her hand. We talked for another hour until
Callie came with instructions from Howard.
“Mr. Howard says that you are to go upstairs and take your breathing treatment and rest until he get home,” Callie said almost on script.
We made our good-byes quick complete with hugs. Our merry band is back together again and it feels so good.
~4~
Thursday Club’s first meeting of the year did indeed take place at Ansley Manor – we are still calling it that for now but I think of the place as Hattie’s castle. She met us crowned with a circlet of flowers and her royal purple caftan.
Callie served tea in the great room. In a place this big, I’d need a roadmap to find my way around. Howard had their recent photographs neatly captioned and in appropriate albums. We took turns oohing and aahing over all the exotic islands where the Saunders visited on their honeymoon.
With the niceties completed, the Club got down to business. I was appointed acting president of the Thursday Club since no one remembered whose turn it was. I called the meeting to order. I announced that I needed some volunteers to supervise the community egg hunt, the spring bake sale, and Easter sunrise service breakfast.
Clara spoke up, “What time is the breakfast scheduled?”
“Directly after the sunrise service. The assorted pastries are already ordered. So it’s easy. Just make the coffee and pour the juice.” I tried to sound like it was nothing at all.
“Okay then I’ll take that off your plate,” Clara said. “I’ll be there anyway so it’s no trouble.”
“Fabulous. Thank you so much. I can check that item off my list,” I turned back to the group for the next item on the agenda.
“Amy and I can take charge of the spring bake sale,” Suzy offered. “We’ve done it before so it isn’t a problem. You’ll be there anyway won’t you? That is if we need advice.”
“Of course,” I answered. “Thanks I can check off another item. I appreciate it so much.”
“So that leaves the Egg Hunt on the Saturday before Easter, doesn’t it?” Hattie chimed in. “I’m not sure I’m up to hundreds of youngsters scrambling over the church grounds to find eggs.”
“I agree. I don’t think that is a job for you either. However, I still need volunteers to fill the plastic eggs with candy the night before. Can I count on everyone for this? It will only take an hour or two. We will do it in the church basement and eat pizza when it’s all done. How about it?”
Everyone agreed.
“Great. I’m sure Tom can get several couples to oversee the Saturday egg hunt madness.”
With the most important items on the agenda taken care of, Hattie rang a little silver bell and Callie appeared.
“Callie, is luncheon ready?”
“Yes, Ms. Hattie.”
Callie disappeared. We headed into the kitchen where a buffet of goodies awaited us along with desserts from Pauline’s’. After filling our plates, we went onto the veranda where tables were set with linen, flowers, and a view of the vineyard. The dining room was still ‘under construction’ which begged the question. What is going on? Who is the corpse? And what is taking so long? Howard met us on the veranda and had our blessing. He smiled and said, “Now let’s dig in.”
We all ate in silence which is not an ordinary thing for us. Perhaps it had something to do with all the furor taking place so closely. A flock of investigators is hard to miss even if you live in a manor.
~5~
A few days later we were back at the manor where Chief Browning was to deliver the medical report containing the details about the body. Like the nosy Nancys that we were, the Thursday Club managed to also wangle an invitation to the unveiling of the mystery person.
Athena Construction still had the dining room blocked off so the den had been a makeshift hangout for eating and gathering these past two and half weeks. Howard was wearying of this interruption in privacy and complained to the Chief who complained to the Medical Examiner who didn’t have anyone higher up to complain to.
Hattie was anxious to get the house in order so that she could invite her old buddies from Golden Palms. She wanted to rub her new status in with pseudo-friends like Elvira who was always giving her grief. And she couldn’t very well do that with a cavern in the middle of her house, now could she?
As for the Thursday Club, we had visions of numerous festivities at the manor including meetings, retreats, parties, and a myriad of social events.
Howard was in a dither to get this episode of their life closed, so this meeting was important to all of us but for different reasons.
“I know. It’s just that I want everything to be perfect. I want Hattie to have everything she missed in her younger days,” he said.
“All she needs is us,” I said. “She’s very happy now and you’re the reason.”
Police Chief Browning made her entrance and Callie directed her to the den where we were all sipping coffee in anticipation of her arrival. It was difficult to get used to a female police chief. I’m not demeaning her gender. It’s just a habit that we get into calling everyone ‘sir’ and using the masculine pronouns. Old habits are hard to break. I heard that Chief Browning came from the north. She was blonde, unattached, and attractive as hard as she tried to hide it. I guess that she is in her late thirties and under that stiff, ugly uniform I’ll bet she’s a knockout.
“Good morning, everyone,” Chief Browning said. She removed her hat and sat down. Callie offered coffee and the Chief took hers with lots of cream.
“The M.E. sent over this report. The corpse is female, age approximately 16, and African American. She died of methyl alcohol poisoning probably in some intoxicant such as moonshine. Her death was somewhere in the sixties as well as we can surmise. That’s about it. Fingerprints or ear lobe prints were impossible,” Chief Browning said. She sipped her coffee and sighed. “Damn shame. There were a lot of deaths around that time because of homemade brews.”
“Cheap moonshine and bathtub gin has always been around. The ones who buy it are often those in poorer usually African American neighborhoods. That seems to be the case here. They strain their poisons through radiators and anything they could get their hands on with no thought of anything but their profits,” said the Chief. “Sorry but I get a little worked up on this issue. Anyway, thanks for the coffee. That’s all we have now. Thought you’d want to know.”
“Yes, indeed,” Howard agreed. “Callie, would you show Chief Browning out?”
When the Chief left, there was silence around. I was in shock. It wasn’t anything like I imagined. But the thought of that poor woman and others like her dying because of an unscrupulous person did fuel my anger and also my curiosity.
But the police were only able to give us part of the story. That’s where the intrepid Clara comes in. I made a mental note to get on Google – ear lobe prints?
~6~
Unflappable. That’s what Tom is. I could tell him that the house is on fire and he would calmly start to gath
er a few things and stroll out. Sometimes it is downright unnerving. Once in a while I wish he would get as excited as I do. On second thought, it’s better that God planned it that way. If we both were excitable, I don’t know what would happen.
It was inching toward dinnertime when I poured a Chardonnay and sat in my rocker. I pulled out my planner and began to go over my ‘to-do’ list.
Ansley Manor or whatever the Saunders re-christened it was huge. It had plenty of bedrooms which you would expect from a dwelling that used to be a bed and breakfast. Of course the bedrooms had their own bathroom attached. There was a huge dining room and another room with a professional dance floor. The gardens were just beginning to put out green shoots. I identified an herb garden, an azalea border, several magnolias and a reflection pond which probably once held koi or those huge goldfish.
The social function possibilities were endless. Hattie could host weddings, reunions, or all of the inmates at Golden Palms. Plus if Howard ever wanted to sell the Somewhere Bar, he could reestablish the place as a bed and breakfast again. Plenty of alums flock in on football Saturdays to cheer on the local college team.
Everything was changing. The town was becoming more modernized. There was cable television in every home and Wi-Fi in most. Of course all of the businesses were run by computers.
First Church even got on the bandwagon and installed Wi-Fi and a full screen in the front and back of the auditorium. That way the choir didn’t have to use hymnals to see the words of the songs listed in the bulletin. Tom was even using his I-Pad for sermons instead of the yellow legal pads which had been his trusty companion for years. We were indeed coming into the 20th century. Too bad it was the 21st century. First thing you know, we’ll have taped music and charitable giving via the World Wide Web. What was our world coming to?
Debra had sent word to Hattie that she would try to get someone to cover for her at the shop. If she could work it out, she’d spent the summer in Athena. That delighted both of us. It was out of the question to retrieve Murray, that errant son of hers. He was still mooning over ‘what could have been’ with Felicia who turned out to be a murderer.
Debra was anxious to see her ‘mom’ and to officially welcome Howard into the family. She had grown to love him on her short visit, but now he was her ‘dad’. We had a lot to catch up on.
Howard gathered everyone’s photos of the New Orleans wedding and had them made into a DVD. We were planning a party as soon as the dining room renovations were completed so that everyone could share in the biggest event Athena had had for a decade. Of course we would wait for Debra and the way things were progressing it might be an anniversary celebration.
~7~
After a month of waiting for the DNA testing and all the legal hoops to jump through, Howard and Hattie finally got their flooring in the dining room replaced. The crime labs confirmed our suspicions that the corpse was female. She was a victim of some of the sixties moonshining poisonings.
The moonshine murders as they were named took place in north Georgia. They centered around a moonshiner named Johnathan Frailey who mostly sold to the minority neighborhoods. The Eagle Tavern ran out of their most popular ‘hooch’ and happened to purchase a batch from him which he mixed with ethyl alcohol and fruit flavoring. He delivered seventy-seven gallons of his concoction with the result that those who imbibed it became very sick with thirty-eight deaths attributed to this batch of homemade moonshine.
Not all of the bodies were found and it was suspected that the domestics in many hotels, and inns were among the victims. Chief Browning found no identification on our victim so she may have been a parlor maid at the Manor.
Howard seemed the most affected by this news. He asked for a meeting with Tom and me. When he and Hattie arrived, we had no idea what the meeting was about.
“Tom,” Howard began, “I feel somewhat responsible for this person who was buried underneath the Manor. I wish we could figure out her identity and notify her family. But I think the least we can do is give her a proper burial. Would you help me locate family and make arrangements?”
“Of course,” Tom said. “But don’t you think we should wait for more findings? There may be more facts about who, when, and where all this took place?”
“Chief Browning said that the autopsy revealed damage to the optic nerve and the presence of formaldehyde which is how the body processes methyl alcohol. I researched this and Life Magazine even wrote an article about this event called The Bad, Bad Whiskey Blues,” I added.
“I wonder if this is the same one who was rumored to be so obese that he couldn’t fit into the electric chair so they gave him a life sentence,” I thought a little humor might help, but it didn’t lift the mood.
Hattie didn’t say anything. She had her hands folded in her lap. I wanted to tease her about the purple she had in her hair, but it wasn’t the right time. When did all of this get so serious?
Howard rose to go. “Well that’s what I wanted to speak to you about. As soon as they release the body, I will let you know the final arrangements.” He offered his hand to Tom and put his arm around me.
“I squeezed Hattie’s hands. It will be all right, you know,” I said trying to comfort her. That’s when I saw the tears.
“Is there anything I can do for either of you,” I said tearing up myself. Hattie shook her head. Howard helped Hattie exit our side door. Then he turned, “there is one thing,” he said.
“What?” I wanted to do anything.
“Plan a getaway for just you gals of the Thursday Club.”
“You got it,” I said with a smile. It would be a pleasure for us to be away while the investigation into this crime was ongoing. The evidence was scant and deteriorated so I doubted anything would come of it, but you never know.
~8~
Howard’s suggestion got me thinking about some place to go for a retreat. I didn’t think belly-dancing or the Korean spa thing would please anyone. The monastery, maybe, but there might be some bad memories there especially for Hattie. The cruise was too expensive and needed more advance planning.
I emailed Suzy, Clara, and Amy to get their ideas and suggestions. Of course we could head to Savannah and the coast or to the mountains – say Dahlonega or Hiawassee. The weather was warmer and more stable than it had been earlier in the year. I logged onto the website for
Travel Advisor to see if they had posted some sweet deals.
I was all revved for time with just the girls. It seemed like forever since we’d just had girl time -- just the five of us. I was so excited about Howard’s idea that I couldn’t wait to tell Tom. As soon as I threw my tote onto the dining room table, I could tell he had news for me as well.
“Guess what, honey? Howard wants me to plan an outing for the Thursday Club. He thinks it will be good to get Hattie away while the contractors finish up. Isn’t that great?”
Tom looked like he wanted to pat me on the head and say ‘good girl.’ But he didn’t instead he said, “Grab your purse. We’ve got to get over to the Manor now. My news will change everything so don’t make those reservations just yet.”
“But I just came from there,” I sputtered.
“Come on I’ll tell you on the way,” Tom said in his don’t-argue-with-me voice.
By the time we reached the Manor, I learned that the folks who came to mend the goldfish pond have found something – a rip in the liner uncovering another corpse.
This one was in better condition than the first – at least that’s what the medical examiner said. I wouldn’t know – one rotting corpse looks pretty much like the next to me. I left all of those concerns to them. I had to get to Hattie.
“She’s upstairs,” Howard said as soon as I arrived. He knew my first priority.
“Oh my dear, what a nightmare,” I said as we enfolded each other.
She tried not to cry. I knew if she cried then the dam would burst.
“Shall I call the girls?” I figured if anything would cheer her up it was so
me of our craziness.
“No need. As soon as Callie comes back, she’s packing us up. We can’t live in this circus. With police, medical examiners, and the press calling or knocking, we can’t even have a meal in peace. Plus the thought of that woman lying underneath the dining area, I mean really that was enough but now this,” Hattie said. Here was a side of her that I’d never seen. I suppose it was just too close to home – heck it WAS home.
“I don’t blame you one bit and of course I’ll help in any way that I can,” I offered. “Is Callie coming with you or is she to be let go?” I said in an effort to change the subject.
Just then the doorbell rang.
“See what I mean?” Hattie said. “I’m going to rest. Do you mind covering for me?” I nodded and hurried downstairs to the front door before the bell could ring again. I wondered if I could disconnect it somehow.
Chief Browning was standing on the porch. She was just about to ring again when I opened the door. I almost didn’t recognize her because she was in civilian clothes. I wondered if the men in Athena knew how beautiful she was when not on duty. But any boyfriend would have to understand that this stunner was armed.
“Hello Chief,” I said. “Are you here about the body?”
“Not body – bodies.”
“Well we found the one under the dining room floor a few weeks back, so I didn’t include her.”
Chief Browning came to catch me up on the latest. And here it was, “I’ve brought in the newest in sensing technology for just such an occasion. We have the equipment from Emory University in Atlanta. It is supposed to work better than cadaver dogs in finding decaying flesh.”
I escorted her onto the porch.
“I don’t want Hattie to hear. She’s trying to rest.”
Thursday Club Mysteries: All 7 stories Page 33
