Good to Go: Book 1 Georgie B. Goode Gypsy Caravan Cozy Mystery

by Marg McAlister

  "I'll be looking forward to it." Georgie dug into the hamper sitting at her feet. She drew out a gift-wrapped parcel, and a bottle of sparkling wine. "And here’s a celebration treat for you, Connie. Enjoy!”

  “Thank you! I’ll save that for our get-together tonight." Connie looked around, and realized that there were several people waiting to sit down and discuss things with Georgie. “I’d better let someone else have a turn. Make sure you come over and visit, mind? You have to celebrate with me."

  "I'll do that for sure." Georgie smiled and then looked up to nod at the next person in line. "Hi. What can I help you with today?" She slid Connie's paperwork in the folder with the others and became immersed in the next round of questions.

  ~~~

  The first hour passed in a flash, and before she knew it Layla was nudging her and pointing to the small queue waiting at the steps to her caravan, most of who were sending covert glances her way. "I think you’ve got a few customers waiting."

  “Are you sure you can handle this by yourself?”

  “Go do your duty. I'll be fine." Layla gave her a cheerful dig with her elbow. “I worked in hospitality long enough to learn how to keep people happy while they wait.” She glanced at hamper of goodies on the floor. "You don't mind if I give people a voucher for a free coffee while they’re waiting?"

  "Of course not." Convinced that she was leaving things in good hands, even though she felt a bit guilty, Georgie stood up and moved across to the van. Kaylene was at the head of the queue.

  "Hi Kaylene. Right on time! Glad you could make it." She nodded cheerfully at the others. “Each session is about twenty minutes. I can book you all a slot now, if you like. Just give me your name and a contact number, in case you don’t make it back for your appointment.”

  Wow, she thought, already she had enough people to fill this hour and the next one starting at midday. What had she started?

  As soon as she’d taken names, she and Kaylene moved inside and closed the door.

  "Sit down." She nodded at the seat, and whisked the black cloth off the crystal ball. Even though she’d done only two readings, this time she felt a little less panicky—as long as she could come up with something definite for Kaylene.

  Kaylene sat down. "I feel as though I'm wasting your time. Darryl’s been really patient, and he even showed me his driver's license and credit card to prove that he was who he said he was. I feel guilty, now, coming to ask you about him."

  Georgie didn't know quite what to say for a moment. Telling Kaylene that the Goode family RV Empire had encountered lots of people with fake IDs didn’t seem terribly tactful, so she just nodded and cupped the crystal ball in her hands, staring at it intently. After a few moments she said, "Kaylene, whatever it was that made you come to me in the first place, you can't lose anything by being careful. I’m not going to try to force you into anything—or talk you out of anything. OK?”

  Kaylene relaxed a little. “OK.”

  Georgie gently set the crystal ball down in its stand, and waited. This time, she didn’t feel her skin grow warmer as she had in this morning’s session with Layla: if anything, she seemed to cool down. Strange. Obviously you couldn’t count on the same conditions twice.

  She focused on the question in her mind: Is Darryl the right person for Kaylene? Does she have anything to worry about? She kept her gaze on the crystal ball, and felt a quick surge of relief when the white mist began to swirl in its depths. Much as she looked, she couldn’t see any images, but the feeling that crept over her was unmistakable. It wasn't exactly a shiver that went up her spine, but more a slow, curling sense of wrongness.

  "Can you see anything?" Kaylene's voice was tentative, and Georgie looked up to see the other woman watching her face.

  "Kaylene…." it was so hard to know how to put this. She didn't want to ruin someone's life on the basis of a feeling.

  Then it came again. Brian…

  Georgie gave a little sigh, and sat back, looking from the crystal ball to Kaylene. "I still keep getting that name, Kaylene. Brian. Brian." She shrugged, and held her hands out wide. “Let’s talk about Darryl’s family. He hasn't got a brother or father named Brian? A friend named Brian? Anyone you should be concerned about?"

  Kaylene's head shake was decisive. "No. Definitely not. We went through this whole Brian thing and I asked the same questions, and he can't think of a single person. The only Brian we both know is the one three sites away from us back at the RV park. Brian Payne. I told you about him.”

  No help at all. She decided to approach it from a different angle. “Then let’s forget it for the moment, and you can just tell me about the other men in your life. See if we can come at it from another direction."

  Kaylene was happy to go along with that, and over the next fifteen minutes, Georgie got a very good picture of what the girl had been through in the last ten years. Talk about a battler—poor Kaylene didn't seem to be able to win a trick. Pregnant in her last year of school, held at arm’s distance by her family until she miscarried, and then conned or mistreated by a succession of men after that. No wonder she was man-shy.

  Finally the session was finished, and Kaylene stood up, with no new insights at all. “I can see my time is up. Thanks, Georgie.” Reading Georgie’s frustration, she added: “It’s been nice talking with you about this, even if we’ve got nothing definite to go on. I’ll give this serious thought, but I have to make a decision soon—Darryl’s had a job offer in Pennsylvania, and we need to get on the road.”

  Disaster, Georgie thought bleakly. But without anything concrete to offer Kaylene, what could she say?

  “Be careful.” Georgie gave her one of her Johnny B. Goode business cards. “Call me if you get worried, OK?”

  She watched her walk away. Kaylene Waters, she felt certain, was unfinished business – but she simply didn't have time to sort it out now.

  CHAPTER 9

  By the time everyone covered up their stalls that afternoon, Georgie was exhausted. She slid into the seat next to Layla and groaned. “My head is spinning. Going into people’s heads all day is like digging ditches.” When Layla laughed, she flapped a hand. “No, really. Mentally, I feel as though I’ve done ten rounds in a boxing ring.” She eyed the pile of papers in front of the other girl. “So, how’d we do?”

  “Lots of fish nibbling at the bait, but they’re all looking for the best deal. There are five different distributors of vintage and retro RVs here, did you know? We have made two sales, though. One was Connie—what a darling!—and the other to a nice young couple who are getting rid of their big modern trailer to buy a Vardo just like yours.”

  “That last one was all thanks to you. Thanks so much, Layla. Honestly, I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come along." Georgie popped the tab on a cool drink.

  Layla nudged her. "Have a look over there. Tammy didn't waste any time taking your brother up on his offer." Georgie's eyes followed Layla’s pointing finger, and she had to laugh. There was Tammy, clad in a full polka-dot skirt and a bright 50s blouse, carrying on an animated conversation while she pranced along beside Jerry. She was carrying a large stack of brochures, and they were heading in the direction of the Johnny B. Goode motorhome.

  Georgie sent Layla a sideways look. “Did Jerry happen to go by earlier when you were manning the table?”

  “Yep. Even stopped to talk and ask how you were doing. I played dumb, said I was just taking names while you were busy.” Layla looked down at her 50s-style casual clothes. “He commented on how my outfit was the right look for selling retro vans. You think that inspired him to recruit Tammy to do the same thing?”

  "Of course it did. He’s always in recruitment mode anyway: we have an on-road team for all the different RVs we sell—people who are traveling all the time and love the lifestyle.” Georgie watched the bright red-and-white skirt disappear into the crowds. “You saw last night what a fun rockabilly-type girl Tammy is. Looking like that, she’ll draw the crowds. Dammit. That�
�ll boost his sales figures again.”

  "I wonder if she spent the night with him?” mused Layla, her eyes sparkling. “Your brother does seem the type to take advantage of all benefits.” Then she cast Georgie a quick look. “Oops, hope I'm not treading on toes here. I shouldn’t be casting aspersions on your family.”

  Georgie laughed. “You’re not the first, I assure you.”

  “Hey there,” a cheerful voice broke in. “Got time to tell one more fortune?”

  Georgie glanced up. “Scott! You did make it.”

  He pulled up a spare chair and leaned back, looking relaxed in his cargo pants and t-shirt. “Said I would. Got held up though back at the RV park… plumbing problems; the faucet on your site was just the start of it. I didn’t get away until two. And then I had to see the guy in Columbus about repairs to my RV before they closed up for the day.” He looked at Georgie, his warm brown eyes concerned. “I saw Kaylene before I left. She said she was here this morning.”

  “Yes. I wasn’t much help, unfortunately.” Good, she thought, Scott was just the person to help her. “Tell me, what do you know about Brian Payne?”

  “The bloke in the bus with the bad paint job?” Scott took his time to consider, then gave his verdict in two words. “Pretty harmless.”

  Georgie frowned. “Harmless? What do you mean?”

  “Just that.” Scott shrugged. “Works part-time at the packaging plant in town. He walks around the park a bit, talking to everyone who rolls in. A bit lonely, I’d say.”

  “He isn’t making a nuisance of himself with Kaylene? Hasn’t been acting strangely?”

  “Not that I’ve noticed.”

  Georgie let out a huff of frustration. “Well, that’s my last hope. There’s no other Brian.”

  “When I left she was busy packing up.” Scott’s forehead was creased, and from the look in his eyes, she could tell he was as concerned as she was. “She says they’re heading out tomorrow.”

  Layla pushed back her chair, stood up and stretched. “I might go back to my trailer now, if you don’t need me for anything else?”

  “Hardly. You’ve worked hard enough.” Georgie raised a tired fist and they bumped knuckles. “Thanks again. I’ll be over for a quick visit after dinner.”

  They both watched her go, and then Scott said: “You don’t really have to tell my fortune. You must need a break by now if you’ve been at it all day. I just wanted to call in and say hello.”

  Georgie was tempted to agree and go and put her feet up, but she was curious about his mother. And he had come all this way. Besides, she liked him; he cared about people.

  “No, that’s all right. You can be my last customer for the day. Come on.”

  Unlike her brother Jerry, who had managed to make her beloved van look small and uncomfortable, Scott looked around approvingly as soon as he walked through the door. “Nice. Homey.” He leaned closer to examine some of the carving on the outside ledge of the shelves. “Good workmanship here. Is this standard, or did you commission this?”

  “I drew pictures of what I wanted, and collected photos of other vans that had touches I wanted.” Delighted at his interest, Georgie walked him around the caravan, pointing out the clever touches that made the most of storage in a small space.

  Finally she lit the candle and they sat at the small table. “You seem to know a lot about cabinetry. About RVs, actually. Did you do some work in that line?” she asked, automatically picking up the crystal ball to let its energy flow through her.

  “I’ve turned my hand to most things. I’ve worked in National Parks and Fisheries—but I’ve built and repaired fences, huts, that kind of thing.”

  “Where? Africa? Australia? I can’t quite make out your accent.”

  “Australia first, then over here. Right now I’m seeing the country before going back home. I’m just picking up odd jobs here and there—like two months at the RV Park in Dayton.”

  The sound of his voice was soothing, like warm honey. A nice way to finish the day, she thought. Most people today seemed to have some pressing problem they wanted answers for. Not Scott—or it didn’t appear so.

  The crystal ball in her hands was completely clear.

  No mist. She looked up and smiled at him. “It seems my crystal ball has gone to sleep for the night. Nothing.” Then, just as she said it, a flicker in the ball caught her eye. She glanced back at it and frowned. Rosa?

  “What is it?” He leaned forward, interested. “I can’t see anything.”

  Nor could she, now, but she could have sworn she saw—for the fraction of a second—her great-grandmother’s face; grinning widely at her, all pink gums and large teeth.

  Georgie couldn’t be bothered fibbing. “There’s nothing to see now, but I thought I saw my great-grandmother’s face. Just a blink. Maybe I’m seeing things.”

  “Your great-grandmother? The one who gave you the crystal ball?”

  “Yes.” She gave herself a mental shake. “So, how do you want to do this? See what I can pick up about you?” She smiled ruefully. “I probably shouldn’t have asked all those questions about you first. Isn’t that what the shysters always do?”

  He looked sympathetic. “My mother had a lot of people accuse her of that. She was fairly philosophical about it; she believed in what she could see.” His gaze was back on the crystal ball. “She always told me not to force it. If it’s going to come, she said, it will come without effort.” In answer to Georgie’s questioning look, he went on, “She was into astrology. Read the cards, did astrological charts for people. What’s your star sign?”

  “Me? Libra.”

  He hesitated, then appeared to make a decision. “She told me I’d meet you.”

  Open-mouthed, Georgie stared at him. “She did? What did she say?”

  “A dark-haired Libran, across the ocean. Someone who had the Sight, passed down through generations.” He raised a finger. “However, she did get the color of the caravan wrong. White, she said. With carved flowers.”

  Georgie caught another flicker in the crystal ball, and stole a sideways glance.

  It was Rosa. What was she up to?

  Then the words came into her mind, as clear as the moment Rosa had uttered them, just a few days before. Say hello to your Leo.

  Who’s Leo? Georgie had called out.

  Realization hit. “What star sign are you?”

  “Leo,” he said. “Aquarius rising. If my mother is correct, your birthday should be early in October.” He quirked an eyebrow. “According to her, our paths will cross more than once. I don’t know what you have to say about that.”

  Stunned, Georgie had nothing to say. Not right now.

  But she could feel Rosa’s amusement.

  CHAPTER 10

  The next day, Sunday, visitors flooded into the rally, delighted at the opportunity to inspect the vintage trailers and vans. Georgie and Layla fell into an easy rhythm, with Layla staying at the sales tent to help out throughout the day. Everything seemed to work. The small pile of order forms grew, and with Jerry’s cheating ways in mind, Georgie scanned each one and sent it through to head office immediately.

  “Seven,” she said with satisfaction, riffling through the orders one last time before packing up. “That’s nine for the weekend. Not bad for a rally, especially with competitors here.”

  Layla’s competitive spirit was in high rev. “How many so far for the month?”

  “Twelve. Still 14 to go.” Georgie calculated the days left in the month since the day she had agreed to the targets set by her father. “From here I need to sell nearly one a day.” She felt the sharp pang of disappointment. “That won’t be easy. At a rally like this, people visit wanting to buy. It’s different on the road.”

  “Where are you going next?”

  “I thought I’d mosey on up to Niagara Falls; there’ll be plenty of tourists. Get the Vardo in front of as many eyes as possible.”

  Layla toyed with a pile of brochures. “I don’t suppose you want com
pany?”

  Georgie stared at her. “You’re kidding. Really?”

  “I’ve been thinking. You said the business has a road team.” Layla kept her voice calm, but Georgie could hear the underlying hope. “I’ve been looking for something I can do that’s not waiting tables or cleaning hotel rooms. And I think I’m good at this.” She waved a hand in the general direction of the cluster of vintage trailers. “I travel in a gypsy van. My parents think that’s crazy, but I love it. I was thinking, maybe I could be a regular part of your team.” She sat forward. “Just on trial to begin with, maybe? What do you think?”

  “On trial?” Georgie laughed, giddy with excitement. “What do you think this weekend has been? You’re great at this. I’ll make sure you get the commission from all the ones you’ve sold so far.”

  “Oh no, you don’t need to do that. That’s not why I suggested it.”

  “I know it isn’t,” Georgie said, “but I’m going to do it anyway. Fair’s fair. Welcome to the team.”

  “Thanks!” Layla’s face was alight with pleasure.

  Things were really falling into place, thought Georgie. With Layla’s help, she might have a chance.

  Then she looked up and saw Jerry walking purposefully her way. Tammy was trotting along beside him, talking non-stop as usual.

  Tammy looked great, Georgie had to admit. She had the whole 50s rock and roll thing going on, with a black and white polka dot swing skirt appliquéd with big pink musical notes, a body-hugging pink shirt and a black and white polka dot neck tie. And black ballet slip-ons.

  And the bangs, with hair cinched up in a chic little ponytail that bobbed as she walked.

  Customers would be attracted to her like bees to honey.

  “Here we go,” she warned Layla, her mood instantly plunging. “Salesman of the Year is here with his rockabilly girl. He’s probably already reached his target for the month.”

  The two of them sashayed up, grinning. “Hey, Sis,” Jerry greeted her cheerfully, and nodded at Layla. “So, how’d you do?”

  “Nine,” she said, knowing that he’d be able to check the sales figures online anyway. “Five retro and four gypsy. And you?”