“Well, as a matter of fact…”
“And besides, I have another motive.”
“Oh. What’s that?”
“I learned you own a real estate company. I think we might be able to do some business together.”
Nola Dean was stunned. “What do you mean?”
“Now, I have you intrigued. That’s good.”
“But...”
“Let’s not discuss it now. The whole thing will become clear at dinner. I’ll pick you up at six. Please give me directions to your place.”
Nola Dean did direct him and then hung up the phone. She was a little shocked at herself for having accepted a dinner date with a married man.
* * * *
“We now know the killer was at the club last night. But there were so many people no one has the foggiest idea which man Denise was going to point out.”
Bett took another piece of pizza from the Domino’s box and said, “Yes. Golf tournaments have a way of bringing in lots of men to places like that.”
“Admittedly, most of them were tourists, but there had to be a few locals there. Arthur Brown frequented that place.”
“Off and on.”
“Why so catty today, Bett?” Joe looked at her.
She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I guess it’s because I couldn’t keep my ex out of joints like that. I know what kind of trouble they cause, especially if a couple is having problems already.”
Joe picked up a slice of pizza and ignored her statement. He didn’t want to get into a discussion of her past personal life. “Now let’s look at what we have and try to go at it from a logical point.” He opened the file. “Walter Overton was murdered by Arthur Brown and some unknown person. That unknown person probably murdered Arthur Brown. Denise saw a businessman talking to Brown before the murders. She sees the same businessman last night and ends up dead. Now what have we got?”
“We’ve got three murders done by some unknown businessman, haven’t we?”
“Maybe.” He drank Pepsi from a can then went on. “The first two murders were done with lethal injection. The third was strangulation. Why the change?”
“The first two were premeditated. The third was on the spot. Probably to keep Denise from identifying him.”
“I wonder how he knew she’d recognized him.”
“Maybe a look or maybe he overheard her say something,” Bett wiped her mouth with a paper napkin.
“That brings us to an important part of this case,” Joe said. “The motive. We’ll assume the third killing happened because of self-preservation. He somehow figured out Denise could identify him. But we still don’t know why Overton and Brown were killed.”
“Maybe the numbers have something to do with it.”
“I think you’re right, Bett.” He held up the little sheet of paper. “I have a feeling this has something to do with the first killings.”
He handed her the paper. “I think the numbers could be the beginnings of bank accounts. There’s six of them. Too bad we only have half of the numbers. I can’t understand why anyone would only write half of it down.”
Bett studied the paper for a moment. “I think they could be account numbers or...” She paused.
“Go ahead, make a stab at it. If you’re wrong who’ll ever know?”
She laughed. “Nobody, I guess.” She handed the paper back to Joe. “I think it’s possible that someone else has the other half of them.”
He looked at the paper. “You know what, my friend. I think you could be right. It’s worth considering, anyway.”
“Want me to see if I can find something out about them?”
“Not today. It’s Saturday. Why don’t you knock off and get some rest? We’ll hit it hard and fast on Monday.”
“Are you knocking off?”
“A little later. I want to talk to a few more people at the club. I may even go over there tonight and see if they think anyone is conspicuously absent.”
“Then I’ll not leave either. I’m here as long as you are. I’ll go to the club with you.”
“I thought you hated places like that.”
“Personally, I do. I also hate mud, but I’ll walk in it to get a job done.”
He smiled at her. “You’re going to make a good detective, Bett Willis.”
“Thank you, sir.” She stood. “I’ll leave early and change into a more appropriate outfit for the club.” She paused at the door. “I made spaghetti sauce last night. Why don’t I bring us some for dinner?”
“That sounds good. I like spaghetti. Nola Dean Buckingham fed me spaghetti last night.” He was looking at the file and didn’t see the expression on Bett’s face.
“Was it good?” she asked.
“Delicious. Homemade and everything.” He still hadn’t looked up.
“Well, since you’ve had spaghetti recently, maybe I’ll bring something else.” She was thinking of the Healthy Choice jar she’d opened and added a little onion and garlic to.
Joe didn’t answer and she closed the door. It’s just like Nola Dean to be a perfect cook, and me, I’m a flop in the kitchen. I’d be no competition for her there. She headed down the hall. As a matter of fact, I’d be no competition for her in any situation. Hell, let her have Joe. He deserves better than me anyway.
* * * *
For the first time in years, Dolly went to church on Sunday. It didn’t help. She was still nervous. Though both Nola Dean and Rex had assured her last night her fears were groundless, she couldn’t accept it. Not after the call which came after midnight.
“If you don’t return my property you’re going to end up in a dumpster, too,” a deep voice said and hung up.
She spent the rest of the night sitting in a corner holding the hand gun Walter had given her one year for Christmas. Though she wasn’t sure how to use it, she would certainly put up a fight if anyone tried to come after her. When daylight finally came, she decided she had to get out of the house. Not sure where to go, she’d settled on church.
“Anyway, it couldn’t hurt me to pray a little,” she said aloud as she’d showered and dressed. She parked her car in the church parking lot in time for the eleven o’clock service.
After the service, she wasn’t sure what to do. She thought of calling Nola Dean, but decided against it. She’d leaned too much on that fragile friendship. She went to J. Edwards for lunch and as she sat at the small corner table, she made up her mind what she was going to do.
She would tell the caller to come and get anything she had that he thought belonged to him. That way she wouldn’t be admitting Walter had told her about the money and maybe the caller would give up trying to get it back.
Making the decision calmed her and by the time she reached home, she was feeling pretty good. She felt even better when she played the message on her answering machine.
“Dolly. Hi. It’s Link Holloway. I called to see how you’re doing. You don’t have to return my call. I’ll call back later and see if I can catch you in. Have a good day.”
“I wonder if Nola Dean is right about him. I can’t believe he’d molest a sixteen-year-old. She must have misunderstood.” Dolly licked her lips. “I wonder if it would upset her if I decided to become friends with him.”
She was taking off her dress. “Anyway, what do I care if she does get upset? I don’t owe Nola Dean anything,” she muttered. Then she thought of all the nice things Nola Dean had done for her since Walter’s death and added, “Well, I don’t owe her much, anyway.”
Chapter 16
Nola Dean was going over the prospectus Rex had given her on an investment. It seemed like a good real estate deal, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to get involved with a company as large as Collier, Collier, Briggs and Burton. If she wasn’t careful, she, as a much smaller organization, could be swallowed up.
“Maxie, my love,” she said to her companion on the balcony. “I’m not sure what to do. It would be nice to think I could make as much money in one deal as I can in three mo
nths at home. On the other hand, if it falls through, I could lose everything.”
The jangle of the doorbell interrupted her thoughts.
“Bett Willis,” she said somewhat surprised as she opened the door. “I hope this is a social call.”
Bett laughed. “Kind of. I took a chance you might be home and decided to stop. I hope you don’t mind?”
“Not at all. I’m relaxing with a glass of iced tea. Would you like one?”
“Yes. Thanks.”
Nola Dean dropped the papers on the kitchen table and poured a glass of tea for Bett. “I was sitting on the balcony. Would you like to go out there?
“Yes, let’s do.”
They settled in the cushioned chairs and Nola Dean asked, “What brings you out on such a lovely Sunday afternoon, Bett?”
“Actually, I met a realtor friend of yours at a condo down the street. I made an offer to purchase because I’ve been renting too long.”
“Which one?”
Bett laughed. “If you mean realtor, it was Shane Norrick. If you mean condo, it’s one at Inlet Point.”
Nola Dean laughed. “I guess my question was unclear, but I did mean the condo. It’s lovely at Inlet Point. Olive Brunson lives in that complex.”
“Oh? Do you know Ms. Brunson very well?”
“We meet on the beach occasionally. She’s a lovely woman.”
“Yes. We talked with her again because she says there’s something she keeps trying to remember about Walter Overton.”
“She told me that.” Nola Dean sipped her tea. “I was sorry to hear about the dancer. Do you think the murder is linked to Walter’s death?”
“No question about it. Joe and I went to the club last night to nose around, but we didn’t learn a thing. I hope we can get to the bottom of all of this soon.”
“So do I.”
Bett smiled at her. “Shane said he’d sold you this place.”
“Yes.”
“He seemed delighted you were here. He said he was going to call you.”
Nola Dean only nodded. All she needed now was to get involved with Shane Norrick.
She changed the subject by asking Bett when she thought she’d hear from her offer on the condo.
They fell into easy conversation and when the time was right, Bett made the comment, “I hear you make a mean spaghetti sauce.”
For an instant Nola Dean was confused, “Oh, you heard that from Joe.” She laughed. “We ran into each other at Food Lion. I bought a mountain of groceries, and he was kind enough to follow me home and help me get them inside. I thought the least I could do was feed him.” She wondered why she felt compelled to explain the dinner to Bett.
“He told me how good it was.”
“I’m glad he liked it.” Nola Dean changed the subject by asking, “When do we celebrate the purchase of a new home?”
“As soon as the offer is accepted. I made up my mind in a hurry because it’s the season when real estate is the best buy on the beach, especially if you want to be near the water.”
Thirty minutes later Bett left. Nola Dean took a deep breath and looked at Bubbles curled up in the sunbeam on the carpet. Maxie followed his mistress as she saw Bett to the door. He then went to his favorite spot under the kitchen table, where he laid down and went to sleep.
“Well, my friends,” she said to the sleeping animals. “I’m not sure if Miss Willis came by to say hello or to see what kind of relationship I’m having with her partner. I kind of think it was the latter. Well, I’ve got news for her. If she wants the handsome Joe Randell, she can have him. I’m not getting mixed up with another man in the near future and that includes Detective Randall.”
* * * *
Shane Norrick stood in the employee’s bathroom and combed back his dark brown hair, using a little extra mousse. He wanted to look especially nice when he knocked on Nola Dean’s door. He’d had her on his mind ever since he’d shown Bett Willis the condo at Inlet Point. He would have gone straight to call on her, but he had to present Bett’s offer to the sellers.
Now that he’d finished the work on the sale, he decided there was still enough time left today to go see Nola Dean. It would be pleasant to try again to have an affair with her because he found her a beautiful and desirable woman. He almost knew she’d be a good lover and he wanted to find this out for himself. Not that he hadn’t tried before, but she’d always rebuffed him. He wasn’t sure what had scared her off when he’d made a play a couple of summers ago. He knew it couldn’t be the fact that she was ten years his junior. Most women in their thirties still found him attractive.
He frowned at the mirror and moved his face closer. There were some wrinkles around the corners of his mouth which hadn’t been there earlier. He didn’t like that. The way he looked was very important to him. He also knew it was an asset in his line of work and had attributed to his many salesmanship awards. Women liked him and he learned a long time ago, if you sell the woman on a piece of property, the man, if there is one, will eventually go along.
Tom, a fellow realtor, came into the employee’s bathroom and said to Shane. “I thought I’d find you here. You have a phone call.”
“Thanks.” He turned back to the office and hoped it wouldn’t be someone to hold him up. He really wanted to get by to see Nola Dean while he had her on his mind.
“This is Shane,” he said into the phone.
“Hello, Shane. Dolly Overton here.”
“Well. Hello, Dolly,” he almost sang into the receiver.
He could hear the giggle when she said, “I met you the other day. I’m Nola Dean’s friend.”
“Yes, I remember. How are you?”
“I’m fine.” She didn’t pause before saying. “I have a question for you.”
“I’ll answer if I can.”
“I don’t know if you’ve been reading the papers or not, but my husband was murdered at Cherry Grove beach.”
“Yes, I did read that.”
“Well, I’m not sure I want to stay in this house any longer. I wondered if you’d come and tell me what I could sell it for.”
Shane pushed thoughts of Nola Dean out of his mind. He would call on her later. Business had to come first and after all, Dolly Overton wasn’t that bad looking herself. “I’d be delighted to come and look your place over, Dolly. When would be a convenient time?”
“Would this evening be okay with you?”
“Name the time.”
“How about right away, before I change my mind?”
“Wonderful. May I have your address?”
The traffic was a little heavy and it took Shane almost forty minutes to get to Dolly’s house, but when she opened the front door she didn’t seem to mind.
“I’m so sorry.” He smiled at her. “I think the tourists are staying longer and longer each year. The roads are still thick with out-of-state cars.”
“That’s okay. I have nothing but time now.” She stood aside and held the door open for him.
The fact that she’d left the top four buttons of her blouse unfastened wasn’t lost on Shane. He continued to look at her breasts when he said, “You have a lovely home, Dolly.”
“Thank you.” She was aware he was looking at her body. She liked it. “I took the liberty of chilling some wine. Would you like a glass?”
“I’d be delighted.”
He followed her into the kitchen and asked, “Do you mind if I begin to look around?”
“Help yourself.”
He opened cabinet doors. “Nice storage.”
She held the wine glass to him and liked the way his hand brushed hers as he took it. “Shall we begin going over the house now?” she whispered.
“Let’s do.” He picked up the wine bottle and followed her to the dining room.
In the living room, he refilled their glasses. In the master bedroom, he refilled them again and placed the bottle on one of the night stands. He moved to the walk-in closet and stepped inside. “It’s wonderful. You could store
anything here.”
“Yes, I like it because it holds lots of clothes. I love clothes.”
“I can tell.” He took her arm. “Your husband must have left you well fixed.”
“He had a good insurance policy and everything here is paid for.” She looked at him. “Do you think the house will bring enough for me to buy a nice condo in one of the high rises?”
“Of course—with some to spare.”
“Oh, good. I think I want to get out of here.”
“Is the insurance and the house all your husband left you?”
“Yes...no. There were some savings.”
“A lot?”
“Enough.”
“I see.” He took her arm again. “Want to show me the bathroom?”
“Yes. I think it’s the reason we bought this house.”
Shane let out a whistle when he stepped inside. “I can understand. This is one of the most beautiful bathrooms I’ve ever seen.”
She reached over and touched his arm. “See, I told you.”
He turned to her and slid his arm around her shoulder, “That is a lovemaking bathtub if ever I’ve seen one.”
“Humph...unfortunately, it has never been used for that purpose.”
Shane took his arm from her shoulder and put it around her waist. “What a shame and with such a beautiful mistress of the house.”
“Walter was a shower man. He said he thought it unsanitary for a man and woman to bathe together.” She felt his breath hot on her neck and she thought she would melt.
“Then, Walter was a fool,” he whispered. He felt her body twitch when his hand slid up her rib cage and covered the side of her breast.
“Please, Shane. We shouldn’t be doing this.”
“I think a woman like you should be doing something like this very often and in every room in this house.”
“What do you mean?”
“Didn’t Walter ever have a candle light dinner with you in the nude and then make passionate love to you under the dining room table?”
“Of course not.”
“Didn’t he ever come into your closet while you were selecting a dress and rip your underwear off and take you on the closet floor?”
She sucked in her breath, “No.”
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