Away in a Murder (7 page)

“But he’s gay.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “So what if he is? What’s that got to do with what you did?”

“I hate gays. They should all be hung from the nearest tree,” Al said.

“Is that an official comment?” the reporter said.

Al just looked flustered. He looked at his guys and barked, “Pack up we’re leaving. I’ll meet you at the hotel.”

One of our security guards came forward. “I’ll escort you,” he told Al.

“I don’t need to be escorted,” Al said as he stepped down from his box.

That’s when Marlowe stepped up. He was in full police chief uniform. “Sir, it’s either him or me. Your choice,” he said.

Al just huffed and let the security guard escort him out.

The reporter turned to me and asked if he could interview me. I agreed. He asked me questions about the things that Al had said in the original interview. I denied everything and set the record straight. When we were through we shook hands and I thanked him for coming to see us.

The reporter then walked over to Nigel and spoke to him for a few moments. They shook hands and did what I can only call a manly hug. I heard the reporter say, “Tell your dad I said hi.” And he and his crew prepared to leave.

Nigel walked over to me smiling. “Old friend of my Dad’s. Dad saved his life once. Today he returned the favor by saving my career.”

“And mine,” I said. “Thank you, Nigel. You are my hero.” I couldn’t help but smile at him. Right now he was my favorite employee.

Everybody congratulated me and hugged me. I was happy but exhausted. I decided that Frankie, Pete and I would have a quiet dinner at my place and then I was going to go to bed early. And after a pleasant dinner of takeout with my son and his friend that’s exactly what I did.

I slept wonderfully the night we sabotaged Al. I woke up the next morning feeling refreshed. I went in to work and had a very productive day. It was my “trenches day”, as we called it. One day a week all of the upper level management team had to work a shift in the park. They had to do it in full uniform, not in street clothes. They had to be equals with everyone else. They could work in the gift shops, at the turnstiles, in janitorial, in entertainment, in stroller rentals, in ticket sales, in an eatery, or at an attraction. However, they had to be trained in the area first, just like everyone else.

The idea was to keep upper level management in touch with the reality of working in the park. I didn’t want them to lose touch with that reality. Also, we needed the help in the park. Having management work helped keep payroll down. Even when we could afford to fully staff the park some day, I still wanted to have “trenches day”. When that day would be, however, I could not predict.

I had spent the day in a gift shop. I stocked the shelves, I rang up guests, and I cleaned the store. I spent time with the people who worked there every day and heard their comments and concerns. I was tired, but I felt great. As I was walking home from work Marlowe called me.

“I’ve been trying to call you all day,” he said.

I explained that I was doing a “trenches day” and due to company policy I could not answer my phone while I was “on the clock”. He laughed, but I knew he understood.

“So, what time am I picking you up? You never told me?” he said.

“You’re right, I didn’t. But you have to admit I’ve had a lot of distractions lately.”

“And you’re doing it again. What time, Misty?”

“Ok, how about seven? That will give me time to go home and change.”

He started to sing, “Don’t go changin’, to try and please me…”

I laughed, “You’re no Billy Joel.”

“Neither are you,” he said.

“Well that’s probably a good thing.”

“Yea, it is. You’re much better looking. Will that ape at your gate let me in?”

“The guard will let you in. You are on the nice list. For now,” I teased him.

“For now?”

“Well, we’ll see where you rank after tonight.”

“Ok, I’m not sure how to take that.”

“See you at seven, Marlowe.”

“See you at seven, Misty.”

As I walked the stairs to my apartment it hit me. I had a date. I haven’t been on a date in over thirty years! I mean the only man I ever even dated was now my ex-husband. What was I thinking? I had no clue how I was supposed to act. And, oh my God, I had to pick out an outfit. How do I look good, but not too sexy? Or too ugly? Uugh! Maybe I should cancel.

I opened the door to my apartment and Frankie and Pete were in there waiting for me. I’d forgotten Frankie had left early today. There was a tray of
hors d'oeuvres
and a glass of milk waiting for me. I stopped and just looked at them.

“What are you up to?” I asked.

“You have a date with Marlowe tonight, right?” Frankie asked.

“Right, but how did you know?”

“He told me. I could answer my phone when I was working today.”

I stuck my tongue out at him.

“Mature, Mom. Anyway, remember when I was little and Angie and I used to sit on your bed and watch you get ready to go out with Dad?” Frankie said.

“Yes,” I asked with some suspicion.

“Well, tonight the part of Angie will be played by Pete.”

Pete just smiled at me like a little kid would.

I laughed. “Well, I guess I need the help.”

“Good,” Pete said. “Now drink the milk to absorb the alcohol. And have a little bit to eat. Not too much or you’ll ruin your appetite. But, you don’t want to look like a pig on your first date. Save that that for after you’re married.”

I laughed. I hoped he was kidding any way. I took the milk, Pete picked up the tray of
hors d'oeuvres
and we all went in to my bedroom.

Pete set the tray on my dresser and plopped down on my bed. Looking at him I thought of something I never had before, was Pete gay? It struck me that he was acting like it. And if so did that mean that Frankie was gay? Well, I’d file that away for later. Right now I had a mini crisis to deal with.

“Ok, where are you going?” Pete asked.

“A new restaurant opened in town. He wants to take me there for dinner,” I said.

Frankie started tapping on his phone. “Oh, it’s an Italian place. Looks relaxing.”

“Ok, Italian. New. Probably dim lighting,” Pete said. Then he disappeared in to my closet.

I drank my milk and nibbled on the
hors d'oeuvres while I waited for my personal fashion designer to pick out my outfit. In a few minutes Pete came out of the closet, so to speak, with an outfit and shoes for me. He laid them on the bed and waved his hand over them as if he’d performed a magic trick. Frankie spoke first.

“Don’t you think that skirt is a little short for a first date? Not just because she’s my mom,” he said.

“Well, I won’t know until she tries it on,” Pete said rolling his eyes at Frankie.

I took one more hors d'oeuvre, grabbed the hangers and went in to my
large ensuite to change. Then I came out to be inspected by my two aids.

“Oh, sexy,” Pete said. “Yes, much too short for a first date.”

He went back in to my closet and brought out a white leather skirt with some laser cut detailing. “Here, this one is edgy without being slutty,” he said.

I laughed and took the hanger from him. I changed and came out to model.

“Perfect,” they both said.

After that Pete picked out my shoes, the first ones didn’t go with the new skirt, apparently. Then he fixed my makeup and redid my hair. And he did a very good job.

I admired my image in the mirror and was very surprised at how good I looked. Not that I thought I was ugly. I was about five feet six inches tall and only about 150 pounds. My blonde hair was still natural and I really had no wrinkles to speak of. As a teenager with acne I always read that having oily skin meant less wrinkles as I aged. I didn’t care then, but I was glad now.

“Pete, I think you missed your calling,” I said.

“My parents wouldn’t allow it. I had a family full of lawyers. I had to be a lawyer. But, now, who knows. Maybe I’ll change careers.”

“You make a better living as a lawyer,” Frankie said.

“True, and I love my money,” Pete said. “But my uncle does very well as a stylist. He was once even the stylist for that dead heavy metal singer, Misty Breeze. Such a tragedy, she was beautiful.”

I looked at him. “Kevin is your uncle?”

Pete looked at me in surprise. “Yea, how did you know?”

“I used to know Misty Breeze. Next time you talk to your uncle tell him that Misty Summer says hi. And that I miss him.”

“You got it.”

What were the odds that Pete’s uncle would be someone I knew from the past? Wow. It really was a small world.

Frankie was sitting on my bed looking at me. I could practically see the wheels in his head turning. I wondered what he was thinking. I wanted to ask, but not with Pete around. Anyway, that’s when the door bell rang.

“Mom, you stay in here. We’ll talk to Marlowe for a few minutes. It’s better to keep him waiting. That way you don’t seem desperate,” Frankie said smiling.

“I’m not desperate.”

“Oh, and it wouldn’t hurt to brush your teeth. Fresh breath and all,” Pete said. “Especially for the goodnight kiss.”

The two of them went to have a turn at driving Marlowe crazy in the living room. I followed Pete’s advice and brushed my teeth. Although, wouldn’t eating kind of ruin the effect of fresh breath? Then I put the things I needed in a little purse that I hoped Pete would approve of, and went in to the living room.

When I entered Marlowe and the boys stood up. Wow did Marlowe look good. He was wearing a nice button down shirt, grey dress slacks, and wing tip black dress shoes. When I saw him my heart skipped a beat. Wow, I hadn’t reacted like that when looking at a man in years.

“Are you ready?” he smiled at me.

“Wait,” Pete said. He walked over to me and did some last minute adjustments. “There, now you’re perfect.

“Thanks,” I said to Pete. To them both I said, “Don’t wait up.”

“We will,” was Frankie’s response.

“Don’t be out too late or you’re grounded,” Pete threw in.

“Good night,” I said as I closed the apartment door.

When we dot to the car Marlowe opened the car door for me and I got in. I was impressed. He cleaned his car for our date. After he got in the car Marlowe started to laugh. I hoped it wasn’t at me.

“What’s so funny?” I asked.

“You’re son and his friend are very protective over you. They were asking me what my intentions were.”

“Oh, wow. That is funny. And I barely know Pete.”

“Oh, that’s even funnier.”

“Frankie I can understand, I mean he knows the only man I ever dated was Frank,” I said.

“Really? No one else? I mean even before Frank?”

“No, fell in love with him in Junior high. That was it.”

“Impressive,” was all he said.

He didn’t mention his ex-wife and I was not going to push it. It was probably still painful for him. If our relationship grew he would tell me when he was ready. I’d wait.

As we drove I enjoyed the view of the city. Adventure Planet was beginning to bring tourists in. This was reflected in the businesses here. Buildings were looking like they had been fixed up. People were walking the streets shopping, dining, or just strolling. And the city was beginning to decorate for the Christmas holiday season. There were strings of lights everywhere. The trees were beginning to sparkle with twinkle lights.

Even some of the empty lots were decorated with holiday scenes. There was a manger scene, a Kwanza scene, a Hanukkah scene, and plenty of Christmas scenes and decorations everywhere. It was an odd sight for me. I mean there was no snow and the temperature right now was around seventy five degrees. I was having an “I’m lucky to live in Florida” moment.

When we arrived at the restaurant Marlowe used the valet parking. Something Frank would never do. Uh, oh that was bad. I’d have to remind myself, don’t compare him to Frank. Don’t compare him to Frank.

We were seated and Marlowe ordered wine. I had to interrupt.

“I’m sorry, I don’t drink. Ever.”

Marlowe and the waiter both looked at me like I had a disease. I was used to it.

“Ever?” Marlowe asked.

“Ever,” I said.

“Well. Can I?”

“You’re driving. But then I can drive if need be. You can drink I have nothing against it, I just don’t like alcohol. I’ll have a cola.”

“I’ll have one glass of wine,” Marlowe said. The waiter took the order and left.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1…

“Why don’t you drink?” Marlowe asked like I knew he would.

“I think it goes back to trying alcohol for the first time when I was fourteen. I got very, very sick. I can’t even stand the smell of it now.”

“Fourteen?” he said. He seemed amazed.

“I was hanging out with a lot of adults then. They drank. I thought I’d try it so I’d fit in.”

“You’ve tried again, as a legal adult I mean?”

“Yes. People try to push it on me all the time. I even had someone sneak it in my soda once. I smelled it immediately.”

“Ok, well, that’s one weird thing about you. Let’s order dinner then we’ll talk about weird things about me.”

“It’s a deal,” I said.

Marlowe asked what I wanted to eat and then he ordered for me. It was a gentlemanly habit that I admired. And so did the waiter by the look of approval he gave Marlowe.

“Ok, so what’s weird about you?” I asked him after the waiter left.

“Um, my cat is deaf.”

“Your cat is deaf?”

“Yep. Her name is Wilhelmina. I call her Willie. I found her. I was walking from my car to my apartment one day and I heard a noise. It was a little tiny squeak. I looked in a bush and there was this little white ball of fur.”

He was interrupted by the waiter bringing our food. As we started to eat he finished his story.

“So, I called out, trying to get the animal’s attention. She didn’t move. So, I reached in and grabbed her.”

“That was dumb, she could have bit you,” I said.

“Nah, she was too scared. The poor little thing looked like she hadn’t eaten in days. I went back to my car, turned the siren on and took her to the vet. They kept her overnight. That’s how I found out that she was deaf.”

“Wow.”

“Yea, she’s a little tiny white thing. Only weighs about five pounds. She loves to cuddle. All she wants is to sit on your lap and be loved.”

“Oh, sounds like a sweetie,” I said. I’d never seen this side of him, but I liked it.