Chilled in Chattanooga (A Trixie Montgomery Cozy Mystery Book 4) (11 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

F
amished, we swung into Checker’s drive-through for some burgers and fries. A hefty dose of grease and salt calmed my nerves considerably. When we returned to the hotel, we unanimously voted to take a nap. Uncooperative thoughts kept me from falling asleep, so I made a mental checklist of suspects we hadn’t questioned yet.

We hadn’t spoken to George, Tippi or Ladonna. I didn’t know where they were staying and contemplated how I’d get the information. Before I could come up with a plan, I faded into dreamland. When I woke up, Dee Dee sat propped up against the headboard reading “Cowgirls Don’t Cry.” Nana snored softly.

“Must be a good book. Maybe I’ll borrow it when you finish.”

“It’s a sweet romance. You’d enjoy it.” She placed a bookmark in between the pages and laid it on the bed. “I called Stephanie while you were sleeping to check on the babies.”

Ever since a cat decided my back was a landing pad, I’d been wary of the furry animals. I just didn’t trust them. I tolerated Dee Dee’s cats because I cared about her. “How are they doing? Are they missing their mama?”

“Trixie, I know you don’t like cats, but you’d love my new baby. Have I told you about Whiskers?”

“No, I don’t believe you have,” I fibbed. If there was one thing I could do to repay Dee Dee for being the best friend I’d ever had, it was to listen to her cat stories. “Tell me about him.”

“He’s the cutest thing. Old Mrs. Bates came in the store the other day and told us about a little kitten that needed adopting. Knowing my love for cats she thought of me right away. As soon as I saw him I couldn’t resist. He’s black and has a little white stripe down his face. But that’s not the cutest thing about him.”

She rearranged her pillows and sat up a little straighter. “The mother left him, or maybe she was trapped or killed, but he still wants to nurse. He sucks on my fingers. Now isn’t that the sweetest thing you’ve ever heard?”

“Uh, yeah, that is sweet, Dee. Are you going to keep Whiskers?” I stifled the urge to roll my eyes.

“I sure am. He’s like one of the family now.”

Nana sat up. “What are y’all talking about? I thought I heard somebody was sucking on Dee Dee’s fingers.” She raised her eyebrows.

“I was talking about my new kitten, Nana. He still wants to nurse.”

“Oh, thank goodness. I thought it was somebody you were dating.” Nana cackled at her little joke. Dee Dee joined her and before I knew it, I was laughing, too.

“I want to talk with Detective Sams, but she’s probably not in the office on Sunday. I’ll try first thing in the morning.” I headed to the bathroom to freshen up.

“Let’s do something fun. How about going to the Tennessee Aquarium? I’ve heard it’s a wonderful place to visit and we could use a break. We could start our questioning again tomorrow,” Dee Dee offered.

“That’s a great idea. Don’t you think so, Trixie?”

Somehow it just didn’t seem right to go sightseeing while I was a suspect in a murder case. But I couldn’t talk to the detective and I didn’t know how to get in touch with George or Tippi, so why not have a little fun. “Okay, let’s do it.”

“All right!” Nana hopped out of bed and beat me to the bathroom. Dee Dee grinned from ear to ear.

The rest of the evening passed without incident. We grabbed a sandwich and chips at the aquarium deli for a late supper. I slept fitfully, my slumber filled with bizarre dreams. I was glad when Nana sounded the morning alarm.

“Rise and shine girls. Time’s a wasting.” Nana was already dressed in a teal green jogging outfit. “Let’s go. We have a murder to solve.”

Dee Dee pulled the covers over her head. If I had to get up she did, too. I took aim and threw my pillow onto her huddled form.

Dee Dee grabbed the pillow and took aim. A knock at the door interrupted her retaliation.

Giggling, I jumped up and opened the door, “Mama!” I flew into her arms. “It’s so good to see you. What are you doing here?”

“I couldn’t sit home one minute longer worrying about you girls.” She came in, shrugged off her coat, and gave Nana and Dee Dee a hug. “Nana, how’s your arm? Does it hurt?”

Nana held up her pink cast. “Aw, it hurts a little, but not enough to keep me from helping Trixie solve another crime.”

“Trixie, what are you going to do?” Mama looked like she’d aged ten years since the last time I saw her. I hated being the object of her concern. I’d given her enough to worry about since moving back to Vans Valley. When I’d married Beau a weight lifted from her shoulders, now I’d gone and gotten myself into another mess. I seemed to be a murder magnet.

I threw on a pair of khaki’s and a red pullover sweater. Dee Dee wore jeans with a blue sweatshirt covered in a snow scene. She carried an oversized Laurel Burch purse to match.

We ate pastries at the Café Espresso located in the lobby. I managed to get Mama alone and asked her to keep Nana busy, while I visited with Detective Sams. Nana wasn’t happy, but she acquiesced. We planned to meet back in the lobby later in the day.

“Hey, Trix. Do you want me to give you a break and drive?”

Dee Dee’s driving usually left me ready to kiss the ground when we arrived at our destination, but it was too tempting to pass up. “Sure, why not live dangerously?”

“Aw, come on, Trixie my driving isn’t that bad.” She offered me a knowing smile. “Where to first?”

“Let’s head down to the police station and talk with Detective Sams. I hope she’s receptive.” I was happy we arrived at the station without a mishap.

A young blonde with short spiked hair sat behind the desk. She entered data in the computer like a pro. She looked up from her work and smiled.

“How may I help you?”

“Is Detective Sams in? I need to talk to her,” I said.

Dee Dee nodded in agreement.

“She just came in. Let me tell her you’re here.” She asked our names and walked into the detective’s office.

Before we’d settled in our seats, Detective Sams followed the officer back into the room. “Hi, Trixie. Come on in.” Dee Dee tagged along. I appreciated her support more than she’d ever know. Then again, I was there for her when she was falsely accused of a murder in Dahlonega. She understood what it meant to have a true friend who would stand by your side no matter what.

The detective sat in an old swivel office chair. It squeaked in protest when her ample bottom hit the seat. I couldn’t get over how much she reminded me of Dee Dee. It was obvious they saw the resemblance, too, by the way they studied each other. “Hello Ms…”

“Lamont,” Dee Dee filled in for her. “But you can call me Dee Dee.”

“Okay Dee Dee.” She looked at me. “Is there something I can do for you? You here to give a confession?”

Yeah, right.
“No ma’am. I’m here to offer my help.” Oh-my-goodness, now I sounded like Nana, and I imagined Detective Sams thought I’d be as much help.

She confirmed my suspicion when she sat back and laughed out loud. When she saw that we weren’t laughing she leaned forward and placed her arms on her desk. “You’re serious.”

“She’s serious,” Dee Dee said. “We’ve already talked to several of the people who were in Trixie’s class and she has some information she’d like to share. She helped solve three murders and I’m sure she’d be an asset to your investigation.” Dee Dee made it sound like I was a seasoned detective instead of someone who stumbled into murder scenes.

“Well, why don’t you tell me what you’ve learned so far, then I can be the judge of that.”

“Detective Sams,” I had to stop to gulp back tears, “we’ve talked with Lori Wilson and she told us Annie failed her brother in college and kept him from graduating with his class. She didn’t have any empathy for Annie. And Bodene was charged with his ex-wife’s murder. Good grief, surely he’s at the top of your suspect list.”

The detective held up a piece of paper. “I have my list right here.” She laid it back down. “ And Bodene was acquitted of all charges against him. Like I told you, we’re looking at everyone. Listen Trixie, I like you. My gut tells me you’re not guilty of killing Annie. But the fact is, the evidence points toward you.” She leaned back in her chair, one knee bouncing.

Dee Dee spoke up. “Don’t forget to tell her about Amanda.”

“What about Amanda?”

The young lady from the front desk stuck her head in the door. “Excuse me, Detective. I need to see you for a minute.”

“I’ll be back right back.” The detective closed the door softly behind her.

Dee Dee grabbed her phone from her purse. “Keep a look-out, Trix.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

“W
hy?” I had no idea what was brewing in that mind of hers.

“Don’t ask questions, just let me know when she’s coming back.”

“Okay.” I kept an eye on the door and listened for signs of the detective returning.

Dee hurried around the detective’s desk, hitting her thigh on the corner. “Ouch, that hurt.” She stopped to rub the painful spot and hurriedly took a picture of the paper containing the names of the other students. She no sooner sat back down when the detective walked in.

“Sorry about the interruption,” she said. “I just got an update from the coroner’s office. The poison found in Annie’s body is from the Rhododendron family. She locked in on my eyes. I’m sure she was watching for a reaction from me, but the only one she got was shock.

I broke the stare under her scrutiny. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I just wondered what you knew about this.” She didn’t take her eyes off me.

“We don’t know anything about killing somebody with flowers,” Dee Dee said.

“She’s right, Detective.” Could this get any worse?

Detective Sams’ body relaxed and she released her gaze as she changed the subject. “Do you want to tell me about Amanda now?”

I looked at Dee Dee, who nodded for me to go ahead. “We saw her on the riverboat the other night and she said her room was down the hall from Annie’s. She heard my conversation with Tippi, confirming she was in the hall with me. Tippi could have been coming from Annie’s room making her a likely suspect.”

“Like I’ve already said, we’ll be checking everyone out. I can’t keep you from talking to the other writers short of arresting you, so I hope you’ll watch your step. If the killer is out there, then they’re not going to like you sniffing around for clues.” Detective Sams stood up signaling she was through. “I suggest you stick to antiquing, or whatever brought you here.”

“She came here to write a magazine article and got framed for murder,” Dee Dee blurted. “No thanks to you she may lose her job—”

“Yes ma’am we will.” I grabbed Dee’s sleeve and tugged her toward the door. “Let’s go, Dee Dee.”

We made it back to the car, even though my knee protested every step in the dropped temperatures. “What were you doing with your phone?” I had gotten into the driver’s seat. I needed to feel like I was in control of something in my life.

“You’re going to love me for this, Trix. I took a picture of Detective Sam’s list of suspects. And it has where everyone is staying. Who’s your best friend now?” She grinned from ear to ear.

Oh my gosh, if the detective ever found out what Dee did, we were dead meat. But it wasn’t like we were on her poker night invitation list in the first place. “You’re going to paddle me further up the river.” I jammed the key in the ignition and realized the information could save me from a lifetime in the big house. “Do not EVER tell Beau how you came to have these addresses, promise?”

“Pinky-swear.” Dee Dee mimed turning a key to her lips, and threw it away. “Humm, it looks like Tippi’s staying on the mountain and George is staying at the Sheraton Read House on Broad Street. Who do you want to drop in on first?

“Let’s visit George first. I want to go back to the hotel and look through the pictures I have on the Ghoston murder. Something looked familiar to me in one of the pictures and I want to double check it.”

“Okay, let’s head on over to Broad Street.”

The Sheraton Read House was located right down the road. It was an enormous old building and I couldn’t wait to get inside and explore the historic structure. I remember as a child history bored me to tears. But since I’d been writing for
Georgia by the Way
I can’t seem to get enough. I knew there’d be some great history behind this building.

“Look! That has to be it. Isn’t it beautiful?” Dee Dee turned to the side to get a better view. Oh, I can’t wait to see how it’s decorated. It must be full of antiques. That reminds me, I need to call Sarah and see how the store’s doing. I swanny I don’t know how she keeps going at her age. I hope I have half as much energy as she does at eighty.

“Me, too, Dee.” We opted to use the parking deck next to the hotel. “Do you think we’ll have any trouble getting the number to his room?”

“Let’s ask the desk clerk to contact George to meet us in the lobby. You can tell him you’re from the magazine.”

“Good idea.” We walked the short distance to the elevator. As the doors opened into the lobby, I heard Dee Dee gasp.

“Would you look at this?” She stepped into the lobby and surveyed the huge room. “Can you spell opulence with a capital “O?”

She was right. Oversized chandeliers hung from the two-story ceiling in the atrium. Deep red couches and chairs were spread throughout the area, welcoming travelers. A concert grand piano graced the center of the room. The piano’s reflection shone brightly from the marble floors.

I noticed a plaque showing the Read House was established in 1926. It wasn’t hard to imagine the clientele of that time period. I pictured women attired in dropped waist dresses with a long string of pearls slung around their necks, their scandalous chin-length bobs turning heads.

Dee Dee nudged my arm. “Hey, close your mouth, a fly’s going to take up residence.”

“I don’t remember when I’ve seen anything so grand.” I did a three-sixty turn to soak up the décor.

“I know,” she said. “I wish we had time to investigate, but we have work.” Dee Dee pointed toward the reception desk.

The clerk behind the register smiled as we approached. “Your first time here?”

We nodded.

“Everyone is amazed the first time. Beautiful isn’t it?”

Dee Dee returned his smile. “Yes, it is.”

I could have stood there extolling the magnificence of the Read House all day, but if I didn’t find Annie’s killer, and soon, I’d be a guest in the big house.