Read Death Pays a Visit (A Myrtle Clover Mystery Book 7) Online

Authors: Elizabeth Spann Craig

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Death Pays a Visit (A Myrtle Clover Mystery Book 7) (9 page)

BOOK: Death Pays a Visit (A Myrtle Clover Mystery Book 7)
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Darla was clearly back on script again. Myrtle grabbed her cane and her pocketbook and she and Miles walked out of the office.

“Have a safe ride back,” called Darla. Her smile reminded Myrtle of a crocodile’s smile.

“We will,” said Myrtle. “When we eventually leave.” She gave Darla a smirk before she and Miles walked off in the direction of the elevator.

“So, that didn’t go well,” murmured Miles. “What’s our next step?”

“It went exactly as expected,” said Myrtle grimly. “And our next step is to talk to the police. Well, I guess our
very
next step is to talk to Ruby and let her know we were here so she won’t call me later.
Then
we can talk to the police.”

Ruby seemed fairly lucid. Maybe the shock of Mickey’s sudden death was responsible. Her eyes were tired when she opened the door to them. “Hi, sweeties,” she said. She looked behind them into the hall as if expecting to see an army of Greener Pastures staff or police investigators there. “Did you tell the home what happened?”

Myrtle said, “We certainly did, Ruby. We told them what we’d heard Mickey say yesterday and we told them what you heard last night.” She tightened her lips for a second, irritation with Darla sweeping over her. “But, unfortunately, they didn’t take me seriously.”

Ruby’s face fell and she nodded sadly. “I sort of thought that might be the way. Well, you did what you could, sweetie. Mickey would have appreciated it.”

“But we’re not through,” said Myrtle briskly. “Not yet. No, we’re going to talk directly to the police.” She was thoughtful for a moment. “And perhaps we should speak with Inez Wilson before we do.”

Ruby said, “Oh, but Inez isn’t here, sweetie. She got on the bus this morning to go to the mall. And that’s a long way away, you know.” Her eyebrows pulled together in a worried frown. “And—the police? Greener Pastures won’t like that.”

“Greener Pastures is of no concern of mine,” said Myrtle. “Especially in terms of what they like and don’t like. We just wanted to let you know that we’re on it. Miles and me. We’ll come back here tomorrow and start poking around a bit more to see what we can find out.”

Ruby startled Myrtle by reaching out and giving her a hug. “Thanks, sweetie,” she said. Then she pulled back to give Myrtle a hopeful look. “Can you bring your cat then, too?”

Chapter Seven

As they drove off the Greener Pastures grounds, Miles said uneasily, “Myrtle, I know you have a plan and everything, but I’ve got a concern.”

Myrtle looked over at him in surprise. “A concern? Well, share it. You’re the sidekick, after all.”

“You’re planning on having us barge into that tiny police station downtown, put Darrell on the spot, and have him call up the medical examiner, right? And all that sounds great—as long as he complies with our request. But what if he doesn’t?”

“He will,” said Myrtle calmly.

“But what if he doesn’t? What if we barge in and he feels overwhelmed and defensive and weird about the fact that the chief’s mother is making the complaint? What if it doesn’t go well? Because this is our last resort. If Darrell doesn’t want to check it out, then we don’t have a case.” Miles was gesticulating excitedly with one hand, which made Myrtle frown. Miles didn’t ordinarily get excited about
anything
. And now he was driving with one hand on the wheel.

Myrtle was eager to agree with him to ensure her personal safety. “Yes, all right, Miles. You could be right. So what’s our plan, then?”

To her relief, Miles put his other hand back on the wheel, gripping it firmly in his usual ten o’clock and two o’clock positions. “I was thinking we’d run it by Red.”

“Red? Are you out of your mind?”

Then she bit her lip as his hand flew off the wheel again, waving around to emphasize his point.

“I don’t think you’re giving him a chance. I’ve never known Red to shirk his duty—whether it’s investigating a murder or investigating a trespassing complaint. I say we fill Red in and let
him
talk to Darrell about it. Because, sure, Darrell sounds like he might be an overzealous deputy who goes above and beyond. But we don’t know how he’s going to react when he comes up against a murder.” Miles turned a bit in the driver’s seat to look at Myrtle and nearly hit someone’s mailbox.

“Fine! Fine, Miles. We’ll head straight to Red’s. I can show up there early for my babysitting gig and make lunch for Red while I’m at it. But, for heaven’s sake, put your hands back on the wheel and focus on the road! I’m not ready to meet my Maker today. I need to get at least another couple of church services under my belt before I do,” grumbled Myrtle. “And maybe a Communion.”

 

Elaine was surprised but ecstatic to see Myrtle before the assigned time. Not wanting to test her luck, she quickly grabbed her keys and hopped into her car.

Red’s eyebrows rose when he saw Miles with his mother. He’d always seemed to like Miles and enjoy talking with him, but when he saw Miles’s grimly determined face, he must have realized this was some sort of a business visit. “What can I do for you?” he asked as Miles and Myrtle sat down on the sofa together.

Myrtle nodded at Miles. This was going to be his show. He had the best shot at convincing Red that there was something that needed to be investigated.

Miles took a deep breath and seemed as if he were trying to find a starting place that didn’t involve Wanda the Psychic. His expression grew pleased as he found one. “We want to report a suspicious death that went unnoticed,” he said smoothly. “Your mother and I were visiting at Greener Pastures yesterday when we spoke with a resident who was convinced her life was in danger. Last night she died and a couple of witnesses report hearing unusual sounds coming from that room. We tried to approach it through the correct channels and relayed our concerns to Greener Pastures—Darla was the staff member. She categorically denied that anything was amiss and basically just dismissed us. So we thought we’d report it to you, Red, since we don’t know Darrell as well.”

Red leaned his head back on his navy blue recliner and looked thoughtfully at Miles. “Which resident is this?”

“Mickey Pelias,” said Miles.

Red nodded. “She’s called me before to tell me she felt threatened there. But, of course, there’s nothing I can do without an overt threat from an individual or without some kind of a break-in.”

“So you believed her?” asked Miles, eyebrows drawing together in surprise.

“I didn’t
not
believe her, let’s put it that way. She wasn’t flaky, but sharp as a tack. And she had the type of tough personality that might rub people the wrong way. But, again, there were no specific threats to address. It was more that she just had a sense of danger and she didn’t seem like the paranoid type to me.” He paused, staring at the ceiling for a moment to collect his thoughts. “So, there was a witness who heard something? More than one? And Greener Pastures didn’t call the police?” This part seemed to concern him.

Myrtle and Miles exchanged glances. Myrtle said, “Well, one witness was Ruby Sims, who the staff treats as an unreliable witness. She’s, as you would put it, flaky. But she called me before dawn this morning to tell me that Mickey was dead and that she had heard thumping noises from her room. Ruby was convinced that Mickey was murdered.”

Red sighed. “Yes, I think I know that Ruby Sims. It’s unfortunate that Ruby probably can’t supply the most helpful information, but if she got the impression of a scuffle of some type, that’s important to know. Who was the other witness?”

“An Inez Wilson. She’s credible, but apparently has a reputation for being a bit of a drama queen,” said Miles. “According to the Home, anyway.”

Red nodded, thinking. Then he said abruptly, “I’ll make a phone call.”

Myrtle blinked in surprise. “To Darrell Smith?”

“No—to the state police. The SBI needs to handle this part. The medical examiner will need to be alerted, and a forensic team should go to Greener Pastures. I’ll fill Darrell in right afterward.” He was already fishing his phone out of his pocket and moved into the back of the house briefly to talk.

Jack, who’d been playing with toys back in his bedroom, came running out on his sturdy little legs and gave Myrtle a big hug. He handed her some sort of superhero toy for her to admire, and she and Miles oohed and ahhed over it to Jack’s delight.

A few minutes later, Red came out from the back of the house. He had that restless, frustrated look about him as if he wished he could jump in his police cruiser and meet up with the state police at Greener Pastures.

Myrtle decided to distract him a little. “You know, Red, I’m a little surprised you took Mickey’s death so seriously.”

Red raised his eyebrows at her. “I take death seriously, Mama. If you can’t take
death
seriously, I don’t know what you
could
take seriously.”

“You know what I mean. I’m surprised that you listened to Miles and me and were willing to call the SBI to check it out,” said Myrtle.

“Well, I think if a twenty-year-old woman had told police that her life were in danger and then ended up dead soon afterward, with witnesses claiming to have heard sounds of a scuffle, the police would investigate. It would be shameful if the same thing happened with an elderly victim and there were no investigation.” Red looked at his watch, that restless expression on his face again. “I should go ahead and call Darrell to meet the SBI at the home.” He left the room, pushing his walker impatiently.

Jack plopped down on the floor and flew his superhero around the coffee table. Miles said in a low voice, “I think you sell Red short sometimes. He does take his job seriously and he does care about
all
of his citizens, clearly.”

Myrtle pursed her lips. “I never said he didn’t. I just said his personal oversight of
me
is a real pain in the neck.”

“Well, it looks as if the tables have turned now, right? You have an opportunity to give Red a taste of his own medicine all afternoon.”

 

Myrtle slept hard that night for the first time in ages. Because not only had she definitely practiced some oversight of Red, who had started an odd pacing on his walker that afternoon, but she’d had Jack to keep an eye on … and Jack had been in a very busy mood until he’d fallen asleep in pure exhaustion, curled up against Myrtle on the sofa. All the responsibility had worn Myrtle out, and she slept soundly until daylight beamed through her bedroom window.

She was just getting some food out for Pasha when there was a tap at her front door. She glanced at the clock and saw it was still slightly before seven. It had to be Miles.

It was Miles and he was holding a tray in his hands. “Blueberry muffins and Applewood-smoked bacon,” he said, sweeping past her into the kitchen.

“Is it my birthday?” asked Myrtle, blinking in surprise at the food coming in.

Miles put the tray down and then moved over to start making coffee. “I thought we’d just get some real fortification before we start in on questioning suspects. Which is what I’m guessing we’re doing today.”

“Absolutely,” said Myrtle. She peered at the tray of food. “Are these
homemade
blueberry muffins?”

“Of course,” said Miles smugly. “I’ve been a bachelor for long enough now that my cooking isn’t bad at all. Although I’d much rather have someone to cook for me. Which is why Greener Pastures was extremely appealing yesterday.”

Myrtle made a face. “I’d rather make my own meals than sacrifice my personal safety by staying at the Bates Motel.”

Miles said in a chiding voice, “It’s not the Bates Motel, Myrtle. It’s a perfectly nice and reputable retirement community.”

“Where you just might end up murdered at the end of the day,” muttered Myrtle.

“Honestly, the idea of being catered to is very attractive to me,” said Miles, turning on the coffeemaker and tidily cleaning up the few spilled grounds of coffee. “They cook for you. They clean your room and bathroom. They take care of the yard work and general maintenance. My air conditioner broke last night and I can tell you just how tempting Greener Pastures looks right now.”

“Oh, so now the truth is out why you’re here so early,” drawled Myrtle. “Your a/c is on the blink. You’re only visiting to get some cool air.”

“That’s not true,” said Miles stiffly.

“Whatever. Just be aware that your air conditioning issues and apparently hunger is making Greener Pastures seem like an absolutely amazing place. When, in fact, it’s not. I had my purse pickpocketed when we were over there day before yesterday. That’s two crimes I’m aware of in a twenty-four-hour period,” said Myrtle.

Miles shrugged. “Maybe you just thought you had money in your purse. Maybe you actually either spent it or left it back at home somewhere. I really doubt that the Artful Dodger is living at Greener Pastures, Myrtle.”

She glared repressively at him. “I keep tabs on my money, believe me. I don’t have enough of it to be careless with.”

There was a loud rap at the front door and Myrtle frowned. “Since you’re here, I have no idea who else could be at my door at this time of day.” She grabbed her cane and thumped to the front door.

She was starting to pull it open when Miles said quickly, “You’d better look through the window first, Myrtle.” She made a shooing gesture with her hand and continued opening the door…and was punished for her stubbornness by the sight of Erma Sherman standing there. Myrtle drew back away from Erma and her legendary bad morning breath.

Erma walked in. “Most times I’d worry about visiting people this early, but I
knew
you’d be up, Myrtle.” Her eyes lit on Miles. “Well now, isn’t this so cozy! A breakfast for two.” She gave a braying laugh and her prominent front teeth contributed to her donkey-like appearance.

Myrtle said coldly, “Miles and I are having a quick breakfast together before we visit a friend at Greener Pastures.”

Miles asked politely, “Erma, would you like to have breakfast with us?”

Myrtle turned and shot him an icy look. Erma did not need to be encouraged.

“No thanks, Miles. I’ve already eaten.” Erma wagged a finger at Myrtle. “Greener Pastures. That’s actually very interesting, because it’s one of the things I wanted to talk to you about. When I was driving into Greener Pastures at lunchtime yesterday, I saw you and Miles leaving. Then, when I walked in, I ran into Winston Rouse and he said that y’all had been at Greener Pastures the
previous
day, too. I found that really, really remarkable.”

BOOK: Death Pays a Visit (A Myrtle Clover Mystery Book 7)
2.22Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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