Marty Ambrose - Mango Bay 03 - Murder in the Mangroves (25 page)

“And Mallie.” Aunt Lily smiled at me. A shadow of sadness
still lingered around her eyes, but now that the truth was out
about Alberto’s patent, peace had found its way there too. Her
personal history with him remained private.

“How’s Mama Maria?” I patted her hand.

“Surviving. That’s about all she’ll be able to do for a while,
but that’s something,” Aunt Lily said. “I’ll be there for her
every step of the way.”

We fell silent. It seemed too soon to be lighthearted. Gina
still had to be mourned.

“Hello, ladies,” Cole said as he ducked under my awning.
“Are you ready for the Mango Festival?”

“I plumb forgot that today’s the day,” Wanda Sue declared.
“We have to go-for Gina’s sake. You know they decided to
keep her as the posthumous queen, and even Brandi was okay
with it.”

“That’s excellent.” Cole stood behind me and brushed a light
kiss on my head. It should’ve felt comforting, but, instead, it
reminded me of the burning excitement of Nick Billie’s lips.
Heat rose up my neck, and I picked up an empty paper plate
and briefly fanned myself.

“Don’t you have to cover the festival for the Observer?”
Aunt Lily inquired.

“I didn’t get the assignment-hah! Apparently, when Bernice
was recovering from her second hangover a couple of days
ago, she tripped over an empty beer bottle and broke her ankle.
Tragic.” I shook my head in mock sorrow. “Anyway, she’ll be
out of commission till Anita gets back, and I’m using the break
from both of them as an opportunity to take a little vacation.”
I stretched my arms behind my head with a self-satisfied expression.

“Madame Geri’s curse strikes again,” Aunt Lily sang out.

Wanda Sue crossed herself.

Just then, geezer rock burst forth once more from the ramshackle RV next door. “That’s it. I’ve had it.” I walked over and
pounded on the siding. “Get out here and show yourselves, you
aging hippie jerks!”

Laughter erupted, and I heard a door open. Two sets of bare
feet came around the front of the tenement on wheels.

“Anita!” I exclaimed as I spied her saddlebag-brown face.

“Hi, kiddo.” Her arm was linked through Mr. Benton’s. He
beamed as if he’d just spent a week with Cameron Diaz. Jeez.

“You’re the ones who’ve been playing that loud rock day
and night?”

Cole placed a hand on my shoulder.

She cackled. “Guilty as charged”

“Do you know what’s been going on this last week? Murder
and mayhem! And I couldn’t even get any rest at night,” I
ranted. “What with Gina’s death, Butthead Bernice in charge,
Trish Palmer’s arrest-“

“Aw, muzzle it,” Anita cut me off. “I heard that Madame
Geri put a curse on my sister, and now she’s laid up. That’s a
shame. And it means I have to take charge again. Vacation is
over, kiddo. You need to get your butt in gear and cover the
Mango Festival today. I want full coverage-photos, interviews,
you name it. Let’s get cracking.” She snapped her fingers. “I’m
baacccccck”

Oh, boy.