miss fortune mystery (ff) - bloodshed in the bayou (3 page)

“Carter LeBlanc!” Mom drew herself up in her chair, “You’ve known me since you were five! Do you think I’m an idiot?”

I looked at my mother in astonishment. Where had this woman come from? I hadn’t seen her in years.

“No Ma’am.” Carter shook his head. “I don’t think you’re an idiot. But I don’t think you killed him either.”

“Just answer the question, Mom.” I said. “How did you know dad was dead?”

“Because he came to see me two days ago. Because I shot him in the head and dumped him in the swamp near Sinful.” She had a haughty tone in her voice. She really believed she’d done it!

Deputy LeBlanc looked at her for a few minutes in silence as I tried to understand what I’d just heard. Mom knew details of the case that no one else knew yet. I was the first person Carter had told about the gunshot wound.

“Could Walter have told people about the gunshot wound?” I asked Carter. His uncle Walter had found the body. Maybe he’d said something, word spread, Peggy Sue told Mom and that’s how Mom knew?

“No.” the Deputy said. “My uncle knows better than to leak the information about a case. I trust him.”

He rose to his feet. “Can I talk to you out in the hall please?”

I nodded and patted Mom’s hand. “We’ll be right back.”

Once the door closed behind us, Carter looked up and down the hallway. “I might have to arrest her.”

“What? No! She couldn’t have done it!” I protested.

“Let me talk to the administrators here. If they can give me proof that she couldn’t get out of here, I’ll let her stay.” He patted me on the arm and took off.

I went back into the room. “Mom, Dad couldn’t have visited you here. You’re imagining it.”

Mom shook her head. “No. I remember quite clearly. He came into my room. I shot him. End of story.”

“Oh really,” I said, folding my arms over my chest. “And how did you get a gun? Why didn’t anyone hear it go off? How did you get out with a body and go all the way to Sinful to dump it, then make it back here without being noticed?”

She frowned. “I don’t know, but I did.”

I came over and sat down next to her. “If Dad was here, what did you two talk about that made you want to shoot him?”

“I don’t remember.” She stared at me without really looking at me. “He just barged in, yelled something, and then he was dead.” Mom smiled. “It’s okay, Margaret. He deserved to die.” She said as if she was talking about why she’d arranged a vase of flowers the way she did. Then she turned to look back out the window.

“Mom?” I asked. There was no answer. We were done here whether I liked it or not.

I joined Deputy LeBlanc in the lobby, where he was talking to the receptionist. I waited until he was done.

“Well,” He said as he walked over to me. “She did have a visitor two days ago. And his name was Hugo Ancelet. The receptionist described him to me and it sounds like him.”

I stepped backward, grabbing onto a table. “That’s not possible…”

“On the other hand,” Carter said. “They’re going to check video recordings of the grounds from that day and follow up with the staff who were here when he came by, to see if your mother was missing at any time.  Right now they’re searching her room.  I’m going to let her stay here until they get back to me with the results.”

“Okay.” Was all I said. Carter led me out to the car and we got in. The drive back to Sinful was long and very quiet.

A text from Peggy Sue left me saying goodbye to the deputy to meet my sister at the funeral home. This day was getting better and better.

“What do you want?” I asked my sister as I found her in the main lobby. A grim, gray looking man with a dour expression stood next to her, groveling at her elbow. Mr. Gracie was the undertaker, as was his father, grandfather, and great grandfather. They were the Catholic funeral home. I suppose they’d take Protestants in a pinch, but no one had ever asked them, since the Baptists had the other Gracie Family Funeral Home.

Yes, both funeral homes were related to each other. They never spoke because they were still feuding over The War of Northern Aggression (that’s the Civil War to you Yankees, although most folks round here would say there was nothing civil about it).  Due to his position as a “Lincoln Man,” Zebediah Gracie refused to work with his Jefferson Davies supporting brother so he converted to maintain the dead people for the Protestants and that was that. Feuds last a long time in the South.

“I’ll give you a moment,” Mr. Gracie nodded at my sister and me and walked off.

Peggy Sue led me to a room filled with coffins. “I just wanted to know what you think.” She waved at a huge, ugly, pink metal coffin. “The Heavenly Rest With Jesus is $40,000,” and then she pointed at a pewter colored monstrosity with the word Father in scroll on the side, “Or the Sublime Spirit Of Angels for $50,000.”

“What? I’m not paying for anything more than a cardboard box for that man!” What was she thinking?

Peggy Sue’s lips formed a tight, thin line, “Margaret! I cannot bury our Father in something so indecent! What will people think?”

I shook my head. “I’m not paying one penny for it. And you’re an idiot if you do.”

My sister sniffed. “Of course, I’ll pay for the whole funeral. You just need to be there looking sufficiently mournful.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah. And what are people going to think when Mom’s not there because she’s been arrested for murdering him?”

That hit just the right nerve. My twin’s face went pale and her eyes grew wide. The flawless veneer was beginning to crack.

“What on Earth are you talking about? Why would anyone think Mother killed him?”

I shrugged. “Because that’s what she just told Deputy LeBlanc and me, not one hour ago.”

Peggy Sue clutched her chest, slightly wrinkling her lavender, linen dress. “My God!” She wailed as she imagined her status in the community losing even one level. “They can’t really believe she did it! Can they?”

“I wouldn’t think so, but Carter says it’s possible.” I should’ve felt bad, but to be honest, I was really enjoying the show. Of course, I didn’t want Mom arrested any more than my sister did, but it was entertaining watching the wheels turn behind her eyes as she probably wondered what the PEO Secret Society would think.

She pulled out her cell and began dialing. “I’m calling Sheriff Lee! Huntington and I gave money to his campaign and I’ll be damned if I’ll let him arrest Mother.”

I left her to it and wandered into the parlor where our dearly departed Father would rest for all the population of Sinful to see. This was ridiculous – thinking of expensive caskets, flowers and making sure you kept your standing in the community over a man like Hugo Ancelet.

Peggy Sue stalked into the room a few minutes later, nostrils flaring. “Damned fool of a Sheriff! Well I’m not going to give him one dime from here on out!”

“What did he say?” I asked – even though I knew the answer.

“That they are pressing charges against Mother tomorrow! Can you believe that?” My sister thundered. “I cannot deal with this right now!”

“What do you suggest?” I asked.

“Well obviously,” she looked at me, “You’re going to have to figure something out. You’ll have to solve this so we can clear Mother’s name!”

“What?” I asked, a bit stunned.

“Well get on with it, Margaret!” She snapped. “I have to find Mr. Gracie and take care of the funeral. I can’t do everything!”

As she stormed out, I wondered just what the hell I’d gotten myself into.

Chapter 5

Francine’s Diner was packed for lunch but I still managed to score a small table near the back. I was contemplating running away from home as I took my seat and stared at the menu.

“Hi Margaret!” Ally stood next to my table, order pad in hand. “What can I get you?” When you’re the only restaurant in a small town, people expect you to know what you want before you even hit the door. The menu might be a tad limited, but it was the best food in the state.

“Sweet tea, chicken fried steak, and a private investigator.” I mumbled. Did I just say that? I couldn’t afford to hire a private detective? I didn’t even know how to hire one.

“What do you need a detective for?” Ally frowned.

I told her what had happened and she listened, making supportive sounds as I spoke. “What am I going to do?” I asked her at the end.

“First off,” Ally said as she looked around. “I’m going to move you to a different table.”

I got up and followed her to a table with three women sitting at it. I recognized two of them.

“Hey Gertie, Ida Belle.” I said half-heartedly to the elderly ladies. Seated with them was a stunning, young blonde I’d never seen before.

“Why Margaret Susan Ancelet!” Ida Belle patted the chair next to her. “I just heard about your father. I’m so sorry!”

“Thanks.” I said taking a seat. I’d known these two women all my life. They were older than my mother, but had always looked in on us since our father left. After we graduated high school, both Peggy Sue and I’d received full scholarships to Tulane from the Sinful Ladies Society.

The Sinful Ladies ran things in this town. No one argued with that. It’s just how things were. How they’d always been. Led by Gertie and Ida Belle, the Sinful Ladies were widowed or single older women who cared about Sinful enough to force their influence on it. Nobody questioned their unwritten authority, except for maybe the Catholics, led by Celia Arceneaux’s God’s Wives, but there was little they could do about it.  

I was still in a bit of a haze as I heard Ally saying something.

“…and now she needs to hire a private investigator! I thought y’all could help her out.”

A look of excitement crossed Gertie’s wizened features and Ida Belle started nodding.

“Of course we’ll help!” Ida Belle patted my hand.

“Margaret,” Gertie grinned. “This is our friend Fortune. She’s a librarian from out of town just staying at her Aunt Marge’s house for the summer, clearing up a few things.

I looked at the pretty young woman. “Oh! I’m sorry about Marge. She tutored me in high school so I could pass Algebra. She meant a lot to me.”

The woman nodded. “Thanks. I’m sorry for your loss too.”

I threw my hands up, almost knocking Ally over as she delivered my sweet tea. “Thanks, but he left when I was little. I didn’t know him at all. It’s my mother I’m worried about.” I told them the whole story. It seemed pointless, I mean, what could these three do?

“Holy Cow!” Gertie whistled. “Ally was right to have you join us. We’ll help!”

“What? I mean, I appreciate that, but how can you help me?” It occurred to me for the first time how strange it was for Ally to have moved me to this table. What could these two little old ladies do to help?

Ida Belle looked around before leaning close to me. “I don’t believe that Sadie killed your Dad. It just isn’t in her. And I’ve half a mind to let Carter LeBlanc have it for even thinking a woman who is mentally infirm could kill anyone.”

“Thanks. But she seemed awfully convinced that she’d done it.” I said as our food arrived. I placed my napkin in my lap and started cutting my meat. “It just doesn’t make sense.”

Fortune started asking me questions about the whole mess. I told her about my two most recent visits to see Mom.

“We always wondered about Hugo when he left.” Gertie said. “There’d been all kinds of sightings for years.”

I perked up, “There had? I never heard that.”

Ida Belle shook her head. “We never wanted to upset you girls so no one said anything.”

“Well I’m an adult now, so tell me.”

Gertie frowned. “A couple of folks had seen him in New Orleans the first few years. There were stories that he worked for a construction company, on account of his talent with carpentry.”

I choked on my steak. “He was a carpenter? I didn’t know that.” How was it that I never even knew what my Dad did for a living?

Ida Belle continued, “A couple folks said they’d thought he was working in Florida. We heard that one for years.”

Gertie interrupted, “And don’t forget Vegas! Adele Johnson’s cousin’s wife said she saw him there, working security in a casino.”

“But these are all rumors, right?” Fortune asked. “Sounds like the most important thing would be to find out where he’s been in the last month or so.”

My cell buzzed. It was the office. Apparently someone’s boat was leaking oil on the bayou.

I tossed money on the table and stood up. “I’m sorry. I have to go. Work calls. I appreciate all you’re trying to do, but…”

Ida Belle shook her head. “No buts about it, Margaret. We’ll do some nosing around on the internet. Meet us over at Gertie’s at seven.”

“I don’t know…I don’t think you guys need to get involved. I’m sure you’ve got more important things to do.”

Gertie slapped the table with her hand. “This is just what we like to get involved in!”

Fortune rolled her eyes. I knew right then and there that I liked her.

“Just go on now,” Ida Belle said, waving me off. “We’ll see you at seven.”

I left, wondering what these women could actually do. Oh well. I guess it didn’t matter if they gave it a shot. As long as they didn’t get hurt.

Twenty minutes later I was arguing with So-So Silas. He was called So-So on account of him being half sane and half crazy.

“You have to fix that leak, So-So.” I said as I handed him a ticket.

Silas took the ticket and examined it as if he’d never seen paper before. “But that’s my lucky leak!” He wasn’t a bad sort. Just a two hundred fifty pound gorilla with questionable hygiene and a brain that didn’t always work right.

“I just got this leak the other night! It’s lucky, I tell you!” So-So insisted.

“And how did you get a hole in your boat?” I asked.

So-So scratched his beard thoughtfully. “Don’t know. I didn’t have it. Then I did.”

“Give this to your Mama. She’ll know what to do.” I said. You had to give him specific directions. His mother took care of So-So. She’d handle things.

“Give this to Mama. Well alright.” Silas nodded and after starting up his boat, drifted away.