Terror on Tybee Island (A Trixie Montgomery Cozy Mystery Book 3) (4 page)

CHAPTER SEVEN

D
on’t worry, Laura. I’ll wait up until the detective brings you back.” Mama gave him a scornful look, daring him to do otherwise.

“I should have her back in a couple of hours.” His gaze raked over every person present. “I may have to interview each of you again, so be expecting it.”

Mama gave Laura a big hug and with that they were gone.

Everyone talked at once. “Why did they take Laura? When are they going to return with her? Do they suspect her?” We exhausted ourselves with the possibilities until we were out of ideas, and I noticed most of the guests from Ocean View Inn had left except for George. He scooted a little closer to Nana.

“Girls, why don’t you go on to bed and I’ll wait up for Laura?” Mama stood up and gathered the dessert dishes.

“Watch it Betty Jo,” Dee Dee pulled her almost empty dish out of Mama’s reach, “I still have another bite.” She wasn’t about to let go of her second helping of bread pudding.

“I don’t know if I can sleep, but I’m sure willing to try.” I handed Mama my bowl. “Why don’t you let us know when Laura gets back?” I stood up and stretched like a cat waking from a nap.

“Nana, want to come up with us?”

Nana patted George’s arm. “I think I’ll stay here for a little while longer.” She smiled at George and he mirrored her smile.

“Come on, Dee. It looks like it’s time for us to hit the hay.” I grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the steps.

“You might hit the hay, but I’m going to hit the bed.” Dee Dee guffawed.

We retreated to our lovely room. My knee ached, so I soaked in a tub of warm water, hoping to ease the pain. We shared a bathroom with Mama and Nana, but since they decided to stay downstairs a while longer I didn’t feel guilty hogging the bathroom.

“I’ll just be a few minutes Dee, then you can soak.” I surveyed the room while I relaxed. The cozy room boasted white walls with white and black tile floor covering. A border complimenting the color scheme decorated the walls. A unique hand-painted piece of glass hung on the wall. A closer looked illuminated the artist’s name, Nancy Smith. I’d heard Seaside Sisters, a variety store located downtown Tybee, sold these special paintings. The Seaside Sisters was definitely on my list of places to visit.

“Hey, have you drowned in there?” Dee Dee hollered from the bedroom.

“Hold on! I’m coming. I’m soaking these old bones.”

“Just kidding. Take your time.”

A few minutes later I exited the bathroom feeling like a renewed woman.

“Let me see your hands.” Dee Dee grabbed my hands and turned them palms up. “Just wanted to see if they look like prunes.”

“Ha, ha. Very funny. I’d wager you’ll stay as long as I did when you sink down in that claw-foot tub.” I sat on my bed and a huge yawn escaped.

“All right, sleepyhead. Go ahead and turn out the lights. I’ll be out in a few minutes.

I snuggled under the covers. My relaxed body melded into the soft bed sheets. It was a little bit of heaven on earth. I really wanted to stay up and ask Mama how Laura’s interview went. But a few minutes after my head hit the pillow I was sound asleep.

A knock on the bedroom door startled me from deep slumber. “Trixie, you awake?” Mama opened the door just enough to stick her head in.

I sat up in bed and pulled the covers up for warmth. Dee Dee propped up on her elbow to see what was going on. “Sure, Mama. Come on in.” The morning sun poured through the window, illuminating the room.

I scrunched my feet up so she could sit on the end of my bed. Mama wore a wrinkled brow and looked like she hadn’t slept much.

“Mama, what’s the matter?”

“It’s Laura. I waited for Detective Baker to bring her back.” Mama picked at a loose thread on the cover. “It’s not good news.”

“What do you mean, Betty Jo?” Dee Dee sat up and swung her feet over the side of the bed.

“They found the murder weapon not far from the body. Laura’s fingerprints were all over it.”

“What!” My mind couldn’t conjure up an image of this sweet lady as a murderer. Then again I suppose anyone pushed to the brink could act on impulse. “What was the murder weapon?”

“A garden gnome.”

Dee Dee laughed out loud and I couldn’t help but smile. Mama wasn’t amused.

“I’m sorry,” Dee Dee said through another burst of giggles. “I know it’s not funny, but a garden gnome. How could you kill somebody with a garden gnome?”

I took Mama’s hand in mine. “Mama, why do they think Laura killed Grace Watkins?”

“I know it seems far-fetched anyone would use a gnome as a murder weapon, but Detective Baker said her head was smashed in by blunt force. The gnome belonged to Laura. She had it in her yard for decoration. You know how popular they’ve become lately.”

“They do seem to be the rave right now. But there must be a hundred gnomes on the island.” Dee Dee plunged her feet into her fuzzy cat slippers.

“That’s just it. The gnome they found near the body came from Laura’s garden, and was custom painted to match the cottage trim. It didn’t help it’s common knowledge she maintained an on-going feud with Grace.” Mama got up and strolled around the room. “She’s inconsolable.”

“I’m so sorry, Mama.” A shiver ran through my body. I grabbed my robe and slid it on.

“Trixie, I have something to confess. Please don’t be mad.” I couldn’t for the life of me think of what she could have done to make me angry.

Mama’s my rock. After my divorce, she not only offered me a place to live, but a shoulder to cry on. I owed Mama, even though I knew she didn’t feel that way.

“Don’t worry, Mama. I’m sure it’ll be all right.” I put my arm around her.

She sniffed a little and a lone tear rolled down her cheek. “I didn’t know what else to do. She was crying and it just popped out of my mouth.”

I wondered out loud what had popped out of her mouth. “What are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

“I told Laura that you’d solved a couple of murders and that you’d help her.” She looked over my shoulder. “And I told her Dee Dee would help, too.”

“What? You did what, Mama?” Oh my goodness. I wasn’t mad, but I sure wasn’t doing a happy dance. “I promised I’d keep my distance.”

“Wow,” Dee Dee managed to squeak out.

I didn’t think anything could make Dee Dee speechless. This came close to it.

The bedroom door swung open a tad then flung open the rest of the way. Nana stepped in. “Did you ask them yet?” She looked around the room. “I guess you did. Isn’t it great, Trixie? Another murder for us to solve.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

N
ana, there is no ‘we.’” I studied Mama and saw hope shining in her eyes. I hated to disappoint her, but I didn’t think it was a good idea to interfere in Detective Baker’s investigation. It’s true, Dee Dee and I had been instrumental in solving a couple of murders, but I didn’t want to make a habit of solving crimes. The local authorities had already made it clear they did not welcome any intrusion.

“Mama, I don’t believe we’re qualified to help Laura. She needs a professional.”

“Laura deserves someone who isn’t biased and believes in her. She’s a newcomer on the island and with her carefree attitude toward the turtles it’ll be hard for her to get a fair shake.”

I couldn’t say no to the lady who had given so freely when I needed her. I took the chicken’s way out. “I’ll consider it.”

Mama’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Trixie.” She gave me a huge squeeze.

I glanced over her shoulder and noticed Dee Dee shaking her head with a big grin plastered on her face. She knew I’d cave.

“This is great. Trixie, you know I’ll help you any way possible,” Nana said. “Remember, you and Dee Dee probably wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me saving your necks in Marietta.” She glanced upward. “Well, I did have a little help from the Lord.”

As much as I hated to admit it, Nana was right. Less than a year ago, Dee Dee and I had gotten ourselves in a heap of trouble. Three crazy guys kidnapped us and held us at gunpoint. “You got me there, Nana. Come on. Let’s go down and discover what’s for breakfast.”

“Maybe you’d like to put on some clothes first.” Dee Dee rolled her eyes heavenward.

I looked at my pajamas. “Oh, I guess you’re right. Mama, you and Nana go ahead and we’ll be down in a few minutes.” Mama left with a smile on her face and a hope she didn’t have when she entered.

“Trix, how are you going to help Laura?” Dee Dee donned a bright orange, long-sleeve, pullover shirt. I wondered what color pants she’d wear. Dee Dee’s taste for bright clothes matched her personality: upbeat and cheerful.

“I don’t know. My gut says I shouldn’t get involved lest I risk getting in trouble with Detective Dreamy, but my heart wants to help Laura. Mama’s helped me so much. I don’t want to disappoint her. Let’s go down and talk to Laura after breakfast.”

We finished dressing. Dee Dee paired up her shirt with light green pants. It wasn’t something I’d wear, but it looked good on her and it was appropriate for the month of October. I had on my usual khaki pants with a light blue pullover. I often envied Dee Dee’s ability to dress so brightly, but I couldn’t bring myself to break away from my habit of wearing browns and beiges.

By the time we entered the dining room, guests from Seaside Cottage and Ocean View Inn already surrounded the tables. Breakfast consisted of eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, grits, waffles, and various pastries. Louise made sure our table remained full of breakfast goodies.

I noticed Laura’s absence right away. The talk at our table focused on Grace Watkins’ murder. The scuttlebutt was that Grace’s niece planned to move to Ocean View Inn. Her long time cook and assistant would keep it open and running until then. The guests at the inn had an open invitation for meals at Seaside Cottage.

I couldn’t help but survey the room and wonder if the murderer sat among us. I didn’t know these people. What, if any, motive would they possess to murder Grace? Surely her service wasn’t that bad. I silently laughed.
Okay Trixie, get a grip.

“Hey girl, where did you go? I asked you if you were going to eat that sausage sitting on your plate.” Dee Dee’s fork was poised to jab the lone piece of sausage.

Normally I wouldn’t mind, but I felt the need for all the greasy food I could consume. “Sorry, I’m gonna eat it.” Her brown, puppy-dog eyes and protruding lip made me acquiesce. “All right, I’ll half it with you.”

By the time we finished eating, the other guests had left. Nana and Mama walked over and sat at our table. “Trixie, would you talk with Laura now? She’s in her room and won’t come out. She’s in a terrible state.”

“Sure, Mama.”

I eyed Dee Dee. “You coming?”

“I’m right behind you. I wouldn’t miss this for anything.” Dee Dee wiped her plate clean with a piece of biscuit. I guess I wasn’t the only one who craved cholesterol laden food.

“Trixie, I know you’d like for me to come, too. Being that I’m experienced in these matters. But George has asked me to go sightseeing with him.” Nana’s grin reminded me of a cat with a feather hanging from its mouth.

“That’s all right, Nana. We’ll keep you posted.” I looked heavenward.
Thank you, Lord, for small favors.

“Laura?”

She looked up as I stuck my head in the door.

“Can we come in?”

“Okay.”

Laura’s room was as pretty as the rest of the house. Painted bright blue and accented with white furniture trimmed in gold, it reminded me of the ocean. Laura sat on a canopy bed situated in the middle of the room. She looked lower than an ant on stilts.

Dee Dee walked over and put her arm around Laura’s shoulder. I wasn’t surprised. When I had gone through my divorce with Wade I had nose-dived to the lowest I’d ever been in my life. I wondered if I’d ever feel human again. Dee Dee took me under her wing and supported me through some hard times and we’d been fast friends since. Dee Dee was a natural-born care giver.

With this simple gesture of empathy, Laura started crying. “What am I going to do? Detective Baker says I’m a person of interest. I know what that means – it means suspect.”

Dee Dee glanced at me with a look that shouted “help!”

I shrugged my shoulders, but took a stab at consoling Laura. “Didn’t the detective say he was going to interview all the guests? Maybe it was just routine questioning.”

“No.” Laura sniffed. Dee Dee grabbed a wad of tissues from the bedside table and handed them to her. “He said my fingerprints are all over the gnome and he knows it came from my garden. Grace and I have had an ongoing squabble since I opened. She accused me of purposely taking away her business.” Laura blew her nose and continued.

“I didn’t steal her guests. She ran them off with her horrible personality. She was a female Attila the Hun. I’ve never seen anyone so grouchy or vindictive in my life. Her long time guests have now started reserving with me. I don’t see how Edna put up with it all these years.” Laura rifled through the wadded up tissues for a clean one and dabbed her eyes.

Dee Dee and I spoke in unison. “Who’s Edna?”

“Edna is Grace’s cook and housekeeper.
Was
her housekeeper, I should say. She treated that woman like dirt, but Edna stayed with her anyway. I always wondered if she had something on Edna to keep her there all these years.”

Dee Dee and I shared a knowing look. Did this woman have a motive for murder?