Vintage Whispers (A Cozy Retirement Mystery Book 1) (8 page)

“True.”

“And I’m not the one who needs a mental evaluation,” Pearl said, still stuck on the earlier mention. “I’m not threatening to cry out loud whenever I don’t get my way!”

Mary Louise took a calming breath. “Why me, Lord?”

“I’m just gonna say it.” Opal shook her finger at Mary Louise. “Because
she
was hanging upside down on the monkey bars—which is probably the problem here if you want to know the truth—and her chewing gum landed in your hair some sixty plus years ago. She spent the rest of fourth grade profusely apologizing. And you, being you, took pity on her and befriended her!” Opal’s voice hit the high notes with each passing syllable. “So don’t ask the Lord why. It’s not his fault. It’s yours.”

Pearl feigned a smile. “And the two of you have been well entertained ever since.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.”

“You know what, I agree. It’s been an exhausting day.” Pearl and Opal had their moods and on days like this, it was best to separate them. “Why don’t we go back to the—
home
—and look over the customer purchases and really put a game plan together before we do something foolish? We may want to hand over our files to Sheriff Littleton but we need to think about consequences.”

“Opal put him in my contacts. He’s on speed dial now. Why don’t I give him a call and see what he thinks?”

“Why don’t we do what Mary Louise wants to do?” Opal asked in a curt voice. “It’s her turn. Tomorrow, you can go first again.” 

“Are you suggesting I’m a child?”

Before Opal could answer, someone jiggled the front door and knocked. “Anyone in there? Hello!”

“Duck!” Mary Louise darted sideways.

Opal squatted next to the rooster stand. Pearl hid behind the bookshelf. Mary Louise peered around a bassinet.

“Who is it?” Opal whispered across the aisle. “Can you see anything?”

“I know you’re in there. I saw you walk across the street about an hour ago.”

Mary Louise started to stand but Opal shook her head firmly. “Wait. We have an emergency exit. Unless the guy has an accomplice, he doesn’t know if we’re still here or not.”

“Listen to you,” Mary Louise whispered back. “You sound like a true detective on a stakeout.”

“Too bad we don’t have any donuts,” Pearl said, crawling straight down the center aisle.

“Are you out of your mind?” Opal grabbed her arm and pulled. Pearl’s shoestrings caught on a child’s rocking horse and her white sneaker ended up in the middle of the floor. With the nightlights above, the shoe and its dangling protector reflector were easy to spot.

They all stared at the blinking red light. They should’ve left Pearl to her bingo games.

“It’s okay,” Pearl whispered. “He’s not out there anymore.”

“How do you know?” Mary Louise couldn’t believe they were hiding out in their own store. They were grownups. What was the worst thing that could happen if they were caught? They were new residents at the old folk’s home. They didn’t know the rules. Besides, they signed up for a trial period. The administrator would look over one mishap, surely.

“He stopped knocking,” Pearl mouthed, dead serious.

The pounding began once more.

“
Well ga lee
,” Opal drawled in her Cajun slang. “Guess he decided to return after all.”

“Stay here,” Mary Louise said, tossing her cell phone to Opal.

She treated it like a hot potato and passed it to Pearl. “Call 9-1-1 and then speed dial Littleton if anything happens.”

“What’s going to happen? We know everyone in Bristol.”

“It’s not the people we know that worries me at this hour,” Opal snapped, following Mary Louise. “Wait for me. Downtown isn’t safe after midnight.”

Right when they reached the door, Pearl stood up and called out, “How will I know if something happens if we’re all whispering?”

The door rattled again. “Hello? Anyone there?” 

Mary Louise and Opal pressed their faces against the glass. It was difficult to make out the figure in front of them until Opal gasped. “Johnny? Is that you?”

Chapter Seven

“Don’t open it,” Pearl pleaded, sprinting to the door and grabbing hold of the release bar. “He was arrested today for murder. He shouldn’t be here. He should be down at the jail.” She gawked at Johnny as if he were America’s Most Wanted. “
We
shouldn’t be here. We should be eating popcorn and watching old movies at the community.” Her arms flew in the air. “We’re unarmed!”

“It’s okay,” Mary Louise assured her, turning the key and opening the door. “Come on in, Johnny.”

“Thanks, Mary. I’m sorry for the late hour, but I didn’t know where else to go.” He looked at Opal. “Did you hear?”

“Yes, hon. We already know.” She glanced at Pearl. “I guess you figured that much.”

“Yes,” he replied, keeping his distance.

Pearl crept backwards. “Do you have your walking papers?”

“Excuse me?” Johnny’s gaze shifted from Pearl to Opal and back to Pearl again.

“Your walking papers. Everyone gets them when they’re released from custody. We need to see yours before we can invite you in.”

“Ignore her,” Opal said, taking his hand and passing Pearl. “And he has a standing invitation as far as I’m concerned.”

“He wasn’t arrested,” Mary Louise said. “He was taken in for questioning. They didn’t have enough to hold him.”

“You’re right,” Johnny said. “And I’m guessin’ without a body and without evidence, it will be tough to pin this one on anyone. Plus, I didn’t have a problem with Oscar.” 

“I don’t like this.” Pearl faced off with Mary Louise as soon as Johnny was out of earshot. 

“Never would’ve guessed.”

“Don’t patronize me, Mary Louise. I know what he is.”

“Owner of the local bar and grill? Opal’s neighbor? The town’s favorite vendor at the Bristol Street Festivals?
And our friend
?”

“Well besides that.” She put her hands on her hips. “He is a criminal!”

Afraid Johnny might hear bits of their conversation, Mary Louise dragged Pearl off to the left. Between the stoneware and stainless steel cookware, she hurriedly said, “If this is too much for you, we can stop prowling around and go back to the community right this minute. I thought you liked Johnny and wanted to help him.
He
is the reason we’re here.”

Pearl’s furrowed brows proved she couldn’t reach a decision. “I was surprised he was arrested—questioned—but I never said I wanted to help him. That would make me an accomplice and it would be mighty embarrassing if Sheriff Littleton and his deputies arrested us at our new residence.” She hesitated. “That’s something you might consider before you start helping the town’s favorite criminal.”

“Okay look. We don’t know if Johnny had anything to do with this or not, but don’t you think he deserves the benefit of the doubt?”

“Well do you?”

“Obviously or I wouldn’t have asked you.”

“My Aunt Martha always said to answer a question with a question when suspicion clouded the details.”

“And fifty-five years later, you finally decided to listen?” Opal asked, creeping up behind them. “We need you both in the back. It’s important.”

“Uh-huh. Don’t even think about it. You’re not dragging me into this. I told you before you ever opened the door. We cannot and will not—”

“For once, will you just zip it? The kid needs us.”

“He isn’t a kid.”

“Then that should be motivation enough for you to pull on your big girl panties, pick up your granny slipper, and join the adults in the backroom. But first, do try and pull yourself together.” Opal narrowed her eyes. “If you say one thing out of character, so help me—”

“Why would I wanna pretend to be someone else?” Pearl scoffed. “All the world is not a stage, Opal Marie Pain.” She turned then and marched to the back. 

Mary Louise shrugged. “Don’t look at me. She hasn’t taken her meds.”

“She only takes Vitamin C!”

****

“Johnny.” Pearl timidly nodded at their guest as if she were frightened of him.

“Pearl.” Johnny returned the favor.

“Are you feeling okay tonight?” Pearl grabbed a few cushions and hugged them against her chest. “Do you feel like you may hurt yourself or someone else? Are you ready to tell us what you did with the body or where you hid the weapon? Have you ever had suicidal thoughts, considered harming a small animal or another helpless creature? Me, as an example.”

“Pearl!” Mary Louise sat down beside her and grabbed her protection. Pearl may have been a jittery little thing but she wasn’t fond of the cushions thanks to the hummingbird pattern.

Mary Louise refused to let her use them as a shield.

“Give those back.”

“No,” Mary Louise deadpanned.

Opal pointed at her. “
You
…Apologize this instant. Johnny didn’t do anything wrong.” She swung her gaze to their guest. “Tell her Johnny.”

“Technically, I did,” Johnny admitted.

“What?” Mary Louise turned to Opal. “What’s he talking about?”

“I knew it!” Pearl grabbed the pillows from Mary Louise once more. This time, she clutched them in front of her face.

Opal snatched them and threw them across the room. “Let him finish.”

Johnny leaned forward and Pearl leaned as far back as possible. “Pearl, you know me. I wouldn’t kill anyone.”

“No? Then why did you say you’re guilty?”

“I know what happened to Oscar and Clarence’s wife.”

“Clarence’s wife died of cancer.”

“She might have, but she wasn’t given that option.” Johnny frowned. “She was murdered, Pearl.”

“What? No. She had cancer. She suffered for years.
Everybody
said so. I say so and I knew the woman!”

“You did. I did.” Johnny nodded slowly. “And the cancer would’ve taken her out of here in another few months but someone must’ve wanted to speed along the process.”

“Her death wasn’t ruled a murder,” Pearl said.

“No and if Sheriff Littleton doesn’t believe my story, it won’t be.”

“You told Sheriff Littleton about this?” Mary Louise asked.

“Yes and –”

“And he probably didn’t believe it. You were arrested for one murder and you made up another one?” Pearl shook her finger at him. “Johnny, I’ve been one of your biggest supporters since you opened the bar and grill, but based on what you’re saying now? You’re really not that bright. With that said, you still make the best grilled cheese sandwiches in town and—”

“Start at the beginning, Johnny.” Opal placed her hand on Pearl’s shoulder. “Just listen.” She took a deep breath. “We may have a double homicide here. Since Sheriff Littleton has his hands full, we’ll help Johnny and make Littleton’s job easier.”

“Do you want to hear this or not?” Johnny asked, watching Pearl.

Pearl gnawed on her thumbnail. After a minute or more, she finally relented. “Well, you do make the best sandwiches in town.”

“Local bakery’s toaster bread, melted butter, and American cheese.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s the recipe. Medium-high heat. Three minutes on each side.”

“Well then,” Pearl said, sighing. “If a man is willing to give a woman his recipes, he can’t be all bad.”

“I’ll take that as permission to continue.”

Opal served a round of coffee. Mary Louise checked her phone, a security measure to ensure no one was looking for them. So far, so good, but it was approaching one-thirty. Given Johnny’s expression, they were in for more than a good bedtime story.

“Pay attention, ladies. This is Johnny’s version of a woman standing between two men in two separate cities. And my guess is, someone is about to get away with murder.”