by Marja McGraw
Still sitting on the front porch with Bubba, I waited for Dolly and Prudy. I wasn’t worried about whoever it was who was threatening me because it seemed that individual only came out at night. On the one hand, that told me what a chicken the Scary Voice was, but on the other hand the night could be very scary. And the dark could hide him. Or her. Or them.
It wasn’t dark out, but… “Let’s go inside,” I said, patting Bubba’s head. “No need to take unnecessary chances.” Great, just great. I’d managed to scare myself. I didn’t need help from a strange voice.
Twenty-eight
About half an hour later I heard a car pull up. Peeking out the window, I saw a taxi pulling away from Dolly’s house.
“Let’s go see Dolly.” Bubba lifted his head at the sound of Dolly’s name. “Come on, let’s go.”
His tail wagged and he pulled his big self up, ready to visit our neighbor. We walked over to Dolly’s house and I knocked on the door.
“Sandi,” Dolly said, opening the door wide. “Come on in.”
“I saw the taxi leaving.” I didn’t say any more because somehow that seemed to make me feel like a snoop.
“Prudy and I went to the movies. We decided to make ourselves scarce for a while. At least until we knew you were home.”
“Why? What’s wrong?” I had a sinking feeling in my stomach. Why would two little old ladies need to hide out?
“Prudy’s in her room, putting her purse away. Wait until she comes back and we’ll tell you what happened.”
I paced the living room for about thirty seconds before Prudy joined us. Dolly watched me nervously. Something was up.
“Prudy,” I said, “what’s going on? Why did you and Dolly decide to lose yourselves?”
“Well, it’s like this.” Prudy also appeared nervous. “We found something in with today’s mail that bothered us. Someone had put it in the mailbox, but it hadn’t actually been mailed.”
“It was a note,” Dolly said. “Someone threatened Prudy. I don’t like this, Sandi.” She sounded angry, not frightened. Typical Dolly. She’d been right in the thick of things when her granddaughter had been in trouble with a local nutcase and she hadn’t fallen apart.
“Let me see the note.” My lips tightened and I felt my stomach lurch. It was one thing to threaten me, but these two women were innocents.
Dolly disappeared into the kitchen and returned with the note in hand. “Here. Take a gander at this little beauty.”
I took the note and read, my blood pressure rising while I digested the contents.
“You and the girl next door will soon find yourselves in hot water if you don’t stop. Does the name Balesmon ring a bell? Back away and stay away!”
That was right to the point. Now there was no doubt about who killed Elmore Balesmon, or why. The same person who’d been threatening me, and now Prudy. So the new question became, What should I do about Prudy’s and Dolly’s safety? I decided to ask how they felt about the situation.
“Prudy? Would you like to go back to Bullhead City? You’d be safe there. And Dolly, what do you think? You could go with Prudy for a while if you want to.”
Prudy sat up straight and frowned. “I’m not letting some anonymous note scare me off. While we were at the movies, I kept thinking about that note. I absolutely refuse to let a piece of paper or some screwball, scare me.”
“It’s not just a piece of paper. This is someone threatening your life.” It was time to drop my little bombshell. “Elmore Balesmon was murdered this morning. That note isn’t some kind of prank.”
“Who’s Elmore Balesmon?” Dolly asked uncertainly, glancing at Prudy.
Prudy paled at the information. After a brief moment, her face began turning red. Her cheeks puffed out.
Lord, please don’t let her be having a stroke or something, I thought. I stepped toward her, trying to remember what I’d learned in first aid class.
“Sit down, Sandi!” Her voice was quiet, but angry. On a scale of one to ten, ten means my voice is quiet when I’m the angriest. I knew this type of anger well, and Prudy was ready to blow.
She peered deeply into my eyes as she spoke. “Prudy’s back! Again! I’m not backing off of this case. Now we’re going to get down to business and solve Matthew’s murder. No more fooling around. Elmore and my Brian were friends.” She sounded like that should explain something, but it didn’t. Not really.
“I don’t know about you,” I said with a touch of my own anger, “but I haven’t been fooling around. You know we’re doing exactly what we need to do. We’re interviewing anyone we know of who might have been involved in Matthew’s death. We’re beginning to draw some conclusions, but we need something more concrete.
“Which brings me back to why I came home. I want to go through Brian’s notes. You said you thought he was on to something. Balesmon said the same thing. The only place I’ve slipped up in this investigation is that I should have read his notes right away.”
Dolly had been listening to Prudy and me. “Girls, you have done all the right things. Now when you read Brian’s notes, they’ll make more sense to you. Sandi, you won’t be reading them cold. And Prudy, you were too close to the case in the old days. So maybe now you can step back and take a more objective look at what he wrote.”
We looked at Dolly like she was the light bulb and we were the lamp.
“Dolly, you’re absolutely right.” I mentally patted her on the back. “None of his notes would have made sense if I’d read them before meeting these people.”
“You’re a doll,” Prudy said. “I knew there was a reason we clicked. You’re one smart cookie.”
Dolly grinned, enjoying every word we said.
Sometimes it takes an innocent bystander to open my eyes, and in this case it was Dolly. I walked over to her and gave her a hug.
“Well, what I said wasn’t all that profound,” she said.
“Yes it was. If I’d already read those notes, I’d go back now and have the same reaction I did the first time around. Now I’ll be reading them with a clear head and a good perspective.” I put my arm around her shoulders and gave a tiny squeeze.
“Sandi’s right, you know.” Prudy grinned at her new friend. “You’re a lot smarter than you realize.”
Dolly chuckled. “I know I’m smart. You’re the ones who needed to learn that little fact.”
“Okay, ladies. What now? We could put you up in a hotel, or you really can go back to Bullhead City.” I looked at them in turn, waiting to see what they wanted to do.
“I can’t speak for Prudy, but I’m staying right here,” Dolly said. “I’m not letting someone scare me out of my own home. Besides, I’ve had self-defense classes and I can take care of myself. You know that, Sandi.”
“My sentiments exactly,” Prudy agreed, “except I haven’t had classes. We can take care of ourselves.”
“I’m going to call the police and ask for an extra patrol on our street for the next few days.”
Prudy shrugged. “If you must, but tell them not to come knocking at the door. They can drive by, but that’s it.”
“I don’t like it,” I said, “but it’s your decision. So here’s my decision. Bubba will be staying here until this case is solved. I’ll feel a lot better knowing that he’s keeping guard over you two.”
“But Miss Kitty – ” Dolly sounded nervous.
“Miss Kitty will just have to live with it,” I said, feeling really silly about my references to a dog named Bubba and a cat named Miss Kitty.
“And here’s my second decision. Pete and I are going out to dinner with Stanley and his new girlfriend tonight. You two are going with us. I’d rather not leave you home alone right now.”
“Oh boy, a night out with two couples.” Prudy was being facetious and her voice dripped with her sentiment.
“That’s okay, Prudy. You can be my date.” Dolly seemed to think she was funny, and so did Prudy. They shook hands on it.
Good grief! “I’m going home
to call the police and Pete. I think he had to make reservations, and he’ll need to add two more.” I glanced at my watch. “And we’ll spend tomorrow morning reading Brian’s notes. There just isn’t time tonight. See you two later. And dress up because we’re going to a nice restaurant.”
Trying to decide what to wear would keep them busy for a while. Maybe it would take their minds off the note and the case, if only for a short time.
“Good thing I brought a nice outfit along,” Prudy said.
“Remember what we looked like when we got dressed up back in the forties?” Dolly asked.
“Oh, weren’t we nifty?” Prudy sat down, ready to reminisce.
Making a quick exit, I left before they started talking about the old days again.
After phoning the police, I called the office looking for Pete, but Stanley said he’d gone home early. So I dialed his home number.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, yourself. It’s me. Dolly and Prudy are going out to dinner with us. Would you please change the reservation to six?”
I listened to total, complete silence. “Pete?”
“I’m here. Why are they going out to dinner with us?”
“Because Prudy received a threatening note and I don’t want them to stay home alone. That’s why.”
“Oh. Maybe she needs to head back to Bullhead City.”
“I already suggested that. She says she won’t go. So I suggested they hide out in a hotel. She and Dolly both gave me a thumbs down, so I’m going to have Bubba stay with them.”
“Uh huh. Well, I guess Bubba’s better than nothing. Those two old ladies are going to get themselves killed before this is over.”
“I won’t let that happen. But they’re adults, and I have to honor their decision. I don’t have the right to force them to move out of Dolly’s house. I did call the police and ask for an extra patrol though.” I smiled to myself. “Besides, don’t you remember how Dolly is always saying she’s had self-defense classes? She figures she can take care of anything that comes her way.”
“Yeah, right.” Pete didn’t sound any more convinced than I was. “At least you called for more patrol. I’ll call the restaurant. What’re two more people? We’re never gonna be alone again anyway.”
I laughed. “Yes, we will. You come over for dinner on Friday night and I’ll make sure we have an evening to ourselves.”
“Is that a promise?”
“Of course.”
Twenty-nine
Pete pulled up in front of my house at six o’clock. I was sitting on the porch, waiting for him, wearing a rather short black dress. The way the fabric fell, it outlined my figure to my advantage. I wore black heels, taking a chance since I’d practically forgotten how to walk in them.
I’d added diamond earrings and a matching necklace and bracelet, a gift to myself after coming into some money. I also wore a diamond ring that my mother had given me. It had belonged to my grandmother.
I’d taken care with my make-up, something I didn’t often do, and my long hair fell in soft curls around my shoulders.
I stood as Pete moved along the walkway, and turned around in a circle for his inspection.
He stopped in front of me and whistled. “Sandi, you really look beautiful.” The admiration I heard in his voice made all the work worth the effort. He cleared his throat and started walking again. “Great legs, too.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I didn’t do well with compliments. They made me feel self-conscious. So why had I dressed up? Simple. I wanted to please Pete. “Let’s go over to Dolly’s and see if the ladies are ready.”
He climbed up the steps and hugged me. He gives great hugs, the kind that envelope a woman, and I enjoyed that moment in his arms. It was like being wrapped in a warm bear hug.
“You really do look terrific, honey. I mean it. Too bad you don’t dress up more often.”
“Thank you. Really. But can you imagine me out harassing bad guys in a dress and high heels?”
“Yeah, I guess not. But I’m sure going to enjoy the view this evening.” He was grinning like a teenager, and I had a feeling my face probably matched his.
We turned to cross the lawn to Dolly’s house and saw the two women standing on the porch watching us, their faces the picture of smug grandmothers.
“Are you ready?” I called out.
“Ready and waiting. Let’s get this show on the road,” Prudy said.
She and Dolly walked down to the sidewalk to meet us.
“You two are a vision,” Dolly said. “When are you going to get married?”
“Dolly,” Prudy said, “don’t push them. They’ll make that leap when they’re ready.”
“But they’re so right for each other.” Dolly didn’t like being corrected.
Prudy whispered something in Dolly’s ear and Dolly grinned before she whispered something back. The two seniors linked arms and walked the rest of the way to Pete’s car, looking very pleased with themselves.
“Okay, ladies,” Pete said. “Enough of that. Let’s get moving before they give our table away. Stan and Felicity are going to meet us there.”
“Where are we going for dinner?” I asked. All he’d told me was that we’d be going to a good restaurant and to dress up. Pete turned the car around and headed for downtown Los Angeles.
“We’re going to the House of Lords on Fifth and South Grand.”
“Oh, I’ve always wanted to eat there,” Dolly said.
“Is it fancy?” Prudy asked.
“You’re in for a treat, my dear. They specialize in fish. And I’ve heard they have terrific desserts.” Dolly was excited. She didn’t get out as much as she’d like.
“Dolly showed me a great self-defense move,” Prudy said, changing the subject. “That is, if anyone ever grabs me by the throat from the front. You reach over and grab the attacker’s far arm, and – ”
“It’s hard to explain,” Dolly interrupted. “I’ll show it to you sometime. They can’t hang onto you with this one. Trust me.”
“You can show me tomorrow,” I said. “I’ll be staying home to go over Brian’s notes.”
We drove the rest of the way with Dolly and Prudy chatting.
“Say, did I tell you that I knew a gal who signed up for the military during WWII?” Prudy asked.
Dolly raised her eyebrows. “Really? I knew women who worked in the factories, but no one who signed up.”
Pete glanced in the rearview mirror, actually interested in what they were saying.
“Yes, she was a pilot. We, us women, had never been in a position like that before. My friend and several other women showed up for their assignment at Avenger Field wearing dresses and pearls, and high heels. Can you imagine? Well, the commander almost wouldn’t let the women in. He finally gave in though, and made them come in and do exercises. What a hoot!”
“So what did female pilots do?” Pete asked.
“My friend actually ended up working as a test pilot. Those women ferried planes from the factory to the base, and they became flight instructors. Why, they even towed targets for artillery practice. And,” Prudy made a disgusted sound, “they had to shuttle officers around.”
“Men!” Dolly said.
“Actually, I think the women didn’t mind. At least they were involved. As I recall, something like thirty-eight women died in service, but I don’t know the details. Well, I know there may have been accidents when they were flying, you know, that type of thing.”
“Interesting,” Pete said. “I had no idea women were that involved.”
“Oh yes, and don’t forget the nurses overseas. It was very dangerous for them.” Dolly nodded while she spoke. Her glasses slipped to the end of her nose and she pushed them up.
“And there’s more,” Prudy said. “There were a large number of female marines who worked as control tower operators. And the Navy’s WAVES taught instrumental flying, celestial navigation and aircraft gunnery.”
“How do you know all this?” I asked.
“I made it my business to know what the women were doing, mostly because I was so interested in what my friend told me. She had a couple of close calls. And since I’d taken over Brian’s business, I felt like I was doing a man’s job. But really, I wasn’t. Women can be private investigators. Why, just look at you, Sandi. It’s just that I wasn’t really accepted in those days. However, I could go places that men couldn’t, so I found enough business to keep me going.”
“What about places where women couldn’t go?” Pete asked.
“I found ways.” Prudy laughed. “Why, once I even dressed up in a suit and a hat and spent an evening in a bar. It was dark and I didn’t have to talk, just listen and observe, so no one noticed me.”
“You must have had so much fun,” Dolly said wistfully.
“Oh, I did. But it wasn’t all fun. I got beat up once. Some drunk figured out what I was doing and sucker punched me. No one thought he’d hit a woman, so he took us all by surprise. And I hadn’t had any self-defense classes. I don’t think anyone even offered that kind of class in those days.”
“Well, here we are.” Pete pulled into a parking space and switched off the engine. “Everybody hungry?”
“Famished,” I said.
Pete walked to each door and helped us all out of the car. I linked my arm through his and we followed Dolly and Prudy to the restaurant.
Prudy’s head was swinging from side to side and up and down. “I can’t believe how much this town has changed. I mean, some things seem the same, but… It’s just different.”
We entered the restaurant and found Stanley and Felicity waiting for us.
Stanley introduced Felicity to Prudy and Dolly. He seemed so proud of his new girlfriend, but what made me feel good was that Felicity held onto Stanley’s arm and gazed up into his eyes like he was the only man on earth. I’d never even looked at Pete like that, as far as I knew.
“Now, those two really are meant for each other,” Prudy whispered in my ear. “Not that you and Pete aren’t,” she added quickly.