Back upstairs, Hattie continued the search for her pearls. She had checked the obvious places––jewelry box, bedside drawer, discarded purses––then wondered if she had hidden them inside a pocket. Years ago, she had watched a TV show about the safest places to put valuables.
Twenty minutes later, down in the hallway closet going through the pockets of old coats, she had another visitor.
“Good morning, Mrs. Moon.”
It was Julia Spencer.
“I wanted to stop by and thank you for the cookies.”
Hattie couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity. Her neighbor could be a missing link. “How wonderful to see you. Funny how neighbors drop out of sight after the summer. Won’t you come in?”
A fretful look passed over Julia’s face. “You’re probably busy. I don’t want to impose.”
“Nonsense. Please. If you have the time, I’d like to ask you something. Won’t take a minute.”
Julia looked toward her house. “Well, alright.”
Minutes later the two women were sitting on the couch.
Julia could have been a model. Tall, slender with a remarkable smile that looked innocent, ethereal. Today, however, sitting next to her, Hattie noticed more. While Julia’s lips had a natural upward curve, she looked away often, breaking eye contact. Neither haughty nor seductive, Hattie suspected Julia was painfully shy.
Hattie dove in. “I wanted to speak with you about Jason. As you know, he was found in my yard.”
Julia met Hattie’s gaze. “Yes. It must have been awful.”
Hattie nodded. “Anyway, I’ve been visiting neighbors to see if anyone saw him on Sunday.”
“Sunday?” Julia said. “I work Saturday nights.”
“Oh,” Hattie said, hoping she didn’t look disappointed.
“I got home around eight that morning. I believe the police had just arrived.”
“I see.”
“I’m sorry.”
Hattie regrouped. “My dear there’s nothing to be sorry for. I just am having a terrible time trying to figure out what happened.”
Julia smiled that vague smile of hers.
“You may have heard rumors that Jason died of an overdose.”
Julia nodded.
“And to be honest, that’s not really in question. I simply can’t believe it was an accident.”
A troubling expression passed across Julia’s face.
“Anyway, I’ve been asking around to see if anyone saw him.”
“What difference would that make?”
“He had to have been with someone.”
Julia continued smiling politely.
Hattie’s eyes were drawn to Julia’s hands. She was plucking at her cuticles. “I wish I could help.”
“I’m sure you would if you could. What happened to that child was awful...” Hattie stalled. “And no one seems to care.”
“Have you spoken with the other neighbors?”
“Yes. But no one saw him. If only I had my curtains open instead of wandering around doing stupid things.”
“Mrs. Moon, you can’t blame yourself.”
“But I do. What good am I to anyone?”
“I feel the same way.”
Hattie studied Julia’s face. She looked like she was about to cry. “Dear, is something wrong? How about some tea?”
“I’m fine, thank you.”
Hattie patted Julia’s knee. “Of course you are.”
Julia looked directly at Hattie. “Mrs. Moon, I saw Jason. I didn’t work that night.”
Hattie’s heart hammered. “You saw him that morning?”
Julia nodded.
Excited, Hattie rushed in, “Was he alone when he delivered our papers?”
“Yes. I think so. I didn’t see him once he was on Woodberry because I wasn’t at my house. I was parked on Lavender.”
“Lavender?”
“Yes. Around the corner. I spent the night there…in my car.”
“In your car? But why would you be in your car?”
“It doesn’t matter. Point is I saw Jason that morning.”
“Did he see you? Did he wave?”
Julia shook her head. “The minute I saw him in my rearview mirror, I scrunched down. I didn’t want anyone to know I was there. When he went past me, I sat back up. He then turned onto Woodberry.”
“So, you didn’t get a chance to talk?”
“No. I’m sorry.”
“And you’re sure it was Jason?”
“Oh yes. He was bundled up and taking that long stride of his.”
“And he was alone?”
She nodded.
“Do you remember what he was wearing?”
Julia shrugged. “The usual. That army coat, baseball cap.”
“And the newspaper pouch?”
“Yes. Crossed over his chest.”
“Did you see him leave the block?”
She shook her head. “I left just after I saw him. It was getting lighter and…Oh, Mrs. Moon, I didn’t want anyone to know…”
“Know what, dear?”
“It’s silly. I’m a moron. Who cares anyway? A cheating husband pales to what happened to Jason.”
Hattie’s stomach flip-flopped. Suddenly, odd events coalesced. Wolf entering Hattie’s yard from the plaza side. Wolf stopping by the hair salon. A recently used spa tub.
“I’m so out of control, I don’t know what to do.”
Hattie gathered her senses. “Have you spoken with Wolfgang?”
She nodded. “He says I’m crazy, paranoid. Maybe I am. Anyway, I needed to see if he’d go somewhere. And if he did, I planned on following him. But he never left.”
Hattie listened carefully. Perhaps he stayed home. Perhaps not. Roxanne’s salon was just out his cellar door and over the fence.
“Sorry, I can’t be more helpful.”
“My dear, you’ve been very helpful. Unfortunately, it came from such dire circumstances.”
“I’m okay. In fact, talking has made me feel better.”
Hattie reached for Julia’s hand. “I’m always here to listen.”
Julia squeezed tight. “Thank you.” She stood. “We’ll work it out. He tells me he loves me. All I have to do is believe it.” A blush of color came to her cheeks. “Anyway, if you have any more questions or want to talk about Jason, please let me know.”
Arm in arm, Hattie walked Julia to the door. Moments later, after a good-bye hug, Hattie slumped against the wall. Julia’s visit was disconcerting. The Spencers’ marriage seemed teetering on shaky ground and Hattie’s suspicion was confirmed––Jason had to have gone inside someone’s home.
Chapter Seventeen
After Julia’s departure, Hattie felt in a daze. Someone on the block, someone she knew, must have lured Jason into their house. She looked at Orin. “But who?” Suddenly, she thought of an Orin saying––forked tongues tell mangled tales. Yes. Clearly, someone had lied to her. Maybe all she had to do was find a liar to find the murderer. She looked at the clock. But first she had to get ready for the wake.
Back upstairs, she put on the navy-blue dress and gave up on the pearls. From the window, Hattie saw Muriel coming up the sidewalk. Hattie poked at her hair and rushed down the stairs.
“Howdy Doody,” Muriel said brightly as she pranced into the vestibule and pirouetted in a gray flowered coat. “Had this in my closet. Finally took off the tags, but I’m a little worried about the flowers. Do you think they’re appropriate?”
Hattie had never known Muriel to be concerned about what other people thought. “I should think so. The print is understated and looks very respectful.”
Muriel seemed pleased. She stood away from Hattie. “Girl, I love that dress. Seriously. Blue lights up your eyes.”
Embarrassed, Hattie tucked at her hair. It had been thirteen years since she had heard a compliment on her appearance. She knew it was that long because Orin always told her sweet lies: comparing her legs to Betty Grable’s, her lips to Sophia
Loren’s, her eyes to Rita Hayworth’s. Silly compliments forgotten, now remembered. Silly compliments that made her heart ache. “Thank you,” she managed in a teetering voice.
“I’ve been keeping an eye out. When do you suppose Ralph is going to pick us up?”
Hattie wanted to mention Julia’s visit but didn’t want to be specific about the poor girl’s problems.
“Hattie, are you listening to me?”
“Julia stopped by earlier today.”
“I haven’t seen her in ages. What’s she up to?”
“She thanked me for the cookies. I took some over to their house when I spoke with Wolfgang the other day.”
Muriel looked at her watch. “She’s a terrific gal…now Hattie before Ralph comes around, I need your honest opinion. Do I look alright? Let me rephrase that. Do you think Ralph would approve?”
Ralph? Hattie couldn’t imagine him noticing much about any woman except…What had he said about Julia the other day? That she deserved better.
“I could go home and change. I have other outfits. There was this black pantsuit, but it needed a scarf, some color, but I didn’t want to be garish so I—”
“Relax,” Hattie interrupted. “You look fine. Muriel, listen I have some information. Julia had seen Jason.”
Muriel froze. “When? Where?”
“On Sunday. She was in her car while he was delivering the papers on Lavender, right before he turned onto Woodberry. Jason was alone. He had his coat buttoned, was wearing his hat, and had his newspaper pouch.” Hattie felt her heart race, “Muriel, since we know he didn’t deliver the papers after this block, this confirms something happened on this very street.”
Muriel’s face turned solemn. “You mean he was killed by someone we know? In their house?”
“Would seem so.”
Muriel stared off, then looked at Hattie and blurted. “I know who! It had to be Bailey.”
Again, the Bailey scenario. Hattie couldn’t deny it. The two boys were friends or had been anyway. And he was the one person she hadn’t had a chance to question. Also, why did the detective go to Roxanne’s house? Was it to threaten Roxanne or was Roxanne covering for her son?
“Hattie this all makes sense. He knew Jason. He knew about your yard. He took drugs. Maybe Bailey invited him in, they shot up and something went terribly wrong.”
“Implicating Bailey fits into an accidental overdose. But this assumes Jason would take drugs while delivering papers. What sense does that make?”
“You have a point. So, what’s our next move?”
“First things first. We need to go to the wake. Maybe Mrs. Meeks has some information.”
“Right.” Muriel glanced at the front door. “Ralph could be here any minute. I need to check myself in the bathroom. This lipstick. Carlos said I should stick with the bronzes. But I don’t know. It makes me look blah.” Without waiting for Hattie’s response, she headed down the hall, stopped midway and turned. “Or should I make an entrance?”
“Entrance?”
“I could listen for when he shows up, then come down the hall. But should I be wearing my coat? Would that look weird? I’m in the house.”
Hattie didn’t know what to say.
Muriel waved a hand and turned. “Horseballs. I’ll figure it out.”
After the bathroom door closed, Hattie checked the time. She had to assemble the card for Jason’s family. There was money in her pocketbook to collect along with adding her sympathy note. As she fussed, her mind raced. Bailey did seem a likely suspect but that didn’t explain why Jason would go into his house while he was delivering papers. To get high? But Jason didn’t do drugs. It was that simple. Could he have been attacked with a needle?
“Is he coming?” Muriel yelled.
Hattie glanced out the front window. “Not yet.”
“Before you open the door, let me know. Okay?”
Lordy, what a time to play matchmaker. “Okay.”
Having collected the card and money, Hattie sat at the dining table with pen in hand ready to write a note. Again, like days earlier, she was lost for words. She looked at Orin’s picture, then pressed down the pen point, allowing her thoughts to flow. Dear Mrs. Meeks and family, I am lost for words. Jason. My heart aches for your loss and mine. We must find comfort knowing his spirit lives on. We must try our best. He would want that. Hattie Moon
Feeling hollow, Hattie wiped a tear from her eye. This nightmare wouldn’t end for his poor mother.
While addressing the card, Hattie heard Ralph’s familiar tap on the window. She looked up, waved and said louder than usual. “Be there in a second, Ralph.”
In response, Muriel’s voice traveled down the hallway. “I’ll wait until he’s inside.”
Hattie shook her head. This could get sticky. She went to the door.
A waft of men’s cologne blew into the vestibule. Coat-less, Ralph was uncharacteristically dressed in a dark gray suit, white shirt and striped tie. His shock of white hair was combed, parted. She had never seen him so handsome.
“Hey there Hattie.” He stepped inside and stomped his feet. “Are you ready?”
“Muriel’s in the bathroom and I’m putting some things together. Shouldn’t be more than a few minutes. Come inside.”
He bent down to untie his shoelaces.
Wingtips? “Ralph. Don’t worry about your shoes. You’ll get your—”
“Hello Ralph.”
Hattie turned. Muriel had snuck up behind her. Hattie blinked, speechless. Her friend had taken off the flowered coat and wore a red dress, cut low on the bodice and cinched tight at the waist. Her curves were monumental. Taking another look at Ralph, his eyes widened. Maybe he did like Muriel. But going on a date to a wake? That had to be a first.
“Um…a…hello,” Ralph stammered.
Muriel batted her eyelashes. “You’re looking very debonair.”
“Huh?”
“Like a movie star.”
“Oh.”
A pregnant pause followed. Muriel smiled, seemingly waiting for a compliment to be returned.
Ralph put his hands in his pockets. “It’s going to snow.”
Not wanting to notice Muriel’s disappointment, Hattie rushed in. “Tis the season. How about you two sit down? I’ve got to get the card together. Won’t take more than a minute.”
As Muriel and Ralph went into the living room, Hattie sat at the dining table, addressing the card and collecting the money.
In the silence, Muriel spoke up. “Did Hattie tell you Julia saw Jason on Sunday?”
Hattie stiffened. Anything told to Ralph would get to Howie. Hattie turned and looked at her friend. They exchanged glances.
“Really? You spoke with Julia?” he said to Hattie.
“Yes. Earlier today.”
Muriel kept the conversation going. “She saw Jason walking down Lavender with his papers.”
Ralph looked at Hattie. “Julia was on Lavender? That early in the morning? Did she say why?”
Again, his interest in Julia. Before Hattie could respond, Muriel said, “Point is, Ralph, Jason was alone.”
“Of course, he was alone. We all know that.”
“Julia saw him turn onto our block.”
Ralph looked concerned. “Julia was standing around outside? In that weather? Why would she—”
Exasperated, Hattie interrupted. “Can we talk about this some other time?”
“Are you alright?” asked Muriel.
Hattie nodded. “I’m fine,” she said fiddling with the card money. Again, she put the bills in order from the twenties to the ones. Again, she made sure none of them were stuck together. Hattie wasn’t sure how much money she had collected but knew there should be two twenties––one from Howie, the other from Scott. Now she only had a single twenty-dollar bill. Goshdarnit, she hated when she misplaced things. She rechecked the money and looked beneath the table. Or was it Lucy? Hattie glanced to the cat’s favorite spot. There she sat like a queen on top of the couc
h cushion. The cat caught Hattie’s eye, blinked then looked away. Hattie smirked. Guilty as charged.
“Did you lose something?” Muriel asked.
“No, not lost, misplaced. I’m sure I’ll find it.”
Hattie pulled open a buffet drawer where she had some cash and added another fifteen dollars. After putting the card in her purse, she said, “Okay, let’s go.”
“I’ll have to leave you ladies at the door. The parking lot is full. No sense in all of us dealing with this weather.”
Muriel rushed in. “I don’t mind. We could leave Hattie at the door.”
Hattie smiled at Muriel’s attempt to ditch the chaperone.
“Won’t hear of it,” Ralph said firmly as he swerved sharply toward the entrance.
Once stopped, Muriel said, “Ralph, we’ll wait for you in the vestibule. Right Hattie?”
“Of course.”
“Okay. I’ll get the door,” Ralph said.
As Ralph walked around the car, Muriel leaned forward from the back seat and whispered. “Hattie, I think I’m in love.”
Lost for words, Hattie’s mind froze. She then heard her own voice. “That’s nice.”
Once settled in the entryway, Muriel picked up the conversation. “We need to stay together. I hate these things and never know what to say. You do the talking. Okay?”
Hattie nodded, but was hoping to speak with Mrs. Meeks privately.
“And please for all that’s holy, I hope it’s not an open casket. I have this ridiculous eye makeup on and, if I lose it, I’ll look like a raccoon.”
“Take one step at a time,” Hattie said peering down the filled hallway.
“Hattie, do you think he likes me?”
“Ralph?”
“Of course, Ralph.”
“Dear, you would know better than I. What do you think?”
“Well, he never calls. But we both know he’s not much of a talker.”
Hattie scrunched closer to the wall as more people filed in.
“And he’s always helpful when I need anything. Did I tell you I called him about putting some plastic on the attic windows?”
Hattie glanced down the hallway. The fourth door on the right was where everyone entered and exited. Given the number of people, the chances of speaking with Mrs. Meeks privately seemed unlikely. Unless—
Murder in the Pachysandra Page 13