by Abigail Keam
“But we love Asa. She may be a sociopath, but she’s our sociopath. Just thought I’d ask.” Matt gave me a naughty smirk.
“You look better, Matt. You’ve gained weight.”
“I feel better.” He thought for a moment. “I’m going back to work part-time. I think I told you.”
“Did you? Can’t remember. So much is going on.”
“I need to start pulling my own weight again.”
“How long will you be staying at the Big House?”
“Until the renovations are complete, at least. Miss June feels more secure with me in the house.”
“Are you sure it’s not your dog that makes her feel safe?”
“I do think it’s more the dog than me, but she is too polite to say so.”
“What did you end up naming him?”
“He’s a she. The vet had to shave all her fur off so he could look for puncture wounds. He turned out to be female, and I named her Ginger. Get it? Because her coat is a reddish brown.”
“I’ll try to remember. Ginger, huh?”
“It suits her.”
“She okay?”
“A couple of broken ribs, like we thought. The bastard must have kicked her, but she’s resting fine now. Bess is feeding her boiled chicken and made a nice bed for Ginger by the back door, so she doesn’t have too far to potty.”
“Bess has had a change of heart, I see.”
“I don’t understand why the intruder went into the baby’s room.”
“Maybe he got confused. Thought he was going into June’s suite.”
“Maybe, but I’m sleeping in the baby’s room until this maniac is caught. Liam has relieved Amelia at night, and is sleeping in the nurse’s room.”
I laughed. “I knew June couldn’t stay mad at Liam for very long. Are they lovebirds again?”
“Not quite, but it’s moving in that direction. I’m trying to get as much work out of Liam as possible before June reclaims him.”
“I’ll let you get back to it. Glad to see you’re feeling so much better, Matt.”
But Matt didn’t reply. He was too busy telling the truck driver where he wanted the Bobcat.
While I was watching Matt, the realization came to me that he wouldn’t have much time for me in the future. A baby sucks up all of a person’s energy.
It was time for me to ease out of Matt’s life. I suddenly felt a piercing sense of loss, but it was only right. Let Matt have his day in the sun.
I had had mine.
34
There was an unfamiliar English roadster in the driveway when I got back to the Butterfly. I’m not much of a car buff, but even I admired this vintage dark green beauty. It had spoked wheels, a silver racing stripe, the steering wheel on the right side. Eunice must have buzzed it in when I was in the bee yard.
Walking into the foyer, I stripped off my bee suit and hung it up. Hearing voices in the great room, I made a beeline, (Get it? Beeline), for it.
To my surprise, there sat Eunice conversing with Teddy McPherson.
I guess the shock showed on my face. I hadn’t heard from him since the night of the gala, and that was weeks ago.
“Hello,” I managed to say without sounding too petulant. He might have forgotten his promise to call on me, but I certainly hadn’t.
Teddy McPherson rose as soon as he saw me. “Dear Josiah. So glad to see you.” He rushed to give me a kiss on the cheek.
I flinched a little.
“Isn’t it wonderful that Mr. McPherson has come to pay us a visit!” gushed Eunice, obviously enthralled.
Teddy led me to a chair. “I’m so sorry I didn’t call first, but I wanted to apologize for my appalling behavior.”
“Look at the wonderful flowers he brought,” chirped Eunice, pointing to my Nakashima table.
I glanced across the room. There was, indeed, a stunning pink and white floral arrangement on the dining table. It must have cost a small fortune. “It’s very nice. Thank you.”
Eunice gave me a curious look. She had expected me to be thrilled with arrangement since I adore flowers.
Seeing I was less than happy to see Teddy McPherson, Eunice announced, “I’m going to make some lemonade.”
“That would be splendid,” encouraged Teddy. “I would love some.”
Eunice hurried to the kitchen.
When she disappeared, Teddy sat in a chair next to me. “You don’t seem pleased to see me, Josiah. I know. I know. That’s why I’m here. I’ve behaved abominably. I knew a simple apology over the phone would not suffice, so here I am to take my lashes–so flog away.”
“You stood me up,” I vented.
“Yes, I did.”
“And you never called.”
“That’s true,” agreed Teddy. “But then a woman on my watch had been brutally murdered, so I was somewhat preoccupied talking to the police, my lawyer, the lawyer of Hilltop Manor, newspaper reporters, my benefactor, and various nondescript people ringing me up and asking about the events that night. This does not include the charming Detective Goetz taking my fingerprints, absconding with my tux from that night, and subjecting me to a polygraph test. When I didn’t call, I thought you would have understood that I was under the gun.”
I felt the heat rise up my neck to my cheeks, but I was not going to give in so easily. I don’t know why I was behaving like this, but I felt I needed to keep a wall between me and this smooth-talking, charming English gent. “I see.”
He leaned forward, staring into my eyes. “Am I forgiven? Please say yes. Let’s start anew. I’m here with my chariot to sweep the fair damsel to a wonderful lunch in the beautiful Bluegrass countryside.”
I looked down at my dirty hands and torn pants. “It’s past lunchtime.”
“Then we’ll make it an early dinner. How about it? Game?”
Eunice entered with a pitcher of lemonade and glasses.
“Ah, the lovely Eunice. I’m trying to talk Josiah into a late lunch. Join us, please.”
Eunice blushed. “That’s a wonderful invitation, but I can’t today. I’ve got too much to do. Josiah, you go on.”
“There you have it. Permission to seek adventure granted by the beautiful Eunice. Now scoot and freshen up a bit. By the time I have had my lemonade, you can be ready.”
As if pulled by an invisible hand, I rose from my chair and hurried to my bedroom to change. Baby met me at the door with a stern look of disapproval on his droopy face.
“I see Eunice put you in here,” I said as I scratched behind his ears.
Baby shook his head as if to agree. Eunice was one human with whom Baby didn’t argue. She was the alpha, and he knew it.
“Don’t give me that look. I’m not letting you out to drool over Mr. McPherson’s fine wool Savile Row suit. You’ll stay in here until I leave and that’s final.”
Baby gave me a baleful look before he circled three times and lay on his faux fur bed.
Throwing off my work clothes, I took a quick shower and quickly dressed in an outfit that even Franklin would have approved. A dark blue cotton dress with a flared skirt, gold jewelry, white cashmere sweater, and dark flats. Simple, but elegant. Slapping on some lipstick and grabbing a light coat, I rushed down the hall to the great room, and stopped just short at the end of the hall. Taking a deep breath, I slowly sauntered into the room where Teddy was quietly sipping his lemonade. I did my best to assume an air of indifference.
He looked up and gave me the once-over. Recognizing the designer of my dress, Teddy smiled and the light from his excessively white teeth flooded the room, blinding me.
His approval made me happy.
Oh dear. See why I’m cautious with this man!
Teddy is dangerous to my heart.
35
“So where did you two lovebirds go?” asked Franklin, lounging on my bed.
“It was just a casual date for a couple of hours,” I insisted. “We drove around for awhile. Ate an early supper at a seafood restaurant by the river.”
Baby jumped up on the bed, snuggling with Franklin.
“Baby!” I barked. “You know you’re not supposed to be on my bed.”
Franklin pulled Baby’s massive head toward him and kissed the tip of the dog’s nose. “Leave him alone. Who’s a good boy, Baby?”
Baby arranged himself so his head was on Franklin’s stomach as he stretched his entire two hundred pounds across the rest of the bed.
“There goes my mattress,” I complained.
“Go on with the story,” encouraged Franklin, rubbing Baby’s ears while I pulled outfits from my closet for Franklin to approve or, as usual, not approve.
“That’s it. We had a lovely time, and he drove me home.”
“No smooching by the gentle, flowing waters of the Kentucky River?”
“Nothing like that. It was strictly G-rated.”
“Sounds like a B rating, B standing for boring. Where are you going tonight?”
“Teddy wouldn’t say. Just told me to wear a nice dress.”
“That doesn’t tell you much. Should it be a formal dress, cocktail dress, prom dress, church dress, business dress? It’s too overwhelming to think about. Didn’t you ask?”
“I was so stunned to get another invitation that I stammered okay and hung up.”
Franklin sighed wearily. “We have been over and over this. You’ve got to play hard to get. No sophisticated man is going to fall head over heels for some middle-aged, dumpy hick who goes ‘Un, duh, yeah, that’s great. We be goin’ to a barn dance?’”
“I’m not as bad as that.”
Franklin crossed his eyes, puckered his lips like a fish, and wiggled his ears.
Besides being astounded that Franklin could contort his face like that, I winced at the realization, “Oh dear. I do come across as some starry-eyed rube, don’t I?” I flopped on the bed. “Maybe that’s my charm. He’s tired of jaded grand dames with legs up to their armpits. He wants someone simpler.”
“Simple is what you are.”
I scrunched my nose at him.
“Since you don’t know where you’re going, wear your black funeral dress with a strand of pearls, and put your hair in an old fashioned French Twist. Get out those black pumps. Of course you won’t wear it as well as Audrey Hepburn, but you’ll fit in anywhere with that ’60s look.”
“That could work,” I admitted.
“Glad that’s out of the way. Now we can talk about something that’s been on my mind.” Franklin pulled a small vial of pills from his pocket. “Would you care to explain this?”
I grabbed the vial out of Franklin’s hand. “If you don’t stay out of my stuff, so help me, I’m going to . . . I don’t know what, but I’ll do something.” I was furious, but making a big deal out of it was not going to smooth over the situation.
Undeterred, Franklin said, “You can get mad all you want. You’ve been losing too much weight, but your face is puffy. It looks swollen, so I did a little detective work of my own and I found those.” He pointed at the vial. “And what’s more, I looked up what those pills are for.” Franklin gave me a sympathetic look. “It’s your kidneys, isn’t it?”
I nodded. “Have you told anyone?”
“No. I wanted to talk to you first.”
“Then don’t. I haven’t processed it yet myself. I need time.”
“How bad is it?” asked Franklin as he gently placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Not that bad at the moment. Actually, I feel better than I have in a long time. I could go on for years without serious complications or tomorrow I might need a transplant. It’s the roll of the dice.” I grabbed Franklin’s hand and squeezed. “Please keep this to yourself. All I want to do at the present is have fun. I don’t want people to know.”
Franklin squeezed back and smiled. “It will be our little secret.” He jumped up and started rummaging through my closet. “Let’s see if we can get those big tugboats of yours into these tiny little black shoes. Come on, girl. Get up. Mr. Right might be making his way here as we speak.”
I stood up feeling like I had dodged a bullet. It wouldn’t be the last time that I would feel that way during the next couple of weeks, but I had no way of knowing that while Franklin helped me get ready for my date.
I soon would though.
36
Our evening was a classic date. Teddy arrived promptly at the appointed time, opened the car door, and told me I looked stunning. Me–stunning?
We went to one of the area’s best restaurants, where Teddy told funny stories, selected an appropriate wine, and paid for dinner. Then he brought me home, kissed me passionately at the door and, like the gentleman he was, watched until I was safely in my house before he drove off.
After that, we had breakfast several times at Keeneland’s race course kitchen so Teddy could watch the horses train.
Was I falling in love? My feelings weren’t as intense for Teddy as they had been for Jake, but I certainly was in “like.”
That morning while I was stuffing biscuits and gravy in my mouth, Teddy watched in a curious, detached way.
“I have never understood the American custom of pouring grey slop with the consistency of tile grout over unleavened bread that should only be consumed as a last resort to avoid starving. Don’t even get me started on grits or hominy.”
“Hush up, boy. This is good eatin’.” I thrust a fork of biscuit dripping with gravy at him. “Try it. You’ll change your mind.”
“Only if you point a gun at me,” Teddy kidded.
“I could bring up the fine old English traditions of bubble and squeak, blood pudding, or smoked herring for breakfast. And don’t get me started on bangers and mash. I mean, really.”
“Try them. You’ll change your mind.”
“Only if you point a gun at me.”
We both laughed.
Being with Teddy was easy, effortless, like floating down a calm, green river in an old inner tube on a sunny afternoon, while listening to birds sing on the riverbanks. I know that’s a cliché, but there it is.
Only this is the South. Our rivers are home to water moccasins. You’d better watch out!
37
The phone rang.
Groggy, I looked at my radio clock. It was 2 am. Phone calls in the dead of night give me the chills. “Unknown” was listed on the caller ID screen. Maybe it was a wrong number. Against my better instincts, I answered,
“Hello?”
“Toots? Toots?”
“Walter?”
“I need help, Toots.”
“Walter, the police are looking for you. They are going to arrest you for the murder of Emma Fisher.”
“I heard.”
“What makes the police think you killed Emma?”
“I went to see her at Bunny’s apartment. We had a heated argument. I guess the police found my fingerprints, and maybe have some witnesses who saw me leave, but I swear I didn’t touch Emma Fisher. She was alive when I left.”
“Why did you go see her?”
“Something didn’t smell right to me. That dame knew more than she was telling. I was trying to make her spill, but she clammed up. I know she was lying. I’d bet my reputation on it.”
“That’s not saying much, Walter.”
“Listen Toots, she had something to do with Bunny’s death. I feel it in my bones. That’s why I need to you do something for me.”
“NO! You leave me out of this.”
“You can’t say no. I’ve got no one else to turn to. You’ve got to help me. You owe it to me.”
I didn’t respond because I didn’t know what to say. It’s true that I was responsible for foiling Walter’s plan to steal a winning lottery ticket and then tased him to boot, but in my defense, he threatened an old woman, Ethel, and her cat, Petty, to get the ticket. Then he started working with Fred O’nan, my stalker, and was tailing me for that psycho, so what did I really owe Walter?
Considering our history, why was I feeling sorry for that loser?
“I don’t know how I can be of any help, Walter.”
“I would do it myself, but I can’t leave the city. There’s a BOLO out on me, and the police are watching all the car rentals, airports, and bus stations. Bunny’s New York memorial is in three days. I want to you to go to it and talk to the cook–Theda Finkelstein.”
“Whatever for?”
“I want you to ask her about Fisher’s love life. I don’t think she worked alone.”
“Walter, that’s just wishful thinking. Emma Fisher was a nice young woman who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“Don’t be so naïve. Emma Fisher was from the wrong side of the tracks. She wanted money, and she didn’t care how she got it, especially if she didn’t have to work for it. Surely you must know the terms of the will by now.”
“Emma had worked for Bunny for years. Bunny relied on her, said she was a devoted employee.”
“How do you think the intruder was getting inside Bunny’s apartments? Even you thought the front door didn’t look like it had been forced, so the guy must have had a key and the codes to the security system. I know Bunny wouldn’t give out the keys to her apartments. It had to be Emma, since Mrs. Finkelstein would not have access to the London or Lexington apartment keys.”
“It could have been the building supers who were bribed to give out keys,” I suggested.
Walter exclaimed, “In all the cities! Connect the dots, sweetheart. This broad was the link. She was in all the cities with Bunny–London, New York, and Lexington. She had keys to all the homes, and she knew Bunny’s schedule, plus all the security codes.”
“What do you want me to find out from this cook?”
“Anything. Anything at all, but especially if Emma had met someone. If she was acting strangely. You know the drill.”
“I’ll go, Walter, but now you owe me one, buddy. You must never tell anyone you called me. I don’t want Detective Goetz angry with me.”