Penelope hesitated, then capitulated. “I wish I’d met him before I met Travis. No, that’s not exactly right. I wouldn’t go back and not have Bradley.”
“So he’s Mr. Right?”
“I don’t know who he is, that’s the problem, but the way I feel about him—I wish I didn’t. We don’t have a future.”
“Why?”
“Whatever it is he does is all he does. When he’s not doing it, he comes here and tells me things like how special I am and makes suggestive remarks. I’m not having any part of that, Mary Lynn.”
“Travis is dead, Pen. In the eyes of the Church, you’re free to marry again.”
“He isn’t proposing marriage, and I’m not going to shack up with him.”
“I don’t blame you for that.” Mary Lynn leaned in toward the table. “But you’re crazy about him, aren’t you?”
Penelope nodded. “I guess I am.”
“Then things will work out. They always do.”
“Thanks, Mary Lynn.”
“You’re welcome. Now I’m going uptown and see what’s going on with Harry. He hasn’t been sleeping well, and this new situation isn’t going to help any.” Mary Lynn slung her purse over her shoulder. “Call you later if I find out more about anything.”
****
“The Toneys told me something interesting,” Jake said as he redistributed the shredded lettuce on his ham sandwich.
“Oh?”
“Yeah, they said they’ve seen Harvey Hadden hanging around town recently.”
“Hanging around?”
“You know his brother Elbert’s working at the Garden Market and doing real good.”
“I know. So what about Harvey?”
“Well, he comes into town for supplies from time to time, but you don’t see him real often. But according to the Toneys, he’s been here five times since all the trouble started at the feed store.”
“I wonder why.”
“I do, too. Five times in a couple of weeks is a lot.”
“And they’re sure it was him? He and Elbert look a lot alike.”
“Not to the Toneys.” Jake chuckled. “But then, when you live a lifetime with a mirror image of yourself, I guess you can see the difference between faces.”
“Did you hear about Brice Dolan?”
“He’s not drunk under the pool table again, is he?”
“That woman who came with Wally Powers accused him of trying to do things he shouldn’t. Parnell picked him up in Harry’s office this morning. He’d gone to apologize for everything after he apologized to Hal Greene.”
Jake’s eyebrows went up. “So he had a change of heart, did he? Interesting.”
“A little late, I’d say.”
“Wonder if Parnell picked him up just for questioning, or if Brad charged him?”
“Daddy, maybe you should mention Harvey Hadden to Bradley. Or tell the Toneys to do it.”
“Why?”
“Well, the day Parnell broke up the brouhaha at the newspaper office, Parnell told me Bradley had gone out to Possum Hollow to serve a warrant on Harvey Hadden.”
“What for?”
“I didn’t ask. But if he’s been in town, since then, that says something—doesn’t it?”
“What do you think it says?”
“I just thought maybe it would be information Bradley could use.”
“You think Harvey knocked Wally Powers in the head? What reason would he have had to do that?”
“I don’t know, Daddy, I just mentioned it.”
“Don’t you think Brad would’ve seen him at least once?”
Penelope shrugged.
“Is Sam coming back for dinner?”
“He says so.”
“What are we having?”
“Chicken spaghetti.”
“Garlic bread?”
“If you want some.”
“Bet Sam would like it. What’s for dessert?”
“Whatever’s in the freezer.”
“Now, Nellie, you know the old saying—the fastest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”
“I’m not trying to get to his heart,” Penelope snapped.
“If you ask me, you’re already there.”
“Has he said something?”
“It’s the way he looks at you that tells the story.”
Penelope brought her salad to the table and sat down. “Lecherous looks.”
Jake shook his head. “No, darlin, it’s pure adoration I see in his eyes.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
While they sat in the swing on the back veranda after supper, Penelope told Sam about Harvey Hadden. “I don’t know why I keep thinking about him, but it’s odd. His being around town, I mean.”
Sam twisted a strand of her hair around one finger. “Have you mentioned it to Brad?”
“It’s not my business to do that, is it? I’m not the one who saw him.”
“I guess not. So what connection would Harvey Hadden of Possum Hollow have to a brothel-turned-antique arcade?”
“No clue.”
“Maybe his family has a history.”
Penelope sat up. “Maybe they do. The Haddens have been around here forever, and all of them—with a few exceptions—just sort of existing out there.”
“Making moonshine?”
“I guess.”
“And maybe more than that these days.”
“What do you know about it?”
“Nothing.”
“Sure you do. You know things.”
He laughed and pulled her in for a long kiss. “What I know isn’t up for discussion, but you could find your own things to know.”
“What do you mean?”
“You dug up all kinds of stuff at the archives during the goings-on at the old school house.”
“You mean about the history of the town?”
“And the people who lived here.”
She snuggled closer to him. “You’re saying I might do it again.”
“Why not? You have names and dates and places.”
“I do, don’t I?”
“Sure. I’ve got to go to Little Rock tomorrow. Any reason you couldn’t come along and spend the day nosing around the old records?”
“None at all.” She closed her eyes, warmed by the anticipation of a day with Sam all to herself.
“I might be a long time, but we could have dinner before we come home.”
“Have you been down by the river? The River Market?”
“No, but we could go.”
“It’s nice. Lots of shops and places to eat.”
“A romantic evening?” He winked at her.
“As romantic as we’re going to get.”
He squeezed her shoulder. “Guess I’ll have to settle for that.”
“Guess you will.”
****
“Anyway, I told that nice young man, the one who’s been so helpful in the past, what I wanted, and he said to start with the census, so I did.” Penelope put her feet up on the low rail of the local Patio Taco Place and unwrapped a fat burrito.
“Are you going to tell me what you found?”
She turned to look at him. “You wouldn’t believe.”
“I bet I would.”
“Well, first of all, Malachi Sanborn was listed in the census as a tavern keeper.”
“Tavern, saloon, what’s the difference?”
“Tavern sounds a little classier, don’t you think?”
“Maybe. Go on.”
“He lived on Cedar Street with his wife and three children. I know that because somebody had noted the address along the left margin of the census form. I don’t know if the house is still there.”
“You don’t know?”
“Not really. I get so used to seeing everything that I just take it all for granted.”
“You should pay attention to details. They’re important.”
“If you say so.”
“Sometimes your life depends on it.” He p
icked up his beer and took a long drink.
“Okay, okay. You want to know the rest?”
“I’m quivering with anticipation.”
She scowled at him, then laughed. “Well, I found a listing for four single women together at the so-called tavern, so I think that must’ve been the you-know-what.”
He shook his head. “Come to the twentieth century, Nell.”
She consulted her notes on the yellow legal pad she’d laid on the table. “Elizabeth Berry, age 22, Sarah Taylor, age 19, Charity Sykes, age 20, and—get this—Madeline Hadden, age 29.”
“Well, well.”
“In the box for the kind of work they did, it just says ‘at home’.”
“I’d say you hit the jackpot.”
“Madeline Hadden had to be some kin to Harvey. They’re all kin to each other out in the Hollow. Maybe he knew that. Maybe he was trying to protect the family name by killing Wally Powers.”
“I wouldn’t think the Possum Hollow folks would have any reputation to protect.”
“It’s an honor thing.”
“Oh, well, I can tell you, strictly off the record, Wally Powers was shot once with a small caliber handgun. That’s not Possum Hollow style, from what I understand,” Sam said.
“How do you know that? It wasn’t even in the paper.”
“Never mind, but I don’t think Harvey Hadden owned a fancy handgun like the one the crime lab says the bullet came from.”
“Fancy?”
“Expensive. I’ll bet he keeps plenty of guns, but big ones for hunting.”
“Now we know where Miss Madeline’s Room got its name.”
“There’s a wooden plaque outside one of the doors that says ‘Miss Madeline’.”
“You didn’t tell me that.”
“You didn’t ask. So what else did you find out?” Sam signaled the waiter for another beer and sat back.
“That was all from the 1880 census. The 1890 census burned, so I had to skip to 1900. I found Malachi Sanborn again, still a tavern keeper.”
“He had a long run. That’s unusual.”
“And I found four single women ‘at home’. Three of the names were different, but Miss Madeline was still there.”
“At almost 50? When did she have time to go out to Possum Hollow and procreate that clan?”
“Maybe she’d already done it. I checked for Haddens, too, and only found one family in 1880—a father and four children. Funny thing, there was an X in the box for married, so where was his wife?”
“Uptown making whoopee?”
Penelope choked on the meat and beans she was chewing. “Hush up, Sam!”
“Well, you asked.”
“And there were six Hadden families in 1900. I linked all but one to the children on the 1880 census.”
“You’re quite a detective.”
“I read a lot of Nancy Drew growing up.”
“Figures. So what are you going to do with all the information?”
“Give it to Bradley and tell him about what the Toney Twins said—seeing Harvey Hadden hanging around so often.”
“Then what?”
“Then nothing. Bradley can take it from there.”
“Don’t go out to Possum Hollow, Nell.”
“I only go at Christmas when Mary Lynn and I distribute clothes and toys to the children.”
“That’s enough.”
“What do you know about Possum Hollow, Sam?”
“There are hundreds of Possum Hollows in this country. I’ve seen a lot of them. Too many as a matter of fact.”
“Sam…”
“Let it go, Nell. Just let it go.”
****
They said goodnight at the top of the stairs. “I’m leaving tomorrow,” Sam said, holding her against his shoulder.
“For how long?”
“I don’t know. Maybe not long this time. Does that mean you’ll miss me?”
“You know it does, darn you. I don’t want to miss you.”
“I’m crazy about you, Nell.”
“That just makes it worse.”
“I guess I know that.” His mouth searched for and found hers. “Someday.”
“Someday what?”
“I can’t tell you what until I know. Just someday.”
“Will you be here for breakfast?”
“No. That’s too much domesticity when I have to leave.” He scattered lighter kisses over her face. “I’ll call though.”
“When?”
“When I can.” He put her away from him. “Bye, Nell.”
She watched him walk down the hall to the front room. “Goodbye, Sam,” she whispered.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Bradley didn’t mention Sam when Penelope took her notes to the police department the next morning. “I’ll talk to the Toneys,” he said. “It might be something, and it might be nothing.”
“I saw Jill Jerome going into the Antique Arcade on my way here this morning.”
“She’s still around.”
“Find her film?”
“No.”
“Do you think it was really stolen?”
“All I can do is investigate what I’m told.”
Penelope nodded. “Sure. I heard about Brice.”
Bradley shrugged.
“She’s a troublemaker, isn’t she?”
He shrugged again.
“Well, I’ll go on and let you get to work.”
“Mother, stay away from Possum Hollow.”
She frowned. “That’s what Sam said.”
“Good advice.”
“You know I don’t ever go out there except at Christmas.”
“I know. Just thought I’d mention it.”
She nodded. “Okay. You and Rosabel come by anytime.”
****
She walked to the library on the opposite side of the street from the antique store. The door of the former tavern stood open, and she could see people moving around inside. She pushed open the door to the library and savored the cool air. Shana looked up from behind the desk.
“The Bainbridges have filed suit for custody of Tabby.”
“Oh, no!”
Shana nodded. “Peter called me last night. He got served when he picked up Tabby from school.”
“Does she know what’s going on?”
“He doesn’t think so.”
“Does he have a court date?”
“Next month.”
“The judge will throw it out, don’t you think?”
“I don’t know, Penelope. I’m scared to death, and so is Peter. I can tell. Apparently they tried to get her once before, and the judge basically told them to leave things alone.”
“Why do they think they’ll get her this time?”
“Evidence. Me.”
“Oh, Shana, I’m so sorry.”
“I told Peter I’d quit my job and go back home to Ohio.”
“Do you really think that would help?”
“I don’t know.”
“They’re determined to have her, Shana. They may be using you, but I don’t think anything you do will change what they want.”
“That’s what Peter said.” Shana’s head went down on the desk. “It’s such a mess, and it’s all my fault.”
“Stop that right now. It’s a mess, but it’s not your fault, not by a long shot. They’d have gone after Tabby even if you’d never been in the picture.”
“But I am, and what I did before is the problem.”
“It’s time to let go of all that. Travis Pembroke is dead, and it’s finished. Done.”
Penelope left when a mother with three children brought an armload of books to the desk. “I’ll be in touch,” she said. “Don’t do anything you’ll regret.”
****
Rosabel helped Penelope set out cold cuts, raw vegetables, cheese, crackers, bread, and a variety of dips. “I told Brad we shouldn’t just keep dropping in unannounced.”
“I’ve always got something to put on the tabl
e,” Penelope said, “and if I don’t, we’ll send Bradley out for pizza at that new place by the hospital.”
“I heard it was good. Not great, but good.”
“I’ll bet your family has some good recipes.”
“Lebanese cooking, but I grew up on it, so maybe I took it for granted.”
“Then you’ll have to show me some things one of these days. How are your parents?”
“Mama’s not happy she can’t get down here to meet Brad and the rest of his family, but Papa’s really busy right now, and he can’t get good help.”
“Nobody wants to learn the saddle-making business?”
“Not in Pickens, Nevada, it seems. Papa’s saddles are famous all over the state.”
“I guess young folks think it’s not such a glamorous career.”
“It’s a lot of hard work. I used to help in the shop during the summers.”
“What did your parents think of you becoming a police officer and moving south?”
“They were very supportive.”
“How close does your sister live?”
“About forty miles. She brings her kids every Sunday.”
“That’s nice.”
“Should I go call Brad and Pawpaw?”
“Pry them away from that television if you can.”
****
Bradley carried his overflowing plate to the table. “Looks good, Mother.”
“Just be glad you didn’t have to go out for pizza.”
He made a face. “Yeah.”
“So what’s new, Brad?” Jake asked as he spread his napkin after the blessing.
“Same old, same old, Pawpaw.”
“Nothing new on who dispatched Wally Powers?”
“I’m working on some things.” Bradley hesitated. “I did go out and talk to the Toney twins.”
“They used to go squirrel hunting with Harvey Hadden when they were kids.”
“Aren’t they your age?”
Jake preened himself. “I just look younger. But they’re a few years older than me, I guess.”
Rosabel laughed. “You’re just a kid, Pawpaw. You’ll out-dance everybody at our wedding.”
Pleased, Jake patted her arm. “You betcha.”
Bradley’s pager went off before Penelope could serve dessert. He went to the phone and dialed dispatch. “What now?”
Penelope watched his face, but his expression didn’t change. “Yeah, yeah,” he said, “I’ll check it out. Where’s Parnell? Oh. Sure, I’ll go see what’s going on.” He hung up. “Gotta go, but I’ll be back. Save me some pie.”
The Feed Store Floozy (The Penelope Pembroke Cozy Mystery Series) Page 8