Georgie pulled the pad from my hands and tossed it on the table. “The wedding can wait. I have murder news.”
I pulled my legs up under me on the couch and smiled, “Murder, I knew it. Spill the details.”
“Okay, Dot called me this morning. The M.E. finished his autopsy and report. Barbara didn’t have water in her lungs.”
“Which mean she was dead before she hit the water,” I suggested.
“Yup, cause of death is strangulation most likely with a scarf or other cloth. Some fibers were embedded in her neck.”
I shuddered at the thought. “That makes sense; I saw a red mark around her neck. Good thing the lake water didn’t wash out the fibers. If they find the scarf, they’ll have the killer.”
“Agreed, no scarf was found on the body or anywhere along the lakeshore.”
“Hmm,” I said. “I bet she was strangled in a car, driven to the beach and dumped into the lake. The lake is dark at night. Anyone could have driven to the mansion and dropped her off the end of the pier. She might have floated toward my house and got caught under my pier.”
“That could be and sounds plausible. Now we have to figure out who did it.”
“My money is on the mayor or better yet Councilman Phillips. I saw her making eyes at him during Berg’s retirement party.”
Georgie nodded her head. “What about her husband?”
“That makes three possible suspects we know about now. Might be more.”
“Oh,” Georgie said. “There’s a bit more news. Evidently Clifford gave Barbara’s husband the news and he must have shared it with Claudine.”
I groaned.
Georgie continued, “She stormed into the station this morning and demanded to know what happened to Barbara’s diamond pendant. She wasn’t wearing it, and there was a mark on her neck consistent with a delicate chain being pulled off her neck.”
I turned to grab my yellow pad and flipped to a new page adding what clues we knew. I bit my lip and looked at Georgie.
“Claudine and Barbara bought those necklaces together when they graduated college. They were exactly alike and a gift from one to the other. Steve told me they made some odd friendship pact.”
Steve. I don’t often say his name aloud. It’s still painful. When Laci and I talk about him, I call him “your dad.” When I say his name out loud, my mind travels back to that icy February night when he was killed on the interstate. Ten years doesn’t heal. I don’t think time ever heals. It may scab over or diminish in size, but it’s always there.
Georgie’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. “What do you suppose happened to it?”
I shook my head. “Maybe it broke off when she fought. She must have fought her attacker even if she had drinks at Berg’s party. Either it’s in the lake and sunk which means it might never be found, or it fell off during the attack. That means it might still be in a car or wherever she was killed.”
“Yeah,” Georgie said. “They could have taken a walk along the beach and he killed her and pushed her into the water.”
“Him? I think the killer is male, too. Don’t they consider strangulation a crime of passion and usually by someone the person knows?”
“I heard that on TV shows,” Georgie said.
“I wish Clark was here. He would know all these answers.”
“But he would lock you up to keep you from investigating.”
“That’s true,” I agreed. “Let’s get this solved before he gets back.”
“That’s the plan!” Georgie said as we high-fived each other. “Now, what did you want to discuss?”
I flipped back to page one on my yellow pad. “My wedding. I have ideas and concerns.”
“Concerns first,” Georgie asked.
“All right, Clark wants to get married soon and so do I. We don’t want a huge wedding with the entire town in attendance. If we get married in church, a lot of people will show up and then I’ll feel guilty we didn’t invite them to the reception. Since it’s a small wedding, I don’t want the reception in the church hall. It holds 300 people. A smaller venue is ideal, but not many around and certainly not with short notice. I don’t want to have the reception at the Grille or Corners’ Bar.” I laughed.
Georgie stared at me and grinned.
“What?” I asked.
“You haven’t been thinking outside the box on this. You own the perfect place for a small wedding. You could get married on the beach or if it rains, in the parlor. Think, Annie.”
“The mansion. I own the Kelleher mansion. We can have the wedding there. It’s perfect.” I threw my arms around Georgie and tears ran down my cheeks. “You’re so smart.”
“I know,” she smiled at me. “Seriously, it has the industrial sized kitchen so the caterers could do what they need to do without a problem. Betsy will bake your wedding cake regardless of the date. Flowers are no problem. You can hire a professional wedding planner for those details. All you need to do is pick a date, the colors, and a dress.”
Oh my goodness gracious me, a dress. I need a dress. Where am I going to find a dress? I’m doomed. What am I going to do?
“Georgie, what am I going to do? We both need dresses, and I don’t know what to get or where to go.”
“Do you have any idea what you’d like?”
I nodded and pulled out three bridal magazines. I showed my ideas to Georgie.
“I have an idea. First, we go and try these dresses on, and you find the one you love. Second, you ask Miss Faith and her daughter Joy to sew it. They are the best for miles, you know that.”
I nodded. Georgie played with her smart phone.
“You need a dress, too.”
“I’ll find one and they’ll be able to make it, too. We’ll discuss color on our way.”
“On our way where?” I asked.
“Frickel’s Dresses. They have the largest selection of dresses in the area. I just made us a three o’clock appointment. Hang the ‘Closed’ sign in the window. Grab your magazines. We’re going shopping.”
I stared at my best friend in shock but stood and followed her suggestion. Having the store closed all afternoon was unusual. I texted Aunt Irene so she wouldn’t worry if she stopped by. Georgie said she’d drive, and I nodded. We dropped Yummy off at my house and headed out of town.
~ * ~
Frickel’s Dresses was a huge two-story store in a renovated barn. It boasted the biggest selection of wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, prom dresses, mother-of-the-bride dresses, and accessories in one hundred miles.
I stared at the store when Georgie parked the car.
“I can’t go in there. It’s huge. I don’t wear dresses except for church. How will I find a dress that doesn’t make me look old and frumpy or heaven forbid sexy and easy?”
“Will you stop using the word ‘easy,’” Georgie snapped with a smile on her face. “You’re in your forties now. No one is going to think you’re easy. I thought we had this conversation. Wedding dresses should be a bit sexy or at least gorgeous, so Clark has to keep himself from falling to the floor when he sees you.”
Oh my goodness. I need to go home. Clark and I could elope. I can’t do sexy or gorgeous. I’m just plain, petite Annie. What am I going to do?
Georgie opened her car door. “Come on, we have an appointment. Just show the salesgirl your favorite pictures and she’ll find something.”
I nodded feeling sick to my stomach and followed Georgie into the store. A young girl not much older than my Laci greeted us with more joy and enthusiasm than most people who win the lottery.
“Hi, welcome to Frickel’s. I’m Courtney, and I’ll help you make your wedding dreams come true. Follow me to the seating area where we can discuss ideas.”
“This is insane. That girl will put me in ruffles and poufs.”
Georgie grabbed my arm as I tried to leave.
Courtney smiled a smile that would make honey taste sour and said, “Please take a seat. I’ll ask a few questions and we’ll f
ind some dresses.”
“Umm, before you ask questions, I would like to say something,” I blurted.
“Sure,” Courtney said still smiling. “I’m here to help you.”
“First, this is my second marriage and I want to wear an ivory dress. I don’t want poufy sleeves or a huge skirt. I did the princess look with my first wedding. I’d like to look more sophisticated like this.” I thrust the open magazine at her.
She squealed. “We have this dress, and it will look fabulous with your petite figure. Let me get it and a few others you might like. You said you wanted to have a sophisticated look. Is that in keeping with your venue? It helps me find the perfect dresses.”
Georgie said, “She’s getting married in a mansion with all the elegant trimmings.”
I sat stunned as Courtney hurried off saying she had some wonderful ideas.
I bit my lip and scrunched my nose at Georgie. “I don’t know about this.”
Courtney returned with four dresses. The first two were form fitting lace with sequins. I didn’t like either. The third was a mermaid style that made me laugh.
“Umm,” I said. “If the weather is good, we’re going to get married next to the lake which is why I brought the picture of the flowing gown.”
Courtney never lost a beat. “I have that gown and saved it for last to give you an idea what other gowns look like first. If you don’t like this one either, we have a huge store at your disposal.”
I stepped into the gown and was instantly in love. It had a sweetheart neckline and an empire waist that made me look taller. The fabric was slightly pleated on the bodice, and the soft pleats flowed into the bottom of the gown giving it just enough fabric to move as I did. It looked like a Grecian goddess might have worn it, and I was in love. Courtney added a crystal belt, and I was sold. Since we wanted to have Miss Faith and Joy make the dress, I asked Courtney to let me think about it while we looked at bridesmaid’s dresses.
Courtney explained the wedding dress would have to be special ordered and could take several months, but the bridesmaid’s dresses were available at the store or could be ordered from their warehouse in a matter of days. Georgie and I had decided on purple and pink on our drive over. I love pink, and Georgie looks fantastic in purple. She found the perfect floor length dress and it was in stock.
I wasn’t sure if Laci would attend the wedding, but I wanted her and Beth Ann to be bridesmaids, so we asked if they had the same dress in bright pink in their sizes. Courtney checked and excitedly told us she had both. She was a bit disappointed when I said I would wait a few days to decide on the wedding gown, but we purchased three bridesmaid’s dresses, two pairs of shoes, the crystal belt, and a matching crystal headpiece that could be worn with or without a veil. The total nearly equaled the cost of the wedding gown, and Courtney seemed pleased when we left with our purchases. She gave us her card and one for the alterations department, but I know Miss Faith was the best seamstress ever. We were all set.
~ * ~
“What about flowers?” Georgie asked on the ride back to Heavenly Corners.
“Well, we chose pink and purple. I want pink tea roses in my bouquet. They come in shades of light pink to deep pink. I think a large bouquet of mixed pink tea roses would be perfect. I’m too short for large flowers. They’ll be looking at the flowers and not me, but even a dozen tea roses wouldn’t overshadow me.”
“That sounds pretty. I was at Fred’s Flowers the other day, and Lizzie has been dyeing carnations every color in the rainbow. She could make purple and light pink mini-carnations for my bouquet and for Laci and Beth Ann.”
“Wonderful, let’s stop and see. I miss Fred, but Lizzie sure took over well when her dad passed. Maybe she will have some ideas about how to mix the flowers and colors for the decorations around the mansion. Hey, maybe she’ll know a wedding planner. I have no idea where to find one.”
“Good idea,” Georgie agreed. “Usually the mom helps, but yours is in Arizona and planning via internet could get crazy.”
“Aunt Irene would gladly step in, but I don’t want to burden her. Anyway, she seems to be enjoying helping Mr. Colroy. Maybe there could be something between them. They sure seemed chummy,” I explained as I watched the trees fly by as Georgie sped down the highway.
“Sweet. I hope so. I love to see older couples get together.”
“Hey, Georgie,” I said turning to look at her. “If I get a wedding planner and have the wedding at the mansion, will people in town think I'm snooty and too fancy? After all, this is Heavenly Corners, and we’re small town people, not big city folks.”
Georgie laughed. “You worry about the oddest things. People know you inherited the mansion and Inga’s fortune. You’re hiring a wedding planner but using local vendors so no one should complain. You have enough money to rent a plane and take half the town to Hawaii if you want a beach wedding. Then the people who didn’t go might complain.”
I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. My thoughts raced.
The mansion is mine, and it is the perfect place for a wedding. If I were having a large wedding, the entire town would want to attend. The church basement might not be big enough. I’d have to have a barbecue in the park as a reception. Goodness gracious maybe we should elope. No, can’t do that to my parents or Laci. Besides, if I have it at the mansion, I could have security to keep Claudine away.
“Claudine,” I said aloud.
“What? What does Claudine have to do with anything?”
“I just thought if I had a big wedding I’d have to hold the reception in the park, but a simple quiet wedding at my mansion gives me the ability to have security and keep Claudine away. She hates me and more now since she thinks I had something to do with Barbara’s murder. She’d do what she could to ruin the wedding.”
“That’s true,” Georgie said as she parked in front of Fred’s. “You know what we have to do?”
We looked at each other and said at the same time, “Solve the murder before the wedding.”
Georgie and I were laughing like school girls when we walked into Fred’s. The thought of wedding plans and a murder investigation were enough to make us both a bit giddy.
Lizzie showed us the process of dyeing the carnations and said she can do any shade of purple and pink. Georgie showed her a swatch of material from her dress and the ones we bought for Laci and Beth Ann. She matched the colors to her chart and jotted down the numbers to get a near perfect match. Getting the roses weren’t a problem. She just needed a date.
“I’ll get you the date and the amount of flowers we’re going to need, but I do have a tiny problem,” I said.
“What?” Lizzie frowned.
“Claudine.”
Lizzie’s face twisted before I could finish. “I know her.”
“Well, she hates me and she’ll do anything to ruin my wedding. Is there any way you can keep mum on the fact that you’re doing my wedding flowers?” I asked crossing my fingers.
“Sure. I do all the wedding flowers and flower dyeing. I have someone who comes in during our busy times, but she works out in the front or arranges simple bouquets for our refrigerator. I do all the other work in the back room out of sight. Claudine calls in once a week and orders a fresh bouquet and complains every time about my arrangement, but she pays for it and orders the next week. If I have to talk to her, I get a headache. I’ll keep your secret.” Lizzie smiled a broad smile and hugged me.
“Thanks, you’re your dad’s daughter. He was a great person, too. I miss him, but I’m happy you took over the shop.”
“We miss him, too. Mom tries to be brave for me, but I know she misses him, too.”
“How’s your mom doing otherwise,” Georgie asked smelling the flowers in the vase on the counter.
“Good, she’s healthy and busy with her charitable endeavors. Daddy invested wisely so she doesn’t have to work here at the shop, and I can make enough here to live in the upstairs apartment and not have to rent it out. Then I’d
have to live at home.” She laughed. “Not that mom is hard to live with, but a girl needs her space.”
“That she does,” I agreed. “Oh, by any chance do you know of a wedding planner? I want to have the wedding at the mansion and not sure where to begin.”
“Lovely idea,” Lizzie gushed. “I have a friend. Her name is Glory. She plans a lot of corporate events, but weddings are her first love. I have her card somewhere.”
She handed me the card and bit the side of her lip.
“Is something wrong? Is the order too much trouble?”
“No, no, it’s perfect,” Lizzie said. “It’s Claudine.”
“If you’re worried you’ll lose her business if she finds out about my wedding flowers, I could go elsewhere. I don’t want to cause you any trouble.” I took her hand and smiled at her.
She smiled a tiny smile back. “It’s not that. It’s just that when Claudine came in this morning for her weekly flowers and complain fest, she warned me about you two.”
“What?” Georgie yelled. “What did she say?”
“She warned me that Annie is a killer and that you’re helping her hide her crime, Georgie.” Lizzie shook her head. “I know better. You didn’t kill Barbara.”
I was fuming. I pulled out my cell phone and called my attorney Lucas. I walked in circles while I talked to him trying to lessen my stress.
He was glad to hear from me and assured me he would do something to stop Claudine from spreading rumors about me around town.
I hung up my phone and hugged Lizzie. “Thanks for letting us know. I doubt anyone will listen, but I hate to be the brunt of someone’s lies.”
Georgie’s face was bright red by the time we reached her car. She took a deep breath and whispered, “I wanted to say I would like to strangle Claudine with my bare hands, but considering what happened to Barbara this isn’t the time to spout off idle threats.”
Goodness gracious what next I wonder.
Chapter Six
After Georgie dropped me off at the bookstore so I could get my vehicle, I checked to be sure no one left a frantic message concerning their need for a book. People in Heavenly Corners love to read. The answering machine light wasn’t blinking. That’s a good thing because I’m tired. I didn’t have any sales, so there was no need to make a deposit, but I did put the cash from the register in my tiny safe under my counter. Heavenly Corners is one of the safest places on earth to live regardless of the recent murders of Inga, her cousin, and now Barbara, but you never know when someone might have a desperate need.
Murder, Trouble & Family Page 5