Privy to Murder

by Carol Shenold

Cass pointed to the bottom where two large floodlights flanked the sides of the sign. An orange utility extension cord snaked its way from the lights up to the house. “What do you think those are for?”

  Please deliver me.

  I went into the cool house. At least one thing was working right. Tonight I could sleep in my bed instead of the dorm room.

  The fight with Mumsie got me nowhere. She brought out the, I’m feeding extra mouths card, and I didn’t have a thing to stand on. Once supper was over, Sean tucked in, and Cass quiet for the moment, I decided to read, a luxury I hadn’t had time for in the recent past. I picked a Victorian mystery by one of my favorite authors and sat down in the easy chair by my bed for an adventure in archeology, murder, and romance. Chaos climbed up on my lap, then settled on the back of the chair, purring in my ear, and flipping my cheek with her tail.

  Maybe I’d had too much murder lately or too much adventure, but I soon slid into a half doze where someone chased me with a knife, his face in shadow. I thought it was JT, then Brian. Whoever it was, moved quickly and the twisty space we were in became darker, tighter, until I had to squeeze around corners and couldn’t look behind me to see who was there. The passage was freezing. I was so cold I could hardly move.

  I jerked awake when Chaos landed on my lap, her fur standing on end. Goose bumps rose on my goose bumps.

  In front of me Mag faded in and out like a poor quality video. Mumsie claimed this manifesting was a skill that had to be learned. One didn’t die and immediately acquire that talent.

  “What do you want? Leave me alone. I’m trying to solve this thing, I promise.”

  Mag became solid and blew, moved all the papers off my desk, even the newspaper. They swirled around the room, then landed at my feet. The top newspaper showed a large picture of Betty Ann with Mag at the party on the night Mag died.

  “Go away, Mag. I know you were murdered.” I must have had a head injury when I had the car wreck; hallucinations from a concussion could be an answer. Mag didn’t go away. She pointed to the picture.

  “Okay. I know you’re dead and you miss your best friend.”

  Mag shook her head.

  “You don’t miss her? Maybe she killed you?”

  Mag shook her head violently. Everything on my dresser crashed onto the floor. Chaos ran. Mag flew straight up, disappearing through the roof.

  That was another thing. Mumsie insisted that a new spirit couldn’t move solid objects or fly through doors or ceilings. So was I imagining things or was Mag a prodigy? Whatever she wanted, she was insistent, even if she wasn’t too clear. Mag had effectively destroyed my sleep for the rest of the night.

  * * *

  I was up early the next day. Why stay in bed if you can’t sleep? I decided breakfast out and alone would be good, and there was no better place than Pat and Mike’s on the square. All the old men in town came here for morning coffee. One group had been meeting so long that a local artist had completed an ink and watercolor portrait, which hung on the wall behind the cashier.

  The restaurant looked like a fifties diner with chrome so bright the reflecting light was blinding, especially when the sun came through the big front window. Tables lined the walls and dotted the room. Red vinyl stools stood along the counter at the far end of the room.

  I always sat at the small table in the corner farthest from the door, so I could see who was coming and going. Sally Sue Grider held court behind the cash register, greeting everyone who came in and directing them to a seat.

  “Coffee please and could I have some cream, real cream, not the packages?” I told the waitress. “And some orange juice. I’ll decide on real food later.”

  I looked around and saw the usual suspects, regulars, and the occasional tourists on their way to or from LakeTexhoma. Slight notes of bacon intruded from the cooking going on around me. I cupped my hands around the coffee and inhaled the aroma, staring into it as if answers floated there for me to see.

  It took a minute for me to leave my thoughts and pay attention to the raised voices in the diner.

  Donna and Betty Ann stood on either side of a small table, screaming at each other.

  “You look like a hooker in all that make-up, young lady. I won’t have you run around looking like that. You look as bad as that Cass Cates.”

  “You just can’t stand it because I look better than you. You’re jealous. I know what and who you’re really after. And you can’t tell me what to do with my money. You’re not my mother and you never will be.”

  “I’m not jealous of a kid like you. You know your dad doesn’t like you to dress trashy, and it’s my responsibility to help you now that your mother isn’t here.”

  Donna glared at Betty Ann, who took an involuntary step back. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave me alone, I’m warning you, Betty Ann.”

  “Your father will hear about this behavior. He won’t be the least bit happy.”

  “Oh, go shove it.” Donna stormed out of the restaurant.

  Betty Ann saw me staring. “What are you staring at, Tali? This is none of your business. Don’t you go running to Frank and tell him we’ve been fighting.”

  No more meek Donna. I wouldn’t want to be in Betty Ann’s shoes if she was going to try and rein in that girl.

  Donna’s glare was enough to kill you on the spot.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Since I was up, out, and eaten breakfast, I decided to stop by the courthouse to see if the custody hearing with Bryan had been scheduled yet. Maybe I should schedule it myself, then at least I’d be more in control.

  I found the court clerk’s office at the end of a long hall, upstairs from JT’s. No one was there, but I heard a chair scrape in the next room. I peeked around the corner, in case something official was going on. Constance Adams sat at a desk writing on a lap top. Connie fit her name, always on the job, reliable.

  “Tali. What’s up? Sorry you had to come hunting for me. Internet connections are better in here. Did you need me?”

  “Brian wants to file for custody of the kids. If anything was scheduled I wanted a heads-up.”

  “I shouldn’t tell you, but you also know how I feel about asshole exes. I’ll look at the schedule.” She completed what she was doing and stood up. “I’ll be right back.”

  I sat on a bench to wait. All courtrooms looked alike. This one reminded me of jury duty days in Dallas a few years ago. This crazy guy threatened the jury when they sentenced him to a few years for check fraud. He was a Charlie Manson look-alike with attitude. I think it was his eyes. They were weird, scary—

  Something about his eyes still nagged at me, a train of thought I lost when the courtroom door opened.

  Connie bustled back. “You’re in luck. He snagged a day next week.”

  My heart dropped into my feet. “Next week? My God, what’s so good about that? I don’t even know if my lawyer will be free.”

  “The court would have checked with the attorney of record before agreeing.”

  “Wouldn’t he have told me? That’s only five days away.”

  “I’m sure he’ll contact you today. Stop worrying. Chances are, you’ll get a conservative judge.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  Shit, shit, shit. I’m so tired of his crap. I ran from the courthouse before I burst into tears or started screaming.

  * * *

  By the time I made it home, I was ready for more coffee; instead, I got Cass, whining.

  “Mom. I don’t feel good. My stomach is sick and everything. I don’t think I can work.”

  “You might try getting to bed earlier.”

  “I don’t think it’s that easy a fix.”

  “Try it.”

  “Mom, listen. I really don’t think that’s it. I could be pregnant.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me.”

  “How do you know? And who?”

  “You know how and who. No, I’m not sure, but I haven’t had a period in six we
eks. I could be.”

  “Jeez. Pierced boy. That’s just great. How are you going to support a baby?”

  “How do I know? I’m not even sure I’m pregnant yet. Honestly, you’re such a help. And so very comforting. My God. You’re my mother. You’re supposed to care. I just need a little support”

  “I am concerned! But I also worry! I cannot believe you’d get yourself and us into this kind of a mess.”

  Cass looked at me as if I were a stranger. “If I am pregnant, you probably won’t treat the baby like a grandchild, anyway, no matter who the father is. But Mumsie will.”

  She stormed out, leaving me standing like an idiot. I slumped in one of the kitchen chairs. I blew that. It couldn’t have gone much worse. What else can happen? No. Scrap that. I don’t want to know, honest.

  I didn’t get my way. Reneé called.

  I yelled at her over the phone. “Where are you? Are you all right? I’ve been so worried.”

  “I’m in Dallas. I had to leave, couldn’t take it any more, Frank and Betty Ann.”

  I heard the tears in Reneé ‘s voice. “I know it doesn’t make any sense, since Frank is—was married. We’ve been having an affair for years. I don’t have any right to react like the wronged wife, but I did. I am.”

  I blurted out, “Wait a minute! You’re in Dallas and I’ve been in a panic all this time? I’ve been picturing terrible things. JT thinks you could be a runaway murderer. Why would you have an affair with Frank? You know what he’s like, always will be.”

  Reneé sounded hurt. “You’re full of good cheer, hope, and advice today. I called my best friend for a sympathetic ear, not to hear my mother’s accusations ringing in my head. I missed you, and I’m sorry I worried you. But I wish I hadn’t called at all.”

  “I kind of wish you hadn’t too. Now I have to worry more about you and I’ve about reached my limit.” I’d heard the same accusations from Cass, and that mess still had to be settled. I also heard the whine in my voice. “When are you coming home? I could use someone to comfort me.”

  “I’ll remember after I finish feeling sorry for myself. I thought we were friends. Why are my problems all about you?”

  “We are best friends. But I have so much going on right now that I can’t deal with it all. Now you go and complicate things more.”

  “I called you because I thought you might be worried. Believe me, I’ll try not to screw up your life any more.”

  “You’ve gone off on some Thelma and Louise road trip without me. What was that all about? Plus, do you realize this puts you at the top of JT’s list of suspects?”

  Reneé’s voice rose an octave. “Now you think I murdered Mag? I’m beginning to think you don’t know me at all.”

  She hung up. I held the receiver as if it was going to turn on me too. I’d hurt both daughter and best friend, in under fifteen minutes. I was a selfish bitch if there ever was one.

  * * *

  The doorbell rang. I answered it to find Donna there.

  She looked at me like as if she wasn’t sure who I was. “What are you doing here?”

  “I live here. What’s your excuse?”

  “I have an appointment with your mother, for a reading.” Donna looked like an advertisement for a troubled teen in gothic black, including lipstick.

  I stood aside so Donna could enter. Mumsie came storming in. “What have you done to Cass, Tali? She’s upstairs sobbing. I swear, if you all can’t learn to get along, I don’t know if I will survive having both of you here.”

  She saw Donna and immediately changed, put one arm around her shoulders. “Honey, are you ready for your reading?” Mumsie shot me an if-looks-could-kill message over her shoulder as she led Donna into the back room.

  Mother was reading for the enemy. Maybe, if I could pump her for information, it would work to my advantage.

  I made the coffee I’d wanted so much and took a cup out onto the deck. Mumsie had the deck covered several years ago so we could use the area as an extra room. In its shade, the heat was bearable.

  Across the yard, on the football field, the idiot coach had the kids in full uniform, running in place, dripping sweat, and soaking their uniforms. Heat strokes waiting to happen. What was wrong with the man? Wait, that was it, he was male.

  I watched practice for a while, boys sprinting, shoving dummies, getting nowhere. That’s how I felt, as if I were paddling a sinking boat. Clouds moved in on the horizon. Rain, maybe. I had to do something besides sit feeling sorry for myself.

  Chapter Fourteen

  I found something to do. The armory secretary called. A new band, Swinging Along, had come to town, from Dallas. If they were hungry, they might play for the dance. And if they were scouting out the Armory, they were hungry, and we had a chance.

  I called the band to set up a meeting. They were playing in Paris. I could scope them out. I even talked Cherilyn into going with me.

  “Cass is what? Reneé what? You yelled at her, both of them? Mumsie told who’s fortune?”

  “Cher. I just told you all of this. Why are you questioning everything I said?”

  “Because, if I didn’t know better I’d think you were making it up. You’re the earth mother. You don’t yell at daughters and best friends. I always wanted to be you when I grew up. Way to go, girlfriend. It’s about time. No one goes through all the shit you have without letting it all hang out sometime.”

  “I picked a great time.”

  “Absolutely. You’re always worried about being sensitive to everyone else. Sometimes they need to be sensitive to your needs.”

  “But I yelled at Cass when she needed me to be there for her. All I could think about was myself.”

  “That’s normal. You’re worried. Also, Reneé wasn’t thinking of others either, running off and not telling us. You can always apologize later if you feel you were wrong. Now, lets talk about these cute cowboys we’re about to meet.”

  I pulled into the Red Rooster club behind a pick-up full of legs, jeans, cowboy hats, boots, and big hair. More than half a dozen kids piled out and into the club before we could get out of the car.

  Cher laughed. “Do you think we’re over-dressed?” She looked at our slacks and blazers.

  “I think we’ll stand out like a bull in a field of heifers. Let’s go do this.”

  The chicken wire around the stage should have been the first clue that this wasn’t a club for two women without men. The second was the number of guys who surrounded us in two-point-five seconds.

  I shouted at Cher over the noise. “We only need to hear a couple of tunes to see if we want them. I can call them tomorrow or Monday.”

  “How the hell are we supposed to hear the band?”

  I looked at the stage. “If we can hear any music over the crowd, I say they’re our boys.”

  We pushed our way through the throngs of people to what passed for a dance floor. Dancers moved in a two-step circle with no room to improvise. Smoke swirled among them. I heard an eighties tune, “Asleep at the Wheel,” pounding through the room. Piggy-backed onto that came “Red-necked Woman.” They could be the group we needed.

  I opened my mouth to tell Cherilyn. She wasn’t in sight. Suddenly I was in the grip of a short, chubby guy whose jeans hung under his ample gut. I struggled, slipped loose, and jerked him around. Caught by surprise, he lost grip—and his balance, and landed on his butt while I pushed my way toward the door.

  Faster than I could have expected, he was on me, pawing at the front of my shirt. “Come on, bitch. You know you want it or you wouldn’t be here.

  Arms pushed between us and grabbed fatso by his collar. He yelped as he was propelled out the door. The bouncer turned around, glared at me, his eyes filled with hostility. But then he grinned, winked, and was lost in the crowd. It was the life-guard from the lake and the party. I’d never seen a personality change so fast.

  Cher rushed up. “Time to go,” I hollered. “I’ve had as much fun as I can stand.”

  “I
’m with you, girl.”

  We burst out of the club into hot, muggy air. The sun had set and the clouds I’d seen earlier rumbled. We made a beeline for the car, hoping fat-boy wasn’t lurking.

  I needed to get home and check on Cass and Sean. Staying with her brother wasn’t my daughter’s favorite pastime but Mumsie had some kind of meeting to go to. I’d forgotten which of her groups. Maybe that circle of recovering alcoholics she played mother-hen for. They loved her even though she didn’t have an alcohol problem.

  “We’re going to pass right by the Tannehill place on the way home. Let’s stop in.”

  Cherilyn looked at me like I’d lost my last mind. “You just said you needed to go home. What are you going to do there, fight with Betty Ann or Donna again? Are you nuts?”

  “Not exactly, but something keeps pulling me back there, so maybe I am twisted. Besides, since Frank is on the fair board, he can tell me if they decided to charge admission to the dance. If so, we might be able to afford that band.”

  “Honey, look and listen to what the weather is doing.

  Sure enough, lightening split the sky. Thunder crashed around us, too close and fast.

  Cherilyn looked at me. “Do you remember what that road going to the ranch is like? No pavement, no gravel, turns to swamp in the rain?”

  I watched the rain coming down in sheets and thought about digging the car out of the mud in pouring down rain.

  “You’re right. I really should get home. I might end up with an all-nighter with Cass.”

  “That’s a possibility. Now, off the subject, what have you decided to do about a caterer?”

  “The caterer for the split party said she can help. Reneé is back but I don’t know if she’s really ready to go back to work, or if I can trust her. I love her but she may not want to work with me after our phone conversation. I wasn’t too nice.”

  Rain sheeted across the street, glistening in the headlights. Country highways still freaked me out a little. I’d gotten used to city lights, roads that weren’t dark as the black cat I had as a kid. We drove in silence for a little while.