The First Ladies Club Box Set

by J B Hawker

  “What did I hear about Naidenne’s blood?” Elizabeth asked, coming up behind Eskaletha.

  “Come on in, you guys, and tell everyone what is going on,” Eskaletha said, ushering them all into her stylishly modern living room.

  “What’s happened?” Olivette asked. “Is Naidenne all right?”

  “Did they find her?” Gwennie queried at the same time.

  “Let these ladies catch their breath and then they can tell us everything,” Eskaletha said.

  When everyone was seated, she turned to Judy.

  “You said your car was stolen?”

  “Yes. It happened at that house the couple from California bought a while back. You know the ones that were practically gutting the place with their remodeling before they ran out of money?”

  The others nodded and Judy continued, “It was on our list, so after checking out Bunny’s place…”

  “Bunny’s place?”

  “Who’s?”

  “Bunny Banks, Bunny Elder when she lived in Bannoch, Naidenne’s friend from Texas,” Shirley began to explain.

  “You didn’t go clear to Texas?!” Gwennie exclaimed.

  “Of course not. She’s here. Her vacation home was still on Naidenne’s list, because she was managing it for her friend. Anyway, she’s here, so when we went to check on the house, we ran into her,” Shirley finished.

  “As I was saying,” Judy interjected. “After Bunny’s place we went to the next property on the list, the one I was talking about. I parked in the driveway and we got out to check the house. It is clear out in the country and there’s no one ever out there, so naturally I left the keys in the ignition.”

  Gwennie leaned over and whispered to Elizabeth, “Naturally,” with a roll of her eyes.

  “We were checking out the windows on the sides and back of the house before going in, like you told us, and we heard the car start up. We got back to the driveway just in time to see my car reverse at high speed out onto the road and disappear.”

  “My favorite purse is in that car,” Peggy added.

  “Oh, will you forget about that purse!” Judy snapped. “My car is gone, and my husband is going to be furious.”

  “I think you said something before about blood?” Eskaletha said.

  “Listen, the trooper said he wasn’t sure it even was blood. But when he went inside, he found some suspicious stains in one room, so he sent for the CSI-types to come check it out. He said, very clearly, even if it is blood it could be from an animal or a transient and it might not be blood at all. We should not assume it has anything to do with Naidenne’s disappearance,” Shirley replied, before Judy or Peggy could say anything.

  The women were silent for a moment, each trying to come to terms with this new information.

  Elizabeth said, “But what are the odds of a car thief just loitering at that house? It doesn’t make sense. Did you get a good look at the thief?”

  “I’m afraid not,” Judy said. “We couldn’t even tell for sure if it was a man or woman.”

  “I suggested it might have been Naidenne, herself, but the others just scoffed at me,” Peggy said. “Women have run away from their husbands before now, you know.”

  “Not Naidenne,” Shirley insisted.

  “I agree with Mrs. Griffith,” Olivette said. “The Naidenne we all know would never cause her family and friends worry by doing something like that. If she could be home right now, she would be.”

  “We can’t know that for sure, not if she had a nervous breakdown, or something,” Peggy insisted.

  “I think we had better leave speculation to the proper authorities.” Eskaletha spoke in her presidential voice. “We’ve done all that we can today. Tomorrow we will check those last commercial properties here in town. Let’s pray for God’s guidance for the searchers, for comfort for Scott and for protection and a safe return for Naidenne.”

  “And let’s pray I get my car back,” Judy said.

  Seeing Peggy about to speak, she quickly added, “and Peggy’s purse, too.”

  Chapter Twenty

  After dropping the others at Eskaletha’s home, Bunny drove the familiar road to the Bannoch Community Fellowship’s parsonage, her temporary refuge a few years before when she was the damsel in distress, rather than Naidenne.

  Driving up to the house, she experienced a kaleidoscope of feelings and memories. It was here she became friends with Scott and met Rosamund. The adventures begun in Bannoch had led to her marriage to Max.

  On this visit she had expected to greet her friends, Scott and Naidenne, in this house and to revel in the happy relationship she had instigated. Now, Rosamund and Naidenne were missing and Max was lost to her forever.

  The joyous reunion she’d imagined had become a condolence visit to comfort Scott and commiserate in both their losses.

  “Better get out and face it, Bunny old girl. Scott needs all the friends he can get right about now,” she encouraged herself before squaring her shoulders and approaching the door.

  “Bunny! What a surprise, come in, come in,” Rosamund enthused, pulling Bunny inside and embracing her nonplussed guest.

  “Rosamund! What are you doing here?”

  “I live here, don’t you remember?”

  “But they said you were missing…” Bunny protested.

  “That was all a misunderstanding. Come on in. There’s someone I want you to meet.”

  “Look who the cat dragged in, Scott!” Rosamund called to her brother, who was in the kitchen pouring yet another cup of coffee.

  Leading Bunny over to Len, she said, “Bunny, I want you to meet Len Spurgeon. Len is our local bank manager and, um, my husband,” she concluded with an air of triumph.

  “I’m happy to meet you, Len,” Bunny shook his hand, and then turned to Rosamund.

  “When did this happen? Why didn’t you tell me? I would have come to the wedding.”

  “We, well, we sort of eloped. We only just got back to town and learned of this terrible news about Naidenne.”

  “Well, congratulations, both of you,” Bunny responded.

  “Bunny, when did you get to town?” Scott asked from the kitchen doorway.

  Bunny was pierced to see how miserable he looked.

  “I only arrived today. Come and sit down, Scott, and I’ll tell you all about it.”

  “You mentioned to Rose that you’d heard she was missing, too. That news didn’t travel as far as Houston, I hope.”

  “No, what I thought was a welcome party turned up at our vacation cabin and they told me about Rose and Naidenne. I’m so sorry, Scott. I know you are worried sick. I came over to try to offer moral support.”

  “A welcome party? Who was it?”

  “Shirley Griffith and two ladies from Naidenne’s club. They were out searching her empty properties in case she might have been showing a house and had an accident or something. Naidenne keeps an eye on our place when we aren’t here, so it was on their list,” Bunny explained.

  “You know, that’s not a bad idea,” Scott said. “Did they find anything?”

  “Not really,” Bunny hedged, not wanting to mention the blood stains.

  “What does that mean?” Rosamund asked, sitting on the sofa beside Len and holding his hand tightly.

  “Well, when they told me about Deenie, I joined them. When we got to the next empty house and got out of the car to look in the windows, someone stole the car.”

  “What on Earth?” Scott exclaimed.

  “I know, out there in the hills, no one would ever expect it. None of us got a look at the thief. The car was out on the road and gone, almost before we knew what was happening.”

  “Did you call the Sheriff?”

  “We called the State Troopers and an officer came out right away.”

  “What did he do?” Scott asked.

  “We were afraid of more people popping out of the woodwork, so we waited outside for the trooper Shirley unlocked the door when he arrived, and he searched the house by hi
mself.”

  “And did he find anything inside?” Len asked.

  “He found the back-door lock was broken, and there were some empty booze bottles and…stains on a rug, that’s all. Probably some trespassers had broken in.”

  “What kind of stains, Bunny,” Scott said, holding Bunny’s gaze.

  “The trooper thought they might be blood stains, but he stressed they could be from anything, and even if it is blood, there’s no need to think it was from a human, let alone Naidenne.”

  Scott sank back in the chair with his eyes closed.

  “Were they going to investigate the stains?” Len almost whispered, as Scott got up and left them, climbing the stairs like a very old man.

  “Yes, the trooper was going to stay there until the investigative team arrived, to be sure no one went inside. So, I brought the others into town and dropped them off.”

  “Did he say if he thinks the stolen car is connected to Naidenne?” Rosamund asked.

  “He didn’t, actually. Just put out a BOLO, I think it’s called, then seemed to forget about the car. But one of those women I was with seemed to think it was Naidenne who ran off with the car.”

  “That’s outrageous! Who was she? I’ll give her a piece of my mind,” Rosamund said.

  “I don’t remember their names, I’m afraid. It was all so unexpected. But the rest of us told her she was being ridiculous.”

  “That’s good, but it still makes me mad.”

  “Look, Rosamund, I’d better go. I came to give Scott moral support when I thought you and Naidenne were both missing, but I’m afraid I just made things worse. He’s got you and Len to look after him and I’ve got a bit more unpacking to do at the cabin, so I think I’ll scoot,” Bunny said, getting up.

  “Oh, wait Bunny. I forgot to ask how Max is. He didn’t come with you this time?”

  “I don’t suppose you had a chance to hear. Max died about six months ago.”

  “Oh dear, I’m so sorry. I didn’t even realize he was ill.”

  “He wasn’t. He was one of the passengers in that plane shot down over Eastern Europe.”

  “How awful! What will you do now, dear?”

  “Oh, I’ll be fine. He left me well off, financially. I’m just trying to decide what to do with the rest of my life. That’s why I came west as soon as the funeral and other details were wrapped up.”

  “You should have told us when it happened, Bunny. We would have come to the service.”

  “It was just a small memorial service for his friends and family in Houston. His body was never recovered, you see.”

  Bunny hugged Rosamund and nodded to Len and walked to the door.

  “It was good to meet you,” Len said. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

  “Thanks. I’ll probably see you again before I leave town. I want to stay until Naidenne turns up. Good-night.”

  *

  When Scott came back downstairs, he was surprised to see Len alone in the living room, watching the news.

  “Where did Rose and Bunny go?” Scott asked.

  “Rosie’s in the kitchen and your friend left a while ago.”

  “I didn’t even tell her how sorry I was to hear about her husband’s death,” Scott said.

  “So, you did know about that. Rosie wondered.”

  “Yes, I only found out after Rose had taken off. His plane crashed. Terrible thing. They hadn’t been married very long, just a few years. I am so wrapped up in my own problems; I wasn’t much of a friend in time of need.”

  “I got the idea she came to comfort you, not the other way around,” Len commented.

  “Yes, Bunny’s got a big heart. Did my sister tell you Bunny is the one who got Naidenne and me together?”

  “Why, no. Tell me about it,” Len urged, glad to see Scott willing to talk about something pleasant.

  “I’m afraid I was paying court to Bunny, in my clumsy way, and she only had eyes for Max. But she’s too soft-hearted to turn a guy down flat, so she manipulated Deenie and me, in the nicest way, of course, into each other’s arms. We owe her a debt we can never repay.”

  “She seems like a nice woman. Kind of at loose ends, right now, though.”

  Rosamund came into the room with a plate of warm walnut and apple muffins and a dish of strawberry jam on a tray.

  “You know, I can’t find a single one of my aprons in the kitchen. I had to wrap a dishtowel around my waist. Here, you two, eat them while they’re hot. Lots of good nourishment to get us through the night. I’ve got some spiced cider simmering to wash them down,” so saying, she handed the men napkins and returned to the kitchen for the drinks.

  “I’m not very hungry, I’m afraid,” Scott said.

  “I haven’t known my Rosie as long as you, of course, Scott, but I already know her well enough to know she won’t let you get away without eating at least two of these delectable goodies,” Len said while spooning jam onto half a muffin.

  With a rueful smile, Scott nodded in agreement and took a bite out of the nearest muffin. He was hungrier than he’d realized and was putting jam on his second muffin when Rosamund came back with mugs of steaming cider.

  “Thanks, Sis. These are good.”

  “That’s why I married her, you know, not just for her pretty face,” Len said, giving his bride a squeeze.

  Rosamund smiled almost coquettishly, before saying, “Here, drink your cider, but be careful, it’s hot.”

  Watching them together caused an almost physical spasm in Scott’s heart from feeling joy for his sister simultaneously with the anguish of Naidenne’s continued absence.

  Where could she be? And, worse still, what might she be suffering?

  “It was good to see Bunny tonight,” Rosamund said.

  “Yes, I shouldn’t have left the room so rudely. Did she say how long she will be in Bannoch?”

  “She said she wants to stay until Naidenne is found. This can’t be the vacation she was hoping for,” Len replied. “She seemed sort of lost.”

  “Well, she’s been widowed twice. What do you suppose Max was doing in Eastern Europe, anyway, Scott? I knew his business took him to Central and South America, sometimes, but I thought he might curtail his travels after he married Bunny,” Rosamund said.

  “I wonder if Bunny thought that, too. Many marriages run into bumpy roads when expectations don’t match the realities,” Scott mused.

  “Were they having troubles? Is that what Naidenne told you?”

  “No, Rose. I was just speaking in generalities. As far as I know, they were a deliriously happy couple.”

  “Just like us,” Len added, with a wink.

  Rosamund patted Len’s hand and began to clear away the mugs and leftover muffins.

  “I’m going to wash up the dishes, and then I think I’ll be ready to call it a day.”

  “Me, too. Traveling always wears me out, even the short flight from Reno, with that long drive from Medford tacked on, has me beat.”

  “That’s right! You two must be dead on your feet. Please, Rose. Leave the dishes. I’ll take care of them. You go on up. I don’t feel like going to bed, just yet.”

  “Well, if you’re sure. This has been quite a day. Thank you, dear.”

  Rosamund hugged Scott and patted him tenderly on the cheek before holding her hand out for her husband and leading him up the stairs.

  Len called a gruff, “Good-night, take care,” to his new brother-in-law as he followed Rosamund.

  Scott slowly rose and went into the kitchen. He put suds into the sink and began to wash up. He’d been so happy in this room with Naidenne, whether doing dishes together or sitting across the breakfast table. The room had been filled with sunshine, then, no matter what the time of day or night, as long as he was with his wife.

  As his tears dropped into the dishwater, his prayers flew fervently to Heaven, prayers for Naidenne’s safety and speedy return.

  *

  At that moment, Naidenne’s kidnapper was once again thrashing ab
out in the underbrush and briars between the towering pines north of Bannoch.

  Cursing to himself as he struggled to keep his bearings and control his frustration, he relived the misadventures of the afternoon which continued to work against him in this ill-fated community.

  He’d thought he was home free when those stupid biddies presented the car to him on a silver platter, but he hadn’t even made it to the highway when the engine coughed, sputtered and died. He was on a downhill grade and managed to coast to the shoulder beside a shallow ditch.

  The fuel gauge indicted the tank was half-full, but the car acted like it was out of gas.

  In a rage, he pulled out his knife and slashed the seats before getting out and kicking large dents into the doors.

  His tantrum over, he pushed the car into the ditch to try to make it less noticeable, then struck out on foot, once again trying to get far away before the vehicle was discovered.

  It was all that tall bitch’s fault. It was because she’d tempted him to stay around, instead of sticking with his original plan. He’d be in Canada by now, if it wasn’t for her.

  Instead, here he was, cold, hungry, on foot again, and for practically nothing.

  If he ever ran into her again, or anyone like her, he would kill them quickly. Well, not too quickly, but before they had a chance to get away and spoil things.

  Just now, though, he had to find food and a place to shelter for the night.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Following another sleepless night, Scott rolled off the sofa, stretched to get the kinks out of his back and climbed the stairs to shower and change.

  Lying awake in the early hours of the morning, he’d decided to go to the Sheriff’s Office and get as much information about those bloodstains as they would share with him.

  Naidenne had been missing for nearly seventy-two hours, now, so there should be no doubt about officially classifying her as a missing person.

  He hoped that detective was over his crazy ideas.

  Up to now, the rest of the sheriff’s department seemed to think Naidenne had simply run off and would soon turn up in Reno, filing for divorce, or something.