Miz Scarlet and the Bewildered Bridegroom

by Barton, Sara M.

“It’s been in our family for three generations,” my mother told him. “My parents built it, I grew up here, and now it belongs to my children.”

  “Maybe someone wants you to sell it,” he suggested. “The architecture is fabulous and the house is obviously in very good shape for its age. I assume the grounds are extensive, backing to acres and acres of conservation land. With such a lovely setting, I should think it would appeal to a buyer who has lots of money to spend and a great affection for Victorian charm.”

  “But why not just ask us?” I wanted to know. “If someone has the bucks and the price was right, we’d certainly entertain the idea. Given the current state of the economy, we’d be stupid to turn down a reasonable offer.”

  “Wouldn’t it make more sense for someone to make an offer for Wallace’s place?” Laurel interjected.

  “What’s Wallace’s place?” the doctor inquired.

  “It’s Lacey’s brown Victorian just up the street.”

  “You have a mansion too?”

  “I do,” Lacey replied. Dr. Van Zandt was treated to the story of how two brothers joined the Four Oaks Pressboard Company and eventually built homes close to each other. “I’m thinking of terminating my tenant’s lease at the moment. I don’t care for the way she does business. There are so many comings and goings at all hours of the day and night, the neighbors are complaining.”

  “Have you considered that you might not be the only victims of this unpleasantness?” Thaddeus suggested amiably. “Perhaps someone is out to ruin her, too. I wonder if other people in the neighborhood are on the receiving end of these nasty games.”

  Chapter Thirteen --

  “Anything’s possible.” Captain Peacock gave a non-committal shrug. He seemed less than enthusiastic about embracing the premise that Karin was innocent. “We’ll follow the leads and see where they take us.”

  “I’ll make some phone calls later tonight. Maybe Willow and Myrtle have picked up something on the grapevine,” I decided.

  “Hold on, Scarlet.” Kenny urged caution. “Why open a new can of worms when we haven’t dealt with the one already plaguing us? I think we should go slowly on this. We don’t want to unnecessarily alarm anyone, or even show our hand. Whoever is behind this certainly seems to pay close attention to the comings and goings of the Four Acorns Inn. That’s our immediate concern. If we’re lucky, we’ll catch the hired thugs in the act and we’ll be able to get some answers.”

  “You’re asking me not to make the phone call?”

  “I am asking you to let Mercer Security deal with this. Max and I have resources you don’t have,” he reminded me firmly. I was about to protest, but then I remembered there was a wedding to pull together in the next few days. I had more than enough to do without taking on this mystery. With a shrug, I let it go.

  “On that note, I shall take my leave of you. My oven beckons,” I told the group, bowing theatrically. “When the Rivera ladies arrive, ask Larry to join us for dinner. Tell her I’m making seafood lasagna tonight.”

  “Perfect choice for a harrowing day,” Lacey smiled. The exhaustion etched on her face made her look her age for a change. “It’s gourmet comfort food.”

  “What about Max and his aunt?” my mother inquired. “When are they coming?”

  “He’s gone up to Boston to fetch her. They’ll be here after dinner.”

  I left them to their conversation and got busy in the kitchen. Scrub Oak wandered in for a drink of water. Passing up the kitty corner, he lapped up his fill from the dog bowl and then rubbed up against the back of my legs, hoping I would notice him. I reached down, scratched him under the chin, and pulled out a baking pan. It was time to make a batch of cookies for the guest cookie jar we keep in the butler’s pantry.

  Jenny showed up fifteen minutes later, ready to set the dinner table. I gave her the guest count.

  “Is Max staying with us or just dropping off his aunt?” she asked.

  “I’m not sure. We’ll have to ask Captain Peacock.” I was busy piling baby spinach into cut glass bowls.

  “Oh.”

  “Oh?” I glanced up at her.

  “Can I ask you something, Miz Scarlet?”

  “You can.”

  “Is there any way to make sure those guys don’t come back?”

  “You’re worried they might, Jen?” I sliced some white button mushrooms and arranged them on top while I waited for her to answer. She didn’t. Wrapping up the remaining spinach and mushrooms, I returned them to the crisper drawer of the refrigerator before I pulled out a plastic container of gorgonzola and crumbled some of the cheese over the salads. When the silence continued, I turned in her direction, my concerned gaze taking in the details as I studied her face closely. Those normally bright eyes now wore a guarded look; her lips were drawn tight, as if she was fighting the inclination to cry. “Talk to me, sweetie.”

  “I don’t think I can take any more of this.”

  “You’re that afraid?” I half-expected her to ask me to check under the bed and in the closet for things that go bump in the night.

  “Yes,” she conceded.

  Poor Jenny. When I first spied that terrified runaway along Barnegat Lane in Bay Head; hands bloodied, dog missing, she was being chased by a knife-wielding assailant. She was so vulnerable, so alone and friendless, I had no choice but to rescue her. In a year’s time, she had come so far; this crisis threatened to upend her life once again.

  It was tough enough when she thought she was the only one at the inn being pursued, but the physical attacks on Bur and Lacey this morning must have triggered an attack of conscience. Was she feeling guilty that two people she cared about might be targets because of something she had done before she came to the Four Acorns Inn? It was time to let her off the hook. I washed my hands and dried them on a linen dish towel, trying to decide how best to address her worries. When in doubt, embrace the positive spin. I looked her straight in the eye and plastered a smile on my face, one that exuded more confidence than I actually felt. After all, we still didn’t really have any real answers, did we?

  “We don’t think you’re the target, honey.”

  “You don’t?” That lower lip trembled. It was obvious to me that she wanted to believe my words. The frightened child within wanted to believe everything would be okay. Heck, I want to believe that too.

  “Come here.” I gave her a hug, wrapping my arms gently around those quivering shoulders. I could hear her sniffling into my shoulder. “It really isn’t personal. You’re not in any danger.”

  “But how can you be so sure?” she asked, composing herself. Her fingers dabbed at her wet cheeks. Think, Miz Scarlet. Don’t try to fool her with phony reassurance. She’ll see right through you.

  “I can be sure for one simple reason,” I replied. “Do you really imagine that if Kenny thought for one minute that you were in real danger, he’d let you stay here?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He’d spirit you away to some safe location, out of harm’s way.”

  “He would?” she asked, surprised.

  “And do you imagine that Larry and Max would let Edna and Ruth come and stay at the inn if they thought they were putting the ladies at risk? They’re both experienced homicide investigators, Jen.”

  As soon as I said that, I suddenly understood why she wanted to know if Max would be staying at the inn. He helped to stop a killer last December by pretending to be a stroke victim in a wheelchair. Maybe she thought he’d do an encore performance tonight. It was time to work some magic and make her feel safe again.

  “Kenny and his Mercer Security team think this is about the inn itself.”

  “They do?”

  “Yes. They’re exploring several promising avenues of investigation. Too bad you missed the discussion we just had. It turns out Dr. Van Zandt is apparently a bit of a mystery buff.”

  Slowly but surely, Jenny began to pull herself together. How could she not? As we stood there talking, we could hear laughter
in the living room. If the older grownups weren’t worried, why should Jenny be?

  “Thaddeus is a man of common sense and logic. You know, since you’re studying to be a nurse, Jen, you might benefit from getting to know him better. You’ll be working with doctors and he’d be a good resource for you.”

  That little change of subject seemed to do the trick. It got her thinking about something other than the baffling events unfolding at the inn.

  Just after six, I carried a plate of stuffed figs and prosciutto-wrapped melon into the living room and set it down on the table, along side a bowl of spiced walnuts. “Anyone care for a cocktail?”

  “I thought you’d never ask,” Dr. Van Zandt smiled wanly. “I could use a stiff one. It’s been a challenging day.”

  “Too true. Make mine a double,” my mother instructed me. “I want to go to bed tonight and wake up believing this has all just been a bad dream.”

  “Amen to that. I’d tell you to make mine a triple, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to stand upright if I do, and I’m really looking forward to that lasagna.” Lacey groaned, stretching her shoulder tentatively. “That bastard bruised my arm when he grabbed me. You can see his finger marks on my skin.”

  Raising the sleeve of her white cotton blouse, she gave us all a good glimpse of the damage just above her elbow.

  “You know what the worst part was?” She shivered, remembering. “I could actually imagine him flinging me over the railing.”

  “Poor Lacey. I’m so sorry he did that to you.” My mother reached over and took her cousin’s hand as it hovered above the figs. “Come sit next to me and tell me all about it. You must have been very frightened, dear.”

  “I was,” said the senior citizen, plunking herself down. “I was sure I was a goner. The one thought that flashed into my mind was that I didn’t want to die that way. It just seems so wrong. I mean, I want to go out in style, kicking up my heels and wearing something memorable -- certainly not in a sensible cotton nightie and without makeup. I want people to talk about how dazzling I looked right up to the moment I took my last breath.”

  Twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang. In a flurry of hugs and laughter, the Googins girls were reunited with the Queen of Clean. As Edna was introduced to the doctor, I pulled Larry aside.

  “Stay for dinner. It’s your favorite,” I cajoled her.

  “I can’t, Scarlet,” she told me softly, trying to prevent eavesdroppers from catching the plan. “Kenny wants me out of here right away, in case someone’s watching the inn. We don’t want to tip our hand. Can I have a rain check?”

  “Any time.” I saw her to the door.

  “Listen, if things seem to be going badly, don’t hesitate to call me. Kenny and Max like to take charge, but I’m the one who still has the power to arrest the bad guys. Don’t forget that.”

  “I won’t,” I smiled.

  “I mean it. I can be here in less than five minutes.” Her dark eyes fastened onto me and wouldn’t let go.

  “I know. I appreciate that, especially given that Jenny’s so apprehensive.”

  “Poor kid. This is the last thing she needs after what she went through.”

  “Too true,” I agreed. I was about to give her a hug, but she warned me off.

  “Snoops might be watching.”

  At quarter after seven, while we were gathered in the living room having coffee and dessert, the doorbell rang.

  “She’s here!” Lacey announced. “I can’t wait to meet her.”

  “I’m sure she’s lovely,” my mother decided. “How can she not be? Max is such a wonderful man and she raised him.”

  “We’ll see,” Edna remarked, preparing herself for the inquisition. She smoothed her skirt, fluffed up her hair, and adjusted her glasses as she resettled herself in her chair. The newest guest at the Four Acorns Inn was about to get grilled.

  “Be nice,” I instructed them sternly. “We don’t want to frighten her.”

  On my way to the vestibule, I tried to picture Aunt Ruth in my mind. My best guess was a short, plump, sweet-tempered woman, probably with gray hair and pink lipstick. Since she had raised Max, I assumed she had a maternal streak a mile wide.

  I peeked out the peephole, squinting to catch a glimpse of the visitors. Max was there, chatting amiably with a dark-haired, beady-eyed, bird-like woman, with a beak of a nose and thin, undecorated lips. I could see the Weingarten family genes were strong. This was no wallflower. She looked like she could spit nails.

  I put my hand on the knob and gave it a turn, pulling open the door. “Welcome to the Four Acorns Inn. You must be Aunt....”

  “You can call me Ruth,” said the no-nonsense woman in the SAS comfort loafers, navy slacks, and crisp, white cotton blouse. “I’ll take a stab at this and say you must be Scarlet Wilson. I was just studying your dossier.”

  “My what?”

  “You’ll pardon me,” said Max, giving me a wink. “I must be going. Call me if you need me.”

  “I will,” I replied.

  “He was talking to me,” Ruth Weingarten informed me.

  “Ah, actually I meant that for both of you,” said the security expert diplomatically.

  “Goodnight, Max.” I picked up Ruth’s black, soft-sided suitcase from the floor where he deposited it, and stepped aside to let the older woman pass me. Boy, this ought to be some meeting. Larry’s going to have her hands full with this lady. Edna, who demonstrated all the flexibility of a brick wall and felt compelled to offer her views on every subject, whether they were welcomed or not, was about to meet her match. Did Max really think Ruth and Edna would turn into tea-sipping pals or was that just wishful thinking?

  “Would you prefer to see your room first or meet the other guests?” I asked, leading Ruth down the hallway.

  “I’ll see the room, if you don’t mind. Is there any chance you could scrounge up a cup of coffee for me? Black, one sugar. I don’t want to fall asleep before my shift is over.”

  “Your shift?” I looked at her blankly.

  “Yes, I’m doing the eleven-to-seven detail.”

  “Detail? You sound like a cop.”

  “That’s because I was. I’m retired now.”

  “Holy mother of pearl!” I uttered a shocked reply. “I had no idea.”

  “Obviously.”

  “A cop,” I said again, still amazed. “When I heard you raised Max, I was picturing someone quite different.”

  “What, some cookie-baking, apron-wearing, do-gooder without a brain in her head?” she retorted.

  “Whoa! Back to charm school for you!” I blurted out, stunned at the rebuke. “You are definitely not ready for the diplomatic corps!”

  For a moment, Ruth’s stern visage seemed to tighten, the deep lines of her face noticeable. Her dark eyes narrowed until they looked like slits in her face. I thought about apologizing for my outburst, but then decided she didn’t deserve one. After all I had been through, I wasn’t about to take any crap from anyone, not even Max’s favorite aunt.

  “Maxie told me you were a tough cookie. I wanted to see for myself whether you could handle controversy.” She nodded with approval. “The last thing we need in a case like this is a nervous Nellie imagining there are murderers and thieves lurking around every corner. Now, how about getting me that cup of coffee?”

  “Have you had dinner?”

  “Grabbed a bite on the road, but I could use a little nosh.”

  “Cheesecake, ice cream, banana cake, chocolate chip cookies....” I recited my list of available sweets. Ruth gave me a big grin.

  “I think I’m going to like this joint.”

  Chapter Fourteen --

  Making my way down the back stairs, I headed into the kitchen. I could hear the animated conversation in the living room. Edna was regaling the crowd with a story about her brother, Ernest, who met a woman online who turned out to be a gold-digger. I placed a couple of thin slices of banana cake on a small plate, scooped some vanilla bean ice cream on top, and
grabbed a dessert fork from the drawer. Lacey intercepted me while I was pouring a mug of coffee.

  “So?” Those eyes twinkled as she leaned in conspiratorially. “What’s she like?”

  I was about to tell her, but changed my mind. Why spoil the surprise? “I’ll let you make up your own mind when you meet her.”

  “When might that be?”

  “Soon. Very soon.” I pulled out a small serving tray from the cabinet and set Ruth’s snack on it.

  “Well, now I’m really curious,” said Lacey, studying me carefully. “I’ve never known you to clam up, Scarlet Wilson. It makes me think you’re hiding something important.”

  “Oh, I’m not hiding something,” I grinned. “I assure you. I’m looking forward to the first face-to-face between Edna and Ruth. It promises to be a doozy.”

  “Intriguing. If you were going to place a bet....”

  “That’s easy. My money’s on Ruth.”

  “Is this going to put the kibosh on the Rivera-Weingarten romance, Scarlet?”

  “I doubt it.”

  “There must be something you can tell me about the woman!” With hands on her hips, the senior citizen sounded exasperated. “Just one little tidbit, something I can savor....”

  “She’s a retired cop.”

  “Get out!” The wide eyes, the open mouth, the gasp -- Lacey’s reaction was priceless. “No way!”

  “Oh, yes,” I laughed, imagining the moment when Edna and Ruth came face to face. Boy, this is going to be a hoot. And then I remembered why Ruth was at the Four Acorns Inn. That dose of reality brought me back to my senses. On the upside, think of how Jenny will feel when she learns that Ruth is watching out for her. Will that help her to stop worrying so much? I hope so.

  I knocked on the door before opening it. Tray in hand, I crossed the room and set it down on the small table beside the arm chair where Ruth sat. She leaned over, picked up her fork and stabbed at the banana cake, breaking off a hearty piece. I watched her raise it to her lips and open her mouth. She chewed the cake for a moment or two before nodding enthusiastically.