Here Today, Gone Tamale

by Rebecca Adler

  “I won’t tell anyone,” I whispered. “Believe me, the children’s home comes first, but where did you find this one?”

  For a few moments, she merely stared. “Mayor Cogburn called me up this morning out of the blue and said he wanted to give until it hurt.” She laughed a light tinkling sound. “And he did.”

  “And the necklace and earrings?”

  “My Melanie found those in her gallery. I didn’t think Dixie would mind.”

  “What if she wanted Ty to have them?”

  A young voice spoke from behind me, “Miss Linda needs you.” I recognized the curt delivery and turned to find Lily standing behind me, glaring at Elaine.

  “Lily,” I said. “Let’s go see what my aunt wants.”

  Reluctantly, she broke eye contact with Elaine and focused on my face.

  “Good luck tonight,” I said to the committee chairwoman as Lily and I hurried to our setup area.

  I threw a final glance over my shoulder and found Elaine staring intently at Anthony’s sister. When I raised my hand in farewell, the older woman turned away.

  Chapter 19

  An hour later, I found myself soaking in our success. My gaze lingered on the boisterous crowd. Some folks visited around the tables while others danced outside to “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.” Broken Boot’s citizens and tourists had left Monday’s deadly drama behind them and ponied up their hard-earned cash to enjoy a delicious BBQ dinner, lively music and dancing, and an auction to benefit a praiseworthy cause.

  The Wild Wild West Festival committee had hit one out of the ballpark.

  Soon all the hard work and frustration would be behind us and only the silent auction would remain. Once again, I walked along the tables lined with enticements. Fifty items was a hefty amount for the size of our crowd, but there were at least five signatures under each item. Under Dixie’s jewelry there was a long list of interested buyers, which bode well for the finale, a live auction between the area’s big guns.

  I grabbed a cup of coffee and crossed to the window. Outside, folks danced in formal and casual evening attire. When a woman in a sequined formal dress and tiara waltzed by, I had to smile. I noticed several individuals that I’d never seen before. Perhaps the mayor and his wife had used some of their influence to invite the mayors and councilmen of other towns and counties nearby.

  Elaine waltzed by with her head held high like a queen. She lifted her gloved hand from the shoulder of Fred Mueller’s tuxedoed shoulder and gave me a royal wave. The smile on her face told me she was basking in her success.

  I turned and found her daughter Suellen straightening the clipboards under the auction items.

  “You look so beautiful,” I said, and she did. She wore an emerald dress with a halter neck and glittering stones around the choker neckline.

  “Thanks, you clean up pretty good yourself.”

  “Whatever,” I said and laughed. I was wearing a glittery pantsuit I’d found in a resale shop in Austin. My back was bare and my halter bra was working overtime. “My feet are killing me.”

  Speaking of feet, Suellen was a tall woman, very tall. “What shoes are you wearing tonight?” I asked.

  “High-heeled boots, but they’re hidden under my dress.”

  “Can I see?” I stepped behind the table.

  I followed her behind the table. She sat down in a chair and held up the dress to her knees. The boots were black and expensive with a dressy three-inch heel.

  “I wish I was wearing what you’re wearing.” I showed her my own toe crunchers. “I have trouble finding my size.”

  “Why’s that?” she asked, lowering her skirt. “What are you wearing, an eight and a half?”

  “An eight.”

  “You should try looking for a ten and a half.”

  The smile on my face froze into place. I swallowed. “Uh, wow that must be terrible. How do you get by out here in the sticks? Mail order?”

  “No. I usually wear men’s boots. Easier to find.”

  I held my breath.

  “Are you okay?” Suellen asked.

  My heart started thumping. “Oh, I was just recalling all the times I’ve seen men’s boots on sale. You’d think they’d show us some love once in a while.”

  Could I continue to talk about boots without giving away my motive? She’d obviously seen my reaction.

  “Mind if I join you?” I asked, pulling up a chair. “I’m beat.”

  She quickly looked and found her mother on the dance floor. “I could use the help.”

  “Did Elaine’s do a booming business this week?”

  Stretching her neck first to one side and then to the other, she sighed. “Much better than we hoped. This week should carry us at least until the end of the year.”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed our newest employee taking a load of warming pans and burners out to the truck. “I hired Lily to help out tonight.”

  Suellen followed my line of sight and frowned. “No kidding.”

  “She started today.” I was thinking so fast my ears were burning. “One of the reasons I hired her was because she told us she was working for you.”

  A distinguished-looking old man stopped in front of us to write down a bid on a ski trip to Breckenridge. “Good luck,” Suellen said.

  “Thanks for supporting a worthy cause,” I added.

  She smiled in amusement. “You’re a natural.”

  “Has Lily worked out for you so far?”

  With a grimace, Suellen said, “We didn’t realize her real age when we hired her. In fact, she outright lied about it.”

  “She is her family’s sole source of provision until Anthony’s released.”

  “That’s not all she lied about.”

  “Oh?”

  A young woman waddled up to the table, so pregnant I thought I’d have to interrupt the band to ask if there was a doctor in the house. “What’s the item number for the day spa in Phoenix? I can’t find my program.”

  Both Suellen and I grabbed a program and started skimming the item numbers. “Thirty-nine,” Suellen blurted. I guess she wanted there to be no doubt about who was in charge while her mother made time to dance with the dignitaries in attendance.

  “What else did Lily lie about?” I asked, watching the pregnant woman searching the numbers until she found the getaway of her dreams.

  “I keep a pair of P.J.’s old boots at the restaurant just for mucking about outside. Last time I looked for them they were gone.”

  My mouth was dry. “What made you think she stole them? She’s practically half your size.”

  “Because the next day they were back right where I left them, only shot to hell.”

  “Which was where?”

  “In the janitorial closet.”

  “What day was that?”

  She rolled her eyes. “So much has happened since then.” She straightened. “I do remember because it was the day after Dixie was murdered.”

  “Are you sure?” My knees started to tremble. I was about to find out who murdered Dixie if I could hear over the sudden roaring in my ears.

  She glared at me. “Of course, I’m sure. I was so scared that the next morning I made sure everything was still in place. I opened the closet door in my office and noticed they were gone.”

  “Surely someone else who works there could have taken them.”

  She shook her head. “We’ve never had anything stolen.”

  “Why would she take them? She’s much shorter than you.” I shrugged. “And her feet are probably tiny.”

  “I didn’t consider that.” A frown settled between Suellen’s brows. “Everyone in my family has big feet.”

  A thrill hummed through my veins at her admission. “If you think Lily’s guilty, why didn’t you fire her?”

  A dazzling couple made thei
r way down the table toward us. The blonde wore a gold strapless confection, and her date sported a suit that showcased his physique.

  Darn it.

  “Hey, look at you,” Ryan said, giving me a grin.

  “Go away.” I had no time for pleasantries from the she devil and her minion.

  Suellen stepped on my toe.

  “Ouch,” I muttered.

  She shot a glance of warning my way.

  “Sorry. We’re about to collect the bids so we don’t have long to talk.”

  “Aren’t you two a sight to behold?” Suellen chimed in. “Hillary, where did you find that dress?”

  The beauty queen with attitude took her time responding. She finished reading the item description before her as if mesmerized, but she wasn’t fooling me. She’d punch herself in the face before she’d ever set foot in Marcy’s Cut and Curl.

  “Thank you.” Hillary beamed at Suellen and ignored me completely. “I found it on the clearance rack at Neiman Marcus. Can you believe it?”

  Ryan was staring at me as if I’d grown a second head. I shook my head at him, trying to get him to go away.

  From the bandstand, strains of “Stand by Your Man” drifted into the room.

  “Oh, Ryan, that’s my song.” Hillary hurried to the open doorway, waving for her man to follow.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Ryan whispered.

  “Nothing,” I said for Suellen’s benefit, praying my old friend would ask me again when we were alone. I needed serious backup.

  Leaning forward, he whispered in my ear. “Liar.” He gave me a knowing glance, and then followed Hillary outside.

  “Uh, would you watch the table for a minute?” Suellen asked.

  “If you’ll tell me why you kept Lily on if you think she stole your boots.”

  “I hardly ever wear them anymore. They’re too tight now that I have a bunion on my right foot.” She made a face and hurried toward the ladies’ room.

  With five minutes until the bids were collected, I had to hurry. I had to find Sheriff Wallace, get him away from everyone else, and tell him what I’d learned.

  Suddenly my phone vibrated, scaring the bejesus out of me. But it was only Aunt Linda sending me a text message. She and Uncle Eddie were leaving early with the staff, as she had the neck ache. He would supervise unloading the equipment and then drive her home. Would I please drive her truck back to the house after I picked up Lenny from Milagro?

  I answered in the affirmative and quickly scanned the room for Wallace. He wasn’t inside. Praying Suellen would hurry it up, I crossed to the window and peered out into the dark.

  “Who are you looking for?”

  I squealed and heads turned at a table nearby. “Stop doing that,” I said to Lightfoot.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing’s wrong,” I said in a low voice. “I need to speak to Sheriff Wallace. Have you seen him?”

  Searching my face, Lightfoot nodded. He pointed to the dancers through the windowpane.

  “He’s not—” Sheriff Wallace was two-stepping around the dance floor with his wife, having a grand ole time if the grin on his face was anything to go by.

  Lightfoot gave me a hard look. “Why don’t you let him have this one night off?” Was I that easy to read?

  “There’s something—”

  Shaking his head, Lightfoot raised his hand for me to halt. “I’m off duty. Call me tomorrow.”

  “But—”

  “No. I was going to ask you to dance, but you look like you have a lot to say and I’m not in the mood to hear it.” Turning on his boot heel, he wandered outside.

  I glanced around in time to see Suellen return.

  Facts like dominoes were lining up one behind the other in my brain. Soon they would fall, one by one, into a marvelous pattern of truth.

  Suellen’s arm went up, beckoning me over to help her circle the winners.

  I ignored her and hurried outside, determined to find the sheriff. I wanted to get these fears out of my head and into the hands of someone who could tell me whether or not I was sane.

  Elaine stepped up and placed a hand on my arm. “What’s wrong, dear?”

  I edged away. “Nothing, but I need to talk to Sheriff Wallace right now.” He and his wife had disappeared in the throng of dancers.

  As I struggled to find them, the auctioneer took the stage. “Howdy, folks. The time for this year’s auction has come.” The crowd cheered and the drummer hit the snare. “As you know, the winners of the silent auction will be announced following this here live auction of a necklace, bracelet, and earrings designed by the late Dixie Honeycutt.” The crowd applauded. “Let’s get this—wait a minute.” A volunteer crossed the stage and handed the auctioneer a note. He cleared his throat. “Would Miss Josie Callahan please meet your party in the parking lot?” Glancing left and right, he searched for me. “Josie Callahan?”

  I lifted my hand.

  “Well, no wonder your party wants to meet you outside.” The crowd laughed.

  Confused and not amused, I hurried outside. The streetlight revealed nothing but cars, trucks, and a stray tiger cat. I wandered over to Aunt Linda’s truck, thinking that perhaps someone had dinged the bumper, but there was no sign of an accident. Suddenly I noticed a note under the windshield wiper.

  I read it once, and then I read it again:

  the dog dies tonight

  Chapter 20

  Lenny!

  My ears started to burn. How dare that sicko joke that way? Dear God, let it only be a joke. I unlocked the truck and squealed out of the parking lot. I hit speed dial and called the restaurant. No one picked up and a recording of my own voice came on.

  I took the right onto the highway too fast and went into a skid, careening toward the shoulder. I lifted my foot off the gas and coaxed the wheel. The truck found the lane at the last second.

  Breathe slowly. I forced myself to breath slowly. No one was going to kill Lenny. If anything they would merely shave his other side. My pulse was racing so hard I could hear the blood rushing in my ears.

  There was barely anyone on the road. Most folks were at the auction. I hit speed dial and tried Aunt Linda. Voicemail again. I slowed just enough to take the exit without doing myself an injury. Maybe the staff would still be there. Maybe this whole thing was a fake, a ploy to upset me. If so, it had worked.

  I prayed for forgiveness and ran the light at Main, spraying gravel and sand as I pulled into Milagro’s parking lot. No one was around. The staff and my family were gone.

  My phone buzzed and my heart flew into my mouth. This time it was a text from Patti.

  Eddie let me in. Can’t wait to dish the dirt.

  I glanced around and noticed a familiar jeep parked on the street out front. Thank God. If Patti was here, then Lenny was here. I looked up at my apartment and saw that the light in the living room was definitely on.

  As Uncle Eddie would say, I was so angry I wanted to spit. First I needed to see my Lenster and give him a big kiss, and then I would call the sheriff’s department and lodge a complaint.

  I picked my way through the parking lot, cursing my newly repaired heels. I inserted the key in the lock and the door swung open on its own. I forced myself to relax. Once I made it upstairs, I would have a talk with Patti about leaving doors unlocked. Then again, how was she to know that the sicko was threatening Lenny again?

  The kitchen lights burned brightly.

  “Patti,” I called.

  I looked around and everything was in order, except for a trickle of water running in the sink. On closer inspection, I found crumbs on the counter and the fridge ajar.

  It made me smile. If I’d been given access to a restaurant, I’d find it hard not to sample the wares as well. Unless my eyes were deceiving me, Patti had sampled a batch of tamales left over from l
unch service. I opened the industrial fridge and discovered that only a couple of tamales remained.

  A beloved bark erupted from the ladies’ room. “Lenny!” What was he doing in there? I ran down the hall and yanked open the door.

  “Yip, yip, yip,” Lenny said.

  I scooped him up and danced around the room. “Who’s the sweetest dog in all Broken Boot?”

  “Grrr.”

  I halted my spinning. “I’m sorry, boy.” I placed a kiss on top of his head. “Did Patti put you in here?”

  “Yip, yip,” Lenny said. He wriggled, fighting to get down.

  “Okay, okay.” Gently, I placed him on the floor. As if chasing a mouse, he bolted for the apartment steps. The lights in the dining room were off for the night, and I walked through without turning them on.

  Lenny came yipping back down the stairs, demanding my attention.

  “You hungry, boy?”

  “Yip, yip, yip.”

  “Okay, okay, so you’re not hungry.”

  Above my head, the floor creaked. Milagro was located in an old building, built around 1906. It creaked at times with no explanation.

  “She’s up there?”

  “Yip,” he answered, placing his paws on my legs and looking up at me almost beseechingly.

  “Okay, okay.” I started up the stairs, but my feet hurt. “Patti,” I cried from the bottom step. The door was closed to my apartment, but she should still be able to hear me.

  “What’s she doing?” I asked Lenny.

  With a big sigh, I scooped up the waistband of my pantsuit to keep from tripping over my bell-bottoms and started up the steps. I reached the top and opened the door.

  “Patti?” No answer.

  “Come out, come out, you’re creeping me out.” I laughed at my own tired joke. I locked the door behind me and heaved a sigh. I had no reason to be afraid. Lenny was unharmed, and Elaine, Suellen, Melanie, and P.J. were in the middle of auctioning off some of Dixie Honeycutt’s most valuable work. Even now, I could picture Elaine, basking in the glory of a job well done.