by Sandi Scott
“That is a very big assumption you are making about the guy who you yelled at the other night.”
“I didn’t yell at him.”
Aleta tilted her head to the right like a dog that heard a high-pitched whistle.
“How many times do I have to tell the man to call before he comes over?”
“He’s a man. He’s probably never going to do exactly what you want.”
“Here, this is the street. Stop talking to me about Stan or I’ll lose my focus.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t want you distracted when you are breaking the law.” Aleta looked out the window. “Esma is at work. After you hit Maren’s house why don’t we stroll on over to hers and see what else we can find.”
“Now you’re talking!” Georgie pointed to Maren’s house. “Wait. What is this? Shoot! It looks like someone beat us to the punch! Slow down. Let’s watch what they are doing.”
“They look like they are looting the place.”
“How many of them are there? I only see two.”
“What do you plan on doing?”
“Confronting them.”
“Georgie, you’re crazy.”
“No. I’m focused.”
Chapter 12
The front door to Maren’s house was wide open. One man came out carrying what looked like a crystal vase and a small figurine. He handed them to the other man who was standing at the back of a silver Lexus with the trunk open.
“That guy. Where have I seen him before?” Aleta muttered. “He was at the pool party. I spilled my drink on him, remember?”
“Yeah.” Georgie looked thoughtful. “So what’s his connection with Maren?”
“I’m not sure. Remember she commented on him. She said it was good he got wine spilled on him.”
“Did she mention his name?” Georgie reached for the door handle.
“If she did I don’t remember.”
“Okay, keep me covered.”
“What? I thought we were just going to observe?”
“You can’t learn anything by just observing. Sometimes you have to take action.”
“We aren’t Green Berets, Georgie. Don’t!”
Before Aleta could stop her, Georgie was out of the car, hurrying toward the two men as they were tucking things in the back of the car.
“Excuse me.” Georgie whined. “Excuse me. What are you men doing?”
The men both stopped and looked in surprise at Georgie, their faces stone serious.
“I’m sorry.” Georgie broke down in fake tears. “I just... just heard... the news and I... I can’t believe it!” She sobbed while pulling a handkerchief from her purse like a magician pulling scarves from his sleeve.
“You must be... good friends of hers... for you to....” She staggered a few steps in order to lure the men away from the back of the car. It worked.
“Please, be careful, Miss...?” One of the men reached for Georgie’s elbow to steady her.
“Kaye. Georgie Kaye. I met Maren in Tuscany. We had so much in common it was like I’d found the sister I never had.”
Aleta clicked her tongue in the car. “I’ll get you for that one Georgie Kaye.”
“There, there, Georgie Kaye.” the man holding Georgie’s arm patted her back sympathetically.
“Who are you?” Georgie sniffed and looked up at the man.
“I’m Drake Whedon.”
“Drake, were you at the last event Maren attended? You look familiar.”
“I was.”
Georgie looked at the other man, wiped her nose with the back of her hand then offered it to the other fellow. “Georgie Kaye.” She introduced herself blinking back crocodile tears.
“Joe Ridgely.”
“And how did you know dear... dear Maren?”
“I was her ex-husband.”
“Oh, yes.” Georgie sniffed. “I believe she mentioned you. The love of her life.”
“What? She bled me dry from our divorce. If she wasn’t insulting me or my new wife she wasn’t speaking at all.” Joe protested.
“Right. My mistake. Oh she will be so sorely missed.” Georgie cried some more while holding up the handkerchief to her eyes. “Can I bother you for a drink of water?’
“Sure.” Drake looked at Joe and nodded his head. “Come on in.”
Georgie cried and sobbed in her handkerchief while looking sideways to make eye contact with Aleta who sat waiting quietly in the car.
Once inside the house Georgie gasped. From the outside the home was simple. But on the inside it was as if she’d been transported to a villa in Tuscany. The floor in the foyer was covered in blue, white and yellow ceramic tiles. The walls were painted a soothing terra cotta color. The furniture just a few feet away in the living room was rich, tan leather draped with white throw pillows and blankets. And along the walls were spaces where pictures had been hung but now there were only hooks. The closer Georgie looked the more she saw a lot of things were missing.
There were vacant spots on shelves and bookcases. Curtains were missing. Some pictures on the tables were knocked over and a few magazines had fallen on the floor.
Joe walked further into the house while Drake stayed with Georgie.
“You’re handling her affairs, I see.” She sulked. “Maren had such wonderful taste. A truly artistic spirit. Don’t you think?”
“Well, if it had a big price tag she probably liked it.”
“You don’t sound happy.” Georgie hoped Drake didn’t catch the confrontational tone in her voice. “But, death is not a happy business. Except for the undertaker.” She chuckled and cried.
“I’m just helping Joe. Some of this stuff is rightly his.”
“Oh?”
“Joe is Maren’s ex-husband.”
“Yes. I already knew that. Especially after he said she bled him dry during the divorce.” Georgie dabbed her eyes with the handkerchief. “Things didn’t end well?”
“Not at all. Maren wasn’t going to stop until she had everything Joe had worked for including half his business.”
“I see. Divorce is never good. Do they have children?”
“No. No kids.”
“Then we should be thankful for that.”
Drake nodded as Joe reappeared with a crystal goblet filled with water.
“Thank you so much. And in such a beautiful glass.”
“Part of our wedding gifts.” Joe snapped bitterly.
Georgie was starting to see that perhaps she’d been barking up the wrong tree with Biff and Esma. Maybe this was all orchestrated by Joe Ridgely in order to get what he felt was rightly his. He was obviously helping himself to the contents of her home.
“I’m sorry Maren didn’t mention you.” Georgie sipped the water. “Were you married long?”
“Ten years.” Joe said proudly. “I wasn’t the one who wanted the divorce.”
Georgie took another sip and watched Joe. He was looking toward Drake. “I should have listened, Drake. I keep telling you that over and over.”
“You loved her. Nothing I said would have made a difference. Stop beating yourself up over it.” Drake clapped Joe on the shoulder before walking into the living room and taking two small paintings no bigger than postcards off the wall.
“I did love her. That I did.”
Just before Georgie was about to ask another question a plump woman with jewelry on every finger, a shiny gold blouse and black trousers came sashaying in the front door. Her hair was in a wavy bob and she wore a lot of make-up. Georgie instantly liked her if for nothing more than her fashion sense.
“Joe.” She gushed as she gave him a European kiss on each cheek. “So good of you to help. Drake. I knew you wouldn’t be far behind.” She walked over and did the same to him as he held the small paintings in his hands.
She turned to look at Georgie who instantly burst into tears again.
“This is a friend of Maren’s. They met in Tuscany. Georgie...”
“Georgie Kaye. I’m so sorry for your l
oss.” She held the kerchief to her nose while extending her other hand.
“Thank you. I’m Patty Gooch. Maren’s cousin.” She looked around. “It looks like you’ve gotten most of what you wanted Joe?”
“Yeah. Thanks, Patty.” Joe replied sadly. “I wish it didn’t have to be this way.”
“We always liked you, Joe. The whole family.” Patty said as she patted Joe’s arm. “None of us could understand why Maren did what she did. But she always marched to her own drumbeat. You can’t change that.”
“I keep thinking I should have tried more.” Joe mused. He quickly turned away and Georgie felt a twinge in her heart. Her suspicion oozed out of her and pooled around her feet. This guy didn’t have anything to do with Maren’s death.
“You wouldn’t have been happy, Joe.” Drake said handing the miniature paintings to his friend. “You know it.”
“But I could have tried to be civil with her. I could have tried.”
“You’ve got Kathy now, Joe. Focus on her.” Patty said folding her arms in front of her chest. “These things won’t make Maren’s memory any sweeter. But they might bring you a fair price and if you want to keep any of them, please do. Take whatever you want, Joe. We’ll be having the estate sale in a week. I’d rather you have first dibs. I know you helped pay for most of it.”
Georgie felt terribly intrusive.
“Thank you so much for the water. I must be going.” She handed the crystal goblet to Patty who took it as if the thing might come to life in her hand. “My sincerest condolences to you all.”
Before anyone could ask her another question she was out the front door and hurrying to Aleta’s car.
“Start it up.” She mouthed the words. “Start the engine.”
“What?” Aleta gaped at her.
“Start the engine!” Georgie said louder, looking behind her to see Drake looking out the door and pointing. Like a speed-walker in the last leg of a race she hustled toward the car.
Aleta started the engine and began to slowly roll forward.
Georgie grabbed the handle, yanked open the door, dove in and slammed it shut just as Aleta hit the gas and peeled out of there.
“What did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You must have done something. They were all staring out the door. They probably got the license plate number and are calling the cops right now.”
“To tell them what? An old lady asked for a drink of water and once we gave it to her she left? Step aside Dillinger. There’s a new public enemy number one. And she’s thirsty.”
“What in the world are you talking about? You said you were going to go crack some skulls or rattle some cages. Instead I see you crying and sobbing like a toddler being told it’s nap time.”
“I never said either of those things.”
“You acted like that’s what you were going to do.”
“I don’t believe in my entire life I have ever cracked a skull. But, if that is the reputation I have, just leave it alone. I’ll take it.” Georgie stuffed her hanky back in her purse.
“So, if you didn’t scare them with threats of having the police come and search every inch of the house and their persons, what did you do?”
George recapped the entire scene blow-by-blow as if it were a heavyweight title fight.
“So, when I heard Patty say that Joe could have what he wanted and Drake was just helping the only logical conclusion was that they weren’t involved in Maren’s death.”
“You just turned on the waterworks, huh? They let you in their house and gave you a glass of water.”
“In a crystal goblet.”
“Of course they did.”
“You should have seen the inside of that house. It was like stepping into a Tuscan villa. Gorgeous.”
“You just blubbered all over yourself.” Aleta pulled her lips down at the corners. “And no one asked anything like who is that woman in the car or weren’t you at the pool party? It just took a little emotion.”
“It wasn’t a little. I really bawled.” Georgie said, sucking in her breath and pulling her head back as if she were afraid she might get a slap.
“So, if the ex-husband and his buddy didn’t do it, we are back to square one with Esma and Biff.”
“It looks that way.”
Just then the theme to Rocky came to life from Georgie’s purse.
“You changed your ring tone again?”
“Yup.” Georgie answered as she slapped at Aleta’s arm. “Oh, hi, Beth. No, I’m not busy. Glasses? What’s that? Why yes, I did lose my glasses. I was sure they’d pop up in my house somewhere, but it seems they’ve popped up at your place.”
Georgie clutched Aleta’s arm and continued, “I’m with my sister but we actually aren’t far from your house. Do you mind if we both come by to pick them up? Great. We’ll be there in about twenty minutes. Thanks, Beth.”
“We are going to Beth’s house?” Aleta said excitedly.
“You’ve got to try the bidet.”
“I know what a bidet is. I don’t think I want to. But I do want to see the view in the bathroom that you described.”
“It’ll make you want to use the bidet.” Georgie said confidently.
“Eww.”
“Why is that eww?”
“It just is.”
“Aleta, where is your sense of adventure?”
“Anywhere but in the bathroom.”
Chapter 13
The outside of Beth’s home looked different. Neither Georgie nor Aleta could put their finger on it but they both noticed it.
“It’s like a cloud is over it.” Aleta said, looking up at the sky.
“I agree.” Georgie knocked on the door. “Do you get the feeling we are being watched?”
“No. Why?”
“I don’t know. The hairs just went up on my neck. Maybe it was just a breeze or a chill or something.”
Within seconds Beth answered the door. Her hair was pulled back in a loose bun. Wisps of hair were falling around her face. She didn’t have any make-up on and she was wearing sweatpants that were a wee bit too tight around the thighs.
“Hello, ladies.” She smiled. “Come on in. Excuse my appearance. I’ve been up to my eyeballs in work all day and just when I think I’m finished something else pops up. Have you ever had one of those days?”
“More than I’d care to admit.” Aleta smiled.
“Nope. Not me. Every day is filled with cupcakes and puppies.” Georgie joked as she walked into the house.
“My sister drinks.” Aleta joked. “She’s quite a lush. Better give her something before she gets violent.”
“Well, I’m ready if you guys are. How about a quick Bloody Mary? I’ve already got a pitcher made. Don’t make me drink alone.”
The Kaye sisters agreed and followed Beth to the kitchen. True to her word there was a glass pitcher of the tomato and vodka concoction sitting on the counter. It looked as if it hadn’t been touched yet. There were also half a dozen leftover party supplies stacked next to the pitcher. Flags, streamers, nametags, napkins, paper umbrellas.
“Were you having company?” Aleta asked. “We certainly didn’t mean to impose.”
“Nope. This was for me.”
“Is everything all right?” Georgie asked.
“Well, it’s going to be all over the place soon enough. You might as well know. Sean and I are splitting up.”
Georgie and Aleta looked at each other.
“Not that kind of splitting up. The business. We’re parting ways.”
“From the sound of things at your pool party I thought business was good.” Aleta said as she took a seat on one of the barstools at the island where Georgie had been sitting just a few days ago.
“Business is great.” Beth sighed. “There are just too many problems between Sean and I. Call it irreconcilable artistic differences. Have a seat, Georgie. I’ll get your glasses.”
Georgie nodded and watched as Beth disappear
ed down the hallway. Her footsteps echoed down the hallway until Georgie and Aleta couldn’t hear them anymore.
“What are you doing, Georgie?” Aleta hissed.
“Nothing.” Georgie hissed back as she slid off the barstool and walked up to the kitchen table by the window. It was covered with papers.
“You want to know how much she pays to light this place up, don’t you? Let the woman pay her bills in private.”
“Okay. I promise not to look at her electric bill.” Georgie peeked through the documents, picking them up between her thumb and forefinger. “But look at this. Yikes.” She picked up the printout of an email that was sitting on top of the stack. “I’d read this to you but I don’t think you’ve heard words like this.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, let’s just say the movie Goodfellas is a kindergarten story comparatively speaking.”
“Beth doesn’t strike me as the kind of person to use that kind of language.”
“Nope. This is from Sean. He’s pretty upset.” Georgie whispered. “From the looks of this Sean isn’t going to be a major shareholder anymore. Not if Beth gets her way.”
“Does it say why?”
“Well, I’m not sure what this is code for but she used the term “major-league screw-up.” Georgie looked at Aleta with a frown on her face. “Not a good thing to see on your annual review.”
“I think I hear her coming back.”
Georgie put the papers back the way she found them and tiptoed back to the island, quickly easing herself up on the barstool. She casually picked up the stack of nametags and shuffled them absently in her hands.
“I’m so sorry. I knew I set them someplace I wouldn’t forget and for a moment I forgot.” Beth put her hand to her forehead. “Its tough getting old. Here you are, honey. I hope you weren’t put out too badly without them.”
“I couldn’t read my bills. No loss there.” Georgie took the spectacles and stuffed them in her purse.
Beth chuckled as she pulled two tall glasses from her cupboard and placed them on the counter.
“Let me salt up the rims and add some ice. Then you pour. I’ll get the garnishments.” Beth turned to the fridge and grabbed some celery, pickles, sliced roast beef and pepperoncini peppers. Within seconds she had skewered the veggies and meat and added them to the drinks.