I threw a packet of sweetener at him. I could waste it since I’d switched to real sugar last week. “Are you going to listen, or make nasty cracks?”
He threw a white packet of fake cream back at me. “Both.”
Melinda Krupke interrupted before we could start a full-scale fake food container war. “Behave, children. Kiely? Please continue.”
I nodded and addressed my remarks solely to the officer. “It was not a fun place. Actually, I'd rather tour the Bowery at midnight in my underwear with the Hope diamond around my neck. It was nasty down there. I dropped my flashlight, and I was trapped for more than an hour. I know, I know. Any normal person would have popped in and out and been done with it. I admit it. Claustrophobia rules. Sue me. Anyway, I found a skeleton in the tunnel. Someone's buried there. Probably for a century or so. I felt fabric but, oh jeez, this is gross—no, uh, goo.”
Absolute silence greeted this remark. Melinda was busy writing in her super cop notebook; she'd already heard this much when I'd called. Rafe and Officer Carter looked stunned. Lida Rose made herself useful by handing out muffins and scones.
The quiet continued for a good minute while everyone munched, sipped, and pondered the possibility that a dead someone had been residing under the East Ellum Theatre for decades.
“Okay, folks. Officer Carter and I will take it from here. Kiely? You said the door leads from the orchestra pit?”
I nodded and began to lead the two cops to where I'd started last night's journey. I stopped. I'd left around two a.m. and that pit had been in the down position. It was currently in the up position, barely below stage level.
I turned to Rafe, who'd followed us from the kitchen. “Did you bring this up this morning?”
He shook his head. “I never even noticed it. I got here about fifteen minutes before you guys did. The front doors were open but no one was around. I headed straight to the kitchen to start the morning brew, then wandered backstage to check the props table before I heard y'all come in.”
I shrugged. “I guess I forgot. I could have sworn . . . Well, doesn't matter.”
The four of us stepped over the railing. Rafe hit the down button and we rode to the bottom floor. I pointed out the harp and the door behind it. Melinda opened the door and put her hand up for me to stay behind with Rafe.
“We'll check it out. You said there's a cave-in and tons of rubble where the bones were, correct?”
I nodded.
She and Carter entered the tunnel with strong flashlights. Rafe grabbed the chair meant for first violin and I hopped onto the drummer’s throne.
“Kiely, whatever possessed you to go tromping through tunnels last night by yourself? Damn, woman, you could have been killed? Don't you ever look before you leap?”
I gave him a feeble smile. “Not in the dancer's manual, you know. One simply trusts that one's partner will catch.”
He frowned at me. “That's assuming one has a partner at the other end of the tunnel.”
I nodded.
“Rafe, I was about to run like a bunny. As you know, I don't do tunnels, closets or bathrooms on airplanes. But I swear I heard a scream. And someone crying, Please. I thought someone was hurt. Once I opened the door, it didn’t seem as awful as I thought and I knew someone needed help. I didn't think I'd lose all light. I sure didn't think I'd be keeping company with the skeleton of—whomever.”
I looked carefully down at the floor where a piece of sheet music had fallen and opened to the second act song that the dancehall girls sing, called, “Aces and Death.” I almost started crying again.
“Rafe? Please don't think I'm nuts. Well, more nuts than you already do. But—”
He interrupted with, “I don't think you're nuts. Nosy, perhaps. But not nuts.”
I almost smiled. “You will. What I was about to say is that I'm wondering if those bones I found could belong to someone missing from this theatre years ago. Someone who also played Delilah Delight in the very first production.”
He sighed. “I won't say you're nuts, but I will ask why you think that.”
“I had the same sense of sadness when I touched that skeleton as I did when we were in the prop room and found that old earring. Plus, I heard her voice. I did.” I stared at him and then screeched. “Yikes! I just remembered.”
I pulled my bag toward me and began searching for the object I'd hastily stuffed inside my bag into a wad of tissue last night. I'd been in such a hurry to leave, and so dazzled by the thought that I'd been rescued from near death by a ghost that I'd forgotten I'd even put it there.
I carefully unwrapped it. It had pierced my hand last night and drawn blood. Now I saw why.
“Rafe. Look at this. It's a garnet brooch. I grabbed it last night, then got so involved with trying to survive, I forgot I had it.”
He took the piece from me, peering at the stone from every side and angle. “This is definitely a match. I'd swear it on my degree in art. What did you do with the earring?”
“It's safely residing in a special box on my dresser at home. I was hoping to find the other ear, so to speak, and get them cleaned up. Maybe wear them to opening night party if I'd been able to locate the missing pair.”
I took the brooch back from him. “This is bizarre. A garnet earring in the prop room and a garnet pin by bones in the tunnel. Something bad happened to that poor girl.”
Rafe shook his head. “You're letting your romantic side go haywire. This may not have anything to do with anyone from the Bad Business cast of a century ago. Let's wait and see what the forensic people have to say about your bones.”
As if on cue, Melinda popped back out of the tunnel doorway. “Forensics has nothing to say.”
“What?”
I stared at her. She was almost as grimy as I'd been last night, and only slightly less miserable.
“Forensics will have nothing to say because forensics won't be involved. Kiely, your imagination must have been working overtime in the dark. There's rubble in there, yes. Cement and stone and dirt and one royal mess. But there's no skeleton. No bones. Nothing like that.”
I stared at her. “There has to be. She, I mean it, was sharing space with me last night. I know the difference between stones and the feel of human bones and I'm telling you, there was a skeleton there.”
Melinda and Officer Carter looked at me with sympathy.
“I'm sorry, Kiely. Nothing there. Actually, the only fabric there was this tank top. With nothing wrapped around it.”
She extended her hand. My Grand Hotel tank I'd ripped off and blown my nose on and sobbed into and left hung sodden and limp from her fingertips.
“It's mine. Hey. Isn't that proof?”
She smiled but shook her head no. “It's proof you were there and hot and upset. But unless there's a nice femur sticking out of this, it doesn't mean a thing. Sorry.”
I began to protest. I was even prepared to go back insideas long as two cops, Rafe, and many flashlights went with me.
Melinda stopped me. “We searched everywhere. Even inside some sort of closet. Nothing. Empty boxes, lots of dirt, but that's it. I'm sure you thought you felt something, but I think it was only imagination and terror turning stones into something more gruesome.”
I made one last plea. “What about the fact that the orchestra pit has been moved since my little journey last night? Obviously someone came here and moved her. I mean, it.”
Melinda gave me another sharp look. At least she was listening. “What do you mean, her? Is there something you've left out?”
I showed her the garnet brooch. “I found this next to her. That's why I'm assuming those bones were female.”
I didn't think I needed to mention the sadness I'd felt. That would clinch the “imaginative Kiely” theory for sure.
Melinda studied the pin for a second before handing it back. “It's interesting, but without anything else, it doesn't mean much. That pin could have been lost any time in the last hundred years. By a very live owner.”
She motioned to Carter to follow her out. “Kiely, I'm sorry. I know you believe you stumbled on a very old body. But there's no evidence. Call us if you find out something else.”
They left. I sat with Rafe in the orchestra pit and tried not to start crying again.
He patted my shoulder. “Would it help if I told you I believe you? That I agree with you. Someone did indeed come in after you left last night and managed to move those bones.”
My conquistador in shining armor.
“Yes. That would help very much.”
“We'll search the theatre and see if we can find anything more substantial to show the good officer.”
I jumped up. “Okay. I'm ready. Where do we start?”
He pushed me back into the chair. “I meant we could explore tomorrow. Kiely, you may not realize it, but right now there are about fifty reporters outside waiting for all the interviews Lida Rose has promised them. Haven't you wondered where she is?”
Come to think of it, Lida Rose hadn't been part of the exploration. Instead, she'd been acting charming and unworried for the media blitz in the lobby. Lights, cameras, Brett Barrett, Channel Seven. The works.
I looked at Rafe. “Hmm. What you're telling me is this is not the time to go traipsing through the theatre yelling, ‘Yo! Collar- bone at three o'clock,’ to each other?”
He hugged me. “You are a bright girl. Daffy, but bright.”
He glanced at his watch. “It's nearly noon. Let's grab a bite, then get you home to rest. We open tonight, remember?”
I nodded. “I wish I could forget. But eating and resting sound like a plan.”
We left the pit by way of the floor entrance and walked up through the kitchen. We could hear Lida Rose talking inside the lobby to a horde of reporters. The back entrance was the way to go.
As Rafe opened the door for me, he turned around. “You never told me. How did you finally make it out? From the tunnel?”
I grimaced. “I was really hoping you wouldn't ask me that.”
“Why?”
“Because you're not going to believe me. And here we were getting on so well.”
The left brow shot up. “And why wouldn't I believe you?”
“Because my rescue was made possible by none other than Don Mueller. I smelled popcorn, followed my nose, and discovered the ghost of the villain with a bag of popcorn in his hand standing in the orchestra pit.”
The other brow went up.
“My only comment concerning that bit of information is to say I'm glad you didn't repeat this theory to Melinda Krupke. You'd be in the psychiatric ward at Parkland Hospital, and we'd be minus one Delilah Delight.”
Chapter 29
I tried to spend the day watching the air-conditioner repair guy tinker with whatever causes air-conditioners to work, playing with Jed, watching trashy movies, and avoiding the realization we were opening Bad Business on the Brazos tonight. After he left and the apartment began to cool down to decent living conditions in Texas, I ended up pacing around my apartment wondering where the skeletal remains of my companion from last night had been moved.
I knew in my own bones I had stumbled across the actress who'd originally done my role over a hundred years ago. Charity O'Sullivan. She hadn't survived that tunnel. I had. I felt I owed her something.
I looked again at the brooch I held in my hand. An antique brooch. A brooch that had pierced my hand as I lay sobbing in the darkness last night. A brooch I was certain once belonged to the woman who'd unwittingly saved me by giving a lifeline to sanity.
I hadn't told anyone but Rafe the identity of my other savior. And Rafe's reaction had convinced me to keep my theory quiet. Even Lida Rose might be skeptical of a popcorn-munching ghost leading me to safety. With the madness of a group of police trying to find one poor lady's bones, no one had delved too deeply into how I made it out of the black tunnel in one piece.
Pacing and thinking was doing no good except for giving Jed a bit of exercise (he'd followed my every step) and keeping me from raiding my kitchen for junk food. An idea hit me midstride.
I dialed the number for the costume shop of the theatre.
“Thelma Lou? What do you know about Charity O'Sullivan? Is it true she went missing right after a performance of Bad Business? That the actors playing the roles of hero and villain were both found with bullet holes in their chests, but the body of Miss O'Sullivan was never found?”
Thelma Lou coughed. “Almost. Makes a better curse story. But the hero wasn't shot. He's the one that told the police ‘bout the theatre gettin' robbed. The rest of it is guessin'. Until you found what you found.”
“Did you know the tunnel was there?”
“I knew there was extra storage under the theatre and some sort of tunneling thing. But I never went down there. I've got the worst case of claustrophobia known to humanity. Well, 'cept for you. I can't use a public restroom if the door's got a lock and no space underneath. I've gotta know I can crawl out if the door jams.”
I had to laugh at the image, but not the feeling. “I'm with you on that. I think it'll be a cold day in hell before I can even use a walk-in closet again.”
“Kiely? I gotta go now. But you be careful. This ain't over yet. Although with Don watchin' over you, you'll be okay.”
I hung up, imagining Don Mueller in his villain's garb acting as my personal guardian angel. I liked it.
I finally lay down on the couch with Jed diagonally across my torso and fell asleep. Bad Business would open in four hours.
Lida Rose called at about five to ask if I needed a ride to the theatre.
“Love one. It's too damned hot to walk. Now that it works again, I'm leaving the air-conditioner on full blast for Jed to enjoy while I'm gone. I hope he doesn't decide to chew the plug.”
“See you in a bit.”
She and George drove up at the appointed hour and honked. I squeezed into the back of the Volkswagen and listened to Lida Rose enthusiastically reeling off the names of all the wonderful, important people coming tonight who would bring checkbooks and keep East Ellum running for the next fifteen years. She carefully refrained from mentioning my adventure of the previous night. Whatever her reasons, I was grateful. George dropped us both off, and then went to grab some dinner before returning for the evening's performance at eight
Lida Rose headed for the lobby instead of backstage. “You coming with? I'm meeting some of the press people before final call.” She paused before adding. “Kiely, Brett Barrett wants to talk to you. I don't think he knows about Charity O'Sullivan and the jewelry, but you might want to do an interview about the dancing in the show to head him in another direction.”
“Oh, thanks so much. Fink. No way. I'll just hang in the dressing room for a while. You may tell Mr. Barrett I will be available for interviews for approximately five minutes tonight after the show. Then I intend to relax and enjoy myself at El Diablo's with many margaritas and several platefuls of nachos. I deserve it.”
She smiled. “You do. If I don't get a chance to tell you, you did one marvelous job with the choreography. And you're wonderful as Delilah.”
“Thanks. Same back at ya' as regards your brilliant directing.”
We hugged each other.
I spent the next twenty minutes placing all the good-show gifties on various dressing tables in both the women's and men's dressing rooms. Nametags were on each mirror, so I didn't have to try and guess who sat where. The only gift I held back was Rafe's. I wanted to give it to him in person.
Squeals of joy or laughter followed the discovery of the presents as each female cast member found her spot by the mirrors. I love giving good-show gifts. I could hear the men laughing in their dressing room as well. Time to give Rafe his present before he started feeling left out.
I had to show off my purchases for Lida Rose and Rafe to the ladies first.
“Whatcha think?”
Lindsay produced a fake pout. “I want those earrings. Lida Rose is going to go ape over them.
”
Amber chuckled. “Tacky. Truly tacky. Lindsay's right though. L. R. will love them. I think that orange shade in that feather matches those awful stretch pants she has.”
Shirley Kincaid and Fran Watkins leaned over Amber's shoulder to see the goodies.
Shirley gasped. “My heavens. That teensy man in that thing looks just like Rafe does when he's hog-tied. I mean, not his face, but the way he's tied up to the spigot.”
I glanced at her and ignored the use of “spigot” for “spit.”
“Notice the conquistador standing over him. Isn't that Rafe Montez to a tee? Cortez the Conqueror. Oh, yeah.”
Fran shook her head and stifled a laugh. “Is the lady on the ground supposed to represent you? I must admit, I want to see Mr. Montez's face when you present this.”
Daisy had come into the dressing room to give some last-minute notes. She thanked me for the earrings, then stayed in a corner listening to the others. She and Macy had been studiously ignoring each other but couldn't resist taking a look at the mosaic. Both smiled for the first time since Jason's death.
Macy actually laughed. “Cute, Kiely, very cute.”
I held up my hand. “Come on ladies, let's invade the men's territory.”
Giggling like junior high school girls, we marched across the hall, knocked on the men's dressing room door, and boldly entered when a hearty “come in” was heard from Theo.
The guys hadn't quite made it to the makeup mirrors yet. They were engaged in a game of poker. Even Charlie Baines was gazing at the five cards in his hand.
I sidled up to Rafe who was standing in his black tux trousers and not much else. He was looking over Cyrus's shoulder at whatever cards Mr. Boone held. The sight of Rafe's bare chest distracted me momentarily, but I hung tough. I handed him the gift bag with Mia Maya printed on it.
“For you, Rafe Montez, the conquering hero, even if you're currently a wicked villain.”
He opened it, took out the painted mosaic, stared at it without speaking for a full minute, and then literally fell on the floor laughing.
Ghosts, Wandering Here and There Page 22