by Jane Tesh
“Who was that in the silver car?”
“Another one of Jerry’s acquaintances.”
She glanced at me and then squinted in the direction of the driveway. “I take it you had words.”
“There’s something different about this one. I’ll admit I’m unsettled.”
“What did he want?”
“He says he has information about Megan Underwood.” I had to laugh. “Nell, I’m sure you have information about Megan Underwood. I don’t know why I didn’t think to ask you the other day.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Anything you can tell me. Please have a seat.” We sat down in the rocking chairs. “I’m really interested in her engagement to Harold Stover.”
Nell took off her cap, gave her hair a swipe, and settled the cap on, pulling the little ponytail through the back. “Oh, yeah. That didn’t work out. She was into all the hippie stuff even when she was in her teens. All on account of her upbringing. Now, can you see someone like Harold Stover living in a meadow? They were too different.”
“Were Amanda’s parents hippies, too?”
“Yeah, well, they’re sisters.”
I stopped rocking. What? “Megan and Amanda?”
“Yep. Oh, Amanda doesn’t claim her, though. Won’t have nothing to do with the family. She left as soon as she could and started working a way to get rich.”
It took me a while to understand what Nell had told me. “They’re sisters?”
Nell shifted in her chair. “Probably got different daddies, though. You know how it is with all that free love.”
Wow. “So that’s why even though Megan gave a terrific audition for the part of Emmaline Ross, Amanda dismissed her completely.”
“Like I said, wants nothing to do with her.”
“Would they have competed for Harold?”
“No, Amanda’s always hated him.”
“Would she kill him, Nell?”
Nell squinted her little blue eyes in thought. “You know, I think that would be too messy for Amanda. Most likely, she’d have somebody do it for her.” She pushed herself up. “I was going to finish patching up the chimney today. Oh, and if you’re worried about that guy in the silver car, get a description to Dad. He can take care of it for you.”
“Thanks, I will. One other thing, Nell. I’m working a case for Kathleen Wallace. What can you tell me about her?”
“Local gal. Her dad and granddad probably delivered most of the town, so she decided to be a doctor, too. Always said she’d come back to Celosia and set up her practice here. I hadn’t heard any complaints.”
“You remember Olivia Decker. It seems she and Kathleen have a real problem getting along.”
“Not surprising. Who gets along with Olivia?”
“This goes back to their college days. I’m thinking there was a man involved.”
Nell scratched her chin. “Well, Kathleen did like a fella named Billy Sampson.”
“Is he still around?”
“Yeah, works over at First Savings and Loan.”
A place to start. “Thanks, Nell.”
***
Nell had given me plenty to think about. First of all, I wanted to talk to Amanda about her sister.
I found her at the theater. She stood center stage barking orders, and three of the older members of the Improvement Society were scurrying to do her bidding.
“I’m going to need thirty-five, maybe forty chairs—no, with such a large cast, I think the supporting players can sit in the auditorium, and let’s have the leads up on stage, so that’s seven chairs on stage. Get the ones with the cushions. Make sure everyone has a copy of the script.”
The script? She’d already written the entire outdoor drama?
Constance frowned at her. “Everyone? Even the people who don’t say anything?”
“Everyone. It’s important that they understand the entire concept. Make fifty copies.”
“Very well.”
I stopped Constance as she started up the aisle toward the office. “Is the script finished? How did Amanda get it done so fast?”
Constance looked as if she didn’t want to answer. “She’s had this idea for years.”
An idea for a show or an idea how to hoodwink the town? I wanted to ask.
Constance brushed past me. “Excuse me.”
Amanda called to another woman. “I want you to make a list of everyone’s contact information, addresses, phone numbers, e-mails. Make certain we have a number for every single person. Oh, and fix a chart with all their names. If they miss three rehearsals, they’re out.”
This woman’s voice was tinged with disbelief. “You’re going to take roll every night?”
“No, that’s going to be your job. Oh, hello, Madeline. Is Jerry with you? I want to go over those songs. Has he scored them for orchestra? I’m thinking we’ll need at least ten musicians.”
“No, he’s at Camp Lakenwood. I wanted to talk to you.”
She spread her arms wide to indicate the vast amount of work she had to do. “I’m incredibly busy right now. The first read-through is tonight, and there are a thousand things that have to be taken care of.”
“This will only take a minute. You requested an update on the case.”
Her manner changed. “Yes, of course.” She came down the steps at the side of the stage and met me at the first row of seats. “It’s Joanie Raines, isn’t it? She’s been jealous of me ever since I moved to town.”
“No, it’s about your sister.”
She looked so blank, for a moment I wondered if Nell could possibly be mistaken. “I don’t have a sister.”
“Megan Underwood.”
She lowered her voice to a fierce whisper. “Don’t you dare let anyone hear you call that woman my sister! I will have nothing to do with her.”
“But she is your sister?”
“We had the same mother, possibly the same father, who knows? Growing up in that commune was sheer chaos.” She took a quick glance back at the stage as if to assure herself the Society members weren’t listening in on our conversation. “My parents were all weeds and granola. I couldn’t stand that. I wanted nice things, expensive things. I wanted indoor plumbing, for God’s sake! I left as soon as I could. I refuse to acknowledge her in any way.”
There had to be more to this than a dislike of the hippie lifestyle. “But other than being a free spirit, how has Megan harmed you?”
“Oh, she’s fooled you too, hasn’t she? All that spacey talk about love and peace. She ruined every relationship I ever had. Who do you think called Tammy Price and told her about me and Roger?”
I couldn’t see Megan making that much effort. “If she was brought up in an atmosphere of free love, why would she care?”
“Exactly! See if you can solve that mystery. It’s crazy! And then to have her show up at auditions and waltz in like a queen, expecting me to hand her the role of a lifetime? I couldn’t have been more shocked.”
“When was the last time you’d seen her?”
“Oh, I can’t remember. Months ago. I saw her on the street somewhere.”
“So she doesn’t call you or try to contact you in any way?”
“No. She knows how I feel about her. At least, I think she knows. She filters everything through sunbeams.”
“Tell me about her relationship with Harold.”
“Oh, that. What a joke! This was several years ago, and I’m sure he was enchanted by all the fairy dust. But a man can take only so much of all that hearts and flowers, especially a buttoned-up man like Harold. He broke off the engagement.”
“How did Megan take that?”
“It didn’t seem to bother her. She drifted on to the next relationship.”
“She wasn’t angry at Harold?”
“Sh
e never gets angry about anything! It’s like she’s in a fog, unless—” Amanda gripped my arm. “Do you suppose she misinterpreted my relationship with Harold and killed him to keep us apart?”
“The evidence doesn’t suggest that.”
“Then what does the evidence suggest? I did not kill Harold!” She tightened her grip. “Quit worrying me with all this about Megan and find out who killed him. That’s what I’m paying you for!”
With that, she marched back up to the stage to harass her troops. “Well? Why are you all standing around here? We have work to do!”
Chapter Fifteen
Now I needed to hear Megan’s side of the story, but I couldn’t find her anywhere. I decided to stop by First Savings and Loan and see if I’d have better luck locating Billy Sampson.
Billy Sampson was not hard to find. He was now William P. Sampson, bank manager, a large boisterous man with a deep voice that made the tellers and everyone in line turn in his direction.
“Ms. Maclin, welcome! What brings Celosia’s most famous private eye to First Savings today?”
He reminded me of a circus ringleader. All eyes were on us, and I envisioned Sampson putting on a show for the whole bank. And in this ring, the amazing female detective and her remarkable clues! “A private matter I’d like to discuss with you.”
“Of course! Glad to help.” He showed me to his office and shut the door. “Please sit down.” Sampson sat down in an expensive-looking leather wingback chair and rubbed his long hands together in anticipation. “I’ve always wanted to be part of an investigation.”
I settled in another plush leather chair. “My client is Kathleen Wallace. I understand you know each other?”
“Yes, we dated for a while. Lovely woman. Excellent doctor. She’s done very well for herself.”
“You’re still friends?”
“Well, I wouldn’t say that. We had a falling out several years ago, and I don’t think she’s ever forgiven me.”
“Would it have anything to do with Olivia Decker?”
Sampson’s thick eyebrows went up. “Damn, you are good! What do you know about that?”
“The two women are at odds, and I’m trying to settle the quarrel. Did Olivia steal you away?”
He chuckled. I thought he was flattered by the idea of women fighting over him. He surprised me. “No, no. Olivia’s a beautiful woman, but she’s too intense for me. No, this had to do with money.” His gesture took in his office and the bank lobby beyond the windows. “You see all this? My father built this bank. He was a very wealthy man, and he liked to spread his wealth around. He offered scholarships to deserving college students every year, and I’m afraid Kathleen thought I had enough influence with my dad to decide who received those scholarships.”
“Oh, so when she didn’t get one, she blamed you.”
“Yes. No amount of explaining would convince her. She and Olivia Decker were up for the same scholarship. Olivia got it, and Kathleen believed Olivia had used her feminine wiles to enchant me and my father, but I promise you I never had any sort of relationship with Olivia, and neither did my dad. She was the best candidate, that’s all.”
I knew Olivia came from money. “Even though she was from a wealthy family, herself, and could easily afford to go to any college or university?”
“We didn’t find that out until later. By then, it was too late and my father honored his obligation.”
“I take it Kathleen’s family wasn’t rich.”
“Not as rich as Olivia’s, but they managed.”
I understood now why Kathleen had said Olivia had cheated her. She thought Olivia had bent the rules by conveniently forgetting to mention her family could handle any amount of tuition.
“I don’t know why Kathleen is still unhappy about all this,” Sampson said. “She found a way to pay for medical school and has a thriving practice in town.”
But what if she borrowed money and is in serious debt?
“I hope that answers your question, Ms. Maclin. Was there anything else?”
“No, thank you.” It had occurred to me that another sorority sister might help me find the compromising photos of Olivia.
***
Delta Gamma would have to wait. It was almost four o’clock. Jerry would be getting home, and I had to be there when Derek arrived.
Nell’s van was gone and Jerry’s red Jeep was already parked in the drive when I got to the house. He greeted me at the porch just as Derek’s silver car drove up. He was curious to see his former partner.
“What’s Derek doing here?”
“This is his second visit. He says he has some information about Megan and the Darkrose Coven.”
“He could’ve called me.”
“That’s what I thought. Do not let him talk you into anything.”
Derek got out of his car and grinned. “Jerry. Got something for you.”
Once again, Derek claimed a spot on the porch. He dug a wrinkled photograph out of his pocket and presented it to Jerry. “You remember that scheme in Morehead that never went down? Well, lookee here.”
“Looks sort of like Megan.”
“Yep. She was out on the pier with the rest of them. I think she was the bait gal, in more ways than one.”
Jerry turned the picture over. The faded date on the back was from August of last year. “How did you get this?”
“Called in a favor. Now I need one.”
“I’m out, you know that.”
“Come on. I need your face for one night, just one. I want to catch someone who’s been playing me.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t do it.”
“Oh, but there’s more. I got something on that coven, too. ’Course that stays with me until the job’s done.” Derek grinned another cold-eyed grin. “I’ll let you and the missus thrash it out.” He wandered back to his car and leaned against it, his arms folded as if satisfied.
I would have gladly wiped that smirk off his face. “I knew it. I knew he was up to something.”
“What if he has information we could use?”
“What if he doesn’t? What if this is all a ploy to get you involved in something really shady?”
“I’ve worked with Derek for years.”
“Do you trust him?”
Jerry glanced at the man. “He wasn’t the most reliable partner.”
“Just say no.” I took a closer look at the photograph. “This looks like Megan, but I can’t tell for sure. What’s a bait gal, anyway?”
“Someone who distracts the mark. Usually a very pretty girl.”
“You’ve met Megan. Is that something she could handle?”
“Right now I’d say no, but we didn’t know her a year ago.”
“Can you get Derek to leave without getting involved in anything?”
A few months ago, Jerry would’ve found a way to get around my protests, but this time, he was suspicious of his old partner’s motives. He walked out to Derek and handed him the photograph. They talked for a while, and I couldn’t tell from either man’s expression how the conversation was going. Finally, they shook hands, and Derek drove away. Jerry came back up the porch steps.
I was concerned they’d made a bargain. “What did he say?”
“He was not happy, but I told him we couldn’t tell if the woman in the picture was Megan, so it wasn’t very useful. As to his other information, I said that you were a very competent private investigator, and you would be able to solve this case on your own.”
“Well, thank you very much. Do you still owe him anything?”
“I told him where he could find Artless Bob. He’s got the kind of face Derek’s looking for. Of course, now I’ll owe Bob for sending Derek his way.”
I hugged him. “I can’t tell you how proud I am.”
“That I gave up poor Bob?”
/> “That you didn’t let Derek pull you under.”
“Got to set a good example for the kids, and speaking of kids, why don’t we go make some?”
“I would love to.” In the distance, we heard the faint roar of Austin’s four-wheeler. “But it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen right now.”
We settled for another quick kiss before Austin arrived in a spray of gravel and dust.
“Hey! Nell says there were baby owls inside your chimney, but she let them go. Did you guys get to see them, Madeline?”
“No, but I heard them at night.”
“Do you think you could catch one? A baby owl would look cool riding on my four-wheeler. What are you guys having for supper?”
Jerry made one of Austin’s favorite snacks, little hot dogs rolled up in biscuits he called pigs-in-blankets. The pigs were almost done when Denisha rode up on her bike.
“Look what I made in camp today, Madeline.” She proudly displayed a pink and purple lanyard. “Here’s my house key, and here’s a heart of an old locket my aunt gave me.”
“Denisha, we missed seeing baby owls,” Austin said. “Nell got them out of the chimney. I wish she’d kept them. We could each have one.”
“No, thank you. I’d rather have a puppy. My aunt says if I keep my grades up next year, she might let me have one. What are you cooking, Jerry? It smells really good.”
“Pigs-in-blankets!” Austin announced.
“And they are ready.” Jerry scooped the biscuits off the baking sheet and onto a plate. The kids sat down at the table. Austin’s hand hovered over the plate as he decided which biscuit to choose.
“Just take one,” Denisha said. “They’re all the same.”
He made his choice. “This one’s bigger.”
Denisha carefully picked a biscuit from the pile. “Jerry, how do you like your job at Deely’s?”
“I like it very much, thanks.”
“We miss coming over here for pancakes.”
“I can always fix pancakes for supper.”
“True. I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Or pancakes at camp one morning.”
Denisha turned to me. “And how is your case coming, Madeline?”