[Adventures of Anabel Axelrod 01.0] A Date With Fate

by Tracy Ellen

  Visibly shaking, Aunt Lily shouted from her end of the table, “She was the great Whore of Babylon!” She stood up, her cane rising in the air. “And there came one of the seven angels, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come Hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth!”

  Everyone was stunned speechless while Aunt Lily stood and spewed out these words. It was extremely strange behavior, even for her. She seemed overcome with violent emotion, but I doubted she even knew Cheryl, except maybe in passing.

  Luke showed off his bible study talents when he said in an undertone, “Interesting. She’s misquoting Revelations 17:1.”

  “Hush, Baal, or anyone could think you were a pastor’s kid.”

  A large hand sliding up my thigh and squeezing with no problem was his response to me. Luke was chuckling softly at hearing Crookie’s placidly agreeable response to Aunt Lily.

  “Yes ma’am, that is probably as good as description as any to describe Cheryl’s unfortunate behavior.”

  Standing at the end of the table, her features brutally hard, Aunt Lily regarded Crookie in silence for a long moment before speaking. Her voice started low and rose in volume with every word until she was screaming, “You should be thankful she is dead! The scripture said she deserved to die! She was an Adulteress, a terrible wife, and she broke every sacred commandment!” She stopped abruptly, leaning both hands on the table and gasping. She looked up from under her heavy, caterpillar brows and hissed, “She made Anna cry.”

  Unlike discussing the details of a murder- religion, politics, or being publically named a Crybaby were not relaxing topics for the dinner table. Anna’s face was stricken. Even Crookie was at a loss how to respond courteously to this latest proclamation. Everyone was uncomfortably silent, and a few mouths were hanging open. I glimpsed Diego crossing himself and reaching for my sister’s hand.

  Her words had brought to my mind Aunt Lily’s special visit to Bel’s yesterday with the same bakery item to lord over Anna. Since I was an admitted tormentor that does not rest, even on a Sunday, I sought to lighten the mood.

  “Speaking of terrible things, I told you their crullers were terrible at the Northfield Bakery, Aunt Lily. Even the great Whore of Babylon could figure this out after one bite.”

  It flashed through my mind the date of Cheryl’s death was the same day I met Luke at Reggie’s house. Not that I had recorded that September date in my Dear Diary, but our first date later that night was rather hard to forget since it was rated X. I recalled Aunt Lily had brought us a bag of cookies that morning to the store right when we opened at ten. I had taken the cookies to Reggie’s house knowing he’d eat them.

  I opened my mouth to pour salt in the wound and remind her of the “dry, tasteless cookies” also from the Northfield Bakery, but Aunt Lily had grabbed her cane again. She was whacking it on the floor beside her in time to her thundering, bellowing words. “Those cruellers were not stale, Anabel Axelrod! The Pastry Chef went to school in New York City, not some two-bit…”

  The Behemoth’s yelling continued unabated, but I heard Anna’s gasp next to me. She was ignoring the latest ranting from her relative because she must have been thinking the same thing I was. The date for her was probably etched in her heart. After all, she and Reggie broke off their new relationship because of the now murdered Whore of Babylon that previous night.

  Aunt Lily’s cane slamming and whacking was taking place on James’ side of the table. He slid his chair far to his right side and crowded Jazy to save his feet. He glared reproachfully at me for riling the Beast. I couldn’t hide my grin fast enough behind my wine glass. I wondered if he was happy he’d joined us for our little family dinner.

  I observed James, Jazy, Reggie, Tre J, and Crookie on one side of the table, along with Diego, Eric George, Stella, and Luke on the other. They all had round eyes the size of their soup bowls. Their heads were swiveling back and forth in time to the conversation, it was like watching a tennis match broadcast from Hades.

  Anna’s loud voice interrupted Mac’s appeasing attempts to calm down Aunt Lily’s screaming, incoherent tirade on culinary schools and whores. Jack was really going to be bummed he’d stayed away tonight.

  Anna bellowed to be heard over her aunt’s screams. I could practically see Anna thinking out loud. “Hold on a minute, wait a minute! SETTLE DOWN, AUNT LILY!” Miraculously, Aunt Lily quit screaming, although she was still furiously wielding her cane. “Didn’t you bring cookies to the Fare that day from Northfield Bakery? I know it was in the morning.” Anna bounced forward enthusiastically in her seat. She spoke even louder in her growing excitement. “Don’t you go to the bakery early before Saturday church? Oh, my God! Think, Aunt Lily! Did you see Cheryl there at the bakery that morning before she was murdered?”

  Luke stiffened beside me and murmured, “I’ll be damned.”

  Aunt Lily’s face drained of color before us. Her small black eyes, burning with spiteful hate, looked everywhere but at Anna while she mumbled, “I did the right thing. The Angel came…that whore made Anna cry. That whore deserve…”

  Her cane stilled, and then fell out of her clenched hand and onto the floor with a thud. She stared wildly around the table, her mouth opening and closing but with no sound, except the gasping of her heavy, labored breathing. Skin ashen gray, her eyes rolled into the back of her head until only the whites showed. I thought Aunt Lily was about to speak in tongues. To be fair to myself, she had been known to do that upon occasion.

  Instead, she let out a long, unearthly groan. Hands pressing convulsively against her chest, Aunt Lily dropped heavily with no other warning. Her chair was previously pushed back behind her. We all heard the horrible smacking sound when her skull connected with the wooden edge. She was out of my sight on the floor.

  James, Diego, and Mac reached Aunt Lily first.

  Mac’s even voice calmly declared, “I think she’s had a heart attack. I can’t find a pulse. Somebody call 9-1-1. Here, Diego and James, help me turn her slightly.”

  Before Aunt Lily had even hit the ground, Luke had shot out of his chair with his phone to his ear. He strode swiftly around the table. “I’m calling, Mac. Nobody touch her cane.”

  He plucked a few linen napkins off the table and bent over. Straightening up with the cane wrapped in the napkins, he placed it carefully on the sideboard. He rapped out clipped instructions to 9-1-1 when they answered. He stepped a few feet away and observed Mac’s ministrations while he made another call.

  Anna and I were right behind him. He said quietly to us, “I’m calling Jack.”

  In the confusion of the next moments, I stood silently arm-in-arm with Anna. She was rocking back and forth in agitation while we kept watch on the activity occurring around the stricken Aunt Lily. Every few seconds, we’d look at each other with the knowledge of what we suspected on our shocked faces. My mind kept repeatedly playing the last few minutes before Aunt Lily crashed to the floor.

  My brother came up on the other side of Anna. He put his arms around her. With a cry, she turned gratefully into his sheltering warmth.

  Reggie met my eyes over her shoulder. I nodded in approval at his move.

  He mouthed in disbelief, “Aunt Lily killed Cheryl?”

  Shrugging, I mouthed, “I think so.”

  I realized we were all arriving at the same conclusion. Luke only reinforced our belief when he’d snatched up the cane and put it aside as the probable murder weapon.

  I looked around me at the drawn faces. Everyone’s attention was on the life and death drama occurring on the floor before us. Jazy and Tre J stood silently across the table from us. They had Crookie between them, each holding onto an arm of my tall friend in protective support. His mouth was a tight, grim line. Crookie and I shared a look of understanding. He could be getting his closure faster than we ever dreamed possible. The surreal was becoming commonplace.

  Stella and Eric George stayed seated down on my left, but huddled together. I went to stand b
y my niece. I squeezed her shoulder in soft question and patted Eric George. They nodded to show they were fine, Stella reaching up to rub my hand in return. After a final pat, I turned away.

  I walked back over to Luke. “I need to do something. I’ll be over opening the doors for the ambulance.”

  He was watching Mac and Diego performing CPR. James knelt next to them, ready to assist if Mac gave the word. I could tell by her voice as Mac worked that my sister knew Aunt Lily was dead, but was following the correct emergency medical procedures for a heart attack victim.

  “Good idea.” Luke walked with me.

  At the intercom, I unlocked the doors for the EMTs and police.

  Luke pulled me close. “Her cane really is a sword stick, huh? You mentioned her slicing and dicing a few weeks ago. I took it as a joke until tonight. Then it hit me when Anna asked her if she was at the same bakery that morning.”

  “Yes, it is.” I swallowed. “I’ve haven’t seen the blade in years, but it’s something we’ve always known. Are we really thinking Aunt Lily stabbed Cheryl Crookston and killed her?”

  Luke tightened his arms and replied, “I’m leaning that way based on what I’ve heard tonight. The police will investigate, but that’s my take. Do you think she murdered Cheryl?”

  “It makes a weird sense.” I sighed. “Too bad she keeled over before finishing her last sentence. She appeared to be heading in the confession direction. My guess would be that something about Anna being so hysterically upset late that night before triggered Aunt Lily craziness when she saw Cheryl at the bakery that next morning. ”

  Luke bent his head to mine for a lingering, soft kiss. “How are you holding up?” His voice was dry, “Still think our dates are ho-hum?”

  I pressed against him with a short laugh. I thought over how I was holding up. “Maybe I should be more shocked. I should at least be sorry she’s dead, but I’m neither.” We were so close together, I had to tilt my head back to see his face when I confided quietly, “I’ve always considered her an evil troll and I’m not going to pretend I’ll miss her just because she’s dead.” I frowned at my next thought. “I do feel bad for goading her tonight, if she was sick.” I ran my hands distractedly through Luke’s hair on either side of his face. “I didn’t realize how off the deep end she really was until recently. Was it obvious to you?”

  Luke’s smiling gaze was warm. “I can always count on an honest answer from you, can’t I?” Before I had time to answer that tricky question, Luke continued speaking, “She was out of control long before you said anything, so don’t worry over that, Anabel.” His warm hands massaged my sore lower back. “Yes, the more she yelled, it became pretty damn clear she was eight up. I’m not surprised she had the heart attack. Her stress levels had to be off the charts.”

  I arched my back under his capable hands. I was sure if he’d only continue touching me like this, I’d never worry again about anything. I was about to ask Luke what ‘eight up’ meant, when his cell vibrated. He released one arm around my waist to answer. Looking at the message, his face darkened and he swore softly. His head came up and I knew.

  I joked halfheartedly, “I want to meet the schedule Nazi on the other end of these texts. Their timing is becoming ridiculously annoying.”

  He closed his eyes briefly. Opening them, he sighed and nodded. “Christ, I’m sorry. I wish…” He stopped and his mouth tightened. “Listen, I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, but there was a lot I planned on talking with you about tonight.”

  ‘I knew there had to be a silver lining somewhere in all this.’

  Holding my hand, he started walking over to the church pew where his jacket waited.

  “Hold on there, Luke Bond. You are not going anywhere until you answer one question. Make that two.”

  He smiled slightly, and let go of me to shrug into his coat. He placed the gift bag on the floor. “Shoot, Princess.”

  “First, are you taking the little predator with you?”

  Luke snorted. “Yes.”

  I nodded in satisfaction. “Good.”

  He patted his pocket for his keys. “Second question?”

  I slid my arms up around his neck and widened the baby blues. I whispered, “I know I’m shallower than a wading pool, but I don’t have to wait until you are back in town to open my beautiful black gift bag, do I? After all I’ve been through this weekend?”

  Luke’s dimple appeared. “Yes.”

  I smiled. “Yes, I can have it?”

  “Yes, you have to wait.”

  At my disgruntled pout, his mouth kicked up. “Think of it as a joint gift. You won’t appreciate it without me.” He slid it under the pew with his foot until it was tucked away.

  His black brows met and he warned, “I’ll know if you peek, Anabel.”

  “Yeah right, mean Santa.”

  Leaning down, he kissed the pout off my lips while pulling me tightly against the full length of him. Our bodies touched from my head to my toe. He ran his hands slowly over my ass, up my back, and along my upraised arms. Taking my hands, he unclasped them from around his neck. He kissed across my knuckles on one hand, and then the other. He put me away from him.

  “Now, no begging me or whining. It’s beneath you.”

  He ignored my disgusted cry, kissed my cheek, and gave my ass a final squeeze before heading towards the stairway. Watching him walk away, I thought I heard a siren outside. Pausing momentarily, Luke turned back. Gleaming green eyes traveled over me while his fingers drummed along the top ledge of the half wall. He appeared to be having an internal debate. He looked so hot when he was so serious.

  So I blew him a kiss.

  He held my eyes for a long moment and then he started down the stairs.

  I was just turning away when I heard his voice call back, “Forty-one thousand, five hundred and thirty-four.”

  I cocked my head to the side. I ran to the ledge and saw only the top of his fast descending head. “Was that new with no trade-in, you demon bastard? If it was, I want to bow at your feet in eternal worship!”

  “And eighteen pennies!” His deep laughter echoed back up the stairwell to me.

  Grinning most inappropriately considering the circumstances, I turned back to the foyer and went to rejoin my family and friends. The ambulance was here and Chief Jack wouldn’t be far behind. Call my mean mommy voice uncaringly practical, but she was right. I know men and I know women. After all the excitement died down, they were going to be starving. I should get the apple crisp in the oven to serve warm later on and make some coffee.

  Passing the church pew sheltering the smug, shiny gift bag, I stopped long enough to say, “Oh, be quiet. That wasn’t me begging to worship him. I was simply stating a fact.”

  Chapter XXII

  “Raise Your Glass” by Pink

  Tuesday, 11/20/12

  11:56 PM

  I was aware of a vibrating, buzzing sound annoyingly loud near my ear. It continued relentlessly until I rose up on my elbow, grabbed my phone, and turned it off.

  I felt a hand cup my bare shoulder, slightly shaking me. A muffled voice a little slow on the uptake said, “Bel, answer your phone.”

  Confused, I glanced back and saw only a wide, masculine shoulder and a golden-brown head buried in a pillow next to me.

  I looked down at what I was wearing and groaned. I fell back on my pillow with a moaning curse. The evening came rushing back.

  It was Tuesday night. What had started out as Mike McClain coming to the store to talk over the details concerning his plan for Candy had turned into a welcome back party. Mike had been well liked when he’d lived here and Anna and Billy were excited to see him. Trent, Stella, and Eric George had been there in the store, too. Stella remembered Mike a lot more than I thought she would. Tre J had stopped in for a coffee and an hour of studying before the store closed, so she joined in the partying. Crookie had been there until he left to go meet Tina. Mac and Diego, coming to pick up Stella and Eric George for a late dinner
, had ended up staying and adding to the impromptu fun.

  My muddled mind flashbacked on the last couple of days leading up to this moment. On Sunday night, Anna had stayed overnight with Crookie and me at the apartment after the ordeal with Aunt Lily's death was over. Surprisingly, Chief Jack had not been one of the police at the scene. We were told he was busy elsewhere. After the hullabaloo died down, everyone had left but Reg.

  To distract my slumber party friends from their individual doom and glooms, I hooked them up with second helpings of apple crisp à la mode. Then I told Crooks, Anna, and Reg all about Mike's visit and Candy's nefarious deed. I kept the possibility of the pending civil suit action to myself. Since Anna and Crookie were the two friends that had been the stalwarts in my life back then, it seemed like fate they were the first people I told all these years later at a sleepover.

  It worked as a distraction. They were blown away by the news. Anna thought it was incredibly romantic for Mike and me to reconnect after all these years. In a weepy state anyway, she tearfully demanded to be part of the posse to help me hunt Candy down. Passing her tissue after tissue, I hurriedly agreed she could drive. Crookie, thankfully, shed no tears but was truly incensed. He offered me several good ideas on how to get Candy's face wet. Boys truly do think differently than girls. I never would have thought of the toilet. Reg thought we should just drown her and be done with it.

  By the time I’d crawled into bed on Sunday night, I was drained completely dry of energy from my weekend off. I didn't let myself dwell on the fact I had co-killed a man that day, even if he had tried to kill me first. You start thinking about the right or wrong of being responsible for ending a life and it can became a slippery slope. So I didn't start. I slept like a baby all night. Not even one selection from the menu of nightmare possibilities from my weekend off surfaced to deny my exhausted brain and body their much-needed rest.

  After Crooks and I went to our rooms, Reg and Anna had stayed up and had their talk. Word is they're a thing again.