1 Bless Her Dead Little Heart

by Miranda James

  “Did the vet call already? Can we go get them today?” Benjy sounded happy.

  “No, the vet hasn’t called.”

  Benjy’s disappointment was obvious.

  “I found out where they came from,” Dickce said. She told Benjy about her talk with the farmer and his willingness for Dickce to take the animals. “He told me their names, too. His mother named the cat Endora and the dog Peanut.”

  “Endora?” Benjy frowned. “Isn’t that the name of that character from Bewitched? Oh, I get it, because of the red hair.” He paused. “It’s pretty cool, actually. Endora. I like it.”

  “I like it, too,” Dickce said. “I also like Peanut. Mrs. Thayer thought Peanut’s hair was like the color of peanut hulls, and that’s why she chose that name for him.”

  “Peanut is a good name for a dog,” Benjy said. “I’m glad he doesn’t want them back. I just wish . . .”

  “What do you wish, Benjy?” Dickce said, although she was sure she knew.

  Benjy shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. It would be stupid to even think I could.”

  “You mean take them to California with you?” Dickce said.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Benjy said. “I told you it was stupid. I don’t have the money to take care of them, and I may not even have a place to live. I didn’t have much to begin with, but now that the Wart’s mother is going to live in Italy, he’s sure not going to want me in the house. He already complains about how much I eat.”

  “You told me about your father,” Dickce said. “You don’t have any other relatives at all? Grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, anyone?”

  Benjy shook his head. “My mom didn’t have any brothers or sisters, and her parents died a long time ago. I don’t know much about them and whether they had any other family. Even if they did, I have no idea who they are. Same thing with my father’s side. I know even less about them.”

  If he did have relatives, they could be traced, but Dickce didn’t see much point. Later on, Benjy might want to know more about them, but his most pressing need at the moment was a home. Dickce had the solution to that problem, but she didn’t know whether Benjy would find it acceptable.

  “Having Peanut and Endora living with An’gel and me will require some adjustments.” Dickce decided to take a sideways approach to her idea. “We haven’t had animals in the house since we were about your age. They’re both young and are going to need a lot of attention. Not to mention a lot of energy, and I don’t know if we’re really going to be up to the task.”

  “You mean you think you shouldn’t keep them after all?” Benjy looked distressed at the prospect.

  “No, that’s not what I meant at all.” Dickce realized she needed to get to the point. “I think we need someone younger here who can help take care of them. Like making sure Peanut gets enough exercise, for example. An’gel and I are pretty fit, but a young, healthy dog has a tremendous amount of energy.”

  Benjy examined the top of his soda can. “Maybe someone young like me, you mean? To work for you and take care of the animals?”

  “Exactly like you,” Dickce said. “What do you think, Benjy?”

  “I know how to do a lot of things.” Benjy still wouldn’t look directly at her. “Like laundry and cleaning and stuff like that. I did it all the time for me and my mom, even after we went to live with the Wart and his family. I could help Clementine a lot, and I think she likes me.”

  Dickce’s plans didn’t include turning Benjy into a full-time servant, but she knew it might be better for him, at least for a little while, to feel like he was earning his keep. She would save her plans for him to go to college and on to veterinary school for a later time.

  “I know you would work hard and be a lot of help,” Dickce said. “The main thing would be to look after Endora and Peanut, of course. So what do you say? Would you like to give it a try?”

  “Yes, please.” Benjy finally looked at her, and she could see that his eyes were a bit wet. “I don’t want to go back to that house and those people. I have a couple of friends out there, but nobody really special.”

  “Then it’s settled,” Dickce said. Her own eyes felt suspiciously wet now. “We can arrange for your things to be sent here, and you won’t even have to go back for them, if you don’t want.”

  “That’s great,” Benjy said, “except for Bert and Ernie. My tarantulas. I can’t ship them, but one of my friends will take them.”

  Dickce was relieved to hear it. She wasn’t that keen on sharing quarters with a couple of big spiders. An’gel most certainly wouldn’t be keen either.

  “That’s a good idea,” Dickce said. “Let’s keep this to ourselves for now. Then at the appropriate moment we’ll let everybody know you’re going to stay here.”

  “Have you talked to your sister about this?” Benjy asked. “I’m not sure she likes me.”

  “She hasn’t had the chance to get to know you yet,” Dickce said. “Not like I have. You leave her to me. She won’t have a problem with this.” Not after I get through with her, she added to herself.

  “You are going to tell her about Endora and Peanut tomorrow when you bring them home, aren’t you?”

  “As soon as there’s a good time,” Dickce said. “Before we go pick them up tomorrow, we’ll have to do some shopping. Food, of course, and a litter box and so on for Endora. Toys and whatever else they’ll need.”

  “I can make a list,” Benjy said. “I found some paper and pencils in a drawer in the kitchen area here.”

  “That sounds like a good idea.” Dickce reached over and patted his arm. “I’m so pleased, Benjy. I really do hope you’ll be happy here.” She rose from the sofa. “I’d better get back over to the house and see what’s going on.”

  “I think I’ll stay here for a while. It’s too crazy over there for me.” Benjy shook his head.

  “I know exactly what you mean.” Dickce laughed. “I’ll see you later, then.”

  “Definitely,” Benjy said. He got up and gave her a quick hug.

  Dickce walked back to the house wearing a big smile. The moment she stepped into the kitchen, Clementine spotted her.

  “Miss An’gel’s looking for you. She’s all worked up about something. You’d better go see. I think she’s in the library.”

  Dickce sighed, her smile gone. “I will. I wonder what it is now.” In her concern for Benjy, she hadn’t given much thought to Rosabelle and her big announcement. On the way to the library, though, Dickce figured out what had probably gotten her sister riled up. Rosabelle was practically begging to be murdered.

  She found An’gel in the library with Diesel. “Here I am.”

  An’gel, seated behind the desk, was stroking the cat’s head. At the sight of Dickce, he meowed and padded over to her. She took a seat in a chair near the desk, and Diesel stood beside her. He tapped her leg with a paw to remind her that he needed attention. She laughed and patted his head.

  “It’s good to see you, too, you big handsome boy.” Dickce wanted to tell him that, starting tomorrow, he would have a couple of playmates, but she couldn’t, not while An’gel was present.

  “Where were you?” An’gel asked.

  “Talking with Benjy,” Dickce replied. “I’m concerned about him. Did you know that he has no other relatives, now that his mother is dead?” She might as well plant a few seeds right away.

  “No, I didn’t,” An’gel said. “I know you’re taking an interest in him, and it’s good that someone is. Wade Thurmond doesn’t impress me much as the fatherly sort. That poor boy is in a difficult situation.”

  “What was it you wanted to see me about?” Dickce asked. She was pleased to know that her sister’s interest was engaged. That would make things easier.

  “After you and Benjy left, I came to a startling realization,” An’gel said.

  “You realized that Rosabelle had
made herself an even bigger target by declaring her intention to move to Italy with Antonio.”

  “I thought you would probably see that, too.” An’gel shook her head. “I am concerned over what could happen tonight. The killer may be even more desperate now.”

  “He or she might also target Antonio,” Dickce said. “I hadn’t thought of it before, but that would also be a way to stop Rosabelle from moving to Italy.”

  “Possibly,” An’gel said. “But Rosabelle could inherit substantial property in Italy. I can’t imagine that Antonio’s son, Benedetto—wasn’t that the name?—that Benedetto would be happy to have an American stepmother taking part of what he thinks of as rightfully his.”

  “True.” Dickce felt a paw on her leg, and she resumed rubbing Diesel’s head. “I have to say, after hearing that conversation in Italian, I have an odd feeling about this Benedetto.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Remember I told you that he was talking to a man, whom he addressed as mio caro?”

  An’gel nodded. “That may simply be a term of affection for his son. It’s not something an American man might do, but he’s Italian.”

  “Rosabelle said something a bit odd, too, in reference to Benedetto. It was right before you came up and startled me.” Dickce paused for a moment. “Antonio said, ‘I must think of Benedetto. He is my son.’ Then Rosabelle said, ‘So you say.’ Don’t you think that’s a strange response?”

  “In the context of changing his will, no, not necessarily. That could be all Rosabelle meant. ‘So you say you have to consider your son.’”

  “I suppose,” Dickce replied. “Maybe I’m making too much out of it. There was something about the tone of his voice during that phone conversation.”

  “We’re both letting our imaginations go into overdrive, I think, thanks to the stress of the situation.” An’gel shook her head. “Back to what I originally wanted to tell you. I called Kanesha right away to tell her about Rosabelle’s plans, and she’s on her way here.”

  The doorbell rang, and Dickce started. “Perfect timing.”

  “Let’s go.” An’gel rose from the desk and headed out of the library. Dickce and Diesel followed.

  An’gel opened the door to admit Kanesha, who greeted them both. Diesel started to dart out once the deputy was inside. He made it onto the verandah, but Dickce moved quickly enough to grab him. She got him back inside and waited for An’gel to shut the door.

  An’gel wasn’t moving. Instead she stood there staring out at the driveway and frowning.

  Dickce released the cat and shut the door herself. She did take a peek at the driveway, but all she saw was Kanesha’s patrol car. What was so strange about that?

  CHAPTER 28

  “There’s no car,” An’gel said. She stared at the door as if she could see through it.

  “Yes, there is,” Dickce replied, obviously puzzled. “Kanesha’s squad car is right there on the driveway.”

  “Are you all right, Miss An’gel?” Kanesha asked. “Were you expecting another car?”

  “There should be another car in the driveway,” An’gel said. “All our other guests have put their cars behind the house, near the garage. I should have realized it earlier, when he arrived.”

  “What are you talking about, Sister?” Dickce said.

  “Antonio,” An’gel replied. “There’s no car in the driveway, so how did he get here? He surely didn’t walk.”

  “That’s definitely strange,” Kanesha said. “He could have taken a taxi from Athena.”

  “Then how did he get to Athena? Surely he didn’t take a taxi all the way down from Memphis—assuming that he flew into Memphis, that is.” An’gel couldn’t make sense of it.

  “We’ll just have to ask him,” Dickce said. “I’m sure there’s a logical explanation.” She chuckled. “Unless he got beamed down from the mother ship.”

  An’gel threw her a sour look. She turned to Kanesha. “Let’s go into the library. Dickce and I have a few things to share with you before you talk to Rosabelle.”

  An’gel resumed her seat at the desk, and Kanesha and Dickce took chairs near it. Diesel sat in front of the deputy and chirped.

  “Yes, cat, I see you,” Kanesha said. Her hands remained on the arms of her chair. Diesel looked at her for a moment before turning and going to sit by An’gel’s chair.

  “Dickce, tell Kanesha about the phone conversation you overheard,” An’gel said.

  Dickce gave a quick summary of Antonio’s side of the conversation.

  “You’re sure that he was talking to a man?” Kanesha asked when she finished.

  “Yes,” Dickce replied. “We think it could have been his son in Italy, but the tone of the words sounded a bit, well, intimate, for the lack of any other word.”

  “The main point is that he promised this person he was going to ask Rosabelle for a divorce,” An’gel said. “There was no hint of it otherwise in his demeanor toward Rosabelle.”

  “That could be a side issue that has nothing to do with the murder,” Kanesha said. “The main point, it seems to me, is the plan to move to Italy and the effect that could have.” She frowned. “What should I call her? Sultan was her maiden name, wasn’t it?”

  An’gel nodded. “We still think of her that way. Keeping track of the three husbands and their names seemed like too much trouble. Antonio’s surname is Mingione, but he also has a title, Conte di San Lorenzo.”

  “That makes her the contessa, then?” Kanesha asked.

  “Yes,” Dickce said. “Now that she wants to go live in Italy, you can bet she’s going to make the most of it, too.”

  “Until we solve this case, I can’t allow her to leave the country,” Kanesha said. “She’s a suspect along with most of her family.”

  “The only exceptions being Benjy and Junior, right?” Dickce said. “Because they had no opportunity to go upstairs and set the stage for the accident.”

  Kanesha nodded. “I’ve ruled them out. I need to talk to the contessa and her husband now. I need to make sure she understands the situation.”

  An’gel rose. “I’ll go up and let them know you want to talk to them.” She didn’t relish the prospect of interrupting whatever little tête-à-tête Rosabelle and Antonio might be having. She couldn’t put it off, however. When she arrived at Rosabelle’s room, she tapped lightly on the door. She heard nothing from inside the room. Were they asleep? She rapped soundly three times, and after a moment, Rosabelle opened the door. She was in her dressing gown, and An’gel felt a bit awkward.

  She looked at the doorknob as she spoke. “Sorry to bother you, but Chief Deputy Berry is here. She needs to speak to you and to Antonio right away.”

  “Now?” Rosabelle sounded peevish. “I suppose we might as well get it over with. Tell her we’ll be down in about ten minutes.”

  The door shut in An’gel’s face. Rosabelle hadn’t even given her time to tell her where Kanesha was waiting for them. An’gel turned and went back downstairs.

  “They’ll be down in ten minutes,” she reported to the deputy.

  “Thank you, Miss An’gel,” Kanesha said.

  “Have you made any progress with this case?” An’gel asked.

  “Not really,” Kanesha replied. “I have gone over all the statements several times, and there isn’t anything in them that is all that helpful. No one saw anything. There were no fingerprints on either the tube of Vaseline or the water pistol.”

  “So frustrating,” An’gel said. “At some point, if you can’t resolve this, you’ll have to let all of them leave, won’t you?”

  “Yes,” Kanesha said. “I can’t keep them here indefinitely.”

  An’gel wasn’t any happier about that prospect than Kanesha, but at the same time she was looking forward to the time when all the guests were out of the house.

  They waite
d in silence for Rosabelle and Antonio. An’gel felt like she could use a nap. The unrelieved stress of the situation seemed to sap her energy more quickly than if she had been working hard at something all day long.

  “Here we are, Deputy Berry,” Rosabelle announced from the doorway. She advanced into the room with Antonio by her side. “You wanted to talk to us, I hear.”

  An’gel thought, a bit snidely, that Rosabelle entered like a contessa about to give audience to her peasants. An’gel took a bit of satisfaction from the knowledge that what Kanesha had to say would give her old friend a much-needed reacquaintance with reality.

  “Dickce and I will leave you to it.” An’gel rose from her chair. “Come along, Diesel, you, too.”

  Antonio stared at the cat. “What manner of creature is this? I have never seen a cat so big.”

  Dickce quickly explained about Diesel’s breed and his size. Antonio moved close to the cat and extended a hand. Diesel sniffed once, then moved away. He passed by Rosabelle and out into the hall. An’gel and Dickce exchanged wry glances. The cat was definitely not impressed by the conte or his contessa.

  “Thank you for coming down,” Kanesha said.

  An’gel moved out of earshot, with Dickce ahead of her. When Dickce lingered in the hallway, An’gel grabbed her arm and pulled her along with her toward the parlor. “No more eavesdropping.”

  “Spoilsport.” Dickce grinned and shook her arm loose from her sister’s grasp. “I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough, because la contessa will have something to say. She always does.”

  “No doubt about that.” An’gel snorted. “Rosabelle has never met a silence she couldn’t fill.”

  Diesel climbed onto the sofa beside An’gel and lay his head and front legs across her lap. She rubbed his head, and he rewarded her with his rumbling purr. Dickce sat at the end of the sofa, with the cat’s tail in her lap.

  “I could easily get used to this,” An’gel said. “I’m going to miss you, big boy, when your family gets home and you go back to them.”

  She glanced at Dickce, who seemed to be considering something, to judge by her expression. She waited a moment, but Dickce didn’t speak. She could ask whether her sister had something on her mind, but she knew all too well that Dickce wouldn’t share whatever it was until she was ready. There was no point in prodding her.