Marja McGraw - Bogey Man 02 - Bogey's Ace in the Hole

by Marja McGraw

  “It’s been a busy day,” I replied, “and it’s not over yet.” Glancing around, I noticed that our sous chef, Phillip, was already hard at work. I carried my mug and headed toward the office for a few minutes of peace and quiet.

  After closing the door between the kitchen and the office, I opened the back door to let the dogs in. I always hesitated to do this because I knew if the Health Department found out I’d probably be sorry. Sherlock and Watson shed constantly. I kept a small vacuum in the corner and frequently cleaned up the office. The last thing we needed was for someone to find a dog hair in their food.

  These were my thoughts when I opened the back door. The dogs were just finishing the food Chris had put out for them and they ignored me until the last bite was gone. After that, it was every man, woman and child for themselves. They came racing in to wallow in the attention they knew I’d give them. Throwing herself on the floor, Watson rolled onto her back and waited for some scratching. Not to be outdone, Sherlock offered me his paw for a shake.

  “My babies,” I said lovingly to each of them. “You’re good dogs. Yes, you are. Mikey will be here soon.” Watson scrambled up and sat watching me.

  They recognized the name and gave me a look, trying to figure out what I was saying about the boy they considered one of their playmates. Sherlock dropped his paw and turned toward the doorway. Watson jumped up and ran outside. Someone was coming. Sherlock let out a sound of recognition and followed her.

  I heard childish giggling and knew my son and Constance had arrived. So much for quiet time, but that didn’t matter as long as my son was with me. I followed the dogs outside where I found them smothering Mikey with doggie kisses.

  “Mom!” Mikey yelled, pushing the dogs down and running forward. He threw his arms around me. “I’ve missed you and dad.”

  “We’ve missed you, too.” I hugged him back. “And you can come home now.”

  “I can?” He sounded excited. “No more danger?”

  “Yes, Pamela, what about the danger?” Constance asked.

  We walked into the office and I closed the door so Sherlock and Watson would have to stay outside. I heard one of them scratch at the door in an attempt to get me to open it.

  “It’s, uh, been eliminated. No more safety problems.” I patted Mikey on the back while giving Constance a pointed look. Would she get my meaning?

  “Oh,” she said. “Do you mean what I think you mean?”

  “Probably. We’ll talk while Mikey…” My voice trailed off, not wanting my son to think I was hiding something from him – which I was.

  “While I what?” he asked.

  “Why don’t you go help your dad greet the customers?” I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist that, and interestingly Constance had told Mikey to dress up for the evening. Well, he never did show up at Bogey Nights in jeans, a t-shirt and flip flops. After all, that wouldn’t fit in with our motif. Besides, Mikey liked dressing the part. He was wearing slacks with cuffs and loose legs, topped off by suspenders over his pin-striped shirt. I smiled. He looked like a mini Bogey Man.

  Constance, who felt completely at home in the restaurant, walked into the kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee. Returning, she sat down on the small sofa we’d put in the office.

  “So what happened?” she asked. “When you say your trouble was eliminated, do you mean that he was really eliminated or has he been arrested?”

  “He’s dead. Somebody bumped him off.”

  “Pulled the curtain on his last act?” Constance was smiling.

  “Is there something funny about it?” I asked.

  “No, it’s just the way you talk sometimes. It cracks me up. You and Chris are perfect for each other. And you never used to use forties slang until you met him. I like it.”

  “Yeah, well…”

  “So the guy is buzzard bait.”

  “See? You talk like we do.”

  “So does Mikey. And, by the way, he’s started rolling his eyes a lot. Sound familiar? You might want to break him of the habit.”

  “Well,” I said, “there are worse habits he could pick up from me. And don’t try to tell me his eyes will get stuck that way.”

  “Okay, enough about Mikey. So what happens now? Does this guy’s death mean your client is safe?”

  “Not really. The dead guy had a partner. I’m guessing the two men had some kind of falling out, and now the partner will go after Victor. He and the Church Ladies are coming in tonight to meet with Janet. She has a lot of questions.”

  “The Church Ladies? When are they going to be here?” Constance sounded almost too calm as she slid forward on the sofa.

  “Are you thinking that you and Mikey will eat and run? You know these women are harmless. We all attend the same church, and you’ve known them even longer than I have.”

  “Exactly. I’ve known them for a long time. I love them to pieces, but I don’t wear blinders. I know how pushy they can be when they want something.”

  “Then you’re safe. They don’t want a thing from you. They’re totally focused on me and Chris right now.”

  Constance walked over to my desk and patted my back. “Poor baby. They’ve brainwashed you.”

  For the first time since Constance and I had become friends, I was annoyed with her. I looked up and rolled my eyes.

  She backed away. “Okay, I know I’m not being very nice. But they’ve suckered me into more than one job at church events that I didn’t want to become involved in. I try to steer clear of them as often as possible.”

  “They mean well,” I said for the umpteenth time. It seemed like that had become my job – to tell everyone the ladies didn’t do things out of malice, but out of love for people.

  “You’re right. If they’re coming early enough, Mikey and I will stay and make nice with them. Lila and May are okay. It’s Jasmine. She’s so demanding.” She paused with a faraway look in her eyes, possibly remembering moments of irritation involving Jasmine.

  She blinked her eyes and turned her focus back to me. “And you’re going to pick Mikey up tonight, is that right?”

  “Yes. I can’t wait to have him home, sleeping in his own bed. The dogs have missed him, too.”

  Mikey stuck his head around the doorframe. “Dad says you need to come out now because the Church Ladies are here. He needs your help.”

  Constance laughed and followed me through the kitchen and out to the reception area where we found Chris surrounded by three very talkative ladies. I noticed that this time they hadn’t worn vintage clothing, but had decided to wear slacks instead. Except for Lila, who never wore anything but a dress or skirt and blouse.

  “One at a time,” Chris was saying. He saw me and looked relieved.

  “Is he really dead?” Jasmine asked.

  Chris turned to me. “Pamela, would you please seat the ladies while I take care of the other patrons?”

  “Follow me, ladies,” I said. “And Mikey, you come along, too.”

  He looked disappointed, but he and Constance followed me to a table near the lounge. Knowing Mikey, he really wasn’t looking forward to spending the evening at a table packed with elderly ladies.

  “I’m going to seat you all here because Janet will be meeting with you in the lounge when she arrives. You’ve got about an hour to eat before she’ll be here.” I pulled up a sixth chair and placed it at the end of the table, and set a menu in front of each woman. I knew what Mikey would want, but I set one in front of him, too.

  “Are we expecting someone else?” Jasmine asked.

  “Victor is going to join you for dinner. He wants to know what’s going on, too. Is that a problem?”

  “Certainly not,” Jasmine replied. “If I were him, I’d want the inside dope, too.”

  “Yes, the inside dope,” May echoed.

  “After all, it is his life that’s in jeopardy,” Lila added.

  Constance put her hand to her head as though she had a headache.

  Susan approached the table j
ust long enough to take drink orders. I noticed Lila was having wine again, while everyone else ordered iced tea.

  “Victor should be here any minute. I told him to come in by the back door, so I’d better go watch for him. I don’t want the dogs to knock him down.”

  “Would they do that?” Lila asked.

  “Not purposely, but they do get excited when a new friend comes to visit. Especially if I’m not there to keep them calm.”

  “Can I come with you, Mom?” Mikey asked. “I’m good at keeping the dogs under control.”

  “Sure.”

  We walked back to my office and the first thing I heard was a man yelling for help.

  “Uh oh,” I said.

  Mikey opened the door and ran outside.

  I followed him and found Victor pushed up against the fence with the dogs up on their hind legs, licking anything they could reach for all they were worth. One of the Lab traits is that they use their tongue and mouth as often as possible. Things can get messy when a happy Lab is on the scene.

  Victor looked about as stressed as I’d seen him, which was saying a lot since someone wanted to kill him.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  I grabbed a couple of doggie treats off my desk on my way out of the door and handed them to Mikey. My dogs were suckers for a good doggie cookie.

  “Sherlock! Watson!” Mikey called. “Come get a cookie.”

  Their ears perked up and two heads swung toward my son.

  “Come on, you big galoots. Come get your cookies.” Mikey has such a way with words.

  We calmed the dogs down and apologized to Victor, who graciously said everything was okay. I doubted that, but decided to take his word for it. I scolded the dogs and I could see that their feelings were hurt. After all, they didn’t think they’d done anything wrong. They were just being friendly, and we’d rewarded them with cookies. I could almost read their minds.

  Mikey showed Victor to the Men’s Room so he could wash up, and told me that he’d escort our guest to the table when he was done. Sometimes my son seemed so grown up for a child.

  I was standing by the table chatting with the ladies when the boy and man arrived, and I had to admit that Victor looked a lot happier than he had ten minutes earlier.

  “Well, if it isn’t God’s Safety Squad,” Victor said, looking from face to face. “Flo told me you’re all churchgoers, and I know you’re all trying to keep me alive. But where’s the other lady? I understood there were four of you watching out for me.”

  “She’s not feeling well,” Jasmine replied. “She’s staying at my house until this is all cleared up. Gosh, you should have brought Florence with you tonight.”

  “Florence doesn’t like to go out after dark. Besides, since she doesn’t know about my problems, I’d like to keep it that way. I know your friend saw Jackson, but if she’s still at your house, does that mean she saw his partner, too?”

  “Yes, indeedy,” May said. “She’ll be able to help the police with her description of the man. I’m sure the detective will talk to her soon. We’re all getting older, and we all have problems, but the good Lord blessed Addie with amazing vision.” May put on reading glasses and began to peruse the menu. Apparently she hadn’t received the same blessing.

  “Well, thank heaven for that!” Victor said. “It’s about time someone came along who can get me out of this mess.”

  Leaving the table, I walked back to the Reservation Desk to see Chris. The restaurant was beginning to fill up and I felt guilty about not helping. I saw Susan approach the table where our friends were sitting and she dropped off drinks, and I also saw the ladies examining Susan’s forties outfit. If body language meant anything, the ladies were asking her where she got her blouse and slacks. I chuckled to myself. Susan made all her own clothing.

  After dinner had been served and everyone was through eating, I moved the ladies and Victor to a table in the lounge, seating them as far away from the band as I could so they could hear each other.

  Mikey approached the Reservation Desk. “Mom, can I go home soon?”

  “Is something wrong?” I asked. He usually enjoyed hanging out at Bogey Nights.

  “No. Well, yes. For starters, I can’t go in the lounge because I’m not old enough. And those women keep asking me about school and do I have a girlfriend, and stuff like that. It’s embarrassing, Mom. I’m ready to leave.”

  “I see. Well, let me talk to Constance. By the way, Janet will be here in a few minutes. Wouldn’t you like to wait and see her before you leave?”

  Mikey’s face brightened up considerably. “Janet’s going to be here? Yeah, I’ll wait a few more minutes.”

  My son not only liked Janet, but he liked to brag at school that he had a friend who was a real live homicide detective. During the previous school year he’d had a teacher who made his life miserable because he talked about a murder that Chris and I were involved in, among other things. This year he had a teacher who got a kick out of Mikey’s forties slang and the fact that he was so open about everything.

  The front door opened and Janet walked in. Mikey ran over to greet her, and he took her hand to lead her back to the lounge. I heard him say, “I can’t take you in there, but I can point out where they’re sitting.”

  Janet glanced over her shoulder at me and winked. “Thank you, Mikey. You’re a very good host.”

  He turned his head to look at her and I could see him smiling.

  “Chris,” I said, “why don’t we ask George to cover the front desk for a few minutes and go listen in? I’d like to hear what Janet and the ladies have to say.”

  “It’s too busy right now. Why don’t you go listen and you can fill me in later.”

  “I feel guilty. It seems like you’re doing all the work tonight.”

  “That’s okay. I’d rather be up here than with your Church Lady friends anyway.” He quickly turned and studied the reservation list, knowing he’d said too much.

  “They pray for us all the time, Bogey Man.”

  “That’s nice.”

  I sighed before turning and walking toward the lounge. Constance and Mikey were headed in my direction and Constance had her purse slung over her shoulder. I returned to the Reservation Desk with them. “Pamela, we’re going home now. Thank you so much for the dinner. You can leave Mikey with me another night if you’d like to. I’ve kind of gotten used to having him around.”

  “Thanks, Constance, but I’m ready to have him come home. We’ll pick him up when we’re done here. Do I need to repeat how much I appreciate your help?”

  “No, I know you do.” She grinned, and she and Mikey left.

  I looked up into my husband’s face. “You know, Chris, I’ll stay here with you. I’ve already heard everything the ladies have to say, so it would be silly to sit in on the meeting.”

  Chris smiled, pleased with my decision. “You’re a heck of a dame, you know that?”

  “I try.”

  Chris and I welcomed guests, seated people, and chatted with customers. I kept an eye turned toward the lounge, wondering what was being said. I couldn’t help myself.

  Nate made an appearance, saying he wanted to see how we ran things from a customer’s point of view. I was pleased that he cared enough about the restaurant to take an interest. He hadn’t made a reservation, but I found a nice table for him.

  About forty-five minutes later I heard Lila’s sweet voice emanating from the lounge. She was singing again. Was this going to become a habit? Maybe I needed to offer her a wage. This time she was singing Rockin’ Chair which had originally been sung by jazz singer Mildred Bailey in the 1930’s. It was the song of an old woman sitting in a rocking chair singing her blues. Lila had a very different voice from Bailey’s, but she did the song justice. I was amazed that Monday Moonshine, our band, knew this song. I walked over to the doorway and saw that this time Lila had brought music with her. She apparently liked singing in the lounge.

  As before, I saw customers walk to the doorway
of the lounge to listen. I grinned when I saw Nate standing at the door smiling, enjoying the music.

  I made a mental note to talk to Chris about removing the wall between the lounge and the restaurant, like I’d seen in forties movies. I liked the idea of the openness between the band and the diners. That would enlarge the dance floor, too.

  Lila finished her song and the applause was awesome to hear. She was quite a hit, and I saw that this time she didn’t look quite as embarrassed. Our little Lila was coming out of her shell – in our restaurant. I was pleased, not that my opinion mattered.

  Shortly after that the Church Ladies headed for the front door with their purses, ready to call it a night. Janet and Victor followed them.

  “Thank you so much for singing again,” Chris said, taking Lila’s hand. “You’ve turned out to be quite a surprise, sugar.”

  Lila blushed. “I love to sing. I just never knew other people would like to hear my voice. You’re not the only one who’s surprised. I used to sing around the house, but then my husband said… Well, never mind.”

  Chris kissed Lila’s hand, and I teared up. It was so touching. My husband had no idea how much this probably meant to Lila. I’d never seen him be so gentle with anyone before.

  Taking a deep breath, I also thanked Lila for her performance. “Please feel free to sing with the band anytime you want to. Last time you sang they were almost effusive with their comments about you. You’re a welcome visitor.”

  Jasmine and May each gave Lila a hug.

  “You see?” Jasmine said. “You’re a wonder. We never knew you could sing.”

  “Never knew a thing about it,” May said, agreeing with Jasmine.

  “I was impressed,” Victor said. “Say, why don’t I follow you ladies home to make sure everything is okay?”

  “If you don’t mind, Mr. Rogers, I’d like you to stay for a few minutes,” Janet said. “I have a couple more questions for you. I think the ladies can make it home safely without an escort.”

  “Oh, certainly. These ladies are friends with my neighbor. I just thought I was being helpful.”