by E. Joan Sims
“Because,” he explained, “I’m fairly certain that the man you referred to as ‘Fatty’ was dead before you and Cassie fled from the trailer park.”
No matter how hard I pried, he refused to say anything more as we entered the Pelican.
“Damn!” I whispered, while we were waiting to be seated. “You being so unfair, Horatio.”
“Ah,” he smiled enigmatically, “the young. Always wanting instant answers, instant gratification, and instant ‘on’ buttons for everything. When you get to be my age, my dear, you will see that a proper period of anticipation…” He paused to smile at the gum-chewing waitress who came to seat us.
“Three, please, young lady, for your non-smoking section.”
The girl rolled her eyes and pointed at the far corner of the crowded dining room.
“In this place there ain’t no such animal, Mister. But that corner over there breathes a bit better than most ’cause of the fan overhead. Take it or leave it. But make it snappy, I ain’t got all day. Wanda’s out sick and nobody else around here knows their butt from a hole in the ground.”
“In that case,” smiled Horatio as he pressed a five dollar bill in her hand, “please excuse us. My young friend suffers from allergies and smoke can be quite detrimental to her health.”
Mother practically broke into a run as she gratefully escaped what she considered to be a luncheon fate worse than death. I, on the other hand, was now starving. I never did finish my breakfast and the smell of food cooking in good old-fashioned salty grease had awakened my appetite.
“Wait, Horatio,” I panted as I caught up to them in the parking lot. “Can’t we get something…?”
“Hurry, Paisley. No time to be considering our stomachs. We must seek out Miss Blake without a moment’s hesitation.”
I stared longingly at the Pelican in the rearview mirror until we were out of sight. I, quite frankly, didn’t see what the big hurry was all about.
“Frankly, I don’t see the big hurry. Can’t you wait until I grab something to go?”
Mother didn’t respond, but I saw her lips tighten with disapproval. She always found fault with my appetite. Horatio took care of that with a few carefully chosen words.
“The big hurry, Paisley, is to try and save a life.”
“Wha…wha…whose life?” I stammered. “You don’t mean Cassie? Do you?”
“No, not at the moment. I agree with Anna’s assessment. Cassie was much too quick to call and let you know she was all right for her to be in any immediate danger, and she’s obviously not under any restraint or she would not have been free to call in the first place. Her hidden message that she is protecting you by not letting you know where she was sounded exactly like the youthful idealistic Cassie we all are familiar with. It’s your waitress friend that I am concerned about.”
“Wanda? Why her? What does she have to do with anything?”
“She saw your pursuer. And possibly Fatty’s killer,” he stated.
“Hold on a minute there,” I demanded. “Now you have plenty of time to tell me why you think Fatty is dead.”
“Sorry, my dear,” he said as he pulled the nose of his silver-grey Bentley into the narrow gravel drive leading to Wanda Blake’s neat little cottage. “We’re here.”
Mother decided to stay in the car. I climbed out and paused for a moment to admire Wanda’s home. She had planted flowers everywhere. Pots of geraniums and petunias stood in every nook and cranny of the pretty little front porch, while hanging baskets filled with colorful blooms graced the eaves. The cottage sported a fresh coat of white paint, and bright green shutters framed the front windows. It was very attractive. It was the kind of house I might have chosen for myself, if I lived alone.
Horatio tapped politely on the front door with its shiny brass knocker while I peered curiously in the window. Ruffled organdy curtains kept me from seeing clearly, but when a woman scurried across the back of the house, I saw her silhouette momentarily framed against the sunlight streaming in through a patio door.
“She’s in there, Horatio,” I whispered. “I saw her. Why do you think she won’t come to the door?”
“Because she has the good sense to be frightened,” he answered quietly.
“Look, Horatio, you’ve got to stop being so mysterious and explain…”
“Paisley,” he interrupted urgently, “she knows you. Go around to the back while I keep knocking, and find a way to let her know it’s you. If she lets you in, please tell her who I am and open the door. I’ll explain everything to the both of you once I’m inside the house.”
“And Mother? She’ll be miffed if you leave her out.”
“I’ll handle your mother. Now hurry. We have no time to waste.”
I climbed over the railing on the side of the porch—almost knocking off a pot of lavender petunias in the process. Horatio shook his head impatiently and motioned for me to be more careful. Thus admonished, I cautiously picked my way around the side of the house, stooping low as I passed the windows and trying to be as quiet as possible.
The backyard was small, but sweetly landscaped with tall boxwood hedges, climbing roses, and day lilies. A trellis overflowing with the bright green leaves and red berries of scarlet runner vines framed the small flagstone patio that in turn bordered a charming water garden. In the center of the little pond stood a beautifully wrought bronze statuette. I promised myself that later I would get close enough to confirm my suspicion that the lovely naked lady bore a more than passing resemblance to Wanda.
I heard a sound in the window above me and saw the metal Venetian blinds sway as someone peered out. I hugged the foundation and crawled around the corner to the back of the house. The patio doors were right there—not two feet away. A sheer net curtain hung from top to bottom, but the reflection of the sunlight on the glass kept me from seeing inside.
Everything was buttoned up tightly, and an air-conditioning unit hummed loudly on the other side of the doors. I wasn’t sure Wanda could even hear me, but following Horatio’s instructions, I knocked on the door and called out.
“It’s me, Ms. Blake, Paisley Sterling. I’m Cassie’s mother. Remember me from last night?”
I paused for a moment trying to think of anything that might make her open the door. “I need your help. Cassie’s been kidnapped, and I…”
The door opened swiftly. The curtains parted and a forearm made strong from years of carrying trays loaded with heavy dishes pulled me inside.
“The hell, you say!” she whispered loudly. “They put the snatch on that sweet kid? Son of a bitch!”
Wanda pushed me into the dark interior of her house. The blinds were drawn and every door was shut. What must have been a bright, sunny, and very cheerful place had become dim and filled with shadows.
I started toward the front of the house to let Horatio inside, but Wanda had other ideas.
“What are you doing?” she whispered anxiously. “You crazy or somethin’?”
“It’s all right,” I assured her. “That’s Horatio Raleigh at the front door. He’s a friend of mine. He’s trying to help us—all of us.”
Wanda grabbed my sleeve and pulled me back into the shadows.
“I heard a car pull up in the driveway!” she cautioned.
“I know, I know,” I whispered. “That was Horatio’s car. My mother is here, too. Anna Sterling, Cassie’s grandmother.”
“I mean just now, you twit!” she spat. “Somebody just now pulled up to the house. You think I don’t know what that sounds like after living here for five years? I don’t need no alarm. I know every little piece of gravel out there. It’s my nightingale floor, just like those Chinese emperors had in their palaces.”
“Jeez! Who…?”
“Get away from the windows, damn it!” she warned. “The man who called me last night said to get out of town, or he’d kill me. From the mean sound of his voice, ain’t no way he’d let a little locked door stop him—if he thought I was in here.”
&nbs
p; She pulled nervously on her lower lip and urged me further into the shadow of a large armoire that stood against the dining room wall. I was framing a careful question about the threatening phone call when she asked one instead.
“How did you know where to come looking for me?”
“A waitress at the Pelican told us you had called in sick, that you were at home. She was nice enough to give us directions.”
“Tall, heavy-set, chews gum like a maniac?”
I nodded my head in assent.
“Reba! Bitch! Stupid bitch! Man, I really owe her for that. I just hope I live long enough to pay her back.”
“Wanda, this is silly. We can’t hide here forever. If Horatio is still outside he’ll take care of us.”
“That tall, skinny, old man? Hah! He couldn’t help a flea find a dog.”
“Horatio has had, eh, certain training that gives me reason to trust him in any situation. Besides, he always carries a gun under the front seat of his car.”
“Well, he’s gonna need a cannon because I just heard two more cars pull up. We’ve got major company!”
Against Wanda’s protestations, I tiptoed over to the front window. The blinds were closed tightly, but by leaning close to the window frame I could see part of the driveway and front walk. And I heard voices.
“Did you order pizza?” I asked her incredulously. “And Wing-dings?”
“Of course, not! I ain’t no idiot.”
“Well, there’s two pizza delivery boys, a kid with a large order of Wing-dings, and a bakery van out front,” I said with a nervous laugh. “You got any money?”
Chapter Twenty-two
I opened the front door cautiously, while Wanda rummaged through her purse for enough money to pay for our unsolicited bounty. Delivery boys were lined up knee-deep on the porch but there was no sign of my mother, Horatio, or his Bentley.
“Damn! Where did he…?”
“‘Scuse me ma’am,” called a scrawny, pimply-faced, teenager from the back of the line. “I have a message for you from a Mr. Raleigh. It’s written on the pizza box.”
I left Wanda to pay the others and pushed past them to get to the pizza boy. I grabbed the box and tore it open. The smell of hot pepperoni and Italian sausage was more than I could bear. I picked up a slice and took a huge bite.
“Hey! You gotta pay for it first,” the boy complained, as he pulled the box out of my hands.
“Give back it to me,” I mumbled crossly over melted mozzarella. “The lady on the front porch will pay you.”
“Gee, lady, I’ve delivered lots of pizzas but I ain’t never seen nobody that hungry.” He thrust the pizza in my hands with a disgusted look on his face, and took the steps two at a time to reach Wanda.
She was arguing with the baker over the price of the three dozen doughnuts and two chocolate cakes. “That’s way out of line, kid! I’m in the food service business. You can’t put one over on me. How much are you trying to stiff me for?”
Safe in the knowledge that no one would try to get at either me or Wanda with this circus going on, I sat down on the bottom step and stuffed another slice of pizza in my mouth.
The inside top of the box was covered with melted cheese and tomato sauce. I scrapped some off with my index finger and ate it. It took three bites before I was able to decipher the crudely lettered message from Horatio:
“Hope you enjoy lunch. Cut through the back yard and meet us on the other side. Tell Wanda to pack for a week. Horatio.”
By the time I finished another slice of pizza, Wanda had paid everyone and was standing in the doorway waiting for me.
“Get a suitcase and throw some things in it—enough for a week,” I said. “And hurry! We may not have much time.”
She grinned. “Don’t worry about that. The padded doughnut bill was for the driver. He’s supposed to wait out front in the bakery van for fifteen more minutes. I guess your friend thought of that, too, huh?”
I nodded. My mouth was full again.
“Your Horatio must be a pretty smart cookie,” she acknowledged. “Here, have some hot wings while I get ready.”
Wanda was packed and dressed in less time than it took me to finish the wings and the other half of the pizza. She took the box and stuffed it in the kitchen garbage can on our way out. I held her heavy duffle bag while she locked the back door.
“You have a cat or dog? Fish? Anything you need to take care of?”
“Nope. Hector always had somethin’ when he was growin’ up. I changed so many litter boxes and water tanks during those years; I swore I’d never have to get rid of anybody’s else’s crap again.”
We made our way carefully around Wanda’s little water garden and through the arched trellis to the back of her yard. I was dismayed to see a tall chain link fence underneath the cascade of climbing wild roses, but Wanda headed straight for the corner and a gate that was almost hidden by the abundant growth. She lifted the latch and pushed hard, tearing the vines apart so we could get out. Wanda held the gate open while I squeezed through, then she followed. We each grabbed a strap of the satchel and hefted it down the driveway of the house on the other side to the street where Horatio’s Bentley was waiting for us.
Horatio popped the trunk as we approached the car. Wanda and I lifted the heavy duffle bag up, pushed it inside, and slammed the trunk shut.
“Whew! I’d hate to see how heavy the bag would be if you packed for a month! What did you bring, the family silver?”
“Ha,” she laughed. “Very funny! As if any of us Blakes ever had anything worth passing along to the next generation except bad debts.”
We climbed into the back seat laughing.
“Well! I’m delighted you two are having such a lovely time,” complained Mother. “I have been worried sick. You might have given us some sort of signal, dear.”
I opened my mouth to begin the argument of the day, but Horatio came to my rescue. “Anna, they really had no chance to offer a signal, and besides that, I don’t think they knew where we were.”
“That’s right!” I affirmed stoutly. “We didn’t know. By the way, where were you? I was scared half to death when I looked outside and saw you were gone.”
Horatio started the engine and pulled the Bentley away from the curb. He looked cautiously around and headed slowly down the street before he answered. “I left as soon as I ascertained that Wanda was afraid to open the front door and let me inside. We needed a diversion, something to call attention to the cottage and make it impossible for anyone to approach without being noticed. That’s when Anna got the idea of calling all the delivery people.”
This time Mother’s laugh was genuine. “Actually the idea was Paisley’s.”
“Mine? How so?” I was astonished.
“You and Velvet—but I’m sure it was your idea—used to call all the stores in town that made deliveries and place orders to the homes of schoolmates you were on the outs with. Naturally, neither your father nor I were aware of the pranks you were playing until much later. When we found out, we made you both contribute your allowances toward making up the money your lack of consideration had cost the merchants. I’m surprised you don’t remember it, dear. It made quite an impression on you at the time.”
“Well,” I sighed, sinking back into the expensive softness of the Bentley’s seat, “I’m just glad you remembered. It was a great ploy. And a fairly good lunch, too. Thanks a lot, you two, for saving our butts.”
“Paisley, must you always be so common in your speech?”
Wanda had been quietly resting in her corner, but Mother’s complaint made her chuckle.
“What’s so funny, Wanda?” I wanted to know.
“Us mothers is all alike. As soon as the danger is over, we’re out lookin’ to keep our little chicks in line at the feeder.” She smiled in Mother’s direction. “I’m real sorry, Miz Sterling. I guess you think that sounds common, too.”
“No, Wanda, dear,” she said with an answering smile. “And you’re q
uite correct. Keeping Paisley in line has always been something of a challenge.”
I snorted loudly and snuggled deeper into the seat while they discussed me as if I were a piece of furniture that needed to be refinished.
“…and Hector…you should have seen…I never…”
I closed my eyes and let the soft hum of the big car’s engine lull me to sleep. Right before I drifted off, I heard Wanda offer up her philosophy of life.
“It’s like I always say,” she said with a hearty laugh. “Sometimes you’re the windshield and sometimes you’re the bug.”
I woke up from my catnap when Horatio pulled up to the back door of the funeral home. He had determined that Wanda should stay in the small apartment above his office for the time being. Horatio was fairly certain the man who called and threatened to kill her would never think to look in a mortuary for his quarry.
“Very few people even know the suite is there, my dear. And I’m sure some of those who once knew have forgotten it exists. You should be quite safe there for as long as you care to stay.”
Wanda fidgeted in her seat, shifting nervously from one buttock to the other, seemingly unaware that her hands were fluttering like frightened birds.
“I…I don’t know about this, Mr. Raleigh. I got a job, a house, and a life. I can’t just hare off to your apartment and move in like some kinda…”
“My dear,” interrupted Horatio. “You’re in this pickle because of something that my young friend and her daughter stumbled into. I’m just now beginning to realize that it may be far more serious than any of us realize. We must take all the necessary precautions until we know what we’re dealing with. Please humor me in this.”
“Okay,” Wanda said slowly, “but only as long as I have to. I ain’t used to sleeping in somebody else’s bed.” She turned beet red and hurried on to say, “I mean, I don’t sleep around. Damn! Oh, I’m sorry Miz Sterling. I don’t know what I mean anymore,” she finished miserably.
“That’s quite all right, my dear,” said Mother soothingly. “Never you mind about anything for a while. Just think of this as a vacation. I’ll stop by every day and visit, and I’m sure Paisley will keep you company on occasion as well.”