Marja McGraw - Bogey Man 03 - They Call Me Ace

by Marja McGraw

  “Why don’t you leave him here with us?” Judith asked. “Maybe the twins will come back and show us where some of the secret hiding places are.”

  Mikey’s eyes lit up and he dropped my hand like a hot potato. “Could I, Mom?”

  “It’s may I, and I’d rather you came home with us this time. I don’t like the idea of someone watching the house.”

  Before Mikey could complain, Chris spoke up. “Your mother’s right, Ace. Besides, we’ll need help with the dogs. How about this? You come home with us, and Grandma and Grandpa can come pick you up at the restaurant later this evening. The three of you can have dinner. In the meantime, you can put on your good clothes with the suspenders and help us take care of the customers.”

  Oh, Chris knew how to play our son. There wasn’t

  much Mikey enjoyed more than the glitz and glamour of the restaurant. At least it seemed glitzy to a kid of seven.

  Chris raised his eyebrows at his mother. “Is that jake with you, Ma?”

  “Works for us, Junior. And quit calling me Ma.”

  I bit my tongue so I wouldn’t laugh.

  Chris and I discussed the twins during the drive home. “They’re kinda spooky,” Chris said. “I’ve never seen grown women act that way toward each other.”

  I chuckled. “You’ve led a sheltered life, Bogey Man. I’ve seen worse. Changing the subject, what did you think about the clue that Marguerite gave Coral about her treasure?”

  “I have no idea, except that there must be something in one of her books. Maybe she left a note, or maybe she mimicked something that was in one of her books.”

  “Now there’s an idea. I’ll have to ask your mother if any of Marguerite’s storylines had to do with something being hidden in a secret compartment.” I thought about that for a moment. She wrote gothic novels. Most of them probably had to do with things that were hidden. “Maybe it’ll turn out to be a treasure hunt based on clues in one of the books.” I smiled to myself. That might be fun. Was I now infected with the treasure hunt bug?

  “Mom, maybe it’s in that new book you brought home. Didn’t you and Grandma Judy talk about no one ever knowing she made that book?”

  “Out of the mouths of babes.” I smiled at my son. “I’m going to take the book to work with me and try to get a start on reading it. Maybe she only had five copies printed because the book was meant for her daughters, to help them find whatever she’d hidden.”

  “Kind of a stretch since she only had two daughters and there are five books,” Chris said, “but stranger things have happened. Did you ever ask Carol and Coral if they

  knew about the book?”

  “I didn’t think about it. I know we’ll see them again, so I’ll ask next time they’re around.”

  “Yeah, about that. I don’t know how they think we can find the killer. I can’t really do much to help them. I’m sorry that the kid was bumped off, but what does it have to do with the house?”

  “Other than the fact that if we find the killer your parents will be safe? Besides, since she was murdered there, I think maybe it has to do with the treasure.”

  Chris pulled back the corner of his mouth. “Oh, yeah. Good point.”

  I could see by his expression that he was humoring me. Of course he’d already thought about that. Remembering how the twins handled things, I gave him a light punch on the arm. He smiled.

  We arrived home and Chris and Mikey gave the dogs a little attention while I took care of a few household chores. Treasure or no treasure – restaurant or no restaurant – there were always things that had to be done at home.

  Since it was Tuesday, I dressed more casually than I do on the weekends, opting for white slacks with wide loose legs and a yellow blouse with light red flowers in the pattern. Chris wore brown forties-style slacks with a striped shirt and suspenders, and Mikey followed suit.

  Chris loaded the dogs into the vintage Chevy after complaining about how much they were shedding. “My mother could make an over-sized pillow with all this dog hair.”

  I almost ignored his comment, but having second thoughts I ran back inside the house and returned with a lint brush and a dog brush. We wouldn’t want dog hair floating through the air at the restaurant.

  We arrived at Bogey Nights just as Chef Luis was taking over from Chef Nathanial, whom we called Nate. Chef Luis

  had been with us from the beginning, and Chef Nathanial had come out of retirement to work for us during the lunch hours. Nate and Lila had gotten together when Lila started singing in the lounge. Lila was my friend from church, and one of the group of Church Ladies who’d almost gotten us killed sometime back. There was a time when the mere mention of the Church Ladies made me want to run and hide, but that was history, and best forgotten.

  “Lila is singing tonight,” Nate said, “so I’ll be back for dinner.” Our employees ate for free, anytime they wanted a meal.

  “See you then, pal,” Chris said.

  As things quieted down during the afternoon, we changed tablecloths and set up for the dinner crowd. When the economy started going south, we’d lowered our prices and both kept and gained many loyal customers. We’d had to cut a few corners that the customers couldn’t see, but it had been worth it. We made supplies last longer, served portions that were only very slightly smaller, and started opening for lunch when we’d only been open for dinner in the past. We still served gourmet food, and Bogey Nights with its forties theme and cocktail lounge, was considered the place to be seen. We’d even renovated a little so that the cocktail lounge and restaurant were no longer separated by a wall, so now it resembled the dinner houses seen in vintage movies.

  Glancing around the restaurant, I took pride in what we’d done. I watched as Chris and Mikey went over the reservation book. If I’d only had a camera, it would have made a great picture.

  People began to arrive around five o’clock, and I moved behind the Reservation Desk while Chris and Mikey showed people to their tables and chatted with the customers. It looked like we had a pretty good crowd coming in for a Tuesday night if the people with reservations all showed up. Something caught my eye and I took a closer look at the list.

  Smiling, I tapped my finger on the name Ben Hernandez, party of two. He was doing everything he could to show Cloene a good time and to help her forget the loss of her friend.

  Even though we’d found Kimberly’s body, we’d been pretty blasé about her death. Her family and friends needed closure, and I hoped we could provide it for them. Granted we’d just been hired (at no pay), and granted she’d only been dead since Saturday, but I had a feeling that for her sake and the sake of Chris’s parents, we needed to come up with a solution and a guilty party.

  “Chris, come here, please.” I motioned him over.

  “What is it, cupcake?”

  He looked at the reservation. “Isn’t that the cop from Kimberly’s house and her friend?”

  “It is. I’m glad Ben is keeping her busy. I’m glad she’s not alone and dwelling on her friend’s death. I can’t imagine how I’d feel if something happened to Constance.”

  Constance, retired and older than me, was my friend and Mikey’s regular babysitter. Our husbands had both died of cancer and we’d developed an instant bond before I met Chris. Mikey’s real father had been so young at the time of his death.

  Chris left my side to seat another couple who’d walked in. I heard the name they gave him and crossed them off the list.

  Nate and Lila arrived and Mikey seated them in a quiet corner. Smart kid.

  The band started playing, beginning with I’ll Be Seeing You, a romantic number meant to relax the customers. I knew Lila would join them after dinner and sing her little heart out. She’s quite the canary when it comes to singing. She has a range that’s phenomenal.

  Ben and Cloene arrived around six o’clock, and I showed them to their table while Chris and Mikey were busy

  with other customers. They held hands and if I hadn’t known better, I would h
ave thought they’d been seeing each other for a while.

  Returning to the Reservation Desk, I was doing some mental computing when someone tapped me on the shoulder. Looking up, I found Ben standing next to me.

  “I heard you and your husband have been hired to find Kimberly Hawthorne’s killer. If I can help, just say the word. I’m not always on duty, you know.”

  How on earth could he have heard about the twins hiring us this fast?

  Chapter Twenty

  “I also heard that someone was hanging around and watching the house. Was it the same guy?” It appeared that someone had filled Ben in on everything.

  “It could have been, but I can’t say for sure. Where the heck did you hear all of this?” I asked.

  He smiled. “We stopped by Kimberly’s house this afternoon and the Turnbal sisters were next door. They made a point of coming over and introducing themselves, and offering their condolences to Cloene.”

  “Ah, you’ve met the twins, and they blabbed. Why doesn’t that surprise me? Do you think Janet Murphy will be upset that we’re getting involved?”

  “As short-handed as we are? I doubt it. I’m not part of the Homicide Division but they’re using me to help investigate.”

  I liked Ben. He was easy to talk to, and he approached me as though we were old friends. He seemed to be easy to get to know.

  “Why don’t you go back and join Cloene? Chris and I will come over to talk to you when things slow down. For a

  Tuesday night, it’s been pretty busy.”

  He nodded. “What’s good tonight?”

  “Everything. Our chef is the best in town. Trust me.”

  Ben nodded again, and he passed by Chris on his way to the table. They nodded at each other so slightly that it was almost imperceptible. It was a guy thing. Heaven forbid they should stop and shake hands.

  Things began to quiet down and most of the tables were full. I glanced at the reservation list to see how many more people to expect, and when I looked back up, a man was standing at the desk.

  “How are you this evening?” I asked.

  “Good. How about you?” He smiled, and I had to force myself not to stare. His teeth were very yellow and crooked – and they were too big for his face, like horse teeth. The size wouldn’t have mattered as much if he hadn’t had other problems, like bits of food stuck between the yellowed incisors. He wasn’t a bad looking man until he smiled. Around five-foot-seven, he was slender and nicely dressed. His brown hair was thinning, but he wasn’t bald yet.

  “I’m good. Thank you for asking. Do you have a reservation, sir?” There was something about him that seemed vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t place him.

  “No, I don’t. Do you think you could fit me in tonight? I stopped in because I’ve heard you have good food.”

  I smiled, showing off nice white teeth that had been straightened with a few years of wearing braces – they’d obviously been worth the discomfort. He made me feel better about those embarrassing years.

  Glancing around the dining room, I saw an empty table for two on the far side. “Follow me. I think we can take care of you this evening.” I picked up a menu and headed for the table.

  “I think I’ve seen you somewhere,” he said.

  “You look vaguely familiar yourself.” I glanced back

  over my shoulder.

  He snapped his fingers. “I know where I’ve seen you. Haven’t you been spending time at the old Turnbal house over the past few days? Aren’t your parents buying it?”

  Without meaning to, I stopped and turned to face him. It was a reaction to his statement, not a planned action. “How do you know about that?” My question sounded sharp.

  I’d stopped too suddenly and he almost bumped into me. “I live nearby, and I drive past the Turnbal house a couple of times a day. Say, that was too bad about Kimberly, huh?”

  “Yes, it was. Where did you say you live?”

  “On the other side of Kimberly’s house. Just two doors down.”

  “I see.” Turning, I moved on toward his table. Maybe that’s why he looked familiar. Sometimes you see people but their faces don’t register until you’re actually face-to-face with them. I might have seen him out in his yard or on the sidewalk.

  After pulling his chair out for him, I set the menu on the table. “Your waitress will be by in a moment to take your drink order, and she’ll tell you what tonight’s specials are. Enjoy your dinner.”

  There was something about this man that made me feel uncomfortable. I turned and walked slowly back to the Reservation Desk, thinking about him. It struck me like a ton of bricks. I couldn’t help wondering what he might look like if he was wearing a baseball cap. I shook my head, realizing that if he was the man who’d hit Cloene and who’d been watching the house, he certainly wouldn’t walk up and introduce himself. Come to think of it, he hadn’t actually introduced himself. I had no idea who he was and knew nothing about him other than the fact he said he lived two doors down from the Turnbal house.

  By glancing around the room I found I was able to keep my eye on the man. Could we have a killer sitting in our

  restaurant? Oh, for heaven’s sake! Nothing had happened to indicate the man had anything to do with Kimberly’s death.

  Chris was talking to a customer and I waved him over. He nodded at something the customer said and joined me at the Reservation Desk.

  “Ace went back to play with the dogs for a while,” he said.

  “I’m glad you told me, but that’s not what I wanted. Don’t look now, but there’s a lone man at the table for two near the cocktail lounge.”

  As soon as the words were out of my mouth Chris turned and took a look.

  “Oh, you’re a great detective,” I said. “I tell you not to look, and what do you do? You look.”

  “Doesn’t matter. There’s no one sitting at the table.”

  I glanced over Chris’s shoulder and, sure enough, the table was empty.

  “Maybe he went to the Men’s Room.”

  Phyllis, our waitress who resembled Marilyn Monroe, was working that area. She saw me looking in her direction and walked over to see if I needed something.

  “Do you know where the man went who was sitting at the table for two by the cocktail lounge?”

  “What man?” She looked puzzled. “I came out of the kitchen a couple of minutes ago and no one was there. Should there be someone at the table?”

  I shrugged. “I seated someone there, but he seems to have left. I didn’t see him leave through the front door though.”

  “I’ll go check the Men’s Room,” Chris said, turning and walking away.

  “Is there a problem?” Phyllis asked.

  “Not really. It’s just odd that he disappeared.”

  Chris returned, shaking his head. “There’s no one in there. What did the guy look like? And why are you interested

  in him?”

  “I think it might have been the same guy who hit Cloene and who’s been watching the Turnbal house.”

  “Are you two on another case?” Phyllis asked. “Of course you are. You’re always getting involved in something. That’s one of the things that makes working here so interesting.” She left us and returned to her customers, her hips swaying and her sexiest Marilyn Monroe smile in place. She had a way of looking innocent and sexy at the same time. The customers loved her, especially the men. Marilyn had often played the role of a ditzy blonde. Phyllis was anything but ditzy. She was smart and didn’t try to hide it.

  “Just a minute,” Chris said, holding his index finger in front of me. “I’m going to bring Ben in on this conversation.” He walked over to Ben and Cloene, and the copper accompanied him back to the front desk.

  “Tell Ben what you just told me.”

  After describing the man, I told Ben and Chris about his questions and comments, and that it seemed like he knew too much. The two men looked at each other before turning back to me.

  “And you let him leave?” Chris
asked.

  I tried not to, but I couldn’t help myself. I rolled my eyes. “I didn’t let him leave. He must have slipped out the exit in the cocktail lounge while I was talking to you.”

  “Do you think you’d recognize him if you saw him again?” Ben asked.

  “Absolutely. I got an up close and personal look at him.”

  Chris nodded his approval. “And he said he lived on the other side of Kimberly’s house? That would be easy enough to check.”

  “Experience tells me he was probably lying. If he was really a neighbor, I don’t think he would have snuck out like he did.” Ben was watching the table for two as though he

  thought the man might miraculously reappear.

  “I think I’ll go check out that house tomorrow to see if he really lives there.” Chris had a thoughtful look on his face and I had a feeling he was talking more to himself than to me or Ben.

  Ben nodded. “I’m off on Wednesday and Thursday, so I’ll go with you.”

  Chris turned to him. “Yeah, it probably wouldn’t hurt to have a copper along for the ride.”

  Judith and Chris Sr. walked in and looked at the three of us talking.

  “What’s going on?” my mother-in-law asked. “You all look so serious.”

  “I think the guy who’s been watching the house might have been in here posing as a customer,” I explained. “He said he lives on the other side of Kimberly’s house. And after I seated him, he disappeared.”

  “Interesting,” Chris Sr. said. “What’re you going to do about it?”

  “Ben and I are going to see if he really lives next door to Kimberly’s house.”

  “Want your old man to go with you?” Chris Sr. had that tight-lipped smile on his face.

  I studied him and came to the conclusion this was probably the most excitement he’d had in a long time.

  “Did you find any more secrets at the Turnbal house?” I asked.

  Chris Sr. didn’t hear me. He, Chris and Ben walked off in the direction of Ben and Cloene’s table. She probably felt like she’d been abandoned, so that was probably a good place to head.