by Rose, Sharon
“You tell him, Mabel,” Sam Dudley said when he walked by, making sure to give me a little pat where he shouldn’t have. Thankfully, Flori was right behind him and gave him a good slap on his arm.
I let Sammy down and he went right for Calvin’s feet again. Before Calvin could kick, I yanked on the leash and pulled a very uncooperative cat out of the bus. Calvin shut the door and away went the little yellow school bus down the road.
As soon as Mr. Kinney walked out the door, the returning travelers surrounded him. Everyone was talking at once and everyone talked about Mr. Koots kicking the cat. The bewildered manager couldn’t make any sense of it until someone pointed to me – me and my cat.
Flori (because she insisted on accompanying me) and I spent the next ten minutes in the manager’s office trying to explain what happened. Sammy sat on my lap and gave himself a sponge bath with his tongue and paws. When he got a little too carried away, I pulled his leg down and held it. Flori did most of the talking and by the time we left, she’d convinced him that Calvin should not drive the bus anymore. When Mr. Kinney opened the door, four people almost fell into the room. A couple of them were too deaf to hear anything but when the other two started to cheer, they clapped their hands.
Koot’s days were kaput.
In a manner of speaking, so were mine. I told Flori my decision as we walked home. I waited for the tears and pleading but none came.
“Mabel,” she said. “Even when Calvin is gone, I don’t think I could do another trip with you anyway.”
“With me?”
She nodded. “You are a terrible shopper and it seems that when you’re around, there’s always some kind of trouble. You have a way of getting all those old people in an uproar. My nerves can’t take it anymore. No, they’ll have to find someone to replace you.”
“Replace me?”
She nodded. “I’m sorry, sweetie. You know I love you to pieces but there are some things you shouldn’t do and one is go to the city with elderly people.”
As I said, my days were also kaput and I was very happy about that.
Chapter Twenty Four
Thursday morning was hot again. There was no breeze and not a cloud in the sky. My window air conditioner at my shop droned on, nonstop. I pulled down the blinds in my front windows and trusted that everyone would realize I was open and trying to stay as cool as I could. Even in the heat, however, I still brewed some coffee and kept a supply of muffins in my little fridge in the back room. Not that I did it for Captain Maxymowich exactly but in case he did happen to drop by, I would be prepared.
Flori came over about ten and we had coffee in front of the a/c unit. She left early because she says that she sweats like a pig when it’s so hot. I have no idea about pigs’ sweat but I took her word for it so didn’t argue. Ten minutes after she left, Reg arrived.
“Boy, it’s a hot one today, Mabel. How about a cup of coffee?” He took off his cap. There was a rim of sweat all around it.
“You wear a cap on such a hot day?”
“It keeps the sun out of my eyes.”
“And you want a cup of coffee?”
“Not if you’ve got a nice cold beer in your fridge.”
“Well, sorry about that. You sure you want coffee on such a hot day?”
“Not unless you have cold beer in your fridge.”
“All right, I get the picture. Sit down in front of the air conditioner and I’ll pour you a cup of coffee. I’ll grab you a muffin too if you like.”
Reg was sitting in the wicker chair, his eyes closed with his face to the wind. He didn’t even hear me. I fixed his coffee and buttered some muffins for him. He looked grateful when I handed it to him. Since there’s no point in talking while he’s eating, I waited patiently. Mutt, my neighbor from the hardware store next door, popped in and grabbed a coffee.
“You’re drinking coffee on a hot day like this too?” I said.
He glanced over at Reg who didn’t even notice Mutt. On the other hand, perhaps he didn’t want to speak with his mouth full.
“Just an excuse to come in, Mabel. Have you heard anything more about Prunella? I hear she’s really into drugs and booze now. You always think it’s the kids who are foolish.” He took a swallow. “Just goes to show that older ones can get hooked on them too.”
“Mutt, we don’t know if she was hooked on drugs. Someone could’ve put something in her drink, you know. Don’t jump to conclusions.”
“You say someone slipped something into her drink? Oh man, that’s awful. Do you think the same person who killed Bernie, tried to murder Prunella?”
“I don’t know. If it is, then there’s only one killer out there.”
His eyes widened. “You’re right. If it’s someone different, that means there are two killers at large. I don’t know about you but I make sure my house is locked up at night. The wife and I were thinking of investing in a guard dog too. Course, one dog was already killed so don’t know if it’s worth it.” He glanced over at the sheriff who was now on his third muffin. “Doesn’t seem Reg is getting too stressed-out about it, does it?”
I lowered my voice, although I was sure Reg couldn’t hear over the noise anyway, “Don’t worry, Mutt, I’m sure Captain Maxymowich is on top of everything.”
He nodded. “I suppose. Actually, there’s quite a few of us who wish Sheriff Smee could find the killer. Be nice just to show that Parson’s Cove has a real police force too. Know what I mean, Mabel?”
It was my turn to nod. “Well, don’t give up on us. Reg and I are checking a few things out, too.”
He drained his cup and handed it to me. “Atta girl, Mabel. We were hoping you could help out.” He patted my arm and left the building.
Before I could wash out Mutt’s cup, Reg handed me his for a refill. I was going to have to start setting a few rules about coffee mugs. My only problem with making the men wash their cups is that I have to wash them over again most of the time anyway. I’ve noticed too that they don’t have much respect for tea towels. After they finish with the washing and drying, I usually find the towel all bunched up in a ball and stuck on some shelf.
I handed Reg his fresh coffee and was about to say something about not being anyone’s slave when I glanced down and saw his brown leather sandals.
“Reg,” I said. “Are you supposed to be wearing sandals? Aren’t police officers required to wear boots? I’ve never seen you in sandals before. What if you had to run after a crook?”
“If I had to run after a crook, I’d hope to be wearing sneakers.” He reluctantly pulled himself off the chair. “I’d also hope to be ten years younger and twenty pounds lighter.”
I laughed. “Well, there’s no way you can turn the clock back. So, if you don’t plan on chasing any crooks, what are you going to do today? We have a mystery to solve still and it seems the people of Parson's Cove are counting on us.”
“Actually, Mabel, I was thinking that I could sneak back into my office and discreetly question the Captain to see how the case is going.” He sighed. “If I find anything out, I’ll get back to you.”
He was standing with his hand on the doorknob when I realized how our sheriff must look to those city cops. To us, he was just Reg. He’d been our sheriff now for umpteen years and although he wasn’t a super hero, he got things done in his own slow and easy way. His sweaty cap was pulled down over his forehead, his light blue uniform shirt was open at the neck and his sleeves were rolled up. I guess his gun with all the paraphernalia that goes with it made him too hot because he wasn’t wearing it. There were some slight perspiration marks under his arms and between his shoulder blades. His dark navy pants were probably a size too small now and there was a bit too much ankle showing above his sandals.
His sandals. Shoes. Boots. Feet.
Something suddenly clicked in my brain.
“Reg,” I said. “Let me know if you hear something. I’ve got an important phone call to make now.” I hurried over, removed his hand from the knob and open
ed the door. “I’m sorry to rush you out but I don’t want any of the heat coming in either.”
He looked a little stunned but since he’s used to my sudden personality changes, he didn’t protest. I glanced out the window and saw that he could run quite fast in his sandals to get into his air-conditioned patrol car.
I picked up the phone and called Flori.
“Flori, remember when we went to the city with the seniors?”
“You mean, yesterday? I’m not quite that forgetful yet.”
“I’m not really asking if you remember if we went, I’m just starting my conversation that way.”
“All right. What about our trip to the city? Please, don’t tell me that you really want to come again, Mabel. I know I hurt your feelings but I think it’s for the best if I get someone else. And, since I’ve already asked someone and she’s said yes, I can’t make any changes now. I’m so sorry. I know I should never have said all those terrible things to you. Can you ever forgive me, Mabel?”
With that, she began to cry. I waited for a minute or so because there was no way she could hear anything I was saying. When there was a lull after she blew her nose, I said, “There is nothing to forgive, Flori. You didn’t say any horrible things to me and I think it’s wonderful that you’ve found someone to take my place.”
More sniffles. “Do you mean that? You don’t really mind that I’ve asked someone else? You realize that this person does not ‘take your place,’ right? There is no one who could ever take your place, Mabel.”
“I know. What I’m wondering about is if Calvin Koots wore the same shoes all day yesterday.”
“Pardon me?”
“I know this sounds weird but can you remember, Flori? Did Calvin have the same shoes on for the whole trip or was he wearing different shoes on the way home?”
“My goodness, Mabel, I don’t know what kind of shoes Calvin was wearing. The only reason I know he was wearing those heavy Army boots is because your cat was trying to tear them off his feet. Did you ever find out why? You have to admit that Sammy was acting very strange.”
“He was and Sammy is not a strange cat. He’s one of my sanest ones. There was something on the outside or else on the inside of those shoes that drove Sammy crazy. Remember Miss MJ saying how Calvin walked differently when it was time to go home?”
“I don’t know; maybe he stepped in something. What difference does it make anyway, Mabel?”
“I’m not sure but I’d like to find out. Isn’t it just driving you crazy not knowing?”
Flori sighed, dramatically. “Why would something that I don’t know anything about and that I have no interest in finding out, drive me crazy?”
“I guess I see your point. I think I’ll give Miss MJ a call and see if she remembers. By the way, who is taking my place for the next trip to the city?”
Another sigh. “Not taking your place, Mabel. I thought I’d ask Erma because it will give her a break from Murray. Jake said he hasn’t started coming back to the restaurant yet. Remember how he would always walk over with Biscuit and he’d have coffee with the guys? Murray, that is, not Biscuit.” She sniffed. “It’s so sad, isn’t it? I always wonder how you’ll make out when your cats start to leave you.”
“Flori, my cats won’t be leaving me soon and when they do, I’ll manage just fine. Besides, since they have nine lives and I have only one, I’m sure I’ll be leaving them first. You’d better start planning what to do with them because in my Will, I’ve left them all to you.”
She must’ve thought I was joking because she was laughing hysterically when I hung up.
It took several minutes for someone to track down my old English teacher but as I waited, the different sounds from the retirement home entertained me. I realize that old age and senility are nothing to joke about but I certainly hope that someone will gently place a pillow over my face when I don’t know who I am anymore. And, I’m not joking.
“Mabel?” MJ said, with a slightly out of breath wheeze. “Is that you?”
“Yes, MJ, it’s me.”
“Or, do you mean, ‘it is I?’”
“Yes, it is I, Mabel Wickles.”
“Oh Mabel, you’re a hoot. I almost wish I was back teaching school again. You have no idea how much joy it was to teach you.”
“Were.”
“Were what?”
“Almost wish you were back teaching school. Remember, if you are expressing some form of wish, desire, or uncertainty, use the specific verb form that reflects the mood of uncertainty.”
When MJ had finished laughing, she said, “Now you know why you brought such joy to my heart.”
“Really? I think you’re the first person who’s ever said that I brought them joy. I think I shower most people with things like headaches.”
“See? You have a wonderful sense of humor. You kept the class in an uproar. Well, until you were expelled, that is.”
“Yes, we have some wonderful memories. Now, speaking of memories – can you remember if Calvin was wearing the same shoes all day yesterday?”
“Oh no, he never wears the same shoes. He has sneakers on for the drive there and then coming home, he has those awful big brown boots. I guess that’s why he walks so funny. It never made much sense to me but I did get a kick out of watching him in those boots. Are you wondering why he changed shoes, Mabel?”
“Yes, I am. Aren’t you?”
“Well, I wasn’t before but I guess I am now. How will you find out? Are you going to ask him?”
“Are you kidding? He thinks that I took away his job so he won’t answer any questions from me, that’s for sure.”
“What will you do?”
“I’ll just ask around. I’ll let you know when I find something out. How does that sound?”
“That sounds wonderful. By the way, I heard you won’t be coming with us on our day trip anymore. I’ll miss you, Mabel.”
“I know you’ll miss me, MJ, but probably not as much as Sam Dudley will.”
MJ was still chuckling when I hung up.
Chapter Twenty Five
It was so hot by noon that the inside knob of the door was perspiring. I wanted to check on Charlie Thompson but I dreaded going outside almost as much as I did in the winter when it was thirty below zero. This time instead of piling on sweaters and coats, I grabbed sunglasses. The cotton shirt I was wearing already had long sleeves so it protected me somewhat from the sun’s deadly rays. Since I look outlandish in a hat, I decided I would walk as fast as I could and hope I didn’t get sunstroke.
I turned the ‘open’ sign around to ‘closed’ and didn’t fill in the ‘Be back in … minutes’ part (which I never do because the only person who would know when you’re coming back would be the one who saw you put the sign up). There wasn’t one person on the street. I headed over to the north side so I could be in the shade. Charlie sat in his usual spot – the bench in front of the library. He was wearing his red and black plaid flannel shirt with his denim overalls. At least, he’d put on an old straw hat that protected his face from the sun.
“Hi Charlie,” I said. “It’s a really hot day, isn’t it?”
He shrugged. “I like it. Why don’t you, Mabel?”
“Oh well, I like it; it’s just that it’s a bit too warm for me.”
“You complain when it’s cold too.”
I laughed. “Charlie, you told a good joke. Did you know that?”
It was hard to tell but I think a faint smile passed his lips.
“Did you want to know something, Mabel?”
I hate to think that Charlie feels the only reason that I talk to him is to get information so I said, “No, I thought I’d just sit and visit for awhile.”
“Now you’re telling the joke, right?”
I looked over at him. I swear there was a twinkle in his eye.
“Well,” I said. “I suppose we could do both. Isn’t that what visiting is? I’ll tell you some of the interesting things that I know and you can tell me
what you know.”
He was beginning to rock slowly back and forth. I had to move fast.
“Have you seen any strange sights in the night, Charlie?”
He stopped. “There are always strange sights,” he said. “You aren’t going to the city with Flori anymore?”
“Boy, word sure gets around, doesn’t it? No, Erma is going in my place. I really can’t afford to take a day away from my store anyway.” We sat in silence for several minutes. “By the way, do you know anything about the shoes that Calvin Koots wears?”
Now, anyone else would have some sort of reaction to a strange question like that. Not Charlie.
“I don’t know about his shoes but I know where he goes all the time.”
“You mean to Scooter’s? Or, does he go other places in the night too?”
“He goes other places. Sometimes I see him running around in the night.”
“Running around? Where, Charlie?”
“To a house. To the car wash.”
“He goes to the car wash? You mean he washes his car in the night?”
Charlie, however, had shut down. This was probably the most he’d said to me in the past year so I knew I should count it as a privilege and be thankful.
I sat beside him for several more minutes so he’d know that I appreciated his company and didn’t come only for information. The information he’d given me made me curious though. Where was Calvin going in the night? Which house? Why was he washing his car at night? Too bad that Bernie was killed in the daytime. On the other hand, where was Calvin the afternoon that Bernie was murdered? Is that what Charlie meant? Calvin was behind the carwash when Bernie was murdered?
Chapter Twenty Six
There must’ve been some sort of cold front that went through during the night because about three in the morning, thunder boomed and lightning flashed. In fact, the thunder was so loud, I’m sure my bed vibrated an inch or so off the floor. The noise, however, wasn’t what woke me up. I woke up in a panic because seven cats were jumping on my bed, meowing and pawing at my face. In many ways, this is reassuring to me because if my house were on fire, those cats would make certain I got out alive.