Dancing with Murder

by Robert T. Jeschonek

  She sighed, propped her elbow on the table, and leaned her chin in her hand. "The reason Lou got him blacklisted from recording contracts?" She raised her eyebrows and nodded slowly. "Because Eddie and I slept together."

  My jaw dropped. I was dumbstruck. This, I couldn't believe.

  "It only happened once." Peg held up a single index finger. "A moment of weakness. But once was enough. Lou found out, and he went after Eddie."

  I still didn't know what to say. I just gaped at her as she spun her incredible story.

  "I always felt bad about that," said Peg. "Lou let me off the hook after a while, but he never forgave Eddie. Neither did Eddie's wife. She hated him right up until her dying day."

  I looked away as I struggled to process what she was telling me. I'd never imagined she was so promiscuous. Lou, Otto, now Eddie Sr.: was there a man in town she hadn't slept with?

  "So now you know." She shrugged and sat back. "I thought I should tell you, since...well..." She looked out the window and straightened her polka-dot glasses. "It might come out at some point, and it doesn't look good."

  "But it doesn't matter, does it? It happened a long time ago, right?"

  "Yes." Peg nodded. "And...no."

  I scowled at her in confusion.

  "We, uh..." She cleared her throat and patted her frizzy afro. "We had a relapse recently. Eddie and I. It just happened."

  "How recently?"

  Peg lowered her voice. "Three weeks ago." She blushed and stared down at the table.

  Peg was right; it didn't look good. She was one side of a love triangle, and the other two sides had just been murdered.

  Then again, she couldn't have killed Eddie Sr. "You have an alibi." I nodded. "Otto said you're in the clear."

  "That's what he said, but he might change his tune if he can't find a suspect. Don't think for a minute he wouldn't love to lock me up and get me out of his hair once and for all."

  I closed my eyes, trying to wrap my head around what I'd just heard. Not only had Peg just confessed to sleeping with Eddie Sr. three weeks before Dad's death, but she thought the chief of police might try to frame her for Eddie's murder.

  On the one hand, she'd given me new reason to dislike and mistrust her; on the other, she'd passed along a massive dose of paranoia. Otto didn't like her, but would he actually try to frame her for murder? And would he try to drag me in after her?

  "Okay." I opened my eyes. "So we need to keep trying to find the killer."

  Peg nodded. "We need to find him before the police do. We need to guarantee they won't need another suspect."

  I rubbed my temples and winced. "I don't even know where to start at this point. Adrianna's a dead end, and we have no idea where the missing recording is."

  "First things first." Peg pulled a pen and a little blue spiral-bound notebook, four inches long, from her polka-dotted bag. "We need to map out the Polkapourri responsibilities, and you need to meet with your family. If we don't get the ball rolling, the festival's dead in the water."

  Just then, Stush arrived with the food we'd ordered. "Here you go, ladies. Enjoy." When he'd put the plates and bowl on the table, he stared at them, looking weepy. "That was one of Eddie's favorites, you know. Chicken pot pie and baked corn casserole."

  "Say, Stush." Peg talked as she wrote in the little notebook. "Could you bring us some takeout containers?"

  "But why?" Stush looked profoundly confused. "The food's here now, and so are you."

  "Not for long." Peg kept writing. "Bring the check while you're at it, would you?"

  Stush looked offended. He snorted and stomped off toward the kitchen without saying a word.

  "I'll go talk to Eddie Jr. Maybe he'll think of a clue. Maybe he can get me in to search his dad's house before the police lock it down." Peg scribbled some more and flipped to the next page in the notebook. "You get the family in one place and lay it out for them. Give them their Polkapourri assignments."

  The pot pie smelled great. I was tempted to dig out a forkful, but I had a feeling Peg didn't want me to waste time eating. "I'll see what I can do."

  "Great," said Peg. "Make it six o'clock tonight at Polka Central."

  Stush brought Styrofoam containers, and we loaded them up. The second we'd closed the last takeout box, Peg was out of the booth, scooping up her purse and the check. "We can do this, you know. All of it."

  "Just be careful." I stacked up the takeout boxes and followed her to the cash register. "Remember that death threat you got."

  I nearly dropped the boxes of food when Peg stopped, snapped around, and thrust her face in my personal space. She lifted both eyebrows and stared out through her giant polka-dot glasses, more wide-eyed than ever.

  "Why do you think I'm in such a hurry?" she said.

  *****

  Chapter 45

  It took some fast talking to get the Furies, Mom, and Baba Tereska to show up at Polka Central by six o'clock. To be honest, I was surprised they all made it...but would they stay? Could I get my point across in spite of the ruckus whipped up by the ADHD Dozen, whom they'd set loose to run wild through the gymnasium?

  And was there any chance at all that my family would agree to help with Polkapourri? I didn't exactly have high hopes.

  But I had to give it a shot. When everyone had arrived, I walked up the steps to the stage. I intentionally didn't look off to the side, in the direction of the back door; it was hard enough just being there, knowing Eddie Sr.'s dead body had been dumped outside. The cops may have released the crime scene, but the awful memories would never, ever fade.

  "Okay, everybody!" I walked to the center of the stage and raised my arms. "Please quiet down!"

  Mom and Baba Tereska sat on folding chairs up front and listened politely. My three sisters, however, were too busy chasing and yelling at their kids to pay attention.

  "Hey!" I spoke up louder and clapped my hands. "Listen up, you guys!"

  Still, the gang continued their noisy scramble around the gym. Ellie was actually screaming at the top of her lungs at the three-year-old Un-Twins, Jamie and Derek.

  "Quiet!" This time, I yelled louder than ever, but the results were the same. "Everybody quiet!"

  Then, suddenly, Baba Tereska got up from her chair and turned to face the crowd in the gym. She stuck her pinky fingers in her mouth, took a deep breath, and let loose her patented ear-splitting whistle.

  It got everyone's attention just like when we were kids. All three sisters and all twelve children stopped what they were doing, fell silent, and looked in Baba's direction.

  "That's enough, you people!" For someone with chronic lung problems who sometimes needed oxygen hoses up her nose just to breathe, Baba sure had a loud voice. "Listen to what Lottie has to say! It's important!"

  So much for chaos and confusion. All eyes and ears in Polka Central were suddenly glued to me.

  I knew I needed to take advantage of the attention while I still could. "Okay then." I cleared my throat and did my best to project my voice. "Remember when you asked me to write you some checks? Well, you're going to get your wish."

  "Seriously?" said Charlie.

  Bonnie held a squirming kid's shoulder with each hand. "How're you gonna pull that one off?"

  Ellie sounded skeptical and smart-alecky as always. "What's the catch?"

  "The checks will be paychecks." I met each of their icy stares in turn. "I want to hire you to work on Polkapourri."

  "I knew it!" Ellie swung a fist like she was punching someone in the face. "That woman ruined Polkapourri, didn't she?"

  "It figures!" said Charlie.

  "Not at all!" I chopped my hands through the air. "We just need some help, what with everything that's happened."

  "You couldn't pay me enough to take orders from that woman!" Ellie folded her arms across her red t-shirted chest and cocked her head defiantly. "Count me out!"

  "This isn't about her," I said. "This is about Dad's legacy."

  Ellie snort-laughed. "Now I know you're
on drugs."

  "This is about the 25th anniversary of his festival." I spread my arms wide. "His baby. This is about making sure it doesn't die."

  "Give it up, Lottie." Ellie waved me off and turned to go. "I don't want any part of this."

  "Ellie!" said Mom. "At least hear her out!"

  "Forget it." Charlie started after Ellie. "This conversation is over."

  My heart thrashed in my chest, bashing itself against the cage of my ribs. I knew I was losing control; the window of opportunity was about to slam shut on my fingers.

  I sucked in a deep breath and marshaled my resources. If I didn't act now, and Ellie made it through the door, the other sisters would slip out in her wake.

  So I acted. I leaped off the stage.

  I landed hard on the gym floor and sprinted past Charlie after Ellie. Grabbing her shoulder, I spun her around to face me.

  "I need you! We can't do it ourselves!" I held on tight as she tried to shrug me off. "Are you going to make me beg?"

  As I paused to take a breath, I noticed the whole place had fallen dead silent. Finally, I was making an impression on my family.

  Still holding on to Ellie's shoulder, I turned to look at my other sisters, my mother, and my Baba. "I need all of you, or Polkapourri's going in the dumper. Are you all going to make me beg? Because I will!

  "If it means keeping Dad's dream alive, I'll do anything!" I said it with a fierce passion I hadn't expected. "Anything!"

  Letting go of Ellie, I walked through the crowd, meeting each person's gaze with steely intensity. "If you do this, you're not doing it for me. You're not doing it for Peg. You're doing it for him." I paused near Charlie. "So if you ever loved him, if he meant anything to you at all, do this for him." I walked over and locked eyes with Bonnie. "Do it for Polish Lou!"

  Nobody said anything for a moment. I walked to the stage and boosted myself up to sit on the edge while I waited for the verdict.

  Then, someone clapped, and a little boy's chirping voice broke the silence. "I'll do it!" It was six-year-old Louie, my favorite nephew, shouting and applauding. "Where do we start, Auntie Tickle-Tock?"

  The grownups and most of the kids laughed. Louie had broken the ice.

  "I'll do it." Bonnie sighed. "I'd hate to see Polkapourri go under."

  Mom smiled and raised her hand. "You know you can count on me, dear."

  I looked at Ellie, but she still seemed to be steaming. When I turned my gaze to Charlie, she looked unhappy, too...but then she rolled her eyes and shook her head in surrender. "All right already. Sign me up. Geez."

  "You don't even have to ask me, Lottie!" Baba Tereska got up from her folding chair and shook her fist in the air. "Remember the Alamo!"

  Again, I met Ellie's seething glare. She was the last holdout, and everyone was waiting to find out which way she would go. Knowing Ellie, I doubted she'd join the Polkapourri volunteers; the big question was, how much of a stink would she raise in the process of turning me down?

  The wait dragged on so long that the kids started to get restless. Bonnie had to snap at one of hers, and Charlie had to do the same with one of hers.

  As for me, I sat patiently on the stage and watched Ellie. I knew from experience not to try to rush her into anything.

  Finally, she brushed her spiky bangs out of her eyes with the edge of her hand and stared at me resentfully. "You're a piece of work, you know that?"

  I shrugged. Not like I hadn't been ready for her to raise a stink. "Does that mean you'll help with Polkapourri?"

  She ignored my question. "You screw up, and then you expect us to bail you out. You think we'll jump just because you wave a little money in our faces."

  "You're right about my needing you to bail me out." I held up both hands, palms out, in front of me. "But not about waving the money. That's just me trying to be fair."

  "You've been gone for fifteen years, and now you're back here telling us what to do?" Ellie snorted and pointed a finger at me. "You've got a lot of nerve."

  "I get it already." Now it was my turn to roll my eyes. "You hate my guts, and you don't want anything to do with Polkapourri. Message received."

  "Slow down, sister." Ellie stepped forward, sneering. "Did I say I didn't want anything to do with Polkapourri?"

  The implications of what she'd said dawned on me. She wasn't turning her back on Polkapourri, after all.

  I knew better than to make a big deal of it, though. Instead, I nodded and stretched out my hand. "Thank you. Welcome aboard."

  To my surprise, Ellie scooted over, grabbed my hand, and shook it. "Any time, sis. Just one thing." She leaned forward and dropped her voice. "If that woman tries ordering me around, she's dead meat. Capische?"

  "Whatever." I let out a heavy sigh. I was certain she'd be a problem, but at least she was on board. That in itself was quite an accomplishment.

  Ellie let go of my hand and turned to face the crowd, pumping her fists in the air. "This Polkapourri is gonna rock."

  Everybody cheered. The kids danced and ran in circles. Maybe the family volunteers would work out okay, after all.

  "Okay, everybody!" I got to my feet, cupping my hands around my mouth to amplify my voice. "Let's talk assignments!"

  *****

  Chapter 46

  I couldn't believe how well the meeting went. By the time we were done, my sisters, mother, and grandmother had not only agreed to their assignments, but had come up with ways to improve the event. Even as the gang trooped out, they were discussing plans to deal with various Polkapourri issues.

  Only Mom and Baba Tereska stayed behind in Polka Central to chat with me afterward. Leaning against the stage, we watched the front door close on the last of the ADHD Dozen.

  "Thanks again, you guys." I leaned one way, bumping Baba with my shoulder, then the other, bumping Mom.

  "We're so happy to help, sweetheart." Mom wrapped an arm around my back and gave me a squeeze.

  "Even if Lou did cut us out of the picture fifteen years ago when Miss Peggy came along." Baba Tereska scowled and tossed up her hands in disgust.

  "We could have stayed, I suppose," said Mom, "but..."

  "But that husband of yours was thinking with his little brain, as always," snapped Baba.

  Mom winced and shook her head. "What I meant to say was, it would've been too awkward."

  Baba shrugged. "That, too."

  "Well, I'm lucky to have you both." I gave each of them a quick peck on the cheek. "You know Polkapourri better than almost anyone."

  "It was my idea," said Baba. "Well, practically."

  Mom gaped at her. "What on Earth are you talking about, Tereska? It was your son's brainchild."

  "I told him to go play his noisy polka music outside, where it couldn't upset my digestion. Next thing you know, he's having an outdoor polka festival!" Baba Tereska nodded proudly.

  "Whoever's idea it was, I think it just might work out after all." Pulling out my phone, I saw there were no missed calls or voice mail, which worried me. Now that the meeting was done, I was starting to wonder what Peg was up to...and if she was okay. Finding Eddie Sr.'s body so soon after Peg got her death threat was making me jumpy.

  "Your father would be proud, Lottie." Mom's eyes were bright as she gazed at me. "The way you brought us all together to help keep his dream going. He really knew what he was doing, picking you to run the company and Polkapourri with Peg."

  "I agree," said Baba Tereska, "except for the 'with Peg' part."

  "I just wish he was still alive to be a part of it." Even as I said it, I felt a pang in my belly. So much had been happening, I hadn't really stopped to think about missing Dad...but all of a sudden, the feeling welled up within me. "Can you imagine seeing him and Eddie Sr. playing together again after all these years?"

  "Wait a minute, kochanie," said Baba. "Lou and Eddie were going to play together?"

  "That's right." I nodded. "For the 25th anniversary of Polkapourri. It was going to be a big surprise."

  "Impo
ssible! Who told you about this?" Baba leaned back and grimaced. "Was it Miss Peggy?"

  I shook my head. "Eddie Jr. He said they recorded something together, too, but Lou hid it somewhere. Eddie Jr. and Peg have been looking all over but can't find it."

  "They recorded together? After all that bad blood between them?" Baba Tereska looked aghast. "Are you sure about that?"

  I shrugged. "According to Eddie Jr., it's true."

  Baba narrowed her eyes. "Still sounds fishy to me. I can't believe those two would ever bury the hatchet, except in each other's heads."

  "Well, they did." Mom nodded. "They finally made amends and joined forces again."

  "Do you think I'm senile, synowa?" snapped Baba. "What brought on this supposed reconciliation?"

  "I don't know." Mom sighed. "Lou never told me. I just know it happened. He and Eddie Sr. did get back together before they died."

  Baba rejected her with a quick puff of breath between her chapped lips. "That husband of yours made it up to drum up publicity for the festival. He was always such a showman."

  "Absolutely not." Mom pushed away from the stage and stood in front of us with her arms folded over her chest. "I have proof."

  I frowned. "What kind of proof, Mom?"

  "The recording." Mom stuck out her chin, looking defiant. "He gave it to me."

  For a moment, I didn't know what to say to that. Baba Tereska had no such trouble. "Nonsense. He's given you nothing for years. Why start now? Why not give it to his beloved Miss Peggy?"

  "Exactly. Who'd expect him to hide such a precious thing with me?" Mom smiled. "It's the last place anyone would look."

  She was right. It was sad, but it made all the sense in the world. "So where is it now?" I asked.

  "At home. Tucked away." Mom reached up and patted her hair, which was pulled back in a bun as usual. "He made me promise to keep it safe."

  "What else did he tell you, Mom?"

  She frowned. "He said it was important. He also said he might need me to send it somewhere. He was going to call with more information...but he never did."