When they reached the sidewalk in front of Frances’ place, Gloria grabbed the door handle. “Let’s pretend what just happened never did.”
Lucy nodded. “I agree. That guy was a jack-.”
“Lucy!” Gloria cut her off.
The door swung open. Frances was on the other side. “Well? Didja see anything? Was Trudy home?”
Gloria shook her head. “No and no.”
“We got a good look at the men’s restroom,” Lucy said.
Gloria handed Frances the binoculars. “You need to pinpoint Trudy’s schedule so we can try to corner her – or spy on her – or maybe both.” The fact that the woman was so evasive piqued Gloria’s interest. It almost seemed as if she was hiding something.
All that sleuthing had made Gloria thirsty. “Can we swing by the restaurant and grab an iced tea before we head home?”
Lucy wiped her brow. “Yeah, I worked up a sweat.”
The girls made their way to Dreamwood Eats and over to the soda fountain. Gloria filled her glass with ice and finished filling it with tea. The place was busy for early afternoon and the four of them squeezed into a small table near the front.
The girls chit chatted about everything except Milt. Honestly, Gloria was a little tired of hearing about him. After all, it was looking more and more as if he had intentionally gone missing and didn’t care to be found.
“That’s interesting,” Liz commented.
“What?” Lucy wondered.
“Isn’t that Vivian?” Liz answered Lucy’s question with one of her own.
Gloria followed Liz’s finger over to the small bakery counter off to one side. “Vivian there is ordering a box of those chocolate chip cookies that Milt likes.”
Frances shrugged. “So? Those are one of the restaurant specialties and they always have them on sale. That’s why Milt liked them.”
“Yeah, but Vivian can’t eat them. She’s allergic to chocolate. I know that for a fact. She had a reaction here in the restaurant not too long ago when she bit down on a small chip mixed in with the everything muffins. She didn’t notice it and when her throat started to close up, they had to call an ambulance.”
Gloria’s eyes narrowed. That was interesting. Why would a woman who was allergic to chocolate, order a big box of chocolate chip cookies? “What do you know about this Vivian?”
Liz and Frances stared at each other. “She moved in here about a year ago, after her husband died. I heard he was a high school principal at some school in Grand Rapids.”
Vivian paid for her purchase and strolled across the dining area to the front door.
“What day is today?” Liz asked.
“Tuesday,” Gloria answered. “Why?”
“Well, it’s bridge day.” Frances told them. “The ladies bridge club meets in the clubhouse every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. She probably picked them up for the club.”
Liz snapped her fingers. “Now that you mention it, I think that Trudy is part of the bridge club, too. I was in there talking to the manager one afternoon and a group of them were playing.”
Gloria didn’t have time to do a second stakeout today. “What time does it end?”
“It lasts a couple hours, I’m sure. Maybe three or so?” Liz wasn’t 100% certain.
“I’ll come back Thursday afternoon and we can check it out.” Gloria reached for her purse. “For now, we should probably head out. I want to stop by Andrea’s on the way home.”
The girls made their way back to the car and climbed inside. Lucy slid her sunglasses on and glanced at Gloria. “What are you thinking?”
“That this case is tough to crack. It’s easier when there are bodies.”
Gloria pulled into Andrea’s gravel drive and rounded the bend. Andrea’s sports car was in the drive, parked off to the side.
A truck filled with tools and construction materials was right behind her car.
The girls climbed out of the car and headed to the front door.
Gloria rapped the lions head knocker and gazed out into the yard as she waited for Andrea to open the door. Something was different but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was.
The door swung open. Andrea Malone grinned when she saw Gloria. “I thought you were coming by this morning.”
“I was. I got bogged down finishing up a load of wash and then we went over to Dreamwood.”
Gloria and Lucy stepped inside and Andrea shut the door behind them. “Isn’t that where your sister, Liz, lives?”
Gloria nodded.
“Does she know that crazy lady that chained herself to the front of the restaurant?” Andrea laughed. “Man, she’s obsessed with some guy…”
“Milton Tilton,” Gloria told her.
Andrea’s brow went up. “You know him?”
“You could say that,” Lucy muttered.
Andrea’s eyes widened. “Let me guess. You’re looking for him.”
“Bingo!” Lucy shouted.
The girls followed Andrea into the kitchen where Alice, Andrea’s former housekeeper and new housemate, hovered over a hot stove. The aroma of cilantro, onion and garlic filled the air.
Alice wiped her hands on the front of her apron. “Ah, Miss Gloria. You’re just in time for my firehouse fajitas!”
Firehouse fajitas. The dish sounded delicious – and lethal. Although Gloria loved spicy foods, they didn’t love her back. It was a recipe for disaster. She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Alice, I can’t stay that long. I have to get Lucy home.”
“But.” Lucy started to protest. Gloria pinched her arm.
“Uh, yeah. Sorry Alice. I have to get home.” She glared at Gloria.
“Oh, you can take them to go. I wrap them up for dinner.”
Gloria protested. Alice insisted.
“While Alice finishes up, come check out the tea room.” Andrea waved them into the hall.
Andrea had added a beautiful addition to the side of the house. A glass enclosed sunroom really and she had plans to turn it into a tea room. Gloria had a sneaking suspicion that part of the reason was so that Alice would have something to do.
Andrea and Gloria had stumbled upon a secret room inside Andrea’s home that boasted a room full of beautiful paintings by the former owner and famous artist, Sofia Masson.
The girls trailed behind Andrea as they followed her down the hall and into the living room. They crossed the room as they made their way over to the set of French doors on the other side of the massive living room fireplace.
Andrea opened the leaded glass doors and the girls took a step down.
Gloria drew a deep breath and turned in a slow circle. The room was magnificent. Andrea had added a bit of her own personal touch with hanging plants and Persian rugs.
Off in one corner was a gurgling angel fountain. Several easels displayed a few of the famous artist’s paintings. “It looks like you’re almost ready to open for business.”
Andrea nodded. “All I’m waiting on are the bistro tables, which should be here any day now.” She looked back towards the living room. “I finally convinced Alice that we can’t serve spicy all the time. We narrowed it down to Tuesday tacos in the tea room.”
“Catchy name.” Gloria nodded. “Good idea.”
“The rest of the time will be light finger foods and bite size sandwiches.” She eyed Lucy, the queen of sweets. “And there will be trays of tempting desserts.”
Lucy grinned. “I’ll be one of your first customers,” she promised.
Andrea stopped in the middle of the room. Her brow furrowed. “You don’t think Dot will be upset – like I’m competing against her?”
Gloria touched her arm. “No, dear. Dot thinks this place will be a wonderful addition to Belhaven,” she reassured her.
Andrea ran a hand through her blonde locks. “That’s a relief. I was worried.”
She went on. “So what’s up with this missing guy? From the news story, he just up and vanished.”
Gloria nodded. “It’s all ver
y mysterious and not many leads so far. Although there are a couple.”
She thought about the Vinnie guy that Johnny from the loan shop had mentioned.
“Milt was quite a ladies’ man. He may have met with foul play if he was messing around with someone’s girl or wife.” Until that moment, Gloria hadn’t considered that angle. At least not seriously. She would have to ask Liz who on the list might be suspect. She didn’t dare ask Frances.
“There you are.” Alice sidled over, a plastic grocery bag of goodies in each hand. She handed one to Lucy. “One for you.” She handed the other one to Gloria, “and one for you.”
Gloria gave Alice a hug. “Thank you, Alice. You are so sweet!”
Lucy opened the bag and stuck her face in the bag. “This smells so good!”
Andrea led them back out to the front entrance and opened the door. The four of them stepped out onto the large portico. “You notice anything different?”
“There is something different.” Gloria’s eyes searched the yard. “I can’t quite put my finger on it.”
Andrea pointed to the side yard. “The shed is gone.”
The old garden shed had sat in the middle of the backyard for decades, long before Andrea purchased the large manor. It was inside the shed that the girls had discovered a body.
Gloria nodded. “Ah! You’re right!”
Andrea lifted a hand to shade her eyes. “I figured that place had enough bad history and I wanted it gone.” She waved a hand to a spot on the other side of the gravel drive. “I’m putting in a two-car garage. It’ll be done before the first snowflake hits the ground.”
Andrea could use a garage, especially in Michigan where winters were sometimes long and brutal.
Once again, Gloria silently wondered what Andrea and Brian would do when they married. Both of them had sunk a great deal of money into each of their homes. It would be a tough decision.
Brian’s home had belonged to his grandparents so Gloria wondered if it held some sentimental value.
On the other hand, she knew how attached Andrea was to her home…
Paul and Gloria would have to face a similar dilemma if they ever got married. That was a big “if.”
“I think that’s a wise decision,” Gloria answered.
The girls climbed back in the car and headed to the farm.
“It’s a wonder you have time to get any housework done,” Lucy commented.
Gloria gave a half shrug. “Yeah, there are days when I wonder if I’m coming or going.”
Back at the farm, she pulled in the drive and parked close to the house.
“I’m gonna head home,” Lucy reached for her purse that was lying on the floor.
Gloria eased out of the car and came round to stand near the front. “Are you still going to call Bill?”
Lucy fiddled with the keys in her hand. “Yeah. I think I need some closure,” she admitted. “We didn’t really end with a fight but we didn’t really end on the best of terms, either.”
Gloria nodded. “Good luck. Call me if you need to talk later.” She watched Lucy slide into the jeep and back out of the drive.
Gloria whispered a small prayer for her friend as she climbed the porch steps. She prayed that the Lord’s will be done and that He protect Lucy’s gentle heart.
Gloria’s house phone was ringing when she stepped in the door. It was her daughter, Jill. “I waited until the boys were in school to call you,” Jill told her. “Do you need any supplies to finish the tree fort? I don’t want you having to buy anything else. You’ve already done enough.”
“That’s thoughtful of you, dear,” Gloria replied. “I could use some small cans of paint and brushes so the boys can paint it once we have it together. Whatever color you think they would like except for black!”
“Do you need anything else?”
Gloria shook her head. “No. I have the rest of the stuff here.” Gloria stepped out onto the porch with Mally and the phone. “How do you think the boys would do using the cordless drill?”
Visions of Tyler drilling a long screw into the center of his brother’s forehead popped into Gloria’s head.
She remembered the last visit when Tyler went a little crazy driving the tractor and chased Mally across the yard. Perhaps she should give this a bit more thought.
Jill confirmed her decision. “I think I would be hands-on for that project. Tyler could get the bright idea to screw his brother to the planks.”
Maybe she could get Paul or Brian to come by for the assembly part. That way, they could crawl up into the tree and supervise. “I’ll work on it. Don’t worry about them,” she assured her daughter.
Gloria hung up the phone and headed to her computer. She put off calling Liz for a list of possible jealous boyfriends - or husbands – until she saw if Worldbook would give her some good leads.
She fired up the computer and headed to the kitchen to make a cup of hot tea.
When she got back, Puddles was in the chair, waiting for Gloria to pick him up. She settled him into her lap and reached for her glasses.
Gloria grabbed the mouse and spun the little black scrolling wheel as she scanned his list of friends. The list included Trudy Gromalski, the elusive woman. There was also another woman that looked familiar. Gloria inched closer to the screen. It was the woman from the restaurant. The one that bought the chocolate chip cookies. She clicked on her name. Vivian Coulter.
Gloria clicked back to the main page and scrolled through the comments. Several of the women had posted new messages, begging Milt to call them. “Raven Fair” caught her eye again. There was still no profile picture. Her last comment was unusual. “The mystical mystery of the missing Milt. If only he could tell you where he’s at...”
Gloria scrunched her brow. It sure did sound like this person may have a good lead on Milt and that maybe they knew more than they were letting on. Or maybe this person was taunting the other posters who were concerned for his safety. A shiver inched down Gloria’s spine.
She scrolled backwards through the screen - back to before Milt went missing.
There were several posts from men. Milt had his share of enemies. One post in particular seemed to be threatening. It was from an anonymous source.
“If I catch you hanging around Viv one more time, I’m gonna come over to your place and pound your pudgy pig face right into the ground.”
Gloria leaned back. She wondered if this “Viv” was the Vivian that picked up the cookies in the restaurant. It was time to check out that bridge club Thursday afternoon!
She opened her few emails, which were mostly online bills, played a couple rounds of Solitaire and then shut it down.
Gloria grabbed her laundry basket and headed to the clothesline. The clothes had long since dried in the stiff autumn breeze. She worked her way down the line, as she folded each item and neatly stacked them inside the basket.
A rumble of thunder threatened in the distance as storm clouds gathered out behind the barn. She managed to get the clothes off the line just in time! Mally and Gloria dashed up the steps as the first large raindrop hit the ground.
They stood there and watched as the wind whipped the leaves on the trees and the skies opened up. Mally whimpered and backed closer to the door. She did not like storms!
The two of them stepped into the kitchen as a bolt of lightning hit on the other side of the tree and shook the ground.
Gloria looked down at Mally, who was shaking. “We cut that close!”
She carried the laundry basket to her closet and hung what clothes she had left – the things that Lucy hadn’t tossed out the other day – onto hangers before making her way to the bed.
Mally crawled under the bed to wait for the storm to pass. Gloria reached down and patted her reassuringly before returning to the task at hand.
She pulled the sheets from the basket and lifted them to her face. The sheets smelled so fresh, she could hardly wait to go to bed.
Back in the kitchen, Gloria opened the f
ridge. Front and center was the “Firehouse Fajita’s” that Alice had given her. It was tempting – and lethal.
She quickly closed the door and opened the freezer. She reached for the frozen dinner that was closest, pulled it out of the box and popped it into the microwave. Tonight’s dinner was going to be quick and easy.
Gloria mulled over the day’s events as she nibbled on the drumstick.
It was nice to have a little peace and quiet for a change. She had no plans for tomorrow. Thursday was Lucy’s breakfast date, followed by a trip to Dreamwood to spy on the bridge club. If she got lucky, she could corner the elusive “Trudy.”
After dinner, Gloria sprawled out in the recliner and turned on the TV. She dozed off during the evening news and woke up in time to watch the beginning of her favorite TV show, Detective on the Side. It was a rerun but it was a good one. Actually, all of them were good ones.
Gloria climbed into bed after she watched two episodes. She snuggled down under the covers and pulled the sheet to her chin. It smelled wonderful.
As she drifted off to sleep, her brain cleared and she suddenly realized she had a good idea who the mysterious “Raven Fair” might be.
Chapter 11
“What do you mean Frances is now a suspect?” Liz asked in disbelief. That didn’t make the least bit of sense to Liz.
It really didn’t make much sense to Gloria, either. “Didn’t you tell me that Frances had a small tattoo on her lower back?”
“Yeah. I always thought it was odd,” Liz admitted.
“And why was it odd?” Gloria pressed.
“Because it was a black raven.” Liz sighed. “And it’s uglier than all get-out,” she added.
“Go check out Milton’s profile on Worldbook and you’ll see why I added her to the list of suspects,” Gloria told her sister.
Liz didn’t want to believe her best friend could be involved in Milt’s disappearance. If she was, wouldn’t she want to sweep it under the rug instead of chain herself to the front of the restaurant and call the local news crew?
She hung up the phone and headed to her computer. Sure enough, Milt was friends with a mysterious Raven Fair, who seemed to be mocking other posters, alluding to the fact that she knew something about Milt’s disappearance.
Hope Callaghan - Garden Girls 07 - Missing Milt Page 8