In the Event of My Death

by Carlene Thompson

  “But these verses were all about damnation and destruction, and he was directing them at me.”

  Mary’s gaze dropped. “I don’t know.”

  “What about his saying you weren’t good like Faith, that you were always sneaking around at night like she and your mother?”

  Mary’s fingers twitched at the hem of the sheet, rubbing and twisting it. “Sometimes Papa gets me mixed up with my mother. She ran off with a man, you know. More often Papa confuses me with Faith. You were her best friend—you know she wasn’t an angel. She did sneak around at night with boys and with you and the other—” She broke off. “He gets me mixed up with her.”

  Laurel had tensed. “You said she sneaked off with me and the ‘other.’ The ‘other’ what?”

  Mary didn’t look at her. “Friends. Just people she knew.”

  But that’s not what you meant, Laurel thought anxiously. You were going to say “the other Six of Hearts.”

  2

  After Laurel left the hospital, she headed for home, knowing Penny and Norma would be helping Cleet load the van and give directions to the Price home. She was extremely grateful for his willingness to pitch in and help on this hectic day.

  At home she hooked April and Alex to their leashes and led them to the car. They looked at her suspiciously. Trips in the car usually meant a visit to the veterinarian. The thought immediately lowered Laurel’s spirits. Their veterinarian was Victor Ricci, Angela’s father. She knew he and Mrs. Ricci were back from New York preparing for Angela’s funeral in less than forty-eight hours.

  Laurel pushed the thought from her mind. One look at her damaged car reminded her she had her own safety to consider. She couldn’t let herself become careless because her sadness was distracting her.

  “Jump in,” she urged the two reluctant dogs. “We’re going to see a friend of yours.”

  After five minutes more of urging in her gentlest voice, she had both dogs in the back seat. They huddled together, looking as if they were going to their execution. She smiled as she glanced in the rearview mirror. Kurt was right—they didn’t look like they would do much damage to an intruder, but she’d never admit it to him.

  The Damron Floral delivery van sat in the Price driveway when Laurel pulled up. There was also a caterer’s van. She knew it was useless to try to get the dogs out of the car in a strange place with so much activity going on, so she left them and went through the garage to the side door. Denise greeted her. “Cleet has already carried in most of the stuff.” She lowered her voice. “I was scared when a stranger came to the door until I saw your van.”

  “I’m sorry, Denise. I should have called and warned you.”

  Audra ran up, her dark eyes alight. “Hi, Laurel!”

  “Miss Damron,” Denise corrected.

  Laurel smiled. “I’d prefer Laurel. How are you, Audra?”

  “Terrific. A couple of days ago I thought I was getting sick, but Daddy says I’m so ornery no germs can live in me.”

  “Wayne is a marvelous doctor,” Denise said, winking. “He went to school for years to learn to make diagnoses like that one.”

  “Did you bring April and Alex?” Audra asked excitedly.

  “I sure did. You’ll have to visit with them in the car, though. They’re too scared to get out.”

  “That’s okay.” Audra started to dash out the door, but Denise stopped her until the child put on her jacket. Then she shot outside and climbed into the back seat of Laurel’s car.

  “She’s so beautiful, Denise,” Laurel said.

  “I know I’m prejudiced, but I think so, too.” Denise paused. “But what I’m wondering is what you’ve done to those dogs to make them so timid.”

  “Daily beatings.”

  Denise laughed. “Oh, sure. I remember when we were kids you used to take in every abandoned baby bird and rabbit you could find. Dr. Ricci told you they wouldn’t live, but they always did.”

  “That seems like about fifty years ago.”

  Denise shrugged. “Happier, more innocent times. Come in. You have to make my house look gorgeous for tonight.”

  Making Denise’s house look gorgeous was not a hard task. This year Laurel had chosen a motif of white and gold twining vines of white silk maple leaves decorated with small golden apples down the banister of the curving staircase and across the living room mantel. Masses of white leaves, gold apples, and gilt-dipped silk poinsettias decorated the dining room table and the grand piano, and fat candles rolled in gold sparkles and surrounded by white silk leaves sat on the coffee and end tables.

  When Laurel and Cleet finished, Denise looked around, beaming. “Oh, Laurel, it’s wonderful!”

  “I hope Wayne likes it. He might have preferred more color.”

  “There’s plenty of color on the Christmas tree. He’ll love it.”

  “How’s the cooking coming?”

  Denise grinned. “There’s a minimum of cooking going on here. Last year I thought I’d have a nervous breakdown trying to master some of those elaborate Christmas confections, so this year I turned the food over to a caterer.”

  “My, my,” Laurel drawled. “A caterer. How fancy.”

  “We’re even having a professional bartender.”

  “Good heavens, and I told Kurt not to wear a tux.”

  “This is definitely not a black-tie party. I just want everyone to be comfortable and enjoy themselves, including the host and hostess who are usually harried messes dealing with food and drinks.”

  “Can April and Alex come, too?”

  Laurel and Denise looked up to see Audra standing in the doorway with each dog on its leash. “I don’t believe it!” Laurel exclaimed. The dogs were clearly nervous, neither standing at full height, staying close to Audra. “How did you coax them in?”

  “Just sweet talk,” Audra told her airily. “I think they like me.

  “They certainly must.” Denise looked slightly dubious. “They’re house-trained,” Laurel assured her, “and they aren’t destructive.”

  Denise smiled tentatively. “They’re very cute.”

  “So can they come to the party?” Audra asked again.

  Laurel saved Denise a refusal. “Honey, being around all those people they don’t know would scare them silly. Besides, the party is past their bedtime.” Audra’s face fell. “But you can come to my house some weekend and play with them. They have lots of toys and a big backyard they’d like to show you.”

  Audra brightened a bit. “Can I, Mommy?”

  “Sure, as long as Laurel says it’s all right. We’ll go in the next two or three weeks.”

  Fifteen minutes later Cleet left in the van and Denise and Audra, still holding the dog leashes, trailed her to the car. “Thanks so much, Laurel. You did a beautiful job.”

  “I’m glad you’re pleased. Audra, think you can get those two in the back seat?”

  “Yeah.” Audra climbed in first, then urged in a crooning voice until both dogs jumped in, too. Before she climbed out, Audra leaned over the front seat and whispered to Laurel, “Help me talk Mommy into letting me get a dog.”

  “I’ll try,” Laurel assured her.

  Denise and Audra stood in the driveway waving as Laurel drove away, but Laurel couldn’t help noticing the tension behind Denise’s smile. The woman was scared, just as scared as Laurel.

  Eight

  1

  Laurel slipped into white wool slacks, pulled a white silk angora sweater laced with thin gold threads over her head, and stepped into new white and gold heels. A glance in the full-length mirror assured her the ensemble fit perfectly and looked casually festive. She wore a bit more makeup than usual, her lipstick a dark rose, her eyes accented with lavender and a touch of deep purple shadow. Even her hair was behaving for once. All in all, she felt pretty well, even in the mood for a party.

  Kurt arrived at a quarter to eight. “I’m starting to look forward to what I’m going to find next on your door,” he commented, staring. “A red heart? It’s not
Valentine’s Day.”

  “I think Zeke might have stopped by on his way to the store yesterday,” she answered offhandedly. “At least it’s not as bad as a funeral wreath.”

  “A lot harder to get off, though. It’s going to take turpentine, then the door will have to be revarnished.”

  He stepped inside, dressed in a charcoal gray suit and lighter gray shirt. “My goodness, you look wonderful!” Laurel exclaimed. “I didn’t know you were going to get so dressed up.”

  “Talked myself into a new suit,” he said in a slightly abashed manner. “I’ve been wearing that pair of dress slacks and sports coat forever.”

  “Well, you look quite dashing.”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever been called that before. You look beautiful.”

  “I look okay and thank you. Before we leave, why don’t you update me on Zeke Howard?”

  Kurt took a deep breath. “I was afraid you were going to ask me that. He’s been released.”

  Laurel’s lips parted in surprise. “Released! How?”

  “Mary refused to press charges of assault and battery.”

  “I can’t believe—” She sighed. “Yes, I can believe it. I could tell when I talked to her in the hospital this morning she wasn’t going to do anything. But there must be some other way to get him off the streets.”

  “There is. A mental hygiene warrant.”

  “How do you get that?”

  “An application can be made to the circuit court or the mental hygiene commission for the purpose of an examination.”

  “Who makes the application?”

  “Anyone. The trouble is we don’t have a lot of witnesses. Mary isn’t going to say anything. I talked to the Lewis sisters, who refuse to say a word for the record about the attack. I don’t know who that young woman in the store was.”

  “I don’t, either. But there’s Penny, Norma, and me.”

  “Norma was in the workroom. Penny was outside.”

  “Then what about the other deputy and all the other people who must have seen Zeke at the sheriff’s office?”

  “Laurel, he was meek as a lamb as soon as we got him in custody. Just a gentle, kind old man, slightly confused by all the commotion.”

  “There must be something we can do!”

  “Honey, even if you have a psychiatrist testifying at one of these hearings, it’s still a judgment call on the judge’s part. We don’t have a psychiatrist, and even if we did, I’m not sure it would help. Yesterday was the first time we know of that Zeke ever acted like a danger to himself or anyone else.”

  “What about his ramming my car?”

  “We have no proof he did that. Our examination of his car showed nothing.”

  “But—”

  Kurt put his hands on her shoulders. “Look, Laurel, a judge would probably view his display in your store as just an aberration. Two or three more episodes and we might get him in a psychiatric institution for a month. As of now…” He shrugged. “I don’t think we have a chance.”

  “Well, fabulous,” Laurel said in disgust. “So this lunatic gets to run around free in spite of what he did yesterday.”

  “I’m afraid so. Let’s just hope he does something crazy again soon.”

  Laurel looked at him. “The next crazy thing he does might be to murder someone.” If he hasn’t already, she thought grimly.

  2

  Around ten cars were already at the Prices’ when Laurel and Kurt arrived. Tiny white lights decorated the two evergreens on the front lawn and lined the big bay window.

  “I love this house,” Laurel said as they parked.

  “I’d hate to pay the heating bills.”

  “Kurt, do you always have to be so practical?”

  “Well, you have to admit it’s awfully big for just three people.”

  “Maybe they plan to have more children.”

  “You know what’s weird?” Kurt said, turning off the ignition. “Among all you girls who were such good friends in school, there’s only one child.” Laurel looked at him. “Of course, if Faith hadn’t died—”

  “But she did,” Laurel said crisply.

  “That child would have been almost thirteen,” Kurt went on as if talking to himself. “I’d bet it was a boy.”

  Laurel’s heart rate accelerated. Even thinking about Faith had made her miserable for years. Now talking about her threw Laurel into a near panic. “Let’s go in. I’m cold.”

  She nearly jumped from the car and hurried up the front walk. “Hey, wait a minute,” Kurt called. “Trying to leave me behind?”

  She’d already rung the doorbell and Wayne was opening the door by the time Kurt caught up with her. Wayne, five feet ten, slightly stocky with a round face and thinning brown hair, beamed at her. “Laurel! You look wonderful. So does the house. You did a great job. Hello, Kurt. You two come on in out of the cold. We’ve got some of the best eggnog in the world to warm you up.”

  He took their coats. Several people were gathered in the living room and music poured from the stereo. Laurel was relieved it wasn’t Christmas carols. Hearing them over and over for weeks could be wearing. Instead, the sounds of soft rock filled the room. Denise came to greet them. She wore a long red and green plaid hostess skirt and a white silk blouse. “Everyone loves the decorations, Laurel.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “Wayne says you have some extra special eggnog,” Kurt said.

  “It’s on the dining room table. Why don’t you get a couple of glasses for you and Laurel while I talk to her for a minute.”

  “I guess females never outgrow girl talk.”

  “No sexist remarks from you tonight,” Laurel warned. “And make sure my eggnog—”

  “Is nonalcoholic,” Kurt finished. “Yes, ma’am.”

  As he left them, Laurel asked softly, “Is Monica or Crystal here?”

  “Crystal is. I didn’t think she’d come and she’s nervous as a cat. I believe this is her first social event in a year. She looks dreadful. Something else must have happened but I haven’t been able to get a word alone with her.”

  “I was certain Monica would be here.”

  “If I know Monica, she’ll wait to make an entrance. No sign of Neil Kamrath, either. Any word on Mary and Zeke Howard?”

  “They’ve both been sprung,” Laurel told her. “Mary was discharged from the hospital and she wouldn’t press charges against her father so he’s out of jail.”

  “You’re joking! He’s running loose? Can’t anyone do something?”

  “Kurt already explained the process. Getting him committed, which is what he needs, would be incredibly complicated.”

  Kurt returned with her eggnog. “Lots of calories, no alcohol.”

  “Just how I like it.”

  Audra appeared in a red velvet dress. “Hi. Are April and Alex asleep?”

  “Yes. They get up early and go to sleep early.”

  “I get to stay up later because of the party.” Audra wiggled her finger for Laurel to bend down while Denise talked with Kurt. “Mommy wants me to play the piano, but I don’t want to,” Audra told her confidentially. “I’m terrible. I’ll just die if she makes me play.”

  She looked so distressed Laurel couldn’t help taking pity on her. “Maybe I can help you out. I’ll suggest your daddy play something.”

  Audra brightened. “Would you? That’d be great.”

  “What does he like to play?”

  Audra pursed her lips. “Lots of times he plays classical stuff I don’t like. But his favorite fun thing to play is ‘Great Balls of Fire.’ Mommy gets embarrassed when he does it in front of people, but he loves it. So do I.”

  “I’ll make a special request, then.”

  “I need to talk to you!” Crystal suddenly whispered in Laurel’s other ear, making her jump.

  Denise was right—she did look dreadful. Her eyes were rimmed with dark circles and she’d slathered unflattering makeup shades on pale, dry skin. She wore burgundy knit slacks too small
to accommodate the weight she’d gained, a striped ski sweater, and no jewelry except for her wedding ring. Her short dishwater blond hair lay lank against her head. It was impossible to believe that just fifteen years ago she’d been the slender, golden blond, baby-faced head cheerleader everyone found so adorable.

  “How are you, Crystal?” Kurt asked.

  “Okay.” She gave Laurel an appealing look.

  “Still driving that old red Volkswagon?” Kurt persisted. “You’d better get rid of it before you have serious problems.”

  “I have serious problems.”

  “What? Alternator? Brakes?”

  It was obvious Kurt wasn’t going to give up. “I don’t mean problems with the car,” Crystal snapped. “If you’ve talked to Chuck lately, you know what problems I’m having.”

  Kurt looked like he’d stepped on a land mine. “I’m sorry things aren’t going well,” he said lamely.

  “Not going well! That’s an understatement!” Crystal reached out and clutched his arm. “You and Chuck are best friends. Can’t you do something?”

  “Do something?” Kurt echoed, his cheeks reddening as Crystal’s voice rose.

  “Yes. Talk to him.”

  “I have talked to him.”

  “But did you really talk to him?” Crystal had drawn several people’s attention. Laurel was certain she’d downed more than one drink. “Have you told him how awful that woman is for him? She’s old. She’s spoiled. Chuck’s just a plaything for her. She doesn’t love him like I do—”

  Denise interrupted. “Have you tasted some of the candied cranberry and raisin tarts yet, Crystal? It’s absolutely delicious.”

  “I’m not hungry and I’m trying to talk to Kurt.”

  “Well, I am hungry,” Kurt said. “I’ll try some of those tarts, Denise.”

  He fled toward the dining room table where a buffet was set up. Instead of staying to talk to Laurel, Crystal followed in hot pursuit, warming to her subject. Denise rolled her eyes. “Oh, no.”

  “Kurt will shut her up,” Laurel assured her. “She’s going to lose it if she doesn’t let this thing with Chuck go, though.”

  “Do you think she ever will?”

  “I don’t know. Looks like she’d have more pride.”