If Mashed Potatoes Could Dance

by Paige Shelton

  Today, though, there was more happening than we’d expected.

  “She doesn’t look pleased. She’s sitting over there,” I said to Jake as I parked the Nova.

  Sally was seated on a patch of open grass across the street from the house. She looked unhappily at the two big machines parked in the side yard and the official-looking men in construction clothes in the front.

  “These machines weren’t here just this morning,” she said as we joined her.

  “Sally just said that the machines weren’t here this morning, Jake.”

  He bit at his bottom lip. “I can’t believe I haven’t been able get the Historical Society to help me on this. I’ll get a hold of someone about the diary this afternoon. No matter what, though, look at that place. It should never be destroyed.”

  I made a sound that could be interpreted as either agreement or not. Truth was, I didn’t think the house could come down quickly enough. It was huge, two or three stories, depending on whether you included the attic level. Nothing about it had been straight or even planed in the time I’d known of its existence. I had no idea what color it had been originally; now it was a chipped and faded something–or–other. The windows and front door were in just the right position to give the house the look of a jack–o–lantern face—and not a fun, cute one.

  “Tell Jake he’s got to get in there right now,” Sally said.

  I raised my eyebrows.

  “Please,” she said.

  “She’d like for you to check out the place,” I said.

  “Most particularly the attic. There are window boxes in the attic. Check those,” Sally said.

  I relayed the rest of the message to Jake, who nodded agreeably.

  “Wait here,” he said before he jogged across the street and toward the front door, which hung at an angle from a single hinge.

  Jake was stopped before he could get much farther than about halfway up the front walkway. Two of the big construction men literally stepped in front of him and halted him with their larger bodies. Sally and I moved closer, and I could hear a heated exchange but not specific words. Before we could make it all the way across the street, we (well, I—Sally continued on) had our own construction-man encounter.

  “Can I help you?” he said, his big arms made bigger as he crossed them in front of his chest.

  “I’d like to join my friend.”

  “Can’t let you. This place is condemned. You can’t get any closer. It’s coming down in a week.”

  “I know it’s coming down, but I didn’t think it was condemned. Do you have the paperwork on that?”

  The big man rubbed at his nose. “Don’t need papers, you’ve got my word.”

  Though technically his word wasn’t good enough, I got the message loud and clear: go any farther and we’d be forcibly removed. I nodded at him and took one step back. This was pure intimidation. It wasn’t right, but it was threatening enough that I didn’t want to push my luck. I didn’t want to go into the house anyway, but there was most definitely something about not being allowed to that made me think twice about it.

  Sally was on the front porch. I couldn’t make out exactly what she was doing, but it seemed she was trying to go through the front door. Every time she tried, she bounced backward. I might have thought it humorous at another time and place. Now, I just felt goose bumps rise as I wondered what was going on.

  Jake rejoined me a second or two later. He took hold of my arm and led me farther back and across the street again.

  “They’re not letting anyone in. They say it’s condemned. It’s not—well, at least not yet, I think. I’ve been working with town officials.”

  I glanced back at the house. “Jake, it looks pretty bad. It’s leaning.”

  “It’s always leaned,” Jake said, his eyes angry and impatient. “They just don’t want anyone in there looking at the beautiful woodwork. The woodwork itself should be enough to save it from destruction.”

  I wasn’t sure what to say. I wasn’t going into that house and didn’t think anyone else should either, but I certainly didn’t like being told I couldn’t. I’d be okay with Sally searching the place, though I knew she couldn’t open doors or lift things like she’d need to in order to open those window boxes. She was already dead; if the roof or the walls came down on her, there’d be no harm done.

  “Give me a minute. I want to make a call,” Jake said as he stepped back toward the Nova.

  Sally was still trying to get through the front door and then the windows. I crossed my arms in front of myself and watched, hoping either she’d be able to get in or Jake’s phone call would change the circumstances.

  Suddenly and surprisingly, a man peered around from the back corner of the house. He wasn’t dressed in construction clothes. All I could see at first was a hat—it reminded me of a derby hat, the kind that some of the male character actors wear as they stroll down the Broken Rope boardwalk. He also had lots of hair and a furry face dotted with small silver-rimmed glasses. He waved toward me and then disappeared around the back again. Then he reappeared and stared at me expectantly.

  I looked around to see if he had been signaling to Jake or someone else. Jake wasn’t paying attention, and neither were the construction workers; the man seemed to be communicating with me only.

  Without attracting the construction workers’ notice, I waved discreetly with my fingers. Again, the man in the hat signaled me to join him. I shrugged and nodded toward the workers as I motioned for him to come around the house, instead, and talk to me. He paused a moment and then shrugged back, smiled, and disappeared again. Curiosity about what or who I was seeing caused me to take an involuntary step forward, but I didn’t move any farther.

  “See, I can’t get in,” Sally said as she appeared at my side. I wasn’t sure if she’d walked or teleported. She didn’t act as though she’d seen my new friend.

  “Maybe it’s unsafe. Maybe that’s why it won’t let you in.”

  “I don’t think I can die again, Betts. Unsafe doesn’t affect me.”

  “Maybe a different kind of unsafe, then.”

  Sally’s eyebrows came together. “You mean something evil?”

  “Yes.”

  “I don’t think so. I can’t go into detail, but you’re just going to have to trust me on that.”

  “Have you tried around the back?” I said.

  “No. That’s a good idea. I’ll give it a look-see.”

  Unless you were a ghost who could be seen by only a select few people, there was no way to go around the house without being noticed by the construction workers. Sally could have “popped” to the back, but, instead, she boldly crossed the street again and walked around to the back. As she passed the construction men, she lifted her ax and pretended to behead them all. She looked at me and laughed. I didn’t find it funny, and I was very glad the ax moved right through their thick necks.

  “Where’s Sally?” Jake asked as he rejoined me.

  “Around the back. She couldn’t get through the front door or any of the windows. She wanted to try another way.”

  “Great. We should, too.”

  “They’ll see us.” I nodded toward the workers. “They seem to be under strict orders.” Jake didn’t mention the man in the hat. I was certain that if I did, he would make an even bigger effort to sneak inside.

  He seemed to consider his options. “Maybe we’ll come back at night?”

  I laughed. Without a second thought I knew I wouldn’t be going into the Monroe House at night. “How about we talk to Cliff?”

  “Yeah, I didn’t get anywhere with my calls.” He slipped his phone back into his pocket. “You think Cliff might help?”

  “It’s worth asking.”

  “If he doesn’t arrest me first,” Jake said.

  “He’s not going to arrest you; he wants to protect you.”

  The mere thought of protecting Jake prompted a disturbing thought. I glanced at the spot I’d seen the odd-looking man.


  “Jake, what do you suppose Damon would look like now?”

  Jake shrugged and said, “Bald with piercings and tattoos all over his face. Badass—he’d do whatever he could to look badass.”

  “Yeah, probably.” Though I knew that what we were picturing was a stereotype. Nonetheless, Damon had been tall, skinny, strong in a wiry way, with blond hair and pale skin. There was no way that Damon Rim would have a brownish furry head and face and be wearing a felt derby hat. I was just working too hard to try to understand what was going on.

  Suddenly, Sally appeared.

  “Won’t let me in back there either,” she said.

  “Sally’s here. The house won’t let her in from the back either,” I repeated for Jake’s benefit. Turning to the ghost, I asked, “Was there anyone else back there?”

  “No, no one, why?”

  “Just curious,” I replied, then to Jake, I said, “No one back there, but I still don’t think we should try to get past all the muscle.”

  “No, you’re right. Frustrating, but we’re having dinner with Cliff, right?”

  “Yes. Good, you’ll go?” I said.

  “I’m ready to get information from him. I hope he’ll answer some of my questions.” Jake stared at the house. “Something isn’t right here.”

  “Ooh, can I go, too?” Sally asked.

  “Of course, I haven’t told Cliff about the ghosts,” I said to her, “but you’re welcome to come along and observe.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Don’t suppose you’ll be really quiet and well-behaved while we talk,” I said.

  “Probably not.”

  “She said she wouldn’t, didn’t she?” Jake said.

  “Yep.”

  “This’ll be an interesting dinner,” Jake said, a small smile pulling at his mouth for the first time all day.

  Chapter 13

  The biggest surprise of dinner was that there was no real surprise, no shocking one at least. Jake and I drove separately to Bunny’s. Cliff said he’d try to meet us, but he was late. Sally got bored when Jake and I talked about things other than Sally, so she left with the promise that she’d meet me at my house later to go over more of the old reporter’s notebook.

  As Jake and I were contemplating the seemingly unreal possibility that Damon Rim, local bully, had escaped prison only to come back to Broken Rope on a kidnapping/killing spree, Leroy the bus driver pulled up in a rental car and parked in front of the booth we were sitting in. We had to shield our eyes from the bright headlights that came through the large window as he took way too long to turn off the car.

  When he finally came into the restaurant, I caught his eye and waved. He looked tired and harried, but he smiled and waved back. After he placed an order and paid for it at the cash register, he walked to our table.

  “May I join you for a minute? I’m picking up some dinners,” he said.

  “Sure.” Jake scooted over.

  “Thanks. Boy, let me tell you, you two stirred up the proverbial hornet’s nest today. Georgina’s brother is some really bad guy.”

  “I’m sorry if we caused you more trouble,” I said.

  “More? Oh, there was no room for more trouble. I’m at my limit. I was just shocked to hear the news.” Leroy ran his hand over the side of his head. His glassy eyes seemed to twitch over deep dark circles, and even his mustache looked unkempt.

  “The news about Damon?” I said.

  “Yes, an escaped convict who was basically booted from Broken Rope? Maybe come home to pillage and plunder—well, you know what I mean.” He shook his head and traced a finger around a sparkle on the Formica table.

  “How did the police respond when you and Georgina talked to them?”

  “They seemed to already know everything, including about the stuff missing on the bus. Someone in the group must have told them. But I think they were pleased that Georgina came by herself. Made her look cooperative and such. I don’t know. I just wish we’d never come to Broken Rope. We should have taken the hotel room problem as a sign and just driven on.”

  “Now, I’m sorry,” Jake said.

  Leroy’s eyebrows rose. “Oh, no, you were just being helpful. You just wanted to take care of some tourists.” He huffed a laugh. “I wish I hadn’t gotten a hold of someone so willing to help. You’re all right. I’m just…just trying to get through.”

  “We understand,” I said. “You’re all in the hotel now?”

  “Yes, except for Georgina. Much better than the dormitory, but I still have a bunch of unhappy customers. I’m picking up the dinners with the hope of easing some tempers.”

  “Cece and Robert Hart, how’re they doing?” I asked.

  “Between you and me, normally, I think Cece’s a pain; at the moment I have sympathy for her. Her husband’s still missing, and she’s trying to stay in control in her unusual, less-than-friendly way. Robert’s old and fragile. I’m not sure he can take it if Eloise isn’t found soon. I called over a doctor. He handed out pills like they were candy, but they seem to be calming people a little bit.”

  “Valium or something?” Jake asked.

  “Something like that. It’s helping, but now I feel like I’ve got to take special care to make sure no one overdoses or no one else goes missing.”

  Jake and I nodded sympathetically.

  “Is there anything we can do to help?” I said.

  “No, thank you, though. I just hope we can find our people and get out of here soon. I’m sorry, this is your home, I shouldn’t be bad-mouthing it.”

  “It’s okay. I, we, can’t imagine what you’re going through,” I said. I couldn’t. I also couldn’t imagine what Jim must be going through trying to make sure they and the rest of the tourists were safe. The police had not tried to cover up the crime, but it didn’t seem to have had much of an impact among Broken Rope visitors. No one, outside the foodie group, seemed too scared. Frequently, though, it took some time for our tourists to figure out whether a story detailing an unpleasant incident was fact or merely part of the Broken Rope show.

  “Three spaghetti dinners,” Bunny exclaimed from the front counter. She held up a bag toward Leroy as she rung the desk bell on her cashier’s podium.

  “Gotta go. Duty calls.” Leroy slid out of the booth and hurried out of the restaurant, grabbing the bag as he walked by Bunny. He’d become so lost in thought that he didn’t even notice us waving through the window as he pulled away.

  “He’s got his hands full,” I said.

  “He’s the bus driver. How did he get so involved?” Jake asked.

  “He’s more than that. He’s been guiding this group for years. From what I can tell, he is fond of them in that distant I–know–I–work-for-you-but–I–like-you way.”

  Jake nodded and looked over my shoulder. “Looks like Cliff is here.”

  Cliff’s demeanor wasn’t much different than Leroy’s. It was as if someone was standing on a corner somewhere handing out dark circles to put under eyes.

  “We don’t have anything from the note, Jake,” he said quietly. “We suspect that the ‘more instructions’ will also be the form of a note.”

  “Seems risky for them,” Jake said.

  Cliff shrugged. “It’s how it seems to work. If you do get another note we’d like to see it, but we know you can’t hurry over and show it to us. How would you feel about taking a picture of it with your phone and sending it to me? We’ll keep it as low-key as possible. Then you and I can communicate via text message regarding what to do next. Do all this back in your archive room, but go there casually. Don’t hurry, but don’t wait too long either.”

  Jake thought about the plan a long minute. He finally said, “I don’t have a better idea, so I guess it’ll have to do. If I don’t feel like I can communicate safely with you, I won’t, though.”

  “I get that. In that case, we’re putting a tail on you tomorrow. During the Showdown, Jim hired some extra police from out of town. He’s bringing some of them back to help. You won�
��t even know who’s on you. He’ll be in some Broken Rope getup. If you go somewhere, he won’t be far behind. If you get in a sticky situation, his job will be to save you.”

  Jake gulped hard.

  “Don’t worry,” Cliff said. “Jim’s getting the best.”

  “I hope so,” I said.

  “What else do you know about Damon Rim?” Jake asked.

  “He escaped from prison with no sign of where he’s gone. Honestly, Jake and Betts, we don’t think he’s involved, but he’s considered dangerous, though even the prison warden is saying that he had been better behaved over the last couple years, finding peace, spreading good cheer instead of bad.”

  “Well, I’m not so sure I believe that,” I huffed.

  “I know. I remember him, too, Betts. It’s hard to believe he might have changed, but I guess there’s always a chance,” Cliff said.

  “Well,” I said again.

  Cliff gave me a small, crooked smile, making his dimple pull in and turning him too cute for my own good. I’d forgotten that this was supposed to be a dinner date, an evening for just the two of us, albeit a quick one at the not particularly romantic Bunny’s. Cliff hadn’t so much as blinked twice at seeing Jake in the booth with me. He might not have been in the mood for a real date anyway, and he and Jake were becoming reacquainted good friends. Still, he might have enjoyed the diversion of a dinner alone with me. I’d have to find a way to thank him for being such a good guy.

  “In the meantime, Jake, you need to be careful. Would you like to stay with me or me to stay with you tonight?” Cliff said.

  Jake seemed to consider the offer seriously. “No. Remember, I’m not supposed to have talked to the police. Even this is risky.” Jake looked around Bunny’s. No one seemed to be watching us or even furtively glancing our way.

  “You want to stay with me?” I asked.

  It wasn’t an unusual question. Jake and I had been friends a long time. We’d each spent a few nights on the other’s couch. Somehow, he and I had kept our friendship clear of romantic additives. There are sides of yourself that you show only to your closest platonic friends. Neither of us wanted to give that up.