Penelope unpacked the red tapers for the glass candelabra on the buffet in the dining room. She was setting a copper bowl full of silk holly on the table when she heard the back door open. “Forget something, Daddy?”
The swinging door flew back with enough force to hit the wall and rattle the dishes in the glass china cabinet. A smaller version of Archie Hadden stood leering at her, hands in the pockets of his faded denim jacket. “My cousins are spending Christmas locked up ‘cause of you,” the man said. “Old Santy Claus ain’t nice to little girls who tell tales.”
Penelope grasped the back of a dining room chair and slid it between her body and the unwelcome visitor. “I tell the truth, not tales.”
“Don’t matter. Tales get told, people get hurt. Better think on that, Miz Pembroke.”
Before Penelope could blink, the man’s bulk had disappeared through the door. She waited until she heard the back door open and close before she sprinted for the kitchen phone and called the police department.
****
“I don’t know who he was, Bradley. All I can tell you is he looked like a shorter version of Archie Hadden.” Penelope reached to straighten a silk holly leaf and bring the attached berries from beneath it.
Parnell joined them in the dining room and stood sniffing. “Smell that?”
Bradley frowned. “Now that you mention it…”
“What?” Penelope asked.
“Explosive residue,” Parnell said. “He could’ve had it on his clothes or his feet.”
“My stars! The B&B isn’t going to blow up, is it?”
“No, ma’am, not from the smell anyway.”
Penelope glared at him. “Funny man.”
“What d’you think, Parnell?” Bradley asked the taller officer.
“Not sure, Brad. You know Haddens as thick as raindrops in a thunderstorm out there.”
“I meant about the smell. Think they’re doing any dynamiting out in the Hollow?”
“What for?”
Bradley shrugged. “I think there used to be some mining out that way, years and years ago. I read that somewhere. You want to go talk to Elbert? See what he says.”
Parnell nodded. “I’ll do that. Mrs. Pembroke, you really should keep your doors locked.”
“I keep them locked, Parnell, most of the time anyway. Daddy left fifteen minutes earlier, and I guess he didn’t use the key. We’re not used to locking up around here, you know.”
“Better get used to it, Mother. Things have changed in the last couple of years.”
“Too bad.”
Parnell’s mouth twisted. “Yeah, too bad. I’ll get back to you, Brad.”
“Are you all right, Mother?”
“He just scared the fire out of me, sneaking in like that. What kind of mining did they do in the Hollow?”
“Oh, there were rumors of a lost silver mine or something. But nobody ever got rich.”
“I guess if they blew themselves up…” Penelope stopped. I can’t wish that! Life is sacred. But some lives are…stop it, Penelope! Haddens are human beings, too, especially those sweet little girls.
“He’s back in the Hollow by now, and we’ll never find him there,” Brad said.
“You know Mary Lynn and Harry are counting on having the girls back for Christmas.”
“It’s not going to happen. It can’t. If one of the Haddens grabbed them, we’ve lost our only witness in Yvonne’s murder.”
“Do you really think Ellie saw what happened?”
“I’m pretty sure she did.”
“But what if she won’t testify? Like the children clammed up with that Mueller woman?”
Brad grinned. “Don’t tell me those kids aren’t sharp.”
“All the more reason to try to get them out of the Hollow.”
“I agree, but back to Ellie and Evie— the Haddens want them back because they’re Haddens, but someone may know she saw what happened to her mother. That puts her at risk.”
“Do you have somebody watching the school?”
“I tried, but there’re no grounds to have an officer on duty every day.”
“The children are antsy. I don’t know if it’s just Christmas vacation coming up or something else.”
“Keep your ears open. If something’s coming down, one of them might let it slip.”
“Why would anyone target the school?”
“Mother, the people out there let that school exist, that’s all. They leave it alone because a lot of them want their kids to get some kind of an education, the basics anyway. But they’re suspicious of everyone connected with it. More to the point, they don’t really like any of you, no matter what you do.”
“We’re taking care of their children, that’s what we’re doing.”
“They’re afraid you’re going to take them away. Put ideas in their heads about better things. And that so-called interrogation by those social workers didn’t help. Don’t think for a minute those kids didn’t go home and detail every question they got asked.”
“I guess we’re guilty of that much—putting ideas in their heads, that is. You don’t think anyone would try to blow up the school, do you?”
“Not with their kids in it. I’ll talk to George Harris about telling the staff not to work out there during the holidays. I know sometimes the teachers go in to plan for the next term. Now, I’ve got to get back to the station. Tell Pawpaw what happened and not to forget to lock the door behind him every time he goes out.”
Penelope nodded.
Bradley kissed her cheek. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry, too, Bradley. I wish it was a better world. For the kids out there…for the kids you might have someday.”
He shook his head. “It’s the way it is, Mother.”
Penelope locked up as soon as Brad went out. All vestiges of Christmas cheer had departed with her unexpected visitor. Turning out the lights in the dining room, she went upstairs and sat down at her desk to balance her checkbook, reflecting it was a gloomy chore for a suddenly-gloomy day.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
The sense of relief Penelope felt when the nineteenth of December rolled around seemed to be shared by the entire staff at the school, even Miss Maude. Before school dismissed at noon, she and Mary Lynn had overseen the distribution of gifts to all the students, as well as the pizza party in the cafeteria where the children had hung paper chains made from red and green construction paper and taped pictures they’d drawn of snowmen, candy canes, Santa Clauses, and Christmas trees along the concrete block walls.
After helping load the buses, she didn’t wait to wave them off before going straight to her car. Mary Lynn was already there. “Let’s get out of here,” she said. “We’ve got a lot to do before the program tonight.”
“It’s all done, Mary Lynn. All we have to do is show up a little early and help the kids dress.”
“We’re bound to have forgotten something.”
“I don’t think so. You’ve done a terrific job, and the community center will be officially open as soon as you cut the yellow ribbon at six o’clock.”
“We should’ve been open months ago if the Dolans hadn’t caused such a fiasco.”
Penelope laughed, not because she thought anything was funny but because she needed the release. “Only you would call four murders a fiasco.”
“You know what I mean,” Mary Lynn snapped.
“I know. And good riddance to the whole lot, if you ask me. Not that I wanted Wally Powell or Jill Jerome or Brice Dolan to end up dead—just out of Amaryllis. I’d even have settled for having Harvey Hadden go back to Possum Hollow and hide for the rest of his natural life.”
“The only problem is, we get rid of one Hadden, and there’s always another to take his place.” Mary Lynn fished a tissue out of her leopard-print purse. “I was really counting on playing Santa Claus for Ellie and Evie this year.”
“I know you were, and it’s too bad.”
“I asked Tonya if I could send them a
few things.”
“And she said?”
“She said to send them in care of her, and she’d see everything was delivered.”
“That was nice of her.” Penelope glanced in her rear view mirror. “Who is that behind us?”
Mary Lynn half-turned in the seat. “I don’t know. Lizette Foster maybe? She drives a pickup.”
“She drives one of those smaller models. And newer.” Before the words were out of her mouth, the larger vehicle that had been keeping its distance, suddenly speeded up until it sat practically on the bumper of the SUV. “Oh, no, not again.”
“What do you mean not again?”
“Get down in the floor and get us some help now, or we’re going to end up in Bailey’s cornfield.” Penelope floored the gas pedal and took the next curve on three wheels.”
Mary Lynn fumbled with her seatbelt and crouched beneath the dash, punching in 911 as the SUV careened around another curve on the narrow road.
“Hurry, Mary Lynn!”
Penelope took another quick look behind her, but the truck was in her blind spot as it pulled alongside the SUV. She hugged the steering wheel, trying to watch the road, the truck, and the speedometer—creeping toward eighty—at the same time.
What is it with these people anyway? Are they crazy? Or do they just think totally different from the rest of us? She cut her eyes to the left, through the window of the truck now keeping pace with her own vehicle, and thought she recognized the man who’d confronted her in her own dining room. You idiot, blessed killing Mary Lynn and me isn’t going to get those girls back!
She heard sirens, and the truck slowed until it sat behind her again. At the next turn-off, which looked to be barely a path, it turned off and disappeared into the trees. Penelope applied the brake and rolled down the window as a police car came in sight. “He turned off back there,” she yelled at Parnell Garrett.
Parnell pulled over. “If he’s gone down one of those jack-rabbit trails, I’m not going in after him,” he yelled back. “Did you see who it was?”
“Same man who threatened me the other day.” She leaned her head on the steering wheel. Beside her, Mary Lynn crawled out from under the dash.
Parnell opened his door and got out. “You okay?”
Penelope nodded.
“Those side roads are like snake dens—no room to turn around, just keep going until something gets you.” He peered into the SUV. “Mrs. Hargrove, you all right?”
“No, but at least I’m alive,” she said through gritted teeth.
“Y’all get on into town. I’ll be right behind you.”
“What does that clown think he’s going to accomplish?” Penelope asked as Parnell started to walk away.
“I told Brad I think there’s some just want you out of the Hollow.”
“Me personally or the school?”
“Maybe both.”
“A vendetta?”
Parnell shrugged his broad shoulders beneath the extra jacket he wore over the standard issue one and slid into his car.
Penelope and Mary Lynn drove the rest of the way in silence. Just before Mary Lynn got out at the curb in front of her house, she said, “If this keeps up, Tad Rollins will close the school. We’re on thin ice with the state anyway.”
“He believes in what George and the others are doing as much as they do.”
“George could be out in City Cemetery right now, and so could we.”
“Mary Lynn, you shouldn’t feel guilty about calling it quits any time. Harry’ll probably lay down the law anyway when he hears about this.”
“No, I’m sticking, Pen. I’m mad now. It’s ignorance that’s kept the Hollow alive all these years. We’ve got a chance to break its back through the children. Show them there’s another world out there, another way to live.”
“So far we’re not having a whole lot of success. The school’s been out there for how long—eight years?”
“Well, Ellie and Evie got out.”
Penelope closed her eyes briefly. “Yeah. I’ll see you at five-thirty at the community center.”
“Five o’clock would be better.”
“Five o’clock.”
****
Penelope’s cell phone rang as she turned into the driveway of the B&B. The caller ID read PRIVATE. “Hello, Bradley.”
“Are you all right, Mother?”
“Shaken up some.”
“I can’t get a warrant for the guy’s arrest until I know who he is.”
“Elbert didn’t know, huh? And even if he had, you’ve got to find him first.”
“Elbert isn’t talking. No big surprise. Wasn’t this the last day of school until January?”
“Yes.”
“Well, that gives me a couple of weeks.”
“Just how many Haddens are there out in the Hollow?”
Bradley laughed. “More than I’ll ever catch, Mother. I’ll see you and Pawpaw tonight at the program.”
Jake met her in the kitchen. “Knew you wouldn’t have time to cook tonight, so I thought I’d go pick up a pizza.”
“I left a casserole thawing in the refrigerator, but if you’re hungry for pizza, that’s fine with me.”
“You okay, Nellie? You look a little green around the gills.”
She told him what happened.
His breath whistled through his teeth. “Those Haddens are bad business.”
“To say the least.”
“You going to keep on at the school after Christmas?”
“Yes.”
“I knew you’d say that.”
“I don’t want to worry you, Daddy, but if we cave in, it’s all over for the kids.”
“I’m not going to sit around worrying about you, Nellie. Didn’t even do that when you were growing up. Not much anyway.” His voice trailed off, and Penelope saw him swallow a couple of times. “Look, you go upstairs and relax a little. I’ll go pick up the pizza. That’s quicker than the casserole.”
“Thanks, Daddy. I believe I’ll keep you around.”
“That’s the idea. I don’t fancy sitting around out at the old folks home listening to my joints freeze. Not for a while anyway.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Penelope slipped the new sweater she’d found on sale at Blass’s over her head, careful not to smudge her fresh makeup, then pivoted to look in the full-length mirror on the back of her bedroom door. The gold beading against the black weave twinkled in the lamplight like so many stars. I bought this hoping Sam would be back for Christmas, but I may as well get the good out of it. She smoothed the sweater over her hips and viewed her profile. Not bad. Of course, I don’t think Sam ever sees anything I wear. He’d like it better if I didn’t wear anything. She laughed. Someday maybe.
“Looks like there’s going to be a good crowd tonight,” Jake observed as Penelope maneuvered the SUV into an empty space behind the school. “Maybe putting off the grand opening until Christmas wasn’t such a bad idea.”
“It was the best we could do after all that mess with the Dolans.” Penelope reached into the back seat for her purse. “But you’re right, Daddy. This is the season when everybody feels more excitement about everything.”
Mary Lynn hurried toward them as soon as they stepped through the back door. “We’ve got trouble.”
Jake’s eyebrows went up. “Right here in Flower City?”
“It’s no laughing matter, Mr. Kelley. That weasel Snively and his minions are outside picketing the program.”
Penelope’s mouth twisted. “Have you called the PD? Technically, this is private property, so he can’t do more than stand in the street.”
“Parnell is outside. He moved them across the street, but it’s going to upset the children. Go take a look at the signs.”
Jake followed Penelope down the main hall toward the front of the building. “Now, Nellie, don’t let this ruin the evening for you.”
“After what I went through this afternoon, I’m in no mood for Snively,” she reto
rted through gritted teeth. “Oh, no! Oh, look at them, Daddy!”
Beneath the street lights, a group of ten or twelve people milled around waving homemade signs, while Parnell, his arms folded across his chest, stood on the bottom step watching.
IF YOU’RE HERE TONIGHT YOU’RE VIOLATING THE CONSTITUTION! GO HOME! XMAS ONLY! NO RELIGION!
One or two protestors stepped in front of cars which had slowed to turn into the parking lot. Penelope saw Parnell head that direction. She started outside, but Jake caught her arm.
“Nellie, let Parnell handle it.”
She shook off her father’s hand and charged onto the porch and down the steps. “Get out of here!” she yelled, the sound of her voice lost to the traffic. Several parents hurried their children past her. “Go on inside,” she called to them. “We’ll get rid of this scum.”
She crossed the street and tried to grab a sign from a boy who looked no older than fourteen or fifteen. “Eddie? Eddie Hitchens? What are you doing hanging out with this bunch?”
He grinned at her. “Hey, Mrs. Pembroke. Just making a little Christmas money, that’s all. That guy over there is paying me twenty bucks to stand out here with this sign.”
Penelope grabbed it out of his hand and threw it on the ground before he could react. “You ought to be ashamed of yourself! Go home. Better still, go to church and confess to Fr. Loeffler.”
“Huh?” His blue eyes widened.
“I’ll pay you twenty dollars to rake the rest of the leaves in my yard if you’re that hard up, which I know you’re not.”
“Aw, Mrs. Pembroke, I…”
“You, an altar boy at St. Hyacinth’s, standing out here with a bunch of…of…a bunch of infidels!”
“Huh?”
She gave him a shove. “Go home, Eddie Hitchens, and I’ll try not to remember I saw you here.”
“Hey, you can’t do that!” Harrison Snively, wearing the same overcoat which looked even dirtier than when he’d confronted her inside the school, stuck his face in front of Penelope. The odor of tobacco and stale sweat made her blink and step back.
“I just did it.” Penelope watched Eddie Hitchens slink away. Snively bent down to retrieve the sign, but Penelope planted her foot on it. He jerked at it. She put the other foot down hard, and they stood there glaring at each other.
The Possum Hollow Hullabaloo (The Penelope Pembroke Cozy Mystery Series) Page 11