“Well, I can’t wait to see what we find at the next shopping excursion. See you at dinner,” Gwen sang out as she continued down the aisle to her seat.
“She’s in a good mood now, isn’t she?” Dimma said.
“Her demeanor is totally different from when she and Carolyn were quarreling,” I said.
“What causes anxiety attacks? Jean mentioned once that she had them.”
“I’m not exactly sure. I think stress, emotional trauma, a medical condition, uh, slew of things can bring on anxiety,” I said.
“I wonder what happened to Gwen to set her off,” Dimma said.
“A person can probably trigger an attack: you know, like when you are anxious about an exam, or a doctor’s appointment, or a house closing, those type of things.”
“Then I’ve had one,” Dimma joked. “Sometimes house closings make me want to tear out my hair.”
“Experiencing occasional anxiety must be a normal part of life or else we would all be in a looney tunes hospital. I think one has a problem when anxiety attacks become excessive, persistent, and interferes with your quality of life.”
“Yeah, I can see that. You know what?”
“What?”
“I wish I had purchased that red handbag as well. Simone would love it,” Dimma whined.
“Good grief, we’re so much alike. I can’t stand it. Why didn’t we just buy the darn things? We know we wanted them.”
“I don’t know. We saved up for this trip, so why are we penny pinching?” Dimma asked.
“Habit, I guess. There are more shopping trips on the agenda. We may see the handbags at another store.”
“I hope so.”
After that, I thought no more about Gwen and Carolyn’s quarrel.
The Grand Hotel was fabulous looking on the outside. Upon arrival, a greeter came onto the bus and welcomed us to the hotel and Pigeon Forge. She gave us information on the hotel and gave Lemmonee our room keys. Before exiting the bus, she told us we were staying at a hotel that was in an excellent location to get to all the events on our schedule. She gave Lemmonee a stack of business cards and asked that we contact her with questions that surface.
Lemmonee gave the passengers their room key and the hotel business card as we exited the bus. The lobby area was beautifully decorated and clean. Our room was clean and had all the amenities I needed. We had dinner that night at the hotel. The hotel had turned their dining area into an evening of elegance and fine dining. I saw Carolyn and Gwen from across the room, but didn’t get a chance to speak to them.
The dinner was excellent, and so was the entertainment. A collection of singers, dancers, comedians, and magicians entertained us till 10:00 pm.
The next morning at breakfast, I saw Carolyn and Gwen sitting at a table across from Marjorie and Rebbie. Of course, I had no reason to think anything of them not sharing a table at that time. As I look back, it is strange that they did not sit together. There was room at both tables for them to sit together.
Dimma and I sat at a table with other Purples. The breakfast buffet was loaded with delectable Southern food. I had two servings of crunchy potatoes and onion with bacon bits.
Each time I looked over at the tables where Gwen, Carolyn, Marjorie, and Rebbie were sitting, they were engaged in a conversation without any appearance of acknowledging the other couple.
“How about those dancers last night. Weren’t they good?” Jean asked, interrupting my glance at Marjorie, Rebbie, Carolyn, and Gwen.
“Yes, they were. I enjoyed the comedians,” Dimma said.
“Me, too,” I said, “I’ve never laughed so much in my life.”
“They were good. We’ll see them again tonight at the dinner theatre. I wonder if any of the others will be there,” Solardette said as she pulled the schedule from her handbag and began reading it.
“The two magicians were good, too. How they made the lady from the audience disappear is beyond me,” I said.
“Me, too,” Dimma agreed.
“All that stuff they do seem impossible and supernatural to me. Do you think they have people that work for them planted in the audience?” Jean asked.
“I don’t know about that. It’s a possibility, but it sure was entertaining,” I said.
“Only the comedians will be at the dinner theatre tonight. Get your laughing face ready,” Solardette said.
Gam woke me out of my reminiscing when he shook my arm, then said, “Baby, we are here.”
I stared at him.
“Did you hear what I said? We’re here. You’ve been nothing but quiet since you got the news about Gwen. I thought you had dozed off, so I let you rest. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I said as I looked out the window at my favorite bed, breakfast and dinner lodging.
“You don’t sound fine.”
“I’ll be okay once I get some of Serenity’s food into me.”
“Listen to me,” Gam said, taking hold of both my hands. “It’s not your fault Gwen took her own life. We don’t know why she did it, but you had nothing to do with it.”
“I feel like I did.”
“How is that possible? You were at Duffy’s viewing last night.”
“I don’t mean physically. I mean, I missed something I should have seen. I don’t know what I mean. I just wish I could have saved her, uh, helped her in some way.”
“I do understand how you feel. I feel sorry for anyone who feels taking his or her life is the only way out.”
“Out of what?”
“Who knows? There are a lot of reasons people take their own life. I’ve seen enough of them. Come on, let’s go inside, and if you want to hear about my cases where people have taken their own lives after we have showered and eaten, I’ll tell you.”
“A deal. I want to hear about them.”
CHAPTER 20
The Serenity House is a large and imposing historic three-story Victorian style mansion built in 1873. There are three steep rooflines and two gables on the front of the house. The house’s cream color wood siding has elaborate trim in red. The doors, shutters, and window trims are red as well. My favorite house feature is the large white wraparound porch with red ornament spindles and brackets and strategically placed white rocking chairs. Beautiful flowers and ferns showcase the porch. The lawn is beautifully manicured, and the parking lot is clean and well-lit. Another feature of the house that is a favorite of mine is the seven bedrooms, which are decorated in one of the rainbow colors. I reserved the violet room.
After checking in, we went straight to our room. The usual chocolates, red rose, and red letter thanking us by name for choosing Serenity had been placed strategically in the center of the bed by the owner. This usually excited me that the owner took the time to welcome us in this beautiful way. Not now. Not even the violet room I loved, decorated in Southern charm with a fireplace, a large bath, and a nice size seating area, could elicit any joy from me.
“I’m going to take a quick shower, and then the bathroom will be all yours. I am ready for the five-course meal. What about you?” Gam said as he opened his duffle bag and took out his toiletry case.
“I am,” I said, mustering up the excitement I didn’t feel.
“Okay, baked seafood stuffed chicken, here I come,” Gam sang out as he entered the bathroom.
After the shower had run for a few minutes, I let out a big sigh, then said, “This case is so baffling. Why?”
I got up off the bed, sat in the chair at the makeup table, then stared into the mirror. My next step came to me quickly. I grabbed my handbag, pulled out my phone, and then dialed Carolyn’s number. I wanted to offer my condolence on the passing of her friend. I let the phone ring seven times before I hung up. I felt guilty telephoning her since I had promised Gam I would not let this case interfere with our weekend. But that was before I knew Gwen had commi
tted suicide: her suicide changed things. Why would she do it? Why were she and Carolyn quarreling while on a fun trip? Why did Carolyn lie about what Marjorie said to her on the way home? Where in the world is Marjorie? I wondered.
“Absolutely nothing but questions,” I cried out, then stood still hoping like mad that Gam didn’t hear me. I heard the shower turn off. I opened my overnight bag, pulled out my make-up kit and toiletry bag, and then sat waiting for Gam to exit the bathroom. While waiting, I appeased my irritation with what Gam had said on our way here, ‘You’ve got another week. You’ve solved every one of your cases in two weeks or less.’”
With my irritation quieted down, I acknowledged that I needed to slow down and not make too many assumptions. This case was no different from my other cases. I needed to stop making it different.
“Revelations will come to me in due time to complete the puzzle,” I whispered to myself.
“Baby, I’m done,” Gam said as he walked out of the bathroom.
I kissed him on the cheek, then strolled into the bathroom for a quick freshening up.
We were downstairs in the dining room at exactly 6:30 pm, the time dinner began. There were seven separate tables located around the large wide window at the back of the room, and there was one rectangular table with six chairs in the middle of the room. Up against the wall to the room’s left and right were gorgeous buffets that matched the table in the middle of the room. The red walls had a touch of cinnamon to their color. The white chair-rail molding and the ceiling molding added elegance and made a grand impression of the room. They were a show-stealer, as was the elegant crystal swag twelve lights chandelier hanging over the rectangular table. Small crystal lamps that matched the chandelier were on each of the seven tables. White table clothes with red lace trim were on the tables, along with fancy silverware and red cotton napkins. The floor looked to be a ceramic dark wood tile. It was beautiful and an upgrade since my last visit.
The room was full of chatter and excitement. It appeared all the other guests were just as excited about the meal as Gam was. The hostess and owner of the lodging, Haiden Crawford, was a heavyset dark skin Black woman with large brown eyes, chubby dimpled cheeks, and a smile that brightens her face and the faces that set sight on her smile. Since her skin was so smooth and unwrinkled, it was hard to tell her age. She had once told me she taught elementary school for ten years after college, then decided to go into business for herself, buying the bed, breakfast and dinner. She’s been in business for twenty years, so I’m guessing she is in her early fifties.
Haiden took us to a table where a handsome-looking Black couple sat. They looked to be in their mid-sixties.
“Vett Brayborn and Gammon Ellison, you’ll be dining with Kaylor and Mercy Charlamayne. Kay and Mercy, this is Vett and Gam.”
After acknowledging each other and shaking hands, Gam and I sat down.
“Where are you from?” Mercy asked, showing beautiful white teeth. He was a brown skin man, with wide set eyes, a flared nose, and salt and pepper hair.
“We’re from Danville, Virginia, and you,” Gam replied.
“We’re from Envyton County, Virginia,” Mercy said.
At that moment, I froze. Time stood still. I quickly regained my senses.
“Did you say Envyton County?” I asked.
“Yes, that’s right. Do you know it?” Mercy asked.
“I’ve recently come to know it.”
“How so?” Kay asked. Her dark skin was smooth and creamy. She had hazel eyes, mascaraed eyelashes, arched eyebrows, and dark cinnamon lips. She was a pretty woman.
I was shaking inside. God has done it again. As in all my cases, God orchestras events when I least expect them that furthers the case along. Never in my wildest dreams would I have seen myself meeting someone from Envyton County at Serenity Bed, Breakfast and Dinner.
“I’m an unlicensed private investigator working to solve who murdered Duffy Radley a week ago today. The Lacecap Hydrangea murders that took place in Envyton ten years ago are associated with Duffy’s murder somehow. I’m trying to figure that out.”
“Perhaps, we can help you. We remember that case and know who Duffy was,” Kay offered.
Just a half-hour ago, I had cried out in irritation at having so many questions and no answers. God had already worked out a plan for me to get some answers before I screamed out. Oh, ye of little faith, Vett, I said in my mind.
“I would love that. Let’s discuss once the entrée is served?” What I really wanted to do was to plunge right in with questions. However, a better approach was to find out a little bit about them first and allow them time to get to know us. I would then be better able to assess the information they provided.
“That’s fine. Those murders have always had a spellbinding effect on me,” Kay said, then looked toward Haiden approaching us.
Haiden had in her hands a tray with a basket of hot biscuits, a bottle of wine, and a pitcher of water. She sat the basket on the table, poured water into water goblets, and then poured the wine into beautiful wine glasses trimmed in red. She left the bottle of wine on the table in an embossed galvanized red metal bucket. When she stepped away, Boyd, the cook, walked to the table, setting before each of us a plate of appetizers—two each of three different kinds. The ladybug, cordon blue, and cucumber shrimp appetizers all looked and smelled delicious. I ate one of the ladybugs—cream cheese on a butter-flavored cracker, cherry tomatoes cut in half, two black olives, and black olive dots on the tomatoes. I then lifted my plate, setting it beside Gam’s plate. I knew if I ate more, I wouldn’t have room for the jumbo she-crab soup, the baked seafood stuffed chicken entrée, and the chocolate truffle lava cake. I knew Gam would eat my appetizers and all of his five-course dinner.
“What kind of work do you do, Gam?” Mercy asked, with his mouth full of food.
“I am a Pittsylvania County Sheriff Detective.”
“Are you working on the Duffy Radley murder, too?”
“Oh no, only Vett. It is not in my jurisdiction. She was hired by the company Duffy worked for, Brightness Bus Tours Company. What do you do?”
“I’m a dentist, recently retired. I owned my own company, and Kay did the books for me. We both retired earlier this year.”
“Congratulations to you both.”
“Thank you. We are enjoying it.”
“What brought you to Serenity,” I asked.
“It was the strangest thing. We won a contest for this weekend, a contest we don’t remember entering,” Kay said.
“Kay is always entering contests. I think she entered something and just doesn’t remember. In any case, it’s beautiful here, the people are nice, and the service is out of this world. This is our first time, but we will be back,” Mercy explained.
“This is our fourth stay. We love it here—just the place to come to for a quick weekend getaway. The food is excellent. You’ll see,” Gam said.
Boyd bought four steaming bowls of jumbo she-crab soup to the table with crackers. It smelled so good. I ate it all. Haiden came to the table and poured more wine, then walked away. In no time, she was back clearing the table. Once the table was cleared, Boyd walked over with a tray containing four entrees.
After I cut my stuff chicken, asparagus, and candied yams into small pieces, I said, “Kay, what is it that you find spellbinding about the Lacecap Hydrangea Murders?”
“I can go weeks, months not hearing about the case, then as soon as I hear the name Lacecap Hydrangea Murders, I want to know more. I want to know why the police have not found Diantha’s murderer. I want to know why she was murdered. I want to know who she was meeting. The list goes on and on.”
“Did you know the family?” I asked.
“I’m afraid not. I don’t know anyone that actually knew the family. I just know what I read in the newspaper and the gossip of others,” Kay said.
; “I’m having a hard time finding answers to why Ms. Lacecap was allowed to operate a brothel in the first place and why she was allowed to operate it for as long as she did. It’s my understanding she operated it for forty years.”
“More like forty-five years. The rumor is she was twenty when she opened her first brothel. As time went on, she earned a lot of money and moved into the big house on the hill where she was murdered,” Mercy explained.
“Where were the authorities, uh, the people who were responsible for shutting her down?” I asked.
“Shoot, no one shut her down. They were her customers,” Mercy said.
“Everyone says Ms. Lacecap was a very nice lady, treated people fairly, and loved giving people bouquets of lacecap hydrangeas. I never heard anything bad about her,” Kay said.
“After she moved into the big house on the hill when she was in her early thirties or so, she no longer engaged in the sexual activities,” Mercy said.
“Well, who did?” Gam asked.
“She brought into her home young women under the pretense that they were abused and battered, but everyone knew what these women were hired to do. The women did live there until they moved on,” Mercy said.
“So everyone knew and accepted it,” I said.
“Pretty much. Some of the neighboring churches complained, but somehow they were assuaged by the authorities. The churches never liked that business going on, but they stopped complaining,” Kay said.
“Who were the authorities? Why did the people keep them in office?” I asked.
“If I remember correctly, the same people were in office for a long time. It was Holt Pruitt, Sr. and his bunch of cronies that ran the board of supervisors. You see, our county elects people to run it, hence the board of supervisors. I remember Mr. Pruitt, Sr. being the chair of the supervisors from when I was a young man in my early twenties. That was in the mid-sixties,” Mercy explained.
“How long did he stay in office?” Gam asked.
“Oh, let’s see . . . about twenty years, I’d say. Somewhere in the mid-eighties, they were voted out of office. By then, Ms. Lacecap was an institution. Just like the old regime, the new regime didn’t seem to care that she was operating an illegal business. They left her alone,” Mercy said.
Sequestered with the Murderers Page 17