She’ll Stitch You Up

by B K Baxter

  “That’s because I wash it twice a week, and I always wax it,” he said. “I saw you talking to Reeves when I came in. Did he say anything about the funeral arrangements?”

  Ethel felt horrible that she didn’t ask. “No, he seemed pretty upset.”

  “Yeah, I guess he would be. They had a strange relationship, those two. So, what are you two going to do on this fine day? Ethel, are you going to attend service today?”

  “I’m afraid I’ve missed my Sunday school class,” she said. “But maybe I’ll make it in time for noon service. Do you attend?”

  “Now and again,” said Calvin. “I’d sure like to take Velma sometime.” He gave her a big smile.

  “Good luck with that,” said Velma. “I avoid it whenever possible.”

  “She’s kidding,” Ethel said. “She loves church.”

  “On Mondays,” Velma mumbled. She didn’t want to give Calvin any ideas about taking her to church.

  Calvin laughed. “I’ve already explained to her that I like a challenge, and I’m a very patient man.”

  “And I’ve already explained myself too, Mr. Wallace.” She turned her nose up in the air and walked around the car. “Come on, Ethel. If you’re going to make it in time for your weekly meeting with God, I suggest we get the lead out.”

  “I’ll see you this week,” he said. “Let me know when the chief calls you in for your statement, and I’ll do the same. I’m hoping she doesn’t wait too long.”

  “Will do,” said Ethel.

  He walked to the mail truck, and Ethel got into the car with Velma. “What’s gotten into you? When a man asks you to go to church with him, the answer is always yes, especially when you’re smitten with him!”

  “Smitten? I’m not smitten with that man, and church is no place to be dating, Ethel. If the Lord wanted us to use his house as a dating site, he’d have turned it into a dance hall.”

  “Velma, that’s just silly. You could have at least been nice to him. And he’s onto your games. Did you hear him? He isn’t going to give up. Why make him do so much work?”

  “Because it will never work. I see it. Why can’t you?”

  “You better hope that one day he doesn’t see it, Velma. You deserve happiness in your life. You already complain about no excitement, but that’s what he is. You and he could have adventures together.”

  “I appreciate the encouragement. No wait. No, I don’t. Mind your own business, and start the car.” She looked out the window past Ethel to see Calvin backing up his mail truck, and as he pulled away, he gave them a smile and wave, beeping the horn.

  “Isn’t that the sweetest?” Ethel asked. “Excuse my language, sister, but you’re an idiot.” She started the car and put it in reverse.

  Velma looked out across the yard to where Calvin slowly made his way across the bridge which had been braced for use, and when he made it to the other side, he honked again, this time sticking his hand out the window. Maybe she was a little smitten, but that wasn’t for Ethel or Calvin to know.

  “I don’t think I’ll ever make it to church on time,” said Ethel with a frown.

  “I think the pastor will excuse you one week. You’re an old lady. You have a free pass when you need it.”

  “I know, and I think today I’ll have to take one. I guess I’m still shaken over last night. I didn’t sleep well, you know? Did you?”

  “Like a baby,” said Velma. “What kept you up?”

  “I just kept imagining that poor man slumped across the dining table and the blood running closer and closer until it spilled into my lap.”

  “That’s a horrible thought, Ethel. It’s not uncommon for people to have bad dreams and thoughts after a traumatic experience. Did you see Gaines too?”

  “No, mostly Bats. I really hope he doesn’t haunt me. He was a nice man, but I don’t want to see him every time I close my eyes. I must have prayed for his soul for hours until I finally gave out and fell asleep.”

  “If you don’t want to go to church, I have another idea.”

  Ethel glanced at Velma nervously. “Why do I have the feeling I won’t like your idea?”

  “Because you usually don’t. But this is a good one. We need answers and—”

  “I don’t need answers. You need answers.” Ethel was content to forget she’d ever been a part of the dinner party from H-E-double-hockey-sticks. She mumbled a silent prayer for thinking of the swear word.

  “Come on, you know as well as I do that you want to know who did it. I say we check on Ray and ask him what happened.”

  “You heard what he said, Velma. He said that he found the knife and he and Alice got in a scuffle.”

  “Yeah, but I want to hear what he has to say when no one else is around. Come on. Let’s go to the police station before we go home. And after, I’ll buy us lunch.”

  “Anything I want?” asked Ethel.

  Velma had a feeling she was going to want Mexican food, which never sat with either of them. But she had to play along. “Okay, Ethel, anywhere you want.”

  Chapter 19

  “I don’t see why we couldn’t stop by the house,” said Ethel as she drove across town from Gaines Manor.

  “I don’t see why you want to. It’s a waste of gas, and I don’t want to blow any more of our day going back and forth when we’re already closer to the county jail.”

  “How do you know they will even let us see him?”

  “It’s jail. He’s allowed visitors, and besides, by now, he could probably use one.”

  “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but poor Ray. It’s got to be the scariest thing for him. Being locked up with real hardened criminals. Just like my poor Landon.”

  “Landon is one of those hard criminals, Ethel. You just will always see him as your baby boy.”

  She shook her head. “He was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time,” she said with a defensive tone.

  “Well, stop making it to be more than it is. This is county lockup. You’re more likely to find a bunch of men locked up in the drunk tank than any real hard asses.”

  “Velma, watch your language. And the reason I wanted to go home was so I could put on something a little more modest.”

  “Any more modest than those long sleeves you’re wearing, and you’ll smother.”

  “This is simply too form fitting. I’ll have all of those miscreants hungering over me with desperation in their eyes.” Her tone had gotten a bit dramatic.

  “I don’t think you have anything to worry about, Ethel. No one is going to be looking at you. We go in and ask for Ray, and I’m sure they’ll take us to a nice room where we can talk to him through a piece of glass. Remember? That’s how it was when Landon was first locked up.” They had never let Landon out, though. Instead, they’d brought him right to prison.

  Ethel pulled up at the police station where the county lockup was part of the newer brick building. “You know if Chief Rayne sees you, she’s going to be upset.” She found the closest parking space and pulled into it, killing the engine.

  “There’s no crime in visiting a friend.”

  “So now he’s our friend?” Ethel asked with a smile. Ethel had always known that deep down Velma thought the man had to have some redeeming qualities, but he was just such a pervert that she couldn’t stand to listen to him.

  “Come on,” Velma said. “You know what I mean. Of course, he’s not a friend in the way that other people are our friends, but we have class with him every week, and we’re probably the closest thing to friends that he has. At least where familiarity goes.”

  “You’re right,” she said. “We can think of this as us doing out Christianly duties.”

  They got out of their car, and Velma let that sink in. It really wasn’t a terrible excuse.

  She was about to go toward the door when Ethel opened the back door of the Buick and reached in to grab a gray hooded shawl she’d crocheted and left there last winter, which lasted about two days in Bliss. She put it over her head,
and since she was short, it hung way down to her knees like a shroud.

  Velma scowled. “What are you doing, Ethel? You’re going to burn up in that thing. It’s ninety degrees out here!”

  “I’m sure they’ll have air conditioning. Besides, I told you I didn’t want those men ogling me. They are the scourge of society, and everyone knows those men are sexual deviants.” She whispered the word sexual, and Velma was shocked she’d said it at all.

  “Just because someone gets locked up for a petty crime doesn’t mean they are a sexual deviant.” Velma wondered if she’d say the same about her son but decided to not go there. She needed to get Ethel inside, and if she wanted to go in looking like the grim reaper, more power to her.

  They went to the front desk, and the lady there gave them a strange look. “May I help you?”

  “Yes, we’re here to see Ray Wetzel.” She wasn’t sure if he was listed as Raymond or not, but the lady didn’t say anything as she typed into the computer.

  “Have a seat, and we’ll call you back soon.” The woman narrowed her eyes at Ethel and her shroud.

  Velma grabbed Ethel by the arm and led her to the waiting area. “They’re already looking at you like you’re crazy.”

  “It is getting a bit hot.”

  “Then take that thing off! You look like a damned fool, like you’ve come to do some kind of ritual.”

  “A ritual? This is my winter Sunday morning shawl.” She got a look of disappointment. “I thought adding the hood was a bit much, but my ears get cold in service. I don’t know why. It’s the strangest thing.”

  “That’s because you put your hair up,” said Velma.

  Ethel took the shawl off. “I don’t want to hold this thing,” she said. “I probably don’t have time to go put it in the car. What if they call us back, and I’m outside?”

  Velma had all she could take. “Give me the damned thing,” she said, snatching it from Ethel’s hands. She walked over to the other side of the waiting area where a man dressed like a vagrant sipped a cup of free coffee. The knapsack he carried looked as dingy as he did, and his shoes were worn too. Velma draped the shawl around his shoulders.

  “Looks better on you,” she said before turning around to see Ethel, her mouth gaped and her eyes wide.

  “It took me two months to make that!”

  “You can make another one without the stupid hood.” Velma plopped back down in her seat, only to be called back a moment later.

  Ethel stayed close as they got up. “If I hear one catcall at me, I’m never going to forgive you.”

  “You’re going to be fine, trust me.” Velma had a feeling that if she didn’t get at least one comment out of someone, she was going to be upset. Ethel liked the attention more than she let on.

  At the door, a guard led them back to the visitation room that was nothing but a wall of glass-paneled stalls. “You’ve got twenty minutes.”

  They walked down and found the first few stalls empty, but as they approached the third one, Ray sat waiting. He looked weird in the orange and white striped scrubs that they had given him, but when he saw the two of them, he smiled ear to ear.

  “I had no idea who was coming down. I talked to my lawyer earlier and my brother. But it’s good to see you two dolls.” He wagged his brows at Ethel. “You’re quite the slice. And how’s Vroom-Vroom Velma?” He puckered his lips, and Velma thumped the glass.

  “Don’t make me regret coming down here, Ray.”

  “Sorry, it’s just some of these men here would love to get a look at you two fine ladies.”

  “Really? Let me guess, the geriatrics unit?”

  Ethel nudged Velma’s arm. “I told you. And you gave my shawl to that homeless man!”

  “A shawl? Did it get cold out there while I’ve been locked up?”

  “No, Ethel just wanted to cover up.”

  “Well, I have to say, I’m glad she didn’t.” He winked at her, and Ethel’s mouth popped open like she was offended, but only slightly. She put a hand on her heart and looked away, blushing.

  Velma cleared her throat. “We’re here to hear your side of things. You said that Alice had hid the weapon?”

  “I was in the chair by the window when the lights had gone off. You and Ethel were gone, but they stayed out a while. During that time, I froze. I heard footsteps go past me, then a sweet-smelling breeze like perfume, and what’s stranger than that, it happened twice. Once before I heard the thud of Everett hitting the floor, and once after.”

  “The knife had been hidden in the room all along, then?”

  “Yeah, and when everyone had gone, I planned on looking for it. I noticed something else though. Even though all of the other ladies had gone but Alice, that sweet-smelling perfume remained. It had to be her!”

  “So, you found the knife in the window seat? But that doesn’t prove she put it there. It could have easily been anyone else in the room that was standing near you. She had on so much perfume, anyone walking by her could have made you smell it.” Velma thought his story could be true, but if it was, had the lights going out been a mere coincidence?

  “It was under the cushion on the end, just behind its curtain,” he clarified. “She pulled it out when I found it. She cut herself with it.”

  Velma took a deep breath. “That was really close to your chair, Ray. Do you see how bad that looks?”

  “I know. Believe me. But I didn’t touch the weapon until we got in the struggle. When you all came in, she put on an act and played the victim.” He looked at them with pleading eyes. “I’ve told the chief everything, and I’m not sure they believe me, Velma. You and Ethel, you know me. You know I’m a heavy flirt, but I wouldn’t hurt anybody.”

  “The chief said she hoped that by locking you up, either the real killer would make another move, or you’d spit out a confession.”

  “If the real killer is going to do anything, it’s kill again.” Ray looked at them both. “Who’s to say they won’t go around killing the rest of you?”

  Ethel gasped. “Oh, Velma! You don’t think that’s going to happen, do you? I’m too young to die, and I can’t die a widow. I don’t want to die alone.”

  “You’re not going to die, Ethel. At least for a few more years and only after your body wears down to the point of uselessness.”

  Ethel’s eyes lit with horror.

  “Relax.” Velma turned her attention back to Ray. “We want to believe you, Ray. You’re a pain in our ass, but you’ve never shown us you’re a violent man, and I don’t believe you even have a motive to kill anyone.”

  “Not a one,” he said, raking his hands through his hair. “I’ve never thought I’d find myself in a place like this.” His eyes showed how lost he felt.

  “Don’t worry. We’re going to get to the bottom of this and find the real killer.” Velma got to her feet. “Hold tight, Ray. It won’t be long now.”

  She had a feeling he was telling the truth about the woman. She remembered Alice’s perfume and how offensively strong it had been.

  “I sure hope not.” He looked up at Ethel. “Do you happen to have a photograph of yourself that I could hang up in my cell? It gets really lonely in there, especially since my cellmates got transferred.”

  Ethel gasped. “I should slap you silly for asking. I’m practically spoken for.”

  Velma ignored her comments and pegged Ray with a hard look.

  “Don’t be jealous, Velma. I’ll take one of you too.” He gave a wink. “I could put yours under my pillow.”

  “Don’t push it,” she said, taking Ethel by the arm as they walked to the door and called for the guards.

  Chapter 20

  As Ethel and Velma walked out of the jail and into the sunshine of the beautiful day, Velma couldn’t see herself going home. “One more stop,” she told Ethel as her sister opened the car door.

  Ethel slouched, her posture a sure sign that she wasn’t impressed. “Where are we going now?” she asked. “We’ve already killed an entire mo
rning, and besides, I’m hungry. You promised me something to eat.”

  “We’ll eat later.” Velma knew she had promised her something, but it was still too early, and the church crowds would soon be filling up the restaurants anyway. “We have to help Ray first. Consider it your good deed for the day. Suffering for a friend and putting his needs above yours.”

  “I don’t know how we’re supposed to help him. I don’t want to go to back to Gaines Manor, and we’ve already talked to everyone else who was on that side of the table. We know that the Reynolds and the Tates didn’t have anything to do with it. They were all at the end by the fireplace.”

  “Don’t worry. It’s not them I’m interested in. And if you’re as crazy over Harrison Spoke as you seem to be, you shouldn’t mind paying him a visit either.”

  Ethel’s eyes lit up. “We’re going to see Harrison?” It took her about two seconds to glance in the mirror. “Oh, we can’t go and do that. Not now. I’m not decent. I wanted to be fancied up the next time I saw him.”

  “Well, then you can stay in the car. I want to question him. He was close when Bats was murdered and in the room when Everett was murdered. He could have moved fast. He’s in great shape.”

  Ethel waved her hand in front of her face to fan herself. “I just think it’s a waste of time. Perhaps we could give him a call instead.”

  “No, I want to see the look in his eyes as he tells his side of it. He put on a convincing act back at the house about his friends dying, but that is easy to say when most people would agree he hated Everett Gaines.”

  Ethel frowned. “I can’t believe you want to accuse my future husband of such a thing. He’s a good man, and there’s no way he’s involved. I’d bet money on Ray before Harrison. I won’t be any part of it.”

  “Let’s just drive by his office. It’s Sunday. There’s a chance he’s not even there.” Velma had a gut feeling that if they drove by, he might just be there. Men like him could rarely get away from work, especially when they were so busy trying to compete with someone else.