“They sound like the names of old-time comedians,” Moraine said.
“I don’t suppose you could help us with something, Moraine.”
“What now?” asked Stuart, who was smiling as he joined us.
“Nothing all that important.”
“Or what you might think is important,” Eleanor added.
“She’s right. We’re hoping to find Nash Rivers. I don’t suppose you recall him mentioning where he was staying in Tawas.”
Moraine frowned. “He might be at the Butler Mansion. I believe all of Sara’s guests are staying there.”
“Not from what Millicent said. You see, we have a little problem. We promised a throng of protesters they’d get a chance to meet him.”
Stuart did a face palm. “And why would you tell them something like that?” His eyes widened. “Hey, what protesters?”
“Readers are quite angry about the missing page in Sara’s book.”
“Oh, you mean she hasn’t addressed that as of yet?” Moraine asked.
“No, and she was playing dumb last night when I asked about it, as you might have remembered.”
“What if she doesn’t know herself?”
“I’ll never find out until I see her again. If only I knew where she slipped off to.”
“So, you have a missing actor and actress?” Stuart asked.
“I’m not saying either of them are missing, but I don’t know where they currently are.”
Eleanor suddenly turned my wheelchair and before I could grumble at her, a young woman walked to the patio door before freezing as we locked eyes. It was the actress Liv Haley.
Chapter Seven
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING here, Liv,” I asked, loud enough for her to hear from the inside of the house.
She motioned us inside, stumbling to hide behind the sofa.
Stuart helped me back inside and we met up with Liv in the kitchen, which was out of sight of the window, and out of Benny and Wallace’s vision. I assumed the men were still outside, probably awed by the lake.
Liv was pushing down the man’s shirt she was wearing.
“Come on, Stuart. I think they’d prefer to talk privately,” Moraine said.
I had to snicker to myself as she pulled my son away from the gorgeously tanned actress. Liv was five foot six with long, stunning honey hair. The shirt barely buried her beneath it, which meant whoever it belonged to wasn’t as large or as muscular as my son Stuart. Besides, he never wore a shirt as silky as this one.
Eleanor breathed in sharply. “Whoever’s shirt that is wears the same kind of cologne that Nash Rivers wears.”
Liv’s honey eyes widened. “Please ... you can’t tell anyone.”
“So, you’re having an affair with Nash?” I asked with a grin. “Nothing wrong with that.”
“That’s easy for you to say, people won’t try to make some cute combination out of your names.”
“I don’t see what the big deal is, but I understand your right to privacy. I don’t have cameramen following me everywhere I go.”
“Well, we do now,” Eleanor pointed out.
“What’s up, babe?” Nash asked, as he padded into the kitchen and then froze now, too. “Oops.”
“What are we going to do now, Nash?”
“We won’t tell anyone,” I said, adding, “That is, if you’re willing to do us a little favor, Nash?”
“I’ll do anything.”
“Anything?” Eleanor asked, her tongue half hanging out until I gave her a kick.
“Ouch,” Eleanor exclaimed. “Did you know readers are protesting the missing page of Sara’s book?”
“I imagined people would be upset, after I heard about it.”
“When she said protesting, what Eleanor meant was picketing.”
“Sheriff Peterson wasn’t too happy about it so we had to compromise with him.”
“We might have mentioned we could get you to meet them.” I winced as I added, “I didn’t know how else to do it. The sheriff insisted it would be bad for tourism with them protesting on the main drag.”
Nash smiled. “Sure, why not. Give me a call with the details when you’re ready. We’re staying out of sight right here.”
“I don’t suppose you know where Sara is?”
“No, but I’ll make some calls, okay?”
I smiled into Nash’s blue eyes to keep myself from staring at his eight pack. He was chiseled all right, even if he had a somewhat slight frame. From the nervous glances passing back and forth between the couple, I knew it was time to leave.
“Can you get Benny and Wallace to join us at the car? We better get out of here before one of them spots Liv and Nash,” I suggested to Moraine.
“Good plan.”
“Why didn’t you tell us Nash was here?” Eleanor asked.
Stuart shrugged. “We promised not to.”
“I just hope you’ll both remember to only have eyes for one another while they’re here,” I said.
Stuart assisted me into the SUV after he put all my essential equipment into the back.
Then he leaned into the car door. “You know it’s really hard to see you using a wheelchair.”
I nodded sadly. “I know, and it’s so hard for me, too. Even with a bad hip I manage to get around nicely.”
“This is temporary,” Eleanor reminded me. “That’s what you have to remember. And just think about all the things you can hide in there with nobody any the wiser.”
“Please don’t give her any crazy ideas. She already has enough of them,” Stuart scolded.
“I’ll have you know that I have my own crazy ideas and don’t need help coming up with them.”
Benny and Wallace hopped into the vehicle and off down the road we went. “Slow down,” I reminded him. “We don’t need to mow anyone down.”
“Yeah, then they’ll never allow us back in here,” Eleanor added.
“I was only going ten miles an hour!” Benny gasped.
“Coasting would be even better.”
FINALLY, WE WALTZED into Barnacle Bill’s, or at least Eleanor, Benny, and Wallace did. I wheeled myself in to prove I wasn’t as helpless as people thought.
“Oh, my,” the hostess said. “You poor thing.”
“Save it,” I exclaimed. “We’re here to meet my friends.”
“Elsie Bradford and her party are already set up.”
I stared at the ‘wait to be seated’ sign. “According to this sign—”
“Since when don’t you sashay to a table whenever you come here?”
“You might have noticed I can’t sashay anywhere today!”
“Thank you. We’ll be moving along now,” Eleanor said, as she pushed my chair into the dining room.
Tables were set up and Elsie and Marjory’s faces were buried in Sara’s tell-all book.
Marjory glanced up, her mouth slacking open. “It’s worse than I thought. Eleanor finally lost it and put poor Agnes into a wheelchair, Elsie,” she joked.
“Oh, bother,” Elsie began. “I was so expecting to take a long walk with my friends today.”
“Can’t do that if Agnes is in a wheelchair,” Marjory reasoned.
“Oh, hogwash,” Eleanor explained, as she moved a chair so I could fit comfortably by the table. “The most walking you’ve done Elsie is walking from your house to your car.”
“I was hoping you weren’t trying to pull me into this,” Marjory said. “I’m used to walking, since Bill and I go golfing regularly.”
“With or without a golf cart?” I asked with a smile.
“Well, would you look who’s here,” Eleanor called out.
Bernice proudly approached the table in her powder-blue ensemble.
Elsie’s eyes widened. “Where on earth did you get that lovely outfit?”
“Oh, this little thing?” Bernice asked. “You know, I can’t exactly remember where I bought it.”
Elsie frowned, her lip protruding slightly.
“Oh, come on, Elsie,�
� Marjory began, “you’re not the only person in Tawas who can wear powder blue clothing, you know.”
“I know that, but I would hope my friends would find their own style of clothing.”
Marjory shook her head. “Oh, drop it, old girl. We have more important matters to attend to today.”
“Like what?”
“Did you happen to read Sara Knoxville’s tell-all book yet?” I asked Elsie.
Her face lit up then. “Oh, yes, it’s quite juicy.”
“Did you read the chapter about an illicit affair yet?”
“I don’t believe I got quite that far yet.”
“No bother, since there is a key page missing,” I said. “So I suppose we’ll never find out who Sara had the affair with.”
Marjory knocked over the salt shaker as she slammed her man-sized hands on the table. “That’s even more scandalous.”
“It’s downright dirty, if you ask me,” Elsie said, as she thumbed through the book. “We should picket the Butler Mansion until Sara fesses up.”
“They’ve been picketing already this morning, but I managed to persuade them to stop until we can figure this out,” I said. “Sheriff Peterson is convinced it’s bad for tourism with them marching in front of the state dock.”
“I’m shocked you and Marjory weren’t there with the other picketers, Elsie,” Eleanor said.
“I’m so disappointed that one of you girls didn’t call us down there. We missed all the fun.”
“It wasn’t that much fun,” Eleanor said. “But you could come and meet Nash Rivers later today if you’d like. We had to make a deal with the picketers.”
“Oh?” Marjory said, exchanging a look with Elsie. “He is quite a good-looking actor. Thanks, girls, for including us.”
“If only we had been included in that Hollywood party out at the Butler Mansion last night,” Elsie said.
“It was a small, informal party,” I quickly explained.
Dorothy Alton strutted over. “Oh, here you are, girls. Has Agnes told you the exciting news? We’re going to meet that hot new actor later today.”
“Agnes just told us,” Elsie said with a grin. “Why don’t you join us now?”
“Oh, I can’t do that. I have to buy something nice to wear. You can’t just show up wearing jeans and a T-shirt when you meet a handsome man like that.”
“Since when have you ever worn jeans or a T-shirt?” Eleanor asked.
“Never, but that’s not the point. See you ladies later.”
“Dorothy does have a point,” Elsie said. “I can’t show up wearing the same color as Bernice.”
“Oh, I won’t be wearing this later,” Bernice said. “I just wanted to ruffle your feathers.”
“Well, you certainly did a good job of that.” Marjory winked.
A server came over and took our order, coming back with our beverages minutes later. I leaned back and relaxed, just as Benny and Wallace joined us.
“Oh, I was wondering where you two went off to,” I said.
“We were at the bar, talking to the locals. You two are more famous than we thought,” Wallace said, as Benny had his camera trained on our table.
I made the introductions and explained. “These two young men will be following us around.”
“Filming our every move,” Eleanor added.
Elsie laughed. “I hope it’s not for a reality show. Well, not unless they’re on a case. People in town might find it interesting to see how these two croons can solve cases.”
“Watch it!” Eleanor threatened.
“Elsie was just joking,” I said. “Yes, a case would be better, but I’m not looking for one to pop up. Finding out where the missing page in that book went is more interesting of a case at the moment.”
“Except we don’t exactly know where Sara is, either,” Eleanor said. “I think she’s gone into hiding.”
“I tried to talk to her about her book yesterday, but she really wasn’t answering my questions about it. But don’t worry, I’m not giving up.”
“Tell our friends how you ended up here in Tawas, gentlemen,” Eleanor said.
“Director Roman Douglas invited us. At the time we weren’t certain why he called us here,” Wallace said. “I’m sorry we missed last night’s party.”
“I wouldn’t worry about that. There will be plenty of parties to come, I would think. Unless the Hollywood players have all decided to leave town,” I said.
“Hardly, especially with free room and board,” Benny said. “How else do you think the rich stay rich?”
“How big of a Hollywood director is Roman Douglas anyway?” Eleanor asked.
“He’s had his hits and misses, with more hits than misses.” Benny laughed. “I was an intern during college on a few of his movie sets.”
“Weren’t you able to get a position as a cameraman?”
“I didn’t try, actually. It’s too slow for me, all that hurry up and waiting.”
“I can’t imagine it would be as exciting as it sounds,” Eleanor said. “Have you been involved in any reality television shows?”
“No, this is our first gig doing that, but it shouldn’t be that busy since women your ages go to bed at eight,” Wallace said.
“Mind your manners, young man. I’ll have you know Agnes and Eleanor burn the midnight oil if they need to. Don’t you dare even think a wheelchair will slow down Agnes,” Elsie said, as our food was set down.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend anyone.”
“He’s good at putting his foot in his mouth,” Benny said. “It’s nice to see someone put him in his place.”
“I’m famished,” I said, changing the subject, and reminding the others to concentrate on eating since we had more fish to fry later.
Benny and Wallace adjourned to another table where they were having a private conversation. I had a feeling that they had never met such opinionated senior citizens before. Obviously, Wallace didn’t have any experience being around women our age.
I WAVED AT ROSA LEE’S sons Curt and Curtis as they pulled out of their driveway as we were going in.
I wasn’t sure they even recognized us as they backed up and approached the SUV. I stepped out of the vehicle and their eyes widened when they fixated on my medical boot as my wheelchair was removed from the back.
“Are you okay, Miss Agnes?” Curt asked in concern.
“Yes, I’m fine, just a sprained ankle is all.”
“Is your ma here?” Eleanor asked.
“In the kitchen, like normal,” Curtis said, “but don’t you dare tell her I said that.”
Curt stared hard at Benny and Wallace and I quickly made the introductions.
“Keep that camera in the vehicle,” Curt said. “Or our Ma will show you to the door before you even get the chance to walk inside.”
“It’s not like she’s doing anything illegal today, is she?” Eleanor asked. “Or baking brownies?”
“She’s not baking today.”
“Curt and Curtis are members of the Michigan Militia and they don’t trust folks they don’t know,” I explained.
“We used to be members,” Curt said. “We’re now firearm specialists, so you had better watch it with Miss Agnes and Miss Eleanor. I’d hate to have a problem with you two.”
“They’re alarmists, I’m afraid,” I said, “but I think we should leave the camera behind. I can’t imagine we’ll be able to talk to Rosa Lee with one jammed in her face.”
“Not a problem,” Benny said, as he left the camera behind and we approached the door of the old farmhouse, which had seen better days. The paint might be peeling on the outside, but on the inside it was warm and inviting.
I knocked on the back door and Rosa Lee hollered, “Come in, girls.
I waved when Eleanor pushed my chair inside, introducing the men.
“Hello there, fellas,” Rosa Lee said. “Do you like brownies?”
“She’s just joking.” I smiled.
“Only if they have pot in
them.” Wallace laughed.
Eleanor and I shot him a look before Rosa Lee pulled out a container filled with blueberry muffins. “I think these might be more up your alley. All of my brownies have already been spoken for.”
“Another bake sale?” Eleanor asked.
“Not exactly, but I’m sure you didn’t come here to discuss my brownies.”
“You were the one who brought up the brownies,” I reminded her.
“Guilty as charged,” Rosa Lee said, as she motioned for Eleanor, Benny, and Wallace to sit down.
I sighed, not knowing exactly how to broach the subject of Piper, the purse snatcher. “I don’t want to pry, but is Piper related to you?”
“Oh, you must mean my lovely niece turned purse snatcher,” Rosa Lee said glumly. “It’s a shame she’s in jail.”
“Her mother bailed her out, from what we heard,” I said.
“Oh, I had no idea Clarissa was back in town,” Rosa Lee said.
“How old is Piper?” I asked.
“Eighteen, and I was quite shocked when I found out she had been arrested. I don’t know what got into that girl. She graduated high school with honors. I blame Clarissa for not encouraging her daughter to go to college.”
“I see. Well, sometimes children get themselves into trouble, but that doesn’t make them all bad. Your boys certainly changed their ways,” I said.
“You’re right about that because I’d put my foot up their rear if they ever get out of line again. They paid their dues, though, and I’d put my boys above most of the young men in this town.”
“Hear, hear,” Eleanor agreed. “Have you spoken to Piper recently?”
“Not yet, but I will before the night’s through. If she needs direction, I’m the one to do it. There’s nothing like a little work to set a girl straight.”
“Not making brownies, I hope.” I smiled.
Rosa Lee sighed. “I have green beans that need picking and cleaning so I can get them blanched and thrown in the freezer.”
“What other kind of plants do you grow?” Wallace asked.
I gulped for a moment until Rosa Lee said, “Strawberries, blueberries, radishes, lettuce, cabbage. Haven’t you ever been around someone who grows their own vegetables?”
Scandal in Tawas Page 6