by Ellen Riggs
Chapter Nineteen
“Promise me you won’t scream, Jilly,” I said, beckoning Keats to come closer. “Because maybe, if we’re very quiet, it won’t notice us.”
“The swan?” she asked. “He’s been watching the whole time. Although now it seems like he’s looking at—oh. Oh, no. Tell me that’s a log.”
“Only if a log has bulbous eyes and teeth.”
“Ivy… I can’t. I really can’t.” Her voice was low and hoarse and Keats, now between my feet, made a keening sound.
“Quiet, you two. Alligators don’t see that well. They’re like snakes and respond to vibrations.”
“They can see well enough to chase golfers,” Jilly said. “I’ve watched those videos.”
“Maybe those were crocodiles,” I said. “They’re far more vicious, from what I read.”
“So you read up on this?”
“Just a little. Just in case.” I fumbled with the oars and tried to get them moving. “Gators tend to be mild mannered unless they have a nest around.”
Jilly tried to smother a moan. “What do we do if it catches us?”
“First, it can’t while we’re in the boat.”
“But if it did?”
“Beat on its snout and eyes as hard as you can. Those are the sensitive parts. Whatever you do, don’t play dead.”
As I angled the boat, her head swiveled to track the gator. “I wish I hadn’t asked.”
“But see how useful I’d be in Edna’s survival course? Gators and crocs will run rampant after the apocalypse. Dinosaurs might make a return.”
“There’s a time for joking and a time for fleeing,” she said. “Rule number one in the survival course.”
“We’re good if we all stay in the boat.” I set the oar against the tree and shoved hard to free us. “No way can it climb up the slippery side with those stubby little legs.”
“I think I’m going to wet myself,” Jilly said.
“Good thing you’re wearing chest waders,” I said, as we finally broke free of the vegetation.
“How is that a good thing? I’ll be soaking in my own urine.”
“It’s great for the skin—an ingredient of specialty moisturizers. You’re going to come out of this looking years younger.”
“My feet, maybe.”
“Then you can start your next career as a foot model.”
There was a pause and then a small snort. “Ivy, do not make me laugh. Vibrations, remember. This is a very dangerous situation, particularly for the pets.”
“And the swan, I would think. Why on earth is he hanging around with that thing?”
“How about we discuss swan motivations back on the shore? Maybe the bird will follow and the gator won’t.”
That’s not how it worked out, though. The swan stayed right where he was, on the other side of the clearing. The gator, on the other hand, moved toward the boat, a floating log about eight feet long. It moved with such ease that it barely caused a ripple. Keats couldn’t see it, lodged as he was between my shins. But he knew, and his growl was deep enough to send plenty of vibrations.
“Keep it down, buddy. At least make that thing work for it.” I pushed strands of wet hair out of my eyes. “I know I’m supposed to love all creatures great and small, but some are harder than others, I must admit.”
“If you even think about rescuing an alligator, it’ll blow fifteen years of friendship right out of the proverbial water,” Jilly said. “I wish it no harm but I don’t care to make its acquaintance.”
“Me either.” I spun the boat slowly and gently in the clearing. “My own reptilian brain balks at reptiles.”
“What are you doing, Ivy?” Jilly’s voice had a jarring note. “You’re heading the wrong way!”
“Just moving back far enough to row up a good head of steam. We’ll rocket through the bush and beat the gator back to the dock. Then we call for backup.”
“That’s the best idea you’ve had all day,” she said. “Standing by with my phone.”
I used the oar to do a full circle with my eyes jumping back and forth between the alligator and the swan. Zeus’ head swiveled, always turning in the same direction. His orange bill turned away from the gator. That couldn’t be a coincidence. There was something else he wanted us to see, I was sure of it. He deserved a chance to show us before we beat it out of there.
Giving a quarter turn, the swan raised his wings higher, and arched his neck.
That’s when I noticed the other object in the water. Not a missing mate, as I had anticipated. Not a family of sweet cygnets. Not even an alligator bride or groom.
It was bright and striped, and drifted just beneath the murky surface.
A dress.
A dress that was still on its owner, who floated face down.
Keats’ growling grew louder, competing with Jilly’s protests as I rowed closer.
“No choice, Jilly,” I said. “Please hand me your phone and then look away. You don’t want to see this, take my word for it.”
Jilly took my word for a lot of things but there was no way she wasn’t going to see with her own eyes why I was moving further into the marsh and allowing the alligator to move between us and safe harbor.
I thought about standing to get a better angle but nixed the idea. That had already ended badly once. Although it had ended better than it could have, all things considered. Instead, I just let the boat carry us close enough to take a few photos.
“How awful,” Jilly croaked. “Do you know who it is?”
“Judging by the brown hair and what people wore in town today, I’m going to say Alice Cheevers.”
“Oh no, poor Alice. She was lovely.”
Percy poked his head out of her slicker and she tucked it back in. Meanwhile, Keats started growling again.
There was nothing more we could do at this point, so once Jilly’s phone was back in her hand, I turned the boat and moved far enough away to avoid disturbing the body.
“Got it, Zeus,” I called to the swan. “You can come out, now. We’ll send the cops.”
The swan didn’t follow us, though. Perhaps he was protecting the body from the alligator, or just marking the spot until the authorities arrived.
Jilly called 911, explaining our predicament in a brisk, matter-of-fact voice. You would have thought she was placing an order for takeout, rather than sharing grisly details of another death. When the chips were down, Jilly Blackwood always rose to the occasion, even if there was a gator nipping at her hip waders.
As soon as she hung up, I aimed the boat at the sparsest section of bush and really leaned into the oars, picking up speed with each pull.
“Duck,” Jilly said, as the branches tore at our hair and poked at our eyes.
Once we were in the thick of it, I lifted the oars and let momentum carry us through. It was only a few yards till we were in the open water of the pond. For a second I thought we were truly free, until an eight-foot log cruised out of the bush after us. A V formed on the darkening water.
I glanced over my shoulder to locate the dock and refine my navigation. “Thank goodness someone’s already waiting for us. That was fast.”
The dock was shrouded in shadows, but I could tell the person was a woman. It must be one of the residents.
“Please get back,” I called out. “Way back. There’s an alligator following us.”
“Not anymore,” the woman called back. She didn’t sound as old as any resident here. Maybe Chief Gillock had deployed a female officer. “You’re good now.”
I turned and she was right. The alligator had turned its V around, creating a little vortex, and was heading back into the bush.
“How could she see that?” I asked Jilly. “It’s too dark.”
Jilly didn’t answer for a long moment. Shadows had fallen over her face, too, so I couldn’t make out her expression. However, I felt tension gathering around her like storm clouds.
“What is it?” I asked. “Nothing can be worse than an
alligator and a dead body, Jilly. Can it?”
A few seconds passed before Keats stuck his head out from behind the shelter of my rubber boots. Percy poked his head out of Jilly’s slicker again and this time she didn’t shove him back.
“Not worse than that,” she said at last. “Just a different kind of torment.”
I kept rowing, although now I sensed she’d like me to slow down. “Who is it? You must recognize the voice.”
She gave a quick nod. Her left hand reached for Percy’s head, and her right for Keats. He immediately moved under her fingertips. Like Jilly, when duty called, Keats always served.
Once she’d gotten herself grounded while still gliding over the water, she said, “Janelle. It’s Janelle.”
Chapter Twenty
So many names had flown by since we left the farm that it took me a second to figure out exactly who stood on the dock.
“Your cousin Janelle?” I asked. “The one who basically broke up your family?”
“Yes,” Jilly said. “That Janelle.”
“It wasn’t my fault,” the woman on the dock said, confirming both her identity and how well sound carried over the water at night.
“It was her fault,” Jilly muttered. “Just by being her.”
“Which isn’t my fault,” Janelle said. “Just like you being you isn’t yours.”
“Ladies.” I angled the oars to slow our approach. “We have bigger fish to fry right now. The cops are on their way and this discussion had better wait.” I looked over my shoulder at Janelle’s shadowy form and then at Jilly. “Can we agree to leave this until the animals are safe, Jilly? I need your help. What if the gator comes after them?”
“It won’t,” Janelle said. “There’s easier hunting out there.”
“I hope you don’t mean Zeus,” I said.
“Zeus?” Janelle said. “Oh, that must be the swan.”
“That’s right. I’m bringing the boat into the dock, Janelle. I’m Ivy, by the way—Jilly’s best friend. And just to be clear, no matter what, I’m on her side.”
“Understood,” Janelle said.
“Then if you don’t mind, I’m going to need your help. As soon as the boat is hitched, I’ll grab my dog and ask you to give me a hand to get out. Next is Jilly, with the cat.”
“She’s not helping me out,” Jilly said.
“Oh, come on, Jilly. It’s been nearly twenty years,” Janelle said.
“Feels like yesterday, and I’m still furious. So, you can help Ivy and then Ivy can help me.”
“Works for me,” I said, “as long as Keats is okay with Janelle holding him. No paw touches the ground until we’re back at Bridie’s. Got it, everyone? Then you guys can hash things out over a stiff drink. I know I need one.”
Keats appraised Janelle with his cool blue eye, and his muzzle lifted to take in her essence. After a second or two, his ears—still under Jilly’s fingertips—came forward. Then his tail lifted.
“Traitor,” Jilly muttered.
“Oh, you know how Keats is,” I said. “Loves my mom just because we’re related. Janelle is your kin.”
“Was,” Jilly said. “Once upon a time.”
Janelle let that go, which probably took some effort.
“Remember the plan,” I said. “With that alligator cruising around, I’m not getting out of this boat until I have a promise from both of you to put my pets’ safety first.”
“Agreed,” they said at once. Their voices not only overlapped, but came back as an echo a second later, sounding eerily alike.
Jilly must have noticed too, because she let out a grunt of disgust as I tossed the rope to Janelle and let her tie up the boat. Then Janelle held out her hand to me. Now that we were parked right under her, I could see that Janelle and Jilly had more in common than melodious voices. The woman on the dock wore heels and a simple, elegant dress. Her hair, while darker than Jilly’s, cascaded over her shoulders in the same loose curls and her eyes, in the dim light from the phone, seemed to be the same emerald green. They also shared Bridie’s classic features, if not her boho style.
Scooping up Keats with my left hand, I accepted Janelle’s with my right and gasped at her touch.
“What?” Jilly said.
“Nothing,” I said. “Just a little jumpy, that’s all.”
How could I explain to my best friend that the cousin she obviously loathed gave off a small but noticeable electrical charge? My nerves were already jangling from what had happened in the swamp, so I was prepared to think I’d imagined it. In fact, I deliberately chose to believe that.
“Nice to meet you, Ivy,” Janelle said. “And you, too, Keats. I’ve heard all about the wonder dog and it’s an honor.”
“Oh please,” Jilly said.
“Well, she’s right about that,” I said. “But only that, I’m sure.”
Normally Keats didn’t waste energy wagging, let alone when being carried by a stranger, but the white tuft of his tail slapped against Janelle’s chic dress.
“Traitor,” Jilly muttered again as I helped her out of the boat.
Keats leaned over Janelle’s arm and touched Jilly’s cheek with his nose, murmuring assurances no doubt, that she would always be his first love, after me.
Jilly backed away, perhaps to avoid being sucked into her cousin’s orbit as Keats clearly had been. When Percy struggled to get out of her slicker, she pushed his head down and buttoned up.
Only while watching Jilly in the light of the phone hanging from her hand, did I realize how we must look to an outsider in our swamp gear. My friend’s hair had swelled into a frizzy dome, her makeup was running and there was a smudge of sludge on one cheek. And on top of everything else, she looked utterly spent. Janelle was the last straw. What my friend might have been able to handle with grace a few weeks ago was too much after the gator and the second body.
No doubt I looked far worse than Jilly, but I wasn’t burned out yet. Often, when we got caught up in adventure, I still had 60 faces waiting for me to feed and bed them. The responsibilities of the farm weighed on me constantly. Tonight, after we’d dealt with the police, I could kick back with an adult beverage and call my boyfriend. Almost like a regular person.
Keats gazed at me and whined. I took him from Janelle and thanked her. “Don’t worry buddy,” I whispered. “I would never give it up. It’s worth every prematurely gray hair.”
“The farm?” Janelle asked, as if overhearing my thoughts.
“Yeah. I was just thinking about all the work we didn’t need to do tonight. To Keats it isn’t work at all.”
The sirens in the distance stopped, no doubt as Special Constable Doug grilled the police at the gate before admission. Not long after, cars pulled up onto the grass and Chief Gillock ran over.
“What on earth?” he asked, directing a powerful flashlight from my head to my boots.
“Can you just go out and deal with Alice, Chief Gillock?” I said. “The swan is probably still marking the spot. And there’s an alligator out there.”
“There’s more than one gator, I can promise you that,” he said. “We need to set up before we get started.” He used the light to point from me to Jilly and back. “Follow me, ladies. We’ll talk in the car.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, I had a dip in the pond earlier,” I said. “Can I change out of my wet clothes first? I’m worried about leeches.”
“You took a dip in a swamp full of gators?” He shook his head. “You really are city girls.”
“It wasn’t a choice,” I said. “My cat fell off the oar and… Well, never mind. I didn’t know about the gators yet.”
“Always assume there are gators,” he said. “And please explain why your cat was—” The words seemed to die in his mouth as his light landed on Janelle. “Oh.”
Shielding her eyes from the beam, Janelle smiled. “Hello, Chief. I’m Janelle Brighton, Bridie’s other granddaughter. It would be lovely if the girls could go home and freshen up before chatting.”
>
“I need to know what we’re heading into,” he said, although his voice moderated.
“As I understand it, they were just looking for the swan and found him with the deceased.”
Chief Gillock probably didn’t realize he was staring, but the light held steady on Janelle. She looked like a glamorous movie star, especially in present company. No doubt her dress was covered in pawprints and dog hair but he wasn’t close enough to see that.
“Girls! Girls! Are you all right?” Bridie came running across the park from our usual entrance.
“Gran, we’re fine.” Jilly and Janelle spoke together, and then glared at each other. In that moment, I saw that Janelle was equally furious at Jilly, despite her appeasing words earlier.
Keats gave a low, sad mumble and I pressed my face into his fur. “Don’t worry about Jilly,” I whispered. “She’ll be okay. Crazy things happen with family but it can all work out. Look at mine.”
When I lifted my head, Janelle was staring at me. With all the hubbub of officers unloading equipment, she couldn’t have overheard me.
“I got here as soon as I could,” Bridie said. “That dang ferret escaped from the cage and chewed a hole through my window screen. I caught him just in time.” Her eyes danced from Jilly to Janelle and back, and I suspected she was grateful to Arnie for giving her a chance to arrive late for the cousins’ reunion. “Picking him up in my bare hands was a dreadful ordeal, Ivy. Those little bones… and the wiggling. I’ve used a bit of wire to rig the cage.”
“Thanks, Bridie,” I said. “I know from experience that having so many guests is stressful.” Especially when they didn’t get along, I added silently. This reunion would have been awkward in the best of circumstances, and the murder—plural, most likely—added complexity. However, experience had also shown me that a challenge like this could bring perspective and maybe even pave the way to reconciliation. It had happened with my mom and then my absentee father. I wouldn’t wish a murder on anyone, but I could honestly say solving mysteries together gave the Galloways more peace. Maybe it would work out for these three as well.
“I’m staying in the recreation center,” Janelle said. “There’s a guest suite.”