by Donna Doyle
"And that…," Molly Gertrude said as she turned to Salvatore Swaggart who was still forming perfect circles with the smoke he blew out, "…leaves you, Mr. Swaggart."
The dentist stared with a defiant look at Molly Gertrude. If he could have had the power to crush Molly Gertrude as if she were nothing but an annoying ant, he would have instantly done it.
"You were buddies in crime, Swaggart," Molly Gertrude said with a scowl. "You and Abe used young kids for your dirty plans, supposedly as an organization that was helping orphans, foundlings and castaways. You even got an award from the Calmhaven city-department for your so-called good works…"
Swaggart's eyes flashed, but he said nothing.
"Here's the proof," Molly Gertrude said, and she pulled out the photograph that Billy had given her. She handed the picture to JJ Barnes who stared at it with fascination. "This is a picture of you getting an award, but it was all lies. You never did a thing for these poor children, but you and Abe only used them. But then Abe changed…"
Molly Gertrude motioned for the waiter to give her some water. The man walked over and respectfully handed her a glass.
After Molly Gertrude took a few sips she continued. "Abe Mortimer was sick and tired of being a crook. He confessed everything when he joined Papa Julian's church, and even served a year for some of his crimes. He was genuinely sorry. He stopped his criminal life, of which Billy was a part, and he turned good. From that day forward he only lived to undo the evil the two of you had committed. He also tried to convince his former buddies to stop their wicked lives as well, which is why he took such an interest in Billy."
"It's a nice little bedtime story," Swaggart scoffed. "And then there came a big, fat gray elephant with a big snout who blew magical fairy dust over the land and all the children fell into a happy sleep." He shook his head in disgust and let out a curse.
The others stared at him, shocked at his language.
"There's no elephant, Swaggart," Molly Gertrude hissed. "Abe Mortimer gave you a chance to repent, but you did not care. You never changed. Abe Mortimer was tired of your unrepentant life style and he was going to the police."
Swaggart, feeling awfully sure of himself, chuckled. "Where's the proof, old woman? You've got nothing on me."
"We got this," Molly Gertrude said. She opened her purse again and pulled out Abe Mortimer's diary that Charmayne had given to her.
"What's that?" Swaggart asked, while he narrowed his eyes.
"It's a diary. Abe Mortimer's diary… He mentions you several times."
"The bungling words of an old man," Swaggart jeered. "That's no proof,"
"Shall I read you some passages?" Molly Gertrude suggested in a meek voice. "There are some passages here in which he claims he was going to talk to the police, giving them names, dates and places about the crimes the two of you committed. He didn't really want to rat on you, he just wanted you to stop using innocent young people. Simply put, he wanted you to stop being a crook. And the…" she leafed through the diary, "… he gave you an ultimatum. Two weeks before someone tried to kill him, but you did not heed it."
She pulled another piece of paper out of her bag. "Ever see this?" She unfolded it for all to see. It was the threat that Charmayne had found in her Daddy's drawer.
Stay out of my life, or else…
"I’ve never seen that weird paper in my life," Swaggart shrugged his shoulders.
"Come on, man," JJ Barnes's angry voice boomed through the room. “I never thought much of Miss Molly Gertrude's accusations, but this is getting interesting."
"Oh is it?" Swaggart fought back. "I wasn't even present at the wedding. You are all narrow-minded idiots. This is nothing but a witch hunt to discredit my legal dental work."
"Is it?" Molly Gertrude fired back. "Then let me tell you how you set out to kill Abe," Molly Gertrude said.
"You knew Abe Mortimer couldn't stand aspirin. He had told you so himself. But there was more than that. He had an intolerance for nuts as well. Nothing serious. Just a mild reaction, but whenever Abe Mortimer would eat nuts he would start to cough."
"So?" Swaggart said with a scowl.
"When he ate the cake, there were nuts in it. Of course, as a result, Abe coughed. Not because he choked on the cake, but because of the ground-up nuts in the cake. Thankfully, there was a very kind waiter, who ran up to help poor Abe. This kind waiter offered him some wine to flush away the so-called cake in his air passage."
"Nice story," Swaggart shook his head.
"Except," Molly Gertrude went on, "this waiter was not as kind as he pretended to be. He had put aspirin in the wine before he gave it to Abe. As soon as Abe drank it, his heart stopped working as it should. I checked this with the doctor. Aspirin is harmless, except for those people who have a condition as Abe Mortimer had."
For a long moment, nobody said a word.
"He should have died instantly," Molly Gertrude said at last with a sigh, “but old Abe is not one to give up without a fight!”
"Well, I wasn't there," Swaggart said, as he got up. "I have an alibi for that day. I was with my patients in Trenton Valley."
"Sit down," Digby hissed. "We will tell you when to leave."
Swaggart shook his head in disgust, but lowered himself back into his seat. "Another policeman on a power trip," he mumbled as he cast Digby an angry glare.
"Of course, you weren't there," Molly Gertrude went on. "You never get your hands dirty. You let other people take care of your dirty work."
"You do not know what you are talking about," Swaggart hissed. "You are speaking nonsense."
Molly Gertrude motioned with her hand for the waiter to give her some more water. The man stepped over with his tray. But, just as he went to hand Molly Gertrude another glass, Molly Gertrude, with a fast movement of her hand, pulled on the waiter’s hair.
"W-What are you doing, Miss Grey," Charmayne gasped. The waiter let out a yelp as he dropped the glass of water and stared in bewilderment at Molly Gertrude.
He was bald.
Instantly, he jerked the wig back out of Molly Gertrude's hands, but everyone had seen what had happened. The man stared for a panic-stricken moment at Molly Gertrude, and then ran for the door.
"Grab him Digby," Molly Gertrude shouted.
Instantly Digby sprang into action, as if he were a professional football player, and threw himself on top of the waiter, tackled him and held him down in an iron grip.
"Meet George Latimer," Molly Gertrude said as she knelt down next to Digby and the waiter and pulled the man's glasses off his nose as well, and removed his fake eyebrows. "Here is Billy's old buddy in crime, and Swaggart's present errand boy. We thought these hairy caterpillars were false moustaches,” Molly waved the limp fake eyebrows in her fingers, “but they are eyebrows designed to compliment your many alter-egos.”
"George?" Billy jumped up, as he recognized his former friend. "I can't believe this, Is this true? Did you really try to kill Abe?"
"I am sorry, Billy," George cried out. "You know how it is… I just couldn't get out of it."
JJ Barnes let out a soft cry. "What horrors! And that in Calmhaven."
Molly Gertrude spoke to Bald-Head, who stared at her from the floor with fearful eyes. "From the moment I first saw you in Miss Marmelotte's Tearoom," she said, "I knew I had seen you before. I just didn't know where, but then it came to me. You were also the waiter at the wedding party. Swaggart had gotten you into the wedding and knew about the nuts. He told you to be ready. As soon as Abe would start coughing, you were supposed to give him the aspirin infested wine. A smart move it was. No real poison. It was almost the perfect murder… but the brain behind it wasn't you, George… That was Salvatore Swaggart, alias Willy Wilmot. You were even able to sweep away the evidence pretending to clean up the broken glass. Very clever indeed!"
But, in all the commotion nobody had been watching Swaggart. The man had pulled a gun out of his coat pocket.
"Everybody back," he shouted in a hoarse
voice. "Up against the wall, hands behind your heads."
"Don't," JJ Barnes hissed. "The show is over, Swaggart. The whole state is going to be on the lookout for you."
"I'll take my chances," Swaggart fumed. "Come on… Hurry. Up against the wall."
Billy, Finney and Charmayne got up from their seats and slowly moved their noses towards the wall. "You too, Digby," he spat out the words.
Digby released his grip on Bald-Head and got up on his legs.
"It's all right," Barnes mumbled from the side. "Do as he says."
"That's right," Swaggart huffed. "You too, Molly Gertrude Grey and Officer Barnes."
At that instant the door was thrown open wide, and Miss Tilly appeared in the door. She was holding a glass of champagne, and stared with hazy eyes at the scene before her. "I-eh- So-Sorry," she slurred. "Looking for the ba-ba-bathroom."
But George Latimer saw his chance.
He knew the gig was up, and he no longer wanted to dance to the tunes of Willy Wilmot, or Salvatore Swaggart.
In one swift move he forced himself up to his knees and while Miss Tilly ran off screaming, he jumped on Swaggart like a tiger. Both men fell backwards and crashed to the floor. Digby knew he should not wait for even a second, and he too jumped forwards.
A shot sounded.
Bald-Head screamed in pain and stared in horror at his leg. "I am hit…" he screamed. "Help me!" The gun had gone off and Swaggart had shot him in the leg. But it was Swaggart's last deed as Digby was way too strong for the dentist and forced the gun out of his hand.
"Call an ambulance," Digby yelled. Then he turned back to Swaggart and hissed in his ear, "I think we've got more than enough evidence on you to put you away for more than twenty years."
"Good work, Digby," Barnes mumbled to Digby. Then he turned to the others and said, "Go join the party… It's over. I got it all under control and will take it from here."
Molly Gertrude sank down on a chair. She was as white as a sheet.
"Are you all right?" Dora asked.
"I think so, dear," she nodded as she looked up at Dora and cast her a weak smile. "That is quite enough excitement for one day."
"Thanks for the birthday present," JJ Barnes told Molly Gertrude as he stepped out the door, hauling Swaggart along. "I am glad I was able to solve this troublesome case. Calmhaven can sleep safely again."
Molly just nodded. No words came. At last, she turned to Dora and asked, "Do you mind driving me home, Dora. I would like to see Misty."
"No problem, Miss Molly. Let's go. I could use a cup of your raspberry tea, and I wouldn't mind having a Silky Citrus Curd Cookie.”
Molly Gertrude smiled. "You can have 10 of them, Dora. You deserve every one of them."
19
All’s Well That Ends Well
"Would you mind being the Godmother of our baby, Miss Molly Gertrude?"
Molly Gertrude frowned as she stared at Charmayne. "But I am in my seventies, Charmayne. How can I be a good Godmother?"
Charmayne pressed her lips together. "The Bridal Agency then. You and Dora can both be godmothers. Will you please do me and Billy the honor?"
Molly Gertrude threw up her hands and smiled. "How can I refuse, Charmayne. When is the baby due?"
Charmayne rubbed her tummy. "The doctor says it will be another two months."
"I am so glad for the two of you," Molly Gertrude whispered. "And you are feeling fine?"
"Couldn't be any better," Charmayne replied. "Billy is doing well. He found a job at Tykes Lumberyard. He's almost done paying off his debts, and since we have joined Papa Julian's Bible studies for married couples, our married life is getting better every day."
"I am so happy to hear that," Molly Gertrude said as she squeezed Charmayne's hand. “And how about my dear friend? How is he doing after such a scare?”
Charmayne looked at Molly Gertrude with a warm expression. "Daddy is doing fine, Miss Molly. He came round the very day you exposed his would-be killers. It took a few weeks for him to regain his strength, but since then he’s been stronger and more intent on changing the world for good than ever before. It’s a bone-fide miracle, Miss Molly."
“Well, my dear girl, we most certainly believe in those. The good Lord is a miracle worker in all of our lives!”
“Things really couldn't be any better than they are at the moment. Thank you for helping me Miss Molly Gertrude. When I saw Daddy keel over that day, I just knew something was wrong, and I could only think of one person to go to. And that person was you, Miss Molly Gertrude Grey.” Charmayne smiled.
Molly Gertrude shrugged. "I am just running a Bridal Agency. That's all."
Charmayne chuckled. "You should change the name to the Snoopy Bridal Agency, or something like that. You and Dora make a great team, and Calmhaven can't do it without the two of you."
Molly Gertrude smiled. "Hey… you want one of my Chocolate Delights. My new batch is just about ready, and you can be the judge of whether or not I put too much sugar in them. Want to try?"
"I'd love to Miss Molly Gertrude. Probably good for my baby too."
Molly Gertrude got up from her seat and disappeared into the kitchen. Charmayne inhaled the luscious scent of the chocolate cookies and smiled. "Thank you, God, for your goodness. Thank you for Billy, and Daddy, and for dear Molly and Dora.”
Dora, who had been quietly sitting listening added one more note of gratitude to Charmayne’s heartfelt prayer.
“And thank you, Lord, for chocolate delights!”
In unison, Charmayne and Dora giggled their “amen” as Molly stepped back through the door with a tray filled with chocolate covered manna from heaven.
Bridal Dress Disaster - Christian Cozy Mystery
A Molly Grey Mystery
1
Preparations
Molly Gertrude Grey went over her list once again. Michelle Harris and Brian Jones had hired the Cozy Bridal Agency to plan every aspect of their wedding, and Molly considered it her duty to make sure all the tiniest details were taken care of. She adjusted her glasses and looked through her handwritten checklist once again. Most of the items had been taken care of a long time ago, including the invitations, selecting the dishes for the reception, and ordering all the tables and chairs. Still, she liked to see those big bold checkmarks in their places.
“No, Misty,” she said quietly as her snowy white cat jumped up onto the desk and rubbed her cheek on the end of Molly’s pen. “You’ll get ink in your fur, and you know how much you dislike baths.”
Obediently, Misty hopped down into Molly’s ample lap, curled into a furry ball, and fell asleep.
“Dora, did you call the caterer and tell them about the extra guests?” Molly Gertrude asked without looking up. The groom had called a few days ago and told them he was expecting out-of-town relatives who’d been able to come at the last minute. It wasn’t convenient, but Molly liked to think she could handle any wedding needs after all these years of being in the business.
“Hmm?”
Dora’s absentminded reply made Molly look up from her work. Dora Brightside, her faithful assistant for the last three years, was sitting at her desk with her chin on her hands, staring out the window. “Dora? Are you with me today?”
“What’s that? Oh, sorry!” Dora quickly sat up and straightened her jacket, trying to look as though she was ready to work. “I was just admiring the rain.”
“Admiring it?” Molly Gertrude glanced out the window, pressing her lips together. “I’m not sure it’s something to be admired, Dora. It’s been raining for three days straight. The gutters are full, the ball field down at the park is completely flooded, and I don’t think I know what dry feet are anymore.” She had a pair of rubber boots sitting by her back door at home, but she didn’t like to wear them. They were too difficult to get on and off now that her old body refused to bend the same way it did twenty years ago. Still, the rain had been enough lately that she was starting to consider it. At this point, she wouldn’t be surpri
sed if she saw Noah’s Ark sailing past the window.
“But it’s so romantic!” Dora insisted, putting her hands on her cheeks as she turned to the window again. “It would be the perfect weather to just snuggle up on the couch with a blanket and a good movie. Or maybe to sit at an old oak desk and write a novel. The sound of the rain on the roof is so comforting, too. I’ve gotten the best sleep over the last few nights than I have in the last six months. I admit it’s not convenient, but it’s still so lovely.” Her innocent eyes were practically glowing.
Molly sighed and allowed her lips to curve into a small smile. She didn’t feel the same way about the weather that Dora did, but her assistant’s enthusiasm and hopelessly romantic nature made her a perfect fit for the Cozy Bridal Agency. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it, dear, but it leaves me rather concerned about the Harris-Jones wedding. Don’t forget that it’s supposed to be an outdoor affair.”
This brought a small frown to Dora’s face, but she quickly wiped it away. “Then we’ll find another place to have it,” she insisted with a wave of her hand, as though it wasn’t a problem at all. “It shouldn’t take much work to get a tent put up, or we can find a church or a hall that’s available.”
Molly Gertrude wasn’t so sure. Wedding season was in full swing, and most of the popular places for nuptials were booked solid. “Then I’ll put you in charge of finding a backup. I’ll feel better if we’re prepared, just in case the weather doesn’t break.” She sighed and let her fingers sink into Misty’s thick fur. “Even so, I hate for the bride not to get exactly what she wants. If I ever find a way to control the weather, we’ll be planning weddings for everyone across the country.”
Dora got on the phone making arrangements, and Molly did her best to go back to her work. She attempted to convince herself that everything would be all right. After all, she had been in the wedding business for her entire adult life. It didn’t take long for her to realize that this was the business she wanted to be in. The Cozy Bridal Agency had been in the family for longer than Molly cared to remember, and although Molly’s mother had not been too keen, Miss Molly had been bitten by the bug from her first encounter with a glowing bride and a nervous groom. Helping two people in love to commit their lives to the good Lord above in the bonds of marriage was a privilege Molly thanked her Savior for every single day.