by Donna Doyle
Dora blushed.
"You like Digby, don't you Dora?"
Dora gave her a shy little nod. "I do, Miss Molly. Even more than your Lemon Citrus Cookies."
Missing Cash and the Corpse in a Cabin
A Molly Grey Cozy Mystery
Ever wonder how Molly Grey came to be in Calmhaven?
Of course, Samuel Given's untimely death could have been an accident, but in my heart I had already agreed with Dora Brightside that something was wrong. Whenever I get these hunches, feelings, or insights (whatever name you want to give it) I am usually right.
"You know, Dora…" I said, "I am not only a wedding-planner."
She raised her brows. "You are not? What else do you do?"
"I am a bit of an amateur sleuth. Mysteries have a strange attraction to me, and whenever I hear of a case that has the police stumped, I usually like to do a little snooping around…”
1
In the Garden
Calmhaven
Today.
Molly Gertrude Grey could not have chosen a better day for the celebration. Even though Summer was past and the leaves were fast falling from the stately trees of Calmhaven, it was unusually warm and balmy which made some folks whisper of an Indian Summer. There was not a cloud in the sky and the party-goers had moved outside to the flowery garden in the back of the Cozy Bridal Agency, and were standing with bright smiles on the lawn between Miss Molly Gertrude's only apple tree and a low stage that had been especially built for the occasion, complete with a microphone.
It was a sight to behold. Everyone was carrying a bright smile. Some were sipping from crystal goblets that sparkled in the sunlight, and were filled with a gold-colored soft wine, a courtesy of Luca Dolce, Calmhaven's vintner who had opened his renowned wine cellar for the occasion. The man had donated some of his finest wines. Others were feasting on Miss Molly Gertrude's fabulous Citrus Lemon Curd cookies that she had made available in great quantities, and then there were those who simply enjoyed the scene, while basking in the glorious sunlight.
Today was clearly a day to put one's worries aside and to celebrate.
On this day, October 18th, it was exactly ten years ago that Miss Molly Gertrude Grey, with the tireless and enthusiastic help of Dora Brightside, had opened Calmhaven's only wedding office, the Cozy Bridal Agency. Miss Molly Gertrude could still remember hanging up the original sign above the door.
The Cozy Bridal Agency
If you can dream it, we can plan it
Ten years ago it had been a simple hand painted sign, but recently Dora had convinced her to replace the old battered board with a fresh new neon sign. At night it lit up in spectacular bluish colors.
Ten years already… Molly Gertrude could hardly believe it. They had lost track of how many wedding parties they had organized over the years. Countless newlyweds had made use of their services and by the looks of it, their number was not about to decrease.
Actually she had not come to Calmhaven to start another business. She had come to retire. She had spent most of her life in Pittsburg where she had inherited the original Cozy Bridal Agency from her great-great-great-great grandmother, Molly White, who had started the company when she was the wife of a police detective. In those days, the Agency had primarily been a matchmaking-service, but Molly Gertrude enjoyed organizing weddings much more than getting involved in the matchmaking business, and thus she had ventured out as a wedding-planner.
She had been good at her job. Her talent for organizing such important events was unmatched and the business was booming. But then, when the years began to count upwards and she had turned 70, she felt it was time to close up shop. Unfortunately, Molly Gertrude had never married and thus Emily Rudolphs, her partner in Pittsburg, got quite concerned for Molly Gertrude's proper retirement. The well-meaning meddler had immediately made arrangements for Molly Gertrude to move into 'The Last Stretch.' That was supposedly a wonderful old-folks home with all kinds of smashing facilities, such as a beauty parlor where they kept your toenails well-trimmed, a bingo room, and a rusty old bus that would transport you once a month to another old folks home to encourage interaction and socializing.
The prospect had filled Molly Gertrude with dread. She had plans of her own and thus, instead of leaning back in a stuffy lounge chair while staring at potted geraniums on dusty window sills, Molly Gertrude decided it would be much better to spend her remaining years in a fresh, inspiring environment and so she kissed Emily Rudolphs goodbye.
But where could she go?
The choice was easy enough. Calmhaven almost immediately came to mind. In her younger years she had occasionally visited the place, and held fond memories of the small, artistic town. Because of its natural beauty Calmhaven was generally seen as a getaway for weary city-slickers, and that included Molly Gertrude. At Calmhaven people could relax and unwind from their busy activities in the bigger cities. And thus on a sunny day, much like the one today, she had arrived in Calmhaven by means of the Greyhound.
Her choice turned out to be a good one. She never regretted coming here even once. In fact, she felt so inspired and so invigorated by the change of scenery, that the gentle old lady, with her short wavy, white hair, her horn rimmed glasses, and her always present affectionate smile, never retired at all. Maybe that had also something to do with what she encountered the moment she stepped off the Greyhound bus onto Calmhaven Square, the bus station that is situated not too far from the marina. But more about that later.
Thus, Calmhaven became Molly Gertrude's new stomping grounds. At first, some evil tongues argued that old ladies like her shouldn't be running a business. After all, the way they saw it she had one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. But Miss Molly Gertrude put them all to shame. Even though her gait was a little wonky, the result of her spreading arthritis, and even though she could not keep up with the latest technology, she reopened the Cozy Bridal Agency with such enthusiasm and zeal that the fame of Calmhaven's Cozy Bridal Agency spread far and wide. No one could deny she was a delightful addition to the community.
But the kind and benevolent woman had yet another passion. She apparently had inherited more from her ancestors than just the Cozy Bridal Agency; she also seemed to have inherited a fascination for solving mysteries. It had already been present with the original Molly White, who had been an invaluable help to her husband the police officer/detective, and it turned out Molly Gertrude carried that same passion.
Now, generally not much ever happened in Calmhaven, and Molly Gertrude never expected to do much sleuthing in Calmhaven. After all, the place was full of peace-loving, law-abiding citizens… at least that's what it looked like on the surface. But sadly, the human heart is stained from within. No one can escape the wiles of the black monster of sin, and even though most people seem to be able to hide or ignore its presence under a mask of pleasant, civic responsibility, even in a place as rustic as Calmhaven the monster occasionally breaks loose, and places its venomous fangs in its chosen prey.
So Molly Gertrude successfully became Calmhaven's most cherished amateur sleuth as well. Often when the police, under the stiff guidance of husky JJ Barnes, were stumped, Molly Gertrude's sharp and keen sense for details brought clarity and solved many a crime that otherwise would have been put in the books as 'unsolvable.'
But today, crime was not on the agenda.
As we said earlier, today was a time to celebrate and commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Cozy Bridal Agency in Calmhaven.
Molly Gertrude's closest friends, acquaintances, and a score of others, all had come to pay their respects. There was Papa Julian, the pastor of Calmhaven Trinity Church, and his dear wife Bella. The balding, colored pastor was a rock in the community and whenever Molly Gertrude felt down and discouraged she could count on his fatherly counsel. But today the pastor was not counseling anyone. Right now he was just stuffing another Citrus Lemon Curd cookie into his mouth. Molly Gertrude chuckled as she could hear his wife admonish him that
it was time to start letting his moderation be known to all men. Dora Brightside, Molly Gertrude's faithful co-worker, was batting her eyes at police officer Digby, the right hand of Sheriff JJ Barnes. It was no secret to Molly Gertrude that Dora was secretly dreaming of more than the occasional interaction she had with the blond, boyish deputy, when solving crimes. Digby was fully dressed for the occasion in his uniform. Molly Gertrude had to admit, the young fellow looked dashing in his perfectly starched outfit with the shiny buttons.
The fellow was just telling a joke and Dora giggled modestly.
Sheriff JJ Barnes was in uniform as well, although unlike Digby, the man proudly displayed a few service medals. They were pinned to his chest, hardware he had earned for cases that had actually been solved by Molly Gertrude, but for which he, as the officer in charge, had gotten the credit. Molly Gertrude did not mind. She was just glad she had been able to help. The husky officer was sampling Luca Dolce's wine and judging by the goofy smile it appeared he shouldn't be sampling too much more of the sweet stuff. Hopefully he wouldn't be needed to keep law and order tonight.
And there were many others. Mrs. Marmelotte from the local coffee shop seemed to be enjoying herself and was talking to Billy Monroe, the young fellow who had gotten in trouble because of a poisonous wedding cake. There was Deborah Smythe, the woman who had almost married the wrong man, but thanks to Miss Molly Gertrude had been spared from disaster. She was holding hands with her future husband. Another wedding feast that would be placed in Molly Gertrude's hand. Virgil Shepherd, the reporter from Calmhaven's celebrated newspaper, was there too. He had branched out on his own as a freelance writer because his article about Miss Molly Gertrude's work as an amateur sleuth was not accepted, but today he was annoying most everyone with the constant click of his camera.
Molly Gertrude heaved a satisfied sigh. This was a day to never forget.
At that instant Calmhaven's mayor Abe Mortimer climbed on the low platform and grabbed the microphone. For a second an unpleasant metallic screech pierced through the happy murmurings of the crowd, but Abe silenced the microphone, cleared his throat and asked for everyone's attention.
"Ten years of Cozy Bridal Agency…," he began, "… ten years that seem almost like a lifetime. Miss Molly Gertrude's agency has become one of Calmhaven's most celebrated places and, as I may say so…" he grinned and looked at Molly Gertrude, "… not in the least because of Miss Molly Gertrude Grey's uncanny ability to solve mysteries. I experienced it firsthand."
A happy cheer erupted from the party goers.
"Molly Gertrude Grey," the mayor continued, "… for those of us who do not know the story yet, will you please come forward, and tell us about your arrival in Calmhaven, ten long years ago, and about the strange happenings the day you stepped off the Greyhound bus? As it turned out, it would be the first mystery case of many that you have solved in our town.
The old woman blushed, something that rarely happened.
"Come on Miss Molly Gertrude," Dora coaxed, and gave her a gentle push. "We'd love to hear it."
Molly Gertrude gave her a dark look and sneered in a low voice, "You know the story. You were there yourself. And most people know the story already."
"Most, but not all," Dora replied while she tilted her head. "But even those who know the story, like me, would love to hear it again. Who can tell it better than you?"
Molly Gertrude let out a frustrated sigh and hesitated.
"Please Miss Molly Gertrude…," Dora pleaded. "It's the kind of thing you do on a day like this."
Molly Gertrude swallowed hard and stepped forward. While she was normally bold as a lioness, and would step unafraid into places were angels feared to tread, standing in front of a crowd always filled her with dread. But it was clear that today, there was no way out.
Abe Mortimer helped her onto the low stage and pushed the microphone into her shaky hands.
"Well…eh," Miss Molly Gertrude began in a wavering voice. "I-eh…"
No sound.
"Push the button," Billy Monroe cried out. "The yellow button."
Everyone cheered again and a wave of applause washed over the garden of the Cozy Bridal Agency. Miss Molly Gertrude felt weak in the knees and checked the microphone for a yellow button. There it was. She pushed it and then tapped the microphone with her left index finger while saying 'Test… one, two, three, test.' She secretly hoped the whole device would break right on the spot, but it didn't. It worked perfectly and Molly Gertrude began.
"It all started when I arrived in Calmhaven on a day much like today, over ten years ago. I still remember the seat of that horrible Greyhound bus. I think some of the arthritis I am suffering from today is due to that bus and maybe I should still sue them…""
Laughter erupted from the audience. It gave Molly Gertrude courage. This was easier than she had feared. She cleared her throat once more and began her story. For a moment she closed her eyes, and relived that day when the Greyhound stopped at Calmhaven Plaza. Had it really been ten years? It felt like it had happened yesterday…
2
Arrival in Calmhaven
Calmhaven
Ten years earlier
Calmhaven had not changed much from the time I visited the town earlier. I still remembered the colorful, picturesque little houses near the marina where I had stayed before, and I had made arrangements to stay there again until I could rent something more permanent. Right at the waterfront was a bungalow park called the Golden Canopy. The place was perfect. All the cabins were renovated in the old, historic style with its rustic interiors, and they offered a gorgeous view on the waterfront. I could already see myself sitting on the porch in the evening under the comforting rays of the outside heater, while gazing over the lake or reading my favorite mystery novel. The folder I had been studying promised me the world and I was looking forward to a few weeks of rest and recuperation from the hectic last days in Pittsburg.
Of course, I wouldn't be able to stay there too long. I couldn't afford the place for more than a month at the most, but I hoped that would give me enough time to find suitable housing elsewhere.
After I had safely climbed off the Greyhound and I had rubbed my weary limbs, I flagged down a taxi.
The driver, a chubby looking fellow with a red nose and a cap, smiled at me and rolled down his window. "Where too, Ma'am?" he asked, clearly happy to have a customer.
"You know the Golden Canopy?"
He grinned. "Of course I do. I am a taxi driver." He opened his door and forced his bulky body out of the seat. "Luggage?"
I shook my head. "My stuff is coming later, when I have found a suitable house. For now, it's just me and myself."
He frowned. "So you're not on holiday. Then, I say, welcome to Calmhaven. My old Mom, God bless her soul, always said that Calmhaven is the place where even angels can take a holiday."
"Oh? And why is that?"
"Calmhaven, Ma'am, is the best place on earth," he gushed. "Nothing ever goes wrong here. While the whole world seems to have gone crazy, at least here we behave." He opened the backdoor of his yellow Chevrolet and motioned for me to enter. When he had made sure I was comfortable he gave me another grin and climbed back in. But before he started the car he turned around and looked at me while he narrowed his eyes. "That will be $15 Ma'am."
"Excuse me?" I was a bit startled. "We haven't arrived yet."
"I always charge before the journey, Ma'am." His nose twitched a bit. "My old Mom, God bless her soul, always said, 'Harry, you make sure everyone pays, especially when you are dealing with outsiders.' You can't be too careful."
I was tired and gave him a forced smile. I did not feel like arguing with a cab driver, thus I opened my purse and pulled out the money. I wondered if he had included a tip for himself, but when he started the motor and we took off, I relaxed.
As we sped through the streets I was amazed at how different this town was from Pittsburg. In Pittsburg, everything was big and loud. Car drivers were honking their hor
ns constantly, the sidewalks were lined with people, and on the bad days, smog hung over the city like an oppressive blanket. But not here. The streets, although not deserted, were calm and were lined with palm trees, and the air was fresh and clean. There was a gentle breeze and the people on the sidewalk went about their business at a leisurely pace.
I did not quite believe the words of my taxi driver, that this was the place where angels would go for their holiday, but I had to admit, being here felt good.
"We are almost there Ma'am," Harry said. "The Golden Canopy is right around the corner, but…" He did not finish his sentence but let out a sigh and a grunt. "Something is wrong."
"What is it?" I asked and leaned forward so I could take a look too.
"Don't know," Harry said, "but I can't go on."
He was right, as 50 yards from where we were, stood a police car. The road was closed off with red and white barricade tape, and a young police officer held up his hand. He motioned for the taxi to slow down.
Harry drove up to the police man and rolled down his window. "What's up officer?"
"Sorry," the young police officer replied. "Something happened. The road is closed."
"Oh," Harry stated a little irritated. "But I've got to bring my client to the Golden Canopy."
The police man shook his head. "Sorry Sir. No cars are allowed through."
I swallowed hard as I heard his words. That was very unfortunate indeed. After my long journey, I was dead tired and really looked forward to the chance to freshen myself up a bit. "Excuse me, Sir," I interrupted, "How far is the Golden Canopy?"
The police man peeked into the car and when he saw me, he blushed and tipped his hat. "Sorry for the inconvenience, Ma'am. The entrance is right around the corner."