“Ms. Montgomery, I’m well aware of Grace’s personality, but Laura has a strike against her the others don’t. Her fingerprints were all over the murder weapon. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to work.” Detective Baker and junior Detective Taylor left without a second look.
“I don’t know what you wanted me for, Dee Dee,” Nana said. She came in the room, Dee Dee trailing behind her. “You could have picked out what you wanted to wear without me. Oh well, I understand why you’d want my advice. I just don’t understand why you needed me right when I was talkin’ to the detective.”
Dee Dee gave Nana a shoulder hug. “Thanks, Nana. That yellow and orange outfit will be the talk of the town.” She looked at me. “Did the detective leave?”
“Yes, and I’m glad because I’m about to drop. Anyone ready for a nap?” Dee Dee was the only one who took me up on my offer. We headed upstairs and plopped down on our beds.
“Trixie, do you have any thoughts on who might have killed Grace?”
“I’m not sure, Dee. I figure when we finish interviewing everyone on our list we can go to Detective Baker and give him the information we’ve gathered. I know he’s going to be mad we interfered, but I don’t think there’s anything else we can do. It’s too dangerous to go after the killer, even if we have an idea who it might be.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. Have you decided on the big question yet?”
“What big question are you talking about?” Of course, I knew what she was talking about. I just wanted to pull her chain.
She grabbed a pillow and threw it at me. I felt a cool breeze as it whizzed by. “You know exactly what I mean.”
“I know. I thought we could use a good laugh.”
“You’re right about that, but you’re not going to make me forget my question.”
“I haven’t had much time to think about Beau with my focus on the murder investigation, but it’s been in a corner of my mind. Maybe I’m afraid to consider it. Dee Dee, he’s so good to me and he’s such a good Christian man. With that combination you would think I couldn’t go wrong. I don’t know why I have this niggling feeling in the back of my mind: what if?”
Dee Dee came over and sat next to me. “Trix, you’ve been through a lot. I know it was hard on you when Wade up and left. Once you’ve been betrayed by the one person you think will protect you, it’s hard to trust again. But Beau isn’t Wade. There comes a time when you have to let go and let God.”
“I know, Dee Dee. You’re right; Beau is nothing like Wade. I know in my heart what the answer is. I’ve known since he asked me. It’s just saying the words out loud. Oh well, in the words of Scarlett O’Hara, ‘oh fiddle-dee-dee I’ll think about this tomorrow.’” She squeezed my hand and returned to her bed. Before I knew it I heard soft snoring.
I turned toward the wall and tried to stop the thoughts that swirled in my head. Finally, sleep called my name. My dreams were more confusing than when I was awake. Grace ran along the beach holding a garden gnome yelling, “You killed me, you killed me!” Laura ran after Grace yelling, “I didn’t do it. Give me back my gnome.” Nana, dressed in a hot pink two-piece bathing suit, ran after Laura yelling, “Wait for me. I’ll help you solve the murder.” Last but not least, Dee Dee and I brought up the rear yelling and flailing our arms. I was unable to decipher what we said.
“Hey, wake up.” I looked into the familiar face of Mama. “Were you running from someone? Your feet were churning the covers.” Mama chuckled softly. It was good to hear her laugh. Even at my expense.
“Something like that.” I stretched my arms above my head and emitted a loud yawn. “I must have been wiped out.” I reached for my cell phone I’d placed on the bedside table. “What time is it? I haven’t missed dinner have I?” My phone showed the time was a little before six.
“That’s why I came up to get you. Everyone’s gathered downstairs. George arrived a few minutes ago.” Mama sat down beside me. “Trixie, I want to tell you how much I appreciate you and Dee Dee helping Laura. I felt so bad for her. I’ve known Laura for years and I feel strongly she couldn’t have murdered Grace.”
“Mama, I don’t say it enough, but I appreciate all you’ve done for me. You lifted me up when I was lower than a snake’s belly and helped me back on my feet. I love you.” I could feel the tears pooling in the corners of my eyes.
“Aw, honey.” She comforted me in a bear hug. “I love you, too.” I noticed I wasn’t the only one with teary eyes. “Come on; let’s go get something to eat.”
“Okay, let me freshen up and I’ll be down in a minute.” I didn’t want to scare anyone with my porcupine hair. A few minutes later I descended the stairs. I looked around and noticed everyone was present. Dee Dee, Nana and George were at one table. Mama, Laura, and Ellie Sloan were at another. Harold and Cassie Daniels sat at another table.
Laura jumped up and headed toward the kitchen. “Now that we’re all here I’ll help Louise serve.” Once again, Louise outdid herself. They placed the feast on a central table and everyone served their own plates. We dined on baked ham, slaw, potato salad, baked beans, green beans, and biscuits. We had a choice of peach cobbler or seven layer chocolate cake for dessert.
We sat around the table and talked between bites of delectable food. Nana recounted the events of the day to George. I didn’t feel comfortable with her sharing information, but didn’t know how to stop her without causing a scene.
The door to the kitchen opened and in scurried Captain Jack. Laura stood up and started toward the cat. “Oh Jack, what are you doing in here?” He scooted past her and ran under our table.
Dee Dee reached under the table and scooped him up. “Look! He has something in his mouth.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Dee Dee pulled out what appeared to be a piece of jewelry from Captain Jack’s mouth. As it was covered with sand it was hard to tell. She took a cloth napkin and dipped it in a water glass. Each swipe revealed a little more of the treasure.
“May I?” George grabbed the piece from Dee Dee. His eyes widened. “Cartier pink gold with diamonds.”
Those of us sitting around the table gaped. By this time the others in the room wondered what was happening. Laura voiced her query. “What is it?”
An animated Dee Dee spoke up. “It’s a bracelet. Captain Jack’s found a diamond bracelet.” Everyone rushed over to take a look.
Harold Daniels let out a long whistle. “Look at those diamonds.” He grabbed for the bracelet. “Finders keepers, right?” George drew his hand back a lot faster than I thought a man his age could move.
“Uh, I think this is something we need to call Detective Baker about. After all, Captain Jack was at the scene of the crime. This could be some kind of evidence. Does anyone recognize the bracelet?” Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Ellie leave the room. “I can hold onto it until the authorities arrive.”
“No.” Well, that was to the point. What was going on with him? “What I mean is, I will keep it safe until Detective Baker gets here.”
Not wanting to start a scene, I let it go. I called the detective and relayed his message to the others. “He’ll be here in about an hour and he wants everyone to be available when he arrives.”
“Why don’t I get Louise to make a fresh pot of coffee? We can leave the desserts out and you can help yourselves.” Laura walked over to where I stood. “Do you think this might be evidence from Grace’s murder?”
“I don’t know, Laura, but Captain Jack was digging around Grace when I found her body. I remember him running away.”
“I can’t picture her owning a Cartier bracelet. She’d squeeze a nickel until it screamed.” Laura lifted an eyebrow. “Why would she have it in her possession?”