I asked a few questions about the town in general, and Gloria happily supplied information. And then I changed directions.
“Gloria, is it true your purse disappeared while you were at the museum?”
Her eyebrows arched until they resembled tiny umbrellas. “Who told you that?” I expected her to show us to the door, but she surprised me when she continued. “Yes, it was stolen and there was no one around but Penny Pennington. I won’t go as far as to say she took it, but who else could have taken it? The ghosts?”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Speaking of ghosts.” I shot Dee Dee a sideways glance, and she returned an encouraging nod. “Have you ever seen any ghosts at the museum?”
Gloria lowered herself to perch on the edge of a beautiful sage green brocade loveseat. “No. Of course I’ve never seen any ghosts.” The way she answered you’d have thought I’d questioned her sanity. “Doc made up all that ghost talk to try and boost traffic at the museum. I don’t believe one bit of it.”
I didn’t believe in ghosts either until the other night. Now, I’m not so sure. “Gloria, is it true your son is the next logical choice to take over as director?” I took a big chance with this line of questioning. Dee Dee confirmed this when she looked at me like I’d lost my ever-loving mind.
Gloria’s face scrunched up like a prune and turned a strange shade of pink, I assumed her color change confirmed what Doc suspected. “Well, someone like my son needs to take over and clean house, the books haven’t balanced for years, and no one can figure out why.”
She stood up and walked toward the door. “Your time is up. I need to leave for my gathering. It was nice meeting you ladies.” She ushered us out the door faster than a lizard catching a fly.
“I think you touched a nerve, Sherlock.” Dee Dee chuckled, as we hurried down the sidewalk. “Let’s find something to eat and figure out our next step.”
“We could return to the Big Chicken and consume some comfort food for the soul.” We drudged back to the car in the sweltering heat. Thankfully it started on the first try, and after a few minutes cool air blew from the vents. Thank you Lord for small miracles.
The Big Chicken wasn’t packed, but boasted plenty of customers. We ordered our food and found a table in the back corner. I’d taken my first bite and licked my fingers when my phone rang. I wiped off the grease then checked to see who called.
“Hey Harv.”
“How are things going? Is your story on the murder coming along?”
“I’m doing as much as I can, Harv. I have to follow it from afar. The lead detective warned me to keep my nose out of his business.” He didn’t need to know we’d decided to ask a few questions ourselves.
We talked a few more minutes before, Belinda, Harv’s receptionist interrupted with a bigger problem. “Okay, Kiddo. Check in with me tomorrow and be careful.”
“What do you think we should do next, Dee Dee?”
“If you want the truth, I suggest go home to Vans Valley.” I didn’t blame her for wanting to tuck tail and run – I did, too, but the stack of unpaid bills kept me going.
Instead, we decided to pick up Nana at the hospital and head for our temporary abode Dora had so graciously offered. We ordered a take out plate for Nana before we left the Big Chicken.
When we returned to Dora’s room, we found her asleep and Nana dozing in the chair. I hated to wake her up, but she needed to go home and get a good night’s rest in a real bed. I was confident she’d want to come back tomorrow. We left Dora a note and tiptoed out. Nana stopped at the nurse’s station to tell them she was leaving.
“What’s that wonderful smell?” Nana asked after we settled in the car. “I swanny, I believe it’s fried chicken.” She looked around the car.
“You’re right, Nana. You have the nose of a bloodhound,” Dee Dee said. “We ate at the Big Chicken for supper and figured you’d enjoy a little night time snack.” Dee Dee held up the take out box. Nana grabbed it.
Dusk settled in by the time we left the hospital parking lot. With the windows rolled down, the heat proved bearable. On our drive back to Dora’s, the night insects sang their songs. Fragrant air blew in, laden with the sweet smell of honeysuckle and privet hedge. The car filled with talk and laughter. The chaos over the last couple of days had put a damper on our spirits, and the levity was a welcome relief. It was short lived.
We opened Dora’s front door to a scene of destruction. Couch cushions littered the floor, and overturned potted plants spilled their soil across the room. Desk drawers lay open, their contents carelessly scattered about.
“Oh, no,” Nana exclaimed. “What in the world happened?”
“I don’t know Nana, but we don’t need to be in here.” I grabbed Nana by the arm and backed her out of the house. Dee Dee dialed 911. In less than ten minutes a squad car pulled up. Out jumped Officers Roach and Trapp, the duo in blue.
After the officers made a thorough sweep of the disheveled house, they allowed us to go back in. Nana walked a little weak kneed. I supported her with my arm. Dee Dee’s face had lost a good portion of its color. The pit of my stomach agitated like an old butter churn. Why had someone decimated poor Dora’s house?
“Ms. Montgomery, could you please tell us what happened?” Officer Roach opened her tablet and grabbed a pen from her pocket. Officer Trapp continued to go through the house. I told her what little I knew. My head shot up when the front door flew open.
“Well, Ms. Montgomery. What have you gotten yourself into now?” Detective Bowerman stood in the doorway. His hair stuck out in all directions. As usual, his clothes looked as if he’d slept in them. He twirled his ever-present unlit cigar between his fingers. What was he doing here?
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Uh, what are you doing here, Detective?”
“I’ll ask the questions Ms. Montgomery.” He worried his hair with his fingers. No wonder it stuck straight up.
Nana, Dee Dee and I sat side-by-side on the couch. “Can you ladies tell me what happened tonight?” We answered in unison, and he shot out a stogied hand. “One at a time, please.”
We didn’t have much to tell him, except that we’d come home to the obvious mess, so Detective Bowerman walked through the house while the techs lifted fingerprints from various objects in the room. Time passed as slow as molasses on a cold winter’s night as we waited on the detective.
“I think we have what we need. You can access the other rooms now.” Bowerman told us, and then one of the officers came over and whispered something in his ear. He continued, “We’ve performed a detailed search and found no sign of anyone. I still have some concerns. When this much destruction is evident, it usually means someone was looking for something. At this point, we’re not sure what and if they’ve found it. Also, none of the other rooms have been disturbed which makes me think you might have surprised the burglar.”
My heart made an unplanned trip into my throat. If what he stated was true, it’s possible whoever broke in would come back to finish the job.
“That means they might return.” Dee Dee’s voice quivered.
“Yes ma’am. That’s a concern. We checked all the windows to confirm they’re locked. When we leave, please lock up and check the dead bolt. I’m not trying to scare you. I just want you to be safe. Truth is, they’re unlikely to come back, but I’ll have the officers patrol the area throughout the night.”