“Do you know Grace Watkins?” I mentally braced myself for his reply.
His brows rose. “What has she got to do with the Mercer Williams house?”
“Well she doesn’t really have anything to do with it.”
“We’re here on Laura Walker’s behalf,” Dee Dee picked up the trail. “She’s a person of interest in Grace’s murder.”
I made finger quotes when Dee Dee said, “person of interest.”
He looked from one of us to the other. “Well, there ain’t much to tell. We just didn’t get along, that’s all.” Like most other men, Bert seemed to be a man of few words. We’d have to pull them out.
Dee Dee snorted. When we both looked at her she covered her mouth and coughed. Nice try Dee, but I can see right through that fake cough.
She went on with the questioning. “Bert, could you tell us some names of people Grace had a run-in with?” Dee Dee grabbed the notebook and pen from my hand.
“I’m sorry ma’am, but it would be easier to name the people she didn’t have trouble with. Grace just rubbed people the wrong way. I tried, I truly did, but I couldn’t take her nagging at me anymore. It was hard to start over, but I didn’t have a choice. I knew if I stayed in the marriage one of us wasn’t going to make it out alive.” Bert busied himself straightening some papers on his desk, but not before I noticed moisture in his eyes.
“I wish I could have been more help. I need to get back to work now.” He stood and swung his hand toward the door, an invitation for us to leave.
“Thanks for your time, Bert.” We trailed him out of the tool shed.
We made a few purchases in the gift shop then decided to find somewhere to eat. “I saw a café about a block from here. I think I could walk if you want to.”
“Sure, I’m up for a vigorous walk.” Dee Dee slung her bag’s strap over her shoulder.
“Dee, you know I can’t walk fast.” I wondered if she’d lost her mind.
She put her arm around my shoulder. “Aw, Trix, I was just kidding. You should have me figured out by now.” Her laughter floated through the air.
“I’m just beginning to learn who I am. And I have you and Beau to thank for that. You’ve encouraged me to look inside myself and find who was in there beside just a mother and wife. Your faith has taught me to lean on the One who is stronger than me. Someone who’ll never let me down. Like you know who.” Tears dampened my eyes. But this time, instead of sad tears, they were tears of relief. I swiped at the moisture pooled in the corner of my eyes.
Dee Dee squeezed my hand. “I love you, too, Trixie.” She rewarded me with a huge smile. “Come on, let’s go get something to eat; we’re getting way too maudlin.”
It felt good to laugh. But we wouldn’t be laughing by the end of the day.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
As we walked to the café, a chill invaded my body. I shivered and fast rubbed my arms. I didn’t know whether the chill was from the slight breeze that blew or was a forewarning. I decided it was the draft and put it out of my mind. When I later recalled that fateful day, I realized I should have given my gut feeling more credence.
“Trix, take a gander at these houses. They’re so beautiful.” Dee Dee twirled around to take in all sights.
“Wouldn’t you love to live here? Do you ever wonder what the owners do for a living to be able to afford such a house?”
I looked in awe, and yes a bit of envy, at the grand houses surrounding the Mercer Williams house. I noticed most of them boasted ironwork of some kind. Fences, balconies, window boxes, and even rails attached to curved stairways were made of iron.
“I sure do. I sometimes have an urge to ring their doorbell and ask them.” She giggled at her comment. “Hey, why don’t we just go ahead and do it? I think I’ll march up to this house right here and ask for a tour.” She pointed to the house in front of us.
My heart skipped a beat. I wasn’t sure if she was serious or being facetious. I decided to turn the tables. I grabbed her arm. “Okay, let’s go.” I headed toward the curved stairway, dragging her along. Her wide eyes and O-shaped mouth told me all I needed to know. I bent over in laughter.
“Trixie! How could you?” She playfully hit me with her enormous bag. “I guess you learned from the best. Come on; I see the café over on the next block.”
We discussed what we’d learned from Bert. We agreed he’d confirmed what everyone else had told us; Grace didn’t make friends easily. We settled in at the little café on the corner, aptly named The Corner café. Up-scale tourist trinkets filled a hutch against one of the walls. Homemade jellies, commemorative plates, and candles were just a few of the gifts the diners could buy for their friends left behind at home.
I decided to eat a salad so I wouldn’t feel so guilty for all of the calorie-laden food I’d eaten over the last several days. I didn’t suppose I would be considered over weight, but it wouldn’t take much to push me over the line. I really tried to eat healthy, but I usually failed miserably.
Dee Dee ordered a salad, too. “Hey copy-cat,” I said. I shot her a smile to let her know I was kidding.
“Well, they say the greatest compliment is imitation. I thought it was a great idea. Then we can order dessert and feel good about our healthy lunch.”
I waggled my fork. “What suggestions do you have for our next move?” I felt like the weight of the world sat on my shoulders. Mama and Laura had put a lot of faith in my crime-solving skills. But the fact was I didn’t believe I had special skills. I couldn’t have solved the murder in Dahlonega without the help of God and Dee Dee. I needed their help now more than ever.
“Let’s go back to the inn and look over our notes. We can get our costumes while we’re out for the festival tonight. I’m so excited; I feel like a kid going to the carnival.”
“Yeah, I imagine Nana will be acting like a kid tonight.” If truth be told, at times I was envious of Nana’s ability to tackle life with such exuberance.
Dee Dee’s patience with Nana was nothing short of a miracle. “Don’t worry, be happy Trix. It’ll be all right.” She wiped her mouth and reapplied her cherry red lipstick.
We spent the time on the way back to Tybee Island going over the suspects.
I was beginning to lose hope, and recalled that Laura mentioned finding an attorney. Maybe it was time; she was certainly still the prime suspect, even on our list. She had opportunity and motive. Grace made Laura’s life miserable. The murder weapon belonged to Laura and her fingerprints covered it. Not good. We had to find someone who had a greater motive than Laura. I told Dee Dee as much.
“I wish we knew more about that bracelet.” Out came the infamous tablet and pen. “And what about Bert, and Grace’s attempts to control him?”
“But he’s been gone for a long time, and he’s hardly the bracelet wearing type. There wouldn’t be a need for him to kill her now; he seemed fairly content. Unless there’s something we don’t know about. I think he needs to be toward the bottom.” I remembered how controlling Wade could be. He wanted to know where I was and what I was doing.
“Let’s go over the names of the guests at Seaside Cottage. There’s us, of course.” Dee Dee gave a little snort. “What about Ellie Sloan? She seems kind of harmless.”
“That might be true, but remember we saw her talking with John Porter and she said she wasn’t acquainted with him before they met here. And the Daniels saw them downtown together that first night. I don’t know why she would lie about it. I think we need to move her toward the top.”