1 Bless Her Dead Little Heart (14 page)

A
n’gel stared after Rosabelle. “The
nerve
of that woman.”

“You mean the Contessa di San Lorenzo?” Dickce laughed. “She’ll be worse than ever now. I’ll pass the message to Wade and Junior”—she nodded toward the library—“and you can tell Juanita. Let
her
go upstairs and spread the news there.”

“Good idea,” An’gel said. She wasn’t about to traipse up and down the stairs at some whim of Rosabelle’s.

She found Juanita in the kitchen chatting with Clementine while the housekeeper supervised her granddaughter and Benjy. Antoinette was snapping green beans, and Benjy was peeling potatoes. They sat at opposite ends of the kitchen table, and Diesel went back and forth between them, chirping and tapping their legs with his paws. An’gel was glad to see that apparently neither one of them was giving in to his pleas for a taste of their efforts. She was sure he had already gained at least a pound from all the tidbits she and Dickce had given him over and above his regular diet. Charlie would probably fuss at them when he returned to find his large cat even larger.

“Juanita, sorry to bother you,” An’gel said, “but your grandmother would like to see all of you in the parlor. Would you mind letting your mother and your aunt know?”

“Sure,” Juanita said. “Did Grandmother say what this is all about?”

“No,” An’gel replied. “She is with her husband, however.”

Juanita looked thoughtful. “I wonder if they’ve made up.” She laughed. “With my grandmother, you never can tell. I’ll go fetch Mother and Aunt Maudine.” She turned to Clementine. “Thank you for your advice on stains. Lipstick is such a pain to get out.”

“You’re surely welcome,” Clementine said.

Benjy brought his bowl of peeled potatoes to the housekeeper. “Are you sure that will be enough? I don’t mind peeling more.”

Clementine took the bowl and set it in the sink. “No, honey, that’s plenty. Thank you for your kind assistance.”

“Glad to help.” Benjy turned to An’gel. “Do you think she means for me to come? To the parlor, I mean, since I’m not really family.”

An’gel frowned. “I’m not sure. Since I don’t know what she plans to say, I have no idea whether it will affect you at all. You might as well be there, though.”

“Okay, then,” Benjy said. “I need to talk to Miss Dickce about something anyway.”

An’gel wondered what that could be but she didn’t pry. Her sister seemed to have established a rapport with the boy, and she saw no need to interfere. At least, not yet. She hoped Dickce wouldn’t get too attached to him, because he would be on his way back to California soon. Along with the rest of them, An’gel hoped. She couldn’t wait for the house to be empty of guests.

Benjy left for the parlor, and An’gel checked with Clementine to be sure that preparations for the evening meal were well in hand.

“Stop worrying,” Clementine told her. “We’re doing fine in here. You go on back to your guests.”

An’gel would far rather have stayed in the kitchen, but duty called. Rosabelle hadn’t said she and Dickce weren’t included, so she might as well go herself. She and Dickce had a right to know what was going on in their own house.

When An’gel walked into the parlor, she saw that everyone was present, including her sister. Rosabelle and Antonio stood before the fireplace, with children and grandchildren occupying the sofas. Dickce and Benjy had claimed two of the nearby chairs, and An’gel took the third.

Rosabelle moved closer to Antonio and slipped her right hand into the crook of his arm. They smiled at each other.

“I have the most wonderful news to share with you,” Rosabelle said. “My darling Antonio and I have reconciled.”

“Carissima,” Antonio murmured, his eyes fixed on his wife’s face. “This is the happiest of days.”

An’gel was surprised that neither Maudine nor Wade spoke up after this overly sweet display, given the loathing they had evinced toward Antonio. She wondered what kept them silent.

“Yes, it is, my darling,” Rosabelle cooed back at him. She faced her family again. “With my generous financial support, Antonio has been in Italy, working with his lawyers to regain control of his inheritance and his business interests. I am so pleased to hear that he has been successful.”

“I don’t believe it,” Maudine said.

“You mean he really
does
have money after all?” Wade sounded bemused.

“He certainly does, oodles and oodles,” Rosabelle said. “You can no longer insult me or my husband with your vulgar displays. I cannot believe the word
gigolo
ever passed your lips.”

“As I recall, you didn’t believe him yourself,” Maudine said. “In fact, you told us you were going to divorce him right after he left you. To go to Italy, apparently.”

An’gel thought Maudine still sounded highly skeptical. An’gel had to admit that she was a bit skeptical herself, though she had no sound reason for doubting Antonio’s claims to wealth.

“Is that it then? That’s the big announcement? That Antonio is loaded after all?” Wade leaned forward. “If that’s the case, then you can turn loose some of the money from my father’s estate that should be coming to me. Right now I don’t even have enough money to bury my wife properly.”

“Yes,” Maudine said. “Surely you can afford to be generous now, Mother.”

“I have been far too generous already.” Rosabelle tossed her head. “You’ve been living in my house, at my expense, for several years now. You could have gone out and gotten a job at any time if you weren’t happy with your allowance under the terms of your fathers’ wills. Nothing was stopping you.” She paused to sneer. “Nothing except bone idleness.”

“Rosabella, my dear, do not allow them to tarnish our happiness in this way,” Antonio said in a soothing tone. “You must not upset yourself.”

“You are right, darling Antonio,” Rosabelle said. “You will all soon have the house to yourselves anyway. You can do what you like. I am moving to Italy to live there with my husband. We plan to leave as soon as all the arrangements can be made.”

“Are you out of your freakin’ mind?” Wade jumped up from the sofa. “You can’t do that.”

An’gel was puzzled. Why would it matter to her children if Rosabelle wanted to live in Italy? From what Rosabelle had told her, the house would belong to Wade eventually, so surely they would all be able to stay in it, even if Rosabelle didn’t live there.

“We can’t afford the taxes and the upkeep on that house without you living there,” Wade said. “You know perfectly well our incomes from the trusts aren’t large enough.”

“That’s all
your
father’s fault,” Maudine said, pointing a finger at her half brother. “It was his stupid will that created this mess. He should have tied part of the trust income to the house itself.”

An’gel figured out the situation. Rosabelle had been paying the taxes, upkeep, and general expenses for the house out of her income from the trust set up by her second husband, Wade’s father. If Rosabelle wasn’t living in the house, she no longer had to spend her income that way. It wasn’t tied to her residence in the house.

Now she could understand why Wade and Maudine were so upset. When Rosabelle went to live in Italy, her income went with her. Wade and his half sisters would have to pay for everything themselves. An’gel had no idea as to the extent of their incomes from their trusts, but surely if they combined their money, they could afford to stay in the house.

Rosabelle was well within her rights to move to Italy with her husband. An’gel frankly had little sympathy for her children, because it sounded like they had been sponging off their mother for years.

“Don’t blame Wade’s father for this,” Rosabelle said, eyes flashing. “It’s not his fault that Wade throws away money at the racetrack like he was printing it in the basement. I’ve bailed him out for the last time. Maudine, you can sell that ridiculous collection of yours. Goodness knows you’ve spent an untold fortune on those stupid Barbie dolls. I get the creeps every time I go in your room. A woman your age still playing with dolls. It’s obscene.” She paused for a quick breath. “Bernice is the only one of you who has any sense where money is concerned. She at least managed to put her daughter through nursing school. I was the one who paid for your son to go to college, and it only took him seven years.”

Rosabelle was panting by the time she finished her tirade. Her family appeared thoroughly cowed now, An’gel thought.
Good for Rosabelle
. It was way past time they all grew up and took responsibility for themselves. She realized Rosabelle herself had been at fault for letting them mooch off her for so long, but that was no excuse for their collective lack of backbone.

“Come, my darling,” Antonio said, his expression the epitome of loving concern. “Let us retire so that you may rest. We have much to discuss in private, do we not?” He patted the hand still tucked in the crook of his arm.

Rosabelle nodded. Juanita got up from the sofa and approached her grandmother. “I think it’s wonderful. I’m sure you’ll love Italy. Will you allow me to visit once you’re settled?”

“Of course,” Rosabelle said. “But you’ll have to buy the plane ticket yourself.”

“Naturally, Grandmother, I wouldn’t expect you to pay for it,” Juanita said.

“Come along, Antonio,” Rosabelle said, turning away from her granddaughter. “I would like to go to my room.”

Her family remained silent until she left. Then a heated discussion broke out with talk of lawyers and injunctions and insanity hearings. Wade and Maudine talked over each other with their ideas, while Junior and Juanita sat and listened. Bernice wrung her hands and rocked back and forth.

An’gel motioned for Dickce and Benjy to follow her out of the room. In the hall she turned to them and said, “We might as well leave them to it. I have no desire to hear all of that nonsense.”

“Me either,” Benjy said. “They’re disgusting, worse than a pack of hyenas.”

An’gel couldn’t help but notice that he looked miserable. Dickce must have noticed, too, because she put her arm around the boy. “Come along with me,” Dickce said. “Let’s go to the kitchen and get something to drink. I don’t know about you, but I could use some caffeine right about now.”

Benjy went willingly with Dickce. An’gel remained where she was and watched them until they disappeared into the kitchen. She wanted to talk to Dickce about the appalling idea that had occurred to her, but now obviously wasn’t the time. Her sister was more concerned with Benjy.

An’gel walked into the library and sat at the desk. She pulled the phone over and punched in the number for the sheriff’s department. Kanesha needed to know about this right away. For one thing, An’gel was sure the chief deputy wouldn’t allow Rosabelle to swan off to Italy with her husband until the investigation was complete.

Far more worrisome was the realization that Rosabelle had now upped the ante for her own murder.

D
ickce suggested that they take their ice-cold cans of soda to the garage apartment, and Benjy agreed. She had watched him during Rosabelle’s big announcement and its aftermath, and she could tell that he was worried. She suspected she knew the reason for some of his concerns, and she had an idea about how to resolve them. She hadn’t consulted An’gel yet, but she didn’t think her sister would have serious objections. Besides, Benjy might not like her idea at all.

She waited until they were upstairs and seated before she said, “I have good news about our two four-legged friends that will make you feel better.”

“Did the vet call already? Can we go get them today?” Benjy sounded happy.

“No, the vet hasn’t called.”

Benjy’s disappointment was obvious.

“I found out where they came from,” Dickce said. She told Benjy about her talk with the farmer and his willingness for Dickce to take the animals. “He told me their names, too. His mother named the cat Endora and the dog Peanut.”

“Endora?” Benjy frowned. “Isn’t that the name of that character from
Bewitched
? Oh, I get it, because of the red hair.” He paused. “It’s pretty cool, actually. Endora. I like it.”

“I like it, too,” Dickce said. “I also like Peanut. Mrs. Thayer thought Peanut’s hair was like the color of peanut hulls, and that’s why she chose that name for him.”

“Peanut is a good name for a dog,” Benjy said. “I’m glad he doesn’t want them back. I just wish . . .”

“What do you wish, Benjy?” Dickce said, although she was sure she knew.

Benjy shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. It would be stupid to even think I could.”

“You mean take them to California with you?” Dickce said.

“Yes, ma’am,” Benjy said. “I told you it was stupid. I don’t have the money to take care of them, and I may not even have a place to live. I didn’t have much to begin with, but now that the Wart’s mother is going to live in Italy, he’s sure not going to want me in the house. He already complains about how much I eat.”

“You told me about your father,” Dickce said. “You don’t have any other relatives at all? Grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, anyone?”

Benjy shook his head. “My mom didn’t have any brothers or sisters, and her parents died a long time ago. I don’t know much about them and whether they had any other family. Even if they did, I have no idea who they are. Same thing with my father’s side. I know even less about them.”

If he did have relatives, they could be traced, but Dickce didn’t see much point. Later on, Benjy might want to know more about them, but his most pressing need at the moment was a home. Dickce had the solution to that problem, but she didn’t know whether Benjy would find it acceptable.

“Having Peanut and Endora living with An’gel and me will require some adjustments.” Dickce decided to take a sideways approach to her idea. “We haven’t had animals in the house since we were about your age. They’re both young and are going to need a lot of attention. Not to mention a lot of energy, and I don’t know if we’re really going to be up to the task.”

“You mean you think you shouldn’t keep them after all?” Benjy looked distressed at the prospect.

“No, that’s not what I meant at all.” Dickce realized she needed to get to the point. “I think we need someone younger here who can help take care of them. Like making sure Peanut gets enough exercise, for example. An’gel and I are pretty fit, but a young, healthy dog has a tremendous amount of energy.”

Benjy examined the top of his soda can. “Maybe someone young like me, you mean? To work for you and take care of the animals?”

“Exactly like you,” Dickce said. “What do you think, Benjy?”

“I know how to do a lot of things.” Benjy still wouldn’t look directly at her. “Like laundry and cleaning and stuff like that. I did it all the time for me and my mom, even after we went to live with the Wart and his family. I could help Clementine a lot, and I think she likes me.”

Dickce’s plans didn’t include turning Benjy into a full-time servant, but she knew it might be better for him, at least for a little while, to feel like he was earning his keep. She would save her plans for him to go to college and on to veterinary school for a later time.

“I know you would work hard and be a lot of help,” Dickce said. “The main thing would be to look after Endora and Peanut, of course. So what do you say? Would you like to give it a try?”

“Yes, please.” Benjy finally looked at her, and she could see that his eyes were a bit wet. “I don’t want to go back to that house and those people. I have a couple of friends out there, but nobody really special.”

“Then it’s settled,” Dickce said. Her own eyes felt suspiciously wet now. “We can arrange for your things to be sent here, and you won’t even have to go back for them, if you don’t want.”

“That’s great,” Benjy said, “except for Bert and Ernie. My tarantulas. I can’t ship them, but one of my friends will take them.”

Dickce was relieved to hear it. She wasn’t that keen on sharing quarters with a couple of big spiders. An’gel most certainly wouldn’t be keen either.

“That’s a good idea,” Dickce said. “Let’s keep this to ourselves for now. Then at the appropriate moment we’ll let everybody know you’re going to stay here.”

“Have you talked to your sister about this?” Benjy asked. “I’m not sure she likes me.”

“She hasn’t had the chance to get to know you yet,” Dickce said. “Not like I have. You leave her to me. She won’t have a problem with this.”
Not after I get through with her
, she added to herself.

“You are going to tell her about Endora and Peanut tomorrow when you bring them home, aren’t you?”

“As soon as there’s a good time,” Dickce said. “Before we go pick them up tomorrow, we’ll have to do some shopping. Food, of course, and a litter box and so on for Endora. Toys and whatever else they’ll need.”

“I can make a list,” Benjy said. “I found some paper and pencils in a drawer in the kitchen area here.”

“That sounds like a good idea.” Dickce reached over and patted his arm. “I’m so pleased, Benjy. I really do hope you’ll be happy here.” She rose from the sofa. “I’d better get back over to the house and see what’s going on.”

“I think I’ll stay here for a while. It’s too crazy over there for me.” Benjy shook his head.

“I know exactly what you mean.” Dickce laughed. “I’ll see you later, then.”

“Definitely,” Benjy said. He got up and gave her a quick hug.

Dickce walked back to the house wearing a big smile. The moment she stepped into the kitchen, Clementine spotted her.

“Miss An’gel’s looking for you. She’s all worked up about something. You’d better go see. I think she’s in the library.”

Dickce sighed, her smile gone. “I will. I wonder what it is now.” In her concern for Benjy, she hadn’t given much thought to Rosabelle and her big announcement. On the way to the library, though, Dickce figured out what had probably gotten her sister riled up. Rosabelle was practically begging to be murdered.

She found An’gel in the library with Diesel. “Here I am.”

An’gel, seated behind the desk, was stroking the cat’s head. At the sight of Dickce, he meowed and padded over to her. She took a seat in a chair near the desk, and Diesel stood beside her. He tapped her leg with a paw to remind her that he needed attention. She laughed and patted his head.

“It’s good to see you, too, you big handsome boy.” Dickce wanted to tell him that, starting tomorrow, he would have a couple of playmates, but she couldn’t, not while An’gel was present.

“Where were you?” An’gel asked.

“Talking with Benjy,” Dickce replied. “I’m concerned about him. Did you know that he has no other relatives, now that his mother is dead?” She might as well plant a few seeds right away.

“No, I didn’t,” An’gel said. “I know you’re taking an interest in him, and it’s good that someone is. Wade Thurmond doesn’t impress me much as the fatherly sort. That poor boy is in a difficult situation.”

“What was it you wanted to see me about?” Dickce asked. She was pleased to know that her sister’s interest was engaged. That would make things easier.

“After you and Benjy left, I came to a startling realization,” An’gel said.

“You realized that Rosabelle had made herself an even bigger target by declaring her intention to move to Italy with Antonio.”

“I thought you would probably see that, too.” An’gel shook her head. “I am concerned over what could happen tonight. The killer may be even more desperate now.”

“He or she might also target Antonio,” Dickce said. “I hadn’t thought of it before, but that would also be a way to stop Rosabelle from moving to Italy.”

“Possibly,” An’gel said. “But Rosabelle could inherit substantial property in Italy. I can’t imagine that Antonio’s son, Benedetto—wasn’t that the name?—that Benedetto would be happy to have an American stepmother taking part of what he thinks of as rightfully his.”

“True.” Dickce felt a paw on her leg, and she resumed rubbing Diesel’s head. “I have to say, after hearing that conversation in Italian, I have an odd feeling about this Benedetto.”

“What do you mean?”

“Remember I told you that he was talking to a man, whom he addressed as
mio caro
?”

An’gel nodded. “That may simply be a term of affection for his son. It’s not something an American man might do, but he’s Italian.”

“Rosabelle said something a bit odd, too, in reference to Benedetto. It was right before you came up and startled me.” Dickce paused for a moment. “Antonio said, ‘I must think of Benedetto. He is my son.’ Then Rosabelle said, ‘So you say.’ Don’t you think that’s a strange response?”

“In the context of changing his will, no, not necessarily. That could be all Rosabelle meant. ‘So you say you have to consider your son.’”

“I suppose,” Dickce replied. “Maybe I’m making too much out of it. There was something about the tone of his voice during that phone conversation.”

“We’re both letting our imaginations go into overdrive, I think, thanks to the stress of the situation.” An’gel shook her head. “Back to what I originally wanted to tell you. I called Kanesha right away to tell her about Rosabelle’s plans, and she’s on her way here.”

The doorbell rang, and Dickce started. “Perfect timing.”

“Let’s go.” An’gel rose from the desk and headed out of the library. Dickce and Diesel followed.

An’gel opened the door to admit Kanesha, who greeted them both. Diesel started to dart out once the deputy was inside. He made it onto the verandah, but Dickce moved quickly enough to grab him. She got him back inside and waited for An’gel to shut the door.

An’gel wasn’t moving. Instead she stood there staring out at the driveway and frowning.

Dickce released the cat and shut the door herself. She did take a peek at the driveway, but all she saw was Kanesha’s patrol car. What was so strange about that?