A Hard Bargain (18 page)

“No, I’m coming to speak to them and answer some questions,” I said. “Nothing was said about coaching.”

“It doesn’t matter. We’re so excited to have you on board.”

I wanted to grab Cathy by the collar and shake her till her eyes rattled. I gave her a look that made her back up and clutch Mitch by the arm. “I don’t want to talk about the pageant. I want to talk about what you saw last night. If either of you have any useful information, I’d appreciate hearing it.”

Mitch said, “We saw that poor man fall over, that’s all. We heard later that he’d died.”

“Anything else? Anyone snooping around the van?”

They shook their heads. “I did see a woman creeping around behind the cameramen,” Cathy said, “but I thought she’d lost something. She kept looking at the ground.”

Twenty, trying to find a cord to unplug. Maybe Cathy could supply Twenty with an alibi. “Was this woman dressed in odd clothes?”

“Yes, I remember saying to Mitch she looked like she could use a good fashion consultant.”

“Do you recall where she was when Gaskins fell?”

“I couldn’t say. We really didn’t pay much more attention to her.”

“Was she anywhere near the van?”

“I don’t think so. Do you think she killed him?”

“I’m trying to prove she didn’t.”

“Well, if you ask me, Lance Henderson’s your prime suspect. Some of the people were getting his autograph before they started filming, and I’ve never heard such griping and complaining in my life. Not about the autographs. He was tickled by all the attention. He was complaining about his tiny role in the movie.”

“What about that other fellow, though?” Mitch said. “The one running around the house with Madeline? He did a fair share of griping, too. I thought the whole crew was cranky.”

These two were not much help. Cathy beamed. “All right, then,” she said, as if she and Mitch had solved the mystery. “Can we expect you here at three?”

“I’ll be here.”

Cathy and Mitch hurried off. Jerry finished playing for the “Wells Fargo Wagon” number and came down the aisle to me.

“How’s your investigation coming along?”

“Plenty of suspects, plenty of motives, and no clear leads, although I almost had an alibi for Twenty.”

“Almost?”

“I thought Cathy Sloop could place Twenty away from the van.”

“Can she? I guess the better question is will she?”

“She and Mitch were more excited about me dispensing words of wisdom to the pageant contestants.”

“What about Ted?”

“What about him?”

“You said you were going to see him today.”

There it was again, that odd impression that Jerry might be jealous. “I needed to know if he saw anything that might help me.”

“Was he helpful?”

I tried not to smile. “Not really. I talked to Twenty, also, and the whole cast of ‘Curse of the Mantis Man.’ As I said, plenty of suspects, plenty of motives. It’s been a long morning. Are you ready for lunch?”

“There’s some pizza left.”

“That sounds perfect.”

Austin and Denisha were waiting on the porch and very happy to learn that Jerry had some leftover pizza. They were very unhappy they had missed all the excitement the night before.

“My mom wouldn’t let me come,” Austin said. “Something about her stupid S.Q.U.I.S.H. group.”

“It’s S.T.O.M.P., not S.Q.U.I.S.H.,” Denisha said, “and my aunt said it was too late for me to be out. I told her it was summer and not a school night, but she says midnight’s too late for anybody to be out.”

I sat down in one of the rocking chairs and took a slice of pizza from the box. “It wasn’t something you two really needed to see.”

Austin was pleased to have the inside scoop. “My mom said Mister Gaskins fell over dead, and the police think he was poisoned.”

For once, Denisha had nothing to add. She licked pizza sauce off her fingers and acted as if Austin’s news was too boring to comment on.

“Yes, that’s right,” I said.

“So he was murdered, right here in front of everybody?”

“It looks that way.” I gave the pizza box a doubtful look. “Isn’t there anything else to eat besides pizza?”

“Peanut butter,” Jerry said.

“We’ll make a run to the grocery store.” I wanted another look in room sixteen at the Wayfarer Motel, but that would have to wait. I didn’t want to involve the kids. “What’s up with you two today?”

Austin reached for another piece of pizza. “I want to buy a Mantis Man tee shirt, but my mom won’t let me. She says it’s tacky.”

“That salesman’s a friend of yours, isn’t he?” Denisha asked Jerry.

“Yes.”

“Somebody told me he dressed up like Mantis Man and scared some people last night at the bridge.”

“Could be.”

As much as I admired Jerry’s sense of loyalty, in this case, it was unnecessary. “Can we be straight with the kids? Everybody knows everything in town before it happens, anyway.”

Jerry thought it over for a minute. “I don’t guess he’d really care. It was a publicity stunt,” he told the kids. “To help drum up interest for his Mantis Man store.”

“He didn’t need to do that,” Austin said. “There’s lots of interest in Mantis Man.”

Denisha wiped sauce off her mouth. “You was there, too, wasn’t you, Madeline? With Jerry?”

As I hesitated, Jerry grinned. “Can we be straight with the kids?”

“Yes, Denisha,” I said. “Jerry and I were there, but we were just investigating.”

“People say they heard a really loud scream.”

I sighed. “Yes, that was me.”

She frowned. “But if you knew this Mantis Man was Jerry’s friend, how come you screamed?”

“Because at the time, I didn’t know it was Jerry’s friend.”

“Oh.”

I thought the matter was settled. I should’ve known better. Denisha’s frown deepened as she thought things over.

“So how come Jerry didn’t tell you?”

“He didn’t know, either.”

“Oh.” She turned to Jerry. “Was you scared?”

“A little. But then I decided to attack.”

“I wish I’d been there,” Austin said. “I would’ve given him a good smack!”

Denisha gave him a pitying look. “Austin Terrell, you would’ve run the other way.”

He stuck his tongue out at her.

“Don’t start,” I said. I got up. “Peanut butter, anyone?”

I didn’t have any takers, but Denisha followed me inside to the kitchen and sat down at the table while I made a sandwich. The smell of the peanut butter reminded me I hadn’t followed up on the Blue Ribbon brand of peanuts Kirby Willet preferred.

Denisha had another question for me. “Madeline, when Jerry attacked Mantis Man, is that why you screamed?”

“Yes. I thought he might get hurt.”

“I’d rescue Austin if Mantis Man was after him.”

“Good for you.”

“We need to keep an eye on the boys.”

I laughed. “Denisha, sometimes I forget you’re only ten.”

“Auntie says I’m old for my age.”

“What happened to your folks?”

“They died in a car crash when I was just a baby. I don’t really remember them. Auntie is my mother’s sister, so she took us in. She didn’t have no children, so it worked out.” She paused. “Jerry’s sister had to look after him and his brothers, didn’t she? It’s almost the same.”

I couldn’t imagine Jerry sharing this information with her. “How do you know about Jerry’s family?”

“Auntie read the wedding announcement in the paper about Jerry’s brother getting married, and she told me their sister brought them up.”

I brought my sandwich and sat down across from her. “What else did your aunt tell you?”

Denisha folded her hands in front of her on the table. “Well, I already knew Jerry had two brothers named Des and Tucker, but I didn’t know he had a sister. Auntie says her name is Harriet and she’s the oldest. She had to take care of all the little boys after their parents died in a fire. The reason I remember is because Jerry is an orphan, just like me.”

“A fire. Your aunt didn’t know anything more?”

She shook her head. “It sounds very sad.”

“It is,” I said, “and Jerry doesn’t like to talk about it.”

“Is that why he don’t want to go to the wedding? I’d like to go. I’d like to see the mansion and all the jewels and stuff. Are there servants and carriages?”

“No, just Tucker. No jewels, either, just a big fancy house.”

“Is it bigger than this house?”

“A little bigger.” I was wondering how much more to tell Denisha when she figured it out for herself.

“So it makes him sad to go to his old house and his parents not be there.”

“Yes.” At least, I thought that was the reason.

She nodded. “I won’t say anything.”

“Thank you, Denisha. You’re a good friend.”

“I like Jerry very much,” she said. “Not as much as I like Austin, you understand.”

“Completely.”

“Things are going pretty well between us. How about you and Jerry?”

“We’re just friends. I’ve told you that.”

“What about that other woman? Jerry don’t seem too sad she’s gone. Now’s your chance.”

I put my sandwich down. “Look. Stop playing Cupid.”

“Didn’t he like it when you rescued him from Mantis Man?”

“Yes, he did.”

“Well, then.”

I couldn’t think of an answer for this. While I was struggling for one, Denisha leaned forward to give me a very adult look. “Then you’d better do like my Auntie says and make play while the sun shines.” Before I could answer or correct her, she hopped up. “So that’s what I’m going to do with Austin. Play while the sun shines.”

Off she went, leaving me with a soggy peanut butter sandwich and the sinking feeling she was right.

Chapter Six

After Denisha had gone off to play with Austin, I told Jerry I wanted to have another look in room sixteen of the Wayfarer Motel.

“Does this involve some major skulking?” he asked.

“And your special keys.”

I may complain about Jerry’s so-called psychic abilities, but he’s a whiz when it comes to picking locks. How and why he learned this skill I’d rather not know. I just use this talent of his whenever I need it.

“You want to go now?” he asked.

“After a stop at the grocery store.”

Like Parkland, Celosia has a large Super Food store that carries all kinds of snacks, including Blue Ribbon brand peanuts.

Jerry hefted a jar. “They look pretty good.”

“Recommended by all missing inventors.” I inspected another jar. “They’re more expensive than the others.”

“Are you going to leave a trail?”

“Not exactly.” At the checkout counter, I asked the clerk if she recalled selling this brand of peanuts to anyone lately. “Anyone who might have bought the giant economy size?”

She didn’t remember. I asked the other clerks, but no one had sold a large amount of Blue Ribbon peanuts in the past week.

“But we sold tons when they had that contest,” another clerk said.

“What contest was this?” I asked.

“They wanted a new jingle, but you had to send in a label from a jar along with your entry. We sold a pile of jars.”

“Any to Kirby Willet?”

She shrugged. “I really don’t know who he is. County Maxwell bought a lot of jars, though.”

“Does he live in town?”

“Yeah, near the school.”

“Thank you.”

“‘County,’” Jerry said as we walked out. “Do you suppose his brothers are named ‘City’ and ‘State’?”

“Too bad his last name isn’t ‘Line.’”

We put our groceries in the trunk of my car. “Maybe Willet doesn’t buy his peanuts here,” Jerry said. “Maybe he grabs a pack at the Seven-Eleven.”

“Let’s find out.”

A quick check of the Seven-Eleven and other convenience stores killed that theory. The smaller stores didn’t carry Blue Ribbon brand.

Jerry hopped back in the car. “Maybe he has a supplier in Columbia.”

“Maybe he’s got enough to get through the winter.”

“Maybe he’s had peanut overload and has switched to pretzels.”

“Let’s see what Mister Maxwell has to say.”

***

I expected someone with a name like County Maxwell to be an old grizzled cowboy. Mister Maxwell was in his mid-thirties, tall, and oddly familiar. It took me a few minutes to realize Maxwell had played the young man in Kirby Willet’s movie.

When I mentioned this, he brightened and invited me and Jerry to sit on the front porch of his house, a small white building that showed signs of recent renovation. Maxwell had screwed hooks in the ceiling for a porch swing, and Jerry helped him hang the swing.

Maxwell slid the chains over the hooks. “Yes, I agreed to be in Kirby’s film. I didn’t have to do much except look pensive.”

“Have you seen him lately?” I asked.

He stood back to check on the height of the swing. “I heard he moved to California. We weren’t really friends. I think he picked me for his movie because everyone else said no. Knowing his reputation, I’m guessing they figured the movie would be filled with inventions going horribly wrong. Jerry, I think we need to go up three more links.”

They rearranged the swing until Maxwell was satisfied. “Try it out, Miss Maclin. Can I offer you folks a drink?”

“No, thanks,” I said. I sat down in the swing. Jerry perched on the porch railing. “Very nice.”

Maxwell reached for one of the porch chairs. “Do you mind if I continue sanding? I want to get these chairs done before tomorrow.”

“Please don’t let us interfere with your work. I just have a few questions.”

“Fire away.”

I asked Maxwell when he’d last seen Willet.

“Several months ago.”

“You share his interest in Blue Ribbon peanuts.”

He scrubbed the chair arm with sandpaper. “We ate a lot of them during filming. I kidded him about being paid in peanuts.” He squinted at me. “Do I know you from somewhere?”

“You may have seen me around town. I’ve just opened a detective agency.”

“Were you ever in a beauty pageant?”

“Yes.”

He snapped his fingers. “Miss Parkland. I knew I’d seen you before. My sister is Eleanor Dover, Miss Far Ridge. She was in that pageant the year you won. She sang ‘My Way.’”

I recalled Miss Far Ridge and how the tendons in her neck stood out as she reached for the glory notes. “I remember her. How is she?”

He finished one arm and turned the chair to reach the other. “She had enough of the pageant life. She’s married now, got a couple of kids. Do you still compete?”

“I’ve had enough of the pageant life, too.”

“A detective agency, you said. Is Willet involved in something shady?”

“I’m trying to find him, that’s all.”

He paused. “Wouldn’t have anything to do with Josh Gaskins being poisoned the other night?”

“It might. Did you know him?”

At first I thought he wasn’t going to answer. Then he rubbed his chin and sighed. “At Celosia High, Gaskins was a nasty little snot who enjoyed making everyone feel inferior. He transferred from Charlotte his junior year, and he thought we were all the simple rural characters he’d seen on the ‘Bingo Dingo’ show. He wouldn’t let anyone work on his film. We were not worthy.”

“Is there anyone in particular he snubbed who’d hold a grudge?”

“The entire senior class.”

“Would Willet hold a grudge for any reason?”

Maxwell brushed the shavings onto the porch floor. “Kirby lives in his own world. He always has. I doubt he noticed Gaskins that much.”

“Yet he agreed to finance ‘Curse of the Mantis Man.’”

“Did he really? I don’t know why he’d do that.”

“That’s one reason I need to find him.”

“Well, like I said, I think he’s gone to the West Coast. He has family out there, a cousin, maybe.” He turned to Jerry. “I hear you’re fixing up the Eberlin place. How’s that coming along?”

“Nell Brenner’s doing the work for me.”

“Yeah? She’s good. Have you thought about what you want to do to the outside?”

“Just paint it, I guess.”

“I’ve got some great ideas for exteriors. Let me get my books. I’ll show you.”

Maxwell went into the house.

I stopped swinging. “The entire senior class.”

Jerry wasn’t concerned. “That’s maybe, what, twelve people?”

“Twelve or twelve hundred, they all hated Gaskins. Too many suspects.”

County Maxwell brought out three large books filled with pictures of remodeled homes. Jerry was impressed by the before and after pictures, but told Maxwell he was leaving the renovations up to Nell.

“I’m not much of a handyman, as Mac will tell you.”

“Maybe I could come out and help.”

“That’s fine with me.”

They exchanged phone numbers. Jerry and I got into the car.

I started the car. “As much as I’d like to continue the peanut hunt, it’s almost three. The Pageantoids will be waiting. Come watch me bestow my secret pageant tips.”

“Like, ‘Run for your life,’ and ‘Get out while you can’?”

“‘Sequins make you look fat.’ ‘You can go blind from too much eyeliner.’”

We continued to make up helpful pageant advice until I parked the car in the theater parking lot.

Jerry unhooked his seat belt. “Tell me again why you’re doing this?”

“Because I agreed to help Evan. You were there. You heard me.”

“Yes, but I didn’t believe it.”

I really didn’t want to go in, but it was my own fault. “Sometimes you just have to do things you don’t want to do.”

I didn’t think I sounded meaningful, but Jerry said, “I know what you’re getting at.”

I frowned at him. “I’m not talking about you.”

“You don’t have to be so obvious.”

“Well, now that you’ve brought it up.”

He got out of the car and slammed the door. I sighed and followed him to the front of the theater. “Jerry, I just don’t want this to be something you’ll regret all your life.”

“I’m not going.”

“Maybe we could make a deal?”

“No. One hard bargain is enough.”

“All right, all right.”

When we entered the auditorium many pairs of eyes turned to stare. The room hummed with excitement. Jerry whistled softly as I walked down the aisle.

“Are you ready for the talent portion of this contest?”

I had no problem striding up to center stage. I’d walked through many a dressing room and backstage corridor filled with seething, jealous females. Speaking to a group of anxious young women wasn’t a challenge. I would’ve liked to have wiped the self-satisfied smile off Cathy Sloop’s face, however. She hurried up and shook my hand.

“Madeline, dear, thanks so much for coming! See, girls, I told you she’d show up.”

The young women applauded. Karen Mitman looked unhappy, but I knew from past experience that Karen’s mother had forced her into the pageant. I understood and sympathized. Destiny Ray, Jeanie Swain, and Donna Sanchez had expectant expressions. Three young women I didn’t recognize sat together on the front row with Evan James and Mitch Hutton.

“We have three more entries,” Cathy said. “Isn’t that exciting? This is Sharon Gray, Rose Farrington, and Evelyn Chevis. Girls, this is Madeline Maclin, a former Miss Parkland, and she’s here to answer all your questions.”

“I’d like to say a few words first,” I said.

“Oh, yes, please do.” Cathy sat down in the auditorium and stared up in rapt attention.

I sat down on the edge of the stage. “Ladies, I hope you’re here because you want to be here. I hope you know that being in a pageant won’t solve your problems, or make you a better person. It won’t always impress others. In fact, it may a liability. I’m trying to establish a new career as an investigator, and a lot of people in town don’t take me seriously because I was once Miss Parkland.”

Cathy’s smile began to droop. Mitch bit his lower lip. Evan, however, nodded in agreement.

I looked right at Donna Sanchez. “If you’re here because you think you’re prettier, smarter, and more talented than anyone else, you’re in for a rough time. There will always be someone prettier, smarter, and more talented. You have to decide what you want to be and then work hard to improve yourself. Don’t compare yourself with everyone else. You’ll go crazy.”

Donna gave me a smirk as if to say, I’ll do what I want. I ignored her and continued.

“Now, here’s what a pageant can do for you. Being in a pageant can help your self-confidence, it can help your social skills, and it can bring you in contact with a lot of wonderful people. You might get a chance to travel. You might make some great friends. You might be discovered and become a huge star. But whatever happens, keep things in perspective. It’s just a show. It’s not life or death. If you don’t win, the world won’t end.” There. That was a pretty good speech. Serious but not too preachy. Not the glittery welcoming speech Cathy and Mitch wanted, but Evan seemed pleased. “Okay, any questions?”

Jeanie Swain raised her hand. “Do we have to put Vaseline on our teeth?”

Jerry wasn’t successful at covering a burst of laughter. Miss Swain turned to glare at him. “Well, I need to know,” she said.

“Not if you don’t want to,” I told her.

Evelyn Chevis raised her hand. “Does it matter what kind of talent we have?”

“What were you planning to do?”

“I wrote a poem I want to recite.”

“That’s fine.”

Evelyn gave Donna a look that suggested Donna had told her otherwise. “Thank you, Miss Maclin.”

Destiny Ray wanted to know the best way to wear her hair, and Rose Farrington wasn’t sure if yellow was her color. Sharon Gray asked if I could recommend a really quick diet.

“I thought about Diet Coke and lettuce, but I don’t like lettuce that much. What do you think?”

Sharon was at least five nine with a very slim figure.

“I don’t think you need to diet, at all,” I said.

She poked her non-existent stomach. “But this flab is just hideous.”

Another reminder why I got out of the pageant world.

“I think you look fine, Sharon. Remember, you’re not comparing yourself to anyone else.”

She looked doubtful but nodded. I answered a few more questions, wished everyone the best of luck, and they gave me another round of applause. Cathy and Mitch hustled the contestants backstage to begin the talent rehearsal. Evan came up to me, still smiling.

“Madeline, that was a wonderful speech. Thank you.”

“I’m not sure I got through,” I said.

“Of course you did. It’s such an honor for these girls to have you here.” He took out his handkerchief and wiped his forehead. “It just thrills me to be involved with another pageant. I honestly didn’t think I could manage, but with your help and Cathy and Mitch being so supportive and creative, I can’t tell you how good I feel about this whole project. We can finally get Celosia back to where it needs to be.”

I wasn’t certain exactly where Celosia needed to be, but what the heck. “I’m glad to hear that, Evan.”

“I know this was a big sacrifice for you, since you’re so busy with your agency. In return, I may have some information that will help you with one of your cases.”

Hmm, I thought. Patricia Hargrave left her umbrella in the auditorium. Or maybe a lost library book was discovered in the light booth.

Evan put his handkerchief back in his pocket. “I’ve been talking to all our young ladies, of course, and I found out that Rose Farrington’s mother, Poppy, a former Miss Celosia, used to go steady with Kirby Willet when they were in high school. She might know where he is.”

A real clue! I almost didn’t recognize it. “Thank you.”

“No, thank you for coming today. These girls should treasure this moment.”

“I treasure this moment,” Jerry said as we walked back to my car. “I feel incredibly inspired.”

“To find a job.”

“To make the world a better place.”

“Well, you can start by breaking into the Wayfarer Motel.”

***

As it turned out, I didn’t need Jerry to pick the lock of room sixteen. Sue Ann had finished cleaning and let us in. We stepped inside the still musty-smelling room.