Calamity @ the Carwash (Parson's Cove Mysteries) (8 page)

“No, this is good,” Flori informed me
when she called to make sure I was up. Really, she was making sure I hadn’t
skipped the country. “Now,” she said, “we will have to go to the mall. That’s
what all the women want to do. Calvin has no excuse now. He can’t dump us off
at the park when it’s raining.”

I’ve known Calvin Koots all my life and
trust me, he could drop us off at the park and disappear for hours if a
hurricane was raging. I have never trusted that man. For years he drove an old
taxi with Koots Taxi painted on the door and then last year he turned up one
day with a brand new car. This one had Koots Taxi on the door too but Calvin
didn’t paint it with red barn paint. This one looked like a real taxi. Now, I
ask you, how do you make enough money driving a taxi in Parson’s Cove to afford
a brand new fancy car like that? I have my own shop and I still drive my 1969
Buick. Mostly I see Calvin sitting in the Main Street Café drinking coffee and
until last year, smoking. Now, at least, he has to sit outside to smoke.

After thinking of Calvin, I started
thinking of Bernie. I’d seen the two of them together lately. Of course, in a
small town it’s hard to tell who is chummy with whom sometimes. We’re sort of
all stuck together whether we like it or not. Unless, it’s Esther and me. The
whole town would be in shock if they saw the two of us having coffee together
at the café. But then, women are different than men; we know how to hold a
grudge properly.

At nine on the dot Flori was at my door.
It was out of her way and I’d told her that I’d meet her at the seniors’ Home
but she insisted we walk together. Delores was opening the store for me. I told
her if it was a slow day, she could close up early. Knowing Delores she would
have everything in the shop rearranged by noon. It’s frustrating but she’s
cheap and she likes having a break from waiting on tables at Main Street Café.

By the time I’d grabbed my purse, the
rain had started. By the time we got to the back step, it was coming down in
torrents.

“I have a feeling they’ll be cancelling
the trip to the city,” I said.

Flori shook her head. “Nope. Jake talked
to Sam last night and he said Calvin insisted that they go even if it rains.”

“Why would Calvin insist on such a
thing? What’s it to him if everyone goes or not?”

“I think it might have something to do
with that new taxi, Mabel. Jake says he doesn’t know how he can afford making
payments with the little bit of money he makes.”

“Oh well.” I looked up at the blackening
sky and the shot of lightning that seemed too close for comfort. “We’d better
take my car. If we don’t we’ll get hit by lightning and then we’ll never be
able to take those ancient people to the city.” For a moment that almost
sounded like a solution to the problem. “Come on Flori, let’s make a run for
it.”

Flori held up the umbrella but sharing
an umbrella with her isn’t what I would call sharing. By the time we reached
the side door of my garage, water was running into my ear.

I drive a 1969 Buick Skylark. It’s in
pristine condition and every man, from sixteen to eighty-six, has offered to
take if off my hands. Reg drools when I drive down the street. Personally, I
don’t see what the fuss is all about. I bought it secondhand in 1973 and it has
never given me a hint of trouble. Why should I spend money on a new car when I
don’t have to?

We arrived at the Retirement Home before
the bus did. Flori and I waited in the car by the front door. All we could see
were noses pressed against the steamed-up glass. This certainly was an exciting
day for them. All I could hope for was to die at home in my sleep and never
have to live in that awful place.

“Flori,” I said, “if anyone tries to put
me in this place, take me out in that bush over there and shoot me.”

“Don’t talk like that. You know very
well you’ll be coming and living with me. I’ll look after you.” She reached
over and grabbed my hand. There were tears in her eyes.

“When I’m ready to kick the bucket, how
come you always think you’re going to be so much healthier than me?” I squeezed
her hand. “Not that I want to upset you, Flori, but you might even be gone
before me.”

“No, I won’t. It’s a known fact that
married women live longer than single ones.”

“That’s not true, friend. Married
men
live longer than single men do but single
women
live longer than
married women do. No, Flori, there’s a good chance I’ll live longer than you
but, on the other hand I might be senile before you.”

Fortunately, before Flori could burst
into tears, the old school bus pulled up in front of us. Calvin opened the
doors and I could see a cigarette flying through the air. At least, he flicked
it out before everyone started boarding.

There was a slight letup in the rain.
Obviously, the staff and residents noticed it too because the front doors flew
open and suddenly everyone was making a mad dash for the bus.

Flori started to open the door but I
stopped her. “Let all of them get in first, Flori. If we go now we’ll just get
trampled.”

Also, I didn’t want to tell Flori, but
there was no way I was getting on that bus before Sam Lawson. I would board
after he found his seat and then I would sit as far away as I could.

As it happened, Flori and I couldn’t
even sit together. Fortunately, Mr. Lawson sat at the back of the bus and since
there was a seat right behind Mr. Koots, I sat there. I heard Sam yelling my
name and then Flori calling and telling me that Mr. Lawson wanted to say hello
but I kept looking straight ahead.

Mr. Kinney motioned to Calvin from
inside the building. Calvin swore under his breath but got up and ran inside. I
might’ve said a few choice words too if I’d had to run through that sheet of rain.
I could see them talking and Calvin nodding but not looking too happy.

By the time Calvin got back inside the
bus his shirt was soaking wet. He shoved the old bus into gear and away we
went.

There was a lot of chatter going on.
Flori’s laughter filled the air. She was really enjoying this so I was glad
that I’d come with her. I would rather be in Parson’s Cove trying to solve a
murder but then, how much can a person solve in a downpour? Besides, I wasn’t
sure what to do next.   

Although I don’t like Calvin, my heart
isn’t made of stone.

I reached over and touched his arm.
“Calvin,” I said, “sorry to hear about Bernie. I know you two were friends. It
must’ve been quite a shock.”

If I’d touched him with a branding iron,
he couldn’t have moved his arm faster.

“What do you mean, Mabel? Me and Bernie
weren’t friends. Where’d you get the idea we was?”

“Well, it’s just that I saw the two of
you having coffee together and one time I saw you in his truck. Seems I saw him
driving your taxi too. That’s all. I guess I took it for granted you were
friends. I mean, Bernie and I were never friends but I’m shocked that someone
would kill him.”

At this, he turned and looked at me for
a moment before turning back to his driving.

“I ain’t saying it wasn’t a shock. I’m
saying we wasn’t friends, that’s all. And, why do you say
someone
killed
him? You didn’t know it was Melanie who did it?”

“Well, she says she did but I don’t
think it was her. She doesn’t even remember picking up a brick. She thinks she
picked up a stone and threw it at him. There’s a big difference, you know.
Personally, if I picked up a brick to hit someone on the head and it killed
him, I would remember. Wouldn’t you?”

Calvin shrugged. “I think it’s something
you shouldn’t get involved in, Mabel. In other words, mind your own business.”

“Why do you say that, Calvin?”

It seemed that Calvin suddenly became
deaf. I repeated my question one decibel louder but he still didn’t answer.
Flori was sitting a couple of seats behind on the other side. I glanced back at
her and she was giving me her evil eye. If Flori heard and probably half the
bus, I’m sure the driver did too.

Mary Jane Smith was sitting beside me.
She was close to a hundred and had taught school when I went. Her mind was as
sharp as a tack but she was almost blind now and even with my loud voice, she
turned to me and said, “My word, Mabel, you don’t have to yell like that. Of
course, Calvin knows it’s going to be a wet day.”

“You’re right, Miss MJ.” I guess
everyone in town still calls her that. She didn’t hear me but gave me a bright
smile.

“I certainly hope Mr. Koots is not
dropping us off in that awful park again. Did you bring your umbrella, Mabel?”

I nodded but then yelled “Yes” in her
ear.

“Good for you. You were always one of my
favorite pupils. I felt so bad about what Esther Flynn did to you. Have you
ever forgiven her for that?”

I shook my head but then yelled “No” in
her ear.

She broke out in a wicked grin. “Good
for you. I would never forgive her either.” It was quite exhilarating, sitting
there giggling with my old English teacher.

I put my mouth right up to her ear and
spoke very slowly but not loud enough for Calvin to hear. Of course, the way he
was driving and changing gears, it probably didn’t matter.

“Why don’t you like going to the park?”
I asked.

MJ insisted on speaking into my ear.
“Because I think Koots is up to something.”

I simply looked at her and raised my
eyebrows. She pulled my head closer and went for the ear again.

“He leaves us alone for over two hours
and when he comes back, he’s always walking funny.”

Into her ear: “What do mean, walking
funny?”

Into my ear: “Like his feet are sore or
something. I don’t think he’d even get off his seat if we didn’t insist that he
help some of us onto the bus.”

Into her ear: “Do you think he’s been
drinking?”

She shook her head and whispered, “No, I
couldn’t smell anything.”

By this time, we were flying off the
freeway. It seemed that Mr. Koots was in quite a hurry. The wipers were working
overtime trying to keep the windshield clear. Every car and truck that drove by
obliterated the view for several seconds.

From somewhere in the back of the bus,
someone called out, “You’re not taking us to that park again in this rain, are
you?”

Again, Mr. Koots preferred to act deaf.
Now, I could understand why Sam Kinney needed someone to travel with these
people. The bus driver definitely had no senior skills. He could’ve been
driving a truckload of cattle.

Flori spoke up. “No, Mrs. Kendal, Mr.
Koots is taking us to the Bay Park Mall. Mr. Flanders had a talk with Mr.
Kinney and you won’t have to go to the park anymore unless you really want to.”

A cheer went up. It seemed no one liked
the park except our Mr. Koots.

I wondered why.  

Chapter
Thirteen

At least Calvin drove us to the front
entrance instead of parking a mile away. Flori and I held our umbrella up for
each person who got off the bus and walked them to the store. Of course, Mr.
Lawson jumped the queue so I ended up holding the umbrella for him. I walked
him as fast as I could without causing an accident and when I turned to help
the next person, I felt a pat on my bottom.

“Mr. Lawson,” I said. “If you ever touch
me inappropriately again, you’ll be walking home in the rain.”  

One of the women standing next to me
said, “Good for you, Mabel. I told him the next time he did that to me, I was
going to tell management and have him castrated.”

I looked at the guilty party and said,
“That’s not an idle threat. I’ve already been responsible for four castrations
so one more won’t make any difference.”

A silence fell over the group. The women
smiled. The men looked everywhere but downwards. Old Man Lawson tried to laugh
but it sounded more like a wheeze. Flori was speechless.

“Okay,” I said. “Let’s get organized.
We’re going to break up into groups of four. Everyone has to have a partner at
all times. There’s no way that Flori and I are going to run all over the mall
hunting for someone when it’s time to leave.”

Flori took it from there.

“We will all meet back here right after
lunch at 1:30. Does everyone understand?”

It was like letting the dogs out. I’m
not sure if the ‘four to a group’ rule was followed or not. I did notice that
none of them wandered off by themselves. Flori went out to check on Mr. Koots
and to tell him where we would be waiting for him but Mr. Koots was gone.

I followed Flori around the stores.
She’s a much more enthusiastic shopper than I am. Mostly she looks for things
for her kids or grandkids. Or, me. She gets so tired of seeing me in the same
clothes all the time.

“You’re getting to be just like Charlie
Thompson,” she tells me constantly.

“Well, Charlie and I like to be
comfortable,” I always tell her.

“Why don’t you try a variety of colors,
Mabel?”