Disrobed for Death (9 page)

One could count on guys and movies to dominate their conversations, and each seemed to have a new boyfriend every week. When they weren’t helping a customer, they chattered endlessly about where they went the night before, whom they saw, and what was on the agenda for the night. Susan smiled, remembering those times.

“Easy, girls.”

“I’m so glad you’re back,” Debbie said.

Sheila strutted over on her platform heels and gave her a hug. “Me too.”

“I can’t thank you enough. You girls were lifesavers, kept the business up and running. I owe you big time.”

“A raise will do,” Debbie said, giving Sheila a nudge.

“She’s kidding,” Sheila said.

“I think that’s an excellent idea, along with a little bonus on this month’s pay check.”

“Works for me,” Sheila said.

“You bet,” Debbie added.

Several customers entered the store, and the girls hurried to wait on them. Susan realized what jewels they were to her. At first glance, they could pass for sisters. Same color hair, both about five feet five, fair complexions, but that’s where the similarities ended.

Debbie had packed a few more pounds onto her frame in places that worked to her advantage—bigger breasts and a more curvaceous body. On the other hand, Sheila’s slender shape and raspy voice were equally attractive. As popular as the girls were, Susan wondered how long it would be before one of them got married.

The thought of losing either of them gave her the shivers. She had come to depend on them, like family, and couldn’t imagine the boutique operating without either girl.

When Susan headed toward the office, she was surprised to see Ramona standing near the register and talking with A. K., who motioned for Susan to join them.

“I told Ramona about your accident and surgery. Would you believe Jack Evans is her brother?”

Talk about a straight face. Move over Meryl Streep. Susan hoped she was half as believable as A. K. “Hi, Ramona, good to see you. I just came from your brother’s office. He gave me the all-clear.” Susan cocked her head to one side. “Now I can see the resemblance—same dark hair and blue eyes.”

“About the good doctor,” A. K. said, “When I was at the hospital, I noticed he wasn’t wearing a wedding ring. Ramona says he’s divorced. Hmm, an unattached doctor. Bet he won’t stay single long.”

“You don’t know my brother,” Ramona said. “It’s been over a year, and he still hasn’t dated. I encourage him to get out and mingle, but he says he doesn’t have time for the social scene.”

“Sounds like someone else I know,” A. K. said, raising her eyebrows at Susan.

Ramona gave Susan a discerning look. “Is that so?” She glanced at her watch. “Oh, my goodness, I hate to rush off, but I have a dental appointment in twenty minutes. I do want the outfit you showed me.”

She handed A. K. her bank card.

After Ramona left, A. K. took a deep breath and exhaled. “You were right about the brothers. I don’t know if I should be glad or worried that I have a creepy friend. Either way, guess I’m stuck with helping you. Ramona didn’t volunteer any information on Jack, except what you heard. I couldn’t push too hard or she’d know something was up.”

“Last night, I told Wesley everything. He knew Ramona and her brothers.”

“How did he take it? Did he have any suggestions?”

“Not really. He doesn’t believe in things that go bump in the night, but like I told you, he did agree to look into the doctor’s past.”

“Girlfriend, you light up when you talk about Wesley. I do believe the embers still glow.” A. K. gave a couple of sniffs. “Heck, I even smell smoke.”

“You might be right. Guess I’ll just have to wait and see if it’s meant to be. If not…well, I’ll worry about that later.” Her explanation might sound logical, but Susan knew her cavalier attitude wasn’t fooling A. K.

“So I take it you didn’t get anywhere with Jack.”

Susan nodded. “He’s convinced I hallucinated, said I’d forget about it in time. Fat chance of that happening. I expected him to be like the Jack I met in the funeral home, friendly and easy to talk to, but he wasn’t. I found him cold and distant. No matter how hard I try, I just can’t get through to him. Here I am trying to save his life, and he tells me to forget it. So much for gratitude.”

“That doesn’t sound like the man I spoke with in the hospital. He came across as warm and friendly, not to mention rich and good looking. I sure hope you’re wrong about him getting shot, or that we don’t manage to stop it. He’s the first guy in a long time that I’d really like to get to know better.”

“You might get your chance. The good doctor asked about you. Seems you made quite an impression on him in the hospital.”

“I can’t imagine why? Are you kidding me?”

“I never kid about that. He wanted to know if you lived around here.”

A. K. danced in place. “Did you give him my number?”

“Of course not, but I did tell him he could reach you at the Bawdy Boutique. Don’t be surprised if you hear from him. Say, did someone cast a spell on you? Every time I turn around, a man wants to meet you.”

“Some of us just got what it takes, kiddo.” A. K. howled.

Raised voices drew Susan’s attention to the front of the store.

“Oh, no, just what I need on my first day back,” Susan sighed.

Myrtle Thigpen and two of her supporters marched back and forth in front of the door, holding signs and blocking customers.

“Call the sheriff’s office,” Susan said. “I’ll see if I can reason with her.”

Susan stepped outside and between the protestors, interrupting the marching. “Myrtle, what’s it going to take to make you stop?”

Myrtle, a dead-ringer for Popeye’s Olive Oil, strutted to within inches of Susan. She stretched her bony neck and jutted out her chin. “When I see a closed sign in the window.”

Susan bit her tongue. Be nice, she told herself. “If you’d come inside and look around, you’d find we have a variety of items for sale. I have some dresses and blouses that would look lovely on you.”

“You’ll never get me to step into that den of iniquity.”

Her harsh reply drew several harrumphs from her fellow soldiers.

Susan was fighting a losing battle and was relieved when the police car arrived.

“I have a right to protest,” Myrtle said to the officer before he had a chance to say anything.

“I’m not disputing that,” he said, “but I’ve told you before that you can’t block the store, and you can’t protest on private property. You ladies will have to do your picketing off the company’s grounds. There’s a nice shady spot at the end of their parking lot and next to the highway.”

While the deputy ushered the women away from the store, a silver Lexus pulled into the parking lot. A chill went down Susan’s spine. She recognized the woman Jack had pointed out as his ex-wife.

“What’s that all about?” Clarissa asked.

“A disgruntled citizen thinks the Devil is behind my shop. This isn’t the first time she’s organized a protest.”

“Why don’t you have her arrested?”

“It’s called freedom of speech.”

“Some people shouldn’t be afforded that right. I wonder what happened to make her such a bitter old woman.”

The deputy returned to his vehicle.

“Thanks,” Susan said. “I’m sorry I had to disturb you with such a call.”

“You did right. I wouldn’t want you and the protesters to wind up in a scuffle.” His radio blared as he climbed into his unit and drove off.

Clarissa headed for the front door. “A. K. called and asked that I stop by.”

Susan opened the door. “I’m Susan. You must be Clarissa. A. K. mentioned you might come in.”

While A. K. waited on Jack’s ex, Susan busied herself rearranging the costume jewelry. She didn’t want to appear nosy, and knew that A. K. could handle the situation. After an hour in the dressing room, Clarissa settled on two negligees, a halter Baby doll pajamas, and a lace push-up bra with matching panties. She showed no interest in any of their casual lines. Clarissa made it known that she wasn’t sitting at home alone.

“I appreciate your business,” Susan said as A. K. rang up the sales. “You picked out some lovely things.”

“At least it’s a start. I’ll be back. I’m planning a trip to Paris next month and want to look my best, especially where it counts.” She gave an impish grin. “Of course, I want to leave room for some French fashions, too.”

“Take me with you,” A. K. said.

Clarissa laughed. “Honey, you’re not my type.”

“You’d leave me to run the store alone?” Susan asked.

“In a heartbeat.”

Clarissa thanked A. K. for calling her and said to keep her in mind if something else came in that was considered a hot item. She gathered up her purchases and beat a path for the front door, leaving the scent of Aromatics Elixir in her wake. The perfume was one of Susan’s favorite—a clean, refreshing scent. Somehow, the fragrance didn’t seem to fix Clarissa.

“She’s such a fake,” Susan said.

“And a flake,” A. K. added. “What did a doctor ever see in that dingbat?” A. K. gave a long, pensive look at the front door. “Uh, don’t answer that.”

“So, did dingbat volunteer any information?”

“No, she was too busy talking about herself.”

Susan rounded the counter. “Let’s hope Wesley turns up something. It’s almost closing time. Why don’t you lock up, and I’ll turn back the register?”

No sooner had Susan put the charge slips into a stack when she heard a tapping on the back door, followed by a familiar voice.

“Guess who’s here?” she called to A. K. “Our favorite customer.”

Vera Barksdale scurried into the shop as soon as Susan opened the door. The wrinkle-free elderly woman was petite and spry. She had enjoyed a long and wonderful marriage to a good man, who was by no means a financial wizard. When he died, he left her penniless. His passing almost destroyed her, but over the years, she seemed to have worked through the pain of losing her soul mate.

Years of housecleaning and hard work to make ends meet had conditioned her body, and she was in better shape than most of Susan’s younger customers. Vera mentioned that recently she had met someone, a man about her age who had a zest for life. However, she made it clear that while she enjoyed his companionship, she was quick to add that no one could ever take the place of her late husband, David, nor would she ever forget him.

Susan learned a long time ago never to say never. “Who is this new interest?” Susan asked.

“Herman Washburn, a biker who lives in Hammond.”

That caught Susan totally by surprise. While she didn’t doubt Miss Vera, Susan found it difficult to picture the little old lady wearing leather and straddling the back of a Hog.

“Enough about me. How are
you
, dearie?” Vera’s big, brown eyes sparkled with the glimmer of youth. “I heard you had a bad fall.”

“I’m fine, thanks. Boy, word sure travels fast in Palmetto.”

“Honey, Twitter has nothing on country gossip.” She gave Susan’s hand a squeeze. “I saw Myrtle giving you a hard time this morning. Just because her daddy was once mayor of Palmetto, she thinks she can tell everyone what to do. A curmudgeon, that’s what she is. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that woman smile.

“Since our paths cross more often than I like, I try and remain on her good side. She sure can stir up a hornet’s nest, but I’ve got an idea that just might stop Myrtle from disrupting your business.”

“What do—”

Vera held up her hand to shush Susan. “I can’t say anything right now. You’ll just have to wait and see.” Vera ran her fingers down a long negligee and pulled the sheer material to her. I wonder what Myrtle would do if she caught me in here? For sure, I wouldn’t be on her guest list.” Vera laughed. “Okay, let’s see what you wouldn’t show in the window.”

“How are you doing, Miss Vera?” A. K. said, joining them. “I’ve got something that has
you
written all over it.” She pulled a piece of lingerie from the rack and laid it on the counter.

Vera’s face lit up at the red, satin baby doll pajamas with bikini panties. She ran her hand over the material and hummed a few notes, a cheerful sound but nothing recognizable. “That feels good…feels just right. I’ll take it.”

While Susan rang up the sale, Vera said, “I saw Clarissa Evans leaving the shop with a purchase. You’re lucky to have made a sale. She’s a hard woman to satisfy.”

Susan interest piqued. “You know her?”

“I was the housekeeper for her and Doctor Evans. In fact, I still clean his place once a week.” Her face wrinkled into a frown, hinting at her age. “Clarissa and I never got along. She found fault with everything I did. I’m not one to tell tales out of school, but since I no longer work for her I’m entitled to speak my mind.”

“What’s your opinion about the doctor?”

“He’s a nice enough guy, but he has his faults, too.”

“You said you don’t work for Clarissa anymore?”

“She couldn’t pay me enough. She’s downright mean. She could put a guilt trip on the doctor over the smallest thing. Rather than argue, he tried pacifying her with gifts. Even that wasn’t enough. That woman has an insatiable appetite for jewelry…and other things.” She hiked an eyebrow. “She didn’t fool me. I heard her taking calls from way too many gentleman friends. Married or not, Clarissa seemed to think all males were fair game. Once, I even saw her flirt with the bug man.”

“You think that’s what led to their divorce?” A. K. asked.

Vera shook her head. “The doctor was so wrapped up in his work he didn’t have any idea what she was doing. From what I understand, it was Clarissa who wanted out of the marriage, said she wanted to travel, have more of a social life. She couldn't do that with the doctor stuck at the hospital all the time.” A. K. handed her the bag and walked with her toward the door.

“Heck, she knew what her life would be like when she married him. I suppose she’s happy now that she has her freedom. I heard she got a very generous settlement. Me, I wouldn’t have given her the time of day.

“Well, I’ve rattled on too long. I’d better slip out of here before I’m discovered. You ladies have a good evening. I can hardly wait to see what you’ll have in the window next time.” Vera clutched her purchase to her chest. “I can’t wait to try this out…uh, I mean on.” She giggled and disappeared out the back door.