Murder Of A Snake In The Grass (12 page)

Ginger emerged, still adjusting her pantyhose. She was a tiny blonde with big blue eyes, wearing a cerise top with ruffled cap sleeves and a black skirt with an embroidered rose
running along the slit up her thigh. “Sorry, I’m the only one working, and I had to go.”

“Sure, no problem. I just need to cash a check.” Skye slid the slip of paper across the counter. “I’m surprised they’d leave you here all alone.”

“Well, I’m not exactly all alone. Karl’s in the booth watching the security cameras.” Ginger frowned. “But two tellers called in sick, and Mr. Yates’ mother died this morning. The new owners still haven’t hired anyone to take his old job, since he got promoted to president when Mr. Ingels left.”

She paused for breath, and Skye said hastily, “I see.” She did not want to rehash last April’s town scandal. “You haven’t seen Uncle Charlie around lately, have you?”

“His receipts from the motor court were in the drop box this morning, but I didn’t see him. Why?”

“Oh, I haven’t seen him since the speech yesterday, and I was wondering if he was okay.”

“Why wouldn’t he be?”

“You heard about the murder, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, Charlie generally likes to be in the thick of things, but he hasn’t been around.”

“He’ll turn up.” Ginger lost interest and started counting out Skye’s money.

Skye watched in fascination as the bills flicked rapidly through her cousin’s fingers. “Thanks. Taking the kids to the carnival tonight?”

“Yeah, they’re real excited.”

“Have a good time. Maybe I’ll see you there.”

“We’ll be in the Beer Garden after nine, once we dump the kids at Mom’s.” Ginger put a closed sign on the counter and walked Skye to the door. “I’m locking up behind you, and then I’m out of here.”

“Bye.” Skye walked back toward her car wondering what she should do next. Her stomach growled and gave her a
hint. Lunch. Should she be good and go home and have something healthy? Or should she buy something yummy from one of the food tents?

She decided to take a peek at what the local organizations were offering. After all, it would be a shame to give up such a great parking spot. She strolled south toward the smell of frying chicken and found herself in front of the Catholic church.

The Altar and Rosary Society had set up picnic tables under several dark green awnings. Skye looked closer. Were those the awnings that Reid’s Funeral Home usually used for the families to sit under at the cemetery during the final services? She wondered if anyone else realized what the canvas shelters were normally employed for.

“Skye, how nice to see you here. The ladies have outdone themselves.”

“Father Burns, everything sure smells wonderful.” Skye smiled at the tall, thin priest. He was one of the good guys, and she always felt at peace in his presence.

He pointed to a table in the far corner. “Come sit over here after you get your plate.”

“Thanks, Father. Can I get you anything?”

“No, the ladies keep me well supplied. I think they’re trying to fatten me up.”

“That may be a lost cause. You’ve looked the same for the past twenty years.” Skye made her way to the food line. She was behind two men who appeared to have just come in out of the fields.

One of the farmers was speaking. “Can’t take this kind of thing too often. Shouldn’t have stayed so long at the Beer Garden last night, but the missus was having a good time, and we don’t get out much.” He took off his John Deere cap and wiped his face with a red bandanna. “I’m already beat, and I gotta get that south fifty in the bin today.”

“Quit your bellyaching. You left too early. Missed all the excitement.”

“We was there when Fayanne threw out the Canuck.”

“No, later. Fayanne and the mayor got into it.”

“Can’t believe that. Clapp’s such a gutless wonder.”

“Fayanne fed him a knuckle sandwich.”

“Wonder what the deal is on that?”

Skye wondered too, but the men had made it to the head of the line and were too busy filling their plates to keep on talking.

She handed the woman behind the table a five-dollar bill and was given a pink ticket, which allowed her one pass through the food line, a drink, and a dessert. All-you-can-eat tickets were blue and cost seven-fifty.

With a roll of plastic utensils wrapped in a napkin in one hand and her plate piled with fried chicken, corn on the cob, and coleslaw in the other, she was trying to figure out how to take the glass of lemonade one of the church ladies was handing her when a voice asked, “Need some help?”

“Simon, when did you get here?”

“I walked over from the funeral home a few minutes ago.” He took the plate from her. “Where are you sitting?”

“Over there with Father Burns.” She led the way.

Simon put down her plate and left to go get his own lunch.

“That’s a good man,” Father Burns said. “I’m very glad you two are chairing the youth committee. You’ve both done an outstanding job. This was our best summer ever.”

Skye ignored the priest’s comment about Simon, not sure where he was going with that remark. “Thank you. It was fun. I’m hoping we can do something big to keep them occupied this winter.”

“You and Simon seem to function well together.”

Obviously the priest would not let her off the hook. “Most of the time. We do disagree on occasion.”

“But you work things out.”

“True, so far.”

“I saw your mom this morning, and she was a little worried about you.”

“She’s only happy if she has something to worry about. If she has nothing to worry about, she worries that she’s forgotten what she wanted to worry about.” Great. May must have told Father Burns about Luc. Now what was she supposed to do? Simon returned while she was thinking.

Father Burns turned to him. “I was telling Skye how happy I am with the job you’ve both done with the youth group.”

“Thanks. I like hanging out with the kids.”

“And it doesn’t hurt to have a pretty partner, does it?” Father Burns teased.

Simon took Skye’s hand. “That’s the best part. It really gave us a chance to get to know each other on a deeper level.”

“I understand you were generous enough to take in a visitor to Scumble River who could find no other lodging,” the priest said to Simon.

He shot Skye a look. She shook her head slightly and mouthed, “May.”

“Yes, an old friend of Skye’s showed up last night, and what with the bicentennial he couldn’t find a motel room.”

“Will he be staying long?” Father Burns asked.

“No.” Skye paused. She wasn’t prepared to lie to a priest. “I mean, I don’t know. I think he just has some papers for me to sign. He’s setting up a foundation in New Orleans for abused and neglected kids and has asked me to be on the board.”

The priest nodded. “A very good cause, no doubt. Perhaps you and Simon can bring him to church tomorrow. I’d like to meet him.”

“I’ll ask him, Father.”

“Then I’ll see you all tomorrow.” Father Burns got up, and several ladies rushed to take his plate away.

After making sure the priest was well out of earshot, Skye said, “That was awkward.”

“What did your mom say to him?”

“God only knows.” Skye giggled at her own joke.

“She called me this morning and invited me to Sunday dinner.”

Skye raised her eyebrows. “That should be interesting. I’ve been ordered to show up with Luc.” She pushed her half-finished plate away. “It gives me a stomachache to think what my mother might be up to.”

“Speaking of Luc, he’s been calling you every fifteen minutes for the last two hours. He accused me of kidnapping you.”

“Sorry. He always did need immediate gratification.” Skye stood up and gave her plate to a church lady, who, without asking, wrapped the leftover chicken in a square of foil and handed the packet to Skye. “If I don’t run into him beforehand, I’ll call when I get home.”

“I was hoping to take you to the carnival tonight, but Troy Yates decided to go ahead and hold the wake for his mom. I thought maybe he’d postpone because of the activities.”

“That’s okay. I can understand the family not wanting to wait.” Skye edged her way between picnic tables toward the street. “I thought I’d stroll around a little before going home. Want to come?”

“I’d love to, but I have to go relieve Xavier. He asked for the afternoon off.”

Skye waited for him to walk away.

Instead he took her hand and pulled her behind a tree. “What are you going to do about Luc?”

Skye picked up a fallen leaf from the ground and studied it. An insect had eaten hundreds of tiny holes in it, making it look like green lace. “I don’t know.”

“Do you still love him?”

“No. I just feel something isn’t finished between us.”

“Why? It’s been over two years since you two split up.”

“See, that’s the thing.
We
didn’t split up. He walked out on me.” Skye continued to examine the leaf.

“So it’s a matter of pride?”

“Maybe. But I think if I can say good-bye and have some control this time, I might be able to straighten out my emotions and be ready to try another serious relationship.”

Simon placed his hands gently on either side of her face. His thumbs caressed her jaw. His lips brushed against hers as he spoke. “As long as that ‘serious relationship’ is with me, I guess I can handle Luc being around for a few days.”

Without thinking, she kissed him. What started as a soft caress deepened, leaving her weak and confused. How could she be attracted to Luc last night and Wally this morning, and still lose herself in Simon’s kiss? What was happening to her?

After Simon left, Skye sank to the ground and sat with her back to the tree trunk. Wow. She tried to think, but her mind wouldn’t cooperate. It was time to go home.

The coolness of her cottage greeted her as she stepped inside. Bingo looked up from a favorite patch of sunlight by the French doors, yawned, and went back to sleep.

Skye detoured into the kitchen to put the leftover chicken into the fridge and get a glass of ice water. As Simon had promised, the button on her answering machine was blinking. She pressed the play button and heard several versions of the same message from Luc. Where was she? How could she disappear like this? Call him immediately.

Skye punched in the first two numbers, but was interrupted by knocking. She hung up the receiver and peeked out the foyer window. Luc stood on the top step.

She opened the door, and he swept inside. “Darlin’, where have you been? I was so worried.”

“Why? This is Scumble River, not the big bad city.”

“But the murder last night. Obviously a killer is on the loose.”

“Probably a robbery gone bad. Nothing to do with me,” Skye reassured him, not really believing what she was saying.

Luc took her hand, drew her into the great room, and sat her on the couch. “I have something important to ask you.”

“Oh?” This didn’t sound good. “About the foundation?”

“In a way. I would like you to give me one night. To pretend we have just met. I want to take you to a wonderful restaurant and talk as if we had no history. If at the end of the evening you can look me in the eye and say you have no feelings for me, I’ll never bother you again.”

“What about the foundation?” Skye got up from the sofa and walked toward the windows facing the river.

“I’ll let my lawyer act as liaison. You can still be on the board, but you won’t need to have anything to do with me.”

She stared at the blue water, watching the heat shimmer on its surface. “One night? And you’ll leave town the next day if I say so?”

“Yes.” He followed her and took her hand, raising it to his lips, but instead of kissing the back, he turned it and pressed his lips to the palm.

She felt a shiver and cursed herself. When had she become a loose woman? First Luc, then Wally, then Simon, and now Luc again. Maybe it was just her hormones, and she wasn’t really attracted to any of them. She’d always been a good girl, so maybe things would go better for her if she was bad this one time. Maybe she just had to get it out of her system. “Okay, let’s go out tonight,” she agreed.

Luc feathered kisses up her arm. “What’s the best restaurant in Chicago?”

“According to what I read, that would be Charlie Trotter’s. But it takes months to get a Saturday night reservation.” Skye idly considered moving her arm away from his lips.

“Nonsense.” He kissed her softly on the neck just below her earlobe. “May I use your phone?”

She pointed toward the kitchen, not trusting her voice, and felt bereft when he interrupted his caresses to make the call.

He was back before she had even decided whether to sit down. “Our reservation is for eight.”

“How did you do that?”

A secretive smile appeared on his lips. “Connections. I’ll pick you up at six-thirty.”

A
s soon as Skye persuaded Luc to leave, she ran to her closet. What in the world could she wear to Charlie Trotter’s? Was there time to go to Joliet or Kankakee and buy something new? She checked the clock. No, it was already past three.

Her hair. She retraced her steps and grabbed the phone from the kitchen wall, then slowly replaced the receiver. If she asked Vince to fix her hair, she might as well take out an ad in the
Scumble River Star
announcing her date. Shoot, what was the use having a brother who was a hair stylist if you couldn’t even have him fix you up for a big night on the town?