Rubbed Out (A Memphis BBQ Mystery) (18 page)

Lulu smiled at her. “That’s the way it always seems. I’m lucky, though, that this is basically where I grew up. It’s a second home to me, so I don’t feel bad about being here so much. Did you need to talk with me about something?”

Dawn hesitated, then plopped down next to Cherry in one of the wooden rocking chairs. “I was checking in on Finn, that’s all. I’ve been wrapped up in my own worrying lately, and haven’t been giving him the time that I should have been.”

“Easy to do,” said Lulu, nodding.

“When he told me that he was hanging out with Derrick, I thought maybe that was a good thing. Finn doesn’t have a whole lot of friends—he’s a quiet guy and keeps to himself,” said Dawn. “I guess the divorce didn’t help him become any more outgoing, either. At any rate, he got even more quiet after Reuben and I split up.”

Lulu said, “Derrick seems happy to hang out with Finn. Maybe he can introduce him to some of the people he knows, too.”

“I hope so,” said Dawn. “Finn told me he was also spending time here at the restaurant in the afternoons
after school. Meeting an elderly black man here about music lessons?” Dawn sounded very confused. “Honestly, he didn’t do a great job explaining it all to me, and when I tried to ask questions because I didn’t understand, he got frustrated with me and stomped off.”

Cherry laughed. “He sure sounds like a normal teenager to me.”

“Morty is an old friend of mine,” said Lulu. “He’s been a fixture around Aunt Pat’s for many years. He and two other friends had a blues band that was mighty popular back in the day and they still have gigs now, even though they’re in their eighties. He was visiting with us for a few minutes in our booth and he and Finn got to talking about playing the trumpet. Finn was so interested that Morty offered to give him some help with it…tips and that kind of stuff. Not what you’d call a lesson, I don’t think, but just extra help.”

“That’s awful nice of him,” said Dawn. “I haven’t been able to afford lessons for Finn, and he’s been dying to learn to play the trumpet. Somebody I know from work had a trumpet that their child didn’t need anymore and they gave it to him. He’s been trying to figure it out on his own by playing around with it and by watching videos on the Internet. It’s not the same thing.” She shifted uncomfortably. “Do you think I should offer to pay Morty? This sounds like something that’s taking up a lot of his time.”

“You know, I have a feeling that it’s a pleasure for
Morty to show him the instrument. His whole life, singing and trumpet playing were his favorite things. And to have a young person interested in what you’re saying and hanging on your every word of wisdom when it comes to the trumpet? That’s pretty rewarding, too.”

Dawn seemed relieved.

“And I don’t know if this is a regular thing, but it sounded like they were going to try to meet up here at the restaurant after school at least once a week. Derrick hangs out on the porch with them and usually eats a whole bunch, from what I can gather,” said Lulu.

“Again—sounds like a normal teenager to me,” said Cherry, snickering.

“Okay,” said Dawn with a deep sigh. She sounded relieved that she at least had one thing that she didn’t have to worry about.

Lulu hated to have to disturb Dawn’s unusually happy mood, but since the woman was already making motions like she might be picking her pocketbook back up and leaving, she figured she didn’t really have a choice. “Ah, Dawn. Could I get you a glass of iced tea or some food?”

“Thanks much, but I don’t have the time right now. I’ve got a doctor’s appointment I’ve got to get to,” said Dawn, leaning over to pick up her purse.

Lulu said in a rush, “I guess you’ve heard about John. John, one of Reuben’s customers?”

Dawn gave Lulu a blank stare.

“You mean the cops haven’t asked you questions about
where you were when he was murdered?” asked Cherry in an incredulous voice. “They sure did ask me!”

Which might have been because neighbors had described Cherry and Lulu’s outdoor conversation with John on the morning of the day he died. The police probably hadn’t gotten around to talking to Dawn about his death, but that didn’t mean that they wouldn’t. Not that Lulu was going to tell Dawn that.

“Murdered? What? Who is John?” asked Dawn in a frustrated voice. “You said he was a customer of Reuben’s?”

“Yes, and apparently a very dissatisfied one. Reuben hadn’t finished his construction project and John paid him upfront, so he didn’t have the money to pay someone else to complete it,” said Lulu.

“I’m sure it made him fit to be tied, but that wouldn’t have anything to do with me, would it? Sounds like that’s something that’s happened kind of recently. When Reuben and I were together, Reuben got up every day and went to work. Worked hard, too. That’s one reason why it’s totally annoying to me that he was sitting around in his bathrobe all day. The guy could pull in good money when he worked,” said Dawn.

“Maybe John was somebody who Reuben would complain about to you when y’all talked to each other on the phone?” suggested Cherry.

“Are you kidding me? Reuben wasn’t going to talk to me about
nothing
.”

“Not even about visits with Finn?” asked Lulu quietly.

“Especially not visits with Finn. Everything Reuben was doing was to avoid any kind of financial responsibility. If he had visits with Finn, that would remind him that he had a child. If he dwelled too much on that, then maybe he’d think he should do something to support this kid. So no—we didn’t talk. Not that I didn’t call. I must’ve been hung up on dozens of times,” said Dawn darkly.

“So you’re saying you didn’t happen to be over at John’s house a couple of evenings ago,” said Cherry.

Dawn put her hands on her hips. “I’m saying that I don’t even know who this guy is! And no, if you need to have it spelled out, I didn’t kill him. A couple of evenings ago, I was with Finn at home. Finn was trying to study for a big test and I helped him by calling out terms he was supposed to know. That’s what I was doing. I’m a single mom—I don’t have time to go out and murder people.”

Cherry was opening her mouth to say something—probably something ill-advised—when Tim stuck his head out the door from the dining room into the porch. “Mrs. Taylor, I’m shifting out, but then I’m planning on coming back over here to help clean up before y’all close tonight. Was there anything else that you needed me to do before I left?” He smiled at Cherry, then glanced over at Dawn and appeared startled.

Dawn said slowly, “I didn’t know you were working over here, Tim. How are you doing?”

Tim’s face flushed. “I’m doing pretty well,” he said in a quiet voice. But his fingers gripped the door tightly, Lulu noticed.

“It’s fine if you want to clock out, Tim. Thanks for helping us out today,” said Lulu.

He gave her a small smile and dodged back into the dining room.

Dawn looked like the cat that had eaten the canary. “Of course, you know who Tim is, don’t you? Your waiter? He used to be a friend of Reuben’s—he was married to one of my coworkers at the preschool. And I don’t know what happened between the two of them, but Reuben stopped speaking to Tim real abruptly and never spoke to him again. Not ever. I never did figure out why.”

“Maybe,” said Cherry sassily, “Tim figured out that Reuben was no good. Before you did, that is. Did you think that maybe Tim was the one who broke off that friendship and not Reuben?”

Apparently not, because a surprised expression flitted across Dawn’s face.

“Like I said,” growled Dawn, “I’ve got to get going to get to my doctor appointment. Thanks for watching after Finn,” she said to Lulu. She glared at Cherry as she stomped off the porch.

Once the screen door had slammed shut behind her, Lulu puffed out a sigh. “Cherry, I don’t believe Dawn is all that crazy about you.”

“She doesn’t know what she’s missing,” said Cherry, putting her stubby nose in the air. “I happen to be a fantastic friend. Even though I’m a friend who’s dragging you into a murder investigation.”

“Don’t you think the police are focusing more on the other suspects?” asked Lulu. “After all, it’s not like you even knew Reuben before the festival. And I can’t think why you’d have wanted to kill John.”

Cherry said gloomily, “It has to do with the fact that I had the opportunity both times. Maybe they think there’s a connection between us that they haven’t learned about yet. Who knows? Maybe they think that I killed Reuben in an angry, impulsive moment and then had to kill John because he knew about it.”

“I guess they could think that,” said Lulu. “But it sure seems unlikely.”

“That’s because you’re my friend, Lulu.”

“Pink is your friend, too!” said Lulu.

“But Pink isn’t calling the shots. He’s part of the team. He’s investigating evidence, asking questions, and making deductions. I really don’t think friendship comes
into the equation,” said Cherry. “They could think that I’m a very polished criminal who does these dastardly deeds under the radar and then continues acting like a common, everyday Graceland docent.”

Lulu got the impression that Cherry was possibly enjoying being a suspect. That had to mean that she really didn’t think the police were seriously considering her as the murderer.

They heard male voices approaching the porch from the street and Lulu glanced at her watch. “That should be Derrick and Finn. Morty hasn’t gotten here yet. Hmm.”

“Hopefully he’s not dead,” intoned Cherry mischievously.

Lulu frowned at her. “Certainly not. Morty isn’t even on the periphery of this case.”

“I’m just saying—things are heating up. We never know who’s going to be the next victim,” said Cherry.

Lulu didn’t have time to respond to that because it was Finn and Derrick and they were up on the porch and standing next to them in a couple of long strides. Cherry did a quick hi-and-bye because it was time for her to go run errands and do yard work. After she left, Derrick said, “Granny Lulu, is it all right if we put together some snacks in the kitchen?”

“That’s fine with me as long as you stay out of Ben’s way…he’ll be trying to clean up from lunch and get things ready for supper. There should be lots of snack possibilities in there,” said Lulu, trying to recollect the
contents for the family fridge—separate from the industrial-size fridge they used for the restaurant.

“Is there maybe any pink lemonade pie in there?” asked Derrick, trying to act innocent.

Lulu laughed. “Was it you, then, that got into my pie? I noticed when I came in that it wasn’t in the same condition I’d left it in yesterday.”

“What condition had you left it in yesterday?” asked Finn.

“Uneaten,” said Lulu, smiling.

“I might have had one slice of pie, just to see if I liked it,” said Derrick, a smile playing around his lips. “So Ben’s trying to work in there right now? How about I grab the pie and plates and forks and Finn and I knock it out first. Do you mind?”

“I don’t. As a matter of fact, I did remember that I had a hungry teenager on the premises here on school days and I took the precaution of making a whole other pie for the twins when they come in. I hid it under a couple of bags of lettuce,” said Lulu smugly.

“Has it come to that?” asked Derrick, laughing. “To the point where you have to hide food?”

“Oh, I think so,” said Lulu. “The rest of us need to be able to eat, too!”

As Derrick laughed and walked off to the kitchen for the lemonade pie, Lulu smiled after him. It wasn’t all that long ago when Derrick wasn’t comfortable enough to joke around with everyone. He’d come to them insecure,
defensive, and nearly silent. She was so happy to see that the warm, loving, and accepting atmosphere of the restaurant had worked its magic on Derrick. He still had plenty of insecurity, but it seemed like he was getting more confident every day.

Now she turned to Finn to ask him about his day when she caught him with a wistful expression on his face. “Everything okay, Finn? Why don’t you have a seat next to me while we wait on the food?”

“It’s just—well, it’s nice to see everybody acting so normal,” said Finn. “At home we’re never that relaxed. I’m uptight, Mom’s uptight. It’s not a fun place like this is.”

Lulu said, “Sweetie, I’m sorry things have been so rough for you. And you know you’re welcome to hang out here with us as much as you’d like, as long as it’s okay with your mom. You know your mother has been under a lot of stress lately and that’s got a lot to do with it.”

Finn gave a laugh that was more like a groan. “Believe me, I know all about her stress over money. That’s all Mom talks about!”

Lulu nodded quietly, figuring that Finn needed somebody to just listen to him.

“I’ve tried to be good on my end, but it’s tough. I try to help out around the house or do the things that Mom wants me to do that Dad would have done when they were together—stuff like clearing out a clogged pipe or mowing the grass, or stuff like that,” said Finn.

“Y’all own a house?” asked Lulu.

“No, we’re renting one. A duplex, I guess it is. It’s pretty small, but a decent size for us. But it’s nice to get away from there and come here to hang out some,” said Finn.

Lulu asked delicately, “And y’all have been getting along with each other okay?”