Terror on Tybee Island (A Trixie Montgomery Cozy Mystery Book 3) (12 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

M
y eyes rolled heavenward.
Lord please bless me with a healthy heaping of patience.
Although, I knew the way to learn patience was to handle more trials and wondered if it was too late to take back my prayer.

Dee Dee covered her mouth and faked a cough. I tried to follow up with damage control. “What she means is we’re helping Laura. Detective Baker’s questioned her several times and shows no interest in looking for other suspects. My Mama is good friends with Laura and she’s asked me to help. Is there any information you can offer that would help us?”

“What makes you think I have anything to say about Grace?” She took a pinch of spilled salt and threw the grains over her left shoulder.

Dee Dee spoke up. “Edna, over at Ocean View Inn, told us how Grace maligned you.”

Mary Sue’s eyes widened and her tanned skin lost a little of its color. “Edna spoke out of turn. I don’t know what you ladies are up to, but I don’t have anything to say. Now if you don’t mind, I need to get back to work.” She stood up, ready to leave. I grasped her arm and gently tugged.

“Mary Sue, please. Grace tormented Laura, but we know she wasn’t the only one targeted. What if Detective Baker focused his investigation on you and you knew you didn’t do it. Would you want our help then?” Through her eyes, I glimpsed the wheels of thought spinning. She sat back down. I heaved a sigh of relief.

“You’re right. I guess I was a little hasty, but I didn’t want to get involved where Grace Watkins is concerned. That woman destroyed any trust I had in humankind.”

My heart went out to Mary Sue. Even though my situation was different, the feeling of betrayal was the same. Thoughts of her pain brought back my own hurtful memories. Wade decided to present me with the surprise of my life. After years of marriage, he had approached me with his bags packed and told me he’d found his soul mate on the internet.

My world shattered that day as did my trust in others. My very identity was wrapped up in my beliefs as I knew them. Wade not only left me emotionally empty, but left our bank accounts depleted, as well. I should have felt vindicated when Wade slithered back into my life. He soon discovered his beautiful, blonde soul mate was a three hundred pound hussy who conned men for money. I didn’t. After he returned home he rushed right into the arms of another woman.

Beau, my boyfriend, along with Dee Dee, worked wonders to restore my faith in people. I came to terms that humans were fallible and would disappointment us from time to time. But the most important thing I had learned is there is someone who loves us unconditionally and will never let us down.

“Earth to Trixie.” Dee Dee reached across the table and shook my arm.

I composed myself and turned to Mary Sue. “Anything you can tell us about Grace will be appreciated.”

“Hmm, where to start?” She stared at the ceiling as if all the answers floated in the air. “I remember when I came to Ocean View to work. I’d been through a nasty divorce and had a young daughter to care for. I was so excited to land a position in one of the most popular bed and breakfasts on the island.”

I looked at Nana and Dee Dee sitting across from me. They shoveled in banana pudding as fast as they could. I understood why. This might not be the most pleasant looking diner, but they sure knew how to make dessert. I nibbled a spoonful as Mary Sue continued.

“She had us fill out a contract. I didn’t pay much attention to the stack of papers as she shoved them in front of me to sign. At the time, I was so excited to have a job I’d have just about signed anything.” She took a cloth tucked in her apron and wiped the table off. “I still regret that decision.”

Nana with her usual lack of decorum asked, “Why? What was in them?”

Mary Sue’s eyes went wide. “I’m gettin’ there.” She picked at a thumbnail. “The job worked out fine for a couple of years. I got to be good friends with Edna. We had a lot in common and we both loved to cook. I took Grace’s recipes, which were all right but kind of bland and old-school, and doctored them up a little with my ideas to bring them into the current trends. You know, I came up with some gluten-free options, and I used some modern spices and ingredients with others.” She sat up straighter. “It was my idea to begin using truffle oil in some of the fancier dishes.”

We all studied our empty pudding bowls.

“Word spread and some of the locals came just to eat one of my meals,” she continued. “But instead of giving me credit for the recipes, she claimed anything I added was hers according to that contract I’d signed. She threatened to sue me if I made a fuss.” She looked around the table. “Grace fought me on a lot of the changes, but she had to admit we were finally on the map.” She glanced at our empty bowls. “Seconds?”

So that was why the two women fought like two parakeets in a pillowcase. Jealousy.

“No.”

“Yes.” I guess two yes’s outweigh a no anytime.

“Won’t take but a minute. I think I’ll take an official break and drink a cup of coffee with you.” She jumped up quicker than a grasshopper.

“Trixie, look and see if I have anything between my teeth.” Dee Dee furnished me a Whitney Houston smile. I inspected her pearly whites for any stray food particles.

“There’s a speck of black pepper right in front.”

She dug at it with a nail. “Oh no. Mr. Right might walk inside any minute and mistake it for a rotten tooth.” She rumbled around in her bag and came up with a mirror. “Yikes.” She rummaged around a little more and withdrew a small case of dental floss.

“You’re not going to do what I think you’re going to do, are you?”

“There’s nobody at this table but us. Just remember, what happens at this table stays at this table.” Her golden laughter filled the air.

Nana contributed to the fun. “What happens on the island stays on the island.” By the time Mary Sue returned to the table with a new round of pudding and a fresh pot of coffee we were laughing like a pack of hyenas.

She sat the food on the table and gave us a disapproving look. “You ladies don’t sound like you’re too upset about Laura’s troubles.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

M
ary Sue sank down beside me. Her stern look put the kibosh on our laughter.

“Sorry. You know what they say, ‘laughter is the best medicine.’”

“Yeah, I guess so.” She doctored her coffee and took a long drink. “Mmm. That’s good, even if I did make it.” Three heads bobbed in agreement. Images of Nana’s head atop a bobblehead doll invaded my thoughts.

Dee Dee leaned forward, silently willing Mary Sue to continue.

“Well, like I was saying. We’d built up a loyal following of locals at the bed and breakfast. Then one day, a friend of mine, Deidra, got a promotion and knew about my frustration, asked me to work for her in one of the beachside restaurants, The Blue Dolphin. The pay was double what I made at Ocean View and she was going to give me full credit for the dishes. I couldn’t turn it down. I knew this would be a great chance to make things better for me and my daughter.”

An elderly couple walked in the door and Mary Sue hollered, “Have a seat.” She stood up, but one of the other waitresses gave her a wave to say ‘I’ve got it.’ She sat back down.

“Mary Sue, what happened after you left Ocean View?” Nana and Dee Dee had wolfed down their second helping of banana pudding and now sipped on their coffee. A few bites remained in the bottom of my bowl.

Dee Dee eyed my pudding with genuine longing. “Are you going to finish that?”

“Yes, I am. If you cherish your fingers, don’t even think about reaching over here.” I scooted the bowl closer for protection. Mary Sue looked from me to Dee Dee and back to me. I’m sure she thought we’d escaped from the home for the bewildered.

She shook her head and smiled. “Y’all have a unique relationship don’t you?” We nodded in agreement. I’m not sure what she meant by unique, but I assumed she meant ‘special.’ “I wish I still had a best friend.” She stared into the distance, possibly remembering a time when she did.

“Scoot out of the way, Dee Dee. I need to go to the little ladies room.” Nana gave Dee Dee’s arm a little shove – as if her petite frame could move Dee Dee an inch.

“Sure thing, Nana.”

“Dee Dee, why don’t you go with Nana?” I gave her an exaggerated wink. I thought she could keep an eye on Nana and give us a few minutes to talk. Dee Dee missed my hint.

“I don’t need to go. Isn’t it wonderful?” In the past, Dee Dee couldn’t go an hour without having to tinkle. The new patches were nothing short of a miracle, but this was one time I needed her to go.

“Are you having that eye problem again, Trix?”

“No, I’m not. Are you sure you don’t need to go?” I winked again. This time she received my telepathic message.

“Come on, Nana.” She and Nana headed to the ladies’ room giggling like two teenagers.

“You’re blessed to have your grandmother around.”

“She’s my great-aunt. And yes, I’m blessed.” I looked upward.
Please help me to remember how blessed I am.
Sometimes life got in the way and stole the awareness of our blessings. This was something I needed to work on.

“Where were we? My train of thought derailed.” She laughed a little too loud at her own wit. A sure sign of tattered nerves.

“You were saying what happened to you when you left Ocean View.” I prompted, scraping the bottom of the bowl for another dab of that delicious pudding.

“Everything was great for a while. Deidra featured my dishes in the menu of her restaurant. Before long, the customers followed us over, and their traffic doubled.” Mary Sue refilled our coffee cups.

“We have a little television station that broadcasts local news and activities. Deidra wanted to get the word out about The Blue Dolphin, so she pitched the idea of a cooking show from our kitchen. They took her up on it.”

“Edna told us you hosted your own show.”

“It wasn’t long before I was a local celebrity. People recognized me right off and would ask me about my recipes. Between working on the show and at the restaurant, I made pretty good money. For once, I didn’t have to worry about paying bills. It was nice.”

I could relate to Mary Sue. When Wade left, there were many nights I laid awake wondering how I’d make it through the next month. It took a while before I bounced back on my feet.

Nana and Dee Dee sidled up to the table. “All done,” Nana announced. “What did we miss?”

“Mary Sue was just telling me about her cooking show.”

Nana leaned forward. “We heard Grace ruined that for ya.” So much for tact. I was worried how Mary Sue would react to Nana’s bluntness, but she calmly eyed Nana.

“You’re right, Nana. Grace ruined everything.” She sighed and rested her chin in her hands like someone resigned to disappointment. “She watched the show and claimed I’d used her recipes as the base for my dishes. She said the contract prohibited me from using them anyplace else but her restaurant. Some of them did have the same basic ingredients, and I changed them around, but that didn’t matter to Grace.” Mary Sue held up the coffee pot for a refill – we declined with a shake of our heads.

“What did Grace do?” Dee Dee stacked the bowls and shoved them to the side.

“She went crazy, that’s what she did.” Green eyes full of fire replaced the defeated look Mary Sue wore just minutes before. “She got herself a lawyer and stalked me everywhere I went, she even came to the show and disrupted taping. The studio got scared of a lawsuit and started looking for my replacement. Scared to death I’d never find another job, I quit The Blue Dolphin and lost the show, too. They wouldn’t even keep me on as a stage hand.” Her face flushed a deep pink. “Some of the kids at school even picked on my Sarah Joe. We were about to move away but it all settled down.”

I laid my hand on her arm. “I’m sorry, Mary Sue. It seems Grace spread her malice from one end of the island to the other. She had to be one unhappy person to feel the need to lash out at others.” Thoughts of how miserable she must have been almost made me feel sorry for her. Then I remembered all the people she’d hurt.

“Yeah.” Deep in thought, she visited a place we couldn’t follow. Then she spoke slowly and deliberately. “It was just a matter of time before someone put a stop to her meanness.”