Full Bloom

  • • •

  Annie finished her conversation with Doc’s gardener and started for the house. She heard the sound of Wes’s motorcycle engine as she climbed the back steps and entered the kitchen. He obviously wasn’t hanging around for lunch. She opened the refrigerator, pulled out several packages of luncheon meat and cheese and the potato and cheese soup she’d made two nights before that was popular with her tenants. She heard a noise in the dining room and decided to check it out. She pushed open the swinging door and found Theenie and Lovelle standing before an open drawer in the buffet. They jumped when they saw her.

  “What are you two up to?” she asked.

  Theenie looked flustered. “Oh, um, we thought we’d check the silver and see if it needs polishing.”

  “You polished it three days ago,” Annie said.

  “Yes, but we want to make sure it sparkles for the wedding.”

  Annie looked from one to the other. Lovelle glanced away; Theenie began fidgeting. “You know I don’t use my grandmother’s silver for business functions. I have special flatware that I bought in bulk,” she added, although she knew Theenie was perfectly aware of that fact. Annie noted a cardboard box on the table and looked inside. Her grandmother’s serving pieces, each in its individual velvet pouch, had been placed inside. “Okay, what’s really going on?”

  “It wasn’t my idea,” Lovelle said.

  Theenie’s face reddened. “Now, Annie, I know you’re not going to like this—”

  “You’re hiding the silver,” Annie said in disbelief.

  “I thought it best under the circumstances,” Theenie whispered. “One can never be too careful.”

  “She thinks the new guest might steal it,” Lovelle said.

  Theenie shot her a dark look. “Traitor.”

  Annie crossed her arms over her chest. “Put it back.”

  Theenie hesitated. “If you say so, dear.”

  Annie was still shaking her head when the doorbell rang. She found Jamie and Max standing on the other side. “Well, hello,” she said, delighted to see them.

  “Hello to you, good-looking,” Max said, dropping a kiss on her cheek. “If you get any prettier I’m going to have to change brides.”

  “See that?” Jamie said. “We’re not even married yet, and he’s already looking at other women.”

  Annie grinned at Max. She had liked him the minute they met. “He can’t help himself. I’m hot stuff.” She stepped back. “Come in.”

  “We just stopped by to drop off Destiny’s mail for her column,” Jamie said.

  “You’re in time for lunch. I’m about to heat up a big pot of my famous potato and cheese soup.” She noted the sudden pained expression on Jamie’s face. “Ooops, I forgot about the diet.”

  “I’m not on a diet,” Max said, “and I love potato soup. Jamie can wait in the car with Fleas.”

  Jamie nudged him hard.

  “You can’t leave poor Fleas in the car,” Annie protested.

  Jamie chuckled. “He refused to get out and risk running into Peaches.”

  “I can put her out.”

  “Don’t worry,” Max said. “Muffin is singing Celine Dion songs to him.”

  Annie shook her head. Muffin was Max’s talking computer, and she possessed the technology to do everything except bear children. In fact, she was more like a real-life assistant than a piece of machinery.

  “I insist you stay for lunch,” Annie told Jamie. “I’ll make you a nice salad with fat-free dressing.”

  Jamie sighed. “I was afraid of that.”

  Destiny looked happy to see Jamie and Max. “Sit down,” she said, pulling out the chair beside her, unaware that Peaches had already claimed it. The cat snarled and hissed. “Uh-oh, the cat from hell is using that chair. Perhaps you should choose another.”

  “I’ve never known Peaches to be in such a foul mood,” Theenie said.

  “It’s because of the ghost,” Destiny told her.

  Max looked interested. “Ghost?”

  Destiny nodded. “I’m surprised Jamie didn’t mention it. You wouldn’t believe what all goes on in this house.” She leaned closer to Max and started to say something.

  “What can I offer you to drink?” Annie interrupted before Destiny had a chance to regale Max with stories. Annie had no desire for Destiny to share with Max Holt all the craziness that went on in the house.

  “I’m fine for now,” Jamie said.

  Max nodded. “I’m okay.”

  “It’s like this,” Destiny began.

  “Are you sure?” Annie almost shouted, making them jump. “I have coffee, tea, orange juice, apple juice, diet root beer—”

  They shook their heads and turned their attention back to Destiny.

  “. . . Two percent milk, soy. You know, I’ll bet a glass of wine would be nice. I can—”

  “Annie, what’s wrong with you?” Jamie asked. “Why are you so jumpy?”

  “It’s the new tenant,” Destiny said with a big grin. “You know, that half-naked guy you helped us stuff in the bathtub yesterday? He just moved in.”

  Max looked at Jamie. “Huh?”

  Wes turned into the driveway of a modest ranch-style house, parked, and cut his engine. He removed his motorcycle helmet, climbed from the bike, and made his way toward the front door. The woman who opened it had hair the color of black shoe polish, wore a bright red caftan with matching lipstick and lime green bedroom slippers. A long, skinny cigarette dangled from her mouth.

  “Wes Bridges?” she asked, talking around the cigarette. “I expected you yesterday.” She had a three-pack-a-day smoker’s voice; sounded like she’d been sucking on them since first grade.

  “Life isn’t always predictable, Mrs. Fortenberry. May I come in?”

  “Yes.” She stepped back and waited for him to enter before closing the door behind him. “You can call me Eve.” She motioned to a lumpy chair that was the same avocado green as the dated shag carpet. Wes sat.

  Garlic hung heavy in the air. Wes blinked and rubbed his eyes. The ash on Eve’s cigarette was an inch long. He eyed it closely.

  “I’m making spaghetti for a sick neighbor,” Eve said. “Do you like garlic?”

  “In reasonable doses.”

  “It cures all sorts of ailments, you know. May I offer you something to drink?” When Wes declined, she sat on the worn sofa across from him. She took a deep draw from her cigarette, and the ash grew longer. Finally, it fell unnoticed by her on her dress. “Now then,” she said. “What have you got for me?”

  “I’ve rented a room from your daughter-in-law.”

  She gave a dry hacking cough. “You work fast.”

  “I don’t believe in wasting a client’s time or money,” he said.

  “What do you think of Annie? Is she a kook or what? Her grandmother was a kook. Like they say, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

  Wes looked thoughtful. “It’s too soon to tell.”

  Puff, puff, cough. “And how ’bout that house? I ask you, have you ever?”

  “Nope, never.”

  “You know it’s an old bordello or, as my daddy would say, God rest his soul, whorehouse.”

  Wes arched both brows. “Oh yeah?”

  “Before the Civil War. I read up on it a long time ago.” She paused. “Did Annie mention my son?”

  “I was told he left her for another woman.”

  “That’s the cock-and-bull story she gave the police, and the reason they did such a piss-poor job of investigating. That Lamar Tevis, he’s the police chief, is an idiot. He bought this fancy-schmancy deep-sea fishing boat three years ago. He’s going to retire as soon as he pays it off and start a deep-sea fishing charter service. He’s just biding his time until then.”

  “You don’t believe your son left Annie?” Wes asked.

  “Hell no. I wouldn’t have hired you otherwise.”

  Wes glanced around the living room. “Perhaps we should go over my fees again.”

  ?
??My check for your retainer cleared the bank, didn’t it?” she said stiffly. When he nodded, she went on. “I can cover your expenses, Mr. Bridges. As I told you over the phone, my husband died three months ago. Fortunately, he had a sizable insurance policy, so I was finally able do something about my son’s disappearance. I’ll spend every dime of it if I have to in order to find out what really happened to Charles.”

  Wes gave her a kind smile. “Eve, your son’s car was found at the Savannah airport. No luggage. He cleaned out the savings account he shared with his wife. He had enough money to fly anywhere in the world.”

  She looked embarrassed. “My son worked hard for that money. Do you have any idea how much it costs to keep up a place the size of Annie’s? The electric bill alone would break me.” She took a long drag from her cigarette. “There was no record of him getting on a plane, no paper trail, nothing. We’ve already been over that. The bottom line is Charles would never have stayed gone this long without contacting me. No matter what the circumstances,” she added. “I spent twice the going rate to hire you because you’re supposed to be the best in the business. I want my son found.”

  Annie and Theenie were in the process of cleaning up after lunch when Danny Gilbert arrived back with his sander. Annie insisted that he eat something before going to work. As he waited for Annie to prepare him a sandwich and heat a bowl of soup, Lovelle recounted her days as a professional ballerina.

  At the other end of the table, Destiny, Jamie, and Max discussed newspaper business and chuckled over a couple of letters that had been addressed to the Divine Love Goddess Adviser.

  “Some people are so loopy,” Destiny said. “Listen to this one: ‘Dear Love Goddess Adviser: Some months ago I discovered my husband was a cross-dresser. After the shock had passed, I decided to make the best of it, and now we share our clothes. What has me so frustrated is the fact that he doesn’t ask if he can borrow my clothes; he just grabs what he needs out of my closet. When he returns an outfit I often find food stains on it, but he never offers to take anything to the dry cleaners. I have complained, but he doesn’t listen. Could you please settle this dispute? I fear our marriage may be in deep trouble unless we can work this out.’”

  Max and Jamie laughed.

  “Oh, and listen to this one,” Destiny said. “‘Dear Love Goddess Adviser: I am probably overreacting, but I suspect my husband is cheating on me. He doesn’t return home some nights until almost midnight, and he reeks of Chanel Number Five. I have found lipstick on his shirt collar, long scratches on his back, and the other night when he undressed, his underwear was on backward. Do you think I’m just being one of those suspicious wives?’”

  Jamie laughed until her sides hurt as Destiny continued to read several more. Annie was happy to see her friend looking more relaxed, and the private smiles Jamie and Max shared when they thought nobody was looking would have made most women envious.

  Danny finished his lunch and carried his dishes to the sink, where he rinsed them. Wes entered the kitchen, a camera hanging from his neck. All eyes turned to him, and the chatter stopped. “You must be the other new guest,” Lovelle said, and introduced herself. She had met Destiny earlier.

  “Nice to meet you,” he said politely.

  Max stood and made introductions as well. If Wes recognized Jamie, he didn’t say anything. “Nice camera,” Max said. “Are you a photographer?”

  Wes nodded. “I’ve been able to get some great shots this morning. Beaumont is a beautiful town.”

  “It grows on you fast,” Max said.

  “Wes, would you care for a sandwich?” Annie asked, wishing just once she could round up everybody at the same time for meals. Seemed like she was always offering somebody something to eat; felt like she was working at the Huddle House.

  “I grabbed something earlier,” he said. “Nice to meet you,” he told Max and Jamie as he headed upstairs, stepping aside for Theenie, who was on her way down.

  “Good grief!” Lovelle said when Wes was out of hearing distance. “Where did you find him?”

  “He sort of found us,” Annie said.

  “Annie almost killed him,” Theenie said. “Then Doc almost killed him.”

  “Perhaps I should explain,” Annie said. She had opened her mouth to do just that when she heard a man’s voice out back shouting her name. He sounded frantic. “What in the world!” She threw open the back door and found Doc’s gardener racing across the backyard, calling out to her loudly.

  Footsteps sounded on the stairs and Wes hurried into the kitchen. “What’s going on? Is somebody hurt?”

  Annie was already on the back porch, the others behind her. The gardener stopped at the back stairs, staggered once, grabbed the porch rail. His face was ashen. He tried to speak.

  Annie hurried down and touched his arm. “What’s wrong?” she said. “Are you injured?” She looked for blood, didn’t see any.

  “It’s terrible,” the man managed. “Worst thing I ever seen.”

  “What is it?” she demanded.

  “Back yonder. Behind the, um, that carriage house.”

  Wes pushed through the group and cleared the back steps in one jump. He was the first to arrive at the gaping hole, with Max and Danny right behind him. Wes knelt beside it, and his eyes froze at what he saw. “Holy shit!”

  Max joined him. “Holy shit is right.”

  Wes looked at Danny. “Keep the women back.”

  Danny turned. “Don’t come any closer, okay?” he told them.

  Theenie and Lovelle came to an abrupt halt, but the others rushed forward.

  “What is it?” Annie said.

  Jamie blinked several times, trying to make sense of what she was looking at. “Bones?” she asked.

  “It’s a skeleton,” Max said.

  Annie gave an eye roll. “Oh, Jeez, it’s my grandmother’s dog. She had Erdle bury him somewhere back here after he died. I’d forgotten about it.”

  Wes shook his head. “Sorry, Annie, but this is no dog. It’s a human skeleton.”

  “Oh, I can’t see this,” Theenie said, backing away. She turned and hurried toward the house. Lovelle followed.

  Annie stared back at Wes in disbelief. “That’s ridiculous!”

  “He’s right, Annie,” Max said.

  “It looks human to me, too,” Jamie said, and Destiny agreed.

  Annie stepped closer and looked. “Oh, shit, I have a dead person in my backyard! Oh, shit. Oh, shit.”

  “There’s some kind of cloth there,” Max said.

  Wes nodded and glanced over his shoulder. “Look, this is obviously a crime scene, and I’d rather not jeopardize any trace evidence.” He didn’t see the look Max gave him. “So I’d appreciate it if everybody would please move back.”

  Danny convinced the women to step away.

  “It’s not like I’ve never seen dead people before,” Destiny told him. “They follow me everywhere I go.”

  Max and Wes were quiet as they studied the site. “Looks like the cloth was yellow at some point,” Max said, “although it’s hard to tell.”

  “There’s some kind of insignia on the material,” Wes said.

  Max grabbed a stick. “Only one way to find out.”

  Destiny stood there, a knowing look in her eyes.

  “Be careful,” Wes whispered. “There could be hairs or fibers.”

  “You sound like you know what you’re talking about,” Max said, very gently lifting a portion of the material.

  “I watch a lot of TV. Enough to know we shouldn’t be doing this. Okay, hold it right there, and I’ll see if I can read it.” Taking great care not to disturb anything, Wes leaned forward. “Looks like a C and an F.”

  “Have you found anything?” Jamie called out.

  “Some kind of yellow material,” Max said. “Could be a shirt or a jacket. Initials CF on it.”

  Annie and Jamie looked at each other, their eyes wide and disbelieving. “No!” Annie said. “That’s impossible!” She shook her
head. “It can’t be. It just can’t be.”

  “Annie . . .” Jamie stepped closer, reached out.

  “No!” Annie cried, and pushed her away.

  “What the hell?” Wes leaped to his feet and raced toward Annie as she screamed. He shook her hard. “Annie, what is it?”

  She opened her mouth, tried to speak, couldn’t. Her eyes were glazed.

  Wes looked confused but did as he was told.

  Jamie looked at him. “It’s a jacket. I was with Annie when she purchased it. CF stands for Charles Fortenberry.”

  “My husband,” Annie choked. Her eyes rolled back in her head before everything went black.

  Wes was there to catch her.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Police Chief Lamar Tevis studied the shallow grave closely, turning his head this way and that as if to get a better look, as one officer snapped pictures and another surrounded the area with yellow crime scene tape. Finally, Lamar stood and brushed the dirt from the knees of his khaki uniform. “It’s a body, all right,” he said. “I’m not an expert on this sort of thing, so I can’t tell how long it has been there. Takes one of those forensic whatchamacallits for that. They may have someone at the Medical University in Charleston, but there’s no telling how long it’ll take them to get around to it.”

  Wes, who’d already introduced himself, shook his head. “I don’t think you’ll need a forensic anthropologist,” he said, earning raised eyebrows from Lamar. “At least for the time being,” he added. “Mrs. Fortenberry is certain the body is that of her husband.”

  Lamar glanced at Max as if seeking verification. Max told him about the jacket and initials. “Jamie was present when Annie purchased it.”

  Danny Gilbert crossed the yard and joined the men. “Afternoon, Lamar,” he said. They shook hands.

  “What are you up to these days?” Lamar asked. “Done any fishing lately?”

  Danny shook his head. “Work has been keeping me busy. I’m sanding Annie Fortenberry’s wood floors today.”

  Lamar frowned. “Uh-oh. That sounds pretty suspicious if you ask me.”