Murder at Barclay Meadow (23 page)

 

T
HIRTY

Janice Tilghman

Girls night out, Rose Red! We're going to Joey's. Pick u up at 7 sat. Dress is cas. Won't take no for an answer.

I laughed when I read the last sentence. It wasn't really necessary.

I buckled my seat belt in the back of Janice's SUV. While getting ready I had originally slipped on my sensible boots and a pullover sweater. There was a sixty percent chance of a light snowfall. I looked in the mirror and changed my mind. This was Janice. She never missed an opportunity to step out in the latest fashion. So I kicked off the comfort and pulled on my nicest jeans, slipped into Annie's spiky heels, and the red cashmere sweater my brother Oliver sent me for Christmas.

Dede Morgan sat sideways in the front seat. “How do you like living in Barclay Meadow?” she said. “I've always loved that house.”

“I'm adjusting,” I said.

“So,” Dede said brightly, “you're divorced?”

“Soon to be.”

“We'll have to keep our eye out, then,” Dede said to Janice. “We don't need another hot single chick around. I swear, the men in this town are about as monogamous as a rooster.”

“Rose Red had it done to her,” Janice said. “She won't be returning the favor anytime soon.”

“Ah.” Dede gave me a sympathetic smile.

“How do they get away with it?” I said. “I mean, Doris Bird would know two minutes after the guy rolled out of bed.”

The car filled with laughter. I caught Janice's eye in the mirror. She winked.

“Janice said Tyler Wells is farming your land,” Dede said. “Now, talk about hot.”

“You think Tyler's hot?”

“Uh, yeah,” she said. “I had the hugest crush on him in high school. I prayed he would ask me to prom. He ended up going with Janice.”

“You never told me that, Janice.”

“You never asked.” Janice gripped the headrest and attempted to parallel park her SUV.

“What was he like in high school?” I leaned against the door to allow Janice a better view.

“He was quiet. Mysterious,” Dede said as she refreshed her lipstick. “He was always reading and yet he was really good at sports. He's still got that tight butt. I saw him the other day at the hardware store.”

“Every time I see him there's a book or a pair of gloves in his back pocket,” I said as we climbed down from the truck. “I guess I never noticed his butt.”

“Are you serious?” Dede said.

“Well, maybe once or twice.”

“That's more like it,” Dede said. She surveyed Janice's parking job. “That car in front of you will never get out.”

“Too bad for them.” Janice hit the remote lock. The headlights flashed. “I can't walk very far in these heels.”

Joey's was named after the owner and bartender: Josephine. It seemed to be a theme in Caridgan: Birdie's, Joey's. When we first walked in I was disappointed. It was nothing more than a long, narrow bar with loud conversations and not much room to walk, let alone sit. But Janice strode past the bar and through an archway. We followed her into a large, candlelit room filled with groupings of upholstered chairs and a roaring fireplace.

Janice charged over to a circle of mismatched upholstered chairs close to the fire.

“Best table in the house,” Dede said as we slipped out of our coats and settled into the comfortable seats. “How do you do it? You always get the best parking place, the best table. It's crazy.”

“Joey knew I was coming.” Janice unwound an exceptionally long wool scarf from her neck. “'Nuf said.”

A waitress approached and we ordered drinks. She set a small bowl of mixed nuts on the table and Janice immediately scooped up a handful. “Hey, Dede,” Janice said as she chewed. “Did you see Susie Clark all over Jack Peyton at the end of the bar?”

“That Jezebel.” Dede turned to me. “Jack has three kids and while his wife was popping out the third, he was bopping Susie. His secretary! I mean, how clich
é
is that?”

I laughed—amazed how this town operated. Everyone knew everything about everyone, but they seemed to take it in stride. It was like the bumper sticker on most of the pickup trucks:
SHIT HAPPENS
. Maybe I should try and adopt their attitude. Our waitress set our drinks down. I took a long sip from my cosmopolitan. It felt good to be out.

A loud strum vibrated the microphone. I looked over at the stage. Three men were syncing their guitars.

“These guys are really good,” Janice said.

“What's Trevor doing tonight?” I asked.

“He was out with the deer hunters at four this morning. He's probably already snoring.”

“Are you married, Dede?” I said.

“Oh, yeah. Right out of college. Everyone knew Petey and I would get married. We started dating in high school and even though I went away to college, I came home every weekend to be with him.”

“I thought you wanted to date Tyler?”

“That prom I mentioned? Petey asked me and the rest is history. You know, Petey and I probably couldn't have married anyone else in Cardigan. I did a family tree before the wedding to make sure we weren't cousins or something. Both our families are prebridge.”

“Prebridge?”

“Yeah.” She took a sip. “Before they built the Bay Bridge it was a little incestuous over here. No way to get across the bay and expand the gene pool.” She set her drink down. “Don't worry. Everything checked out. And the babies came out okay. No extra fingers or toes.”

It felt good to laugh. I liked Dede. I should definitely get out more.

“How's everything?” the waitress asked.

“Drink up, girlfriends,” Janice said. “I'm driving tonight.”

I looked over at Dede. We both shrugged. “Another round, please,” I said.

The guitars strummed in unison and the sound fluttered through my chest. I sank deeper into my chair.

“Hey, Rose Red…”

“Yes, dear?” I said.

“Remember what I told you about Dr. Nick? He's here.”

I sat up straighter and looked around the room. “Where?”

“In the corner.” She gestured with her head. “With some serious jailbait.”

I squinted at the spot Janice indicated. All I could make out were two shadows.

“He blew out his votive.” Janice picked several cashews out of the bowl of nuts and popped one in her mouth. “He thinks no one can see him.”

“How can
you
see him?” I said.

“Trevor calls me his aristocat.” She sipped her Diet Coke. “Get it? 'Cause I can see in the dark.”

The waitress brought our next round of drinks. The band began singing in earnest and overwhelmed our efforts at conversation. I looked back at the corner. Two heads were dipped close together. After another long sip of my cosmo, I stood and fluffed my hair.

Janice eyed me warily. “Where are you off to?”

“I'm going to say hi to Nick.”

“No you're not.” She shook her head back and forth. “No way am I going to let you do that.”

Dede looked from me to Janice and back to me. “What's going on?”

“Oh, nothing,” Janice said, her voice rich with sarcasm. “It just seems our friend Rose Red had a brainectomy.”

“We made friends at your party. You sat us next to each other, remember?” I said. “It would be rude to not say hi.”

“The chick's twelve, for God's sake,” Janice said. “I think they want to be left alone.”

“I won't be long.” I steadied myself in my heels and started over to Nick. It occurred to me I would need a reason to be passing by his table—a table tucked in the most remote corner of the room. Or maybe not. Maybe it would be good to catch him off guard.

Nick was nuzzling the young woman's neck. Her eyelids, coated in baby blue eyeshadow, were closed. Her right hand was under the table.

“Hello, Nick,” I said.

Their bliss disturbed, they looked up at me in unison.”Rosalie,” Nick said. “How? What—”

“I just wanted to say hi.” I smiled. “Hi.”

The young woman picked up her cocktail. Nick's glass was empty. He blinked a few times, as if trying to orient himself to the situation. “Excuse me,” he said to her and buttoned his tweed blazer as he stood. “Shall we talk someplace where we don't have to shout?”

“Okay,” I said and followed him out of the large room and into the bar.

He led me over to an idle foosball table in the corner. I flinched when he suddenly spun around. “What the hell are you doing?”

“I'm just saying hi. How have you been? How is the study?”

“Did you come here looking for me?”

“Nick,” I said. “I'm here with Janice.” I folded my hands together. “Why are you so upset?”

He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. His eyes narrowed. “I haven't seen you. I assumed I was off your radar screen.”

“Excuse me?” I stepped back. The intensity in his gaze was unnerving.

“I need to make a call,” he said and removed his iPhone from his jacket pocket. “My being here tonight is none of your business. Understand?”