Chapter 10

Ruthie and Penny Sue were carrying their clothes and other necessities next door, when I arrived home from the meeting with Heather and Kydd.

"George can install the alarm system in your place tomorrow," Ruthie called over her shoulder. "It will only take one day. Go get the stuff you'll need for the evening. Guthrie's gone to Publix for fried chicken."

Loaded down with enough paraphernalia for a month, including all her vitamins, Penny Sue huffed, "Please hurry. Guthrie and Alice are about to bust to tell us what they found out at the Medical Examiner's. And they have to go back tonight."

"Did the Judge find a lawyer for Kevin?" I asked as the screen door closed, hitting Penny Sue on the butt.

"Yeah, the attorney is checking on Kevin at this moment. Now scoot, we're on a tight schedule," Penny Sue said.

I scooped up a nightgown, robe, work clothes, a few toiletries, and hurried to the guestroom at Penny Sue's place. Ruthie was already changing the sheets on Kevin's bed.

"Do you know what Guthrie found out?" I asked Ruthie.

"No. They wouldn't talk until you got back. I think Alice is mad that you didn't wait to hear the story."

"You know I couldn't wait."

Ruthie tucked the sheets under the mattress. "I explained it to them, but Alice still seemed peeved. Penny Sue told them all about Leonard Kydd, but they still wouldn't talk. Guthrie has to go back to the Examiner's office tonight to finish the job, and Alice said they didn't have time to tell the story twice."

"The old my-way-or-the-highway, huh?" I said.

Ruthie smiled. "I'd say that sums it up." She fluffed a pillow and tossed it to the head of the bed. "Alice is a very strong-willed woman."

I moved my toiletries to the bathroom and placed the open suitcase on the floor against the wall. "Keep that in mind if you and Kevin ever get really serious."

"I've done some thinking since we last spoke. I think one marriage is enough for me. Living together would be okay, but no legal stuff, especially now that I have the inheritance. I don't want to jeopardize Jo Ruth's future legacy."

Boy, that was a switch! I couldn't help but wonder if the thought of Alice for a mother-in-law had something to do with Ruthie's change of heart.

Jo Ruth was Ruthie Jo's one and only daughter, who had almost finished her residency in psychiatry at Duke Medical School. With Ruthie's wispy good looks, her cardiologist father's brain, and a looming huge inheritance, Jo Ruth was a catch for anyone. We all joked that it was good we had a shrink in the fold to guide us through old age. In fact, Penny Sue could probably use a little counseling now. Yet, was Jo Ruth's inheritance truly the reason Ruthie had suddenly soured on remarriage? Maybe, maybe not. At our age, living together was as good as being married and a lot less messy if things didn't work out.

My marriage musings were interrupted by the unmistakable screech of the rusty screen door spring and a few familiar grunts. Guthrie had clearly arrived. "Ready for the drama?" I asked Ruthie.

She let out a long sigh. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Alice and Penny Sue were already arranging the food buffet style on the kitchen counter. Guthrie had purchased a large bucket of chicken, potato salad, cole slaw, bakery rolls and a coconut cream pie. He was first in line, holding a plate impatiently.

"Man, we don't have much time," he said to Alice. "We have to get back to the Medical Examiner while the cleaning crew is still there, but before the night shift arrives, if we want to get a look at those files."

"I know," she said tersely, plunking a piece of chicken and scoop of potato salad on her plate. I sliced the pie, in the interest of time, while everyone else filled their plates. It was a good thing I'd eaten a few of the cream cheese and olive finger sandwiches I'd made for Penny Sue earlier in the day. A single chicken leg, a dab of cole slaw, and one roll were all that was left. By the time I took my seat, Guthrie had wolfed down his food and started telling their story.

"The bodies were in another room, but we heard the doctors talking. The man's name is William Duffy, just like Penny Sue said. The tox report hasn't come back, but a doc thinks Duffy died of compression asphyxiation."

"What's that?" Penny Sue asked. A stern look from Alice stopped Penny Sue's fork in mid-air. "Never mind, I'll look it up later. Please continue."

"There was one fang mark on Duffy's finger, but they doubt he got enough venom to kill him. They suspect he panicked when he saw the snake and pulled the bins of books over on himself." Guthrie shook his head ruefully. "Smothered. A tough way to go."

"The young doctor said the snake bite could have caused a convulsion," Alice added.

Guthrie nodded. "Yeah, it could have been a convulsion."

Guthrie was obviously going too slow for Aunt Alice's taste, because she took over. "A heart attack was the immediate cause of Abby's death, but they don't know why. Her heart looked healthy, so they can't make a determination until they get her tox report." Alice checked her watch. "Guthrie, let's go. With any luck I'll be able to find the files on Abby and Duffy and sneak a peek. There may be things the doctors didn't talk about."

He headed for the counter with his plate. "Sure, as soon as I have a piece of this--"

Alice stood and hitched her purse in the crook of her arm. "No, now!"

Guthrie put his plate down. "Yes, ma'am. I'll have my pie later."

Penny Sue, Ruthie and I served up pieces of pie and adjourned to the living room. "This stuff is good," Penny Sue muttered between bites. I was glad to see she was drinking coffee and had recovered from her earlier funk and libations. "Heavens, I hope Alice doesn't get caught snooping through the files. All we'd need is for her to get arrested."

"God's truth," I said.

Ruthie was silent, staring into her coffee.

Penny Sue nudged Ruthie. "Are you listening?"

"Oh, yeah. I was thinking about Kevin. I wonder what he had for dinner." She held up her plate. "I'll bet he didn't get coconut cream pie."

"Now, don't go getting all sentimental on us. This is a small town and they probably buy their food from Publix Supermarket, too. Remember how Aunt Bee on the Andy Griffith Show used to feed the prisoners in Mayberry. They always got the meal she was serving at home. Dessert and everything. New Smyrna Beach's local lock-up is so small, they probably have a contract with a nearby restaurant. Kevin will be out soon. The lawyer Daddy found should be meeting with him right now." Penny Sue suddenly turned to me excitedly. "Oh, you don't know! Daddy called while you were gone. He said the lawyer was on his way to visit Kevin ... and ... I've gotten an offer on my house! Daddy wouldn't say much except that the offer was very promising. I'll tell you, if that deal goes through, I'm going to manage my money a lot better this time. No more of all-of-the-eggs-in-one-basket, no matter how promising the investment looks. I'm spreading my investments around from now on. And I'm going to be frugal. Only one or two designer outfits per season. The rest of the time I'll dress like you, Leigh."

"Gee, thanks. Is that supposed to be a compliment or an insult?"

"I just meant that you're better at managing money and more careful with your clothes budget. After all, you are an accountant. I didn't--"

I waved her off. "A good place to start is at the New Smyrna Ladies' Investment Club that meets at the library. You might learn a lot."

"You're right. Those women are all skinny and dressed to kill. Maybe they get discounts at the upscale department stores," Penny Sue said.

I shook my head. "No, I meant you might learn how to invest. I believe they pool their money and have created their own little mutual fund. All of them don't wear designer clothes like you and Ruthie, but they are well dressed."

"And skinny. Maybe they went in together and hired a personal trainer."

I would never understand the workings of Penny Sue's mind. For a person wolfing down pie, skinny was a strange thing to harp on. "I think they meet tomorrow at the library. Ten a.m. as I recall."

"Ruthie, do you want to come with me?" Penny Sue asked.

"No, I have to stick around to oversee the alarm installation. I'm going to use Poppa's financial advisor for the time being, and I have my eye on another investment."

I knew Ruthie was referring to her bookstore, but the comment went right over Penny Sue's head.

"The alarm system!" Penny Sue swung around to me. "Did you arm Lu Nee 2? You know it has that remote control TV monitor. If anything happens, we could see it from over here."

"Did you figure out how to work it?" Ruthie asked.

"No, but I found the instructions. I thought you and Leigh could decipher them. I believe we should keep a remote eye on the place tonight in case the burglars come back. I wonder what they're after. Your place doesn't look fancy enough to have a lot of electronics and expensive stuff."

I reared back. "First you make fun of my wardrobe and now my condo. Penny Sue, that is too much even for you!"

"Wait." Ruthie signaled stop. "She makes a good point. We should go next door and get our jewelry and other valuables. Leigh, then you and I will figure out how to operate Lu Nee 2's video," Ruthie smiled sweetly, "while Penny Sue does the dishes."

I smirked. "That's a good plan."

The instructions for the robot made no sense at all. English was clearly not the first language of the booklet's author. After more than an hour of arguing and frustration, we broke down and called Carl, our friend Fran Annina's MIT genius son. He happened to be home and agreed to come over.

Already a millionaire in his late twenties, Carl lived with his widowed mother and was still single, since his passion was science and not the opposite sex. I'd tried to fix him up with my daughter Ann, but they didn't click. I reckon it had something to do with the fact that Carl and his best friends were Star Trek fans whose favorite indulgences were Trekkie role playing games (in full costume). Ann wasn't ready to be a Klingon. Even though Carl spent most of his time inventing GPS and stealth technology for high tech firms, the Trekkie thing was a deal buster. Sigh. Ann didn't marry a millionaire, but her few dates with Carl made her take a second look at the old diplomat she dated, and almost married, while an intern at the British Embassy. In comparison to Carl, the old guy was sluggish and stuffy, Ann said, and she wasn't ready to waste her youth. Hallelujah! I'd be forever grateful to Carl for bringing Ann to her senses.

It took Carl about fifteen minutes to set up the remote view feature for Lu Nee 2. We all huddled around him, listening intently to his instructions on the remote camera's operation, with the hope that one of us would understand and remember it, when Guthrie burst through the door.

"Man, we got a problem!" Seeing Carl, he stopped short and did the hand across chest salute. "Hey, dude. Good to see you. Kill any Romulans lately?" Carl returned the Klingon greeting.

"Cut the foolishness!" Penny Sue shouted. "What's the problem, and where's Alice?"

Guthrie did some head and hand gyrations that basically asked if he could talk in front of Carl.

"Spit it out," I said. "Carl's a friend we trust. Did something happen to Alice?"

A pained expression flashed across Guthrie's face. "Yeah. She's locked in the Medical Examiner's building."

Penny Sue's face turned so red I thought she might explode. "How could you let anything happen to my aunt?"

"Kevin's mother," Ruthie threw in.

"Man, it wasn't my fault. While I worked on the computers, Alice went snooping around. Well, when the night shift came in, they hustled me out of the building since I was in a sensitive area. I tried to find Alice, claiming I'd left a voltage meter somewhere, but this big, mean looking doctor, like, pushed me out of the door and told me to come back tomorrow. He said he'd put the meter on the receptionist's desk if it turned up. What should we do? What if Alice hid in the refrigerated room with the bodies?"

Ruthie's hand went to her heart. "Gracious, what should we do?"

"Calm down," Carl instructed. "There's nothing to worry about. This is no different than my war games. We'll get her out. I have a slew of strategies up my sleeve. Guthrie, do you know if they have two or three shifts?"

"I think two. See, I didn't check my answering machine until after nine this morning. The Medical Examiner apparently called in the middle of the night and wanted to know if I could come in at four a.m."

"Okay, the current crew will probably leave at four. We can get Alice out then," Carl said.

"But, they have these fancy electronic locks," Guthrie objected.

Carl smirked. "No problem. I can get through them in a minute."

"What if there's an alarm system?" I asked.

"Five minutes," Carl replied.

"Yes, but what if she's hiding in the cooler? Alice is old. She could catch pneumonia if she's stuck there until tomorrow morning," Ruthie said.

Carl stroked his forehead. "You're right. We should probably try a diversionary tactic first. Something to get the night crew out of the building while another group sneaks in and finds Alice. How large was the staff, Guthrie?"

"I only saw four. All doctors and lab techs, I guess."

"Any commotion will likely draw them all out. Do you want me to call my buddies?" Carl asked. My stomach knotted at the thought of a Klingon assault.

Silent until this point, Penny Sue flexed her jaw. "No. I've got an idea. Ruthie's so skinny and pale she can fake an illness. How about Leigh bangs on their door, screaming for a doctor. Ruthie will be lying on the ground in a fetal position. As everyone runs to help her, I'll shoot them with the liquid taser." Her eyes flashed.

"No shooting, Penny Sue," Ruthie said tensely. "And, I do not look sick! I have a milky complexion."

"Wait, I've got a better idea," I said. "Penny Sue, you're dramatic and have a more commanding presence than I do." That made her smile. "You bang on the door and lay on the dramatics about Ruthie. If you lay it on thick, they'll all come running. Guthrie and I will slip in to look for Alice. Carl will drive the getaway car."

"You're right--I do have a commanding presence and could do a better job of attracting their attention. You know, I took a drama class once. The teacher said I had a wide range and a unique style," Penny Sue bragged. "Even so, I'll hide the taser beside the building in case the staff comes back too soon. Then I'll shoot them."

"No shooting!" Ruthie insisted. "Just pretend you're having a heart attack or something."

Or you're pregnant and having contractions, I thought wryly. I did a mental cheek slap at having such ugly, catty thoughts about one of my best friends. But hey, Penny Sue'd insulted me a couple of times recently. What goes around comes around. At least I had the good sense to keep my mouth shut.

"Man, that's a good idea," Guthrie said. "What if they don't come out?"

"Then we'll wait until their shift ends, and I'll get us into the building," Carl said.

"What car do we take? There will be six of us, and my Lemon Aid bus isn't very fast."

"I need a few instruments from my workshop. I'll come back with my Bronco."

"Good deal. Let's do it." We did a sloppy high five.