Read Online When Bobbie Sang the Blues by Peggy Darty - Free Book Online

wasborn and raised in Forest. Then Momma and I moved to West Memphis when I was in high school. I met Eddie in West Memphis about six months ago. I was working a day job as a waitress in a restaurant that happened to be a favorite of his.”
    “You were working a day job? Are you in school to learn another trade?”
    Roseann twisted one of her curls around her finger. “I’m taking some metaphysical courses in the evening.”
    “Oh? I don’t know much about that.”
    “Do you believe in psychics? Momma’s a psychic.” Christy glanced at her. “Really?”
    Roseann nodded. “She told me I’d meet a man, shorter than me, but that it wouldn’t matter. She said he owned his own company and would make me rich. She said we’d fall in love right away.” She sighed. “Two weeks later Eddie walked into the restaurant and stared at me until I went over to wait his table.” Her brown eyes turned to Christy. “Momma was right.”
    Roseann lowered her head. “She saw death in the cards, and I refused to listen. She called back this morning, but I wouldn’t answer. I just won’t accept that something like that has happened to Eddie.”
    Christy merely nodded. It was hard to see why Roseann, much younger than Eddie, had been attracted to him. But her aunt had once claimed to be in love with the man, so apparently he had charm and could be nice when he wasn’t in a rage.
    Christy glanced at her watch. It was three thirty. Where had the day gone? She silently agreed with Roseann. Something wasterribly wrong. Or else Eddie was a complete jerk to leave her stranded this way.
    “I’ve been thinking about going to the sheriff,” Roseann said. “Do you know where the police station is?”
    “The sheriff’s office is in Panama City, but Deputy Bob Arnold is the authority for Summer Breeze and reports to the sheriff. Folks here have lots of respect for him.” She glanced at Roseann and smiled. “He’s the tallest, broadest man around, so everybody called him Big Bob until this summer, when his boss told him to be more formal with the community. So out of respect now, we try to call him Deputy Arnold, but sometimes I slip up and forget. We’re only a few blocks from the station. Why don’t I take you over and see if he’s in? It wouldn’t hurt to tell him what you’ve told me.”
    Roseann agreed, and Christy parked in front of the small concrete building that housed the only official law enforcement office for Summer Breeze. Deputy Arnold’s SUV sat in the driveway.
    “Come on,” Christy said to Roseann. “You’re about to meet a man who takes his work very seriously. If Eddie is missing, Deputy Arnold will do his best to find him.”
    Roseann smiled for the first time, her red lipstick slightly smeared under the corner of her lip. “I sure hope so.”
    Deputy Bob Arnold was seated behind his large, cluttered desk when they entered, but upon seeing them, he rose to his feet.
    “Good morning, Christy.” His eyes moved to Roseann, and she stared back in wide-eyed amazement.
    Deputy Arnold stood six-five with a broad body and a face to fit. Beneath a thick crop of silver hair, the face was big and roundwith a large nose that flared on the end and a wide mouth with lips that could close so tightly they looked zipped. His eyes were clear gray, and their expression brooked no nonsense.
    “Deputy Arnold, this is Roseann Cole,” Christy said. Roseann quickly stepped forward to shake his hand and mumble a “pleased to meet you.”
    Christy gave him the rundown of what had taken place, leaving nothing out, including the argument with Bobbie the night before.
I might as well tell him, so he’ll know I’m not holding back.
    “What makes you think he’s missing?” Deputy Arnold asked, looking doubtfully at Roseann.
    She twisted the strap on her gold handbag. “After he got in that argument with Bobbie, and then when those guys—”
    “What guys?” He frowned at her.
    She glanced from Deputy Arnold to Christy