Read Online Mama Does Time: A Mace Bauer Mystery by Deborah Sharp - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Deborah Sharp
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I wanted to tell you Im sorry about her being in jail. She sat, looking down to straighten the already perfect lines of her knee-length skirt. I dont think she belongs there.
We dont either.
No, I mean its impossible she did what the police say.
I sat up straight, fatigue forgotten.
She continued, My mother plays bingo at the Seminole reservation, just like your mom. They were together at the casino yesterday, all afternoon. They had dinner there, and then played into the evening. At one point, before dinner, my mother got to feeling awfully cold. They keep the place air-conditioned like an ice house.
I drummed my fingers on the bench.
Anyway, Ms. Deveraux told my mom she had a jacket in the trunk of her car. The two of them left the casino and walked way out into the parking lot to your mothers turquoise convertible. Ms. Deveraux opened up the trunk. My mother said she moved aside some fishing tackle and a cooler before she found that jacket. And there sure was no body inside her trunk.
I felt like I was Samson, the Bible strongman, and the Lord had just lifted the heavy pillars of the temple off of my hands. I wanted to hug her, but settled for grinning like an idiot.
Thats fantastic! I jumped off the bench. Your mother needs to tell that to the police.
The teacher stood up, too. She already did. My mother called and told me a detective questioned her this afternoon. Spanish accent. Kind of rude, my mother said. He didnt seem all that interested in her story about bingo, until she got to the part about Ms. Deveraux and her jacket.
I grabbed her by the arm. Whatd he say?
Well, he wanted to know all about it. When, where, and how. My mother told him she saw clear into the back of Ms. Deverauxs trunk. He argued with her, saying your mother might have collected the body from somewhere else before she wound up at the Dairy Queen.
I sat down again, thinking about why Martinez was trying so hard to indict Mama. Did he have something against bingo-playing grandmas?
Did your mother tell the detective anything else that could be helpful? I asked.
The teacher rolled her eyes toward her forehead, like she was replaying her conversation with her mother in her head. She touched the hem of her skirt. She did tell him there was no way Ms. Deveraux could have snuck away. Your mother was on a hot streak all night. All the other ladies gathered round to congratulate her when bingo was over. She wound up going home with the two-hundred-dollar pot.
And that platinum-haired imp had never said one word about winning $200.
Listen, would your mother be willing to go to the police department with me and tell her story over again? If we cant get Detective Martinez to listen, well just go over his head to Chief Johnson.
She didnt hesitate a moment. Absolutely. Well do anything we can do to help Ms. Deveraux.
Soon, the kids and the red-haired teacher were gone.
I fed the animals and closed up the park. It was late. Id catch up my sisters by cell phone on my ride home. I couldnt wait for a hot shower. All I wanted was that, and the fried chicken stuck in my fridge since last night, when Mamas call had interrupted my supper.
My hand was on the doorknob to leave when the office phone started to ring. I wanted so bad to head on out and let the answering machine pick it up, but I was scared it could be someone trying to reach me at work with news about Mama.
I picked up the phone, and would come to wish I hadnt.
Mace? Its your mothers friend, Sal.
I looked with longing at the exit sign over the door in the parks office. Id been so close.
What can I do for you, Mr. Provenza? Hed asked us a hundred times to call him Sal, but my sisters and I addressed him more formally because we knew it irked him. At least Maddie and I did. Marty had barely said six words to the man in the year Mama had been dating him.
Its about Rosalee.
My
I wanted to tell you Im sorry about her being in jail. She sat, looking down to straighten the already perfect lines of her knee-length skirt. I dont think she belongs there.
We dont either.
No, I mean its impossible she did what the police say.
I sat up straight, fatigue forgotten.
She continued, My mother plays bingo at the Seminole reservation, just like your mom. They were together at the casino yesterday, all afternoon. They had dinner there, and then played into the evening. At one point, before dinner, my mother got to feeling awfully cold. They keep the place air-conditioned like an ice house.
I drummed my fingers on the bench.
Anyway, Ms. Deveraux told my mom she had a jacket in the trunk of her car. The two of them left the casino and walked way out into the parking lot to your mothers turquoise convertible. Ms. Deveraux opened up the trunk. My mother said she moved aside some fishing tackle and a cooler before she found that jacket. And there sure was no body inside her trunk.
I felt like I was Samson, the Bible strongman, and the Lord had just lifted the heavy pillars of the temple off of my hands. I wanted to hug her, but settled for grinning like an idiot.
Thats fantastic! I jumped off the bench. Your mother needs to tell that to the police.
The teacher stood up, too. She already did. My mother called and told me a detective questioned her this afternoon. Spanish accent. Kind of rude, my mother said. He didnt seem all that interested in her story about bingo, until she got to the part about Ms. Deveraux and her jacket.
I grabbed her by the arm. Whatd he say?
Well, he wanted to know all about it. When, where, and how. My mother told him she saw clear into the back of Ms. Deverauxs trunk. He argued with her, saying your mother might have collected the body from somewhere else before she wound up at the Dairy Queen.
I sat down again, thinking about why Martinez was trying so hard to indict Mama. Did he have something against bingo-playing grandmas?
Did your mother tell the detective anything else that could be helpful? I asked.
The teacher rolled her eyes toward her forehead, like she was replaying her conversation with her mother in her head. She touched the hem of her skirt. She did tell him there was no way Ms. Deveraux could have snuck away. Your mother was on a hot streak all night. All the other ladies gathered round to congratulate her when bingo was over. She wound up going home with the two-hundred-dollar pot.
And that platinum-haired imp had never said one word about winning $200.
Listen, would your mother be willing to go to the police department with me and tell her story over again? If we cant get Detective Martinez to listen, well just go over his head to Chief Johnson.
She didnt hesitate a moment. Absolutely. Well do anything we can do to help Ms. Deveraux.
Soon, the kids and the red-haired teacher were gone.
I fed the animals and closed up the park. It was late. Id catch up my sisters by cell phone on my ride home. I couldnt wait for a hot shower. All I wanted was that, and the fried chicken stuck in my fridge since last night, when Mamas call had interrupted my supper.
My hand was on the doorknob to leave when the office phone started to ring. I wanted so bad to head on out and let the answering machine pick it up, but I was scared it could be someone trying to reach me at work with news about Mama.
I picked up the phone, and would come to wish I hadnt.
Mace? Its your mothers friend, Sal.
I looked with longing at the exit sign over the door in the parks office. Id been so close.
What can I do for you, Mr. Provenza? Hed asked us a hundred times to call him Sal, but my sisters and I addressed him more formally because we knew it irked him. At least Maddie and I did. Marty had barely said six words to the man in the year Mama had been dating him.
Its about Rosalee.
My
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