Read Online miss fortune mystery (ff) - bloodshed in the bayou by Leslie Langtry - Free Book Online
Authors: Leslie Langtry
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in the blood of virgins and struggled to control a smile.
“Is that Ida Belle and Gertie?” My sister said in horror as she looked over Gertie’s Betty Boop jammies. She appraised Fortune silently without introducing herself. That was a strange lack of manners, even for her. But then it was very, very early. And I’d breached social etiquette myself by not calling first. I guess we could call it a draw.
“Can someone tell me what this is all about?” Peggy Sue raised her voice just enough to avoid being vulgar.
Ten minutes later we were all settled in the day room with coffee served in fine china, waiting for Paloma to leave so we could talk.
“You swear everything’s okay?” I asked as I watched the maid finally walked out.
“Really, Margaret! You are being completely ridiculous! We’re all fine! I checked on the children before coming downstairs.”
I noticed she didn’t mention whether she’d checked on her husband, but decided not to mention it. There wasn’t anything to be gained by aggravating her further.
Ida Belle introduced Fortune, and then explained the reason for our, well, visit. Peggy Sue listened and gasped appropriately at the part of Dad stealing money.
“Please don’t let that get out!” Peggy Sue pleaded with Ida Belle. “I’m not sure the Monsignor would agree to do the service!”
Ida Belle assured my sister that the secret was safe with them. And I knew, with their fondness for Mom that it would be.
“That’s why we think the man broke into my house tonight. He was looking for the money. And that’s why we’re here.”
“You think if he didn’t find it at your house, he’d look here?” Peggy Sue said. “Well with our security system and the fact that I sleep with that Dessert Eagle I brought over, you shouldn’t worry.”
Now that I thought of it, Peggy Sue was right. She was far better prepared to deal with a home invasion than I was. Paloma probably packed heat somewhere in that gray maid’s uniform.
“At least Mother is no longer under suspicion. I assume, Margaret, that you’ll be heading out to let her know that.” Peggy Sue said as she stood, indicating that our time was up.
“Thank you, ladies, for your assistance. Margaret can see you out. I have to get ready for a meeting of the Junior League.” And with that, my sister disappeared, and I led my friends out to the car.
“That’s your sister?” Fortune whistled.
“That’s my twin.” I corrected with a smile.
She shook her head. “Wow. Just. Wow.”
We piled back in the jeep and they took me home.
“I guess I’d better head out to tell Mom. Once I take a nap and a shower.” I said.
“You never told me the whole story about the money Hugo stole.”
Ida waved me off. “I’ll tell you later. Call us when you get back from visiting Sadie. We’ll try to flesh the whole story out then.”
Gertie yawned. “I could use my beauty sleep.”
“It didn’t help forty years ago,” Ida cracked. “What makes you think it will now?”
I laughed and waved as they drove away. Ten minutes later, I was falling asleep. My gun on my nightstand. Fully loaded.
Chapter 10
My cell woke me up around ten in the morning. Deputy LeBlanc wanted to know if I could stop by. So-So Silas’ mama had showed up with questions about the ticket I’d written. After a quick shower, I hit the road and pulled up at the sheriff’s office in town.
I walked in and waved to Myrtle, who motioned me into Carter’s office where a short, heavyset woman in a muumuu seemed to be at the height of a tantrum. Not many women in Sinful wore muumuus. This one had pictures of crawdads on it.
“I issued So-So the ticket, Mrs. Roach. His boat was leaking oil into the bayou.” I said, taking a chair opposite her.
The woman glared at me with eyes I wasn’t sure I could find in the fleshy folds of her face. “It ain’t his fault! That’s what I told the deputy here! Someone shot that hole in So-So’s boat!
“Is that Ida Belle and Gertie?” My sister said in horror as she looked over Gertie’s Betty Boop jammies. She appraised Fortune silently without introducing herself. That was a strange lack of manners, even for her. But then it was very, very early. And I’d breached social etiquette myself by not calling first. I guess we could call it a draw.
“Can someone tell me what this is all about?” Peggy Sue raised her voice just enough to avoid being vulgar.
Ten minutes later we were all settled in the day room with coffee served in fine china, waiting for Paloma to leave so we could talk.
“You swear everything’s okay?” I asked as I watched the maid finally walked out.
“Really, Margaret! You are being completely ridiculous! We’re all fine! I checked on the children before coming downstairs.”
I noticed she didn’t mention whether she’d checked on her husband, but decided not to mention it. There wasn’t anything to be gained by aggravating her further.
Ida Belle introduced Fortune, and then explained the reason for our, well, visit. Peggy Sue listened and gasped appropriately at the part of Dad stealing money.
“Please don’t let that get out!” Peggy Sue pleaded with Ida Belle. “I’m not sure the Monsignor would agree to do the service!”
Ida Belle assured my sister that the secret was safe with them. And I knew, with their fondness for Mom that it would be.
“That’s why we think the man broke into my house tonight. He was looking for the money. And that’s why we’re here.”
“You think if he didn’t find it at your house, he’d look here?” Peggy Sue said. “Well with our security system and the fact that I sleep with that Dessert Eagle I brought over, you shouldn’t worry.”
Now that I thought of it, Peggy Sue was right. She was far better prepared to deal with a home invasion than I was. Paloma probably packed heat somewhere in that gray maid’s uniform.
“At least Mother is no longer under suspicion. I assume, Margaret, that you’ll be heading out to let her know that.” Peggy Sue said as she stood, indicating that our time was up.
“Thank you, ladies, for your assistance. Margaret can see you out. I have to get ready for a meeting of the Junior League.” And with that, my sister disappeared, and I led my friends out to the car.
“That’s your sister?” Fortune whistled.
“That’s my twin.” I corrected with a smile.
She shook her head. “Wow. Just. Wow.”
We piled back in the jeep and they took me home.
“I guess I’d better head out to tell Mom. Once I take a nap and a shower.” I said.
“You never told me the whole story about the money Hugo stole.”
Ida waved me off. “I’ll tell you later. Call us when you get back from visiting Sadie. We’ll try to flesh the whole story out then.”
Gertie yawned. “I could use my beauty sleep.”
“It didn’t help forty years ago,” Ida cracked. “What makes you think it will now?”
I laughed and waved as they drove away. Ten minutes later, I was falling asleep. My gun on my nightstand. Fully loaded.
Chapter 10
My cell woke me up around ten in the morning. Deputy LeBlanc wanted to know if I could stop by. So-So Silas’ mama had showed up with questions about the ticket I’d written. After a quick shower, I hit the road and pulled up at the sheriff’s office in town.
I walked in and waved to Myrtle, who motioned me into Carter’s office where a short, heavyset woman in a muumuu seemed to be at the height of a tantrum. Not many women in Sinful wore muumuus. This one had pictures of crawdads on it.
“I issued So-So the ticket, Mrs. Roach. His boat was leaking oil into the bayou.” I said, taking a chair opposite her.
The woman glared at me with eyes I wasn’t sure I could find in the fleshy folds of her face. “It ain’t his fault! That’s what I told the deputy here! Someone shot that hole in So-So’s boat!
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