“Oh, that’s a great idea.” Dee Dee threw in her two cents.

He took a long sip of his tea. Was he avoiding the question or weighing what he wanted to say? “Uh, I travel a lot. My home is in Ohio, but I don’t stay put much. How about I write down my post office box and give it to you later?” He revealed he worked in insurance, but when I tried to get detailed information he deftly changed the subject. Dee Dee wasn’t any more successful.

Quicker than I expected, our waiter appeared with the food. He spread a feast before us: crab, shrimp, oysters, and mussels, with sides of smashed potatoes, corn, and slaw. Laughter and relaxed talk flowed easily around the table.

Nana’s blue eyes widened. “I felt something on my foot!”

“Oh! I think I feel it!” Dee Dee reached under the table. Within the next minute pandemonium broke loose. Dee Dee emitted a blood-curdling scream. She lifted her hand up with a lobster attached.

“Help, help!” Her face turned bright red to match the color of the crustacean. She spun around in circles and slung her hand back and forth. Proving too much for the critter it turned loose and flew through the air.

What happened next will live in infamy. What are the odds out of all the people in the Crab Shack, a lady easily described as fluffy, decided to choose that moment to bend over to retrieve something from the floor. With her south side pointing north the lobster grabbed on to her plush derriere. A scream to rival Dee Dee’s filled the room.

A man, dressed in chef’s attire, ran into the room. “Oh, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. A giant lobster escaped the kitchen and we couldn’t find it.” He ran over to the lady with the lobster hanging from her backside. He reached out to grab the lobster when the lady turned around and hit him with her pocketbook.

“Don’t you dare touch me.”

Wide-eyed he looked around for anyone to help him. Someone, I assume from her party, grabbed the lobster and pulled as hard as he could. Finally the lobster let go and the man went flying to the floor holding the prized lobster in his hand. The chef retrieved the delinquent lobster and hurriedly retreated to the kitchen.

The customers’ first reaction was shock, but shortly everyone doubled over in laughter. Dee Dee didn’t laugh. “Hey, that hurt. I’ll never look at lobster the same.”

“Better you than me,” Nana said.

Everyone was too full for dessert, so we went outside and walked around. I clicked picture after picture of Nana feeding the ‘gators. By the time we arrived back at Seaside Cottage we were exhausted. George bade us good-night and left.

“Girls, I’m ready to hit the hay. This has been too much excitement for me in one day. Let’s hope tomorrow is more peaceful.” Mama had no idea what was in store for us over the coming days.

Laura walked into the room. “How was your evening out?”

Mama gave her the short version and promised to fill her in tomorrow as we climbed the stairs, exhausted and ready for sleep.

Dee Dee exited the bathroom dressed in orange pajamas covered with black cats. She reminded me of a pumpkin. I couldn’t help but laugh.

“And what’s so funny?” She pulled on the sides of her pajama top. “Surely you’re not laughing at my kitties?”

“No, no.” I crossed my fingers and silently asked for forgiveness. “Do you think George avoided my question about his address?”

“Yeah. He hesitated too long. You seem to have struck a nerve.” We talked for a while about the names on our suspect list and the best way to interview them. It was around midnight when we finally went to sleep. Way too early the next morning, Mama burst into our room and shook me awake.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Trixie. Wake up.” I rolled over and wiped the sleep from my eyes. Dee Dee rose up and propped herself up on her elbow.

“What is it, Mama? Is Nana alright?”

“Nana’s fine, but Detective Baker took Laura down to the police department again. I’m worried sick about her.” Mama’s hair stuck out in all directions and her housecoat was turned inside out. “What are we going to do?”

I yawned. “Don’t worry, Mama. He’s probably just asking her some questions and then he’ll bring her back home. I don’t think they’ll keep her.”

“I feel terrible sitting here not able to do a thing to help her.” She pulled at some loose strings on her robe. “I know she’d do what she could to support me.”

Dee Dee spoke through the haze of sleep. “Trixie, tell her about the names we’ve come up with so far.” Mama offered me a quizzical look.

“We’ve questioned some of the locals and came up with a list of people who might have it in for Grace. It seems she didn’t mind meddling in other’s lives when it was to her advantage. According to those who knew her well, she didn’t give a hoot about hurting others.” I shuddered thinking someone cared so little for the feelings of another human being.

“Can I see the list?” Mama smoothed her hair. Color returned to her cheeks. If it gave her hope to look over the names I didn’t see any reason why she shouldn’t.

Dee Dee threw back the covers, pushed her feet into her kitty slippers and padded over to her pocketbook. “I’ll get it. I think I stashed it in here.” She dug in her bag and came up with the notebook. She raised it in the air. “Ta-da.” Dee Dee handed me the tablet and then settled on her bed, cross-legged.

I glanced at the names when the door flew open and Nana burst in. “What are you girls up to? How could y’all leave me out of the party?” If her lip drooped any lower she’d have to carry it in a wheelbarrow.

“Good morning to you too, Nana.”

She gazed downward under hooded eyes. “Oh, good morning.”

“We’re not having a party. Detective Baker took Laura downtown again. Trixie was fixin’ to go over the names of some suspects she and Dee Dee have compiled,” Mama said.

“Well, what are you waiting on? I’m here now, so you can start.” I started to roll my eyes but thank goodness I caught myself just in time. I didn’t feel like an early morning lecture from Nana.

Nana looked me directly in the eyes. “Don’t even think about it, Missy.” Good grief! How does she do that?

Mama scooted close to me so she could see and Nana plopped down on my other side. “Let’s see. There’s Mary Sue Bartlett.”

“She used to work for Grace as a cook and housekeeper.” Dee Dee chimed in.

I continued. “She left Grace for a position at a downtown restaurant and before she knew it she had her own local cooking show. She thrived, until Grace accused her of stealing her recipes. Edna said Grace stalked Mary Sue and threatened to sic her lawyers on her. She freaked out and quit the restaurant. She waitresses in a fast food place now. She barely makes enough to support her daughter.”

Dee Dee shook her head.

“Low-down, good for nothing…”

“Nana. Be careful.”

“I was only going to say skunk. Actually that’s too nice for her. I’ll have to think of something else.” I had no doubt she would.

“She certainly has reason to dislike Grace, but who else is on your list?” Mama leaned over and took a gander at the names.

“Edna’s been Grace’s head cook and house-keeper for the past fifteen years. Laura told us she knew Edna was unhappy. I don’t think Laura had any idea how miserable Edna really is. When we mentioned her death she said, ‘That’s one lady I ain’t gonna miss.’

“Why in the world would she stay?” Mama repositioned beside me.

“That’s a good question. We wondered that, but she cleared it up when she said Grace threatened to blackball her. She told Edna if she left, she would never work on Tybee Island again. Since Edna makes her home with Grace, there wasn’t much she could do about it. She felt stuck.”

“Shoot, if Grace wasn’t dead I think I could kill her myself.” I knew Nana was kidding, but what a sad commentary for someone’s life when no one would miss you.