“Jasmine. Before you leave could you tell me where you were the night of Grace’s murder?”

“Even though it’s none of your business – I was in bed asleep. Now I’ve got to get back to work.” This time she slid her chair back, ending the discussion with finality and headed toward the door. She reached for the handle when a knock on the door stopped her hand mid-air.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Hello. Anybody in there?” Nana’s voice blasted through.

“Oh, no.” I looked around, scouting for an avenue of escape. There wasn’t one.

Jasmine opened the door. “We’re finished. Come on in.” She stepped back. Nana entered with Dee Dee on her heels. Jasmine made her escape past them.

“Thanks for your time.” I spoke to her back, but doubted she even heard me.

Nana wore the jogging suit she’d worn this morning. I breathed a sigh of relief. I was amazed how Dee Dee could tame Nana, and winked at her. Thank you, my friend.

“Well, what did she confess, Trix?” Nana came over and stood beside me.

Dee Dee pulled out a chair. “How did it go?” Dee Dee thumbed toward the door.

“She didn’t confess, but Grace is definitely not on Jasmine’s ‘A’ list. She harbors a lot of anger toward Grace for bringing up her past to the club members. We need to keep her as a possible suspect.” My stomach produced a noise akin to a small volcano. Nana and Dee Dee laughed.

“Somebody’s hungry. Let’s go find some lunch,” Dee Dee jumped up.

“Best idea I’ve heard all day.” I grabbed Nana’s elbow and steered toward the exit. I didn’t want her sidetracked by shiny do-dads on the way out. She’d wreaked enough havoc on this trip for a lifetime. Little was I to know she wasn’t through.

We returned to the car without any major catastrophes. Dee Dee read the directions as we navigated down Jones Street. I turned on a side road to reach the Dari Delight where Mary Sue Bartlett worked. The block building needed some tender loving care. A few cars were scattered around the parking lot, but not as many as you’d expect at lunch time.

A bell hanging above the door tinkled to announce our arrival. Several voices hollered in unison for us to take a seat. We chose a table by the window. I grabbed the menus, stuck between the salt and pepper shakers and the napkin holder, and passed them out. I pulled a napkin from the container and wiped grease from the front of the plastic cover.

A middle-aged lady with a pencil stuck behind her ear, and dressed in black slacks and a once-white blouse, approached our table. “What can I get cha’?” She pulled a pencil from her ear and stuck her tongue to the lead. Ugh.

“Hi. We’re looking for Mary Sue,” Dee Dee said.

“Well, y’all came to the right place. You’re lookin’ at her.” Drooped shoulders and hooded eyes surprised me to no end. Was this the same lady who’d hosted her own cooking show? “What can I do for ya?”

My stomach chose that moment to growl like a half- starved lion. “We’d like to order something to eat first.” Dee Dee and I ordered the burger basket with french fries and onion rings. Nana ordered two hot dogs all the way, french fries, and a side of slaw. Then she inquired about dessert. Dee Dee shot me a look that said, “Where is she going to put all that food?” I shrugged.

“Okay, ladies. I’ll put your order in and bring out your drinks.” She hurried off toward the kitchen.

We continued our discussion about Jasmine and her interview while we waited on our food. “Dee Dee, grab the list and let’s go over who we’ve talked to and who we have left to question.” She reached in her gigantean bag and magically pulled out the notebook. She laid it on the table between us.

“Here ya’ go. Two burger baskets and two dogs all the way.” Mary Sue plopped the plates down in front of us. She reached in her pocket, brought out a bottle of ketchup, and placed it on the table. Dried goo clung to the sides. “Let me know if you need anything else.”

I leaned my head in toward Nana and Dee Dee. “When she comes back for dessert we need some excuse to get her to sit down and talk with us.”

Dee Dee rubbed her chin. “Hmm. Let me think.”

“Just tell her the truth. Explain to her we’re trying to help Laura and does she have any information she can share with us. We don’t have to tell her more than that.” Nana pulled the tablet closer and studied the names.

“That might work, Nana. Now, let’s see who we’ve talked to so far. Dee Dee, call off a names.”

Dee Dee scooted the pad back her way. “First, we talked to Edna, Grace’s cook and housekeeper.” She took a bite of her hamburger. Ketchup oozed off the bun and plopped on her plate.

“It’s obvious no love was lost between those two. Edna felt trapped and murder might have seemed her only choice out of a terrible situation.” For the next few minutes, quiet surrounded the table while we ate. I surveyed the dining area and noticed only a few diners. Maybe Mary Sue wouldn’t be too busy to stop and talk.

Nana talked around a mouthful of hotdog. “Who’s next?”

Dee Dee glanced at the notebook. “Louise. She didn’t have a personal vendetta against Grace, but she’s good friends with Edna. Unknowingly, she corroborated everything Edna said.”

“I don’t get the feeling Louise had anything to do with it. I can’t say the same for Edna.” We snagged bites in between our discussion. Dee Dee pointed to her mouth then to mine. I swiped the area with my napkin. I’d wiped a blob of ketchup off my face.

“Don’t forget Ellie. Remember her reaction when you mentioned her meeting with John Porter on the beach? She was madder than a bull eyeing red.” Dee Dee took an onion ring, slipped it on her finger and twirled it around like a hula-hoop. Laughter floated around the table.

“That’s right. It’s mighty suspicious my question solicited such a reaction. Let’s keep her on the suspect list until we find out more about her.”

“Is that all?”

“What about Jasmine? You just talked to her.” Nana had made her hot dogs disappear quicker than a crab could burrow in the sand. She worked on digging the last little bit of slaw out of the container.

“Of course. Thanks, Nana. Jasmine needs to be on the list right beside Edna. Both of those ladies were wronged by Grace, and neither one of them showed any sorrow at her death.”

“We still have several others to interview: Grace’s husband Bert, the Daniels, Bubba Maxwell, the Sandersons and finally John Porter.” Mary Sue walked up to the table and Dee Dee shoved the notebook back in her bag.

“You ladies need any refills? How about dessert?” She stacked a few of the dirty dishes and gathered a handful to carry with her.

I looked at the girls. “Banana pudding all the way around?” They nodded their agreement.

“Coffee with that?” We nodded in unison. “Okie dokie. I’ll be right back.”

We chatted while she rounded up our desserts. I hoped when she returned I’d be able to convince her to sit with us for a while. Only one other booth held customers. Laden with pudding and coffee, she approached our table.

“Here, let me help.” I handed the bowls to Nana and Dee Dee and she served the coffee. I scooted over. “Please sit with us a minute.”

She surveyed her surroundings. “I probably shouldn’t, but I’ll sit for just a few minutes.” She eased down beside me and I heard a sigh. “Feels good to sit; my feet are killing me. Now, what are you ladies up to?”

Her blunt question startled me and I struggled to say something to lighten the mood.

“We want to know if you killed Grace Watkins.” Nana blurted before I could speak. “Where were you Monday night?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

My eyes rolled heavenward. Lord please bless me with a healthy heaping of patience. Although, I knew the way to learn patience was to handle more trials and wondered if it was too late to take back my prayer.