“I’m so sorry, Mama.” A shiver ran through my body. I grabbed my robe and slid it on.

“Trixie, I have something to confess. Please don’t be mad.” I couldn’t for the life of me think of what she could have done to make me angry.

Mama’s my rock. After my divorce, she not only offered me a place to live, but a shoulder to cry on. I owed Mama, even though I knew she didn’t feel that way.

“Don’t worry, Mama. I’m sure it’ll be all right.” I put my arm around her.

She sniffed a little and a lone tear rolled down her cheek. “I didn’t know what else to do. She was crying and it just popped out of my mouth.”

I wondered out loud what had popped out of her mouth. “What are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

“I told Laura that you’d solved a couple of murders and that you’d help her.” She looked over my shoulder. “And I told her Dee Dee would help, too.”

“What? You did what, Mama?” Oh my goodness. I wasn’t mad, but I sure wasn’t doing a happy dance. “I promised I’d keep my distance.”

“Wow,” Dee Dee managed to squeak out.

I didn’t think anything could make Dee Dee speechless. This came close to it.

The bedroom door swung open a tad then flung open the rest of the way. Nana stepped in. “Did you ask them yet?” She looked around the room. “I guess you did. Isn’t it great, Trixie? Another murder for us to solve.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Nana, there is no ‘we.’” I studied Mama and saw hope shining in her eyes. I hated to disappoint her, but I didn’t think it was a good idea to interfere in Detective Baker’s investigation. It’s true, Dee Dee and I had been instrumental in solving a couple of murders, but I didn’t want to make a habit of solving crimes. The local authorities had already made it clear they did not welcome any intrusion.

“Mama, I don’t believe we’re qualified to help Laura. She needs a professional.”

“Laura deserves someone who isn’t biased and believes in her. She’s a newcomer on the island and with her carefree attitude toward the turtles it’ll be hard for her to get a fair shake.”

I couldn’t say no to the lady who had given so freely when I needed her. I took the chicken’s way out. “I’ll consider it.”

Mama’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Trixie.” She gave me a huge squeeze.

I glanced over her shoulder and noticed Dee Dee shaking her head with a big grin plastered on her face. She knew I’d cave.

“This is great. Trixie, you know I’ll help you any way possible,” Nana said. “Remember, you and Dee Dee probably wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me saving your necks in Marietta.” She glanced upward. “Well, I did have a little help from the Lord.”

As much as I hated to admit it, Nana was right. Less than a year ago, Dee Dee and I had gotten ourselves in a heap of trouble. Three crazy guys kidnapped us and held us at gunpoint. “You got me there, Nana. Come on. Let’s go down and discover what’s for breakfast.”

“Maybe you’d like to put on some clothes first.” Dee Dee rolled her eyes heavenward.

I looked at my pajamas. “Oh, I guess you’re right. Mama, you and Nana go ahead and we’ll be down in a few minutes.” Mama left with a smile on her face and a hope she didn’t have when she entered.

“Trix, how are you going to help Laura?” Dee Dee donned a bright orange, long-sleeve, pullover shirt. I wondered what color pants she’d wear. Dee Dee’s taste for bright clothes matched her personality: upbeat and cheerful.

“I don’t know. My gut says I shouldn’t get involved lest I risk getting in trouble with Detective Dreamy, but my heart wants to help Laura. Mama’s helped me so much. I don’t want to disappoint her. Let’s go down and talk to Laura after breakfast.”

We finished dressing. Dee Dee paired up her shirt with light green pants. It wasn’t something I’d wear, but it looked good on her and it was appropriate for the month of October. I had on my usual khaki pants with a light blue pullover. I often envied Dee Dee’s ability to dress so brightly, but I couldn’t bring myself to break away from my habit of wearing browns and beiges.

By the time we entered the dining room, guests from Seaside Cottage and Ocean View Inn already surrounded the tables. Breakfast consisted of eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, grits, waffles, and various pastries. Louise made sure our table remained full of breakfast goodies.

I noticed Laura’s absence right away. The talk at our table focused on Grace Watkins’ murder. The scuttlebutt was that Grace’s niece planned to move to Ocean View Inn. Her long time cook and assistant would keep it open and running until then. The guests at the inn had an open invitation for meals at Seaside Cottage.

I couldn’t help but survey the room and wonder if the murderer sat among us. I didn’t know these people. What, if any, motive would they possess to murder Grace? Surely her service wasn’t that bad. I silently laughed. Okay Trixie, get a grip.

“Hey girl, where did you go? I asked you if you were going to eat that sausage sitting on your plate.” Dee Dee’s fork was poised to jab the lone piece of sausage.

Normally I wouldn’t mind, but I felt the need for all the greasy food I could consume. “Sorry, I’m gonna eat it.” Her brown, puppy-dog eyes and protruding lip made me acquiesce. “All right, I’ll half it with you.”

By the time we finished eating, the other guests had left. Nana and Mama walked over and sat at our table. “Trixie, would you talk with Laura now? She’s in her room and won’t come out. She’s in a terrible state.”

“Sure, Mama.”

I eyed Dee Dee. “You coming?”

“I’m right behind you. I wouldn’t miss this for anything.” Dee Dee wiped her plate clean with a piece of biscuit. I guess I wasn’t the only one who craved cholesterol laden food.

“Trixie, I know you’d like for me to come, too. Being that I’m experienced in these matters. But George has asked me to go sightseeing with him.” Nana’s grin reminded me of a cat with a feather hanging from its mouth.

“That’s all right, Nana. We’ll keep you posted.” I looked heavenward. Thank you, Lord, for small favors.

“Laura?”

She looked up as I stuck my head in the door.

“Can we come in?”

“Okay.”

Laura’s room was as pretty as the rest of the house. Painted bright blue and accented with white furniture trimmed in gold, it reminded me of the ocean. Laura sat on a canopy bed situated in the middle of the room. She looked lower than an ant on stilts.

Dee Dee walked over and put her arm around Laura’s shoulder. I wasn’t surprised. When I had gone through my divorce with Wade I had nose-dived to the lowest I’d ever been in my life. I wondered if I’d ever feel human again. Dee Dee took me under her wing and supported me through some hard times and we’d been fast friends since. Dee Dee was a natural-born care giver.

With this simple gesture of empathy, Laura started crying. “What am I going to do? Detective Baker says I’m a person of interest. I know what that means – it means suspect.”

Dee Dee glanced at me with a look that shouted “help!”

I shrugged my shoulders, but took a stab at consoling Laura. “Didn’t the detective say he was going to interview all the guests? Maybe it was just routine questioning.”

“No.” Laura sniffed. Dee Dee grabbed a wad of tissues from the bedside table and handed them to her. “He said my fingerprints are all over the gnome and he knows it came from my garden. Grace and I have had an ongoing squabble since I opened. She accused me of purposely taking away her business.” Laura blew her nose and continued.

“I didn’t steal her guests. She ran them off with her horrible personality. She was a female Attila the Hun. I’ve never seen anyone so grouchy or vindictive in my life. Her long time guests have now started reserving with me. I don’t see how Edna put up with it all these years.” Laura rifled through the wadded up tissues for a clean one and dabbed her eyes.