Looking back, I’m surprised I made it out of there alive. I wouldn’t appreciate a stranger prying into my business. But, to get answers I had to ask questions.

Our dresses didn’t fit perfect, except for Nana’s. It fit like a glove. I admit Nana made a cute Scarlett O’Hara. Dee Dee and I would have to make do with ours.

“Y’all are not going to believe what Susan called you.” I couldn’t resist the temptation to pick at them.

“What?” Nana asked.

“She called you ‘biddies’.” I made sure to put an emphasis on biddies.

“Who is she calling an old biddy?” I thought I saw smoke swirl from Nana’s ears. Dee Dee quickly caught on I was toying with them. We laughed until I had tears rolling down my eyes.

“What’s so funny? You wouldn’t laugh if she called you a biddy.” She turned toward me from the passenger seat.

“Oh, Nana. Don’t get all riled up. I was just trying to lighten the mood. She was mad because I asked her some hard questions. You won’t believe what I discovered.”

A distinctive click alerted me Dee Dee had released her seat belt. She leaned up toward the front seat. “Well, give us a try,” she said.

“Actually, I guessed most of it, but her reaction confirmed I was on the right track. Jacob made passes at her, just like she said. But, after a while, she fell under his spell and they had an affair. At the same time she’d been dating Jeffrey. He asked her to marry him. There was no way she was going to give up the chance to marry money. Especially since her store was in jeopardy of being foreclosed on.” I stopped to get a breath. A chorus responded from “really?” to “wow!”

“By this time she was desperate, she didn’t want Jeffrey to find out about the affair, so she told everyone Jacob made passes at her. She insisted Doc fire Jacob to shove him out of the way.”

We pulled into Dora’s driveway. I turned toward Dee Dee. “What do y’all think? Did she kill Jacob to keep the affair from Jeffrey?”

“I’ve heard of people killing for less. Just watch that television show ‘48 Hours.’ People kill for the most bizarre reasons,” Dee Dee said.

“That’s right.” Nana held on to her Scarlett dress with a death-grip. “I’ve seen that show and those people are plum crazy. I’d say she’s definitely a suspect.”

“Well, come on. Let’s go in the house and figure out what shoes we’re going to wear with these get-ups, then take a long nap. I, for one, am getting too old for all this running around.” Dee Dee handed me the two dresses in the back. I leaned into the car and bumped my knee. Pain shot through my leg. I longed for a good long soak in that claw-footed tub, but knew that was out of the question.

“Speak for yourself, Trixie. I’m ready for the nightlife. Bring it on.” I just love my Nana. But I knew I would need God’s help to make it through this evening with her in tow. “Lord, please give me the strength and patience to keep up with Nana.”

I don’t know how long I’d been asleep when I heard the doorbell. I struggled awake, slipped on a robe and answered the door.

“Hello, Ms. Montgomery.” Detective Bowerman pushed his way into the house. “Did I wake you?”

“Yes, sir. You did.” What does he want now? “May I help you?”

“Msss. Montgomery.” He drew out my name for emphasis. “I thought I told you to stay out of this investigation.” He hiked up his pants. Either they were too big for him or he’d acquired an ugly habit.

“I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.” I crossed my fingers behind my back.

“I think you do,” he said. “Susan Gray called me and she’s not happy. Actually, irate would be a better description. She said you asked her personal questions as well as questions related to the case. She claimed you harassed her. I explicitly told you to keep your nose out of this. What part of that did you not understand?” By that time Nana and Dee Dee were standing in the background, listening to the detective’s tirade.

“Detective. I am a journalist and it’s what I do. I ask questions. I was doing my job, gleaning information from a board member of the history museum.” Well, it’s the truth. I do have to ask questions for my job.

“That’s right, detective,” Nana spoke up. “She was just doing her job. And we were there on official business. I’m Scarlett.”

“Beg pardon, ma’am.” The detective gaped at Nana.

“Just what she said. She’s Scarlett. We’re going to the museum fundraiser tonight and we went to the Gone with the Wind Museum to borrow our dresses. In no way did we harass her.”

Nana had scooted out of the room and came back in holding up her dress.

“See?” She positioned the dress in front of her and twirled around. I hoped she didn’t fall over from dizziness.

“Oh, I see.” A slight smile crept across his face, then faded.

“Well, I don’t want to tell you again, Ms. Montgomery. And that goes for you two ladies, as well.” He gave Dee Dee and Nana a scathing look. Like that would deter them. “This is serious business and you could get hurt. I’d feel mighty bad if you were harmed on my watch.” This time he looked at me. “Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.” I understood perfectly well, but I didn’t promise him anything. He stuck his cigar in his mouth and took leave. The tobacco aroma lingered in the air after his departure. I much preferred the smell of sweet honeysuckle, which was in full bloom outside Dora’s window.

“Okay. Let’s grab a quick sandwich and get dressed. It’ll be time to leave shortly,” I said.

“Scarlett. May I help you with your dress?” Dee Dee used an exaggerated southern accent to address Nana. I had to laugh at their antics. Maybe it would be fun.

If we’d only known what the night held, we’d have stayed home and played checkers.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Nana looked precious in her dress. The moss green velvet overskirt with a chartreuse underskirt had a gold belt, imitating the drapery cords. It resembled the movie’s costume, right down to the little green hat perched on Nana’s head. There might be more than one Scarlett tonight, but none would be as cute as Nana.

Outside, the air was laden with a sweet summer fragrance from the gardenia bushes Dora had planted. Further down the walkway near the carport, honeysuckle and magnolia vied for my senses as we made our way to the car. What a fitting night for a ball.

When we reached my Jeep, I realized I’d given no thought to how we we’d fit three hoop skirts inside. Nana and I held Dee Dee’s dress while she attempted to climb into the back seat. After a couple of failed attempts, I placed my hands on Dee Dee’s behind and pushed for all I was worth. She shot forward.

“What did you do that for, Trixie? You almost killed me.”

“I didn’t mean to push so hard.”

“I bet you didn’t. You sure that wasn’t payback for something I did?” She gathered the voluminous dress and spread it around her.

“Of course not. Come on Nana, you’re next.” It wasn’t quite as hard to get Nana settled. She’s a lot smaller than Dee Dee, so I didn’t have to heave as much. I carefully arranged her dress. She grinned from ear to ear.

By the time I positioned myself behind the wheel, I was exhausted. I said a little prayer for my Jeep to start. Usually hit and miss, I’d threatened more than once to get a new car. The thought of a big payment kept me from making it happen. Now I’d passed the six month probation period on my job, it might be a good time to buy one. If I could get the story written and turned in, I reminded myself. I turned the key and let out a sigh of relief when the motor cranked.

“Tara, here we come.” Laughter reverberated throughout the car.

“Trixie, do you think the murderer will be at the ball tonight?” Dee Dee’s skirt swished as she repositioned it.