The detective answered in kind. “I like yours, too.” Dee Dee’s outfit mirrored the detective’s except for a white shirt. I felt like I was looking at the Bobbsey Twins.

Her friendly demeanor changed quicker than a duck on a Junebug. “What were you doing at Tippi Colston’s? Were you there to question her on Annie’s murder?”

“You told me you couldn’t stop us from interviewing my classmates, so I decided to go ahead with it.” My brazen answer startled even me, but I didn’t have anything to lose and I was getting tired of all this. And why were all the police at Tippi’s? Perhaps they were onto her as well. “George Buchanan said he’d seen Tippi Colston coming out of Annie’s room earlier in the evening. This definitely gives us another person of interest.”

“So then you went to Tippi’s to question her?” Detective Sams said.

“That’s right.”

Dee Dee spoke my thoughts. “Did you arrest her for the murder, Detective?”

She looked from me, to Dee, to Nana. I wondered what she thought of our motely little crew. “No, we didn’t arrest her. She’s been shot. She’s in Erlanger Hospital with a gunshot wound to her shoulder.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

“What, how, why…?” I sputtered.

“Of course I can’t divulge any pertinent information,” Detective Sams said. “She’s going to be all right though. That’s the good news.”

“I swanny they’re dropping like flies around here. Sounds like being a writer can be a dangerous occupation.” Nana walked over to the detective’s desk. “By the way what are you writing in that little notebook of yours?” She leaned over and gandered at the tablet. “I hope it isn’t anything about my niece, Trixie. You know she’s going to solve this murder.”

I could feel my face turning red. Being easily embarrassed had been something I’d dealt with since childhood. Hanging around Nana didn’t help my condition.

“I don’t want Trixie involved in solving this case. As you can see it can be very dangerous.”

Dee Dee gently guided Nana back to her chair. “Detective, do you think the two cases are connected somehow?”

“We don’t know at this time, but it wouldn’t surprise me. That’s why it’s important you stay out of the way. I think the stakes have just been raised.” She stood and walked around to the front of her desk and leaned against it. “Y’all can go now, but I want you to stay away from Tippi’s house. It is now a crime scene.” She turned toward me. “And I’ll be checking with George about the information you gave me.”

Okay, she left the path wide open for me to contact Tippi. The detective said stay away from her house. I had no intention of going there, but she didn’t say anything about not going to the hospital. I didn’t bring up the fact that I thought Tippi was really Tabitha. I’d find out for sure before I approached her with the information.

Detective Sams walked us out to the front room and reminded me not to leave the city. She made it clear I was still the main suspect in Annie’s murder. What did this new incident mean? Was there a connection between the two women? I needed to get over to Erlanger and question Tippi. I knew Mama was resting, so I decided to take Nana with us. I hoped I wouldn’t regret it.

Dee Dee grabbed my arm. “Why didn’t you tell Detective Sams about the picture?”

“I wanted to give Tippi a chance to explain before I did.”

“I hope she has a good explanation,” Dee Dee said.

The GPS took us to Lee Highway then we hit Highway 27. It took us about ten minutes to arrive at Third Street. A sweet little gray haired lady sat behind the information desk. “Could you tell me what room Tippi Colston is in?”

She looked on the computer and wrote the number on a small piece of paper and handed it to me. “She’s in room 424.”

“Thank you.” I took the paper and shoved it in my pocket.

“Isn’t it about time for supper?”

Dee Dee’s laughter echoed in the elevator. “Come to think of it, I could use a little sustenance.”

“All right ladies, when we finish talking with Tippi, we’ll pick up Mama and get something to eat.” Nana responded with a smile.

We stopped on the second floor where a tall, dark, and handsome doctor boarded the elevator. Nana and Dee Dee giggled like schoolgirls as they ogled Dr. Hunky. Okay, I admit, I stole a quick peek, too. Dee Dee pulled out her hot flash fan and then they broke out in full laughter. The doctor turned around and smiled at them. I thought of Beau and wished he was here with me. He said he’d come as soon as he could – I hoped it was sooner than later.

The elevator stopped at the third floor and the doctor exited. “Girls, behave,” I said.

“Aw, Trixie, we were just checking out the menu,” Dee Dee said. “And I remember it hasn’t been too long ago when you would have done the same thing. Just because you’re married now doesn’t mean Nana and I can’t appreciate a nice dish.” The girls broke into another gale of laughter.

“Touché.” They had me there.

Nana shook a bony finger at me. “Yeah, if you hadn’t hitched up with Beau I’d still be trying to marry you off.”

“Well I did, so you can hang up your bow and arrow, Cupid.” The elevator opened at the fourth floor and we got off.

We stopped outside Tippi’s door. “All right, let me take the lead.”

Tippi was lying in the bed looking like death warmed over. Her bright red hair accentuated her pale face. Dark circles beneath her eyes stood out like a wart on a pretty nose. She’d obviously been through a lot.

“Hi, Tippi.” She looked at me and squinted.

“Can you hand me my glasses? They’re on the bedside table.” She put them on and the light bulb of recognition went off.

“What are you doing here?” The fire she’d shown the other day had been extinguished. “I hope it’s not to gloat over my misfortune.”

“Of course not, Tippi. I’m sorry someone shot you. Do you have any idea who it was?” I wondered if she’d tell us if she did.

“No. I don’t. I have to tell you I’m scared. With Annie being murdered and me getting shot I wonder if they’ve targeted those in the class.” She looked at me like she was seeing me for the first time. “Weren’t you the last one to see Annie before she died?”

“Yes, she was. That lady detective’s out to get her. She thinks Trixie’s the killer.” Nana just couldn’t help but blab whatever thoughts were churning around in her brain.

Tippi’s pretty blue eyes widened. “What do you want from me?”

“I need you to look at something and tell me if you recognize this young girl.” She gazed at the picture and her eyes widened. I’d been right all along. Tippi was Tabitha Hopkins.

“It’s you isn’t it?” She nodded. “Why would you take on an assumed name?”

It’s a long story,” she said. “Everyone around Lookout Mountain knew my family. I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors that my dad was in the Dixie Mafia. Well, they weren’t rumors – he was. When I decided to write for a career I took on a pen name. I didn’t want to deal with the backlash of who my family is.”

Dee Dee stepped in with her own question. “Did you know Trixie was writing an article on Mr. Ghoston’s murder?”

“Yes, I did. Like I said, Lookout Mountain is a small area and news travels fast. I knew who you were the first day I met you at the writer’s workshop.”

“Is that why you were so…reserved?” At least there was a reason why she treated me like moldy cheese.

“Yes. I didn’t want you stirring up old ghosts. The police suggested Bobby Lee’s death was a botched robbery.” She took a drink of water. “Maybe even somebody from the Mafia. I just wanted to get on with my life. I guess that sounds heartless, but I’d been through enough chaos over the years.”

I didn’t understand why she wouldn’t want the killer of her guardian found and prosecuted. Mostly, I didn’t think she’d killed Bobby Lee Ghoston, but there was a little niggle in the back of my mind that kept me wondering if it could have been her. She gained so much from his death.