| |
“WELL NOW,” MARY-ALICE stood as Fortune returned. “Miss Fortune, you just sit and recover. If you don’t mind my invading your kitchen, I’ll go fetch us some more tea.”
“Thank you, Mary-Alice.” Fortune sank down into her chair and rested her head in her hands. “The iced tea mix is in the upper cupboard to the right of the stove.”
“See if she has any icebox cake left over,” Gertie called after Mary-Alice. “You don’t mind, do you, Fortune? You don’t want to eat that whole thing by yourself.”
Mary-Alice sensed that Gertie, Ida Belle, and Fortune had something to discuss in private. She had noticed them exchanging nervous glances when Carter mentioned searching the house. Mary-Alice was happy to give them their space. She prided herself on minding her own business, and not being the kind of snoopy busybody who was forever prying into other people’s lives.
Mary-Alice didn’t bother with the powdered tea mix. There was time to make proper tea. Mary-Alice filled the kettle, switched it on, and set about looking for tea bags.
“I can’t let him see the bedroom closet.” Although Fortune had lowered her voice, Mary-Alice could hear every syllable. It certainly wasn’t Mary-Alice’s fault that, due to her excellent upbringing, she moved about so quietly that people often forgot she was there. Between this and her excellent ears, she often found herself overhearing things. Quite unintentionally, of course.
“What if he finds the door?” Fortune continued.
“That door’s pretty well disguised,” Ida Belle replied. “And even if he does find the cache, so what? You can pretend you’re seeing it for the first time too. You didn’t build this house, you just inherited it.”
A secret door! Mary-Alice’s pulse ticked up.
“I don’t even see what the big deal is,” Gertie chimed in. “So you have a few guns in your closet, just like everyone else in Sinful. Heck, I have guns right here in my handbag.”
“Did you say guns, plural?” Ida Belle demanded. “Gertie, I thought you—”
A gun safe? That was the big secret? Disappointed, Mary-Alice pulled her ear away from the wall and went to prepare the tea. The whistling teakettle drowned out the rest of the conversation, so Mary-Alice didn’t hear about the switchblades, grenade launchers, and other exotic weaponry that Fortune’s aunt Marge had collected during her lifetime.
“Why on earth would Fortune want to kidnap Celia in the first place?” Gertie was saying as Mary-Alice brought out the tea and slices of icebox cake.
“Thanks, Mary-Alice,” Fortune took a glass from the tray. “This is nice. It’s hard for me to concentrate on being a good hostess right now.”
“Oh I do understand that, darlin’,” Mary-Alice said. “Don’t you worry about it.”
“Mary-Alice, do you remember which glass is which?” Ida Belle asked.
Gertie glared at Ida Belle.
“Ida Belle, for the hundredth time. I did not kiss Junior Baker on the mouth. I simply gave him the tiniest hug.”
“I know what I saw, Gertie. Never mind, Mary-Alice, I don’t need any tea right now.”
“Ida Belle dear, have you had your eyesight checked recently? How many fingers am I holding up?”
Mary-Alice averted her eyes and set down the tray on the coffee table.
“Well now I’m certain it wasn’t necessary,” Mary-Alice said, “but I washed and dried all the glasses. They’re just as clean as if they were brand new.”
“That’s nice of you, Mary-Alice,” Ida Belle said, “but I really do have to get back to my bike. It’s in a million pieces all over my garage right now.
“You come sit down, Mary-Alice,” Gertie said. “We need to do something about this right away. And I believe you can help.”
“Text me,” Ida Belle called back as she walked out the door.