If Mashed Potatoes Could Dance (18 page)

“Maybe there are some notes in there about that?” Sally said. “I think I remember that Jane and I were angry, but I don’t think we were angry at Daddy. I think we were angry at each other, or at someone else altogether.”

Edgar’s notes weren’t organized. I’d been reading them in the order that he’d written them. He’d scratched dates on a few pages, but the entries weren’t arranged according to the chronology of the trial—probably so they’d be difficult to understand if they were stolen. I knew that before computers came into use, journalists typically used codes and shorthand to protect their scoops. I’d heard of one old-time St. Louis newspaper reporter who created his own language so no one could figure out what he’d uncovered about any given story.

“I haven’t seen anything about that yet,” I said. “But there
are a lot of notes here. Maybe we’ll come across it. The next entry I see isn’t about the skulls, though, and it might be interesting. It says: ‘Sally’s hair was clean when the police arrived. No one is talking about that.’”

“No, no one talked about that at all, I don’t think. I wonder how Edgar knew my hair was clean.”

“I can answer that—he says it was one of the questions he asked the police. He asked them if your hair was clean when you were arrested. The police said it was.”

“That’s good! Right. Clean hair, no blood?”

“Or maybe they thought you shampooed after you committed the crimes.”

“My hair would have been wet if that was the case. Yes, it still would have been wet when the police arrived. Think about it. If I had done such a grizzly thing, my hair would have been spotted with blood, not clean and not wet.”

“You could have dried…of course, you didn’t have blow-dryers. Good point, except that maybe it was hot enough that your hair dried quickly. I don’t know.” At the time of Sally’s parents’ murders, the police didn’t have the know-how, let alone the ability, to test for trace evidence, DNA, or even the tiniest, almost-but-not-quite invisible drops of blood. Sally had a point, but I wasn’t ready to conclude that the observation of clean, dry hair might somehow prove her innocence. She could have worn a hat of some sort, gloves, too. Or the police might not have looked closely enough.

Still, these notes and conversations were making me wonder. Could Sally Swarthmore have been innocent? Probably not—that seemed a huge stretch—but it was beginning to at least sound like her trial had been more of a circus than a valid legal battle. A small part of me thought that if she truly was guilty, the level of integrity used during her trial didn’t
matter much. But the larger and far nobler part of me had a respect for the law that couldn’t be shaken. I thought integrity should be the number one code that attorneys-at-law lived by. Could her diary prove she was railroaded, or used as a scapegoat? Would it hold any significance at all? I knew, however, that Sally’s diary would document her words only—she could have written anything she wanted in it.

As if reading my mind, she said, “Can you please ask that actress if she has my diary? She just portrays me so well. I have to wonder.”

I didn’t want to ask Opie anything unless it was what day I could expect her to leave Broken Rope and never return, but I had another idea.

“I have to meet Gram and Teddy at the school. I’ll ask Teddy if he’ll do some snooping around her house.”

“I’ve looked myself, and saw the room devoted to me, but of course I can’t open drawers and the like. Do you think he’ll help?”

“I don’t know, but it’s worth asking.”

I hurried and pulled myself together. This time I dried my hair and added a little makeup. The only person who’d noted my lack of attention to detail yesterday had been Opie; it bugged me that it bugged me that she’d said something. As I dabbed on a little eye shadow, I told myself it had nothing to do with her. It was just that I had a few extra minutes to primp.

Of course, since I’d taken the time, I was sure not to see her. I didn’t think Teddy or Gram paid any attention to whether or not I wore makeup, and they didn’t care anyway.

I’d been informed of a meeting between the three of us via a text message from Gram that she’d sent sometime during the night. Teddy and I had shown her how to text, and she’d taken to it like whipped cream to strawberries. The entire family
received text messages from Gram, which meant that any time she had something she wanted to say or plan, she texted it to whomever needed to know. This meant I had been called to a number of meetings via late-evening messages. I was curious about her inclusion of Teddy this time.

I followed my brother’s truck into the school’s parking lot at 8:58
A.M
. Sally had popped over already, and I saw her following Gram as they walked the edge of the small parking lot next to the cemetery. Gram, dressed in a Pittsburgh State T–shirt and jeans, looked at the ground as if she was either searching for something or pretending to search for something so Sally would think she was busy.

“Teddy,” I said as we both got out of our vehicles and moved toward the school. “I have something I need to talk to you about when we’re done with whatever Gram needs us to do.”

His eyebrows rose. “What’d I do?”

“Nothing, I don’t think.”

“Hi, Betts. Hey, there, big fella,” Sally said as she and Gram joined us by the front door of the school.

Gram and I ignored her.

“Betts, Teddy, we need to talk,” Gram said seriously before she led us inside. She walked around Sally, which garnered a questioning look from Teddy. Over the years and before I saw the ghosts, I’d noticed Gram pull a veer a time or two. I always thought her balance was off or something. Now, I smiled to myself. I walked around the ghost, too, giving her a wider berth than Gram had just to see what Teddy would do.

He looked at the ground and veered slightly himself. I’d laugh about it later, but Sally giggled now, which made it even more fun.

Once inside we were supplied with samples of a new
pineapple upside-down cake that Gram was considering for the upcoming year and some freshly squeezed lemonade.

“Kids,” she began. She rarely called us that anymore, but it signaled that she was about to talk about something very serious. “I need to talk to you both about what I’m putting in my will.”

“What?” Teddy said. “Gram, are you sick?”

I swallowed the piece of cake that had suddenly turned sour in my mouth.

“No, not at all, but life is so fleeting.” She looked at Sally, who seemed the most interested in what Gram had to say. “The recent issues we’ve been having in Broken Rope made me think I should be better prepared.”

“Recent? Gram, Broken Rope has always been full of death and murder,” Teddy protested.

“Our history is based upon that, but not our current times. These past few months have been disturbing, and I needed to be proactive. I needed to do something to make myself feel better about what I was leaving behind. I had Verna revise an old will that I’d written years ago.”

“Gram, come on, are you sick?” Teddy asked again.

“No, Teddy, I’m as healthy as a southern Missouri mosquito in the middle of a sweltering wet summer.”

“Interesting picture,” Sally said.

I looked at her with a raised eyebrow. Did she know something?

“Oh? No, Betts, I don’t have any idea if your grandmother is sick or when she’ll be joining us on this side. Not information we have access to.”

I nodded as Gram gave both her and me an impatient glare. Teddy looked at me and the space where Sally stood, but not for long.

Gram reached for one of Teddy’s hands and one of mine. Sally didn’t want to be left out, so she placed her ax–free hand over Gram’s and Teddy’s. “I am not sick, not even close, and I plan on living a hundred or so more years.”

“That might be stretching it,” Sally mumbled.

“But if something unexpected should happen, I want to make sure my Peeps are in order so to speak. Now, Teddy, don’t be disappointed when I tell you that Betts will get the school.”

“She should get the school,” Teddy said. “I wouldn’t know how to begin to run the place anyway.”

“But you’ll always have a job here.” She looked at him and then at me. “I always want Teddy to have a place to go. He’s a great cook and a fine teacher, and, frankly, one of the most amazing bakers in town.” She turned back to him. “If you ever want to quit construction, you can always teach at the school, my dear boy.”

“Thank you, Gram.” He smiled. “I love that I have a great backup plan.” He winked. He knew he’d do better financially if he worked at the school than at the construction jobs he took here and there. But he wasn’t as fond of teaching as Gram hoped he would be. She was right, though: he was good at it.

Gram pinched his arm lightly. Appropriately, he pretended that it hurt. “I ran this by your parents before they left for Arizona, and they think it’s a wonderful plan. You father is too busy to do anything with the cooking school, and though your mother can teach up a storm, she can’t even boil an egg without setting off the fire alarm or hatching a chicken. Now, if either of you want to talk to me in private about the specific arrangements, I’d be happy to.”

We both shook our heads.

“No, Gram, I’m fine.” I pulled her into a hug. Sally stayed
close to her back. She would have been hugged, too, if my hands hadn’t gone right through her.

“This is so lovely,” Sally said.

“Oh, pshaw,” Gram said. “Like I said, I’m going to live a whole lot longer, so don’t go buying new ovens or anything. I just wanted you two to know, and it’s a slow time at the school. Now was the right time to do this. I’ve got more work to do around here, so skedaddle.”

“I can help,” I said. I was supposed to help. It was my job, and I’d already left her to do too much of the work.

“No, you can’t. Jake needs you.” She glanced at Sally. I guessed that they’d discussed what had been going on since the last time we all talked. I was glad someone had filled Gram in. The gears in my head had been working overtime trying to figure out at least one of our mysteries; I’d neglected my real duties. It was a wonder Gram wanted me to have the school when she was gone.

I knew that the realization of her wishes would sink in later, but for the time being, I was just glad the serious conversation was over. I didn’t think Gram was sick. I understood her need to get her affairs in order. I didn’t think I deserved the school, but in reality who else would take care of it the way I would—when I wasn’t solving mysteries, that is? I’d deal with how I could possibly fill Gram’s big shoes some other time. Before I could let Teddy leave or Gram get back to her cleaning, I needed to talk to them both and without the other one hearing.

“Teddy, could you wait for me outside for just a minute?” I asked.

He agreed so easily that I wondered if he’d really wait, and Sally wanted to go with him so she could “study his fine male form,” but I shook my head and pursed my lips, letting her
know I wanted her to stay. She was disappointed, but she acquiesced.

“Gram,” I said when I was sure Teddy couldn’t hear, “are there any other ghosts visiting?”

“Not that I’m aware of.”

“You haven’t run into anyone?” I asked Sally.

“No.”

“I smelled something…I can’t pinpoint it, but I know I’ve smelled it before, though in real life, not because of a ghost. I wonder, though, if this time it’s attached to one of them.”

“They don’t have to check in with me. They usually do because they like to have someone they can talk to, but theoretically they can come and go without me knowing. What’s the scent like?” Gram said.

“Tangy, sharp, heady,” I said.

“You could be describing a wine,” Gram said.

“No, that’s not it. I’ll try to figure it out, but would you call me if you see any other ghosts?”

“Of course. You staying out of trouble, Sally?”

“Sadly, yes. We’re still looking for my diary, though. Betts is actually trying hard to help.”

Gram bit at her lip. “I suppose that’s good, but try not to pester her too much.”

“I’m not pestering you, am I?” Sally asked as Gram turned and walked toward her office in the back of the school.

“I’ll let you know.”

One side of her mouth pulled in and her eyebrows came together as she said, “Betts, maybe I’m not being fair. Your gram is right; there is nothing you can truly do for me. My situation isn’t going to change no matter what. Maybe you are wasting your time.”

I looked at her closely. I’d only known her briefly, but this didn’t sound like the self-involved ax murderer I’d pegged her to be. Her comments sounded genuine. I realized that there was something about her that I truly liked. I cringed inwardly and really hoped it didn’t show. My feelings for her wouldn’t turn into the crush I had on Jerome, but I couldn’t deny the fondness I was beginning to feel. Was I destined to become attached to every ghost that visited? Gram wouldn’t give me all the details, but I suspected the list was long enough to mean that I could end up missing and perhaps lonely for lots of people, because, and I had to face this, if I could find something appealing about an ax murderer, I could probably find a reason to like just about anyone.

“I’ll let you know,” I said again. “How does that sound?”

“Good,” she said. “I’m so glad you’re helping, though. Thank you.”

“Come on, let’s talk to Teddy.”

“Ohhh, goodie.”

Teddy was less than enthusiastic about rummaging around Opie’s drawers. Well, the ones she didn’t wear, at least.

“I’m not a snoop, Betts. That’s not my style,” he said as he crossed his arms in front of himself and leaned against his truck.

“I hear there’s a whole room devoted to Sally Swarthmore. Maybe you could just look in there?”

“Still not comfortable with that. She showed me the room. She’s proud of it and said it was about getting into character. I don’t want to betray her trust.”

“Oh, isn’t he the chivalrous one,” Sally cooed.

I paused. It wasn’t that Teddy ever intentionally
wanted
to betray a woman’s trust; it was just his nature. I’d never once heard him talk about a desire to be loyal, and hearing his
respectfulness for Opie was both confusing and bothersome. I didn’t like her, never had, and never would. I’d also never gotten involved in my brother’s affairs, never had, and never would. But I didn’t have any other ideas. I wasn’t going to go visit her, and I wasn’t going to break in to her house. I’d agreed to a lunch but I’d probably be compelled to postpone it as long as possible until it might not exist at all. However, I was interested enough to know where she got her information to push just a little harder.