Sweet Mystery (32 page)

“I’ll call you the minute I know anything
definite. And I’ll try to keep my staff from talking to anyone but
those in authority.” Harold stood and folded his arms.

“In authority?”

“Well, if it’s arson, the sheriff and DA get
involved.” Harold waved a hand in an effort to allay the concern
etched on her face. “But we have no firm evidence of that yet.
Don’t worry.”

“Sure, don’t worry,” Rae mumbled as he
ushered her out the door. “I could go broke and to jail – ‘do not
pass go.’ This isn’t a Monopoly game you know.”

“You’re overreacting. This is all a part of
every fire we look into. Routine stuff, okay?” Harold walked her to
her car.

Rae did not feel better at all, despite his
cheery wave goodbye as she drove away. Being the subject of gossip
she was used to, but a crime suspect? Routine did not describe this
situation at all from where she stood.

* * *

“Harold’s a fair man, Rae. He wouldn’t lie to
you. If he says not to worry, then don’t. At least not about being
locked up for arson,” Marcelle said in a light voice, as though she
wasn’t talking about jail time for her best friend.

“I guess,” Rae said. She sat with her eyes
closed, enjoying a rare moment of peace.

It was nice to be away from the
nerve-jangling task of cleaning up the dance hall, securing the
inventory, paying her employees, and all the other painful details
of a businesswoman in crisis. Even more, Rae was relieved that she
could push away the image of her charred dream for at least a few
blessed hours. It did her well to remember that people were more
important than wood and plaster.

Marcelle had baby Felicia nestled in one arm,
happily sucking a bottle of formula. They sat on her front porch in
the late afternoon shade. A slight breeze from the ceiling fans
above helped to cool them, along with being in the shelter of oak
and white ash trees. The faint voices of Marcelle’s three boys,
yelping with exuberance as they played with friends, was oddly
comforting to Rae. Sweet, joyous innocence.

“Sure, Harold can be trusted. Not like some
of these two-faced folks.”

“If you say so.” Rae tried not to think about
the Dalcour name once again being bandied about.

Marcelle cooed at the baby as she flipped her
up onto her shoulder. A tiny burp sounded. “You bet I say so.
Besides, most folks can’t wait for Rockin’ Good Times to
reopen.”

“Harold said as much, too.” Rae breathed in
the smell of cut grass and honeysuckle.

“That’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout. Now let’s
round up the wild bunch and go see how Mr. Calvin is doing.”

Rae’s coaxing and their mother’s threats
finally succeeded in bringing the boys back to the house. Then they
all piled into Marcelle’s car. They left the children with
Marcelle’s mother-in-law. The ride to Grande River hospital was
silent and glum. Mrs. Johnson was standing just inside the
entrance, chatting with a nurse. Her expression hardened at the
sight of Rae approaching.

“Hey, Miss Elda, how’s Mr. Calvin? Mama’s
comin’ by later.” Marcelle gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“Thank you, baby. He’s doin’ a little better
than he was. But he’s got a long way to go.” Miss Elda did not look
at Rae.

“Don’t you worry, Miss Elda. I’m going to
make sure y’all have what you need.” Rae placed a hand on her
shoulder.

“That’s the least you can do. You put him
here in the first place,” Miss Elda said through clenched
teeth.

Rae froze. “What?”

Marcelle stared at her in astonishment. “Now,
Miss Elda, that’s not so.”

“Calvin told me how you was looking for cheap
wiring and stuff. Poor man was braggin’ on how smart you was. But
you was cutting corners.” Miss Elda’s voice went up, causing a
small, curious crowd to gather.

“Everything we did passed inspection.” Rae
felt numb.

“So? I’ve heard the talk. Tony Baranco don’t
wanna pay off that policy.” Miss Elda pointed a finger at Rae.
“That building was meant to burn because you built it cheap or you
got somebody to burn it. Either way, you the reason my husband
almost died. He might never work again.” Her bottom lip
trembled.

“Come on, Miss Elda. You can’t go see Mr.
Calvin all upset.” A nurse’s aide in a bright blue uniform put an
arm around her. “It isn’t worth all this.” The short brown woman
looked at Rae with dislike in her eyes and tried to lead Miss Elda
away.

“You goin’ to pay for this, Rae Dalcour.
Trouble! That what you been since you could walk and talk.
Trouble,” Miss Elda said. Tears streamed down her face.

The aide finally got her to leave the lobby.
With her head down, Miss Elda sobbed and leaned against the woman
as they walked down the hall.

Rae was rooted to the spot. A group of six or
seven people lingered, exchanging whispered comments on the scene
they’d witnessed. More than a few of the glances at her were
hostile.

“She’s under a lot of strain. She didn’t mean
it, Rae,” Marcelle said in a weak voice. Her distress grew when she
looked beyond her friend. “Oh, no…”

“Now maybe folks will listen when I tell them
you’re a walking voodoo curse.” Toya wore a triumphant, unpleasant
smile. Her eyes glittered with ire. “You see what I’ve been saying,
Simon?”

Rae spun around, sickened that Simon had
heard the horrible accusations. Of course, she knew she was not
responsible; that the things Miss Elda said were not true. But she
felt the old, familiar feeling of being an outcast, treated with
scorn unjustly.

Simon stood close to Toya, their arms
touching. What was that look in his eyes? Pity? Rae did not need
his pity. Fury began to build. She turned to face Toya.

Marcelle glanced at Rae with concern. “Don’t
go there, girl,” she muttered.

“Lies being told about me is nothing new.
Someone has been feeding Miss Elda dirty gossip that’s got nothing
to do with the truth.” Rae’s voice shook.

“Toya, Mr. Henry’s doctor needs those
hospital files. Why don’t you go get–” Simon gave his ex-wife a
gentle push in the direction of the administration wing.

Toya did not move. “Miss Elda is finding out
what I knew all along. What the rest of this town is going to know
– that you’re no good.”

Rae stared at her. “I’ve got as much right to
live here as you do. You’ve got some nerve judging me. Backstabbing
and lying are your good points.”

“Sure, go ahead, but your smart mouth won’t
get you out of this so easily,” Toya shot back.

“Let’s at least take this outside. We’ve got
a growing audience here,” Simon mumbled. He glanced at Marcelle
with a look that cried ‘help’!

She gripped Rae’s arms and marched her out of
the automatic doors into the glare of sunshine. “Let’s get out of
here.”

Toya followed them out to the hospital
parking lot. She broke away from Simon to face Rae. “Can’t you take
a hint? Get out of town!”

“Like hell. I decide where and when I go,”
Rae said in a low, dangerous voice. “Now get out of my face.”

“Nobody really wants you here, not even
Simon. He’s just fooled by your flashy act.” Toya gave her a glance
from head to toe. “You’re something different for him to
sample.”

“He’s been taking more than samples, honey,”
Rae tossed back.

“Rae, don’t provoke Toya like this. With
everything going on you don’t need this drama in public,” Simon
spoke up quickly.

“Take Toya inside, Simon. Rae, let’s go.”
Marcelle tried to head off an explosion with little success.

Rae shook loose from Marcelle’s hold. “What’s
really bothering you, huh? That I busted up your pitiful plans to
get Simon back? News flash, sugar, he ain’t comin’ back. Not
now.”

“The novelty will wear off. Simon is used to
class.” Toya tossed back her head causing her styled hair to
bounce.

“Which is why he’s not with you!” Rae took a
step forward to stand inches from her face. “Take a good look.
Yeah, it’s me. I’ve got your man and it’s eating you up. You still
haven’t learned not to mess with me.”

“Screwing Simon isn’t going to get you on top
of the social ladder,” Toya snarled.

“Seeing your eyes bulge out is reward enough,
honey. I’ve got your man and there’s not a damn thing you can do
about it,” Rae said in a raspy, taunting voice.

“Bitch!” Toya shrieked.

She lashed out with her long fingernails in
an attempt to claw Rae’s face, but Rae grabbed her hand in one
motion and slapped her hard with her free hand. Toya kicked Rae’s
ankles, trying to dig the heels of her pumps into flesh. The thick,
denim jeans that Rae wore protected her legs from serious injury.
She swung at Toya’s head, but missed when Simon snatched her back.
Marcelle tussled to get her arms around Rae and yanked her back
while Simon managed to wrap both arms around the screaming
Toya.

“Let me go, Marcelle,” Rae shouted. She
strained to break free. “She’s overdue for a butt whipping.”

“No!” Marcelle tightened her grip. “Listen to
me! Listen.” She shook Rae hard. “Don’t give her the upper hand by
gettin’ down in the dirt with her. Walk away.”

“But Marcelle, she–” Rae’s breathing was
rapid.

“She’ll be even more aggravated if you’re
cool, calm and collected. Just walk away,” Marcelle whispered into
her ear.

Rae gradually slowed her breathing and nodded
to Marcelle that she was under control. With a great show of
haughtiness, she smoothed down her red, silk camp shirt, tucking
the loose ends back into the waist of her jeans.

Toya huffed with wrath. Simon shook a finger
at her as he lectured. He glanced over his shoulder at Rae and
Marcelle.

“Ileen, make sure she stays here.” Simon
strode over to talk to Rae.

Ileen, one of Toya’s pals from another old
family, eagerly agreed. She looked thrilled to be an eyewitness to
what was sure to keep Belle Rose buzzing for weeks.

“Good thing I was here, visiting a friend,”
Ileen said with relish.

“I’d liked to smash her face in,” Toya spat
out.

Ileen threw a disdainful look at Rae and
Marcelle. “Remember who you’re dealing with, dear. Don’t soil your
hands.”

Simon marched toward Rae and Marcelle with a
grim look. “I’ll see you later.” His jaw muscles worked.

“Yeah, yeah! I saw you all up in her face,”
Rae flung at him. Her anger simmered just a few degrees from
boiling over again.

“Don’t you think one nasty scene a day is
enough?” Simon stared off into the distance as he spoke in a low,
controlled voice.

Marcelle stepped between them, cutting off
another remark from Rae. “Yeah, we all need to take a deep breath
and cool off. Come on, Rae.” She used her body to push her friend
ahead of her toward the car. “See you, Simon.”

Rae watched her stony-faced boyfriend walk
across the parking lot to his car. She fought the urge to kick and
scream in frustration. So that’s how it is? The memory of him
standing close to Toya was stamped in her head. It was obvious that
on some level he still cared about her. To hell with them both!

“Drop me off at the dance hall,” Rae said. At
least she could do something there to work off the tension she was
feeling.

“How are you going to get home?”

“Andrew is supposed to be there. Garrett,
too. If not, I’ll walk home.”

“Maybe you should anyway. A brisk three-mile
walk might work off that temper,” Marcelle said, with both dark
eyebrows raised.

“Don’t you start on me, too.”

“Rae, Miss Elda is upset. She’ll calm down
once she has time to get some rest.” Marcelle pulled onto the dance
hall’s parking lot.

Rae sighed. “Not if folks keep feeding her
lies. I can’t much blame her. How would you feel if somebody told
you Freddie got hurt because his boss made him work in an unsafe
building?”

“I know but–”

“Having folks believe the worst about me is
nothing new.” Rae turned her face away. “But this..? I wouldn’t do
anything to hurt Mr. Calvin or anybody else working on the dance
hall.”

“I know,” Marcelle said in a quiet voice.

“And set a match to Lucien’s dream? Never.
Just the thought makes me sick to my stomach.”

“I know that, too. Remember what my aunt used
to say?” Marcelle tapped her arm.

“Miss Shirley?” Rae smiled at the memory of
her friend’s independent aunt. They had idolized her as young
girls.

“Yep, she wore what she wanted and did things
that kept the women in this town flapping their lips. When
Grandmama fussed, Aunt Shirley would put her hands on her hips and
say–”

“I don’t care what the people say cause the
people don’t run my business,” Rae finished with a laugh.

“You got that right. We know you didn’t put
money ahead of safety or set fire to the dance hall.” Marcelle
leaned toward her. “And Harold doesn’t believe it either. He’ll
find out the truth.”

“Like they found out the truth about Pawpaw
Vincent? If that fire was set, they’ll have to find proof that
somebody else did it or this town will forever believe it was me.”
Rae bit her lip.

“Rumors don’t mean a thing.”

“Business at the dance hall could suffer for
months, even more. I can’t hold on that long.” Rae closed her eyes.
“And if the insurance company won’t pay, that’s the end of Rockin’
Good Times.”

“Fight back and I don’t mean with Toya
either,” Marcelle said with a twinkle in her eyes.

“Lord, I can just imagine what a sight that
was. Me acting like a crazy person, screaming and kicking.” Rae put
her head in her hands.

“One thing about it, Miss Toya is gonna cross
the street when she sees you comin’.” Marcelle giggled. “Sugar, I
felt the slap you gave the hussy.”

Rae grinned at her. “I’ve wanted to do that
since we were in fifth grade.” Then the thought of being under
suspicion sobered her. “Much as we hate it, Toya does have power in
this town; in the parish even.”