Hope Callaghan - Garden Girls 07 - Missing Milt (8 page)

The girls picked up the pace as they hustled down the sidewalk toward Wisteria Way.  They veered off on Paisley Place, the street right before Wisteria Way. 

Gloria spied a small park at the end of the street. “This must be the one Liz was talking about.”

The park was empty and the girls made a beeline for the women’s restroom.  Lucy stopped in front of the door.  She shook her head. “This isn’t gonna work.”

“What do you mean it’s not gonna work?”

Lucy pointed up.  “Look. The women’s restroom is facing the wrong direction.”

She pointed to the men’s side.  “We’re gonna have to spy on Trudy’s house from the men’s side.”

Gloria looked around.  “What if someone shows up and wants to use the men’s room?”

Lucy shrugged.  “Then we leave.  I mean, it’s not like anyone is going to recognize us.”

Lucy had a point. 

Gloria had the nagging sensation this was going to be a total waste of time.  “Okay, let’s roll.” She sucked in a breath and barreled through the door. She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping that no one was in there taking care of business.

Much to her relief, it was empty.  Her happiness was short-lived when she realized the window that overlooked Trudy’s backyard was high - too high to look through unless you were standing on something.

Gloria lowered her gaze.  Which happened to be the outer rim of the urinal…a filthy, dirty, disgusting urinal at that. 

Lucy stuck her hand on her hip. “I’m not gonna stand on that,” she announced.  “I’ll guard the door.”

Gloria looped the binoculars around her neck, grabbed hold of the window ledge, placed one shoe, then the other on the rim of the urinal. She teetered back and forth for a second before gripping the windowsill to catch her balance.

From this position, she had a bird’s-eye view of Trudy’s backyard.  It was tidy.  A small flower garden sat near the corner.  A white picket fence surrounded the perimeter of the yard.  A covered porch ran the length of the rear of the house.  A set of sliding glass doors took up one whole side. 

Gloria lifted the binoculars to her eyes and adjusted the dial.  The curtains were all drawn.  “I can’t see a darn thing,” she grumbled.

She stood there for several long moments.  Nothing was happening.  The woman wasn’t even home!  Or, if she was, she wasn’t spending time in the yard.  Although she had to at some point, considering how tidy and meticulous the yard was. 

Lucy, who had been guarding the door, stepped closer to Gloria. “See anything yet?”

Gloria shook her head.  “Nope. Nada. Zip.”

She remained perched on the urinal for what seemed like forever.  Gloria’s back began to ache.  She handed Lucy the binoculars.  “You wanna try?”

Lucy shook her head.  “No way.  I’d bust my butt in these shoes.”

Gloria looked down at Lucy’s feet.  She was wearing a pair of flats.  This was definitely more of a tennis shoe-type investigation.

“We can’t stay here all day.  I have stuff to do,” Lucy pointed out.

Gloria’s shoulders drooped.  “Me, too.  Unless Frances can give us a firmer timetable on this Trudy’s coming and going, we’re wasting our energy.”

Gloria loosened her grip on the windowsill and took one foot off the side of the urinal.  The narrow edge was slick and her foot began to slip.  She started to fall backward, her arms flailing wildly in the air in large circles. “Whoa!” 

Lucy rushed over and caught her friend. The two of them stumbled backwards as Lucy wrapped both arms around Gloria’s waist. 

Lucy fell hard against the sink behind them.

“What is going on in here?” a stern, male voice called out from the doorway.

Gloria’s eyes darted to the doorway.  Her face turned bright red.  Lucy’s arms were still around her waist in what must look a whole lot like two women in a bit of an intimate embrace.

Lucy promptly released her grip on her friend.  “It’s not what you think.”

The man raised a hand and shook his head. “I don’t need an explanation on why two grown women are in a men’s public restroom caught in a compromising embrace.”

Gloria smoothed the front of her blouse and took a step forward.  “You have it all wrong!”

The man cut her off. “Get out before I call the police,” he warned.

Gloria lowered her head and sidestepped the angry man.

Lucy scowled at him.  “Jerk,” she hissed under her breath.

The girls wandered out of the men’s bathroom and across the park to the sidewalk out front.  They made the trip back to Frances’ apartment in silence.

When they reached the sidewalk in front of Frances’ place, Gloria grabbed the door handle.  “Let’s pretend what just happened never did.”

Lucy nodded.  “I agree.  That guy was a jack-.”

“Lucy!” Gloria cut her off.

The door swung open. Frances was on the other side.  “Well?  Didja see anything? Was Trudy home?”

Gloria shook her head. “No and no.”

“We got a good look at the men’s restroom,” Lucy said.

Gloria handed Frances the binoculars. “You need to pinpoint Trudy’s schedule so we can try to corner her – or spy on her – or maybe both.” The fact that the woman was so evasive piqued Gloria’s interest.  It almost seemed as if she was hiding something. 

All that sleuthing had made Gloria thirsty.  “Can we swing by the restaurant and grab an iced tea before we head home?”

Lucy wiped her brow.  “Yeah, I worked up a sweat.”

The girls made their way to Dreamwood Eats and over to the soda fountain.  Gloria filled her glass with ice and finished filling it with tea.  The place was busy for early afternoon and the four of them squeezed into a small table near the front.

The girls chit chatted about everything except Milt.  Honestly, Gloria was a little tired of hearing about him.  After all, it was looking more and more as if he had intentionally gone missing and didn’t care to be found.

“That’s interesting,” Liz commented.

“What?” Lucy wondered.

“Isn’t that Vivian?” Liz answered Lucy’s question with one of her own.

Gloria followed Liz’s finger over to the small bakery counter off to one side.  “Vivian there is ordering a box of those chocolate chip cookies that Milt likes.”

Frances shrugged.  “So?  Those are one of the restaurant specialties and they always have them on sale.  That’s why Milt liked them.”

“Yeah, but Vivian can’t eat them.  She’s allergic to chocolate.  I know that for a fact.  She had a reaction here in the restaurant not too long ago when she bit down on a small chip mixed in with the everything muffins.  She didn’t notice it and when her throat started to close up, they had to call an ambulance.”

Gloria’s eyes narrowed.  That was interesting.  Why would a woman who was allergic to chocolate, order a big box of chocolate chip cookies?  “What do you know about this Vivian?”

Liz and Frances stared at each other.  “She moved in here about a year ago, after her husband died.  I heard he was a high school principal at some school in Grand Rapids.”

Vivian paid for her purchase and strolled across the dining area to the front door.   

“What day is today?” Liz asked.

“Tuesday,” Gloria answered.  “Why?”

“Well, it’s bridge day.” Frances told them. “The ladies bridge club meets in the clubhouse every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. She probably picked them up for the club.”

Liz snapped her fingers.  “Now that you mention it, I think that Trudy is part of the bridge club, too. I was in there talking to the manager one afternoon and a group of them were playing.”

Gloria didn’t have time to do a second stakeout today.  “What time does it end?”

“It lasts a couple hours, I’m sure.  Maybe three or so?” Liz wasn’t 100% certain.

“I’ll come back Thursday afternoon and we can check it out.” Gloria reached for her purse.  “For now, we should probably head out.  I want to stop by Andrea’s on the way home.”

The girls made their way back to the car and climbed inside.  Lucy slid her sunglasses on and glanced at Gloria.  “What are you thinking?”

“That this case is tough to crack.  It’s easier when there are bodies.”

Gloria pulled into Andrea’s gravel drive and rounded the bend.  Andrea’s sports car was in the drive, parked off to the side. 

A truck filled with tools and construction materials was right behind her car. 

The girls climbed out of the car and headed to the front door. 

Gloria rapped the lions head knocker and gazed out into the yard as she waited for Andrea to open the door.  Something was different but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was.

The door swung open. Andrea Malone grinned when she saw Gloria.  “I thought you were coming by this morning.”

“I was.  I got bogged down finishing up a load of wash and then we went over to Dreamwood.”

Gloria and Lucy stepped inside and Andrea shut the door behind them.  “Isn’t that where your sister, Liz, lives?”

Gloria nodded. 

“Does she know that crazy lady that chained herself to the front of the restaurant?” Andrea laughed.  “Man, she’s obsessed with some guy…”

“Milton Tilton,” Gloria told her.

Andrea’s brow went up.  “You know him?”

“You could say that,” Lucy muttered.

Andrea’s eyes widened.  “Let me guess.  You’re
looking
for him.”

“Bingo!” Lucy shouted.

The girls followed Andrea into the kitchen where Alice, Andrea’s former housekeeper and new housemate, hovered over a hot stove.  The aroma of cilantro, onion and garlic filled the air. 

Alice wiped her hands on the front of her apron.  “Ah, Miss Gloria.  You’re just in time for my firehouse fajitas!”

Firehouse fajitas.  The dish sounded delicious – and lethal.  Although Gloria loved spicy foods, they didn’t love her back.  It was a recipe for disaster.  She shook her head.  “I’m sorry, Alice, I can’t stay that long.  I have to get Lucy home.”

“But.” Lucy started to protest.  Gloria pinched her arm.

“Uh, yeah.  Sorry Alice. I have to get home.” She glared at Gloria.

“Oh, you can take them to go.  I wrap them up for dinner.”

Gloria protested. Alice insisted.

“While Alice finishes up, come check out the tea room.” Andrea waved them into the hall.

Andrea had added a beautiful addition to the side of the house.  A glass enclosed sunroom really and she had plans to turn it into a tea room.  Gloria had a sneaking suspicion that part of the reason was so that Alice would have something to do. 

Andrea and Gloria had stumbled upon a secret room inside Andrea’s home that boasted a room full of beautiful paintings by the former owner and famous artist, Sofia Masson. 

The girls trailed behind Andrea as they followed her down the hall and into the living room.  They crossed the room as they made their way over to the set of French doors on the other side of the massive living room fireplace.

Andrea opened the leaded glass doors and the girls took a step down. 

Gloria drew a deep breath and turned in a slow circle.  The room was magnificent.  Andrea had added a bit of her own personal touch with hanging plants and Persian rugs. 

Off in one corner was a gurgling angel fountain.  Several easels displayed a few of the famous artist’s paintings.  “It looks like you’re almost ready to open for business.”

Andrea nodded.  “All I’m waiting on are the bistro tables, which should be here any day now.”  She looked back towards the living room.  “I finally convinced Alice that we can’t serve spicy all the time.  We narrowed it down to Tuesday tacos in the tea room.”

“Catchy name.” Gloria nodded.  “Good idea.”

“The rest of the time will be light finger foods and bite size sandwiches.” She eyed Lucy, the queen of sweets. “And there will be trays of tempting desserts.”

Lucy grinned.  “I’ll be one of your first customers,” she promised.

Andrea stopped in the middle of the room.  Her brow furrowed.  “You don’t think Dot will be upset – like I’m competing against her?”