Authors: Duncan Whitehead
Saint Patrick's Day - The Gordonston Ladies Dog Walking Club Part III: A Dark Comedy Cozy Mystery With A Twist (9 page)
Betty nodded her agreement, though of course she did not agree. She just could not find any words because she was so livid that she couldn’t even speak. As she nodded, Heidi turned her back to her, standing atop the stairs while Betty began wiping dust from the bannister.
“I don’t understand you, Betty. I give you a job. I give you money. I let you drive my car. It seems to me that you are extremely ungrateful, bordering on lazy. Your job is to do. My job is to tell you what to do. It is simple as, well, black and white.”
Betty turned her head sharply to face the back of Heidi’s head. She could feel the rage inside her growing. What did she just say? What did she just say? Still with her back to Betty, Heidi spoke again.
“There is a place for people. There is a reason why some people are superior to others. You do know Betty that only a few years ago I wouldn’t even have needed to pay you? That I would literally own you? You do know that? You people should count yourselves lucky that people like me give you work.t I owe you nothing. In fact, dear Betty, you owe me. There is an order to this world, a food chain. I am at the top, and you are at the bottom.”
Betty Jenkins was furious. How dare this woman speak to her like that? Her son had died, laid down his life for people like Heidi Launer. People like Heidi Launer started wars, started wars that the children of people like Betty had to fight. Betty Jenkins knew what was beyond the door to Heidi’s ‘secret’ room. She knew what she was. She had ignored it. But this was too much. Never before had Heidi insulted her race. Never before had Heidi acted like the Nazi she was, not in front of Betty at least. The stupid old woman. Betty knew her secret, how many times had Heidi left that door unlocked? How many times had Heidi seen the flags, the books, and the evil behind the locked door? Betty Jenkins, after months of abuse, had finally had enough.
“I am going to dine,” said Heidi, “Do straighten up Betty,” she said as she descended the stair case, “I mean, like I said, you can easily be replaced, remember tha….”
Heidi did not finish her sentence. Unable to her control herself any longer, Betty snapped, turning quickly and rushing towards Heidi. She shoved the old lady in the back and watched as she tumbled down the stairs, banging her head several times before finally landing in a crumpled heap at the foot of the stairs, blood pouring from her head.
For a few seconds, though it seemed like an age to Betty, she just stood atop the staircase staring trance like at the crumpled body of Heidi Launer. She raised a hand to her mouth. “Oh my God, oh my God, what have I done?” she whispered to herself. Betty was now shaking uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face. She slumped onto the top step of the stairwell and began to sob. Fuchsl, alerted by the commotion, sat by Heidi’s body, whimpering gently. His whimpers, mixed with the sobs of Betty echoed eerily throughout the otherwise empty house.
She was in shock. She wasn’t a violent woman and she had never condoned physical confrontation of any kind. Betty Jenkins was now sobbing uncontrollably and rocked to and forth, where she sat top of the staircase. She inhaled sharply.
Pull yourself together Betty,
she told herself
, you need to think.
She rose and stared down at the crumpled and still body of Heidi Launer.
Betty ran down the stairs as fast as she could, almost tripping herself in her haste to reach the fallen Heidi. She shooed Fuchsl away from the old lady’s prone body and bent over her to feel for a pulse. Betty could not locate one.
“Heidi, Heidi, can you hear me?” whispered Betty gently into her employee’s ear. Heidi did not stir. Betty couldn’t tell if Heidi was breathing or not. She was not going to go jail for the murder of Heidi Launer and Betty knew she had to act quickly. She had pushed Heidi down the stairs, that was true, but the years of pretending not to know about Heidi’s secret room, and the recent abuse had pushed Betty too far…leading to one final push…
Betty was an intelligent woman. This had to look like an accident and as Betty calmed herself and surveyed the scene she realized that it did. Immediately, she formulated a plan. Heidi had simply tripped from the top of the stairs and fallen. Betty had heard the commotion and come rushing from the kitchen, where she had been preparing dinner, only to discover Heidi dead from the fall. There were no witnesses and no motive.
Betty had seen enough TV shows to realize that forensics, 911 calls, and time of death were all linked, and she knew the first thing she should do was call for an ambulance. She took her cellphone from her apron pocket and punched in three numbers.
“911, what is your emergency?”
“Hello, yes, I need an ambulance. My boss has fallen down the stairs. She’s bleeding from the head and isn’t breathing. I can’t find a pulse. She is very old. Can you come quickly? Please.”
Ladies and Gentleman, this year’s Oscar for best actress goes to…. Betty Jenkins. After giving her name, Heidi’s name, and the address, Betty hung up the phone. It was perfect. There would be no way that call could be ever construed as anything other than a concerned employee reporting a tragic accident.
Betty hadn’t planned this. It had been an instinctive response to Heidi’s comments. A reflex reaction. She had never considered that the old woman would tumble down the stairs to her death. She had just momentarily lost her temper, and she had been overwhelmed and angry. Her judgment was clouded by a fog of instant rage.
Despite this, Betty was surprised that she felt neither remorse nor guilt. Her only concern was not getting caught. In a way, she was glad it was all finally over; no more abuse, no more pandering to Heidi and her mood swings. No more putting up with her strange ways, her condescending comments, her bullying and her selfishness.
Fuchsl walked over to Betty, who was now sitting on the last step of the staircase, and sat beside her. She stroked him gently and he wagged his tail. Maybe even Fuchsl was pleased that Heidi was dead?
Five minutes passed and Betty could hear the sirens of the approaching ambulance. She would of course accompany Heidi to the hospital, and would then call Steven immediately, once Heidi had been officially pronounced dead. Betty would then return to the house and take Fuchsl home with her. In the morning, she would call Cindy and Elliott, Heidi’s only friends in Savannah, and inform them of the sad news of Heidi’s passing. Then, she would look for another job; to replace the salary she had just lost by killing Heidi. She wouldn’t take a thing from Heidi’s home--no cash, even though she
was
owed a week’s wages.
She expected that Cindy Mopper would eventually take care of Fucshl. That’s what she did, take in dead people’s dogs. Despite everything, Betty couldn’t help but smile. This was the second time she had killed. The first time had been an accident, and that boy hadn’t been looking where he was going anyway. And this? Well, it was also an accident, of sorts.
As Betty sat waiting at the foot of the stairs, Fucshl beside her. The sound of sirens indicating that the ambulance was approaching, she glanced down at Heidi’s body once more. Betty’s blood ran cold, her eyes widened, and once again she began to shake.
She was alive. Heidi was still alive.
Heidi was staring directly up at Betty. Her eyes wide open – just staring.
“Heidi? Can you hear me Heidi? I didn’t mean for this to happen. The ambulance is on its way. I am so sorry, so sorry, please forgive me.”
Betty was frantic. This was it, she could hear the ambulance outside the house, and she could hear the paramedic’s footsteps as they approached the front door. Betty was done for. She couldn’t smother or hit Heidi again to finish her off because the resulting injuries would not be consistent with an accidental fall.
“Heidi, can you hear me?”
Of course I can hear you. What happened? Why can’t I move? Why can’t I speak? I fell. I think I fell. The last thing I remember was standing at the top of the stairs – I must have tripped. No need to apologize, Betty. It wasn’t your fault.
Betty could neither understand nor distinguish the noises coming from Heidi’s mouth. Was she threatening her? Was she telling her that she was going to go to prison?
“Please, please don’t die.”
Oh, Betty, oh wonderful Betty. You are a true friend. I have misjudged you, such a loyal woman. I’m so sorry for the way I’ve been treating you, oh dear, dear Betty.
Once again, Betty could not decipher or understand the sounds coming from her employer’s mouth.
Betty had accompanied Heidi in the ambulance as it sped towards Memorial Hospital, which was less than two miles from Gordonston. Despite the short journey, the paramedics had attached tubes to Heidi’s body and placed an oxygen mask over her mouth. Within four minutes, they had arrived at the hospital where Heidi was rushed into the emergency operating room, while Betty was asked to sit in the waiting area.
The next thirty minutes seemed to be the longest half-hour of Betty’s life. At any moment, she expected a squad car to show up, and then she would be arrested and charged with attempted murder, or worse murder. The stress was too much; she couldn’t bear the waiting and the ominous feeling that she was headed to jail. She decided that she would confess. Despite her fear of punishment, she was an honest woman, who believed in God. It would be easier to just tell the truth rather than sit there waiting for justice to tap her on the shoulder and call her to account for what she had done. Betty was about to stand and ask the woman who sat behind the admissions desk to call the police when a doctor entered the waiting area and headed directly towards Betty.
“I am Doctor Pozna, I am assuming that you are Mrs. Jenkins, Mrs. Launer’s housekeeper. You’re the one who called 911?”
Heidi confirmed that she was.
“Can you reach her next of kin, if she has any?”
Heidi confirmed that she could. So this was it, Heidi had died on the operating table.
“Well, she has concussion and that head wound looked nastier than it actually was. All it took was a couple of stitches to fix that up. She has also broken her left arm, her right leg and three ribs.”
Betty took a deep breath. She wasn’t dead. Heidi was alive and well, and had no doubt told the doctor what had happened. The next words out of his mouth were surely going to be that the police were on the way to arrest her.
“She has also suffered a severe stroke. She is paralyzed and unable to speak. It is highly likely that she will never be able to communicate again. The stroke was brought on by the trauma from the fall, but it was going to happen sooner or later. My tests showed that her stress and anxiety levels were off the charts. I am sorry, but she is not going to be the woman she once was.”
Betty nodded. That could only be a good thing, she thought.
“At her age, and to be honest, she is lucky to be alive. She is going to suffer memory loss and maybe even flashbacks, but I’m afraid this will now be her new permanent state. Are there any relatives, anyone you can call?”
Betty nodded that she understood. She would call Heidi’s son. He was headed to Savannah for the parade and was due to arrive in the morning in any case. Betty would let him know what had happened. That Heidi had fallen down the stairs, suffered a stroke, and was in the hospital.
Contrary to what the doctor thought, Betty felt nothing but a sense of relief. There was no way that Heidi could ever accuse Betty of anything now. Even if the police were called, they couldn’t prove anything. It was a household accident. A frail old lady fell down the stairs, and she would never be able to testify in court, especially suffering from memory loss and brain damage; Betty Jenkins was scot-free.
“Can I see her?” asked Betty.
“Briefly, if you don’t mind.” The doctor replied, “I doubt very much she will be able to hear you.”
Heidi was attached to drips and other equipment, monitoring her brain, heart, and other functions. She looked peaceful but uncomfortable, thought Betty. She didn’t know whether to speak, Heidi had been sedated and Betty could sense that her ‘light was shining,’ which was Betty’s favorite saying when someone was approaching death. The last time she had said it had been years ago, to Heidi…about Thelma.
“If you can hear me, I am going to make sure Fuchsl is cared for. He is a good dog. I am also going to clear that room. The one you thought was a secret. Don’t worry, I will get rid of everything. No one will ever find out. Steven is on his way, and he will be here in the morning.”
Heidi did not respond.
Betty rose from the seat next to the Heidi’s bed and stood over Heidi, positive that this would be the last time she would see her. Betty wouldn’t miss her.
“You do know that I am very happy?” said Elliott as he fixed his tie while standing in front of the mirror, “I mean happier than I have ever been?” He turned to face Kelly, who was lying on the bed, her naked body covered by a comforter. Her body had now returned to the model-like proportions it had been several years before. She had lost weight and her looks were rejuvenated by not only a little plastic surgery, but also the pampering, entirely appropriate for the First Lady of Savannah.
“That’s good to hear. I’m here to please,” replied Kelly.
Elliott turned back to face the mirror. “Maybe it sounds selfish. I never thought that, after Thelma died, I would ever be this happy. Maybe, in a way, I feel guilty. The fact that I found such happiness after her death,” he turned to face Kelly again, “is it selfish?”
Kelly thought for a moment before replying. “No, I don’t think it’s selfish. I was devastated when Tom first disappeared. I had no idea how I would survive without him. Back then, when I was gorging on ice cream, living with my parents, unable to even get out of bed some days, I could never have imagined being this happy. But things, and people change. I know that Tom did what he did, and maybe that’s why I don’t feel any guilt for being happy now.” She rose from the bed, exposing her nakedness, and helped Elliott adjust his tie. “Don’t worry honey, I know what you mean about Thelma, but you should never feel guilty about being happy. I’m sure Thelma would have wanted you to be.”
“You are right, Thelma would be happy that I am happy. You know, it was in this very room…” Elliott stopped.
“What?” asked Kelly.
“Oh, nothing. Nothing important, not right now anyway. Another time. I will tell you another time.” Elliott turned to face his wife directly “How do I look?”
“Handsome. Important. Rich. Successful. Powerful,” replied Kelly.
Elliott laughed. Handsome. He would never have thought he would hear those words coming from Kelly’s lips a few years ago.
Tonight was the Saint Patrick’s Hibernian Society stag dinner, hosted by one of the many Irish societies affiliated with the parade, and it was traditionally organized to occur two days before the parade. Elliott was guest of honor, and as it was a stag event, he would not be able to bring Kelly along with him. She hadn’t been disappointed, because she was tired after spending her afternoon with Cindy, Heidi, and the dogs. Heidi had been furious, complaining about yet another encounter with Meredith Keyes and her dog-walking club, while Cindy and Kelly had just listened. Heidi’s ranting had been quite entertaining, and she and Cindy, Kelly’s new best friend Cindy, twice had to stifle their laughter as Heidi’s fury grew. Kelly’s afternoon, however, had ended perfectly with an impromptu session of lovemaking with her husband.
“You know I always thought she had a crush on you,” said Kelly as she rose from the bed and slipped into a gown, “I kind of thought she was jealous of me. I suppose I was wrong.”
“Who?”
“Cindy.”
Elliott laughed out loud, “I am not sure if Cindy is my type. I prefer my women, how should I put this? Younger?”
“Oh really?” replied Kelly as she sat at her dressing table, turning to Elliott and winking at him.
“So, we need to talk about the parade when I get home, or if you are too tired, tomorrow?” said Elliott as he kissed his wife on the back of her head. “You know we take center stage? We will be in the lead car this year. Are you comfortable, you know, with everything?”
“Everything?” asked Kelly.
“Yes, this will be your first time riding with me, and it’s the first time I insisted to the committee that I will be accompanied by my wife. I just hope it isn’t too much for you.”
“Oh Elliott, you are silly. I’m so excited. You know how much it means to me, to be sitting with you in front of thousands of people. To be at the side of a man who one day could be...”
“Don’t say it,” interrupted Elliott, raising his finger to Kelly’s lips.
“I can’t help it. I read the newspapers. People love you. They want you to run for Governor. Then who knows what? I can see us now, you in the West Wing, me on Air Force One flying to a hair appointment.”
Elliott laughed again. It was true. Politically, he was going from strength to strength. His party had already asked him to consider running for Governor at the next election and it was a tempting prospect. Who knew what could happen after that?
“That’s a discussion for another day,” replied Elliott as he checked his watch. “Shoot, I’m running late. I have a dinner to attend to, brandy to drink, and influential men to talk to. I can’t keep them waiting,” he said as he stared at Kelly, admiring her figure and beauty, “even though I am sure they would understand.”
“Go, you silly man,” laughed Kelly, “don’t keep them waiting on account of me.” Elliott kissed Kelly on the lips and headed downstairs and then onto the street. There, his car and driver waited to take him to the dinner being hosted at a banquet hall downtown.
From the bedroom window, Kelly watched as her husband’s car pulled away from the sidewalk and turned left, along the south side of the park. She stared into the night and looked over into the park. She shuddered. Such a beautiful place during the day but an intimidating place at night, dark, unlit and a little creepy, she thought. Ghosts, the place was full of ghosts. Tom’s ghost maybe, roaming around the park at night, only to head back to his shallow grave as morning broke. She shuddered again, before turning her back on the park. She was scaring herself. How silly, she thought.
As Kelly turned from the window, Cindy Mopper emerged from under the shadow of a live oak tree, stepping into the beam of a street lamp. She stared up at the window where Kelly had stood seconds before. She was alone, defenseless, and Cindy could take her by surprise. She could simply knock on the door and Kelly would surely invite her in for a drink. They would engage in small talk and when Kelly least expected it, Cindy would remove the knife from her purse and slash the girl’s throat. She would stand over her as she bled to death. She would grab her by the hair, and just before she died, she would tell Kelly that she hated her. That she was being murdered because she had stolen Elliott from her. She would tell the dying Kelly that she knew all about Paris, that she was a stupid little girl and that she didn’t deserve to be happy. Cindy would smile as Kelly died, and tomorrow she would comfort Elliott.
Cindy felt her purse; the knife was there, sharp, waiting and ready. She stepped into the street and crossed the deserted avenue across from the park, then made her way towards the Miller house. She took a deep breath, and just before she pressed the doorbell with a trembling hand, the silence of the evening was shattered by the approaching sound of an ambulance, its siren blaring. Cindy quickly retreated from the steps that led to the Miller house and turned towards her own street. Lights were being switched on in previously darkened homes, as people stirred, alerted by the approaching sirens. Cindy made it home just as the ambulance called by Betty Jenkins turned into Gordonston. Cindy was shaking, but not from fear. She wasn’t scared. She was shaking with anger. Walter and Paddy, who had greeted her when she had entered her home, now stood, staring at the trembling Cindy, tails wagging in the anticipation of an unscheduled walk. Cindy stared blankly at the dogs, as if they were not there. She walked past them and into the kitchen. She sat on the same chair on which Carla had on the day she had drunk Billy’s poisonous concoction, then promptly burst into tears.