The Corpse Wore Cashmere (19 page)

Sometime before dawn, the blinding light yanked Susan from her sleep. The light…so brilliant…it obscured everything. With arms flailing, she squeezed her eyes shut and shouted for Wesley. When his strong hands gripped her wrists, she stiffened. Was it him? Or…? Then his deep voice answered her prayers. She was safe.

Wesley stood and pulled her into his arms. “You’re okay,” he said, trying to console her.

When she opened her eyes, the vision was gone, and so was the light. “Why am I still seeing it?”

“Maybe it’s trying to tell you that this ordeal is over. You know, like the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.” Not only did his eyes betray him, so did his forced smile.

“Nice try,” she said, finally regaining her composure.

“Sorry, I couldn’t come up with anything better. Once we get back to Palmetto, maybe you won’t be bothered anymore.”

“I hope you’re right.” But Susan knew that until she could decipher its meaning, the light would continue to plague her.

Sunday morning, Susan and Wesley stepped off the elevator to a lobby swarming with people and piles of luggage. Seemed most of the guests were anxious to get an early start on going home, and Susan was among them. She couldn’t wait to get back to Palmetto and into her normal routine. Thank goodness, she didn’t have a long drive ahead of her.

The restaurant was packed, too, and buzzing with conversations about the festival. From what she picked up, it seemed the majority had enjoyed their stay. She recognized a few customers that she’d outfitted with costumes.

One of the women stopped her. “My husband loves the way I look in my costume. I can’t wait to see what you’ll have next year. You will be here, won’t you?”

“I hope so.”

The customer eyed Wesley. “Well, I’m holding you up. Enjoy your breakfast and have a safe trip home.” The woman turned back to her friends.

A group of about five crowded around the hostess. Wesley managed to get her attention and held up two fingers. She pointed to a table near the window. “We’d better grab it while we can. How about trying the buffet?”

“That’s fine with me. It would probably be faster.” Susan left her tote in her chair to indicate the table was taken.

The aroma of bacon and fresh coffee set her stomach to rumbling. Come to think of it, she hadn’t eaten much the past few days, and that wasn’t good. If she let her resistance get run down, she’d be susceptible to catching something—the flu, a stomach virus, or something. She definitely didn’t want that. She had too much to do upon her return to Palmetto.

“I don’t see Jack or A. K.,” Wesley said as they made their selection.

“A. K. jumps at a chance to sleep late. Sooner or later she’ll straggle down for a bite to eat. We have plenty of time before checkout.” She nudged Wesley. “Here comes Dylan.”

“Late night?” Susan asked.

“Too late,” Dylan said, rubbing his eyes.

“Care to join us?” Wesley asked as he led the way to their table.

“Thanks, but I really want to check on my dad.”

Wesley tossed Dylan the keys to his truck. “Have you heard how’s he doing?”

“The hospital called late last night. They seemed surprised at his recovery. The nurse said based on his enzyme levels and other vital signs, they were moving him to a room. He keeps asking when he can go home.” Dylan gave a big grin. “That’s a really good sign.”

“I’m glad,” Susan said. “Be sure to give him a hug for me.”

“Sure thing. I’ll be back in time to help load the costumes into the van.”

As Dylan left the restaurant, Wesley took a sip of coffee and stared at his partner over the rim of his cup. “It’s easy to think of your loved ones as being invincible even though we know that dying is a certainty. It takes something like this to make you face reality.”

Susan thought how Wesley and Dylan crossed paths with criminals daily who at any moment might target them. Maybe believing they were invincible was what allowed Wesley and Dylan to do their job without fear.

Wesley continued to talk about Dylan, and Susan knew it was Wesley’s way of sorting through his own feelings—the earlier loss of his partner, Terrance, and even more devastating, the loss of his parents. His next statement confirmed her belief. “You know Dylan’s mom died several years ago, and the sheriff raised Dylan. He’s an only child and will be all alone when his dad dies. I was lucky to have my parents for as long as I did.”

Susan reached across the table and placed her hand on Wesley’s. “Dylan won’t be alone. He’ll have us.”

Susan stiffened when she caught a strong floral scent. She looked around to see Betty Sue standing behind her. Didn’t the woman know one wasn’t supposed to bathe in one’s cologne? She wore a lavender, fitted skirt and jacket with a pale-yellow, silk shell. A single strand of pearls and matching earrings were a tasteful and elegant selection. Too bad it was a total misrepresentation of the woman beneath the clothing. To Susan, rhinestones and black crepe would be more reflective of Betty Sue’s personality.

Considering her own wardrobe, Susan could have selected a more fashionable outfit for the trip home, but she wanted to be comfortable and wasn’t looking to impress anyone.

“I suppose you’ll be heading back to Palmetto now that the festival is over,” Betty Sue said to Susan.

“Indeed.”

“Well, don’t forget my offer. I’m sure I could make it worth your while.”

“Thanks anyway, but I’m not the person you’d want to hire for the job. I love what I’m doing.”

“Pity,” Betty Sue said in a dismissive voice, and then she turned her attention to Wesley. “You have a safe trip, too, and take care of Dylan. The man is prone to act without thinking.”

“Really? That’s not the Dylan I know,” Wesley said. “Besides, you needn’t worry about him. I have his back, and I couldn’t ask for a better partner.”

Susan could tell Wesley didn’t appreciate Betty Sue’s snide remark. She, on the other hand, smiled as if he had paid her a compliment. “Gotta run. I’ve so much to do.” Tossing her hair, she strolled out of the restaurant like a model on a runway, leaving in her wake the overpowering scent of gardenias.

“What’s all that stuff about an offer?” Wesley asked.

“Betty Sue thinks I’d make a perfect hostess, one who would work well with her escort service. Do I look that naïve, that I’d let her dictate to me?”

“No, but I can see where you’d have clients lined up, hoping for time with you.”

“In their dreams.” Susan pulled the napkin from her lap and wiped her mouth. “All of a sudden, I’ve lost my appetite.”

“Same here.” Wesley paid the ticket, and they left.

In the lobby, they ran into Jack and A. K.

“Y’all eat already?” A. K. asked.

“We tried the buffet. It was really good,” Susan said. “I don’t think we need to check out, since our rooms were free, but I’ll make sure we don’t owe for anything. When y’all finish eating, we can start boxing up the loose costumes in the kiosk. Oh, and I still have to bring down my luggage.”

A. K. slipped an arm through Jack’s. “I’m way ahead of you, kiddo. Jack brought down our luggage. It’s near the front entrance. Uh, where’s Dylan?”

“He went to check on his dad,” Wesley said. “I guess I’d better see to my room and his, in case he’s running late. After that, I’ll help you with your luggage, Susan.”

“No need to bother. I’m packed, and my luggage is on wheels. I’ll get it while you tend to your rooms. A. K., after you and Jack finish eating, meet us in the lobby. We’ll unload the kiosk then.”

At the front desk, Wesley paid for his and Dylan’s rooms. “All we have are athletic bags. We didn’t bring enough to fill a suitcase,” he said as they took the elevator.

“I’m sure I’ll beat you downstairs. Look for me in the lobby. If I’m not there, I’ll be at the front desk. I want to tell Miguel goodbye.”

Just as Susan had said, she returned to the lobby well before Wesley and left her luggage next to A. K.’s. Spying Miguel behind the front desk, she headed his way. He was flagging vacated rooms for housekeeping when Susan tapped him on the shoulder.

“Hello, pretty lady,” he said. “I sure hate to see you go.” He motioned to one of the employees. “Take over. I’ll be back in a minute.” Holding Susan’s arm, he escorted her to comfortable chairs in the lobby. “Are you ready to load your van?”

“Not yet.”

“Well, let me know if you need any help.”

“Could you have one of your guys keep an eye on our luggage until we can get everything loaded?”

“Of course.” He leaned a little closer. “Your favorite person just left. She and Mr. Fleming went round and round about the new hostess. I could have told him from the start he was fighting a losing battle. The escort service brought in a ton of money, and he wasn’t about to give that up. Sure enough, he caved and gave the hostess her walking papers.”

“I’m sorry the woman lost her job. It’s not right. But to answer your earlier question—yes, I saw our
friend,
or rather, I smelled her. The woman needs a lesson in how to properly apply cologne. Can you believe she had the nerve to offer me the job of hostess? Said she’d make it worth my while.”

“You didn’t—”

“Of course not. I’ve worked too hard to establish my businesses. She might think money is the answer to everything, but it isn’t.”

“Good for you.”

“I want to thank you for all your help and remind you to keep the Purple Pickle in mind. You’d make a great salesman.”

“You never know. One day, I might give it a try.” He gave her a studied look. “You know, you would make a terrific hostess.”

Susan laughed. “That’s never going to happen.”

Dylan entered the hotel and waved to Susan. “Where’s Wesley?”

“Gathering your luggage.”

“I’d better get up there and pull my weight.” He headed for the stairs.

“How’s your dad?” she called after him.

“He’s doing fine. I’ll tell you about it later.”

“Do you need help emptying the kiosk?” Miguel asked.

“I think we have it covered. Thanks, anyway.”

“Well, I’d better get to the desk and lend a hand.”

Susan settled back into the chair and waited for Wesley’s return. Out front, a never-ending stream of cars and vans pulled up to the front door as guests loaded their belongings and took off for places unknown. The chatter was still about the festival and what a wonderful time they’d had. No doubt, they’d return next year and bring their friends.

She wondered what the future held for these strangers, what stories they had to tell. Did any share her ability? What extraordinary adventures were waiting for them? It would be nice to look into their future. But society didn’t operate that way. People were destined to spend their lives in their own little world.

“Is that your luggage?” Wesley asked, pointing to a pile of suitcases with a garment bag draped over them. One of the bellhops stood nearby.

Susan nodded, and Wesley and Dylan dropped their travel bags beside Susan’s luggage.

“As soon as A. K. and Jack get here, we can start unloading the kiosk. So, tell me about your father, Dylan.”

“Dad looks great and is in good spirits. He was sitting up watching TV when I entered. He assured me he felt fine and wanted to go home. Said the hospital was no place to rest. The nurses were in and out all night, drawing blood, checking his pressure. How was he supposed to rest?

“I had to agree with him. We talked about Randy, and I had the feeling Dad was suspicious about his death too. But he didn’t give me any specifics. I told him I had to report back to my chief tomorrow morning, but that I’d be back later in the day. Chief Smith won’t be too happy, but I want to be with Dad when he’s discharged, make sure he has everything he’ll need. Don’t know if he can stand my cooking and housekeeping for a few days, but he’s going to have to try.”

“I’m glad he’s doing well,” Susan said.

A. K.’s voice rose over the babbling of the crowd. “What’s this, the meeting of Palmetto’s finest?”

“It is now that you’ve arrived,” Susan said, standing and giving her a bow. “How about the finest march their buns upstairs and pack the costumes?”

“Piece of cake,” A. K. said, “especially since we sold most of the merchandise. Most of the leftover costumes should fit on the garment racks. You guys can haul down any leftover boxes and those containing the accessories. Susan and I will bring the racks down in the elevator and roll them to the front entrance. When everything is assembled, we’ll load the van.”

Dylan clicked his heels together and saluted. “Yes, my general,” he barked, which resulted in A. K. giving him an elbow to the ribs. Everyone laughed.

They emptied the kiosk in less than thirty minutes and had everything assembled at the front entrance for loading.

“Did you forget your cash box?” Wesley asked Susan.

“I packed it in my suitcase. It looks like we have everything. Let’s load the van and get on the road.”

“I’ll bring it around,” A. K. said, jangling the keys. “Come with me, Jack. It’s on the last row in the parking lot.” She and Jack dodged departing guests and strolled arm in arm across the entrance toward the parking area.

“Just how serious are those two?” Wesley asked.

“My money’s on a wedding…or an elopement. Neither would surprise me,” Susan said.

While Wesley and Dylan moved the racks and boxes to the curb, Susan stepped back to get out of their way.
What about us
? she thought, watching Wesley.
How close are we to making a final commitment?
She didn’t doubt that they loved each other, but was that enough? She didn’t want to be like Melanie, who had lost her husband, Terrance, because of some crazed meth addict. She remembered when she’d heard about the incident on the radio. She knew Terrance was Wesley’s partner. Her heart seemed to stop beating, not knowing whether Wesley was alive or dead. A little bit of her had died that day. Would she ever be ready to take a chance with Wesley?

A. K. and Jack were nearing the van when Susan suddenly had a premonition. Something evil slithered into her mind. Her eyes burned as she saw a vision of Randy. He was an eyeless specter with skin sloughing from his face and the stench of death oozing from his image. He was there, in the parking lot, waiting beside the van, a trident in his hand. Slowly, he drew back his arm and took aim at A. K.