Part 31 (2/2)
”I thought thiswas the bas.e.m.e.nt.”
Carnie looked at Mallie Mae and Macy. ”Come on, Ladies. Elmo wants you to come down too.”
As they were approaching Carnie's room, she reached into her suitcase, pulled out a little plastic bag and put it in her skirt pocket. ”Follow me.”
When they entered the lab, Macy looked around and said, ”Where's Elmo?”
”He's in here.” Carnie led them into the big bathroom and sent them through the mirrored doorway.
Sylvia was standing at the far side of the room holding the pistol. ”Welcome, Ladies. Now the fun begins.”
”Who are you, and how dare you break into our home?” said Mallie Mae.
”Don't you recognize me, Mallie Mae?”
”No. Should I?”
”We went to college together. I was one of your suite mates.”
”Sylvia?”
Sylvia's grin scared Macy.
”Yes. So, I'm sure you know why I'm doing this.”
”I have no idea.”
”You stole my boyfriend, Mallie Mae! I'll never forgive you for that!”
”Stole your boyfriend? Morford?”
”Yes, of course, Morford. When your roommate dumped him, I was there to pick up the pieces. But then she decided to play matchmaker, and introduced him to you. She was determined that I didn't get him. She hated me.”
”Martha didn't hateyou.”
”Yes, she did. Bring it over here, Carnie.”
Carnie reached into her pocket and took out the little plastic bag as she walked to her grandmother. Sylvia exchanged the gun in her hand for the bag in Carnie's hand. Then she reached into the bag and pulled out a silver bracelet. ”But I finally took my revenge on Martha.” She held up the bracelet and walked over to Mallie Mae.
”What's that,” said Mallie Mae.
”I'm surprised you don't recognize it.”
”It can't be the bracelet Morford gave her.”
Sylvia turned it over and held it close to Mallie Mae's eyes so she could read the inscription.
”How did you get that?” The horrible truth sunk in. ”Somebody murdered her last week. It was you!”
Sylvia started laughing. ”She had it coming.”
”Just because she got me and Morford together-over 50 years ago? Because of that you murdered her?”
Carnie spoke up. ”Actually, I killed her. And her nurse.”
”And you've been living in my house?” said Mallie Mae.
”That's right, Old Lady.” Carnie pointed the gun at her. ”Now get over there against the wall and sit down! You too, Macy!”
Carsie was dizzy with confusion. ”Carnie, why did you have to ruin everything? Elmo and were going to get married.”
”Wrong,” said Carnie. ”Elmo wasn't going to marry you.”
”Yes, he was. He just needed a little time to work things out for Mallie Mae and her Alzheimer's.”
”I don't believe Mallie Mae even hasAlzheimer's disease,” said Carnie. ”I think she was faking it to break up you and Elmo.”
”That's not true, is it Mallie Mae?”
Mallie Mae didn't answer.
”Besides,” said Carnie, ”tonight I caught Elmo making out with Macy.”
Carsie looked at Macy. ”They're great friends. I'm sure Elmo was just giving her a friendly hug.”
”Well, let me see if I can paint the picture for you, Sis. They were in his study. And her blouse was unb.u.t.toned, her bra was flipped up and he was kissing her on the b.o.o.bs. And if I hadn't walked in when I did-”
”-Elmo, how could you?” said Carsie.
She looked at Macy. ”And I trusted you.” She began to cry.
”Quit being a baby, Carsie,” said Sylvia. ”Can't you see that the Mobleys are all alike?”
Horatio jerked from his sleep when Hadley tapped him on the shoulder.
”What's the matter, Ben?” said Horatio.
”I'm going home.”
Horatio put on his gla.s.ses and looked at the alarm clock. ”But it's 1:45 in the morning.”
”I know. I'm sorry, but I've got to get home. Something's just not right. I called the house phone and n.o.body answered.”
”They're sleeping.”
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