Part 32 (1/2)
”Yeah, but then I tried all their cell phones, and n.o.body answered. And I know Elmo and Macy would answer their cell phones at night.”
”Well, maybe you should call the police.”
”No, I want to check it out myself first.”
”Goodbye, Ben,” said Alma from the other side of the bed.
”Sorry, Alma. Didn't mean to wake you,” said Hadley.
”Well, call me if you need anything,” said Horatio.
”Okay, thanks. I really enjoyed our day together, and I hope we can-”
Horatio was already snoring.
Chapter35.
The four women in the hospital beds were still asleep. Greg, Cynthia, and Elmo were standing, handcuffed to the bed guardrails. Macy, Mallie Mae, and Carsie were standing near the doorway to the bathroom. Carnie and Sylvia were across the room.
”I'm sorry you were hurt when Morford and I started dating,” said Mallie Mae to Sylvia. ”I had no idea.”
”That's hard to believe. I would have still had a chance when he got tired of you-if you hadn't pulled him into bed and got yourself pregnant.”
”I didn't mean to get pregnant. It was an accident.”
”No, it wasn't. It was your way of stealing him away from me-forever.”
”But he never went out with you. I'll bet he didn't even know you were interested in him.”
”He wouldhave gone out with me. But then he had to do the right thing and marry you.”
”So, what do you want from me?”
”I had a beautiful plan. Carsie would seduce Elmo, make him fall in love with her and they would get married.”
”I really do love you, Elmo,” said Carsie.
”Shut up, Carsie,” said Sylvia.
But Carsie went on. ”I was acting at first-but then I really feel in love with you. And I tried to get my grandmother to forget about her plan, but-”
”-I said shut up!” Sylvia paused for a moment to regain her composure. ”And of course, Elmo would love Carsie so much that he wouldn't bother with a prenup. But then, after a few months, Carsie would turn into an unlovable witch and make him miserable.
”In the meantime, Carnie would take a nursing job at Coreyville General under one of her many a.s.sumed names. She would b.u.mp into Elmo at the hospital and go after him with her incredible s.e.x appeal, and eventually make him cheat on Carsie.”
”You don't know Elmo-he would never do that,” said Mallie Mae.
”Really? He was about to marry Carsie. We were so close. Anyway, after Elmo had cheated on his new wife and she had found out, she would have divorced him and bled him dry. Then my granddaughters and I would have enjoyed the dividends of our success.
”So, you see, my plan was to make your son miserable and poor, and thereby, make you miserable, Mallie Mae.”
”You should have left Elmo out of this. I'mthe one you hate.”
”Yes, but he'sthe one you love.”
”But your plan failed,” said Mallie Mae. ”Elmo was about to break up with Carsie. He's in love with Macy.”
”No, he's not-he loves me! Don't you, Elmo?” said Carsie.
”It doesn't matter anymore, Carsie,” said Sylvia. ”I have a newplan. A much better plan. We're all gonna stay right here until Monday morning. Then Elmo's going to the bank to liquidate all his and Mallie Mae's a.s.sets. Then he'll wire the money to my bank account in Grand Cayman. And if he contacts the police or tells anybody what's really going on, he'll never see his mother or any of the rest of you again. At least, not in your current state, with heads attached.”
Cynthia listened in silence. She was a vice president First State Bank where the Mobleys had their accounts. She knew there was no way Elmo could go into the bank and wire all their money to an offsh.o.r.e account without arousing suspicion. She could offer to go to the bank with Elmo. But that would still leave her mom and Greg and everybody else in jeopardy. Should she speak up?
Carsie pointed at Cynthia. ”And that woman should go to the bank with Elmo.”
”Why?” said Sylvia.
”Because she works there. I went to the bank with Elmo one time and I remember her. She's some kind of loan officer or something.”
”Is that true,” said Sylvia to Cynthia.
Before she could speak, Mallie Mae said, ”It doesn't matter. We don't have any money. At least, not the kind of money you'retalking about.”
”Don't lie to me, Mallie Mae. Carnie, would you like to come over here and shoot Elmo in the leg?”
”Wait a minute. Let me explain,” said Mallie Mae. ”We usedto have money. Until Morford quit his practice and built this underground hospital.”
Sylvia studied Mallie Mae's face. ”I don't believe you, Mallie Mae. But it's a long time 'til Monday morning and I amcurious. Why didMorford build this place?”
”It was the early 1980s and Morford was trying to help some men who had AIDS. And everybody was so afraid of the disease back then. People didn't even want you driving through their town if you had it.
”So, Morford knew the family name would forever be spoken with disgust if the townspeople found out he was treating those men. But he was determined to help them. So he built this underground lab and clinic to treat them. And he spent a lot of money doing it. Before long, his patients' friends in San Francisco found out about Morford's clinic and wanted to come here. But all he could handle was four patients. So, he sent donations-enormous sums of money, to help pay for their medical care. After a couple of years, we were down to a few thousand dollars.”
”But you still have this magnificent acreage and this wonderful house,” said Sylvia.
”Yes. Thanks to Elmo. After Morford died in the car accident, Elmo moved back home to support me and keep me from losing the house. He was so wonderful.” She smiled at her son and he smiled back.
Carnie stepped forward. ”But what about the murders?”
”What murders?” said Mallie Mae.
”You thought n.o.body would ever find them. But you were wrong.”