Part 10 (1/2)
”Your chicken and dumplings tastes even better than it smells,” Josie said. ”There's a reason why they call it comfort food.” She was ladling herself a second helping when her cell rang. She checked the display and said, ”It's Ted. Maybe he can still join us for dinner.”
She opened her phone. By the way Ted said her name, Josie knew he wasn't calling with good news. ”What's wrong? Did Audrey die?”
”She came through her surgery just fine,” he said. ”I hope I also removed her taste for ribbons. I was getting ready to lock up and leave when I saw Molly's Beetle in our parking lot again. I'm here by myself.”
”Did you call the police?” Josie asked.
”After the way they laughed at me this morning?” Ted said. ”What good would that do?”
”Can she get in the clinic?”
”No, I locked the doors after Kathy left an hour ago. I can see Molly's VW parked next to my Mustang. It's right under the security light.”
”Is she getting out of her car?” Josie asked.
”No, she's sitting in the front seat, watching the door.”
”Stay right there,” Josie said. ”I'll come get you and walk you to your car. Then you can follow me to my house. Amelia's made chicken and dumplings.”
”I can't wait,” Ted said. ”Her dumplings are the best.”
”I agree,” Josie said. ”Amelia's dumplings are the best.”
Amelia grinned.
”And I can't wait to get to the clinic and give bridezilla a piece of my mind.”
”What if Molly attacks you?” Ted said. ”She's crazy.”
”I'm armed,” Josie said.
”You don't have a gun, do you?” Ted asked.
”No, I've got that pepper spray you gave me for protection,” she said. ”Stops rabid dogs and berserk brides. I'm on my way.”
She punched her phone shut. ”Did you hear that, Amelia? The stalker bride is lurking in Ted's lot. I'm picking up Ted and telling that nut bar to leave my man alone.”
”By yourself?” Amelia asked. ”Shouldn't you take Grandma? Or me?”
”I can handle her,” Josie said. ”I'll have Ted with me. Just keep the chicken and dumplings warm, and we'll be right back.”
Josie combed her thick brown hair, slashed on fresh lipstick, and dragged on a clean white blouse, wondering why she was dressing up to confront a stalker. Because I'm meeting Ted, she decided. And I want Molly to see he's mine.
She ran out into the warm October night and wished the weather would be as good on their wedding day. Too bad St. Louis weather was as unpredictable as Amelia's moods.
The clinic was only three minutes away, a practical cube embedded in a parking lot. The lot was deserted except for Ted's '68 Mustang and Molly's Beetle, bronzed by the security lights.
She saw Ted's tall, muscular frame outlined in the clinic doorway. Josie parked on the other side of Ted's tangerine car. She glanced at Molly sitting upright in her Bug, eyes aimed at the clinic door. Ted was outside, already locking the door and setting the alarm.
Josie ran straight to him and gave him a fierce kiss, making sure Molly could see them. They walked hand in hand to Ted's Mustang.
”I'll follow you back to my flat as soon as I talk to her,” Josie said.
”It's useless, Josie,” Ted said. ”She won't listen.”
”I can at least try,” Josie said.
”Then I won't leave until you're back in your car.”
Josie kissed Ted's cheek, then turned toward Molly. The stalker ignored her. Molly kept staring straight ahead. Josie was prepared to pound on Molly's window, but it was rolled down. No surprise on a warm October night.
”Molly Ann Deaver,” Josie said. ”You can fool that h.o.r.n.y old judge, but you can't fool me. You aren't engaged to Ted and you know it. He's marrying me.”
Silence. Molly didn't move.
”I said, do you understand Ted's marrying me? Are you going to leave him alone?”
More silence. Josie could hear her car's engine pinging as it cooled.
”ANSWER ME!” Josie shouted.
The silence grew louder. Now even Josie's car was quiet.
A furious Josie bent down to get a better look inside the car. Molly still ignored Josie. Her eyes were fixed straight ahead. In the dim light, Josie saw Molly wore her seat belt and a dress splashed with pink roses. She had a dark flower behind her ear.
”Molly?” Josie said.
Her car smelled funny-like iron and something worse.
”Molly!” Josie screamed, and shook her. Molly slumped forward. That wasn't a red flower in her hair. She had a b.l.o.o.d.y wound blooming by her ear.
Molly Deaver had a bullet in her head.
Chapter 12.
Wednesday, October 24 Molly Ann Deaver was murdered.
The bullet wound was a deadly bloom of dark red that spattered down her pink dress.
Josie made a thin mewing sound that morphed into a straight-out scream. Ted leaped out of his car and said, ”Josie, what did she do to you?”
”Nothing,” Josie said, her voice flat. She felt as if she were watching herself from a long distance. The bronze glow of the mercury-vapor lights added to the effect, as if Josie were looking at a sepia-tinted photo taken long ago. ”She's dead. Someone shot her in the head.”
Ted gathered Josie into his arms. Something shattered inside when she leaned her head on his shoulder. She caught his work smell-coffee, disinfectant, and dog hair-and cried. ”I wanted her gone for good and now she is, but not this way.”
”Me, either,” Ted said.