Thirty-Four and a Half Predicaments
Page 33

I cast a glance at Neely Kate for support, but she looked down, her shoulders trembling.
She was laughing. Great. But I told myself it was good she was happy for a few seconds, even if it was at my expense.
Miss Mildred was less amused and pointed her cane in my face. “You’ve got three seconds to get off my porch or I’m calling Officer Ernie.”
I held up my hands in a defensive gesture, the crumpled bag hanging from my fingertips. “I’m here in peace.” When she still didn’t take the gift, I set it on the porch railing.
The elderly woman snorted. “What sort of devil’s witchcraft are you up to now?”
I decided a direct approach was the only way I was going to get anywhere. “I’m here because I need some information about a factory that burned down in 1986. I know how diligent you are about keeping an eye on local issues, so I thought you might remember it.”
Neely Kate covered her mouth with her hand, her shoulders outright shaking now. I shot her a glare. She had her phone in her hand at waist level, trying—not very well—to hide the fact that she was recording our conversation. I should have left her behind in the truck.
Miss Mildred gave me her own glare. “Why would I tell you anything?”
Crappy doodles, why would she? My peace offering plan was crashing and burning. Then it hit me. Miss Mildred had encouraged me to prove that Miss Dorothy had been murdered. I cocked my head and lifted my eyebrows. “Because I’m solving a mystery.”
She leaned on her cane and shifted her weight. “And why would I care?”
“Because…” I forged on. “Because I think you secretly want to solve one too. That’s why you’re so good as president of the busybody club, uh, I mean the neighborhood watch.”
She hesitated. “What kind of mystery?”
“I think someone was responsible for that fire. I’m trying to figure out who and why.”
“And why would you be trying to figure out a twenty-five-year-old mystery?”
Neely Kate stepped forward. “The reward.”
I looked back at her, my eyes wide.
“What reward?” Miss Mildred asked, her interest unmistakable.
I could see where this was going. My former neighbor was gonna refuse to tell us anything unless we split the nonexistent reward with her, which would certainly put me in a pickle owing to my distinct lack of cash money. “It’s not a monetary reward,” I said, my brain scrambling fast. “It’s like a club… a competition. We get the reward of figuring it out before everyone else does.” Then I hastily added, “And a certificate.”
Her suspicion returned. “I may be old, but I ain’t no fool. I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
“It’s fairly new. It’s all because of those cold case TV shows,” Neely Kate said. “It’s inspired people to start solving their own cases.”
She squinted at Neely Kate. “What’s the name of this club?”
“The Fenton County Unsolved Mystery Club,” she said without missing a beat.
“Huh.”
I had no idea if this crazy story was gonna work, but there was no turning back now. Especially since she hadn’t slammed the door in our faces. “So will you help us?”
She studied me, her eyes narrowing into such tiny slits it was a wonder she could still see me.
“Are you thinking about helping, or are you plotting how to kill Rose and dispose of the body?” Neely Kate asked.
“Neely Kate!” I gasped, spinning around to face her.
“I’ll do it,” Miss Mildred said, banging her cane on the porch railing.
I jumped and spun back around so fast I made myself dizzy. “Which one? Help us or murder me?”
Her lips curled. “I’d prefer to do both, but seein’ as how yer boyfriend would probably have me tossed in jail, I’ll stick with helping. But I have conditions.”
“Conditions?”
“Okay,” Neely Kate said. “What are they?”
She pointed her cane at me. “At no time will you be drivin’ my car.”
“What?” Why would I drive her car? Then I remembered that I’d once borrowed it to save Joe. “That was one time.”
“And my name goes first on the paper.”
“What paper?” I asked. “The newspaper?”
Neely Kate stepped up behind me and lowered her voice. “The certificate. For the competition, of course.”
Miss Mildred’s disdain returned. “For someone who’s supposedly solved so many mysteries, you’re awfully dense. All those bad guys must have turned themselves into you and brought their own handcuffs.”
My hands clenched into fists at my sides.
For once, my best friend skipped over defending me. “I think you’ve misunderstood, Miss Mildred,” Neely Kate said, fighting the grin that tugged at her lips. “We don’t need you for our team. We just want to interview you.”
The elderly woman shook her head. “Nope. I either help you solve the case or I don’t help at all.”
Neely Kate nodded. “Fine.”
I grabbed her arm and carefully tugged her off the porch. “Miss Mildred, I need a moment to talk with my partner.” When we were out of earshot, I leaned toward her and whispered. “What are you doin’?”
“She’s one of the few people who was actually around when the factory burned down. We need her.”