The Pinch of Death – a mystery by Alysse Aallyn

Chapter 33. Wildwood

“How about a foot-long chili dog?” Nelson facetiously suggested.

“Absolutely not,” Jacquetta returned, “I need a drink.”

“I know just the place.”

At this hour, Me Ole Matey was empty, but it was so dark you couldn’t tell what time it was. “Seat Yourself” said the sign, so they fought their way through fishing impedimenta to a corner booth.
“Is white wine and kir still your favorite drink?” Nelson asked, signaling for the lone waitress.
Jacquetta had no desire to recall any of those nights.

“No,” she said. ”Just a glass of house red.”

Nelson surprised her by ordering the whole bottle and a slew of appetizers. “The potato skins here are famous,” he said.

Suddenly it was a date.

“So,” Jacquetta hazarded, “Roxelle Shields’ baby girl? Any ideas? We have to have found the right family or she wouldn’t be acting this way.”

“Definitely. Ricey Kleinemann’s Roxelle Shield’s daughter,” he concurred. Jacquetta shuddered. “Means that horrible old woman was Roxelle’s mama. Something went pretty wrong somewhere. Twelve years old is scary young to have a baby. We didn’t even get to mention D.L. LeRoi.”

“I believe her that she doesn’t know where her daughter is,” Nelson said. “Don’t you?”

“I guess so. Seems like we caught her completely by surprise. What do you think is the next move?”

“I have to pray about it.”

That silenced him. When they returned to the car in an hour, feeling much better, there was a message on the car phone from Lt Marie.

“He says you can go back to your apartment. Also, your car is being released. Which do you want first?”

“Thank God,” said Jacquetta, thinking, I need to pick up some clothes. She also wanted to find out if the killer got the datebook. “Car first.”

“Going back to the motel?” he gave her a sidelong look.

“Probably.”

“Need me?”

She faced him. “Not till you’re a free man. Consider your bereavement period over.”

He sighed gustily. “And Sister Jacquetta is back.”

She returned, “You’re welcome.”