Down the Hatch by Constance Barker

Author:Constance Barker [Barker, Constance]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Constance Barker
Published: 2020-05-13T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

I marched to the door and locked it, adding the CLOSED sign. Behind me, Roxanne wailed. That was more than I could take. If I was going to solve the murder, I needed time to think and consider. I couldn’t do that with Roxanne crying and carrying on. I had tried to talk her out of her tears more than once, so that route was clearly not going to lead to the solution I needed. So, if I couldn’t reason with her, I would enlist her help. Was that going to work? I wasn’t hopeful, but it was worth a try.

Walking to the back of the store, I wondered just how observant the ghosts were. I was hoping they had kept their eyes and ears open. Many people who thought they were alone never realized that there were ghosts who were listening. In New Orleans, someone might never be truly alone.

“Hello, Orchid,” I said.

Orchid and Zephyr were sitting on a nineteenth century settee that had once belonged to a sea captain. It was an elegant piece that I would be unhappy to sell. But that wouldn’t keep me from selling it. In a chair by herself, Roxanne cried. She was truly inconsolable.

“Helga, how are you holding up?” Orchid asked. “You would be amazed by how many people discuss your predicament.”

“That many?” I asked.

“Truly, more than I thought possible,” Orchid said.

“And they’re not all on your side,” Zephyr added.

“That does not surprise me,” I said. “People like to think the worst of everyone.”

“I’m afraid that’s easy to do,” Zephyr said. “Most people live down to their reputations.”

We all laughed—except for Roxanne.

“Roxanne,” I said, “Roxanne, I need to talk to you.”

“Me?” Roxanne wiped her eyes. “Why would you want to talk to me?”

“You’re here all day. You hear as much as Orchid and Zephyr. Have you heard anything about the murder?”

“I have heard a thing or two,” Roxanne said. “It seems some of the women truly miss Mr. Jamison. He was a pest at times, but no one really thought he was dangerous.”

“He wasn’t, not really,” I said. “I was simply too angry to put up with his antics when I threw him out of the store. What else have you heard.”

“Well, the few men I have listened to will not miss Mr. Jamison at all. They were of the opinion that their wives would not be badgered now.”

“That makes sense,” I said.

“It’s all speculation,” Orchid said. “No one really knows anything. In fact, one woman thought Thomas Jamison had been shot by three arrows.”

“Another knew for certain that Thomas had been covered by black lipstick kisses that spelled out the word, “CHEATER”. That made me laugh.”

I was beginning to think that the ghosts, while meaning well, knew next to nothing about the murder. If I got any meaningful information from them, I would be exceedingly lucky.

“While we’re talking,” I said. “Can we look for Roxanne’s necklace?”

“Why, that would be so gallant of you,” Roxanne said. “I would be forever grateful.”

“We’ll start upstairs,” I said.

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