Family Issue by Nat Burns

Author:Nat Burns [Burns, Nat]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bella Books
Published: 2014-02-02T16:00:00+00:00

DAY FOUR

Chapter Twenty

Beau Chapel was smaller than I had expected. Located due north of Fortune Farm and surrounded by sweeping cane fields, the house itself was not too much larger than a white frame Virginia farmhouse. The name had led me to believe it to be of plantation size and grandeur. The grounds were neat, however, yet appeared tired. I noted some shabbiness and wondered how much of that was due to the death of Jimmy’s father and the resultant reduced income and how much was due to the fact that Jimmy just wasn’t interested.

“Oh, good mornin’, my darlins’. Do come in,” exclaimed Baby Wood as she ushered us into the front parlor. She was a small woman and a heavy smoker, evidenced by the smell of the house and her nicotine-stained fingers. She also had bright red hair and heavy, impeccably applied cosmetics. She was nervous, with beringed chubby hands that flitted about like doves in a windstorm.

“I sure do appreciate you seeing us, Miss Wood,” Patty said as the three of us took seats on overstuffed sofas.

“Oh, call me Baby, please. It’s an unfortunate name, I know,” she said, holding up one palm. “But it was a gift from my father so I carry it proudly.”

Thick, but tired, satin draperies behind large pieces of heavy antique furniture hid windows, so the lighting in the room was dim. Even so, I could see that the blush of youth had abandoned Baby. Her keen, questioning eyes watched us closely.

“These are friends of ours from the North. Denni Hope here is an investigator for an insurance firm and this other lovely lady is Bonita Corcaran, a police officer for the city of Richmond.”

“Richmond, Virginia? Lord, my mother went to nursing school there, something called the Virginia Career Institute, years and years ago. Is that place still there?” Baby leaned toward Bone, awaiting her response.

“Yes, ma’am, I think I know which one you mean. It’s changed hands now and goes by a new name. They still teach nursing, though, both practical and RN.”

Baby looked down at her clasped hands. “I always thought of doing something like that, but the sight of blood…well, it just sends me reeling.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Bone agreed sympathetically.

“Miss Wood…Baby. I was wondering if we might talk to Jimmy for a few minutes.”

Baby leaned back, a hand over her mouth. “Oh my, what has he done now? I can assure you he meant no harm and we’ll certainly take care of any damages…”

“No, no, Baby,” Patty hastened to reassure her. “We just need to ask him some questions. Some strange things have been happening over at Fortune, and we were thinking he may have seen something.”

Baby sighed deeply and closed her eyes with relief. “Oh well, I’m so glad that’s all you need. I’m sure he’ll be glad to help you. Let me go fetch him for you.”

She stood and straightened her frilly pink blouse over the waist of her cropped blue jeans. “I’ll be right back and I’ll bring you ladies some iced tea.

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