Remains to Be Scene by R. T. Jordan

Author:R. T. Jordan
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2007-09-05T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Evening descended on Pepper Plantation, and the residents convened in the dining room beneath the halo of a Waterford crystal chandelier. They noshed on Placenta’s Welsh Rabbit appetizer while waiting for her famous blackened salmon. The trio sipped champagne as they mulled over their jailhouse meeting with Dana Pointer.

“I’m still in shock,” Polly said.

“Yeah,” Tim agreed. “I get the feeling that Dana may not be guilty.”

“No, I’m shocked that the Beverly Hills Police Department doesn’t employ a full-time hair and make-up expert!” Polly snapped. “What are they thinking? With all the celebrities facing the camera in that joint, a proper application of lipstick and hairspray is de rigueur!”

Tim shook his head. “Still, I get the feeling that Dana is telling the truth.”

“Her eyes aren’t as killerlike as I remembered,” Placenta agreed. “It’s possible that she’s not a homicidal nymphomaniac after all. Maybe ol’ Sedra was knocked off by someone else. D’ya think? Face it, Dana’s not really an actress. So the sympathy performance that she gave this afternoon had to be genuine.”

Polly took another sip of champagne and then rose from her seat at the head of the table. She walked out of the dining room and retrieved her cell phone from its recharging station in the kitchen, then returned to the dining room table. “We’ll find out,” she said, and flipped open the telephone. She scrolled down the directory of numbers. When she reached the one she wanted she pushed the send key.

Tim and Placenta stared at Polly, whose somber demeanor instantly flashed to sunshine when she said, “Missie? It’s Polly!” After a moment’s pause, and a trace of annoyance in her voice she added, “Pepper.” A fake smile reilluminated her face and she launched into a conversation. “How are you, my dear? And your sweet mother? Coping with all the tragedy? Rotten timing, eh?”

Polly listed for a moment. “Absolutely. And to cheer us all up just a tad, you and your mother are dining with me tomorrow evening. Here, of course. Pepper Plantation. You practically groveled for an invitation. And I’ve wanted an opportunity to reciprocate your sweet hospitality. At the same time we can commiserate about our dear Dana.”

Polly continued, “Round seven o’clock? Just the family, dear. Is there anything that you or your mother don’t eat? Mmm. Nothing with a face.” Polly looked up at Placenta and made her own face of irritation. “Not to worry, I gave up cannibalism years ago.” Polly laughed at her own bit of levity. “Lovely. Tomorrow.” And then Polly flipped the telephone shut. “We’ve hooked another live one on the line,” Polly declared. “We’ll serve veal.”

“You’re starting to get into this,” Tim added with approval. “Dana thinks that Missie’s the one who should be behind bars. Maybe we can wrangle a confession from her. You’re looking at your Dr. Watson and Barney Fife,” he said proudly as his mother picked up her champagne flute.

“They make it look so complicated on television,” Polly insisted. “In reality, all we have to do is round up the usual suspects and let ’em hang themselves by their own tongues.

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