Joan Hess - Arly Hanks 04 by Mortal Remains in Maggody Page B
Authors: Mortal Remains in Maggody
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as all get out if you'd call me Ruby Bee, and you, too, Miss D'Amourre. The only folks what call me Mrs. Hanks are the pesky fellows from the ABC." Ruby Bee could hear herself prattling like one of those ventriloquist's dummies, but she couldn't seem to stop. "The ABCs the Alcohol and Beverage Control. They have to inspect my license twice a year and snoop around to see if I'm serving minors."
"Those dirty-faced men who dig for diamonds?" Gwenneth asked, although she appeared more interested in the circle of oil she'd drawn around her belly button.
Ruby Bee wondered if this blonde wasn't several logs short of a rick, but she didn't say a single word, and after a moment, Kitty Kaye yawned and said, "Where is everybody?"
Gwenneth's yawn was more restrained. "Carlotta and Hal went to check the sites. The boys are holed up in that last room, playing poker and doing their best to run through the entire liquor supply by dusk. Anderson said he was going to take a walk, although I cannot imagine why he'd do such a seriously sweaty thing like that." She sat up and held the iced tea glass until Ruby Bee retrieved it. "I, for one, am ready for a martini. Do you suppose dear Buddy could be flattered into making me one? He's the only one who merely allows the gin to gaze longingly at the vermouth." Kitty handed her glass to Ruby Bee, who'd sprouted roots in the parking lot on account of being in such proximity to Hollywood movie stars. "Thank you ever so much, Ruby Bee," she said with a nod. "I do believe, Gwenneth, that I'm going to hunt up my hubby and lure him into our room. We don't have any scenes quite like yours, but he does enjoy our rehearsals ... as much as Hal must enjoy his rehearsals with you."
"Hal is such a pig," Gwenneth began, then stopped and shielded her eyes with her hand. "Oh, shit! Here comes that horrible man from last night! He's sleazier than the janitor at Cedar Rapids High School."
Ruby Bee looked over her shoulder. Jim Bob was bearing down on them like a garbage truck, and carrying a bottle in a plain brown wrapper.
Gwenneth started to rise, but Kitty caught her wrist and in a voice so low Ruby Bee nearly missed it, said, "Remember what Hal said, dear. We must be at our loveliest, mustn't we?"
"Oh, shit," Gwenneth repeated, but without emotion.
Ruby Bee was downright amazed when the blonde transformed herself into a coy little Kewpie doll and went so far as to wiggle her fingers at the approaching figure. Kitty murmured something and fled into #4. Although Ruby Bee thought of a few biting remarks to make to Hizzoner, she settled for a sniff as she went past him on her way to the barroom.
"Oh, you are such a sweetie!" she heard a giggly voice say.
Despite her best efforts to hear anything else, she didn't. She wasn't all that perturbed, however, since she'd picked a whole passel of interesting tidbits, including a reference to someone's husband (she couldn't wait to see Estelle's face when she was presented with that), hints that had sounded scandalous, and a sort of flimsy theory concerning the upcoming movie to be made in Maggody.
All of it would have to sit on the back burner for the time being. It was getting close to happy hour at Ruby Bee's Bar & Grill, and she figured the crowd would be larger than the evening before.
-- ==+== --
I opened the door of the PD, and for the first time ever, I did so cautiously. I don't know what I expected -- a sheet of fire, a bomb rigged to the doorknob, or someone waiting in the back room. I found none of the above. As far as I could tell, the only person to have set foot inside was the postman, who never bothers to ring once.
I was filing the mail, with the largest percentage going into the metal wastebasket, when the door opened. I had to bite back a gasp, which was pretty damn silly, but I did and glanced up with a facsimile of a smile for the couple.
The woman held out her hand. "I'm afraid we didn't have a chance to meet last night, Chief Hanks.
"Those dirty-faced men who dig for diamonds?" Gwenneth asked, although she appeared more interested in the circle of oil she'd drawn around her belly button.
Ruby Bee wondered if this blonde wasn't several logs short of a rick, but she didn't say a single word, and after a moment, Kitty Kaye yawned and said, "Where is everybody?"
Gwenneth's yawn was more restrained. "Carlotta and Hal went to check the sites. The boys are holed up in that last room, playing poker and doing their best to run through the entire liquor supply by dusk. Anderson said he was going to take a walk, although I cannot imagine why he'd do such a seriously sweaty thing like that." She sat up and held the iced tea glass until Ruby Bee retrieved it. "I, for one, am ready for a martini. Do you suppose dear Buddy could be flattered into making me one? He's the only one who merely allows the gin to gaze longingly at the vermouth." Kitty handed her glass to Ruby Bee, who'd sprouted roots in the parking lot on account of being in such proximity to Hollywood movie stars. "Thank you ever so much, Ruby Bee," she said with a nod. "I do believe, Gwenneth, that I'm going to hunt up my hubby and lure him into our room. We don't have any scenes quite like yours, but he does enjoy our rehearsals ... as much as Hal must enjoy his rehearsals with you."
"Hal is such a pig," Gwenneth began, then stopped and shielded her eyes with her hand. "Oh, shit! Here comes that horrible man from last night! He's sleazier than the janitor at Cedar Rapids High School."
Ruby Bee looked over her shoulder. Jim Bob was bearing down on them like a garbage truck, and carrying a bottle in a plain brown wrapper.
Gwenneth started to rise, but Kitty caught her wrist and in a voice so low Ruby Bee nearly missed it, said, "Remember what Hal said, dear. We must be at our loveliest, mustn't we?"
"Oh, shit," Gwenneth repeated, but without emotion.
Ruby Bee was downright amazed when the blonde transformed herself into a coy little Kewpie doll and went so far as to wiggle her fingers at the approaching figure. Kitty murmured something and fled into #4. Although Ruby Bee thought of a few biting remarks to make to Hizzoner, she settled for a sniff as she went past him on her way to the barroom.
"Oh, you are such a sweetie!" she heard a giggly voice say.
Despite her best efforts to hear anything else, she didn't. She wasn't all that perturbed, however, since she'd picked a whole passel of interesting tidbits, including a reference to someone's husband (she couldn't wait to see Estelle's face when she was presented with that), hints that had sounded scandalous, and a sort of flimsy theory concerning the upcoming movie to be made in Maggody.
All of it would have to sit on the back burner for the time being. It was getting close to happy hour at Ruby Bee's Bar & Grill, and she figured the crowd would be larger than the evening before.
-- ==+== --
I opened the door of the PD, and for the first time ever, I did so cautiously. I don't know what I expected -- a sheet of fire, a bomb rigged to the doorknob, or someone waiting in the back room. I found none of the above. As far as I could tell, the only person to have set foot inside was the postman, who never bothers to ring once.
I was filing the mail, with the largest percentage going into the metal wastebasket, when the door opened. I had to bite back a gasp, which was pretty damn silly, but I did and glanced up with a facsimile of a smile for the couple.
The woman held out her hand. "I'm afraid we didn't have a chance to meet last night, Chief Hanks.
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