Saved By The Belles by Beth Albright Page B

desperately needed her to go. For a moment I wanted to ask her if she had seen any strange activity in the neighborhood but I knew I better save it. Having Miss Myra involved is not what we wanted. At least right now.
    “Well, y’all sure do pick some off the wall spots. I think I need to go, uhm, change my shoes here, they’re soakin’ wet. I’ll see y’all later. The next time you need to use the potty, just come to my door, okay? No need to make an outhouse of your fine car, there, Miss Blake.”
    She trodded back to her car, shaking her head just as my cell rang. It was Dallas.
    “What the hell are y’all doin’ over there? Y’all gonna blow the cover if you keep playin’ meet and greet with the neighborhood.”
    “I know it. Sorry.” I knew she’d never believe me if I told her the whole squat and piss story.
    “Oh my God,” Dallas said into the receiver.
    What?’
    “It’s her. There goes Jessica into the trailer. Let’s go y’all. We’ll be ready and waiting for your signal. Now, get in there and sell me some cupcakes!”

 
    CHAPTER 19
     
     
     
    Vivi and I looked at each other and took a simultaneous deep breath. The dust of the dirt road still swirled in the air as Miss Myra drove down to her trailer. Her light blue old model Chevelle stirring up red dirt as she drove.
    “Okay, let’s double check the plan,” I suggested.
    “We need to take our phones to use for pictures. Snap everything you can. Just silence it so no one will know,” Vivi said
    “I’ll talk first and set it all up,” I volunteered. “You say you need to meet everyone who lives there to see if they would like to volunteer for the bake sale at church. I’ll make it up as I go and you watch me and I’ll watch you. Let’s just play along with each other. This may be our only shot.”
    “Ready?” Vivi asked. I wasn’t but I knew it was now or never.
    “As I’ll ever be,” I assured. “Let’s get the cupcakes—and the bags for their donated clothes.”
    We gathered the items to help us pull off the trap and we headed up to the rickety stairs of the doublewide mobile home. I knocked as Vivi held the cupcakes.
    “May I help you?” A little chubby woman with graying hair and big round blue eyes answered. She was in an old faded red dress with an apron. For a split second, I thought we could be at the North Pole and this was Mrs. Clause, surely not a bordello housemother.
    “Yes, Hi-- we’re from St. Catherine’s. May we come in for a minute?” We both smiled at the lady.
    “ Uhm, certainly,” she held open the door. “Y’all come on in and have a seat. I’m Myrtle Mays,” she smiled. “Can I get y’all anything?”
    Vivi and I stepped inside the tidy little place. The worn carpeted floor had a few old stains here and there but otherwise it seemed clean. To the left of the door was the kitchen. A step up led you to the galley styled cookery, counter-tops complete with nic-nacs and old cookbooks. It all looked normal. To the right of the front door stretched the family room. The shag, harvest gold wall-to-wall carpet led to the back of the room then up a narrow dark hallway. Vivi and I sat down on light blue, velveteen recliners. The plump little lady sat down on the dark blue couch opposite us.
    “What can I do for y’all today?” she asked, folding her hands in her lap and offering a smile. I looked around and listened—no sounds of activity and no one else was even present. But Dallas had just seen the young dark haired Jessica come inside. I was really puzzled.
    “Ma’am?” She leaned forward asking me again.
    “Oh, Yes,” I said Vivi nudging me. “Yes, I’m so sorry. We’re here on behalf of St. Catherine’s Catholic Church. These cupcakes are for you and yours if we can get you to join us in our annual clothing drive for women. We need blouses and really anything to help local women join the workforce. Also there will be a bake sale in a few weeks with all the proceeds going to