From Riches To Rags Part 8

Lunch with New Friends Christine Livingston, Melinda Blackstone and Norma Shelby I had watched her from my apartment window and when Melinda ascended the stairs, I greeted her in the hallway with an accusing question.

"Whats that in your hand?"

Melinda was holding a brown paper bag, and I already knew what it was, or so I thought.

"Its a bottle of wine. Isnt that what you bring to a luncheon when youre the guest?"

"Yes, of course, I um, I just"

"Chris, its all right. Now, lets not keep Mrs. Shelby waiting."

I tapped on my neighbors door and we waited a moment, while she looked through the peep hole at us. She opened the door and greeted me with her calico kitten in her hands.

"Norma, you remember Melinda Blackstone? She wanted to meet a movie star, so I asked her to join us. I hope you dont mind."

Normas eyes twinkled as if we were fans waiting for an autograph.

"Perfectly all right, my dear. Melinda did me a kindness that I am grateful for. She is always welcome here."

"Thank you, Mrs. Shelby. This is for you."

Melinda smiled at her and then handed her the bottle of wine.

"Thank you, dear. And remember, I asked you to call me Norma."

We followed Norma into her apartment and Melinda looked around and exclaimed, "Oh wow!"

"I know, right? Its wonderful." I grabbed her elbow and pointed towards the movie poster. "This is what I was telling you about."

"Oh yeah, how cool is that."

"Whats that, dear?" Norma returned from the kitchen carrying a tray of finger sandwiches and cookies that I took from her and set on the coffee table.

"We were just admiring your legs, Norma." I said in jest, and she laughed, her cheeks turning a lovely shade of pink.

"Well, I never liked the look of my legs, I always thought they were too boney. Melinda, dear, would you mind opening that wonderful bottle of wine you brought? Theres a corkscrew in the kitchen."

"Not at all, Norma. That is if I can tear my eyes away from those gorgeous gams of yours, and Im not talking about that movie poster either."

"Oh, go on with you."

"I swear, I think Im in love, Norma."

After another moment, I heard giggling coming from the kitchen. I knew it was to high pitch to be Melindas, and when they returned to the living room I saw the sweetest smile on Normas face. Melinda winked at me as she sat beside me on the settee, and Norma sat in the arm chair. We had a very nice lunch and wonderful conversation. I marveled at how Melinda had so easily captivated Norma. At one point, on a dare from Melinda, Norma got up and sang for us. Her voice was operatic, clear and precise, and beautiful to the ear. It was so good to see the once timid old woman, who was afraid of her own shadow, blossom into the leading lady that she must have been in her youth. What a gift Melinda has given her today.

Melinda pulled out her cellphone, "Norma, I wonder if youd mind if I take a picture of that movie poster?"

"Im flattered, Melinda."

I poured Norma another gla.s.s of wine, and noticed that Melinda had not touched hers. Maybe it was because I hadnt drank any of mine either. I was afraid to. But then I thought Id prove to myself that one sip of wine, does not a drunkard make. Besides, I wanted to see if Melinda was refraining only because I had been. I took a big gulp and found it invitingly smooth, tastefully light, where the vapor lingered on my tongue. It was too good and I set the gla.s.s back down for fear of gulping the entire thing.

I walked over to Melinda and pointed out the date on the movie poster. It might be helpful and Melinda took a picture of it.

"Chris, lets get in the picture with Norma, all right?"

We turned around and Norma had left. "Norma?"

"Right here, dear." She came from the kitchen, carrying her wine gla.s.s, which was empty.

With Norma in the middle, we smiled as Melinda took a selfie of us. Just before we left, I looked at Melindas gla.s.s and smiled. She hadnt touched a drop.

We walked down the hall to my apartment, where I hesitated, more from embarra.s.sment than from not wanting her to come in. I argued with myself that I shouldnt be embarra.s.sed. That I had worked d.a.m.n hard for what little I had. But in the end, I guess I just wasnt ready to take that next step.

"Id invite you in, but my place is a mess."

"Oh, thats all right. I want to get the picture of the movie poster over to my detective and see if she can use it to find Normas family."

"That really was a brilliant idea on your part, Melinda, and um, if you think itd be okay, Id love to go with you to talk to her."

"Oh yeah, that would be great! Oh, but dont you have to work today?"

"No, actually, I have the night off."

"Well then, what are we waiting for, lets go."

Its in the Past Melinda Blackstone, Christine Livingston, Frankie Bonner and Meg b.u.mgartner "Ms. Blackstone, so good to see you again."

Frankie was being kind, Im sure, since I barged in without even calling first, this time. Ever the genteel southerner, she offered us a libation, as she called it, and showed us to the fake leopard skin chairs. I remained standing because I think quicker on my feet.

"Im sorry to take advantage of you like this, but I have another case I want you to pursue." I gave her a look that pleaded with her to hear me out in spite of how I left things with her and her wife.

She looked at Chris and smiled, and I realized I had forgotten to introduce her.

"Im sorry, where are my manners. This is"

But just as I was about to introduce her, Meg comes in mumbling something about she had lost her. The startled look on her face told me who she had been referring to. A s.h.i.+mmer of sweat broke out across her forehead, and it was then that I realized I had made a huge blunder in bringing Chris here. Oh s.h.i.+t! I think Ive really f.u.c.ked it up this time.

"Honey, you remember Blackie Blackstone?"

"Yes, of course." Meg replied.

I looked at the two women, so stern and rigid, and then Megs accusing eyes told me that I should play along. I wasnt sure why, but it seemed the best thing to do at the moment, considering I was hoping she would do the same for me.

"And this is Chris Livingston."

Chris held out her hand and Meg took it into both of hers, looking at her as if she were looking at Saint Mary herself.

"Its a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Livingston." She said with actual affection in her voice.

"Please, call me Chris."

"Chris is the reason Im here today. She would like your help, Ms. Bonner, in finding this womans family." I scrolled through my cellphone, to the picture of the movie poster. While she looked closely at it, Chris began telling her everything she knew about Norma, which admittedly, wasnt much.

I noticed that Chris kept glancing over at Meg, who had positioned herself behind Frankies desk. Suddenly, Chris stopped talking and turned to her.

"Do I know you, Ms. b.u.mgartner? You look so familiar to me"

"I have that type of face." Meg replied with a smile.

Chris repeated Megs last name, "b.u.mgartner, b.u.mgartner. I knew a b.u.mgartner once in middle school. She was my best friend and we used to sleep over at each others houses."

Chris stood up and began talking about her best friend, her hands accentuating her words. "Her name was Bonnie, and her big sister use to tease me all the time, and... and oh my G.o.d," Chris grabbed my arm to steady herself and I could feel her trembling when she said, "youre her, arent you? Youre Bonnies sister."

You could have heard a pin drop, it was so quiet in that office. Perhaps because three of us had our mouths hanging open and our eyes wide with surprise. Only Meg had a panicked look on her face, as if she had been caught in the headlights of a speeding car. After a brief pause, she nodded her head.

"Oh my gosh, Meg, how is Bonnie? Ive love to see her again, maybe catch up on old times."

Chriss eyes had already transposed her into a kid again, with the antic.i.p.ated excitement of seeing her old friend once more. But I watched as Megs eyes turned from panic to sorrow in a heartbeat. She crossed her arms as if to s.h.i.+eld herself and walked over beside her wife.

"Bonnie was killed by a drunk driver when she was sixteen."

The way she bluntly stated it, and the way she looked at me with such contempt, I thought I was going to throw up. I knew I hadnt cause the tragic death of her sister, I had never hurt anyone when I was drunk, except maybe emotionally. But it was as plain as the nose on her face that she was as much as blaming me for it. That explained why she was so dead set against me, and why she was so over protective of Chris.

"Oh no... oh my G.o.d, Im so sorry, Meg." Chris jumped up and hugged Meg, who opened her arms to her.

It was obvious that no one knew what to say next. Im not sure why, but I took it upon myself to step out on that cliff, and jump off.

"Did they catch the b.a.s.t.a.r.d?"

Meg looked at me queerly, as if I had struck a nerve that didnt need to be pinched. And Chris turned her head away, putting her hand to her stark white cheek.

"Yes, I caught him and he spent several years in prison for his crime, which was not enough."

"You caught him? How old were you then?" Frankie asked, slipping her hand into Megs.

"I was twenty, and I navely thought the cops would catch him, but they had nothing to go on, since it was a hit and run. I followed up on a few clues, camped out in a few bars, and finally overheard a man talking about how he was afraid to go home, because his wife was going to kill him when she saw the dent in their car. Apparently he had been in Memphis for a week long convention. After I cold c.o.c.ked him a few times, he came clean. If I could have, I would have broken every bone in his body and let him live with the pain."

"Im impressed. I mean that you solved the case so fast?" I said as a genuine compliment.

"I was motivated." She replied snidely.

"Yes, of course. Im sorry, I meant no"

"Dont worry about it, Ms. Blackstone."

This was not going well. Maybe if I led the conversation back to the reason we were there.

"I am sorry for your loss, no matter what you might think of me." That was so not what I meant to say.

Chris wiped the moisture from her eyes and looked at me, "I dont understand, Melinda, what do you think she thinks of you?"

"Well, apparently my reputation got here before I did, and as you know, and I recently learned, my rep is why some people in this room wont trust me." I nudged Chris playfully with my shoulder and she smiled back at me.

"Yes, but youre changing your reputation, arent you? Thats why were here today, right?"

"Exactly right, Chris. So, do you think youll be able to help us, Ms. Bonner?"

"Yes, I think so. Do you have a recent photo of Ms. Shelby?"

"Sure, let me show you." I took the cellphone from her and scrolled to the picture of Chris, Norma and I.

She looked at it closely, enlarging the picture with her two fingers, apparently studying the background, more so than Norma.

"My goodness."

"What? Something wrong?"

"In the background, do you see it? The Tiffany lamp in the corner and the painting on the wall, thats a van Gogh. I cant be sure, but the bookcase looks to be mahogany. And see that doll there?"

She tilted the phone towards me so I could see better.

"Thats a vintage 1930's s.h.i.+rley Temple doll."

"Nice." Was the only thing I could think of to say about an old doll with curly hair.

"Nice? That doll alone is worth a thousand dollars. That Tiffany lamp is probably another thousand. And can you imagine what the van Gogh is worth if its an original?"

I looked at her questioningly; again not sure what she wanted me to say.

"My hobby is antiquing. Ive spent many an hour at the antique shows and estate sales. In fact, what you see in my office are antiques that I acquired from estate sales."

"So then you know what youre talking about."

She smiled and nodded her head.

"Why would an old lady, who apparently has wealth of a sort, want to live in a dump like that?" I asked out loud before I remembered that Chris also lived in that same dump."

"Because thats her family," Chris offered, "Thats all she has left to show for her life."

"Um, Im sorry about the dump crack, Im sure your apartment is perfectly lovely inside."

Chris laughed, "No, you were right, it is a dump."

"As long as you have a roof over your head, right Chrissie?"

It was a side to Meg that I hadnt seen yet, the playful big sister side. I liked it. Chriss eyes welled up again, but this time, they were happy tears.