Line Dancing Can Be Murder (12 page)

I began to think back to the times she’d put others’ needs and desires before her own. There were many examples I remembered, which was commendable, but I couldn’t help but ponder whether she’d been doing the same thing for the past ten years by living with Eddie without a wedding and marriage certificate.

“How come you never told me all this about Adam before?” I asked.

“I don’t know. I thought I had, or that you knew. The six of us didn’t have many secrets between us back then, did we?”

Maybe not then, but I was certain Kim was keeping a secret from us now.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

“What kind of a tour company gives a tour of Deadwood without stopping at the cemetery where Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are buried?” That was Donna grumbling, after we’d stepped down from the trolley that showed us some of the hot spots around the historic South Dakota town.

“The kind of a tour company that Kevin Costner owns, I guess,” replied Barb. “Why do you think we were taken to the Midnight Star Casino? Because he owns the bar and restaurant, that’s why. They just wanted us to spend money on lunch and drinks. More money in his already deep pockets.”

“I did enjoy seeing the costumes he’s worn from his movies displayed in the glass cases that way,” Winnie said.

“I would have preferred being immersed in the history of the area,” Donna said. “This was Indian and gold prospecting country. That tour focused on the casinos and gift shops.”

“Nobody let Crystal into a casino,” Kim said, teasing our friend. “Remember what happened in Vegas?”

“What happened?” Barb asked.

“It wasn’t pretty, that’s all I’m saying.”

“You want history?” I said to Donna, pointing to Saloon Number 10. “This is where Bill Hickok was shot while playing poker. You want to go in?”

“Of course!” Donna pushed through the door, not waiting for the rest of us.

“You guys see all the history you want,” Jackie said. “I’m going shopping. There looks to be some cute boutiques on this street.”

“I’ll come with you,” Kim said. “I haven’t gotten anything to take home to Eddie yet.”

“I want some earrings made from Black Hills gold,” Crystal said.

“What about you, Annette?” I asked. Her anxiety level had increased since her birthday. I’d noticed her digging into her purse more often for one pill or another, but I hadn’t had a chance to get her alone to talk since Yellowstone. “Want to go in and see where Wild Bill met his demise?”

She shrugged apathetically. “Sure. Why not?”

Our three friends waved goodbye and strolled down the sidewalk to check out the gift shops.

“I’m pooped,” said Winnie, limping toward a bench shaded by the side of a building. “Think I’ll rest here a while.” She removed a tissue from her purse and wiped perspiration from her face. “It’s gotten warm out.”

Barb joined her on the bench and motioned us on. “I’ll sit with Winnie and rest my feet. You girls have fun. We’ll see you later on the bus.”

Before we entered the saloon, I pulled Annette aside. “Are you okay? Is there anything you want to talk about? Ever since your birthday, you’ve been acting weird. I’m your friend. You can confide in me.”

The muscle in her jaw twitched. “Can’t you get it through your thick head, Teresa? I don’t want to talk. I just want to forget about it.”

“About what?” I prodded, ignoring the bite in her voice. When my question got no reply, I took the more direct approach I was known for. “Does your change in behavior have something to do with Keith?”

The truth showed itself when her mouth twisted into a grimace. “Just leave it alone, will you?”

“No, I won’t. If he hurt you or made you do something you didn’t want to do, we need to tell somebody. The tour company, or the police.” I grasped at straws trying to get her to open up, because I knew guilt and shame when I saw it. As she stood there with her mouth clamped tight, all I could think about was how I’d like to castrate that devil for whatever he’d done.

Annette grabbed my arm, and her long nails felt like claws when they dug into my skin. “Like an idiot, I got drunk and behaved badly. I’m to blame. Now drop it, Teresa.” Her breath hitched, and she shoved me through the door of the saloon.

I knew her dysfunctional home life may have started to affect her decision making, but she wasn’t to blame for whatever had happened between her and Keith. With every new revelation that slipped out of the mouths of my friends, I realized Keith was a predator of the worst kind. My heart beat out an angry staccato.

It didn’t take long to walk through Saloon Number 10 and view the slot machines, gaming tables, and the spot where Hickok apparently met his maker with the assistance of Crooked Nose Jack McCall. When we exited, two actors dressed like gamblers from the 1800s stood on the curb and offered to pose with us for photos. Annette, Donna and I handed our cameras to a stranger passing by and jostled for spots between the longhaired men. The one I stood next to put his arm around my waist and squeezed my love handle.

“Don’t smile,” the actor with a bushy mustache said. He kind of reminded me of Phil. “Look mean. Nobody smiled in Deadwood in the 1800’s.”

We all pursed our lips as the man snapped a picture with each of our cameras. “Thank you!” we said in unison, when he returned out cameras. “Goodbye,” we called to the actors as they sauntered toward the next group of vacationers.

I glanced at my watch. “We have two hours to kill before we have to be back on the bus. What do you ladies want to do first?” I asked Donna and Annette. “Eat, gamble, or shop?” Before they could answer, my cell phone rang. It was Crystal asking if we wanted to meet them for lunch.

“Jackie has some news,” she said.

“Good or bad?” I feared she’d gotten word that Milton had died.

“She’s not thrilled,” Crystal said, “but Kim and I are excited.”

Could that response have been any more cryptic? I had no idea what was going on. When we reached the restaurant and joined them at a table, Jackie looked pissed, like someone had told her the mansion, the cars, and all of Milton’s money had gone up in flames.

“What’s up?” Donna asked.

“Madison’s engaged,” Jackie said. “She called me on my cell about thirty minutes ago.”

Madison was Jackie’s daughter from her second husband. She was a recent college graduate and had been dating a boy for two years that she’d met at school. They were both good kids, as far as I knew. Madison spent as little time as possible with Jackie, and when she did, they butted heads. But I figured that was typical of a girl her age. It was a good sign that she’d called her mother to give her the news rather than let her find out through the grapevine.

“Congratulations!” I said.

“That’s not all,” Crystal said, looking like the cat that slurped up all the cream. “Looks like there’ll be a wedding at the mansion before the leaves turn colors.”

“A fall wedding? Why so soon?” Annette’s eyebrow arched.

Jackie slapped her hand on the table. “Stupid girl is pregnant. She’s ruined her life now for sure. I should know. I’ve been there, done that, as we all know.”

“Come on,” Kim said, calmly. “Madison isn’t stupid. In fact, I think she’s a very intelligent young woman who knows her own mind, and her heart. Her fella loves her, you’ve said so yourself. They’re going to be fine. Both of them are college graduates. They’ll make a great home for their baby, your grandchild. Think of it, Jackie. A baby! I’m so happy for them, and for you!”

My gaze landed on Kim and then shifted to Crystal. Unlike me, the two of them had wanted children. Conflicting emotions of joy and regret crossed their faces.

Jackie placed her head in her hands and whined, “I’m not old enough to be a grandma.”

The five of us gazed at each other. Whether we’d admitted it out loud or not, each of us worried about what getting older meant in the scheme of life, love, and sex. This vacation was supposed to have helped us accept the inevitable with grace. I wasn’t sure any of us had evolved to that point yet. In fact, it seemed the opposite had taken place. The perfect storm of insecurity coinciding with meeting Keith had spiraled into a tornado, apparently leading to choices that made my friends feel worse about themselves, not better. I felt to blame since coming on this trip had been my idea.

“Yes, you are old enough,” I said quietly, but firmly. My hand slipped over Jackie’s. “And I pray, when you get over the shock, you’ll wear the title of grandma like a badge of honor. A baby is something to celebrate, not to regret.” My gaze moved around the table. “I’ve been thinking. It would do us all good to make the Serenity Prayer our mantra. Do you know it?” I didn’t wait for anyone to answer before reciting it. “Oh, God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” I paused for effect. “The moral is, we should all stop fretting about the things that are beyond our control, like growing older, and be content. We’re only turning fifty, for God’s sake. We’re not stepping into the grave!”

After a few moments in which Jackie blew her nose and dabbed at her eyes, the rest of my friends nodded at each other. Jackie straightened up in her chair. “How’d you get to be so damned smart, anyway, Teresa?”

“Must be all that brain food I eat,” I joked. They all knew I loved my junk food.

~ * ~

Later, Wayne drove us toward Rapid City, our stop for the night. It had been a long and tiring day. After watching a short video about Mount Rushmore, nearly everyone on the bus was napping. The chorus of snores and soft whistles didn’t bother me. My own eyes were closed, and I was about to drift into a sweet dreamland when I sensed a presence nearby. Then I smelled Keith’s cologne and heard him address Kim in a low murmur. She was sitting in front of me, also in the aisle seat. I pretended to be asleep while perking my ears.

“I saw you in the gift shop today,” he whispered. “When you were looking at the jewelry.”

“So?” she whispered back.

“I don’t think you understand, Kim. I
saw
you,” he repeated.

What was he up to now? I wanted so badly to open my eyes and tell him to crawl back into his hole and leave my friends alone.

“It’s none of your business,” she said quietly. “I’ve asked you to leave me alone.”

This was the second time I’d overheard a similar conversation between them.

“It’ll be police business if I decide to give them a call.” He paused for effect, and I could almost hear Kim’s breath leave her body. “We need to talk,” he said. “Tonight.”

I opened my eyes just a crack so he wouldn’t notice and saw him stuff a slip of paper into her hand before returning to his seat behind Wayne.

Once, when we were basking in the afterglow of an enthusiastic romp, Phil had asked me, if I could have any super power, what would it be? He brought up silly stuff like that at the most inappropriate times, but that was part of his charm.

Right then, as I speculated as to what Keith’s note to Kim said, I sure wished I had the ability to see through objects. Unless I didn’t let Kim out of my sight for the rest of the night, there was no way I’d learn what was going on with those two. I might have been regarded as a superhero by my friends, but I sure didn’t see how I was going to pull that one off.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The Straw That Broke The Camel’s Back

When I woke up the next morning, a deep chill enveloped my body like I’d been sleeping in a snowdrift. It was the last day of our tour before flying home tomorrow, and a sixth sense told me the day wouldn’t end well.

“I can’t believe our vacation is almost over,” Donna said, while applying makeup in the bathroom mirror.

“Have you had a good time?” Trying to shake off the icy thread winding its way up my spine, I held two shirts up and debated which to wear for our outing to the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mount Rushmore.

Donna zipped up her makeup bag and ran a brush through her hair. “Yes, I have,” she said, answering my question with a smile. “It’s been wonderful. I’m so glad you suggested it and that I spent the money to come. It’s been worth every penny. Thank you.”

Making my wardrobe decision, I slipped the pink tee shirt over my head and stepped into the bathroom to collect my toiletries. Now seemed like the perfect time to bring up the conversation we’d had a few days ago about her finances. “Remember when you told me Keith was helping you sort out your financial issues and you said you’d tell me more details at the end of the week?”

She nodded and began brushing her teeth.

I tossed our damp towels into a pile on the floor and wiped the counter with a tissue while waiting for her to finish with her teeth. When she did, I said, “Well, it’s the end of the week.”

Donna walked into the bedroom and calmly, silently re-packed her suitcase. She’d always had a knack for ignoring a person if she didn’t want to talk. Even if she didn’t want to discuss this subject, there wasn’t much she could do to get away from me. I could be a pit bull when I wanted to be, and I was prepared to block the exit door with my body if she tried to escape before answering my question.

Finally, she snapped her suitcase shut and sat on the bed. She laid her hands in her lap and fiddled with her wedding band. I sat next to her, breathing deeply and feeling I was about to hear another disclosure that would make me want to ring someone’s neck.

“The thing is,” she began, “Keith told me about this job that will give me the opportunity to earn extra income. He has a couple of women friends who are involved, and he assured me the pay is almost too good to be true. The best part is there’s no experience necessary. I just have to dress nice, be friendly to the client, and behave in a certain way.”

My temper sparked. “Donna! Is Keith a pimp? Tell me you’re not desperate enough to turn tricks!”

Her eyes enlarged. “What?” When her shock ebbed a moment later, she laughed and slapped my arm, a little harder than I thought was necessary. “You dummy. I’m not going to start hooking. Have you ever heard of mystery shopping?”