A Case of Imagination Page 22

  The ever-efficient Cindy provided me with Percy’s address and phone number.

  When I hung up with Cindy, Evan said, “What’s this about a missing videotape? I heard something about it at Deely’s this morning. Does it have anything to do with Juliet?”

  The news was traveling faster than I’d hoped. “That’s what I’m trying to find out.”

  “You don’t think Percy was responsible?”

  “I’m checking all possible angles.”

  Evan had a new handkerchief which he used to wipe his brow. “Good lord. I hired Percy on Chuck Hofsteder’s recommendation. If it turns out he had anything to do with Juliet being killed—” His voice quit.

  “I don’t see how any of this could be your fault, Evan.”

  He took a deep breath. “No. You’re right. I’ve got to stop blaming myself. Thank you. Madeline, on a brighter note, I’m thinking of coordinating the Miss Little River Pageant next month. I hope you’ll stop by and give the girls some encouraging words.”

  Encouraging words like, Get out while you still can.

  “Oh, Jerry, are you available to play the piano? The music director at Little Falls has no sense of rhythm.”

  “I don’t know,” he said.

  “The pay is very good.”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “Do you mind if I look around?” I asked.

  “Not at all.”

  Jerry and I went backstage. “Damn,” I said, “somebody’s cleaned up.”

  “They can’t have gotten all the sequins.”

  “You’re right. Sequins are hard to kill.”

  “Here’s one.”

  Jerry found three, and I found one more. I compared them to the one he’d found in the Laytons’ cabin. “We have a match.”

  Back at the car, I punched in Percy’s number. “Let’s see what Percy has to say about ‘Barbie Does Celosia.’”

  Percy’s fruity voice on his answering machine informed us that he was currently unavailable but would return our call as soon as possible. I left my cell phone number and a message:

  “Percy, this is Madeline Maclin. I’ve just seen an interesting independent film starring Kimberly Dawn Williams. The audio could stand a little tweaking. Any suggestions?”

  “Now what about Chuck Hofsteder?” Jerry asked when I hung up. “How does he figure into all this?”

  “We can pay Chuck a little visit and find out.”

  “This doesn’t involve breaking into another house, does it?”

  “I thought you liked living on the edge.”

  We didn’t have to break into Chuck Hofsteder’s house. He was out mowing his lawn and grateful for the opportunity to stop.

  He waved us up to his front porch, where he took a swig of water from a container on the steps. “Come on up. I was just about ready for a drink. Get you folks anything?”

  “No, thanks,” I said. “I’m hoping you can answer some questions about Percy. How do you know him?”

  “Oh, he does lots of pageants. I’d seen his work at the Miss Cornflower Pageant in South Pines and thought he’d be perfect for Miss Celosia. It’s a shame things didn’t work out.” He took a big gulp of water. “Are you still investigating Juliet’s murder? Do you think Percy’s involved?”

  “I’m just trying to figure a few things. You’ve known him a while, then. Did he know any of the other judges?”

  “They’d heard of him, of course, but this was the first time any of us had actually met him. I didn’t really know him before.”

  “And what was your impression?”

  “Oh, the man’s immensely talented, too talented for our poor little pageant, I’m afraid. I don’t blame him for getting frustrated with our girls.”

  “Is that all he does, choreograph pageants?”

  “I believe he’s involved with other talent shows, dinner theaters, things like that.”

  “Movies?”

  “Oh, yes. Yes, he’s a pro. It’s too bad he wouldn’t stay, not even for Juliet.” He coughed, embarrassed. “Dear me, I can’t say her name without choking up. Are you any closer to solving this, Madeline?”

  “I may be,” I said.

  ***

  We left Chuck still gulping water and sat down in the car.

  “You ought to take the accompanist job,” I said.

  “Not if I’m busy with the B&B.”

  “You’re going through with it?”

  “Sure, why not?”

  “There are lots of things you could do with music. One of the churches might need an organist. I think Celosia has a community band.”

  Jerry gave me a look I couldn’t quite interpret. “I’ll take up the piano again if you’ll start painting again.”

  “I don’t know about that.”

  “Tell me you haven’t thought about it. I can read minds, you know.”

  “Okay. Maybe a little.”

  “You can be a detective and an artist, you know.”

  “It’s just—I don’t know how to explain it.”

  “You don’t have to, Mac, not to me. Forget the ultimatum. Take up your artwork if and when you want to. The upstairs parlor will wait for you.”

  But will you wait for me? A strain of song from Paul Bunyan suddenly came to mind. Some meet early, some meet late, some like me have long to wait. How much longer was I going to have to wait? I had to say something now. I had to let Jerry know how I felt, or I was going to lose him to Olivia and her damned bed and breakfast.

  “Jerry.”

  He turned to me.

  I can do this. It’s easy. I just say, you are my best friend in the whole world, and I want our relationship to become something more. I think it will work. I know it will work.

  My cell phone beeped.

  It was Percy, full of gush. “My dear Madeline, how nice to hear from you. I was outside deadheading my roses and just missed your call. I’m wondering how in the world you managed to find Kimberly Dawn’s audition tape.”

  “Audition tape?” I exchanged a baffled look with Jerry.

  “Yes, yes,” Percy said. “You realize, of course, this is a delicate situation and has to be handled just right.”

  I thought he was talking about Kimberly Dawn’s reputation in town. He wasn’t.

  “If I submit the tape now without proper music and lighting, she’ll never get one of the top spots, and you know Kimberly Dawn. She won’t settle for second best.”

  “Percy, what are you talking about?” I asked.

  “‘The Naked Review.’ Surely you’ve heard of it.”

  “‘The Naked Review’? No.”

  He made a tsking sound. “I forget, you’re out of the loop. ‘The Naked Review’ is the next step in Kimberly Dawn’s illustrious career. The series of videotapes is famous for its ex-beauty queens. She’ll be a sensation. But we can’t peak too soon. That tape is a rough draft, if you will, of the spectacle it will become.”

  “Did anyone else know about this tape?” I asked.

  “No. We filmed the whole thing one weekend when Val was away.”

  “Is this the only copy of the tape?”

  “Yes. So for heaven’s sake, don’t lose it. Have you called her? She’ll want it back, I’m sure.”

  “I’m pretty sure she knows I have it.”

  “Good. Just have her call me, and I’ll fix it up.”

  “One more thing,” I said. “Did you suggest this to her, or was it her idea?”

  “I mentioned I had connections with the ‘Naked Review’ if she was interested, and she was. We had several talks about it. She was especially interested in directing, creating more exotic scenarios, looking for new talent. I told her I could help with that.”

  “Did you mention your ‘connections’ to any of the contestants?”

  “Good heavens, no. I’m not interested in underage girls, no matter how mature they may act. I’m not going there. Now, if that’s all, I have to go. Good-bye.”

  He hung up. I faced Jerry, who�
�d been wide-eyed since I’d mentioned “Naked Review.” “Percy’s a scout for a series of X-rated videos. Kimberly Dawn took him up on his offer. He had several talks with her. Maybe Juliet overheard—” I realized I, too, had overheard something, something I’d dismissed as a pageant problem. I would have to mention that at my next talk with Kimberly Dawn.

  “What do we do now?”

  “We should probably check the secret passageway for clues.”

  When we got back to the house, Austin and Denisha were sitting in the front porch rockers.

  Austin hopped up. “We came to watch ‘Super Spy,’ if that’s okay.”

  “We didn’t go in the house,” Denisha said.

  “Okay,” Jerry said. “Let’s watch TV.”

  The clue hunt would have to wait. I didn’t want the kids involved in any part of this mystery. I sat out on the porch and read more of The Monsters of Spider’s Rest. Portia and her evil followers intended to sacrifice Tylin in a cult ritual. Juliet had underlined Portia’s warning to Tylin. “You must wear black and come to the clearing by the river. There you will die. It’s the only way you can save your loved ones.” The story continued with brave young Holly Dark saving Tylin from the Star Worshippers who met in that clearing. She had the help of Tylin’s pet monsters, who unfortunately died in the rescue attempt. I had just finished the climactic scene when my phone beeped.

  Shana’s worried voice said, “Madeline, I need your help. Hayden’s disappeared. He locked Prill in the house and went into the woods.”

  I heard Prill’s voice in the background. “Impudent young bounder!”

  “Did he see Portia again?” I asked.

  “I don’t know. Prill, did he say anything about Portia?”

  “He said she told him to wear black and come to the clearing,” Prill answered.

  “Shana,” I said, “I think I know what’s going on. I’ll be right there.”

  I didn’t want to leave Jerry, but I didn’t want to leave the kids, either, or drag them along into the forest. “Jerry, Hayden’s wandered off, and I’ve got to go help Shana find him. Just be careful.”

  “It’s okay,” he said. “You have to find Hayden before anything happens to him. If we see anyone, we’ll run hide in the passageway like super spies.”

  “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  ***

  Shana met me on her front porch steps. “Prill’s already looking. We think Hayden may have headed toward the Laytons’ cabin. That’s in a clearing.”

  “Is there a clearing by a river?”

  “Well, there’s one near the creek.”

  We hurried into the woods. “I’d hate to try to stumble around here in pitch darkness,” she said.

  “How far is this clearing?”

  “Not far.”

  Shadows lengthened as we ran through the trees. In the fading light, I could easily see how Hayden’s imagination put ghosts and creatures lurking around every turn.

  Shana spoke over her shoulder. “Madeline, please tell me what’s going on.”

  “I think Hayden’s acting out a scene from a book, a horror story.”

  “But what’s he going to do?”

  “I don’t know.” In the story, the hero was almost killed by the evil cult. Could Juliet’s killer be out here, waiting for victim number two? I didn’t say this out loud. Unless Juliet had been a member of a secret cult, another attack didn’t seem likely. Still, Hayden didn’t need to be wandering in the woods, not in his confused state of mind.

  We found Hayden standing in the middle of the clearing, looking around as if dazed.

  Shana embraced her husband. “Hayden, are you all right? Answer me.”

  Hayden’s eyes refocused. “Shana?”

  “Yes, of course it’s me.”

  Prill’s voice sounded from a distance. “Where are you, you miserable little cur?”

  “I thought you were—” He looked from me to Shana and then to Prill, who arrived on the scene, panting. “Wait. This can’t be right. What am I doing out here?”

  I took his arm. “We need to get you back to the house.”

  Prill took his other arm. “Allow me.”

  With me on one side and Prill on the other, Hayden could walk. “I’m all right,” he said.

  “You are not,” Prill said. “What do you mean by locking me in the house and running off into the woods? I had to go all the way around through the dining room windows! Do you see this hole in my cape? You’ll pay for this. Idiot. What were you doing, gathering nuts?”

  Shana’s voice shook. “Don’t ever do this again, do you hear me? You can have all the ghosts you want.”

  “No.” He stopped and we had to stop with him. “You’re all I want.” He kissed her and would have gone on kissing her if Prill hadn’t made loud annoyed snorts.

  “Good heavens, man! Did anyone ask for an overt display of affection? You need help.”

  “He needs to see the book I brought him,” I said.

  ***

  Back in Shana’s living room, we settled Hayden on the couch and let him read The Monsters of Spider’s Rest. Halfway through, he began to tremble. Shana put her arms around him.

  “It’s all right. It’s just a story.”

  “I know,” he said. “I can’t believe—this is such a relief.” He wiped his eyes. “Thank you, Madeline.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Where did you find this book?”

  “Juliet Lovelace had it.”

  “Juliet?”

  “Juliet was Portia. She took lines from this book and did her best to make your nightmares come true.”

  He shook his head in disbelief. “But why?”

  “I think she was trying to get back at you for reading her poem to the class.”

  “What? But it was a beautiful poem.”

  “Do you remember how the class reacted?”

  He frowned in thought. Then his expression changed. “Oh, my God. I remember now. I didn’t understand why the whole class laughed. I tried to tell her it was a wonderful poem and she shouldn’t be embarrassed.”

  “I hate to say it, but that probably made things worse.”

  “I can’t believe I was so stupid.”

  Shana gave him another hug. “It’s okay, You didn’t know.” There was the sound of someone clearing his throat, and Shana grinned. “Prill wants to speak to you. Are you ready?”

  Hayden managed a weak smile. “Not particularly.”

  Prill glared. “I heard that! Stand aside, Madeline. I want to smack this impudent young bounder for putting us both through hell.”

  “Now how did I put you through hell?” Hayden asked.

  “I was locked in your house! I was desperately trying to find my way out to come to your aid! And look at this hole in my cape! Do you know what it will cost to return it to its former glory?”

  “Thanks for your help,” Hayden said.

  Prill shook his finger. “Kind words will not pacify me, sir! If we hear one more word about a ghost, any ghost, we will lock you up and throw away the key.”

  “All right.”

  This took most of Prill’s steam. “Well,” he said. “All right, then. What exactly did you see?”

  He rubbed his eyes. “I’m not sure. I was in my office trying to write, and I must have fallen asleep. I could’ve sworn Portia came in. It must have been a dream.”

  Prill shook my hand. “Congratulations, Madeline. You have just successfully busted your first ghost.”

  Shana gave Hayden another hug. “You’ve got to stop trying so hard.”

  “I’ll have a word with you later,” Prill said as he exited.

  “And I’ve got to get back home,” I said. “I still have one more mystery to solve.”

  ***

  I didn’t recognize the car in the driveway. I did recognize the woman who let me in the front door.

  Kimberly Dawn Williams said, “I believe you have something that belongs to me.”

  Th
e TV was still on, but there was no sign of Jerry, Austin, or Denisha. I prayed they were either hiding in the passageway or miles from the house by now. “I might.”

  “Let’s be civilized about this, Madeline. I know you have my videotape. I’d like to have it back.”

  “You wouldn’t mind answering a few questions first?”

  She made a small gesture, inviting me to sit down on the sofa, every inch the gracious social hostess. “Not at all. In fact, I have a few questions for you. Shall I go first?”

  “Please do.”

  “Where did you find it? I’ve been looking everywhere for it.”

  “Val mailed it off by mistake.”

  “My goodness.”

  “Why were you using his studio?”

  “Benjy told me last year that Val had set up a studio. I asked Val if Percy and I could use it, and he said yes. But how did the tape get back here?”

  “The company that makes bat documentaries returned it when they saw it wasn’t exactly what they needed. Did Val know what kind of film this was?”

  “Oh, you’ve seen it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, you understand then why it must be kept secret. Even though she’s dead, it wouldn’t be right to let such a tape exist.”

  “‘She’?”

  “Juliet, of course. Didn’t you recognize her?”

  I had to keep myself from rocking back in surprise. Juliet. Good lord. “The tape is of you.”

  She looked startled. Then she waved her hand as if this didn’t matter. “Good heavens, don’t tell me it’s one of mine.”

  It was my turn to be startled. “There’s more than one?”

  “Well, it’s not something I advertise here in town, but I have a little mail order business. It’s just a hobby, really.”

  I wasn’t sure how many more of these revelations I wanted to hear, but there was something I had to know, no matter how queasy it made me feel. I realized now why Jerry and I had found fancy lingerie hidden at the Laytons’ cabin. “So you introduced Juliet to the Wonderful World of Porn.”

  I saw that she wanted to deny it, but knew that it was too late. She patted her helmet of hair. “My goodness, Madeline. You make it sound so sordid. She wanted to get into the business. She knew she didn’t have anything going for her except her looks, and she intended to use them any way she could.” She tried a light little laugh that didn’t work. “That girl thought she was hot stuff, but her first effort was actually a bit comical.”