A balding gray-haired man who I assumed was Willis bolted up from the chair behind his oak desk, and bellowed, “What is going on out there?”
He strode right past Dolores and me and rushed into the foyer. Marla Mae ran down the stairs, trying to grab the suitcase before it landed at the bottom, which it ultimately did with a loud thud.
“Stupid, stupid girl. You can’t even do a simple chore like carrying luggage up the stairs. You’re done. Fired. Get out now.” Willis was red-faced, and his yelling got louder with each word.
I’d stepped around him and got to the bottom of the stairs at the same time Marla Mae did. We both reached for the suitcase. When I saw the pleading in her eyes I stepped back and let her rescue it. I think we both hoped that would calm Willis down. It didn’t.
He turned to Dolores. “I want her gone. Now.”
“I know you do, dear, but we have guests this evening and I need her to serve dinner.” Dolores sounded like a mother placating a small child in desperate need of a nap.
Willis grimaced, then nodded. “I’ll give you tonight, but”—he pointed to Marla Mae—“that clumsy girl is gone at the end of the week. Is that clear?”
“Very clear, darling. Now let me introduce you to one of my oldest friends. Jessica Fletcher, this is my husband, Willis Nickens.”
I could understand why he was so successful in business. Willis Nickens had the ability to change his entire personality in a flash. He broke into a wide smile, took my hand between both of his, and said, “Dolores has told me so much about you, her old college friend who is now a famous mystery writer.”
“Oh, I don’t know if I would say famous.” When anyone used that word in referring to me, it always made me ill at ease. I tried to change the subject. “You have a lovely home, and from what I have seen the landscaping is magnificent.”
“Thank you. We are delighted to have you as our guest here at Manning Hall. And believe me when I tell you being famous never hurt anyone. Dolores will show you to your room. I’ll see you for cocktails before dinner.” He dismissed us both, reentered his office, and shut the door firmly behind him.
Dolores sighed. “I’m sorry that you saw Willis at his worst, Jess. He demands perfection and really goes off the rails when someone fails to meet his expectations. Marla Mae broke a crystal vase last week and now this . . .”
I put my arm around her shoulder. “Dolores, the important thing is that you and I will have a few days to spend together. Anything going on around us will be only so much background noise.”
I had no idea how wrong I was.
Chapter Two
While she was showing me to my room on the second floor, Dolores told me about the other guests.
“We’ll have three people, neighbors of ours, joining us for dinner tonight. In addition, Norman Crayfield, Willis’s business partner, is here for a day or so, and his room is on this floor. Willis’s son-in-law, Clancy, and my little princess are on the third floor. Abby loves it up there because the old nursery has lots of books and games the previous owner left behind. They are hopelessly old-fashioned but new to her.” Dolores opened a door. “This is your room. I hope you will be comfortable here.”
Sunshine poured through two large windows and danced among the bright yellow daffodils and blue forget-me-nots scattered about the chintz comforter covering a four-poster bed. “Oh, it’s lovely. I’m sure I’ll relax quite easily here.” I ran my hand along one of the bedposts. “This looks like natural cherrywood.”
“You have a sharp eye, Jess. It certainly is. And that door leads to your bathroom.”
“This is certainly far grander than any rooms we ever lived in when we were at Harrison College, isn’t it?” I laughed.
“Absolutely. Do you remember when in junior year our building had no hot water for what seemed like months? And we had to run across campus to Rider Hall to ‘borrow’ a shower!”
I nodded. “I remember it well. I don’t suppose I’ll have that problem here.”
“And you will have as much privacy as you wish. It is one of the things I love about this house. There is so much room that family, guests, and the household staff can all go about their day without tripping over one another.
“Cocktails will be in the living room at six, with dinner to follow at seven. Come down whenever,” Dolores said, then blew me a kiss and left.
I found my suitcase on a luggage rack handily placed between the closet and the bureau. I’d started to unpack when I heard a gentle knock. I opened the door and Marla Mae held out a tray.
“Lucinda—she’s the housekeeper and cook—thought you might like something to eat after your long trip.” She placed the tray on the desk that stood between the windows and removed a cloche to reveal a tempting plate of grapes, berries, and cookies next to a steaming pot of tea.
“Oh my, this is wonderful. I hadn’t really thought about it, but I am more than ready for a strong cup of tea and a snack. Please thank Lucinda for me.”
Marla Mae tucked a dark curl behind her ear. “Sure will. She made those benne wafers fresh this morning. Real Low Country treats, they are. Oh, and she said I should ask if you would like me to help you unpack.”
“Thank you, but I can manage.”
“I suppose you think it’s safest never to let me touch your cases again.” Marla Mae looked forlorn.
“Oh, don’t be silly. Accidents happen all the time.”
“I wish Mr. Willis was as understanding as you are.
