Elvis And The Memphis Mambo Murders by Peggy Webb Read Free Book Online Page B

drastically.
    â€œAt last.” Mama holds her arms out to me. “There you are.”
    For somebody who has just been attacked, she sounds mighty perky. Of course, what would you expect? Nothing intimidates her.
    Hurrying over, I squat beside her bed and inspect her from head to toe. While I’m at it, I take a closer look at Thomas. His eyes are bloodshot and he looks nervous.
    â€œAre you all right, Mama?”
    â€œI will be as soon as everybody quits hovering. ”
    Don’t let Mama fool you. She loves to be the object of outrageous displays of devotion, and everybody who loves her knows it. Nobody leaves their coveted spot beside the reigning queen.
    â€œWhere have you been?” She gives me the once over. “And what’s that on your pants?”
    â€œIt’s water and duck stuff. I was out walking Elvis and found Gloria Divine in the fountain.”
    Everybody in the room starts asking questions except Thomas. Did he not hear? Or did he already know?
    â€œIs she okay?” Mama asks.
    â€œNo. I tried to save her, but it was too late.”
    Bobby makes the sign of the cross in the air over Mama’s bed. “There’s danger everywhere.”
    Fayrene stops rubbing Mama’s feet and strikes a dramatic pose. Washington crossing the Delaware.
    â€œThis business is starting to irrigate me.”
    I’m already irrigated and I’d be irritated, too, but I have bigger things on my mind.
    â€œMama, have you reported the attack?”
    â€œNo. I was waiting for you to get here.”
    I nod at Lovie, who calls the cops.
    This kind of role reversal is not new. Mama bulldozes along telling folks what to do and doing as she pleases until there’s a real crisis, then she relies on me to take charge.
    While I’m assuring myself Mama is okay, Fayrene climbs into the other side of the bed and pulls up the covers.
    â€œWild hogs couldn’t drag me out of here tonight, and don’t you argue, Ruby Nell.”
    Mama doesn’t. For one thing, the night’s almost over.
    â€œWhat happened up here?” I ask.
    â€œI heard the commotion in Miss Ruby’s room,” Thomas bursts in before Mama can answer. “Of course, I rushed right to her aid.”
    Through the connecting door, obviously, which was unlocked and is standing wide open. Did Mama do that, or did he?
    I make a mental note to get to the bottom of the unlocked connecting door.
    â€œI was scratching and clawing and kicking like a wildcat.” Mama sounds proud of herself. “I knocked the phone off and kicked my suitcase off the rack at the end of the bed.”
    â€œThe minute I walked in, whoever was trying to kill Miss Ruby ran out.”
    â€œWhat did he look like?” I ask.
    â€œIt was a she,” Thomas says. “Medium height. Black pants. Or it could have been blue jeans. Longish hair. Black.”
    â€œI don’t think so, Thomas,” Mama says, and he recants.
    â€œWait a minute. Her hair could have been red.”
    â€œAre you sure it was a woman?” I sound like the young cop, second guessing everybody. All I need is sugar on my sweats.
    â€œIt was definitely a woman.” Thomas rams his hands into his pockets and rocks back and forth. “On second thought, it might have been a man. I saw it all and will testify to the fact.”
    â€œMama? Was your attacker male or female?”
    â€œMale. No doubt about it. When he tried to smother me with my pillow, I smelled his aftershave. Old Spice. No woman in her right mind would wear Old Spice.”
    Lovie catches my eye and nods toward Thomas, who is rubbing his chin. What I see gives me chills. If it weren’t for my level head, I’d probably accuse him on the spot.
    â€œMr. Whitenton, you’d better put something on those scratches on your hands.” I’m proud of my even tone. Only Lovie knows I’m barely holding myself together. “How’d you get