Marja McGraw - Bogey Man 02 - Bogey's Ace in the Hole Read Online Free

ladies to go with me.
    “If you think so,” May said.
    “Are you sure?” Lila asked.
    “ Yes.  Can you give me a ride to our house so I can pick up my car?  Chris and I rode to work together.”
    “I have a better idea,” Jasmine said.  “We’ll give you a ride to Addie’s house and wait in the car for you.”  Oh, this woman was sharp.  One way or the other they planned on accompanying me.
    I glanced at Chris, looking for an out, and he pulled on his ear lobe before breaking out in a big grin.  He thought it was funny.  Since my back was now to the women, I rolled my eyes at him and mouthed the word thanks .  He very subtly nodded his head at me.
    I glanced down at my long green dress.  It was satiny and floor-length with a low back and flowing sleeves, not exactly what I wanted to wear to interview someone.  But it was getting late and there wasn’t enough time to run home and change.  I grabbed a sweater off the coat rack in my office.
    “Let’s get this show on the road, ladies.  Time’s a wastin’.”
    They gathered their purses and sweaters and led the way through the restaurant.  Chris and I followed.
    “Be sure to ask the neighbor if she thinks there might be any way Addie left with the goon this morning,” Chris said.  “Oh, and take a look inside her car.  Maybe there’s something in it.”
    “Yeah, yeah.  I know all the right questions to ask.  And I already planned on looking at the car.  Trust me, Bogey Man.”
    “Oh, I do, sugar.  I really do.”  He gave me his best Bogey grin and gently slapped my…  Well, that’s between me and Chris.
    “You’ll take the dogs home and check on Mikey, right?” I asked.
    “ Constance is at our house with Ace tonight, so we know he’s okay, and I wouldn’t forget the dogs, would I?”
    Chris had given Mikey the nickname of Ace because, well, Mikey liked it.  It was part of the forties jargon that Chris used so often.
     
    “Of course not.  Sometimes it just makes m e feel better if I’ve said it.  Besides, I know Mikey is fine when he’s with Constance.”  Constance is my friend and babysitter.  She’s been a lifesaver for us because she genuinely cares about our son, and Mikey stays with her while we’re at the restaurant.  Sometimes he stays at her house, and sometimes she comes to our home.
    I caught up to the Church Ladies who were waiting for me by the front entrance.
    “I sure like the way your husband talks,” Lila said.
    “Me, too,” May added.
    Jasmine smiled in agreement.
    “He’s quite the character,” I said.  “He’s a good man, and that’s what really counts with me. And I have to admit that he sure does keep life interesting.”
    We reached Jasmine’s car, a light green 1951 Chevrolet, and waited while she unlocked it.
    “Chris has an older car, too, similar to this one,” I said.  “It’s a light green forties vintage Chevy.  When the Bogey Man drives down the street wearing his fedora, he draws quite a few interested stares.”
    “I’ll bet he does,” May said.  “I’d bet for just a split second people forget the actor is gone and that Chris takes them back in time.”
    “I’ll bet you’re right,” Lila said.
    “Now, ladies, that’s enough betting for one evening,” Jasmine said.
    “O h, it’s only a figure of speech.  Lighten up, Jaz.”  May didn’t seem to be intimidated by Jasmine.
    I found the relationships between the se women very interesting.  I hoped that when I was their age I’d have a friend, or friends, that I’d feel as close to as they were to each other.
    It took about half an hour in Friday night traffic to reach Addie’s place.  I was glad to see the lights were still on at the houses on each side of the darkened home.  I thought I might talk to the neighbor who saw Addie, and then the other neighbor, just in case they’d seen something, too.
    Jasmine parked her car at the curb and switched off the ignition.
    “Which house does the neighbor