The Darling Dahlias and the Confederate Rose

“But maybe you don’t have to do that now,” Lizzy said. “Tonight, I mean.”


“You’re wrong, Liz.” Verna shook her head emphatically. “I didn’t take that money. But somebody needs a fall guy, and I’m convenient. Until the real thief is found, I’ll always be a suspect in some people’s minds. And in the meantime, I’m out of a job—and my bank account is likely to be frozen.” She turned to Coretta. “Coretta, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but we don’t really need a spy. What we need is for you to go to Musgroves and get a copy of that new key. Then—”

“Actually, I did that already,” Coretta said, sounding smug.

“You did?” Verna asked, surprised. “Why?”

Below the bandana, Coretta’s mouth turned down. “Well, to be honest, I’ve been known to lose a key every now and then. So I thought it would be a good idea to have a spare. I don’t intend to let Mr. Scroggins know I copied it. But I don’t mind telling you, Verna. In fact, I don’t mind showing you.” She groped around blindly. “Where’s my handbag, Liz?”

Lizzy handed her the bag and Coretta felt inside. Finding a key, she held it up. “This is what you’re asking for?”

“You bet!” Verna jumped off the bed and snatched the key. She sat back again, the bedsprings creaking. “Liz, on second thought, let’s take that blindfold off. It must be uncomfortable for Coretta.”

“Oh, but I don’t think—” Lizzy began. She still wasn’t convinced that Coretta was on the level. But Verna gave her a meaningful look and she got the point. It was impossible to judge Coretta’s sincerity when her eyes were covered and they couldn’t see the expression on her face. She got up to do as Verna asked.

“Oh, thank you!” Coretta exclaimed, as Lizzy untied the knot and pulled the bandana off. She looked around, blinking against the light and rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand, smearing her mascara. “Whew! What a relief. That feels so much better.”

Verna leaned forward. “I want to thank you for the key, Coretta. It’s going to come in handy.”

“Oh, but I didn’t mean for you to have it,” Coretta protested, frowning. “I just meant to show it to you.” She held out her hand. “I’ll need to have it back. Mr. Scroggins made it very clear that I’m not supposed to—”

“No to that, Coretta.” Verna waved off her gesture and put the key under the pillow. “I’m keeping it. And this way, you see, you don’t have to be involved at all. I can go to the office at night by myself and—”

“But I want to be involved!” Coretta’s tone was earnest. “And I can help, too. You may want different ledgers. I know where they are and I can get them for you. I’ll save you time. I’ll be useful. You’ll see, Verna. I’ll be a big help.”

Lizzy felt a shiver of apprehension and her suspicions—which had never been entirely eased—ratcheted up another notch. Coretta certainly sounded sincere, but why was she so anxious to get involved in something that didn’t concern her? What if she really was a double agent? What if she was helping the sheriff or Mr. Scroggins set a trap?

Verna was silent for a moment, considering. Then she spoke. “Since you feel that way about it, Coretta, let’s do it tonight.”

“Tonight?” Coretta asked uncertainly.

“Verna,” Lizzy said, “I really don’t think—”

“Tonight.” Verna sat forward on the edge of the bed, her eyes intent. “Let’s get it over with—the sooner the better, don’t you think?”

“But I wasn’t expecting—That is, I didn’t plan to—” Coretta swallowed and looked away. “Actually, I promised Ted I wouldn’t be out late this evening. So if you don’t mind, I’d prefer to put it off. How about tomorrow night? That would really be better for me. Much, much better. I—” She stopped, looking from one of them to the other.

Lizzy thought there was a cornered look in her eyes, and with good reason. If Coretta was on the up-and-up, it shouldn’t matter to her when they did it. If she was a double agent (to use Verna’s term), she would want time to set the trap—that is, to notify whoever she was working for. Since they couldn’t be sure of Coretta’s loyalty, they ought not to give her that chance.

“I agree with Verna,” Lizzy said emphatically. “There’s no time like the present, you know. Better that we do it tonight, while everybody’s thinking that Verna has gone to Nashville.” Unless, of course, it was too late, and Coretta had already passed the word that Verna was still in Darling. She glanced at Coretta, but there wasn’t a flicker of expression on her pretty face. It betrayed nothing.