Death of a Suitor #18

Chapter Three

Myrtle said, "Let's get over there."

"I think she's already called Red," said Miles.

"Maybe we can beat him there. At this hour, he's probably already in the bed. It'll take him a minute to get his uniform on."

Sure enough, as Miles drove Myrtle away, Red's police cruiser was still in his driveway.

Miles said as he drove, "She sounded pretty upset. I think she called me totally reflexively."

"It's just as well you broke up with her, Miles. Because why was she over at Jax's house to begin with?"

They pulled up to a brick ranch-style house that was on the lake. Eloise was sitting on Jax's front steps, her head in her hands. She jumped up and hurried over as soon as she saw them arrive. When Miles stepped out of the car, she threw her arms around him while Myrtle watched through narrowed eyes.

"I knew you would come, Miles! Oh, it was awful. Just terrible. Jax was always so full of life and there he was, lying on the floor, no life at all in him." Eloise burst into tears.

Myrtle, never a fan of tears, hastily rummaged in her huge purse for a pack of tissues which she thrust at Eloise. "Was his door unlocked?" she asked.

Eloise took a tissue and blew her nose. "Umm . . . yes, I think so. Yes, it must have been because I don't have a key and I wouldn't have been able to get in, otherwise."

Before Myrtle could ask more questions, Red pulled up, his lights going. Myrtle gave an exasperated sigh.

Red jumped out and hurried over. "You okay?" he asked Eloise and she nodded, still sniffing. He turned to Myrtle. "Mama, somehow I'm not too surprised to see you out here."

"Eloise called Miles," said Myrtle with a shrug.

Red turned to go in the house, fishing his phone out of his pocket as he went.

"He'll be calling the state police," said Myrtle. "I do hope it's Lieutenant Perkins that they send over." She turned to Eloise. "Now tell me exactly what you saw."

Eloise said sadly, "Well, I was going over to see Jax. Just a short visit, you know. He's sort of a night owl and I couldn't sleep because I have a sort of messed-up schedule." Her eyes flashed and she gave Myrtle and Miles disapproving looks as if they were completely responsible for her lack of sleep. Myrtle regarded her coolly.

"I understand that you and Jax are . . . friends?" asked Myrtle.

Miles looked miserably at the ground.

"Well, I suppose we're a bit more than that." Eloise had the grace to blush. "Although we don't always get along perfectly. Does anyone?"

"Why didn't you sometimes get along?" asked Myrtle quickly. She was trying to fit in as many questions as she possibly could before Red came over and ruined everything.

"Oh, you know. Jax annoyed me because he didn't like my baby."

Myrtle looked blankly at her. "Your grandbaby?"

"No, my little dog, Bingo. You've met Bingo, haven't you, Myrtle?"

"I've only seen pictures," said Myrtle crisply. "So he wasn't a fan of your dog. Was there anything else?"

"Not really. I mean, Jax was mostly fun to hang out with. He loved going out. Not everyone does." She gave Miles a reproachful look and Miles sighed and looked at his car, clearly wanting to be back in it as soon as possible.

"It sounds as if he was out quite a lot. You and he were spotted having lunch together." Myrtle's voice was pointed.

Eloise blushed again. "I suppose we were. But that's the way Jax was. He loved going to the movies or out to eat. He didn't want to go by himself—why would he?"