The Once and Future Scream Queen: Marlene Ambrosia Mysteries Read online

  “Dead fish keep floating to the surface.”

  Marlene felt sick to her stomach as the image of the lake came to mind. She could picture the murky water and the sand and the trout and pike and sunnies belly-up near the surface, their eyes dead.

  “That’s awful. How does the mayor get away with this?” Marlene asked. “He’s been ignoring the environment for years.”

  “I know, right?” Ganny laughed sardonically. “He’s blaming the factories upstate, of course. You know, it’s never his fault. He’s claiming they’re polluting the water and it’s running down here into our basins. The guy is so full of it.”

  Diamond Lake. Marlene and Ganny had been swimming there forever. Mom had taught them how to swim there when they were little. She remembered barbecues and volleyball games and kissing Jimmy Tunnington and that time Artie had challenged everybody to a race across the full width of the lake—and winning by a wide margin.

  Typical Artie.

  Marlene filed the information away. She and Artie would be sure to use it during the campaign. As a matter of fact, Artie should start speaking about the environment now in Council meetings …

  “Well, that’s a shame about the race.” Marlene felt bad for her sister. Exercise was the only thing Ganny showed any commitment to, so missing out on her favorite race was kind of a big deal. “At least we can still go out to dinner. I’ve been looking forward to it because I feel like we don’t do that enough.”

  Ganny sipped her coffee. Judging by how quickly she was talking, Marlene figured it was her third, probably fourth, of the day.

  Ganny spoke in a rapid-fire cadence: “Uh, you mean Saturday?”

  “That was supposed to be the day of the race, and that’s when we always have dinner.”

  “Oh.” Ganny made an apologetic face that was credible enough. “See, since the race was cancelled, I figured you wouldn’t want … see, I already told Percy I’d go to the St. Patrick’s Pub Crawl over in Philly …”

  Since Ganny constituted Marlene’s only social life, she was in for another weekend at home. Oh well. She could get that window fixed, or get the garden ready, or …

  Do something. Anything.

  Marlene tried to hide her disappointment. “Sounds like fun. Have a good time.”

  Ganny made a squirmy face. “You’re not mad?”

  Marlene had long ago stopped getting mad at Ganny for being wishy-washy or outright breaking promises to get together because it had become such a normal occurrence.

  “No, you go have fun with Artie.”

  Ganny gave her a look. “Percy.”

  “That’s what I said, Percy.”

  “Marlene, you said Artie.”

  “I did not.”

  “Are you sure you two …?”

  “NO!” But as Ganny asked, Marlene pictured Artie in his suit. He was a really good-looking guy. And it seemed like his heart was in the right place. She glanced over at the corner table.

  Artie and Jill were deep in conversation, with a tape recorder on the table between them. Jill told Marlene they were “going to be a while” so Marlene headed out.

  ***

  After two quick client meetings, Marlene went to the library. She needed a break from reading on her computer and figured hard copy books would be a nice change of pace.

  She found a few historical texts about Britain during Arthur’s time and a couple collections of the various legends. Settling into the chair, she started reading and before she knew it, was totally absorbed.

  Arthur’s Britain was an environment that had undergone radical change. The Romans had ruled the South up to Hadrian’s Wall for a time, but slowly, almost inexorably, they were giving the island up to the native inhabitants while back home the Empire experienced significant turmoil. At the same time, the Angles and the Jutes and the Saxons were moving in, trying to seize more land and wealth for themselves. It sounded like a dozen (or more?) languages were being spoken, several of them not mutually intelligible. Religions were clashing as well, as the old Saxon and Celtic gods were proverbially battling with the advent of Christianity. Talk about a time of uncertainty and rapid change. It wasn’t surprising that the people would look for a great leader during this period, and that a great leader would emerge. A strong, thoughtful, and ultimately fair ruler who would know how to bring disparate peoples together.

  When she took a break to use the bathroom, she noticed she was alone in the back. What few other patrons there were had congregated near the front desk.

  Marlene hurried back to her books and flipped through the collection of the various legends she’d found. They varied greatly in plot and characters and theme, but they all agreed on a few key items. The one that stuck out in her mind involved Guinevere’s infidelity with Lancelot, an affair that nearly ruined Arthur and destroyed a great kingdom.

  When Marlene took another break, she discovered that two more hours had passed. It was already after lunch and still no word from Artie about his interview with Jill. She sent reminder emails to her clients, making sure to personalize all of them and reminding Glen he’d committed to exercising four times a week.

  She got an angry response from him immediately:

  Herniated a disc in my back trying that new workout you suggested. Now I need injections and possibly surgery. Consider this my notification that your services are no longer required.

  Marlene frowned. Just like that, she’d lost another client.

  Had she been giving out poor advice since Artie had come home, because she hadn’t been fulfilling her destiny?

  It was the only explanation that made sense. You didn’t suddenly stop being good at something.

  Fortunately, she didn’t have any other appointments, so Marlene figured the next best thing would be to network online. She put the books on the cart designated for re-shelving.

  “Merlin.”

  Her blood froze. She knew that voice and it chilled her to the bone.

  Turning around, she saw the man who was always dressed in black between the stacks. Looking past him, she saw only darkness. The lights had gone out. Or he had somehow turned them out.

  “No one will hear you,” he snarled.

  Marlene reached into her pocket for her cell phone.

  “It is time for you to die.”

  He stepped toward her, and Marlene pulled her phone out. Pointing it at him, she imagined that it was a sword and the phone morphed into a long, slightly curved steel blade.

  “Come any closer and you’ll regret it.”

  The man who was not a man stopped in his tracks and held his hands out. “You still possess Excalibur.”

  Her cell phone was Arthur’s mythical sword that gave him power to rule? She didn’t believe it for a second. But that wasn’t important. What was important was this dark sorcerer believed it.

  Her deadly foe continued. “One day soon you won’t have that sword anymore. And when that day comes, you will have no defense against me. I am a sorcerer and you are no wizard.”

  Marlene held the sword out farther. “Wizardress. Thank you very much.”

  He smirked. “Your owl won’t save you. All his insignificant friends won’t save you. The Merlin will die by my hand. Or should I say, the Merline?”

  “Marlene.” Though she was terrified beyond belief, Marlene bravely took a step forward. She wasn’t going to be intimidated by this guy. “My name is Marlene. Remember it. Because I’m not afraid of you.”

  He laughed. “You are a liar, and a bad one at that.”

  She remembered some advice she loved to give clients. Stop reacting, and start acting. “Why did you kill Gwen O’Vear?”

  He looked at her strangely. “Why would I?”

  “Now who’s the terrible liar?”

  He smiled. “This is going to be easier than I thought.”

  “You were there that morning. No one else there had any reason to kill her.”

  “And what was my reason?”

  “I’m going to find
out so the police can lock you up and throw away the key.”

  “Foolish woman.” He laughed. “Do you think a lock can hold someone as powerful as me?”

  She got a chill. “I’ll find a way to get you.”

  He took a step forward, shocking her. His chest was an inch from the tip of Excalibur. If she wanted, all Marlene had to do was flick her wrist and this man would be dead. He had tried to hurt—no, kill her—already and he had killed Gwen O’Vear.

  Probably.

  But something held her back. She had never hurt a soul before in her life. Marlene helped people. The worst she’d ever done was push Carrie Moss on the playground in fifth grade because Carrie was tormenting the new girl in class.

  The man laughed again. “Coward.”

  “You killed Gwen,” she said, trying to sound like there was no doubt in her mind. “And I’m going to make you pay for it.”

  “You obviously know nothing of the histories,” he said. “Why would I kill Gwen O’Vear?”

  “You’re evil. And you want to kill me.”

  His finger touched the tip of the blade. The tip of his finger began to dissolve. He pulled his hand back and buried his injured finger inside his opposing palm. A cloud of purple smoke formed around his hands.

  “Excalibur cannot kill me.” He smirked. “Remember that tonight, when you are trying to sleep.”

  It took everything in her power not to shiver.

  “Now.” He was still smirking. “What reason did I have to kill Gwen?”

  “You’re evil. That’s reason enough.”

  “Evil is determined by point-of-view,” he said. “The weak often see the powerful as evil, for merely doing what they themselves would do if only their situations were reversed. I can see this is going to be fun.”

  The cloud of smoke circling his hands now disintegrated, and he held out his injured finger. Only it wasn’t injured anymore.

  “Am I supposed to be impressed?” she said, trying to hide how impressed she was. Marlene was supposed to be the next Merlin, a great sorcerer, and she had no idea how to do that. Yes, she had changed her phone into the legendary sword Excalibur twice now but the first time had been a fluke and this time had been more luck than skill.

  “You cannot kill me, for I am already dead.”

  “Dead things don’t bleed,” Marlene said, but her resolve was flagging.

  He laughed. “You know nothing. If you did, you would realize Gwen is more useful to me alive than dead. But you’re too foolish to see that.”

  “Why?”

  He shook his head and frowned mockingly. “I can see you are going to be no challenge at all. Pity. The others will look at my victory as hollow.”

  She got another chill. “What others?”

  “Two men that morning wanted Gwen dead,” he said. “And that is the truth.”

  “You and who else?”

  He laughed again. “I am not one. But Tom Gelder is the other.”

  It was Marlene’s turn to laugh. “Tom’s not the friendliest guy in the world, but he wouldn’t kill Gwen.”

  “Like I said, you know nothing of your histories. See you soon. Marlene.”

  With a flourish and a turn of his body, the man disappeared. The lights came back on, and Marlene realized she was pointing her cell phone at one of the library assistants.

  “Marlene? Is everything okay?”

  “Yes.” She pulled her cell phone back and smiled. “Uh, just trying to get a signal.”

  Twenty

  Marlene called Ganny from the car. She didn’t trust what this guy had told her, but still it made sense to ask a few questions on the off-chance he wasn’t lying to her.

  “Hi, this is Ganny.”

  Marlene normally didn’t care about this, but she was still on edge from the attack in the library. “Ganny, you have caller ID. You know it’s me.”

  “Well, good afternoon to you too.”

  Marlene let it go. “I heard this rumor and wanted to get your thoughts.”

  “Ohhhh, a rumor? I’m all ears.”

  “Somebody told me they think Tom Gelder killed Gwen O’Vear.” Marlene tried to sound neutral in relaying the information so she didn’t influence Ganny’s answer.

  “Who told you that?” Of course Ganny would want to know.

  “That’s not important.” Marlene changed ears with her phone and looked around. She was still spooked and imagined that guy coming for her from around every corner. “What do you think?”

  “You know Tom’s daughter?”

  Marlene couldn’t think of her name. “Not really. She lives with her mother in …”

  “Margate.”

  “What’s her name?”

  “Alison.”

  “What do you think?”

  “Alison wanted to be an actress, so Tom reached out to Gwen for help. This must have been five or six years ago.”

  “What happened?”

  “The rumor is Alison was up for a small part in a movie but Gwen torpedoed her.”

  “Wow.” Marlene shook her head. Maybe there was something there. “Why would she do that?”

  “The rumor is that the mayor was somehow involved and Gwen did it for him.”

  “The mayor?” Marlene’s head was spinning. Now this was sounding more and more plausible. “What did he have against Alison Gelder?”

  “Probably nothing.” Ganny laughed. “I always assumed he had an issue with Tom and got him back by using Gwen to kill Alison’s career.”

  It wasn’t just plausible. It was likely. Mayor Gant was as vindictive as they came, and she wouldn’t put anything past him, not even ruining a young woman’s chances at her dream job if it meant sticking it to somebody else.

  “So Tom killed Gwen,” Marlene said, thinking out loud, “for his daughter?”

  She could see the mayor being vengeful and spiteful. But as much as she didn’t necessarily like Tom Gelder, she couldn’t see him killing Gwen O’Vear.

  Ganny thought about it. “Well, Alison lost the part and then word got around back here that she couldn’t get one after that. Nobody knows exactly what happened.”

  “What kind of part was it?”

  “Scream queen. Just like Gwen, when she started out. She was the type for it. Tall, skinny, really big—”

  “I got it.” Marlene thought it over. The only far-fetched part about it was Tom Gelder killing Gwen O’Vear. Which was probably the most important part.

  But the more she thought about it … it could have happened. Marlene didn’t have kids of her own, but she knew how protective parents were and that they would do anything—literally anything sometimes—for their children.

  Was it so hard to believe that Tom Gelder, a somewhat nasty guy in general, would harbor a deep grudge against Gwen O’Vear for having such a huge impact on his daughter’s life?

  And the clincher? Tom Gelder knew that Gwen O’Vear was at her office that morning. Gwen had stopped by his store for coffee.

  But the man had said there was someone other than Tom Gelder there.

  “Ganny, can you think of any reason why Mrs. Lee, Andre, or George would have wanted to hurt Gwen?”

  “Nope. Andre and George opened their store after Gwen was already in Hollywood. Mrs. Lee’s children were out of school long before Gwen and you and I can’t think of any other connection they would have. But you’re forgetting someone.”

  “Who?”

  “Your lover boy.”

  “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

  Ganny let out an exasperated sigh. “Artie, duh! They dated in high school.”

  “Ganny, that was twelve years ago.”

  “She cheated on him with Lance and there were always rumors …”

  “Like what?”

  “Like she got pregnant.”

  “What?” She’d never heard about that.

  “Yep. A lot of people think that’s why Artie joined the service. To get away.”

  Marlene found herself g
etting angry at the cynical attitude toward Artie Ryan. “Or, he wanted to actually serve his country.”

  “Aw, you’re kind of cute when you get mad and protective.”

  “Ganny, he’s not …” Marlene let out a deep breath. It was better not to engage than to argue. “Anyway, thanks for the tip on Gelder. And listen.”

  “Uh-oh. Unsolicited advice coming up.”

  Marlene had never understood why the people that needed advice the most were so loath to take it. “Look. I saw this job posting at the library for part-time help at …”

  ***

  That night Marlene sat out front of her house on an old lawn chair to spare Cromwell from going inside and getting his owl’s version of claustrophobia. She also didn’t want him flying into any more windows. Earlier, she’d read about avian mortality and how perilous windows were for some birds.

  Marlene called Artie to check in. “How did it go with Jill?”

  “Great. She asked me some tough questions but I answered them honestly.” She could hear the smile in his voice. “I wasn’t too keen on doing this at first, but I think you’re right. And tomorrow is the big day.”

  “Yes, it is.” Marlene had always hated politics, but for some reason she enjoyed talking strategy with Artie. “Listen, I was thinking some more today. People are very upset about Diamond Lake being polluted.”

  “Terrible, isn’t it? That is such a great place to swim with family and friends.”

  “Yes. You need to hammer the mayor on that, starting tomorrow.”

  “I was thinking the same thing, but do we really want to do it tomorrow?” Artie asked. “I don’t want to dilute the message about the budget by getting into the lake.”

  Marlene thought about it. “How about you tie the—”

  “Two together. Yes, that’s brilliant!” Artie said. “We’ll talk about how we need to add a line item for conservation efforts and environment remediation. There’s nothing like that right now. And it won’t have to be a lot of money, either. For big disasters, we could qualify for federal relief. But for something like this, we need to keep something in the kitty.”