In spite of the stressful day, I was in a great mood by nightfall. After a long bath, I was feeling relaxed and flicked on the radio. I took my time getting ready for the evening ahead and set the mood with some music. Never one for a soft melody, I momentarily wondered if the loud volume would cause a raised eyebrow from my neighbors. Dismissing the thought, I had a one-man dance party as Ricky Nelson and Elvis serenaded me with their catchy tunes. When it was time to go, I soaked up the light perspiration and flushed cheeks with my trusted Pan-Cake make-up and thanked Max Factor for allowing me to keep my face respectable while having a little fun.
I arrived at six o’clock. The Mariner’s Whisper was the best dinner club in town. I could feel the energy wafting through the door as I approached, with upbeat jazz music setting the tone, and Clifford Brown’s trumpet adding a little sass to my step. I peered over the crowd waiting to be seated and saw that Ava, Mary, and Jo were already here. I didn’t wait for an escort, making my way to our regular table, available to us whenever we dined there, as long as we gave a little notice.
When the head chef was murdered a few years earlier, the four of us helped the police solve the case. The standing reservation was a way to say thank you. It was the best seat in the house, located on the raised level that gave a panoramic overview of the whole restaurant. Needless to say, it inspired us to come back regularly. Since it was my birthday, we’d agreed to make a night of it. I could see as I approached that the tone had already been set with dimmed candles sitting in the middle of the table, and lovely smiles all around. I grinned in anticipation of the night ahead and opened my arms to virtually embrace my three best friends, each looking her best.
Before I was close enough to voice a hello, an unexpected sound grabbed my attention from a nearby table. It was a gasp. I wouldn’t have paused my intended path had the woman who uttered the sound not looked so terrified. I turned to see where her attention was focused. A jolt shot up my body and my hands shot up to cover my mouth. All thoughts of my birthday were abandoned as I rushed back to help Walter Wiggins, who’d just stumbled into the restaurant, screaming for help. By the time I reached him, the band had stopped playing. His loud cries were the only sound now detectable as people instinctively backed away silently, the lifeless body of Barbara draped across his arms, covered in blood.
Walter was shaking from head-to-toe. A sense of determined calm kicked in as I locked eyes with him momentarily and I recognized his raw fear and panic. I leaned in and gently cradled my hand under Barbara’s neck. Her eyes were closed but there was a welt near the back of her head, seeping blood.
I tried to guide Walter’s attention by pressing on his shoulder firmly. “Walter, Walter, do you remember me? I’m Isabelle Walsh. I need you to gently and carefully lie Barbara down.”
Although he failed to respond verbally, he did his best to follow my instructions. He bent down on one knee and laid her across the floor. I crouched down on the other side and swept matted hair off her face. I looked up and saw the restaurant owner, Harriet Smith, standing nearby. I was relieved to see her pale yet calm face. Her attention was focused on me. “Harriet, I need you to see if there is a doctor here.”
She turned around and called out for a doctor or a medic. A man near the back of the restaurant stood up, raising his hand. She requested his presence, and he made his way over, obviously unaware of what had happened until he was almost on top of us. As he did so, Harriet instructed a nearby waiter to call the police.
The doctor told everyone to back up and give him space. I gently pulled Walter to his feet as the doctor knelt down to examine his unexpected patient. A basic check of Harriet’s vitals told him what he needed to know. He looked up at me, his lips pressed tightly together, and shook his head back and forth. He confirmed what I already knew. Barbara Wiggins was dead.