Mary Daheim - Silver Scream - A Bed-and-breakfast Mystery

“Good for him,” Judith said on a bitter note. “I just

wish he wasn’t staying at Hillside Manor.”

“It’s only two nights,” Renie soothed. “Look at it as

an adventure. A big-time Hollywood producer. Glamorous stars. A famous director. It’ll be like having

Oscar night in your living room.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Judith said, making her

way to the door. “Glad you’re not dead. See you tomorrow night.”

“I’m coming to help at five,” Renie announced. “I’ll

change into my tree suit later.”

“Goody,” Judith said in a lifeless voice. “Maybe I’ll

turn into a pumpkin.”

“Hey!” Bill called after her. “ I’m wearing the pumpkin!”

Judith glanced back at the orange glop that littered

the kitchen. “You mean, you were.”

*

*

*

22

Mary Daheim

An hour later Judith arrived at Hillside Manor with

fourteen grocery bags and an entry on the debit side of

her checking account for almost four hundred dollars.

“What are you feeding?” Phyliss asked as she put on

her shapeless black raincoat. “An army?”

Judith gazed at the paper-in-plastic bags and shook

her head. “The problem is, I don’t know how many

will come here after the premiere and the costume ball

at the Cascadia Hotel. Most of the movie people are

staying at the hotel. But Mr. Zepf had one of his staff

members send me a list of what he’d like served at the

midnight supper party. I don’t want to run short. He’s

also been shipping some things that I wouldn’t be able

to find here in town.”

Phyliss gave a toss of her gray sausage curls. “More

money than sense,” she declared. “What’s wrong with

meat and potatoes? As for all this shipping, at least two

more express trucks showed up today. There may have

been another one, but I was upstairs and my lumbago was

giving me fits, so I didn’t bother myself to come down.”

Judith eyed Phyliss. “Are you sure?”

“No, I’m not sure,” Phyliss answered crossly. “I’ve

no time for all this fancy-pants stuff. It’s gluttony, if

you ask me. That’s one of the Seven Deadly Sins. I

wonder how many of the others they’ll commit while

they’re here.”

Judith winced, and based on past history, hoped

murder wasn’t one of them.

The doorbell rang at precisely five o’clock. By that

time Judith had finished organizing and storing the

groceries. Feeling nervous, she hurried to greet her

first guests.

SILVER SCREAM

23

The middle-aged couple who stood on the front

porch didn’t look much like Hollywood to Judith. In

fact, they seemed more like Grant Wood, or at least his

famous painting of American Gothic . The thin sourlooking woman with her fair hair pulled back in a bun

and the balding gaunt-faced man needed only a pitchfork to complete the image.

“May I help you?” Judith inquired.

“You sure didn’t help us before,” the woman asserted, “so I don’t expect you can help us now.”

The voice sounded familiar, but Judith couldn’t

place it. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand. This is a B&B.

Have you been a guest here on a previous occasion?”

“Hell, no,” the man responded in a deep bass. “We

tried, though.”

“We need to find the place where they put us instead,” the woman said. “Some fool sent the directions

to your B&B instead of the one we got changed to.”

“Oh!” Judith exclaimed in relief, noticing what appeared to be a rental compact car out in the cul-de-sac.

“You must be the Izards. Of course, come in, let me

figure out how you can get where you’re going.”

City maps and guidebooks were kept at the registration desk in the entry hall. Walt Izard showed Judith

the address of the substitute inn, which was located

about four miles away, near the zoo. She gave him directions while Meg Izard wandered around the big living room.

“I’d like to check out your place,” she declared, returning to the entry hall. “I want to make sure we’re

not getting cheated in case this other B&B isn’t up to

snuff. We’d stay with my brother, Will, but his place is

too small.”

24

Mary Daheim

“Well . . .” Judith hesitated. “All right, but don’t take

too long. My guests are due at any moment.”

Meg gave a snort. “Movie folks, right? Think

they’re big stuff. Bunch of phonies, if you ask me.”

Judith hadn’t asked, so she didn’t comment. “The

guest rooms are on the second floor. They’re unlocked

at present, but please just take a quick look. I have to

stay downstairs.”

“Will do,” Walt replied in the deep voice that

seemed too large for his skinny frame.

Judith stayed by the front door, but the phone rang

just as the Izards disappeared around the corner of the

second landing.

It was Alice Kidd, the wife of the other displaced

couple. “We’re at Cozy Fan Tutte,” she said, “and I

wanted to let you know it’s not nearly as nice as Hillside Manor.”

Judith knew the establishment, which was located

north of the university. It was a veritable stately mansion, Georgian in design, and featured amenities not

possessed by Hillside Manor, including a sauna and a

whirlpool.

“That’s very kind of you,” Judith said, hearing the

Izards’ footsteps overhead. “I’d love to have you come

to Hillside Manor again. I can’t say how sorry I am

about the inconvenience.”

“I suppose,” Alice Kidd said in a slightly wistful

voice, “the filmmakers have been given a warm welcome.”

“They’re not here yet,” Judith replied, jumping

slightly as the back door banged open. “Excuse me,

Mrs. Kidd, but someone has just arrived. Remember us

the next time you visit the area, and enjoy your stay.”

SILVER SCREAM

25

Clicking off, Judith saw Renie charge out of the dining room. “I’m here. Where’s Hollywood?”

“They’re late,” Judith noted, glancing at her watch,

which told her it was almost five-fifteen. “They probably got stuck in Friday rush-hour traffic coming from

the airport.”

“Probably,” Renie remarked, opening the oven. “No

appetizers?”

“No guests,” Judith said. “I’ll wait until they arrive.

Hey, what are you doing here? I don’t need help until

tomorrow night.”

“Yes, you do,” Renie insisted, pointing a finger at

her cousin. “You’re already twitching. You’re agitated,

uneasy, even a little scared. Hollywood descends upon

Hillside Manor. You have to be nervous.”

“I guess,” Judith admitted, “I am.”

“So,” Renie said, extending her arms in a gesture of

goodwill, “I’m at your disposal.”

“But what about dinner for Bill and the kids?” Judith inquired.

“Incredibly,” Renie said, removing a can of Pepsi

from the fridge, “Bill informed me that the kiddies are

making dinner tonight. Very brave of them.”

“It would be,” Judith said dryly, “if they were still

kiddies. But since they’re all in the thirtysomething

range and still living at home . . .”

Renie waved a hand. “Don’t remind me. They’re

merely a bit slow to develop a sense of independence.”