Six Cats A Slayin'

“Not so fast, Deirdre dear,” Gerry said, more coolly than I would have thought possible. “You don’t want to make an enemy of me, I promise you. I know a lot about you, don’t forget that. Some people think they’re so much better than anyone else when they really aren’t. Think about how your society friends would react if they knew some of the things I do. Wouldn’t do to let some of those things get around, now would it?”

Deirdre whirled around, her face white. “Don’t try to threaten me. My society friends wouldn’t listen to a word you say about me. I couldn’t care less what you’ve heard from the type of people you probably know intimately.” Her lip curled. “Too intimately, I imagine.”

Gerry’s expression hardened. “Why don’t we test my little theory, Deirdre? Introduce me to some of your society friends. If you play nice with me, maybe I won’t destroy your reputation after all.”

“You can go to hell.”

With that, she turned and came toward the door.

Helen Louise and I were frozen to the spot for a moment, but before we could decide what to do, Gerry’s mocking laughter halted Deirdre in her progress.

“If you know what’s good for you, Deirdre darling, you won’t leave the room until I’ve finished what I have to say to you.” After a brief pause, during which Deirdre didn’t move, Gerry continued. “I have a proposition for you, and it’s to both our advantage, so listen up.”

Helen Louise and I exchanged glances. I knew we were both thinking that we should have walked away before now. This was none of our business. Accordingly, we both stepped back from the door and turned toward the front of the house. I could see Stewart still making his way through the crowd in the hallway, evidently intent on reaching us. We moved forward to meet him.

“Finally,” he said, when he stood only a couple of feet from us. “I’ve been looking for you two and

for our hostess for the past five minutes or so.”

“Is there a problem?” I asked.

“No,” Stewart said. “Haskell has to be up early in the morning, and we’re going home. Thought you should know, and of course, I wanted to thank Gerry for inviting us.”

Helen Louise responded hurriedly. “I think Gerry’s pretty busy at the moment with another guest. We’re not ready to leave yet, and we’ll be happy to express your thanks to her. You can always write her a note later.” She smiled.

Stewart’s gaze narrowed as he regarded us. “Okay, you two, what’s going on? You can’t fool me. What have you heard?”

“Nothing to worry about,” I said in a firm tone. “Y’all go on home. We won’t be far behind you.”

A voice from behind us gave me a start. “Would you mind moving out of the way? You’re blocking the hall.”

“Sorry,” I said, and moved aside.

Deirdre Thompson brushed past me, her face set in angry lines. She continued to push her way through the hall.

Stewart stared after her briefly, then turned back to Helen Louise and me. “Whatever it was must have involved Deirdre. Who was she talking to that you overheard?” Then he appeared startled. In a low voice he said, “Never mind. Here comes Gerry.”

I turned, as did Helen Louise. Gerry came up to us, her hostess’s smile in place. “I hope you’re enjoying yourselves this evening. Be sure to have more champagne. There’s plenty of it.” She nodded and walked on past us.

“She looks pretty satisfied with herself,” Helen Louise said. “You wait here. I’m going to the restroom.” She headed back toward the den and the bathroom connected to it.

“Why does Gerry look satisfied with herself?” Stewart demanded. “Were she and Deirdre having an argument?”

I knew Stewart would continue to pester me, so I might as well go ahead and tell him now. I gave him a short summary of what Helen Louise and I had witnessed. Feeling guilty at my behavior, I concluded by saying, “We should have walked away immediately, of course. It was a breach of good manners to stand there and watch, but the temptation was too great to resist, I guess.”

“Yes, it was.” Stewart winked at me. “But life would be pretty dull if no one ever eavesdropped. I wonder what on earth Gerry knows about Deirdre that’s blackmail-worthy. Fascinating idea.”

Over Stewart’s shoulder I saw Haskell coming our way. Not far beyond him, headed toward the front door, was a man who looked like Billy Albritton from the brief glimpse I had. He disappeared through the door, and then I wasn’t sure I had seen the councilman after all. Probably someone who looked a little like him.

Haskell tapped Stewart on the shoulder. “Where have you been? I’ve been waiting at the door, and I saw Gerry go by, into the dining room. Did you speak to her?”

“No, I didn’t,” Stewart replied. “It doesn’t matter. Charlie and Helen Louise will express our thanks. Let’s go home. See you in the morning,” he said to me.