Bayou Busybody: Miss Fortune World: The Mary-Alice Files, #2

By Frankie Bow

Sinful's newest resident, Mary-Alice Arceneaux, is thrilled when Gertie introduces her to famous romance author Almira Galvez-Whitbread. But then Gertie and her friends have to leave town, and the very next day, Almira's husband disappears. With Gertie, Fortune, and Ida Belle gone, Mary-Alice finds that she's Almira's only friend...and that Almira's storybook marriage had been far less perfect than advertised. By the time Mary-Alice realizes she may be in danger, she's already in too deep. Now she has to find out what really happened to the faithless Geoffrey Whitbread--and prove she has what it takes to be a real Sinful Lady. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: J&R Fan Fiction
• Release date: Aug 18, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386845515

Frankie Bow

Frankie Bow teaches at a public university and writes two mystery series: The Professor Molly Mysteries, and licensed works in the Miss Fortune World. Unlike Professor Molly, Frankie is blessed with delightful students, sane colleagues, and a perfectly nice office chair. She thinks if life can’t be fair, at least it can be entertaining. From the author: Thank you for taking the time to read this book. If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends and posting a short review. Word of mouth is an author’s best friend and much appreciated. Sign up for Island Confidential, Frankie's mystery newsletter, at subscribepage.com/ProfessorMolly

Book preview

Chapter One

MARY-ALICE ARCENEAUX awoke to the happy whirring and banging of construction in her kitchen. The crew liked to show up early, while it was still cool. Mary-Alice could scarcely blame them. The old Cooper place sat right on the bayou, and by mid-morning, the humidity was nearly intolerable. Mary-Alice was not in the least put out that she couldn’t use her kitchen. It gave her an excuse to stroll over to Francine’s Diner for breakfast.

Mary-Alice had recently moved to Sinful, Louisiana, and so far she was pleased with her decision. She had come from Mudbug, about an hour’s drive away. Mudbug had two restaurants, a roller rink, and its own historical society. But Mary-Alice was ready to leave the hustle and bustle behind. To stop and smell the swamp lilies, if you will.

Mary-Alice’s one disappointment had been her cousin Celia. Celia was a lifelong resident of Sinful, and Mary-Alice been looking forward to having family nearby.  But Celia had just been elected mayor and was busy with her new duties. Fortunately, Mary-Alice had no trouble making new friends. She was agreeable and curious and above all, a good listener.

Celia did not approve of Mary-Alice’s new friends. This did not trouble Mary-Alice; Celia disapproved of most people. 

Francine’s Diner was a short walk from Mary-Alice’s front door. Mary-Alice had already made the trip several times. Francine’s served excellent food and was the only dining establishment in town. She spotted three of her new friends sitting at a booth near the back. Gertie, Ida Belle, and Fortune still had their menus on the table, meaning they hadn’t yet placed their order.  Mary-Alice hesitated by the front counter before anyone noticed her. Mary-Alice’s mother had taught her so well how to be ladylike, she was practically invisible. Even her sequined tennis shoes and henna-red hair couldn’t make her conspicuous. If one did happen to notice Mary-Alice, the impression was of a festively-decorated mouse.

Gertie noticed Mary-Alice first and waved her over to their table. Like Mary-Alice, Gertie and Ida Belle were in the prime of life (that is to say, on the sweet side of seventy). The third woman (girl, really), was the grand-niece of their late friend Marge. She was visiting from the Northeast to take care of her aunt’s estate. Her name was Sandy-Sue Morrow, but everyone called her Fortune.

Fortune Morrow was an odd one, even for a Yankee. She was a children’s librarian, with none of the serene temperament one would expect. She crackled with a pent-up energy that reminded Mary-Alice of a downed electrical line. She used military-sounding phrases like Alpha Mike Foxtrot instead of goodbye. When she met someone for the first time, she gave them the up-and-down as if she were sizing them up. Mary-Alice concluded Fortune had read a few too many spy thrillers in her spare time.

What’s good today? Mary-Alice picked up a menu. From the way the women’s conversation had stopped cold, she suspected they had been talking about her cousin Celia.

Everything, Fortune sighed. I can’t decide.

That’s why we need a plan of attack, Ida Belle said, I get the strawberry waffle. Fortune, you get the ham and biscuits with redeye gravy, and Gertie’ll order the shrimp and grits. And now Mary-Alice is here, we can order one more.

Gertie brightened.

The crab Benedict! Is that alright with you, Mary-Alice? Then when Almira shows up, if she shows up, there’ll be plenty for all of us.

Of course. The thought of so much food made Mary-Alice feel overwhelmed, but she was happy to be included in the breakfast plan. And who was Almira? As much as Mary-Alice enjoyed the women’s company, their conversation often made her feel like she’d missed an entire reel of a movie.

Good. It’s settled.

Ida Belle waved Ally over to place their breakfast order. Ida Belle was bossy, but in a good way. She got things done.  Ida Belle was the chief of the powerful Sinful Ladies’ Society, a cabal of widows and old maids who more or less ran the town of Sinful. Gertie was Ida Belle’s second in command.

Fortune’s role was a little harder to figure out. She was too young to be an official member of the Sinful Ladies’ Society (the minimum age was 40). And while the SLS officially forswore the company of men, Fortune seemed to spend a lot of time with the handsome deputy sheriff. 

Who’s Almira? Mary-Alice asked when Ally had taken their breakfast order.

A writer friend of Gertie’s, Ida Belle said. She’s coming to Sinful with her family.

A writer? How exciting! Mary-Alice clapped her hands. How long is she staying?

She’s not visiting, Gertie said. She’s moving here.

Mary-Alice noticed Fortune’s worried expression. She was probably imagining Gertie’s friend was a Russian undercover agent or something. Well, it was no crime to be peculiar, thank Heaven. Because if it were, Mary-Alice had several harmless acquaintances who would be behind bars.

Here she is now. Almira! Gertie stood and waved.

A solemn-looking woman with a bleached-blonde pixie cut glanced around Francine’s lunchtime crowd. Her tense features relaxed when she caught sight of Gertie.

Ally came hurrying over with a fifth chair and scooted it over to the end of the booth. 

Morning, ladies. We met at the A.R.E.A. conference, right?

Yeah, I remember you, Ida Belle said.

Nice to see you again, Fortune added.

What’s the area conference? Mary -Alice asked.

The American Romance and Erotica Authors conference, Gertie explained. Ida Belle snorted, and Fortune suppressed a smile.

That sounds so exciting. Mary-Alice’s circle had expanded to include another writer. Who knew the tiny town