Is That Your Mother-In-Law Under the Bed?: They Thought No One Was Watching

By Barbara Oliver Fletcher

Edna Barnes and Edith Johnson are sisters and widows in their late fifties who enjoy quiet lives together in a double-wide mobile home in a pleasant mobile home park. Things are pretty peaceful for the pairuntil Ednas daughter Ellen shows up, suspicious that her husband of seven years, Roger, is cheating on her.

Edna and Edith jump into action to find out the truth about Roger and his supposed mistress. Edna uses common sense, while Edith relies on her son the police officer as an inside connection. What began as the case of a cheating husband, though, soon turns into the search for a murderer.

When greed, sex, and heartbreak get involved, anything can happen, and Edna and Edith know this all too well. Their initial investigations into Roger turn up evidence that could solve three cold casesand theyre discovering that the adrenaline rush of solving crimes is much more enjoyable than daytime television, bingo, and quilting parties.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abbott Press
• Release date: Sep 18, 2012
• ISBN: 9781458205865

Barbara Oliver Fletcher

Barbara Oliver Fletcher was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, then lived in Brookfield, Massachusetts, for sixteen years until her move to California in 1969. A retired travel agent, she now resides in the small coastal community of Half Moon Bay, California, just south of San Francisco where she enjoys photography, binge-watching TV series, playing Bingo, and writing. Visit Barbara online at babaraoliverfletcher.com.

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Chapter 1

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Ellen wasted no time as she sped up the highway in her late model burnt orange Jaguar, keeping a close eye out for law enforcement as she broke every speed limit. I have to get to the hotel before checkout time, she thought to herself. I have to find out if he’s cheating on me. I may be making this trip for nothing, but I have to know for sure.

Ellen Dawson was a beautiful, slender woman in her early thirties. Her long dark hair pulled back into a pony tail set off her big brown eyes. She reached the Kellington Hotel outside of Chicago and drove through the parking lot in search of a parking space. A car left and she hurried to get the space. She parked, then opened the bag on the seat next to her and pulled out a short blonde wig and put it on. She checked herself in the mirror to make sure it was on straight and her own brown hair wasn’t sticking out from under it. Then she reached into the bag and pulled out a large pair of sunglasses and put them on. They covered almost half of her face. There. Nobody will recognize me in this get-up. She said to herself. She set the car alarm and nonchalantly walked into the hotel. The lobby was large and filled with polished brass hand rails, marble floors and floral arrangements. She didn’t want to draw any attention to herself so she sat down in one of the large overstuffed chairs, opened a magazine, and pretended to read. The wait wasn’t very long. The elevator doors opened and a man and a woman stepped out. The man was tall, dark hair, good looking and well dressed in an expensive suit and tie. The woman was of medium height, blonde hair, and to say she was good looking was an understatement. She was wearing a tailored, form fitted grey business suit that fit her form very well. She turned the head of almost every man in the lobby as she strutted across the marble floor. The man was Ellen’s husband, Roger. The woman was a stranger to her.

Ellen and Roger Dawson had been married for over seven years. She always felt she had a good marriage and thought he felt the same. They got along well and she thought they had a pretty normal sex life for a marriage of over 7 years. Roger’s father owned Dawson and Dawson, Attorneys at Law in downtown Chicago and had made Roger the Vice President of the company several years earlier with a substantial raise in pay. They had no children, although Ellen had always wanted a child, but Roger’s job took him away from home quite often. It never occurred to Ellen that Roger could be fooling around until she found that note in his jacket pocket this morning.

Roger and the woman walked to the counter and turned in the key then continued to the door, arm in arm. In the parking lot they stopped by her car. Roger unlocked the car door, then handed her the keys. Then he leaned over and planted a slight kiss on her lips. Nothing significant, but more like a goodbye kiss. Ellen walked by them, not too close, and used the camera in her cell phone to take a picture of them, the car, and the license plate, then returned to her car. She had just a slight vantage point from her car’s location and watched as the woman got into her car, then drove away.

Ellen felt jealous after watching her husband with this woman, even though once she thought about it, it had looked innocent enough. She had never seen her husband this intimate with another woman before. After several minutes she regained her composure and started her car. She started driving towards home but her mind was not on her driving. She replayed the hotel lobby scene over and over in her mind. Roger and that woman had gotten out of the elevator and turned in the key at the desk. Or was it keys. She hadn’t noticed. Maybe they had turned in the keys to both rooms. His and hers. She wished she had paid better attention to detail. She began reasoning with herself. He’s an attorney, he meets with out of town clients at hotels all the time. It was not an unusual occurrence. But Ellen seeing it first-hand had never happened before. It was all new to her. She felt alone.

She picked up her cell phone and dialed her mother. Mom, she asked, Are you going to be home for a while?

Yes, Ellen. Edith and I will be here all afternoon. Are you all right?

Yes, I’m fine. I just want to come by and talk. I’ll see you in a bit. Ellen hung up.

Ellen’s mom could tell from Ellen’s voice that something was not quite right. I wonder if that jerk of a husband has done something to upset her. She said to her sister, Edith.

She should be here within a half hour and we’ll find out then. My guess is he has done something.

I wouldn’t doubt it at all. Edna agreed.

I can’t believe her marriage lasted this long to that jerk.

Yeah. Me neither. Edna agreed.

Chapter 2

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Ellen’s mother, Edna Barnes was a small attractive woman in her late fifties. She was one of two daughters born to Swedish immigrants who came to this country in 1896. Her sister, Edith Johnson, was just two years older and was also an equally attractive, petite woman. Edith had two children. Her son, Eddie, was single and a police officer in the neighboring town of Hammond and lived close by; and her daughter, Elaine, who lived in California with her husband, Carl, and young daughter, Elizabeth. She only saw her daughter and her family once or twice a year, when one of them would make the trip for a visit.

Ellen was Edna’s only child. The two sisters, Edna and Edith lived in a fairly new double wide mobile home in a senior mobile home park. After their husbands passed away they sold their homes and pooled their money and purchased the home in the park. They loved living together and enjoyed the amenities offered to them by the park.

There was a quick knock on the door and Ellen walked in. She seemed bothered.

What happened, Ellen? Her mom asked looking really concerned.

Oh, mom. I saw Roger with some blonde woman at the Kellington Hotel this morning. Ellen said.

You don’t know who the woman was?

No. I’ve never seen her before. She was gorgeous. He even kissed her.

He kissed her?

Yes. In the parking lot before she got in her car. Ellen said. It was just a small kiss, but it was still a kiss!

Is it possible it could have been a client? And he was kissing her a ‘thank you’ and goodbye kiss?

I don’t know, but it really bothered me to see him with her. I took pictures with my cell phone for you to see. Ellen handed her phone to her mother. Maybe Eddie can run the plate at the police station and we can find out who she is.

I’m sure he will, dear. Edith interjected into the conversation. Let me write down the number and I’ll go give him a call right now. Edith wrote down the license plate number and went into the office to make the call.

Thank you, auntie. Ellen whispered.

Well, she certainly is pretty. I’ll say that much for her. Why on earth were you at the Kellington Hotel today, anyway?

I was going through Roger’s pockets this morning to take his clothes to the dry cleaners and I found a note written by a woman saying to meet at the hotel last night. So I rushed there this morning to see if he was still there and who she was. Ellen answered. I got there just as they were checking out of the hotel.

It was probably written by his secretary, dear. Telling him where to meet this client.

Ellen thought a moment. I guess that’s possible.

Edna examined the photos on Ellen’s camera. Let’s go in and load them into my computer so we can see them better. The two of them walked into the office. Edith joined them a moment later. Eddie’s going to call as soon as he gets the information, dear. Would you like to stay for dinner, Ellen?"

Oh, no. I couldn’t. But thank you for the invite. Ellen said to her aunt. I should get home.

Do you really think Roger could be having an affair, Ellen? Has he acted differently or given you any cause to think he could be? Edna asked her daughter.

No. None at all. Everything has been pretty much normal.

Is there a possibility you could be getting upset over nothing? Her mother asked.

Ellen didn’t answer. The sight of Roger and this woman ran through her head. They were arm in arm. He wasn’t holding her hand. The kiss was just a little more than a peck on the lips. Maybe she was overreacting. Maybe her mother was right. He was with a client and gave her this peck as a thank you for meeting with him. She felt a great deal of relief. I hate to admit it, but you are probably right. Ellen agreed.

Edna had always been against Ellen marrying Roger. He had lived in their town since he was a child and always had a bad reputation when it came to his dealings with women. When Ellen first started dating Roger she had warned her several times about the rumors she was hearing. Supposedly he was seeing two other women while he was dating Ellen, but Ellen was in love and refused to believe that Roger could do any wrong. When Ellen told her mom that they were getting married, she found it very difficult to be happy for her but did her best to hide it for Ellen’s sake and happiness. But she really wasn’t happy about it.

Ellen finally realized that what she had witnessed wasn’t all that bad. He’s probably home by now, so I should get going. Thanks, mom and auntie. You were a great help. I just needed to talk it out with someone.

Edna waited until she heard Ellen’s car start and back out of the driveway before she looked at her sister and announced, He’s cheating on her. Let’s nail that son of a bitch.

Chapter 3

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Roger pulled his Lexus into the driveway of his two story home in the better part of Oak Lawn. He and Ellen had purchased the home during their second year of marriage. He had become well established with his father’s firm and was then making the kind of money required to own in this upscale section of the city. The yard was well manicured and the home was on a large lot with a swimming pool and Jacuzzi in their well-landscaped back yard. His cell phone was ringing as he entered the front door. Hello, Mr. Dawson?

Yes, this is Mr. Dawson.

This is Elliot Drew, the private investigator you hired.

Oh, yes, Mr. Drew. Do you have anything to report?

As a matter of fact, I do.

Roger thought to himself that hiring Mr. Drew was well worth the money if he had already uncovered something. What did you find, Mr. Drew?

This morning I followed her to a hotel outside of Chicago, the Kellington Hotel.

Oh? Roger paused. His mind was racing. He, his wife and his mistress were all at the Kellington Hotel this morning? Do you know what she was doing there? he asked

Roger had been seeing Gloria for almost a year now. It started as a one night stand when he met her at The Oak Lawn Country Club bar, then quickly became an affair. As time passed he developed strong feelings for her and now he wanted to divorce his wife and marry Gloria, and the only thing standing in his way was the prenup they had signed before they married. It states that if they divorce she is entitled to half of his wealth. It also states that if he is caught being unfaithful she is entitled to 50%. But if she is caught being unfaithful she forfeits her 50% and he can get his divorce without giving her a penny. This is what he wanted. He wanted her to get nothing of his fortune. He was the only child of well-to-do parents and was used to getting everything he wanted, and he wanted this. Come Hell or high water.

I don’t know what she was doing there. She was alone and by the time I found a parking space she was already out of her car and in the hotel. Elliot answered.

How long was she there?

Not long. Less than an hour. I hung around at the bar for a while to see if she’d show up. By the time I went back out to the parking lot, her car was gone.

Okay. Good job. Keep an eye on her and let me know right away if you see anything.

Roger hung up the phone and sat looking off into space as if he were in a trance. Questions went through his mind. What was she doing there? Did she see us? He had to find a way to ask her. He picked up the phone and called Gloria. The P.I. I hired just called and told me that he followed Ellen to the Kellington Hotel this morning.

Oh, My God! Do you think she saw us? Gloria asked.

I don’t think so. I know I didn’t see her. But then I wasn’t looking for her. He heard a noise in the hallway and paused. She just walked in. I have to go. I’ll call you later.

Ellen came in the front door and stopped at the hallway table to check the mail. Roger yelled hello from the other room and then walked in and handed Ellen a glass of Chardonnay. He gave her a peck on the cheek then asked about her day.

Well it sure wasn’t exciting. She answered. I took a load of clothes to the dry cleaners, did a little shopping and stopped by to see my mom and aunt for a while.

Oh? And how are they doing? He asked, but never heard the answer. They’re fine. His mind was still racing with questions he needed answers to.

How about take out for dinner tonight? Ellen suggested.

That sounds good to me.

They walked into the kitchen and went through the take-out and delivery flyers in the kitchen drawer and decided on Chinese food from Wang’s China House. Ellen went into the office and called Wang’s and ordered dinner to be delivered, then went into the living room and sat in her easy chair and sipped her glass of wine.

Oh. Hey. Ellen. Were you at the Kellington Hotel today? One of our employees was there meeting with a client and said you were there. Roger asked.

Ellen felt like the blood had drained from her face. After what seemed like ten minutes she replied, No. What would I be doing at the Kellington Hotel? Then she laughed and hoped that Roger hadn’t noticed that it was a nervous laugh.

Well I didn’t think so. I told him that he had to be wrong. You wouldn’t have any reason to be at the Kellington Hotel. Roger said. Would you?

None at all. But they say that everybody has a twin. I guess mine was at the Kellington Hotel today. Ellen smiled and went back to nursing her glass of wine.

Dinner was delivered around 6:00 and they sat there in silence enjoying the meal. Then it occurred to her. How did he know she was at the Kellington Hotel today? She was wearing a blonde wig and huge sun glasses. Her own mother wouldn’t have recognized her. It bothered her. How could he know.

I’m going to bring the leftovers over to my mom and Edith. Ellen said to Roger, Wanna come?

No. You go ahead. I’ll see you when you get back.

Ellen packed up the food and drove over to her mother’s place. She knocked, then entered. Hey! I have a question for you guys.

Go ahead, Ellen. We have lots of answers. I hope one of them matches your question. Edna laughed.

Roger asked me if I had been at the Kellington Hotel today.

Well, that’s not a question, but it’s one hell of a statement. Edith answered. How would he know you were there?

Now that’s my question. Ellen added and put the Chinese food on the table.

Did you talk to anyone there or run into anyone you knew?

Not a soul. And even if I had, they never would have recognized me. Ellen answered. Mom, you wouldn’t even have recognized me.

What did he use for a reason to even ask you that?

He said a guy from his office was there meeting with a client and said I was there.

Which we know isn’t true. So how would he know.

"They say everyone has