The Last Resort is Murder

By Terry I. Miles

Over twenty years have passed since the body of Ms Emmalee Coley was discovered.
Now a letter and several pictures have surface from Lilianne Dedeaux, an old friend of Bea Winslow and her Aunt Jewels.
Like Emmalee, Lilianne has been murdered, but by who?

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Feb 27, 2024
• ISBN: 9781663260512

Terry I. Miles

"Gussie the Christmas Goose and Other Stories is a collection out of the imagnitive mind of Terry I. Miles.  This is her first children's book.  With the artistic help of Authorhouse's illustrators and design team, this is destined to be a collectors item. Terry is a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and works for The University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Coast in Gulfport, MS. (you know, where Hurricane Katrina ravaged.)

Book preview

Prologue

December, 1991

It was December of 1991 and the four young ladies were anxious to begin their mini vacation from school and work. Actually there were five who had bonded during their adolescence. The fifth was Bea Winslow, currently a Criminal Investigator for the FBI and their benefactor of the rustic cabin in the woods near the Lafouchfeye County line. Bea couldn’t make the trip due to an important government case.

Lilianne Dedeaux drove her blue Chevy Chevette up the narrow road, as snow flurries swirled about. This was her last fling with the girls, for in two weeks she was marrying the love of her life, Bill Parsons.

Following close behind in a grey pickup were the other three. Arlene Cuevas, the preacher’s daughter, Betsy Sue Willis, who was studying cosmetology and Hannah Moore, who worked in the local bakery.

Look, Arlene giggled, It’s beginning to snow harder, and rolled down her window, trying desperately to catch a snowflake on her tongue.

Quick! Roll it back up, cried Betsy Sue. It’s freezing in here.

I wish Bea were here, sighed Hannah, she knows how to start a fire.

Here we are, shouted Betsy Sue, as she pulled up beside Lilianne’s Chevy. ...And look, smoke is coming out of the chimney.

Lilianne stood in the open doorway and smiled. Come on in girls. The logs are blazing!

Betsy Sue was the first one out of the truck and whizzed pass Lilianne. Ahhhh, that feels so good, she declared while rubbing her hands together before the crackling fire...

After dragging in their entire luggage and settling in the two bedroom cottage, they fixed a perfect Italian meal: Spaghetti, salad and wine.

How about a game of cards? asked Lilianne.

I brought a deck, Betsy Sue said cheerfully, I’ll go get them, and bounced in and out of the bedroom she was sharing with Arlene.

Arlene stretched and replied, I just want another glass of wine.

Looking at each other, Hannah and Betsy Sue just smiled, but Lilianne questioned, What would your daddy say?

Lacing her fingers behind her head, Arlene smirked. He’d say the same thing about both of’em. The cards and the wine, and poured herself another large goblet to the rim.

Oh my gosh, Hannah muttered, just a minute. I made something for ya’ll, and returned from the bedroom she was sharing with Lilianne, with four hand-crocheted neck warmers and matching mittens. Betsy Sue, you get the blue ones, Arlene, here, the red looks perfect with your plaid coat. Lilianne, yours is the green set and I made the yellow for me.

What about Bea? asked Betsy Sue.

I have at home a purple set for her. Lilianne, you have always been our official photographer, so grab your Polaroid and snap several pictures of us. You know, for posterity. Our last fling! Girls throw those scarves around your necks and smile!

Through gritted teeth, Arlene uttered, "just like the movie, Deliverance."

For the next several hours they sat around, played cards and drank more wine, reminiscing about the various paths their lives had taken.

The next morning after eating a hearty breakfast, the four of them went hiking through the woods. There was a soft layer of fresh snow covering the ground like a sheet of thin white muslin. Betsy Sue wrapped her blue scarf securely around her neck and ogled at her warm mittens while humming a low tune. All of them seemed happy and carefree.

Later that evening, after supper, they played cards, drank wine and sang songs. The same ritual was repeated the next day and night. It was the fourth evening when they received an unexpected visitor, Ms Emmalee Cooley.

The sporadic laughter around the table ceased as the room echoed the two raps on the front door. Betsy Sue pushed her chair back and went to the window. I can’t make out who it is, and now it’s really snowing harder out there.

Ladies, it’s me, Emmalee Cooley, came a voice from the outside.

What’s she doing out here? Asked Arlene.

Beats me, Hannah replied, shrugging her shoulders.

Well, let’s invite her in and find out, said Lilianne, while opening the wooden door.

Emmalee smiled. Hello ladies. I had a taxi drop me off at the turn off. I didn’t want him to drive all the way up here. After our discussion, I figure one of you can take me back to town.

Arlene looked her over while pouring herself another goblet of wine, and asked, And why would the banker’s daughter take the time and trouble to follow us up here?

Pushing her mink coat aside, with her left hand, Emmalee sneered. Well, I’ll tell you Arlene, and the others. Each of you has a big secret and if it was told...

Hannah interrupted her. So you want to blackmail...one of us or all of us?

Emmalee laughed. Blackmail is such an ugly word.

So what would you call it? asked Betsy Sue.

She put her gloved right index finger up on her temple. "Let me see. Let’s call it donations. Yes, donations is a more pleasant word. Ladies, please. May I have a glass of wine so I could chase the chill off my