Free Joan Hess - Arly Hanks 04 by Mortal Remains in Maggody Page A

one answered and she figured it was Carlotta's room. Now that she'd come across Carlotta in the same room with a buck-naked man -- and not acting the least bit perturbed -- maybe the gal didn't deserve any towels.
    Directly across the expanse of gravel was #4. Ruby Bee held her head high as she marched right over and knocked on the door.
    "It's open!" yelled a male voice.
    She'd had quite enough exposure for one day. "I brought you some extra towels," she yelled back, "but I'll just wait until you're decent!"
    "That could take decades, considering the business we're in!"
    Ruby Bee was still mulling that over when the door opened. The man was normal-looking and dressed in regular clothes. He gave her a smile. "I'm Buddy Meredith, madam. Please allow me to relieve you of this unconscionable burden."
    "Haven't I seen you on television?"
    "You and millions of other oblivious fans," he said, although nicely and with a little twinkle. "Most recently you might have seen me attempting to persuade you that my detergent is better than yours. It isn't, though; they just pay me to say so."
    "You're the Wite & Brite man," Ruby Bee said, suddenly feeling woozy as she stood face to face with a celebrity. He was so close she could have touched him -- not that she'd have dared. "I tried it once, but I was a might disappointed with it." She realized what she said and blushed all the way up to her roots. "Not that it was your fault, Mr. Meredith. It was on sale, and I had a coupon, too."
    "Please come in," he said with an eloquent flip of his hand.
    Trembling, she entered the temporary abode of an honest-to-goodness television star. Two men were sitting on the nearer bed, a mess of cards and dollar bills scattered on the bedspread between them. One of them looked to be the other's grandfather, but it seemed the younger one, who was vaguely familiar, was old enough to drink whiskey and gamble. In the afternoon, too. She mutely held up the towels as an offering.
    "This is our star, Frederick Marland," nice Mr. Meredith said, "and this is our production man, Fuzzy Indigo."
    She was about to say howdy when she heard her name being hollered from the parking lot. Battling back a growl, she managed a polite smile. "I'm pleased to meet you, Mr. Marland," she said to the handsome young man who was reputed to be a star even if she couldn't quite put her finger on where she'd seen him. "And you, too, Mr. Indigo. Welcome to Maggody and the Flamingo Motel. You be sure and call me night or day if -- "
    "My goodness, Ruby Bee," Estelle gasped from the doorway, "I've been looking everywhere for you."
    She stood there, blinking worse than a condemned man in the electric chair, until Ruby Bee took pity on her and introduced her to the three men. She wasn't the least bit surprised when Estelle pranced over to Mr. Meredith and said, "Ain't I seen you on television?"
    "He's the Wite & Brite man," Ruby Bee said briskly. "I recognized him right off. Now, why in heaven's name were you out there bellowing like a sick cow? Don't you know the Flamingo Motel has paying customers that would appreciate a little peace and quiet?"
    "We've got what some might call a situation in the kitchen," Estelle shot back.
    "Ah, a situation," Frederick Marland said, mimicking Estelle's high-pitched voice and undeniably twangy accent. He did something to his face so he looked about sixteen years old. "Gee, I ain't seen a situation since Ma knocked over the butter chum and Granny slid right off the porch into the Mac bushes."
    Reminding herself that he was a famous celebrity, Ruby Bee opted to ignore him and pulled Estelle over to the door. "What are you talking about?" she whispered.
    "Kevin is what I'm talking about."
    Over Estelle's shoulder, Ruby Bee watched nice Mr. Meredith sit down on the bed and begin to shuffle the cards. Famous Mr. Marland was still looking ever so proud of himself for being a smartmouth. The third man, the one who reminded her of a wino she'd seen in a Little Rock