The Cure is Murder – Chapter 14

Sabrina and Trude

I was lolling in a deckchair in the garden, relaxing after my massage, when Trude called out: “Sabrina!”. She was almost out of breath when she arrived by my side.
“What´s up? What´s all the excitement?”

“I went into Waidhofen after lunch. Had a window between treatments. It was all abuzz. People everywhere. The Konditorei were full.”
“You went to a Konditorei?”
“Just for a coffee.” Trude looked down at her feet. “Ok. Just one éclair.”
“Trude!”
“But guess what! I was sitting up the back, minding my own business…”
“Enjoying your éclair … Yes”, I said with a grin.
Trude nodded. “But guess who came in.”
I shook my head.
“Ellie!”
“We´re hardly locked up,” I said.
“She was with a man.”
“So?”
“The man who runs that war memorabilia museum Reinhold took us to.”
“Like minds, I suppose.”
“He gave her a little box. A gift. She quickly tucked it away. She didn´t see me.”

Ellie and Beate

“I´ve got something for you,” Ellie said. “Your birthday´s coming up and there was a sale and I know how you love the brand.”
Beate´s face lit up in anticipation.
“I got you your favourite lipstick.”
“The Guerlain?”
“Yes,” Ellie said and handed the small box to Beate. “Happy birthday! I´ll give it to you now so you can wear it on the day.”
“That´s wonderful.” Beate clapped her hands. “My old one is almost done,” she said and hugged Ellie who stood stiffly and waited for Beate to remove her arms.

She’s like a big child, Ellie thought. Such physical expressions made Ellie feel uncomfortable. They led nowhere and only raised expectations. Something she knew all too well about.

They´d cleared the tables to hug the walls of the dining room. A small local band had been hired – a singer, a guitar, and some drums. There would be dancing. 

Dancing for my birthday, Beate thought. What fun! What if Oskar asks me to dance? What if he doesn´t? I can always ask him. It´s my birthday! What shall I wear? Heavens. So glad I brought that dress. The one with the skirt that twirls like in the 50s. Like Marilyn Monroe in Some Like it Hot. She giggled. I wonder if they can play Blue Moon.