A deep sigh. "I'll get back to you."

Annie Mae climbed in the car and handed me my credit card and receipt. She put her drink in the holder and then fastened her seat belt. "You talked with Jose, right?"

"Yes."

"I bet he's really impressed with our detective work, huh?"

"You could say that."

But I wouldn't.

Chapter Eleven.

We parked in front of a row of houses on Jones Street, near Clary's Cafe. Live oak trees lined the brick sidewalks. I could see the top of Saint John's Cathedral peering above the housetops. Jose had just said that a lot of men cheat on their wives. Even though I knew I had nothing to worry about with Andrew, I still needed to hear from him. "I'm going to call Andrew."

"Go for it. I'll get out and walk around a bit. You know, do a little surveillance." Annie Mae exited.

I also missed my kids and wanted to check and make sure they were all right. Since their generation did not answer their phones, I texted Timmy and Teddy: How R U? Checking in. Call or text me. Love U. Mom.

After I sent the texts, I called Andrew's sister, Pricilla, who had the girls for the weekend. No answer. They were probably at the beach. I texted: All okay there? Sunscreen on? Life vests? Remember, Nina does not like her food to touch, and Nancy's Dora the Explorer nightlight is in her bag. Thanks for having them. Please call me ASAP. Love, Cat.

I pushed my speed dial number one.

Andrew answered. "You girls having fun?"

"We're about to dumpster dive."

Andrew chuckled. "I'm afraid to ask."

"I have a weird question. Men cheat on their wives. You're a man."

Andrew interrupted. "Last time I checked. Where did that come from?"

"Jose mentioned something a while ago about how everyone cheats on each other. It's been gnawing at me. I know we love each other and all that. But still, I have to ask just to verify. So, yes or no? Would you ever cheat or even think about it?"

"By the way, that was two questions."

"Okay then. Give me two answers."

"I can barely handle you. What would I do with another woman? So no, I am not cheating on you, and no, I won't cheat on you." Andrew laughed.

"Bert was having an affair."

"What a sc.u.m."

"I know, right?" I took a deep breath. "So are the kids okay?"

"All is fine. I talked to my sister an hour ago. They were heading back to the beach for the rest of the afternoon. The boys are still at work. Your mom and I have everything under control. By the way, did your dad ever mention any accounting issues with the store?"

"Not that I know of. Why?"

"I'm just having problems trying to make the books balance. I'm sure it's just a learning curve, and I'll make it work."

"If not, I can always take a look at the books."

"Well, don't worry about that now. Enjoy your diving."

"Love you."

"Love you, too. Be good."

I met up with Annie Mae.

Annie Mae pointed. "Are we going to the alley over there?"

"That's where Zachary said he found newspapers to wrap stuff at Scarlett's. That's where the recent purple-filled crossword puzzle must've come from. There is a possibility that the person who uses purple ink is around here. Maybe we'll find a clue. It's worth a try."

We made our way over to a graveled alley that b.u.t.ted up to the back of carriage houses. Many of the Jones Street houses were four-story Italianate with brick or stucco over brick. They had courtyards separating them from smaller, two-story carriage houses.

We neared a large garbage can against a carriage house. Vines climbed the side of the brick exterior of the house. The dumpster stank of rotting food and urine.

"Whoa. That stinks. There is no way I'm going through that." Annie Mae held her nose.

"We'd never get the smell out of our clothes. Let's start over here. Look in these recycling bins." I motioned at a brown container with a bright yellow lid sitting in the alley. I opened one and found various plastic bottles, newspapers, aluminum cans, and gla.s.s bottles. "Let's search each one."

"You get this one. I'll do that one." Annie Mae rummaged through a bin a few feet down from me. "No antiques in here."

"Remember, we're looking for a newspaper crossword puzzle with purple ink." I walked to another bin past Annie Mae.

"Wouldn't it be great to find a painting worth millions? Remember when a lady in Manhattan found an original painting by Rufino Tamayo in a dumpster?" Annie Mae pulled out a newspaper from a bin. "Just saying it would really supplement my retirement income."

"And four future college tuitions."

"So I say, after we finish looking through these recycle bins, let's go down there and dumpster dive." Annie Mae pointed to a large green trash receptacle, next to a house under renovation. "I feel lucky."

I flipped through some newspapers. Sports section. News section. Advertis.e.m.e.nts. Then I found the crossword. Not filled in. I shoved the papers back in the brown container. Shutting the lid, I moved to the next bin. I wiped the perspiration from my forehead with the back of my hand. My shirt stuck to my back.

Annie Mae held up a diaper by the tips of her two fingers. "These are not recyclable."

Poking in a container, I spotted a stack of newspapers under a bag. I yanked out the white, plastic bag. As I pulled it toward me, it broke, releasing a hot brown liquid down my shorts and leg. It smelled like cola.

Picking up the mess that fell on the ground, I then put it back in the bin. I flipped through the newspaper. A crossword puzzle was filled in with blue ink and pencil.

The sun shifted, shading the alley, offering a little respite from the intense heat. My khaki shorts were spotted with the dark brown liquid from the broken bag. I had haphazardly pulled my hair into a ponytail. With the humidity, I knew it was frizzy. Something told me I didn't want to see a mirror.

A while later, I reached the last brown recycle bin.

Annie Mae ran her eyes up and down me. "You look like h.e.l.l."

"It's the digging through trash ensemble. It'll be all the rage soon. Just wait."

"More like the homeless look." Annie Mae smiled.

We pulled out bottles and cans.

A few people walking by glanced our way. A guy in the group called out, "There's the Old Savannah City Mission on Bull Street if you need something to eat."

"We're not dest.i.tute." Annie Mae shouted after them. "I'm a doctor and she owns a store."

A lady in the group made little circles near her head with her finger.

Annie Mae shouted as they walked away, "We're not crazy."

"I do look kind of needy." I shrugged my shoulders and waved my hands over my shorts and hair. "Let's go, okay? We didn't find anything useful here."

Annie Mae pointed to the large green metal dumpster. "We still have that construction bin over there to explore."

"Fine." Feeling defeated and tired, I took a deep, energizing breath.

We trudged to the end of the block near Clary's.

"How do we get in?" I tried to push up one of the metal lids. "We can't get in this way. The top is too heavy to open."

"I say we climb in this side door." Annie Mae pulled a crate next to the dumpster. "We can use this as a stepstool."

"Are you serious? Let's call it quits. I need a shower. Clean clothes. A hug from Andrew and my kids. Maybe it's time to give up."

"Hold on, there. What are you saying?" Annie Mae held a brown plastic recycle bin lid in one hand. Her other hand was on her hip.

"Just that Jose said that nothing we found could hold up in court anyway." I turned and slowly walked away. "Let's call it a day."

Maybe I was fooling myself thinking that I could solve two murders. My heart sagged with despair. I'd failed. And I had started with so much hope.

"Oh, no you don't." Annie Mae caught up to me. "Indulge me, Cat. There could be a million dollars in there."

I turned toward Annie Mae. "Or another diaper."

"Please. For me?" Annie Mae took off her gla.s.ses and gave me her big sad brown eyes. "One dive, and we're done."

Annie Mae had spent the whole morning investigating with me. The least I could do was partic.i.p.ate in her adventure. "You first."

Annie Mae climbed on the crate, hitching her leg into the side opening, her navy Capris pulling at the seams. "Thank goodness my pants have spandex, or I'd bust these open and show my unmentionables."

With a thud, Annie Mae was in.

I jammed my head in the opening. Annie Mae was sprawled on top of debris. It smelled of sawdust. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Join the party." Annie Mae righted herself as she dusted wood chips off her.

A dog barked nearby. A siren blasted in the distance. I climbed up, grabbing on the side of the opening, and maneuvered my leg. I sc.r.a.ped my shin on something. Could've been rusty metal. I couldn't remember my last teta.n.u.s shot. I knew every vaccination my kids had. But my own? I hoped I'd had mine less than ten years ago.

I got my footing inside, just barely able to stand without hitting my head on the top. Light from the side door provided scant visibility.

"Isn't this cool?" Annie Mae picked up piece of wood. "A treasure hunt."

I climbed over white porcelain, navigating the uneven floor of debris. "Is this a toilet?"

The dumpster held various household items, cardboard boxes, some trash, and a lot of wood.

"Look at this old light fixture. Think it's an antique? Maybe Scarlett will buy it from me." Annie Mae held a small bra.s.s chandelier in her hand. "I'm keeping it."

A loud crash echoed inside. It sounded like someone had thrown a large object at the metal wall. I heard voices. A c.o.ke can barely missed me as it whooshed past.

"What was that?" Annie Mae asked.

"Someone threw a can in here."

"I hope they throw something valuable next."

I sniffed. "Do you smell anything?"

"Now that you mention it, I do. Sort of smells like a campfire, which makes me think of eating s'mores. I'm kind of craving something sweet right now. That diet soda didn't do it for me." Annie Mae stood next to me, chandelier in one hand.

"I don't want you to panic, but I think something is burning." My stomach lurched. "And our only exit is there." I pointed to the opening we had just climbed through. Flames licked up.

Panicking, I began to pound on the lid, hoping to push it up and get fresh air. My hand stung with each hit.

The lid didn't budge. At this rate, we would suffocate. My eyesight was blocked by rising smoke. Dizziness overcame me as I tried to focus.

Annie Mae coughed and held her shirt over her mouth. "This is the end of my dumpster diving."

"I just don't want it to be the end of our lives." Finding a sliver of light enabled me to see my phone. I dialed 911.

"911, how may I help you?"

Gagging on the smoke, my voice came out shaky. "Please send a fire truck immediately to the alley on Jones Street near Clary's. There are two of us trapped in a green Dumpster. It's on fire. Please hurry."