The Ginseng Conspiracy (A Kay Driscoll Mystery) by Susan Bernhardt Page A

eat and rejoined Deirdre, Mike, and Elizabeth at a table. Later, Phil took turns dancing with Elizabeth and Deirdre. After an hour or so, everyone took a break from dancing and sat listening to the music at the table.
    As I was watching the dancers, I spotted Al dancing with his wife. No gossamer hood? What did this all mean? My paranoia gained some ground again, and I started to shake.
    “What’s the matter, Kay?” Phil asked.
    “There’s Al, dancing with his wife.” Al had on a glitzy Elton John costume complete with large red rhinestone sunglasses.
    “I thought you said he was…”
    “He was.”
    “Maybe you imagined it.”
    “I know what I saw,” I insisted.
    Al's personality seemed to overpower whoever he was with. Before this evening, his presence had never seemed so forceful to me. He had always just been the friendly mystery fancier that I chatted with weekly at the post office.
    “Al and his wife look like they are having a good time,” I said, trying to sound casual as the photographer took their picture. It didn't look like anything bothered Al. I knew lots of things had to be on his mind, including who the intruder had been in the vacant store. He sure knew how to keep his cool. Al saw me and flashed a big Cheshire Cat smile. I smiled back. He couldn’t know the intruder had been me. I wondered where the professor was right now. Maybe they took him to the hospital.
    The fantastic 60s rock and roll cover band continued to play throughout the evening. When people started to get tired from dancing, they announced the winners of the best costume contest. Some friends of ours, Jim and Alicia Miller, won as Sonny and Cher. They sang a humorous rendition of “I’ve Got You Babe” to the backing music of the band. Just before eleven o’clock, Phil and I decided to leave. We found Deirdre and Mike to say our farewell.
    “Deirdre, Phil and I are going to leave soon. He's exhausted from working at school all day.” And I was about ready to keel over.
    “Kay, I know it’s Sunday tomorrow, but how about walking in the morning? We can talk about the party.”
    “Sure, Deirdre. Ten-thirty? Let Elizabeth know.”
    Mike waved his hook at us. “Phil, see you tomorrow at practice. Can’t wait to see those lead sheets you mentioned.”
    “I’ll make sure to bring copies.”
    “I want to hear that new horn of yours, also. See you then.”
    We were just about to leave when I saw Al standing in the hallway looking at me. There was nothing casual about his gaze. He came over, took my hand, and asked Phil, “May I borrow your wife for a few minutes?” And he led me out on to the dance floor without waiting for an answer.
    “Did you think you could get away from me?”
    “What...what do you mean, Al?” My lips trembled.
    “Remember? You promised me a dance tonight. Allow me...” Al put his hand on my shoulder. My heart beat double time to the music. My muscles tensed. He terrified me by his closeness.
    “You're trembling. I didn’t realize I made such an impression on you.” He threw his head back and laughed a horrifying, baritone laugh. The heartbeat in my ears was so loud, I couldn't even make out the music we were dancing to.
    “I don’t want to make your husband jealous,” he continued with a toothy smile.
    I fought to get a hold of myself. “Right. We were just about to leave. I'm not feeling well. I think I'm coming down with a cold, and it's just freezing in here.”
    “Just kidding. We're talking about leaving, also. My wife had such a busy day. Didn’t you have fun tonight? Your costume is great, by the way.”
    “So is yours, Elton.”
    After the dance, Phil and I started toward home. Turning around, I saw Al and his wife going out the door just behind us. Al walked his wife over to her car. They talked for a few moments, and she got into the driver’s seat and took off. Al left walking in the opposite direction.
    On the way home, Phil and I walked past the vacant store. I positioned