The House of Seven Mabels

he was gone. There was something genetic about men that didn’t let them understand why glassware really should go on the top rack. Her late husband had once gone through a brief spell when she was pregnant with Todd when he was trying to be helpfully domestic and cracked several pieces of her favorite glassware from the drying process. She’d never let Mike load it, and Todd could do so only with Katie’s supervision.
    When Mel was through, he came and sat at the far end of the sofa and massaged her good foot. The massage made even the bad one feel better.
    Since he was mellowed out by lunch and delegating, she asked, “Have you found out anything about Sandra’s background?“
    “A little bit. It was hard to trace her. The name change wasn’t official. She’d just decided to take back her mother’s maiden name.“
    “Shelley and I had the impression that she had been married. When we met her the first time, Bitsy said something about her once being Mrs. Somebody. They seemed to make a joke of it. So she was once married?“
    “Yes. To a man who severely abused her, to the point that she was hospitalized several times. Makes you understand why she became such a rabid feminist, I have to admit.“
    “Do you know where he is? Could he have found her and killed her?“
    “No. He’s serving a life sentence for murdering his third wife and their two-year-old child. He beat them to death two years ago.“
    Jane suddenly hurt all over.
    The phone rang, and Mel looked at Jane’s shocked face and said, “I’ll get it for you.“
    “Yes,“ he said when he answered. “This is Van-Dyne.“
    A moment of silence and then he said, “Hell. I’m just a short distance away. I’ll be there in a few minutes.“
    “What is it, Mel?“ Jane called to him.
    “I left your number at the office. It seems that they’ve found an unknown toolbox at that damned house and somebody thinks there’s a bomb in it.“

Twenty

    Mel was standing with the others who’d been evacuated from the house and neighboring homes to the parking lot of a church down the street. It had turned into an unusually hot day, and the neighbors wanted to go home. The mothers with babies had commandeered the only shade available under an old maple tree at the far end of the parking area.
    “Mr. Budley,“ Mel said, “it seems to me that the last time we spoke, you were explaining how well you’d sealed up the house. Now there’s a toolbox in the basement that no one recognizes. How do you explain this? Who has the keys?“
    “I can’t explain it except that it could have been there for days and your people missed it.“
    “My ‘people’ don’t miss things,“ Mel said firmly.
    “As for the keys, all the doors that can be locked are keyed the same. Only the owner and I have copies,“ Budley said. He was insisting on taking the high ground on this matter.
    Budley walked away, and Mel realized that the young woman who worked on the Sheetrock had been waiting to speak to him.
    “Detective VanDyne,“ Evaline said. “I’m sorry to tell you this, but there’s something else you should know that I didn’t hear Joe Budley mention. Whoever got in the house also took a hammer to the Sheetrock upstairs. Bashed it pretty badly. We can probably patch a few of the dents, but several sheets will have to be replaced.“
    “How do you know it was the same person?“ Mel asked.
    “I guess I don’t,“ Evaline said with a shrug. “I just assumed that since the house has been locked up, but somebody found a way in.“
    As they were speaking, the bomb squad started drifting out of the house. One had a plastic bag that was obviously heavy. The two others were taking off their protective clothing and hoods.
    Mel abandoned Evaline and hurried to meet them.
    “It’s okay, Mel,“ the man carrying the bag said, lifting his mask. “It did look like a bomb, but it’s just a bunch of junk stuck together with a clock attached that doesn’t even work. No explosives. You can give the box to the fingerprint people,“ he added, handing Mel the bag.
    “How did it get in there? Do you have any idea?“
    “That paneling on the back wall conceals the door to-an old coal chute. It was ajar when we went down there. I don’t think you could have seen it if it had been closed. You better fingerprint it as well,“ the man replied as he struggled out of his modern armor. His clothing under it was drenched with sweat.
    That eased Mel’s mind. He’d looked