Deceptive Voices

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

I looked out over the group of volunteers seated around the conference room table and had to smile at their enthusiasm. It was either that or tear my hair out.

The group was divided, yet again, on a decision that had to be made before we could proceed with the plans for the fundraiser we were all working on. The small room echoed with voices, each anxious to express their opinion. It was a good thing, I guess, to see such commitment from the group, but each person thought their idea was best, and a few were getting a little testy. I needed to step in and take control before things got out of control. I couldn’t see the restaurant management putting up with a brawl on their upscale property.

Before I could say anything, the door to the room opened, allowing the sounds from the restaurant that hosted the conference room to filter in. Looking over, I couldn’t help but grin at the handsome man standing in the doorway. I’d known him since we were kids, and he always made my heart race when I saw him.

I waved him into the room, my smile broadened when I saw another man standing behind him. It was my godfather, guardian, and adviser. Lovingly referred to as Uncle Charlie, he had been my father’s best friend before an accident had taken both him and my mother from me. After that, it had been Uncle Charlie and me struggling through the grief until we formed a new family unit. At times it had been an odd family unit; a little girl often spending her weekends at the law offices listening to the adults discussing their strategies for an upcoming trial. I was never neglected, there was always play time too, but I was mature for my age, critical thinking and noticing details became second nature to me.

Now, as an adult, Uncle Charlie was more adviser and friend than anything else. I was happy to see him; this meant that he had completed his list of tasks for the project and was here for his next set of instructions. Uncle Charlie moved into the room and took the nearest available seat.

Once again, my attention was drawn to the doorway, and I returned the smile from my best friend. Peter would always be considered my best friend, even though we seemed to be crossing over that threshold into the new, unfamiliar territory of romance. Something I had longed for but was still a little nervous about.

Peter’s smile sent a tingle up my spine, and I knew his smile held more than just friendship. After being best friends for so long, this new stage of our relationship felt unnatural, and we were still getting used to it. We had gone from being best buds to dating, within a brief period and unusual circumstances. We're both still feeling our way, hoping that we would never lose the friendship we had, but also hoping that the romantic side of things would develop. So many things had changed in my life over the last few months. New things that needed to be adjusted to, as well.

Almost as if my thoughts were being read, a little gray bundle of fur touched out at me, and I reach down the stroke my beautiful gray kitten behind the ears. We had a special relationship, one that I couldn't define. It was almost as if Shaylee knew more about me than I did about myself, and she was constantly at my side. While most carried a dog in their tote, I carried Shaylee. She had never made any effort to escape the bag. Instead, she would make herself comfortable, poking her head out when something caught her attention. Often, she would take people by surprise, the way she popped out like a jack-in-the-box, but they would soon be charmed by her personality.

She had been a gift from another new friend; a friend and healer. The woman had been my nurse while I was healing from a freak accident, and we clicked like I had never done with anyone but Peter.

As if she knew I was thinking about her, Moira, my new friend, cleared her throat. When I glanced her way, she pointedly tapped the face of her wristwatch. I nodded my head in both understanding and agreement. It was time to get this meeting under control and get something accomplished. Moving towards the front of the room I gave a wave of my hand to call attention to myself, and then worked on getting everybody to take their seats and get the room back to order.

As I waited for the room to settle down and everybody to take their seats, I looked at the notes in front of me. We had a huge task in front of us. Not that we hadn't, as a group, been able to pull something monumental before, but like any project, the first time attempting it there are going to be snafus and kinks that need to be worked out. I knew without a doubt that the group of volunteers I had working with me would be able to handle the work, but it was the factor of the acting company we had hired to come in and play the main parts of the presentation we planned. It had been decided a few months earlier that we would try something new, and that would be a mystery dinner theater.

The purpose of the fundraiser was to raise money for the migrant children that frequented our areas during the winter picking months. I knew the group in front of me would rise to the challenge of whatever I put before them, especially for this project, as it had been met with immediate positive response and enthusiasm. We had taken our time picking which two mysteries we would present, and everything seemed to be working out the way we had thought. But now we were getting down to the nitty-gritty and opening within the next seventy-two hours. We had decided to perform two mysteries, in the hopes of return audiences. The paid actors would come in knowing their parts, along with our local talent that had volunteered and worked hard every spare hour they could to rehearse their parts; then the two should mesh together for the pre-dinner run through tomorrow. The community was excited about the idea as well, and we were getting a lot of positive feedback, both in support and advertisement. Now I just needed to work out the last-minute details and get everybody on-board, running like a smooth ship.

"Well Mac, what's on today's agenda?"

The question brought me back to what was going on around me. With everyone’s attention was on me, it was time to get busy before it started to wane. Handing Moira the papers to pass out, within minutes they were all reading over my notes and ready to get down to work. Everyone knew that we had a lot to accomplish in the next half hour because we were meeting the actors after that. I had to admit that I was a bit nervous about that. Even though the acting troupe had joined our community for countless other productions, this was the first time that they would be doing a mystery dinner show. The one benefit I could see was that both the paid and volunteer actors had worked together on the other projects. Some had even become good friends, from reconnecting every time a new show went on.

“Roger, to answer your question-just about everything! We’re getting down to the wire, and with the actors arriving in about an hour, we don’t have a minute to spare. Remember they are getting paid, we are volunteers. It’s important not to waste their time with things we are supposed to oversee.” I was pleased to see the others around the table nod their head in agreement, and I continued.

“I’ve outlined in detail the responsibilities of each of your committee chairs. I have no doubt that you are already on top of ninety percent of my list, but I thought it would be advantageous for everyone to see who was in charge of what. And to be honest, it will take a lot off my plate if you can go directly to the head of a committee if there is a question, rather than to me. Not that I wouldn't be happy to help, but too many cooks...” The few smiles of agreement were enough for me to know that they would all cooperate.

“Just so you all know what’s what, let’s go over it one more time. Then we break into our communities and start those endless lists in front of you. Uncle Charlie, you oversee the acting troupe’s accommodations, travel, and constructional obligations.”

We all laughed when a joke was made about lawyers being in charge and then I continued, going from one person to the next in order of their seating positions.

“Moira, would you handle anything that comes up regarding the production and actor’s costumes? Roger, you and Karen are the ones to coordinate the interaction between the paid actors and our local volunteer actors.” The two lifeguards gave each other a wave as I continued, “Please remember that we want no prima donna’s, this is all for the children.” Roger cracked an imaginary whip in the air, as he promised that everyone would be kept under control. Roger’s clowning around, and surfer good looks could easily mislead you into thinking he wasn’t taking the fundraiser seriously, but I knew better. Karen groaned out loud, knowing she would have to keep her fellow lifeguard in-line.

“Ollie, you and Allyson it’s up to you to keep everyone fed and supplied with drinks.” I waved my finger at Ollie in warning. “And just because you own the nightclub doesn’t mean it has to be alcohol. Allyson you’re going to need to keep an eye on this trickster.” Everyone laughed, and Allyson gave me a thumb up signal to show she understood.

Allyson was the newest member of our community, taking over at the local coffee shop. Her predecessor was currently in jail for murder and attempted murder—mine. That was after Peter and I had confronted her in the western groves a few months earlier. We don’t talk much about that day. Too many things had happened that neither of us could explain. But, I knew eventually we needed to talk.

Ollie was the owner of the local Jazz club and a fixture in town. Not much happened here that he didn’t know about. The two of them had jumped in to volunteer, and I was grateful.

Next was two people who were so opposite, it was comical. Gina, a local artist, sat in her flowing robe while Detective Byrd paid close attention in his suit.

“Gina, you and the detective take care of all the props and stage mechanics.” It didn't take long to go over the rest of the assignments and soon we were all working on our individual projects. Before I knew it, Uncle Charlie got a phone call, and as he hung up, I saw him waving for everybody's attention.

"That call was from the director of the acting troupe. They're about five minutes away, so let's wrap up what we're doing and welcome our guests."