Pretty, Hip, & Venomous

by Madison Johns

  “So it seems Kane has been arrested twice for the same thing,” Agnes said.

  Eleanor said, “It’s good that he has a place to stay now.”

  “We’ll find out soon enough,” Kimberly said as she motioned to a truck that pulled in with Mark in the driver’s seat. In the passenger’s seat sat a much younger man with thick brown and unruly hair that they presumed was Kane Keegan.

  The investigators lingered for a moment until Kimberly asked, “Shouldn’t we go over there?”

  Agnes sighed. “I thought it might be better to allow Kane and Mark to at least get out of the vehicle first.”

  Eleanor nodded. “We could do that, but I’m more of the bum rush kind of investigator.”

  Kimberly and Agnes hurried after Eleanor, who at near sprint reached Kane with a hand pressed to her chest as she attempted to catch her breath.

  “Oh I was hoping to catch you before you disappeared again, Kane,” Eleanor gasped.

  “Again? Hey wait, do I know you?” Kane asked.

  “No, but we heard about your arrest and we planned to bail you out. But it seems someone else must have. So apparently it must have been your mother.”

  “I’m so happy that you patched up things with your mother,” Agnes added.

  Kimberly shrugged. “Sorry, I couldn’t stop them.”

  The young man squinted in confusion. “I wish someone would explain what’s going on here.”

  “Your mother bailed you out, right?” Agnes asked.

  “I don’t see how that’s any of your business,” Kane choked out. “What do you want from me?”

  “We’re here to help clear your name.”

  “It was only driving on a suspended license. Mark says I’ll be able to get out of any more jail time if I pay the fine.”

  “Oh?” Eleanor asked. “You mean you’re not a suspect in the robbery of the Pit Stop?”

  “Maybe we should explain ourselves,” Kimberly said. “The long and short of it is that Milly Clark was poisoned at the last bingo at the UAW hall.”

  “And from our understanding, Milly fingered you for the armed robbery at the Pit Stop,” Agnes added. “Milly might have gotten confused. Your girlfriend told us you gassed up right before the robbery.”

  “What girlfriend?”

  “Are you saying that Meadow isn’t your girlfriend?” Eleanor gasped.

  “No, I just don’t understand why she’d tell you any of this.”

  “Because she’s worried about you,” Kimberly said. “I’d think you’d be happy that someone wanted to clear your name.” She pursed her lips. “Unless you really did rob the gas station.”

  “I would never stoop that low. It would be ignorant of me to rob a gas station in the same town I live in.”

  “I agree,” Eleanor said. “I told you girls Kane is smarter than that. Meadow told us as much. The poor dear was accused by that Deputy Danworth of having something to do with the robbery.”

  “I’ve known of robberies set up like that,” Agnes said.

  Kane came unglued as he shouted, “I’d never involve Meadow in something like that, and I didn’t rob the Pit Stop.”

  “Were you aware that Milly Clark fingered you?”

  “I’d been told.”

  Kimberly frowned. “How long have you known?”

  The muscles in Kane’s jaw twitched. “Deputy Danworth told me when I was arrested.”

  “I wonder if he only arrested you to give him time to pin the robbery on you,” Agnes said.

  “It wouldn’t surprise me,” Eleanor added. “We don’t much care for the deputy.”

  “I wouldn’t know. I don’t know Milly Clark, and I’m in no position to harass the woman for her accusation.”

  “So you didn’t become aware of what she said until after you were arrested?” Eleanor asked with a gasp.

  “That’s right. And I don’t know why the cops would believe a word Milly said. She’s known to exaggerate.”

  “I thought you didn’t know her.” Kimberly said as she tapped her foot.

  “Sorry. I meant I don’t have any idea if she saw me leaving the gas station. I can’t say I know what kind of car she drives.”

  “So who really did bail you out if it wasn’t your mother,” Agnes asked.

  “So you met my mother already. I’ll bet she gave you an earful,” Kane grumbled. “She threw me out months ago, as I’m sure she told you.”

  “So where have you been staying.”

  “Mark McConnell and his wife Mary are renovating their house. They have an extra room. Mark used to be a pastor and is helping me put my life back on track. Mark had one of the ladies at church bail me out.”

  “Oh,” Agnes began. “It appears we’ve been misled. You certainly weren’t in a position to harm Milly if you were locked in jail.”

  “But do you know of anyone who might wish to harm her?” Eleanor asked.

  “I can’t say, but I’m sure her neighbors will have plenty to say about … well everyone.”

  “I can so relate,” Kimberly said. “Mrs. Barry has a tendency to gossip too.”

  “Mrs. Barry is funny,” Kane said. “She beat me at poker a few times at the bar.”

  “Is that legal?” Eleanor asked.

  “We were only playing for shelled peanuts, so the owner of the place didn’t mind.” He smiled.

  “Thank you for speaking with us,” Kimberly said as she walked back toward the car. “I, for one, could use a bite to eat for lunch, Agnes and Eleanor.”

  Agnes said, “I don’t suppose you have a small restaurant here in town.”

  Eleanor’s eyes widened. “They’re always the best.”

  “Mable’s Family Restaurant it is,” Kimberly said as she got in the car.

  Agnes and Eleanor were seated at a booth skimming the menu as Kimberly excused herself to use the bathroom.

  Mabel’s wasn’t busy. Even the barstools were empty. In the next room a salad bar was spread out with two kinds of lettuce, none of it iceberg. Agnes hated the spinach and romaine mixture. Even plain romaine didn’t taste good, and she didn’t particularly care for caesar salads.

  “Are you going to get the salad bar, Agnes?” Eleanor asked.

  “I can’t say.”

  “They have chicken noodle soup up there,” Kimberly said as she slid into her seat opposite Agnes and Eleanor. “It tastes great with those homemade noodles Mable makes.”

  “So there’s a real Mable?”

  “Yes and she’s quite nice. But whatever you do, don’t complain about your food.”

  “What if our order isn’t right?” Eleanor asked.

  “Believe me you’ll have no complaints. The food is always great.”

  The server greeted them. She appeared to be in her fifties, and wore a white button-down shirt with a pack of cigarettes rolled up in one of the sleeves. The harsh lines of her face didn’t soften a bit when she said, “I hope you’re ready to order.”

  “What’s your hurry,” Eleanor said. “Are you ready for a cigarette break?”

  “Are you ready for a free knuckle sandwich,” the woman shot back with a sneer.

  “Can you please send Marge to our table?”

  “I am Marge.”

  “Eleanor meant Mable, but we’re ready to order,” Kimberly said. “We’ll all have the salad bar.”

  “But I want a hot turkey sandwich,” Eleanor whined. “Could you please bring me a diet Coke?”

  “Make that two hot turkey sandwiches,” Agnes added, “and a diet Coke for me too.”

  “Good choice,” Marge said as she whirled from the table.

  “Whew,” Kimberly said. “For a moment I was worried that Eleanor and Marge would be brawling in the parking lot. It wouldn’t be the first time.”

  “Excuse me, but this is the first time I’ve been here,” Eleanor insisted. “And I’ve never met such a rude server.”

  “Marge isn’t so bad when she warms up to you, which normally doesn’t happen until the end of y
our meal.” Kimberly laughed.

  “I don’t know about you,” Agnes said. “But I really hope we can find out what poison was used to kill Milly Clark.”

  Marge set down the glasses, her face softening. “Are you the investigators I’ve heard about?”

  “Why yes we are,” Eleanor said as she puffed up her chest.

  “Don’t pay attention to Eleanor,” Agnes sighed. “She suffers from an excessive personality.”

  “Milly Clark came in here every Tuesday for hot turkey sandwiches,” Marge offered. “You just never knew what kind of gossip she’d come up with. After a while I thought she might be stretching the truth because so many of her stories seemed farfetched.”

  “She suggested that Kane Keegan robbed the Pit Stop gas station,” Kimberly said with a shrug.

  “That’s quite an accusation.”

  “I agree,” Agnes said. “If you had to guess, who do you think would want to harm Milly?”

  “Who would want her dead?” Kimberly quickly added.

  “Sorry, my back is hurting.” Marge pulled up a chair and sat down. “I wonder who killed her.”

  Agnes took a sip of her pop. “That’s what we’re trying to figure out.”

  “She was poisoned,” Eleanor blurted out.

  “Oh, so that was the case. My brother-in-law works with the coroner and he told me … .” She quickly glanced around. “Cyanide poisoning.” Eleanor knocked over her glass and Marge jumped up and wiped up the spill. “Sorry, I didn’t think you’d get that excited.”

  “How on earth would cyanide get into Milly’s lemonade,” Eleanor gasped.

  “She died after drinking lemonade?” Marge asked.

  “But who would put poison in Milly’s lemonade?” Kimberly asked. “I wonder if someone else gave Milly the lemonade and it didn’t come from the snack bar.”

  “Well, you ladies certainly have your work cut out and I don’t envy you. It’s just nice to know someone besides the police is interested in solving this mystery.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Agnes and Eleanor led the way into the Sisters of Angels drug treatment facility.

  “I had completely forgotten that Milly volunteered here,” Agnes said when they were at the counter.

  “I guess we got so involved with the other details of the case that we nearly missed what might turn out to be vital information,” Kimberly said.

  A young man appeared from a doorway looking quite flustered, his cheeks red. He ran a hand through his bright red hair.

  “I hope you haven’t been waiting long.” He handed over a clipboard. “And don’t be embarrassed; we have many older women in our in-house treatment facility.”

  “I certainly hope Milly Clark is here to work with us,” Eleanor said. “I’ve heard such good things about her.”

  The young man’s face fell. “I’m s-sorry, but she’s no longer here.”

  “What?” Eleanor wailed throwing up an arm and burying her face on the desk.

  “It’s okay. Lynn and Debra are here. They’ll be able to help you with your forms. They worked alongside Milly.”

  “A-are they nice?” Eleanor asked.

  “Oh yes, quite nice. Please take a seat in the waiting room and I’ll get them here pronto.”

  “Did you hear that, Eleanor, he said ‘pronto.’” Agnes snickered. “I wouldn’t think a man his age would use such a word.”

  “Maybe Milly used the word and he picked up on it,” Kimberly said sweetly as she sank into a plush chair and squeezed the arms. “I think I could fall asleep in a chair like this.”

  “We’re not here to take a nap, Kimberly,” Agnes admonished. “We’re here for Eleanor. It’s important that we support her as she goes into recovery.”

  “Not funny,” Eleanor said.

  Two women walked with purpose toward them. “Lynn and Debra will be able to help you,” the young man said indicating the tall blonde as Lynn and the other woman as Debra.

  “Thank you, Cliff,” Lynn said. “That will be all.”

  “We’ll help with the paperwork,” Debra quickly added.

  “I-Is there somewhere we can speak privately?” Eleanor asked.

  “We have a lovely courtyard.” Debra smiled. “This way, please.”

  They followed Lynn and Debra through a set of double doors that led into an atrium complete with benches, and chipmunks running amuck.

  Eleanor wrung her hands. “I appreciate your help. I really don’t have a drug problem.”

  “Having a prescription drug problem is nothing to be ashamed of,” Debra said as she placed a hand on Eleanor’s shoulder and gave it a quick squeeze.

  Eleanor pushed her off. “I’m serious. We’re here to speak to you about Milly Clark.”

  Debra and Lynn held one another briefly, wiping at invisible tears.

  “It’s so terrible what happened,” Lynn began, “I still can’t believe she’s gone.”

  “She made such a huge impact with the patients. We truly feel her loss here,” Debra added.

  “I’m confused,” Agnes said. “From what we’ve heard, Milly spent her time gossiping about her neighbors and accusing them of crimes.”

  “I know Milly isn’t perfect; who of us is,” Lynn said. “But she had another side, a good side that gave more than she took.”

  “I can’t imagine anyone would want to kill her,” Debra added.

  “Oh, so it was murder?” Agnes asked in shock. “We hadn’t gotten the official word.”

  “We don’t need anything official to know she took a drink of lemonade and then she collapsed,” Debra insisted.

  “Who are you getting your information from?” Kimberly asked.

  “Well, the butcher Pete told us all about it.”

  “Are you certain it was Pete?”

  “He hasn’t missed a bingo yet.”

  “And he sat with Milly,” Debra added.

  “Did Milly ever have problems with any of the patients?” Agnes asked.

  “No. Like we’ve said, she was well liked here.”

  “You really helped us out,” Eleanor said. “It never occurred to us to find out who Milly was sitting with at bingo.”

  “I’m sure Pete will be able to tell you. Milly told us Pete was sweet on her, but she had to let him down. She told us she was too old to bother with a man.” Lynn laughed as her eyes watered.

  “Can you help us get out of here?” Eleanor asked. “I’d hate for Cliff to think I’m slipping out.”

  “Not a problem. Leave it to us.”

  Eleanor ran for the door with Agnes giving chase. “Wait you can’t leave. You need treatment.”

  “You can’t make her stay here,” Lynn explained. “This is a voluntary treatment center.”

  “You mean I can’t sign my grandmother in here?” Kimberly asked with widened eyes.

  “I’m sorry, but no. She might not be ready for treatment yet. Bring her back when she’s more inclined to receive treatment,” Debra said.

  “I don’t understand why Lynn and Debra wanted me to get out the door that way,” Eleanor said as Agnes and Kimberly joined her.

  “I believe they didn’t want Cliff to know the real reason we came. And don’t forget, you’re the one who acted like an addict, which isn’t a bit funny,” Agnes scolded Eleanor.

  “I didn’t think we’d be able to question Lynn and Debra otherwise.”

  “And now we’ll never know.” Kimberly said. “You’re certainly a lot of trouble, Grandmother.”

  “That Pete is no good, I tell you,” Eleanor exclaimed. “He supposedly was sweet on Milly, but now, just days after her death, he takes Mrs. Barry home.”

  “Now come on, Eleanor,” Agnes said. “We don’t know it was like that. I don’t see Mrs. Barry as that kind of woman.”

  “Oh really? And what kind of woman is that exactly?” Kimberly asked with a sly smile. “It’s not like older women don’t have an interest in the opposite sex.”

  “It sounds so naughty when you
say it that way, Kimberly. This is Mrs. Barry we’re talking about!”

  “Calm down, Eleanor,” Agnes sighed. “I’m certain that we’ll find out all about Pete when we get to the meat market.”

  “If he tries to harm one gray hair on Mrs. Barry’s head I’ll give Pete a one and a two and pow!” Eleanor threatened as she swung her doubled up fist.

  “We can’t go into the butcher all fired up, so please calm down.”

  “I’ll try, but if I don’t like what ol’ Pete has to say … .”

  “We know: pow.” Kimberly laughed.

  They could laugh at her all they wanted to. Eleanor was used to it, but she didn’t like the idea that Pete took Mrs. Barry home after the poker game and stayed the night, even if he spent the night on the sofa. She deeply feared for the unique and often grumpy Mrs. Barry, that she might suffer the same fate as Milly. Why, Pete could be a serial killer, love ’em and kill ’em just for the kicks. She wouldn’t tell Agnes and Kimberly what she thought. She’d just have to see how the questioning went.

  Eleanor’s tongue nearly hung out of her mouth as she stared in the meat case. T-Bones, strip steaks, sirloins and porterhouse steaks, all thick and juicy behind glass ready for selection. “These steaks are a little too thick,” Eleanor began, “I can’t chew steaks well unless they’re tender.”

  A tall silver-haired man looked down at Eleanor from behind the meat counter. “I assure you all the steaks are of the highest quality and tender, but I recommend cooking them rare or medium rare to enjoy the flavor.”

  Eleanor wrinkled her nose. “I’ll have to grab a steak on the way out. We came here to ask you a few questions … about Milly Clark.”

  “Frances, I need you to watch the counter,” Pete called out, and a woman tightened her red-stained apron as she took over for Pete. “It’s just beet juice,” she remarked. “I leave the slaughtering to Pete.” She grinned, revealing a gap where two front teeth should be.

  “Let’s step outside,” Pete suggested.

  He led the way around the back, where a tin can for cigarette butts was on the ground next to a plastic lawn chair, which Pete promptly plopped down in.

  “Mrs. Barry told me you’d be coming around to question me.”