by P. Thompson
With that, Sam picked up his rose and donuts, not even offering me a donut, and left.
I walked out to Loraine as she was putting the final coat of paint on her nails and said, “What about Dean? Is he going to be okay?”
“He got a bottle cracked over his head. The doc wants to keep him overnight to be sure he’s okay. Carol is expecting almost any day now. Hope this doesn’t start her labor.”
“Oh my gosh, I forgot all about her time being near.”
The phone rang and Loraine held up her nails, so I answered it. “Sheriff’s Department. Jordan here. How may I help you?”
“Jenny, it’s me, Anna Brown, at the flower shop.” Like I could forget.
“What’s up Anna?”
“It’s Carmen. The EMT’s just took her out of here. She fell off her stool and was foaming at the mouth. I’m so scared for her.”
“Hang on. I’m on my way,” I told her.
“Loraine, tell Sheriff I’m on my way to the flower shop. The caterer was foaming at the mouth and fell off her stool. EMT’s arrived and have taken her to the hospital. I’ll get back to you with whatever I find out.” And out the door I went.
I jumped into my Jeep, threw the bubble on top, and headed for the strip mall. On the way I called Sam and filled him in and asked that he meet me there. Then I called Max and asked if he thought CSI should have a look around after all that had been going on. He said he would be there by the time I got there. Foaming at the mouth… sounds like she was poisoned. Not sure what that has to do with flowers. Then again it might have a lot to do with catering.
Chapter 4
Max was there and setting up the crime scene along with Hank and his new partner, Austin Nettles. Max had moved Anna outside, away from the crime scene, and she stood shivering on the sidewalk. Her arms wrapped around herself hugging her winter coat. The lady was in three inch heels and stockings. This ain’t New York, honey.
“Anna, come over here and get in the Jeep before you freeze to death.” I called out to her. She hobbled over to me while I held the door open so she could climb in. Once in, I slammed the door and crawled in the driver’s side and cranked up the heat.
“Tell me what happened?” I brought out the recorder and she nodded her head. “You need to acknowledge by voice, not a nod of your head.” As I turned on the recorder, I asked, “Do you mind if I record our conversation?”
She nodded, then said, “Yes. No. I mean no, I don’t mind you recording our conversation.”
“Tell me what happened,” I asked her.
“I got here about eight o’clock and went to turn the heat up. Carmen doesn’t like to be cold and she doesn’t come in till nine or nine thirty. So it was nice and warm by the time she got off the transportation bus out front. We have a job for a ladies group out at the Woodmen of the World building. She’d said she wanted an early start on it. It’s not till tomorrow at noon, so starting today was a good idea for some of it. She got the whipping cream out and some strawberries—God they are expensive this time of year. She had just made the whipped cream and was tasting it. She made a funny face and asked me if it was fresh. I told her I had just picked it up at the Piggly Wiggle on my way in. She checked the date on the carton and said it was fresh. I went to the back to start the flowers for the luncheon when I heard the racket in the kitchen. I ran to see what was up and found her on the floor with all this foam coming from her mouth. Oh, it was so terrible! Will she be alright?”
“I’m not sure, but if you want I’ll carry you to the hospital so you can wait. Do you know her next of kin?”
“She has a son, who lives in Manchester, but I’ve never met him and I don’t know his phone number. I’m sure it’s in her cell phone. She talks to him almost daily.”
“Where would I find her phone?”
“I’ll go get it for you.”
“No, you can’t do that. It’s a crime scene now and you can’t go back in. Where is her phone and your purse? I‘ll bring them out here.” She told me what I needed to know and I left her sitting in the Jeep.
I found Max inside with his team and asked if I could get Carmen’s cell phone, or did he need it, and also Anna’s purse as I was taking her to the hospital. He said he needed Carmen’s cell, but I could look for the son’s number, which I did, plus his work number was there also so I wrote it down too. Then grabbing Anna’s purse, I headed for the Jeep and the hospital. Once there I let Anna off and told her I would be in in a minute. As I sat there in front of the hospital and dialed the son’s number, I had my fears that Carmen may not make it. All depending on what poison had she gotten into.
Marco Gabbro, Carmen’s son, was working at a tire shop in Manchester and didn’t answer his phone. I found the name of the tire shop, but his boss was none too happy to let me talk to him.
“Listen here, Mr. Lewis, this guy’s mother is in the hospital and this is an emergency. You need to bring him to the phone.” With reluctance he allowed Marco to come to the phone.
“Mr. Gabbro, I’m Detective Jordan of the Sheriff’s Department. Your mother has been taken to the hospital and is in pretty bad condition. I think you need to be here.”
“What has happened to my mother?” he asked me.
“She was hurt at work and it’s critical that you be here as soon as you can.” With that he said he was on his way and we hung up.
I parked the Jeep and went inside only to find Anna arguing with the girl at reception. As I walked up, the girl recognized me and said, “Are you two together?”
“Yes, I’m Detective Jordan and I want to know the status is Carmen Gabbro and who’s her doctor?”
“Yes, I know who you are,” she said with a sarcastic smirk. “I’ll see what I can find out.”
Last year I had a run in with her when there was a murder at the lake and I needed access to one of the victims. She was none too happy when a good friend of the family, who is head of the hospital and a doctor there, came to my rescue and got the information I needed.
The receptionist found the info we needed. Carmen was still in the ER so we headed that way.
The lady at the desk knows me by sight and knew what I was there for.
She drew me aside and said, “Doctors are with her now, but it doesn’t look good, according to Nurse Holly. They’re doing everything possible at this time, but I think prayers are in order.”
Well, it’s been a while since I prayed. Not since mom had a scare about cancer. I’m a good cop, a good friend, and a good daughter, but not a good church goer, much to my father’s worry. I told the nurse we would work on the prayer request. I took the message back to Anna and she broke down in tears.
“I brought Carmen with me from Texas. She has worked with me for over ten years. I knew she would be what would make my business in catering here a success. Marco had already come to Tennessee last year with a friend who said jobs were better here than in Texas.” Anna did begin to pray, and then cry at the same time.
My heart went out to her, but I needed to get some info from the doctors so I went to find Nurse Holly.
Chapter 5
As I roamed the back rooms of the ER looking for Nurse Holly (a petite blond of thirty or so that wore far too much makeup and had no bedside manner at all) my cell rang out Sweet Georgia Brown. That’s the sheriff’s ringtone. “What’s up Sheriff Jeff?” I asked while peering into each room that had a door open.
“I need you to get over to Flowers Forever. There’s been another poisoning. One of the workers was eating an apple and dropped to the floor with a seizure and then foaming at the mouth. Where are you anyway?”
“I’m at the hospital with Anna while they work on Carmen, but I’m on my way to Flowers Forever as soon as I let Anna know. Can you let Sam know about this? This was one of the flower shops he visited.”
“I’ll have Loraine get right on it, but I think he’s still at the Flower Boutique with Max.”
With that I let Anna know what had happened, and to some exte
nt she seemed relieved that it wasn’t just aimed at her shop.
I threw the bubble on top of the Jeep and headed to the far end of town. The shop was almost out of city limits headed into the country. At least the roads were cleared of snow this far out. By the time I arrived I saw Hank and Austin pulling up and getting out of their patrol car. Hank waved a hand at me and waited by the front door. The door flew open and the EMT’s were rolling out a young woman I guessed to be the victim. We let them get her into the ambulance before we walked inside.
There was crying and screaming, a lot of hysteria going on. A middle aged black woman spotted us and came charging in our direction.
“It’s about time you got here! The EMT’s have come and gone and you are just showing up,” she shouted.
“Look, I just got the call five minutes ago. We came as soon as we were told about this. Please, sit down and tell me what happened here.”
Hank and Austin went looking for someone else to talk too as I led the woman to a chair.
“I’m detective Jordan. Tell me what happened.”
“Are you Judge Jordan’s daughter?” she asked.
“Yes, he’s my father.”
“Oh, that man is a saint,” she said.
“Thank you. I find him pretty special myself,” I told her. “Now tell me what happened here.”
“Marci came in late and I was getting on to her about it. She went to the refrigerator and got an apple out. Lordy, she ate two or three bites of it and dropped to the floor, shaking and jumping, then she began to foam at the mouth. We called 911 and tried to keep her safe till they got here.”
“Where did you buy the apples from?”
“Shelia, where did you get them apples from?” she called to a young lady that was back talking to Hank and Austin.
“I got them at Wal-Mart along with some grapes and kiwi’s,” she replied.
I pulled my cell out of its case and called Max. He answered on the first ring.
“Yes,” Max said. “I know we have another one and I’ll be there just as soon as I wrap this up here. What did she consume?”
“An apple bought at Wal-Mart along with grapes and kiwis. Do you want them bagged along with the apples?”
“No, wait till I get there. Don’t want to break the chain of evidence.”
“Fine. I’ll just keep anyone else from eating anything in there.” I went back the woman and asked, “What’s your name, honey?”
“Latisha Miller. I own this shop along with my sister, Gloria Evens. We’ve only been open six months with everything that’s happened and now this.”
“Tell me what was happening before this.”
“We were broke into right after we opened shop and everything was broken and thrown around the shop. It took us all day to clean up.”
Sam came through the door about that time and I said to him, “She says she was broken into about six months ago. Did she not tell you that?”
“Not a word,” Sam said.
“Ms. Miller, Sam was by here and you never let on that you had been broken into when you first opened.”
“It was old news and we never reported it. We just didn’t want to get in trouble.”
“What kind of trouble?” I asked her.
“Well, we didn’t have our license yet and shouldn’t have been open. The building inspector had his hand out, so until we gave him a little something we couldn’t get the license.”
“Who the hell is this inspector?”
“I’d rather not say. Don’t want no trouble.”
“Well there’s going to be trouble. Not yours but his,” I said
“It wasn’t a him. It was a her,” Ms. Miller said.
“I know just who that is and you can bet there is about to be trouble. You should have come to the sheriff’s office and reported her right then and there.”
“We was afraid we would never get approved to open if we did, thinking everybody sticks together. Maybe the next one is on the take also.”
“Most of the city employees are on the up and up. I’m so sorry this happened to you. Let’s get back to the young woman the EMT’s left with. What’s her name and do you know her next of kin?”
“Her name is Tonya and she’s my cousin’s little girl. Only been working here about a month. I let her work cause she’s been sick and had to pay out on doctor bills and had no money. She’s got a little one at home about eight months old. Lordy, what are we going to do?”
“I’ll have to ask you to gather up your personal things and leave. This is a crime scene now and CSI will be here as soon as they finish processing another scene similar you this.”
Her eyes got big and she screamed, “Oh my God, did someone else take sick too?”
“This is a little more than just taking sick. Both these women have been poisoned. So please get your things and go home. I have your info and as soon as we know something we’ll let you know. Would you like me to let your cousin know about her daughter, or would you prefer to do it?”
“No, no, I’ll do it. Thank you, Miss Jordan, you’ve been very helpful.”
As the ladies were leaving Max was coming in carrying his equipment. One of his techs was right behind him and they got to work.
Chapter 6
I got with Hank and Austin to compare notes then told Max I would catch him later. I headed for The Table to see if Ralph had started anything for dinner as I could have eaten one of his horses (you can’t tell him that, they are like babies to him).
The door was locked when I got there and no sign of anyone inside. Guess they haven’t started anything yet. A truck pulled up and it was Ralph.
“Hey, I was about to leave, but I didn’t want to go before letting you know that there has been a series of poisoning this morning. All food related. So don’t let anyone in the kitchen but you, Sammy, Betty, and maybe Sophie. This has kind of got me spooked.”
“No one ever gets in my kitchen but those three. Where did the food come from?” he wanted to know.
“The heavy whipping cream was from the Piggly Wiggly and apples from Wal-Mart. I’m not thinking this is a random hit because it’s been at two flower shops in town. The whipping cream was at Anna’s Boutique and the apples at Flowers Forever. Both victims are in critical condition, maybe not going to make it.”
Ralph unlocked the door and held it open for me. “I was about to put on a piece of salmon for myself, would you care to join me?” he asked.
“Sure, if it’s not too much trouble. I need a snack about now.”
“Never too much trouble for you, my dear,” Ralph said laughing.
~~~
We ate and talked over menus for the rest of the week. When I went to leave, Ralph said, “Just a reminder that Betty is going to help out a friend next week and her replacement will be here to take her place. Do I allow her into the kitchen? What do you think?”
“Play it by ear, but don’t get so busy you can’t keep an eye on her. I’m sure she’s fine, but keep watch anyway,” I told him.
Back at the office Loraine told me that Carmen was in ICU and doing better, and there was no word on Tonya yet. I went to the conference room and looked at the board. There was no murder, yet, so I couldn’t start a murder board or a murder book. I called Max to see where he was at on all this, but his phone went to voice mail. “Hey, it’s me. Let me know what you’ve got so far. Kisses.”
Feeling bored I called Anna to see how Carmen was doing.
“She’s doing better, but a long way from being out of the woods. Marco is with me here, we can only go in once an hour for five minutes so I’ve letting Marco go to his mom’s. Have you found out anything so far?” she asked.
“I’m waiting on CSI and the lab to get back to me on what kind of poison was used.”
“How long will my shop be closed down? I have a luncheon to prepare for and that’s tomorrow.”
“Wow, I don’t think you’ll be back in the shop that soon. Can you work it from home?”
&n
bsp; “Everything I use is in the shop. Not just food, but plates and napkins, you know, all the necessities for a luncheon.”
“I need to ask you something. Who was your building inspector when you were opening the shop?”
“Some woman who gave me a hard time. A little money helped out there and I was in business.”
“Okay, Anna, keep me informed on Carmen and let me know if you need anything.”
“I need nothing but to get back in the shop.”
After I hung up with Anna I looked over my notes from both poisonings. Outside of the fact both were flower shops and rather new to the area, there was nothing else they had in common.
I was deep in thought when I looked up and saw Bubba standing there with a grin that spread from ear to ear.
“What up, Bubba?” I asked him.
“Do you remember my cousin that was going to come and live with me a while back? Well the courts have finally said yes and I go and get him this weekend.”
“That’s good, because you have this weekend off.”
Bo came through the door stomping snow off his boots. “It’s snowing up a storm out there. Where the hell did this weather come from? Florida boys don’t like all this cold and snow.”
“Rats, more snow! The Jeep will never get me home if the country roads get slick.”
“Max can get you there. That new truck—” BOOM!!!!!
“What the hell was that?” I screamed.
Bo and Bubba were out of the conference room door before I got out of my seat.
The new glass in the front door was shattered and Loraine was covered in some sort of dust. The sheriff was pulling on his belt and on the run. Then he took one look at Loraine and said, “Jesus Christ, you need to go to the lab and let them test that powder. Jenny get her over there. I’ll call them so they’ll have everything ready. Take a patrol car. I don’t want that powder in your jeep.”
I nodded and we slipped out the back door and I grabbed the first car in the lot.