by Lois Lavrisa
Joseph let out a breath. “I was here losing money to them. You can ask. They all make money from me.” He pointed behind him.
“What about Mr. Phong’s ring?” Cat asked Joseph. “You had it, right?”
“How did you know I had ring?” Joseph asked.
Cat said, “We’re detectives; we know a lot of stuff.”
I rolled my eyes. “No, we aren’t actually real detectives, but we are investigating Mr. Phong’s death. When he was alive, he had the ring, and after he passed, we noticed he did not have a ring. Then we had to go to the pawnshop in an unrelated matter, and we saw it.”
“We added two and two and got you,” Cat said.
“I did not hurt anyone. He owe me money so he gave ring to me. I have much debt. I lose money, had to pay back. I sold ring to pawnshop.” Joseph fidgeted with his shirt collar.
Cat looked over at me. “That seems plausible.”
“Didn’t you say that he had something else of yours, too?” I asked.
“Yes, he did, but I did not get it back.” Joseph sighed. “Now you two leave me alone, okay?”
Cat whispered in my ear. “Should we ask him about the missing files at LRS?”
“No. Luiz is taking care of that, and I don’t want to interfere with his search,” I said.
“Good point,” Cat said.
“Can I go now?” Joseph asked.
I said, “Why, of course. Thank you so much for talking with us.”
Joseph scurried back to the card table. José walked over to us.
“Did you get what you needed out of Joseph?” José asked us.
“I think so. Can you corroborate his story that he was here the night Mr. Phong died?” Cat asked.
“Yes. He was here.” José’s phone rang. He stepped aside and took the call.
Cat said, “I guess that means that Joseph is out as a suspect. Who does that leave? Frank, Lily, you, and I were the only other ones in the house.”
“Obviously, it wasn’t you or me.”
“That leaves Lily and Frank.”
“It couldn’t be Lily; she is way too sweet. It could be Frank. He is very rough around the edges and seems like he’s always fixing to lose his temper,” I said.
Cat said, “Then let’s put Frank on our suspect list.”
“List?”
“It’s not actually a list; it only has one name. We’ve ruled out everyone else.”
“Yes. It has to be Frank.” I slapped my hands together. “Now we have a lead. That’s what it’s called, right?”
Cat laughed. “I’m proud of you, Bezu. You’re getting the lingo down. I think you have the makings of a great detective after all.”
“Oh no, after this is over, I am done with my spying.”
A minute later, José was by our side. “I just got off the phone with my buddy in forensics. I have some news for you, Bezu.”
My breath caught in my throat. “Please tell me it’s good news.”
“Yes, she really needs that now,” Cat added.
José turned his head side to side. “Sorry, Bezu. It’s not. One of your tenants is in the hospital.”
“Oh my goodness. What happened? A fall? An accident? What?” Cat asked.
I couldn’t speak as my words halted along with my breath.
José shifted his stance. “Possible poisoning.”
Chapter Eleven
A half hour later, Cat and I arrived at the hospital. José planned to join us later. Walking down the aged linoleum-floored hallway, my heart beat as swiftly as I walked. Ahead of us, I saw a young lady. As she approached, I identified her as Lily. Relief flooded over me knowing that she was okay. Just as quickly as I made that realization, I knew that it must be Frank who was ill. Poor guy. Even though he was by no stretch of the imagination my favorite person, I didn’t wish him any harm.
Lily dashed over to me. “Miss Bezu, Frank is so sick. He’s hooked up to an IV. I’m so worried.”
I hugged Lily. “I’m so sorry.”
“What happened to him?” Cat asked.
Lily spoke between sobs. “He’s vomiting and has cramps. Oh, and he is so weak and his blood pressure skyrocketed.”
Holding my breath, I remembered the symptoms of food poisoning. “Is he going to be okay?”
Lily’s eyes were swollen. Her nose leaked. “I hope so.”
I pulled a tissue out of my purse and handed it to her.
“What’s wrong with him?” Cat asked.
“They think it’s some sort of poisoning.” Lily wiped her nose with the tissue.
“Poisoning?” Cat asked.
I sucked in a breath as I sent up a prayer. Please let Frank be okay.
“Yes. It could be something like that. They ran some tests.” Lily shook her head as she blew into the tissue. “My poor, sweet baby. He has so much homework to do. And he has a big bodybuilding contest that he was certain he’d win. And now he’s here, weak and sick.”
I patted her shoulder. “Please let us know what we can do.”
“Why don’t you go in and see him?” Lily said.
“Do you think he’d want to see me?” I asked. “He doesn’t seem to be very fond of me.”
“He does like you. I just know it,” Lily said.
Cat looked over at me and shrugged her shoulders.
“Are you sure that he’s up for visitors?” I asked.
“Yes.” Lily grabbed my hand as she led me down the hall. “I bet seeing you will lift his spirits.”
Not wanting to disappoint her, I followed her into Frank’s hospital room. Cat was by my side.
Frank lay on the bed with his back to the door. A machine beeped. The scent of rubbing alcohol filled the room.
Lily brushed her hand on Frank’s back. “Honey, you have visitors.”
Frank rolled over. His face was pale and his eyes went wide. “Not you!” He pointed at me.
I stopped my approach to him.
“You killed Mr. Phong, and now you poisoned me!” Frank shook his hand at me. “Get her out of here.”
José strode into the room. “Whoa, I heard the yelling all the way out in the hallway.”
“Remove this murderer from my room.” Frank coughed.
“Who?” José said.
“That woman!” Frank jammed a finger in my direction.
Lily’s mouth dropped open.
Cat stood in front of me. “I know that you aren’t feeling well, and I’m sorry about that. But I’m afraid that you are out of line. My dear friend did not kill anyone.”
José glanced at me.
“But I’m poisoned just like Mr. Phong. It’s her muffins,” Frank said. “I swear if she doesn’t leave, I’ll have her arrested.”
“Relax, we’re leaving,” José said.
“Oh, Miss Bezu, I am so sorry. He is miserable and cranky. I’m sure he will be in a better mood once he gets well,” Lily said to me.
Cat and José followed me as I exited the room. I recalled having seen the empty muffin plate on top of Lily and Frank’s dresser. My stomach turned sour. Maybe he’d eaten one of the tainted muffins. Good gracious. My baking was toxic, and I was causing people harm.
In the hallway, Cat said to me, “What the heck is going on?”
José said, “Bezu, I know that you’re innocent. But you have to understand this is the second tenant of yours to get sick.”
“One fatally.” Cat put her hand to her mouth. “I’m sorry, Bezu, that just came flying out.”
My voice trembled. “Apology accepted. No harm done.”
“Sometimes I think something, and then it slides out before my brain can process it. I call it mommy fog, like losing brain cells with each birth, and I had double doses each time. Still, that’s no excuse. I love you, and I will stick with you until we figure out what is going on. You’re innocent. I am so sorry that all of this is happening to your tenants.” Cat slung her arm over my shoulder.
“Me, too,” I said.
Officer Ray stom
ped over. He eyed me up and down, then twisted his mouth. “A criminal always goes back to the scene of the crime. In this case, to their victim. Do you want to add venom to his IV?”
José went almost nose to nose with Officer Ray. “You’re such a jerk. Be nice to my friend.”
“If I were you, I’d watch who I made friends with. Your friend here is not only illegally taking in tenants but now has one dead boarder and one hospitalized. I’m just saying José, you are wading in troubled water with this one.” Ray flicked his finger my way.
José stepped back, his lips tight. “You will owe both me and my friend an apology when the real person behind the crime is discovered.”
Officer Ray chortled. “I will never owe you anything, apology or otherwise.”
“Okay, boys, be nice to each other.” Cat shoved her body in between Officer Ray and José. It looked like two tall, thick bookends dwarfing Cat. “What we need to do here is all work nicely together on this case.”
“You are kidding me, right? You and the professor lady solve one case and you think you’re real detectives? Ha!” Ray slapped his hand on a wall. “Get over yourselves and get the hell out of the way while professionals handle this case. I’ll have the person behind bars in the next twenty-four hours.”
“I hope that you do,” Cat said.
José mumbled something under his breath and trudged away.
“Thank you so very much, Officer Ray. We are counting on your quick resolution of these unfortunate events.” I smiled at him.
“Unfortunate? Somehow I think all of these so-called events were premeditated.” Ray rolled his shoulders back.
“I think so, too. Someone had access to Bezu’s muffins and some poison and staged all of it,” Cat said.
“If that is the case, then who has or had access to your home?” Officer Ray asked.
“Besides Lily and Frank?” Cat said.
“And the two of you,” Officer Ray said.
I sighed. “My new tenant, Luiz.”
Officer Ray arched an eyebrow. He flipped through a small notepad in his pocket. “Who is Luiz? I have Xavier listed as your new boarder.”
Cat said, “He’s the same person. He assumed another identity. It’s a long story. And it needs to be kept confidential. I am only going to share it with you now to help with this case.”
Officer Ray leaned back against the wall, propping his foot against it. “I have time. Explain now.”
Cat and I relayed what Luiz had told us.
After we finished our story, Office Ray said, “This keeps getting stranger.”
“I know. This whole event has been like being upside down and inside out backward,” I said.
Officer Ray slanted his eyes.
“She means it’s been a little weird for us, too,” Cat added.
Officer Ray straightened. “It’s getting late, ladies. I think that’s it for today.”
“So, do you have any leads?” I asked. Gosh, it would be nice to have this all wrapped up so life could return to normal.
“Yes, I still have one.” He eyed me and said, “I don’t think orange is your color, but you may have to get used to it.”
Chapter Twelve
The next morning, Cat and I sat at my kitchen table having coffee.
“How could Officer Ray even think for a second that you’re guilty?” Cat asked.
“I haven’t the faintest.” I plopped my elbows on the table. “What am I going to do? I feel like giving up now. Maybe we should.”
“No.” Cat dumped sugar in her cup. “Let’s think this out.”
I plucked a flower from the vase and put it to my nose. The sweet aroma gave my snarled thoughts a small respite. “We are out of suspects.”
“There has to be someone else. The killer had the means, motive, and opportunity to commit the crime.”
“And? To Officer Ray that is me. I bake the muffins, I had the poison, and I told everyone I would quiet Mr. Phong.”
“I know it looks bad for you. But it wasn’t you, and we have to prove that.” Cat sipped her coffee. “Let’s organize our investigation out loud, person by person, eliminating suspects.”
“First, of course, we take out you and me,” I said.
“Yes. Then I also think we can safely take Lily out. There is no way she would poison Mr. Phong and Frank.” Cat leaned back in her chair. “That leaves Xavier, I mean Luiz.”
“He’s out as well.” A grin lifted my lips as I thought of him.
“I see that smirk. You like him, don’t you?” Cat asked.
“You’re getting off base.” Although she was right. “Who does that leave?”
“Frank,” we said in unison.
Cat twisted her mouth. “Well, he’s out. Why would he poison himself? That wouldn’t make any sense at all.”
“None of this is logical.” I sank my head in my hands. “One day my life is normal, and now all of this. Everything is topsy-turvy.”
“Um, you consider being so close to bankruptcy that you illegally take in a houseful of boarders normal?”
I looked up at her. “If you put it that way, no.”
Cat took in a long inhale. “Here’s the honest-to-goodness truth. There’s no such thing as normal. Never was and never will be. Once you acknowledge that, life becomes so much more enjoyable because you’re not trying to reach something that doesn’t exist.”
Smiling, I said, “Thank you for your wisdom.”
Cat laughed. “Even though you’ve never revealed your age, I’m guessing that I’m only a few years older than you. So that means I’m not that wise.”
“Ah, yes, but you’re married with four children and run a business. Those qualify for being clever,” I said.
“Too bad I’m not astute enough to figure out who killed your tenant,” Cat said.
“And who made Frank sick, too. I’m assuming it could be the same person.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” Cat sighed.
“What about your investigation into your father’s death? Have you gotten any closer to figuring out what happened?” I asked. Poor Cat, she’d had two people she loved who’d died recently. First her father, then Lucy.
Cat stood. “Nope.”
“Sorry.” I got up and moved next to her, placing my hand on her back. “But you are getting close.”
Cat said, “Not really.”
“But don’t you think that there is a connection with the crossword puzzles and your father’s former business partners’ deaths? And then you found that big yearly deposit, which stopped right after your father passed. I bet there’s something real important about that, too.”
“I do have all that random information. But where does it get me?” Cat stretched her arms above her head. Her eyes were swollen red as though they held back tears.
Seeing the pain in Cat’s eyes made my heart ache for her. How I wished that I could wave a wand and make her pain disappear.
Cat sighed. “My so-called investigation feels like some weird nightmare merry-go-round. Where I keep seeing the golden ring, but it moves farther out of reach while I keep spinning faster and faster.”
Trying to soothe her, I said, “Remember you and Annie Mae solved Lucy’s case. Soon we’ll find Mr. Phong’s killer. And I know you will also find out who shot your father.”
Cat’s eyes were moist. “I hope you’re right.”
Reaching over to Cat, I grasped her hand. “Me, too.”
A loud banging at the front door made me jump. “Excuse me for a moment. I’m going to answer that.”
Upon opening the front door, I was greeted by Officer Ray.
“Good day, Miss Gordon. With your permission, I’d like to look into your tenants’ rooms, specifically Frank and Mr. Phong.” Ray took off his sunglasses. His forehead had a few drops of perspiration.
“Oh?” I said.
“Yes, I’m going to look through their rooms just to make sure we haven’t missed anything.”
Although I wasn’t sure if
he needed a search warrant or not, I certainly didn’t want to disagree with him or cause any trouble. After all, I had nothing to hide, so I saw no harm in letting him look around. “Do you want to go into Mr. Phong’s room first or Frank’s?”
Officer Ray followed me up the stairs. “Doesn’t really matter.”
“Then we will start with Mr. Phong’s room.” I opened the door.
Officer Ray entered after me. He took a small camera from his front pocket and took several pictures. “Has anyone been in here since his body was removed?”
“No. You all were the last ones in the room that night. The door has been closed since then. I was kind of hoping that one of his relatives would show up and claim his belongings. Although he doesn’t have much here.” Grief washed over me thinking about him. Yes, he could be annoying with all the humming and singing. But he was a sweet guy who was always kind.
“So no one has entered this room.”
“Correct.”
“And you said that no relative of his has tried to claim any of his belongings?”
“That’s right.”
Officer Ray shot out a grunt. “Not one person cares that he’s dead.”
“Well, I do, of course.” I looked around the room and saw his iPod just as he’d left it on the bed—remembering how he’d stumbled out of the bathroom, grasping his throat with one hand and grabbing his iPod with the other. It now made me wonder. Had he been trying to communicate to me through a song? I picked up the iPod. “Do you mind if I take this?”
Officer Ray arched an eyebrow. “Why?”
Oh no. What did I say now? I wanted to tell him why, but it sounded convoluted. I didn’t want to lie, yet I had to skirt around the truth just a tad. “He was trying to give it to me the night he died.” And that was pretty darn close to the truth.
Picking up the iPod, Officer Ray flipped it over, then handed it to me. “I don’t see any harm in it.”
“Thank you.”
“Return it when you’re done. Just in case someone comes to claim his property.”