Killer Con Fuego

by Sarah Hualde

  Harrison took cigarettes out of his bedside table. He tapped the back on the edge of the lamp. “I asked him that too. He said he told himself he was confused. That he loved Vikki but only as a mother figure. Then when I was happy with her, he was content to help our relationship grow.”

  Lydia shivered. She believed Calvin’s sudden desperation to flee to Africa was fed by his past weaknesses. She wished Joan had told her about Calvin’s new passion for mission work. It might have clued her in to the situation sooner.

  Chapter 25

  THE SMELL OF ROSEMARY and garlic turned Lydia’s stomach. She was so hungry but couldn’t bring herself to sit and eat. Not even a corner of garlic bread. She grabbed a glass of water and allowed Ethan to barricade her inside the master suite.

  Joan and Ivy followed her up the stairs. Ethan shooed them away. “I’ll be downstairs in a bit,” he said. “Your mother needs to sleep.”

  Joan put her hands on her hips and glared through the crack in the door. “No, she needs to help us figure out what’s going on with the murder. She can’t do that if she’s asleep.”

  Ivy shrank back. She’d never seen anyone talk to Ethan with such desperate disrespect. She understood Joan’s need to unravel the murder at Con Fuego. Everyone wanted to get to the bottom of the mystery. Monday was nearing. No one would be settled if they returned to Honey Pot and left the murder unsolved.

  Ethan stood to his full height and looked sharply at his daughter. “She can’t do anything if she’s not rested.”

  “It’s not like she hasn’t done it before.” Joan’s tone went from harsh to whiny in an instant. “According to you and Ivy, she does do this kind of thing on a monthly basis. Why can’t she do it this time?”

  Ethan reached a hand out to his oldest girl. He placed it firmly on her shoulder. “I love you, Joan, but you don’t know what you’re talking about. Go downstairs and stay out of trouble.”

  Ivy coaxed Joan away from the door. Joan relented with a stamp of her foot and a groan. “Your dad knows what he’s doing.”

  “You don’t know my mom like I do. She can do anything. She’s just choosing not to.” Joan hurried away from Ivy, sulking.

  In the room, Lydia pushed herself away from the pillows that called to her. “She’s right, Ethan. I need to get up and get working on this.”

  Ethan quickly locked the door and came to her side. “She isn’t. She’s just a jealous little girl who wants to play with her mom.” Ethan placed a hand on Lydia’s cheek.

  Her eyes watered. “Joan’s not jealous, she’s just misplaced.”

  Ethan kissed Lydia’s forehead and pressed her back to the pillows. “We’ll talk about it later. For now, the best thing you can do is rest and pray. Get your mind right. God will give us the time to solve this. He already has a plan in play. We’ll know more when Harrison gets back from the station.”

  Lydia shut her eyes. Images of Vikki and Harrison stabbed at her temples. Worse were the pictures of Calvin and Vikki.

  Had this been a normal routine for Vikki Winters? Did she often stalk dating sites for prey? If so, why had she kept something going with Calvin when he revealed he was searching for someone for his older father? How had she convinced Calvin to let her go and Harrison to fall in love with her in such a short amount of time? The questions caused the front of her head to spin. Eventually, the spinning carved its way into darkness and Lydia slept.

  Chapter 26

  MAUDE PACED THE TOWNHOUSE courtyard. Owning three of the townhouses gave her a sense of home wherever she went within the center. She prayed as she paced. She prayed until her mind was jelly and her tears were drowned in numbness. She needed help. The Savior knew that. It wouldn’t be long until He revealed where exactly that help would come from. Until He did, Maude couldn’t settle down.

  After a long day of cleaning, the police had taken down all the crime scene tape and clue markers. They’d also taken the dumpster rat traps.

  Later, the couple played host to their employees. They treated them to dinner at their private residence and went over the game plan for returning to work.

  Santi wanted a full restock of the kitchen. Everything had been tested and retested, but Santi was terrified of accidentally poisoning a customer. Con Fuego would purge their kitchen and reopen with a limited but scrumptious menu. They’d restock slowly and market loudly.

  Stefan had many great ideas on how to get customers to overlook the murder. Dave came up with three new drink recipes to bring more tradition and flash to the new Con Fuego Patio Lounge. The old bar area would be dismantled and redecorated. The patio would become the bar. This cut on the space for large parties but would reinvigorate Con Fuego‘s decor with minimal upfront costs.

  Maude loved the enthusiasm and support of her staff. However, she couldn’t fully get involved with the planning without knowing Scooby was all right. She hadn’t seen him since his midmorning visit to Con Fuego. His fight with Dave, the murder, and then being questioned by the police had crushed his spirit.

  Scooby had planned to help her and Santi with dinner and the meeting. He was determined to help clean the mess and get the restaurant back on its feet.

  When he didn’t show, Maude figured he was strolling away his sadness. Without Scooby at dinner or the meeting, Maude grew crazy with concern. She’d put on a happy face then done her utmost to tune into the meeting. But truly, she served dinner in autopilot.

  Stefan and Dave were the last to leave. They were gone before Maude could wrap her head around anything they had said.

  When the police knocked on the front door of the townhouse, she nearly fainted with panic. Her aunt and godmother, Sophronia, who lived next door, called her in a tizzy and distracted her from hearing any pertinent information.

  “We’re all going to die,” Sophronia shouted on the other end of the phone.

  Maude tried to listen to the two officers in her living room as she calmed the old woman down, but it was impossible. Sophronia would wail and fret until Maude made a physical appearance at her doorstep. Any visit with Sophronia would take no less than forty-five minutes. Maude had timed it.

  She hated leaving Sophronia so unsettled. It was terrible for the old dear’s blood pressure. But Maude felt she had no choice. Maude took the required time to calm her and then started pacing the courtyard.

  Scooby was missing. Santi and the police were looking for him. Santi wanted him safely home. The police wanted him safely in custody. They’d found more clues to condemn Scooby for the death of Vikki Winters. Maude didn't believe Scooby murdered the woman. But after what Santi had relayed to her, she wouldn’t blame him if he had. Pacing and praying was the only way to calm her desire for vigilante justice.

  “Oh Jesus, help,” Maude said, vocalizing what her brain had been repeating.

  Reflecting in the shimmering puddle of the fountain, a light flicked on in an upstairs window. Maude instinctively turned to look and saw Lydia Everett waving at her.

  Chapter 27

  MAUDE’S LIVING ROOM warmed with her company. Lydia, revived from her nap, accompanied Flora and Kat to Maude’s townhouse. When Maude spotted her waving at the bedroom window, the chef wasted no time scurrying to Lydia’s rental. She begged for Lydia’s help and offered dessert to anyone who would come to her assistance.

  Joan and Ivy decided to lead the younger kids in games until it was time for them to go to bed. And then, they too would retreat to Maude’s.

  Ivy clapped her hands in celebratory distraction. Everyone was relieved when the kids missed seeing a dead body at the restaurant. But the gloom and heaviness of the weekend still affected the crowd.

  “The moms are taking off. The dads are sleeping in front of the TV. We’ve got brownies and hot chocolate. So, I only have one question,” Ivy said. Every child watched her, enthralled. They loved it when Ivy took over.

  Joan leaned in and very quietly asked, “I don’t understand how come we don’t get to go over there now.”

  Ivy kept
a smile on her face and in her voice. “We each have a job. Sometimes we solve the crime. At other times, we keep the littles occupied until someone else can.”

  “That’s not as exciting as you make it sound on the phone.” Joan rolled her eyes. She squared her shoulders and plastered a grin onto her face. “Let’s get this party started.”

  Eden walked over to Joan and patted her on the leg. “I’ve been there. It gets easier.” The little girl spoke with great sincerity. While keeping intense eye contact, Eden swiped a brownie.

  “I think if we can’t play detective,” Ivy said. “We should at least play Clue!”

  All the kids cheered. Joan’s brow furrowed. Clue was a very long game, and she wasn’t sure she could keep it together for that long.

  MAUDE DIDN’T WASTE a moment. She divvied out details as she served coffee and slices of cake. “Scooby has gone missing.”

  “What? When?” Lydia gulped down half of her first mug, nearly scalding her esophagus. She hadn’t enjoyed more than a sniff of coffee all day. Flora and Kat watched her, unimpressed. But Maude was moved to clap.

  “That’s one way to wake up,” Maude said. “I haven’t seen him since this morning. I thought he was processing through the night. But now, the police are looking for him. He’s their lead suspect.”

  Lydia gulped. “When did they come for him?”

  “After dinner. Dave and Stefan had just left when they arrived.” Maude sniffled. “They searched Scooby’s room. I don’t know what they found. Whatever it was, it's not good for Scooby.”

  Lydia visualized Charles and Calvin. They’d returned from the police station without much-added trauma. They texted her to say they were alright. Lydia figured something they shared with the police had deflected suspicion from them and onto Scooby. But what? All their information was highly dangerous to them and not the near stranger. She wanted to get this investigation started. Once in full swing, Lydia figured she’d spot the reason when they got to it. Maybe it would pivot the case and solve all their problems.

  Lydia exhaled a breath that rivaled lava for its heat. She then shook back her shoulders. “Where do you want to begin?” Lydia asked.

  Maude hurried to the back of the hall and hoisted a huge whiteboard from her coat closet. Unlike the one she kept at her vacation rental, this one had its own stand attached and a magnetic holder for multiple colored pens. Flora’s eyes danced with the possibilities. Maude explained. “Santi and I like to plan our menus on a big whiteboard.”

  “It’s something to do with the pens, isn’t it? I love how easily they write. It frees the mind for the task at hand,” Flora said.

  Kat scoffed playfully. “Yeah, so does the chemical high from using them in an unventilated space.” Lydia smiled. It was nice to have her mom-friends back together, even if the circumstances were less than jovial.

  “Mind map it, Maude,” Flora commanded.

  Maude was happy to oblige. The center circle hosted the name of the deceased. Spidering from it were the names Scooby and Charles and also the Sky family. With lots of white space to fill in, the ladies started their discussion.

  “Let’s start at the beginning of the evening,” Lydia suggested.

  “Sounds good to me,” Maude said.

  Flora began. “We got there early.”

  “For once,” Kat jabbed. Flora smacked Kat on the shoulder.

  “Yes, it defied all laws of physics,” Flora teased.

  Maude allowed them their moment and rode out the inside joke. She’d never seen Flora arrive anywhere late. But perhaps her Honey Pot friends had. “We met the hostess, Pepper, and Stefan, the manager. Then we waited on the patio.”

  “Who were the first people to arrive?” Kat asked.

  Flora looked to the ceiling for guidance. “Mrs. Jacqui was first.”

  “She came to the back to see me,” Maude added.

  “Yes, that’s right. I remember. But I don’t remember who came next. Calvin came with you, Lydia,” Flora continued.

  Lydia nodded.

  “Vikki arrived right around the time that Jacqui did. She walked through the door, talked to Pepper and then to the bartender and went back outside. I assumed she went out to smoke with Harrison. When Harrison arrived with no Vikki, I was confused. But then the party got underway and I forgot I’d seen her earlier.”

  Maude and Lydia passed worried expressions to one another.

  “She was there early, but then arrived thirty minutes later than Harrison. That’s odd,” Lydia said.

  “What was she doing all of that time?” Kat asked. Lydia vaguely remembered Vikki rushing past her and Ethan earlier in the evening.

  Maude shrugged. “I was in the kitchen. I didn't see her.”

  “Did Dave or Pepper mention seeing Vikki before the party?” Kat asked.

  “Not to me,” Maude said. “Then again, there are a lot of people milling around the restaurant during a shift. I’m not sure they would’ve noticed her enough to remember her.”

  Lydia thought about it. She assumed Maude was right. She couldn’t remember every person’s face from the night of her party. Only the ones she’d seen since and the Sky family.

  “Were the Skies there, yet?” she asked Flora.

  “Who?” Flora asked.

  Kat shook her head. “I didn’t see them when I came in, and I think we arrived right after Jacqui.”

  Maude interrupted. “They had to be there,” she said. “Mrs. Sky always makes the most annoying special orders and then never likes it. I made her plate myself. The ticket came in before Lydia arrived.”

  Chapter 28

  IN THIRTY MINUTES, the women compiled a rudimentary timeline of the evening. “Now, let’s go over who had contact with Vikki.” Lydia started.

  “Right,” Maude said. “Flora said Vikki arrived early but really showed up later. I didn’t see her until I entered the patio with the dessert.”

  “She was pleasant,” Flora said. Every eye shifted to Flora’s optimistic face. “Ish.”

  Lydia shivered. After what she’d learned about Vikki, she couldn’t picture her as anything but vile and manipulative. “She sat by me and Ethan most of the night. She doted on Harrison and ignored the boys. I thought it was just a basic family spat. And then Scooby spilled on her.”

  Kat grunted. “No, he didn’t. It bothered me at the time, but I’d forgotten all about it. Vikki did that to herself. She made it look like it was Scooby, but she was staring right at Dave when she dumped her plate on herself. “

  “Why would she do that?” Flora rubbed her temples and thought aloud.

  “Not a clue,” Lydia said. “But I followed her to the bathroom. She was not a happy camper. “

  “I can imagine,” Kat said.

  “She wasn’t alone, either.” Lydia remembered. “Mrs. Sky was crying in the largest stall.”

  “Because of Vikki?” Maude asked.

  Lydia hadn't thought of that. The woman had been wailing when Lydia entered. She never considered that Vikki might have been the cause of Mrs. Sky’s tears. “She was not helping the situation. In fact, Vikki poked fun at Mrs. Sky and almost egged her on. She repeatedly mocked her, in the bathroom. I was shocked when they were hanging out at the bar later.”

  “Alcohol can do that! Beer goggles aren’t just for cheap pickups. They’re great at smashing down all kinds of walls,” Kat said.

  “They can also create them,” Flora said.

  “But I don’t think one Irish coffee could give Vikki such a personality shift.”

  “Not unless it was poisoned,” Maude and Lydia said.

  “Okay, so Mrs. Sky had the opportunity. But other than sabotaging Con Fuego, she had no motive.” Kat forked off a piece of coffee cake and plopped it into her mouth.

  Lydia hadn’t noticed how hungry she was until she saw Kat chewing the tasty treat. She followed Kat’s example. The food hit Lydia’s eager stomach and calmed the acid building up within it. She’d thought it was her coffee giving her a tummy ac
he. But truly it had been her lack of solid food. With each bite, she felt her mind grow sharper.

  Maude smiled, watching Lydia eat. She loved seeing people enjoy her culinary creations. She sliced off another piece of cake for Lydia. Then Maude opened her fridge. Some light cooking would help her think.

  Lydia continued talking as Flora and Kat watched Maude cook. But no one was listening. Maude quickly devised an omelet. Eggs, avocado, tomatoes, and spinach topped with three kinds of melted cheese.

  “What’s all this for?” Kat asked. She didn’t believe in eating after eight p.m., and she’d already broken her personal rule for a slice of coffee cake. Secretly, Kat hoped Maude would say the food was for someone else.

  “Second dinner,” Maude said. “We’re using all our energy to hunt a murder. We deserve a little extra nourishment. Sugar and caffeine will only get us so far. We need savory goodness, too.” Maude placed the platter of omelet on the kitchen island. She set out four plates and four forks.

  “Don’t be shy,” she said. “Dig in! I know I’m going to.”

  Lydia didn’t hesitate. Neither did Flora. They filled their plates and watched Kat battle her conscience before she finally dug into the dish.

  Kat shrugged. “Sometimes these things end in a literal chase. I’ll burn this off then.”

  “Whatever you say,” Maude said, as she set out cloth napkins.

  “What happened after the bathroom?” Flora led the group back into the timeline. “I don't recall seeing Vikki again.”

  “You didn’t,” Kat said. “You left soon afterward. When you came back, it was only minutes before she died.”

  “No, first I went out with Harrison. He wanted to smoke,” Lydia said.

  Maude took a bite of her eggs, making sure to run her fork through a garnish of hot sauce before and after scooping up a serving. “That’s when you saw me and Scooby.”