Sweet Ginger Poison

by Robert Burton Robinson

  “No. I mean it was a recipe I created.”

  “Oh, that couldn’t be.”

  “Where did you get your recipe, Cash?”

  “I made it up myself.”

  “No, you didn’t. You got it out of my book, didn’t you?” What was she doing? Did she really expect him to just admit it?

  He hesitated, bit his lower lip, and then said, “Yes, you’re right—it was yourrecipe. I’m sorry.”

  “And it came out of my stolenrecipe book.”

  “Yes. But Ididn’t steal it.”

  “I know. Navy Newcomb stole it for you.”

  “No. I got it from him. But he just gaveit to me. I didn’t pay him for it.”

  “Let me guess. You didn’t pay him because he was already dead.”

  “Okay, Lady, I’ve tried to be nice. I’ve been honest with you. I’ve apologized. You can have the stupid recipe book. I don’t want it. But if you think I had anything to do with Navy Newcomb’s death, then you’re just crazy.” He stood up. “I’m through talking. Goodbye.”

  “Keep the book. Those are not my real recipes anyway.” Ginger got up and left. On the way out of the store she passed Silvy, who smiled at her.

  By admitting he had the recipe book Cash had convinced Ginger that he was not the murderer.

  **********

  Chief Foenapper appeared in the doorway of the kitchen. “Addie Barneswaller, I need you to come with me to the station.”

  “What for?” said Addie.

  “I need to ask you a few questions.”

  “Well, can’t you do it here? I’m working.”

  “Oh, you don’t want that—believe me.”

  Addie turned to Lacey. “Honey, you’re gonna have to take over.”

  “But—”

  “—I’ll be back in a little while—hopefully.”

  “Let’s go,” said the chief.

  Lacey was nervous about taking over. But she had trained long enough. She knew what to do.

  It would be a few more minutes before the next batch of coffee cakes was ready to come out of the oven. She took out her cell phone and called Danny’s number again. Yesterday, when Lacey had asked why he was taking off today, he wouldn’t tell her.

  They would never make it as a couple until he was willing to be open up and honest with her.

  Why won’t he answer his phone?

  Chapter 22

  When Addie got back from the police station, Ginger called her into the office.

  “I don’t want to talk about it, Ginger.”

  “Come on, Addie. How long have we been friends? You know you can tell me anything. I won’t judge you. Now what’s going on?”

  “You can’t say a word about this to anyone.”

  “I won’t,” said Ginger. “You knowI won’t.”

  “Okay.” Addie took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “It happened when Navy was 15 years old. Bobbie was at the movies with a couple of girlfriends.”

  “Your granddaughter?”

  “Yes. She was 12. And halfway through the movie she had to go to the bathroom. Navy saw her in the hallway and followed her into the restroom. He threatened to hurt her if she screamed. But when he pulled down his pants and grabbed her, she screamed anyway. He got out of there before anybody else saw him.”

  “That’s awful. Why didn’t you ever tell me about this, Addie?”

  “Bobbie didn’t want anybody to know. She was embarrassed. And she was afraid to tell her momma because she had been told to stay with the other girls at all times. But they didn’t want to miss any of the movie. And she couldn’t wait.”

  “Poor thing.”

  “We explained to her that we needed to tell the police about it so Navy couldn’t do it to any other girls. They took her statement. But nothing ever came of it. I always wondered if Ellegora paid somebody to make the whole thing go away.”

  “So the chief thinks youpoisoned Navy?”

  “Ellegora thinks I did. I had motive—or least I usedto. At the time he did that to Bobbie I wanted to kill him. I don’t know whether I really could have. I hated him.”

  “But you got over it.”

  “Not completely. I could hardly stand to be in the same room with him. But I wouldn’t have killed him.”

  “The chief has apparently been looking through old records.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Okay, so you had motive and opportunity. You couldhave put fish oil in that coffee cake. But what about the Epi-Pen? What did the chief say about that?”

  “He didn’t have anythingto say about it. As soon as I brought it up, he told me he was done.”

  “Good. Hopefully he’ll move on now.”

  “He’ll probably go right back to Lacey.”

  “Actually, I have a few suggestions for him.”

  “Other suspects?”

  “Yes. For example: Manny Monet. I’ve been told that he does loan sharking on the side.”

  “I’ve heard that.”

  “And I was thinking that if Navy had borrowed money from him and couldn’t pay it back—”

  “—Manny would killhim? I don’t know. It’s a possibility.”

  “And Cash Crawley. Oh—I haven’t had a chance to tell you: Cash is the one who has the fake recipe book. He must have hired Navy to steal it.”

  “I’m not surprised.”

  “He admittedit to me.”

  “That doessurprise me.”

  “Yeah. I was shocked. But he says Navy gaveit to him. And that he had nothing to do with Navy’s death.”

  “Well of course he’s going to deny killinghim.”

  “But I believe him. I can’t really see a motive. But I’m wondering about his brother, Bull, because from what I understand, Bull and Cash hate each other.”

  “Always have.”

  “So, suppose Bull somehow found out that Navy was stealing the recipe book for Cash. He might have figured that once the police discovered that Cash hired Navy to steal the book, they might think Cash killed him to cover up the theft. If anybody ever learned that his new cupcake recipes were really mine, his business would be ruined.”

  “Boy, you’ve really put a lot of thought into this, haven’t you?”

  “I’m just trying to keep Lacey, or you, or some other innocent person from going to prison.”

  “When are you going to share your ideas with the police?”

  “When I’m sure.”

  “You know, Ginger, I was thinking…if the coffee cake wasn’t poisoned until after Navy left here with it, how did the killer get the fish oil into it? You couldn’t just pour it on top. Do you suppose they used a hypodermic needle?”

  “They must have,” said Ginger.

  “You don’t think the killer would have been stupid enough—”

  “—to buy it at Coreyville Pharmacy? Who knows? Sometimes criminals do really dumb things,” said Ginger. “I’m gonna find out.”

  **********

  Ginger had gone by Bull Crawley’s Bar & Grill after her trip to Coreyville Pharmacy. The cashier told her Bull was gone and would not be back until 4:30. Ginger wanted to have a private conversation with him, so she decided to come back after the dinner rush.

  It was nearly 7:00 p.m. when she left her house to walk down to the square. She heard several police sirens and possibly an ambulance. Must be a bad wreck, she thought.

  Only three tables were occupied in Bull’s place. Two men sat at the bar drinking and watching the TV.

  “Is Bull here?”

  “Yes. Oh, you came by this afternoon looking for him, didn’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “He’s in his office. I’ll take you back.”

  “Thanks.”

  “He can be hard to catch sometimes. He’s in and out all day.”

  His office door was open, but he was not there.

  “Hang on. Let me check the restroom.”

  When Ginger had gone to Coreyville Pharmacy that afternoon Sherry, the pharmacy assistant, h
ad checked their records for purchases of latex gloves and syringes over the past few weeks. Sherry was an old friend.

  Ginger had been shocked to discover that Bull Crawley had used his company credit card to buy syringes and latex gloves. Perhaps he had some legitimate purpose for them. Was he diabetic? Not according to their records, Sherry told her.

  Ginger stepped into Bull’s office and looked around. Did she really think he was stupid enough to leave a syringe lying around? Maybe.

  Then she saw a potted plant in the corner of the room—just like the unusual one she’d seen in Cash’s office. Weird.

  “I’m sorry. It looks like he’s already taken off.”

  “That’s okay. Thanks anyway.” Ginger walked out of the restaurant. Activity on the square was almost nil at this time of night. Most of the shops closed by 6:00 p.m.

  Ginger walked down the sidewalk until she got to the corner. After checking to make sure nobody was watching her, she stepped off the sidewalk, out of the light, and went through the narrow passageway to the alley. She prayed there were no muggers or mean dogs waiting to pounce.

  She stepped out, and looked down the alley, locating the back of Bull’s restaurant. It would take less than a minute to walk from his place, go around the corner and get to the back of Cash & Carry Donuts.

  If Bull had somehow known that Navy would be stopping at Cash’s on the way to the nursing home Saturday morning, he could have been hiding there with his syringe of fish oil. As soon as Navy went inside, he could have unwrapped the coffee cake, injected the fish oil at several spots, rewrapped the cake, and stolen the Epi-Pen from the glove box. It wouldn’t have been that difficult. And his employees probably wouldn’t have even missed him. They would have thought he was in his office or in the restroom.

  Ginger walked back through the eerie passageway. Just as she stepped out, someone called her name and she jumped.

  “I’m sorry, Ginger. It’s me—Elijah.” He stepped out of the shadows.

  “You startled me.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. I drove by your house, but you weren’t home. Then I spotted you over here. What were you doing?”

  “Uh, let’s get out of here first,” said Ginger. “I’ve got the creeps.”

  They got into his car.

  “What were you coming to see me about?” said Ginger.

  “I couldn’t get you on the phone.”

  She felt her pockets. “Oops. I must have left my phone at the house.”

  “I’ve got bad news.”

  “What?”

  “Cheryl Iper called me. Danny is dead.”

  “What happened?”

  “Apparently somebody murdered him.”

  “Oh, no. Poor Lacey. Do you know if Cheryl called her?”

  “Yes, she did. So, I thought you might want to go check on her.”

  “Yes, please.”

  Elijah started the car to make the short drive to Lacey’s apartment. “Some guy found his body out at that illegal dump south of town. At first he just saw his car. Then he grabbed a flashlight to look around. Danny was lying face down in the dirt.”

  “When did it happen?”

  “They’re not sure. Probably last night. The guy found his body less than an hour ago.”

  “That’s what the sirens were.”

  Elijah pulled into the apartment parking lot and they went inside.

  When Lacey opened the door and saw Ginger, she hugged her with both arms, laid her head on Ginger’s shoulder, and cried like a baby.

  “I’m so sorry, Sweetie,” said Ginger.

  “Why do people keep killing the men I love?”

  “I don’t know, Honey.”

  “I’m a curse to all mankind.”

  “No, you’re not. Don’t say that. What happened to them was not your fault.”

  Ginger finally got Lacey calmed down. She and Elijah talked to her for nearly two hours. Finally, Ginger suggested that Lacey go to bed for the night. She tucked her in, and then she and Elijah left.

  Elijah drove Ginger to her house and walked her to the door.

  “You’re a great friend to her,” said Elijah.

  “Sometimes I think I’m her onlyfriend,” said Ginger. “I’ve got to figure out who this killer is before he kills somebody else.”

  “But not tonight. Worry about it tomorrow. You need rest.”

  “Okay.”

  He stepped closer and took her head in his hands.

  Whatever he was about to give her, she was ready to receive.

  Elijah kissed her gently on the forehead. “Goodnight, Ginger.”

  He turned and walked down the porch steps.

  “Goodnight.”

  Chapter 23

  The afterglow of Elijah’s kiss to her forehead was just beginning to wear off when Ginger remembered the gun. Danny was dead, but she still had his pistol locked away downstairs in the basement.

  She wondered if Danny would be alive right now if he’d had his gun for protection. What was he doing at that illegal dump site in the middle of a storm? Dropping off a load of garbage? Not likely. He must have gone there to meet someone.

  Ginger remembered that on Saturday morning Danny had been late for work. He said he’d overslept. But couldn’t he have been waiting in the alley behind Cash & Carry Donuts when Navy dropped off the stolen recipe book?

  He would have had enough time to inject the fish oil and steal the Epi-Pen. But how would he have even known about the Epi-Pen? Perhaps Lacey had mentioned it. But he would have also had to somehow know that Navy would be stopping by to see Cash.

  And what was Danny’s motive? Jealousy? Ginger had witnessed Danny’s temper tantrums first hand. But they never lasted very long. She didn’t believe he could sustain his anger long enough to carry out such a murder plot.

  Maybe somebody hiredDanny to kill Navy. That seemed more plausible. Danny was always looking to make the easy buck. Although Ginger doubted he could actually murder someone—even for money. But what if he agreed to kill Navy and then backed out? Perhaps whoever offered Danny the money was afraid he would give away their identity.

  Ginger picked up the phone and called the chief.

  “Chief Foenapper.”

  “Chief, this is Ginger Lightley.”

  He sounded as though he wished he hadn’t taken the call. “Hello, Mrs. Lightley.”

  “I hate bother you so late, Chief. In fact, I’m surprised you’re still in the office. It’s nearly 10:00.”

  “Yes, I know.”

  “But I have something I need to give you.”

  “Can’t it wait until Monday?”

  “I don’t think so. It’s a gun.”

  His voice perked up. “A gun?”

  “Yes. It’s some sort of pistol. It belongs to Danny Iper.”

  “He’s dead, you know.”

  “Yes, I know.”

  “Well, how did you come into possession of his gun?”

  “Lacey Greendale took it from him the other night and—”

  “—Lacey Greendale. I should have known.”

  “Well, yes. She didn’t want it in her apartment, so she brought it to me and I put it in my safe.”

  “You didn’t clean it or wipe it off, did you?”

  “No. I barely touched the thing. I don’t like guns.”

  “I’ll come pick it up right now.”

  “Okay. But there’s something else, Chief.”

  “What?”

  Ginger explained her theory about Danny being paid to kill Navy, and how she thought the person who hired Danny might have been the one who killed him tonight.

  “That’s not a bad theory,” he said.

  “But since Lacey was Danny’s girlfriend, I’m afraid she’s in danger too.”

  “That’s true.”

  “So, I really wish you would send an officer over to her apartment to keep watch.”

  “I’ll do that right now. See you in five minutes.”

  “Thanks so much, Chief.”
>
  **********

  Ginger woke up the next morning to bright sunlight in her eyes. She checked her alarm clock. It was nearly 8:30. She had forgotten to set the alarm. Usually it didn’t matter—she was awake by 6:30, with or without the alarm.

  Last night she had tossed and turned for hours worrying about Lacey and trying to unravel the mystery of the two murders.

  As she sat up and looked directly into the blinding sun coming through her windows, a revelation struck her. What if Navy’s murder had nothing to do with the recipe book? What if it had nothing to do with jealousy or money?

  But if those motives were eliminated, what was left? Something in Navy’s past? The only suspect Ginger knew of with that kind of motive was Addie. Her dear friend couldn’t have done it.

  One of the comments in Navy’s senior yearbook had continued to nag at Ginger. But since it was clear now that Ellegora thought Addie had killed her son, Ginger would not feel comfortable going back to the house for another look at the yearbook. She wished she had spent more time studying it.

  She took a shower, got dressed and walked to the public library, which was located a couple of blocks west of the square. On her way, she called the bakery. Ginger was surprised when Lacey answered. She decided she’d rather come to work than lay around all day feeling sorry for herself. And, yes, there was a police officer hanging around to protect her.

  Cheryl Iper had taken the day off. Ginger made a mental note to check on Cheryl later. She couldn’t imagine what Cheryl must be going through, having just lost her son.

  The library had a copy of the Coreyville High School yearbook for each year of the school’s long history. Ginger grabbed the one for Navy’s senior year and sat down at a table. She didn’t know what she was looking for. Maybe there would be a picture of the football team with one of the players staring at Navy as though he hated him. Anything. She knew she was grasping at straws.

  She studied the pictures of every student in Navy’s graduating class. Then she decided to look through all the other classes as well, starting with the freshman.

  She came across a girl who seemed oddly familiar. Yet she didn’t recognize the name: Molly Castorside. She started to flip to the next page, but stopped. She couldn’t take her eyes off Molly. She told herself that it wasn’t that unusual to see a picture of a stranger and think you might know them.