Recipe for Trouble

by Jackie Griffey

  "Just cleaning, nothing that can't wait. Do you want me to run an errand of some kind?"

  "Not exactly. Things are slow here, why don't you stop at the doughnut shop and we'll go by the Anderson's flower shop for a few minutes. Sort of touch base with them and see how Mattie and Katie are doing."

  "That's a great idea. They were planning on having some doughnuts next time I visit. Miss Mayme is partial to the nice, gooey, jelly filled ones."

  "Yeah, you can tell by looking at her she's got good taste," Cas grinned into the phone. "Come on then, and park here. We'll walk over together."

  Miss Mayme had just rung up a sale and was adding up another when Cas and Connie entered the flower shop.

  Connie mouthed "Jelly!" She waved the box as they went toward the office.

  In her office, Miss Minnie looked up, pleasantly surprised. "Hi, is that doughnuts?"

  "The best kind," Connie beamed, "Custard and jelly filled."

  Miss Mayme joined them in time to hear the description of the goodies.

  "Umm," she murmured, moving another chair up to Miss Minnie's desk. She gazed with appreciation at the temptations in the bakery box.

  "Wonderful! I could gain five pounds just feasting my eyes on them, but my taster doesn't seem to care about that. Just doesn't give a HOOT!"

  "I specifically asked that they put no calories in the goodies," Connie assured her with confidence. "And there's plenty of napkins, too."

  "Watch out, she may just jump in head first and try to eat her way out," Miss Minnie laughed, pretending to shy away from her sister. She quickly chose a custard filled doughnut for herself when Cas pushed the box closer to her, giving the impression she was beating Miss Mayme to it.

  Holding the bulging monster safely in a napkin, she looked at Cas, curious. "We're honored to have the Head of the House with us. You haven't come to arrest us for anything, have you?"

  "Nope. If you've done something illegal, I haven't ferreted it out yet."

  Cas paused, after all he was responsible for the county's well being. "But feel free to confess if you have. After we eat, of course."

  "Certainly. First things first!"

  Miss Mayme sank her teeth into pastry and jelly as Miss Minnie finished pouring more coffee.

  "We were thinking of calling you this afternoon. Mattie and Katie are back home now, and their kitchen is being worked on." Miss Minnie said.

  "I'm sure they're glad of that. Will the other repairs take long or do they know?"

  "They told them once they get started the work will go pretty fast."

  "I guess their insurance company will pay for most of it as their adjuster said. What insurance company is it?"

  "It's something Universal. Or is it Universal something? I wrote it down somewhere, though I don't know why." Miss Minnie wiped enough goo off her fingers to rummage in a side desk drawer.

  "Ah, here it is."

  She handed the slip of paper to Cas. He gave it a brief glance and put it into his shirt pocket without commenting.

  "Must be a good company to be covered by, the way their representative went right out there and got to work," Connie observed.

  "We thought so too. And he told them they would only have to pay their deductible. There was no question at all about the damage except the curtains, and they won't pay for the stove if it was faulty or something. I didn't really understand it all. Bottom line is the insurance will pay for most of the damage to the house just as he said when he first went out there to look at the damage and talk to them."

  Miss Minnie nodded. "Not being hurt and having most of the loss covered are the main things to be grateful for. What the representative told Mattie about the curtains, is since they were only smoked up, not burned or anything, they would have them cleaned rather than replace them. Mattie took a look at them and said to throw them out. They will get new ones when the work is finished. That does seem like a little thing compared to everything else."

  Cas nodded agreement. "It's good to know it's all being taken care of, the work and the money part too. Out of pocket expenses for food and so forth. And you said too, that Mattie is recovering from the bruises she got from her accident. How did she happen to fall?"

  Outwardly appearing to concentrate on her filled doughnut, Connie pricked up her ears at Cas's question.

  Casually, he reached for another doughnut. But his attention was still on Miss Minnie, waiting for her answer.

  Miss Minnie stirred her coffee thoughtfully. "Mattie fell down the stairs, there at her house."

  Cas made no comment, waiting for more.

  "What happened was Mattie came out of her bedroom and was hurrying down the stairs. She's like that. When she gets an idea or wants to do something, she wants to do it right now. Anyway, the belt to her robe was loose and trailing and she tripped on it and fell about halfway down the stairs."

  "Did Katie take her to the hospital later? I think you said she didn't want to go to the emergency room when it happened."

  Miss Minnie shook her head, biting into a lemon filled doughnut.

  "You don't know Mattie," Miss Mayme shook her head. "She scoffed at the idea and there didn't seem to be any bones broken. She was shaken up and had some bruises, of course. They say the next day after something like that, you're sorer than when it happens."

  "The next two or three days were probably as rough on Katie as they were on Mattie. The funny thing is, Mattie couldn't complain too much without being carted off to the doctor or the Emergency Room." Miss Minnie's eyes danced with amusement at her strong-minded cousin's predicament. Miss Minnie knew her well enough to understand what she must have gone through, not being able to gripe.

  Cas set his empty cup on the desk and got up. "Well, I'm glad everything is being done that needs to be. Let us know if you need us to help with anything when Mattie goes to the cabin. No doubt she'll have a lot of her things she wants to take with her to do that book of hers. And I'd like to look the place over anyway, when she settles in."

  Miss Minnie and Miss Mayme walked them to the door. "Thanks for the goodies and the offer. We just might be calling on you."

  Connie was unusually quiet during their walk back to the car.

  "Penny for your thoughts," Cas ventured.

  Connie opened the door and leaned against the car, glancing around. There was no one else in the shady parking lot.

  "I was wondering why you asked so many questions about Mattie's fall. Never mind denying it. I know when some sort of suspicion is nibbling on you. What is it that's bothering you?"

  "I'm not bothered. Any time anyone with money, even if it isn't a large amount of money, is involved in something that could be dangerous, like the explosion at Mattie Carrington's house, or any other kind of mishap, as I told you before, it gets my attention. I wondered what had happened since there were two incidents in a row where Mattie could have been hurt or maybe even killed. I asked what I wanted to know, what happened when she fell. And it's second nature to look at what will happen to her money. Money, sex, and power are standard motives for making mishaps happen, with money usually the most popular one."

  Connie smiled, teasing. "You mean money being the root of all evil, it's a shame we don't have a cutting?"

  "Uh-uh. Not me, I don't want the compost that goes with it. I'll just keep what I've got, thank you." He leaned over and kissed Connie's cheek.

  "I still don't think of Mattie Carrington as someone with money. Too close to home and people we know, I guess."

  "What was it Mattie did before she retired and started writing? I think at one time they said she worked in a bank. But if that's what it was, what did she do? What kind of work was it she did at the bank?"

  "A bank," Connie thought back. "Yes, that's what it was. But I don't remember which one. I do remember either Miss Minnie or Miss Mayme saying something about some investments she had that were pretty good. So she must have been some kind of officer or maybe handled investments, I don't know. I do know the Anderso
n sisters told me Mattie had at least a livable income when she quit work, it was when they were talking about retirement in general and what they were going to do when they retired."

  "Then the income she already had from her investments and the money she's making from her books definitely qualifies her for the People With Money group. She would have been what we call comfortably well off here in this neck of the woods, even without the cookbooks."

  "I guess so. I just hadn't thought about it. But you didn't answer my question about your interest. You surely don't think Mattie's fall was anything but an accident, do you?"

  Cas shrugged, defending himself, "You never know if you don't ask."

  Chapter 4

  Tim Carpenter dialed the sheriff's office, a crafty smile lighting his boyish face as he eyed the work on his desk.

  "Pine County Sheriff's office, Cas Larkin speaking."

  "Cas, this is Tim. I'm getting ready to go over to the Smithy. How about joining me, if you're ready for lunch?"

  "Sure. Give me six or eight minutes to cram some things into my desk drawers or somewhere. I feel like I'm sitting in a paper valley here. Not that there's anything all that pressing, if I can do anything for you?"

  Tim stared at the receiver. "How did you know I had ulterior motives?"

  "Instant suspicion is an occupational hazard around here, or so Connie thinks. I get accused of it all the time."

  Tim laughed, "I'll bet! But I do want lunch. It's one of my perks, being close enough to walk over to the Smithy. Thank goodness that didn't change when my job did. About my ulterior motives in addition to lunch, I have designs on your wife. I need her fingers."

  "Need her fingers?" Cas laughed, "That's a new one on me. Have you completely overloaded poor Muriel?"

  "No, but she does have a lot to do and she's going to be off next week. I thought I'd get a little better organized and get Connie to come in next week and do some things while Muriel's off. I don't want to hurt Muriel's feelings or imply anything negative. But if she should decide to retire, I would be in a fix. Do you suppose Connie would come in and do some of my correspondence next week?"

  "I'm sure she will, and I think she's at home now. Why don't you give her a call while I get rid of this paper jungle and I'll see you in a few minutes."

  As he replaced the phone, Cas looked up to see Gladys standing in the door.

  "I couldn't help hearing with the door open," she apologized. "Push those folders and whatever you want in them aside and I'll file them for you while you're gone."

  "Thanks, I'm having a time digging out and getting current on some of them so just cram in what I lay on top. I'm going to the Smithy, can I bring you back something?"

  "No. I'm brown-bagging today, but thanks."

  Distributing what was to go in the folders didn't take long and he stopped beside her desk on the way out.

  "I'm going to have lunch with Tim. He beat around the bush before he admitted he has designs on my wife," Cas confided. "What he really wanted besides lunch is to borrow Connie next week."

  Gladys picked up an envelope to address before tackling the filing, listening with about half an ear.

  Cas put on his Hollywood leer, trying not to grin and ruin it. "Now that he's probably got Connie locked in for next week, if he makes a move on you, he's Dead Meat!"

  "Hey," Gladys countered with a snicker. "Wait a minute! He may like older women, and he is cute. Maybe I'd better check it out?"

  "Forget it, Gladys! I'm gone."

  Walking around the courthouse, he saw Tim coming and slowed his steps to wait for him. Across the street he saw Hannah McLaughlin going into the Smithy. He grinned to himself.

  "Too bad Connie's not here. Looks like I'm going to get to introduce Tim to Hannah, at last. Maybe they'll take an instant dislike to each other! What a blow that would be to my resident matchmaker." He stifled a laugh at the irony of it.

  "We seemed to have timed it just right." Tim narrowed his eyes, squinting at Cas as he fell into step beside him. "What are you grinning like a Cheshire cat about?"

  "I'm just being my normal, happy, Good Joe self is all. Did you talk to Connie?"

  "Yes, and she said she would come in next week."

  When they entered the Smithy, Hannah was waiting at the counter for a take-out order. She smiled at Cas then drew a deep breath when she saw Tim behind him.

  "Hi, Hannah. Not eating here?" Cas looked down at the food being placed on the counter and missed the look between her and Tim.

  "No, not today. Jo Beth and I are having a quick bowl of stew so we can get back to work sooner."

  Hannah looked expectantly at Tim, who was standing there on the other side of Cas as if he had been struck dumb, his mouth slightly open.

  "Hannah," Cas moved a few inches, so Hannah and Tim were facing each other. "This is Tim Carpenter. Judge Carpenter, now. Hannah McLaughlin," he finished the introduction.

  Hannah smiled, looking delighted as she reached out to shake hands with Tim. "How nice to meet you. "Oh, Hannah thought, impressed, "He's so much younger and handsomer in person I didn't recognize him!" She bit her lower lip to keep from grinning like an idiot or saying something that sounded like a groupie of some sort.

  Embarrassed at her reaction Hannah looked at the lunch counter before she spoke out loud. "I voted for you, Mr. Carpenter," she managed with a blush. "I mean, Judge Carpenter."

  "My name is Tim. It may take me a while to get used to the title."

  "Hannah works at the library," Cas explained.

  Hannah and Tim continued their conversation with both lips and eyes. Cas was not sure if they heard any of his small contributions to getting acquainted.

  "Connie was in line with me when we voted," Hannah said. "I didn't know either candidate, and she told me she was voting for you." Hannah stopped, a little embarrassed to have said so much. Babbling like a groupie, whatever a groupie was. She wasn't really sure, come to think of it. She just stood there looking up at Tim.

  "Thanks," Tim hesitated, looking nervous too. "Next time I see Connie, I'll tell her thanks." Then he just stood, smiling happily into Hannah's green eyes which stared back.

  "Humm, I guess I can quit worrying about them taking a dislike to each other," Cas thought as he watched them.

  They would have been perfectly happy just standing there looking at each other without stew to look forward to while Cas just stood too, trying not to feel so old.

  "Oh!" Hannah jumped, startled back to reality as the clerk held out a sack to get her attention. "Well! Here's my order. It was nice to meet you, Mr., I mean, Judge Carpenter."

  "Tim. Please, call me Tim."

  "All right, Tim. Bye, Cas." Hannah took her order and left. Tim stood gazing after her.

  "What are you going to eat, decided yet?" Cas nudged Tim who was still watching Hannah through the glass in the door.

  "Hum? Oh. Stew, a couple of rolls, and iced tea. For here," he added, belatedly addressing the clerk.

  Cas ordered the same and noted when he joined Tim that he had picked a table where he could look toward the library.

  "That's an attractive girl," Tim said as Cas sat down. "I didn't see a wedding ring?" Tim raised an eyebrow, fishing for information.

  "No, Hannah's not married. She's been in the area close to about two years, I think, and has worked at the library since she came from Fort Craig." Cas was unaware of the nearly professional ID he was giving Hannah.

  "Funny I haven't run into her before."

  "She transferred from the library at Fort Craig, didn't know anyone here, probably still has more friends there than here."

  "Do you know if she's seeing anybody, seriously, I mean?"

  Cas squared his shoulders, giving Tim a straight look. "I haven't had any reason to ask," he pointed out. "If you're as interested as you look, why don't you ask her yourself?"

  "Me?"

  "Of course, you. Who else?"

  "But, I don't know her."

  "Yes, you do. You
just met her. Go over to the library and check out a book or something."

  "I don't have a library card." Worry wrapped Tim's features as tightly as corn shucks around a hot tamale, there wasn't room for any other emotion. He resembled a first grader waiting for instructions from his teacher.

  "No library card, huh? Well, Good."

  "GOOD?"

  "Yeah, good." Cas put down his spoon, lowering his voice as he leaned forward and spoke slowly.

  "Since you don't have one. A library card, that is, you can go over there and apply for one, see?" He paused patiently as if trying to answer a child's questions. "Then, as Hannah helps you fill out an application or whatever you have to do to get one, you can get better acquainted. Ask some questions of your own."

  Tim sat silent, thinking that over.

  Cas's expression was more disgust than sympathy. "I can't believe an old married man like me is trying to give courting lessons." He studied Tim, "What's the matter with you, anyway?"

  Tim shrugged, "I don't know." He looked strange, as if he wondered too.

  "Didn't you date a couple of girls from Fort Craig? And what about that blonde Connie and I saw you with at the movies a week ago?"

  "The ones in Fort Craig were more friends than love interest, and the blonde is a complete airhead."

  "Well, guess you can't have everything," Cas remembered the blonde. "She sure did look good."

  "You mean old married men still look?" Tim finally smiled, teasing him.

  "I'm just married, not blind," Cas patiently pointed out. "And she did look good."

  "Hannah McLaughlin looks good to me," Tim said simply.

  "Then get off your rump and do something about it!"

  Tim just sat there as if his thinker had a glitch in it.

  "She said she voted for you, that's a good start. What are you so worried about? Don't tell me you're afraid to ask for a date?"

  Tim had finished his stew without realizing it. The law of gravity got it down his throat without engaging any of his thought processing equipment.

  He shot a pained look at Cas, "It's not that. This is different. It didn't matter if the others turned me down."

  Cas got up laughing and tossed his disposable bowl into the waste bin. "You're on your own, son!"