Recipe for Trouble

by Jackie Griffey

  Chapter 11

  Laurence Fields answered the phone. "Cas, I was thinking about calling you."

  "Good timing then. Has Archie Wright come up with anything new?"

  "He's questioned people at the bookstore where Katie works, ruled them out. And talked to some people at Rid-A-Pest where her sister Katie's boyfriend works. He's done background checks on most of the list I gave him without turning up anything but a couple of divorces. One of the service men and Katie Ellis. He's running a couple of routine checks on Katie's ex right now but he's found him and talked to him and is sure he's out of the picture. He's also run into a couple of blank walls. One of them is on one of the Rid-A-Pest servicemen, a Martin Elkins, and the other on Eugene Austin. No one knows where either of them came from or worked before they came to work there and there are no records on them. Archie's working on that angle, trying to find some paper tracks. He's also going to try to get some prints from Eugene Austin. Martin Elkins is a complete blank right now."

  Fields paused, thinking about Martin Elkins. "Archie's playing that card so close to his chest, I suspect he's onto something. We'll soon know. What about you?"

  "I picked up some things at Mattie's cabin. One of them, a bottle of cola Eugene Austin must have given her, has some clear prints on it. It will be interesting to see if the ones Archie gets from the anonymous Eugene match them. Another thing is Mattie's cosmetic case. There was a new jar of cream that I put in there when I picked up her personal things. The old jar is in there and smells terrible, like old garlic Connie kept too long in the kitchen once."

  "Garlic!" Fields gripped the phone harder. "Did you say garlic?"

  "Yeah, I know what you're thinking. I'm having it tested, the new jar too. It looks like something's been stirred into it to me."

  "You an expert on cosmetics?"

  "Most husbands are, Weisenheimer!"

  "Well, Estee, cosmetics expert, let me know as soon as you get the results," Fields demanded.

  "I can't officially tell you anything. We don't officially have a case," Cas teased.

  "How about I unofficially kick your butt?"

  Cas laughed. "I'll get back with you. Neither one of us can afford to get too independent with our new prosecuting attorney breathing down our necks. Just our luck the little twerp is one of the few people in the county Miss Minnie didn't try to hammer some math into."

  "Yeah, tell me about it. Someone needs to hammer something into him."

  Cas grinned into the phone, "I'm looking forward to seeing you take some of the starch out of him."

  * * *

  "Pine County Library, Hannah McLaughlin speaking."

  "Hannah, this is Flora. Was it you who called and didn't leave a message on my recorder last night?"

  "Yes, it was." Hannah admitted, feeling guilty. "I felt a little foolish and got cold feet about bothering you when I heard it come on."

  "Gina told me about the trouble your friends are having. The woman who's sick is their cousin?"

  "Yes, Mattie Carrington. The one I told you about who wrote the cookbooks."

  "And she's sick?" Flora tried to remember the little she knew about the situation. "I think you said the Andersons aren't sure what's wrong with her."

  "I don't think the doctors know what's wrong either. But Flora, they're saying she might have been poisoned." Hannah paused.

  "And she's in a coma?" Flora picked it up from Gina's puzzled thoughts.

  "I guess that's what it is." Hannah worried about her choice of words. "But I always thought a coma was almost like death, with no movement or well, anything. But this is like she's only sleeping and there is some movement. And another thing, Mattie does open her eyes once in a while. They have to make Katie, her sister, leave at night so she can get some rest she's so afraid Mattie will wake up and she won't be there."

  "And she's been asleep all this time? Since Gina told me about it?"

  "Except when she opens her eyes. And they're saying that could be only muscle contractions or something like that and it doesn't really mean anything. It does to Katie, though. She says she knows Mattie knows her and knows she's there."

  "Does Mattie talk?"

  "No, but Katie is convinced when she looks at her, Mattie recognizes her whether she can talk or not. That's what gives Katie hope she will be all right."

  "What does the doctor say?"

  "He keeps assuring Katie she will be all right, that she's getting stronger whether Katie can tell or not. It's this long sleep that's worrying me, but I hope the doctor is right and she will be all right."

  "Can I get in to see her?"

  "No, they won't let anyone in but Katie."

  "Oh. I thought, maybe, if they would let me visit and I could see her, maybe I could figure out some way to help or tell a little more about it, but maybe not, just thought about it."

  "I wondered about that too. I know it's a lot to ask," Hannah said in a rush, trying not to lose her nerve. "The reason I called you last night. I don't know what I was thinking. It may even be against the law. She's not supposed to have visitors. But, if you could come, we could slip in, just long enough for you to see if you can help her. Do you think I'm crazy?"

  "No," Flora's soft voice held compassion. "You don't sound crazy to me. You sound like a good hearted person concerned for her friends. And I will come, I can take a personal holiday Friday. The company won't like it, but that's better than Monday. That's a hanging offense I think, not to show up on a Monday. Friday's better anyway. That will give us a couple of days to find a way to get in if we need that much time."

  "We won't need that much. You won't need to take a personal holiday, Flora. Just come Friday after work. Night will be the best time to try to get in anyway. After Katie's gone, and visiting hours are over, there won't be many people there."

  "All right. I'll get the directions to your house from Gina and see you Friday after work."

  * * *

  Laurence Fields listened to Archie's report until he said something about going to Rid-A-Pest while his assistant checked something else.

  "What's that? The assistant get his car fixed?"

  "Got his transportation fixed, you mean. I staked his trip to a repair shop in self-defense, and the 'thing' needed some kind of expensive gizmo transplant plus a steady money transfusion so I convinced him to just shoot it. I gave him my old faithful heap."

  Fields laughed. "What are you going to do, hitchhike?"

  "No, I got a new one, last year's model but new."

  "Good, long as you can pay for it."

  "No problem," Archie grinned into the phone. "Wait till you get my bill!"

  "I had to ask," Fields mumbled and hung up. He tore a page off his desk calendar with his free hand and dialed Cas.

  When Cas answered he cut short the usual greetings. "Cas! I've got it!"

  "Is it catching?" Cas asked guardedly.

  "Smartass. I just finished talking to Archie Wright. I'm looking at a glass he sent over with beaucoup prints. Good ones!"

  "That's great, you do mean Eugene Austin's don't you?"

  "Sure do, and that's not all. Sometimes I get the scary feeling Archie Wright is as good as he keeps telling me he is."

  "I'm listening."

  "It took some cultivating, but he's gotten close enough to Eugene Austin to know he's cheating on his company. He's got proof. He let him do his aunt's house and paid him in cash. The receipt's got his name and prints on it, and Paid Cash is written across it. This joker does work on his own and uses Rid-A-Pest's supplies. He's even got two or three regular customers. One of them is the little nursery a few blocks from the plant. He works there off and on too. Archie's got him doing the yard work around his aunt's house, using the nursery's supplies. Austin told him he borrows or swaps services for the supplies he gets. I know you've heard that one before. He says he gets a discount on supplies for his own use."

  Fields added sarcastically, "I know he needs them to keep down the crabgrass in that dink
y apartment of his Archie's checked out."

  "That's our two poisons that Dr. Kelso mentioned and where he got them. The nursery and Rid-A-Pest. Even Connie spotted him as a phony the first time we saw him without the cap he wears at work."

  "Without his cap? You lost me."

  Cas grinned into the phone, picturing Eugene. "He's got suspicious hair, wait till you see it! And what's this about somebody named Martin Elkins? Is he maybe in on this with Austin?"

  "Can't say yet except I don't think Eugene Austin is the sharing type. Archie hasn't got much on Elkins yet except he came to Rid-A-Pest on recommendation from higher up in the company. Archie told me last time he called he got that from one of the other employees, and I can tell when he knows more than he's telling. He's onto something about this Elkins and there's coffee and goodies on his expense account on one of the days he contacted the Rid-A-Pest office."

  "Coffee and goodies?"

  Fields grinned into the phone. "When our Archie takes a secretary for a coffee break he usually gets more out of it than mere caffeine." He smothered a chuckle.

  "What's so funny?"

  "Archie had to spring for a new car. I'd have wondered what was up with the secretary if I hadn't been in on the background about the car trouble. Anyway, he's going at this like a one-eyed dog in a butcher shop. I'll let you know when he reports in again."

  "Okay, looks from here like we're in good shape and about ready for our fledgling prosecuting genius. I'm coming over to get the prints."

  * * *

  Hannah was standing in front of her house when Flora drove up. She waved and pointed to her driveway.

  She opened the car door for Flora, "I waited out here so you'd know you're in the right place without having to hunt for numbers."

  Flora gave her a hug. "It's a good thing you were out here. Gina's directions were good but it's nearly dark. I had already slowed down and was looking for numbers to see how far away I was."

  Hannah led Flora to the kitchen door and pointed up the short hallway to the bathroom when Flora looked around inquiringly.

  "The great thing about a place this small, besides the rent, is you can see everything from the middle of it."

  "It's the same size as mine." Flora paused long enough to sniff appreciatively, "And something smells great, I may just wash one hand!"

  Over Hannah's crockpot roast and potatoes they talked about their chances of getting into the clinic.

  "After I talked to you I made a trip to the clinic at the crossroads," Hannah said. "It's not close to anything else, and the parking lot doesn't have any lights so I figured they don't have evening visiting hours. Then I called to make sure they don't and asked if a Mrs. Worthington was a patient there."

  "Worthington? I thought her name is Carrington."

  "It is, I was just trying to get information. The nurse or whoever it was who answered said no, they have a Ms. Carrington and a Mrs. Franklin, and two gentlemen. It's not a very large place."

  Flora turned her attention to the small but pretty arrangement on the counter beside them, examining it critically.

  "You're way ahead of me, aren't you," Hannah smiled. "Do you know if it will work or not?"

  "No, but you've got a good idea there. If we get caught, we can say we're bringing flowers to Mrs. Franklin. That's what you've got in mind, isn't it?"

  "Exactly. But, Flora, I didn't actually go into the clinic. I didn't want them to recognize me if we do get caught. We'll have to park and watch our chance. I know Mattie's on the second floor, room eight. I saw the address where they sent her flowers on the desk at the flower shop."

  "All right," Flora got up and looked out the window.

  "By the time we wash the dishes and drive up there it will be as dark as it's going to get, parking lot lights or not. And hopefully everyone but the night crew will be gone."

  "There surely won't be many working, since it's small."

  Hannah looked down as she spoke, "I've got on my dark clothes. All I have to do is put on my shoes like yours. Do you suppose this is why they're referred to as sneakers?"

  * * *

  Archie Wright had talked to every Rid-A-Pest source he thought could tell him anything and now had a good picture of what was going on as well as some documented proof. He was ready for his next step.

  He went to the Rid-A-Pest plant and waited until all the service men should be out on their vans before going in to call on the Rid-A-Pest area manager. He carried his briefcase with him in case he needed his back up proof.

  There was no one in the executive office but the girl behind the desk when Archie entered and walked up to speak to her.

  "I'd like to see your manager, please."

  "Mr. Buchanan?" She gave him a dubious once over, her hands still on her word processor keyboard.

  "Yes, please. I don't have an appointment, but it is important. Tell him it's about a matter which concerns his company. His company's profits, to be exact," Archie pressed, sensing a refusal.

  The girl reluctantly rose and knocked on the door behind her before venturing a little way in.

  When she turned back to him she said, "Please come in," and held the door open for him.

  Mr. Buchanan, the District Manager, checked the name on the card in his hand as he stood up and looked Archie over expectantly. They shook hands.

  "You're a private investigator, Mr. Wright?"

  "Yes, I am. Thank you for seeing me."

  Buchanan gestured him toward a chair, giving Archie a half smile. "You said the magic word, profit?" He made it an inquiry.

  "I won't waste your time." Archie was polite, respectful, and had his facts and information ready.

  "I believe what I have to tell you will raise your profits by plugging a leak I've found here in the course of an investigation I'm working on. It's about your supplies."

  Mr. Buchanan listened without comment.

  Archie got right to it, leaning forward slightly. "There's a leak and the leak's name is Eugene Austin." He paused, studying the face before him.

  "Eugene Austin," Buchanan's face betrayed nothing but Archie had his full attention.

  "I was investigating him on another matter but I'm certain this drain of your supplies will be of concern to you."

  "You say you are certain the leak is Eugene Austin?"

  "Yes. I have proof." He lightly touched the briefcase but didn't open it.

  Buchanan waited.

  "In addition to the leak, I've encountered a blind spot. A man without a past. The blind spot's name is Martin Elkins. Do you think we might benefit by comparing notes?"

  "I do." Buchanan nodded and rose. He went to the office door to speak to the girl at the desk.

  "Hold my calls. Don't put anyone through unless it's an emergency."

  * * *

  Hannah and Flora stopped at the outer edge of the clinic's dark parking lot, the car pointed toward and close to the exit to the road. They got out and started walking, watching for any movement or threat between them and the building.

  About halfway to the clinic, Hannah stifled a giggle.

  "What's so funny, or is it nerves?" Flora's eyes swept the area light enough to see.

  Hannah nodded, hurrying along. "Could be nerves, too, I guess, but I was thinking how funny this must look to the nocturnal wild life around here. The rabbits and coons and the other curious little furry critters. In these black clothes, we must be invisible except for our white shoes."

  "I see what you mean." Flora glanced down. "They show up more than I thought they would. I had some black loafers, but we'll need these silent soles when we get inside."

  "If we get inside." Hannah kept her doubts to herself, looking ahead at the darkened building. "We're almost there, she spoke softly, looking around."

  The absence of lights in the parking lot showed up the minimum lighting coming from doors and windows as they studied the building..

  Keeping close together they went to the clinic's windowless side nearest th
em. They stayed close to the wall and edged along it toward the front until they got close enough to the double glass doors to risk a quick peek inside.

  Flattening herself against the wall again Hannah said, "I only saw one person. She was at the desk."

  "Me too. It looked like she was reading a magazine. This is probably the only nurse's station or desk, and there's probably only a few working now."

  "I'd think so, but there are probably one or two other people around somewhere. I couldn't think of any way to ask about that when I was fishing for information. I didn't want to arouse any suspicions. Let's feel our way around the building and find a back or side door. They've got to have one, to comply with the fire department regulations. Got to be at least one."

  "Right. Let's go." They moved quietly, hugging the building, feeling like burglars.

  "I know there would have to be a door or doors but I don't know about the regulations on whether they could be locked or not. Even out here in the back of nowhere I'd probably lock the doors if it was left up to me."

  "Don't worry so. I can take care of that," Flora said with a lot more confidence than Hannah felt. "Let's just find one."

  In the middle of the back wall they came to a single metal and glass door. Getting there first, Hannah tried it and shook her head. She tried again and it opened. She stood to the side and looked in, not moving.

  "Hum," Flora peered around her. "The hall is too close to the nurse's desk. What's that?" Flora flattened herself against the wall at the sound of something metal hitting wood or metal.

  They cringed, flattening themselves against the brick wall until the rattling metallic noise stopped.

  Hannah expelled the frightened gulp of air she'd taken when the noise started.

  "Sounded like someone emptying a trash can of some sort, didn't it?"

  Flora nodded in the dark. "Thank the Lord for small favors, this brick is still holding enough heat to be comforting."

  "I know what you mean, that sudden noise so close gave me a chill too," Hannah admitted.

  Moving again, they inched toward the corner of the building. Flora looked back and smiled at Hannah who was clutching the floral arrangement she had brought.

  They scurried quickly past the place where the trash had been dumped and Flora took the lead. They moved silently and fast until Flora stopped.