"Great, we will. What I called you about is I'm going over to the flower shop and keep it open for a couple of hours this afternoon while the Anderson sisters go somewhere. Do you want to come over and gossip while they're gone?"
"Sure I do!" Cathy's voice verged on giggles. "We'll talk about our handsome, beautiful, intelligent, super-educated children."
"Oh, come on," Connie laughed, "You know we won't have time to cover all their good points. But we can have us some fun hitting the high spots."
"We'll try." Cathy lowered her voice like a conspirator, "I'll bring doughnuts and hope no one comes in."
"Okay, I'll meet you there about a quarter till two."
* * *
At two o'clock, Cas had chairs for everyone placed around the long table in the break room. He looked around at the group he had gathered there as he sat down.
Miss Minnie and Miss Mayme were there with Katie seated between them.
Katie looked a little bewildered and didn't have much to say. She was uncomfortable and it would have showed had anyone but Cas cared to pay attention to how she felt.
Attorney Tidwell sat at the head of the table. He must have practiced in front of a mirror looking grim and unapproachable. He couldn't have been colder carved out of marble. His position at the head of the table and his small stature made him look like a little boy learning to say grace, or being called on the carpet for something totally unacceptable. His eyes moved quickly over all of the people seated, returning to Cas.
"If this is all the people we're expecting, I'd like to get started." Tidwell announced with a glance at the wall clock.
Cas cleared his throat, "All right. I'll introduce them. Miss Mayme Anderson. She's here in support of her sister. Ms Katie Ellis, seated next to her. She's the younger sister of Ms Mattie Carrington. Miss Minnie Anderson. She's a cousin to Mattie Carrington and Katie Ellis, and visited the victim just before she was taken to the hospital."
"The last person to visit her," Tidwell corrected, meaning accenting his words.
Cas ignored him. "I've also brought along a file to show you in connection with the arrest I'm going to make."
"Arrest?" Katie gasped the word. She jerked her head around to regard Miss Minnie, her eyes wide. Fright and disbelief played on her features as if afraid to light and confirm anything bad.
Miss Minnie patted her arm under cover of the table and gazed steadfastly back at the pint sized prosecuting attorney.
Miss Mayme started talking nervously at a signal from Cas and gave him some of her and Miss Minnie's background. She wondered as she spoke if he knew she and her sister were retired school teachers, since he had moved to Maryvale recently for the sole purpose of furthering his law career.
She gave a brief summary of their background and vouched for her sister's character, even daring to prolong her speech with a few names of people who would also vouch for them as teachers and law-abiding citizens.
Tidwell sat through it as if it were the prologue to an opera he didn't like. He made no comments and asked no questions, hardly looking at her as she spoke.
Neither she personally, nor their teaching records seemed to make an impression. Even Katie, when she tried to add to Miss Mayme's statements, though more dramatically believable, could not make a dent in the small stone face at the head of the table. Its eyes gazed at them without mercy or compassion or even much patience.
Gladys came in as Miss Mayme and Katie finished, glanced around to locate Cas, and went to whisper something to him.
"Tell him to wait until I call him and send Rhodes in with him," he told her quietly.
Gladys nodded and departed silently as she had come, closing the door firmly behind her.
"What is it you brought to show me," Tidwell addressed Cas impatiently, resenting the interruption.
Cas picked up the folder. "Coffee is made," he smiled around the table. "Why don't you ladies have a cup while we talk?" He got up and went around the table to talk to Tidwell.
Miss Minnie poured coffee as Cas opened the folder in front of Tidwell and spoke in tones too low to be understood at the other end of the room.
Tidwell concentrated on what he had come there for. He read the material in the file, giving some of it more attention than the rest and asked Cas several questions. Having finished, he sat back in his chair with a satisfied look which was almost pleasant. He closed the file and handed it back to Cas.
Without a backward glance, Cas walked to the door and opened it.
"You may come in now," he told someone who stood outside with Rhodes.
Eugene Austin stepped into the room furtively, as if he didn't belong there. Rhodes was close behind him.
"Eugene," Katie exclaimed. She had been talking with Miss Minnie and stopped when she saw him, setting her cup down. No one spoke. She looked from face to face, sensing something wrong.
"Eugene Austin," Cas said without preamble, "You're under arrest for the attempted murder of Mattie Carrington."
Tidbit looked like he might break into a tap dance routine any minute.
Katie, mouth agape, was too stunned to hear the rest of it. Something about Eugene's rights. But surely, her shocked expression seemed to say, surely this couldn't be right!
Miss Minnie moved closer to her and Miss Mayme put an arm around her waist to steady her, leading her to a chair.
* * *
Cathy and Connie hadn't had many interruptions in their combination shop keeping and gossip session and were wondering what was going on across the street. Near the front of the flower shop, Cathy turned from the window and called to Connie in the office.
"Good thing we made more coffee, here comes Cas. And he's not by himself."
Connie emerged from the office and looked out. "Yes, that's Laurence Fields with him. He's Miss Minnie's lawyer. The coffee's ready, too. I made a full pot. I wonder where the Anderson sisters are?"
Cas came in and gave Connie a hug. "Thanks for staying here. Miss Minnie and Miss Mayme will be along," he answered the question in her eyes.
She nodded, turning. "Cathy, have you met Laurence Fields?"
"Not officially," Cathy smiled. She had seen him in court once and noted his career high points in the paper. She went closer, pleasantly friendly.
Laurence Fields gave Cathy a piercing look before taking the hand she held out.
Cas noticed the look. "He doesn't miss a thing, sizes up everyone and every situation. He's the one I would call if I ever had need of a lawyer." Connie's voice broke into his thoughts.
"I've got coffee fixed and there are doughnuts back in the office if you have time," she gestured toward the back.
"I'll take time. Cas?" Fields nodded toward the office.
"Last one in licks up the crumbs," Cas pretended to sprint past him.
Fields let go of Cathy's hand and got there first, barring the door with his arm, a triumphant gleam in his eye. "You trying to obstruct justice here? How do you plead?"
"Hungry!" Cas bared his teeth.
"Oh, well, if you're going to poor-mouth." Fields dropped his arm, allowing Cas and the women to enter the office. Connie shook her head at Cathy.
"Maybe I should have made a pitcher of lemonade," she whispered, "Or popsicles?"
* * *
At the sheriff's office, Miss Minnie and Miss Mayme waited with Katie, who hadn't recovered enough to make conversation. The silence was becoming strained when Katie asked, "I wonder who it is Sheriff Larkin wants me to see?"
Uneasy, Miss Mayme turned to her sister.
"Katie," Miss Minnie began. "This is going to be a good surprise."
"Oh, you know who is coming?"
Miss Minnie didn't answer but Miss Mayme smiled encouragement.
Before anyone could say anything else, there was a knock at the office door.
Miss Minnie went to open it, her eyes on Katie. She ushered in Mattie Carrington.
"Mattie!" Katie exclaimed in surprise. "Oh, Mattie!"
Katie ran t
o her, hugging her, crying and laughing at the same time, dashing the tears from her eyes. Touching her arms to make sure she was really there and laughing at herself for doing it as her words tumbled out.
"I wanted to be there when you woke up, but oh, it's so good to see you awake and all right again!"
Mattie's worry wrinkles belied her joy. "You're not mad at me, are you?"
"Mad at you? No! What an idea! Why should I be mad at you?" She wiped away the tears that came with the joy of seeing her sister awake and well again.
"For deceiving you. For letting you think I was asleep and not completely out of danger. We had to get the evidence needed about what happened. I had to cooperate for it to work," she explained to Katie anxiously.
"Then," Katie said slowly. "You said asleep, not out of danger? You mean this, all of this, your being in a coma? It was some kind of plan?"
Mattie didn't answer.
"But, why? And Mattie, they've arrested Eugene!"
"They should have," Mattie nodded. "He tried to poison me. No, that's not quite right. He did poison me. He tried to kill me is what he did. But they had to prove how he did it."
Katie listened, lips parted, her hands holding both of Mattie's.
"The first plan was to say I died and give them a chance to hold Eugene until they could get test results and build a case against him. They were sure after all the tests I was poisoned but it had to be proved. And they were afraid they couldn't hold him long enough and he would get away. And you would be in danger, too, if he thought I was gone."
Katie listened, lips parted, remembering how she had felt when Miss Minnie called her to tell her about Mattie. Guilt she hadn't been there to take care of her sister was closely followed by a terrified, lost feeling. She moved her hands and clasped them together.
"But, Eugene?" It came out softly as if she couldn't believe it. That she would be in danger because of Eugene or that he could do what Mattie was saying he had done. It took a while to face such things.
"Besides," Mattie continued. "I refused to put you through such a thing as saying I died, even to keep Eugene from getting away. Then they revised the plan and I agreed to the idea of a coma if I could open my eyes once in a while and give you some hope that I would live."
"You, you mean?" Katie stammered, "That this, all this, was play acting? Everyone knew about this but me?"
"No. Only the ones who had to know because he had to be stopped. Because Eugene is dangerous, Katie. They had to gather proof, you see," Mattie explained, her eyes on Katie's face.
"Proof about Eugene? Dangerous?" The words came out through dry lips. "It's proof about Eugene you're talking about." She wiped her face with the handkerchief Mattie handed her.
She hated the question she had to ask. "You and Cas Larkin, and Mr. Fields, too, you know for certain then, he tried to poison you?" Silence answered her.
"He did poison me, Katie. There's no longer any doubt about that. I never did trust him."
"But, if you thought," Katie's voice shook, tears ran down her cheeks. "If you really believed he would do a thing like that, why didn't you tell me?"
"Would you have believed me," Mattie asked sadly. "Without having any proof of it?"
"I," Katie paused, trembling a little. She faced the truth in what Mattie said.
"I don't know, Mattie. I don't know." She put her hands over her face and cried, Mattie put her arms around her.
* * *
Laurence Fields looked toward the door of the flower shop then at his watch. "I'd better get back to the office. The Andersons should be back any minute," he told Connie.
When he reached the outer door and stood looking out, he said, "They're coming now."
"I'll go too, then." Cathy rose to follow. "Call me, Connie."
"I will. Thanks for coming to keep me company."
"I'd better get back too," Cas said.
He met Miss Minnie, Miss Mayme, Katie, and Mattie at the door of the shop, held it for them and gave Mattie a pat on the arm.
As he crossed the street he paused to wave at Laurence Fields who was standing with Cathy Taylor beside her car.
Glad the ordeal was over, Cas entered the office feeling like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Gladys lifted her head and looked up at him. "Our new guest of the county wants to see you."
"Why am I not surprised?" Cas rolled his eyes. "May as well go see what he wants and get it over with."
Cas walked across the back parking lot and entered the small building across the narrow street. He nodded at the two guards on duty and went to the cell in back where Eugene Austin had been put.
Austin heard him coming and stood up, glaring through the bars. "What makes you think you can get by with this? I'm not guilty of any crime!"
"If you really believe that, let me broaden your education. It's against the law to poison people," Cas pointed out as if he were a slow learner. "That's why you're in here," Cas stated flatly.
"You've got no proof of that," Eugene was indignant at the outrage. "I've never been anything but good to Mattie Carrington and her sister, Katie. And speaking of Katie, why won't you let Katie in to see me?"
"I haven't refused to let Katie in to see you. She hasn't ASKED to see you." Cas gave him a level look along with that information.
"That's a lie! I know Katie would come if you let her."
"You poisoned her sister," Cas pointed out. "Maybe she took that personally."
"Katie won't believe that." He tried looking noble and persecuted. "You've got no proof, and Katie won't believe that. She's probably trying to get me a lawyer. That's it," Eugene brightened up, "She's trying to help me. She'll be here, you'll see."
"Well, just in case she's not, there will be a public defender here tomorrow to talk to you. If you qualify for his services, he'll represent you." Cas turned to leave.
Eugene rattled the barred door, "You can't keep me in here!"
"Watch me," Cas threw over his shoulder.
* * *
Katie and Mattie sat having breakfast at home on Katie's day off.
"It's good to be home and to have my book all finished. I'm sending my okay on the cover today and a few other details. The editor thought this one on right diet and health would be timely and do well, I hope she's right!"
"I'll bet it sells as well as the first one did. Everyone's so into healthy eating these days. And there's the section on the different vitamins, too. It will be a big help in planning meals and diets."
"Well, I'm hoping. I did a lot of research to help people do that."
"That bookmark you can fold out and tear off will be popular too, I think. It's cute, a carrot with a grin on it can't help but remind you of beta carotene," She laughed.
"That was the editor's idea, so I can't claim credit for it but I think it was a good idea, too."
Mattie paused, her expression serious. "Katie, you haven't so much as mentioned Eugene's name since I came home. Are you going to the trial?"
"Yes. I'm going. I've got to go. I haven't said anything because I can't really believe or understand all of what I've heard." Her eyes had a lost, hurt look in them that wrung Mattie's heart.
"I haven't been to see him because I don't want to see him, if you're wondering about that, too. How could I want to see him? If he really is guilty, he's not the man I thought I knew. That man was just wishful thinking on my part. He never really lived! I don't want to see Eugene Austin. Not ever again except at the trial. To see him punished for what he tried to do."
Katie bowed her head. "I feel so embarrassed, to have been so taken in. To have believed everything he told me."
"It's not your fault," Mattie consoled her. "Laurence Fields took care of getting rid of him for you, he said it was simple. He wouldn't even give me a bill for it."
Mattie reached over to pat her hand. "There's one good thing about all this, we've certainly seen what good friends we have, and we know there are good people all around us."
> "But, Mattie," Katie said slowly, her eyes worried. "Suppose, just suppose, he really didn't do this."
Her face was haunted, torn between relief her troubles were nearly behind her, and the frightening thought she might be wrong. "Suppose he's innocent?"
Mattie shook her head. "No, the trial will bring out all he's done. Painful as it may be, I think it's a good thing you're going to the trial."
Chapter 13
Miss Mayme slipped into the passenger seat beside her sister, her face aglow with anticipation. "This is exciting, isn't it?"
Miss Minnie carefully maneuvered the car out of the crowded parking lot and into the street before answering. "I imagine the excitement will last at least until the hunger pangs set in."
"That's a contributing factor to the excitement. I feel like a ten year old, rushing out of church to beat the traffic to Fort Craig for this book signing."
"Yes, I'm looking forward to it and we need to go for Mattie and Katie's sakes too. I doubt there will be all that many there. There usually isn't, unless the author is nationally famous or on the bestseller list. But I want us to be there when Mattie's supposed to start, to show our support for her."
"I guess the signing would have attracted more people if they'd waited until after the trial to have it."
"That's not the kind of interest and people the bookstore wants to attract. Besides, I don't know if the publisher knows about the trial that's coming up. I guess Mattie would have told her editor, but it's just as well if they don't say much about it."
"I'll be glad when the trial's over. You know it's going to be hard on Katie to sit there and listen to all that's bound to come out."
"It could have been worse, a lot worse, so don't dwell on it. Here's something good to think about. We haven't splurged on anything for a while, let's duck out of the book signing after we've done our duty and treat ourselves to dinner at the Colonial Hotel."
"That's the best idea I've heard lately," Miss Mayme immediately agreed. "Let's do it!"
The book signing was a success. Between forty and fifty people came in during the forty-five minutes Miss Minnie and Miss Mayme were there, necessitating a line almost constantly. The manager of the bookstore ladled out punch and enjoyed talking with her customers and Katie.
Recipe for Trouble Page 20