Easter Buried Eggs (Black Cat Cafe Cozy Mystery Series Book 10)

by Lyndsey Cole

  “Not exactly. Roxy is my in with Marvin. He misses his dog and he knows what’s going on at Golden Living. Maybe Roxy will help him trust me enough to share more information. That’s all.”

  “And you’ll pass that on to Detective Crank?”

  “If there’s anything to pass on, of course I will,” Annie said with more confidence than she felt. She knew Detective Crank tolerated her at best and would ridicule her at the first chance possible. Marvin Yates wasn’t the most believable witness with his stories that sounded more like a conspiracy theory than a plausible scenario.

  9

  When Annie arrived home to Cobblestone Cottage, the pull to kick off her shoes, enjoy a cold drink on the porch, and watch the world go by almost derailed her promise to Marvin. But Roxy’s enthusiastic, full-body-wiggle greeting reminded her that Marvin didn’t have a loyal dog where he was now living.

  She patted Roxy’s head. “Ready for an adventure?”

  Roxy’s tail thumped against one side, then the other, showing her always present enthusiasm for anything.

  “Let me find your therapy dog coat. I have no intention of sneaking you inside through a window. We’ll be walking right through the front door so we can guilt Dawn Cross into welcoming us with open arms.” At least, Annie told herself, that’s how she hoped it would go.

  When Annie arrived at the retirement home, she wasn’t so distracted with delivering the catered dinner and noticed more details about the place. The circular drive leading to the front was immaculately landscaped and welcoming. Although it was a large sprawling building, the dark green siding with cream trim felt homey. With a small visitor parking area in front and a larger area on the right side, Annie chose to park out of the way on the side. She assumed that was where employees parked, using the side entrance instead of the main one.

  Annie let Roxy sniff outside for a few minutes before she led the way to the front door. As soon as they entered, Gloria stopped dead in her tracks to look at Roxy. “What a handsome dog. I thought I was seeing the ghost of a terrier I had when I was a kid.” She crouched down to Roxy’s level.

  That was a promising sign for their visit. “This is Roxy, my therapy dog. I had a request from Sylvia May for a visit? I’m sure, considering what she went through yesterday, there won’t be any problems.”

  “Oh, I didn’t recognize you at first. You catered the dinner.” Gloria stood. “Your stuffed zucchini was delicious. I’d love to have the recipe, unless it’s a trade secret.”

  “Of course. I’ll be sure to get it to you.” Annie began walking in the direction of Sylvia’s apartment. “I know the way.”

  “I suppose I should check with Dawn first. She insists on approving all visitors.” Gloria rolled her eyes to show she thought it was a ridiculous policy. “How about you wait right here. I’ll only be a minute.” Gloria’s heels click-clacked down the hall.

  “Should we bother waiting, Roxy? I really don’t care if she approves our visit. I think I can bluff my way out of any issues with your therapy dog status.” Annie continued toward Gloria’s office but suddenly stopped before the door when she overheard Gloria say her name.

  “Annie Hunter is here… What harm can it do to let her visit with Sylvia? That poor woman has enough on her plate with her worries about finding someplace else to live…Great, bye.”

  Who was Gloria on the phone talking to? Dawn? Annie knocked on the door. “Am I all cleared to make my visit?”

  Gloria smiled, nodded, and waved her on her way.

  The visitor bathroom caught Annie’s attention and she made a quick stop. It was the same bathroom Marvin would have used the previous night when he listened in on Detective Christy Crank’s interviews. “Just curious, Roxy. Maybe I can hear something through this wall.”

  Sure enough, as Annie stood near the wall, and Roxy sniffed every inch of the bathroom, she heard a phone ring. Gloria’s voice came through, muted but clear. “Don’t ever call me while I’m at work. If Dawn connects you to me, she’ll never let you move in when there’s an opening.”

  Annie frowned. Who was on the phone? At any rate, there was some kind of rivalry between Gloria and Dawn, with Gloria lower in the pecking order. She pulled the bathroom door open and almost bumped into Gloria. “Oh, sorry. Just making a pit stop before I get to Sylvia’s apartment.” Did that sound as lame to Gloria as it sounded to Annie’s ears?

  “I’ll walk with you,” Gloria said.

  “This is a lovely facility. Do you have a waiting list for apartments?” Annie asked, hoping her question didn’t ring any alarms in Gloria’s head.

  “There is a waiting list. Do you have someone in mind looking for a retirement home? I could get you a brochure with all the information.”

  “Actually, that would be great. I have an elderly neighbor and I don’t know how long she’ll be able to stay in her own home.” Annie was thinking about Thelma Dodd who lived a few houses away from Annie and Jason. Thelma had never said anything about moving, but it was a good excuse to get the information. And look as innocent as possible.

  “Stop in my office on your way out and I’ll have a packet ready for you.” She paused and Annie stopped next to her. “This is a sensitive question and I hope you don’t take it the wrong way, but does your friend own her house?”

  A big red flag waved in Annie’s brain with that ‘sensitive’ question. Was that how this place operated? Get an elderly person to sign their house over in exchange for moving in and then kick them out saying the money was gone? “You know, I’m not sure.”

  Gloria patted Annie’s arm. “That’s okay. It’s something Dawn would work with your friend on if she is interested. I try to stay out of the money aspect.” She leaned close to Annie. “It can be very emotional at times.”

  “And the waiting list is long?”

  “Well, sometimes people put their name on the list, then find a different living arrangement before a spot opens, so it’s hard to say what the competition is. And sometimes, someone just can’t afford it here.” Gloria knocked on Sylvia’s door. “Here you are. Enjoy your visit.” Gloria’s heels click-clacked on the tiles back the way they had come.

  Martha opened the door. “I thought maybe you forgot.” She pulled Annie inside. “Sylvia is a mess. That witch Dawn Cross told her she has to move out at the end of the month. She’s behind on her monthly expenses and has no idea what she’ll do. See what you and Roxy can do to cheer her up while I get Marvin.”

  Annie unclipped Roxy’s leash. It only took the dog two seconds to sit next to Sylvia and place her head in Sylvia’s lap. Just like when Annie visited Thelma Dodd. It was obvious that Roxy could sense when someone needed comforting; and she had an extra big soft spot for the elderly.

  Martha returned with Marvin who apparently had something besides Roxy on his mind. “Did you bring any of those pastries?”

  Annie chuckled at his question.

  “As a matter of fact…” Annie pulled a Black Cat Café bag from her tote and handed it to Marvin. “I brought fresh-from-the-oven blueberry muffins.” Well, fresh from the oven as of bright and early in the morning, but who was going to complain?

  He unfolded the top of the bag and stuck his nose inside. “Do they taste as delicious as they smell?”

  “Probably not,” Annie teased. “I don’t think you will like them.” She reached over to take the bag back.

  Marvin’s face crunched together into a mass of wrinkled skin before a grin blossomed on his face. “You’re not so bad after all.” He reached in and daintily extracted a muffin. After one small nibble, his eyes closed and he sighed with satisfaction. “Better than they smell.”

  Annie smiled with what she felt was a huge compliment from this normally cranky man.

  Martha took the bag from Marvin. “Don’t hog them all. Annie brought them for all of us.” She offered the open bag to Sylvia, who hesitated but ended up helping herself.

  Roxy waited patiently next to Sylvia whose hand never left the terrie
r’s head.

  With everyone comfortable in Sylvia’s small apartment enjoying the blueberry muffins, Martha asked, “What’s the next step, Annie?”

  Annie ran her fingers through her curls. “Next step?”

  “Yeah, to help Sylvia keep her apartment and get off the suspect list,” Martha said with an I-know-you-can-help tone.

  Marvin finished his muffin and held his hand out toward Roxy. “Don’t hog the dog, Sylvia.”

  Roxy looked at Annie, who sat next to Marvin, for a hint of what was expected next. Annie patted her knee and Roxy moved to her new spot within reach of Marvin’s hand. His fingers stroked her ears, finding the sensitive spot that she loved and she tilted her head to make it easier for Marvin’s fingers.

  “How’d you get her past the warden?” Marvin asked.

  “We just walked in like we belonged here. Gloria checked with Dawn and our visit was approved,” Annie continued. “Marvin, you mentioned that Golden Living now owns your house. Is that the normal method for people to finance living here?”

  He shrugged. “Don’t know, but if we go down to the sunroom, you can talk to some other people and find out more. If they’ll talk to you. There’s only about a half hour before dinner so we better get a move on.”

  “They might not talk to me, but I bet they’ll talk to Roxy. She has that effect on people.” Annie stood. “Lead the way.”

  The sunroom was at the end of the hallway, past several apartments on that wing. The setting sun streamed through the large windows and sky lights, giving a warm, cozy setting. Large tropical plants decorated the corners, and blooming orchids filled several windows.

  People sat reading or in small groups talking and playing board games. The silence when Annie and Roxy entered felt awkward and she knew her first impression would make or break the visit.

  She didn’t have to worry. As soon as it registered that a dog was in in the room, several people competed for Roxy’s attention. This was a therapy dog’s dream.

  Annie walked with Roxy around the room, introducing her to the men and women who eyed Roxy with a yearning. Annie’s gut instinct told her that many here missed their own pets and Roxy magically filled a tiny part of the hole in their hearts.

  “What a wonderful surprise,” Annie heard over and over again. “Will you come back?”

  Annie had no choice but to promise more visits, not that she minded, but it would be difficult to find time in her busy schedule. She would find the time, one way or another.

  Annie whispered to Martha, “Who’s that guy sitting in the corner? He hasn’t taken his eyes off me but he also doesn’t look like he’s approachable.”

  “Ask Marvin. He knows plenty about everyone.”

  Marvin reached for Roxy’s leash. “Would it be okay if I walk with her?”

  “Of course.” Annie stayed with Marvin while he led Roxy to visit with more people. She waited a little while before she asked him, “Who’s the guy sitting in the corner? He’s making my skin crawl.”

  Marvin didn’t even look in the direction that Annie indicated. “Sitting in a wheelchair? That’s Shady Sean. He sits in that corner and scowls. He used to talk to Forrest though. I never figured out what those two had in common.”

  “I don’t remember seeing him at the Easter dinner last night.” Annie remembered Gloria telling her that he ate alone.

  “He doesn’t go to the dining room. Sometimes Gloria or Dawn delivers his meal. He comes in here and always sits in the same spot but never talks to anyone unless he has an insult to deliver.”

  “You know a lot about what goes on in this place. Will you share some of that information with me?”

  When Marvin stopped walking, Roxy sat next to him. “You can ask anything you want as long as you come back with Roxy. I’ll decide if I want to answer.”

  Annie heard footsteps approaching before she heard the voice. “What are you doing here, Annie Hunter?” Detective Christy Crank stood with her hands on her hips, staring at Annie. “I’m not sure I understand your sudden interest in Golden Living.” Christy pulled Annie out of the sunroom, away from listening ears.

  “Sylvia May needed some time with Roxy, my therapy dog,” Annie hoped Christy bought her explanation.

  Christy’s carefully plucked eyebrows shot up. “Since when did Roxy become a therapy dog?”

  “Recently. It’s a program we’ve been working on.”

  “I’ll buy that for now, but it doesn’t explain why you’re in here,” Christy’s arm swept around the room, “with all these other people. I don’t even see Sylvia.”

  Annie was quite sure Christy would put two and two together expecting to figure out why Annie was mingling with a big group of Golden Living residents. But Annie doubted that Christy cared much about how Golden Living was run which, as far as Annie was concerned, was just as important as who killed Forrest Spring. And the how might very well lead to the who.

  “Sylvia invited Marvin to visit with Roxy in her apartment and Marvin thought there were other people who would benefit from her visit. He was right. I’ve already promised this group that we’d be happy to come back. I suspect that many of these people miss their pets more than their families.” Annie knew that Christy was a dog person and wouldn’t argue with that point.

  “Is that right? You’re coming back. What a big surprise.” The sarcasm in her tone was unmistakable. Christy leaned right next to Annie’s ear. So close Annie could feel Christy’s warm breath on her neck. “Don’t get in my way. Don’t snoop around where you don’t belong. Come with your therapy dog but don’t start looking for clues about the Easter bunny’s murder. Understand?”

  “Roxy and I will be here to help my friends through this difficult time. Do you understand how traumatic it is for them that the Easter bunny was murdered practically on their doorstep?”

  “Of course I do,” Christy snapped. “Don’t be blinded by these hand wringing friends of yours. One of them could very well be the killer and no amount of you and your therapy dog will be able to help when I uncover the truth.”

  Annie steamed. Which friends was she referring to—Sylvia and Marvin? With a smile pasted on her face as people walked by headed to the dining room, she said goodbye and promised again to bring Roxy back.

  On the way to the front door, Annie made a detour into the bathroom next to Gloria’s office on the off chance of hearing more conversation. Everything was quiet. When she tried to flush the toilet, the lever wouldn’t budge. Annie lifted the cover off the tank to see if it was a simple problem that she could fix.

  She found the problem all right, but it wasn’t simple.

  Some white fuzzy clumps floated in the water above the last thing she expected to see.

  She leaned against the wall and rubbed the back of her neck as her chest tightened.

  She chewed on her fingernail as she tried to figure out what to do next.

  She looked in the tank a second time hoping her eyes had deceived her.

  No. The worst-case scenario stared back at her.

  A gun rested on top of the flapper.

  “What should I do, Roxy?”

  There was really only one option.

  She had to find Martha.

  10

  After Annie pushed the gun off the flapper so she could flush, she replaced the toilet tank’s top. She peeked out the bathroom door, her heart still in her throat. The hallway was quiet.

  Annie texted Martha. I need some help.

  While she waited, she removed the top again and took a photo. What she wanted to know was, did the gun belong to Sylvia?

  Where are you? Came back from Martha.

  Visitor’s bathroom. Hurry.

  Annie chuckled when she realized what kind of emergency Martha might be expecting to find. She heard a tap on the door. “Annie?” Martha’s voice whispered. “Are you all right?”

  Annie opened the door and pulled Martha inside. “Take a look at what I found.” She pointed to the toilet tank.

&n
bsp; Martha looked at Annie, scrunched her nose, and then bent forward to peer inside. Her jaw fell. “Whose is it? And what’s that white stuff in the water?”

  “I don’t know. Did you ever see Sylvia’s gun?”

  “It might be hers.” Martha straightened. “What are you going to do now?”

  “Is Christy still in the building?”

  “Yes. Can’t we just take it and get rid of it?” Martha obviously thought protecting Sylvia was the only option.

  Annie shook her head. “That’s a really bad idea. If it is Sylvia’s gun, and if she killed Forrest, we can’t protect her.”

  “Sylvia can’t be the murderer. She was hiding in the closet when she heard the gunshot, and she was still in there when you found her, so how would she have gotten rid of it in here?”

  “Yes, I thought of that, too.” Annie called Christy’s number. She didn’t even bother to say hello. “I’ve got something to show you. Meet me outside Gloria’s office.”

  Annie, Martha, and Roxy filed out of the bathroom, getting a strange look from Dawn as she happened to walk by. “You’re still here? Your dog couldn’t wait until she got outside?”

  “Yeah, something like that,” Annie replied. “In case you haven’t heard, our visit was a big success. There were lots of requests for a return appearance.”

  “So I heard. I’ll agree to one more visit.” Dawn turned on her heel and disappeared into Gloria’s office. Dawn’s office was still off-limits with yellow police tape across the door and a policeman standing outside.

  Detective Crank rounded the corner. Her face was tight, her gait was fast, and her hands were clenched at her sides. Annie anticipated a barrage of comments before one word was uttered.

  “This better be good.” Christy halted mere inches from Annie.

  “I found something in the bathroom.”

  Christy sighed. “I hope this isn’t some kind of sick joke.” She followed Annie through the door. Martha stayed in the hall with Roxy.

  The toilet tank’s top was still off. Annie pointed. “I don’t think something like that is normally part of the plumbing.”