4 Murder at Breakfast

by Steve Demaree

  “How did I do, Mrs. Washburn? And before you deny any of this, let me tell you that when the DNA tests come back, your DNA will be found on the fork left on the table, as well as the toothbrush our men took from the victim’s bathroom. The only thing I can’t figure out is, why did you do it?”

  “You’re smarter than I thought, Lieutenant. Even though she was quite a few years younger than me, Cindy Bradshaw was my friend. I was the one who tried to rescue her when her aunt threw her out. Oh, I know you’ll say she didn’t throw her out, but she wouldn’t give her any of that money unless she stayed. She was tired of her aunt trying to tell her what to do all the time. She left, but soon ran out of money. She begged her aunt to give her her inheritance, but her aunt was only willing to take care of her if she came back. Cindy wanted to live her own life. I helped her as much as I could, but my money was limited, too. She got a job, did the best she could, but the best place she could afford was one that she couldn’t heat properly. She ended up getting pneumonia, and dying. If it wasn’t for her aunt, she would have lived a lot longer. I decided then that some day I would get even with her aunt. I found out where she had moved and was able to get a job here. I bided my time until I came up with a plan to do away with the old woman. I’m not sorry I did, just sorry that Cindy won’t be the one getting the money.”

  “Neither will you, Miss Washburn. Neither will you. Mrs. Higgins thought enough of you to remember you in her will, and how ironic it would have been if your amount had been doubled because Cindy wasn’t alive to receive her share. But she was willing to give to her niece, too. Just not as soon as her niece wanted it.”

  I listened to what she had to say, then looked over and motioned for my young friend.

  “Okay, Officer Davis, you can take her away.”

  All was quiet while Dan and Heather led Margie Washburn away and out the door to the back seat of a cruiser. Then, as relief set in, a few of those left behind came up and thanked us for all that we did. Martha even told us to come back to eat sometime, and if I let her know in advance she would fix something special. We said our goodbyes, and I received hugs from Martha and Christine Hunt. Mrs. Hunt seemed to linger a little longer than Martha. I finally pulled away and told her I was busy all of the next year, but I thought Lou had some free time.

  38

  As we walked outside, Officer Davis was pulling away with Margie Washburn secure in the back seat. He had cuffed her hands behind her back, secured her in the back seat, so I didn’t expect that she would give him any trouble. When Heather saw us walk out, she trotted over to where George, Lou, and I were.

  “And another brilliant deduction, Mr. Holmes.”

  “What can I say, Heather. God made some of us brilliant.”

  My response brought some hoots and laughs, then George’s curiosity got the best of him.

  “So, Cy, how’d you figure it out?”

  “Well, I have to admit, it was hard. Like I said inside, we didn’t have enough information that we could eliminate anyone. We doubted that she was poisoned before breakfast, but for a while we thought someone could’ve been good enough with a slight of hand that he or she could’ve poisoned her at the breakfast table. Any of the residents except Russell Cochran and Elaine Jewell could have poisoned her there. And Hilda Winters left the table when the victim did. She could’ve done something. But things began to change when we realized that the murderer took not only the victim’s toothbrush, but Russell’s toothbrush, too. Now, it’s true that he could’ve lied about having a toothbrush her apartment, but why would he do that? And what happened to his tray? What would cause him to keep it in his apartment and lie about it? There wasn’t any poison on it. It all came together when I realized that whoever ate some of the victim’s lunch had to have done so when the food was still hot. Only Russell Cochran, and the two maids could’ve done that, and only Margie Washburn could’ve gotten into both downstairs apartments at lunch. So, she had to be the murderer.”

  With that Heather put her arms around my neck and planted a kiss on my cheek.

  “I’m so proud of you, Cy. And remember, if you decide to get married, I get first dibs.”

  “Now Heather, I’m not trying to imply that I’m not interested, but don’t you think you might want to date some of these younger guys?”

  “Oh, I am. I asked Dan Davis out for Saturday night.”

  “You asked him?”

  “Hey, I’ve had my eye on him for a while, but I know how shy he is. I would’ve had to have waited forever for him to ask me. But don’t worry. I only have eyes for you.”

  Heather and I laughed, only mine had some pain in it. Would I have been interested in Heather if she’d come along a few years after my Eunice died. The smile on my face kept everyone else from noticing my pain. Well, maybe not Lou.

  “That reminds me, Cy,” George interjected, “what do all these women see in you?”

  “You mean other than my good looks and charm?”

  “So, what is it with these women?”

  I just shook my head and smiled.

  We were about to turn away when the front door opened. It was Elaine Jewell.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that you were still here. But since I’m here, Lieutenant, I want you to know that I’m sorry I caused you to fall the other day. I was mad then, but now I realize you were only doing your job.”

  I waved goodbye and hurried to Lightning. My protrusion and my ribs prohibited me from escaping from George’s ham of a hand, which clamped on my shoulder.

  “Something I don’t know, Cy?”

  +++

  A few minutes later, after more embarrassment, Lou and I parted ways with George and Heather. I drove Lou to his place so he could Wii a bit before lunch.

  “Well, Cy, I guess it’s time to get back to that other case.”

  “You mean The Case of the Lucky Legs by Erle Stanley Gardner?”

  “You got it.”

  I just knew that if no one else murdered anyone in Hilldale for a while that those lucky legs would be mine. They would be propped up in a recliner reading about someone else trying to solve a murder. Retirement is grand, when you can get it.