Meringue and Murder

by Wendy Meadows

  “What kind of soup do you have today?” asked Margaret.

  “I have black bean and pumpkin soup,” said Stacy. “Perfect for this fall weather.”

  “Yum,” said Margaret. “I’ll have a bowl of that and a side salad.”

  “Right away,” said Stacy. She left to put together Margaret’s meal. Margaret looked out the window by her table. There were a few people walking around. They were enjoying the last bit of warmish weather before winter really kicked in. Stacy appeared with the soup and salad and sat down across from Margaret.

  “We’re not too busy right now. I can sit and talk if you want,” suggested Stacy.

  “Sure. What do you want to talk about?”

  “Why aren’t you here with David?” Stacy asked. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yes, we are fine,” Margaret reassured Stacy. “This soup is delicious.”

  “Thank you,” said Stacy. “But back to what I was saying. You and David used to be in here every afternoon, but now I only see you once every two weeks or so.”

  “We have backed off a bit from public displays of affection,” said Margaret.

  “Ouch,” said Stacy. Margaret laughed.

  “No, we are fine. David is just getting to know Ariel better, that’s all,” said Margaret, sipping her coffee.

  “Well, I hope he’s not neglecting you in the process,” said Stacy.

  “Not at all,” said Margaret. “I’m actually enjoying my quiet time.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes,” said Margaret. “I am feeling more productive.”

  “Well, your Halloween candies were divine,” said Stacy.

  “See? That is one good thing that has come from us backing up a bit.”

  “Well, as long as you’re happy, I suppose I understand,” said Stacy.

  “I am,” reassured Margaret. “So, I was thinking about making a cornucopia of candies and raffling it off to benefit the animal shelter.”

  “That’s a great idea. If you make up some posters I’ll hang one in the window,” said Stacy.

  “I will,” said Margaret. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. What gave you the idea for the cornucopia?”

  “Zach and I were visiting the animal shelter today and the idea came to me when we drove home,” said Margaret.

  “Visiting the animal shelter? Ooh, did you get a dog?” asked Stacy. Her eyes were glowing.

  Margaret laughed. “No, not yet. I have to get the house ready and buy some supplies, food, and toys.”

  “That makes sense,” said Stacy. “But did you see any potential candidates?”

  “Yes,” said Margaret. “There was a sweet terrier mix and a Chihuahua dachshund mix that were possible.”

  “Oh, they sound adorable,” said Stacy. “How are you going to choose between them?”

  “I have a feeling we’ll end up with both of them,” said Margaret, smiling. Stacy made a muted squeaking sound. Margaret told Stacy the dogs’ story. By the end, Stacy was convinced that Margaret and Zach would be the proud owners of those dogs within a week.

  Margaret laughed. “Well, if Zach keeps up his end of the bargain and visits the dogs every day, it is a strong likelihood they will be at my house soon,” said Margaret. “Well, thank you for the dinner.”

  “You’re welcome,” said Stacy. “Are you going home?”

  “No, I’m going to run next door to the shop. I want to work out my candy cornucopia,” said Margaret, getting up from the table.

  “Remember to give me some posters,” said Stacy.

  “I will.” Margaret waved and walked out of the café. As she was turning to open her shop door, some car lights caught her attention. Margaret looked up and saw Mr. Stewart returning from the animal shelter. She waved to him and he waved back. Margaret went into her store and walked back to the kitchen area. She turned on the lights and sat down with the laptop Zach had bought for her. Margaret started searching for Thanksgiving candy ideas. While Halloween had passed, Margaret thought about pumpkin meringues. She also thought about putting in some of her caramel corn mix, and maybe some cranberry marshmallows and truffle turkeys. That should be a good bunch of Thanksgiving chocolates, she thought.

  Margaret wrote down a list of groceries she would need to buy. Then she put the laptop away and went outside. The night sky was full of stars. Margaret walked down to the beach and stood on the boardwalk. The sky was beautiful. She breathed in the fresh sea air and then turned to go back to her car. She walked along the downtown streets. There were a few other people out, but most of the stores were closed. The streetlights offered ample light to see by and Margaret walked to her car. She glanced at her shop and made sure she had turned off the back lights. Then she got in her car and drove to the grocery store. She had decided to start making the candies at her home that night.

  Chapter 3

  When Margaret got home, her phone rang. It was David.

  “Hello, David,” said Margaret, unpacking her groceries.

  “Hey, Margaret,” said David. “I wanted to apologize for missing out on dinner tonight.”

  “That is not necessary,” said Margaret.

  “I think it is,” David insisted. “Ariel is in bed and I wanted to talk to you. It seems we don’t talk as often now.”

  “Well, we both have things going on,” said Margaret. “You have the important job of being a dad.”

  “Ariel makes it easy,” said David.

  “I am sure she does. She is a very sweet girl,” said Margaret.

  “I was wondering if you wanted to have lunch tomorrow,” said David. “I could stop by the shop and we could go to the café.”

  “Stacy would like that,” said Margaret. “We were talking about you tonight.”

  “Oh, so Zach didn’t cook then?” asked David.

  Margaret laughed. “He went out with his friends,” she said. “He should be home soon.”

  “What was Stacy saying?” asked David.

  “She wanted to know if we were okay,” said Margaret.

  “What did you tell her?”

  “I told her we were fine. We were just not publicly displaying affection at the moment,” said Margaret.

  “And do you believe we are fine?” David sounded a little anxious.

  “Of course I do,” said Margaret.

  David sighed. “Good,” he said. “I want us to be better than fine.”

  “We will be,” said Margaret. “No worries there.”

  “Great,” said David. “Now, what do you think about lunch tomorrow?”

  “That sounds like a plan. I’m working on some Thanksgiving candies tonight, so I should be able to break for lunch tomorrow,” Margaret replied, turning on the coffee pot.

  “Well, don’t stay up too late,” said David.

  “I won’t.”

  “See you tomorrow,” said David.

  “Good night,” said Margaret.

  “Good night.”

  Margaret hung up the phone. Her tummy was doing flips. Just talking to David made her feel warm inside. She wished they could be together more, but she understood that Ariel came first. David didn’t want to confuse Ariel with his relationship with Margaret.

  Margaret got out her baking sheets and bowls. She mixed up the egg whites for the pumpkin meringues. They would need to stay in a warm oven overnight. She put them in the oven and started the turkey truffles and cranberry marshmallows. About an hour into making her goodies, Zach showed up.

  “What are you making?” he asked Margaret.

  “I have meringues in the oven, so don’t open it,” Margaret replied.

  “Okay. What is the pink stuff?”

  “That is going to be homemade cranberry marshmallows,” said Margaret, dumping the mixture into a bowl.

  “And the chocolate?”

  “Those will be turkey truffles. I am also making some more fall balls for the cornucopia. Do you think you can help me with the fall balls tomorrow morning at the shop?” Margaret
asked.

  “Sure,” said Zach. “I am going to go to my room unless you need any help.”

  Margaret surveyed the kitchen. “I’ll be fine.”

  Zach bounded up the stairs to his room. Margaret watched him go. She smiled at his exuberance. When she was done forming the marshmallows, she turned to the truffles. They were easy to shape, and Margaret got done in no time. She cleaned up the kitchen and went up to bed. She was looking forward to seeing and talking to David tomorrow at lunch.

  Chapter 4

  The next morning, Margaret got up early and checked her meringues. They were perfect. She packed them up with the other candies and Zach helped her load them in Margaret’s car after breakfast. Margaret also put the supplies for the fall balls in her car, and then she and Zach took separate cars to the candy shop.

  Margaret parked in the back and she and Zach unloaded the car. Then Margaret took her car and parked it in front of the store. She saw Patty, her other employee, walking toward the shop. Patty was an older woman who worked harder than a lot of younger people Margaret knew. Patty had worked with Margaret since the store opened and she loved helping Margaret out with her candies. Patty knew everyone in the town and she enjoyed keeping up with the town gossip while she worked. Margaret waved hello as she got out of her car.

  Suddenly, Margaret heard screaming from across the street. Margaret turned and saw Maria Luis running out of the alley between her nail shop and the dog groomer’s. Margaret slammed her car door and ran over to Maria.

  “He’s dead! He’s dead!” screamed Maria. She saw Margaret. “Mr. Stewart is dead in the alley!”

  Margaret caught up with Maria.

  “What happened?” Margaret asked, hurrying with Maria back to the alley.

  “I don’t know.” Maria was out of breath. “I went out into the alley to throw some garbage away in the dumpster. I saw…” Maria hesitated.

  “I saw Mr. Stewart lying there. I went up to him and asked if he was okay. He didn’t look okay. He didn’t reply. I bent down and realized he was dead. That’s when I ran,” replied Maria.

  They arrived at the alley and Margaret gasped. She had hoped Maria had been mistaken, that Mr. Stewart had just fallen down or maybe even was just sitting there for some reason.

  But no. There was Mr. Stewart lying on the ground, deathly still, his legs contorted in a way they should not be. Margaret ran over and tried to get his pulse. There was no pulse. She realized he was dead. She pulled out her cell and held it together long enough to call the police. Then she slumped against the alley wall, tears streaming down her face.

  Margaret had experienced dead bodies before but none of them had been as close to her as Mr. Stewart. Who’s going to groom the dogs at the animal shelter? she vaguely wondered as she heard sirens in the distance.

  Moments later, the police showed up with David on their tail. Margaret had composed herself and was examining Mr. Stewart’s body. There were no obvious gunshot or stab wounds. Margaret didn’t want to touch Mr. Stewart without gloves so she walked toward the front of the alley. David ran up to her and hugged her.

  “What’s going on?” he asked.

  “Mr. Stewart is dead,” said Margaret and she felt new tears start in her eyes. She wiped her eyes and pointed toward Mr. Stewart’s body.

  “There are no visible wounds,” Margaret said as she started to follow David down the alley. “It’s not obvious at first glance what could have happened to him. Heart attack maybe? Or maybe he was stabbed or shot and the wound is where I couldn’t see it. I didn’t move the body because I knew I shouldn’t, I left that up to you. But what could have happened to him? I literally just saw him yesterday.” Margaret felt hysteria coming on, and she couldn’t stop rambling.

  David turned to Margaret and put his hands on her shoulders.

  “Margaret. Take a deep breath. And another.” He waited until Margaret’s breathing had slowed before continuing. “Listen, why don’t you go back to the candy shop? I can come by after forensics fills me in.”

  “I’m okay now. It’s not like I haven’t seen a dead body before,” Margaret argued. In her spare time Margaret had helped David on some of his cases. She had a side business as a private investigator and had even gotten her license. But this was the first time a friend of hers had been found dead. Margaret felt her breathing quicken again.

  “I understand,” David said. “But I would prefer you go back to the candy shop for the time being. I promise I will fill you in. Besides, didn’t you have some candy you were going to make?” asked David. “That will take your mind off this for a little while. Get you feeling a little calmer.”

  Margaret frowned but then relented.

  “I suppose I should keep the Thanksgiving candy on track. I really don’t want to think about that right now,” said Margaret.

  David started leading her back to her store. “I know,” he said. “Just let me handle this case for now. I promise I will fill you in later. If you are up to it, we can get a late lunch at the café.”

  “We’ll see,” said Margaret. She didn’t argue as David led her back to the candy shop. Zach met them at the door and steered Margaret into a chair in the back. He thanked David and gave Margaret some water.

  “She’ll need more than that,” said a woman’s voice behind Margaret.

  Margaret turned. It was Simone Peretti, the owner of the antiques shop. Margaret saw Simone had a bottle of wine.

  “It’s a little early for wine,” said Margaret.

  “I know,” said Simone, pouring Margaret a small amount of wine in a glass. “Just drink this little bit to calm your nerves.” Margaret hesitated, then took a sip. The warmth helped her nerves steady.

  The front door opened, and Margaret heard Patty tell someone she was in the back. Stacy appeared along with Allie Harris, the confectioner from the bakery down the street. Stacy had sweet tea and Allie had brought some doughnuts for everyone.

  “I thought we could use some food,” Allie said.

  “That was a nice thought,” said Margaret. “Thank you.”

  “I see you decided to hit the bottle early,” said Stacy, eyeing the wine bottle that Simone carried.

  “Liquid courage,” said Simone. “Besides, it is five o’clock somewhere.” Stacy rolled her eyes and declined the glass that Simone held out to her. Margaret almost grinned listening to her friends bicker. Zach sat down beside her and held her hand.

  “I am so sorry, Mom,” he said. “We were just talking about Mr. Stewart yesterday.” Margaret wiped a tear from her eye. Stacy put her arm around Margaret’s shoulder.

  “So what happened to him? How did he die?” Stacy asked.

  Margaret shrugged. “I don’t know. There were no visible wounds. I would have stuck around to find out what happened, but David brought me back here.”

  “I understand,” said Stacy. “He did the right thing.”

  “I don’t know,” said Margaret. “I want to find out what happened to Mr. Stewart.”

  “David said he would stop by later and fill you in,” said Zach.

  “Yes, he did,” reassured Patty. “Right now, you should just sit and try to calm down.” Margaret listened to Patty and sipped some sweet tea.

  “Unfortunately, we have to get back to our shops,” said Allie. “Do you need anything else from us right now? We’ll come back later and check in on you.”

  “Thank you,” Margaret replied. “I’m fine for now.” She got up from her chair and walked toward the kitchen counter.

  “What are you doing?” asked Zach.

  “I have to make my candies for the cornucopia,” said Margaret. “They won’t make themselves. David suggested I concentrate on this while he talks to the forensics team.”

  “Mom, you don’t have to make candy,” Zach insisted.

  “Yes, I do,” Margaret replied firmly. “Besides, David is right. It will take my mind off of what I just saw.”

  “Okay,” said Zach, “but I am going to help you. I’m sure
Patty won’t mind watching the front of the store.”

  “I would be happy to,” Patty replied. She and Simone stepped out to the front of the store.

  “Thank you, Zach. I appreciate your help,” said Margaret. They gathered some ingredients and started the popcorn popping.

  Chapter 5

  David appeared in the candy store around two o’clock. Margaret heard his voice and went to the front of the store.

  “What have you found out? Why were there no visible marks? Do you have any leads?” she asked, the questions tumbling out of her mouth. David placed his hands on Margaret’s shoulders and stopped her.

  “First, how are you?” asked David.

  “I’m fine,” Margaret quickly said. “Now how about some answers?”

  “Okay. Would you like to go to the café? We could sit in a booth in the corner and talk,” David suggested.

  “Okay,” said Margaret. “Just let me tell Zach where I’ll be.”

  “I heard,” said Zach, coming out from the kitchen. “It’s fine, Mom. I’ve got the candy covered.”

  “Thank you, Zach,” said David and Margaret together. Margaret followed David to the door of the candy shop.

  “Take all the time you need,” said Patty, putting her hand on Margaret’s arm. “Zach and I can take care of the store.”

  “Thank you, Patty,” said Margaret. David opened the door for Margaret and she walked outside. Margaret saw the police tape across the alley and she shivered. David guided her into the café.

  “Hey,” said Stacy. “I have your booth ready.”

  “Thanks, Stacy,” said David. Margaret looked at David quizzically.

  “I stopped by the café first and asked Stacy to keep the booth for us,” explained David.

  “Thank you,” said Margaret. She was touched by his thoughtfulness. They walked back to the booth and sat down.

  “Would you like anything to eat?” asked David.