Brewing Death

by P. D. Workman

  “No. I lost it. But at least he knew I meant what I said…”

  Vic chuckled. “Well, he didn’t arrest you, so I guess that’s a good sign.”

  Erin agreed. The bells on the front door jingled and Erin looked through the kitchen door into the front to see who was there. Mary Lou Cox walked in; she looked through the doorway and smiled as Erin wiped her hands on her apron.

  “Good morning, Mary Lou,” Erin greeted. “What can I get for you today?”

  Mary Lou brushed a hand over her forehead in a gesture of fatigue. Her eyes looked tired and swollen. “Some bread for supper. Crusty rolls or a French loaf?”

  Erin indicated the French bread and Mary Lou nodded.

  “Yes,” she said briskly. “That’s fine. And something for dessert. Maybe peanut butter bars?”

  “I don’t do nuts,” Erin reminded her as she selected a loaf of French bread for her. “Sorry. How about some fudge?”

  Mary Lou swore. Erin’s mouth nearly dropped open in her surprise. Mary Lou had never cursed around her before. She had never lost her temper or her composure. Was it possible that Joelle’s death had had an effect on her? They hadn’t been friends. As far as Erin knew, Joelle didn’t have any friends. But sometimes, things were not as they seemed.

  “I’m sorry,” Erin said again. “What else could I get you? The marshmallow cookies have been really popular since we started making them…”

  “Oh, don’t mind me,” Mary Lou said, shaking her head. “I’m just not myself today.” She rubbed her hand over her eyes. “Sometimes I just don’t know how I’m going to make it through the day.”

  “Can I help?” Erin asked, concerned. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, my dear. You can’t do a thing. You just keep baking up a storm. At least that’s one thing I don’t have to do.”

  Erin stood there awkwardly, waiting for Mary Lou to pick out what she wanted for dessert. Mary Lou blinked a few times, sighed, and looked at the goodies in the display case.

  “Honestly. I can’t even decide.”

  “How about an assortment of cookies,” Erin suggested. “I’ll just put a few different varieties together for you.”

  “Yes,” Mary Lou agreed. She ran one hand through her short gray hair, mussing it up. Erin had never seen Mary Lou with a single hair out of place, even on the most hectic days. Looking her over, Erin realized that her impeccably tailored suit was showing wrinkles, and there was a smudge of green on one elbow.

  Rather than asking again what was wrong, Erin decided to mind her own business, and got together the cookies Mary Lou had requested.

  “Only twelve,” Mary Lou reminded her tiredly. “Not thirteen.”

  “I know,” Erin agreed. “I’ll give you three each of four varieties. That way it’s totally even. Each of your boys can have one of each kind.”

  “I’m not even sure it matters anymore,” Mary Lou confessed. “Why do I try so hard?”

  Erin was at a loss as to what to say. Mary Lou was always careful to treat her two sons and her husband with an even hand, making sure that one didn’t get more than another. Erin knew from her own experience in many different foster homes that the fairness routine always broke down sooner or later. The parent couldn’t help favoring one child over another, or their needs were so disparate that it was impossible to treat them equally, or their tastes were different, so you couldn’t give them all the same thing. Mary Lou’s children were teens; maybe they had started to reject Mary Lou’s efforts to treat them equally and assert their own wants and needs.

  Erin finished packaging the cookies and went to the till to ring up the purchase. Vic had remained in the kitchen to get the cookies divided up and put into the oven.

  “Are you sure there isn’t anything I could do to help?” Erin asked as Mary Lou carefully counted out exact change. “I hate seeing you like this.”

  Mary Lou smoothed at the wrinkles in her suit. “Like what? I’m just fine, dear. Just didn’t get a good sleep last night. You know how a poor night’s sleep can just make everything more difficult the next day. So clumsy and scattered and everything just falls apart when you touch it!”

  Not to mention emotional and overwrought.

  “Hopefully, you’ll get a better sleep tonight,” Erin encouraged. “You’ll be extra tired, and sleep like a baby.”

  “Not likely,” Mary Lou sighed.

  “Maybe you could take a sleep aid, if you’re having trouble? Melatonin or valerian or Xanax…?”

  Mary Lou just shook her head as if Erin couldn’t possibly understand. And she didn’t. If Mary Lou wasn’t going to tell her exactly what was going on, Erin didn’t have very much chance of giving good advice.

  “Well, I hope you’re feeling better soon.” Erin handed Mary Lou her purchases. “Take care.”

  “Thank you, Erin, you too.” Mary Lou raised her voice. “And you, Vic. Have a good day!”

  Vic moved into the line of sight of the doorway and gave a little wave. “Thanks, Mary Lou! Have a good one!”

  Erin waited for a moment to see if anyone else was coming in before heading back into the kitchen to help Vic finish up.

  “I’ve never seen Mary Lou so rattled,” she said. She related how their friend had behaved. “Do you think it has something to do with Joelle’s death? Or something else?”

  “If she said she was short on sleep, then I believe she’s short on sleep. You know what a bear I am when I don’t get my beauty rest.”

  Erin laughed. “You’re just as sweet when you’re tired as any other time. And I’ve never seen Mary Lou like that before. I’m worried something is really wrong.”

  “Don’t borrow trouble. She’ll get over it, I’m sure.”

  “I hope so. If she’s not sleeping, I have to wonder why. Joelle? Her husband? Trouble with one of the boys? Or is she sick?” Erin worried over this last idea. “What if she’s really sick?”

  “You’re just worried because of what happened to Joelle. You’re overreacting. Mary Lou will get a better sleep tonight, and she’ll be just fine in the morning.”

  Erin gazed back toward the door, but of course Mary Lou was out of sight.

  “I sure hope so.”

  Chapter 13

  With Willie and Vic on a break and Terry avoiding Erin due to the police investigation into Joelle’s death, Erin and Vic were spending more time together in the evenings, as they had before Vic’s apartment over the garage had been built. It was a comfortable routine and, while Erin worried that Vic wasn’t getting out and getting the socialization that she needed, she was happy to just stay home and relax when she could.

  The evenings were pleasant, and Erin had taken Orange Blossom and Marshmallow out to the backyard for a run in the grass. Vic sat on a deck chair watching, laughing at Orange Blossom as he stalked bugs or imaginary critters through the grass, and at Marshmallow when he would creep up behind Orange Blossom and then give him a friendly nudge, making Orange Blossom take off like a rocket and leap around the back yard as if the devil had ahold of him. Erin kept close, trying to block Orange Blossom if he got any ideas of leaving the yard and going off on an adventure of his own. Though he didn’t seem to have any desire to return to his solitary life as a stray, Erin was careful, not wanting him to get any ideas.

  “You sound like you’re having fun.”

  Erin looked across the yard to see Adele approaching from the gate that opened into the woods.

  “Letting the animals out to play,” Erin explained, though Adele could see that for herself.

  Adele watched them for a few minutes, making no attempt at conversation. Erin heard a crow caw nearby.

  “Is that Skye?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is he afraid to come too close to us? Or to the animals?”

  “No, he’s just not sure what we’re all doing. It’s quite the motley crowd.”

  “I guess. Would he come if you called him?”

  “He might.”

  “The animal
s wouldn’t bother him, right? I know Marshmallow wouldn’t. But he’s too big for Orange Blossom to hurt, isn’t he?”

  “If he was sick or injured, the cat could do him harm. But while he’s well, he’s too smart to let a house cat sneak up on him.”

  “Call him. See if he’ll come.”

  Adele looked in the direction of the woods. “Skye,” she said softly, and touched her shoulder.

  Erin didn’t think Adele had called loudly enough or made the gesture big enough to get the attention of the crow, but in seconds, there was another caw, a swoosh of wings, and the black bird landed on Adele’s shoulder. Adele raised her hand and stroked him.

  “Wow,” Vic said, “you’ve got him really well-trained. I knew crows were smart, but I didn’t know you could train them like that.”

  “He’s not trained,” Adele corrected. “We’re just familiar with each other. He’s not a circus show. Just… a friend.”

  Vic nodded, and didn’t make the mistake of referring to Skye as Adele’s pet or her familiar again. If Adele wanted to use the word friend, she could use it. It didn’t matter to Erin or Vic. “Okay. Well, does your friend do anything else?”

  Adele shrugged and looked at the crow on her shoulder with her bright eyes. Skye looked back at her, making a soft, raspy noise like he was trying to purr. Adele whispered to Skye, but Erin couldn’t make out what she was saying. She couldn’t even swear that it was English. Skye cawed again and left Adele’s shoulder.

  At first, Erin was disappointed, thinking that Skye was headed back into the woods to sit in the trees and converse with the other crows and do whatever else crows did in their free time. But rather than flying away, Skye flew down to the grass and landed a few feet away from Orange Blossom.

  Orange Blossom went rigid, as if electrified. He stared at the black bird in shock. His nose twitched eagerly in the air as he picked up the bird’s scent. His mouth opened slightly, and he made a chattering sound at the bird.

  “What’s he doing?” Erin demanded. “Is he trying to talk to Skye?”

  “No,” Vic laughed, “that’s just a sound that cats make when they see a bird or something else that interests them. I don’t know why.”

  “Is it a threat or a warning?”

  Vic and Adele both shook their heads. “It’s just a noise cats make. Birds, squirrels, laser pointers… when they see something they want to hunt or chase, especially up in the air, they chatter.”

  “That’s weird. Doesn’t it scare their prey away?”

  “Maybe sometimes,” Adele said, “but it doesn’t seem to matter.”

  “And Skye is being careful? He’s not going to let Orange Blossom catch him, right?” Erin watched the bird nervously. Skye acted as if he didn’t even know the cat was there. As if he had just landed there to peck at seeds or bugs in the grass and had no idea there were any other animals around.

  “He’s watching. With their eyes on the side like that, birds can see all around their heads. Skye knows the cat is there.”

  Reassured, Erin watched eagerly to see what would happen.

  Orange Blossom began to stalk Skye, pressing his body to the ground to make himself as low as possible, and slinking closer and closer. He stopped a couple of feet away from the bird, his butt twitching as if it were a separate creature.

  Then Orange Blossom exploded into the air, straight for Skye. Erin let out a little yelp, startled and still not convinced that Skye would be fast enough to avoid the fuzzy predator. But Skye flapped a few feet away, almost as if it was simply a coincidence that he had decided to move at the same time as the cat had pounced. He still didn’t look at the cat.

  Orange Blossom stood frozen for a moment as if he couldn’t believe that his prey had gotten away from him. Then he sat back on his haunches and started to wash.

  “He’s embarrassed,” Vic said with a laugh. “That’s his way of saying, ‘I meant to do that. I just had an itch, that’s all.’”

  Erin giggled. Orange Blossom stopped washing to glare at her. Erin and Vic both laughed loudly at his offended expression. Even Adele was smiling.

  Orange Blossom marched a few steps farther away from them, and then started washing again. He stayed completely focused on his hygiene routine, and Erin almost believed he’d completely forgotten about the bird and how much he’d wanted to catch Skye.

  Skye eyed Blossom, tilting his head up and down, and took a few steps closer to him. Erin watched in eager anticipation. Orange Blossom stopped washing, staring at the bird again. Behind him, Marshmallow decided he was being left out of the fun, and hopped closer to Orange Blossom, eventually giving him a playful nudge. Instead of jumping around like a dervish, Orange Blossom stayed still. He swatted Marshmallow on top of the head, which Marshmallow didn’t like. Orange Blossom’s message was clear. He was hunting something more important and didn’t have time to play with Marshmallow.

  Marshmallow nibbled at the grass, watching Orange Blossom with his sideways glance.

  Orange Blossom watched Skye intently as the bird continued to act ask if there were nothing to be worried about. Erin shook her head. “Look at how he’s playing with Blossom! I didn’t know birds were so smart.”

  Orange Blossom’s chest went down, and his hind end rose up, and he twitched his butt back and forth getting ready to pounce again.

  But this time, Skye turned the tables, erupting into the air, flying straight at Orange Blossom. The cat flipped right over trying to avoid him, and all three women laughed at the spectacle. Orange Blossom looked at them, then stalked off and sat with his back to them, pouting.

  “Oh!” Erin could barely catch her breath. “I’ve never see anything so funny. What a clever bird!”

  “He is that,” Adele agreed. She patted her shoulder again as an invitation to the crow. Skye instead flew at Marshmallow, seeing if he could be intimidated as easily as the cat. Marshmallow kept nibbling at the grass, ignoring him. Skye cawed and flew back to Adele’s shoulder.

  “I got some peanuts,” Erin said. “You said that’s what he likes, so I bought some to feed to him the next time I went to your house. Can I give him some?”

  “You can try.”

  Erin could have predicted that was what Adele would say. But in spite of the fact that Adele wouldn’t say yes or no and insisted that the bird was not her pet, Erin suspected she would have been offended if Erin had just offered food to Skye without checking with Adele first.

  “They’re just in the pantry. Stay here for a minute.”

  She was afraid that by the time she got the peanuts and returned, she would find Skye gone again, but he was still there, rubbing his beak against Adele’s coat collar.

  “Skye,” Erin said softly, holding a couple of peanuts out toward the crow. “I got some peanuts. Do you want some peanuts? Are those good?”

  Skye watched her sideways, much like Marshmallow did, but with a bit more head bobbing and animation. Erin stopped a couple of feet away, not wanting to scare him away or to get too close. Skye made that quiet noise in his throat again, which Erin took as encouragement. She pinched a peanut between her thumb and finger and held it right up to him. Skye took it politely from her grasp.

  Erin was breathless. “He did it! He took it from me! He didn’t fly away this time.”

  “Would you?” Adele asked. “If I brought you dinner, would you take off?”

  “Well, no. But I thought he would be scared and just fly away again.”

  Erin watched Skye crack the peanut shell open and eat the nuts from inside it, dropping the shells to the ground. Orange Blossom put his ears back, listening to the bird eat, but refused to turn around to look at him again.

  Erin fed Skye a couple more peanuts and watched him eat them. Then Skye took one from her hand and flew away into the woods.

  “Oh.” Erin looked around to see if something had scared the bird away. “What happened?”

  “He’s going to go hide it for later. He’s full,” Adele advised.

 
“Oh, okay.” Erin smiled. “Well, that was fun. I’m glad you brought him by while the animals were out. It was so funny to watch him and Orange Blossom together.”

  Adele nodded. “It was,” she agreed.

  “Come set a spell,” Vic invited, motioning to the deck chairs. “We’re just enjoying the lovely evening.”

  “I believe I will,” Adele agreed. She sat in one of the chairs and leaned back, closing her eyes. Erin stayed on her feet to keep track of Orange Blossom and make sure he didn’t take off looking for the departed bird.

  “You heard about Joelle?” Vic asked Adele. It was the hottest topic in Bald Eagle Falls, and Erin had not told Vic about her trip to see Adele and inform her of the investigation.

  “Yes, I did,” Adele agreed. She put her fingers up to her temples as if she were fighting a headache. “I suspect it will only be a matter of time before your sheriff comes by to question me… maybe to arrest me.”

  Vic’s eyes opened wide in shock. “To arrest you?” she repeated. “He wouldn’t do that. He’s very good. He doesn’t jump to conclusions. He’s not going to judge you just because you’re… not Christian.”

  “No,” Adele agreed. “But he may judge me because I’m the one who prepared the tea.”

  Erin wouldn’t have thought that Vic’s eyes could get any bigger, and she would have been wrong. Vic’s eyes were nearly popping out of her head.

  “You made the tea?”

  Adele turned her head to look at Erin. “You didn’t tell her?”

  “No.”

  “You knew Adele made the tea?” Vic demanded. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I didn’t tell anyone,” Erin said. “I didn’t want to get her in any trouble.”

  “You could have told me. I wouldn’t have told anyone.”

  “I know. But I didn’t think it was my place to spread it around.”

  Vic was flabbergasted. She shook her head. “Did you hear it had foxglove in it?” she asked Adele. “You must have made a mistake when you were gathering comfrey. They look very similar…”

  “I did not make a mistake,” Adele said calmly.

  “How could you know that? It would be an easy mistake to make. And all it would take is a couple of leaves.”