~48~
Margaret stepped across the threshold of my apartment, but didn’t proceed into the living room immediately; something on the slim entryway table had caught her eye. “Ah, I see Mr. Edwards set the policemen’s notes on the first piece of furniture he could find.”
“A smart man,” I said, closing the door behind me. “One needs to avoid our kitchen at all costs when I’m not home.”
“Oh, dear, then Zoe’s skills around the kitchen still haven’t improved much.”
“Nope.” I plucked the folded notes off the entryway table and joined the elderly woman on the couch where she normally sits when she visits.
Poor Margaret. As soon as I sat, the petite woman was swallowed up by the many layers of fabric still engulfing the couch that Aunt Zoe had personally put there and was supposed to remove.
With all the free time on my aunt’s hands, I can’t believe she hasn’t found one single minute to restore the gaudy Vegas appearance of the queen-size sleeper sofa back to its original look, bare bones basic black. Luckily it doesn’t take much to remedy the situation.
I reached for a couple toss pillows at my end of the couch and handed them off to Margaret. “Here you go. Put these behind your back. They’ll keep that stupid material away from you.”
Margaret’s thin lips produced a generous smile. “Si. That should do the trick.” She took the pillows and set them aside for a moment while she adjusted her wire-framed glasses that had gone askew when the fabric tumbled down upon her. “Ah, that’s much better. I don’t know why any child would want to dress like a ghost at Halloween. Having layers of material cover you is quite spooky.”
I rested the messages on my lap for a second. “I totally agree. In winter, my siblings and I hung out in the basement a lot, which I didn’t mind unless it was wash day. That’s when the boys would gather up the dirty sheets and throw them over us girls so they could hear us howl like banshees.”
“I imagine you girls had terrible nightmares afterwards.”
“I did,” I said as I gathered the notes off my lap. “But I don’t know about my sister.”
The elderly woman’s aged-eyes swiftly shifted from me to the notes. “Why, Mary. I can’t believe you missed this.” She tapped a stiff arthritic finger on the top note. “Sgt. Murchinak’s signature is on it. Isn’t that Matt’s police friend, the same person who helped you out when you were arrested?”
“Yes. But why drive over here to talk to me? It doesn’t make any sense. He could’ve saved himself a trip and left me a message on Matt’s answer machine. He has that phone number. Unless...”
“What is it, dear?”
“Unless his visit pertained to something urgent concerning that ornery sunglass thief I caught.” My hands shook. “Shoot. I was hoping his trial wouldn’t come up for a while yet there’s so much going on in my life at the moment, including moving out of the apartment and the upcoming holidays.”
“Why does the note have to be about you, Mary?” Margaret’s ever calming voice questioned. “Couldn’t it concern one of Matt’s old cases?”
I waved Sgt. Murchinak’s note under my nose “Of course it could. I should’ve thought of that. This coming New Year’s I’m going to make a resolution to surround myself with more positive thoughts.”
Margaret grinned. “Good for you. The more positive thoughts floating around in this universe the better off everyone will be.”
“You know if Sgt. Murchinak left this note for me to hand off to Matt, maybe it’s a warning concerning a criminal Matt’s put behind bars—like the jailbird is being released from prison earlier than anticipated. The last conversation I had with Murchinak I mentioned Matt would be home in a couple weeks.”
“Dear, instead of trying to convince yourself what the message might be about, perhaps you should open it and find out,” she kindly suggested.
“Sorry, I just can’t get it out of my head that it’s bad news of some sort, but you’re right, I’ll never know what it’s about if I don’t read it.” Trying to display nerves of steel like Superman is for the birds. I couldn’t do it. My hands shook, causing the note to rattle.
Margaret grasped the bottom of the paper to still it, making it easier for both of us to read. “Hmm. Oh, my! Why, this is exciting news, dear. I can’t believe both of us were wrong about its contents. This note has nothing to do with you or Matt.” Margaret patted my hand. “But one of your three problems has been solved. You must be so relieved.”
“You better believe it.”
“Believe what?” Aunt Zoe quizzed as she strolled into the living room and set her Russian Kubanka hat and coat on an arm of the La-Z-Boy.
I glanced up at her, surprised to see her standing there. “You must’ve been as quiet as a mouse when you came in, we didn’t hear a thing.”
“Well, I did close our door as softly as I could in case you were snoozing after the long day you had.”
“Thanks for your consideration, but as you can see I’m still awake.”
“Oh, Zoe,” Margaret said eager to share what occurred while she was out of the building, “You missed a bit of excitement.”
“Really? What happened?”
“Would you like the long or short version?” I asked.
Aunt Zoe yawned. “After attending a viewing at a funeral home for over an hour and hanging out with wall to wall people I didn’t know, I’d prefer the short one.”
“Sgt. Murchinak left a message. Guess what? Gracie’s been found.”
Aunt Zoe covered her eyes. “Oh, no,” she wailed, “Please don’t tell me she’s dead. Matt will be devastated.”
“You needn’t get so melodramatic,” I scolded. “He never mentioned the word dead.”
“Well, where is she then?”
“I don’t know.” I handed her the note Margaret and I just read. “All Sgt. Murchinak said was to come by the police station tomorrow morning and he’ll explain.”
“That won’t work,” Aunt Zoe croaked. “You have to show up at the pickle plant before the sun rises.”
I ran my fingers through my hair. “Darn, I was so excited that Gracie had been found I forgot about work. I’d better call the station and explain that I can’t come by until around 5 p.m.”
I dug out my cell phone and searched for Sgt. Murchinak’s private number. The minute I found it Aunt Zoe placed her freshly-manicured nails on my phone. “Stop, Mary. Don’t call him yet. I want to get Matt’s mutt back just as much as you. Let me talk to Reed first. If he can take me to the station, I’ll go meet with Sgt. Murchinak and find out where Gracie is. Who knows, maybe by the time you get home from work, Gracie will be here waiting for you.”
Margaret pointed to the second message still sitting in my lap. “Dear, don’t forget about your other note. Since it’s from a policeman, it’s probably as important as the first one. Who knows, maybe it contains even more good news.”
Aunt Zoe’s eyebrows arched. “I don’t understand about these notes. When exactly did they arrive? No one tried to deliver anything before I left at 5:30.”
“You were at the funeral home when they were dropped off,” Margaret shared, as she struggled to pull her tiny frame up straighter. “What I’m still waiting to find out is what you both were doing there with Butch. Mary said she’d explain after reading the notes. That’s why I’m pressing her to get on with it.”
“I’ll read it, Margaret,” Aunt Zoe said, grabbing the second note off Mary’s lap.
“Good grief. What’s with you gals? I’ve never seen you this antsy before.” I took the note from my aunt and opened it. “Ah?”
“Well, are you going to tell us what it says or not?” the two women quizzed.
I shrugged. “It’s no big deal.” I dropped the note back in my lap.
“Good news at least I hope,” Margaret said.
“It depends. David Welsh wanted me to know he’ll be finishing up an undercover case he’s been working on next week, freeing him up to see me before Chris
tmas.”
Forever the incurable romantic Aunt Zoe said, “I don’t see a problem with that unless you’re worried his timing will interfere with the welcome home party your mother has planned for Matt and his fiancée.
I sighed. “My feelings on the subject have nothing to do with Matt.”
Margaret fidgeted with her double-banded wedding ring. “What is it, dear? Don’t you like David anymore?”
“I like him but I don’t know if I enjoy his company more than Trevor’s, although David is closer to my age.” I rubbed my forehead. Things weren’t working out the way I planned. The two men don’t know about each other and I wanted to keep it that way.
The women looked as bewildered as I felt. “Okay, okay, there’s more to the story than that. Trevor sent me a text the other day and mentioned coming down next week too if the snow holds off.”
Aunt Zoe wagged her pudgy finger at me. “I told you it doesn’t work out dating two men at once, but you didn’t want to hear it. Things always go awry.”
Margaret went on the defensive for me yet again. “Yes, Zoe, but if you recall David’s out of the picture for long stretches of time. Your niece is too young to sit around and twiddle her thumbs waiting for a man like that to come back into her life. She needs to get out and do fun things not sit by the phone night after night.”
At the conclusion of the ninety-year-old woman’s speech, she leaned forward and tucked a hand in mine. “Don’t fuss so much, dear. Like my mother always preached to me ‘things will work out for the best.’ And they always do.”
I put my free hand on top of hers. “Thanks, Margaret. I appreciate your support.”
“No need to thank me, dear. Now, what in the world were you, Butch, and Zoe doing at a funeral home in Maple Grove tonight?”
~49~
“I honestly don’t know how Aunt Zoe got snagged into coming to Bromley’s with Butch,” I said. “She wasn’t around when I approached him about the viewing.”
“It’s easy enough to explain,” Aunt Zoe said. “There’s not much to the story. Gertie told me Butch was nervous about going there by himself, so I offered to go with him.”
Margaret steepled her hands as if she was contemplating prayer. “Forgive me Mary for being critical of your decision, but why ask Butch to attend a viewing for someone who worked at Hickleman’s, a business that’s caused him nothing but grief?”
“May I comment on that?” Aunt Zoe asked as she strolled over to the La-Z-Boy and finally got off her feet.
Curious to hear her explanation, I said, “Go right ahead.”
“Mary thought Butch’s presence at the mortuary might rattle whoever stole the recipes, killed Don Hickleman and Paul Mason, and injured Chip.”
“I see. And did your plan work, Mary?”
I nodded. “Perfectly. Thanks to Aunt Zoe’s keen skills of observation at the mortuary, the field of suspects can be narrowed to two individuals. One has fooled around with several of the men at the plant. The other seems to have money to burn. For all I know, the two could be in cahoots with each other.”
Margaret peered at her wristwatch. “My, my, where has the time gone? I’d like to know more about your two suspects, Mary, but I’m afraid I must check on Petey. Who knows what that parrots been up to.”
After making several attempts at scooting her thinly-framed body off the heavily draped couch, Margaret finally managed it, sidestepping the coffee table parked in front of her feet as she did so. “By the way,” she said, “have you two found a place to move yet?”
“Afraid not,” I replied, getting up to escort her to the door. “I’ve been too busy.”
Margaret patted my hand. “Of course you have, dear. I feel bad that I haven’t been able to assist you on this big case, but I don’t think the Hickleman Pickle Plant would want a ninety-year-old woman wandering around their production line.”
I chuckled. “Probably not. But you’ve offered me a ton of support along the way, especially tonight. I shouldn’t have let my imagination go hog wild when I heard a couple cops left notes for me. Everything turned out all right, didn’t it?”
“Si, it did on the home front, but I’d advise you to be extremely cautious at work,” she warned. “It could be quite dangerous for you especially if the killer or killers knew you were on to them.”
“Don’t fret. I’m sure neither person does. Besides, without solid proof I’m not a threat to anyone yet.”
“‘Yet’ being the operative word,” she said. “Remember things can change in an instant. You’d better carry that stun gun on you at all times.”
“But... but you said it wasn’t a good idea for me to carry it.”
“Well, this old woman has changed her mind.”
~50~
Day 18
I awoke to a dark dreary day. One that warned of imminent danger, but I didn’t take it seriously. Why should I? To me, the heavy clouds hanging over Minneapolis only represented the possibility of rain or snow, depending on the rise or fall of the day’s temperature, nothing more.
After I made the bed and ate my usual breakfast of Cheerios and orange juice, I dug through the scant wardrobe I owned and selected a pair of casual pants with deep enough pockets to hide the camera style stun gun Aunt Zoe gave me to carry the first day on the job, an important safety item I’d been leaving at home the past couple days. Thankfully I hadn’t needed to use it yet.
Once I gathered my clothes, I hopped in the shower and plotted out my strategy for the day. The first thing on my agenda was to ask Anita if Roseanne was dropping off a load of cucumbers this morning. If she was, I’d hint that the three of us should have a cup of coffee in the breakroom together.
Shower done, I quickly dressed, put on a smattering of makeup, and ran a comb through my wet hair. While staring at my reflection in the mirror, I came to realize I looked kind of blah without earrings dangling from my lobes and thought about the many pairs sitting idly by in my jewelry box waiting for the job at the plant to be over so I could show them off again. Hopefully they won’t have to be kept out of sight much longer.
After I left the bathroom, I strolled down to the kitchen again to pack a lunch and seek out Aunt Zoe, whom I figured would be dying to get her hands on her first cup of java by this time.
“Ah, there you are,” my aunt said as I appeared in the kitchen doorway. She was standing by the coffee maker pouring a cup of coffee, like I presumed, dressed in a fancy silk slide robe and gown I didn’t recognize. My memory bank may be stashed with a lot of unnecessary clutter but it never forgets the brilliantly colored outfits she wears that easily, especially sleepwear that clashes with her red head. The gown was dyed solid fuchsia while the robe contained hues of green, gold, turquoise and hot pink. “I thought perhaps you’d left. I found breakfast dishes in the sink and hadn’t heard you making any noise for a while.”
“It’s me in the flesh,” I assured her.
“Yes, I can see that.” She picked up her filled coffee mug and took a sip before moving to the table where she’d left the paper. “What brings you back to the kitchen?”
“I wanted to prepare a bag lunch and give you a message to pass on to Sgt. Murchinak since you and Reed are meeting with him this morning.” I marched to the fridge, took out a few carrots, and also the fixings for a sandwich: baloney, bread, cheese, and mustard.
My aunt folded up her newspaper, making room for me to make my sandwich there. “What exactly did you want me to tell Matt’s friend?”
I got a knife out of the silverware drawer and spread mustard on both pieces of bread. “Tell him I’ll call him over the lunch hour. It’s about the two deaths at the plant.”
“Wait a second.” She left the table, grabbed pen and paper sitting by the landline, and opted to use the counter as her desk. “Okay, just repeat everything but a bit slower. I don’t what to mess up your message.”
Good grief. A first grader could remember what I said.
As I slapped the baloney and slices of
cheddar cheese on the bread, I chided myself for feeling the way I did. Instead of being upset with her I should be thankful she recognizes her occasional memory lapses and wants certain things in writing. I sealed the sandwich in a plastic bag along with six baby carrots and then told her what she wanted to hear one more time.
After she finished writing, she drew closer to me and said, “Mary, I’ve been thinking as long as Reed is coming out this way to get me, perhaps I should check out a couple apartment rental properties that were listed in today’s newspaper, don’t you agree?”
“Sure, I haven’t got time to run around town. Just don’t put any money down until you discuss it with me.” I didn’t have the guts to tell my aunt she’s put a damper on my life style long enough and that I’d been contemplating going solo.
Aunt Zoe shared a smile that could melt even a chimpanzee’s heart. “Good, I’m glad you approve of my plan. I was afraid you might not,” and then she inquired whether I had my stun gun on me and if I’d be home at my usual time.
I patted my pocket. “Got it. And as for being home around 5 p.m., I can’t imagine why I wouldn’t be, unless of course tons of snow gets dumped on the city between now and then. You probably haven’t glanced outside yet, but the sky appears undecided at the moment.”
“No, I haven’t.” She gave me a hug. “But whatever the day brings, Mary, please remember to be on your guard. I don’t want to hear you’ve flipped your car or ended up another pickle vat victim.”
“I will,” I promised.
ANITA LOOKED AT ME strangely when I trotted into the employee locker room. “What’s going on with you, girl? Looks like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.”
I wasn’t. But the serious countenance seen on my face could be easily explained. On the hike in here, from where I parked the car in the employee lot, I’d been strongly focusing on what to say to Anita in reference to Roseanne. Unfortunately, it’s too late to undo what’s already been seen. The situation will have to be handled appropriately. “I feel like it,” I said, trying to sound depressed.
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