01 - Playing with Poison (28 page)

“Oh, Jessie!” Candy pulled her knees in closer to me. “It was, like, incredible!”

She took a sip and gave the bottle back to me. Then she started bouncing, but Snowflake scolded her and she stopped. Thank you, Snowflake.

“Why didn’t you tell us it was Bryce?” she asked. “And that nice John-guy’s a police officer! Did you know that, too?” Candy looked at Karen. “I played two games of pool with him, and I didn’t know it.”

I decided to sit up a bit. But as Candy slipped an extra pillow under my head, one of the rocks that were under there rolled out and fell on the floor.

Karen leaned over and retrieved it. She held it up and I was relieved to see it was only the light green one.

“It’s Howlite,” I said, since my neighbors seemed to expect an explanation. I petted Snowflake to avoid their eyes. “Audrey Dibble gave it to me to help me sleep. It’s supposed to fix my insomnia chakra.”

“Girlfriend!” Karen said. “You keep rocks under your pillow and wonder why you can’t sleep? No wonder you’re always getting headaches.”

I drank more champagne, thankful they hadn’t seen the chunk of Rose Quartz I had hiding under there also. According to Audrey, that one promised to revitalize my love-life chakra.

Karen set the crystal on my night stand and got back to the evening’s saga. “John and Candy were getting along real well tonight,” she said. “Kiddo and her cleavage had the poor guy so distracted he didn’t even notice when Bryce left.”

“He was coming after me,” I said.

“But he told everyone he was sick,” Candy said. “None of us knew what was going on until John started acting all funny.”

“And then you came to rescue me? What took you guys so long?”

“It wasn’t that easy, okay?”

“Jimmy Beak,” Karen explained. “He and his crew were getting in everyone’s way so it took a few minutes before John saw what was happening. ‘Where did Bryce go?’ he asked me, and I told him Bryce had left.”

Candy jumped. “Oh my gosh, Jessie! John got real agitated then. He shouted some curse words and whipped out his cell phone.”

“And then he started yelling into it,” Karen said. “‘He’s not here! Dixon’s left the premises! Dixon’s left the premises!’” She waved her arms around, presumably imitating John the New Guy.

“He must have been calling Densmore or Rye,” I said. “John was supposed to be watching Bryce.”

“Well, he sure got everyone’s attention,” Candy said. “Jimmy Beak and his cameraman ran out, and John was following behind, and he ran right into Gina Stone.”

“And the Long Island Iced Teas went flying,” Karen elaborated. “What a mess.”

“Then we heard the sirens and everyone ran outside to see what was going on,” Candy said.

“Everyone?” I asked, the introvert in me cringing at the possibility.

“Sorry, Jess,” Karen said. “But it seemed kind of urgent. We saw Densmore run into our building, and then Jimmy and his gang took off. John told the rest of us to stay put, and then he ran off, too.”

“He almost got hit crossing Sullivan Street,” Candy added.

Karen had the champagne bottle and took another drink before looking at me. “That’s about when Kirby noticed you hanging off the roof.”

I reached out and she handed me the bottle.

“Oh, Jessie,” Candy squealed, “I’m so glad you’re okay. Weren’t you scared?”

“Well, yeah.” I looked at Karen. “But at least I was sure the railing wouldn’t give way.”

She shrugged. “It held you.”

I mouthed a thank you to my friend. If Karen Sembler had built it, that railing would hold an elephant if need be.

“So we all ran over here,” Candy was saying. “By then there were more police. It was hard for everyone to get up the stairs all at once like that.”

“The elevator wasn’t working of course.” That was Karen. “I swear, I’m gonna get a license to fix the stupid thing myself.”

“That would be nice,” I agreed.

“You were still hanging over the railing when we finally got up there,” she continued.

“And that’s when Rye showed up?”

“Yeah, but not before one of Jimmy’s people landed in my fountain.” Karen chuckled. “Man, was that gratifying. But anyway, Rye wasn’t too happy to find Densmore flat on his back. Kiddo and I still haven’t figured that one out.”

“He’s afraid of heights,” I explained. “I think he fainted when he saw Bryce and me at the edge like that.”

“Gosh, I hope he’s okay,” Candy mumbled. She started chewing her knuckle, so Karen leaned over and handed her the bottle.

“But Rye was there?” I tried again.

“And went ballistic when he saw you,” Karen said.

“But then you surprised everyone, Jessie.” Candy had started bouncing again, so I took the bottle away from her. “You let out this really weird sound and all of the sudden you were sprawled out on top of Captain Rye, and Bryce was screaming that he had a gun.”

Karen agreed. “It was kind of crazy for a minute there. Bryce was running around, and John and a few of the other cops were trying to catch him.”

“That’s when Jimmy Beak picked up the camera from the fountain and threw it as hard as he could,” Candy added.

“Which worked really well at knocking John down. Like I said, Jess—mayhem.”

When we stopped laughing, Karen twitched a thumb toward Candy. “Kiddo here saved the day. She slipped out one of those high-heeled shoes of hers and tripped Bryce. He landed right on top of Densmore.”

I looked at Candy. “Good thinking, Sweetie.”

“Gosh, I hope Lieutenant Densmore didn’t get hurt.”

“It woke him up, anyway,” Karen said. “He and Bryce wrestled around some before Densmore got him handcuffed.”

Candy started that annoying bouncing thing again. “And that’s when everyone noticed you and Captain Rye, Jessie. It was so romantic!”

“Oh?”

“Oh, yeah! You fainted. And Captain Rye caught you and scooped you up into his arms.” Candy clasped her hands in glee. “It was just like in one of your books. There was a full moon behind him and everything!”

Karen tried to say something, but Candy was not to be interrupted. “Then he started yelling at the rest of us, ‘Listen up people.’” Candy’s imitation of Rye’s voice was surprisingly accurate. “‘Densmore’s got Webb, and the rest of you are looking for a cat. Snowflake,’ he screamed at us. ‘She’s pure white, gold eyes. She practically glows in the dark.’ he said. ‘Webb threw her over the edge.’”

I hugged my cat. She hates it when I do that, but she tolerated me this once.

Candy continued, “But we were all kind of stunned. We kind of stood there in shock or something.”

Karen took over. “So Rye got impatient and really started screaming. ‘Now would be nice, people!’ he said. And the cops, and Jimmy, and the Dibbles, and everyone, all started scrambling down the stairs. ‘Bring in SWAT if you have to.’ Rye kept hollering. ‘But find that cat!’”

“Then he told Karen and me to follow him,” Candy said.

“So we did,” Karen said. “He carried you down the stairs, and in here, and plopped you on the bed.”

“He did not
plop
her on the bed.” Candy looked at me. “He gently placed you on the bed, Jessie. It was just like a fairy tale.”

I sighed dramatically. If we weren’t careful, Candy might start doing some swooning herself.

“That’s when Kirby, Gus, and Old Man Harrison came in,” Karen said. “Kirby had Snowflake.”

“Kirby, Gus and Mr. Harrison?” I asked. “Would someone please hand me that bottle.”

Karen obeyed. “The guys found Snowflake on the awning over the front door. That must be where she landed.”

I smiled at my very lucky cat and Snowflake yawned.

“I guess none of us noticed her up there earlier,” Candy explained. “Since we were so busy trying to get up to the roof and all.”

“But Peter Harrison?” I was incredulous. “How in the world did he get involved?”

Evidently Snowflake had been most uncooperative when Kirby and Gus tried to coax her down from the awning, and had crouched up there hissing at the poor guys. Ever-resourceful, they knocked on the closest door, which happened to be Mr. Harrison’s. He fetched a ladder and a can of tuna, and helped with the rescue operation—in his pajamas, no less.

“Mr. Harrison’s kind of worried about you,” Candy told me, and I made a mental note to call on him the next day.

“Anyway,” Karen continued. “Kirby handed Snowflake off to Rye and the guys got out of here pretty quick. I think they were embarrassed being in your bedroom.”

“Jimmy Beak wasn’t though,” Candy added helpfully. “He ran in after Kirby left to see how you were doing.”

I started whimpering.

“Don’t worry, Jess.” Karen reached forward and patted my knee. “Remember he had lost his camera by then. And Rye told him if any of this made its way onto the news, he’d hunt him down and kill him personally.”

“So, Jimmy left?” I asked.

“Mm-hmm. And then Rye gently placed Snowflake on top of you.” Karen smirked at Candy over the ‘gently placed,’ and Candy nodded approval.

“He told us to take good care of you,” Candy said. “And then he told us he had to go and ran off.” She flung both arms into the air, performed a little sitting pirouette, and swooned onto the pillow next to me.

I glanced at Karen. “Help me,” I begged.

“Hey, don’t look at me,” she said. “At that point it wouldn’t have surprised me if the guy donned a cape and flew out the window.”

Candy sprang up and started bouncing again. “Gosh, Jessie, I wonder where Captain Rye is right now!”

I closed my eyes and told her she was giving me a headache.

Epilogue

Even I watched the news the next day. I was anxious to see exactly what Jimmy Beak would end up reporting, and was pleased to note he was informative, accurate, and dare I say it, subdued. Maybe it helped that he had zero footage to accompany his report, and that he actually had some real news to convey.

Indeed, Jimmy did a great job explaining the motive, means, and opportunity behind the murder. Even I learned something. It was Bryce’s—make that Keith’s—grandfather who had paid Stanley’s blackmail fees. I never did catch the full amount, but between Billy Joe Dent and Grandfather Webb, I now had a pretty good accounting of that pesky twenty-seven thousand dollars.

After Jimmy’s report, the Channel 15 News anchor interviewed Captain Rye. He explained the outcome of the investigation in more detail and made sure to acknowledge Carter O’Connell’s cooperation in remaining in jail until Dixon/Webb could be brought in.

The anchor was closing the interview when Rye interrupted. “I have one other person to thank before we wrap this up,” he said. “Jessica Hewitt, better known as the world-famous author Adelé Nightingale, was indispensable in solving this case. Her undying pursuit of justice and truth should be commended.”

He looked straight into the camera and grinned, and I was reminded that every bone, muscle, and fiber of my fifty-two-year-old body was in pain from the previous night.

That evening Rolfe Vanderhorn and I finally got around to pondering Alexis Wynsome’s predicament. We had left her in the clutches of the vile Derwin Snipe far, far, too long. I had been distracted from the task at hand. And let’s face it, Rolfe’s cunning could never be considered his strongest asset. The poor guy’s rescue plan had gotten nowhere without my assistance. I sat at my desk and stared at The Stone Fountain. Rolfe sat in his garden and stared at his sword.

But then he heard a horse galloping in the distance. It was coming closer! Rolfe leapt to his feet, his sword at the ready. Imagine his elation when a white stallion, carrying Alexis on its back, galloped up the lane and deftly cleared the picket fence into the garden. The lovely—and who would have guessed it—capable Alexis brought the beast to a halt in front of Rolfe and beamed down at her hero. Rolfe promptly tossed his sword aside and helped the lady down.

It seems our triumphant heroine had grown impatient of waiting for help to arrive and rescue her from the dastardly Derwin’s dungeon. So she solicited the assistance of her trusty friend Annabelle Goodloe, and together they devised an ingenious plan. Her escape had involved not a little daring, but Snipe and his entourage of vassals were no match for Alexis Wynsome. Indeed, motivated as she was by sweet memories of the rugged and muscular Rolfe, Alexis proved once and for all that she was not a woman to be toyed with. Rolfe rejoiced at her fortitude and forbearance, even before Alexis told him who her father was.

But it was Saturday night, and Adelé Nightingale deserved some time off. I decided to end
Temptation at Twilight
while Alexis still possessed her youthful glow of beauty, and while Rolfe still possessed the considerable store of energy required for the final climactic love scene. I was putting the finishing touches on said scene, trying to think of another word for throbbing, when someone knocked at the door.

“Maybe it’s Prince Charming,” I said to Snowflake and answered to find Captain Rye leaning against the doorframe.

He looked different in jeans and a white tee shirt. The bunch of yellow roses he was holding also caught my attention.

“We have another problem, Ms. Hewitt.”

I crossed my arms and pretended to glare. “Oh?”

“Mm-hmm.” Rye nodded solemnly. “Now that Sweetzer’s killer has been identified, I’ve run out of excuses to come see you.”

“Oh?”

He grinned and handed me the flowers.

I closed my eyes and soaked in their scent before looking up. “Do you drink champagne, Captain Rye?”

“It’s Wilson,” he said as I ushered him inside. “And I have a feeling I’m gonna start loving champagne, Ms. Hewitt.”

“It’s Jessie,” I said and headed for the fridge.

The End

Please Keep Reading

The fun has just begun! If you enjoyed
Playing with Poison
and want to read more, check out the other books in Cindy Blackburn’s Cue Ball Mysteries series:

Double Shot

Jessie’s adventures continue in Double Shot when she goes undercover in a sleazy poolroom to catch a killer. This time it’s double-homicide, and Wilson Rye is doubly-annoying. You’d think the guy would appreciate Jessie’s help. But no. He’s too busy flirting with a woman half his age to even notice. Will Jessie have what it takes to solve the murders and deal with Tiffany La-Dee-Doo-Da Sass? Read and find out.