Kee Patterbee - Hannah Starvling 03 - The Priest Who Ate a Poison Petit Fore (13 page)

“I think I might head back,” Magdalen informed, taking hold of Buster’s hand. “I could use a walk back around the lake. You game?”

Buster smiled before he let if fall from his face. He glanced over to Hym. “I’d like to have a word with Hym first if he doesn’t mind.””

Hym looked at Magdalen, then at Hannah, before coming back around to Buster. He bobbed his head once.

“Maybe you two can finish up and we can walk back instead. Meet us in kitchen,” suggested Buster.

Both Hannah and Magdalen agreed as the men headed back walking along the drive path they had been driving on. The nurse looked to the sleuth with a pensive expression.

“He won’t kill him, will he?”

“No, I love my Sweet Face, but Buster could charm the horns off a Billy goat and sell them back to him. By the time they reach the kitchen, Buster will have Hym eating out of his hand.” Hannah smiled. “Then it’s up to you to charm the charmer.”

Magdalen looked back toward the disappearing figures of the men headed down the road. “Do you think I can?” she asked in a voice that struck Hannah as equal parts sincere and uncertain.

“Every Prince Charming has to have his princess. I’ve known that prince all his life. From what I’ve seen in just a few days, he’’s carrying a glass slipper in his pocket just for you.”

Magdalen gave a broad grin. “Oh, is that what that is? How disappointing.”

Both women laughed as they got back into the car.

*****

Chapter Eleven

After finishing the deliveries, Hannah and Magdalen made their way back to the main house of the resort. Upon entering the kitchen, they saw Gran, Papa Jay, and Will stirring and mixing various large bowls. Hym and Buster were to the rear, standing over a table piled high with several boxes. Both women stopped as Buster held out something that Hym was taking a bite of. After a second of taking in the sight, Magdalen turned to her soon-to-be sister-in-law.

“You weren’t kidding.”

Hannah’s eyes widened and a horrified expression ran across her face. “No!” she screamed as everyone present turned to look at her. She ran toward Hym and Buster, who remained frozen in their positions.

“Are you insane?” Hannah said, putting her hand between the object Buster held and Hym’s mouth.

Hym and Buster both stiffened and straightened up.

“It’s alright,” Buster said, “they tested it by accident.”

Hannah looked confused. She shot a look over to Hym. He nodded and thumbed at Gran, Papa Jay, and Will. “It all got here early. Last night, in fact. They all ate some.”

“A lot to be honest,” Gran chimed in. “Sorry, dear. You know how I am about fudge.”

“Ha, fudge and just about any other sweet thing you can get your old teeth into,” Papa Jay added.

Gran waved a large spoon at the elder Starvling. “You’re not so sweet, but I’ll sink my teeth into you, you old grumpus.””

“Promises. Promises.” Papa Jay blew Gran a kiss, which she caught and returned.

The interaction made Will, Hym, Buster and Magdalen laugh, but Hannah held her ground as she shook her head. “That doesn’t mean…”

“It’s good. You had a theory, but it didn’t work out. It was improbable to begin with. You said so yourself.””

Hannah narrowed her eyes. “I still want it tested, just in case. I’ve already called. We’ll take samples over and a box in case it turns out okay. Joey said it won’t take long.” She turned to look at the mound of boxes marked Spur of the Moment on the side. Pointing to the stacks, she said, “No one eats anymore. Not until they’re tested.”

Gran glared at Hannah. “You’ve been holding out on me, young lady.”

Hannah closed her eyes. Cat’s out of the bag, ran through her mind. Now, on top of the wedding, her grandmother would insert herself into the investigation. The elder snoop was a good detective in her own right, but between the wedding and the investigation, Hannah wanted to keep her grandmother out of the case. It was an added element that stretched her abilities closer to her limits.

Hannah let out a quick breath. She moved over to stand in front of her grandmother. Placing her hands on the elder woman’s shoulders, she looked her straight in the eyes. “Sorry, Gran, but I need you focused on this. I can’’t do this without you and Papa Jay. Will needs help. I trust you two. Between the wedding and what’s going on…”

The sleuth turned her eyes toward the ceiling, feigning frustration. She needed to think of a reason to keep Gran focused on the wedding and not interfere. After a moment, she brought her gaze back to her grandmother.

“I can’t keep up with everything. This takes the pressure off me some. Cate’s handling a lot.”” Hannah looked over to Magdalen, who had moved over beside Buster. “Magdalen and Buster are helping out too. Hym and I are doing this for the Reverend who’s marrying us. You have to trust me. It’’s important. And what you and Papa Jay are doing is important.” She leaned and kissed her grandmother’s forehead. Doing so, she smiled and whispered. ““The sooner I solve this, and get this wedding over with, the sooner Hym and I can get on with that thing you want.”

Gran peered at her granddaughter, then over to Hym. When her eyes came back to Hannah, she narrowed her own and frowned. “Okay, if it’ll help get me closer to great grandmother status, but you two better be solving this thing that’’s going down before the honeymoon. You have to focus and not be worrying about anything but that.” She winked at Hannah. “Makes it more fun too.” She went back to stirring, but added in a half mumble, “I’m marking my calendar, and by the way, I was born at night, just not last night. The whole feigning frustration thing. I haven’t bought that since you were twelve. Go on now. Take those samples wherever you’re taking them, but I expect a full report later.”

Hannah agreed. Hym and she headed out toward the university with Buster and Magdalen deciding to stick around to help in the kitchen.

*****

Several hours later, the testing was complete. Dr. Joey Crown, an associate of Hannah, handled everything himself. Several years earlier, the sleuth had saved the chemist by deducing that his odd behavior was the result of a rival poisoning him. From that day forward, he remained in Hannah’s debt.

“Coming to the wedding?” Hannah asked.

“I am,” Crown said, handing the results over.

“Find anything?” Hannah inquired.

Crown opened the box Hannah brought. He picked up a petite four and popped it in his mouth.

“Answers that,” Hannah said as she twisted her mouth into one corner.

“You sound disappointed,” Crown suggested.

Hannah shook her head. “Relieved… and disturbed. It's a far-fetched idea, I know.” She let out a slow breath. ““I know someone poisoned these people somehow, but we’ve yet to establish how. I thought that maybe they’d be traces in these, something that has to build up in the system or something.”” She shrugged. “I made a false connection between a sweet old lady in a candy store to a psychotic killer. I think I’m losing it.”

Hym put his arm around Hannah and squeezed her tight.

“Come on, Sherlock. The wedding and an investigation have had you all wrapped up. Besides, this is how that genius of yours works. Theorize. Test. Move on.”

Hannah gave a slow, albeit, disbelieving nod. “I don’t know. I was hoping to give the Reverend something before we left. You know, to ease his mind. To let him know it wasn’t Calvin or Susan. That’s all he wants, but I still can’t dismiss them. Every time I do rule someone else out, the pendulum swings back toward them, and the clock’s ticking on someone else.”

Hym peered into her eyes. “You don’t know that. It could be over. Wessel’s dead. If it’s not him, then most of the other suspects will be here as our guests.”

Hannah glared at Hym. “But not all.”

“Well,” Crown interjected, “what you do is not an exact science. Remember, you didn’t figure out Conroy was trying to kill me until after he got to Ben Sturka and then Ed Harrington.” He took up a piece of fudge from the box. “You’re not responsible for other people’s actions, and victims are just an unfortunate part of the murder game.” The chemist bit into the sweet bit, allowing a smile to run over his face. “Oh, and any time you have a case like this and want something tested, bring it on by. Samples are always welcome in my lab, as long as they are not the delivery system,” he added.

******

After leaving the lab, Hannah and Hym made their way back to the car. Hannah settled in and pushed herself into the seat. She let the air flow out of her lungs and bit at the corner of her mouth. Hym cranked the car, glancing over as he did so.

“Look, maybe it’s time we talked to the local authorities. I know the Reverend didn’t want them looking into things for Calvin and Susan’’s sake, but I think this was a bad idea. It’s just too much for you at the moment.”

Hannah shook her head as she recalled a conversation years before with Papa Jay. He was teaching her to flip burgers and giving her one of his usual life lessons at the same time. “Promises are like burgers,” he stated in a matter-of-fact tone. ““Easy to make, but hard to keep once made.” He flipped a burger onto a bun and handed it off to Gran, who then served it. Looking into his granddaughter’s eyes, he assumed a stern disposition. ““Don’t promise unless you mean it. Don’t stop until you’ve done it. No matter what the cost, it’s a deal, and deals mean fulfillment. They’re not meant for breaking.” With that, he scuffed his young granddaughter’’s head.

The sleuth ran her hand across the top of her head, half in remembrance. “No,” she insisted, “I made a promise to get answers and I will. We’’re missing something. Maybe someone, but I’ll find it. You can bet good money on that.”

Hym half laughed. “Only a fool would take that bet. I know you’ll figure it out. Just tell me how I can help.”

Hannah gave him a loving smile. “Just having you by me helps. It keeps me straight. Now, to home, Watson. The game’s afoot.”

*****

The following day, the majority of the guests arrived. Hannah, with the help of Cate and Hym, attempted to greet all. They went between Finchely’s and the resort. By the time the rehearsal neared, she was exhausted. She lay back into the couch at Hym and her apartment. Hazelnut took the opportunity to curl up in her lap for some love.

“Cancel the wedding. I’m spent,” Hannah declared.

“No can do, girl, time to hit the shower. Get relaxed and get into some jeans. We’re meeting at the ballroom. The boys are meeting us there. Where are they, anyway?”

“They’re all at Clancy’s Pool Hall. They’re not having a bachelor’s party, just a guy’s final beer thing.”

“Boys. Anyway, when they’re done, Al said he’d pick us up. He’s supposed to be here in…” She paused to look at her cell. “An hour.” Cate smirked. ““So, we get to pick up your parents at the station first. Where’s Hym going to be?”

“He’s meeting up with the Reverend and company at the resort.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t fly them in.”

“I would have, but Calvin didn’t want to subject him to atmospheric changes.”

Cate frowned. “He’s getting worse.”

Hannah rubbed her eyes with the palms of her hands. “He is, by the second, and we’re not any closer to giving him some relief than before.”

The librarian sighed. “Honey, you may not be able to. At least not before…” Her words trailed off. She looked to Hannah, who held a concerned face. Rather than put further pressure on her best friend, she tried to divert the conversation back to the present. ““Anyway, your parents. Hym’s not met them yet, has he?”

“Nope. He spoke with them once. Mom asked him several inappropriate questions for research purposes.”

“Not surprising. And your father?”

“He wanted to make sure there was going to be cake. He also wants to meet the dog. But he was satisfied when I told him there would be wedding cupcakes instead of the traditional cake.”

“He does love cake.”

“And dogs. And cats. Animals in general.”

“Does he still have that ritual thing he does?”

Hannah affirmed. “It changes a bit now and again, but he’ll always be OCD. The medications work some, but not to the greatest extent.” Obsessive-Compulsive, Hannah thought. Ritual. A pattern. What’s the pattern? Look for the pattern. She shot straight up from her relaxed position.

“Patterns,” she said aloud.

Cate rolled her eyes. “Just one minute. You can’t go one minute, can you?”

Hannah sat up at the edge of the couch, hands forward and splayed with enthusiasm. Hazelnut jumped down at the excitement, turned, and sat looking at the gesturing sleuth.

“Woof.”

“I’ve not been thinking things through. We’re looking for a pattern.”

“Well, duh, and there is one. Killer finds a dying victim and kills them.”

“No, I mean we’ve not gone deep enough. My head has been so scattered with the wedding, I’m letting the obvious slip past me,”” she said, rolling her hands for added emphasis. “Dad has a ritual for everything, from eating his cake to changing his clothes. It’s his tic. His quirk.””

“Runs in the family.”

“Whoever is doing this, I’m betting they have a ritual. I wasn’t wrong about the chocolates. That’’s just part of the ritual. They give them candy as part of the comforting ritual, and then poison them.”