Murderous Muffins (12 page)

“I bet this is where the poker game is. Behind here.” Cat tapped on the unmarked door.

“It’s just not good manners to go barging in someplace you weren’t invited.” I bit my bottom lip.

The door opened, and a man at least a head taller than I and twice as wide said to us, “Go away. This is by invite only.” The door slammed.

“How rude.” Cat scowled.

“See? I told you.” I pointed a finger at the door. “We were not invited.”

Cat chuckled. “Well, I will just go home and wait for our invitation to arrive.”

“Good. I think we’re on a wild goose chase anyway.”

Cat pounded on the door. “Let me in. I’m on official business.”

My words caught in my throat, barely allowing me to speak. “What in good gracious are you doing?”

The door flew open. “I told you girls to leave. You have no business being here.”

“You have to forgive my friend. I am so sorry. We were just leaving. We meant no trouble. Please, you go about whatever you’re doing back there. I don’t care.” I began to retreat.

“Is somebody by the name of Joseph with a last name that begins with J back there?” Cat asked.

“What in God’s name are you two doing here?” José emerged from behind the man guarding the door.

“You know them?” the man asked José.

“I’ll handle it from here. Thanks so much.” José narrowed his eyes at us. The man retreated.

“You are going to let us in, right?” Cat asked.

José crossed his arms. “That depends on what you all are doing here.”

“We were hoping to find Joseph,” I said.

“And how do you know that he is back here?” José asked.

“He had a receipt with this establishment’s name on it,” I said.

José chortled. “Good clue. So why do you want him?”

“We think he’s the key to the murder. Or possibly the killer. If we don’t find him, Bezu is going to be behind bars,” Cat said.

“Now that’s a little dramatic, Cat. You all know I didn’t kill anyone. The truth will come out. No one is going to prison except the person who’s guilty,” I said.

“That’s why we’re here, to find the person who’s responsible. If not, it could all lead to you.” Cat pointed to me.

“So I just want to get this right. You want Joseph in order to expose him as the murderer.” José cocked his head. “Even though I have told you both to stay out of the case, you’re going to insist on pursuing it anyway?”

Cat and I nodded.

“Once you talk to him, you will leave. Is that right?” José asked.

“Yes.” Cat asked, “So that means he’s back there?”

José jerked his head back, indicating something behind him.

“Just give us five minutes of his time. We promise we won’t cause any trouble, cross my heart.” Cat motioned with her hand.

“Yes, we are definitely not going to be a nuisance,” I said. Although I wondered about Cat. From what I’d heard, Annie Mae and Cat had caused a mile of problems during their investigation of Lucy’s death. But I had to admit, in the end, it all worked out. I just hoped we would stay out of any situation that would put us in jeopardy.

“Here’s the thing, ladies, I have to vouch for you because you have to understand that nobody is allowed here who is not part of the heavy hitters in our game,” José said.

“Gambling?” Cat asked.

“I can neither confirm nor deny this. Let’s just say that what goes on behind the doors should never be repeated outside the doors.” José’s brow creased. “Never.”

Cat threw her hand up in the air. “I got it. It’s like Vegas. What goes on there stays there. My lips are sealed.”

I held my hand to my chest. “José, trust me. I’m the last person who would want trouble. I promise I won’t say anything about any of this.”

José led us into the room, locking the door behind us. Five men were seated at the round table in the dimly lit, smoky room. As soon as Joseph saw us, he jumped up.

“Hold on, buddy. Can you do me a favor and just talk to my friends a few minutes?” José said.

José emphasized the word friends. He stood a good foot taller and probably weighed close to fifty pounds more than Joseph. I believed that Joseph must have felt intimidated.

Joseph slowly turned toward us. “So sorry, Mr. José. I cannot talk to them.”

“Is that so?” José said to Joseph.

“I’m busy. Need to win big. Not stop now.” Joseph sat down.

I guess he wasn’t as frightened by José as I thought he was. Perhaps they’d been poker buddies for a while.

“Please, we only need a minute of your time,” Cat said to Joseph.

“Ladies, I can’t make him talk to you,” José said.

Joseph plopped in his chair and picked up his cards.

I looked over at José. He shrugged his shoulders as if to say there was nothing he could do.

Cat pulled me aside. “Joseph’s being stubborn, but I have an idea. Just follow my lead.”

A sinking feeling in my gut indicated to me that I might regret what she had in mind.

Cat led me to a spot behind Joseph. A hand had just been dealt. The other men at the table eyed us.

I whispered in Cat’s ear. “Perhaps we should just go.”

Cat winked at me. “Trust me.”

I arched an eyebrow.

Cat peered at Joseph’s cards. “King of Spades.”

Joseph glared at Cat as he hunched over his cards. “Leave me alone. I had bad luck. But luck I feel is changing.”

José shook his head and picked up his cards.

I could sense that although José didn’t agree with Cat’s methods, he wasn’t going to stop her, either.

The dealer dealt two cards to each of the six players, then flopped three cards onto the middle of the table—all three of them spades.

Cat inched closer to Joseph, her head above his left shoulder. “Are a two and three of spades a good hand?”

Each of the players folded, a few spouted obscenities.

Joseph’s head sank onto the tabletop. He whimpered. “What’s it going to take to get you out of here?”

Cat said, “Talk to us.”

“If I were you, I would give the ladies some of your time, or they will never leave,” José said to Joseph. He turned to the rest of the players. “Hey, guys, let’s take five.”

“You bug me like a rodent.” Joseph stood and followed us to the other side of the room.

“Yes, I’m a pest, but I get what I need, eventually.” Cat put a hand on Joseph’s shoulder. “Where were you the night your cousin, Mr. Phong, died?”

“I already talk to police. No need to talk to you.” Joseph pursed his lips.

Pour sugar on them, Hattie used to say. I spoke to him in a saccharin-sweet voice. “You seem like such a nice man, and I am sure that you want to get back to the card game. I have a feeling you are going to win really big tonight. If you just answer Cat’s question, we will be out of your way. How would you like that?”

Joseph let out a breath. “I was here losing money to them. You can ask. They all make money from me.” He pointed behind him.

“What about Mr. Phong’s ring?” Cat asked Joseph. “You had it, right?”

“How did you know I had ring?” Joseph asked.

Cat said, “We’re detectives; we know a lot of stuff.”

I rolled my eyes. “No, we aren’t actually real detectives, but we are investigating Mr. Phong’s death. When he was alive, he had the ring, and after he passed, we noticed he did not have a ring. Then we had to go to the pawnshop in an unrelated matter, and we saw it.”

“We added two and two and got you,” Cat said.

“I did not hurt anyone. He owe me money so he gave ring to me. I have much debt. I lose money, had to pay back. I sold ring to pawnshop.” Joseph fidgeted with his shirt collar.

Cat looked over at me. “That seems plausible.”

“Didn’t you say that he had something else of yours, too?” I asked.

“Yes, he did, but I did not get it back.” Joseph sighed. “Now you two leave me alone, okay?”

Cat whispered in my ear. “Should we ask him about the missing files at LRS?”

“No. Luiz is taking care of that, and I don’t want to interfere with his search,” I said.

“Good point,” Cat said.

“Can I go now?” Joseph asked.

I said, “Why, of course. Thank you so much for talking with us.”

Joseph scurried back to the card table. José walked over to us.

“Did you get what you needed out of Joseph?” José asked us.

“I think so. Can you corroborate his story that he was here the night Mr. Phong died?” Cat asked.

“Yes. He was here.” José’s phone rang. He stepped aside and took the call.

Cat said, “I guess that means that Joseph is out as a suspect. Who does that leave? Frank, Lily, you, and I were the only other ones in the house.”

“Obviously, it wasn’t you or me.”

“That leaves Lily and Frank.”

“It couldn’t be Lily; she is way too sweet. It could be Frank. He is very rough around the edges and seems like he’s always fixing to lose his temper,” I said.

Cat said, “Then let’s put Frank on our suspect list.”

“List?”

“It’s not actually a list; it only has one name. We’ve ruled out everyone else.”

“Yes. It has to be Frank.” I slapped my hands together. “Now we have a lead. That’s what it’s called, right?”

Cat laughed. “I’m proud of you, Bezu. You’re getting the lingo down. I think you have the makings of a great detective after all.”

“Oh no, after this is over, I am done with my spying.”

A minute later, José was by our side. “I just got off the phone with my buddy in forensics. I have some news for you, Bezu.”

My breath caught in my throat. “Please tell me it’s good news.”

“Yes, she really needs that now,” Cat added.

José turned his head side to side. “Sorry, Bezu. It’s not. One of your tenants is in the hospital.”

“Oh my goodness. What happened? A fall? An accident? What?” Cat asked.

I couldn’t speak as my words halted along with my breath.

José shifted his stance. “Possible poisoning.”

A half hour later, Cat and I arrived at the hospital. José planned to join us later. Walking down the aged linoleum-floored hallway, my heart beat as swiftly as I walked. Ahead of us, I saw a young lady. As she approached, I identified her as Lily. Relief flooded over me knowing that she was okay. Just as quickly as I made that realization, I knew that it must be Frank who was ill. Poor guy. Even though he was by no stretch of the imagination my favorite person, I didn’t wish him any harm.

Lily dashed over to me. “Miss Bezu, Frank is so sick. He’s hooked up to an IV. I’m so worried.”

I hugged Lily. “I’m so sorry.”

“What happened to him?” Cat asked.

Lily spoke between sobs. “He’s vomiting and has cramps. Oh, and he is so weak and his blood pressure skyrocketed.”

Holding my breath, I remembered the symptoms of food poisoning. “Is he going to be okay?”

Lily’s eyes were swollen. Her nose leaked. “I hope so.”

I pulled a tissue out of my purse and handed it to her.

“What’s wrong with him?” Cat asked.

“They think it’s some sort of poisoning.” Lily wiped her nose with the tissue.

“Poisoning?” Cat asked.

I sucked in a breath as I sent up a prayer. Please let Frank be okay.

“Yes. It could be something like that. They ran some tests.” Lily shook her head as she blew into the tissue. “My poor, sweet baby. He has so much homework to do. And he has a big bodybuilding contest that he was certain he’d win. And now he’s here, weak and sick.”

I patted her shoulder. “Please let us know what we can do.”

“Why don’t you go in and see him?” Lily said.

“Do you think he’d want to see me?” I asked. “He doesn’t seem to be very fond of me.”

“He does like you. I just know it,” Lily said.

Cat looked over at me and shrugged her shoulders.

“Are you sure that he’s up for visitors?” I asked.

“Yes.” Lily grabbed my hand as she led me down the hall. “I bet seeing you will lift his spirits.”

Not wanting to disappoint her, I followed her into Frank’s hospital room. Cat was by my side.

Frank lay on the bed with his back to the door. A machine beeped. The scent of rubbing alcohol filled the room.

Lily brushed her hand on Frank’s back. “Honey, you have visitors.”

Frank rolled over. His face was pale and his eyes went wide. “Not you!” He pointed at me.

I stopped my approach to him.

“You killed Mr. Phong, and now you poisoned me!” Frank shook his hand at me. “Get her out of here.”

José strode into the room. “Whoa, I heard the yelling all the way out in the hallway.”

“Remove this murderer from my room.” Frank coughed.

“Who?” José said.

“That woman!” Frank jammed a finger in my direction.

Lily’s mouth dropped open.

Cat stood in front of me. “I know that you aren’t feeling well, and I’m sorry about that. But I’m afraid that you are out of line. My dear friend did not kill anyone.”

José glanced at me.

“But I’m poisoned just like Mr. Phong. It’s her muffins,” Frank said. “I swear if she doesn’t leave, I’ll have her arrested.”

“Relax, we’re leaving,” José said.

“Oh, Miss Bezu, I am so sorry. He is miserable and cranky. I’m sure he will be in a better mood once he gets well,” Lily said to me.

Cat and José followed me as I exited the room. I recalled having seen the empty muffin plate on top of Lily and Frank’s dresser. My stomach turned sour. Maybe he’d eaten one of the tainted muffins. Good gracious. My baking was toxic, and I was causing people harm.

In the hallway, Cat said to me, “What the heck is going on?”

José said, “Bezu, I know that you’re innocent. But you have to understand this is the second tenant of yours to get sick.”

“One fatally.” Cat put her hand to her mouth. “I’m sorry, Bezu, that just came flying out.”

My voice trembled. “Apology accepted. No harm done.”

“Sometimes I think something, and then it slides out before my brain can process it. I call it mommy fog, like losing brain cells with each birth, and I had double doses each time. Still, that’s no excuse. I love you, and I will stick with you until we figure out what is going on. You’re innocent. I am so sorry that all of this is happening to your tenants.” Cat slung her arm over my shoulder.

“Me, too,” I said.

Officer Ray stomped over. He eyed me up and down, then twisted his mouth. “A criminal always goes back to the scene of the crime. In this case, to their victim. Do you want to add venom to his IV?”

José went almost nose to nose with Officer Ray. “You’re such a jerk. Be nice to my friend.”

“If I were you, I’d watch who I made friends with. Your friend here is not only illegally taking in tenants but now has one dead boarder and one hospitalized. I’m just saying José, you are wading in troubled water with this one.” Ray flicked his finger my way.

José stepped back, his lips tight. “You will owe both me and my friend an apology when the real person behind the crime is discovered.”

Officer Ray chortled. “I will never owe you anything, apology or otherwise.”

“Okay, boys, be nice to each other.” Cat shoved her body in between Officer Ray and José. It looked like two tall, thick bookends dwarfing Cat. “What we need to do here is all work nicely together on this case.”

“You are kidding me, right? You and the professor lady solve one case and you think you’re real detectives? Ha!” Ray slapped his hand on a wall. “Get over yourselves and get the hell out of the way while professionals handle this case. I’ll have the person behind bars in the next twenty-four hours.”

“I hope that you do,” Cat said.

José mumbled something under his breath and trudged away.

“Thank you so very much, Officer Ray. We are counting on your quick resolution of these unfortunate events.” I smiled at him.

“Unfortunate? Somehow I think all of these so-called events were premeditated.” Ray rolled his shoulders back.

“I think so, too. Someone had access to Bezu’s muffins and some poison and staged all of it,” Cat said.

“If that is the case, then who has or had access to your home?” Officer Ray asked.

“Besides Lily and Frank?” Cat said.

“And the two of you,” Officer Ray said.

I sighed. “My new tenant, Luiz.”

Officer Ray arched an eyebrow. He flipped through a small notepad in his pocket. “Who is Luiz? I have Xavier listed as your new boarder.”

Cat said, “He’s the same person. He assumed another identity. It’s a long story. And it needs to be kept confidential. I am only going to share it with you now to help with this case.”

Officer Ray leaned back against the wall, propping his foot against it. “I have time. Explain now.”

Cat and I relayed what Luiz had told us.

After we finished our story, Office Ray said, “This keeps getting stranger.”

“I know. This whole event has been like being upside down and inside out backward,” I said.

Officer Ray slanted his eyes.

“She means it’s been a little weird for us, too,” Cat added.

Officer Ray straightened. “It’s getting late, ladies. I think that’s it for today.”

“So, do you have any leads?” I asked. Gosh, it would be nice to have this all wrapped up so life could return to normal.

“Yes, I still have one.” He eyed me and said, “I don’t think orange is your color, but you may have to get used to it.”