Murder on the Menu

by Jerri George

  Candace considered the details before responding and shared an edited version. Dawn hadn’t gotten him to a hospital. In fact, she never admitted to being there. Candace told him about the door being ajar but didn’t think her uncle was strong enough to accept Merlin’s death. Not yet.

  Candace asked him, “Why was Dawn upset with you?”

  “I wouldn’t give her the letters. I wanted to speak with your aunt Marjorie first. Some of the content was pretty personal and should be left in the past. I hadn’t read all of them, but some of what I did read was even news to me.”

  “So… she came down, and then what?” Candace was prodding but wanted to tread lightly.

  “We had some wine.”

  “That explains the two wine glasses.”

  Uncle Dan shook his head. “But that’s where I draw a blank. We were arguing, and she left in a huff, Lance and Merlin ran after her, but I don’t remember what happened to me. What happened?”

  Candace methodically revealed the rest of the story as much as she felt safe to recall. Her uncle’s eyes went from shock to surprise, then acceptance and sadness. He admitted he could barely stomach the distress the whole event must have caused Candace.

  He gripped her hand. “Honey, if all this happened because I called Dawn over some old letters, I’ll never forgive myself!”

  “Don’t say that. Besides, I don’t think this was some freak accident. I think someone meant to harm you.”

  He seemed confused. “You do?”

  “Uncle, you’re a wealthy man. If anyone, including Dawn, wanted to hurt you, Saturday night was a great time to take advantage of you being alone at the ranch.”

  “You think that Dawn did something to me?”

  Candace was adamant. “Well, someone did. You don’t remember feeling ill or falling, do you?”

  “No, no, I don’t. You’d think I would.”

  “You heard what the doctor said. I’m going to talk to Sam about it, and I want you to take it easy.” She patted his hand and was finally able to release it from her grasp.

  “I will. Don’t you worry about me. You must have so much work to do.”

  She reached across his frame and hugged his chest. All the tubes had been removed, save for the IV and heart monitor, and he was on his way to healing completely and coming home. “You can’t imagine how frightened I was to think you might never recover. I didn’t care about anything else. I felt so alone.”

  Uncle’s sturdy arms embraced her as his voice took command of her fears. “I’m not going anywhere any time soon, my dear. You’re stuck with me forever, young lady.”

  “Uncle, we will need to talk more about the letters and what they mean. I didn’t really understand them. I never knew about any of the trouble between Aunt Marjorie and Uncle Eric, and I never knew about your fling with her.”

  His forehead wrinkled in confusion. “My what?”

  “Shhhh. Never mind about that right now.” She placed two fingers over his lips. “I want you to rest and gain your strength so you can leave this awful place.”

  Uncle laughed under his breath. “You think I had a fling with Marjorie?”

  “It doesn’t matter what I think. I’ll see you later. Anton and I are going to the ranch and to get a few hours of shut eye, then I’ll fill you in on all that’s happened while you’ve been in here.”

  She turned and walked quickly to the door as Dan laid there looking puzzled. As Candace emerged from the room, she saw Sam pacing with his hand on his gun as if it was habit while his keys jangled in rhythm. Anton was tapping his foot nervously. They were obviously miffed about being scuttled from the room. The waiting area was less austere than the recovery room but still cold and impersonal.

  “I’ve told him to rest,” Candace addressed both men.

  “But I wanted to give him his wodka,” Anton whined.

  She loved the way he said the word naturally using a w sound instead of a v. “We’ll see if he can have a little bit when we come back later, don’t worry.”

  “I really need to speak with him, Candace.” Sam was insistent.

  “I know. And you will, but not now. I can tell you Dawn came to see him on Saturday evening. They had wine together. That’s who drank out of the other glass.”

  “We couldn’t match the prints in any criminal database, and that’s probably why. That’s Dawn Ehrlickson, right?” Sam pulled his notebook from his pocket. “I’ve questioned her, and she said she was in Denver at the movies that night.”

  “That’s what she told me, too. I don’t understand why she would lie about it, but I really can’t believe she would hurt my uncle. For years he’s been like a surrogate father to her, and he was close to her mom.” Candace couldn’t say how close. She turned to Anton and leaned against him for support. His face was stern as he put his arm around her frame.

  “Well, we’ll see. I’m going to look into her alibi and question her more. Her lie puts her as my number one suspect. Unfortunately, because your uncle can’t remember the attack, it doesn’t clear Jesse’s son, but it doesn’t incriminate him further.”

  Candace responded, “We’ll be back around noon. I hope you have some more information by then.”

  Sam crossed his arms. “It’s important you don’t talk with your friend or anyone else about his recovery or what was said about the matter. Give me some time to investigate.”

  Candace’s mind was running wild. “Okay, although I really want to call her and find out why she lied.”

  The sheriff shook his head. “Right now, it’s best if we keep it just between us and the doctor. I told her not to update his official condition yet so no one knows he’s awake.”

  Anton spoke up, “Do you think we should hire someone to protect him?”

  “That’s already handled. I’ve got first watch.” Sam removed his hat from his head and pulled up a nearby chair from the nurse’s desk.

  Candace smiled. “Thank you so much. I sure hope he can get some of his memory back.”

  “Either way, I’m going to need to take a full statement from him.”

  “I know.”

  Chapter 24

  Another ride to the ranch on the long desert highway. At least this time she didn’t need to wrestle with feelings of loss and desperation. For the first time this week she wasn’t filled with worry.

  Anton’s car was as silent as a tomb. Although there was much to say, there was even more to think about. When they reached their destination, rest was the last thing on their minds. Wired from the event, and the ride down to Gallegos, they both needed some time to unwind.

  Candace was the first to break the silence. “I suppose I shouldn’t be shocked Dawn lied since it seems she kept other stuff from me.”

  “CJ, I am really, really sorry. I was glad she didn’t say anything about the other night, and I wanted to tell you right away, but everything else was happening.”

  This was not the conversation she wanted to have. “I suppose everything’s going to come out now.”

  “Does it have to?” Anton asked, kneeling to pet Lance.

  “Well, she’s going to be questioned. How do I tell the sheriff she is less than forthcoming, and I don’t trust her, without telling him what else happened?” Candace frowned.

  “Maybe she’ll just tell him the truth about Saturday night.” Anton looked up at her. “Do you think she hurt Dan?”

  “I have no clue. It kills me that I can’t call her and find out what’s going on,” she said.

  Anton asked. “Why did Dawn come down here in the first place?”

  “Something about all those letters.” She motioned to the dining room table.

  “What’s in them?”

  Candace explained what she’d read and what she thought it all meant but was sure there was more to the situation than met the eye. “Dawn must have known the letters were there and didn’t want Uncle to read them. But why?”

  The familiar aroma of bacon and fresh pressed coffee pulled Candace into
an upright position.

  The eastern sunrise shone through the wood shades, making the leather couch glow like honey. Its sheen was almost wet in appearance. A blanket covered with woodland creatures big and small set against a snow drenched mountain and blue sky covered her lap. It was one of Uncle’s favorites. The grandfather clock in the corner said 10:20. Five hours sleep was nothing to sneeze at these days. She and Anton had gone through the contents of the boxes again before they fell asleep on the couches.

  The clatter of dishes further seduced her growling stomach. Her bare feet padding against the wood flooring, Candace quietly pressed open the large wooden door to maintain the element of surprise. She was taken aback to find a bare-to-the-waist male figure standing at the large commercial grade stove. Honed shoulder muscles flexed as he worked, wearing nothing but jeans slung low from his waistline. His entire back gleamed like a bronze satin sheet. It wasn’t Jesse cooking breakfast as she’d thought, it was Anton. His dark hair was tousled from bothered sleep. He was deftly balancing several plates on his hand and arm as he filled them. The yield from wrought iron pots and pans was enough to feed an army.

  “Good morning,” she spoke as she leaned against the door frame, surveying him from a distance.

  The kitchen had been her favorite room in the house since she could remember. Bright and colorful Mexican tiles covered the floor, backsplash and countertops. The sturdy stainless-steel equipment gleamed. The space was equipped with a six-burner stove and side by side refrigerators and freezers which usually stored enough food for a small country club. Sunshine streamed through the wall of windows that overlooked the northern expanse of the ranch with its buildings, water tower and windmills. All of it looking a bit more cheerful than the day before.

  “Ah, Доброе утро. Good morning. I was hoping you would wake on your own. How did you sleep?”

  Candace yawned, putting her hand to her mouth. “Okay. I thought you were Jesse.”

  “Sorry to disappoint.” He smiled.

  “How could I be disappointed finding a half-naked man cooking in my kitchen?” She grinned. “Is Jesse here?”

  “No. I have not seen her. Riley came by with some fresh eggs but that is all. I told him about Dan but asked him to keep it to himself. He was very happy and said he was going home for a while, but he’d come back to check on everything and feed Lance.”

  “Thanks for updating him. How long have you been awake?” she said.

  “Almost an hour.”

  “I’d really like to talk to Jesse. Wow. That sure smells good.” she said nodding toward the stove. He always managed to rival any menu she could put together and create it on the fly.

  “I’m sure it does.” He winked and made his way over to the counter, placing several small dishes in front of her. Canadian and regular smoked bacon with scrambled eggs Florentine, and crispy home fries were on a cobalt-blue pottery platter. Cantaloupe cubes and whole fresh figs drizzled with honey filled a mustard yellow bowl. A small tower of seven-grain bread accompanied them.

  Candace considered the spread before her, popped a fig in her mouth with one hand while retrieving a slice of crispy bacon in the other. “Thanks, this is awesome.”

  “No problem.” He walked back to the stove, grabbed the coffee pot and creamer and poured a cup for each of them. He finally joined her with a set of plates for himself. A carafe of orange juice and bowls of butter and jam were already in place in front of them along with bold print napkins. He wolfed down a forkful of eggs and fries and took a swig of juice before their eyes met. He smiled. A small piece of spinach dangled from the corner of his mouth. Candace would have automatically used her thumb to remove it, but after what had transpired with Dawn, she just pointed to it.

  The food was delicious but more than her sense of taste was piqued as his forearm rubbed against hers. She felt the hair on her own arm tickle and her face flush. She quickly and purposefully moved her arm away and stiffened. “I guess I’ll head back to the hospital after breakfast. Tripp and his father are supposed to be coming by, and there’s no telling who else will decide to visit.”

  “I forgot they were coming.” He commented but continued to eat like a ravenous animal. Neither had eaten since before the fundraiser.

  “Tripp works with his dad now. I stopped by their office on my way to the fundraiser, but he doesn’t even know Uncle woke up.”

  “Are you planning to call Dawn?” he asked.

  Candace ate one more bite. “I want to, but I promised Sam I wouldn’t.”

  He gulped some coffee. “What do you think she will say about the letters? After what we read last night, it sounds like she might have a reason to hurt Dan.”

  “I know, Uncle said Dawn would be angry I read them, but it’s all in the past and hardly something she needs to be embarrassed or angry about. In fact, I have more to be angry about than she ever will!” She looked up from her dish and gave him an even stare.

  “Candace, I don’t blame you for being angry with her and with me. What happened was a stupid mistake. Dawn does not mean anything to me.”

  “I didn’t think so.” She swept her plate up off the counter and into the sink. “I don’t know how to feel, Anton.”

  He watched her as she began to systematically put away the leftover food and clean up the remaining dishes. “I will get that. You need to get ready. I guess I will just head back to Denver when I am done,” he said.

  She was beginning to really hate the influence Dawn was exerting over them. Their interaction was uncomfortable to say the least. “You’re not coming to visit him?”

  He made his way around the counter and took her hands in his. “Maybe I will go over, but I will not stay long. You have enough on your mind right now.”

  It was obvious he didn’t want to run into Tripp or Dawn. “Okay, I’ll try to make it back to Denver tonight.”

  She felt the pause and a hesitance in the air between them.

  Without shoes, her face was at his chest height. Her eyes couldn’t help but scan his smooth pecs and ample shoulders on their way up to meet his. They had been close before, elbow to elbow, bodies bumping against each other in a kitchen but never quite like this. He ran both hands through his hair, while every muscle flexed, then he placed them on her shoulders. One of his fingertips found the bottom of her chin, tilted it up to plant a careful kiss on her nose, then he cradled her face in his palms.

  “We’ll get through this. All of this,” he said in a tender tone.

  “I hope so.” She could feel her lashes moist with tears and carefully pulled away to hide her reaction and left the kitchen without another word.

  Chapter 25

  Neither Anton nor Dawn showed up at the hospital, but it was still a busy day. It astounded Candace she actually felt pangs of jealousy and worse yet, suspicion. Were they together? No, that was simply ridiculous. She admonished herself.

  Tripp and Harry came by to discover Uncle carrying on a conversation with Candace about eating Jell-O. She had to swear that the kind he would be required to eat once leaving the hospital was that found in shots containing vodka.

  Dan was pleased to find out that the two could visit with him under the guise of legal counsel. Anton had brought a nice bottle of Russia’s finest as a gift and Dan was anxious to break it out, but the doctor had left strict directives to the contrary, and even Harry advised him, in true lawyer admonishment.

  Dan pretended to be annoyed. “I guess you know who your friends are where vodka is concerned.”

  “I don’t think you need anything to alter your state of consciousness right now, Danno.” Harry teased, “We hope to get your memory back to normal, not aid its state of confusion.”

  “Okay, okay, but you need to come by and have a drink with me when we do crack it open. It’s been far too long since we’ve tipped back a few.”

  Harry raised a shaggy eyebrow. “Agreed. Hey, I heard your former heartthrob stopped by to see you. Looking to collect on the life insurance?�
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  “She did?” His eyes darted to Candace.

  “I hadn’t told him yet, Harry,” Candace interjected. “Yes, Genevieve came to visit you.”

  Dan answered lightly, “Really? How is the old gal?”

  “What old gal?” Tripp entered the conversation. “Full disclosure, man.”

  “I didn’t recognize her, and she only deduced who I was. She asked me about your will and insurance policy. She told me to ask Harry about it.”

  Dan winked at Harry. “Still as money hungry as ever, huh?”

  “Maybe she came by to finish you off?” asked Tripp.

  “Nah, she wouldn’t know where to begin. Did she say anything else? Leave a note?” Dan asked with unusual curiosity.

  Candace answered, “No, no, she didn’t but she said she was staying in town and would come back. She came the next day, but I wasn’t here. I don’t know where she’s staying.”

  “Hmmmm.” Dan groaned in thought.

  Candace was sure there was a world of information hidden behind that response.

  He shifted in his bed. “Who else came by? I’m sorry I missed the party.”

  She responded, “A couple of your brokers. I have their business cards, and the nurses said some woman who didn’t leave her name. I suppose it could have been Aunt Marj. She came by another time. Oh, Dawn and me and Jesse, of course.”

  “A mystery woman? You been holding out on me, bud?” Harry accused.

  After that revelation, Tripp motioned for Candace to leave the room with him. They stepped into the hall. “He looks good. What did he say about his attacker?”

  “Nothing. I mean, he has absolutely no memory of what happened.”

  “That’s often the case with head trauma.” He took her by the arm and led her down the hall. “So, who do you think the woman was that came by?”

  “I haven’t a clue. I figured she’d come back or call, but I haven’t heard anything. That’s not the important part of all this though.”