[Celebrity Murder Case 10] - The Humphrey Bogart Muder Case
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“Yeah.”
“Where the murders took place?”
“Singular, son, just one murder here. I don’t want to make a pig of myself.”
“I guess I just brought home your missus and her mother.”
“I’ll never forgive you.”
Bogart entered the house. He could hear Mayo and Evelyn upstairs in the guest room. He shouted, “Hey you two! Cut the chatter and let’s get to the martinis.” He threw his hat and his script on the couch as Mayo came hurrying down the stairs and into his arms. They kissed as Evelyn followed Mayo down the stairs. “Well Humphrey, you’re looking well despite your recent ordeal.”
“Hello Evelyn. Welcome,” he lied and kissed her on the cheek. “Sorry about the cornucopia. You can have it back from the precinct anytime you want it. They don't need it.” She took his hand. “Come with me, Mr. Bogart.” She led him to the kitchen. Evelyn followed them. She patted the carton box on the table. ‘‘We’ve got a little surprise for you.”
Bogart stared at the box with suspicion. Mayo demagnetized a knife from the wall.
“That’s a bread knife,” said Bogart.
“As Gertrude Stein would say, Bogie, ‘A knife is a knife is a knife.' “ She cut the rope with which the carton was bound.
Evelyn said, “After you called us the other night, I suddenly remembered. When I was ransacked, I had some items out being cleaned and repaired. Well, dear boy, this was one of them.”
Mayo had the carton open. She lifted out a beautiful cornucopia sealed at the mouth with putty. It too had an elaborate dragon design.
“It’s sealed,” Bogart said lamely.
“That’s right. Jack refused to unseal it. He’d been warned against it.”
“What do you mean ‘warned against it?’ “
“The dealer who sold it to him said it had a curse,” Evelyn said with an icy smile. “He who dares to open it shall meet a horrible death.”
Mayo held the bread knife out to Bogart, the other hand on her hip. “Go ahead, honey, I dare you.”