Poison Me

by Checketts, Cami

  Chanel pressed herself against him. “I wish it was already here.”

  They kissed again. Ruby wished she and Ellie weren’t eavesdropping, but she did enjoy watching Jake look so smitten. She’d spent eight long years praying for a woman to capture his heart.

  Ellie’s cackle interrupted the young couple. “As much as I’d like to feast on this show,” she said, “you two need to break it up.”

  They jumped apart and whirled to face Ellie and Ruby.

  “Aunt Ellie.” Jake sighed. “Hi, Grandma.”

  Ruby clenched her fists and nodded a greeting.

  Jake lifted one brow. “You okay?”

  “No,” Ellie answered for both of them. “Nice shirt.” She smirked at Chanel’s body-hugging apparel. She grabbed Chanel’s waist, then jerked away. “Why are you all wet? What have you two been… Never mind, you’ll have to fill me in later. We’ve been waiting here forever for you. Marissa is missing. She doesn’t answer her phone or the door. Her apartment is locked, which is really scary because she hardly ever remembers to lock her door, even when I tell her to.”

  Ellie chugged a breath and continued on the exhalation. “I can’t get a hold of the cleaning chick for a key, and the cranky managers told me not to disturb them after hours, so we need your master key.”

  “Wait.” Jake held up a hand. “What do you mean Marissa is missing?”

  “And how is my key going to help if she’s missing?” Chanel asked.

  Ellie dug her fists into her hips and sighed. “Clues. We need to know where she’s gone. She was acting sick today, coughing and sneezing, so I went to Friday-night poker alone. I went to check on her and pounded on her door for five minutes. I’ve been dialing her number every few minutes for the past hour. Something’s wrong I tell you. We’ve got to get inside her apartment and make sure she’s okay.”

  Ruby gnawed on the inside of her cheek. “Maybe the murderer got her.”

  Ellie glowered at her friend. “Hush,” she hissed. “Don’t even think it.” She held her hand out to Chanel. “The key.”

  Chanel gripped her key ring, focusing on Jake. “Will you come with us?”

  “Of course.”

  Placing a hand on Chanel’s back, he reached for Ruby with his other hand. Where is Michael? she thought. He had yet to return from his search of the garden. Please, Lord, don’t let Marissa be lost out there in the dark somewhere. Or worse, don’t let her be poisoned. Her grip on Jake tightened. She couldn’t lose Marissa.

  They hurried down the hallway. Twenty feet from Marissa’s door, they saw it fly open. Ruby rushed to meet her friend and reassure herself that her fears were ridiculous.

  The thin policeman who’d come the night of Anne’s and Richard’s murders exited Marissa’s apartment. Ruby’s jaw dropped and she felt faint.

  “Jake.” The officer extended his hand, but focused his beady eyes on Chanel’s chest. “How you doin’?”

  “Steven.” Jake nodded. “What’s up?”

  “There’s been another death.”

  “Who died?” Jake asked.

  Ruby wanted to cover her ears and run.

  “Marissa Graham,” the officer said.

  “No!” Ellie cried out, shrinking against the wall.

  Ruby swayed as her heart repeated Ellie’s cry of anguish. Jake caught her before she fell. She leaned against him.

  “No, not Marissa!” Ellie shrieked. “Please, Lord, anyone but her.”

  Ruby couldn’t speak, but inside her brain was screaming. Not Marissa. Please, not my sweet friend.

  The officer looked at Ellie. “Oh.” He took a deep breath. “Oh, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.” He jammed a hand through his thinning brown hair, lifting his chin to Ruby. “Mrs. Graham was one of your friends, wasn’t she?”

  Yes, Ruby thought, Marissa Graham is one of my dearest friends, not was. She closed her eyes. This couldn’t be happening. Who could murder someone as fun and innocent as Marissa?

  “No, no, no,” Ellie repeated over and over, blue-veined hands covering her eyes.

  Ruby watched her friend with a clamped jaw. No. Marissa was fine. The man was lying to them. Ruby broke from Jake’s grip.

  “Grandma?” he said.

  Ignoring him, she raced past the cop, yanked open Marissa’s door, and scanned the room. Marissa’s overstuffed chair¾empty, Marissa’s couch—empty, Marissa’s kitchen nook—empty. “Rissa?” Ruby called, hating the squeak in her voice.

  Jake, Chanel, and the officer appeared in the doorway. Ellie’s cries could be heard from the hall. Ruby tore through Marissa’s bedroom, bathroom, and closet. The place smelled of Marissa’s favorite pear-scented lotion.

  The grief welling in her chest made it difficult to breathe. She finally gave up her search, trudging back down Marissa’s short hallway and entering the living area, not sure that she could face the group waiting there.

  Jake hurried to her side as Chanel looked on with eyes full of pity. Ruby held onto Jake desperately, her throat constricting.

  Michael appeared in the doorway. “Did you find her?” Ruby asked.

  He shook his head once, glanced around the room, and hurried to her side.

  “Marissa’s dead,” Jake whispered to Michael.

  Ruby clamped her hands over her ears and moaned. Jake buoyed her on one side, and Michael wrapped his arm around her waist.

  “Where is she?” Ruby’s voice was a creaky rasp. She coughed once and tried again, begging the officer to tell her this was all a big mistake, that Marissa was fine and would be back any moment. “Where is she? You snuck her out of here without us seeing,” she accused. “Where’s Marissa? I want to see her.”

  “Sorry.” Steven shrugged. “She loaded the body quick.”

  “She? Who took Marissa?” Ruby whispered.

  The policeman ran his tongue along his lips, casting a sidelong glance at Chanel. “The mortician—you know, Mrs. Smelter.”

  It was true. Marissa was dead.

  Ruby collapsed. Michael cradled her in his arms. She buried her head in his chest and prayed for the pain to stop.

  ***

  The ten-minute drive into town was made without conversation. Jake reached for Chanel’s hand across the console. If Ellie noticed from her perch behind them, she didn’t say anything. Jake was grateful she had finally stopped murmuring, “No, no, no. Not Marissa. Not my Rissa.”

  The tires had barely stopped turning when Ruby flung open the back door of the truck and slid to the sidewalk, pulling Michael with her. They raced toward the door of the mortuary, Ellie on their heels. Jake and Chanel hurried to catch up.

  Ruby pounded on the door, and soon it swung open. Mrs. Smelter’s sweet smile disappeared when she saw the five downtrodden faces before her. “Oh, you poor dears.”

  “Don’t patronize us,” Ruby countered. “Show me her body.”

  Mrs. Smelter shook her head. “Why don’t we go into my office, I have some soothing herbal—”

  “Now!” Ruby demanded.

  Jake watched helplessly, wishing he could comfort his grandma, but knowing it was best to stay out of her way right now.

  “I don’t know.” The mortician bent toward Ruby and said softly, “Looking at a deceased loved one before I get her fixed up can be…upsetting.”

  “I’m already upset. Now get out of my way.”

  Mrs. Smelter stretched to her full five feet four inches. “Now dear, you must have some reason for wanting to see the deceased, but I don’t think this is a good idea.”

  Jake wished the woman would stop saying the word “deceased.” How was his grandma going to deal with losing one of her dearest friends? Anne and Richard’s deaths had been hard, but Jake knew Marissa and Ellie were the sisters Grandma had never had. He wanted to take her in his arms, but she stood there so strong—back rigid, brown eyes snapping at the mortician.

  “Marissa Graham was one of my best friends. Now she’s…” Ruby obviously couldn’t say the word. Michael squeezed her h
and. She glanced up at him, almost as if filling herself with his strength, before turning back to the mortician. “You have Marissa’s body, and I am going to look at her.”

  Ruby pushed past Mrs. Smelter. Michael ran flank. Ellie was just behind Ruby, trying to catch a full breath.

  Mrs. Smelter fell into line before Jake and Chanel, huffing to keep up. “I know we all need closure, but I’m not sure why you must see the body tonight. Can’t you wait until the viewing?”

  “No,” Ruby said.

  There was a long silence before Jake said, “Grandma feels that someone—”

  “Jake!” Ruby cut him off.

  He shook his head, but didn’t say another word.

  They entered a stainless-steel room. Marissa lay on a white-shrouded table, eyes shut, pink lips soft, small hands folded across her stomach, her beautiful white hair blending into the sheet beneath her. Jake’s eyes were riveted to Marissa’s body. How could her spirit be gone? Just yesterday she’d been swimming in his pool and laughing at Ellie.

  After one glance, Ellie fell to her knees and shrieked. Michael’s grip on his grandma intensified. Ruby cast Ellie a compassionate glance, disengaged herself from Michael’s arms, and approached the table. Michael looked on with concern but didn’t stop her.

  Mrs. Smelter grabbed Ruby’s arm. “Now you’ve seen your friend, but I need to ask that you not touch the body.”

  Grandma shook the woman’s hand away. “And I need to ask you to not speak again until spoken to.”

  The mortician huffed and puffed, but eventually withered under Ruby’s glare. Ruby turned from her and searched her friend’s body with her eyes. She took a step closer, stumbling. Michael jumped to her side. Ruby righted herself and waved him off. She leaned over the corpse, her tears falling on Marissa’s chest. Jake could’ve sworn his grandma sniffed Marissa’s neck.

  Still bending over, Ruby licked her finger, touched Marissa’s chin, and then licked her finger again. Michael nodded as if he understood this strange behavior. Jake shook his head but didn’t dare question her.

  Mrs. Smelter’s eyes widened, and she approached Ruby again. “I’m so sorry for your tragedy, dear, but I really must ask you to leave so I can care for the body.”

  “Marissa, oh, my Rissa! No, not Rissa,” Ellie cried, collapsing to the tile floor. Chanel knelt next to her, gently patting her back like a mother comforting a small child.

  Ruby turned to the mortician, wiping the tears from her cheeks and ignoring Ellie’s sobs. “Alaina,” she said, “why does her neck still feel warm?”

  The plump mortician replied, “The body will stay warm for a while after the heart stops beating.”

  “Really? The phrase ‘cold as death…’” Ruby’s voice cracked. “That saying isn’t true?”

  The mortician’s mouth quivered. “The body will stay warm for an hour or more sometimes, depending on the cause of death and the amount of blood lost.”

  Ruby glanced at Jake.

  “She’s right,” he said.

  “Thank you, dear,” Mrs. Smelter said. “Now I really must do my work.”

  Ruby inclined her head. “Can you promise me that work will include determining a cause of death?”

  Mrs. Smelter nodded. “Of course, dear. I will do all I can to help.”

  Ruby turned and touched Marissa’s cheek. Tears spilled past Grandma’s eyelashes and onto Marissa’s face. “I’ll miss you, sweet friend,” she whispered.

  A respectful hush descended on the room—even Ellie’s cries ceased for a moment. Finally, Ruby lifted her hand from Marissa’s wrinkled cheek and whispered, “Goodbye.”

  Ruby turned on her heel and nodded her thanks to Mrs. Smelter before striding past. Michael rushed to Ruby’s side and escorted her from the room. The look of gratitude she favored him with wasn’t lost on her grandson.

  Jake and Chanel gently helped Ellie up and led her the front door. He tried in vain to block out her cries of “My Rissa.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Lunch had been cleared from the commons area, and the room rearranged for a large assembly. Nervous-looking residents congregated on the chairs, brought together for a meeting organized by Ellie. The managers had approved the gathering, and Ellie had demanded at breakfast that the residents attend. Ruby noticed most of the chairs were filled¾there were few who dared disobey Ellie.

  Unable to bear the tender glances cast her way, Ruby glanced down at the notes she, Ellie, and Michael had compiled. Marissa’s name jumped from the page, burning into Ruby’s brain. Marissa was among the murdered. Ruby would never forget the image of her friend lying on that cold table at the mortuary. She could still smell the terrible poison on Marissa’s rosebud lips.

  The worst part was, if Tracy was the murderer, Ruby had been the intended target. Her friend had died in her place. It was too much. Ruby’s tears wet the paper, causing the ink to blur. She set the notebook aside, wiping a trembling hand across her face. She couldn’t seem to stop shaking.

  Ellie perched on the edge of a chair to Ruby’s left. Michael filled the one on her right.

  Ellie shook her head. “Get yourself under control,” she whispered, squeezing Ruby’s hand.

  Ruby winced. Michael offered his handkerchief, and she took it with a small smile, muttering her thanks. She glanced from him to her stoic friend. Last night, Ruby and Michael had sat with Ellie until she cried herself to sleep. Marissa’s name was the last sound she uttered before giving into exhaustion. This morning Ellie wore her poker face. She spent an hour on the phone with the police, dictated notes to Ruby during breakfast, and quickly organized the residents’ meeting. No one but Ruby and Michael would ever know how deeply Ellie mourned.

  Ellie glared at the group of forty or so residents. “Okay, women and man.” She nodded to Michael. “Lots of man.”

  He smiled, reaching under the table to touch Ruby’s hand. I could get used to having him around, she thought. She wished she could express how grateful she was for his presence, for the fact that he was there to hold her hand and smile at her, when she had treated him horribly for so many years. She had spent most of her adult life without much support save for Ellie, Marissa, and Anne. Although her girlfriends had been wonderful, Ruby had forgotten how comforting it was to have a strong shoulder to lean on, especially when two of her close friends had been taken from her. She thought of Ellie’s expression “Lots of man.” Michael was that and so much more. Ruby didn’t know how she’d survive without him right now.

  Standing at the front of the room, Ellie cleared her throat and said, “I’ve called this meeting because we need to put our brains together.” She looked around the group of elderly people.

  “Why do we have to have so many meetings?” Lanna Jeppson asked. “I can’t keep up with everything they are always telling us. It’s the government, I tell you. When I was a girl, they couldn’t micromanage our lives like—”

  “Those of us who have any brains left,” Ellie interrupted.

  Lanna’s mouth fell open. “Well, I never—”

  “Woman,” Ellie warned with a shake of her finger, “if you speak without being called upon again, I’ll have you escorted from the room.”

  Lanna clamped her lips together and raised a fleshy arm into the air. Ellie ignored her. Finally, Lanna set her arm on the armrest, grumbling about being treated unfairly.

  Ellie clapped her hands together and said, “Okay. We need to get to the bottom of these murders.”

  “Who says they’re murders?” Samantha Jacobs asked. “The policeman told me there’s nothing suspicious going on. Anne, Richard, and Marissa were all sick. Old people die—it’s a fact of life.”

  Ellie’s eyes turned to slits of blue. “You want to die next?”

  Samantha gasped. “Well, no, I guess not.”

  “Then shut your yap and stop questioning the experts.” Ellie slammed her fist on the table. Everyone jumped, and she nodded with satisfaction. “We say they were murdered.” She paused for effe
ct. “So they were.”

  “Oh, I believe they were murdered.” Jennalou slunk from the back of the room until she stood next to Ellie. She pointed a finger at Ruby. “Every time someone has died, I’ve seen Ruby Merrill sneaking around the hall by their room. And,” Jennalou paused, “I caught Ellie and Ruby in my room the other night, searching through my personal belongings. Anne, Richard, and Marissa were murdered, all right, and Ruby Merrill is the murderer.”

  Several people started whispering before Ellie silenced them with a glare. “Jennalou, you’re a psycho. Everybody knows you lie and complain because you need a little attention. Ruby and I would never stoop to looking through your rubbish. Besides, Ruby was the one who discovered her friends and cousin murdered.”

  Jennalou’s eyes narrowed beneath her painted-on eyebrows. “I’m not lying about this. Ruby found them because she is the one who poisoned them!”

  Michael gave Ruby’s hand a squeeze and mouthed, “Don’t worry about her.”

  She smiled at him and took his advice, ignoring Jennalou’s wretched face.

  “Jennalou, I will not tolerate lies about my friend,” Ellie declared. “You are hereby banned from this meeting.”

  Jennalou folded her arms across her chest. “Who’s going to make me go?”

  Ellie snapped her fingers. “Michael, can you take care of this pest?”

  Michael cast Ruby a slow grin and stood to his full six feet three inches.

  Jennalou looked him up and down with contempt. “You wouldn’t dare,” she said.

  “You think I’m going to sit by and let you talk that way about my Ruby?” Michael raised his strong hands to make his point.

  Ruby’s heart fluttered. My Ruby?

  Jennalou harrumphed. She studied Michael for several long seconds before stomping away and shouting, “You’ll all regret not listening to me when you’re dead!”

  Michael sat down and winked at Ruby. She glanced back at the rest of the residents, who stared with wide eyes and shared uncertain glances.

  A buzzing sensation started in her brain. Something didn’t fit. “Wait a minute.” Ruby shot to her feet. “Jennalou, wait. How did you know they were poisoned?”