by Cindy Bell
“Really?” Suzie’s eyes widened. “I’ve seen him around town, I’ve spoken to him a couple of times. I’ve never really paid attention to who the chef was there. So, he was fired from Cheney’s and went to Pelicans on the Pier? Why would he want to poison Jerome if it meant possibly losing his job?” She crossed her arms. Then before Jason could answer she snapped her fingers and spoke in a rush. “Because you think the termination was a ruse, and that Shouder applied for the job at the Cheneys’ request.”
“I think it’s possible.” Jason nodded, then kicked the sole of his shoe along the wooden floor beneath him. “It’s certainly a stretch, but at this point I can’t rule it out. I imagine that having one of their longtime employees infiltrate the new restaurant would have given them the upper hand.”
“But if they had that upper hand already, why would they push it to murder?” Mary shook her head slowly. “They already had an inside man that could cause any kind of destruction they chose. Why would they jump straight to murder? The Cheneys don’t seem like murderers to me.”
“Maybe not, but Jason has a point. There is a connection between the chef and the Cheneys, it has to be investigated. It’s too much of a coincidence to ignore.” Suzie took a sip of her coffee.
“True, but let’s say they did instruct the chef to do it, why would they, or he, target an innocent customer? Why not go after the staff?” Mary tapped her fingertips against the table. “It doesn’t add up to me.”
“You’re right, it doesn’t make much sense. But at the moment not much about the crime makes sense. It’s possible that Shouder didn’t realize how much he put in. Maybe he intended to only make a customer sick, to get the new restaurant some bad reviews. But I’ll be honest, I don’t think there’s much chance the Cheneys were involved in this. Still, I have to follow up on any leads.” Jason took a big swallow of his coffee.
“Any updates on the autopsy?” Mary pushed a plate of muffins towards him.
“Yes, Summer was able to confirm that the poison we suspected was the poison that the victim ingested. She also determined that the poison was mixed into something he ate, not drank. So, we are leaning on the chef even more.” Jason smiled as he took one of the muffins. “Thanks.”
“I don’t understand. How could it be on something that he ate? Wouldn’t everyone else at his table be poisoned as well?” Mary shook her head.
“We’re still trying to figure that out. That’s the only update I have for you right now.” He took one last drink from his mug of coffee. “I should get going. Please let me know if you see or hear from Sam and Ginger. I’d really like to speak to them as soon as possible, and they’re not answering their phones.”
“Yes, of course, we’ll let you know.” Suzie walked him to the door. “Jason, make sure you get some rest at some point.”
“I will. At some point.” Jason raised an eyebrow, then headed out the door.
“What a tragedy.” Mary stood up from the table. “To think, everyone was there to just have a good night and enjoy a meal. Instead it ended in something terrible.”
“You’re right, Mary, but you also made me realize something. To find out what happened in that restaurant last night, we need to talk to someone who was actually there. Someone who handled the food and knows how the kitchen operates.” Suzie’s lips tightened as she stared straight at her friend. “We need to speak to someone on the waitstaff. If the poison was only in Jerome’s food, then someone sitting close to him, or someone who served him the food, had to be the one to poison it.”
“That’s true.” Mary frowned. “Although it could still have been the chef.”
“Maybe, but we won’t get to speak with him for quite some time, if at all. Jason needs our help with this whether he knows it or not. We need to figure out if Sam and Ginger had something to do with this before they decide to leave.” Suzie grabbed her keys from the hook near the door. “Do you remember who waited on you when you and Wes ate at Pelicans on the Pier?”
“Yes, it was a young man named Sean.” Mary watched as Suzie began to head for the door. “Suzie, you’re still in your robe.”
“I am?” Suzie looked down at her tightly knotted robe. “Oh, well, I guess I’d better change.” She huffed and headed for the stairs.
“I’ll see if I can find Sean’s address.” Mary covered her mouth, but Suzie could still hear her laugh.
“No comments, Mary.” Suzie shouted from the top of the stairs.
Mary managed to get Sean’s full name and address by calling Louis the librarian. He knew just about everyone in Garber. She sent a text with the details to Suzie.
After she changed, Suzie hurried back down the steps and towards the front door. She bent down to pat Pilot on the way out.
“Mary, please let me know if you hear from our guests.”
“I will.” Mary called out to her, then grabbed Pilot by the collar. He barked and attempted to follow Suzie out the door. “Don’t worry, pal, she’s going to be just fine.”
Suzie pushed the door closed behind her, then walked over to her car. She hoped that a conversation with Sean would give her some direction as to who might have actually put the poison in Jerome’s food. As she drove to his address, she prepared herself for what she might find. Could the waiter be a hardened killer?
Chapter 8
Suzie parked in front of Sean’s house, and walked up the thin sidewalk that led to the front porch. She heard the swish of a broom against wooden planks and looked up to see a young man in the act of sweeping. To her surprise she recognized him. He had spent some time working with Paul on his boat, and Paul had mentored him when he showed interest in becoming a fisherman.
“Hi Sean.” She smiled as she stepped up onto the small, front porch.
“Hi.” Sean leaned on the broom he gripped in his hands. “Suzie, right?”
“Right.” Suzie nodded as she glanced around the porch. It needed some repairs, but it appeared sturdy, just like the house it was attached to. “How are you today?”
“All right, I guess.” Sean set the broom against the wall, then turned back to face her. “Can I help you with something?”
“I heard that you were working at Pelicans on the Pier last night.” Suzie clutched her hands together.
“Yes, I was.” His eyes darted towards the front door of the house, then back to Suzie. “Try to keep your voice down, all right?”
“Is something wrong?” Suzie looked towards the door as well.
“It’s my mom. She’s not well, her heart.” Sean tapped his chest. “If she heard about what happened last night, I think it might put her in the hospital. I’ve been trying to keep her out of it.”
“I’m sorry.” Suzie softened her voice, then gestured to the front walkway. “Would you like to go for a walk and talk about it? I know that you must have some things on your mind.”
“I do.” Sean nodded, then glanced once more at the door. “Just a short walk, though.”
“Of course.” Suzie smiled as she descended the steps.
As he fell into step beside her, an awkward silence rippled between them. Suzie was aware of just how vulnerable he was, perhaps not even twenty yet, and a caregiver to his sick mother. She didn’t want to push him too hard. Yet, she also knew that he was the one who might hold the key to solving Jerome’s murder.
“How are you holding up, Sean?” Suzie glanced over at him.
“All right I guess.” He kicked a small stone on the sidewalk and watched it skip across the pavement. “I tried to help him, you know? But I didn’t know how. It wasn’t like he was choking. If he was choking, I would have been able to help him.”
“I don’t think there was anything you could have done.” Suzie lightly touched his arm. “I don’t think there was anything anyone could have done.”
“The police, they keep telling me that I should remember things. That I should know things. But all I can see when I think about last night, is the way he stumbled away from the table.” Sean stoppe
d walking and closed his eyes.
“I’m so sorry, Sean. I can only imagine how overwhelming that is for you.” As much as Suzie wanted to comfort him, she also wanted the answers that he hadn’t been able to give to the police. “You know sometimes when we have an upsetting experience, our minds hyperfocus on only that part of our memory. It makes all the other memories around it get jumbled up.”
“Yes, it’s just like that.” Sean nodded. “I know I should remember what he ordered. I know that I should remember talking to him. But all I can remember is what happened after he ate.”
“You can remember more. You just have to try and relax, do your best to keep yourself calm.” Suzie turned to look at him. “I might be able to help you with it, if you’d like me to.” She had used relaxation techniques many times when she was an investigative journalist.
“Yes, I think I would.” Sean balled his hands into fists. “The police, they keep hounding me, and I want to help them, I really do, but I think they’re starting to suspect me. I didn’t do anything to hurt that man. You believe me, don’t you, Suzie?”
“Yes, I do.” Suzie smiled as she led him to a nearby bench. “Just sit down here, and I’ll walk you through it. All right?”
“Yes.” Sean sat down on the bench. “What do I do?”
“Close your eyes. Try to relax. Just listen to the sound of my voice.” Suzie did her best to sound soothing as she walked him through a few relaxation exercises. She noticed the tension begin to leave his face, and then his body. When she thought he was as relaxed as she could get him to be, she tried to guide him through the memories. “Now, I want you to think about showing up for work yesterday. Just when you first got there. Can you tell me anything about that? Did you speak to anyone?”
“Yes.” Sean smiled some. “I spoke to Cassie.”
“And who is Cassie?” Suzie sat down on the bench beside him.
“She’s a waitress.” Sean’s voice went up an octave.
“Is she your friend?” Suzie smiled.
“I’d like her to be more than that, but I haven’t been able to ask her out, yet.” Sean smiled as well.
“How do you feel when you see Cassie?” Suzie leaned a little closer to him.
“Happy, a little nervous, just glad to be around her.” Sean shrugged.
“Okay, I want you to remember how you feel when you see her. Remember that. Now, I want you to tell me, what was the dinner rush like? Was it busy?” Suzie shifted some on the bench, careful not to touch him.
“It was crazy. Lots more people than we expected. The chef was getting pretty angry.” Sean’s lips tensed.
“Where is Justine?”
“She’s on the other side of the restaurant.” Sean smiled. “She is so quick, back and forth to the kitchen.”
“And where is Cassie? What is she doing?” Suzie bit into her bottom lip. She hoped that he wouldn’t come out of his relaxed state before he could answer her.
“She’s laughing. She doesn’t let anything get to her. She’s got one of the big tables. She’s joking with them. They’re not mad, even though they have to wait for their food. She’s really good at her job.” Sean smiled.
“And you? What is your table like?” Suzie held her breath.
“There are a lot of people that don’t know each other. I can tell because they’re not talking much. I’m still taking their orders, and some people are getting impatient.” Sean frowned.
“Who was the most impatient? Was there someone at the table who upset you?” Suzie pulled her phone out to take notes.
“A couple. They have a lot of demands. They want to make sure there is no pepper in the mushroom gravy.” Sean shook his head. “They’re not from around here.”
“I see.” Suzie nodded as she imagined they might be Ginger and Sam. “What kind of orders are you taking?”
“Just drinks. Mostly. Except for one man.” Sean took a sharp breath.
“And where is Cassie? Did she get her food for her table, yet?” Suzie’s heart skipped a beat. She sensed that he was about to lose his focus.
“She’s almost to the kitchen, but one of the people at my table calls out to her. They’re not supposed to do that, I’m their waiter. But he calls out to her, he wants a glass of wine. What he needs is a haircut.” Sean chuckled. “But Cassie just smiles and says she will bring it right out. I feel like it’s my fault because I’m not moving fast enough. But this guy is taking forever to give me his order. He wants an extra side, just for himself. Mashed potatoes, with no butter.” He cringed. “Who wants to eat that? I offer him some sour cream. He insists he just wants the potatoes, no butter.”
“And do you remember who this was? The one that ordered the mashed potatoes?” Suzie’s muscles tensed in anticipation.
“It’s Jerome. He’s the only one that ordered them with no butter. The chef will have to make him his own bowl. He’s not going to be happy. He’s already mad.” Sean’s breathing grew sharper.
“Okay Sean. Is Cassie back with the other man’s wine?” Suzie placed her hand lightly on his. Her fingertips grazed across the sheen of sweat on his palm. She looked up at his face and noticed the tension in his facial muscles. “Did the chef yell at you, Sean?”
“He threw a pan at me. He told me to get out of his kitchen.” Sean frowned. “I don’t know if he’s going to make the special order of mashed potatoes or not. I don’t know if I’ll ever be good at this job. Not like Cassie is.”
“Where is she?” Suzie softened her voice. “Can you see her?”
“She’s handing me the glass of wine. She pinches my cheek and winks at me and tells me it will all be over soon.” Sean smiled. “She makes this job so worth it.” He opened his eyes. “I remembered, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did, Sean. You did good.” Suzie smiled, as she gave his hand a light pat. “You should tell the police what you remember.” She stood up from the bench. “And by the way, now would be the perfect time to ask Cassie out.” She met his eyes. “Maybe she likes you, too.”
“I don’t know?” Sean stood up as well. “I’m still so nervous to ask her.”
“Just remember how she makes you feel. It’ll be worth it to take the risk, don’t you think? You’ll never know unless you ask.” Suzie turned to walk back towards her car.
“You’re right. It is worth it. Thanks Suzie.” Sean waved to her as he climbed the steps to his front porch.
Suzie waved to him, then dialed Jason’s number on her phone.
“Hi Suzie, I can’t talk right now, I’m in the middle of something.”
“Jason, it was mashed potatoes. Jerome had his own bowl of mashed potatoes without butter. No one else would have been eating them. My guess is the poison was in the mashed potatoes.” Suzie glanced back at Sean who stepped into his house and closed the door. “Sean told me.”
“Sean the waiter? We couldn’t get two words out of him.” Jason’s voice deepened. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. Have Summer test the mashed potatoes that were in a bowl beside Jerome’s chair. I know everyone had mashed potatoes, so maybe she only tested the main dish. But his were made separately for him, he didn’t want any butter in them.” Suzie started her car. “Please, let me know what you find, Jason.”
“Will do.” Jason ended the call.
Chapter 9
When Suzie parked in front of Dune House, she felt some relief that Sean had managed to remember an important detail, but it didn’t exactly make everything crystal clear. She hoped that Mary would be able to discern something from the information that would move things along.
Pilot greeted her at the door with Mary only a few steps behind.
“Did you find him?” Mary gave Pilot’s side a light pat.
“Yes, I did.” Suzie led her to the dining room table then filled her in on her conversation with Sean.
“So, if the poison was in the mashed potatoes, there’s a good chance that the chef is the one who put the poison in them.” Mary tapped her f
ingertips on the table top. “Did Sean remember anything else?”
“I think he might have if I kept pushing him, but he’d already said so much I thought it was best to stop and let him come to terms with what he remembered first. Sometimes you can push too hard if it’s an upsetting experience. Maybe if he’d be willing to talk with me again, I could find out more.” Suzie crossed her arms as she stared out over the water. “He did mention that there was a couple that were quite difficult diners. I think it was Sam and Ginger.” She flashed a smile in Mary’s direction.
“I can understand that.” Mary laughed. “I’m still a little hurt by their avoidance of my applesauce muffins.”
“There’s something else that Sean said that has been bugging me.” Suzie sat back in her chair and closed her eyes as she recalled his words. “He said that the chef threw a pan at him. He was so frustrated with the workload that he got furious when Sean asked for the extra serving of mashed potatoes.”
“All the more reason that he might have decided to poison them.” Mary scooted her chair closer to Suzie’s. “Maybe he’d had enough. Maybe he snapped. He might not have even been targeting Jerome.”
“Yes, it’s possible that he snapped, that it all became too much. But poisoning someone isn’t something that you just do on a whim. It’s something you plan. He wouldn’t have just had the poison lying around. Would he? As angry as he was, I could imagine him spitting in the food, or something awful like that. But not deciding to pour some poison into it. That’s an extreme reaction to frustration.” Suzie folded her hands on the table and took a deep breath. “I really think that if he was in that mental state, it makes him less likely of a suspect.”
“You’re right it would be odd for him to have the poison. But maybe he was already planning to poison someone, and Jerome just happened to win the lottery since he was the one that asked for extra potatoes.” The legs of Mary’s chair scraped across the wooden floor as she pushed it back and stood up. She gripped the edge of the table to steady herself and clenched her teeth.
