Leighann Dobbs - Lexy Baker 10 - Mummified Meringues

by Leighann Dobbs

  She quickly shoved the flip-flop back into the hiding place behind the two-by-four, pulled the RV part out and closed the door. Then she shoved the boxes back in front of it, just in case. It wouldn’t do to have someone else go snooping around in there and find it.

  After addressing the box to her parents at the Desert of Maine, she hopped into the car. The phone she’d tossed onto the passenger seat earlier caught her eye. It was time to call Nans.

  Lexy dialed and waited for Nans to answer. And waited. And waited.

  “Dang it!” Nans wasn’t answering. Lexy had a good mind to hunt her down and find out about the shoe in person, but she didn’t have time. She’d have to hurry if she wanted to get the RV part to the post office and make it to the town hall in time to fill out the final registration forms for the Brook Ridge Dessert contest.

  She’d already neglected her business too much this week and she couldn’t miss out on the contest. Which reminded her, there were quite a few things at the bakery that needed her attention, not the least of which was finalizing the meringue recipe. She couldn’t let investigating Earl’s death cause her business to fall by the wayside.

  She raced to the post office, mailed the part and then headed to the town hall two streets over. As she pulled in, a familiar red Mustang sat in the lot—Violet Switzer.

  Lexy got out of her car and marched into the town hall. She wasn’t about to let a little old lady in a hot rod intimidate her. She pulled the heavy oak and brass doors open and peered inside, expecting to see the tiny, white-haired tornado lying in wait for her. But, to her surprise, Violet was nowhere to be seen.

  Lexy stepped onto the white and tan marble floor of the foyer, marched up to the window and looked through the glass at the clerk, Penny Mayfair, who was seated on the other side.

  “I’d like to register for the Desert Contest,” Lexy said.

  Penny glanced up at her over the rims of her glasses.

  “Oh, hi, Lexy … now, let me see.” She shuffled some papers around on her desk, then frowned. “I think they’re over there.”

  She pushed herself up out of the chair and shuffled over to a tan-colored metal filing cabinet where she proceeded to open the drawers and slowly thumb through the files.

  Lexy tapped her fingernail on the counter while she waited, her checkbook lying open in front of her. It seemed to be taking an awfully long time, and Lexy was lulled into a daze when—

  “Don’t know why you’re bothering.”

  Lexy’s heart leaped at the voice in her ear and she spun around, then looked down to see Violet Switzer sneering up at her, the dessert contest forms clutched in her hand.

  “Hello, Violet,” Lexy said cooly. “I disagree. In fact, I think I have the winning recipe.”

  “Don’t think so, I’ve tasted your cookies.” Violet made an exaggerated pucker-face that accentuated her cross-etched wrinkles. “They’re a bit tart, if you ask me.”

  Lexy frowned, remembering the box of cookies Violet had left on her doorstep. “How did you get my cookies, anyway?”

  “Oh, I have my ways.” Violet shoved her aside, then pushed the papers over to Penny. “Here’s my entry, dear. Now, don’t forget, I want placement in the front center of the table.”

  Lexy’s mouth fell open as she watched Violet slide a twenty-dollar bill across the counter. Penny grabbed the bill and tucked it into her pocket.

  “You can’t do that!” Lexy sputtered. Everyone knew the front center spot on the table where they placed the dessert entries was the most prestigious spot. Lexy had been told the locations were chosen by picking the name out of a hat. She stared at Penny, who just shrugged.

  Lexy turned to Violet to give her a piece of her mind, but her brain seized up. Her mouth hung open and no words came out. The woman had a way of jumbling Lexy’s thoughts.

  Violet sneered up at her and clomped off, the rubber soles of her orthopedic shoes squeaking as she walked toward the exit.

  Lexy turned back to Penny. “Did she just buy the best spot?”

  “What?” Penny’s brows dipped and she stared hard at Lexy. “Certainly not! I have no idea what you are talking about. Here’s your forms.”

  Lexy swiveled her head around to stare at the door as it shut behind Violet, then grabbed the forms from Penny. She’d let Violet get to her again, but that was going to stop right now. She shoved the forms into her purse and sprinted toward the door.

  ***

  Lexy burst out of the door in time to see the Mustang’s tail lights take a right turn out of the lot. She jumped into her VW Beetle and squealed after Violet in pursuit.

  I’ll show Violet Switzer that she’s not the only one who can follow people around and try to intimidate them!

  Lexy followed the Mustang as it wound its way through town, careful to keep a few cars behind her so Violet wouldn’t know she was being tailed. She wasn’t exactly sure what she was going to do, but she knew it was smart to keep the element of surprise on her side.

  Lexy could hardly keep the smile from her face as she pictured the startled look on Violet’s face when she snuck up on her. Hopefully, it would throw her off-kilter, just like Violet had been doing to Lexy.

  Violet pulled into the library parking lot and Lexy circled the block, then pulled in in time to see Violet disappear through the library’s large front door. Lexy whipped into a parking spot and sprinted up the steps, pulling the door open slowly and slithering in behind one of the columns in the foyer.

  Peeking out from behind the column, she scanned the room for Violet. She wasn’t in the main room. Lexy stepped further into the room, just in time to see the top of Violet’s white-haired head disappearing down the stairs. Lexy wondered if that was where they kept the books on intimidating competitors.

  She crossed over to the stairs slowly to give Violet enough time to get down them before she descended.

  Lexy hadn’t been down here in ages and the first thing she noticed was how quiet it was. The carpet and rows of books muted any sound. The second thing she noticed was that it was set up like a maze, with bookshelves shooting off in all directions. How would she ever find Violet in here?

  She started down the main aisle, going slowly and trying not to make any noise as she looked from left to right down the side aisles. They were all empty, which seemed impossible. Violet had to be down here somewhere.

  And then she heard the hushed tones of whispering voices.

  Lexy stopped, cocking her ear in the direction of the voices. They were coming from just up ahead. She crept forward silently, until it sounded like they were in the next aisle. Inching her way to the end of the row, she peered around the corner.

  Violet stood in the aisle, pretending to look at a book. From where Lexy stood, she could see the arm of another woman, also pretending to read a book. It was obvious the two were having some sort of secret conversation.

  Why would Violet be having a clandestine meeting in the library?

  Lexy wondered if it had something to do with the dessert contest. Violet had paid off the town clerk. Maybe she was secretly meeting with one of the judges to bribe—or blackmail—them to vote in her favor. From what Lexy knew of Violet, she wouldn’t put either past her.

  Lexy inched forward … if she could just get a look at the other person or hear what they were saying, it might give her some ammunition with which to fight Violet. She craned her neck, stretching to see the other woman.

  Finally, she caught a glimpse. It was only a partial view of the other woman’s face because she was holding the book up to cover her, but it was enough to set Lexy’s heart pounding. She pulled her head back, gasping in a breath.

  The other woman was Nans.

  ***

  Lexy turned and ran down the aisle toward the stairs. A book fell from the shelf in her wake, clattering to the floor. As she sprinted up the steps, she heard Violet’s startled voice echoing below.

  “Who’s there?”

  Lexy didn’t answer. She turned at the
top of the stairs and, ignoring the librarian’s disapproving look, made a beeline for the parking lot.

  Lexy’s stomach churned. Why would Nans be meeting with Violet? Surely, it couldn’t have anything to do with the dessert contest—as far as she knew, Nans was not involved. But the only other thing she could think of that they had in common was Earl Schute.

  With her head spinning, Lexy pulled out of the library parking lot. She didn’t know what to think. Nans’ oddly disinterested behavior, her lying about talking to the Sullivans, the red flip-flop and, now, this secret meeting, gave Lexy a very bad feeling.

  She didn’t know what was going on with Nans, and she didn’t have much time to figure it out. She pointed the car in the direction of the best people she knew who could help her—Ruth, Ida and Helen.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Lexy found Ruth, Ida and Helen clustered around their usual table in the lobby of the Brook Ridge Retirement Center. The three women looked to be in a heated conversation and, even though Lexy was bursting with the information about Nans, she didn’t dare interrupt.

  “My money is on Nesbaum … he had means and opportunity,” Ida said.

  “But what’s his motive?” Ruth asked.

  “I bet we could dig one up,” Ida replied.

  “Nope, I bet you a twenty it was that Paddy Sullivan.” Helen’s eyes took on a dreamy look. “A man protecting his lady. It’s so romantic, and jealousy is one of the prime motives for murder.”

  “Pshaw,” Ruth cut in. “I raise your twenty to thirty. I think it was that couple, Esther and Ron Witt. He got taken in by Earl’s scam and that’s reason for killing, in a lot of men’s eyes.”

  “What about the stranger?” Ida asked.

  “He probably helped,” Helen answered. “He fits in here, somehow. I’m just not sure exactly how.”

  Ruth scrunched up her face. “But don’t you find it suspicious that they all describe him differently?”

  “Maybe they are covering up for him,” Helen suggested.

  “But how would the neighbors even know this stranger?” Ruth asked. “How would they have gotten hooked up with him?”

  “I don’t know. There seems to still be some missing pieces.” Ida turned to Lexy. “What do you think?”

  That was the problem. Lexy didn’t know what she thought. Should she tell them about the flip-flop and the meeting with Violet? She knew Nans couldn’t possibly have been involved with a murder, so there must be a logical explanation and she knew the ladies would help her find it.

  “I don’t know what to think about who did it, but I have—”

  “It doesn’t matter what you guys think,” Davies cut in from across the lobby. “The Feds have some evidence and I’m afraid it implicates Mona.”

  “What?” Lexy’s heart twisted.

  Davies crossed the room and stood in front of the table. “I hate to tell you, but they said they looked at the old phone records and Mona made a late-night call to the McDonalds in Europe … on the night Earl died.”

  “So? Maybe she was calling them late so it would be convenient in the time zone the McDonalds were in,” Lexy suggested.

  “Maybe, but they also looked into her bank records and it turns out she wrote a check to Earl for two thousand dollars.” Davies shrugged. “And with the lavender sachets being in with the body, the Feds are looking for a woman.”

  “Dang,” Ida said. “That doesn’t look good, especially since she told us she didn’t know about the insurance scam.”

  And that’s not even the worst of it, Lexy thought, the image of the red flip-flop coming to mind.

  “You don’t think Mona’s involved, do you?” Ruth asked Davies.

  “Murder?” Davies shook her head. “Nah. Mona’s not the type. But the Feds don’t know her like we do. That’s why we have to act fast and figure out who did it so we can present them with the evidence.”

  “And just how do you propose we do that?” Ida asked.

  “We already have a bunch of suspects.” Davies held up five fingers pointing to each one as she ticked off the suspects. “We have Nesbaum who refinished the basement, we have Nichols who fought with Earl over their yard, we have Sullivan whose wife Earl harassed, and we have Ron Witt, who fought with him over the insurance scam.”

  “And the stranger,” Ida added.

  “Right, whom they’ve all been describing differently,” Davies reminded them.

  “That’s great, but how do we narrow it down?” Helen’s voice was pitched with a hint of exasperation.

  Davies looked ruefully at the three women. “I’ve come up with a plan, but I’m afraid I can’t include the three of you.”

  “What?” Helen scowled at Davies.

  “Well, I never!” Ida said.

  “Why not?” Ruth asked.

  “The way I see it, we have to get them all together in the same room and force the truth out of them. I need to make it seem official and it’s not going to look that way with the three of you hovering around.” Davies’ face softened. “Sorry. I promise we’ll let you know exactly what happens.”

  “Well, what do you plan to do, exactly?” Ida asked.

  “I’m going to bring them down to the interrogation room. I’ve arranged it so it will seem official, but it’s all off the books, so to speak,” Davies said. “The Feds don’t know about it so we’ll be able to act on the information ourselves first. I suspect someone is lying. Once the truth comes out, we’ll be able to figure out what really happened and capture the real killer before the Feds pin it on Mona.”

  ***

  Davies promised to contact all the suspects and arrange the meeting for later that night. The ladies took their bruised ego’s to their respective apartments and Lexy retreated to her car in the parking lot.

  She felt sick thinking about how the Feds could blame the murder on Nans. But, she had to admit, there was a lot of incriminating evidence stacked up against her grandmother … and some of it the Feds didn’t even know about. Like how she’d lied about visiting the Sullivan’s and how she had a red flip-flop in her garage. Not to mention how Nans had claimed not to know Earl and then backtracked. And now, the fact that she’d called the McDonalds that night and been scammed by Earl.

  But Nans couldn’t be involved. Lexy wouldn’t believe it. Her grandmother spent her time catching criminals … she couldn’t be one. And if it turned out she was involved, Lexy was sure she would have a darned good reason. In fact, she should just come right out and ask her.

  Lexy rummaged through the purse on her lap for the phone, then dialed Nans. Of course, she didn’t answer.

  “Arggh!” Lexy shoved the phone in her purse and tossed it in the passenger seat in exasperation. It tipped, spilling out the forms for the dessert contest.

  I guess I might as well fill these out, Lexy thought. She still had to take care of business, even if Nans was about to be arrested for murder.

  While filing out the forms, her thoughts turned to Violet. Lexy wondered what else the woman had done to secure a first place prize. And why had she been meeting with Nans? Did it have something to do with Earl Schute? Lexy remembered that Violet lived in the neighborhood back then and Sam had said she’d asked about Earl at the pub. Maybe it would be a good idea to pay a visit to Violet. At the very least, Lexy could scare up more information on the contest and how Violet intended to win it.

  Glancing at her watch, she saw she had just enough time before she had to get to Davies’ meeting, so she started her car and pointed it toward Chapel Hill.

  ***

  Lexy didn’t know what she was expecting Violet’s house to look like. She had pictured something dark and gloomy—a dilapidated mansion with turrets and spikes that loomed above her, broken shutters flapping in the breeze. But the house at thirty-three Chapel Hill Drive was exactly the opposite. A neatly trimmed, brick Cape Cod with a white picket fence and lush, colorful gardens. Lexy might not have believed it was Violet’s house if it weren’t for the red Mustan
g in the driveway.

  She made her way slowly up the brick path to the side porch, her heartbeat picking up speed as she got closer to the door. The backyard was filled with several types of purple flowers. The welcoming porch was decorated with rustic birdhouses and colorful, Chippy-paint tables. Two rockers sat empty, but Lexy could tell they were often used. The house exuded charm in stark contrast to its owner.

  Lexy squared her shoulders, stepped up to the door and knocked.

  There was movement behind the starched, white eyelet curtains in the window and Violet’s face peered out, then the door whipped open. Violet stood in the doorway, scowling at her.

  “What are you doing here?”

  Lexy’s gaze drifted over Violet’s head into the gleaming blue and white kitchen. Mixing bowls, measuring cups and various baking ingredients sat out on the counter, but otherwise, the kitchen was neat as a pin. The pungent smell of lemon tickled Lexy’s nose.

  “Hi, Violet” Lexy tried to smile at the formidable woman. “I thought maybe we could be friends. You know, talk about the dessert contest and maybe you could tell me how you know my grandmother.”

  Lexy saw something flash in Violets eye for a second. “What makes you think I know your grandmother?”

  “Well, you lived in that neighborhood, right? The one Earl Schute was killed in.” Lexy tried to shake the woman up, but Violet didn’t flinch. She was staunch as a redwood tree.

  “Yep. So? You think just because I lived near your grandma that we’re gonna be friends?”

  “Well, I was kind of hoping that—”

  Slam!

  Lexy stood, staring open-mouthed at the door that Violet had just slammed in her face.