Deadly Desserts (Sky High Pies Cozy Mysteries Book 6)

by Mary Maxwell

  Pinky shook her head. “I don’t want to discuss poor, poor Lacy. It’s just so sad, you know? So incredibly sad. It’ll be hard enough to enjoy my dinner knowing that my flower shop has been an accomplice to marital discord for the past few months.”

  “Oh, come on!” Barb said again. “You’re not guilty of any crime, sis. I mean, sure you knew that he was sending flowers to another woman. And, you knew he was doing it on a weekly basis. But as far as any kind of conspiracy, I disagree. Lacy was a grown woman. And we all know that if you play with fire, you just might get burned.”

  Pinky reached over and swatted her sister’s hand. “Shame on you,” she said sharply. “Our friend’s dead. And if she was having an affair with…” She stopped long enough to take a deep breath. “Well, if she and Nathaniel have been carrying on, then maybe…”

  There was no need to finish the thought; all three of us were on the same wavelength.

  While the two sisters sat in stunned silence, I got up from the booth and slipped my purse under one arm.

  “Where are you going?” Pinky asked.

  “I need to make a quick call,” I explained. “And you two have some barbecue to enjoy.”

  CHAPTER 34

  Blanche Speltzer was in the shampoo aisle at CVS when I came around the corner searching for the next item on my list. After shopping at Food Town, I’d decided to make one more quick stop before heading home to get dinner started.

  “Isn’t this something?” Blanche purred. “I was just thinking about you.”

  I pointed at the tidy rows of multicolored bottles. “Because I’m always as crisp and organized as these shelves?”

  Her mouth wriggled into a bemused frown. “No, Katie. That’s not why. When was the last time anyone used ‘crisp and organized’ to describe you?”

  I thought for a second or two. “Sixth grade? I have a fuzzy memory of Miss Warner praising my penmanship on an essay I wrote about—”

  “So, anyway,” Blanche interrupted, rolling her eyes for emphasis. “You came to mind because I was thinking about Lacy Orvane.”

  The sudden shift in subject matter triggered a rush of images in my mind: Lacy on the floor, struggling to breathe; Dina questioning everyone in the conference room at Portia’s furniture store; Thomas Green explaining that—

  A hand tugged at my sleeve.

  “Earth to Katie!” Blanche smiled. “Where’d you go?”

  “Sorry, Blanche. I was just thinking about Lacy.”

  She reached up to pat my shoulder. “Oh, I know, I know. Such a sad, sad thing.”

  We stood in the middle of the aisle, sharing a solemn moment of silence. When a man in another part of the store yelped loudly about his Powerball numbers, Blanche took her hand from my shoulder and grumbled about people forgetting to use their indoor voices when they were in a public place.

  “It’s like all decorum and respect have just flown the coop,” she muttered. “People shriek like mad hens no matter where they are.”

  “I know,” I said, lowering my voice. “I’m probably guilty of doing that from time to time.”

  She winked at me. “Well, since you mentioned it, I’ll have to agree. I was in Tipton’s one day not too long ago, buying a little hooch for my bridge club, and I heard you yapping about your brother and his girlfriend.”

  I blushed. “Oh, really? That was a couple of weeks ago. Brody and…” I paused when I saw the sneaky grin on her face. “Oh, no you don’t! You just want me to tell you what was going on because you didn’t hear everything that I told Bev and Lorraine.”

  Blanche winked again. “You’re too smart for your own good, Katie. I remember what a hellcat your brother was when he was my student. I haven’t heard you talk about him much lately, so…” She tilted closer and glanced around. “…now that it’s just the two of us, why not indulge an old woman and tell her what that little devil is up to these days?”

  I smiled. “For starters, ‘that little devil’ is a grown man. And for another, it wasn’t anything bad. His girlfriend got a huge promotion at the television station in San Diego. She’s now anchor for the prime time news.”

  Blanche frowned. “That’s all?”

  I nodded.

  “No scandal?” she asked. “No shame and disgrace?”

  “Sorry to disappoint you.”

  “Oh, that’s okay, Katie. I’m actually glad for your brother.”

  “Because his girlfriend got a big promotion?”

  She giggled. “No, because he has a girlfriend. I remember when he was a senior and Marti Nelson broke his heart. He moped around school like a lost puppy for the longest time.”

  “Yeah, that was pretty horrible. But he’s bounced back nicely. He’s got a great job. He’s doing a lot of volunteer work. And he’s in love with a wonderful woman.”

  She smiled, but it quickly faded. “Okay, so what’s going on with your investigation?”

  “My what?”

  She smirked. “Don’t play coy, Katie. I’m talking about Lacy Orvane.”

  “It’s not my investigation,” I said. “I’m just doing a little snooping around to help Dina Kincaid.”

  Blanche’s eyes twirled in a circle. “Yeah, sure. That’s the party line. I get it, Katie. But I know you’re still passionate about solving crimes. After all those years as a private investigator, I think it would be next to impossible to just stop using that part of your brain.”

  “You’re right. And it is. But Dina’s conducting the official inquiry. I’m just…well, you know. As you said, I’m just using that part of my brain to try and look at things from a different perspective.”

  She laughed again. “And what do you see from that different vantage point?”

  “I’ve got a couple of hunches.”

  She leaned in. “Go on, dear. I’m listening.”

  “I can’t say anything at this point, Blanche. I wouldn’t want to falsely accuse someone or cast aspersions.”

  She scoffed. “Oh, why not? Cast away! Spill the beans! Go for broke!”

  “I know you’re curious,” I said. “But I really shouldn’t say anything. Out of respect for Lacy. And the process of identifying the person responsible for her death.”

  The bemused smirk on her face softened. “Well, curiosity doesn’t mean I don’t respect Lacy. She was a sweetheart, wasn’t she now? A really kind and gentle young woman who lost her way.”

  I asked Blanche to explain the pointed remark.

  “What’s to explain?” she asked. “You lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.”

  I winced. “I’m actually surprised to hear you say that, Blanche. One minute, you’re describing Lacy as a sweetheart. And in the very next breath, you’re judging her for…for what? Having an affair?”

  Between my words and the slight edge in my voice, I could tell that I’d struck a nerve. Blanche’s gaze flashed with disapproval for a brief moment. Then she calmly announced that she wasn’t being judgmental.

  “Then what do you call it?” I asked.

  She raised one eyebrow. “Being honest, Katie. Everyone in town knew that Lacy broke up with Ron because he wasn’t ambitious enough for her. And because he’d never earn enough to satisfy her expensive tastes.” She paused, lifting one hand to her chin. “And before you accuse me again of being judgmental, none of what I’m saying would surprise Lacy one little bit. She and I talked about this quite a few times.”

  “You did?”

  Blanche nodded. “Yes, we did. I may be an eighty-year-old widowed relic, but Lacy and I got together for tea every so often. We really connected when she was my student. I don’t know if you remember or not, but she was deeply troubled when her parents divorced during her sophomore year. I became an unofficial counselor for her, a sounding board whenever she needed help unraveling her emotions. During the past few weeks, we talked about her affair on more than one occasion, although I never asked for the man’s name or anything that might identify him.”

  “Sounds pretty tac
tful,” I suggested. “And very, very kind of you to listen.”

  “Oh, I listened alright. But I also talked. I advised her to end the dalliance. A man like that is nothing but a skunk in disguise, Katie.”

  “Meaning?”

  She shrugged. “Meaning any number of things. If he thinks you might tell his wife? He makes a stink. If you show up at his place of business without an invitation? He makes a stink. If you threaten to tell anyone about the affair? He—”

  “I get it,” I said. “He makes a stink. Do you think that’s why he poisoned Lacy?”

  Blanche smiled. “Who said it was him?” she asked. “Unless you’re telling me that your investigation is pointing at the man she was involved with.”

  “No, no. That’s not what I meant.”

  “Well, it’s essentially what you said, dear. And, to be honest, Lacy never gave me any impression the man could be violent. It sounded like things were hunky-dory. I mean, as hunky-dory as they can be when you’re carrying on with a married man. At least, they were until Lacy asked him to leave his wife.”

  “You and she talked about that?”

  Blanche nodded. “It’s like I told you, Katie. We talked a lot about her troubles. She was really struggling with the whole idea of having an affair. I think she got in way over her head because she didn’t know what to do about Ron. The affair was more like a diversion for her, you know? Something to take her mind off other things. Not that I condone what she did; sin is sin, no matter how much lipstick you put on it.”

  “I never knew that you and Lacy were so close, Blanche.” I felt my heart expand with the thought of the sassy retired history teacher comforting Lacy during their conversations. “That’s so sweet of you!”

  She shrugged off the compliment. “I’ve had the same conversation more than once in my life,” Blanche said. “Plenty of single women get involved with married men. I don’t exactly understand the phenomenon, but I know of quite a few right here in Crescent Creek.”

  “Quite a few?” I asked in disbelief. “You mean, now? Or are you talking about back in the old days?”

  She smiled. “Now and then,” Blanche said with a sly wink. “Some you know, others you don’t.”

  “And we’re talking about someone besides Lacy?”

  She nodded.

  “How many?”

  She grinned again. “I can’t divulge all of their identities, but I will give you one name.”

  “Why only one?”

  “Because I’ve heard some things around town,” Blanche said, moving closer and lowering her voice. “I’ve also seen a few things, too. And I’m starting to suspect she might be involved with what happened to our dear friend Lacy.”

  CHAPTER 35

  “I got your message,” Zack said, coming through the front door of my apartment that night. “But I have a couple of questions first.”

  I put down the can of red beans that I was getting ready to rinse. We’d decided on chili for a quick and easy meal to accompany an old Humphrey Bogart movie.

  “Yes,” I said. “And absolutely yes.”

  He smiled, shifting the messenger bag on his shoulder. “What’re you talking about?”

  I gave him a kiss. “You said you had questions. I was answering in advance.”

  He put the bag on the counter before pulling me close. We shared another warm, prolonged kiss before he whispered in my ear.

  “What did you think I was going to ask?”

  “If I loved you. And if I’m fixing cornbread to go with the chili.”

  His laugh went straight through me. “You, Kate Reed, are an amazing woman. But you cannot read minds at all.”

  After he’d pulled his laptop out of the messenger bag and walked into the living room, I went back to work on the chili. He joined me a few minutes later, smelling of soap and mouthwash.

  “Okay, chef. Put me to work!”

  “I’ve got this,” I said, nodding across the room at an unopened bottle of wine. “But do you mind pouring us a glass of merlot?”

  “Can do.” He rummaged in the drawer for a bottle opener. “And, may I say, that chili smells incredible!”

  “I hope so. It’s my mother’s recipe.”

  While he took care of the wine, I added the beans to the pot and lowered the flame. The kitchen was filled with a spicy aroma that always reminded me of long ago family dinners. My sister, brother and I always pitched in, chopping onions, opening cans and browning the ground beef while my mother made cornbread from scratch. Sometimes it was plain, on other occasions it would be enhanced with diced jalapeño peppers and big chunks of cheddar cheese.

  “Okay, Kate,” Zack said, filling two glasses with the red wine. “Why’d you ask me to bring the laptop?”

  “I need you to work your Photoshop magic,” I answered. “It’s for the Lacy Orvane case.”

  He handed one glass to me, we touched rims and then took a first sip.

  “That’s awesome, babe! Is it from Tipton’s?”

  I nodded. “Another Liquor Mart bargain! It was marked down to six bucks.”

  He raised the glass and drank more wine. “Money well spent, gorgeous.”

  “I’m glad you like it!” I checked the flame under the chili, lowered it a bit more and then suggested we adjourn to the living room while our dinner simmered.

  “Adjourn?” Zack laughed.

  I smirked at his silly grin and grabbed his hand. Once we were situated on the sofa, I explained my idea about using Photoshop to create a few composite images that I could show to Colin Drake.

  “Okay, hang on a sec,” Zack said when I finished. “You think someone in a Halloween costume bought a sandwich at the deli to try and frame Nathaniel Craig?”

  I reached for my wine. “I didn’t say anything about Halloween?”

  He shrugged. “Might as well have.”

  “It’s more like…” My mind filtered through the options. “…like camouflage,” I said. “They dressed in a fake mustache, sailing jacket, baseball cap and sunglasses to try and hoodwink Colin.”

  “Into what? Thinking they were someone else buying lunch for the bank president?”

  “Exactly!”

  “So that they could make the police believe that Nathaniel Craig poisoned Lacy?”

  I leaned over and planted a big kiss on his cheek. “Now you’re speaking my language, handsome!”

  He sighed and shook his head. “I’ll be happy to Photoshop a few pictures, Kate. But doesn’t the PD have computer techs that could handle this?”

  “Of course, but I want to explore my hunch before I share it with Dina.”

  “Is that code for get involved with something dangerous?”

  “No way,” I answered with a laugh. “I’ve got all the danger I can handle right here with you.”

  He put down his wine and moved closer. “And now, Miss Kate Reed, you’re speaking my language!”

  CHAPTER 36

  The next afternoon, when the lunch traffic had thinned to a trickle and the bookkeeping was sufficiently under control, I asked Julia if she could manage the rest of the Sky High day without me.

  “On one condition,” she said.

  “What’s that?”

  “You explain how you burned the chili last night?”

  I frowned slightly. “How do you know about that?”

  She pointed her whisk at the sink on the other side of the kitchen. “I saw the evidence,” she said. “That pot is normally upstairs in your apartment. And the crusty gunk in the bottom definitely looks like scorched chili.”

  “How can you be so sure?”

  She smiled. “Despite my sterling reputation as the chef of this fine bakery café,” she said, “I’ve burned my share of things before.”

  “Including chili?”

  “Yep, including chili. So? What’s the story with the burned pan?”

  I giggled and blushed. “I really don’t think…” One hand covered my mouth as the silly snicker erupted into a full laugh. “Mayb
e another day,” I said eventually. “Until then, I’m going to run a couple of errands, okay?”

  She winked, gave me a pat on the rear and told me to drive safely.

  “Don’t I always?” I asked going out the backdoor and heading for my car.

  I’d just climbed behind the wheel when Dina called. I considered letting it go to voicemail, but then figured it would be best to see what she needed before I left the Sky High parking lot.

  “What are you up to?” she asked.

  “Following a couple of hunches.”

  She asked for details.

  “I’m on my way to see Colin Drake,” I explained. “And then Brewster McCoy.”

  She snickered. “Getting a tattoo, huh?”

  “No, just following up on something. If my hunch is right, you’ll be the first to know.”

  “Think you can meet me in an hour or so?” she asked. “Maybe at Java & Juice?”

  “Sure, I can do that. Is everything okay?”

  “More or less. I’ll tell you when I see you.”

  I thought about Dina’s mysterious request as I drove across town to Drake’s Deli. I suspected it was related to Lacy’s death, but I couldn’t decide what she wanted to discuss. After parking in front of the sandwich shop, I laughed again when I saw the neon sign in the front window. It had changed slightly since my last visit: OPEN TIL ID IGHT!

  When I pushed through the door a few seconds later, Colin was behind the counter finishing up with a man dressed in running tights, a puffy jacket and sleek orange sneakers. I’d seen the guy around town a few times, but didn’t know his name. I took a seat at one of the tables near the register to wait.

  “Twice in one week,” Colin said after the runner left with his sandwich. “To what do I owe the honor?”

  “To be honest, I wanted to ask you about something. Although, it’s always nice to get away from Sky High and see another local entrepreneur in action.”