1 Death by Chocolate

by Carol Lee

“Don’t look so glum, you are getting out of here.”

  “What?” I leaned against the door. The relief that flooded my body made me off-balance.

  “Myra Bailey, I need to tell you that you are being released for now, however, you are not to leave the area since you are still considered a person of interest in the ongoing investigation of the Barbara Simpson’s murder.”

  “I can leave?”

  “Unless you want to stay for some unknown reason, yes.”

  “What’s going on?” I said slowly forming thoughts again.

  “We’re talking with someone else who may have information that is pertinent to the case and so in the interest of making the right arrest, we are not proceeding until there is a bit more investigation.” He looked intently at me.

  “I can leave!” Now I felt new life kick in and I kissed him without even really thinking about it. “Thank you!”

  He laughed. “So that means you are happy about this turn of event?”

  “Thank you,” I repeated.

  He smiled.

  “I hate to rain on your parade, but this is only buying some time for you. You might still not be out of the woods, yet.”

  I took a deep breath. “Who are you questioning?”

  The uniformed officer trying to not be intrusive shuffled some papers.

  David looked at me and then down at his sleeve. He tugged it and said, “I can’t tell you anything about the investigation.”

  I mouthed the word, “Willie.”

  He shook his head and then led me to the desk to sign for my belongings to leave.

  A few minutes later, I walked down the dozen steps of the Police Station and headed for home. I turned on my phone while I walked. I really wanted to talk to Lizzie.

  “Hi, it’s me. Call me when you get this,” I said to her voicemail and then swiped to send her a text. Going home, I typed and sped up the pace.

  As I got nearer to my house, I felt amazingly tired and I desperately wanted a shower to wash off the jail experience.

  Just as I fished the key out of my pocket to unlock the door, my phone rang.

  “Are you still at the Police Station? Are you okay? Are you under arrest? How long can you talk? Did Hunky help get you…”

  “I’m okay and I just got home,” I cut her off. “They let me out because they are talking to Willie. Can you come over?”

  “I’ll be there in ten,” she said and the call ended.

  I walked through the house not really paying attention to much of anything, but feeling like the surroundings were a little unfamiliar. I went into the bathroom and turned on the water to get it nice and hot. I dropped my clothes into the hamper and stepped into a gloriously hot shower. I washed my hair twice and just stood letting the water hit my body for several minutes. The banging on the bathroom door startled me.

  “MB, don’t drown in there.” Called Lizzie.

  “Be out in a minute.”

  I shut off the water, dried and grabbed my robe.

  “So what’s going on?” Lizzie said as soon as I got to the kitchen.

  “I got arrested, but they never brought me to be arraigned because they apparently have Willie in custody and are questioning him.”

  “Weird. Willie doesn’t seem like he’d be able to kill someone.” Lizzie said. “But its good news for you, though!” She opened the freezer, frowned. “I forgot that you had no chocolate.”

  I sat on one of the stools and thought about Willie. He had been arguing with Barbara the night before and anger can do crazy things to people.

  “Hello? What are you thinking about? You look decidedly less excited than I expected.”

  “I don’t think that Willie did murder Barbara.”

  “Why not?”

  “I just think that the chocolate cake on his sleeve is a bit weird. No one has said that she was force-fed the cake.”

  “So?”

  “So, he probably just got chocolate on his sleeve when he wiped his mouth or something. He’s not a violent man. I don’t think he did it.”

  “Again, so?”

  “Oh Lizzie, don’t you get it? If he’s not guilty, then they may come back to me as the killer. We need to find the real murderer.”

  “We need to do what? I’m not sure, MB. I’m all for proving that you are innocent, but…”

  “But what? What better way to clear my name than to actually catch the real murderer?”

  “Okay, I’m in, but maybe for the sake of being thorough I should still go and check on Rachel and her beautiful clothes, I mean motive?”

  “Later. I think that we need to get into the bakery first. Maybe fresh eyes on the crime scene will help us find something to help,”

  “So,” Lizzie picked up my phone, “call Detective Hunky and ask when we can get in.”

  “No, we can’t tell David. Not until we have something solid.”

  “So, let me understand you. You want to break into the bakery?”

  “Yes.”

  “Great, I guess once you’ve been charged with murder a little B&E rap is nothing, huh?”

  Laughing we started considering how to actually get into the bakery. We agreed that we should wait until later that night so there would be less chance of anyone being out. Lizzie gathered the black B&E clothing for us to wear. With our smartphones, we’d have flashlights and cameras to take pictures of anything that we’d find, but getting in remained our biggest challenge. Neither of us had ever picked a lock before and aside from prying open and squeezing into my apartment window while in college when I’d forgotten my key, I’d never broken into anywhere either. I felt a rush of excitement at the thought of the adventure in spite of the fact that I knew how much depended on us finding something.

  Around dinner time, a car pulled up outside. Neither of us checked to see who it was; we just hurried to get the clothes and other things out of sight before anyone came to the door. Lizzie quickly gathered all the clothes and I grabbed the kitchen things that we were considering as possible lock picks. I opened the small drawer in the coffee table and swiped the small forks, lobster picks and knives into it just as the knock came.

  “Green Eyes, are you home?”

  I sighed in relief that it was David and the goofy smile crept back onto my face as I closed the drawer and went to the door. Lizzie came out as I opened the door.

  “Hi, we’re here.”

  “We’re? Oh, hi Lizzie,” he said and closed the door.

  “How are you doing?”

  “I’ve had better days, but I’m okay. Can you tell me anything about what’s going on?”

  “Well, other than Pete being pretty mad that we had to kick you loose. Not too much.”

  “How did you get me out?”

  “Oh well, as much as I’d like to take credit for that, it was the DA who felt that with Willie as a potential suspect, along with you, that it was premature to make an arrest.”

  “Yes, but who brought Willie up to the DA?”

  “Okay, so I might have helped a little.” He smiled.

  “Nice, but can I interrupt the “Love-Fest” for a minute and ask if you think they’ll arrest Willie or will they come for MB again?”

  “I’m not sure, Lizzie. Right now, everyone is hot to get this all wrapped up, but the evidence is sketchy and so either one can get the nod.”

  “Can you think of anything that might help her get off?” Lizzie pleaded.

  “I wish I could, but the fact that the poison was mixed into the frosting of the Death by Chocolate cake that Barbara ate and that the recipe card had been lying under the body makes it a pretty convincing and an easy case.”

  “What do they have on Willie besides the chocolate cake stain on his shirt and the fight with Barbara the night before?” I asked.

  “Honestly, not much. There is some history with them from when Willie hung out with her son, but we haven’t been able to dig up anything concrete about their relationship, as yet.”

  “What about her husband
?” Lizzie suggested.

  “Well, I spoke to him earlier today and he did go to his mother’s house. She has private nursing care in her home and she confirms his story of when he arrived and said that he never left the house until the police came and told him about Barbara’s murder.”

  “I wish it’d been trash day because then the guys would have been able to vouch for me,” I said.

  “It’s too bad there was nothing unusual about that morning that could help you,” Lizzie commented.

  “I know.” My stomach growled. “You know we should think about something for dinner. Can you stay David or do you have to go?”

  “I can stay unless I get called for something.”

  In the kitchen, I took stock of the frozen dinners in the freezer and then opted to make my famous pasta. I went to the cabinet and pulled out a jar of Ragu. I got the water boiling for the pasta and grabbed the loaf of bread. A few minutes later I had buttered some slices and sprinkled them with garlic. I got the plates out to set the table and Lizzie came in as I poured the pasta into the water.

  “Hey, I’m gonna run,” she said and then whispered, “I’ll swing back around midnight. That way you two can have a nice dinner without me as the third wheel.”

  Then I remembered Mark’s visit to the bakery. “Run! Lizzie you’re the best!”

  “I know, but why this time?”

  I went back into the living room and Lizzie followed. I told her and David about the odd visit that Mark made to the bakery yesterday. He looked as though he had already gone running, though he claimed he was just heading out. I remembered the soggy money and excitedly recounted that he asked about business.

  “So, you think Mark killed Barbara to keep you in town?” David said in an ‘I’m trying-to-understand you’ sort of tone.

  “I know it sounds a bit weak when you say it like that, but yes, I think he wants me to succeed in town and to stay here. What better way than to make me the only bakery in town?”

  “Mark can lose his cool,” Lizzie chimed.

  David sighed. “Well, it might not hurt to check him out.”

  “Look, maybe I’m reaching, but he could have been establishing an alibi by coming into my bakery.”

  “I’ll do some checking. I promise, but can’t it wait until after dinner?” he smiled and I melted.

  “Right, so you two have a nice dinner, I’m gonna go. I’ll talk to you later, MB. See you, David,” Lizzie hurried to the door and gave me a thumbs up sign as she left.

  “I’ve got to go check the pasta before it boils over,” I said and went into the kitchen. He followed me into the kitchen and I could feel him watching me as I fished a piece of pasta out to check.

  When I dumped the pasta into the strainer at the sink, David came up behind me and kissed my neck.

  “We’ll get you out of this mess, you know,” he whispered.

  I turned around and looked into his pale blue eyes. I felt like I could be lost in them forever. He pulled me close and leaned in to kiss me. He felt strong and solid and I let myself be held, supported and swept away.

  His phone beeped, but neither of us moved to pull apart. Another minute went by and it beeped again.

  After it beeped a third time, he gently pulled away and checked his phone. I busied myself by running water over the cold pasta and put the jar into the microwave. I tried to keep my legs from quivering too much.

  “It looks like…”

  “You have to go, right?”

  “No, it looks like it wasn’t something that I need to take care of right now. “

  I smiled and felt my face get hot. “I just thought that you would have to go take care of Police business.”

  “Personal business, first. Besides,” the microwave beeped. “It’s been awhile since I’ve had homemade pasta sauce.”

  We both laughed and finished getting the meal ready. We ate, talked and laughed. I completely forgot about everything. The night flew by and I nearly forgot about the next part of the evening. Lizzie texted at 11 and it reminded me to get back to reality. After a lengthy goodbye, I went to answer the text and tell Lizzie that the coast was clear.

  Just before midnight Lizzie and I set out for the bakery clad in black, armed with our phones, a butter knife, lobster pick and a small set of jewelry screwdrivers.

  We walked along the water and kept looking over our shoulders to make sure no one followed us. Neither of us spoke until we got close to the bakery. A twig snapped under my feet and we both scrambled for the nearby trees. My heart pounded and it took several deep breaths to get myself under control.

  “So, we definitely win the bravery award,” Lizzie hissed in a near hysterical whisper.

  “You ready?”

  “I am if you are.”

  We quickly jogged down the street and slipped behind Barbara’s Bakery Brilliance. As we caught our breath, we searched for a possible way into the building. The back door had no window and had a key lock, probably a deadbolt and the doorknob lock. There were two other windows; one to the left of the door about shoulder height and one that appeared to be a basement one on the ground. The higher one had a single pane and no way to open it. We’d have to break it to get in that way and the basement one seemed small and a bit narrow.

  “I think that one is it unless there’s one on the side or something,” Lizzie pointed to the basement window.

  We split up and checked the sides of the building. My side had the large windows with display cases in them and Lizzie’s had one boarded up window that evidently didn’t lead anywhere. Without a saw or something to pry off the boards, that wasn’t an option and it probably had a shelf or something against it on the inside.

  I felt a sense of urgency now that we’d wasted a bunch of time looking for a way to get inside. I knelt down and pushed at the casement window. I hoped it would be unlocked and just push easily, but that didn’t happen. I swiped my phone and picked the flashlight app to size up the window. It looked like there was an old lock on the top –the kind that slid to the side to unlock. I could slip my baby finger into the gap, but couldn’t quite reach the lock. Lizzie tried with her long piano playing fingers and couldn’t do it either. I took the butter knife and slid it into the gap. It reached, but moving the lever proved harder than expected. After several tries it moved ever so slightly. Encouraged, I attacked it with renewed energy and finally it shifted aside. I handed my phone to Lizzie while I shimmied through the narrow window. My feet dangled into the darkness as I lowered myself into the basement. I dropped down onto something solid, but it wobbled and I fell hard onto the floor.

  “Are you okay?” hissed Lizzie and she shined the phone light back and forth.

  “I think so,” I said trying to figure out which way was up in the inky blackness.

  I finally got up and felt my way back to the wall to reach up to the window. Lizzie reached in with my phone and the light.

  “I’ll make my way upstairs and let you in the back.” I told Lizzie. The light only worked for a short distance, but at least it helped me avoid boxes and other obstacles except the low beam near the top of the step. I clunked my head really hard and muffled my shout. Luckily, the door to the upstairs wasn’t locked and I stepped into the kitchen area. The place had an eerie feeling and for a second I considered taking my chance in court. Then I saw Lizzie peering through the window next to the door and got back on track. After all, if my best friend risked getting arrested to help me clear my name, then I needed to step up. I went to the back door and unlocked it. She carefully maneuvered around the crime scene tape marking the door.

  “So, we’re actually doing this, huh?” Lizzie said.

  “Yeah, but if you want to bail, I’ll understand.”

  “What and let you have all the fun in this creepy, dark bakery, not a chance, MB.”

  “Okay, let’s get started,” I said and with that a car pulled up outside. Lizzie eased the door closed. I crouched behind some boxes and Lizzie slid into a space beside the door.
Thudding from my heart filled my ears and I took a deep breath and silently prayed that no one was actually coming. Then a spotlight shone in the window and played over the walls, scanning.

  “Did someone see us, MB?”

  “I don’t know. It might be the Police.”

  The light went off, but the car engine didn’t change. They weren’t gone. My feet started to fall asleep from my crouching position. Neither of us moved or talked. Just as I considered moving, the light snapped on again.

  “Lock the door,” I whispered to Lizzie and she moved a tentative hand to turn the deadbolt. It slid into place, but clicked. The click seemed to echo as if cymbals crashed. She froze. The light didn’t come back. Then I saw her hand dart back to the door. She turned the handset lock and had just withdrawn her hand as the knob jiggled. I wobbled and tried to lean back more into the shadows. I heard a small “eek” noise from Lizzie. I hoped Lizzie pushed the window closed in the basement after I went inside. Finally, after what seemed like hours, a car door closed and the car drove off. I had been in that squatting position for long enough that I wasn’t exactly sure if I could move again.