Meringue and Murder

by Wendy Meadows

  “Sure,” said Margaret. “Where are you going?”

  “Just going to hang with a friend or two,” said Zach.

  “Where?” asked Margaret.

  “Not sure. Here and there,” said Zach evasively.

  Margaret frowned. “What’s going on, Zach? Why can’t you tell me where you’re going?”

  “Mom, I am twenty years old. I’m not sure where we are going to end up. I will be home for dinner,” he reassured Margaret.

  “Okay,” said Margaret reluctantly. After Zach left, Margaret asked Patty if they had sold any raffle tickets.

  “Oh, we sold quite a few,” said Patty. “Everyone loves a good cause. And candy.” She laughed.

  “Wonderful,” said Margaret. She didn’t feel as happy as she sounded. She wondered where Zach had been going the past few days. She decided to put it on a back burner for now and concentrate on finding out what happened to Mr. Stewart.

  Chapter 7

  Margaret spent the rest of the afternoon making candies. She had the ingredients left over from the other day and she wanted to restock her shelves. Margaret made more of the fall balls and some more cranberry marshmallows. She was just starting the turkey truffles when Patty said Simone was in the front and wanted to see her. Margaret washed her hands and dried them on the apron she was wearing. She took off the apron and stepped out to the front of the store.

  Simone had on a flouncy dress that she had probably gotten from an estate sale. She was always wearing older clothes, but she pulled it off.

  “Hi, Simone,” said Margaret. “What can I do for you?”

  “Hey, Margaret,” said Simone. “I wanted to stop by and drop off some of the proceeds from the raffle. I sold most of my tickets. Do you have any more?”

  “Wow,” said Margaret. She was happily surprised. “I didn’t expect them to sell that quickly.”

  “Well, what can I say? People love your candies,” said Simone. “In fact, can I have a quarter pound of mixed chocolates?”

  “Absolutely,” said Margaret. She went behind the counter and gathered an assortment for Simone. Patty went into the back and reappeared with some more raffle tickets.

  “Where did those come from?” asked Margaret.

  “Well, Zach and I thought you didn’t make enough tickets up for the raffle. While you were out earlier, Zach went to the library and made some more copies,” Patty explained.

  “That was sweet of you both,” said Margaret.

  “Well, we figured you had a lot on your mind and could use the help,” said Patty.

  “Thank you,” said Margaret. Patty gave the tickets to Simone.

  “I have to get back to my shop. Good luck with the raffle,” said Simone as she left.

  Margaret went back into the kitchen. She started on the truffles again. Once she had the chocolate made, she put it into the refrigerator to get firm before she rolled it. Margaret went back into the store. It was getting close to closing time.

  “Patty, if you want to leave you can,” said Margaret. “I can take care of closing.”

  “Thank you, Margaret,” said Patty. “I have to give my children a call tonight. I want to see what their holiday plans are.”

  “Okay,” said Margaret. “See you tomorrow.” Patty left. A woman walked in just then and bought some assorted candies, and after she was done Margaret turned the sign to Closed. As she was closing down her register, she heard a knock on the front door. It was David.

  “I thought you had Ariel tonight,” said Margaret after she let him in.

  “I thought so too. We decided I’ll have her over tomorrow. Her mom called, and we talked for a bit,” said David.

  “Is everything okay?” asked Margaret.

  “Yes. She and I decided that Ariel should be with me for Thanksgiving,” said David.

  “That is wonderful,” said Margaret.

  “Yes,” said David. “It makes me happy to be with her.”

  “I’m sure it does,” said Margaret. She had finished with the register and was putting the lids on her candy jars.

  “What are your plans for Thanksgiving?” asked David.

  “I hadn’t really thought about it,” said Margaret. “When we were living with Zach’s father it was no big deal. He would get drunk and pass out watching football. We were never sure if we would have a turkey or not. It was not a pleasant holiday for us.”

  “I am sorry to hear that,” said David.

  “Well, I might take Zach over to the nursing home to see my parents. Maybe we will pick up some Chinese food or something,” said Margaret.

  “At least you will be with your family.”

  “Yes. That is the most important thing,” said Margaret.

  “It certainly is,” said David.

  “I was thinking about our case,” said Margaret, changing the subject. She had not thought about Thanksgiving dinner and now she felt she owed Zach a good one. The thought of cooking a big meal was intimidating and nerve-wracking. Margaret decided to concentrate on the case instead.

  “What were you thinking?” asked David.

  “We should go around and interview people. Someone may have seen something that they thought was no big deal, but could help with the case,” said Margaret.

  “That sounds like a good idea, but I have Ariel all day tomorrow,” said David.

  “Well, I could go around and interview people,” said Margaret. “We could meet at your office afterwards and I can fill you in on what I have found.”

  “That would work,” said David. “I trust your interview skills.”

  Margaret smiled.

  “Well, I have to get back to my truffles,” said Margaret. “I thought I’d get some of those done before going home for the day.”

  “Okay,” said David. “See you tomorrow.”

  David left, and Margaret went into the kitchen. Her chocolate was firm. She shaped it with her hands and made balls. She then dipped the balls in chocolate shavings to look like wings. Margaret attached a small chocolate ball atop a larger one and then attached a candy corn nose and made wings with icing. Margaret smiled and admired her turkeys. She stuck them in the refrigerator and turned off the kitchen light. Margaret locked the store and drove home. When she got there, Zach was home. Margaret was glad to see him.

  “Where were you today?” she asked Zach.

  “Hanging around,” said Zach.

  “Who were you with?” asked Margaret.

  “No one you would know,” said Zach evasively.

  “How do you know I wouldn’t know them?” asked Margaret. “I have plenty of customers you don’t know.”

  “Because they’re not from our part of town,” said Zach. “Now are we going to play twenty questions or are you going to eat the meatloaf I made?”

  “Fine,” said Margaret. She hoped Zach knew what he was doing. He seemed to be avoiding her questions and Margaret was worried.

  “You know, if you are in any trouble you can tell me,” said Margaret.

  “I know,” said Zach, rolling his eyes. “I’m fine, Mom.”

  “Okay,” said Margaret, but she didn’t feel reassured. After she solved the case Margaret would sit down with Zach and find out what was going on. Meanwhile, she enjoyed the meatloaf that Zach cooked.

  “I wanted to thank you for making more raffle tickets,” said Margaret. “Simone came by and she needed more.”

  “Great,” said Zach. “The money we raise will go a long way toward helping those shelter dogs.”

  “Yes,” said Margaret. “I think Sylvia is feeling Mr. Stewart’s absence as much as we are.”

  “Probably.”

  “Thank you for making dinner,” said Margaret.

  After dinner, Margaret did the dishes. Zach said he needed to make a call and he went to his room. Margaret tried not to worry as she got things organized for breakfast the next day. She went into the living room and watched a movie on TV until she was tired. Zach had gone to sleep so Margaret went to her room. She got
in bed and tried to put her mind at rest to get a good night’s sleep. Knowing that she was on Mr. Stewart’s case helped her drift off for the night.

  Chapter 8

  The next morning, Margaret made breakfast and waited for Zach to come downstairs. She thought about how she would approach people when she interviewed them. She would rather have had David along, but he had to watch Ariel. Margaret heard a thumping noise and Zach appeared in the kitchen.

  “Good morning,” said Margaret.

  “Morning,” said Zach. He sat at the table and Margaret made him a plate of scrambled eggs.

  “These look great,” said Zach. He wolfed down half the plate before Margaret sat down.

  “What’s the rush?” asked Margaret.

  “It’s nothing,” said Zach. “I’m meeting someone before work.”

  “Kind of early to be meeting someone,” said Margaret.

  “Well, this is the best time they have today. Otherwise I won’t get a chance to hook up with them,” said Zach.

  “Hook up with them? What are you doing, meeting a drug dealer?” asked Margaret, only half joking.

  “No, Mom, I’m not,” Zach reassured her. “Look, I have to run. I will see you at the shop in an hour.” Zach gulped down his coffee and practically ran out of the house. Margaret heard him pull out of the driveway. She shook her head and washed the dishes. Since she had some time, Margaret decided to go to the shop early and start some more truffles. Margaret drove to work and prepped for opening. She didn’t unlock the front door, but instead went into the back and cooked up some chocolate for the truffles. When she had the trays lined with the chocolate, she put them in the refrigerator and opened the store. There were no customers, but Patty was waiting outside. Margaret saw Zach pull up when she let Patty in.

  “Good morning,” said Patty. “What is in store for us today, I wonder?”

  “Well, I will be starting up my detective work on Mr. Stewart’s case this morning,” said Margaret. The door opened, and Zach appeared. He was out of breath, but he got himself together.

  “Will you be working with David today?” asked Patty.

  “I had hoped to, but he has to watch Ariel. I am going to go and interview some people and then I will meet him at his office to let him know what I found out,” said Margaret.

  “I could watch Ariel,” said Zach.

  “You would be willing to do that?” asked Margaret.

  “Sure,” said Zach. “I could take her to see the dogs when I play with them and I will take her to lunch at the café. Otherwise she can help around the store.”

  “I bet she would love that,” said Margaret. “Let me call David.” Margaret called David and the detective jumped at the opportunity. Margaret hung up.

  “He said he will be over in a few minutes. Thank you again, Zach,” said Margaret, giving her son a hug.

  “It’s not a big deal,” said Zach. “She seems like a cute kid.” Zach ducked his head and got out of the hug.

  “She is,” said Margaret, smiling.

  “I will help Zach with Ariel,” said Patty.

  “I know he’ll appreciate that,” said Margaret to Patty.

  “I sure will,” said Zach.

  A few minutes later the door opened, and David appeared with Ariel.

  “Hello, Ariel,” said Margaret. “How are you today?” Ariel ducked behind David’s legs.

  “Hey now,” said David, pulling Ariel around to the front. “You remember Margaret and her son, Zach, and my friend Patty.” Ariel ducked her head. Margaret smiled.

  “I bet Zach can find a piece of candy that you would like. Do you think you could do that, Zach?” asked Margaret.

  “I can try,” said Zach, “but I will need Ariel’s help. Can you help me?” Zach held out his hand and Ariel walked over. She took his hand and he led her to the candy counter. Zach boosted her up so she could see the jars of candy. Ariel giggled and pointed to a jar. Zach set her down and brought the jar to her level.

  “Go ahead and take one,” said Zach. “These are my favorite, too.” Ariel smiled and reached in the jar. She pulled out a large lollipop.

  “That should keep her busy for the morning,” said David.

  “I am sure it will,” said Margaret.

  David walked over to Ariel. He handed Zach her backpack.

  “Here are some things she may need,” David said to Zach. Then David bent over and hugged Ariel.

  “You have fun and listen to Zach and Patty, okay?” said David. Ariel nodded and held up her lollipop to Zach.

  “Will you open this please?” Ariel asked Zach.

  “I sure will,” Zach replied. “Ariel, do you like puppies?”

  Ariel’s eyes lit up. She nodded. “I love puppies,” she said.

  “Well, we are going to go and see some special puppies today,” said Zach. Ariel laughed and clapped.

  “I will bring her car seat in for you,” said David. He went outside and returned a few minutes later with a booster seat.

  “Thank you,” said Zach. He turned to Ariel. “Let’s see if we can fit this in my car, okay?”

  “Okay,” said Ariel, taking Zach’s hand. They went outside. David looked relieved.

  “I think she will be fine,” said Margaret.

  “I am sure of it,” said David. “Now are you ready to find out what we can about this case?”

  “Yes, I am,” said Margaret. She and David left the store.

  “I thought we might look through Mr. Stewart’s office first and see what was supposed to be happening the day he died,” David suggested. “Also, the forensics team got back to me. They found a sliver of a fingernail on Mr. Stewart’s body. They are working to try to identify who the nail belongs to but that could take a while. They also said his bruises look like the result of a hit and run. Maybe we will find something helpful at the office.”

  “That sounds like a good place to start,” said Margaret.

  She and David walked across the street and went into Mr. Stewart’s office. The desk in the front was messy but mostly organized. Margaret soon determined which piles were bills, which were receipts, and which were personal mail. She and David sorted through the mail. There was nothing of interest in the bills and receipts. Margaret saw bills for grooming products and equipment. Receipts for dog food and other items. The personal mail pile was not too big and mostly consisted of letters from people like Sylvia whom Mr. Stewart had helped.

  There was an anonymous letter in the pile, though, that seemed like it could be something to look into. According to the letter, Mr. Stewart was “at fault” and he needed to own up to what he had done.

  “I wonder what the letter is referring to,” said Margaret.

  “Why don’t you check his answering machine and I will check in the back for his appointment book,” David suggested. “Maybe our answer is in one of those places.”

  Margaret pushed the message button on Mr. Stewart’s answering machine. There were some messages about cancelled appointments and some other ones asking for appointments. Margaret listened to them, but nothing stood out.

  Then Margaret heard a message that sent chills up her spine. She found David and told him to listen to the message. It was a threat against Mr. Stewart from someone named Rocky.

  “Do you have any idea who this Rocky is?” asked David.

  “No, I don’t. Mr. Stewart was a very private person,” said Margaret.

  “Well, he has a sister who is in jail. Maybe she would know,” said David. “I already talked to his wife. She has no idea who would have killed her husband. I’ll have to talk to her again and see if she knows someone named Rocky.” Mr. Stewart’s wife was in prison for murder—another case Margaret had helped solve.

  “His sister is in jail?” asked Margaret, alarmed.

  “Yes. I only found out after he died. There was a flag when we entered his name in the obituary listing. I’ll call the jail and make arrangements to speak to her after we talk to Mr. Stewart’s former clients,” sa
id David.

  “Why is his sister in jail?” asked Margaret.

  “I didn’t have time to look that up,” said David. “I can find out later.”

  “Okay,” said Margaret. She followed David to his car. David drove out to the first name on the list he had found in the back office. It was a man named Buck Penny. He had a Great Dane that Mr. Stewart groomed. Mr. Penny answered the door when they knocked. Margaret saw the large dog sitting on the sofa.

  “Oh, don’t mind him,” said Buck. “He’s a big goofball. I probably could do his grooming, but Mr. Stewart had a great touch with his animals. Booboo just sat quietly for Mr. Stewart all the time.” Booboo got off the sofa and walked over to Margaret and David. Booboo’s head nearly came up to Margaret’s shoulders.

  “He is a very big dog,” she said. Booboo sat in front of Margaret and held out a paw.

  “Oh, he likes you,” said Buck. Margaret smiled and shook the dog’s paw. Booboo got up and went back onto the sofa.

  “He is well behaved,” said Margaret.

  “Was there something you needed?” Buck asked David. “I assume you’re here because of Mr. Stewart’s passing.”

  “Yes, we are,” said David. “Can we ask you a few questions?”

  “Sure,” said Buck. “Would you like to sit down?”

  “No, thank you,” said David. “This will only take a few minutes.”

  “Okay,” said Buck. “Why don’t we go out front then?” They stepped back onto his porch.

  “How would you characterize your relationship with Mr. Stewart?” asked David.

  “Well, I have known Mr. Stewart for a while but I would not say we were friends. We were more like acquaintances,” said Buck.

  “Did you like the way Mr. Stewart conducted business?” asked David.

  “Yes. He was kind to my dog. I know some people thought he was rude, but I liked him. He was straightforward and honest in his business dealings,” said Buck.

  “Who thought he was rude?” asked Margaret.

  “It would be easier to list the people who didn’t think he was rude,” said Buck. “If you are going down his client list I’m sure you will run into someone who didn’t care for Mr. Stewart soon enough.”