Case of the Burned Brownies

by Jessica Lansberry

  The plan was set. The three ladies and Susie were going to tuck into a hearty breakfast, made by Beatrice, and then traverse the mountain pass. Beatrice just had to reside herself to the fact that today was going to be a day free of the case.

  It might actually be good for her. She had spent a good portion of the night trying and failing to come up with a new angle to the murder. No matter how she looked at it she just could not figure out a real motive for why Lacey may have been killed. A day off might be just what the doctor ordered. It may clear her mind so she could tackle the problem at hand later on.

  ◆◆◆

  Although Beatrice wasn’t looking forward to the climb at all, she had to admit, that when she finally did reach the top and was able to gaze out over the city, it was all worth it.

  This may have been because the climb itself wasn’t that hard. She had been expecting a very arduous journey to the top of the pass, but was instead greeted by a pleasant stroll.

  As mentioned, the town of Mt. Morte was built into the base of a tall mountain range that snaked its way along the main highway. The climb itself was built into the mountain range and was really more of a steep walk than anything; running up the side of the mountains like a pathway.

  Beatrice had luckily packed her jogging shoes and a few pieces of exercise clothing that more than got the job done. Stella was in the same boat, having expected to go for at least one walk while in Kingstown. Sophie though, well, her outfit again suggested that she had no idea what the original destination of their journey was. Then again, judging by what she pulled from her bag, it was clear that she didn’t have Mexico in mind either.

  Sophie was decked out in the most elaborate hiking outfit that Beatrice had ever seen. She was wearing boots with inch long spikes, a hat so wide brimmed that it was basically an umbrella and had a metal walking stick that seemed to be able to skewer rock. She also covered herself in more pockets and clasps than any one person would ever need with a fanny pack on, a vest with a dozen pockets, shorts with zips and pockets and even her hat had a pocket. As such, Sophie was in charge of carrying everyone's phones, keys and other valuables.

  The climb overall took a little more than three hours to achieve. It would have been less, but Sophie kept disappearing to take photos of random things that she thought was fascinating. Something as simple as an odd shaped leaf could entertain her for hours. Beatrice was sure that when they got back to the hotel, her and Stella would be treated to a full camera presentation of every single photo taken.

  Beatrice couldn’t help but gasp when they finally reached the summit and were able to gaze down on the little town below.

  From where they stood, it looked like the town belonged to a population of ants, everyone and everything was so small. At the very start of the town they could see they could see the hotel they were staying at and at the other end they could see the Mt. Morte Mansion. Beatrice hadn’t even realized until now that these terrible establishments bookended the town.

  In fact, until now, Beatrice really hadn’t even taken into account just how small the town of Mt. Morte really was. She didn’t even need to turn her head to fit all the shops and houses into view. It was the kind of town where everybody knew everyone else, and everyone else knew everything, except for who killed Lacey Parker.

  “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Sophie gushed, taking photo after photo on her phone.

  “It would be better with a glass of wine,” Stella mused, looking less than impressed by the view. She was also rather red in the face, suggesting that the walk had taken its toll on her.

  “Do you ladies want a picture of the three of you?” Susie offered. “I can take it?”

  “Oh! Yes please!” Sophie exclaimed, rushing over to Susie, with her phone held out.

  The three ladies posed in front of the view to have their photo taken. Beatrice was in the middle with the two ladies on either side. From where Susie stood, the backdrop of the tiny town would feature nicely. If it wasn’t for how hot and bothered Beatrice felt, she might have thought it would be a good photo.

  Sophie seemed to think it was going to be a keeper though. She was practically buzzing when the photo was taken and when she took the phone back, placing it carefully in one of her pockets, she kept that same excited expression.

  It was funny how a walk downhill could sometimes seem harder and more difficult than one uphill, even though it really shouldn't, but for some reason the return journey to the car at the base of the mountain range was at least twice as challenging as the walk up had been. This was so much the case that Beatrice all but collapsed into her bed when they arrived home later that evening.

  “This is it. This is how I go,” she moaned as she rolled over, inch by inch, onto her bed. Her legs had never ached so much.

  “I’m going to go look at my photos!” Sophie beamed, hurrying into her room.

  Although she was still wearing her hiking outfit Beatrice was content to pass out asleep right then and there, outfit be damned. Plus, her nose for once wasn’t acting up; although Beatrice guessed this to have something to do with how worn out she was. It was best to take advantage it and get a good sleep for once. She just might have, if it wasn’t for the sudden scream by Sophie in the other room.

  “Sophie!” Beatrice yelled, leaping from her bed with more energy than she would have thought possible. “Sophie, are you OK?”

  Stella was in the room too by the time Beatrice got there, but she didn't look worried or concerned. For some reason, the two ladies were bent over Sophie’s phone, looking at the photos. Stella looked shocked, Sophie looked delighted. Odd, Beatrice thought. The photos weren’t that bad from memory.

  “What was that scream?” Beatrice asked as she approached the two, both still positively engaged in what was on the phone.

  “There’s a naked man on my phone,” Sophie confirmed, smiling merrily.

  “A what?”

  “Look,” she offered, handing the phone to Beatrice.

  Although Sophie had told her there was a naked man on her phone, that was honestly the last thing that Beatrice was expecting. Yet, there it was, as clear as day, a photo of a naked man was on Sophie’s phone.

  “Wait a minute…” Beatrice said, taking a closer look. It was a naked photo that suggested it was taken by the person in the photo. Shot at arm’s length from an angle that made certain things look more impressive than they most likely were, but that wasn’t what interested Beatrice. “I think that’s...I think that’s Derrick?” she said.

  “Lacey’s boyfriend?” Stella asked.

  “Yes,” Beatrice confirmed, now certain that it was. The face was a little blurry, but she could still make out those plump lips and his dark hair. It was definitely him.

  “Here,” Stella began. “I better take another look.” She reached for the phone, only for Beatrice to hold it out of reach.

  “Why is there a naked photo of Derrick on your…” and then it hit her. “Sophie, whose phone is this?”

  “Mine.” Sophie defended.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, I’m… oh wait.” She patted herself down quickly, pausing on one of her many pockets. She unzipped it, pulling out a near identical phone to the one that Beatrice held. “Sorry. This is mine.”

  It was just as Beatrice had thought. The phone that she held in her hand was actually Susie’s. And that meant that for whatever reason, although it didn’t take a genius to work it out, Derrick was sending Susie naked photos.

  So maybe Susie wasn’t having an affair with Buddy, but by the looks of it she was certainly having one with Derrick, her half-sister’s boyfriend.

  And just like that, Susie again rocketed to the top of the suspects’ list. This case was again blown wide open.

  16

  Beatrice just couldn’t sleep and she really did try. At first, she attempted to sleep in her normal position, but that didn’t work. Then she tried her head at the other end of the bed and that didn’t work either. Next, sh
e tried propping her feet up on the walls and after that she even attempted to lie flat out on the floor, but nothing was working and three hours after lights out, she was still wide awake.

  The reason for her currently being wide awake was two-fold.

  First and foremost, she just couldn’t clear her head of the idea that Susie was behind the murder of Lacey. She just didn’t see any other way around it though. Clearly, Susie was having an affair with Derrick and saw that the only way to truly be with him was to kill Lacey.

  As she lay in and out of bed she tried to come up with some sort of other solution, but couldn’t. Worse than that, the more she tried, the more likely the original scenario seemed to fit. Susie, her ex-student, was a murderer.

  The second reason that she couldn’t sleep though had nothing to do with the case. It was simply nose related. Again, no matter what the position was that she lay in, her nose wouldn’t stop running, and her eyes and throat itched. It was relentless.

  She wouldn’t have minded so much if it wasn’t for the fact that she had no idea who much longer she was going to be here for. It could be days more, perhaps even weeks. With that thought placed firmly in the front of her mind, also in an attempt to clear all other thoughts, Beatrice decided that she was going to get to the bottom of this allergy craziness once and for all.

  As quiet as a mouse, Beatrice crept from her bed, opened her door carefully to stop it from creaking, and made her way to the kitchen. She wasn’t going there to bake obviously as only she and the cats were awake. No, she was going to search through the cupboards and check for any signs of what may be causing this reaction.

  Since being here Beatrice had cooked every single meal that she had eaten. She had even bought the ingredients to the food that she had made and eaten, but, as this was a small country town, a lot of the brands that she usually used weren’t available here. So, she was forced to adapt. There was a chance that maybe one of the foods used was giving her this reaction.

  She spent forty-five minutes in the kitchen that night, reading in great detail every single label on every single item of food. Of course, she came up with nothing. It didn't help either that her eyes were so swollen that she could barely read the label.

  After she was through with the kitchen, Beatrice did a full top and tail search of the lobby and dining area of the hotel. It involved being on all fours, tipping up couch cushions, emptying out drawers and moving furniture away from the walls. And still, after all that she came up with nothing.

  That only positive angle that she could spin from the whole ordeal was that by the end of the search, when it was getting well into early morning, Beatrice was so tired that she all but passed out the moment that her head hit the pillow.

  Those few hours spent had also left her free of pondering on the case and that was a frame of mind that she carried with her back to bed. She knew that the moment she woke up, she would again be forced to focus on a case that she was sure was going to have an ending she did not like.

  17

  Beatrice wasted no time in hurrying from the hotel the very next morning. She was up with the sun, meaning that she was operating on very little sleep, and in the shower before the other girls had even woke. Then, as her skin was still drying from the shower, she woke the two ladies up, dragged them from their beds and all but pulled them from the hotel.

  She did this because her nose had offered her a brief respite and she wanted to get into the fresh air before anything bad happened. As soon as the three ladies were on the front driveway, Beatrice took a long, deep breath, relishing in just how fresh and clean the air felt.

  The other reason that she was in such a rush was because she wanted to be out of the hotel before Susie was awake. She didn’t want Susie to corner them and ask what their plans were today, because their plans today, although not directly involving Susie, may have made her slightly upset.

  Beatrice had, as mentioned, spent a very long time the previous night contemplating the idea that Susie was having an affair with Derrick. Although this now seemed likely, she knew that she couldn’t leap headfirst into the fire without first having some proof.

  “Beatrice,” Stella asked, stifling a long yawn. “What are you thinking? Dragging us out so early?” Stella sounded grumpy. Beatrice knew why, and it had nothing to do with her being tired. Stella never liked leaving the house unless she was dressed to perfection, but at the moment, in her grey sweater and sweat pants, matched with her very messy hair, she was anything but well dressed.

  “Ladies, it’s time that the Cookie Club does what it does best. It’s time we snoop.”

  That was the plan. Before Beatrice approached Susie with her accusation, she was going to get some proof, and that proof lay in the townspeople. Surely, one of them could confirm what Beatrice hoped wasn’t true - that Susie was having an affair with Derrick.

  The town of Mt. Morte was one long road and the three ladies were going to walk every foot of it. What was more, Beatrice was all but certain that the people of Mt. Morte were going to be willing to open their doors to them. The one impression that Beatrice had gotten from the people was that they loved a little gossip.

  ◆◆◆

  The main theme of questioning was supposed to be in line with Susie and Derrick’s relationship and just how close the two were. Although this topic was indeed covered, and then some, the townsfolk of Mt. Morte seemed to delight in telling gossip to the likes of which Beatrice could never have imagined. It was always nasty, never boring and usually pointless, but Beatrice still listened with attentive ears, making sure to miss nothing.

  “Oh, that Susie. Well, let me tell you, she had always had an eye for a little bit of young meat, if you catch my drift?” confirmed Frank when they asked him about Susie and Derrick. Although by the way Frank spoke, he seemed to suggest that he was the piece of young meat, despite the fact that he was at least ten years older than Susie.

  “Now I can’t be one hundred percent sure,” began Ms. Weatherly, the second oldest person in town said as she clicked her tongue. “But I believe I saw Susie leaving Derrick's house the night of Lacey’s passing.”

  “Really?” Beatrice asked, intrigued by this very relative piece of information. This could be the big break that they were looking for.

  “Oh, actually it might have been a week earlier and I’m not sure it was Susie that I saw leaving, but mark my words, someone was leaving Derrick’s house.” She was blinking furiously now, with the distinct look of a person that had no idea where they were.

  “Was it Derrick?” Beatrice sighed.

  “Well, it was his house,” Ms. Weatherly said seriously, unaware of how pointless her gossip was. She had effectively just told them that she saw Derrick leaving his own house.

  Most of the gossip that Beatrice was given was just that, gossip. There was a lot of ‘Susie and Derrick seemed to spend an awful lot of time together,” and “I used to catch her staring at him all the time,” but nothing real or concrete. Most of it was usually used to highlight how bad a person Susie was or even worse, how terrible the late Lacey was.

  The closest they got to anything of substance, and that’s not saying a lot, was the information provided by the very male Sally, the owner of the supermarket. “Well, I don’t know if this is anything,” he began as he scratched his chin. “But about three weeks ago I remember Derrick bought a perfume for… well, I assume it was for Lacey. And then the very next day Susie came in and bought the same one.”

  “And?” Beatrice asked, not sure she was following.

  “Well, don’t you see? Susie wanted to smell like Lacey so she could steal him from her or something along those lines. Real predator, that one.”

  “Thanks, Sally,” Beatrice said, turning away, dejected by the ridiculous fault in logic.

  “Hey! How’d you know my name?” he called after her.

  That was how most of the conversations with the townsfolk of Mt. Morte ended. They would begin on a high as the person would bolster
on about the gossip that they had, gossip sure to make your hair curl, but then Beatrice would feel herself deflate as not a single person managed to give her anything useful. At first, she tried to maintain a positive disposition, thanking the person before leaving, but by the end she could barely bring herself to nod a thank you before skulking from the room.

  It wasn’t helped either by the fact that Beatrice lost Stella at the second stop - the police station. After Handy refused to answer any questions, he ‘arrested’ Stella and dragged her back to one of the cells, Stella laughing and howling the whole way.

  Beatrice then lost Sophie a few stops later when Jackson, one of the men from the wakes after-after party, invited Sophie to go butterfly catching. Beatrice of course let her go, Stella too. She couldn’t blame the two ladies for wanting to actually take advantage of their time here, but she couldn’t, she had promised them a vacation after all. It was just Beatrice was caught up in this mystery so there was no need for them to suffer.

  As the day wound to another unsuccessful end, Beatrice approached the hotel where she was staying, the hotel where Susie worked, knowing that there was only one thing that she could do now. She just hoped that she had the guts.

  18

  The lovely weather that had accompanied Beatrice all morning had started to take a turn for the worse. As she walked up the driveway toward the hotel the sun disappeared behind a grouping of thick, black clouds and a cold wind picked up. It was almost as if the weather was aware of Beatrice’s predicament and decided to provide for her the proper setting.

  Although it was all mainly gossip, every single person in town seemed to think to some degree or another that Susie had a thing for Derrick. Some seemed to believe that they were having an outright affair, while others just thought she harbored feelings for him. Even if none of it was true, it still left Beatrice in the same spot she had been when she woke up.