A Cup of Murder (18 page)

David quickly answered. "Of course not. I
want to put together everything you have said so I can convince the
Chief to take a different look. He is a fair man and I know the truth
is everything when it comes to getting the right person. It doesn’t
matter who that person is."

"Okay," I said. "Please do convince
the Chief. Jacob shouldn’t spend another night in this place. You
have an innocent man locked up. Besides, we need him at Roasted Love,
where he belongs."

"Don’t worry, Laila. You’ve given me a
lot of new insight into this mess. We questioned Jen Perry, too. She
could easily have done it."

"No, she didn’t. She knew Michael was dying
of cancer. He broke things off with her because he didn’t want
anyone around him. She understood that." I took a deep breath.
"She was hurt for sure. After all, they had a good thing going.
But she knew he was angry because of his illness and she backed off."

"Daniel was right when he called you a real
Sherlock. I’ll keep in touch but remember that whatever you and
Daniel know didn’t come from me."

"I’ll remember that. Just get Jacob out of
here."

When I got back to Roasted Love, Janie had already
clocked out. It was two-fifteen. Lily was helping Claire at the
espresso machine.

"I hope I can learn this thing," said
Claire.

"It takes practice," said Lily. She
looked up as I came in. "It’s about time. How is Jacob doing?"

"He is doing as well as expected. I hope
they’ll let him go soon. He has a lot of people behind him."

"I hope so, too. Everyone misses him."

Claire clocked out at six. Lily told me I hired
the right person. "She catches on fast."

We started the clean-up in the back. Only two more
customers dropped in before closing. Eddie left with Lily. Thor and I
went home. There was no BMW in sight.

Thor and I made it home with no problems. As I dug
for my house key, Thor’s warning growl made me turn around. The
tall athletic figure I noted once before moved from the shadows of
the Weeping Willow at the edge of the lawn.

"It’s a good thing you have that monster,"
said James Simms.

My knees weakened considerably. "What are you
doing here?"

Not a neighbor was in sight. Either all were not
home yet or were in their kitchens getting ready to relax to dinners.
I envied them and their security.

"I’m warning you to let up on all of your
investigating. You aren’t qualified to do the job of the police.
Michael was poisoned by your boss, Jacob Weaver, and that is all
there is to it."

Thor’s growl increased. It was hard to restrain
him from tearing apart the man who was too close for comfort.

"I live in a free country. I can do what I
want."

"I’m warning you. Lay off it. Let Michael
rest in peace."

"Are you threatening me?"

"I’m telling you I have a lot of influence.
I can ruin you for life."

I was tempted to let go of the leash and let Thor
finish what he wanted to do.

"If I see you here again, I’ll call the
police and press charges for trespassing and harassment."

His laugh was mocking. It held a confidence that
told me I didn’t have a prayer with charging him with anything. He
turned and sauntered away as if leaving me after a social call. Thor
was pulling my shoulder from its socket. I dropped the key twice
before I mastered getting it into the keyhole. When we got inside,
Thor turned to the closed door. He stood stiff as a board, on guard.
For now, he didn’t have dinner on his mind.

I felt like throwing up. Senator James Simms was a
powerful man in more ways than one. I wobbled from the door and
leaned back in my favorite chair. It was a good twenty minutes before
Thor left his post. He nuzzled his head on my knees. Never would
anyone convince me dogs didn’t know what was going on when it came
to emotions in people.

"Come on, boy," I said, getting up. "You
are ready for your dinner. I’m ready for a relaxing cup of tea."

The night air had cooled down. For the first time,
I thought of the seasons in West River, New York. Fall was definitely
in the air. Thor ran around the yard. He picked up the ball twice
before I gave in. The light physical activity helped to relax me. The
Senator was a stalker. There was no doubt about that. He picked on
Janie and now me. His cocky attitude was one of arrogance.

Chapter Twenty Five

I had made it my habit in recent days to drive to
work. It made more sense after James Simms’ unwanted visit the
night before. The air was crisp and more patrons arrived for our
cinnamon rolls and hot coffee than ever. Without Sunrise in business,
our tables filled up daily.

It was mid-morning when I saw two cops park in the
one spot that had just vacated in front of Roasted Love. One was
David Singer. The other was one who had been there to question Jacob
in his office. Both of them walked through the front and approached
me. I told Lily to take over the espresso machine and Claire to take
orders with Janie.

Without a word, I motioned for the two cops to
come to the back with me.

"Which one is Janie Taylor?" asked
David.

"I’ll get her," I said. "If you
decide to arrest her or take her to the precinct, will you take her
through the back door? We have enough gossip going on over this case
as it is."

They agreed. "We just want to ask her some
questions," said the tall Detective. His badge read William
Stokes.

I went to the front where Janie was giving Lily an
order. I whispered to her that the cops wanted to ask her some
questions. Her eyes filled with fear. She set her order pad next to
the machine. Her shaking hand brushed it onto the floor. Lily bent to
pick it up. None of the customers realized what was going on.

"Tell them everything, Janie. If you don’t,
you will be looking over your shoulder for the rest of your life."
She nodded.

I left the three of them in Jacob’s office
behind a closed door. I stayed busy at the sink preparing dishes for
the dishwasher. When they came out, Detective Stokes looked at me.

"We are taking her to the precinct for a
formal statement," he said to me.

David went out the back door and a few minutes
later, he returned with the cruiser and parked in the alley. Janie
looked smaller than ever. The last glimpse I had of her was a look of
fear that was stark against an ashen face. She sat low in the back of
the car. I hoped she had the courage to nail James Simms to the wall.

Lily came to the kitchen. "Are they arresting
Janie?" Her voice was one of disbelief.

"They are taking her for questioning. She
should be back soon. I’ll be back out there soon to help out. If
anyone asks, tell them Janie wasn’t feeling well and went home."

I knew Lily wouldn’t say anything about what had
really happened. I dialed Daniel. I told him of the latest events at
Roasted Love. "I hope Janie tells them more than she has told
me. I know she knows more." I thought of her two children and
the hard road she had.

When things quieted down in the front, I settled
in Jacob’s office and pulled out my laptop. I knew enough about
James Simms but I knew very little about his wife, Sarah. The one
thing I did know was she and John Andrews once had an affair going.
That must have ruffled the Senator’s feathers.

When I brought her up online I was surprised she
had as much clout around New York City as her husband. She had
graduated Summa Cum Laude from Cornell University. She then went on
to get her masters in Biotechnology Research, specifically Biomedical
Research.

"That’s it!" I yelled. No one heard me
since my remaining staff was in the front of the shop. I dialed
Daniel.

"I’ve got it. I know who had a resource for
belladonna. I’m sure of it," I said as soon as he picked up.

"Hold on. Tell me everything," he said.
I pictured him sitting up straight in his chair.

"Get over here. Better yet," I said,
"meet me at the jail."

I hung up before he could answer. I pulled the
reserve bag of dog food from the corner of the office and asked Lily
if she would look after Thor if I didn’t get back in time.

"It’s only one-thirty. Where are you
going?"

"I can’t tell you right now but I’ll be
back as soon as I can."

It hit me that I was leaving Lily on her own more
than usual, but this was important. I didn’t feel too guilty since
Claire was there to help. Eddie wasn’t coming in today but I would
be back to finish up. The dog food was just in case I was gone longer
than I expected.

When I got to the precinct, Daniel was parking his
car. I told him what I had found out online about Sarah Simms’
qualifications.

"I knew she had something to do with a lab
some place but I never knew just what she did," said Daniel. "If
James had anything to do with Michael’s murder I guess she could
have gotten the poison for him."

I told him about my stalker the night before.
"James definitely threatened me if I didn’t leave Michael’s
death to the police. I’m taking all of this to David Singer."

When we entered the front part of the jail, I
asked to see David. The receptionist recognized me.

"I’m sorry but he is interrogating someone
right now. If you want to wait, take a seat. I’m not sure how long
it will be."

That didn’t matter. I was willing to wait for
however long it took. Daniel glanced at his phone. "I’m going
to have to leave you. I have a call to answer. Keep me posted on
everything and I’ll see you tonight."

He hurriedly wished me luck and raced out the
door. I felt vulnerable without him but determined to make my case. I
would see Jacob later. I didn’t want to miss David Singer.

Two hours later, I heard a shuffling of folded
chairs on a hard floor down the hall. David came to the front. He was
surprised to see me.

"We booked her for now. So there is no bail
until she goes before a judge."

I knew the possibilities of Janie’s
incarceration were there. She must have spilled everything. The cell
would be her best protection from James Simms.

"I have something else I want to talk to you
about," I said.

Without a word he took my elbow and led me to
another room similar to the one we had occupied once before. I told
him I thought I knew where the poison came from. After he heard my
story, he took me to the Chief’s office where I repeated what I had
found out. I didn’t forget to report my stalker. This weighed more
than what I figured it would. The Chief became very alert when I told
him of James Simms’ threats to me.

"You should have dialed 911 right away,"
he said.

"I didn’t because that was part of his
threat. He told me he had enough clout to ruin me for life if I tried
to get him arrested."

The Chief and David looked at each other.
Apparently, I wasn’t the first person the Senator had threatened. I
still couldn’t figure out what motive he had to kill his already
dying brother. That is, if he was the one who poisoned him. Sarah
Simms came to mind. She could have taken the poison and done it
herself. With the hold her husband seemed to have over everyone,
maybe he convinced her to meet Michael that night. No one would be
able to prove that James was anywhere near Sunrise the night his
brother was murdered. His political career would remain intact. As
for his wife, he held power over others, so why not her? I realized
the meeting with the Chief was over.

"I don’t know if it is visiting hours or
not, but I’d like to see Jacob," I said.

David laughed. "I don’t think visiting
hours have applied to you, Laila. They all seem to let you in
whatever the hour."

He told the receptionist to contact the guard and
let me in to see my boss. When Jacob approached me, the shuffle was
gone. The guard paid little attention to us. He sat at the opposite
end and read a newspaper while we talked. I told Jacob everything I
knew.

"It’s a matter of time, Jacob, before you
will be back at Roasted Love."

"I feel bad for Janie. What will happen to
her kids if they find out she is guilty of something that will put
her in jail for a long time?" he asked me.

"She made a phone call according to the cop
I’ve gotten to know. I’m sure she called her brother. I think she
was caught in something she didn’t know how to get out of. I just
don’t know the details."

We both sat in silence. Roasted Love would never
be the same again even when Jacob returned. I knew he would vouch for
Janie as I planned to. Once everything came out in the open I didn’t
think she would spend any time behind bars. That thought still caused
a feeling of lead in my stomach. Janie didn’t deserve to be in the
clutches of James Simms, much less behind bars.

Questions still had to be answered. The main one
that came to mind was the motive James had to end Michael’s life
before the disease took him. A faint doubt of their guilt took a back
seat in my mind. I wanted it to be them. At this point the guilty
person could be anyone.

I wanted things back to normal at Roasted Love.

Chapter Twenty Six

Everything came together rapidly the next day. I
had no idea what had gone on but the shop buzzed with gossip as never
before heard in Roasted Love. At noon Janie walked in the back door.
She was a changed person and full of life again.

"Laila, you were right. Telling everything I
knew was the right thing. I have a protection order against James
Simms. Someone made bail for me and I’m out until everything is
straightened out."

She was breathless. I gave her a tight hug. My
relief was huge and tears spilled down my face.

"It’s all right, Laila, it really is,"
she said.

"I’m just so relieved, Janie. Do you know
who made bail?"