Dying for Dinner Rolls (12 page)

“I know how to use mine.”

“Great. Turn it on just in case something is said that could be used as evidence.”

“Like?”

“I wish I knew. Let me call José.” I tapped my speed dial. My battery was charged just enough for a quick call. “I’m calling José to tell him what we’ve found so far and to have him meet us over here.”

“And do what?” Annie Mae leaned against a wall.

“I’m not sure. But I’m pretty sure the vase has something to do with Lucy’s death.”

José answered on the third ring. “Cat, what’s going on?”

I got him up to speed then said, “It’s almost closing time. I think Annie Mae and I have to break into Scarlett’s office and find the vase.”

“Hell, no! Do not break in anywhere,” José said.

I covered the cell phone and turned to Annie Mae. “He thinks it’s a good idea.”

Annie Mae’s right eyebrow rose.

“I’ll have to arrest you,” José said. “Cat, are you still there?”

This time I had to go with my motherly intuition and not listen to logic. And my gut said to follow my hunch, even if that meant I had to betray my friend. But it was that important to find Lucy’s killer. “Bad connection. Have to go now. Thanks, José.” I ended the call.

“José really said that it was okay to break in? Let me talk to him. I don’t think he’s a rogue cop.” Annie Mae pulled out her cell phone and tapped on it.

“Put that away.” I took Annie Mae’s phone and put it back in her purse. “Trust me. I know what I’m doing. We have to find the vase. I think it may be the key to something.”

“Got you. You think that the vase may be evidence.”

“Yes. At least I hope so. Let’s catch a killer.” The words stuck in my throat. I nervously twisted my dad’s ring on my thumb.

“How?”

I jiggled Scarlett’s office door handle. “First we need to get in.”

“Do we have to break in?” Annie Mae folded her arms on her chest.

“Are you sure José said it was okay even after the whole deputizing thing?”

I gave a weak nod. A little white lie should be okay if it helped solve Lucy’s death. “Any ideas on getting this door open?”

“In one of the plays I directed, we had to have an actor break into a locked door. So I did research on lock picking to make it look authentic,” Annie Mae said. “I might be able to get us in.”

Annie Mae pulled a credit card and paper clip from her purse. She straightened the paper clip into a long piece of metal. She slid the credit card down the crack in the door next to the lock as she used her other hand to poke the metal into the lock. “We’re in.”

We entered the office. Luckily, no one was there.

Three sealed boxes sat on the table.

Annie Mae shrugged. “Now what?”

Quickly glancing around, I pointed to the boxes on the table. “We need to open them.”

Annie Mae whispered, “What if we get caught? Sooner or later, someone is going to come back here. Zachary may wonder where we are. And what happens if Scarlett walks in?”

“If she sees us back here, we could just say we lost something earlier today when we were in her office.”

“And we can tell her that the door was open already.” Annie Mae gave thumbs-up. “I’m getting good at this stealth investigating. Did you notice how I fibbed to Bert earlier, too, about the pictures on Lucy’s cell phone?”

I heard a man’s voice. I looked at my cell. It was seven fifty-five.

The man said, “Is it ready? I wired the first half of your money. The second half will arrive once I inspect it.”

I put a finger to my lips and turned to Annie Mae. She nodded. My head began to spin. “I’m getting scared now,” I whispered.

“I’m right with you. It’ll be okay.” Annie Mae grabbed my hand and gave it a firm, quick grab. “Let’s find that vase.”

On my key chain, I had a pocketknife. I slid the knife along the seam and opened the first box. It contained a windup alarm and a red teakettle.

“Hey, this is the clock I wanted to buy. They didn’t even call me first.” Annie Mae held it.

“Focus. We are losing time.” Opening the next box, I found an item padded in Bubble Wrap and newspaper. Pulling it out, I slowly took off the layers of padding, revealing a blue and white porcelain oriental vase.

“Whoa. Now that would’ve looked way better in Lucy’s house.” Annie Mae ran a finger over the vase. “Definitely old, but in pretty good shape.”

My heart pounded so hard I was afraid that it was audible three blocks away. I felt Annie Mae’s breath on my shoulder.

“I think this is Lucy’s vase.”

I set the vase on the table and pulled out Lucy’s phone.

Scrolling through the photos stored on her phone, I found the one of her sitting room with the vase. Enlarging the picture, I held it next to the vase on the table.

“You’re right.” Annie Mae eyes widened. “How did it get from her sitting room to here?”

“And replaced in her house?”

Outside the office, voices sounded like they were getting closer.

“Ms. Scarlett, I have to say, that vase is one of a kind,” a deep, male voice said.

“Yes.” A woman let out a half laugh. “I was lucky, and now you are. Let’s get your package, and you can be on your way.”

“Let’s find something right now to handcuff her.” Annie Mae looked around and picked up packing tape from a worktable. “This will work.”

“We can’t do that. We still don’t know what happened.” I took it from Annie Mae and set it back on the table. “Although, I think we need a serious talk with Scarlett. Is your recorder on?”

Annie Mae dug in her purse and held up her cell. She punched a button. “Secret spyware is on.”

Footsteps came nearer. I jumped at the sound of the curtain’s grommets sliding on the metal rod. Heavy thuds were followed by the sound of clicking heels.

Annie Mae and I exchanged a glance.

My hands shook. “It’s Cowboy and Scarlett.”

I grabbed my keys with my pocketknife. Annie Mae snatched the packing tape dispenser.

Scarlett walked into the office, followed by Cowboy.

Scarlett’s eyes darted around, landing on the opened boxes. “How did you get back here?”

“You didn’t see us? We walked right past you. You were busy talking.” Annie Mae bit her lip.

She was getting good at lying, and so was I. Did all detectives have this talent to fib?

“Howdy, ladies. Nice to see you again.” Cowboy smiled and tucked his hands in his jeans pockets.

“These two do not belong back here.” Scarlett wagged a finger at Annie Mae and me.

Annie Mae lowered her voice. “Actually, we do because we need to get something back that belonged to a friend of ours.”

“There is nothing here that belongs to anyone but me.” Scarlett shook a finger at us again.

“I beg to differ,” Annie Mae said.

“We think we found evidence that you are in possession of Lucy’s vase,” I said.

“You two get out of here. Now.” Scarlett held the door open.

“Whoa, now. These ladies aren’t causing any trouble.” Cowboy held a palm up. “Why don’t I get the package so I can head out?”

I put my hand on top of the box. “I’m afraid you might not be able to do that.”

“The vase belongs to someone else.” Anne Mae stood next to me.

I patted the top of the box. “And it may be evidence in a murder.”

“Hold on, there. Scarlett, is this true?” Cowboy glared at Scarlett.

“No.” Shoving Annie Mae and me aside, Scarlett snatched the package. “These ladies just got out of the mental institution. I need to call their nurse.”

“You want to see crazy? I’ll go all crazy on your bony butt.” Annie Mae lunged at Scarlett.

“Don’t mess me with, ladies. I’m calling the police.” Scarlett turned to Cowboy. “Please don’t worry about them. Everything is still okay with our transaction.”

I held on to Annie Mae’s arm and whispered to her, “What now?”

Annie Mae’s voice deepened. “Scarlett. It’s over. We know the truth. That vase belongs to Lucy, not you.”

Cowboy frowned. “Ms. Scarlett, I’m a legitimate businessman and only do transactions that are fair and honorable. Since there’s question of the vase’s ownership, I’m afraid our deal is off. Good day, ladies.” With that, he turned and marched out.

“Damn you two meddlers!” Scarlett turned red from her neck up to her face. She held the box close to her chest. “Why couldn’t you have left well enough alone? This vase is worth millions.”

“Holy cow.” Annie Mae extracted the box from Scarlett. “I’ve never held millions. Did you find this in a dumpster?”

“You have made me madder than a hornet. I can’t think straight.” Scarlett dashed to the office door and locked it. “One thing for sure. You ladies are not leaving here alive.”

“Huh?” My heart sank into my spinning stomach.

“You are so wrong, lady.” Annie Mae held up the tape dispenser. “Don’t come near me or else.”

Scarlett opened a drawer, pulling out a gun. She shifted her gaze to me. Her hands shook as her eyes welled up with tears.

“Hey, put that thing away.” Annie Mae held up a hand.

“We’ll leave. You can have the vase,” I offered.

“I ca..ca..can’t,” Scarlett stuttered.

“Sure you could. Here, just give me the gun. But just like when you hold scissors, point it down to the ground before you hand it over.” I held my hand out to Scarlett.

“Please. You can stop all this nonsense now. Just put down the gun. We can work out this whole situation peacefully,” Annie Mae said.

“No. I can’t. You know too much.” Scarlett held the gun in our direction.

Annie Mae said, “I’m forgetful.”

“Trust me, so am I,” I added. “So why don’t we just leave you and your vase here. And we’ll pretend like none of this ever happened.”

“No. That won’t work. I didn’t want to hurt anyone. Now you put me in this awful situation. I am not a killer. I am a shop owner. I am a grandma.” A tear ran down Scarlett’s cheek.

“I believe you. I do,” I offered.

“But now I am in this, and I have to finish it. I know what I have to do.” Scarlett’s voice quivered. Her eyes narrowed.

“Let us go, right?” Annie Mae grinned.

Scarlett’s face tightened up. Her lips formed a thin line. “This is dripping with irony. Yes, I know who you are. I looked you up on the Internet after you left.”

“Everyone knows Cat’s family owns the Sunshine Market,” Annie Mae said.

“I know.” Scarlett shook the gun at me. “And after your dad was shot, I got the gun to protect myself at work. So thanks to your dad, you now have a gun aimed at you.”

My anger boiled in me as I clenched my fists. “Don’t you even think about bringing my father into this.”

Scarlett didn’t have a clue that she’d just jammed a jagged knife in my open wound, talking about my father’s death so casually. I was going to get out of here alive, or she was going down with me.

Annie Mae moved toward Scarlett. “Back off, bitch.”

Scarlett cocked the trigger.

Annie Mae jumped.

“Here’s the deal, ladies. That is my vase. It always was. And I will shoot you both and put the gun in your hand.” Scarlett waved the gun at Annie Mae. “And claim you shot her, then yourself.”

“Hey! Why do I have to be the killer?” Anne Mae said.

“Not important,” I whispered to Annie Mae.

“But it is to me. I don’t want people to think I’d shoot you.” Annie Mae tapped her chest.

“It won’t matter. You’ll be dead.” The corners of Scarlett’s mouth curled like the Grinch’s. “Plus, you have no proof that it was ever her vase.”

Holding Lucy’s cell phone up, I said, “You’re wrong. I have proof.”

Scarlett lowered her voice. “I’ll just take that out of your cold, dead hands and destroy it.”

“You sold it to her and then must have stolen if from her. What kind of operation are you running here?” Annie Mae flung her arms open, almost knocking over Scarlett’s plant on her table. She grabbed the plant. “Sorry, JC.”

“JC?” I asked.

“Jim Croce. I named it,” Annie Mae said.

“So, Scarlett, tell us what happened,” I said.

“Stupid Zachary put the vase into the box. Idiot. That’s what I get for hiring family. Stupid foo…fool,” Scarlett faltered. “When I found out, it was too late. Lucy had already picked up the box.”

“You knew its value, but Lucy didn’t?” Annie Mae stared Scarlett down.

“She had no idea.” Scarlett’s lips tightened. “Imbecile.”

“So you killed her to get it back?” I asked Scarlett.

“I mean, since you’re going to shoot us, why not tell us the whole story? Then at least we can die in peace.” Annie Mae fidgeted in her purse.

I hoped that she was making sure her phone recorder was on.

“Put your purse on the table. Now!” Scarlett glared at Annie Mae. “Do you think I’m stupid?”

“Well, since you asked, you are sort of a wackadoodle.” Annie Mae slid her purse on the table and then put her hands up.

“You’re wrong! I’m clever enough to find a vase worth millions.” Scarlett’s hand trembled.

“But then you sold it for a few bucks,” Annie Mae said. “So I’d say you were—”

“Shut up! Shut up!” Scarlett’s neck flushed a bright crimson.

I could barely catch my breath. Scarlett had her back to the door and the gun pointed at Annie Mae and me. There were no windows and no other way out.

We were ensnared in this potpourri-scented killer’s lair.

My only hope was that I had just called José, and he was on his way. I just hoped he got here before we were corpses. I shifted my stance, my legs buzzing with tense energy.

“By the way, nice little gun there. Is that a thirty-eight?” Annie Mae’s voice was soothing and steady.

With one hand, Scarlett held the gun in our direction. The other hand she used to push a chair in front of the door.

Annie Mae slid a foot closer to Scarlett. “So, what happened with Lucy? Are you a cold-blooded killer, or what?”

Thank goodness she was doing the talking. I was so terrified I heard my heart pounding in my ears. It seemed that the walls were closing in.

“No, I am not!” Scarlett waved both hands. Her voice softened. “She wasn’t supposed to be home. She’d said she’d be out that night with her chubby club. But when I broke in, she was there.”

I asked, “You went through the back window?”

“How did you know?” Scarlett’s voice ascended.

“We have a witness,” I said.

“After all, we are detectives and did our investigation,” Annie Mae added.

Of course, it was pure luck that we ended up back here. If Annie Mae hadn’t found that chandelier in the dumpster then decided to see if Scarlett wanted to buy it, we wouldn’t have decided to return to Blue Belle. But I wasn’t going to volunteer that information.

Annie Mae put her arm around my shoulder then whispered in my ear, “Hang in there. We’re going to be fine.”

I gave her a weak nod. My legs felt rubbery and weak. Life was not fair. My teacher was right. Lucy was dead, and now Annie Mae and I would be, too. While a killer was free.

“Then what took place once you got into her house?” Annie Mae asked.

“I don’t know…it all happened so fast.” Scarlett paced in front of the door, gun still in hand. “I’d surprised her. I tried to explain what was happening, but she was standing near knives, cutting up rolls. I grabbed the knife from her hand, but she fell back and hit her head. She wasn’t breathing. I…I…I panicked.”

“So you staged it to look like a suicide?” Annie Mae offered.

“I didn’t know what else to do. I mean, I’m not a murderer. It was an accident.” Scarlett’s bottom lip quivered. “Really, it was. An accident. I didn’t want to hurt anyone.”

Poor Lucy.

Anne Mae leaned toward Scarlett. “You call stealing her vase an accident, too?”

“Um…” Scarlett stammered. “I was just swapping out one of Biddy’s vases for Lucy’s vase. It was fair.”

Annie Mae flung her arms in the air. “Your granddaughter’s vase for a million-dollar vase? That’s hardly fair.”

“But my Biddy’s vase is priceless,” Scarlett said.

Appealing to her maternal instincts, and trying to get the aim of the gun away from us, I added, “I know what you mean. I think all of my children’s artwork is priceless. And it is. So I know how you feel.”

Scarlett seemed to relax her hand that held the gun. She slowly lowered it to her side. Her eyes welled up with tears. “It really was her best piece.”

“Maybe to you. Not to anyone else,” Annie Mae said. “Why didn’t you just ask Lucy to give you the vase?”

“Lucy was such a sweet lady. And she liked you so much. I’m sure you could’ve worked something out.” I positioned myself next to Annie Mae within clear sight of the only exit. Could we maneuver around Scarlett somehow and bolt toward the door?

“No one would hand over a multimillion-dollar vase that they paid hardly anything for.” Scarlett stopped pacing. She pointed the gun back at us. “This has all gotten so mixed up. Now I have to kill you two. All I wanted was the vase. Not three dead people.”

“Then how about you stop at one dead person?” Annie Mae suggested to Scarlett.

Scarlett’s face softened into a smile as if she was considering Annie Mae’s suggestion. But then, in an instant, she hardened her face and fired in our direction.

We both ducked. The blast echoed in the room. The bullet hit a picture on the wall, shattering the glass.

“I take that as a no,” Annie Mae said.

My heart beat so loudly that I thought I could hear it echoing off the office walls.

Annie Mae screamed, “Holy smokes, are you nuts, lady?”

My kids. My husband. I had to get out of this alive for them. I whispered to Annie Mae, “Self-defense time.”

Years ago, José had taught me a self-defense move. I tried remembering the mechanics of it as I kicked my leg up, angling it toward Scarlett’s hand holding the gun. Trying to sound tough, I added a fierce grunt with the kick.

Instantly, I lost my footing and slammed to the ground, hitting my butt bone.

Scarlett fired another shot. This time, the bullet hit a file cabinet. Thank goodness she was a crappy shooter.

“Are you okay?” Annie Mae scurried to me and held her hand out to pull me up.

“Yes.” My tailbone throbbed as Annie Mae helped me to my feet.

“I got this.” Annie Mae flung herself, like a human wrecking ball, at Scarlett, knocking the gun out of her hand. The gun slid under the table. I tried to figure out how to get it before Scarlett did.