Homicide by Hamlet (Cozy Mystery) Book #3 (Chubby Chicks Club Cozy Mystery Series) (5 page)

My oh my, that man sure is full of himself. I’m glad Bezu never married him.

“Now wait just a minute,” I said. “You two are being ridiculous.” I put my index finger up. “Number one, Priscilla, every team has a chance to win. That’s what makes it a competition.”

She rolled her eyes.

I held up another finger. “And number two, you, Dwight. Bezu is so over you. If you don’t realize that, then you really need some help.”

“Stop picking on him.” Priscilla grabbed his arm in a protective mode. “Did you see how nice he treated her just a while ago?”

I held up my palm in a stop sign. “I’m just saying, we’re all adults and should act accordingly.”

“Act like adults? Are you kidding me? Your friend almost ran us over,” Priscilla shouted.

“But luckily, she didn’t succeed. We got out of the way in time,” Dwight added.

“And you two seem fine,” I said. “So no harm done. And I’m sure that we can get to the bottom of what happened.” I looked around, hoping to see Bezu’s car.

“Oh no,” Priscilla snorted. “She’s not getting off the hook that easy. We’re going to file a police report.”

“We are?” Dwight stepped back.

She yanked his arm. “Yes we are. Right now.”

“Fine, if you’d like, I can call the police for you,” I said. “I’m sure you’re too shaken up.” I offered because I planned to call my buddy José. Pulling out my phone, I pushed speed dial.

After José arrived and took statements, Dwight and Priscilla departed, leaving just my cop friend and me.

My phone rang, and it was Bezu. “I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for the past hour. Are you okay?” I asked.

“Yes, fine,” Bezu said. “My phone was dead. I’m just catching up on missed calls now.”

“I’m here with José. I’m putting you on speaker.”

“Hey, Bezu,” José said. “Where are you?”

“At home, cooking,” she answered. “Where are y’all?”

“We’re at Armstrong,” I said.

“Do you want to come over for an early dinner, around five? I’m making shrimp gumbo and pecan pie,” Bezu said.

“I’m meeting Gerald for dinner,” I said.

“Please bring him, he’s more than welcome,” she said.

“I’ll ask him, but I’m pretty sure he’ll take home cooking over a restaurant meal any day,” I said.

“Can you make it tonight José?” Bezu asked.

“Maybe after I finish my paperwork on reckless operation of a motor vehicle that nearly hit two pedestrians.” José arched an eyebrow. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that would you?”

“Heavens no. Why would I?” Bezu asked.

I relaxed my shoulders. “You really don’t know anything about this, do you?”

“About what? Should I?” she said.

“Yes. Considering it was your car that almost hit Priscilla and Dwight,” José said.

“Oh my! Are they okay?” Bezu asked.

“Yes, just angry and upset,” I added. “But for Priscilla, that’s how she always appears.”

“And it was my car?” she asked.

“Yes,” José answered.

“Good gracious, I feel so bad, since maybe it’s my fault,” she sighed.

“It is?” I asked.

“I couldn’t find my car keys before I left campus. I just figured I’d find them later. In the meantime, my helper gave me a ride home so that I could get my spare key. She’s giving me a ride back soon.”

“Someone must’ve taken your keys,” I said.

“That is a possibility,” José added.

“But who? And why?” Bezu asked.

“Exactly what I was going to ask,” José said.

“Apparently it’s someone who wanted to hurt Priscilla and Dwight, and frame you for it,” I said.

“Who would want to hurt them?” Bezu asked. “And make it look like I did it?”

“Based on their abrasive personalities, there might be a long list of people who are not fond of them,” I said. “But I can’t imagine anyone actually wanting to harm them. If I don’t like someone, I just avoid them as best I can.” Which always seemed impossible with Priscilla.

“Obviously someone must really hate them to want to injure them,” Bezu said.

“That could be the case,” José said. “But then again, maybe someone just took advantage of finding your keys and took your car on a joy ride. Someone who was a poor driver and accidentally ran off the road nearly hitting innocent pedestrians. Either way, it looks like I need to canvass the area.” José cleared his throat. “Bezu, when was the last time you saw your keys? Can you think of anyone who had access to them?”

“I saw them on a table after I finished cleanup. Let’s see, besides me, my helper and Annie Mae, there were Priscilla, Dwight, Winona and Gerald. And there might have been a few theater camp students milling about as well. And another staff member, who might be a team leader like you, Annie Mae.”

“What did he look like?” I asked.

“A moon shaped face, and he had a comb over hairstyle,” Bezu said.

“Sounds like Dr. Isenberg,” I said. “Well, we can rule out Priscilla, Dwight, and me because obviously none of us were driving the car.”

“And my helper, because she was giving me a ride home when it happened,” Bezu said.

“And Gerald would never do anything like that,” I said.

“Are you sure?” José asked me.

My thoughts stumbled for a moment. Yes, I had known Gerald for a long time. And I enjoyed his companionship, but did I really know him? On the other hand, I prided myself on being a good judge of character. But then again, I had been wrong on occasion too.

“Yes, I’m sure,” I said despite my ambivalence.

“I’ll still have to talk with him and Dr. Isenberg,” José said. “What about Winona?”

“She’s Priscilla’s rather timid lackey,” I said. “She seems sweet, but I don’t know her at all.” There was something familiar about Winona, although I couldn’t quite place my finger on it.

“Bezu, would you be able to identify any of the theater students you saw hanging around the area the last time you saw your keys?” José asked.

“Sure,” Bezu said.

“We found your car, and it doesn’t appear to be damaged.  Can you get here in the next half hour to take a look at it?” José asked Bezu.

“Yes, my helper can give me a ride,” Bezu said.

“I’ll meet you in the theater lobby, call me when you get here,” José said.

We hung up with Bezu and José headed over to the theater.

I got in my car and took a deep breath. A thought crossed my mind, although only briefly. Could Gerald have tried to hurt Priscilla and Dwight? As soon as it entered my mind, I rejected it. No. It was far–fetched to even entertain that thought. There’s no way he could harm anyone. Could he?

At five that evening, Gerald, José and I were in Bezu’s dining room having dinner. The smell of spices, oregano and Cajon seasoning filled the warm air.

“Anyone who wants some rice, I’d be glad to serve you,” Gerald offered.

We passed our floral china bowls to Gerald, who scooped a mound of yellow rice, then Bezu ladled steaming gumbo on top.

“I still can’t believe that someone took my car and tried to run over Priscilla and Dwight,” said Bezu after I said the blessing.

“I know, right? And why your car?” I asked.

José took a gulp of iced tea and set down his glass. “I wish I knew. After talking to everyone I could, I’m not any closer to uncovering who the driver was. Absolutely everyone had an alibi. And no one saw anything. Or anyone near the car, in the car or taking the keys. Nothing.”

“Savannah is one of the most haunted cities in the country. It could’ve been a ghost.” I smiled.

Gerald chuckled. “The ghost of Hamlet’s father.”

Bezu smirked. “You theater people.”

José chuckled. “I’ll interview the ghost later. Just let me know where I can find him.” He leaned back in his chair. “I’m out of leads and suspects. This will thrill Ray.”

“Is he the officer who has a major beef with you?” I asked.

“Yes, that’s him. Ray’s been gunning for me to lose my job for as long as I can remember.”

“Why?” I asked.

“I think it’s because every week I beat him at poker. He’s a sore loser. I bet he’s lost a thousand dollars to me over the past year alone.” He stretched his arms over his head. “But don’t worry, I won’t lose my job anytime soon. I still close the most cases in the precinct, and sooner or later, I’ll close this case as well.”

“I know you will, José.” I dabbed my mouth with a linen napkin. “And I hope the rest of the week is uneventful.”

“Yes. Camp will be over in two days. It would be great if we could make it through without further incident,” said Gerald glancing at his phone.

That was the fourth time since we sat down for dinner that he’d looked at his phone. He seemed a bit preoccupied. He was still friendly and charming—just a bit distracted. I brushed it off.

“Not if Priscilla has anything to do with it, trouble seems to follow her,” I said. “How ironic that a drama queen like her is drawn to the theater profession.”

Everyone laughed.

Gerald looked at his phone again. “Speaking of theater,” he said, “I hope you all don’t mind that I have to eat and run. I have to be back on campus to finish up some work for tomorrow.”

“Please don’t leave before dessert,” Bezu implored.

“I’m sorry I have to,” Gerald said. “But, I certainly enjoyed the delicious dinner, as well as your hospitality. It was wonderful. Thank you for inviting me to join you.”

“You’re more than welcome, anytime you like. And as far as the dessert, I won’t take no for an answer. I’m sending you off with a piece of pecan pie. So don’t go anywhere just yet.” Bezu got up and headed into the kitchen.

Gerald stood, setting his napkin on the table.

I tugged on his shirtsleeve. “Don’t even try to leave without dessert. She won’t allow it.”

Bezu returned with one slice of pie wrapped in waxed paper. After Gerald thanked her and said goodbye to everyone, I walked him to the door. A moment later, I returned and sat back down at the dining room table with Bezu and José.

Bezu had put slices of pie with scoops of vanilla ice cream on all three plates. She placed one in front of me, and one in front of José.

“So, how long has that been going on?” José stuck his fork into the pie.

“What?” I asked.

“The crush Gerald has on you.”

My mind fumbled. They think Gerald likes me, in a romantic way? For a fleeting moment, I remembered feeling his breath on my neck while he whispered in my ear. A quiver ran down my spine.

“What? No! We’re friends. That’s all,” I said dismissively.

Bezu twisted her mouth as she took a bite of pie.

“What is that face about?” I looked at her.

“I think that you’re hoodwinking yourself if you think you’re just friends,” Bezu said. “José’s right. Gerald’s sweet on you, there’s no denying that. I think you should date him.”

“Yeah, why not?” José nodded at Bezu.

“C’mon you two. There’s nothing but friendship. And whatever you’re both implying is simply not true. End of subject.” I stuck a forkful of pie in my mouth.

We chatted for a long time as we ate, and thankfully Bezu and José didn’t say any more about Gerald having a crush on me.

After dessert, we cleared the plates and went into the kitchen to wash the dishes and clean up.

José’s phone rang. He excused himself as he stepped into the hallway. A few minutes later he returned. “There’s a 10-48.”

“And can you translate what that means in non-law enforcement lingo?” I asked.

“Unattended death,” José said.

Bezu stopped dunking dishes in the soapy water, and put a hand on her heart. “I do declare. That’s dreadful. I don’t know how you do it. All the crime you see, it would send me to an early grave.”

“It’s my job and that is what I signed up for,” he said. “But this one will hit even closer to home for you Annie Mae.”

“It will?” I laid down the towel I’d been using to dry the dishes. “Why?”

José said, “A custodian found a body at Armstrong.”

“Oh my!” Bezu said.

“The medical examiner is there now. And this is strictly between us until it is confirmed. Right now, based on core body temperature, the estimated time of death is around six or so.”

“That’s horrible.” My heart raced. A boulder plummeted in my stomach.

José narrowed his eyes. “The body was found in the back of the theater, behind the stage.”

Bezu and I locked our gaze on José.

“In the theater?” The words stuck in my mouth. Gerald was there. Some students might have been working late there, as well. My entire body turned to mush. I held onto the kitchen counter for support.

Bezu placed a hand on my back. “Oh, Annie Mae, this must have you turned inside out with worry.”

I prayed it wasn’t Gerald or any students. “Do they know who the dead person is?” I pushed the words out of my dry mouth.

José took in a deep breath. “The body was positively identified as Priscilla Woodham.”