Hope Callaghan - Garden Girls 04 - Death by Dumplings (3 page)

“We’d really appreciate, that Gloria.” Ray paused.  “Thank you for being such a good friend.”

He lowered his voice again.  “Seems like not everyone in Belhaven is such a loyal friend.  You won’t believe some of the phone calls we’ve gotten here at the house.” He sounded down-in-the-dumps. Gloria’s heart went out to him.  “People can be so ruthless and cruel.  Even so-called friends.”

It saddened Ray to hear some of the comments.  The thoughtless remarks about how they would never eat in their restaurant again because they’d be too worried about getting poisoned.  Or others who told him they’d gotten sick eating in the restaurant but never had the nerve to tell them. But looking back maybe they should have.  How the poor man might still be alive if they’d just spoken up. 

Just the thought of the callous comments made him angry and bitter inside.  He was glad Dot was still in bed.  It would’ve destroyed her…

“Keep your chin up, Ray,” Gloria encouraged.  “We’ll get through this and if there’s anything I can do to help…”

Ray cut her off.  “Maybe you can do a little poking around, see if you can get to the bottom of this….”

Gloria had thought about it herself.  She just didn’t want to stick her nose in where it didn’t belong.  But if Ray was asking her…

“I’d be happy to see what I can find out,” she said.  “If you really want me to,” she added.

Ray was relieved.  That was exactly what he wanted. If anyone in this town could figure out what happened to Dot’s dumplings, it was Gloria.  “You more than have my permission.”

Gloria glanced out the window.  She watched as Paul pulled in the drive.  “Look, Paul’s here.  I’ve got to go, but I’ll get started on this first thing in the morning,” she promised. 

She hung up the phone and made her way to the door.  Her heart skipped a beat as she watched the tall, handsome man – her man – make his way up the porch steps.  Gloria’s hand flew to her chest when she spotted the bouquet of spring flowers he was carrying.

She flung the door open and met him by the steps.  He opened his arms wide and Gloria stepped in close.  His arms closed around her.  She shut her eyes and breathed him in.  It was in that exact moment she realized just how much she missed him and how much he meant to her. 

When she pulled away, there were tears in her eyes. 

“I hope you’re crying because you’re happy to see me,” he joked.

She half-hiccupped as she nodded her head.  “Of course!”

“These are for you!” He held out the flowers.  Gloria wrapped her hand around the stems.  There were not only roses, but her absolute favorite flower – Yellow Daisies. 

“Did you know daisies are my favorite?”

He shook his head.  “Nope, but I know you love yellow and I noticed a small patch growing in the corner of the garden so I figured you must at least like them a little.”

That had to be a bit of the detective in him.  Taking in small details and cataloging them in his brain.  “Well, they are my favorite and they’re beautiful,” she exclaimed.

He trailed along behind her as she made her way back inside.  She pulled an antique vase from the cupboard and arranged the flowers so the roses were in the center and the daisies lined the outside.  She set them in the center of the table before turning to Puddles, who was hovering nearby.  “Don’t you
dare
nibble on these flowers,” she warned.

Puddles answered her by rubbing against her legs and meowing loudly.  Paul bent down and scratched his ears.  He lifted his head and gazed at Gloria.  “I heard about Dot’s place.  What a shame.”

Gloria nodded.  “It’s just terrible.  Poor Dot.  She’s taking this hard.”

“I’m sure she is,” Paul replied.  “Right now, investigators don’t have much to go on.”

Gloria grabbed a light jacket off the hook by the door.  Paul held the door for Gloria as she stepped onto the porch.  She handed him her keys and waited as he locked up. 

“There’s a new restaurant I thought we could try.  It’s not too far from here and everyone I’ve talked to that’s been there is giving it rave reviews.”

A new restaurant – one that Gloria knew nothing about it?  She really was out of the loop!
  “What’s the name?”

“Pasta Amore on Lakeshore Boulevard,” he answered.  “In Lakeville.”

Lakeville was another small town but bigger than Belhaven.  It’s where Gloria’s children went to school after they closed the small elementary down in Belhaven.

“Sounds perfect.  I love Italian,” Gloria said.

The two chatted easily as they drove to the restaurant.  Most of the trip was spent telling Paul about her adventure in the mountains.  When she got to the part where the three girls ended up in jail overnight, Paul started to say something but quickly closed his mouth.

Gloria held up her hand.  “I know, I know.  You told me someday I’d end up in jail.” She grinned.  “I have to say, it really wasn’t
that
bad.”

She finished the rest of her story.  The only part she left out was the part about the coins the girls found.  She felt a twinge of guilt for not telling all but remembered her vow to Margaret and Liz.  And it wasn’t like she was lying.  She just wasn’t telling him that part.  At least not yet.

Although it was a weeknight, the restaurant parking lot was full.  Maybe it was because a lot of people from Belhaven decided to drive to Lakeville for dinner since Dot’s wasn’t open.  A wave of guilt washed over her, like she was betraying her friend for eating somewhere else…

A thought occurred to her.  She and Paul were almost to the door when she stopped.  “How long did you say this restaurant’s been open now?”

He shrugged. “Not long.  Maybe a week?”  It dawned on him where this was going.  “You don’t think someone sabotaged Dot’s…” But it was a thought.  A brand new restaurant opens, not far from a competitor.  And a very popular one at that.  Could someone be ruthless enough to poison an innocent person just to shut Dot’s down and take out the competition?

“Nothing should be ruled out,” Gloria decided.  This was the perfect place to start her investigation.  The first thing she planned on finding out was who owned Pasta Amore. 

Gloria’s detective radar shot up as she stepped inside and scanned the room.  A few of the faces were familiar.  Regulars at Dot’s. 

The hostess led them to a small corner table.  The smell of freshly baked bread wafted through the air. 

They each ordered a glass of wine and sipped it as they studied the menu.  Gloria tried to stay focused on the menu but her attention strayed towards the swinging doors that led to the kitchen. 
If only she could find a way to get back there…

When the waitress returned, Gloria turned her attention.  “What a lovely restaurant,” she complimented.

The girl smiled.  “Thank you.  We opened a few days ago.”

“Wow!  And this place is already packed!” She looked around.  “The food must be to die for.”

Paul gave her a hard look.  She smiled innocently before placing her order.  “I’ll have the baked lasagna, please.”

Paul ordered a sampler trio and handed the menu back to the waitress.  After she walked away, he turned to study her.  “You’re not going to start tonight, are you?” But it was wasted breath.  Gloria was already in sleuth mode.

She lowered her gaze.  This was their date!  She forced herself to push the investigation to the back burner. 

For a while it worked.  Their dinner arrived and everything looked delicious.  Gloria’s mouth began to water as she lifted a forkful of pasta to her lips.  The lasagna sauce had just the right amount of tang and plenty of gooey cheese loaded on top.  Just the way she liked it. 

She didn’t want to like this place, but she did.  If not for Dot’s, she would definitely come back here again.  When the waitress arrived to pick up their dirty plates, Gloria spoke up.  “This lasagna was delicious.  My compliments to the chef!”

The girl smiled as she juggled the dirty plates.  “I’ll be sure to pass your praise on…”

“Who’s the chef?  The owner?” Gloria asked.  She just couldn’t help herself.  She had to know who owned the place.

The girl nodded.  “Yes, he and his wife moved here not too long ago.  They owned an upscale pizza place in Chicago,” she explained.

“Oh, really? I wonder if I’ve ever been to their restaurant.  What did you say the name of it was?”

Gloria knew the girl hadn’t said.  She sucked in her breath, hoping the girl could remember the name.

“I think the name was Amici Trattoria, or something like that.  It was somewhere near the Magnificent Mile.” She shrugged.  “That’s all I know.”

Gloria knew she was beginning to sound a little too curious.  “Well, it was delicious and I’m sure they’ll be very successful here.”

Paul didn’t bother commenting.  He knew it was useless.  He also knew Gloria would do whatever she could to help her friend.  Not that he could blame her.  Time and again she proved she was pretty darned good at solving mysteries and if anyone could use a little help right now, it was Dot.

Gloria snuggled up next to Paul on the drive back to the farm.  She felt like a teenager as she slid across the seat and closed the distance between the two of them.  He lifted his arm.  She laid her head against his side as they chatted about his job and how he was still tossing around the idea of retiring.  “But what are you going to do with yourself when you have all that free time?”

Paul had a farm, too.  His was a bit bigger than hers and he leased the surrounding farmland to farmers during growing season.  The house was older and needed some updating. He wasn’t getting any younger and pretty soon, projects of a certain size would be too much for him to take on. 

The more he thought about it, the more he decided now was the right time to turn in his badge.  His pension would more than carry him through his retirement years.  Plus, he had dabbled in the stock market for a while now and his investments were turning a tidy profit. 

He glanced down at Gloria’s head.  The only problem he saw was if he and Gloria continued on the path and things got more serious, what would they do with two big old farmhouses?  He knew she was attached to her place but it needed some work, just like his.  In his mind, there was no sense in keeping two farms.  It was something he’d been mulling over, but every time he got to the part about who would have to give up what, he came to a standstill. 

Gloria could see the top of Mally’s head peeking out through the glass window pane on the kitchen door as they pulled in the drive.  After the trip to the Smoky Mountains and taking Mally along, the dog had it in her head she needed to go everywhere Gloria went. 

Paul walked her to the door and waited while she unlocked it.  “You want to come in for a piece of key lime dessert or cup of coffee?” She hoped he would say yes.  The date went by way too fast. He shook his head.  “I’d like nothing more but I have to work early tomorrow.”  

She wasn’t ready to give up.  “How about if you come over later this week for dinner?” she asked hopefully.  “I’ll grill a couple steaks for us.”

“You do owe me a steak dinner,” he reminded her.  He nodded before he lowered his head and gently kissed Gloria on the lips.  She wrapped her arm around his neck.  She surprised herself when she pulled him closer.  The kiss lasted several long seconds. By the time they broke free, Gloria’s heart was racing and her breathing more than a little uneven.

“Many more kisses like that and we’ll have to start bringing a chaperone along,” he joked.

Gloria blushed, just a little this time.  “Maybe it’s a good thing you’re not coming inside, after all.”

Before he could change his mind and throw all caution to the wind, he gave her one last peck on the lips, a quick hug and then turned to go. 

After he was gone, Gloria hung her jacket on the hook by the door and set her purse on the table. 

Mally tapped the door with her bandaged paw.  Gloria lifted the paw and studied the bandage still covering the gunshot wound.  It seemed to be healing quite nicely.  Still, Gloria wasn’t taking any chances.  They had an appointment with the vet tomorrow.  She hoped the vet would give them a clean bill of health. 

Gloria sat on the edge of the steps as she watched Mally prance around the yard, sniffing a little of this, watering a little of that.  The sun set hours ago and the moon was high in the sky.  It seemed bright.  Brighter than normal for this time of year.  Almost as bright as a fall harvest moon. 

Her mind wandered back to the restaurant.  What was the name of the place that man owned in Chicago? Amichis?  Armandos?  No, that wasn’t it. 
Amici Trattoria. 
She jumped to her feet.  “C’mon Mally.”  She wanted to put it on paper before she forgot again.

She jotted it down and headed to the bathroom to get ready for bed.  Tomorrow was shaping up to be another busy day.

First thing the next morning, Gloria called Dot’s house.  This time, Dot herself answered.  “Hi Gloria.” She could tell by the tone of her friend’s voice there was no good news but she decided to ask anyways.  “Did you hear anything from the police yet?”

“No. Ray just left to go meet them at the restaurant.  I guess they want to do one more search of the place.”

“They haven’t cleared the place so you can open back up?”

“No.” Dot paused.  “I’m not sure I even want to, Gloria.  People are saying some really mean things.” Gloria could tell by the sound of her voice she was close to tears and it broke her heart.

“Don’t you listen to one word of that Dorothy Jenkins!” Gloria scolded.  “Anyone who said one bad word is no friend of yours – of ours – and they’re just jealous!”  It took a lot to get Gloria ticked off but this was getting her all fired up. 

When I find out who the trash talkers are
, Gloria vowed to herself,
I will personally set them straight!

Dot talked for a few more minutes before telling Gloria she felt sick to her stomach and needed to go lay down.  Gloria hung up the phone.  The call made Gloria even more determined to get to the bottom of this and help clear Dot and Ray’s good names.

She walked straight over to the computer.  It was time to find out what the story was with this Amici Trattoria place in Chicago.  She found the restaurant on-line, found the location, she even found all the raving reviews.  What she couldn’t find was the owner’s name.  She tried searching the property appraiser’s office, she tried the county assessor’s office.  Nowhere did it list the owner’s name! 

Frustrated, she shut off the computer.  She stomped over to the kitchen door, grabbed Mally’s leash and her jacket off the hook.  “C’mon, girl.  Let’s go for a walk.”

They walked the property and the fields.  The wandered down to the creek on the other side of the property.  Gloria sat on the edge of the bank as Mally frolicked near the water.  The serenity of the spot made her feel better.  Actually, she felt a lot better.  The fresh country air helped clear her head.

Gloria glanced down at her watch.  Mally’s vet appointment was in an hour!  She jumped to her feet.  “Mally, we gotta go!” They made a mad dash for the keys and the car.

Rain started to fall as they made their way down main street Belhaven, past Dot’s restaurant.  The police tape was gone but the place was empty except for a police car and Ray’s van.  She could see Ray standing by the front window.  He was inside talking to a police officer.   

She sent up a quick prayer for Dot and Ray and also asked for some help in solving the mystery. 

The vet was quick and easy.  He gave Mally a clean bill of health.  He told Gloria the wound was healing quite nicely and that there’d only be a tiny little scar as a reminder of the entire incident.  The vet picked Mally up from the examination table and set her down on all fours.  “How did your dog get shot?”

Gloria sighed as she shook her head.  “It’s a long story and you wouldn’t believe me, even if I told you.”

The young vet walked Gloria to the front reception desk. “You have quite a reputation around here for being a bit of a super-sleuth.” He tapped his bottom lip with his index finger.  “Let me guess.  It had something to do with one of your mysteries.”

Gloria grinned.  “Yeah, you could say that.”

He knelt down and rubbed Mally’s ears.  “I’m sure you were some sort of hero dog and that’s how you got shot,” he guessed.

“You would be 100% right!” 

He set Mally’s chart on the desk.  “We don’t charge super-hero dogs so today was a freebie.”

Gloria never intended to get out of paying for the visit.  She started to open her purse.  “But I don’t mind…

He shook his head firmly.  “Please. I insist.”

She shut her purse and grabbed Mally’s leash.  “Thank you so much.” She paused when she reached the door.  “I haven’t found a vet for Mally.  If you have room for her, we’d like to start coming here.”

He grinned.  “We’d love to have you.” He bent down to Mally-level.  “And you, too.”

Gloria and Mally made their way out to Anabelle.  On the drive home, she decided to check in with Ruth at the post office.  She didn’t want her to think she was avoiding her.  Plus, she was the only one of the Garden Girls she hadn’t seen since she got home from the mountains.

Ruth was waiting on a customer inside the lobby.  She spotted Gloria as soon as she stepped through the door.

Ruth grabbed a book of stamps from the drawer and shoved them across the counter at the woman. 

Unfortunately for Ruth, the woman made her way to the side counter and began working on a stack of envelopes she had with her.  She peeled a stamp from the pack and carefully centered it in the corner of the first envelope. 

Ruth stomped over to where the woman was standing.  “Here, let me help you with that.”  She didn’t wait for a reply.  Instead, she grabbed the pile of envelopes and snatched the book of stamps from the woman’s hands.  She peeled a stamp out of the book and slapped it on the corner of the envelope before stamping the next one in the stack. 

The poor woman just stared at Ruth, too stunned to say a word.

Gloria clamped her hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle. 

Ruth finished the pile in seconds flat.  She picked up the pile of envelopes, handed the book of stamps back to the woman and then walked her to the door.  “Have a nice day.” 

The woman was still staring at Ruth as she walked out.

Ruth closed the door behind her and spun around to face Gloria. “That man in Dot’s restaurant was poisoned!”

Gloria didn’t have the heart to tell her she already knew that.  “What a shame.”

“We need a Garden Girls meeting.  Maybe if we put our heads to together, we can figure out how on earth something like this happened,” Gloria suggested. 

Ruth nodded.  “I think you’re right.  But where are we going to meet now that Dot’s place is out of commission – at least for now?”

Ruth went on.  “I tried calling Dot earlier.  She didn’t pick up.”  She lowered her voice.  “Ray said she’s depressed and refuses to get out of bed.”

Gloria was afraid that was going to happen.  They needed to change that. And fast.  “I’ll run over to Dot’s right now.  I’ll tell her we’re having a meeting and she has to be there.” She paused. “Let’s do it tomorrow at noon – on your lunch break.  We can meet at my house,” she added.

Gloria headed out the door and drove straight to Dot’s.  Ray’s truck wasn’t in the driveway but Dot’s van was.  Gloria hopped out of the car and headed to the front door.  The curtains were drawn tight. 
Maybe she went somewhere with Ray
, Gloria thought. 

Gloria pressed the doorbell.  She waited for several long seconds before she pressed it a second time.  She could’ve sworn the front curtain moved.  “Dot, it’s me, Gloria.  Are you in there?” she hollered through the crack in the door. 

When she heard a small
thump,
she knew Dot was inside.  She pounded on the metal frame.  “Dot!  I know you’re in there!”  Gloria crossed her arms, determined to wait her out.

She stood there a good five minutes before the front door opened a fraction of an inch.  Gloria stuck her nose in the crack, her eyeball pressed close to the metal door jamb.  “Let me in, Dot.  Please…” she pleaded.

The door swung open.  Gloria gasped at the sight of her friend.  She’d never seen her in such a state of disarray.  The thing that shocked Gloria the most was the expression on her face.  A look of utter despair. 

Before Dot could change her mind, Gloria squeezed inside.  She decided the best approach was to act as if everything were perfectly normal.  That there was nothing unusual about her friend wearing her bathrobe in the middle of the afternoon.  With no makeup on.  And her hair matted to the side of her head. 

“We’re having a Garden Girls meeting tomorrow at noon.  You need to come,” she said. 

Dot shook her head.  “I can’t.” She waved her arm towards the kitchen.  “Follow me.”

Gloria trailed her into the kitchen.  Dot flipped on the light switch just inside the door.  Gloria’s jaw fell open.  The kitchen was a disaster. 

Dirty dishes were piled high in the sink.  The trash can was overflowing.  A moldy, half-eaten sandwich was on the table, along with a jug of milk. 

Gloria reached over and touched the carton.  It was warm.  She unscrewed the cap and took a whiff.  Her nose curled at the overpowering stench of sour milk.  She pushed the carton from her face.  “This milk’s sour!” 

Gloria covered her nose as she poured the semi-solid substance down the drain. 

Dot plopped down at the table.  She acted as if she hadn’t heard a word of what Gloria had said as she stared off into the distance, a blank look on her face. 

Gloria pulled out a chair and slid it close Dot’s.  She waved a hand in front of her friend’s face.  “Earth to Dot.  Are you in there?”

Still no response.  Gloria snapped her fingers.  “Dot!” she yelled.

That seemed to do the trick.  Dot shook her head, as if in a daze.  “I’m sorry Gloria.  I was a million miles away.”

Gloria leaned forward, her face just inches from Dot’s.  “We’re having a Garden Girls meeting tomorrow at noon at my place.  You have to come.”

Dot shook her head. Her eyes filled with tears. “I can’t.  I’m too depressed.”

“That’s exactly why you have to come,” Gloria argued.  “You need to snap out of this.  You’re not helping yourself or your restaurant by hiding out in your house!”

“I-I give up,” Dot whispered.  “My life is over.”

“Dot Jenkins, your life is NOT over!  You’re a fighter!  We’re going to figure out how that man got poisoned at your restaurant and you’re going to help us,” Gloria said.

Dot clutched her robe in her fist.  “You really think we can?”

Gloria reached over and squeezed her friend’s arm.  “Without a doubt and we’re starting tomorrow.”  She jumped to her feet.  “I’ll be here at 11:30 to pick you up.”  Before Dot could change her mind, Gloria headed to the front door.

Gloria woke early the next morning.  Since the Garden Girls meeting was at her place, she needed to whip up some tasty treats for her guests.  A light lunch was in order, she decided.  She made a large tray of finger sandwiches.  Tuna, roast beef and chicken salad, along with some chips and homemade salsa she’d made some time ago and had stored in the freezer.  For dessert, it would be Butterscotch Parfaits and frosted sugar cookies. 

She mixed a batch of iced tea before setting the table.  Half an hour before the girls got there, she ran out to her Lilac bush and snipped a few of the purple flowers off and dropped them into a small vase.  She set the arrangement in the middle of the table, right next to the bouquet of flowers Paul had brought her.  The room smelled heavenly, the scent of Lilac filled the air.

Gloria puttered the last few minutes, moving this and straightening that.  She was wound tighter than a top.  It wasn’t from having the girls over for lunch, although that was a bit stressful.  She was distracted with Dot’s dilemma. 

When everything was in place, she hopped in the car and headed to Dot’s.  On the way, Gloria said a quick prayer for Dot. Gloria had tried to call her earlier but no one answered.

She let out a sigh of relief when she pulled into the drive.  Dot’s van was in the driveway and the front living room curtains were open.  Gloria slid out of the car and made her way up the steps.  She reached out to ring the doorbell.  Before her finger touched the buzzer, the door swung open.  Dot was standing there looking like her normal self.  Her hair was done, make-up in place.  She was wearing a cheerful spring outfit.  She pushed the screen door open to let Gloria in.

Gloria hugged her friend.  “You look like a ray of sunshine!” she exclaimed.

Dot smiled but the smile didn’t reach her sorrow-filled eyes.  Dot returned the hug for a brief moment before pulling back.  “Thanks for coming to get me, Gloria.”

She grabbed her purse off the end table and followed Gloria out the front door.  On the short ride back to Gloria’s, the girls made small talk, careful to avoid the elephant in the car – the dead customer.