Arsenic and Old Puzzles (3 page)

“He was a widower.”

Becky raised her eyebrows.

Cora flushed angrily. “I was
not
considering him matrimonial material. I never saw him alive. That was the one detail the sisters managed to get out of him.”

“What were you doing there?”

“Harper called me.”

“How come?”

“Tom had a sudoku in his pocket.”

“Uh-oh. Did you solve it?”

“No. I snuck out to get you.” Cora shook her head. “I’m beginning to regret it.”

Chapter

5

The young man
who met them at the door smiled at Becky, which won him no points with Cora.

“I’m sorry, but it’s not a good time just now. My aunts are a little busy.”

Cora, for whom being ignored by a good-looking young man was just one more kick in the age bracket, said, “Yeah, well, a dead man will do that. And who are you?”

Well-bred to a fault, the young man immediately began to apologize for
her
rudeness. “I’m sorry. I’m Alan Guilford.” He ducked his head boyishly, and his brown curly hair fell in his face. “I’m afraid there’s been an unfortunate incident.”

“Yeah,” Cora said. “We saw the police chief’s car outside. Becky’s a big girl, didn’t figure he was here collecting for the policemen’s ball. She’s a lawyer, by the way, in case you couldn’t tell. Some people can’t.”

Alan blinked. “I don’t understand.”

Becky smiled. “You must not be from around here. I’m Becky Baldwin. This is Cora Felton.”

His eyes widened. “The Puzzle Lady. I’m sorry. I should have recognized you.”

For Becky it was an education. Cora went from snide to flirty in the blink of an eye.

“Well, that’s so nice of you, young man. Alan, did you say? And the sisters are your aunts?”

“That’s right.”

“Ah,” Cora said. She actually took him by the hand. “Then this may come as a bit of a shock. It seems the gentleman who died may have ingested poison.”

Alan looked astonished.

“Yes, I know,” Cora said. “Absolutely ridiculous, but that’s why the police are here, and that’s why I thought they might need an attorney.”

“My aunts? That’s ridiculous. They wouldn’t harm a fly.”

“You know it and I know it. But just let the media get hold of it and look what happens. Poison is a woman’s weapon. You mention poison and little old ladies come to mind. Which is why it’s foolish to take chances. If your aunts can afford it, they’d be wise to retain counsel.”

“They can afford it, all right, but is it really necessary? They’re such sweet old dears, I would hate to upset them.”

“No one wants to upset them, but I would strongly advise you to let Becky listen in on the questions. In case something should arise, she’d be there to handle it.”

“Well, if you think the policeman wouldn’t object.”

“Object? Nonsense. He’d love it.”

Alan ushered them into the living room. Chief Harper didn’t look delighted to see them, but he didn’t look unhappy, either. Apparently the questioning was not going well.

“Ah,” he said. “You’ve brought in reinforcements.”

“I’m sure you know Becky Baldwin,” Cora said, “Bakerhaven’s attorney-at-law. She’s often brought in in the case of an untimely death to help the police sort out the facts of the case.”

“There’s a way to express it,” Harper said dryly.

“Why?” Edith said. “Do you need an attorney, Chief Harper?”

“No, I do not need an attorney. Cora thought you might. Apparently, she didn’t know how adept you are at answering questions.”

“Whatever do you mean?” Charlotte said.

“Come in and sit down,” Edith said. “Would you like some tea? Alan, you never got your tea. Why don’t you pour some for these ladies. We have the most lovely tea biscuits, but the chief won’t let us have them.”

“Unfortunately, they’re in there,” Harper said.

Officer Dan Finley came in from the parlor carrying a camera. “Got ’em, Chief. And I put the ribbon up. Anything else you need?”

“Not at the moment, Dan. And did you notice Cora Felton and Becky Baldwin are here?”

Though probably the same age as Alan Guilford, Dan had a boyish quality that made the other man seem positively mature. “Hi, guys. What’s up?”

“Has it come to that?” Cora said. “You’re processing a crime scene and you ask what’s up?”

“Sorry,” Dan said. “Didn’t mean to be insensitive, but apparently the ladies didn’t know the gentleman in question. Isn’t that right, ladies?”

“This interrogation is awfully informal,” Becky said.

“It’s not an interrogation,” Harper said. “I’m just asking some routine questions, trying to get the situation straightened out. No doubt this will all turn out to be a misunderstanding.”

“Amazing how many suspects have been marched off to jail after just such a pronouncement,” Cora said. “What did you learn while I was gone to make you sure this was nothing?”

Alan had come back from the kitchen with three steaming teas. He served Cora first, which would have pleased her if the phrase
age before beauty
hadn’t gone through her head.

He took his time serving Becky Baldwin, and seemed to smile more than Cora felt was necessary for a simple cup of tea.

Chief Harper waited until the teacups had been distributed before answering Cora’s question. “I’ve learned nothing. Which is remarkable, considering the amount of time it’s taken me to learn nothing. The Guilford sisters live alone in the house, they have four guest rooms, which are unoccupied at the moment, with the exception of the gentleman’s overnight bag.”

“And what are we to do with that?” Charlotte said. “We can’t keep it. Occasionally we hang on to someone’s bags until they pick them up, but he’s not going to do that.”

“No, he’s not. At any rate, the house is empty. And was last night when the gentleman checked in.”

“Only because I’d gone to the store,” Charlotte said.

“I understand. Otherwise, you’d have checked him in.”

“Yes, and I would have gotten his name.”

Edith’s mouth fell open. “Well, I never!”

“Not that I’m blaming you. You’re not used to checking people in. That’s my job.”

“The point is,” Chief Harper persisted, “you two live here alone.”

“Well, we don’t need anyone else,” Edith said. “It’s not like we have a cook or a maid. We share the responsibility.”

“I’m sure you do. And who made breakfast this morning?”

“We both did.”

“Uh-huh,” Harper said, without enthusiasm. “And who made what?”

“She made the eggs. I made the coffee,” Edith volunteered.

“And the bacon. Don’t forget the bacon,” Charlotte said.

“The bacon’s not a problem. It’s the toast.”

“What’s the toast?” Chief Harper said.

“Charlotte puts butter on the toast.”

“Doesn’t everyone put butter on the toast?” Cora said.

“Not these days,” Edith said. “Not with cholesterol. If it turns out that poor man died of a heart attack because of high cholesterol…”

“Oh, for goodness’ sake,” Charlotte said. “He did not die from buttered toast.”

“Well, you slather it on. If you let him butter his own toast, he wouldn’t use so much.”

“It wouldn’t melt. You have to butter it when it’s hot or the butter doesn’t melt. No one wants to eat butter that’s standing in lumps.”

“And what time was breakfast?”

“Nine o’clock,” Edith said. “I said eight o’clock, but he said nine. Since he was the one eating it, we made it nine.”

“What did he do after breakfast?”

“He went out,” Charlotte said. “We didn’t see him until tea. Could he have eaten something somewhere else?”

“It’s possible,” Chief Harper said. He turned to Alan. “And when did you get here?”

“Just now. I drove up from New York.”

“You came up from New York this afternoon?”

“That’s right.”

“Was this the first time you’ve been here?”

“I’ve been here many times.”

“I mean today. The first time you arrived today.”

“Sure. My suitcase is in the car.”

“So you never saw the dead man? He was gone before you got here?”

“The ambulance was just pulling out. I assume that was him.”

“Well, that’s disappointing,” Harper said. “That makes you rather worthless as a witness.”

“Oh, I’m sure he has other attributes,” Cora said.

To Chief Harper’s amazement, she actually batted her eyes.

Disconcerted, Chief Harper plowed ahead. “And what are you doing here? Just visiting your aunts?”

“No. Not that I’m not happy to see them, but I actually came to see Arlene.”

“Arlene?” Cora said sharply. “Who’s Arlene?”

The door flew open and a beautiful young brunette burst in and threw herself into Alan’s arms.

Chapter

6

Amazing how one’s
estimations plummet. With the introduction of a girlfriend, Alan Guilford went from being an attractive young man to an undesirable intruder and most likely a murder suspect.

The lady in question had several strikes against her. For one thing she was with Alan. For another thing she was young. And not just young, but remarkably young, absurdly young, perhaps even younger than Becky Baldwin. She had dark brown hair, cut short, and falling in excruciatingly casual curls around a baby face with a button nose and flashing blue eyes. Her smile lit up the room, though she directed it mainly toward Alan. She favored the others with the sort of regard a queen might lavish on her subjects. Cora assessed her charitably as a promiscuous gold digger, uncharitably as a crack whore.

Chief Harper was making his own estimation. “You are this young man’s girlfriend?”

“Is that what he’s telling you? That’s rather disappointing, dear. I thought I was your fiancée?”

“Fiancée?” Cora said. “You’re engaged to be married?”

“Absolutely.”

“When’s the date?”

“We haven’t set the date yet.”

“Ah. So perhaps the word
fiancée
is a bit premature. Perhaps Alan was right to say girlfriend.”

“Oh, for goodness’ sake,” Arlene said. “I know words are your specialty, but give me a break. It doesn’t matter what you call the relationship. Frankly, it’s wonderful. I’ve been in love with Alan ever since I met him.”

“When was that?”

“I don’t see how this is relevant to the investigation,” Chief Harper said.

“Shhh!” Cora, Becky, Edith, and Charlotte said.

Chief Harper blinked.

Arlene smiled, and went on as if there had been no interruption. “I met him this summer when he was up visiting his aunts. I live next door. Big old place, drafty but nice. Moved in last spring. Hadn’t been back since I was a child. Next thing I know, there he was.”

“No, the next thing I know, there she was. Love at first sight.”

“Well, that’s perfectly delightful,” Harper said. “If I have any more questions, I’ll know where to find you. And you, young lady. Could I have your address and phone number?”

Arlene fumbled in her purse. “Let me see. Here’s a pencil. I know I have something to write on here somewhere. Oh. That reminds me.” She pulled out a folded sheet of paper. “I found this on the way in.”

“Found what?”

“Sticking out from under the doormat.”

“That’s silly,” Charlotte said. “No one leaves notes under the doormat.”

“It’s not a note.”

“Well, what is it?”

“I suppose it’s meant for you.”

Arlene handed it to Cora.

Cora unfolded the paper.

It was a crossword puzzle.

Across

  1  Curtain fabric

  6  Our last mustachioed president

10  Like bachelor parties

14  Place to play

15  Aloha State port

16  Twist the arm of

17  Yo-yo trick

19  Diamond of music

20  Sloppy digs

21  Basic principle

22  Serene spots

23  Chicago exchange, for short

24  Tiny bits

26 “I did it!”

29  Perform a daring act

33  Magnum __

34  An Ivy Leaguer

35 “Roots,” for one

36  Tick off

37  Think tank nuggets

39  Pizazz

40  Whoppers

42  Quirky habit

43  Artist Magritte

44  Do a farm chore

48  Town sign abbr.

49 “Want __ with that?”

50  Ship captain’s hazard

52  Contribute

54 __-garde

56  Blond shade

59  Oodles

60  Dispatch a household pest

62  Trim down

63  Regretful hero of 1776

64  Did galley work

65  Sets, as a price

66  Took a gander at

67  Little Eva’s creator

Down

  1  Musical tools

  2  Suffix with pluto

  3  Count (on)

  4  Tattooist’s supply

  5  Photo finish

  6  From that point

  7  Staffer

  8  Naval formation

  9  __ up (dress finely)

10  Fountain treats

11  Forest scenes, e.g.

12  Opposed to, in dialect

13  Salon supplies

18  Mint or sage

22  Ordinal ending

23  Kettle and Barker