A Crime of Poison Read online

  The Silver Six, in their late sixties to early seventies, were far from idle before the emporium project. They had volunteered at the technical school and in organizations in town, and they had resumed their volunteering, more or less staggering their hours at the store. After all, they supplied a good bit of the items we sold, so they had to reserve time to create.

  I snapped back from my meandering thoughts and hustled the last few steps to the emporium’s back door. Fred wasn’t in his workroom, but my two wiggling fur babies greeted me as soon as I stepped inside. Amber wagged her tail so hard her whole body got into the act. She made excited unh-unh noises while T.C. wound herself through my legs, meowing like she hadn’t seen me in weeks.

  I bent to pet the critters that had found and adopted me in June, and both shoved their twitching noses at the donut sack. I held it out of their reach.

  “It’s not for you, girls, and you know it. Now chill a minute. I need to put this in Fred’s cupboard before Maise catches me.”

  Amber sneezed and shook her head as if to say, Not happening.

  I found his goodies stash in one of the cabinets. The plastic container had once contained coffee and still retained the coffee scent but had been acquiring an eau d’donuts aroma. Fred had printed NUTS & BOLTS on the container with permanent marker and had gone to the trouble to put some of those same items in sealable bags to give it weight in case someone—like Maise—hefted it. Why he bothered, I didn’t know. Maise might be head chef at the farmhouse, and she delighted in feeding people, but she never came off as the food police.

  Okay, maybe with me she did. She knew cooking was not my thing, so she loaded me up with leftovers several times a week. Hey, I knew when I had a good thing going.

  As I recapped the container, my cell phone vibrated against my hip, and I grinned at the photo on the screen. Eric Shoar, Lilyvale Police Department detective. Six-feet-one of brown-haired, brown-eyed handsome with a deep, dreamy drawl.

  He was the other good thing I had going. The very, very good thing.

  I leaned against the closest worktable and answered the call.

  “Hi, Eric.” I grinned at Amber and T.C., who sat two feet from me, ears perked. I’d swear they knew Eric’s name.

  “Is the setup coming along well? Have the artists collected all their goods?”

  “Far as I know, yes. And if the usual number of folk art buyers attend this shindig, the artists may sell out.”

  “Shindig? Is that a Fred-ism?”

  “Nope, that’s a Dab term. So how is it going at your end? Are the traffic issues under control?”

  “If people follow directions, we’ll be fine. A few business owners are complaining that we’re closing Magnolia Road at eight.”

  “You’re leaving Lee Street and Stanton Drive open, though, right?”

  “Have to, for safety if nothing else. Emergency units need ready access.”

  I sucked in a breath and let it out in a whoosh of words. “Bite your tongue, Eric. Right this minute. We’re not having an emergency this weekend. We’re not having so much as a hangnail at this festival.”

  “It could be a happy emergency. Like a woman going into labor.”

  “Nice save, but if you just jinxed us, you will never hear the end of it.”

  He chuckled. “You’re a hard woman, Nixy.”

  “Not me. Sherry and Maise and Eleanor will come after you.”

  “Not Aster?”

  “No, but maybe I should have her break out the lavender water and spritz everything in sight.”

  “Ah, yes. Invoke the calm.”

  “Always. So, how is the new detective working out so far?” I asked, referring to Charlene Vogelman. Hired to replace the detective who’d had complications from surgery and then retired, Charlene was mid-thirties, tall, and blonde. Her athletic body had curves to spare, but I liked her every time we’d met and chatted. A recent widow taking care of her disabled father, she’d taken the job here to enjoy a slower pace and a slightly lower cost of living.

  “Considering she came from a big city, she’s getting the hang of things here.”

  Having lived in Houston, I didn’t consider Tulsa, Oklahoma, that big, but then, I’d never been there. I’m sure Lilyvale was an adjustment.

  “Good deal. Maybe you’ll have more free time now.”

  “I’m counting on it. Speaking of which, I know I haven’t seen you much in the past two weeks since I’ve been showing Vogelman the departmental ropes, but if you’re not exhausted on Sunday night after the festival closes, let’s go to dinner.”

  “Adam Daniel’s?” I named the restaurant on the highway north of town that had been damaged in a storm in June and since been repaired. We’d had our first date there but had never made it back. Maybe this time would be the charm.

  Still, I had to tease him. “Wait. You’re really giving up Sunday Night Football for me?”

  His dreamy voice deepened as he said, “You’re more important.”

  “You sure know how to turn a girl’s head, Detective,” I purred.

  He laughed, and then I heard a shout in the background. “Everything okay at the station?”

  “Officer Benton just dropped that ancient ten-pound stapler on his hand. See you later.”

  I disconnected with a smile on my face but came down out of the clouds when I realized it was very quiet in the store. Too quiet.

  Chapter Three

  I’d never known exactly what a frozen tableau looked like until I threw open the door from the workroom and entered the emporium.

  His walker nearby, Fred stood with Dab at the shelves, each with a small metal-art piece in hand.

  At one round display table, Aster and Maise looked like they’d been arranging potions and lotions.

  At the display in the bump-out window, Sherry held an egg basket suspended over the table as if she’d stopped in midplacement.

  Behind the counter, Eleanor protectively stepped in front of Jasmine and a second young black woman I presumed was Kathy.

  They all stared at a man who hovered inside the front door. Stooped shoulders, white shirt and pants, white tennis shoes.

  “What are you doing here?” Eleanor asked, her voice low and harsh, completely different from her usual sweet tones. I wouldn’t have recognized it as hers if I hadn’t seen her speak.

  The man I’d seen fetching and carrying for Dex Hamlin took off his floppy gardener’s hat and twisted it in his hands. His graying hair was thin and lank and somehow made him appear more pathetic.

  I slid by Aster and Maise to stand on the outside of the counter, but I kept my mouth shut. Whatever was going on, the air vibrated with animosity and more than a little fear. Instinct told me it needed to play out.

  “I’m not here to make trouble, Ms. Wainwright.” His gaze roved the room to stop on Aster and Maise. He spoke again, slowly, as if measuring his words. “Ms. Parsons, Ms. Holcomb. I came to apologize to you.”

  “Apologize?” Eleanor gave a genteel snort. “A sadistic bully who not only made lives miserable but caused people physical injury? I do believe I take leave to doubt your sincerity.”

  I blinked at her angry rush of words.

  “I understand, but it’s true.” He glanced at the rest of us, still as sculptures, then looked at Eleanor again and held her gaze. “Once I was fired with no money and no reference, I hit bottom. Some church folks up in Camden took me under their wings, and I changed. I’m determined to make amends where I can.”

  “What happened? Did you suddenly find religion?”

  “Actually, I did,” he said a little shyly. “Hard as it is to believe.”

  We were all silent for a moment. Talk about hearing a pin drop. Then Eleanor shook her head.

  “If you’re expecting forgiveness, lower your expectations. I don’t know about Maise or Aster, or anyone else
you wronged, but I had hoped never to see you again. I must insist that you leave our shop and not come back.”

  He nodded, turned toward the door, and then looked back at Eleanor. “Thank you for your time. Even if you can’t believe me, I am sorry for what I did and who I was.”

  The wind chimes rang as he opened and closed the door, but the happy sound sure didn’t lighten the mood. Or break the tension. I did.

  “What on earth was that about?” I asked the room in general.

  Tension snapped in a torrent, everyone speaking nearly at once.

  Eleanor: “That’s the horrid man who drove me away from Ozark Arms.”

  Aster: “He managed the complex where Eleanor used to live, and Maise and I lived there for a few months, too.”

  Dab: “He bullied residents, neglected repairs, and worse, was drunk half the time.”

  Maise: “He was a mean drunk. Should’ve been hung from the yardarm instead of just fired.”

  Fred: “Tigers ain’t changin’ their stripes and neither has he.”

  The Six paused for a collective breath when another voice said, “I can’t believe he came back.”

  I crossed to the counter where Jasmine and her friend still stood. “Are you Kathy Baker?” I asked.

  She blinked at me. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “I’m Nixy, and I’m sorry we’ve had a scene on your first visit here.”

  “It’s not your fault, Ms. Nixy,” Kathy said, “but that man terrorized my mother and me.”

  Eleanor took the girl’s hands in hers. “I know he did.”

  “He made fun of me, and he made my mother fall down the stairs. She broke her arm and couldn’t work. He said if she pressed charges, he’d do worse.” Kathy’s eyes glistened with remembered pain, and her voice hardened. “Just now, though, he didn’t even recognize me. He didn’t apologize to me.”

  Eleanor drew her into a hug, and a moment later the front door flew open, wind chimes sounding more discordant than they should’ve. Eleanor released Kathy and whirled as if on her guard, then relaxed as Detective Shoar strode in. Eric wore his usual attire of jeans, a button-down shirt, and western-style boots, and right now, his cop face, too. He didn’t so much as share a smile with me, but with one sweeping glance that touched each of us, he knew something was wrong.

  “Eleanor, I’m glad you’re here.”

  He paused and did a double take at Kathy. “Excuse me if this sounds rude, but I know you, don’t I?”

  Kathy squared her shoulders. “Yes, sir, we met a few years ago. I’m Kathy Baker.”

  Eric snapped his fingers. “Yes, Connie’s your mother. She moved over to El Dorado, didn’t she? How is she doing?”

  Kathy looked pleased he remembered both of them. “Yes, sir. We moved when my mom lost her job here, but she’s fine now, thank you.”

  Eric jabbed a hand through his short hair. “I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you and Eleanor both need to hear this. Cornell Lewis is in town.”

  “We already know about Cornell Lewis,” Eleanor said, tucking Kathy into a sideways hug. Jasmine stood at her friend’s back.

  “You do?” He looked from her to me. “Don’t tell me he came in here. What happened? Nixy?”

  I moved to stand beside him, and that seemed to finish unfreezing the tableau, because then Sherry, Dab, Fred, Maise, and Aster gathered with the rest of us at the antique counter.

  “Mr. Lewis was just in here,” I confirmed. “He said he came to apologize.”

  “Which he did, not that we believe a word of it,” Maise said tartly.

  “Claims he got religion,” Fred grumbled. “Day that happens is the day I stop fixin’ things.”

  Eleanor cleared her throat. “Eric, can you force Cornell to leave town?”

  “Not if he’s a law-abiding citizen.”

  Aster snorted. “Citizen? We don’t want him living here again. I don’t expect anyone who knew him would.”

  Eric laid his palms flat again the glass countertop. “Did he threaten any of you? Was he abusive in any way?”

  I had my opinion but let Eleanor answer.

  “I wish I could say yes to that, but I must own that he was respectful enough.”

  “With all of us present,” Dab said, “he wouldn’t have acted any other way.”

  “True,” I agreed, “but Eleanor asked him to leave, and he didn’t put up a fuss. I don’t think he’ll be back.”

  “What makes you think that?” Maise asked sharply.

  I shrugged. “Just a vibe I got from him.”

  Eleanor tilted her head at me and gave me a small smile. “I do believe your vibes have proven accurate in the past.”

  “Most of them,” Sherry said, and turned to Kathy, who had stepped away from Eleanor. “I hope this incident won’t keep you from working for us over the weekend. Jasmine speaks so highly of you, and we very much want this to be a good fit.”

  “These people are really great to work for, Kath,” Jasmine said. “I wouldn’t have suggested it to you otherwise.”

  Kathy gazed toward the door, then rubbed her hands up and down her arms as if she was chilled. “I like all of you, but I don’t know. It’s been three years since I saw him, but that man scares me.”

  “You won’t be alone in the store,” Maise assured her. “We’ll be here all weekend.”

  “I wish you’d reconsider, Kathy,” Eleanor said. “I feel like I’m repaying your mother for all her kindnesses to me in some small way if you’d join our little family.”

  “You’re positive I won’t have to be alone with him?”

  “As Maise said, you won’t be alone at all.” Aster grinned. “In fact, we’ll probably drive you nuts with our chattering.”

  Fred harrumphed. “And if they do, you come visit me back in my workshop. You can play with Nixy’s critters.”

  “Amber and T.C.,” Jasmine put in. “The sweetest dog and cat. You’ll love them.”

  “And they’ll love you,” I said dryly, “as long as you give them treats.”

  Fred snorted. “They ain’t beggars, and you know it. Speakin’ of which, one of us should look in on them. Kathy, you want to come meet ’em now?”

  “Go ahead,” Maise encouraged. “We’ll take ten and then get back to cleanup duty.”

  “Nice to see you, Kathy,” Eric said as she headed off with Fred and his walker. Then he turned to me. “Nixy, walk out with me?”

  Dab returned to shelving metal-art pieces, Aster began spritzing her lavender water all over the store, and the other women simply shooed me off.

  Outside, Eric took my hand, and we headed south away from the square.

  “I feel awful not knowing in advance that Lewis was back.”

  I squeezed his hand. “You told Eleanor as soon as you could, and it’s not like you could’ve stopped him from showing up.”

  “Except knowing would’ve put her on her guard so she didn’t feel ambushed.”

  “Yes, well, speaking of which, there’s something else you need to know.”

  Eric stopped in front of the shoe repair shop. “Regarding Lewis?”

  “Yes. He’s working for Dex Hamlin.”

  “The obnoxious hot dog guy? How do you know?”

  “Because I had a set-to with Hamlin about an hour ago. He didn’t set up in the space I’d marked off for his stand, and then he demanded to sell energy drinks when he’s only approved to sell the food and bottled water.”

  “And you saw Lewis at the stand?”

  “Uh-huh, and if Cornell Lewis was a bully, he’s getting a taste of his own medicine in spades.”

  Eric smiled without humor. “Hamlin is the kind of guy who gives rednecks a bad name. Did you set him straight or do I need to have a word with him?”

  “No, thanks. I took care of it, and I don’t want
him any more riled than he already is.”

  “Understood. I’ll alert the patrols to keep an eye on both of them.”

  “I appreciate that, Eric, but the point is, I didn’t tell anyone that Cornell is working in the square for the next two days.”

  “Anyone meaning the Silver Six?”

  “And Kathy and Jasmine. I really don’t think the man will darken the emporium door again, but—”

  “Any one of them could spot him while they’re strolling the square,” he finished.

  “Yep, and I have to tell them so they’ll be prepared.”

  “You do.”

  “Of course, it’s unlikely the Six will be buying hot dogs or corn dogs.”

  “But Jasmine and Kathy might. They should know the score.”

  I sighed. “I’ll round ’em up and break the news when I go back.”

  “Good. And I’ll have the guys patrolling pay extra attention to what’s happening at the food stand.”

  We came to a corner, and Eric tugged me to the side street, where he grasped my waist and pulled me closer.

  “Why, Detective Shoar, are you frisking me?”

  “Nah, just stealing a kiss.”

  • • •

  I broke the news that Cornell Lewis was working for Dex Hamlin at Gone to the Dogs as soon as I returned to the emporium. No point in putting it off any longer. Besides, the seniors knew me well enough to know when I was holding back. Darn it.

  The Silver Six took it more in stride than I’d hoped, and not even Kathy seemed too fazed.

  “He’s working for Dex Hamlin?” Eleanor shook her head. “That man might be a worse bully than Rotten to the Core.”

  “Who?” I asked.

  She smiled. “That’s what we residents called Cornell Lewis. A little levity went a long way.”

  “We wouldn’t patronize Hamlin’s stand anyway,” Aster sniffed, “but we’ll be bringing our noon meals and snacks to the shop. Maise has everything ready to go.”

  “We’ll have plenty for you girls, too,” Maise added, “so come to work hungry.”