The Case of the Lovable Labs Read online

  “Putting a cyanide capsule in your mouth would be a pretty risky move,” the Chief said. “If it got stuck in her mouth and dissolved before she could transfer it, she’d been the one getting her GI inspected at the moment.”

  “Maybe not if she put the capsule inside something else,” I said.

  “Like what?” Freddie said.

  “I don’t know. A piece of candy. Maybe gum. Something like that,” I said, shrugging.

  “That could work,” the Chief said. “And it sounds like the mint was enough of a distraction. You said he choked a little on whatever he swallowed.”

  “Yeah, he did,” I said. “But it was pretty clear he assumed it was the breath mint that got caught in his throat. Then he went back to the table to make his toast. Champagne has a high acidity, right?”

  “It does,” Freddie said. “You think that it might have been the champagne he drank during the toast that caused the capsule to pop in his stomach?”

  “The thought did just cross my mind,” I said, nodding.

  “Mine, too,” the Chief said. “What a perfect alibi. Man, if she managed to pull that off, we might be dealing with a very dangerous individual. That’s diabolically brilliant.”

  “You really think Faith might have done it?” Freddie said.

  “I have to say she’s pretty high on my list,” the Chief said.

  “How friendly did the two of you get when you took her out on your boat the other night?” I said.

  “Well, she certainly didn’t try to shove anything down my throat,” Freddie said, shrugging. “But she is a good kisser. I was hoping to see her here tonight.”

  “It looks like you might get your chance,” I said, catching a glimpse of Faith walking across the lawn toward Sammy and Jill’s table.

  Faith was wearing jeans, a loose-fitting sweatshirt and a large pair of dark sunglasses. She continued to make her way to the table, then spotted Josie sitting with the happy couple and made a sharp right turn. After a few more steps, she stopped to glance around for a place to sit, then gave me a small wave and a made a beeline for our table.

  “Mind if I join you?” she said, sitting down next to me.

  “Hi, Faith,” Freddie said.

  “Oh, hi,” she said, then glanced at the Chief. “You’re the chief of police here, right?”

  “I am. Nice to meet you.”

  “Yeah, whatever,” she said, then nodded in Josie’s general direction. “I want to file assault charges against that woman.”

  “I see,” the Chief said.

  Faith removed her sunglasses to reveal two very black eyes. Her nose was swollen to twice its normal size and apparently forcing her to breathe through her mouth. Freddie flinched when he got a good look at the damage and draped an arm over her shoulder.

  “Get your hand off me,” Faith said, jerking backward in her chair. “In case you forgot, I’m also dealing with dozens of bee stings.”

  “Bee stings?” Freddie said, puzzled.

  “I wouldn’t try to press charges, Faith,” I said.

  “And why not?” she snapped.

  “Because I was an eyewitness. It was obvious that Josie was acting in self-defense. And I’m sure my mother and Jill will confirm it.”

  “Of course,” Faith said, shaking her head. “All the local yokels are going to stick together.” She grabbed her purse and began rummaging through it. “I need a cigarette.”

  She removed a set of keys and tossed them on the table as she continued to dig through her purse. She located a lighter, set it aside, then resumed her search. She tossed a container of breath mints on the table, then flicked a small, clear plastic bag containing three capsules next to them. Faith finally located her cigarettes, then lit one and sat back in her chair blowing smoke up into the cool night air. I glanced down at the bag, then looked at the Chief who was also staring at it.

  “Uh, Faith,” I said, casually.

  “What?”

  “What’s in that bag?” I said.

  “What bag?

  “The little plastic bag on the table next to your mints,” I said, pointing at it.

  She glanced down at it, picked it up and examined it with both hands.

  “I have no idea,” she said with a blank stare. “Why don’t you try one and let me know how it is?”

  “Uh, thanks,” I said. “But I think I’ll pass.”

  She dropped the bag on the table, then sat back and focused on her cigarette. Soon, it was impossible for her to ignore the stares all three of us were giving her.

  “What on earth is the matter with you people?” she snapped as she glanced back and forth at us.

  The Chief removed a handkerchief from his pocket and wrapped the plastic bag in it.

  “I think we need to have a little chat, Faith,” the Chief said.

  “Knock yourself out,” she said, watching the Chief’s movements.

  “I think we should have this conversation down at the station,” he said.

  “I’m not going anywhere,” she said, crushing out her cigarette.

  “Well, I guess we’re just going to have to disagree on that.”

  “You’re joking, right? You’re arresting me?”

  “No, let’s say that I’m going to be holding you,” the Chief said.

  “For what?”

  “For questioning.”

  “For how long?”

  “Not long. But you will need to stick around town until we get some lab results back regarding what’s in those capsules.”

  “I’ve never seen that bag before,” Faith said, her eyes starting to widen. “Somebody must have put those drugs in my purse.”

  “Drugs?” the Chief said. “What makes you think they’re drugs?”

  “What else would they be?” she said, now officially worried. “And for the record, I don’t do drugs. It’s probably some sort of painkiller. Or maybe it’s Ecstasy.”

  “For your sake, I hope that’s all it is,” the Chief said.

  “This is the worst day I’ve ever had,” Faith said, shaking her head.

  “For your sake,” I said softly. “I sure hope so.”

  Chapter 11

  After we said our goodbyes to Sammy and Jill, they headed off to begin their honeymoon. Then we said goodbye to my mother after the last of the guests had departed and headed home. We took quick showers, changed into tee shirts and sweats, then sat down in the living room to relax and play with the dogs who made it abundantly clear that they had missed us. Josie made a pot of coffee while I built a fire. Even though it was late May, the night had turned cold, and soon the dogs were stretched out in a row and sound asleep in front of the fire.

  “This is nice,” Missy said, her feet propped up on the footstool in front of her chair. “You guys do this all the time?”

  “As often as we can,” Chef Claire said, sipping her coffee.

  “Do you think Faith is going to be charged with Roger’s murder?” Missy said.

  “If those pills have cyanide in them, it’s almost certain,” I said, stretching out on one of the couches.

  Chloe woke up when she heard the familiar sound of me getting comfortable on what she considered her couch and was soon stretched out across my legs.

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” I said, glancing down at my Aussie. “Am I taking up too much room?” Chloe snorted but grudgingly conceded a bit more space. “There was a lot more room when you were a puppy.”

  “Speaking of puppies,” Josie said, nodding at the three labs that were nestled up against Al and Dente, Chef Claire’s Goldens. “How cute is that?”

  “Before I got them, I couldn’t imagine myself having three dogs,” Missy said, staring at the sleeping dogs. “Now, I can’t imagine living without them.” She smiled then her expression turned into a small frown. “What were you saying about some sort of capsule being found in Roger’s stomach?”

  “Apparently, he was given the poison in a capsule form,” I said, staring up at the ceiling. “I’d just assumed t
hat whoever killed him put some drops in his glass of champagne.”

  “That would mean that he might have been given the poison before he came back to the table, right?”

  “That’s the new working theory,” I said, then glanced over at Missy. “Do you think it’s possible that Faith could do something like that?”

  Missy scoffed, but then teared up and wiped them away with the back of her hand.

  “Sadly, yes, I do. She’s always been troubled. Even from a very young age. And when she learned what her mother and Roger had done, it had a major impact on her. They left New Hampshire shortly after that.”

  “And you work with Bill?” I said.

  “Well, we teach at the same university, but rarely see each other,” Missy said. “Our buildings are on opposite ends of the campus.”

  “And Roger lived in the same town, too?” I said, yawning.

  “No, it wasn’t the same town,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s only about fifteen miles away, but as far as Roger and I were concerned, it might as well have been a different planet.”

  “What did he do?”

  “Apart from chase women?” she said, laughing. “He had a software company. He did very well.”

  “Who gets it now?” I said, sitting up. Chloe took advantage and stretched out to full-length. “You two never had any kids, and he never remarried.”

  “You know, that’s a very good question,” Missy said, frowning. “I have no idea who will inherit the business.”

  “That might be worth checking out,” Josie said. Captain opened his eyes when he heard her voice, and he got up and joined her on the couch she was sitting on. She disappeared from view for a few seconds as he moved around searching for the perfect spot. “No, by all means, make yourself comfortable.” Seconds later, the Newfie was sprawled out with his head on her lap. “You’re such a goofball,” she said, rubbing Captain’s head.

  “I’m sure the Chief is already looking into the will,” I said, stifling another yawn. “Did you know your student was going to be there tonight?”

  “Jessie? No, I was very surprised to see her,” Missy said.

  “So, she’s taken some classes from you?” I said.

  “Nothing gets past you,” Josie said, laughing.

  I made a face at her as I took a sip of coffee.

  “She’s taken a couple of my courses,” Missy said. “She’s a very good student. But I had no idea she’d also taken some from Bill.”

  “He’s her favorite professor,” Josie said, glancing at Missy. “Does that mean what I think it might?”

  “That would be my initial assumption,” Missy said, shrugging. “I’m afraid Bill shares some of the same tendencies that my ex-husband had.”

  “What on earth does she see in him? He’s so pompous,” I said.

  “Jessie is young and impressionable,” Missy said, shrugging. “I imagine she sees Bill as mature, even worldly. Give her a few months, she’ll figure him out.”

  “And he was so mean to Jill’s mom. I can’t believe she only threw her champagne at him. I probably would have punched his lights out.”

  “Roger and Jennifer’s fights were legendary,” Missy said, finding some distant memory quite funny. “I was surprised to even see them sitting at the same table. Talk about mutual hatred.”

  “What I can’t figure out is why Faith would want to kill Roger,” I said.

  “She’s young and impressionable,” Josie said. “Maybe she finally figured him out.”

  “That’s no reason to kill him,” I said.

  “Well, she’s obviously not the brightest crayon in the box,” Josie said.

  “No, you’re right about that,” Missy said. “When she was young, Bill was always saying that Faith’s elevator didn’t go all the way to the top floor. And he was sure she got that from her mother.”

  “That’s cruel,” I said, frowning. “I can’t believe he said that about his own daughter.”

  “But that doesn’t mean it’s not accurate,” Josie said. “And you’ve seen her temper in action.”

  “I guess,” I said, frowning. “Still, there’s something about this whole thing with Faith that’s bothering me.”

  “Don’t look at me,” Josie deadpanned. “I did my part. I hit her as hard as I could.”

  Everyone laughed, and the dogs in front of the fire raised their heads in unison, took a quick look around the room, then went back to sleep.

  “Did I happen to see you with Jackson tonight?” Chef Claire said, grinning at Missy.

  “Oh, you caught that?” Missy said, blushing. “We just went for a little walk in the garden. He’s a very nice man.”

  “He certainly is,” Chef Claire said. “But be careful, he tends to bond pretty quickly.”

  “Yes, I picked up on that,” Missy said. “He said he used to be the chief of police here.”

  “He was,” Josie said. “But he and the town council had a parting of the ways, and Jackson decided to take over his parent’s grocery store.”

  “He chose well,” Missy said, shaking her head. “I can’t imagine being a cop. Jackson invited me out on his boat tomorrow.”

  “So, you’ve decided to stick around for a few days?” I said.

  “If you don’t think it’s too much of an imposition on you,” Missy said. “I mean, I do have three dogs.”

  “Around here, three dogs is a rounding error,” Josie said.

  “Absolutely,” I said. “Stay as long as you want. Maybe we’ll get some answers to Roger’s murder before you go.”

  “I suppose it should interest me more,” she said, shrugging. “You know, the identity of the murderer. But it doesn’t.”

  “Really?” I said, frowning at her. “You really don’t care who killed him?”

  “No,” she said, shaking her head. “Not since I learned who all the suspects are. I can’t stand any of them. It wouldn’t break my heart regardless of who the killer turns out to be. And if it’s Faith, so much the better. I guess that sounds pretty harsh, right?”

  “Well, yeah. It kinda does, Missy,” I said, staring at her.

  Missy shrugged.

  “There’s just way too much history with those people,” she said. “And as Bill always likes to say, the way to avoid repeating history is to understand what you’re dealing with, learn what you can from it, and then move on.”

  “That’s pretty good advice,” Josie said. “Especially from a history professor.”

  “Oh, Bill is full of good advice,” Missy said, grinning at Josie. “And I’m sure he’d be more than happy to give you all the private lessons you want.”

  “Thanks, but I think I’ll pass,” Josie said, scowling at the suggestion.

  “He’s always been the brightest crayon in the box,” Missy said, still teasing Josie with the idea.

  “I’m usually attracted to smart,” Josie said, shaking her head. “But, no.”

  “His elevator definitely goes all the way to the top floor.”

  “Good for Bill,” Josie said. “But after talking with him earlier, I’m afraid of what I might find in the basement.”

  Chapter 12

  Unfortunately for him and his students, Bill wouldn’t be giving anybody lessons, private or otherwise. I learned this stark fact early the next morning when my mother called me in a panic, her voice alternating between hysterical shrieks and hushed whispers tinged with despair. At first, I naturally assumed something was wrong with her, and I squeezed my coffee mug tight until she managed to convince me that she was fine. However, Bill’s condition was apparently another matter altogether. Short on specifics and with my neurons on fire, I hung up and looked around the kitchen island where Josie, Chef Claire, and Missy were making short work of their stacks of French toast topped with maple butter and fresh strawberries.

  “What’s going on with your Mom?” Josie said, drizzling a generous portion of maple syrup over her second helping.

  “Uh, she needs a bit of help,” I said. “I
told her I’d come over and give her a hand with the cleanup.”

  “Okay,” Josie said, giving me a look that told me she knew I was lying through my teeth. But she said nothing. “I’d join you, but my morning is packed.”

  “I need to get to the restaurant to deal with a bunch of deliveries, but I could probably swing by her place in a couple of hours,” Chef Claire said.

  “No, don’t worry about it, I’m sure the place was immaculate before she let the caterers leave. She probably just wants a second opinion on a few things,” I said. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  I grabbed my keys, said a quick goodbye to all the dogs, then headed for my mom’s house. I noticed the Chief’s car in her driveway along with an unmarked state police cruiser. Just as I was getting out of my car, Freddie pulled in behind me. He hopped out, grabbed his bag from the back seat, and tossed it over his shoulder.

  “We really need to stop meeting like this,” he deadpanned.

  “Tell me about it,” I said, shaking my head. “My mother said something happened to Jill’s dad.”

  We started to make our way up the driveway toward my mother’s back door.

  “Yeah, apparently, he’s history,” Freddie said. “Get it?”

  “Geez, Freddie,” I said, shaking my head at him. “How about you show a little respect for the guy?”

  “First of all, if you spent all your time doing my job, your sense of humor would turn a little morbid, too. Second, I really don’t think old Bill is gonna care one way or the other what sort of jokes I’m making.”

  “And you wonder why you’re having such a hard time finding a girlfriend,” I said, starting to huff and puff as I climbed the small incline.

  We walked the rest of the way in silence, and my mother waved to us from her back porch. She walked down the steps, gave me a hug, then led us behind the house. The large tent was gone, and the lawn was immaculate. I lumbered way behind my mother’s brisk pace but eventually made my way down the stone path that led to her large garden filled with plants and spring flowers. The main path intersected with several other smaller ones that were separated by manicured hedges about four feet tall. Every time I walked through the garden I was drawn back to my childhood where my friends and I spent countless hours playing hide and seek or tag. Later on, after I entered high school, my visits to the garden were usually reserved for those times when my boyfriend of the moment and I would sneak off for some alone time where I’d inevitably spend most of my time trying to teach him the finer points of keep away. But given the state of my love life, every time I walked the garden these days I was pretty much relegated to admiring the plants and flowers.