three of the former car business partners have died in the last few months? Well, maybe there’s something that has to do with their deaths and the money coming into the business.”
“Oh? So what does this mean?’
“I have no idea. I wish I did.”
“I’m sorry I’m not much help.” My heart sank for Cat. I handed her the papers. “What next?”
Cat stacked the pages. “I don’t know, but I need another drink.”
“That I can do.” As I leaned forward to stand up, the small green bottle of poison slipped out of my pocket.
Pointing to the bottle, Cat laughed. “Hey! It’s not that bad. I’m not ready to kill myself or anything.”
Placing it back in my pocket, I stood and laughed. “I would hope not. Why don’t we just get tipsy and forget about this day? It’s been quite a humdinger.”
“Who says humdinger?”
“I just did.”
Cat got off the floor and followed me. “Besides you, of course.”
Two hours later and one finished bottle of wine between us, Cat went to bed. All the tenants were in their rooms. Before I went into my walk-in pantry bedroom, I placed the tray of muffins in the middle of the kitchen table, tightly covering them with plastic wrap. I set out the coffee cups, saucers, and small plates. Fidgeting with the fragrant flower arrangement, I pulled out a wilted hydrangea. The rest of the flowers still looked fresh and perky.
I put my hands on my hips, breathing in the sweet smell of chocolate chip muffins as I looked around the kitchen. The moonlight shone through the large window above the sink. Some slivers from a light in the alley peeked in the back door window. A nightlight below the kitchen counter added further illumination.
This was nice. Everything seemed neat and orderly. The way I liked it. All the rooms were rented. I’d be able to make a payment on the equity line and maybe put a little aside for my new roof fund. It was nice having Cat here. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed having someone to hang out with. All work and no play had made me feel as old as this house.
An hour later, I awoke from a restless sleep. Exiting the pantry, I turned on the kitchen overhead light. Looking at the table, I noticed that the plate of muffins was gone. Darn it. I bet Mr. Phong got to them. That’s what I got for trying to get ahead. Next time I’d just hide them until morning. Scanning the kitchen, I noticed that the cabinet under the sink was cracked open.
“What in the world?” I said out loud to no one. Darn loose hinges.
I closed the cabinet. Then I rummaged in my pantry hoping that I had enough ingredients to make another batch of muffins. If not, I’d have to commit a sin, at least in Hattie’s book, and buy a batch of store-made treats. Luckily I found what I needed to whip up another dozen, but it would have to wait until morning.
The floor above me squeaked, followed by a loud crash.
What was that?
I looked at the wall clock: 12:45 a.m. Maybe something fell in Cat’s room. Darn it. Maybe I didn’t fix the folding cot as well as I thought I had. Poor Cat had probably fallen out as it collapsed on her.
Entering the upstairs hallway, I put an ear to Cat’s room. Softly I said, “Cat, are you okay?”
I heard nothing. Then I cracked the door open and found her asleep on the cot. Thank goodness. Quietly I closed her bedroom door.
Tiptoeing down the hall, I heard noise coming from Mr. Phong’s room. Rats, I’d promised Frank and Lily that I’d talk to him about keeping it quiet. And I hadn’t. Now was as good a time as ever.
Outside of his slightly opened door, I picked up my heirloom china platter on which my muffins had been set. It was empty save for some crumbs. “Darn it. Why does he take all of them?” I guess I should’ve been flattered that he enjoyed my baking so much.
Gently knocking on his door, I said, “Excuse me, Mr. Phong. It’s Bezu.”
Holding the platter, I tapped again, and the door cracked open enough to see into
“Oh? So what does this mean?’
“I have no idea. I wish I did.”
“I’m sorry I’m not much help.” My heart sank for Cat. I handed her the papers. “What next?”
Cat stacked the pages. “I don’t know, but I need another drink.”
“That I can do.” As I leaned forward to stand up, the small green bottle of poison slipped out of my pocket.
Pointing to the bottle, Cat laughed. “Hey! It’s not that bad. I’m not ready to kill myself or anything.”
Placing it back in my pocket, I stood and laughed. “I would hope not. Why don’t we just get tipsy and forget about this day? It’s been quite a humdinger.”
“Who says humdinger?”
“I just did.”
Cat got off the floor and followed me. “Besides you, of course.”
Two hours later and one finished bottle of wine between us, Cat went to bed. All the tenants were in their rooms. Before I went into my walk-in pantry bedroom, I placed the tray of muffins in the middle of the kitchen table, tightly covering them with plastic wrap. I set out the coffee cups, saucers, and small plates. Fidgeting with the fragrant flower arrangement, I pulled out a wilted hydrangea. The rest of the flowers still looked fresh and perky.
I put my hands on my hips, breathing in the sweet smell of chocolate chip muffins as I looked around the kitchen. The moonlight shone through the large window above the sink. Some slivers from a light in the alley peeked in the back door window. A nightlight below the kitchen counter added further illumination.
This was nice. Everything seemed neat and orderly. The way I liked it. All the rooms were rented. I’d be able to make a payment on the equity line and maybe put a little aside for my new roof fund. It was nice having Cat here. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed having someone to hang out with. All work and no play had made me feel as old as this house.
An hour later, I awoke from a restless sleep. Exiting the pantry, I turned on the kitchen overhead light. Looking at the table, I noticed that the plate of muffins was gone. Darn it. I bet Mr. Phong got to them. That’s what I got for trying to get ahead. Next time I’d just hide them until morning. Scanning the kitchen, I noticed that the cabinet under the sink was cracked open.
“What in the world?” I said out loud to no one. Darn loose hinges.
I closed the cabinet. Then I rummaged in my pantry hoping that I had enough ingredients to make another batch of muffins. If not, I’d have to commit a sin, at least in Hattie’s book, and buy a batch of store-made treats. Luckily I found what I needed to whip up another dozen, but it would have to wait until morning.
The floor above me squeaked, followed by a loud crash.
What was that?
I looked at the wall clock: 12:45 a.m. Maybe something fell in Cat’s room. Darn it. Maybe I didn’t fix the folding cot as well as I thought I had. Poor Cat had probably fallen out as it collapsed on her.
Entering the upstairs hallway, I put an ear to Cat’s room. Softly I said, “Cat, are you okay?”
I heard nothing. Then I cracked the door open and found her asleep on the cot. Thank goodness. Quietly I closed her bedroom door.
Tiptoeing down the hall, I heard noise coming from Mr. Phong’s room. Rats, I’d promised Frank and Lily that I’d talk to him about keeping it quiet. And I hadn’t. Now was as good a time as ever.
Outside of his slightly opened door, I picked up my heirloom china platter on which my muffins had been set. It was empty save for some crumbs. “Darn it. Why does he take all of them?” I guess I should’ve been flattered that he enjoyed my baking so much.
Gently knocking on his door, I said, “Excuse me, Mr. Phong. It’s Bezu.”
Holding the platter, I tapped again, and the door cracked open enough to see into
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