Free Lethal Lasagna by Rhonda Gibson

thing I needed was an early fall cold, but since Mitzi’s death I’d decided to take an interest in my neighbor’s lives so I asked. “I’m headed into town. Can I get you anything?” I felt a moment of pride as I realized it was also the thing God would want me do.
    “Naw. Boss just told me to go home and get some rest. I’ve had some, but I think I’ll go lie down for a while and get some more. Thanks anyway.” She blew her nose loudly, turned, and entered the house.
    I slipped back inside my car. The smell of lemon drifted about me, giving the illusion of sitting in an orchard. I cracked a window. Not even orchards smell this sweet. For a brief moment, I wondered if those things came with instructions or if they were always this overpowering at first. Well, they were when I used them, but other people’s vehicles always held only a hint of scent.
    A police car passed, and its presence reminded me that Mitzi’s apartment was a crime scene. I sighed, “I should probably see if it’s okay to be in there now.” Even as I said it, I dreaded the visit with Detective Howard.
    ****
    “Ms. Parker.” Detective Howard acknowledged me. He moved to sit behind his cluttered desk and dropped into his chair.
    I took note of the deep black circles under his eyes. His lips were drawn down. “I’m sorry to bother you, but Mitzi’s son called me this morning and asked if I would pack up her apartment. I wanted to make sure it was okay with the police before I did anything.” The words came out rushed, and I felt breathless.
    He sighed. “Yes, they took the tape down a couple of days ago.” Howard picked up the papers and stacked them into neat little piles.
    Baffled, I watched. What was wrong with the man? Something that kept him awake at night? Or had he pulled a long weekend here at the station?
    His head came up, and he looked at me. “Is there something more?”
    I stood. “No, I guess not.” I moved to the door but couldn’t make myself step through it. Taking a deep breath, I turned to face him once more.
    He’d propped his arms upon the cleared area and rested his head upon them. I cleared my throat and waited.
    He didn’t look up. “Yes?”
    “Detective, are you okay?” I asked.
    He raised his head. “As well as can be expected. Thanks for asking.”
    I stared into his blue eyes. They looked tired and old. Not sure what to say, I nodded and then hurried from the room.
    During the drive to the college, I worried about the detective. It was none of my business, and yet I couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to cause the man to lose sleep. I was still fussing and contemplating when I entered the classroom—late I might add.
    I slipped into a hard wooden seat. As I fumbled in my purse for a notebook and pen, Brandon’s voice filled the room.
    “I’m glad to see everyone here. How did you do on your homework? Any problems?”
    The only problem I had was that I’d forgotten all about the synopsis with its main plot and subplot. I laid my notebook on the desk and crossed my hands over its cover, praying he wouldn’t ask for mine.
    His gaze moved about the class and then landed on where I sat at the back of the room. A knowing smile touched his lips. “If you don’t have any questions, please pass your synopsis to the front.”
    Papers shuffled about the room. I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. “Here, pass this up,” Martha whispered. I smiled over my shoulder and took her paper.
    A second whisper grabbed my attention. “That first date must have been something since you won the auction for the good professor and rumor has it that the two of you had lunch at Braums yesterday.”
    Since Brandon was speaking again, I decided to ignore her. When had people started gossiping about me? A mental dialogue filled my head. Let’s see, maybe it was when you agreed to have coffee with him, or maybe it was when he showed up at your church’s garage sale, or even better, when you paid to have a date