Free Murder at Breakfast by Steve Demaree Page B

Maybe I’ll let you know when I find out. When was the last time you saw
her?”
    “So,
someone did bump her off. Let me know who did it. I’ll want to drink a toast to
him or her.”
    “I
don’t believe you answered my question.”
    “Which
was?”
    “When
was the last time you saw Mrs. Higgins?”
    “You
mean alive? Sorry, a little joke there. I saw her at breakfast yesterday
morning. I didn’t slip anything into her orange juice, although I’ve been
tempted to many times.”
    “So,
how did you know it was something in the orange juice that killed her?”
    “The
policeman can be a jokester, too. I like that in a man. Maybe if things don’t
work out between Russell and me, I’ll look you up. Looks like you know a good
meal when you see one. Maybe you can take me out sometime. By the way, what’s wrong
with him? He hasn’t said a word.”
    “He’s
in training. He’s just supposed to sit still and take notes.”
    “I
haven’t seen him take any notes.”
    “See,
how good he is. He takes notes so quickly that no one even notices that he’s
taking them.”
    “Is
he as funny as you are? Sometimes those strong silent types are good company.
Still water runs deep.”
    “I
don’t think you’re his type.”
    “Oh,
and what’s wrong with me?”
    “Oh,
nothing. But he has a tendency to stand in front of a mirror admiring himself.
It’s something recent. Never did that until he bought a Wii.”
    “Oh,
does he have one of those things? I bet he has a Wii Fit, too.”
    “Don’t
tell me you like those things, too?”
    “Never
found a need for one. Of course, I could get interested. I was on the Internet
this morning, a site called YouTube, you’ve probably heard of it, and I saw the
sexiest man doing the hula hoop. Come to think of it, he looked a lot like you.
It was you. You wolf you. Here you are acting like he’s the one doing this
stuff, when all the time it’s you. Maybe we can get together sometime and try
it out. I’m always game for something different.”
    “I
think that’s all the questions I have for you right now, Mrs. Hunt, but please
don’t leave the premises in case we have any more questions.”
    “I
wouldn’t dream of it. Here, let me give you my number. Call me when you’re
free.”
    I
got out of that apartment as quickly as possible. I didn’t look back until I
realized that Lou had paused at the door. Before he left, he said something to
Mrs. Hunt.
    “He’s
really shy around women, but I can tell he likes you,” Lou said.
    “Shy?
Are you kidding me? Maybe you didn’t see him reaching out to those two women to
give him CPR.”
    “That
was on there, too?” I asked, before I could shut my mouth and rush away. George
is really in for it now, or was Lou responsible for this? No, it had to be
George. Lou wouldn’t know any more about how to do something like that than I
would. I hoped I didn’t encounter anyone else who has seen my three minutes of
shame. Or was it an hour?
     
    +++
     
    That
incident so unnerved me that I ate a whole Hershey Almond bar instead of the
one bite at a time that I usually do. I spit out the paper before I swallowed.
    After
doing so, I turned and faced the Cheshire Cat. I would get even with him, too.
Some day. Somehow.
    The
other two third-floor residents were out of town, visiting their children, who
were no longer children. The next person on my list was only a few feet down
the stairs, or a lot more feet if we took the elevator. I thought about taking
the stairs, letting Lou go first, tripping him. But I knew if I did, God would
punish me. I brushed past Lou and hurried to the elevator. Maybe I would
question the next person alone and send Lou over to talk to my next-door
neighbor to see if she knew Mrs. Higgins. As we rode down in the elevator I
wondered how long Wiis work before they break down. Hopefully, Lou’s Wii will
break down before I do.
     
    +++
     
    It
was Saturday, so Lou and I decided to question each of the other