Rigatoni Ruin, page 12
“It’s true,” Mike said. “There was hardly any footage of you. There were too many people at the party.”
“My party?” Nana asked. “Beatrice is already trying to get me kicked out. This could be the fuel she needs.”
“There was nothing bad,” Coby said. “Just of the kitchen. A guy was making drinks. There were people playing cards at the table. Jade walked in and out. Nothing else.”
“Hang on,” Lan said. “You got footage of the kitchen?”
Mike nodded. “I swear that’s it.”
“Do you still have it?” Lan asked.
“I have all of it,” Coby said. “Mike uploads everything to the cloud.”
“Is there footage of the person who roofied my drink?” Lan asked.
“I don’t know. I didn’t watch the entire thing.”
“This might be a break in the case we need,” Nana said. “Get us onto the cloud.”
“Looks like everything worked out for the best,” Mike said. “Can you let go of me now?”
Gunner tightened his hold. “Everything is working out for the best, but not for you.”
“Let him go,” Nana tsked. “He learned his lesson.”
“And I lost a ton of product,” Mike added. “I’m out money because of this.”
As soon as Gunner released his grip, Mike bolted into the store.
We turned our attention to Coby. He laughed nervously.
“Coby, I want you and your laptop at my house in twenty minutes,” Nana said.
“It takes twenty minutes just to get to your house.” When she narrowed her eyes at him, he fled. “I’ll be there!”
Nana took out her keys and turned to Gunner. “Thank you for the assist. You can return to desk duty.”
“Thank you for your permission.” He plucked the keys out of her hand. “But I was told to watch Jade for her safety. If there is someone slipping roofies into drinks, I’m still on duty.”
“You said once we caught the spy you’d be done,” I said.
“No one said anything about people getting drugged.” He walked to the door. “We do this my way.”
“Wait,” Nana said. “You’re going to help us?”
“Help . . . witness.” He shrugged. “This could go many ways. All I know is that I’m going to have entertaining stories for the guys at the station.”
“I don’t think that’s what Logan had in mind,” I said.
Nana elbowed me. “We’ll take your offer.”
I supposed it was better to have Gunner with us, but I wasn’t looking forward to the arguments to come.
As the others sat around the kitchen table, weeding through the video footage, I glanced at my phone, hoping for a message from Logan. It was getting later in the afternoon, and I wished he would have given me an update by now. But there was nothing.
I nudged Gunner. “Have you heard from Logan?”
“Not since your apartment. Why?”
“I’m worried about him. I want to text him, but what if the message alert is loud and he gets caught?”
Gunner glanced flatly at me. “He knows better than to keep the volume on his phone.”
“What if it vibrates loudly?”
“Logan is one of the best detectives I’ve met. He doesn’t make rookie mistakes.”
I slumped in my chair as I stared at my phone. I should have made Logan promise to update me every hour on the hour.
“Eureka!” Nana slapped the table. “We got him!”
I glanced over at the screen. A fuzzy outline of Bruce walked between the sink and the drink tray.
“You can’t see anything from that,” I said. “It’s grainy.”
“Doesn’t matter. He tipped something into the glass.”
“That’s not enough evidence,” Gunner said. “He could say he was adding ice or an umbrella to the drink.”
“It’s not even clear which drink he put it in either,” Lan said.
“That was a waste of time,” Nana said.
I had to agree, but even the grainy footage looked condemning. It was possible Bruce could have roofied Lan, thinking the drink was going to Nana. But why? It wasn’t like he was desperate for company. The other night, he left with two ladies on his arm. The last thing he needed was a drugged woman who would weigh him down.
There had to be another angle.
“Nana, is there anything Bruce would want to steal?” I asked.
Nana shook her head. “My jewelry is fake, my art is cheap, and my money is in the bank. Why do you ask?”
“I’m looking for a motive. Why would he want to roofie you? It wasn’t for companionship, since he walked out with two women. And it wouldn’t be for theft since you have nothing worth stealing. So, then why?”
“This shot proves nothing,” Gunner said. “You can’t be certain it was him.”
“We’ll just have to throw another party,” Nana said. “Coby and Lan can set up cameras.”
“I have to work tonight,” Lan said. “But I can come after. It’s not like the party is going to wind down at ten.”
“Gunner, you’ll have to be offsite,” Nana said. “No one would dare mess with the drinks if you’re here.”
“Not happening,” Gunner said.
“He can be in Lan’s old room,” I said. “We’ll say Lan isn’t feeling well and is in his room. People won’t go in there and Gunner can monitor.”
“I suppose that would work,” Nana said. “I’ll get the message out to the gang. The rest of you are on beverage and food duty.”
As long as I didn’t have to make gelatin, I was happy to help.
Gunner excused himself and walked out of the backdoor, sliding it closed behind him.
I watched as he brought the phone to his ear.
Dashing out the front door, I circled to the back. Stopping at the edge of the house, I listened.
“No. Everything is good. You were right, though. They can get into trouble faster than a crackhead released from jail.”
I thought that was unfair. Yes, we get into trouble, but we solved the mystery of the spy. And we were on our way to solving yet another crime.
“It was just some guy the grandson paid to get pics of Jade. Now they have footage of some other guy spiking a drink.” Gunner paused. “No. I’ll handle it. What’s happening at your end?”
I waited, hoping he’d spill information.
“Let me know if you need me. I got a buddy who can get me over to you in two hours.”
I assumed that meant Logan was okay for now. That made me feel better. It also let me know he was free to pester. As soon as Gunner hung up, I called Logan.
“Hey, dumpling,” he said. I heard the smile in his voice.
“Why are you calling Gunner and not me?” I asked in my most serious voice.
“You know why,” he said. “He gives me the most accurate snapshot of how much trouble you and Nana are in.”
“Did he also tell you he spanked me?”
Logan paused. “He didn’t mention that. Just what kind of spanking was it?”
“Does it matter? The point is, he slapped my ass, and it stung.”
“I’ll talk to him.”
“Don’t bother. Just focus on getting Mila. How are you guys doing on that front, anyway?”
“Looks like it’s going to take longer than we thought. Things have changed since Colin lived there. Different security detail and more cameras.”
My stomach tightened at the news. “That’s not good.”
“No, it’s not. But we are still going to try.”
“Are you sure?” I asked. “I want Mila back, but I want you back as well.”
“There is nothing that would keep me from coming back,” he said.
“Promise me you won’t take unnecessary risks,” I said.
“I promise.”
“And that you’ll update me.”
“When I can.”
“Before you got on the phone with Gunner, I wanted to text you, but I was worried about someone hearing your phone or the vibration from it.”
“You can always call or text me,” he said. “My phone will be on do not disturb if I need to keep quiet.”
“Are you still coming home tomorrow?”
“I might stay another day. It depends on Colin. His insider information hasn’t been reliable.”
Gunner came around the corner and glared at me.
“My babysitter is back,” I said. “I should go.”
“I love you,” he said.
“I love you, too. But we are having a serious discussion about babysitters when you return.”
“I can’t wait.”
I smirked and ended the call.
“If you get to talk to him, so do I,” I said before Gunner could chastise me.
“Did he tell you anything?” Gunner asked.
I eyed him, wondering if we got the same story from Logan, or if Gunner got the detailed plan while I got the kid-friendly version.
“He said he might be gone for another day and that things had changed since Colin lived there.”
Gunner nodded.
“And there was this other thing he said,” I said, snapping my fingers as if summoning the thought from air. “What was it?”
“Nice try. But I got no information to give you.”
“Because you don’t have any, or because Logan didn’t tell you?”
“None of your business.”
“So, he did tell you something. Otherwise, you would have said so.”
“Either way, it’s none of your business.”
With a defeated sigh, I headed back into the kitchen.
Coby held a box of gelatin. “I just add water?” he asked. “Seems like there should be more to it.”
“Nina likes to add canned fruit,” Lan said.
I veered away from the topic of gelatin and headed to the living room where Nana was flipping through her address book.
“I think I messaged everyone,” she said as she scanned the pages. “I’m just double checking. I also texted Essie to get her onboard with the party. She said she baked cookies.”
“Did you invite Beatrice?” I asked.
Nana scrunched her nose. “Why would I invite that stick in the mud? She’d get me in trouble.”
“You said yourself she wants to shut down your parties.”
“She does, but she hasn’t been to a party to roofie Lan or me either.”
“She could have bribed someone to do it.”
“True. Beatrice is conniving.”
“So, who could she have bribed?”
“Nearly anyone,” Nana said. “She’s got something on everyone here.”
“How?”
Nana shrugged. “Maybe she hired a spy like Coby did, but I haven’t seen anyone around.”
“She’s getting information from someone.”
Nana nodded. “The only problem is figuring out who it is.”
I wished Mila was here. She’d make a spreadsheet or something.
“Do you still have the dry erase board?” I asked.
Nana grinned and headed to her room. A moment later, I heard the squeaking of wheels. I walked over and helped her push it into the living room.
Once it was in place, she patted it like an old friend.
Having heard the obnoxious squeaking, the others filed into the living room.
“What’s this about?” Gunner asked.
“This is how we solve the crime,” Nana said, arming herself with a marker. “Lan, you said the person had a raspy voice. We know Stella, Joyce, and Fisher have raspy voices.” Nana wrote the names on the board. “Fisher admits to delivering your drink but claims he didn’t pour it.”
Nana circled Fisher’s name and then added Bruce’s name. “Bruce was the bartender. Looks like he added something to the drink, but we don’t have proof, and we have no motive. However, Beatrice has motive.” She added Beatrice’s name.
“Does anyone else have a motive?” Gunner asked.
“Not really,” Nana said. “We’re a pretty good group of friends. Every once in a while there is a squabble, but they usually smooth out after a day or two.”
“What kind of squabbles?” he asked.
“It’s mostly miscommunication when we text,” she said. “Stella once thought I called her a goat. I had texted she was great, but auto correct got me.” Nana shrugged. “I suppose there was some bad blood with Fisher and Bruce. They had liked the same lady and Bruce got her.”
“Bruce seems like the ladies' man of the group,” I said.
Nana nodded. “He’s a smooth talker. Fisher isn’t. I think Fisher was more upset that Bruce wouldn’t leave one lady for him. Fisher didn’t come around for a month after that. I finally went over to his house and told him it was a good thing he didn’t get Louise since we found out she had crabs.”
“Does that mean she gave them to Bruce and now the entire community is infested?” Coby asked.
Nana snickered. “It was quite the commotion. Even Beatrice got them. I suspect from a toilet since she wouldn’t lift her skirt for anyone here.”
“Maybe that’s a motive,” I said. “Beatrice could blame you for her crabs since you host the parties where Bruce picks up women.” I glanced at the clock. “Would Beatrice be around to talk to now?”
“She’s probably at the clubhouse.”
“I think I’ll pay her a visit,” I said.
“She won’t talk to you,” Nana said.
“Oh, I think she will, especially when a concerned granddaughter wants to return her grandmother to the straight and narrow.”
“You’re good,” Nana said.
I headed for the door but stopped when I noticed Gunner following me.
“You’re not coming,” I said.
“Where you go, I go.”
“She won’t talk to me with you around. You’ll scare her.”
“Jade’s right,” Nana said. “She’ll clench up tighter than her sphincter.”
“Jade is not going alone.”
“Coby, go with Jade,” Nana said.
“Me? Why?”
“Because the old biddies love you,” Nana said. “And you owe Jade for pulling that spy stunt.”
The latter reason prompted Coby to move to the door. “Fine, but someone needs to figure out the gelatin thing. I mean, why do you need boiling water and cold water? Seems like an extra step for nothing. Water is water.”
“I’ll take care of the gelatin,” Nana said. “Gunner, you’re on alcohol duty.”
Gunner eyed her. “No alcohol.”
“What kind of party doesn’t have alcohol?”
Since I didn’t want to witness the coming argument, I opened the door and fled.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Coby and I made it to the curb before I realized I didn’t know the clubhouse location.
“Coby, do you know how to get to the clubhouse?”
“No, but it’s not that big of a community. We should be able to find it easily.”
I stepped forward just as a golf cart whizzed by.
“Watch where you’re going!” the driver yelled.
“We should stick to the sidewalk,” Coby suggested.
It didn’t seem to matter where we walked. Another golf cart zipped along the walkway, nearly mowing us down.
Apparently, pedestrians had no right of way at Your Time Acres.
Beyond the murderous golf cart drivers, there was another issue. The community was built in a honeycomb shape. Clusters of condos dotted along the many intersecting roads.
“We’re going to get lost,” I said.
Taking out my phone, I opened it to the map, hoping GPS could find the clubhouse.
Looking over my shoulder at the phone, Coby said, “Doesn’t look like anything is coming up.”
“No, but it gave me the outlines of the buildings.” I pointed to the center of the map. A building that didn’t look like the others sat there. It was smaller and square. “This might be it. We’re not too far away.”
Checking that it pointed me in the right direction, I began walking only to stop when I heard someone yelling. The voice sounded muffled.
“Do you hear that?” I asked.
“Yeah. Sounds like it’s coming from that condo.” Coby pointed to a unit across the street.
Looking both ways, we crossed the road.
“Help!” came the shout, this time a little clearer.
“It’s got to be this unit,” I said.
I knocked on the door.
“Help! I’m in here!” the female voice said.
I tested the doorhandle to find it locked.
“Is there a key?” I yelled.
“Under the bunny!”
“Do you see a bunny?” I asked Coby.
The small front yard had one porch chair, a sign that warned against soliciting, and one bush under the window.
“I don’t see anything,” Coby said.
I checked around the bush, wondering if it was hidden. There was nothing.
“Coby, check the back door.”
He jogged around to the back while I tested the windows.
A golf cart came to a halt. “Get away from those windows!”
I glanced over to find a woman clenching her steering wheel. Her blouse and skirt looked extra starched. Her curled gray-black hair had the same stiffness.
“We do not tolerate thieves here!” she hollered. “Back away!”
“Whoever lives here needs help,” I said.
Coby returned. “The door is locked.”
“Hands where I can see them!” she shouted at Coby.
Coby eyed her. “Who’s the stuffy librarian?”
The woman blustered. “I’m Beatrice Dodman, head of the neighborhood watch and the Fellowship Society. If you don’t get out of here in two seconds, I will summon the cops.”
“The cops are already here,” Gunner said, flashing his badge as he leisurely strolled down the road.
Beatrice eyed him. “Let me see your badge. I warn you, I know the difference between a real one and a fake one.”
“Gunner, you were supposed to stay with Nana,” I said.
“And you’re supposed to stay out of trouble.” He held the badge so Beatrice could scrutinize it over her stubby nose.
“Looks real,” she said with a cluck of her tongue. “Get these people out of here.”
