Calamity @ the Carwash (Parson's Cove Mysteries) (27 page)

After I’d popped two muffins into the
microwave and while I was spooning coffee into the filter, he said, “I’ve
learned not to tell you to stop being your curious self, Mabel; however, there
are a few things you don’t have to worry about anymore. For example, there’s no
need for you to check out anyone’s work boots. Nor is it necessary to send your
cats to smell anyone’s tires.”

“Oh, you knew about that?”

He nodded. His face was serious but his
eyes weren’t. “Yes, and it was smart to check it out but you really should’ve
come to me. It’s much wiser to work along with the police, Mabel. I thought
maybe you would know that by now.”

The muffins were ready so I put them on
a plate and set them on the table. I opened the fridge and brought out the
butter.

“I’m sorry; the butter is as hard as
rock but if you put it on while your muffins are hot, you’ll be okay.”

I watched as he cut both muffins in half
and added a good tablespoon slab of butter to each one. The butter slowly
melted on top and oozed over the sides. As soon as he was gone and I could
relax, I was going to have one myself.

Meanwhile, there was something I wanted
Mr. Maxymowich to understand. “Of course, Captain, you realize that I was with
my local sheriff at the time. However, I do appreciate the fact that everyone
needs help now and again. I always feel that there are places I can go or
people that I can talk to who won’t ever talk to you. Some would even talk to
Reg before they would talk to a city cop.” I poured his coffee and set it down
in front of him. I knew he drank his black so I went to the fridge to get some
milk for mine. I brought my cup to the table and sat across from him.

He picked up his cup, took a sip and
literally smacked his lips. Without saying anything more, I watched as he
carefully lifted his butter and cholesterol-laden muffin and started to eat. He
obviously didn’t want to be disturbed so I drank my coffee in silence.

After several minutes, he spoke, “You’re
quite right, Mabel. No one wants to share things with a stranger. I’ll share a
few things with you though.” He picked up a napkin and wiped some butter off
his chin. “I guess we’re not considered strangers anymore, are we?” Not waiting
for an answer, he continued, “Jeff Keeler and Jennifer Wilson store most of
their drugs in an old house not far from Parson's Cove. It’s by the lake and
hidden back in the woods. We’ve been watching them for quite some time. From
there, they distribute their drugs. They didn’t want anyone finding out where
it was so they rented the house behind yours.”

“You mean they’re not husband and wife?”

He shook his head. “Not in God’s eyes,
no. I think they like to think of themselves as another Bonnie and Clyde.”

“You know she’s volunteering for the
seniors’ home, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do. As you and your cat know,
Calvin was transporting drugs from the city to here. Jennifer and Jeff were
expanding their little business. Scooter was moving drugs in the soles of
shoes, as you and your cat also know. They’d bring the drugs to Jeff and he’d
distribute them.”

“Do you know what that awful smell was?
It smelled like dead fish. It drove my cat crazy. I think it was just the paper
bag that the drugs were in that smelled like that though.”

“You’re right. They found a drug called
metformin. It’s a legitimate drug for diabetes but most people refuse to take
it because it smells so bad. They thought that if the cops ever stopped them on
the highway and there were dogs, they wouldn’t be caught. And, they always made
sure one bottle of metformin was in the hubcap or a few pills in the shoes.
Chances were that the cops would pick those pills to test.”

“That’s exactly what happened. Reg
grabbed the one loose packet and it was the diabetes drug. What about at
Scooter’s house though? You didn’t find any real drugs there?”

“We found quite a few bottles of
metformin at Scooter’s place, that’s all. Jeff had cleared everything out and
had taken some to the cabin and some to Krueger’s house.” He laughed. “But who
knew that it would be a cat that would catch them?”

“I guess in a way it was Sammy who
played a part in catching those dealers, wasn’t it? But, Captain, wouldn’t it
be ironic if it was Biscuit, Murray’s dog, who also started sniffing the tires
or the shoes? I’m wondering if that isn’t why someone killed him.”

The Captain’s eyes widened. “You might
have something there, Mabel.”

“I mean, it would be either Scooter or
Calvin, wouldn’t it?”

“It could’ve been.”

“But who were buying the drugs? That’s
what I can’t figure out. I know I’m not out cruising the streets at night but I
really haven’t heard of any drug problems and neither has Reg.”

“No, you wouldn’t. Most of the drugs
aren’t out in the streets, Mabel. At least, not these drugs. They’re being sold
within the confines of a secure place. Some drug dealers concentrate on kids
because they’re vulnerable and some take advantage of another defenseless
group.”

“Are you trying to tell me that Jeff and
Jennifer are selling drugs to the people in the retirement home?”

“Well, they were selling them to the new
manager.”

“Sam Kinney? They were selling drugs to
Sam Kinney? I don’t believe it.”

“Believe it. He was giving small doses
to some of the more wealthy residents until they got hooked and then he started
charging.”

“What kind of drugs? I don’t know much about
using drugs but if they were all high on cocaine wouldn’t some of the staff
know it?”

“Not cocaine. It was methamphetamine. It
makes a person feel good, gives them energy and in some cases makes them, let’s
say, a bit frisky.”

“You’re kidding. Well, I’m pretty sure I
know one person who’s hooked on it – Sam Dudley. I thought I was the only one
that he chased but some of the women in the Home said he was getting quite
aggressive with his wandering hands.”

“Another problem is that it’s highly
addictive.”

“What’s going to happen to all those
drugged old people?”

“It will take awhile to wean them off of
it. It might take up to six months for some of them. We’ve already spoken to
family members.”

“Where are all the crooks now?”

“They’re all being escorted back to the
city where they’ll be held until there’s a bail hearing. Next week sometime, I
expect.”

“So, what crooks are we talking about
here?”

“Obviously, Jeff and Jennifer. Also, Sam
Kinney. I doubt they will see the light of day for some time. Scooter and
Calvin will probably return but could end up serving some time. Depends on the
judge, I guess. Neither one has a criminal record so the court might go easy on
them.”

“When you started, you said you would
tell me all that you know. What don’t you know?”

“Who killed Bernie Bernstein.”

“Aw yes, Bernie. Somehow, in all this
other mess, we’ve forgotten the real crime. Since Bernie seemed to be bringing
drugs in his car too, who do you think killed him? Calvin or Scooter? If
they’re sent back to Parson's Cove that means a killer has been let on the
loose.”

“Well, both men swear they didn’t have
anything to do with his murder and we don’t have any proof. In fact, both men
have an alibi for the time that Bernie was killed.”

“Do you really think it was Melanie then?”

Captain Maxymowich drained his cup and
stood up. “She did confess to it and Prunella heard them arguing. Melanie did
threaten to kill him.”

“But you don’t believe that, do you? I
would believe her brother did it before I’d believe that she did. By the way,
did you know that her brother spent quite a bit of time visiting Prunella in
the hospital? May West said that she heard Steve threaten her. Have you checked
into that?”

“We spoke with May yesterday. We need a
reason and a confession from Steve. So far, he’s been very uncooperative.”

“So what does Prunella say?”

“She says Steve is a good friend and has
never threatened her in any way.”

“Well, not a big surprise there.
Prunella seems to say whatever anyone tells her to say. I’m shocked she even
said anything when she saw Bernie and Melanie arguing. Although I bet she
wouldn’t have if Esther hadn’t told her she had to. I just wish we could find
whoever killed Bernie. And, I don’t mean accepting Melanie’s confession. By the
way, do you know if Bernie was really into selling drugs or what was the deal
with him?”

“Bernie got involved quite by accident.
Calvin and Scooter aren’t giving too much information about him but that’s
because both of them are high on the suspect list.”

“You mean it started when he got the
wrong shoes from Scooter?”

The Captain nodded. “Yeah, he figured he
was onto something - something where he could cash in and make some money.
Scooter said Bernie told him that if they didn’t let him in on the operation
that he’d go to the cops.”

“Doesn’t that pretty much prove that
either Calvin or Scooter killed him?”

He shrugged. “It would except for the
fact that both of the men have alibis. There’s no way they could’ve been two
places at once.”

“What about Jeff? Or, Jennifer, for that
matter?”

He shook his head. “We’ve checked them
out too. Jennifer was in the city where, believe it or not, she worked in a
care home for the elderly. Jeff was sitting in Main Street Café most of the
afternoon and there were several people who saw him.”

I stared at him. “Jennifer looks after
elderly people? I sure hope you’re checking that place out.”

He smiled. “As we speak.”

“This whole thing is so baffling.
Parson's Cove is suffering because of it too. We used to trust all our
neighbors. Now, we’re all paranoid that there’s a killer wandering the
streets.”

“I know how you feel, Mabel, and Sheriff
Smee and his deputies will be increasing their patrolling time. You’ll see them
out on the streets a lot more until this person is found.”

“You mean you’re leaving and not coming
back?”

“Oh, I’ll be in touch with Reg
constantly and we’ll be checking out other people of interest. The thing is,
Bernie could’ve had contact with drug dealers in the city. We want to find out
exactly how involved he was getting and how many enemies he really did have out
there.”

“This is getting to be too complicated.
Would you like another cup of coffee?”

“No, thanks, but if you don’t mind, I
wouldn’t mind having a muffin ‘to go.’”

“I don’t mind at all. I’ll put one in a
bag for you.”

He smiled – one of his rare ‘show all
your teeth’ smiles, and said, “I guess I was thinking more along the lines of
‘one bag of muffins to go.’”

Who can resist Captain Marlow
Maxymowich’s smile? I handed both bags to him and said, “Enjoy them. If you
have to come back to Parson's Cove again, I’ll make sure to have more fresh
muffins to go.”

It had been a long day so after
Maxymowich left, I changed into my pajamas, brushed my teeth, made a small gin
and tonic and went to bed.

I settled in for the night. The cats
were snuggled into their usual spots, and I was half way through my lovely
nightcap when I heard someone opening the back door. Flori is the only person
who has a key.

“Mabel, where are you?” she screamed.
“Answer me right now. Are you all right?”

Before I had time to rush to the
bathroom and pour my drink down the sink, Flori was pounding up the stairs. All
I could do was set my glass on the floor as far under the bed as I could reach.
I straightened up when she came puffing into my room. Her hair was sticking out
in every direction and she was wearing her nightgown under a pink housecoat.

“Flori, what on earth are you doing here
at this time of night? Why didn’t you phone? You don’t even have any makeup
on.”

“I just heard now. Probably everyone in
Parson's Cove knows but no one told me. And you, Mabel Wickles, didn’t even let
me know. As soon as Jake came home and told me, I ran straight over here.” She
rushed over to the bed and plunked down beside me, putting her arm around me.
With her face about an inch away from mine, she said, “What’s that smell?”

She sniffed the air. “Yes, there’s a
definite smell coming from you. Were you in the gin again, Mabel?”

I’d held my breath when she was near me
for as long as I could and when I let out all the pent up air, she screwed up
her face and said, “Phew. That’s the foulest smelling breath I’ve ever
smelled.”

“Flori,” I said. “Did you want to hear
about my harrowing near death experience or do want to continue smelling my
breath?”

“All right, I want to hear but we’ll
talk about the other before I leave.” She grabbed my hand and held on. “Please,
tell me it isn’t true that Scooter shoved a knife into your throat.”

As if the reality of it just sank in,
she lifted her hand and pushed up my chin to check for scars. Or, knowing Flori,
maybe dried blood.