Ladle to the Grave (A Soup Lover's Mystery Book 4) (21 page)

N
ATE WAS SILENT,
listening to the hydraulic whir as the damaged car was lifted from the concrete floor of the Auto Shop. Guy Bessette released the lever as soon as the front passenger wheel was directly in his line of sight. He moved closer to examine what was left of the rim and the mangled undercarriage. At a worktable near the wall of the shop, Guy picked up a hubcap that had miraculously survived the impact with very little damage. He clicked on a nearby work light and examined it. Then he picked up two of the lug nuts that had been retrieved from the accident.

“Have a look at this, Nate.”

Nate approached the bench and peered over Guy’s shoulder.

“Now, here’s the two we were able to find after the accident.” Guy held the metal parts in a hand coated with black grease and turned the work light around to illuminate them. “See these scratches and marks on the metal? You can tell somebody just wrenched these in a hurry. They weren’t too careful. Didn’t even use the right tool. Maybe they did it with a pipe wrench or something like that. And you can tell they scratched up the hubcap pretty bad too.”

Guy was hunched over the worktable. He looked up at Nate. “Now come over here and look at this.” He led Nate to the driver’s side wheel and pulled a flashlight out of his back pocket.

“Here, the axle’s been damaged, but look at this front wheel. The lug nuts have held just fine.”

Nate nodded.

“And you don’t see those scratches, like on the other ones.”

“I see,” Nate agreed. “Funny the hubcap popped off like that with no damage from the accident,” Nate remarked.

“Not really. Wasn’t much holdin’ it on. First big bump she hit, it could’ve popped off and rolled away. If Lucky had seen that happen, she might have stopped and realized something was wrong.”

“I don’t like the sound of this.”

“Me neither. She coulda been killed. Believe me, it’s something Harry drilled into my head when I was learning about fixing cars. He used to say never ever forget to double-check the lug nuts. No matter what.” Guy referred to his mentor, the original owner of the auto shop who had left his business to Guy. “It’s a real easy mistake to make and it happens, believe me. But I’ve never forgotten Harry’s lectures. It’s a real good way to kill someone.”

“How long could you drive a car with the lug nuts loose like that?” Nate asked.

Guy shook his head. “Hard to say. Depends on how much you drive, or how fast or how rough the road might be. I’ve heard people can drive for miles like that before they feel something happening. Depends.” Guy shrugged his shoulders.

“So somebody could’ve fooled around with these several days ago, right?”

“Sure, but it’s almost impossible to determine with any certainty. Could’ve been done a few days ago. She landed in a bunch of bushes at the side of the road. If she had hit that tree or if there had been a ditch, she might not have come out of it so well. Fortunately she had her seat belt on.”

“I think I might try to get some prints off of those lug nuts and the hubcap. It’s a real longshot. A lot of people have already handled them, but you never know.”

“Sure, I’ll put ’em in bags for you. Hang on; maybe I’ve got a big plastic garbage bag I can put the hubcap in. I’ll be right back.”

Guy hurried to the office, returning a moment later with the promised containers. He dropped the hubcap into the plastic sack and the lug nuts into a small paper bag and handed them to Nate. “Good luck with that, Nate.”

Nate shook his head. “I’ll need it. I don’t hold out much hope, though.”

“Lemme know if you find anything on ’em, okay?”

Both men turned as a shadow fell across the floor of the shop.

Sage DuBois stood in the entrance to the bay. “Hey, Nate. Guy.”

Guy raised a hand in greeting. “I was just tellin’ Nate what I found. I’m glad you stopped by.”

Sage walked slowly toward the damaged car.

“Sorry about this, Sage,” Nate offered.

“I’m not worried about the car. I’ve got insurance. It’s what could have happened to Lucky or Sophie.” He turned back to the men. “What did you find, Guy?”

“Somebody loosened those lug nuts on the right front wheel—passenger side.”

“I was the last one to change these tires.” Sage turned to Nate. “I was real careful about it. I was.”

“Hang on, now,” Nate reassured him. “We know. Nobody’s accusing you. We know somebody tampered with that wheel. The lug nuts from that wheel are all scratched and damaged. They didn’t use a lug wrench—that’s for sure—‘cause the wheel on the other side is fine.”

Sage’s eyes widened. “So you’re thinking this was a last-minute thing, impulsive?”

“Seems that way,” Nate agreed. “If you’re planning to hurt somebody, you’d come prepared. This musta been somebody’s brilliant last-minute idea,” he added sarcastically.

“I’ll kill him. I’ll kill whoever did this.” Sage’s lips had turned white in anger. “Sophie could’ve been killed if she had been driving. Thank God Lucky’s okay.”

“Okay, take it easy, Sage. I know you’re real upset and I don’t blame you a bit, but maybe we’ll get lucky and find a print or a partial on something. Don’t go making threats and don’t do anything on your own—you hear me?”

Sage took a deep breath to calm himself. “Sophie thinks it might be that security guy at the Resort. What’s his name . . . Pete Manko, I think.”

“Oh?” Nate’s eyebrows rose. “Why?”

“Well, she’s been off work for a while, waiting for the summer season, but the other night she got a call from a friend of hers at work. There’s been a labor dispute at the lodge with the hotel workers and, according to what this woman told Sophie, they’re all afraid and suspicious of this guy. They think he’s a company spy or worse.”

“And he might’ve gone after Sophie because . . . ?” Nate let the question hang.

“Sophie and Lucky went up to see her. They think this Pete guy was watching the house. Lucky was able to get a couple of numbers off his license plate but that’s all. Then he took off.”

“I did talk to a woman who works at the Resort. Have Sophie give me a call and fill me in if there’s anything else she knows, okay? We don’t have any proof but I don’t like the idea of somebody maybe stalking this woman or worse.”

“I will. I’ll tell Sophie.”

“You get back to work now, Sage. I’ve got this covered. And no more threats, all right? I’ll handle this.”

Sage nodded. “I’ll try. I’m just a nervous wreck these days.”

“Wedding jitters, that’s all.” Nate smiled.

“
H
OW AM
I going to keep you safe?” Elias lifted Lucky’s chin as he held her close. He kissed her and sighed heavily. “Did you rest today?”

“Had no choice. Sophie wouldn’t let me do a thing yesterday. And today, she brought me lunch from the Spoonful. I’ve been a model patient.”

“Good to hear. Come on in. Dinner’s almost ready.”

Lucky hung her purse on the coatrack in the hallway and followed Elias. She sat at the table as Elias poured two glasses of chilled white wine. She smiled, thrilled that Elias enjoyed cooking so much. This was better than any restaurant she could have named.

Elias checked a simmering pan on the stove. “Tonight we’re having chicken piccata with lemon and capers, tender steamed broccoli and pasta.” He pulled a glass dish of pasta out of the oven and added the steamed broccoli and olive oil, mixing the ingredients together. Then he scooped servings of the mixed capellini onto two plates and topped each serving with a tender chicken breast. As a last touch, he placed a slice of lemon and a sprinkling of capers over all and poured some of the sauce from the pan onto the pasta.

“I cooked this very quickly, so I can’t guarantee how it’s turned out. You’ll have to bear with me.”

“It smells divine.” Her stomach growled in response. She hadn’t had much of an appetite since the accident the day before but had managed to down some soup that night and a soft-boiled egg on toast that morning. The muscles in her back and arms had been wrenched in the accident and were still very sore. Her neck felt tender but at least the headache had disappeared.

“Fantastic,” she said as she took her first bite. “I love the combination of capers and lemons. How did you make this sauce?”

“I sauté the chicken and then add chicken broth with the lemon slices for flavor and reduce it. Oh, and I added a pinch of nutmeg too. I don’t know if that’s how a real cook would do it, but it seems to work. I’ll have to write down how I put it together so I don’t forget.” He wiped his mouth with a linen napkin.

“Elias, have you heard anything further from the toxicologist?”

He swirled pasta on his fork. “If you mean do I have a report yet, no. I don’t. But I do happen to know they’ve decided to test for the toxin found in water hemlock.”

“What? Why?”

“From what Nate’s told me, the botanist from the University found it growing next to where Jack picked the leaves from the clump of woodruff.”

Lucky groaned. “I know what they’re thinking, but Jack could never have made a mistake like that. He used to show me different plants when I was little so I’d be knowledgeable enough not to eat anything strange. He’s actually well versed in that stuff.”

“I certainly hope you’re right.”

“What is the toxin in water hemlock, anyway?”

“I was curious too. I just looked it up.” He rose from the chair. “I’ll show you.” Elias left the room and returned a moment later with a printout. “The active ingredient in water hemlock, and the everyday garden-variety hemlock, is a compound called cicutoxin.”

“Hemlock. Isn’t that the poison that Socrates drank?”

“That’s right.” He nodded. “The first signs can start an hour or so after ingestion, sometimes even a minute or two. The symptoms are vomiting, widened pupils, convulsions, cardiovascular changes, just to name a few. Central nervous system difficulties can cause respiratory failure, and that accounts for many of the deaths it causes. There’s no antidote, but there’s been some success with patients who are able to get to treatment fast. Here’s a picture of this nasty little compound.” He passed the printout across the table.

Lucky looked at a long, black-and-white molecule that zigzagged horizontally. “Ugh. It looks like a centipede.”

“Sort of, yes. It consists of seventeen carbon molecules and two hydroxyl groups with three double bonds and two triple bonds.”

Lucky raised her eyebrows. “Could you repeat that in English, please?”

“It means that in the human body it is very reactive and not easy to excrete. It’s such a dangerous plant because the stem looks like celery and the roots look and smell like parsnips. The root is the most toxic part of the plant, and that even has a slightly sweet taste. When the roots are cut they ooze a thick yellowish substance that’s highly toxic. Cattle have been found dead because they’ve grazed on the roots after fields are plowed and the roots are on the surface to be eaten. Can you imagine what it takes to kill a one- or two-ton animal?”

“Oh, I think I’m losing my appetite.”

“Can’t say I blame you.” He poured a little more wine into her glass.

“Elias, if they do find that water hemlock was in that wine, then it couldn’t have come from Jack. He’d never make a mistake like that. Will you let me know if you hear anything more?” Lucky pushed the strands of pasta around on her plate.

“I will. Oh, by the way, I took a walk over to talk to Guy Bessette today. I wanted to have a look at Sophie’s car.”

Lucky shivered, recalling the tree trunk looming in front of her windshield. “I know Sage went to see him. I feel so bad about Sophie’s car. I don’t know what she’s going to do about getting a new one. I should have gone over to have a look myself.”

“Well, Guy said your car is ready. The work is all done. He’ll drive it over to the Spoonful tomorrow.”

“I’ve got to talk to Sophie. I feel so responsible. Maybe I can help her with some money or help her find a new car. I don’t know if she was covered for collision, her car’s so old.”

“Can’t she use Sage’s car for a while?”

“I’m sure she can.” Lucky took a bite of chicken. “If she doesn’t have insurance . . . Well, even if she does, and she can prove someone messed with those lug nuts, would her car be covered?”

“That I don’t know. But . . .” Elias hesitated. “Guy’s positive someone did tamper with that front wheel.”

Lucky paused with her fork halfway to her mouth. “Definitely?”

Elias nodded. “Guy pointed out some scratches on the hubcap. He was able to find a couple of the lug nuts on the road. And there are no similar scratches on the other wheel. He thinks that right front one was the only wheel that was tampered with. And I don’t know about you, but I’m sure Sage was correct that he properly tightened them. I doubt he’d want Sophie driving around in an unsafe car.”

Lucky nodded. “I know he wouldn’t. Sage is very safety conscious. He’d never do anything so careless. The question is . . . who would want to harm Sophie?”

Elias stared at her. “I’m not so sure Sophie was the target. You’ve been driving around town in that car for the last few days. And you’ve been asking a lot of questions. I’m more inclined to think you were the intended target.”

Lucky stared across the table at him but didn’t speak.

“Who have you been talking to?”

She shrugged. “Just Emily and Cordelia. I was asking about who might have handled the herbs that Jack picked for them. Oh, and Cecily.”

“That’s all?”

“Well, no. Yesterday, just before all this happened, I went up to Lincoln Heights to talk to a woman who was part of that group. Her name is Willa Persley.”

“Just before the wheel came off?” he asked.

“Yes.” Lucky nodded.

“I rest my case. Even if none of them wished you any harm, they’d all likely talk to other people.”

“You’re saying I could have been a target because I’m asking questions about Agnes and the other women.”

“I’m worried sick about you.” Elias leaned across the table as if to emphasize his point. “Look, any one of those people could have talked to several others. But completely apart from Rick and any conspiracy theories he has, if you’re correct, that Jack’s herbs were harmless and Agnes was somehow an intended victim, that person would definitely view you as a threat. I’m asking you to stop, Lucky. Stop asking questions. Let Nate do his job.”

Lucky shivered, realizing the truth in Elias’s statement. “I can’t stop, Elias. My only concern is to clear Jack. Surely you can understand.”

He reached across the table and placed his hand over hers. “I do. I do understand, but in trying to do that, you might have woken up something very evil.”