6. Elrik

6

ELRIK

I quizzed Grannie Rose for over an hour, only stopping for a bit while Melly served tea in a real pot with delicate cups and saucers. We ate cookies she'd made from scratch and talked about the weather while we shared our snack.

"I arrived at the church early to make sure I had time to make the punch," Grannie Rose said. "Melly drove me there and brought the supplies inside. I was the first to arrive; there wasn't anyone else there. In fact, we had to use the key hidden in a fake rock in the garden to get inside the function room attached to the side of the church."

"Melly said you asked her to leave you there alone," I said.

"Only because she filled in for me already." Rose beamed at Melly. "She's been so much help. I don't know what I would've done without her. But I'm getting stronger all the time, and I guess I'm stubborn enough that I wanted to do this on my own. It felt like it had been forever since I'd made my special punch."

"I planned to pick her up in about three hours," Melly said. "Grannie had a phone and would send a text when she was ready. Instead, I got a text telling me she was in jail and asking if I could please bail her out." She released a low shudder.

"I was just finishing up the punch when others started to arrive," Grannie said. "I had to go to the bathroom, and Sue was quite kind to help me." Her spine stiffened. "I handled things in the stall myself, of course, but it's good to have another person around when you're using a walker. Safety has to come first. "

"Sue helped you?" She nodded as I wrote it down. "How long were you in the bathroom?"

"Ten minutes or so. These things take time." Rose cleared her throat. "Like always, I made my special punch in the church's big bowl. Melly took it from the closet for me, washed it, and placed it on the buffet table before she left."

"Did you see anyone else around the building?" I asked Melly.

She shook her head. "There are no homes nearby, and it's wooded beyond the parking lot. I suppose someone could've been hiding in the trees or behind the church or function room. It didn't occur to me to look. There's next to no crime in Mystic Harbor. It's quite safe there."

"What happened next?" I asked Rose.

"Since my fall, I'm not as spry as I used to be," Grannie said. "It took me some time to get down the hall to the lady's room, do my thing, and return to the function room. By then, everyone had arrived, and let me tell you, it was a scene straight out of a nightmare. People were vomiting or staggering against the wall. My dear friend, Sue, collapsed on the wooden floor. I called 9-1-1 immediately, of course, and they sent an ambulance."

"You said you hold a potluck dinner. Had anyone started eating while you were gone?" Her punch might not have been the only tainted offering.

"No, we always wait until everyone's seated. We sip punch and chat a bit while the crockpots are heating things up, and then we fill our plates. They love my punch and can't resist getting into it right away. I never have to dump any out at the end of the evening." Her eyes filled with tears. "I poisoned my friends with my punch. Someone tampered with it while I was in the bathroom. I just know it."

"I think you're right," I said. "Who else came to the social that night?" Melly had given me the names, but she wasn't there. Others could've gone to the event, and I didn't want to miss anyone.

"The usual. Sue, my best friend all the way back to high school. She's quite the poker player." Grannie's spine tightened. "She occasionally beats me, though I will say that I've had a winning streak and haven't lost in over eight months."

Grannie was a poker shark; she should try her skills in Vegas.

"Alfred arrived with Sue," Grannie said, frowning. "They've been . . ." For whatever reason, her gaze fell to her lap where she fidgeted with a ball of yarn. " Dating for a year." Her brow furrowed. "Let me see. Carla was there. She's a widow. Her husband, Walter, was much older, and he left her a ton of money. He's been gone nearly ten years now."

I wrote that information down, though I wasn't sure how it could play into the investigation. "Was Ginny there?"

"My younger sister's stepdaughter?" Grannie said. "Only for a short time. She's Bob's caregiver, so she brings him to the event and then waits in the van." She tapped my leg. "My sister was much younger than me. Ginny's not a blood relation, though I did my best to treat her as if she was, at least until the divorce."

"How old is Ginny?" I asked.

"Her late twenties," Melly said.

"And Carla?"

"Thirty-seven." Grannie nodded pertly. "Walter was quite the catch, though as I said, he was much older than her. In his seventies to her twenty-three when they got married. When he passed, she was amply rewarded, though I'm not sure she'd agree."

"What does that mean?" I asked.

Grannie sipped her tea and placed her cup back on the coffee table. "I'm not sure anything will ever be enough for Carla. He left her a big estate on the ocean here in town, plus a home in Florida they traveled to in the winter. She prefers Cape Cod and is always worried a hurricane will go through and destroy the Florida place."

"Carla works with me at Creature Cones," Melly said. "She stopped by not long after I opened, and we somehow got talking about me hiring someone. I offered, and she seemed excited to be working with me. She said it would keep her busy, get her out of the house."

Grannie Rose grunted. "Walter was a horse fanatic. They went to all the races." She sniffed and wiggled her spine. "Carla got to wear all those stunning hats. You know the kind I mean. I was quite jealous of that." She patted the big gray bun neatly pinned to the top of her head. "I always wanted to wear one of those hats with fake fruit on it, but I didn't quite dare." Her hand landed on my knee, her grip tighter than I'd expect from such a tiny, frail-appearing woman. "Don't let life pass you by without doing the fun things you've always dreamed of. Wear that hat. Bungee jump off the cliff. Go ziplining. I wish I'd done it, but I believe I'm now too old for something like that." Her head tilted. "Maybe they have geriatric ziplines, and I could still fulfill that dream." Her cackle rang out. "I could wear a fruit hat while I did it."

"I bet you could." Perhaps I could look into that for her. First, I needed to clear her name. Second, I had to make things right with Melly, who I suspected might like me, and who I'd pretty much rejected in my fumbling attempt to tell her about the promise I'd made to myself to protect my heart after being hurt. Third . . . I was sure I could come up with something.

"Who else was there?" Grannie tapped the names off on her fingers. "Me. Alfred and Sue, Carla. Bob of course, as was Hazel. Bob's in his late sixties. He's a widower. His poor wife died, and he's had a tough time of it since. He said our church socials are the highlight of his life, that he looks forward to them all week long. "

I wrote down the details. I could start looking into everything online tonight.

"Tell me about Hazel," I said.

Melly snorted, though I wasn't sure why. She offered me the last cookie on the plate, and I munched through it quickly. I loved peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.

"Hazel's seventy-two, and truly, she should retire." Grannie cackled. "Though I understand why she doesn't. Her work keeps her spry." Her hand flicked to her floral housecoat. "Look at me, only eighty and using a walker, though I'll point out that I'm still rehabilitating after my hip fracture and surgery. I plan to fling the walker aside as soon as I can and get around without it again."

I bet she would soon.

"What does Hazel do to keep herself spry?" I asked.

"She teaches pole dancing," Melly said, her eyes sparking. "She's amazing, actually. I shouldn't laugh. It's not the pole dancing or the fact that she's in her seventies while doing it, it's the fact that when she first came to Mystic Harbor, she wanted to offer nude pole dancing. The planning board's gasps were so loud, you could've heard them three towns over."

"I assume she wears clothing while she teaches," I said.

"Yes, she gave up that idea quickly," Grannie said. "She was quite the ballerina in her day until she was injured. I went to her first few classes when she opened her business here in town. It was fun, though I did worry about falling. I couldn't hold onto that pole no matter how hard I tried. There are mats underneath, but at my age, bones break much too easily. "

"Grannie fell at the church function hall," Melly said. "She slipped on something left behind by the janitor. It was horrible."

"The local lawyer said I should sue," Grannie said. "But I'm not one to do something like that." She sipped the last of her tea and placed her cup and saucer on the coffee table again. "Maybe once I've tossed away my walker, I'll take another class and prove to that pole that I have what it takes to ride it and ride it hard."

Melly's eyes sparkled. "No pole dancing, Grannie. Please. You don't want to break your other hip."

"I suppose you're right," Rose said with a sigh. "I'll have to find something else I can do to get my body back into fighting shape."

"Fighting shape?"

"Grannie was one of the first women's kickboxers in the country," Melly said. "That was years ago, however, and she only competed in a few fights."

Grannie held up her fists. "Knocked ‘em out on the regular. Don't let anyone ever tell you something different."

"You're amazing." Would she find it patronizing if I kissed her on the cheek? Probably. But before this case was through, I was going to do it.

Color rose into her wrinkled cheeks, and I could see where Melly got her beauty. "You're too kind."

"I only speak the truth."

She tapped my arm. "You're a sweet ice lord. I hope you find someone soon who will thaw your heart."

I thought that was my ex, but she hadn't warmed me. My gaze met Melly's. I was attracted to her, but that didn't mean anything. I'd compartmentalize my growing feelings like I did with everything else in my life and that would put perspective on the rushes of heat I felt whenever I looked her way.

After asking a few more questions, I announced it was time for me to go. I could see Grannie Rose was tired, and I hated to strain such a sweet old lady. "I'll stop by again tomorrow to ask more questions."

Melly and Grannie rose when I did. Inching forward with her walker, Grannie insisted on going with us to the door. I wanted to pick her up, plunk her back on the sofa, and do everything for her. This frail woman had not poisoned anyone, and for a moment, rage flushed through me. I wanted to snarl at whoever tried to frame her for this, then make sure they were locked up for a very long time.

"I appreciate you coming by and sharing my tea and cookies," she said in a chirpy voice. "And I look forward to your visit tomorrow." Her rheumy gaze went to Melly. "Perhaps we can talk him into coming to dinner soon."

"That's up to Elrik," Melly said.

I kept remembering her saying she enjoyed getting dirty, and that made me want to tease her about what she might serve.

I also wanted to kiss her.

Was I letting my simple promise to myself hold me back?

"I'd love to come for dinner," I said. "I don't get a home-cooked meal very often."

"See?" Grannie nodded my way, her gray bun at the peak of her head bobbing along with the action. "We can cook him something special. Do you have any food allergies? Is there anything you dislike?"

"I love everything, and no, no allergies," I said.

"I'm going to drive Elrik back to the office, and I'll come right home after that," Melly said.

"Don't rush on my behalf," Grannie Rose said. "I want to complete a few more rows on that mitten."

Odd weather to be knitting mittens.

"I make them all year long," she said as if she'd read my mind. "I donate them to the church for their annual fundraiser. My mittens are in hot demand. People literally fight over them." She waved to a plaque hanging on the wall. "I've been honored with the church's Good Citizen Award four years running for my mitten donations." Her smile lifted. "Boy does that make Sue mad. She used to win with her prized wood carving ornaments, but once I started producing mittens, it was over." She laughed, but her smile faded. "I hope she's released from the hospital soon. I hate to think she could be in pain."

"I called the hospital," Melly said. "They told me she's going home tomorrow."

Grannie clapped. "Wonderful. I'm so relieved to hear that." Pausing in the kitchen, she frowned. "You know what just occurred to me? I need to see if I can find some patterns online for monster-sized mittens. That'll up my mitten game and ensure I win the award again this year." Her gaze traveled to my hands. "Could I take some measurements? As a lord of the ice, you're a chilly man, and I'm sure you like being cold, but I'd love to make you some mittens that match your eyes. "

"I'd love to wear your mittens," I said, grinning along with Melly. "I'll be happy to let you take whatever measurements you need. Just let me know when."

"How about when you come to dinner?" She tugged out a kitchen chair and sat. "I could take measurements then."

"Would the day after tomorrow work for you?" Melly asked. "I'll make something special."

"That sounds great."

We left, Melly and I walking out to her car, where we got inside.

"Your grandmother is amazing," I said as she drove back through town. "She's also cute."

"She is." Melly shot me a smile. She pulled into the lot across from Monsters, PI, and parked. After unbuckling, she turned to face me. "Thank you for being patient with her. I hope you learned a few things that could lead to clues."

I tapped the pad of paper I'd placed on my lap. "I have suspects already. Are you free tomorrow to go with me to question some of them?"

She frowned. "I'm working, of course. New business and all that. But I imagine Carla could cover for a few hours in the morning. We're busier after lunch."

"Carla, the widow who married the much older man and then inherited all his wealth?"

"Yup, that's the one. Would you believe she was my babysitter when I was young? Grannie had her come stay with me after school and before Grannie got home from work until I turned fourteen. Then I convinced Grannie I was safe enough at home alone with the doors locked. Carla and I used to watch a lot of TV." Her lips squished together before she spoke. "She was a college student back then. I'm twenty-eight, and she's nine years older than me."

"And now she works with you at Creature Cones." Which was a few doors down from Monsters, PI. I'd noted it once or twice but hadn't stopped in for ice cream yet. Actually, I also realized Hazel's studio, Boogey Beasts, was right next to Creature Cones. I hadn't realized Boogey Beasts taught pole dancing. I'd seen kids in sparkling costumes coming and going and assumed the owner only taught dance.

"Carla doesn't need to work," Melly said. "A month ago, she stopped by for ice cream, and we reconnected. She said she was bored. I said I needed help, and she offered. I hired her on the spot. She works from ten until four, and she's off Monday and Tuesday."

"I'll interview her first, then. Is it okay if I come in early enough tomorrow to ask her a few questions before she has to cover for you?"

"I think that'll work well." She placed her hand on my arm. My skin twitched and suddenly warmed from her palm, but it was hot in the car sitting in the sun. "Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Grannie Rose is not going to jail." I gave her a sharp nod. "I promise."