Killer Breakfast Specials (A Sage and Dash Cozy Mystery Book 2) (2 page)

Rose sat at the counter and jotted a couple of notes down. What they knew so far was that Mr. Jones had died unexpectedly. Yes, sadly, he’d consumed one of their muffins, but he’d also eaten breakfast by that point of the day. She guessed something like oatmeal or scrambled eggs. She wasn’t sure how his teeth were doing, or if soft and mushy was the normal for all the residents.

Owen Masters had been to the nursing home that morning, having visited his mother. She was apparently in a mood. Also, he’d noted that there was a strong scent of perfume and thought it had to do with Twyla or Lila. He’d seen one of them pass by while he was there.

She’d have to go over and talk to a few people. It was the only way she’d learn more information. Maybe Coral could provide something, or one of the residents. She’d need to go into stealth mode. She couldn’t very well just start poking around asking complete strangers about this stuff. She wondered how many of the residents knew that there was cause for suspicion in Mr. Jones’s passing. Or had they just thought another person’s time ran out?

Rosie snapped her fingers.
Yes, I’ll go and take a survey, asking what types of things the residents would enjoy, and if there are food allergies I should be aware of. That won’t be suspicious, and I can jot down any details that slip out
.

She’d go as soon as they closed up shop. Being a breakfast and lunch café had its benefits. Nights were left open, though she did have to rise pretty early.

Dr. Jeff Tucker walked through the front door, glistening in sweat. The beads of moisture clung to his thick and meaty arms. He’d been out for a run and stopped by to get a treat. Jeff smiled on seeing Rosie. “Hey, Rosie.”

She had trouble hiding the flush that quickly painted her cheeks. “Hey, Jeff. What can I do for you?”

“Lucked out, and only had a few appointments today. I figured I’d get a run in. Do you have any of those famous peanut butter cookies left?”

She smiled. She always tucked a few aside for Jeff.

“About our date this weekend…” he started. “Not going to cancel for the fourth time? A guy could get a complex.”

Rosie looked down. “I’m sorry about all of that. With everything that went on, I just needed time. Anyway, yeah, I’m looking forward to it.”

“Great, I’ll pick you up at seven.”

Rosie couldn’t wipe the grin off of her face. Yeah, she was ready. It took her a while, but she was finally coming around. “I can’t wait.”

“I need to shower up before I head back into town for a few things.” Jeff winked, paid his tab, and headed out the door.

  ***

“I want Fruity Pebbles,” the older woman called out. “Or Cap’n Crunch. I’m tired of mushy oatmeal day after day. Just because some of us don’t have teeth, doesn’t me all of us don’t. I can chew. I’ve got a full set of chompers on me, but no, they don’t give us the choice. Mushy, liquid foods. Sure, lots of grit, get that fiber in there, but where’s the flavor? And if I have one more cup of gelatin…”

“And cinnamon, don’t forget things like apples and cinnamon. Mmm, I can almost smell my mama’s apple pie cooking,” another resident chimed in.

The Hickory Creek Nursing Facility housed forty beds. There were four small wings, ten beds per wing. Two nurses per wing. A great room sat in the center of it all, along with the nurse’s station. A giant X from the sky, a bird’s view, but from the ground it was simply a brick building that jutted out in different directions. While it wasn’t big, it was well kept, and was only of the only nearby facilities that offered private rooms. Most others in the general region were rooms with two beds, shared by whoever ended up as your roomie for the time being.

“I want chocolate pudding, not banana pudding,” Fern started. “By the time they get to me, they’ve run out. I’m tired of being at the end of the hallway. Why can’t they start that direction? I don’t even like banana. I want chocolate.”

“Meat. That’s what I miss. Not that stuff they call meatloaf, but an honest to goodness Ribeye that you need a steak knife to cut,” another resident mentioned.

“Right,” Rosie started. “I’m jotting this stuff down and can pass along your suggestions, but I make baked goods. I’m hoping to get some favorite flavors. Do you prefer cranberry-orange, blueberry, or something else? If you could fill this out with your three top choices, I’ll keep it in mind when I send in the goodies.”

“I want Fruity Pebbles in my muffins. I don’t care how you sneak them in. Or Cap’n Crunch. I’m tired of mushy oatmeal day after day.” A familiar tune was played.

“How about steak?”

“I want chocolate pudding.”

Rosie sighed.

This wasn’t going quite how she expected. She thought she’d quickly go from room to room, take a short survey and be on her way. Not so much.

“If I have to listen to Frank chewing and smacking his lips one more time, I’m going to knock his teeth out.” An old man hobbled to the front of the group. He turned to glare at Frank. “Do you hear me, Frank?”

A nurse came and disbanded the lively crew. “It’s time for Bingo,” she said, and then scooted them along.

Rosie sat on one of the now empty chairs. Everything was non-descript. No bright colors, no pretty art on the walls, just gray and brown, drab walls, drab halls, and a punch of color with the ever so lovely green vinyl chairs. This place left her feeling more down than up. Maybe she’d suggest-

“Excuse me,” Mrs. Owens said and sat down. She sighed. “Have you seen my son? He’s in trouble again.”

“No, I’m sorry, I haven’t.”

The older woman leaned in close. “Well, I know what he did. I know what
you
did, too, and you’ll never get away with it,” she hissed.

Rosie nodded politely and got out of there as fast as she could. As she sat in her car, guilt crept over her. She didn’t want to go back. It was another world. Would that be her fate? Her mother’s? Eating oatmeal, wanting Fruity Pebbles and chocolate pudding, instead of banana?

Depressed, Rosie started her car. That’s when it hit her. She went back inside and found Mrs. Owens. “I know what they did, too.”

“You saw her?” Mrs. Owen’s eyes shot open wide. “And she smelled to high heaven, that cheap perfume. And who wears so much?”

“What did she do?”

She lowered her voice. “I think the nurse is trying to kill me. She’s trying to kill us all. She took out poor Mr. Jones.”

“Who?”

Mrs. Owens glanced over her shoulder, then put a finger to her lips. “She’s feeding us poison. We’re all going to die. I should go before she hears me, or I’ll be next.”

Rosie sighed. Okay, so it wasn’t as easy as asking a paranoid woman a simple question, but again, the mention of the perfume. Maybe she should go talk to Twyla and Lila, since they were obviously visiting their father, or at least one of them was. She’d check the guest book and see if she could figure out which daughter had been in that day.

…it solved nothing. Both were in. Not long after the other. Her mind was playing tricks on her. Why would they want to hurt their own father? Maybe it was something in the food, but not in her muffins. Rosie shook her head. No, she wasn’t getting sucked into something like this again. Last time, the entire thing got out of hand. It was probably old age. Mr. Jones was eighty. It’s not like he was a spring chicken. It’s probably just an overreaction by his kids.

When Rosie got back to the restaurant, it was all locked up. She glanced around, checking things, but there was no sign of her mother. Once inside, there was a note on the counter. Oh boy, she’d gotten into it with Sheriff Snyder again. Why?

Apparently, she’d be spending the night in the town’s jail after taking a swing at the man. Gary Snyder would jump at the chance to lock up Rosie’s mom, and she obviously gave him reason.

Rosie dropped down onto a counter stool and sighed. Not again. Why, Mom? Why?

Standing back up after taking a few deep breaths to keep from losing it, she walked the two blocks through town and made her way inside of the station.

“I’m guessing I know why you’re here,” Sheriff Snyder said with a smirk.

Rosie closed her eyes, counted to ten and opened them again. She forced herself to remain calm. Getting herself locked up wouldn’t do either of them any good. Besides, she was angrier with her mother than with the sheriff. If her mom swung at him…

“Can we sort this out, please? I understand she can be a handful, but truly she doesn’t need to be locked up. Did she hit you?” Rosie asked.

“The intent was there. Thankfully, I dodged the slap, but you can’t go striking out at a law enforcement officer. It’s just not the way the world runs, Rosemary.” His lecture was almost complete. “Besides, it’s not the first run in with her I’ve had. She’s hostile and a nuisance-”

“I understand. I do. I’m so sorry. Please, Gary, can you help me out here? I’ve got my hands full. I’ll make sure she stays far away from you and will be on her best behavior if you’re anywhere around.” Rosie sighed. It was pointless. He liked nothing more than prodding Rosie’s mom.

Sheriff Snyder looked Rosie up and down. “What’s got you on edge? Something you need to confess?”

“I didn’t poison the muffins. Come on, you know me. Alright, fine. What’s it going to take?” Rosie asked. There was always something Sheriff Snyder wanted. He was all about putting himself first, regardless of the law.

“How’s about a home cooked pot roast, and maybe a dinner date. Sure could use some company. What do you say to this weekend?” he asked.

Rosie’s jaw dropped. She was stunned. “Gary, I…I’m seeing someone. I have a date.”

“Not you, Rosie. Not that it would be a bad thing, but I was thinking more along the lines of the feisty old broad. Maybe we can make the peace and stop barking at each other’s throats.”

Confused, Rosie tilted her head. “Gary? My mother? I thought you couldn’t stand her.”

“Eh, the crazy gal is growing on me, even if she did take a swing at me. Some days I don’t know if I hate or want to hold her.” He looked down, a tinge of pink cast over his cheeks.

“So you locked her up?”

“People were around. You can’t go swinging at the Sheriff and not get in trouble, Rosie. It’s just the way it’s got to be. Besides, old Owen Masters was all huffing and puffing about the matter, and I needed to remind him that he was a
retired
officer. Not his place to be telling me what to do.”

“Oh, boy. This is awkward. My mom and Owen have sort of been seeing each other, lately.”

“I know that, I’m not a fool. Not like she’s married to the guy or anything.”

“Why didn’t you just ask her out?” Rosie’s brain circled trying to grasp that she was trying to get her mother out of jail, while the jail keeper wanted to go out with his prisoner.

“I never was good with women,” he admitted. “Never mind. Just forget I asked.”

“Can I go back and talk to her?”

He nodded and gestured with his chin toward the door.

She walked over, then spun around and looked at Sheriff Snyder again. Did that really just happen?

When Libby saw Rosie, she let out a deep breath. “Thank goodness, you’re here. That no-good, piece of-”

“Mom!” she interrupted. “I’ve got an interesting prospect here. I’m not even sure how to say this, but Gary said he could see past your indiscretion if you agreed to something.”

“What now? That man is a-”

“Mom! Behave.” Rosie paced in front of the jail cell trying to find the right words. “See, the thing is, I think he kind of likes you.”

“Wait. What?”

“He was hoping you’d have dinner with him this weekend, you know, in exchange for seeing past your, how shall we say this…your intended slap. He’s a little shy, and apparently between all the bickering and back and forth, has taken a sweet spot for you.”

“Are you kidding me? That man is an embarrassment to the male community…”

Sheriff Snyder walked in at just the wrong moment. He huffed and stiffened his shoulders. “Fine, be that way.” Before she could say another word, he turned and went back to his desk.

Rosie chased after him. “Gary, Gary, you misunderstood.”

Libby called out, loudly, “No, he didn’t.”

Gary stomped back to Libby’s cell, opened the jail door, grabbed Libby and planted a great, big kiss on her.

Libby’s eyes shot open stunned.

“Stop being such a stubborn lady, and admit that you feel something too.”

Libby swallowed hard. “Gary?”

He bowed his head. “Can we call a truce. I’d appreciate the presence of your company this weekend. I thought we could have dinner together.”

Libby’s jaw was wide open. “What just happened here?”

“Have dinner with me woman,” he blurted out.

“Fine, you old crow. I’ll have dinner with you.” She shook her head and walked past him. A huge smile spread across her lips. Well, imagine that. Her world just turned on its head. She wasn’t sure how Owen would feel about her seeing somebody else, but they’d only just started seeing each other, and well…she wasn’t married. The attention was kind of nice. Maybe just one date. She’d see.

“Oh, my gosh,” Rosie said under her breath. She quickly chased out after her mother. She had no clue what just went down, but whatever it was, it was big. There was a shift in the universe. Mom and Gary on a date? No. Something was wrong. Weird. Absolutely crazy.