Mummified Meringues (6 page)

Lexy exchanged a glance with Ruth, Ida and Helen.
 

Since when did Nans not want to investigate every case?

“But for now, I need to get upstairs. I have some calls to make.” Nans slid the keys across the table to Ruth. “Thanks for the loaner.”

Nans stood, plucked a meringue cookie from the box and took a bite. She turned to leave, swallowed then looked down at Lexy. “This is good, but it needs a bit more sugar.”

And with that, Nans shuffled off across the lobby, leaving Lexy, Ruth, Ida and Helen staring after her.

Chapter Six

“Do these seem like they need more sugar to you?” Lexy held one of the orange and vanilla meringue cookies out to Cassie.
 

Lexy had been a bit concerned the day before with Ruth, Ida and Helen’s unusual silence about the cookies. The three ladies usually raved about Lexy’s baking, so she figured that was their way of politely telling her they didn’t like the taste. Nans had said they needed more sugar, which Lexy found hard to believe since she’d upped the amount for that recipe, but she took the advice and had come to the bakery early to bake another batch with a teaspoon more sugar.
 

That batch was now cooling in the oven, but she wanted Cassie’s opinion on the recipe from the day before just to be sure she was doing the right thing.

Cassie bit into the cookie. She scrunched up her face comically, then swished the bite around in her mouth. She swallowed, then nodded. “Yep. Just a tad, though.”

“Thanks. Maybe today’s batch is sweeter.” Lexy glanced over at the oven. She’d turned it off an hour ago and resisted the urge to peek in. The secret to perfect meringues was letting them cool slowly, and opening the oven would let in a rush of cold air, so she willed herself to be patient until the timer went off.

The smell of almonds drifted over from the counter, where Cassie was drizzling icing on a batch of almond scones. Lexy’s mouth watered as she sidled over to the tray, reaching her hand out for one of the freshly drizzled pieces.
 

“I think I need to taste test this,” Lexy said. “I rushed in here early to bake these meringues for my visit to the builder of Jack’s house and I’m starving.”

Cassie raised a pierced brow as Lexy took a bite. “You found the builder?”
 

“Yep. Ruth found him on the internet.” Lexy broke off a corner of the scone while she finished chewing the piece she had in her mouth. “Did you hear anything more about the case from John? Davies won’t tell Jack a thing, and last night Jack said he hadn’t had a chance to catch up with anyone else in the department about it.”

“No. He said Davies was doing all kinds of tests to figure out who the mummy was—when he died, and what killed him.”

“Do you think they can pinpoint any of those things?”

Cassie shrugged. “Who knows? Jack must be anxious, though.”

“He’s trying to act like he’s not, but I think he is.” Lexy’s heart twisted as she remembered their good-bye kiss earlier that morning. Jack had asked her to check in with him right after they talked to the builder and she could tell he was nervous. “But I think he’ll be cleared soon since he’s helping us on the case.”

“That must be a rare treat for Nans and the ladies—usually it’s
them
helping
him
.”

Ding!

The timer announced that the meringues were ready and Lexy shoved the rest of the scone in her mouth, her taste buds delighting in the sweet icing and cake-like scone. She crunched one of the slivered almonds that had been sprinkled on top as she slowly opened the oven door.

She held her breath and peered inside, relieved to see rows of perfectly puffed meringue cookies, their tops peaking in a swirl. Perfect. She slid the tray out of the oven and grabbed a white bakery box, then carefully placed the cookies in the box.

Lexy untied her apron and pulled it over her head, smoothing her white, sleeveless blouse and checking her tan capris for spots of flour. Satisfied with her appearance, she grabbed the box and headed toward the door.

“I’m off to meet the ladies and visit Mr. O’Keefe,” she called to Cassie.

“Okay, I’ll hold down the fort,” Cassie said. “Good luck.”

Fifteen minutes later, Lexy pulled up in front of the retirement center, where the ladies were waiting anxiously at the door. They descended on her VW Beetle like a swarm of ants to a picnic and somehow Ruth, Ida and Helen managed to fold themselves into the tiny backseat while Nans slid into the passenger seat. Lexy always marveled at the dexterity the ladies displayed when getting into her car—they claimed it was all due to practicing yoga.

Helen poked her head in between the two front seats. “Thanks for picking us up, Lexy.”

“You’re welcome.”

“O’Keefe’s house is only about a half-mile up the hill, but we don’t want to walk in our good shoes,” Ida added.

“Plus, Ida’s bunion is acting up,” Ruth said and they all chuckled, except Ida, who elbowed Ruth in the ribs.

“I’m glad you decided to join us today,” Lexy said to Nans as she drove across the parking lot to the road that led to the retirement center’s single family homes.

“Well, I guess if you guys are going to investigate, I’ll tag along.” Nans half turned so that she could address everyone. “I’m just not sure this case warrants our time. And anyway, it seems cut and dried that it’s the builder. But if the police can’t pinpoint the time of death, then how can they prove it?”

“I’m not sure about that,” Lexy said. “Cassie told me that Davies was running some tests to figure out when he died.”

Nans swiveled her head toward Lexy. “Did she say how accurate they can be?”

“No.”

“If its within days then that can help, but if its within years, I don’t see how that would be of much use.”

“Here’s the house right here.” Ruth shoved her hand in-between the front seats, her index finger pointing at a large, Tudor-style house on the right.

Lexy pulled into the driveway, eyeing the carpet of green grass and perfectly manicured shrubs that were ringed by purple, red and white flowers. It sure did look like Mr. O’Keefe had money, just like Ida had said. The question was … did he get that money from building homes or from something else?

“I don’t think we’ll find out much here.” Nans stepped out of the car and folded the front seat over for Ida, Ruth and Helen.

“Why not?” Helen asked. “If he’s the killer, I’m sure he’ll slip up somehow.”

“That’s right.” Ruth started up the walkway. “Besides, we have a sixth sense for these things. If he’s guilty, we’ll know.”

They reached the polished oak door and everyone looked toward Nans to take the lead as she usually did. Nans, however, didn’t seem to want to take the lead and got busy studying her nails, so Ida pushed her way to the front of the group and punched the doorbell. “You guys let me do the talking. Just follow my lead.”

The doorbell chimed and, after a few seconds, the door opened to reveal a pleasant-looking, white-haired gentleman who raised bushy white brows at them. His lips curled in a welcoming smile.
 

“Well, what can I do for you ladies?”

Ida glanced back at them and Lexy knew what she was thinking—he was acting awfully nice for a cold-blooded killer.

“We’re neighbors from the retirement center,” Ida said. “We’ve come on a welcoming visit.”

His brows knit together in confusion. “Really? I’ve been living here for quite some time.”

“Oh, we know. It takes us a while to get to everyone.” Ida grabbed the bakery box from Lexy and held it up. “We brought cookies from
The Cup and Cake
downtown. Lexy here is the owner.”

“Oh. Well, if there are cookies, then please come in.” He pushed the door wide and they all filed into an oak-floored foyer.
 

“I’m Ida and this is Ruth, Helen, Lexy and Mona.” Ida held her hand out.

“Tom O’Keefe.” Tom favored each of them with a firm handshake, then turned down the hall. “Come on in to the kitchen.”

Lexy peeked into the rooms as they followed him down the hall. The furnishings were expensive, but tasteful. Not opulent. The rooms were clean. The large kitchen at the back of the house boasted a panoramic view from the top of the hill along with stainless steel appliances, granite counters and an impressive fieldstone fireplace. Tom set the box down on the oversized kitchen island and bent down to rummage in the cabinet.

“How long have you ladies lived here?” His muffled voice came from inside the cabinet. “I don’t believe I’ve met any of you.”

“Ruth’s been here for about ten years now. I’ve been here for seven and Helen and Mona have only lived here for a few years,” Ida said. “Lexy is Mona’s granddaughter. She doesn’t live here, of course.”

Tom surfaced from the cabinet and put a round platter on the island.

“I see she’s got a few years before she’s of age,” he said, winking at Lexy as he took the cookies from the box and put them on the platter.
 

“Those are made from a new recipe Lexy is fixing to enter in the Brook Ridge Dessert contest,” Ruth said.

“You don’t say. Well, I feel honored to be trying them.” Tom gestured toward the long, pine table and the ladies sat while Tom pulled some smaller plates out of one of the upper cabinets.

“Would you like some tea?” he asked.

“That would be lovely, wouldn’t it girls?” Ida raised her brows at Lexy and the ladies, and they all murmured their agreement while Tom filled a kettle with water and got busy passing out dainty tea cups and saucers.

“So, we heard you were a builder here in town,” Ida ventured, once they were all settled with steaming cups of tea and cookies on their plates.

Tom paused the cookie halfway to his lips. “Yes, I built many of the houses here in town. But that was years ago. I’m retired now.”

“That must have been quite lucrative,” Ruth chimed in, looking pointedly around the well-equipped kitchen.

Tom narrowed amused eyes at Ruth. “Why, yes it was.”

Ida fixed him with a hawk-like stare. “Not all builders make out this good. Most of the ones I know are flat broke.”

“Well, I invested my money wisely.” Tom aimed a dazzling smile at Ida. “I’m not sure why the interest. Are you ladies trying to fix me up with someone?”

“That could be a possibility,” Ida said. “Really, we’re just interested in our neighbors, right girls?”

The others nodded and Lexy noticed Nans had been paying more attention to the crumbs on her plate than the conversation. What was up with her? Lexy wondered if Nans really did have a boyfriend. She was certainly acting distracted enough.

Lexy’s eyes strayed past Nans to the pine mantle on the fieldstone fireplace, where a row of trophies was displayed.

“Those are my dart contest trophies,” Tom said proudly. “I haven’t played in years, but I used to be quite good.”

“It looks like you won a lot,” Lexy agreed.

“Oh, yes. I was the dart champion ten years in a row down at
The Elms Pub
.” Tom gestured toward the trophies. “I would have been champion ten more years, too, if it wasn’t for
her
.”

Helen’s brows shot up. “Her?”

Tom’s mouth twisted in a grimace. “I know I shouldn’t hold a grudge. It’s silly, really, and that was so long ago, but
that woman
took competition to a whole new level.”

Ida sucked in a loud breath. “I think I know
exactly
who you are talking about.”

Tom turned to look at Ida and they both said it at the same time.
 

“Violet Switzer.”

“You know her?” Tom asked.

Ida nodded. “I used to be the pea-shooting champ until she came to town.”

Tom laughed. “Well, I guess I feel a little better that I’m not the only one she targeted.”

“Oh, she was nasty,” Ida said. “Did she stalk you and try to intimidate you?”

“Yes.” Tom’s face flushed. “I’m embarrassed to admit it, but her tactics worked.”

Lexy felt seeds of doubt sprout in her stomach. This Violet person sounded downright nasty and now Lexy was going up against her. She glanced at the plates on the table. No one had even finished one cookie! Maybe entering the dessert contest wasn’t such a good idea, after all.

“So, if you hung out at
The Elms Pub
, you probably built a lot of houses over in the Elms section of town,” Ruth said, pulling Lexy from her thoughts.

“Oh, yeah, I built most of those homes,” Tom said proudly.

“Then you must have built Mona’s.” Ida nodded her head toward Nans, who looked up from swishing her tea bag around in her cup.

“Yes, of course.” Tom studied Nans. “I thought you looked familiar.”

“Oh, I’m surprised you would remember after all these years,” Nans said.

“I never forget a pretty face.”

Nans blushed. Lexy, Ruth, Ida and Helen stared at her. It wasn’t like her just to blush and not say anything.

Ida broke the silence. “You built the house behind her, too. You must have seen it on the news.”

Tom looked at her curiously. “No, I don’t watch the news. It’s too depressing. What happened?”