Poison Me (3 page)

Jake sorted out the cards Marissa’s quick fingers hurled at him. “It’s going well, and I get to be closer to Grandma Ruby this way.” He turned her way with a grin.

Ruby tried to smile. Jake was one of the few good things in her life. She needed to get him alone, so she could explain why she thought Anne was murdered. He would help her find the killer. Her mental planning session was interrupted by a hush spreading over the room, followed immediately by a barely discernible whistle from Ellie’s lips. Ruby turned to see the source that had settled the usual prattle. She shouldn’t have.

Michael Trapper sauntered down the curving staircase from the second story. His gray hair was combed perfectly, and his tailored pants and golf shirt complimented his tall, lean form. Card games throughout the room halted. No woman could concentrate on Gin Rummy when that man walked her direction. Ruby should’ve looked away, but lacked the self-control. He approached their table with a compassionate smile. Startling blue eyes, clearer than a mountain lake, focused on Ruby.

“I was sorry to hear about Anne.”

His voice rippled across the space separating them. Ruby nodded curtly. If she spoke he might recognize how deeply his silken voice still affected her. Ellie kicked her under the table.

“Ouch.” She glared at Ellie, rubbed her shin, and swung her eyes back to the tall man overshadowing her chair. “Thank you, Mr. Trapper,” she managed to say.

He frowned and still managed to look perfect. “How many times have I asked you to call me Michael? You’ve known me since grade school, when I used to chase you around the playground to try and make you show me your ruffled undies.” He winked. “I liked the purple ones.”

Ruby gasped and her friends laughed. “Did he just say he liked Ruby’s purple panties?” Marissa asked Ellie in a blaring tone.

“Yes, he did, and yes, she used to wear ruffled ones.” Ellie cackled, nodding and rubbing her hands together. “You still got those undies, Rubes?”

Ruby snapped her fingers at Ellie. “Hush.”

Jake stood and offered Michael his hand.

The lean fingers Ruby used to love wrapped around her grandson’s. “Good to see you, Jake,” Michael said.

“You too, sir.” Jake inclined his head. “Didn’t know you had such a past with Grandma.”

Michael’s eyes darkened to a smoky blue as they locked on her again. Ruby’s heart stopped as they communicated silently, his smoldering look meant for her alone.

“Yes, we’ve had quite a past,” he murmured.

Jake turned to Ruby with a question in his eyes. She shook her head.
Michael better watch what he says around my grandson
. “Thank you for your condolences, Mr. Trapper,” she said. “Now if you’ll excuse us, we are in the middle of a game.” It took great willpower to break from his intense gaze, but after several seconds she refocused on her cards.

“Good to see you too, Ruby.” Michael nodded to everyone else at the table and walked toward the back door and the rear gardens. He was interrupted by offers to join a group for Monopoly, Phase 10, or Pit. He declined with a kind voice. Ruby hated that she could always hear his voice, no matter how soft or commanding. Heavens, she heard the blasted thing in her sleep.

She looked up in time to see him disappear and let herself breathe again. Not for the first time, she ached to chase after him and beg him to forgive her. She pushed the thought aside. He was the one who needed to ask for forgiveness first.

It was impossible not to notice Samantha and Lanna sneaking after him into the garden, giggling and chirping at each other like hens chasing after the prize rooster. Expelling a breath of frustration, Ruby pined for the right to rip their tail feathers out.

“Best day of our lives when Jezebel passed away,” Ellie said.

Ruby whirled on her friend, shocked to hear what she only dared think. “What kind of talk is that?”

“She’s right.” Marissa rubbed her hands together. “Did you not look at that man? His crotchety wife dies and now he’s free game.” Her red lips puckered, smearing creamy lipstick onto her upper teeth. “Ooh la la, c’est chouette.”

“What on earth does that mean?” Ruby lifted her upper lip and mimicked rubbing her finger across her teeth.

“Oh, thanks,” Marissa said. She pulled a tissue from her pocket and wiped off the lipstick. “‘Ooh la la, c’est chouette’ is French.” She touched the soft white fluff that had once been the most coveted blonde locks in town. “It’s an expression I learned from my days in Paris.”

“‘Days’ being the key word there,” Ellie muttered.

Marissa’s nostrils flared. She shook a slender finger at her friend. “I
lived
in Paris.”

Smiling, Jake drew an ace and exchanged it for a 9. Marissa focused on drawing her next card. Jake leaned close to Ruby for an explanation.

Ellie slithered into his other side. “She lived in Paris for two weeks back in the sixties,” she whispered. “She remembers a couple of phrases, so she repeats them all the time and brags about her experience.”

“I
lived
in Paris.” Marissa straightened her rounded shoulders as much as arthritis would allow. “I worked for a famous designer. What was that designer’s name?” She tapped a card on the table. “I can’t remember his name. Ruby? Help me out here.”

Ruby shook her head, almost forgetting her anguish over Anne’s death and her frustration with Michael. “I can’t remember either, dear.”

Marissa waved a hand. “Well, it doesn’t matter. He was famous and I was on the fast track.” She grinned at Jake. “I was such a beauty that men would do anything I asked.” She clapped her hands together. “Like that—anything I wished and they would jump into action. You add that little bonus to my designing talent…well, I could’ve been the first Paris Hilton.”

Jake nodded, casting a glance at Ruby. “Paris Hilton?” he mouthed. She shook her head, suppressing a smile. Marissa had heard the name on television and assumed the girl was a great designer because her name was Paris.

Marissa sighed. “But I gave it all up. Sacrificed my career for love. Moved home to the States so I could raise my babies where the good Lord intended.”

Ellie snorted. “She got homesick after twelve days, called her boyfriend, bawling for him to come get her. The poor sap had to sell his Chevy, and it was a nice one, mind you. A ’57 Bel Air.” She shook her head. “He pawned it off to buy the plane tickets and a wedding ring.” She gestured toward her friend. “And our beautiful Marissa was married and pregnant a week after she got home.”

Marissa ignored Ellie. She winked at Jake, clumps of mascara trembling on the few eyelashes she had left. “My time in Paris taught me what men want from a woman.” She licked off the top layer of her lipstick. “Finally, I’ll be able to use my knowledge—I’m going to get a piece of that Michael.”

Jake drew a card and remained silent.

“Get in line,” Ellie said.

Marissa glared at her. “I’m first in line, as long as Ruby doesn’t try to compete. Michael stares at her like she’s a slice of chocolate pound cake.”

Ruby drew a queen, scowled with disgust, and placed it in the discard pile. Her friends’ conversation shouldn’t bother her. She was worried about Marissa, Ellie, and dozens of other women romancing Michael, when she should’ve been tracking down Anne’s murderer. “Don’t worry, dear,” she said to Marissa. “You’ll get no competition from me. I think the man is a cocky piece of crap.”

Jake arched an eyebrow. “Fighting words, Grandma.”

“Well, he is.” She avoided the exchange of glances by studying her face-up cards. “He has been since high school.”

“Good heavens, Ruby,” Ellie said. “Who wasn’t cocky in high school? The man’s grown up. It’s been more than fifty years since we marched out of Preston High.”

“Once a crap, always a crap, I say. Can we please forget about Michael—I mean Mr. Trapper?”

Marissa winked at Ellie.

Chanel, the new activities director, hurried past them to her office. Jake’s eyes followed the tall, shapely brunette. The young woman shot the group a quick wave before bending over her desk. Jake inhaled quickly.

Ellie watched him, a sly smile on her face. “Have you met Chanel yet?”

He shook his head, looking away. “No, and don’t even think about introducing me.”

Ellie grinned. “Honey, you can at least give me the enjoyment of watching.”

Jake blinked and swallowed. “Watching what?”

“You romancing that pretty young thing over there. Why don’t you go knock on her door and ask her out?”

Chanel picked up the phone and dialed with a tapered finger. Jake studied her for a moment and then turned to Ellie with a warning glance. “Don’t even think about it, Aunt Ellie. I’d rather take you to dinner.”

Ellie laughed. “I’m flattered, dear, but Marissa informs me I’m too old.”

“Darn right,” Marissa said. “Disgusting the way you throw yourself at the boy.”

Ellie chuckled. “At least I have fun,” she said, then hollered, “Chanel? Get out here and meet Ruby’s grandson.”

Ruby watched the interchange with trepidation. How would Jake handle Ellie’s interference? Would he ever allow himself to fall in love again?

“Aunt Ellie,” Jake said under his breath. “Stop, please.”

Chanel glanced at Ellie and held up a finger.

“I can find my own dates.” Jake jammed a hand through his dark hair.

Ellie grinned. “I’m sure you can, but you never involve me, and you know how I hate to be left out.”

He crossed his arms and frowned, not answering. Ruby wished Ellie would leave him alone, but someday he’d have to put himself back in the dating market. What better time than now? Chanel was a darling girl.

Seconds later, Chanel hung up the phone and walked to their table. Her eyes flickered to Jake before she focused on Ellie. She pulled a bit of her hair forward, shadowing the large birthmark that started at the corner of her left eye and disappeared on her forehead beneath her gold-highlighted hair. “Good morning, ladies. Can I do something for you?”

“You sure can.” Ellie jabbed her finger at Jake. “We need you to take this fine young man off our hands.”

Jake’s face darkened. Ruby waited, wondering if he would explain he wasn’t dating and probably never would be. Instead he plastered on a smile and stood to shake the activities director’s hand. “I’m Jake and these sweet—” he stared pointedly at Ellie “—ladies are giving you a hard time.”

Chanel’s brown eyes were warm. “They’re the reason I like my job so much. I’m Chanel.”

“It’s nice to officially meet you,” he said.

Ruby sensed he was warming to the introduction quickly.

“And you as well,” Chanel said.

The table was silent as Jake held onto Chanel’s hand two seconds longer than necessary. Ellie cast a glance at Ruby. Marissa compressed her lips to keep from smiling and winked at her friends.

“What do you mean officially?” Ellie interjected.

Jake released Chanel’s hand and turned to Ellie. “Chanel had the misfortune of seeing a bit more of Dr. Schovil than she wanted a few minutes ago.”

“Oh, please no.” Ellie groaned. “What was he peeing on this time?”

Chanel laughed. “A flower bed.”

“They’re going to make him move out of here if he keeps whizzing everywhere and fondling the women,” Ellie said.

Chanel’s face twitched. She turned to Jake. “Do you come by often?”

“Yes, I visit Grandma Ruby several times a week. Maybe I’ll see you around.”

Chanel nodded. “I’ll look forward to it.” She blushed, spun on her heel, and hurried back to her desk.

Jake watched until she closed the door. Then he sank into his chair. “Don’t do that to me again, Aunt Ellie.”

She beamed. “I’ll do whatever I like, young man. You need to get a life.” She wagged a finger at him. “Don’t pretend you didn’t like it. I saw the way you clung to her hand.”

He started to protest.

Ellie laughed. “Drooling speaks louder than flapping your jaw, honey.” She bounced in her chair, rubbing her small hands together. “Oh, I like this. The two of you are going to make a gorgeous couple—both so dark and good-looking.”

Jake shook his head, drawing his next card without comment.

Ruby agreed Jake and Chanel would make a striking pair. She would love to see him happy, but she doubted he could forget his past any more than she could forget hers.

Chapter Four

The funeral for Anne Chambers Shaffer was short, which suited Jake fine. When his grandma asked him to accompany her to the funeral, he didn’t hesitate. He’d do anything she asked, even though he despised funerals and sitting this long chafed his backside.

The family was sad but composed. Thank heavens they weren’t professing their grief loudly. He wasn’t ready to watch someone else languish in the heartache that engulfed him.

Jake glanced over at Grandma Ruby. She shredded a wet Kleenex in her fingers, her soft lips pressed into a thin line. Her slate hair was perfectly styled, as usual, but her normally serene face twisted with worry lines. She looked at Jake with wide, dark eyes. Wrinkles and all, he still thought she was the loveliest woman in the world.

“They don’t know the truth about her death,” she whispered to him.

Jake squeezed her hand, but didn’t have the heart to tell her she was alone with her suspicions. Anne’s family believed she had died peacefully and danced along the path to eternal bliss.

After the benediction, Jake helped Grandma stand and join the mourners waiting to exit the historic chapel. They spoke with a smattering of local friends as he escorted her out the heavy glass doors. Freshly trimmed evergreen bushes welcomed them with the scent of pine. The bright summer sun washed away the darkness of death.

Mrs. Smelter, the rotund mortician, waited on the sidewalk. “If it isn’t Ruby Merrill,” she said, squeezing Ruby’s hand and sizing up her frame. “You look beautiful, my dear. Are you doing better than you were the other night?”

Ruby retrieved her hand. “I would be if someone had done some tests to determine the cause of Anne’s death.” She smiled sweetly at the mortician who also had the training as a medical examiner and often played both roles in the case of a natural death.