Chris Cavender - A Slice of Murder

11? I need to report a murder, I said, clutching my cell phone in my left hand as I steadied the warm pizza box in my right. I should have put the pizza on the porch before I called the police. Instead, I was holding on to it as though it were the last life preserver on the Titanic. At least the heat radiating from the box felt good. We were two weeks past New Years, and though only dustings of snow had found their way to our part of the North Carolina mountains this winter so far, I knew it wouldnt be long before it would make its first full-blown appearance.

My voice was calmer than I expected it to be as I spoke; I was startled to discover that I didnt really know how I would react to finding a body until it happened to me.

From the threshold, I glanced back in through the houses doorway and saw the long black handle of a kitchen knife sticking out of Richard Olsens chest. There was a pool of dark liquid spread out on the floor around him that I guessed had to be blood, though I was in no hurry to confirm my suspicions. From the instant Id arrived, it had been pretty clear that there was no need to check for a pulse.

Did you have anything to do with the homicide? the voice from the police hotline asked. I immediately recognized it as Helen Murphy. That was one of the advantages of owning a pizzeria in a small town: there werent many folks in Timber Ridge, North Carolina, I didnt know. Id gone through school with Helens niece, Amy, and growing up, Id had dinner with the extended family on more than one lazy Sunday afternoon cooking out by the Dunbar River.

Helen, this is Eleanor Swift, though I suspect you already know that. What kind of question is that to be asking someone? I brought Richard Olsen the pizza he ordered, and when I got here, I found him dead.

There was a slight pause, and then Helen said, Its my job to ask these questions, Eleanor. Is there anyone else there with you?

I hadnt even thought of that possibility. Could the murderer be hiding just behind the doorway, lurking in the shadows while he was waiting to make his escape? I looked intently from my vantage point on the front porch, but I couldnt see anyone inside.

That didnt mean no one was there, though.

I dont think anyone else is around. But thanks a lot for putting that thought into my head, Helen. I owe you one.

Again, there was a slight pause. Then Helen said, Dont touch anything, Eleanor, and dont go anywhere until one of our officers gets to the scene. Do you understand?

Yes, maam. Ill be waiting right here.

I thought about the dismal prospect of standing alone on the porch near the body, but it was dark, I was cold, and there wasnt anything I could do for Richard, so I carried the pizza box back to my car and waited for the police.

I never should have been the one who found Richard Olsens body in the first place, but Greg HatcherA Slice of Delights number-one teenage delivery guyhad called in sick that night and left me shorthanded, though I suspected it had more to do with his girlfriend, Katy Johnson, than the flu he claimed to be experiencing. Id thought about turning the late-night order down since Id been hustling all evening trying to keep up with things at the restaurant, but my dearly departed husband, Joe, had taught me that every dollar counts, and Id kept his credo strong long after hed died and left me with a small business on my hands and a heart full of broken dreams. I probably shouldnt complain. Having the restaurant to run after Joes car accident had kept me sane and focused when I had every right in the world to find the nearest hole and crawl into it.

Id shoved the pizzaone of my specials decked out with pepperoni, sausage, ham, bacon, hamburger, and little bits of sliced sirloininto one of the bright red boxes I use and headed for the address Id been given on the phone. I hadnt recognized the house number right away, but then again, I didnt know where everyone in Timber Ridge lived, despite what my sister, Madeline, thought. Maddy helped me out at the restaurant, but shed never made a delivery in her life. She claimed she was above schlepping pizzas all over our small town, but she wasnt too good to run a rag over a table or carry a pie ten yards to a likely-looking bachelor. Maddy came to work with me after Joes deathcoinciding with her most recent divorceand despite a few relapses where we reenacted some of our childhood squabbles, it was good having her there with me.

A police siren brought me out of my reverie, and I looked up as it skidded to a stop less than a foot from my rear bumper. As I got out of my car to meet our chief of police, Kevin Hurley shot out of his cruiser like he was jet-propelled. Kevin and I had a history, one that wasnt all roses and wine, but at the moment it was great seeing his familiar face. I hadnt realized how tense Id been while waiting for someoneanyoneto show up until he got there.

Ellie, are you all right? he asked, and I could see the concern clearly in his face as we stood under the street lamp. Kevin was still tall and lean, a kid whod been one class behind me all through school, and was now a nice-looking man. A year didnt seem like all that much these days, but it seemed like a lot when Id been eighteen and hed just turned seventeen. Kevin had pursued me all one summer, and Id finally let him catch me, but then one night by Millers pond Id caught him parking with Marybeth Matheeny, and that had been the end of that.

I gestured to the house and said, Im not the one you should be asking about. Somebody put a knife in Richard Olsens heart. It sounded callous, the way Id blurted it out, but there was no other way to phrase it, at least not while my shaky nerves were starting to kick in.

Stay right here, Kevin said.

Dont worry. You dont have to tell me twice.

I leaned against my car and watched him enter the house as he drew his firearm. That long-ago summer Kevin had begged for my forgiveness, but Id been young and hurt, and I hadnt been willing to listen to him. Two months after Id left for college, hed married Marybeth in a hastily arranged wedding, and seven months after that his son had been born. Josh was seventeen now, and he worked for me at the pizzeria three nights a week after school. Though Kevin and Marybeth had separated off and on at least three times in the past dozen years, she still bought her pizzas in Edgeview, even though it was fifteen miles from Timber Ridge. I didnt mind. Id never been all that big a fan of Marybeths in the first place.

An ambulance arrived a scant thirty seconds after Kevin disappeared into the house, and I nodded to the attendants, two of my regular customers. They rushed inside; then after spending two minutes there, they calmly walked back out.

Hes gone, Hannah Grail said as she approached. There was nothing we could do for him.

Her partner, Dave Thornton, shrugged. And now we wait. He added with a grumble, Were not going to eat until morning. I suddenly remembered the pizza box sitting on the passenger seat of my car.

Ive got an all-meat special thats going to waste, and it should still be warm. Youre welcome to it, on the house.

Dave looked like he wanted to kiss me, but Hannah said, Thanks for the offer, Eleanor, but we cant interfere with evidence.

Of what, the fact that I was delivering a pizza to Richards house? Its not like it was a murder weapon or anything. Nobody poisoned him, least of all me. Go on.