Robert Burton Robinson - Sweet Ginger Poison

Sweet Ginger Poison

Robert Burton Robinson

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2008 Robert Burton Robinson.

Other books by Robert Burton Robinson

Greg Tenorly Suspense Series

Bicycle Shop Murder

Hideaway Hospital Murders

Illusion of Luck

Fly the Rain

Classical Revenge

(short story collection)

Discover other titles by Robert BurtonRobinson at:

Smashwords

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RobertBurtonRobinson.com

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Synopsis

Virginia Ginger Lightley is the owner ofCoreyville Coffee Cakes, a popular bakery in East Texas. Customersdrive from miles away to visit the little shop for a taste of heroriginal creations.

Its a shock to the whole community when ayoung man drops dead across town after eating one of her famouscakes.

The newly appointed police chief promises tosolve the case quickly. And Ginger wants to help himuntil heaccuses one of her employees of murder.

She rejects the crime scenario laid out bythe young police chief and secretly determines to solve the crimeherself.

Chapter 1

Here it is. Navy threw it on the desk. Nowgive me my money.

I dont have it right now.

Navys headache began to pound. It was only7:15 a.m., but his brain cells were already screaming for caffeine.His eyes grew unnaturally large as his hands morphed intofists.

Look, five thousand is a lot of money.

If you couldnt pay it, you shouldnt havepromised it. That was the deal. And Im gonna get my money one wayor anothereven if I have to beat it out of you.

No, no. Look, I didnt know when youd come.I dont keep that much cash on hand. Ill have to go to the bank.Come back at ten.

You better not be lying to me, he said,beginning to grit his teeth.

Ill have the money for you at ten.

Navy turned and stormed toward the door.

Whoa. Settle down. How about a cup of coffeefor the road?

Navy stopped at the door and looked back. Itwould save him a trip to McDonalds. Sure. He took a deep breath.The money would solve all his problems. It would only be atemporary fix. But at least he wouldnt lose his car. And he couldtake Kayla out for an expensive dinner tonight.

Here you go. You need cream or sugar?

No. Navy grabbed the Styrofoam cup. Seeyou at ten. He walked out.

The alley was pitch black. How fortunate thatthe overhead light was burned out. He stood for a moment as hiseyes adjusted to the darkness. Gradually the black Corvette beganto materialize in the faint moonlight. He made his way around tothe drivers side and got in. Sunrise would come at any moment. Hestarted the engine and carefully eased up on the clutch. Thepowerful automobile crept slowly through the alley.

Navy held his breath as he pulled onto theroad. He looked around. No witnesses. He turned on hisheadlights.

Coreyville Country Home was two miles northof town. He hated the place. The name implied a peaceful settingwith fresh air, colorful butterflies and shady trees. And it didhave all those things. Much like a cemetery. It was really just aplace you go to die.

Navy Newcomb was born into money. Big money.Not that his mother had ever shared much of it with him. She hadpaid him to do well in high school. Hed never amount to anything,she always said, unless he got a good education. After graduatingnear the top of his class, he had no problem getting admission toUniversity of Texas.

But the summer after his freshman year heoverhead his mother talking to the family lawyer. There was a trustfund waiting for him to turn twenty-one. His father had set it upbefore he was born. So, his sophomore year was all about partying.What was the point of a college degree anyway? Navy would neverhave to work.

After flunking out of college and goofing offfor a couple more years, he turned twenty-one and took possessionof his two million dollars. He had been disappointed that it wasntmore.

That was nearly four years ago, before thesports cars, boats, hookers, gambling, and drugs. All he had leftwas the Corvette. And it was the only thing that made him feelcool. And even thatwasnt really his. Not until he paid offthe bank.

But things were looking up. Now hed have themoney to pay off the loan. And sooner or later his mother wouldstart to believe that he had changed. This volunteer work wouldconvince the crazy old woman to give him more money so he couldrebuild his life.

It was a little creepy though. Taking overthe delivery job. The old man had been doing it for a couple ofyears. Then one morning as he was dropping off a tray of coffeecakes, he had a stroke. Right there in the kitchen. They rushed himto the hospital. A week later he was back at the nursing homeas aresident.

Navy took a sip of his coffee. Then hereached for one of the small coffee cakes on the tray that wassitting in the passenger seat. It was a Sweet Ginger Cakehisfavorite. There was only one today. He unwrapped it and wolfed itdown in ten seconds. Delicious. He wished the cakes were normalsize rather than personal sized, as they called them. On theother hand, somebody might notice if a regular size cake wentmissing.

When he arrived at the nursing home, he drovearound back to the kitchen entrance and got out with the tray.

He rang the bell, and one of the cooks lethim in. She took the tray from Navy and began to move the littlecakes from the tray to the counter. You ate some of them didntyou?

No, of course not. Theyre for theresidents.

Look, I understand. Youre a growingboy.

Im not a boy.

She eyed him as though he was still wealthy,and that maybe he would be interested in an older woman like her.She was sort of sexyin a cafeteria-lady-with-a-hairnet kind ofway.

She handed him the empty tray. Before yougoyou wanna taste one of my cherry tarts?

He wasnt absolutely sure she talking aboutfood, but he was still starving. Sure. Why not.

She went to get one and brought it back tohim, smiling. Hope you like it.

He set down the tray and took the tart.

Be carefulit might be hot.

He took a bite. Good.

She smiled.

He stuffed the rest of it in his mouth andmumbled, Very good.

Her smile broadened. Thanks.

Navy began to choke.

Ill get you some water. She ran to thesink.

His throat continued to tighten.

The cook returned with a glass of water, butNavy was gone.

He ran to his car and opened the passengerdoor. Then he popped the glove box.

It felt like there was a golf ball stuck inhis throat.

Navy fumbled through the contents of theglove box. He yanked out the owners manual and flung it on thefloorboard. Then a Dallas map, a pile of receipts and otherpaperwork. Finally the glove box was empty. Where is it?

Navy gasped for air. He would run backinside. They had nurses. They could help him.

He stood up and staggered toward thebuilding. The cook ran out to help him. Everything began toswirl.

He passed out just before his face hit thepavement.

Chapter 2

Ginger Lightley walked out her front door atprecisely 7:30 a.m. The chilly January breeze was stronger thanusual this morning. She flipped up the collar of her wool coat andpulled the knit cap down over her ears. She enjoyed the four-blockstroll to her little bakery on town square.