Almost Dead (Lizzy Gardner #5)(44)

“What about the caller?”

“I dropped the phone and took off. Of course, by the time I returned, she’d hung up. I’m pretty sure I pissed her off pretty good.”

“Poison cookies,” Kitally said. “Yeah, I’d say you might have hit a nerve.”

Hayley stretched her neck as though working kinks out of it, clearly uncomfortable with Lizzy going after the big guy. Again.

“I’m afraid to ask,” Kitally said. “Did you catch up to the man you went after?”

“Yeah, I did. Twice. The second time, he kicked a man in the nose and took off, leaving me in the dust.”

“Did you get a look at him?”

“No, I mean yes. I got some crappy pictures of him. He’s tall, broad-shouldered. He wore jeans, an ugly plaid shirt, dark glasses, and a hat.”

“Bummer.”

“If those cookies really do turn out to be poisonous,” Kitally said, thinking out loud, “that would mean this female killer of yours thinks you’re getting too close for comfort. Since you weren’t willing to listen to her, she decided you had to go, too.”

Lizzy nodded.

“If we assume Dean Newman is a goner,” Hayley added, “that would mean there are four people left on her list—Mindy Graft, Aubrey Singleton, Chelsea Webster, and Gary Perdue.” Hayley held up both lists. “On the other list Melony gave you—the list of people Melony believed could be seeking revenge—we have ten possibilities. Where are you going to put your efforts? Warning the four people left on the Ambassador Club list, or going after the person who may be responsible?”

“We have to warn the four people who could be in danger,” Lizzy said.

“I think we need more help,” Kitally said.

“From who?” Hayley asked. “The police?”

“I’ve already talked to Detective Chase,” Lizzy said. “He was quick to believe the deaths were all accidental. I can’t really blame him, since not one family of the deceased has yet to question the cause of death.”

“It’s up to a victim’s family to ask for an investigation?” Kitally asked.

Lizzy shrugged. “Often the case. If nobody raises a stink, the cops tend to naturally head off for the next crime they know is a crime.”

Kitally shook her head. “These people must have been real *s if their families didn’t care enough to at least check it out.”

Hayley nodded. “It’s not easy to get a family to agree to an autopsy, either. They’re already grieving from loss and then there are costs involved and a long wait for the results, which could delay the funeral arrangements.”

Kitally shook her head. “This woman is literally getting away with murder.”

“If she’s using poison to make it appear as if these people are dying of heart attacks,” Hayley went on, “that would mean that the killer probably has some degree of knowledge in that field.”

“True,” Kitally said. “The killer could be using cyanide, rat poison, or antifreeze. Even a large dose of potassium would do the trick. Maybe we could narrow the list of ten by figuring out who has a background in medicine or chemistry.”

“I would like the two of you to concentrate on warning the last four people,” Lizzy said. “Not only is this woman dangerous; she’s working fast. She’s not afraid to take risks, which is why I want you two to stick together. I’ll concentrate on whittling down the list of suspects.”

“Sounds good,” Kitally said as she stood, then looked vacantly around the kitchen. “I really am hungry.” She turned to Hayley. “Did the neighbor leave anything else for us to eat?”

“Just the cookies,” Hayley said. “Although I wouldn’t touch that casserole I saw in the refrigerator.”

“Don’t listen to her,” Lizzy said. “It’s delicious.”

“What is it?”

“Tofu casserole.”

Hayley shrugged. “You’ve been warned.”

“Are you saying I would be better off trying one of those cookies?”

“Absolutely.”

“This is serious business,” Lizzy reminded them.

“I’m sorry,” Kitally said. “You’re right.”

Hayley looked at Kitally. “What did I tell you about always saying you’re sorry?”

“I can’t help it,” she said. “Sorry.”

“What’s wrong with her saying she’s sorry?”

“It’s demeaning,” Hayley told them. “Do you ever hear men apologize after a waiter screws up their order? No. Kitally needs to save the I’m sorrys for when it really matters. If someone knocks into her, she apologizes.”

“A lot of women do that,” Lizzy said with another shrug. “It’s a nurturing thing.”

“I don’t care about other women. I care about Kitally.”

“Well, that’s nice of you to—”

“You have an auto-apology problem,” Hayley interrupted Kitally. “So knock it off.”

Kitally almost apologized again but stopped herself.

“I don’t think it’s that big of a deal,” Lizzy said.

“Apologizing for things that aren’t your fault is degrading and shows low self-esteem. It’s stupid.”