Murder on Sugar Hill Read online

  "With your chicken little attitude, I don't see that happening," Matilda said.

  "That's a cruel thing to say...but true. I'm frightened of skiing fast," Trixie admitted.

  "It would be a big stretch to call the man skiing the course fast," Matilda said shaking her head. "It pains me to watch him."

  "Oh, I forgot to tell you the bad news."

  "For heaven sake, what now?" Matilda asked as she watched the first skier of the second run cross the finish line to the roar of his friends.

  "Trudy is quitting. She gave her months’ notice this morning when I went to the kitchen for a cup of coffee," Trixie said.

  "I suspected that would happen when I heard Sheriff Dudley ask her to marry him," Matilda said.

  "She told me she was appalled at your trying to pin Buggy's murder on Sheriff Dudley. She said she didn't feel right working for you any longer."

  "Well, we must get her to give us her recipe for the sugar cookies before she leaves!" Matilda said.

  "Good luck with that! Especially since you are practically forcing Sheriff Dudley to retire," Trixie said. "Maybe if you offer her a golden parachute, she will leave all her recipes when she quits."

  "Hmm, now we’re giving golden parachutes to cooks!" Matilda said as she eyed another skier on the race course.

  "Our restaurant has four stars! Without her, I'm afraid we’ll lose a star."

  "Yeah, it will cost less to buy her out than to send you to cooking school," Matilda said.

  "I wouldn't go anyway. I hate school," Trixie said.

  "Hmm, I bet a steamy kitchen would make all that purple hair dye run!" Matilda said. "I can see us serving Eggs Benedict with specks of purple," she added.

  "I don't know. That might look fitting at Easter."

  "Oh, Smiley is on the course for his final run," Matilda said with a hint of excitement in her voice. "Come on, Smiley, your first run is holding up. Finish and you'll win second place."

  "He's going all out!" Trixie said as she jumped up and down. "Come on Smiley. Nail it!"

  "Oh no!" Matilda said as she put her hand over her mouth in shock as Smiley's left ski hit a gate. He blew out of his skis. She watched in horror as he flew into the air. He landed hard on his left shoulder. "That's not good!" She said.

  “Matilda held her breath as she waited for him to give the all clear signal.

  "He's hurt!" Trixie shouted.

  The ski patrol had come to the same conclusion because Matilda spotted a team with a sled as they skied toward Smiley who lay a few yards past his last gate.

  "Let’s go to the finish line. They’ll bring him down there," Matilda said.

  "God, I hope he's not hurt bad," Trixie said as they skied toward the finish line.

  "Yeah, I wouldn't want to have to train another front desk clerk," Matilda said.

  "What? You don't think John Paul and Tara could check in the guests?" Trixie asked.

  "Maybe with the help of Bozo," Matilda said.

  "We shouldn't be joking. Smiley might be seriously hurt." Trixie said.

  "The way he hit, it's probably his left shoulder or arm?" Matilda said in a more serious tone.

  "Jack, has the ski patrol reported anything?" Matilda asked when they reached the finish line.

  "George said he thought Smiley hurt his left shoulder. He said it looked dislocated."

  "Let hope it isn't also broken,” Matilda said.

  "They’re bringing him down," Jack said nodding up the slope.

  "Has the ski patrol ever had to bring you down in a bobsled?" Trixie asked.

  "No, never rode in a ski patrol rescue sled. It's my shame that I slipped on a patch of ice in front of the post office," Matilda said. "That's not a glorious way to end a pro skiing career."

  They both fell silent as George, the head of the ski patrol, skied the toboggan toward them.

  "Smiley!" Trixie called as she ran along beside the sled. "Are you alright?"

  "My left shoulder's busted. I hope the doc will put me on some powerful meds," he answered before the toboggan outdistanced Trixie.

  "Hmm, he probably busted his shoulder, so he could legally get high on oxycodone," Matilda said.

  "Miss Matilda what a horrible thing to say... Hmm but you’re probably right," Trixie said.

  Matilda turned to Jack. "Where are they taking him?"

  "To the hospital in Littleton," Jack said. "An ambulance is on the way."

  "Come, Trixie, I'll drop you off at the inn. You’ll have to manage the front desk until Smiley is back on duty."

  "It's a good thing that Ann Bixby is working the next few days. She'll keep the other chambermaids in line," Trixie said.

  "Don't depend on her too much. She’s only temporary. I suspect once Charley passes she’ll be running The Horse and Hound for Carl. And I'm pretty sure she'll do a better job."

  "You don't like Ann."

  "Can't say that I do. But I can't give you a reason why I don’t," Matilda said as she started her SUV.

  The first person Matilda saw when she opened the door to the inn was Ann Bixby standing behind the front desk.

  "Is the race over already? Did Smiley win?" Ann asked.

  "Hello!" Tara called.

  "John Paul is a bad bird," John Paul squawked.

  "What did he do now, Ann?" Trixie asked as she glanced over at the cockatoo.

  "He called a guest a creep," Ann said. "The man was demanding I change his room for a suite, but he didn't want to pay the difference. John Paul became agitated and started screaming creep." The red-haired woman paused. "You should have seen him walking back and forth on his perch screaming creep. The guest decided to keep his current room and almost ran up the stairs."

  "Tickle, tickle," Matilda said as she walked over to John Paul.

  The cockatoo lifted his wing.

  "John Paul is a good bird," Matilda said as she tickled him.

  "Uh, Ann?”

  “Yes?”

  “Can you work the rest of the week? Smiley crashed on the final run and hurt his shoulder. I'm going to need to man the front desk until he's able to return to work."

  "Which knowing his love of meds, might be a while," Matilda said as she continued to tickle John Paul."

  "Sure, Carl has a full staff at the Horse and Hound. And to be honest, his head chambermaid and I don't see eye to eye. She thinks I'm trying to take her job..."

  "Well isn't that true?" Matilda asked.

  "No. I just want to help Carl if he needs me," Ann said glancing at Trixie for help.

  "Okay, Miss Matilda. Everything is running smoothly at the inn. Go to Littleton and check on Smiley," Trixie said sweetly. "I'll go up and give the man that caused John Paul to fly into a rage a free dinner coupon. That should smooth his ruffled feathers. I see that you’ve already worked your charm on John Paul."

  "Tickle, tickle," Tara said when Matilda stopped tickling John Paul.

  "She’s jealous," Trixie said as she saw Matilda move over to the Macaw's perch.

  "Yes, but she's not as bad as I thought she would be. I think she likes John Paul," Matilda said as she gave Tara a few quick tickles. "That’s all Tara. Mommy has to go and see Smiley."

  "Smiley! Smiley!" Tara said.

  “Unbelievable that John Paul hasn’t even tried to bite anyone.”

  “He’s a good bird,” Matilda said. “All he needed was a little love.” She sighed. "Okay, I'll be back as soon as I can Trixie," Matilda said as she turned to leave. She stopped at the door and turned back. "Miss Bixby, how is Charley?"

  "I talked to Carl a few minutes ago, and he said Charley's breathing is getting worse," Ann replied.

  Matilda nodded and walked through the door.

  I keep thinking that Charley’s going into a coma is somehow related to Buggy’s death. But I just can't connect the dots, Matilda thought as she drove toward Littleton, ten miles north of Sugar Hill on the Gale River. Littleton was a real town where Sugar Hill was more of a village. It had a Safeway, a hospital, a
nd a Walgreens while Sugar Hill sported Kelly's Grocery, a ski shop, a beauty shop and Harman’s Cheese.

  The Littleton Hospital was a single-story structure. It wasn't meant to handle much more than broken bones and bad colds. But Matilda considered Smiley to be in good hands. She found him in one of the emergency rooms with his left shoulder in a sling. A doctor was standing beside his bed when Matilda walked into the room.

  "Miss Matilda!" Smiley called out in a happy voice. "Thanks for coming to see me."

  "It’s good to see that you aren't in a cast," Matilda said. She glanced at the young, handsome doctor with dopey eyes and a smile fit for a toothpaste commercial. "Nothing broken?"

  "Actually, he cracked his shoulder socket and dislocated his shoulder," the young doctor answered.

  "Why isn't he in a cast?" Matilda said sharply.

  "He doesn't need one. The sling will keep his arm in the correct position for healing," the doctor said.

  "No cast?" Matilda asked raising her eyebrows.

  "No cast," the doctor said.

  "Are you keeping him overnight?"

  "No, he can go home. I'm finished with him."

  "Doc. I have a low threshold for pain. I'll need lots of pain pills," Smiley said. "Oxycodone works great," he added.

  Matilda rolled her eyes but didn't speak.

  "And so does two Tylenol!" the doctor said.

  Matilda had to fight to keep from laughing when she saw the horrified look on Smiley's face. "So, once you’re loaded up with Tylenol, are you ready to go home?"

  "Not giving a person with a cracked and dislocated shoulder something stronger than Tylenol doesn't seem humane," Smiley said as an orderly finished stuffing the hippy's feet into his boots.

  "Miss Matilda?"

  Matilda glanced over her shoulder and saw a young nurse she had spoken to several times at the Cannon Mountain ski lodge.

  "Yes, Claire."

  "An ambulance brought Charley Lovett to the emergency room."

  "Is he still in a coma?" Matilda asked.

  "I don't know any details. One of the paramedics said something about his breathing. That's all I know."

  "Thanks, Claire," Matilda said as she turned and nodded at Smiley. "Hang out here while I check on Charley Lovett. The EMT's just brought him to the emergency room."

  "Sure," Smiley said as he reached for the TV remote control.

  Matilda hurried to the back of the hospital. A nurse at the triage desk glanced at her as she approached.

  "What’s Charley Lovett's condition?" Matilda asked.

  "Are you family?" the nurse asked.

  "Yes!" Matilda lied. "Quick tell me?"

  "Sorry, he passed. He was pronounced dead upon arrival by the emergency room doctor."

  Chapter Nineteen

  Matilda held the door open for Smiley.

  "How does it feel to ride in a ski patrol sled?" Trixie called out from behind the check-in counter.

  "Bumpy and painful. I don't advise it," Smiley snapped.

  "He's upset because the doctor didn’t give him narcotics," Matilda said holding up a bottle of Tylenol.

  "Hmm, no recreational drugs. That'll get you back working fast. You’ll be bored out of your gourd watching daytime TV," Trixie said.

  "Smiley! Smiley!" Tara said.

  "She missed you," Trixie said.

  "Creep! Creep!" John Paul screamed.

  "Same to you John Paul," Smiley answered as he headed upstairs. "I'm going to bed," he added.

  "Where's Ann?" Matilda asked.

  "Carl called and asked her to come over to the Horse and Hound. Charley died."

  "Yes, they told me at the hospital that he had passed," Matilda said. "Looks like you are going to lose your top chambermaid."

  "Yep, and with Smiley out of work for a day or two, it's going to be tough managing the front desk and the chambermaids."

  "Go to bed early and stop watching videos until the wee hours," Matilda said.

  "Well, I guess Carl Lovett is soon to be the new proprietor of the Horse and Hound," Trixie said ignoring Matilda's remark.

  "It's not official until the will is read," Matilda mumbled.

  "You look sad," Trixie said.

  Matilda sighed. "Charley was a good man." She paused. "I keep wondering how he overdosed on insulin. Charley was cautious. I don't see him making a mistake with an injection."

  "Maybe he didn't have his glasses on and misread the dial on his insulin pen?"

  "Charley didn't wear glasses. Not every older person does, Trixie."

  "Matilda, you have glasses. You refuse to wear them," Trixie said.

  "I only need them for reading the fine print."

  Trixie shook her head. "Right, I forgot. Uh...where are you in your investigation of Buggy's murder since you let Sheriff Dudley off the hook?"

  "He's not completely off the hook."

  You know, according to Ann, he did visit Charley the day he overdosed," Trixie said.

  "Yes, I’m aware of that fact. However, I don't see a reason for the good sheriff to give Charley an overdose of insulin. Charley had already confessed to Buggy and Sheriff Wilson that Sheriff Dudley was driving the car when it hit Buggy. What would he gain by killing Charley?"

  "Miss Matilda, maybe just maybe Charley made a mistake giving himself insulin," Trixie said.

  "Yes, I realize the possibility. I just don't buy it."

  "Okay, then that leaves Carl as the prime suspect if Charley was purposely given an overdose. Maybe he got tired of waiting to inherit the inn."

  "Yes, I've thought about that too. Maybe I'll call the state police and suggest they look into the possibility that Charley was also murdered."

  "I'm not sure they will take kindly to you playing detective," Trixie said.

  "I don't give a hoot what they think or what anyone else thinks," Matilda said tapping her walking stick against the floor.

  "Don't get upset at me," Trixie said.

  "How could I? I always make exceptions for you since I know your brain is constantly being bathed in purple dye," Matilda said. "Now I'm going into the dining room for a cup of coffee."

  "Must be nice."

  "Yes, being the proprietor does have its advantages," Matilda said.

  "Especially if you are a stone-cold witch," Trixie mumbled.

  "I heard that!"

  "My, my what big ears you have, Grandma," Matilda heard Trixie say behind her back.

  "At least get your fairy tales straight, Trixie," she said and forced herself not to laugh.

  "Trudy, please tell me you have a fresh pot of coffee," Matilda said.

  "No, I don't."

  "Make a pot for me, please."

  Matilda saw the shake of Trudy's head.

  "So, you’re still upset with me for confronting Sheriff Dudley about concealing that he was the driver when Buggy was hit by Charley Lovett's car?"

  "He's said he’s going to resign as sheriff. I hope you’re happy, Miss Matilda!"

  "He lied, Trudy."

  Trudy wiped her hands on her apron even though they were clean. "He's a good man, Miss Matilda. He made a mistake. We all make mistakes."

  "And he has to pay for his mistakes just like the rest of us. He should resign. Anyway, he said the two of you were planning on opening a bakery. I guess that’s why you’re quitting your job here? Trixie said you gave a month's notice."

  "Yes," Trudy said as she shoved the coffee holder into the coffee maker. "I’ll have a waitress bring your cup of coffee to the dining room when it's finished brewing.

  "No, have them bring it to the solarium," Matilda called over her shoulder as she turned and walked out of the kitchen.

  I'm going to have to play nice with her. I need her recipes especially for her sugar cookies, Matilda thought as she walked into the lobby.

  "John Paul has a toy!" Tara screamed.

  "Trixie, do you know why Tara keeps saying that?"

  Trixie shook her head. "Nope. I don't have the foggiest. Where are
you going?"

  "To have my coffee in the quiet of the solarium. I could hear steam coming from Trudy's head in the dining room."

  "Yep, she’s angry with you for mistreating Sheriff Dudley, her words not mine."

  "Yeah, well, if he doesn't turn his badge in, I will start mistreating him!” She shook her head. “How is it that I'm the bad guy in all this?"

  "What! You think you're not?" Trixie said and smiled.

  "You’re fired!" Matilda said as she turned and headed toward the solarium. Matilda rolled her eyes when she heard Trixie chuckling.

  Each time Matilda entered the solarium the memory of Buggy lying on the floor flashed through her mind. She visited the room to remind herself that she hadn't solved the murder and to drive herself to make a better effort. But the truth was that running the inn ate into her ability to pursue the case.

  She looked at the new curtains. Why had someone tried to burn down the solarium? To hide evidence was the obvious answer. But what evidence? As she glanced around the room at the orchids, African violets, and potted palms, it came to her mind that whatever evidence the murderer was trying to destroy had to be something small, but what? What tiny bit of evidence would point the finger at the killer?

  "Here's your coffee, ma'am," a waitress that Matilda hadn't seen before said as she entered the room.

  She is so new that she doesn't know my name either. Matilda knew she should ask the young woman her name, but she didn't. Why should I? She thought. She'll probably only last a couple of weeks. It not like it was in the old days when a waitress would work for years. It's a mobile society, Matilda reminded herself.

  "What do I keep missing?" she said out loud. The nagging feeling that she was somehow not recognizing a key piece of the puzzle was like a worm crawling through her mind. "I'm trying too hard!" she said as she took a sip of her coffee. Hmm, Trudy is mad at me! Matilda thought when she realized that Trudy hadn't sent a couple of sugar cookies along, as well.

  As Matilda slowly sipped her coffee, her thoughts turned to Charley. She allowed herself a moment of truth. Charley Lovett had been the love of her life. She did and always would regret breaking up with him. The knowledge that he had ended Buggy's promising skiing career kept getting between them. Also, the fact that Charley had never stopped loving his wife, even after her death. Matilda had always felt her presence whenever she was with Charley. She realized that she had been foolish to allow Buggy's accident and Charley's lingering love for his former wife to come between them.