Death by Chocolate

one
paw.
    “Vicious creatures,” Tammy
said. “Until they get to know you. Then they’d lead you straight to the family
heirloom silver and help you carry it out of the house.”
    “It was the garlic-flavored
chicken livers that brought them around,” Savannah told her. “One sandwich bag
of that spread three ways and they’re in my power forever.”
    “Food....” Dirk opened the
front door, which was unlocked, and walked inside. ‘That’s how you control all
of us.”
    “Ah, yes, the power of
fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and cream gravy.” Savannah grinned.
    Ordinarily, she would have
added chocolate cake to the end of that list, but for the moment, she was
turned off to the whole idea—a definite first for her. She didn’t know if she
could ever eat chocolate cake again. This murderer was going to get caught and
pay the price for that alone.... if not for Lady Eleanor’s demise.
    “Hello,” Dirk called.
“Anybody here?”
    “In here,” came a voice
from the kitchen.
    “Damn,” he muttered. “We’re
gonna have to string some tape around this house and seal the doors. Now that
we know it was a murder, we can’t have people running around disturbing
things.”
    “I’ll do it if you want,”
Tammy offered.
    Dirk looked surprised, then
rummaged in his jeans pocket and pulled out his keys. He tossed them to her.
‘The tape’s in my kit in the trunk. Thanks, kid.”
    “You’re welcome.... Dirko,”
she replied. She bounced away, long blond ponytail swinging.
    “Better watch out,”
Savannah told him. ‘You two might actually start liking each other if you
aren’t careful.”
    “Naw. It’ll never happen.”
    She followed him into the
kitchen, where they found Marie unloading the dishwasher.
    “Good afternoon,” the maid
said, stopping to dry her hands on a towel. “May I get you something to drink?
A cappuccino or...?”
    “No, thank you,” Savannah
said. “This is Detective-Sergeant Coulter from the San Carmelita Police
Department. Dirk, this is Marie, Eleanor’s housekeeper.”
    Dirk shook Marie’s hand and
nodded graciously. “Glad to meet you. But I’m going to have to ask you to leave
this house here right away and don’t come back in until we clear it.”
    “But, but I work here,”
Marie sputtered. “I don’t understand. We’ll be having Mrs. Maxwell’s memorial
service tomorrow and we’re expecting a lot of people. I have to get things
ready.”
    “No, you don’t.” Dirk took
her by the elbow and gently led her toward the back door. “You have to vacate
the! premises—at least the house itself. It’s a crime scene.”
    “What?” Marie’s jaw dropped.
“What do you mean, a crime?”
    Savannah stepped forward.
“Dirk, she doesn’t.... you know.”
    “Oh, yeah.” Dirk let go of
her arm and put on his gentler face. “I’m sorry to inform you that after
receiving the results of the coroner’s autopsy, we’re investigating Mrs.
Maxwell’s death as a possible homicide. So that means—”
    “A homicide?” The maid
leaned her hand against the pantry door for support. “Someone killed her?”
    “We don’t know yet for
sure,” Savannah said, rushing to her side. “That’s why we have to continue to
investigate. And that’s why no one can come into the house until we’re
finished.”
    “But... but...” The maid
looked around as though seeing her surroundings for the first time. “What will
I do?”
    “You live in the servants’
quarters, right?” Savannah asked.
    Marie nodded.
    “And where’s that?” Dirk
asked.
    “In the gardener’s cottage
behind the garage.” Savannah reached out and placed a comforting hand on the
woman’s shoulder. “So, why don’t you go back there for now, maybe lie down awhile?
I know this must be disturbing news to hear.”
    “It is. Very disturbing,” Marie said, her voice shaking. “Mrs. Maxwell murdered! What a
terrible thing.”
    Savannah could feel her trembling.
She led her gen-dy to the back door and opened it for her. ‘Try not to worry,”
she said. “I’m sure we’ll have this all straightened out soon.”
    Savannah and Dirk watched
through the open door as the maid walked away on unsteady legs. “I’ll come by
and check on you later,” Savannah called after her. ‘Just try to get some
rest.”
    They continued to watch
until she disappeared behind the garage. ‘You’re gonna check on her, huh?” Dirk
finally said. “Maybe you can squeeze something outta her. Maids know