Murderous Muffins by Lois Lavrisa Page A

destitute you are, that must be very stressful. Then taking in a bunch of strangers. It could make a person snap.”
    “Yes, it’s very taxing.” I pushed a stray hair behind my ear.
    “I know, and I love you. But I’m concerned about how the situation looks.”
    “What situation?”
    Cat gently held my hand. “The poison you had and…”
    “For ants, not people.”
    “That’s what I told the police. They asked me so many questions. I just answered truthfully. And they asked if I’d seen you with a bottle of poison. I remembered when you got up off the floor of my room that it slipped out of your pocket. I’m so sorry, but I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but they seemed so focused on it.”
    “It’s okay.” I sighed. “I’m glad that you were forthcoming with them, because I have nothing to hide.”
    “I hope I didn’t say something I shouldn’t. I really feel bad.” Cat hung her head.
    “Please let it go; it really doesn’t matter. They’ll find out I had nothing to do with his death.”
    “I know.” Cat stuck the pan in the sink and squeezed soap in it. “By the way, José said he’s working on getting some of the issues around the house taken care of. Like the permits and such. He said he’s going to do as much as he can. Or at the very least, try to stall you being shut down.”
    “He’s sweet.” I fiddled with the pearls around my neck. “But I’ve been thinking. I have something that I need to sell. The money might help me pay off some debts as well as get my affairs straightened out.”
    Cat turned on the water. “Oh? How did you come to this revelation?”
    “My Hattie used to say, ‘When you get pushed in a corner, climb out a window.’”
    “I have no idea what that means.” Cat shut off the faucet.
    “Whenever I was stuck on a problem and couldn’t find a solution, she would say, ‘There’s a way out of it if you just look.’”
    “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
    “I’m tapped out on the house’s equity. I have just one thing left, my window to climb out of, so to speak.” I touched the smooth pearls on my neck. “Will you go with me to the pawnshop?”
    “Sure. But what are you going to take there?”
    I rubbed the pearls in between my fingertips. “When Xavier made a comment about my vintage pearl necklace possibly being expensive, it started me thinking.”
    Cat’s eyes widened. “Not your pearls!”
    I nodded, feeling tears well up in my eyes. There was not a materialistic bone in my body that attached me to the lovely white string; instead, my bond was steeped in sentiment.
    “But they mean so much to you.” Cat waved her hand.
    “Yes.” My gut sank at the thought of letting go of my beloved pearl necklace. With fondness, I pictured my great-grandmother wearing it, then my grandmother and then my mother. How they connected each of our lives as much as the strand that held the pearls together. Yet I had to let them go to save the house. I had no choice. Even though I knew that was what I should do, I still felt like I was abandoning a relative.
    Cat asked, “Are you sure?”
    I bit my lip. “Yes. After breakfast, let’s go to the pawnshop.”
    “I wish I had some extra money to help you out so you wouldn’t have to sell your necklace.”
    I held Cat’s hand. “You’re a good friend.”
     
    ***
     
    We made our way down Broughton Street. A man walking ahead of us looked like my new tenant, Xavier. He was in front of Jack’s Pawn Shop when I called out his name, but he didn’t turn around. A minute later, we caught up to him waiting at a red light to cross the street.
    Xavier saw us. “Good afternoon, ladies.”
    “Hi, Xavier. Bezu called for you and you didn’t answer,” Cat said.
    “Oh?” Xavier cleared his throat. “Pardon me, I must have a lot on my mind. By the way, I’m really sorry about all that happened, Bezu. Is everything okay?”
    “Wonderful. Thank you for asking.” I fidgeted with my pearl