Dialing Murder (Amateur Sleuth Cozy Mystery) Read online

  "Miss Mills, stand back! It's too dangerous." George cried out afraid to touch the powder that covered this face. He looked terrified to Maisie. She had to calm him down. As she inspected him, she noticed something.

  "George, there are no burn marks. It would have reacted with your skin already. You know, I'm thinking it's only …"

  Maisie knelt forward and wiped a piece of the white powder from George's face with her finger. George and Detective Blake gasped.

  "No, stop it, Miss Mills," Detective Blake cried out as Maisie dabbed her finger to her tongue.

  "It's okay. It's flour."

  Maisie looked rather pleased with herself. Mrs. Leech was too shocked to speak. Satisfied his officer was in no harm, Detective Blake said,

  "George, get yourself cleaned up. I'll take this one back to the station. Miss Mills, I'll thank you to stay out of business that does not concern you."

  Detective Blake didn't even wait for her to answer. He turned and left.

  "Come on, George, I'll help you, and you can tell me if that's our culprit."

  "That was very brave of you, Maisie. I was scared but couldn't feel anything. I didn't know if it is was my imagination."

  Maisie was wiping George's jacket when Mrs. Leech came to her senses.

  "What is going on here?" She asked, not seeming to notice that George was in uniform.

  "Mrs. Leech, we've arrested one of your boarders in relation to a murder of one of your other boarders. The man attacked me. I need to ask you some questions," George paused, flour covered him. "But could I get cleaned up first."

  Mrs. Leech tutted but nodded her head for George to follow her.

  "You know these policemen, Clara. Is John Smith dead?"

  Maisie nodded. She felt bad for deceiving the woman. Mrs. Leech held her hands to her face and began to cry. Maisie who was close enough to see that Mrs. Leech wasn't quite as old as expected. Her complexion was fair and without any wrinkles. Her dark hair pulled back in a very severe way that didn't suit her. Maisie observed how hair around her face would be much more flattering.

  Maisie, for once, didn't know what to do. George had wiped himself down. Maisie knew George had a job to do and she needed to get back to the telephone exchange in any case.

  "Officer Bantry, I have information for you. Will you call by Mrs. Hopkins' place later?"

  "I look forward to seeing you later, but I will have to ask you about your presence here today. I have no doubt that Detective Blake will be very interested in that."

  George sighed. If his detective suspected he was divulging information to a civilian, there would be hell to pay. No matter how helpful she was.

  As Maisie returned to work, she had to think of some excuse to ensure she wouldn't be fired. She decided to feign a headache. The suspects may call again, and she would need to be there so she could warn George. "See how that worked out today," she said rather pleased with herself. Their victim had a name.

  Chapter Four

  Miss Carnegie was in foul form when Maisie sauntered into work. "You cannot waltz in and out as you please," she snapped at Maisie. "I have a good mind to sack you right now. If your friend was trained, I'd have her in your place right now."

  The volume of work and her experience worked in Maisie's favor. She felt like a cat with nine lives. She returned to her station and began working again. Not wanting to push her luck, she didn't take a lunch break. So had no time to tell Lizzie and Lily about her eventful morning. Perhaps it is better I don't go into the details with Lily, she decided.

  Finally, the working day was over. No more mysterious messages had come through. At least she'd have the whole story from George when he called round later.

  "What happened to you," Lizzie asked as they grabbed their coats and hats at the end of the working day.

  "I had a headache and needed air. But I'm feeling much better now." Maisie answered as the other staff members were close by. They were a nosy bunch, and gossip had a high currency in the staff room. She moved closer to Lizzie and whispered, "I went to where the dead man had been staying. I overheard a conversation here…"

  Lizzie interrupted her "what conversation?"

  "When I was connecting a caller, there was something about him. I can't explain it and then he said something and I was sure he was talking about the dead man…"

  "If Miss Carnegie had caught you. Oh, Maisie, the work is only tolerable because you're here. Don't get yourself fired."

  Lizzie fumed. Lily didn't know what to say.

  "I called the police station to talk to George, but he was out. So I went to the boarding house the man had mentioned. Just to stake it out until I could get to George. I was curious. How could I not be? Lizzie, you can be such a Mrs. Grundy, you know."

  Lizzie stopped. She was indignant at such an insult. "You take that back, Maisie Mills. Just because you are reckless does not make me a Mrs. Grundy. You could be hurt or killed. Leave the sleuthing to the police."

  "Okay, I'm sorry, Lizzie. I can't help my curious nature. If you were murdered with no identification, wouldn't you want someone to find out who you were? That's all I want is find out who the dead man was so his family can know what happened and the killer brought to justice."

  "I suppose you have a point, but I don't like you going in the way of danger. It isn't right. Lily, get your brother to talk some sense into her. There's a reason women aren't allowed to join the police. I'll see you in the morning, hopefully."

  Lizzie left Maisie and Lily.

  "I've never seen her so worked up. It's the first time I could get involved in a mystery here in the city. I'm just excited. Lily, tell me you understand," Maisie smiled at Lily expecting her new friend to back her up.

  "Maisie, I'm sorry. I agree with Lizzie. I don't know how George does it. It's a dreadful business. Leave it to the men."

  Maisie and Lily walked home in silence. Maisie didn't know what to think. Perhaps she should have kept her thoughts to herself. The day had brought so many mixed feelings. When they got home, Maisie went to her room. She needed to lie down. It wasn't her intention to be so different. Was she going to drive her friends away?

  She used to be great friends with Katie. It was Katie who had cut her hair to make her look like Clara Bow. But their interests had diverged when Katie wanted to go to the speakeasys to smoke and drink. It was lonely not to have friends. But Maisie couldn't help the way her mind worked. She liked to figure things out.

  Her head was humming. It was the start of a migraine and one she hadn't had for such a long time. Maisie lay on her bed and closed her eyes. Sleep would help. There had been really too much excitement in the last few days.

  She lost herself in the quietness and stillness. A sound was coming closer to her. It was Lily.

  "Maisie, I've brought some broth for you. I want to apologize for earlier."

  Maisie opened her eyes to see Lily coming closer. She sat on the bed as Maisie propped herself up.

  "You seem to have no fear, and I'm a little jealous of that. My fear is that something bad will happen to you. It sounds silly to say as we've only known each other a few days."

  "I love figuring out puzzles and forget that others are not so inclined. But after today, the case is probably solved, so I won't need to think about it anymore. George and his Detective made an arrest at the boarding house." Maisie said disappointedly.

  "What do you mean, did something happen?" Lily asked.

  "I never got to tell you. George and his detective were at the man's boarding house and arrested a rough looking fella. I told George I had to tell him new information, but I guess it won't be needed now," Maisie sighed. All her figuring out was for nothing.

  "I'll sleep now. Thank you, Lily, for bringing me the broth. Tomorrow we could something fun with Lizzie after work?"

  "You sleep now. And yes, we'll do something fun tomorrow."

  Lily left, and Maisie settled into her bed. She felt a little better. Her friendship restored and no doubt tomorr
ow Lizzie would be her usual self. Maisie decided she would put aside her sleuthing ways. She was out of her debt in the city.

  As expected, Lizzie was her usual self by the end of the work day. The three young women walked through Central Park. It was too lovely of an evening not to enjoy the Park. Despite Lizzie's initial reservations, she relented.

  They were laughing and joking until they realized there were at the spot where the man had died. Maisie said nothing. It was Lizzie who told Lily. Lily shivered. It seemed so peaceful here. A rustle in the leaves beside them caused the girls to jump.

  "What was that?" Lily asked. The city proving to every bit as scary as her mother had warned her.

  "It's a cat or dog."

  Maisie looked over, but even she was feeling unnerved. The movement was too high in her estimation to be a cat or dog. It had to be a person.

  "Let's get out of here. It's making me uncomfortable," Lizzie said as she began to walk away.

  "I want to see." Maisie stepped closer and peered into the bushes.

  She shrieked as a face peered back at her, causing her jump back.

  "It's a man," Maisie said, recovering her composure. What was he doing here? She expected him to run away. But instead, he approached her. This was too real. It was too close, and she ran as Lily and Lizzie had done.

  "We've got to go to George and tell him," Lily said.

  "Yes, let's go to George. The man may be a peeper and might have seen something on the day of the murder," Maisie said coolly while her friends were anxious. Whether or not the police had their man, this new information was bound to be of use to them. George hadn't called around which meant the man from the boarding house was the culprit.

  "This city is one scary place. I'm not sure I would stay if I didn't have you as friends. I thought I'd see more of George," Lily sounded sad.

  "It's never what any of us dream of, that's for sure. Here we are," Maisie took pride in knowing where Officer Bantry was stationed.

  George came running to them as soon as he saw his sister.

  "What in goodness name has happened?"

  They explained what they had seen, and Maisie couldn't help herself.

  "George, he could be a witness. It will help your case, won't it. Anymore details on John Smith?"

  George shushed her as he looked around as though expecting someone to be standing around him.

  "We know about the peeper. But please don't talk about the case. Wait a moment, and I'll escort you ladies home."

  George left them standing with the desk sergeant. He returned a few minutes later.

  "I'm off duty now. Officer Murphy has offered to walk Miss Tucker home."

  Maisie recognized Officer Murphy. He was being the policeman Lizzie had found on that fateful day. As Lizzie and her escort went one direction, Maisie had questions for George. "I trust Officer Murphy was only too ready to help a damsel in distress," she said.

  George smiled. "Indeed, Sean Murphy hasn't stopped talking about your friend. He was all for coming with me to call on Mrs. Hopkins' house until I told him Miss Tucker didn't live there. As he had taken her details, he should have known that. He was beside himself. May I take you to this little tea room nearby? I think a treat is needed after your ordeal. It's a sign of the times when three young ladies can't walk in peace in the city."

  As they ordered tea and cakes, George got ready to tell Maisie about the case.

  "I had every intention of calling around last night, but it got too late. I didn't think Mrs. Hopkins, even knowing me as she does, would appreciate my arrival. You were right about the flour, Maisie. Our culprit, Seth Jameson, had a fight with the victim. It was a card game and Mr. Smith…"

  "Don't you think Mr. Smith sounds like a made up name?" Maisie asked.

  "What flour are you talking about George?" Lily asked.

  "Ladies, please. Lily, a bad man threw flour at me. I didn't know it was flour. Detective Blake thought it might contain poison. But it didn't fool Maisie. She identified it as flour and she was quite correct. We have a name for our victim, John Smith. Although Maisie knew that. Seth Jameson delivers flour that's why he had some on him. Apparently, he cheats at card games. When caught, he throws flour into his opponents eyes shouting that it's poison. Then he runs away."

  Maisie was puzzled. John Smith. It didn't seem plausible.

  "George, can we be sure the victim's real name was John Smith? It seems too easy. With no ID, I was sure he was on the run."

  "I think you're right. Well, Detective Blake isn't convinced that's his real name either. Despite the Mrs. Leech saying she had seen some official documentation with the name John Smith on it. The coroner said he had dyed his hair."

  "He was trying to change his appearance," Maisie declared.

  George was nodding in agreement.

  "Or he wanted to look younger. The movie stars do it." Lily had a point.

  George and Maisie were deflated.

  "So you don't think Seth Jameson killed him?"

  "No, Seth Jameson has an excellent alibi. He had been picked up in a speakeasy and was in jail at the time of death. He was only released the morning we called on the house. That reminds me, you said you had something to tell me."

  In the excitement of knowing the mystery had yet to be solved, Maisie had forgotten about the phone call. George became very serious.

  "Please do not do anything like that again. Ring the station and tell the desk sergeant what you've heard…"

  "Stop encouraging her George," Lily said. "We're not supposed to listen in on the conversations. She'll get fired."

  "Your enthusiasm is infectious Maisie. Detective Blake doesn't like to talk cases out. I like talking to someone about it. I could tell your boss that you're helping in a police matter if that helps."

  Maisie's face lit up at the prospect of consulting with the police officially. But then she realized what he was saying. Miss Carnegie would know she had been eavesdropping.

  "No, George, I'd be fired for sure. I'm already on a slippery slope with Miss Carnegie as it is. If she knew I'd eavesdropped…" Maisie said. She shook her head and then relented. "If I hear anything, I will call the station and let the professionals handle it."

  The conversation turned to Lily and George's early years, and she filled him in the goings-on of Casper. Maisie was an only child, and she was fascinated by their bond.

  "What about you, Maisie? Do you miss home?"

  "No, not really. Sometimes. But I think it's easier on my parents if I live away from trouble. Or at least for them to think I'm away from trouble," Maisie chuckled.

  It had been a lovely evening as George continued to walk them home.

  "What happens now, George? About John Smith. What else can be done to find out more about our mysterious man?" Maisie wondered if they might move on to another case.

  "Detective Blake has put a picture in the newspaper to see if anyone knows him. We'll get confirmation that he is John Smith but you never know, something else may come to light. And I will follow up on the peeper. If that's his spot, he may have seen something without knowing it. Lovely ladies, I will bid you goodnight. Tell Mrs. Hopkins I said hello. Sleep tight."

  George whistled as he walked away.

  "You know he's sweet on you, don't you Maisie?" Lily laughed at the confused look on Maisie's face.

  Maisie couldn't help but turn her head and at that moment, George looked back and their eyes met.

  "Oh Maisie, you didn't suspect anything. How can you be so observant and yet blind in other ways."

  For once, Maisie was lost for words.

  Chapter Five

  George was sweet on her. Maisie wasn't looking for love. This could turn ugly if she broke his heart. But Maisie couldn't pretend she liked him in that way. She did like George. He was very pleasant, indeed. What a mess, she said to herself. And she had forgotten to give him the exchanges of the calls. There had to be a way for her to let George know she was only interested in his mind.

>   The following day, Maisie found her work tedious. Every call that she encountered, she wished for it to be about the case. It was not to be. It was payday, and Lizzie and Maisie were taking Lily to buy new lipstick. Lizzie and Maisie sported Clara Bow's cupid lips and were eager for Lily to adopt the look too.

  "Try this Lily," Lizzie encouraged her friend as they stood in the drugstore, with a try before your buy policy.

  "Mama said makeup was for harlots. I'm not sure if I should," Lily said. Although there was no denying how Lily's face lit up when she saw herself with lipstick.

  "All the modern young women are wearing make-up. You have to move with the times, Lily. We'll get Katie to cut your hair. It's not as straight as ours. With your wavy hair, a Castle bob might suit you. What do you think, Maisie?" Lizzie was determined to bring Lily into the 1920s revolution.

  Maisie nodded in agreement. She was trying a new kohl eyeliner, but she was hesitant about wearing such a dramatic eye.

  "Don't forget your metal lip tracer. It's the only way to get the perfect pout."

  Lizzie added it to Lily's purchases, as she told her, "Now you have everything a girl needs."

  They were in high spirits as they went to their respective homes.

  However, when Maisie and Lily arrived home, they found George sitting on the stoop. He stood up and came to greet them.

  "George, don't tell mama I bought make-up," Lily felt obliged to say as she had lipstick and rouge on her face. George had eyed her new look suspiciously.

  "Don't judge her, George," Maisie said. "She's a young woman in a vibrant city and has to move with the times. What brings you by, any new developments?"

  Maisie was anxious to keep the conversation on Lily or the case. In that way, she wouldn't give George the opportunity to make eyes at her. This was strictly business.

  "It is lovely to see you both but my business tonight is official. I mentioned the telephone conversation you had overheard. Detective Blake wondered if you had the exchange numbers."