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“I assume so.”
“Bob said he didn’t drink any punch,” I said. “That he doesn’t like it.”
Hazel shrugged. “I’ve seen him drink it in the past, but maybe he’s tired of it now. It’s sweet, though it was extra sweet that night. Sue, Alfred, and Carla were already on their second or third cups. The punchbowl was half empty! Damn, they’re greedy, sucking it down before the rest of us could get some.” Her husky laugh rang out. “I hurried over because I didn’t want to miss out. But I’d only started my second cup when Sue began vomiting. She keeled over onto the floor and Alfred stooped down beside her. It got pretty frantic about then. My belly was rolling, and I wanted to help Sue, but I barely made it to the trash can myself.”
“Where was Rose by then?”
“I could hear her walker making clunking sounds in the hall. She joined us after I’d finished at the barrel.”
“Why did they pump your stomach if you threw up the punch?” I asked.
She shrugged. “I guess they wanted to make sure it was all gone. At that time, no one knew what was going on other than that a bunch of us were getting violently ill. Suspecting something horrible, they may have decided it was safer to make sure none of us retained even a bit of whatever was making us sick.”
“Meanwhile, Bob was sitting in his chair, watching all of this unfold?” Melly asked.
Hazel frowned. “I was still hovering by the bucket, but I believe I remember seeing him closer to the table, though on the food end. He wasn’t near the punch, and he didn’t have a drink or food in his hands. At least he didn’t have to have his stomach pumped. Ginny came back in with the ambulance crew, who Bob wisely called right away. We knew something terrible was going on, and we needed help.”
“The ambulance came quickly,” I said.
“Three of them because there were six of us there. They didn’t have to take Rose, Ginny, or Bob to the hospital since they hadn’t eaten or drunk anything, though they checked them out in case it was a gas leak in the kitchen or something like that. Detective Carter ruled that out quickly. At least we’re all okay.”
Except supposedly Sue. Had she shared her kidney problems with anyone but Alfred?
“Detective Carter must’ve been nearby, on patrol or something,” Hazel said. “The ambulance driver notified him, and he arrived at the same time they did. Since we’d only had the punch and hadn’t gotten into the food, and Rose made the punch, she was taken to the station for questioning. The rest of us went to the hospital to be examined.”
“Except Bob and Ginny.”
“He refused. Ginny loaded him into the van, and you should’ve seen the glare she sent Rose.”
“She blamed Rose?” I asked.
“It appeared so. The van peeled out of the parking lot a short time after that. I just don’t get it. It’s not like Rose to hurt others.”
“You and she have been friends for a long time,” I said.
“Yes, I’m practically Melly’s godmother, though that’s not official.” She patted Melly’s leg. “I wasn’t there when you were born, but I’ve been around while you were growing up. We’re all quite proud of our Melly.”
“She’s very special.” I grinned her way.
Hazel crooked her head to look up at me. “Are you single, Elrik?”
“More or less.” Now that Melly was in my life? No.
“That’s not a true answer, but I’m not going to press you.” Hazel’s laugh rang out. “As for Ginny, I guess she has enough reason to be upset with Rose.”
“Because she slipped and broke her hip at the function hall?” Melly said.
“Sure, but Rose stated right away she had no interest in suing. Ginny’s quite protective of that insurance business.”
Melly shifted on her chair. “She’s helping Bob.”
“Is that what she said?” Hazel frowned. “Helping? More like trying to steal the business right out from underneath him.”
23
MELLY
“What do you mean by that?” I asked Hazel. Ginny had always come across to me as if she cared about Bob, that he was more than just a job. She used to visit him even before his health started to fail. When he started having a hard time getting around, she’d moved in with him and taken care of all his needs. Bob hadn’t acted as if he was worried about Ginny trying to steal anything from him. But would he? He might not know.
