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“I’m fine.” She rose, and I could see she was steady. Her eyes were clear too. “I’ll call my doctor first thing in the morning and tell him I want to go back on my old meds. They work when this new medication doesn’t.” She strode around the desk, and I was grateful to see she appeared to be back to her old self. “Let me walk you to the door.”
I shared a look with Elrik, but we both shrugged. We couldn’t make her accept our help, and I could understand her need for independence.
We followed her to the door, which she opened.
A troll family was passing on the sidewalk. The young daughter peered in through the opening, a big grin on her green face.
“Dance,” she cried, her eyes bright with excitement. “Dancing.”
“Tomorrow, Tria,” Hazel said with a wave. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
“If I think of anything else, I’ll give you a call,” she said to me. “I want to do all I can to help you clear Rose’s name. She’s a special woman, and she doesn’t deserve this.”
“Thank you.” I gave her a hug, then held her forearms, staring into her eyes. “Are you sure you don’t need anything from us?”
“I’m doing alright.” Hazel’s smile rose, and she was just as pretty today as she’d been when she did ballet. She’d shown me pictures multiple times over the years, and the best ones hung in her office.
We stepped out onto the sidewalk.
“You talked with Sue, right?” Hazel asked.
“We did. Bob too. Carla, Ginny, and Alfred. Everyone who was there that evening.”
“Good, good,” Hazel said. “Did Sue tell you why she was hovering around the punch bowl but then raced out to her vehicle?”
24
ELRIK
“She didn’t mention anything like that,” Melly said, her concerned gaze meeting mine.
“While I was lying on that hospital stretcher with that tube up my nose, I started thinking,” Hazel said. “Sue was near the punchbowl but then she left the building. When she came back, she started chugging the punch like she’d run a marathon without taking one sip of water.”
“You’re pretty close. She and Alfred went on a long hike,” I said. “She told us they finished late, that theyhadn’tbrought water, and that when they got here, she was very thirsty.”
“Sue never does anything like that,” Hazel said. “She’s told me a number of times that she’s supposed to take in regular fluids, that it’s good for her kidneys. I can’t believe she’d go for a hike without water.”
I couldn’t see how this might play into her possibly poisoning the punch, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask her why she’d left the building abruptly.
Melly’s gaze met mine. “Do we have any other questions?”
I shook my head. “Thank you,” I told Hazel.
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you two around?” Hazel’s gaze traveled back and forth between us.
Melly kissed Hazel’s cheek. “Take care. I’ll call you later to make sure you don’t need anything.”
“You’re a sweet girl, Melly.” Hazel stepped inside and started shutting the door. “Come visit me anytime.”
We started walking toward Creature Cones.
I looked at my phone. No return text from Sue.
“I’ll ask Sue about where she went when she has time to talk,” I said as we stopped outside the ice cream shop. Customers had lined up in front of the counter, and that would please Melly.
“Let me know what she says?”
“I will.” I stroked her face. “What would you like to do tonight after dinner?”
