The Cat in the Hatbox

Chapter 5

The rest of Ed's Saturday crept by like cold molasses from a narrow-necked bottle. He couldn't get Violet's words out of his mind. Normally, he paid little attention to her ranting and ruminations, but she'd seemed so sure of herself, he couldn't help but wonder if perhaps there wasn't something to what she said. It hadn't surprised him when Violet disagreed with Vickers; hardly anyone that Ed knew in PVC really liked the man with his officious, patronizing ways. But, she'd expressed support for someone else's opinion at the same time, and that was something he didn't remember ever seeing her do. He didn't know Beatrice Terwilliger's niece; he didn't really know Beatrice; but he couldn't imagine her being the type Violet would be sympathetic with. Violet wasn't even sympathetic with her own baby sister.

No, Ed thought, there's more here than meets the eye. What we have here is a puzzle, one that needs to be solved. Actually, to Ed, every puzzle needed to be solved.

When he woke up Sunday morning, it was still on his mind. It was on his mind as he ate a breakfast of Cheerios with fresh strawberries and instant coffee, having decided to try and talk Ernie into having a late brunch—or early lunch—with him at the community center. Maybe he'd be able to pick up some gossip there. Then he remembered that Violet said that Zelda was coming to visit the morning. So, he decided as he spooned Cheerios into his mouth, maybe it might be a good idea to take everyone to brunch. That way I can get Zelda's views, and get several points of view all at the same time. He smiled at his hazy reflection in the refrigerator door—that's the efficient way to solve a puzzle.

Just like Violet, he thought as he sat in his living room with the Sunday Washington Post spread out in front of him with a second cup of coffee next to it, not to give a specific time for Zelda's arrival, forcing everyone to rearrange their schedules around her. He'd called Ernie and given him a head's up, now he had to kill time until Violet called to let him know that Zelda had arrived and they were on their way to the community center.

He was midway through solving the puzzle in the back of the Sunday Post magazine insert when his doorbell rang. He put the magazine on the coffee table and went to the door, opening it to Ernie who stood grinning on his front step.

"Hey, amigo," Ernie said. "Thought I'd drop over and have coffee with you. Whatcha doing?"

Ed stepped aside and let his friend enter. "Just working the Sunday crossword puzzle." He looked at his watch. It was 9:45. "Violet said Beatrice's niece was coming this morning, but I haven't heard from her yet. I thought when she called I'd suggest we all go to the community center for Sunday brunch." So, you got bored sitting around waiting, and decided to come over and bug me, Ed thought. Ed knew his friend well. Ernie was as anxious to get started working on this puzzle as Ed was, but he wasn't the type who did very well sitting by himself with nothing to do. No, he'd much rather sit quietly in a room with Ed with nothing to do. In truth, Ed didn't mind. "I'm just having instant coffee, by the way, but you're welcome to join me."

Ernie walked to the sofa and picked up the magazine, wrinkling his brow as he looked at the puzzle.

"You're only half finished. You want I should brew a pot of coffee while you work on it?"

"Okay. You know where everything is. Check the top shelf of the pantry; I just bought some fresh Jamaican beans last week. The coffee grinder's up there too."

Ernie disappeared into the kitchen. Ed sat on the sofa and resumed working on the puzzle. He was down to the next to last across clue when the phone rang.

"Ed Lazenby here," he said after he picked it up.

"Ed, this is Violet. Zelda Terwilliger just arrived; can we come to your place?"