Who'll Kill Agnes? Read Free

And, it’s exceptionally important to have more money than your husband. That way you can call the shots.”
    Penny thought falling in love first was the most important thing in starting a marriage. The one thing she was sure of was that she wasn’t going to fall in love with Lester’s friend. She imagined that it would be a night in which she would spend it fighting off her date’s groping. She shuddered and then thought about the day ahead at the restaurant. Now, that was something to look forward to.
     
     

Later at the Southern Star Restaurant
     
    “Penelope, honey, what’s the matter?”
    Penny, who was an attractive, brown haired, brown-eyed young woman, had tears streaming down her face as she made her way through the crowded restaurant.
    “Oh, Agnes, I’ve just been fired!”
    “Oh, honey, no. How could this happen? You’re the best pastry chef this restaurant has ever had.”
    “I-I, well, I think so, too, but-but,” her words died away.
    “But what?”
    “A customer claimed one of my pies poisoned her,” she sobbed as she collapsed into a booth. Her friend Agnes sat beside her, put her arms around her, and tried to console her.
    “Penelope, that’s terrible. But it couldn’t possibly be true. Don’t you worry. I’ll do all I can to help you. Run along now and I’ll talk to the manager. Believe me, I’ll straighten this out.”
    “But, Agnes, how can you? It’s my word and yours against a customer who is threatening a lawsuit if-if I’m not fired.” She buried her head in her arms and continued to sob.
    “Sssh, go on home now. It can’t be that serious. Trust me, I’ll take care of it.”
    Penelope embraced her friend and, brushing away her tears, left the restaurant.
     
    Agnes sat back in the booth and smiled sweetly.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    FIVE YEARS AGO
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
     
     
     
    DONOVAN AND METSON
     
     
     
     
     
    Magnolia Creek
     
    Part of Police Chief Harold Donovan’s training of his newest officer was driving him around town, not that there was much training to do, and certainly not much to show him since twenty-three year old Daryl Metson was a local Magnolia Creek boy. Daryl had just graduated from the police academy upstate, the first policeman in Magnolia Creek history to do so. Donovan himself had become an officer some twenty years earlier at age twenty-two, simply by applying for the position and being accepted. His present position had been acquired by rising through the ranks due to promotions and the fact that he had had very little opposition. Harold Donovan was fast becoming a Magnolia Creek fixture if not institution.
    Although Daryl knew as much about the town as did his chief, Donovan thought a cruise through town on a warm Saturday night in June might show the younger officer the importance of visible police presence. They left the city jail, a stone conglomerate located downtown next to Magnolia Creek, which meandered along the western limits of the business area. They crossed the one-way bridge to a rather seedy residential area where young, poor white and black families struggled to improve their home life. To the right of the bridge, just past a small park, were the Magnolia Creek Apartments, an attractive red brick and black shingle complex that lent an aura of respectability to the shabby neighborhood.
    As Donovan turned left, he cruised past Burger Paradise, a tiny shack that specialized in huge greasy burgers, making sure the teenagers there were aware of them. Then he began to relate Magnolia Creek burger history to Metson who already knew it but patiently contributed his bit to the discussion.
    “Now, the thing I can’t understand,” said