Page 30 - Labelle Gramercy, On the Case

Polished Off

odd in the switch: lawyers can’t become so committed to one
interpretation of the “facts” that they lose objectivity and fail to
adjust their reasoning.
“No, Mr. Keane,” she said. “That book, as well as others I deem
of greater value than run-of-the-mill new or used books in
Bibliopoly’s stock, was shelved incorrectly under parapsychology—
intentionally, I would guess, by someone who neither wanted those
rare volumes to be sold nor to be accused of stealing them.”
“Oh. Who could that be?
“I should think Linsey or Iris. Knowing Mariana’s hands-off
management style, they could count on her not keeping tabs on
inventory. If Iris was indeed enlisting Pete Boggs’ aid in finding that
book, then it must have been Linsey. She did not know that Iris
would inherit the most valuable items, did she?”
“That calls for speculation on my part, Lieutenant. I certainly
never disclosed that fact to her.”
Labelle Gramercy nodded, and I again wondered to what degree
she had exonerated me in her mind. Her expression rarely varied
from noncommittal. I would not like to be playing high-stakes poker
with this woman. Then it registered in my brain that she had gone
back to Esprit Decor while I was chatting with Linsey. Why? It had
to be that cup of coffee!
“That’s it!” I exclaimed. “Patty Melton is the killer. She had every
opportunity to pour some of that missing furniture polish into
Mariana’s coffee during her visit.”
“True. So did Paul Wandisi. You no doubt noticed the chemical
residue on his fingers. He is a consulting chemist for several local
paint and dye manufacturers. As both of them were in her office
while she was drinking her coffee, they immediately fall under
suspicion—but in order to dose her cup effectively, either of them
would have had to take the chance of adequately distracting her
attention. And even had that succeeded, where would that person
find an alibi?”
I thought quickly. “Well, perhaps the guilty party thought that the
death would simply be diagnosed as heart failure.” Then I realized
how absurd an option that had become. “My God! Nitrobenzene
seems to be everywhere: shoe polish, nail polish, furniture polish—
the list is endless! I had no idea a bookstore could be so dangerous!”

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