Page 84 of The Mystery Guest

“Thank you,” Beulah says when Lily passes her the cup.

Just then, three undercover officers appear in the doorway. One of them holds a plain banker’s box.

Beulah is taking a sip of tea but stops mid-sip. “What are they doing here?” she asks.

“Extra security,” Detective Stark replies. “We can’t be too careful with delinquents running loose in the hotel. Please excuse me a moment,” Detective Stark says as she walks over to the men. They exchange a few words and pass her the banker’s box. Stark walks back to the table with it, putting it down in front of Beulah. She removes the cardboard lid. Inside is an ordinary stainless-steel spoon and beside it, a silver Regency Grand honey pot in a red satin case.

“Can you explain this, Beulah?” Stark asks as she looks from the objects in the box to Beulah’s slack-jawed face.

“Were you in my room? Why were you touching my things?”

“Why were you keeping these items in your room?” Stark asks.

“For goodness’ sake. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.”

“But this spoon is no ordinary spoon, Beulah. It’s a murder weapon. And so is that silver honey pot,” Stark says. “You added a key ingredient to it before Mr. Grimthorpe’s big announcement, didn’t you? You contaminated it with antifreeze, and because you knew about Grimthorpe’s sweet tooth, you realized he’d neverdetect the taste in his tea. You also knew it would kill him quickly, what with the liver and kidney damage he’d sustained as an alcoholic.”

“This is preposterous. Why would I poison my idol?” Beulah asks.

“Because he rejected you,” I say. “Which meant your life’s work was for naught.”

“You’re accusing the wrong person. You should talk to her. She’s the one who served him the tea!” Beulah says as she points a pudgy finger at Lily.

“Oh no,” says Lily. “The maid is not to blame. Not this time.”

“Unbelievable,” says Angela. “How can you live with yourself, Beulah?”

“You took a plot point right from one of his books—killing a bitter villain with a cup of sweetness. Isn’t that right, Beulah?” I say.

Beulah’s fury is mounting, and she turns on me without warning. “You! You pretend to be an investigator, but I don’t believe it. You’re just a maid. You killed him. You and that quiet one are in cahoots! This place is teeming with lowlifes who’ll stop at nothing for their personal gain, including selling a dead guest’s trash just to make a buck!”

Detective Stark stands. “That’s enough, Beulah Barnes. The game is up. You’re under arrest,” she says as the undercover officers rush forward to handcuff Beulah. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. And bloody hell, silence really is your best option right now because you most certainly have said too much.”

“Said too much? I haven’t said nearly enough!” Beulah shouts as she struggles against the men holding her by her handcuffed wrists and escorting her to the exit. “And it’s still your word against mine!”

“Your ‘word’ has been recorded, Beulah,” Angela says as Lilypicks up a napkin from the tea cart to reveal Angela’s cellphone underneath, the live voice memo recording.

“You’re not to go back in my hotel room!” Beulah shrieks. “That’s an invasion of privacy! I’ll sue the Regency Grand!”

“Stop talking,” Stark says. “You’re digging yourself deeper.”

As Beulah disappears down the corridor, it occurs to me that her true nature has just been revealed—because digging deeper is exactly what rats do.

We continue to hear Beulah’s protests as Stark’s men drag her toward the lobby.

Finally, the room is quiet.

We all turn to Lily, her Mona Lisa smile still blooming on her face.

“Was that your idea, to bring in the tea cart?” Detective Stark asks.

Lily nods.

“You made her admit to knowing how Grimthorpe took his tea,” I say.

Lily nods again.

“Incredible,” says Stark. “And Angela, well done with that recording.”

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