that a bowl that might have contained shellfish was never found. Remember, that when the doctor took the casserole dish to analyze, it was the only dish there? There were paper plates for veggies and cookies, but that was it.”
“Right. But are you telling me Carol might have put the shellfish in the casserole?”
“Let's assume that's a possibility. If the shellfish was put into the casserole during the fire drill, who would have had the best opportunity to do it?”
“Carol.”
“And even if one of our other suspects had snuck back into the building, Carol might have caught her at it. In which case it would have come out unless Carol was in cahoots with her.”
“You're boggling my mind, Lil.”
I laughed. “Sorry. Let's concentrate on the question of what happened to the dish that contained the shellfish.”
“Maybe the murderer just tossed it in the trash can.”
“But remember, for some reason there was no trash can in the rec room that day. All the paper plates were piled up on the serving table, along with the napkins and plastic utensils.”
“You're right; I remember there was quite a mess.”
“Come on, Tess, we have a job to do.”
“The only job I have remaining on my agenda for today is dinner.”
“We have to go back to the recreation room.”
“Oh, my poor legs! Lil, you're going to be the death of me yet.”
CHAPTER 26
“It would help if you told me what we're looking for,” Tess said, peevishly. “If there ever was a dish left in here the person leaving it would have come back and retrieved it long since.”
“Unless she couldn't.” I looked around the recreation room, trying to think like a murderer who had to hide evidence in a hurry. Maybe Tess was right. She, whoever she was, could have stashed a small dish behind one of the folding chairs stacked in the corner. It might not have been noticed in the confusion. Then she could have come back and taken it after the hubbub had died down. If so, it was long gone.
I remembered Joe doing his measurements for the replacement of heating ducts that ran under the floor. I saw several vents set in holes in the carpet, situated along the walls. I went to the one nearest the serving table and carefully knelt down in front of it, my old knees creaking in protest. The rectangular metal vent didn't seem to be attached to anything; it just sat on the carpet. I worked my fingers under it and lifted. After some tugging I pulled it right out of the hole.
I could see down the hot-air duct a few feet to where it curved and disappeared from sight. Several tattered cobwebs lined the shaft, but it was clear of anything else. I could picture a small Tupperwear container bouncing down it. Then I spotted a smudge of something near the top of the metal side of the shaft that didn't belong. I summoned Tess to come over.
She rose, protesting, from a bridge chair, and hobbled over to me. But she absolutely refused to get down on her knees. “If I do it will take a construction crane to get me up again.”
“If I'm not mistaken,” I said, “this is the remains of some kind of food. We've got to go talk to Joe.”
Tess looked at her watch. “It's almost five o'clock. He's probably about to leave for the day.”
“All the more reason to hurry.”
“But his office is near Carol's. She might see you.”
“I'll have to take that chance.”
Joe's office was smaller than Carol's and not as tidy. Rolls of blueprints leaned against one corner of the wall. His desk was piled high with papers, in no discernible pattern. A photograph stood out from the mess, depicting three children, two girls and a boy, with hair as dark as his.
His rugged good looks reminded me of my own late husband, Milt, except that Milt had been as fair as Joe was dark. If any of the residents of Silver Acres had looked like Joe I would have considered having an affair, but as it was a long generation yawned between him and me and it might as well have been the distance to the nearest star.
He wore a clean and ironed work shirt, short-sleeved, of course, that revealed his muscles. His name was sewn onto the front in cursive writing. He grinned at Tess as we walked into his office and said, “Hiya, Tess. We got the roof leaks fixed in those apartments on the west side.”
“I know,” Tess said. “Several of the residents told me what a good job your men did.”
“Thanks.” He turned to me. “I've seen you before, but…”
“Lillian,” I said. “Lillian Morgan.”
A brief look of surprise crossed his face but he erased it and said, “Lillian-of course.” He leaned back in his swivel chair, which creaked, and clasped his hands together behind his head. “What's the problem now? Squirrels getting into the walls again? Bats in the belfry?”
“No,” Tess said. She hesitated. “You tell him, Lil.”
“You remember the day Gerald Weiss died,” I started, tentatively. He nodded. “It was suspected that Gerald had died as a result of eating food he was allergic to, but as far as anybody knows he wasn't allergic to the tuna casserole that was served for lunch. There was something in the dish that may have been shellfish, which he was allergic to, but nobody admitted putting shellfish in the casserole and there was no evidence that it was malicious, so the investigation was dropped.”
“I'm with you so far,” Joe said. “Is there anything new on that?”
“I think I know where the container is, in which the shellfish was taken to the recreation room.”
“Oh…where?”
“In a heating duct…I'm going to have to show you.”
“You're kidding.” Joe looked at his watch. “Even assuming you're right, can't it wait until tomorrow?”
“If I'm right, it's a police matter and we need to get right on it.”
“Okay, let's go take a look.” He and the chair returned to an upright position and he stood up to his six feet plus height.
Tess groaned. “I've done enough walking for one day. I don't think I can make it back there again, then to my apartment, back to dinner, and so forth.”
“You're right, Dear,” I said. “You go to your place and rest. Joe and I can handle it.”
As Tess limped off I said to Joe, “Do you have a flashlight and some twine?”
Without asking questions he produced those from two of his various drawers and cabinets, then said, “I'm supposed to meet with Carol in a few minutes. I'd better tell her where I am.”
Before I could say anything he picked up his phone and punched in Carol's extension. My heart tried to force its way into my throat. It returned to its normal position when he put the phone down and said, “She's on another line. That's okay; we'll be right back.”
Joe peered into the heating duct and said, “I don't see anything but spider webs.”
“How soon does it level out?” I asked.
“Right away. It runs parallel to the floor.”
“So anything that was dropped down there would have stopped just around that bend.”
“Yes.” Joe scratched his head. “I guess there's no way to get at it. Fortunately, we've got a contractor coming next week to replace some of these old ducts, so if there's something there we'll find it.”
“At least we can determine if there is something there.”
