with?”
“My God.” Addison breathed. “So that’s how you
think Joan and the others died? My money was on the
IVs.”
“It’s possible,” Judith said, just managing to pick up
the chocolate box, which was on top of the books.
“Using an IV to administer some kind of deadly dose
would be trickier, unless the killer is a medical professional. Which is also possible, of course.”
“If you believe in the poisoned-present theory, why
are you taking that candy?” he asked, looking suspicious.
“I don’t intend to eat it,” Judith said. “I’m going to
have my husband get it analyzed. He’s a retired cop,
remember?”
“Hunh.” Addison’s gaze turned shrewd. “Good idea.
Take the jelly beans, too.”
“I can’t reach them,” Judith admitted. “I have to be
very careful about bending with this hip replacement.
If I lean or reach, it could dislocate without warning.”
She stopped speaking to examine the cellophane bag.
“The jelly beans look okay, they seemed tightly sealed.
Maybe you can get them to me later. But if they’re one
of your favorite things and somebody knows that, I
wouldn’t take any chances.”
“I won’t,” Addison responded, looking grim.
“Maybe I
turns me down, I might get an inkling of the culprit’s
identity.”
216
Mary Daheim
“You might also poison some innocent people,” Judith warned.
“I might.” Addison’s brown eyes were hard.
“Frankly, it’d be worth it if I could find out who killed
my wife. I’m not in a merciful mood.”
“Chocolates!” Renie exclaimed after Judith had related the details of her visit next door. “Yum!”
“Forget it,” Judith said, placing both hands on the
gold-foil box. “This little present for Addison Kirby
just might prove fatal.” Cautiously wheeling herself to
the bedside stand, she slipped the chocolates into the
drawer, then explained the situation to Renie.
“What if our night thief comes back and swipes the
candy box?” Renie inquired when Judith had finished
her account of the visit with Addison and Jim Randall.
“Let’s face it,” Judith said, wondering if she could
get back in bed by herself, “we don’t know if that was
a homicidal thief—or just a thief.”
“True.” Renie said. “Hey—you need some help?”
“Could you buzz?” Judith asked. “I don’t want to
undo anything.”
“You can lean on me,” Renie said, getting out of bed.
“Haven’t we each done quite a bit of leaning on each
