(A Tootsie Chase Mystery)

The Crime

Saturday 2:15 PM

The sun was bright in the afternoon sky,
An unlikely day for someone to die.
A tent was set up in the village square,
And a miniature kitchen assembled there.

Before today’s Bake-Off, two people met,
Yes, Wanda McNert had a tete-a-tete
With Roger Grimsby of tabloid fame.
What were they planning? What was their game?

Willow Montgomery, contestant no more,
Picked up some things at the grocery store
For Max O’Grady, who later would be
Bake-Off contestant number three.

At noon the crowd gathered, both locals and kin,
The Mac and Cheese Bake-Off about to begin.
Casseroles bubbled, the toppings looked fine
As they sat on the table where judges would dine.

Contestants were nervous, the final eight.
When each judge sat down and filled up a plate.
Which entrée was worthy to win this year?
Who’d receive the trophy amid the cheer?

The noisy crowd hushed as each judge took a bite.
They licked their lips as anyone might.
The panel of judges numbered five,
But soon only four would be alive.

There was tasting, note taking and tasting some more,
The judges were smiling, at least the first four.
When suddenly someone looked up and yelled, “No…”
As the tent collapsed on the people below.

There was screaming and crying and blood everywhere,
The judges crawled out with cheese in their hair.
Except Wanda McNert with a gash on her head,
Lying under the tent, she was dead, dead, dead!

Monday 8:03 AM

I go by the name of Tootsie Chase,
A private detective brought in on the case
Of Wanda McNert who was found quite dead,
Under the tent with a gash on her head.

I’ve a list of suspects numbering five,
Who knew Miss McNert when she was alive.
I must eliminate all but one
To find why she was killed and how it was done.

The Suspects

Gladys Brown

Town council is run by Gladys Brown,
She’s involved in every group in town.
Chairs the Bake-Off each year, she won’t be out done.
Gladys is suspect number one.

Max O’Grady

He runs the restaurant down the street
Where the “good old boys” and the locals meet.
Won the trophy last year, makes a great Irish stew.
Max is suspect number two.

Wilhemina Tart

Willie came in second the previous year.
She rides an old Harley and drinks too much beer.
A winning contestant she wants to be,
Wilhemina is suspect number three.

Roger Grimsby

A tabloid writer who knows his stuff,
Telling secrets and lies, wasn’t enough.
He’s writing a book revealing much more.
Roger is suspect number four.

Willow Montgomery

Her entry was banned from the Bake-Off, you see;
Ingredients weren’t what they needed to be.
A friend of Wanda’s when she was alive.
Yet, Willow is suspect number five.

Wanda McNert – The Victim

She was nosy and liked to gossip I hear,
A judge of the Bake-Off year after year.
She died covered in cheese with a gash on her head.
But what is the reason poor Wanda is dead?

Monday 9:10 AM

I need more caffeine to pick up the pace
Of finding clues that will solve this case.
I’ll stop at the restaurant down the street,
Where the “good old boys” and the locals meet.

The Kopper Kettle is crowded at nine,
The bacon and eggs smell mighty fine.
I’ll slip in a booth near that crowded table,
Hear a bit of gossip if I’m able.

Gladys Brown is livid they say,
The death of Wanda spoiled her day.
Didn’t like the coverage of her big event,
Is defending her husband who set up the tent.

The police have been questioning Mr. Brown,
Word of that meeting is all over town.
He insists the tent was safe and secure,
That’s the way it was Saturday morning, he’s sure!

Then Max burst from the kitchen, apron and all,
Said Willow Montgomery had paid him a call.
Of poor Wanda’s death she had nothing to tell,
But her Grandmother’s recipe she wanted to sell.

The noise level grew as the new gossip spread.
My waitress brought coffee and cinnamon bread.
I was looking for clues to get back on track,
When I saw Willie Tart in a booth in the back.

I picked up my coffee and strolled to the rear,
Said, “Willie, would you mind if I sit down here?”
With a shake of her head she said, “No, sit on down.
You’re that private detective who’s come to town.

“I gather you’re here ‘cause Wanda is dead.
Did she die from the food or the bump on her head?”
“Good question, Ms. Tart, but I really don’t know,
If you’ll answer some questions, I’ll buy you some joe.”

Our cups were refilled and the waitress departed,
That’s when my questions for Willie Tart started.
“Did you know Wanda well?  Was she a good judge?”
I wanted to see if Ms. Tart held a grudge.

“Didn’t know Wanda well, the nosy old broad.
When it came to her judging, she thought she was God!
I know she took bribes and I wanted to win,
But beer in my entrée was my only sin.

“It’s no skin off my nose that Wanda is dead,
Now they’ll get a good judge,” is what Willie said.
“A novel approach for our Mac and Cheese Bake,
Five judges without one of them on the take.

“If I was you, I’d check Willow and Max.
I heard some rumors but not many facts.
Wanda knew that those two were sharing a pillow,
She was mighty upset with her good friend Willow.”

I left Willie there with a smirk on her face,
As I took one last look all around the place.
I decided to leave the gossip and din,
When a man with beady black eyes sauntered in.

The breakfast crowd hushed, leaving silverware clatter.
He lifted his chin like the snub didn’t matter.
Walked to a booth, slithered in and sat down.
Roger Grimsby, the writer, known all over town.

The restaurant took on a new atmosphere,
People whispered, talked low, so he wouldn’t hear.
I had heard he was writing a book quite revealing,
The town’s deepest secrets the writer was stealing.

I walked to his booth as he pulled out a pad,
Seeing me there made him none too glad.
When without invitation, I sat down to talk,
The tabloid writer turned white as chalk.

“Mr. Grimsby,” I said to the man sitting there,
“Where were you when the tent went down in the square?
Did you know Miss McNert? Were you inside
The tent at the time the poor woman died?”

Small beads of sweat appeared on his brow,
I was ready to ask the question now.
“Did you meet with Wanda behind the tent
Two hours before the big event?”

He bristled and straightened and looked at me square.
“Who told you that I met with Wanda there?
Whatever was said, I will not repeat.”
With that Mr. Grimsby got out of his seat.

“Past secrets will come to light,” he said,
“Even though Wanda McNert is dead.
Stay out of my business, Ms. Private Eye.
I wouldn’t want anyone else to die!”

“Is that a threat?” I said in return,
As my Tootsie Chase temper started to burn.
“Don’t get in my way, it wouldn’t be wise,
I’m a pro when it comes to uncovering lies.”

As he turned on his heel and rushed out of the place,
I couldn’t discern that last look on his face.
When I got up to leave it was quite a surprise
To bump into Max who had hate in his eyes.

“That tabloid guy is just stirring up trouble.
I saw that slimeball crawl out of the rubble.
He was at the contest to dig up some dirt,
Doesn’t give a damn if nice people get hurt.”

I let him calm down and then said, “Tell me why
Willow’s homemade entry was just… passed by?
Why wasn’t her casserole judged with the rest?
Why didn’t her entrée pass the test?”

“Don’t dig into that, Ms. Chase,” he said.
His words were clipped as he shook his head.
“The past is buried, just leave it that way.”
He looked angry again as he turned away.

Monday 11:23 AM

The process of solving the case is quite clear,
I must find the secret that someone holds dear.
The town hall is only a few blocks away,
A nice little walk on a sunny day.

I looked up the records of Gladys and Max,
Of Willow and Wanda and took down some facts.
If you dig deep enough in old records it’s true,
You can usually find who’s related to who.

I traced birth records back and found the connection,
That someone must feel is worth deadly protection.
The clues in this case began to unwind,
I’ll do more research and see what I can find.

Local history is what I am looking for
As I entered the library and crossed the floor.
I looked through old titles, when one caught my eye.
I decided to give an old cookbook a try.

The Council of Churches had published the book,
I opened it up and took a quick look.
A name was provided with each recipe,
Perhaps one of the names would mean something to me.

In the casserole section, a page was torn out,
I needed to find what that was about.
The librarian granted my only wish,
Said the book had been copied to microfiche.

After I’d read the missing page,
I asked about the cookbook’s age.
The librarian answered, then said with a smile,
“Mr. Grimsby takes that book out once in a while.”

Then I browsed an old yearbook and in it I found,
Max was in love with a young Gladys Brown.
“Interesting,” I muttered as I put it away.
“Perhaps old loves and jealousy came into play.”

I gathered my notes and left in a hurry,
I’d found a motive, so not to worry.
But I need to find out why Wanda is dead,
Was it food that she ate or that bump on her head?

The coroner’s office will be my first stop,
Then I need to talk to the town’s local cop.
For some reason I don’t think that Wanda is dead
Because a large tent pole fell on her head.

I stopped at both places and found I was right.
When the suspects gather at Max’s tonight,
I’ll give them the reason that Wanda was hurt
Then I’ll tell them who killed Miss Wanda McNert.

Now sift through the clues you’ve been given throughout,
Then you’ll be able to figure it out.
Who committed the crime at the mac and cheese site?
Just pick a suspect, then see if you’re right.

Who killed Wanda McNert?

 Gladys Brown

 Max O’Grady

 Wilhemina Tart

 Roger Grimsby

 Willow Montgomery

 I don’t know