The Puzzle Lady vs. the Sudoku Lady (4 page)

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Authors: Parnell Hall

BOOK: The Puzzle Lady vs. the Sudoku Lady
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Becky Baldwin's law office was a second-floor walk-up down the side street over the pizza parlor. Becky had just started up the stairs when a hand reached out and grabbed her. She wheeled around.
It was Cora.
“What are you doing? You scared me to death.”
“We need to talk.”
“We have nothing to talk about. You sold me out back there.”
“That's what I want to talk about.”
“Well, you should. I thought we were friends.”
“We are friends. We also have a business relationship.”
“What's that got to do with it?”
“This is business.”
“So it's all right to sell me out if it's business?”
“Let's go in your office. I'd hate for people to hear us squabbling on the stairs.”
Becky unlocked the door and let Cora in. Becky's office, small and poorly furnished, gave the impression that business was not good. Indeed, it wasn't. Bakerhaven was a small town. The need for lawyers was not great, even in the best of times. During the financial crisis her client base had shrunk to nothing.
Cora flopped down in the client's chair, took out her cigarettes.
Becky raised her finger. “No. This is your idea. You're here on sufferance. You light that thing, you're going out.”
“Relax. We're both on the same side.”
“What side is that?”
“The side of truth, justice, and the American way.”
Becky glared at her.
“Oh, I forgot. You're a lawyer. We're on the side of your client,
regardless
of truth, justice, and the American way.”
“Why are you here?”
“I'm here to help you.”
“Help me? You damn near crucified me.”
“I'm here to protect you from that dreadful woman.”
“What?”
“You saw what she did. She talked to your client. Now she's blabbing to the police.”
“You
told
her to blab to the police!”
“I did nothing of the sort. I just said she's under no legal restraint. Which is a shame, because a woman like that
ought
to be under some legal restraint.”
“What in the world is she doing here?”
Cora told Becky the story of the Sudoku Lady.
“She's a rival puzzle constructor?”
“
She
thinks she is. We both have sudoku books. Big deal. If
hers were doing better than mine, you think I'd go to Japan to meet her?”
“Your book is doing better than hers in Japan?”
“Apparently.”
“She has a problem with that?”
“She has lots of problems.”
“If her books were doing better than yours over here, would you have a problem with that?”
“I wouldn't even
know
it. You think I give a damn? Here I am, minding my own business, some young upstart comes along—”
“She
is
younger than you, isn't she?”
“She's heard I'm an amateur detective—she wants to take me on solving crime.”
“That's ridiculous.”
“Yes, it is. She's out to get your client just to prove that she can do it. She's egocentric, ambitious, competitive.”
“So?”
“In detective stories, you know how the cops are always trying to convict somebody? They don't seem to care if he's innocent—they just want to clear the crime?”
“You think she's like that?”
“She wants to win. She's over there blabbing to Chief Harper right now, trying to bring your client down.”
“You want to stop her?”
“Damn right I want to stop her.”
“You want to help me get my client off?”
“Of course, I do.”
“Do you care if he's innocent or guilty?”
Cora snorted. “Hell, no. I want to win.”
Aaron Grant couldn't believe what he was hearing. Which didn't stop him from enjoying his veal piccata. Still, he was somewhat distracted, much to Sherry's displeasure.
“I'm a newlywed,” she protested. “When I cook for you, pay attention. You think civility stops right after the honeymoon?”
“Usually,” Cora said. She frowned thoughtfully. “Though, in Melvin's case, it stopped
on
the honeymoon. God, what did I ever see in that man?”
“Murder?” Aaron persisted.
Sherry glared at Cora.
“Very good pork,” Cora said.
“It's veal.”
“It's very good.” She took a bite, chewed. “It's an accidental
death. The only thing that points to it not being an accidental death is the fact that she died at a time her husband couldn't have done it. The thing that gets him is he appeared to have an airtight alibi.”
“That makes it look like he arranged it,” Aaron said.
“He didn't. He's just a poor sot who woke up from the worst blackout drunk of his life.”
“You mean if he killed her.”
“Either way. If he killed her and doesn't remember or didn't kill her and doesn't remember, it's the same thing. He doesn't know if he killed her.”
“If he killed her, it means he had those tendencies. Which would be part of his psyche.”
“Oh, please,” Cora said. “If I woke up married to a used-car salesman, would you say I had those tendencies?”
Aaron found himself very busy cutting his veal.
Cora's face darkened. “For God's sake. It's bad enough when you kid about my men. When you get embarrassed by them, it's ten times worse. Is it just because you're married? It never bothered you when you were single. See why I have to move out? I'm corrupting the morals of your husband.”
“You're moving out?” Aaron said.
“Where have
you
been? Never mind. I know where you've been. This is not a honeymoon cottage. You need your own space. And I need mine.”
“I didn't know you felt that way.”
“Of course not. You're young; you're in love. You're not cynical yet. I'd like to help you stay that way. You got enough problems with Dennis.”
“Cora,” Sherry warned.
Aaron frowned. “Dennis? What about Dennis?”
“Didn't she mention it? He's been calling. You wouldn't even know if I hadn't been here spoiling the party.”
“What did Dennis want?”
“I don't know,” Sherry said. “He called. I hung up.”
“Didn't he say anything?”
“I didn't let him say anything. I hung up the phone.”
“How'd you know it was him?”
“I recognized his voice.”
“Then he must have said something.”
Cora smiled, spread her hands. “My work here is done.”
“Look at that,” Sherry said. “See how neatly she changed the subject. You wouldn't know we were talking about her moving out.”
“Actually, we were talking about a murder,” Cora said. “I was just digressing from the digression.”
“Exactly,” Aaron said. “If it's a murder, why didn't I get the story?”
“There's no story. It's not a murder.”
“But Chief Harper thinks it is?”
“No, he doesn't.”
“But the husband's in jail?”
“On a drunk and disorderly charge.”
“Why isn't he out?”
“Because his lawyer won't let him talk.”
“He hired Becky Baldwin?”
“Doesn't everyone?”
“He must think he'll be suspected.”
“He doesn't think anything. He's drunk and barely conscious. Becky thrust herself on him, and the poor guy never had a chance.”
“He didn't call her?”
“Obviously.”
“Who tipped her off?”
“Don't look at me. I don't go making trouble.”
“You worked for Becky in the past.”
“When she hired me. I don't go soliciting employment.”
“But you have a relationship. Times are tough. You might throw her a bone.”
“Kids,” Sherry said. “This is not a debate. Cora's not going to lie about it. Cora, did you tip Becky off? Yes or no?”
“No. If you want my opinion—”
“I do,” Aaron said.
“I'd lean on Dan Finley. I know he tips the TV people off.”
“That's different. The cops always want to get in good with the media. Lawyers are on the other side.”
“Yeah, but Becky's a pretty girl.”
Aaron's eyes widened. “Do you mean—?”
“Dan's young, male, single, and he's not blind. Just because he acts like a boy doesn't mean he doesn't think like a man.”
“Cora, you can't go,” Sherry said. “We'd be lost without these insights.”
The phone rang. Sherry got up to answer it.
“If that's Dennis, I want to talk to him,” Aaron said.
“It isn't Dennis.”
“If it is, give me the phone.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can. Just give me the phone.”
“You gonna answer that?” Cora said.
“If it's Dennis—”
“If it's Dennis, I'll say, ‘Just a minute, here's my husband.' Will
that satisfy you?” Sherry picked up the phone and said, “Hello? … Now … But that's not necessary … Very well. A half an hour.”
Sherry hung up the phone, cocked her head.
“That wasn't Dennis.”
The Sudoku Lady sat on the edge of the couch and sipped her tea. She looked calm and composed and completely at home. “This is very nice.”
“Niceness has nothing to do with it,” Cora said. “You called and said you were coming. What do you want?”
“What my aunt means to say,” Sherry put in quickly, “is to what do we owe the honor of this visit?”
“That's exactly what I meant to say,” Cora said. “I couldn't have phrased it better.”
“We are here to apologize for this afternoon.”
“Apologize for what?” Cora demanded.
“We said we would come to see you, and then we did not. We are not in the habit of making appointments that we do not keep. It is rude. We are sorry. It was an emergency and could not be helped.”
“I saw you,” Cora said. “Several times. At the house. At the police station. I saw you all day long.”
“You did not see me here. As I promised.”
“No one is holding you to any promise.”
“See,” Michiko said, “they don't want us here.”
“You are welcome here,” Sherry said. “It's just that you have no obligation.”
Michiko snorted. “She knows. She does it anyway. She's passive aggressive.” She tossed the phrase off with the bored wisdom of a typical teenager. “Where did you get that sweater?”
“At the mall.”
“See?” Michiko scrunched her legs up under her on the chair and pouted.
“So,” Cora said, “you've apologized for not coming the first time. Your apology is accepted. You're here now, and everything is fine. Promise you won't come a third time to apologize for coming a second time, and all is forgiven.”
“You do not wish us here?”
“I do not wish to hear you apologize. All apologies past, present, and future are accepted. Now, can we drop the protocol and talk like human beings?”
“Cora,” Sherry warned.
Minami pulled herself up. “I have offended you?”
“Heavens, no,” Cora said. “Then you'll want to apologize. Everything is just ducky. That means good, fine, okay. Now then, why are you here? I don't mean here tonight in my house as a result of the accidental occurrences of the day. I mean here in the United States. Why did you come to see me?”
“Ah. You are the Puzzle Lady and I am the Sudoku Lady. It is only natural that we should meet.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Michiko scoffed. “Big deal. Dueling sudoku divas.”
“You're joking,” Sherry said. “You've come here for a sudoku contest?”
“See?” Michiko said. “Even her niece thinks that's silly.” She cocked her head. “Well, are you going to give it to her or not?”
Cora frowned. “Give me what?”
“Oh, I forget my manners,” Minami said. “I have a present for you.” She reached into her silk purse and took out a red envelope the size of a greeting card.
Cora frowned. She opened the envelope and pulled out a folded piece of paper. “What's this?”
“It's a sudoku,” Michiko said impatiently. “From her new book. To show you how clever she is.”
Minami started to protest, but the girl cut her off. “She didn't give you the solution. But you don't need it, do you?”
“I think I can handle it,” Cora said.
Michiko nodded. “It is hard, but you can do it. There. That's done. Can we get on with it?”
“Forgive me,” Cora said, “but get on with what? Why are you here?”
“Ah,” Minami said. “In my country I am known. I am the Sudoku Lady. An expert.”
Michiko snorted. Her eyes were mocking.
Sherry sympathized. The girl was rude, but she must have been quite sick of her aunt's bragging.
“The price of fame,” Cora said. “So what?”
“The police came to me. A man is dead. He was solving a sudoku when he died.”
“They wanted you to solve it?”
“That is right.”
“And you did?”
“I told them it was stupid. They would not listen. They did not just want it solved. They wanted to know what the numbers meant. They meant nothing. They were just numbers.”
“Of course. So you told them that?”
“I did. But they did not like the answer. They wanted the crime to be, how do you say, spectacular.”
“Oh, puh-lease,” Michiko said. “They did nothing of the kind. They thanked her for her help and sent her on her way. She just wouldn't go.”
Cora's eyes widened. “Oh. I see. You solved the crime.”
“It was a simple crime. Once you take the sudoku out. If there was no sudoku, the police could solve it. It was a distraction. They thought it was important. I knew it was not.”
“You solved the crime without the sudoku and the police weren't happy about it. Have you assisted them with other crimes?”
“They have not asked.”
“Hah!” Michiko snorted. “Just like I did not ask to come on this trip. But here I am. My aunt is always bothering the police.”
“I do not bother the police.”
“No. You help them against their will. It is entirely different.”
Minami turned to Cora. “I am sure that is not what you do.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You help the police. Whether there is a puzzle or not.”
“Who told you that?”
“It is on TV. In Japan. Special documentary of the week. Do you not remember?”
Cora did. Japanese filmmakers had followed her around and questioned her about her puzzle-making expertise, always a ticklish subject since she had none. “Yes. I remember the questions. It was all about puzzles.”
“It was all about crime. First we see you talking about puzzles. Then we see you on American TV talking about crime.”
“American TV?”
“On the news. You are in front of the police station. You are in court. You are at the scene of a crime.”
“You mean they used footage from Rick Reed and the Channel 8 news crew?”
“A handsome young man. Not very bright.”
“That's Rick Reed.”
“I see you on TV. I want to invite you to our country. Show
you how our police work. Ask you to solve a crime. But that would not be fair. You are American. You do not know our country. You probably do not speak Japanese.”
“Good guess.”
“So. I know English. I will come here.”
“You came here to solve a crime?”
“Is it not fun? It is like your American reality shows.
Survivor
.
The Amazing Race
.”
“You're challenging me to solve a crime?”
“See?” Michiko said. “The Battle of the Century: The Sudoku Lady versus the Puzzle Lady.”
“I'm not crazy about the billing.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“This is ridiculous. There is no crime to solve.”
“Oh, but there is. Ida Fielding. I think it is a murder. You think it is not. One of us is right. The winner must prove she is right.”
“That's not going to happen.”
“Why not?”
“You can't prove he did it because he didn't. I can't prove he didn't because that's proving a negative.”
“You do not prove he did not kill her. You prove someone else did.”
“No one did. It was an accidental death.”
“Then you prove that. Do we have a bet?”
“Good lord. You're serious.”
“Why would I not be serious? Do we have a bet?”
“If I say yes, will you leave?”
“Cora.”
Minami stood. “We are leaving.” She bowed. “Now we go, and tomorrow we solve a crime. Yes?”
“Great,” Cora said dryly.
“We are agreed? Yes? You are content with the arrangement? You have no questions?”
Michiko yawned and stretched. “I got a question. What time does the mall close?”

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