The Sudoku Puzzle Murders (2 page)

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Authors: Parnell Hall

BOOK: The Sudoku Puzzle Murders
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At the excited murmurs that accompanied the announcement, Harvey smiled and nodded triumphantly. “That’s right. Will Shortz. Crossword puzzle editor of the
New York Times
and star of the movie,
Wordplay
.”
Harvey held up another envelope. “Will’s letter came with this enclosure. A sealed envelope, containing the sudoku for the Puzzle Lady and me to solve. What do you think of that?”
The audience answered with applause.
“Uh, oh,” Aaron said.
“What’s the matter?” Becky whispered.
“That’s just like Harvey. Issuing a public challenge without asking if it’s okay first.”
“Can she say no?”
“With Will Shortz donating a puzzle? Not a chance.”
Behind her frozen smile, Cora glared daggers at Harvey Beerbaum, as he bustled around the stage, setting up two sudoku grids side by
side. Cora had brought only one for her lecture, but Harvey, maddeningly prepared, had brought another.
Harvey the curmudgeon, having completely usurped Cora’s demonstration, danced around like a frenetic movie director. “We need impartial people to set up the sudoku. And who could be more impartial than our own chief of police, Dale Harper. And our own first selectman, Iris Cooper. Iris, Chief, could you come up here and supervise our proceedings?”
Chief Harper, who’d been sitting with his wife and daughter, got reluctantly to his feet, and pressed forward with all the enthusiasm of a man on his way to the gallows.
First selectman Iris Cooper, who had no idea she was going to be called on, looked to Cora for guidance. The Puzzle Lady merely rolled her eyes.
“Here you are, Chief, Ms. Cooper. If you would take these black markers. And while Cora and I look away. You will, won’t you, Cora?”
“Are you accusing me of cheating, Harvey? I may have cheated on a husband or two, but I never cheat at sudoku.”
“So, Chief, Ms. Cooper. If you would please copy the numbers onto these two giant sudoku. Let me know when you’re done.”
Cora and Harvey stood facing the audience. Behind them, Chief Harper and Iris Cooper worked on the puzzles.
“Can we bet on
them
?” Cora grinned. “Ten bucks says Iris beats the chief.”
“Hey, I resent that,” Chief Harper said.
“So bet on yourself,” Cora told him.
“Fat chance,” Iris scoffed. “He’s way behind.”
When the puzzles were done, Harvey asked the audience, “Are they the same?”
“Yes.”
“Fine. Cora, would you like to turn around?”
“I think you have to marry me before you start suggesting positions,” Cora said wickedly. She looked, whistled. “Wow! That’s a killer sudoku puzzle.”
“Uh, no,” Harvey said pedantically. “Actually, the killer sudoku puzzle is the one where the numbers in adjoining squares have been added together—”
“Good lord, Harvey,” Cora scoffed. “You’re way too literal. By killer puzzle I mean it’s diabolical. Very hard. Not easy to do. Anyone out there confused by what I just said?”
A shaking of heads and chorus of noes.
“No one,” Cora said. “Just the expert. We get the picture, Harvey. This is one tough puzzle. You, I take it, can solve it.”
“Of course I can solve it. The only question is can I solve it as fast as you can.”
“I’m sure you can, Harvey. You’re a man. You can do anything better than a woman. Isn’t that right?”
Harvey looked aghast. “No. Of course not.”
“Relax, Harvey. You’re a sexist pig and we love you. So, you think a woman can’t beat a man?”
“I never said any such thing. I merely meant we could have a race. As fellow constructors. Sex has nothing to do with it.”
“Trust me, Harvey, sex
always
has something to do with it. Anyway, before you went off on a tangent about how men are better than women, you were telling us what was going to happen.”
“I was just explaining the rules.”
“Rules? In a knife fight?”
Harvey frowned.
“It’s from
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
.”
“I don’t know it.”
“Obviously not, or you wouldn’t be standing so straight. Right after that line, Paul Newman kicks the guy in the crotch.”
Becky nudged Aaron. “Is she stalling?”
“She’s just having fun with him. To pay him back for trying to embarrass her with the surprise contest.”
“In other words, she’s stalling?”
Aaron grimaced. Figured he’d better pave the way for Cora’s failure. “I’m not sure how good she is at solving sudoku. They’re not the same as crossword puzzles.”
“Uh, oh,” Becky said.
“You’re right,” Harvey said. “No rules. We each have a sudoku to solve. Whoever solves it first wins. Now, Chief, if you and Ms. Cooper would just take those two large sudoku and tilt the outer edges toward the back wall. How’s that, Cora? Now you can’t see mine, and I can’t see yours.”
Cora put her hand to her head. “Please, Harvey, don’t give me straight lines like that.”
The crowd roared.
Harvey blushed, then forged ahead. “All right. No rules. We just start solving. First one with the correct solution. Ready. Set. Go!”
Harvey turned around, studied his sudoku.
Cora studied hers. She took the microphone. “My goodness. You know, Will Shortz may be a great constructor, but he’s left a lot of numbers out. This would be much easier to solve with more squares filled in.”
Harvey, oblivious, continued working on his puzzle.
“You mind if I call Will Shortz, ask him for some more numbers?” Cora nodded to the audience. “I’ll take that as a yes. Anyone got a cell phone?”
“I do,” Iris said.
“Thanks.” Cora took the phone, punched in an arbitrary number, pretended to talk to Will Shortz. “Hello, Will? … Cora Felton … Yeah, hi … I’m working on your killer sudoku puzzle.” She listened, rolled her eyes. “Yes, I
know
it’s not a ‘killer’ sudoku puzzle … Why am I calling? Oh. About your puzzle … Well, it’s rather hard. I was wondering if you could help me with the numbers? … Huh? … Thanks, Will.”
Cora flipped the cell phone closed, handed it back to Iris.
“Hey, Harvey!” Cora called.
Harvey, deep in thought, took awhile to react. “What?”
“I was just on the phone with Will Shortz. He gave me some help with the puzzle. I think it’s only fair I share it with you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I told him the puzzle was too hard, so he gave me a number.” Harvey frowned. “What number?”
Cora smiled innocently. “Three.”
“Three?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. So where does the number three go?”
“Oh. He didn’t tell me that,” Cora said. “But, trust me, there’s a three in the puzzle.”
Harvey stared at her. Blinked.
A ripple of laughter spread though the town hall as the audience slowly realized Cora was putting him on.
Cora shook her head. “No sense of humor. He seems to be doing pretty well with the puzzle, though.”
Harvey was.
“He’s more than half done,” Becky whispered to Aaron.
“Yeah.”
“What’s she doing? Is this like a chess tournament where one player lets the clock run to try to psych their opponent out?”
“I have no idea,” Aaron said. He was speculating wildly on what excuses Cora might come up with for not being about to solve the puzzle.
“Ah, you’re no fun, Harvey.” Cora picked up the marker and began writing numbers at an astounding rate. Within minutes she had filled the board. “Done!” she announced.
The crowd burst into applause.
Harvey, startled, looked around in surprise. He was nearly three quarters done.
Cora winked at him. “You just ain’t ready for me yet, kid.”
Harvey gawked.
“
Cincinnati Kid
, Harvey. Steve McQueen. Rent it some time.”
Cora set down her marker, curtsied to the crowd, and walked out.
Cora Felton stood in the parking lot behind town hall smoking a cigarette.
“You mind telling me how you pulled that off?” Aaron Grant said.
“Oh, hi, Aaron. You got back in time to see my performance?”
“I sure did. How the hell did you do it?”
“Do what?”
“Solve the sudoku?”
“Weren’t you listening? You put nine numbers in each row and column.”
“I know the concept.”
“There you are.” Cora took a drag on her cigarette, blew it out.
“But you can’t do puzzles.”
“Says who?”
“Says you. You’re terrible at puzzles.”
“Shhh. You never know who might be listening.”
“Come on. Were you and Harvey in on it?”
“In on what? The guy surprised me onstage. He tried to trip me up. Just like he always tries to do.”
“Right. With a sealed puzzle from Will Shortz. So how’d you get a look at the puzzle?”
“Harvey opened the envelope and gave it to me.”
“I mean beforehand.”
“What do you care, Aaron? You can’t print this.”
“I’m marrying into the family. If your niece has powers of ESP, I’d like to know about it.”
“You think Sherry helped me solve the puzzle?”
“Well, didn’t she?”
Cora smiled. “Sherry’s bad at sudoku.”
“What?”
“It’s all math. There’s no words for her to wrap her torturous mind around. I, on the other hand, love sudoku for just that reason. No damn words. No clues with double meanings. Just numbers. They’re either right or they’re wrong.”
“You mean … ?”
“I’m a whiz at sudoku. I beat Harvey fair and square. I could beat most men on the eastern seaboard. You can’t believe what a relief it is to actually
have
an expertise I profess.”
“So where’s Sherry?”
“She got a little behind in her work. I’m not sure why. Something about a wedding.”
“Uh huh.” Aaron absently pushed gravel with his foot. “Dennis been around?”
“Aaron.”
“Hey, I’m out of town, I worry. The guy won’t leave her alone.”
“And neither will you. I swear to God, I don’t know which one of you agitates her more.”
“Then he’s been here?”
“I haven’t seen him. Sherry hasn’t mentioned him. That’s all I know.”
“She hasn’t mentioned him?”
“No, and if you’re smart, you won’t either.”
Aaron sighed. “Okay. Tell her I’ll call her from the paper.”
“You’re going to work?”
“I gotta write a puff piece on your presentation.” He shrugged. “Thanks to Harvey, it will be a little more interesting.”
Cora watched Aaron go, took a drag on her cigarette. What would it be like to have a newsman as an in-law? Aaron was a good guy, but even so. Some of the nicest people in the world became absolute gorgons once you married into their families. Husbands included.
“Miss Felton?”
Cora looked up in annoyance to see who had interrupted her train of thought. Her expression immediately changed. The gentleman was quite striking. He was a young Asian man, not tall, but solidly built. He wore slacks, a blue blazer, and a white shirt, open at the neck, which, on a Sunday afternoon, made him better dressed than most of Bakerhaven. He was clean-shaven, his gleaming black hair was razor-cut. A scar on his left cheek from his lip to his chin didn’t detract from his appeal, merely gave him character.
To a woman who had not been married in awhile, he looked awfully good. Cora felt that old tingling sensation. She was almost embarrassed to be caught smoking, considered stamping out her cigarette. Instead, she mustered up her trademark Puzzle Lady smile, weighed possible responses to the gentleman’s query. Prudently opted for the single word, “Yes.”
He hurried up and took her hand. “I am so pleased to meet you. I am Hideki Takiyama. I am a great admirer of the Puzzle Lady.”
“Are you really?” Cora practically simpered, then reined herself in. Her niece was always warning her to find out who they were before she showed her true colors. “You’re not from around here.”
“No. I am from Japan.”
“Oh. That’s a tough commute.”
He smiled. “Yes.”
Cora sized him up. “Listen, Hideki, if you came all the way from Japan to hear me speak, that’s a little scary.”
“I am sorry to disappoint you. I am in New York on business. It is not nearly so far.”
His English was excellent. Cora wondered if she should tell him so, or whether that would be offensive. It occurred to her life had been easier when she was drinking. She said whatever the hell she felt like, and never worried about the consequences. Of course, she sometimes wound up married.
“I am sorry that I cannot say I came around the world to find you. But in a way I did. I have heard of you in Japan, of course. We get American television. I have seen your excellent advertisements for breakfast cereal.”
Cora shuddered at the thought. She covered by pretending to blush.
“But please. Let me tell you how much I enjoyed your presentation. And the ease with which you defeated that man.” He leaned in confidentially. “Was that prearranged?”
“Lord, no. Harvey is always trying to ambush me in one way or another. He probably practiced all week and figured I didn’t.”
“But you triumphed easily. Even after giving him the lead.”
Cora shrugged. “I have a knack for sudoku. Don’t ask me why.”
His eyes widened. “But you are the Puzzle Lady.”
“Yeah, yeah. Doesn’t mean I’m the fastest thing on two wheels.” At his confused expression, Cora said, “I’m not sure what that means myself. To be honest, I can’t solve crossword puzzles nearly as quickly.”
“Interesting.”
“Why?”
He frowned. “What?”
“Why is it interesting? Why did you drive all the way from New York to see me?”
“I am sorry.” He took out a business card, handed it to Cora. “I am a publisher. Takiyama Publishing is third largest house in Japan. Fiction and nonfiction. We do mystery, romance, science fiction.
Sudoku are most popular. I would love to do a Puzzle Lady sudoku book.”
“You want to put me in a book?”
“Do you know how big you are in Japan?”
That tripped her up. How big she was in Japan? What a touchy subject. Cora had put on ten pounds in the last two months. Not the end of the world, still nothing she wanted to be reminded of. Of course, Mr. Fujifilm wasn’t making a comment on her girth. He was far too polite to do that. He was clearly referring to her celebrity status. On the other hand, Asian women tended to be small and slim, and what was fair about that? Oh, hell, was there anything she could say that didn’t sound irritated, off-putting, or couched in an offensive racial stereotype?
Hideki misunderstood her hesitation. “I am sorry to speak business with you. Is it not done? Should I be speaking with your agent?”
“Actually, I don’t have an agent.”
“Is that so? You do it all yourself? How extraordinary.”
“My niece Sherry Carter handles my business affairs. She’s not my agent. More like a partnership.”
“I see. So I should talk to Miss Carter?”
Cora grimaced. “Miss Carter has wedding plans just now.”
“Oh? And when is the happy event?”
Cora waggled her hand. “The date’s not set yet. Some trouble with her former husband.”
“The divorce is not final?”
“He doesn’t think it is.”
“Does she have a good lawyer?”
“Her husband does.”
He frowned, uncomprehending.
“His lawyer is my lawyer,” Cora explained. “An excellent lawyer. But she used to date the groom.”
“The present groom?”
“Yes. Now she is the attorney for my niece’s ex-husband.”
“I see.”
Cora judged from his expression he probably didn’t. She smiled, said, “No matter. Here’s Sherry’s number. I’ll tell her you’re going to call.”
Cora fished a handful of assorted papers from her floppy drawstring purse, riffled through, came up with an Exxon receipt. Surely her tax man didn’t need that. After all, he had her credit card statements. At least she hoped he did. Cora scrawled the number with a rather blunt pencil, recalled too late as always Sherry urging her to get business cards. Maybe next time.
“Here. Call her later this afternoon. After I get a chance to talk to her.”
“You will tell her about me?”
Cora smiled. “Count on it.”

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