Puzzles Can Be Deadly
A Sage Gardens Cozy Mystery
Cindy Bell
Copyright © 2022 Cindy Bell
All rights reserved.
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This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and locations portrayed in this book and the names herein are fictitious. Any similarity to or identification with the locations, names, characters or history of any person, product or entity is entirely coincidental and unintentional.
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Chapter One
Music played through the speakers hung on every corner of the large recreation hall at the Sage Gardens Retirement Village. At a bar that ran the length of one wall, several people gathered.
“Oh, this is delicious.” Samantha Smith took a slow sip of the creamy, sweet liquid. “I don’t even care what it’s called because I’m renaming it Paradise.”
“That good, huh?” Jo Baylor smiled as she leaned closer to Samantha and sniffed the aroma of the drink she held. “It certainly smells good. Is that cinnamon?”
“I think so.” Samantha held the glass out to her. “Would you like a sip?”
“No, thanks.” Jo sat back. “I’ve already had a couple of drinks, and I prefer to keep my head clear.”
“Ugh, I should, too, but it’s a party, right?” Samantha smiled and took another sip.
“Yes, it is, which begs the question, where are Eddy and Walt?” Jo glanced toward the door of the recreation hall. “I wonder if Eddy is still trying to convince him to come here?”
“You know Walt, sometimes he just needs a little time to get prepared, especially on a busy night like this.” Samantha took another sip of her drink. “Maybe I should have taken more time to prepare, everyone seems a little too energetic tonight.” She watched a competitive game of table tennis take place.
“I remember when I first checked this village out as a place to live. I was convinced that it would be quiet, and removed from any kind of raucous behavior. But I was wrong.” Jo laughed as the table tennis game broke out into a verbal argument. “Very wrong.”
“Look, there they are.” Samantha looked toward the two men that stepped into the room.
“It’s about time.” Jo waved to Eddy Edwards and Walt Right as they approached.
“I don’t know about this.” Walt winced as he reached the bar. “I think that we might want to consider going someplace quieter for the evening.”
“Why would we do that?” Samantha grinned. “Everyone’s having so much fun.”
“This is a disaster waiting to happen.” Eddy passed his gaze over the gathering of people. “Why is everyone so wound up tonight?”
“I don’t know. Blame it on the moon.” Samantha laughed. “But I have to stay at least a little while. I promised the decorating committee I would.” She glanced at her watch. “I’m definitely going to get out of here before the poker game starts, though. That gets a little too rough, even for my taste.”
“Ever since Jimmy took it over.” Eddy looked across the room at Jimmy Stemes. He sat in an overstuffed chair beside a table covered in puzzle pieces. “He takes things way too seriously.”
“You’re just bitter because you lost big last time you played.” Jo looked at him. “How much did it cost you?”
“I’d rather not say.” Eddy narrowed his dark blue eyes, then smiled. “Yes, I suppose I might be a little bitter.”
“Rumor is, Jimmy doesn’t play fair.” Samantha squinted at him, then turned her attention back to the drink she held. “But I haven’t been able to confirm that.”
“I can see that you’re on the case.” Eddy smiled as he eyed her. “Always investigating something.”
“And why not? I can’t just sit back and let my neighbors get scammed, can I?” Samantha set her drink down. “You don’t have to stay, if you don’t want to, Walt. I know this might be a little too much for you.”
“I’m fine.” Walt gazed back at her. “But thanks for your concern.”
“Walt, you don’t have to fake it around us.” Jo patted his shoulder lightly.
“I’m not faking it.” Walt leaned closer to her. “A crowd doesn’t have to intimidate me. It’s my choice. Right?”
“Right.” Jo looked into his eyes. “I see you’ve been reading that book I gave you.”
“A little at a time.” Walt smiled. “It’s very interesting.”
“We should discuss it sometime.” Jo winced as the music got louder. “But clearly not here.”
“Walt might be able to take this, but I sure can’t.” Eddy started toward the door. “You can meet me at the diner if you’d like, but this is too much nonsense for me.”
“Right behind you.” Walt breathed a sigh of relief. Then he looked at Jo. “Are you going to join us?”
“I will, when Samantha’s ready. I’ll keep her company.” Jo grinned as she looked at Samantha.
“My hero.” Samantha winked at her. “We’ll be there soon. Make sure you get the good table.” She finished the last of her drink. “Let’s make our rounds, Jo. As long as I’m seen, we can scoot out of here faster.”
“Sounds good.” Jo slid off the barstool, then followed Samantha around the recreation hall. She flashed a few smiles to a few people, but she still managed to remain aloof while Samantha did most of the talking. Although she’d slowly integrated into the community of Sage Gardens, she still considered herself an outsider. None of these people knew about her past, other than Samantha, Walt, and Eddy. If they did, she doubted they would give her friendly smiles. Not many people were accepting of a retired cat burglar.
As Samantha got caught up in a conversation with a friend, Jo drifted toward the puzzles table. As a little girl, she had loved to do puzzles. She could work on one for hours. But she’d left that hobby behind as her life became busier. As she looked over the various jigsaw puzzles on the table, she began to admire their beauty.
“Jo, what are you doing?” Samantha walked toward her.
“These puzzles are fascinating, aren’t they?” Jo peered at the assorted pieces scattered across the table, and the portion of the puzzle that had already been put together. “It’s the entrance of Sage Gardens.”
“Yes, it is.” Jimmy stepped up beside them and smiled. “Would you like to finish it? I’ve left it here for everyone to take part in the process, but not too many people have.”
“I think we’re going to head out, but thanks.” Samantha touched Jo’s arm and met her eyes. “We should get going, if we’re going to meet Walt and Eddy.”
“We have time.” Jo leaned over the table. Her eyes raked over each individual piece spread out on the table. “I do love puzzles.”
“I’ll join you.” Jimmy pulled out a chair and sat down across from Jo. “It’s one of my favorites to work on. There’s so much green, it makes it tough, but a little bit of determination will pave the way.”
“There really is a lot of green.” Jo glanced up at Samantha. “Do you want to join in?”
“I’d rather not.” Samantha cast a look in the man’s direction.
“The puzzle is beautiful.” Jo studied it.
“Did Matthew make it?” Samantha asked.
“Yes.” Jimmy looked down at the puzzle. “This one is made by him.”
“Matthew?” Jo placed a piece in its place.
“Matthew Glessar. He’s a photographer, and he makes custom jigsaw puzzles from pictures.” Samantha smiled. “He does great work.”
“The thing about puzzles is no matter how many times you put them together, each time you start again, it’s a fresh challenge.” Jimmy leaned forward.
“You should know, with the collection you have.” Jo picked up a piece and added it to the edge of the puzzle. “I find doing puzzles to be very relaxing.” She glanced up at Samantha. “I’m surprised that you don’t like them.”
“Oh, she does.” Jimmy leaned across the table and picked up a puzzle piece. “She just doesn’t like me.”
Jo’s eyes snapped up to Jimmy, then shifted to Samantha. She detected a hint of a blush in her friend’s cheeks.
“I wouldn’t say that, Jimmy.” Samantha took a slight step back from the table.
“You wouldn’t, because you’re too polite.” Jimmy rolled his eyes as he put the puzzle piece into its place. “That’s your problem, Samantha. You’re always too polite.”
“Maybe we should go meet Walt, now.” Jo stood up from the table.
“Leaving so soon?” Jimmy looked up at her. “I think Walt would be better off staying in his villa, with how strange he is.”
“Excuse me?” Jo glared at him.
“No offense, ladies, but everyone around here knows about Walt’s quirks. Honestly, Jo, I’m surprised that you’ve been spending so much time with him.” Jimmy narrowed his eyes. “You seem like such a discerning person.”
“I am.” Jo crossed her arms as she stared back at him. “Which is exactly why I’d rather spend my time with him, than with you.”
“Suit yourself.” Jimmy smiled as he picked up another puzzle piece.
“Let’s go, Jo. He’s not worth it.” Samantha tugged on Jo’s arm as she sensed that her friend was getting very upset. Jo could be very protective when it came to Walt.
“You’re right.” Jo clenched her jaw as she looked at Jimmy. “Is your son-in-law coming to visit soon? He doesn’t seem to like you.”
Samantha knew that Jo was trying to upset Jimmy after what he had said about Walt.
“He’s just joking.” Jimmy looked up at her. “That idiot always says he wants to kill me. He tells me every time. Says he just wants me out of his hair. He’s just joking.”
“Is he?” Jo smirked.
“Jimmy, we need to talk.” A man walked straight up to the table. Samantha recognized him as Kyle Waller, a resident of Sage Gardens. His cheeks were red, and his eyes narrowed. “Now.”
“Now?” Jimmy chuckled. “That’s an interesting way for you to speak to me, Kyle.” He licked his lips, then picked up one of the puzzles piled up near the edge of the table. “Have I shown you my new puzzle?”
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