A Cup of Murder

         A Cup of Murder

Suzanne Marsh

Maddie Martin could hardly believe her luck finding an old tea cup and saucer in Grandma Freda’s musty attic. It was a strange teacup with heavy use of gold with a huge red rose in the bottom of the cup. There was something odd about the cup. She held it in her hand transfixed by its beauty and craftsmanship. She thought about all the times she had been up in the attic, playing with priceless antique dolls. Clothes from the 1900’s, her attic was a treasure trove for a lover of antiques. Maddie was not sure if she wanted to redo Grandma Freda’s house or if she wanted to see it. She would think about that tomorrow. She climbed the attic stairs, with the rose teacup in her hand. She very carefully put it in a protective bag, she knew it would be worth the money but it was ugly at least in her mind. The huge rose in the bottom of the cup seemed as if it were too big, maybe someone painted over it.

Maddie opened her apartment door when a small furry golden dog came running out of nowhere. “Cecelia, CC, yes I am home after a day of handling Grandma Freda’s estate. Are you

hungry? I am famished. Let’s go see what we can have to eat.” Maddie and CC the little Golden Girl strode toward the kitchen. After dinner, Maddie phoned her appraiser:

“Midge, I found a teacup today; as I was rummaging around in the attic. This is a rather odd-looking thing. There is a large red rose with a great deal of gold plating, any ideas?”

Midge thought about that and then replied:

“Maddie, it sounds like a Paragon teacup and saucer if it is it could be worth as much

as twenty-four hundred dollars. Bring it by and we can have a look,.”

Maddie, the more she thought about the cup and saucer the more she wondered why Grandma Freda had hidden it up in the attic when she had displayed the Blue Willow and all the other teacups. That made no sense but Maddie decided to pursue the question after she settled the estate.

Maddie arose when CC began to bark, but when she yipped Maddie came running down the hall. CC limped over to Maddie placing her tiny paw in Maddie’s hand. Maddie looked around her living room, her eyebrows shot up, and her eyes glared at the empty spot where the teacup had been the night before. Maddie fed CC her breakfast, showered: and went to her job as a paralegal. She strode slowly toward McKenna and Sons law firm was a mere five blocks from home.

She had a niggling feeling as she turned down Pete Street, something did not feel right to her.

She found herself glancing over her shoulder. Maddie shook herself, she decided she had read one too many mystery novels lately. Maddie, felt the same niggle on the way back home, once again she thought about the rose teacup, why would anyone steal it? Who would have suspected it was worth over two thousand dollars?

CC greeted Maddie as she did every time they were apart from one other; Maddie quickly checked CC’s tiny paw. She noticed a small stone embedded in the paw, so she removed it. She then realized it was a rhinestone, almost too small to see with the naked eye. Maddie wondered if whoever had taken the teacup had lost a rhinestone off a garment. There was a loud knock on the door, CC began to bark and run around in circles, what was she trying to Maddie?

Millie Martin stood quietly staring at the beautiful red rose teacup she had stolen from her

cousin Maddie’s apartment. Millie thought since Maddie had inherited Grandma Freda’s estate, she would filch the teacup she had seen her bring home yesterday. Millie thought about making a really nice hot cup of Chai Tea; that would be wonderful. She poured the hot water over the teabag and drank about half a cupful. She began to feel dizzy, and she fainted. When Mille regained consciousness she called 911. She was whisked away to the hospital. The hospital ran tests on the teacup, and the ambulance attendants found it next to Millie. The police were immediately summoned, and questioned Millie; about where the teacup came from?

Millie informed them she had taken the teacup from her cousin’s apartment, and their grandmother had left it to her. The police sergeant thought this seemed odd somehow. They got the address from Millie, and drove over to Maddie’s to question her.

Maddie sat silently with CC at her feet wondering how the teacup and saucer had suddenly disappeared. She was jolted from her thoughts by a banging on the door:

“Police, Miss Martin, we need to talk.”

Maddie quickly opened the door, and there stood two police officers:

“Miss Madison Martin?”

“Yes”

“I am Sergeant Howard and this is Officer Cliff Dobson, we are investigating an attempted murder.”

“Attempted murder you say?”

“Yes, are you missing a rose teacup? A Miss Mildred Martin gave us a very strange story;, we

would just like to ask did you give her the teacup or was it stolen?”

Maddie, her blue eyes widening in surprise:

“I have cousin Millie, are you saying she is the one that stole the teacup, but why?”

“Claims your grandmother left it to her and she was taking what belonged to her, is that true?”

Maddie took a deep calming breath:

“Not exactly, I am the trustee of my grandmother’s estate. I am in the middle of having it

appraised. Everything was left to me in her will. There were several pieces of jewelry that she

stated in her will were to go to specific people. I have already taken care of those, but

I do not recall anything about a rose teacup going to Millie. If she wants it that bad she

can have it.”

Sergeant Howard looked into Maddie’s dark blue eyes:

“There were arsenic traces found on the teacup, Millie will pull through.”

Maddie gave a startled look:

“Arsenic, how did arsenic get on the teacup? I don’t understand. I found that teacup in my

Grandmother’s attic yesterday afternoon, I brought it home to have it appraised. I had the

odd feeling that I was being followed, I guess that must have been Millie. Is she going to

be all right?”

The Sergeant informed Maddie that Millie would be fine, he also wanted to know if Maddie would like to press charges. Maddie declined to do so, but she was curious about the teacup and why it was hidden in the attic. Maddie decided she would concentrate on the Murder in a Teacup later; once the estate was settled.