A Pain in the Tuchis: A Mrs. Kaplan Mystery by Mark Reutlinger

for a few minutes about things that had happened since that other case I mentioned had ended. Corcoran said he is now “Inspector,” which I assume is a promotion from whatever he was before. Eventually he got around to why he was visiting.
    “As much as I enjoy chatting with you ladies, you’ve probably guessed that I’m actually here on business.”
    We nodded.
    “So I’ll come right to the point. As you doubtless know, Vera Gold, one of the residents here, passed away last week.”
    Again we nodded. Neither of us was surprised that Vera was the reason the detectives were here.
    “Well, it turns out that her death was not from natural causes, as had been assumed. Either by accident or otherwise, Mrs. Gold apparently died from the medications she had taken.”
    Mrs. K and I stared at each other, both of us trying to understand just what Inspector Corcoran was saying. He had not said she was murdered; not in so many words, at least. Just that it was not “natural causes.” It could have been an accident. Mrs. Bissela might have gotten the story wrong.
    “Now, the reason I’m telling you this,” Corcoran went on, “is that I’ve already spoken briefly with Mrs. Kleinberg, Mrs. Gold’s sister, and as I understand it, she was the one who first raised the possibility that her sister’s death was not—not as it appeared, and she told you this. You then were instrumental in persuading Mrs. Gold’s son, Daniel, to permit an autopsy and, well, here we are. Is that correct?”
    Both of us nodded that it was.
    “Right. That being the case, I can speak freely with you about the matter, as you are, shall we say, principals in the story so far.”
    I was not sure I wanted to be a “principal” in a murder, if that is what it was, but Corcoran was smiling and it did not appear this meant anything bad.
    “Besides,” Corcoran continued, turning toward Mrs. K, “I find it both pleasant and very informative to talk with you, Mrs. Kaplan. Who better to consult about this little drama and the various characters in it? And you too, of course, Mrs. Berkowitz,” he added, looking then at me, “if that’s okay with you both.” It was nice he wanted not to leave me out, although I knew it was mostly Mrs. K he wanted to consult. So would I.
    “Yes, certainly, we’ll be glad to help any way we can,” Mrs. K said. “Won’t we, Ida?”
    I nodded. “Yes, of course,” I said.
Nu,
as long as I am not being suspected of anything, and neither is Mrs. K, the policemen can ask me anything they want. In fact, it might turn out to be much more exciting than reading about it in the newspaper later.
    “Good,” Corcoran said. “Now you’ll understand that whatever we discuss will be in strict confidence. I and Sergeant Jenkins here will not repeat what you tell us to anyone who doesn’t have to know, and we ask that you do the same.” He then added with a little laugh, “I’m aware things get around a place like this very fast, just like they do in any close community. Let’s see if we can cut this particular discussion off at the source.”
    We both nodded. “Does that include Fannie…I mean Mrs. Kleinberg?” Mrs. K asked. “After all, she is the one who brought us into this in the first place.”
    “Yes, I know. Let’s just say use your judgment. As I said, let’s not discuss this with anyone who doesn’t need to know. And I might add that I’ll try not to tell you anything you don’t need to know. Of course what Mrs. Kleinberg already knows is no problem. And she knows everything I’ve already told you. But that’s all we said to her.”
    That seemed clear enough.
    “Could I ask,” Mrs. K said, “what medicine it was that caused Vera’s—Mrs. Gold’s—death?”
    “I don’t see any harm in that, although again let’s keep this kind of detail just between us for now. It’s actually a bit strange. You may or may not have been aware that Mrs. Gold was being treated for, among other things, a mild case