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The Good, the Bad, and the Guilty: A PI Hubnugget Mystery

Updated on November 27, 2013
Patty waiting for an interesting mystery to walk in the door.
Patty waiting for an interesting mystery to walk in the door.

A Little Background...

As you must remember from last weeks HubNugget Hub, "Private Eye KoffeKlatchGals Always Gets Her Nugget" by our own Patty Inglish, the krewe seems to have been scattered about and quite busy.

RedElf and Enelle Lamb are out enjoying their swashbuckling pirate movie. They are having a fantastic time showing off their sword fighting prowess and drooling over Johnny Depp.

Ripplemaker and ladyjane1 are nervously awaiting their screen test for that new new film about fashion. We know they'll do great.

KoffeeKlatchGals is off shooting her scenes on Daniel Jacksons's new TV show and loving every minute of it. Patty was gracious enough to offer to watch Gal Noir's office so she could do this. We think Patty is looking forward to getting involved with a mystery or two.

Amelia Price Hunnicutt, doesn't she look like a 1930's movie star?
Amelia Price Hunnicutt, doesn't she look like a 1930's movie star? | Source

And So It Begins...

Pi happily unlocked the door to Gals office. She'd been looking forward to this day. Sitting down in the big overstuffed chair behind the desk she gleefully spun around. All she needed now was an interesting case to come walking in the front door.

As if by magic there came a knock from the door. Peering through the frosted glass from her seat PI tried to size up the person. Jumping up she walked over to open the door. "Come on in. Welcome to..." The words died in the throat. There standing in front of her was an older woman looking like she had just dropped in form the 1930's. She was all glamour and glitz.

Finding her voice PI invited her to have a seat wondering what in the world she could possibly do for this woman and where had she been since 1930.

"So, how can I help you?"

The Introduction

In a soft honey warm voice she spoke, "My name is Amelia Price Hunnicutt and I believe that someone is trying to kill me."

She paused," There are three people it could be. My husband would love to get rid of me. Divorce is not an option, he would have to split everything with me.

My stepson would also like to see me gone. He blames me for his mother's death.

And there's Richard assistance Teresa. She's been in love with him since she began working as his assistant. I believe she thinks with me gone he will turn to her."

"Well", said PI slowly, "that tells me who might be trying to kill you but not why."

Beatrice reached into her purse and pulled out a long elegant cigarette holder and carefully placed a cigarette into the end of it.




Just Give Me The Facts Ma'am.

Patty leaned forward, this was getting interesting.

"Well", Amelia continued, "My driver brought me here straight from the hospital."

Standing up she began to pace around drawing a puff delicately from the cigarette. "Last night we all had a drink before we were to go into dinner. My drink made me violently ill. I had to be rushed to the hospital. They told me there that they believe my drink was poisoned. The three people that I mentioned were the only ones who could have poisoned my drink. Don't you see? One of them wants me dead."

PI sat back and intently gazed at Amelia, almost as though she was trying to see the truth in her face. Somehow she didn't believe this whole thing was going to turn out to be so simple. Coming to a decision she leaned forward. "I'll tell you what we'll do. You're going to give me some more detail about these people you think are trying to kill you. Then you're going to set up a meeting tomorrow at 5:00 PM with all of them at your house. That will give me time to come up with a few answers."

Amelia quickly began talking while PI sat and scribbled notes. Before long PI believed she had all the information she needed for now. All she had to do was a little more digging and she'd have the truth.

The Gathering

When PI arrived at the Hunnicutt mansion she found everyone scattered across the huge Drawing Room each with a drink in their hand. They were not talking or even looking at each other, no love lost here. Offered a drink PI settled for a ginger ale, she was going to need all of her wits about her.

As she cleared her throat and settled back in her seat everyone turned their attention to her. "OK folks, I know who put the poison in the Amelia's drink. Suddenly everyone was interested in what she had to say. Denials began coming from all parts of the room.

Holding up her hands, silently asking for quiet Pi then continued,. "I will tell you what I have found out person by person. You'll have to be patient."

"I think I'll start with you Teresa." PI swung her head to focus her signature level stare at her. Everyone else follow suit.


Enelle reading up on pirates so she will be able to intelligently play her own part as a pirate.
Enelle reading up on pirates so she will be able to intelligently play her own part as a pirate.
RedElf hanging in there wiating for her chance to show off her sword fighting prowess.
RedElf hanging in there wiating for her chance to show off her sword fighting prowess.

The Good (sorta)

Nervously twisting a kleenex in her trembling hands she denied having anything to do with the poisoned.

"I found out some very interesting information about you. Your mother is very ill and needs constant care which cost way more that what you bring in. You have a beautiful apartment that also costs more than your weekly salary. I wonder how this is all possible? "

"I, I"....studdered Theresa.

"I don't required an answer." said PI sternly. "I also noticed the glance between you and Richard, it confirmed the information that I received that the two of you are having an affair and this is how you are financing your life style and your mothere's care."

Theresa hung her head, a silent nod of admission.

"I don't think you are necessarily a bad person I think you're in a tight spot. I also understand that you are only in this affair for the money."

PI's phone rings and she glances at the number. "Pardon me for a moment, I need to take this call."

"Hi RedElf and Enelle. How is the pirate movie going?"

Speaking both at once, "We have a ball." Enelle breaks in "I have a part where I am standing on the captains wheel during a sword fight - You should see me." RedElf breaks in,"I'm fighting while hanging from the ships ropes. What a rush."

"It sounds like you are doing great. You've called at just the right time. You can help me by introducing the Family and Parenting nominees for this week'

"We'd love to" they cried in unison. "Listen up everybody, this week we have an unbelievable group of nominees. They have all outdone them selves. Make sure you read their hubs and then vote for you favorite in each category. You'll be glad you did"

Which one of this week's Family and Parenting nominees is your favorite?

  • 18% Ten Items Every Mom Should Keep in Her Car
  • 7% How to Get Your Kid To Stop Picking Her Nose
  • 24% A Fleeting Gift
  • 27% Chores and Children: Foundation for Success
  • 7% Are They All Yours???
  • 16% Top Ten Reasons Why I Hate Being a Special Needs Mother
55 people have voted in this poll.

This poll is now closed to voting.

Ripplemaker enjoying the wonderful weather while ahe and ladyjane 1 wait for their screen test.
Ripplemaker enjoying the wonderful weather while ahe and ladyjane 1 wait for their screen test.
ladyjane1 getting practice posing so she will be ready for her screen test.
ladyjane1 getting practice posing so she will be ready for her screen test.

The Bad (definately)

Return to the Group PI stared on her next potentially guilty person (this is kind of fun she thought).

"Richard you are the cheating husband. You are inconsiderate, controlling and just plain nasty at times. From the information I dug up you're like this in business and at home. You are not only having an affair but you've made sure that Amelia knows all about it".

Pacing over to the bar she turned and faced him. "Richard you could have very possibly poisoned your wife's drink."

Once again the phone rang. "Sorry, I'll be just a minute."

Turning her back on the she answered her phone. "Ripplemaker, ladyjane, how great to hear from you. Have you had your screen test yet?"

"Not yet, but boy are we being pampered" said ripplemaker. "You should see us, we're get a facial everyday, we are treated to a massage, a pedicure and manicure, it's amazing."

"It sounds like you two have been all fluffed and buffed. While I have you on the phone can you help me introduce the next set on nominees for the week? Your category will be Politics and Social Issues."

"We'd love to. Come on down everyone and cast you votes for you favorite in each of the categories. The hubs for this category are amazing. It'll be hard to choose your favorite but it will be worth it."

Which one of this week's Politics and Social Issues nominees is your favorite?

  • 28% Benefits of Higher Gas Prices: Why I Don't Mind Paying More at the Pump
  • 24% Dinner Discussion: Who is Jim Yong Kim? a look at Obama's nomination for World Bank president
  • 10% Stupid Stuff You Say When You Run For President, The Romney Edition
  • 29% The Goat that got Arrested: Witchcraft in Africa.
  • 5% The Top Ten Things Americans Don't Want to Talk About
  • 3% Child rights above human rights
58 people have voted in this poll.

This poll is now closed to voting.

koffeeklatchgals out enjoying her new found fame.
koffeeklatchgals out enjoying her new found fame.

The Guilty (sorta)

Spinning quickly around Pi fixed her star on the youngest of the group, Theresa's step-son Rick.

"Rick, I know you blame Theresa for your parent divorce and you think if she were gone all of your problems would go away. Well, I'm here to tell you. She didn't cause your parents divorce, that had been in the works since the day they got married. Your father has cheated and mistreated her from day one. There is only so long a person can take that kind of abuse. Theresa was only the last in a long line of indiscretions that your mother had to endure. As for your other problems, those are your own. Your gambling and drinking are choices you made. Your outrageous bills that your father will no longer cover are your problem. I know you thing Theresa stands between you and the millions your father has control over but she doesn't. Your father is using money to try to control you. You could have put the poison in the drink.

Once again the phone rings. This time Pi just answers keeping her eye on the group. "KoffeeKlatch Gals I'm glad you called. I'm about to reveal a person guilty of attempted poisoning. But, before I do, tell me how is it going for you. Are you having fun with your TV show?"

It's a blast. Everyone here is so nice and helpful. Tell what's going on there."

"I will, I'll call you later and fill you in. But first I need your're help introducing our nominees for the week in the category of Travel and Places."

"Certainly, I'd love to. You know, it's kind of funny that we have this category this week. Here we are all in a different location than we usually are. Everybody, come and take a few minutes of you time to read and enjoy each of our nominees hubs this week. Make sure you vote for your favorite in each category. You'll meet new people and learn new things."

Which one of this week's Locations nominees is your favorite?

  • 22% The Secret to "Big Family" Vacations
  • 0% Safe Travel in Mexico - See Manzanillo
  • 8% J'Adore Paris: a Visual Memoir (Part 1)
  • 1% The Coolest Hotel in the World
  • 11% Visiting Penguins in their Natural Habitat
  • 59% Renaissance Faires - Things to Do (and Not Do) with your Children at a Renaissance Faire
301 people have voted in this poll.

This poll is now closed to voting.

PI Solves the Mystery

"I know who poisoned Thresa's drink." Pi slowly scanned the group. They all sat up and looked around at each other as though they would see the word guilty written across one of their faces.

"I'll start with Theresa. Theresa let out a small sound of protest.

"We've established that Theresa has a need for money, first and most importantly for the care of her mother. She also like to live beyond her means. We all know where the money she has been receiving comes from. She is having an affair with a married man, never a good idea. These are all good arguments for why Theresa could have been the person who poisoned the drink but she in not the one. Right now she is in a pretty good spot. You might think she would want Amelia dead so she could marry Richard but she doesn't. Theresa is in love with another man. She is only having the affair to make sure her mother gets the medical care she needs. Theresa did not put the poison n the drink."

Richard, now you are really a good suspect. You are having an affair, you like to be in control, you're poor wife is being abused and humiliated by you continuously. You would make a great villain. There could be an argument that you need to get rid of your wife so you can make Theresa but that's not true. As much as she doesn't want to marry you, you don't want to marry her. You are perfectly content in you position as Theresa's husband. It would be counterproductive for you to divorce her or get rid of her, the money that you love flaunting so well is hers. Not only is it hers, if she dies, you will only receive a piddly little bit. No, you didn't poison that drink."

"That leaves Rick. You didn't know your step-mother was the one with the money. All this time you thought your father held the purse strings. It would have done you no good for your step-mother to be dead. Your mother has been filling your head for years with nonsense about her. She made you believe that if Amelia were gone she would be back and everything would be the way it was. Wrong. Your father needs her alive. You would have been the perfect one to poison the drink. I happen to know you didn't, you have spent so many years being told what to do and what not to do that you are unable to make a simple decision on your own. You never would have poisoned the drink unless your mother was standing beside you telling you to do it."

"Wait a minute," demanded Richard. "If none of us poisoned the drink, who did."

"Amelia did it. Didn't you notice that she slowly sipped at her drink instead of drinking it right down? Her habit for years has been to drink the first drink right down then sip the drinks after that. Didn't you find that strange?"

"Why? Why would you do that and then accuse us?"

"You people can ask me that after what you've done to me? Richard you're having an affair with your assistant, you remind me of it everyday. You flaunt her in my face. You have tied up my money in ways I can't get to it. You go out of the way to embarrass and humiliate me."

"Theresa, you are the tramp my husband is having the affair with. You come into my home and help him humiliate me. You live off my money.

"Rick, you lie, you scheme, you are disrespectful, and you are obnoxious. You act like you haven't a brain in your head. You blame me for your messed up life and I'm sick of it. I just wanted all of you to feel as miserable as I do."

PI happily leaves the mansion. She has successfully solved her first case.

Our HubNuggets Krewe: Simone Smith, KoffeeKlatch Gals, Patty Inglish MS, Maddie Rudd, Jason Menayan, ripplemaker, RedElf, ladyjane1, and Enelle Lamb.
Our HubNuggets Krewe: Simone Smith, KoffeeKlatch Gals, Patty Inglish MS, Maddie Rudd, Jason Menayan, ripplemaker, RedElf, ladyjane1, and Enelle Lamb.
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