Killing Weeds (18 page)

The fragrance of it filled the yard. Peggy took a deep breath and closed her eyes. This was why she’d opened the garden shop. Plants were what made a large part of her life worthwhile. She was fortunate to share that with Sam.

Emily Schaefer came out for a while to talk to them. She was dressed in a buttercup yellow, full-length, Southern belle dress, complete with matching hat and parasol.

“I’m going to the historical museum’s tea party tomorrow. How do I look?” She spun her wide skirt in a circle and almost lost her balance.

Sam was quick to save her from a fall, his big hands going around her small waist.

“Oh my, sir!” Emily fluttered her lashes and purred at him. “My heart is all aflutter to have you so near.”

Peggy smiled and assured Emily that she looked wonderful. She had no doubt that most of the women Sam worked for had high hopes of enticing him into an affair. Very few knew that he was gay and very happy with Tucker.

Sam put Emily back on her feet and smiled at her, a beautiful Viking statue of a man. “All right? You look wonderful. I love the dress and hat.”

Emily adjusted her parasol and smiled at him with lustful eyes before going back inside.

“You shouldn’t lead her on that way,” Peggy said. “Now she’s probably never going to change that dress.”

“That’s crazy. And what was I supposed to do—let her fall on her pretty butt?”

“No. You did what you should’ve done. But do you have to do it so well?”

Sam laughed at her. “I can’t help who I am.”

“That’s true enough.”

Peggy got a call from Steve. They had confirmed that William Joseph had visited Ruth Sargent in prison. The two had shared romantic letters for months before her death.

“It sounds like she passed on her hatred of you,” Steve said. “It’s probable that when she died, he believed you were responsible for her death too. It’s happened before. I think this may be our answer, but who is responsible for his death? I liked it better before your ME decided it was murder, not suicide.”

Peggy took it in. Her friend had blamed her for calling the police once she’d figured out what Ruth had done. Ruth would have been out of trouble because her scheme had worked so well. The police would never have caught on, if it wasn’t for Peggy taking it on herself to make it known.

“All right. I suppose that makes sense. Thanks, Steve.”

“I don’t know when I’ll be back. I want to go through all of it with the police so we know down to the last detail what happened. Millie is out at the prison. Norris is still with the alarm company. If I hear anything else, I’ll let you know.”

“I know you will. I’ll talk to you later.”

Camellia

Camellia sinensis is called the tea plant since it is the most common form of the plant used for tea production. Camellia bushes are long-lived. The oldest living camellia was planted in 1347 and still blooms in China’s Panlong Monastery.

Chapter Twenty-six

Over the next few days, everything became clear.

It seemed as though William Joseph had chosen Nita Honohan as his victim because he’d seen her at the fur store. He’d already had an idea of what he was going to do with the mink, according to notes he’d left behind from Ruth. She’d suggested he should add the poison mixture to a coat and give it to Peggy.

Obviously she hadn’t meant that coat to be a fur. She had to know Peggy well enough to know she wouldn’t have taken it.

He’d insinuated himself with the alarm service to be able to control the alarms at Peggy’s house and the shop. The plan was so well-thought-out, but he couldn’t have done it without Ruth’s guidance from prison.

The insurance company knew nothing about William—they hadn’t sent an adjuster or investigator to the break-in at The Potting Shed because their service was terrible.

Peggy decided that once everything was cleared up, she was shopping for a new insurance company.

She demanded that the company send someone out to meet her and speak with the police, threatening a lawsuit. The woman on the phone was flustered and said she’d have someone out right away.

It took a lot more to clear Paul’s name and get him out of police custody and back on the job. There were endless interviews, letters from people who knew him well and could vouch for his character.

She was proud that he had endured it all with a smile and a grim determination to go back to his former life. He’d managed to put it behind him and was scheduled on the next duty roster a few days later.

Peggy had lunch with him and Mai in the sunshine by the magnolia tree outside the medical examiner’s office.

Mai was back at work, and Peggy’s good name had been restored. A family of bluebirds chirped from their nest in the tree. Life was back in balance, and spring was wonderful.

Dorothy ate lunch with them at the picnic table. They’d visited the Greek food truck and come back with delicious treats.

“It’s hard to imagine being so obsessed with someone that you’re ready to kill for them,” Dorothy said as she plowed through her souvlaki. “I love my husband, but I wouldn’t stalk people for him or kill someone. It’s crazy.”

“Especially since Ruth was already in prison for killing someone,” Mai said. “I mean—hello! I’m not a good person. Don’t fall in love with me.”

Paul laughed and hugged her. “It doesn’t work that way. People feel sorry for inmates sometimes. They believe that their stories about being innocent are true.”

“Well, I’m just glad it’s over,” Mai declared. She left some crumbs for the birds from her pita. “I like my life being normal. Which reminds me—have you given back your private detective’s license?”

“You don’t give it back, sweetie,” Paul said. “And I’m not done with it. There is still a lot we don’t know about Dad’s death. I’m going to continue looking into it.”

Mai and Dorothy both groaned.

Peggy understood, especially after Steve and Al had been so clear about why she shouldn’t question what happened. She’d forgiven both men for their interference, but she agreed with Paul—she wouldn’t be happy until she knew the truth.

But she didn’t say that.

It was a beautiful day. Things were falling back into place in her world. Queens University had called and wanted her to do a symposium on potentially fatal plants that were coming into the area. She enjoyed going back from time to time and taking on her professor’s mantle again.

After lunch, Peggy had an appointment with real employees of the alarm service and the insurance company. She was pushing to get The Potting Shed reopened in time for Mother’s Day. That was always a big week for her.

The only question that still nagged at her was how William was able to get so much done. Granted that he’d hired the men who’d showed up and said they were from the alarm company. He’d put himself into a position where he could cover up the call from her shop when they’d broken into it.

It was even easy to imagine that he and Ruth had talked about things he could do to get revenge for her. Their letters mentioned the fur coat idea, but only in a vague way. There were no specifics.   How had he managed to follow through with her concept on his own?

How had someone like William figured out a way to create a unique poison that would kill its victim from the outside? Not only a botanist could have done it, but it took more thought and some background in forensics that didn’t seem to be available to William.

Ruth had dreamed up the project and found a way to get him through it. It was hard to swallow, but stranger things happened. And what about the woman Sam had met with at Mary Hood’s house? So far, there were only a handful of men showing up as part of the plot. They had pretended to be the alarm service techs. There was also the question about the woman who had paid Paul to take the mink to Nita.

Where was that woman?

She shook her head to clear it as she negotiated heavy traffic on the streets to reach Brevard Court. She had to put it behind her. It was wonderful to be out in the fresh air on her bike again. She’d been driving too much recently.

Using a lock and chain to secure her bike to the iron rail that went up the back stairs at The Potting Shed, Peggy supposed these were the details Steve had spoken of figuring out. She’d be glad when he did. The details always bothered her.

She went in through shop. It was still too early to meet with either of her visitors. Instead she went across the cobblestones to visit with Emil and Sofia. They were still bustling with a large, lunch crowd and barely had time to acknowledge her.

Peggy took out her phone and answered emails, checking other messages as well.

One of her messages was from Nightflyer. He also left her a phone number that would only be good for that day.

She went out in the courtyard where it wasn’t so crowded and called him back.

“You’re still in danger. Something isn’t right.”

For once she agreed with his cryptic statement. “I know. I’ve been thinking the same thing myself.”

“Have her exhumed.”

“I don’t have that authority. They aren’t going to dig up Ruth because I say so. Besides, I’ve seen her death certificate. I’ve seen the hospital admissions form. Ruth is dead. It’s only the details that are probably driving both of us crazy.”

“Do you still trust your husband?” His throaty voice made it sound as though she shouldn’t.

“Yes.” She took in a deep breath. “He meant well. So did Al. I’m still angry, but I trust him.”

“Then you’re a fool. And have that woman’s body dug up. Don’t be stupid, Peggy. Your first thought was correct.”

“Do you have any proof?”

“No. Find some! Your life still depends on it.”

“Thank you for what you did for Paul.” She veered off subject.

But Nightflyer was gone, as usual. The man never finished a conversation or said goodbye. She didn’t bother telling him that Steve felt the same way about trusting him. There was certainly no love lost between the two men.

She’d known Steve for a long time and didn’t believe he meant her harm by not telling her about John’s death.

On the other hand, she knew next to nothing about Nightflyer. She’d be more of a fool to take his words as gospel than to believe Steve.

Still she felt edgy and uncertain. Nightflyer’s accusations hadn’t helped.

Were they too quick to jump on William Joseph as the mastermind behind this plot? Everyone was eager to get through it—especially since Paul had been involved.

The FBI and CMPD had looked at the information about Ruth Sargent and had agreed that William was simply a man who’d fallen for her and acted on her behalf.

What was left?

She didn’t want to dredge everything up again

And yet there was a woman at the heart of this—Mary Hood—or whatever her real name was.

How could she find out?

Two insurance adjusters from Gromer’s Insurance visited Peggy at The Potting Shed. They were very apologetic about taking so long getting there—and about imposters being there before them.

Peggy walked them through the front and back of the shop before handing each of them a detailed list of what had been lost and what had been damaged. It was interesting that they had the same response as William Joseph.

“I’m sorry, but we can’t write you a check on the spot. We’ll have to make sure the alarm is working again before you reinvest your money.”

Lucky for her that a man from the alarm service company, accompanied by the real estate rental contact for Brevard Court, showed up before the insurance men were ready to leave.

“I’m so glad you’re here.” Peggy ushered them into the bare shop. “Insurance people, meet alarm people. I’d appreciate if the two of you would work out your differences on reopening my shop.”

She sat by the front window as the two agencies worked on their problems. The alarm company agreed to have the alarm repaired and Peggy’s shop put back online by the end of the day. The insurance adjusters agreed to write her a check—postdated—so that she could start re-stocking the shop in two days.

“That sounds great.” She shook everyone’s hand and gratefully accepted the check.

The real estate agent apologized for the mix up that had caused so much trouble.

“We need The Potting Shed up and running again. We’ve gotten a lot of phone calls from people wondering what happened. Good luck, Dr. Lee. If you have any other problems, please let me know.

When they were all gone, Peggy walked around the shop, envisioning what it would look like when it was full of merchandise again.

The lizard in the pond popped his head out to stare at her for a moment before jumping back in the water.

“It won’t be long now,” she told him. “There will be new fish soon.”

She locked up the shop and went across the courtyard again to The Kozy Kettle. Business had slowed to a point that she didn’t mind asking Sofia to make her a cup of tea.

“I’d be glad to make you tea, my friend.” Sofia smiled. “And I have something to show you.”

Peggy checked through her inventory list again, making notes of the various supply companies she’d need to order from. One of her plans for this year had been to order a few birdbaths and birdhouses. She’d read that bird watching was becoming very popular again and hoped to get her customers interested in watching birds in Charlotte.

Sofia came to the table with a large pink cup. “My mother always read tea leaves. I used loose tea so I could have a look at your leaves, Peggy. What do you say?”

What could she say?
“Thank you.”

“You are very welcome.” Sofia nudged her with her elbow. “Maybe we’ll see a new romance coming your way, eh?”

“Really, Sofia. You and Emil have to learn to accept Steve. We’re married now.” She held up her wedding band. “He’s not going anywhere, and I’m not looking for anyone else. It really hurts his feelings when you and Emil act this way with him.”

Steve had never said anything like that to her. It just annoyed him.

Sofia winked and apologized, insisting they only wanted what was best for her. She put the large pink cup in front of Peggy and urged her to drink the tea.