Lethal Lily (A Peggy Lee Garden Mystery) (13 page)

“Yes.” Her heart was beating fast, and her voice sounded slightly strangled. “How did you find me?”

“I saw your sign-in at the auction this morning. I hope you don’t mind that I looked you up.”

She was ready to push call on her phone, but held off for a moment. He didn’t sound threatening. He hadn’t actually done anything besides outbidding her.
Maybe
he was at the storage lot when she and Harry were there, but she wasn’t even sure of that.

“Why were you looking for me?”

“I wasn’t—until I heard about Harry’s death—and your name was mentioned. I was hoping you could bring me up to speed on what Harry was doing in Charlotte.”

“What do you know about Harry? Why did you bid on the contents of his storage unit?”

“Because Harry was my brother-in-law. He killed my sister.”

That statement astounded Peggy. She put the phone down and studied Arnie Houck. He looked to be in his mid to late sixties. His brown hair was thinning above his sallow face. He used his inhaler again, his breathing issues probably affected by the damp weather. He didn’t look particularly dangerous.

Was it possible that
Harry
had murdered his wife?

Sam chose that moment to get back from Claire Drummond’s house. “She bought the whole deal, Peggy. It will take me months to get everything set up the way she wants it and then start on her yard service maintenance.”

He stopped when he saw her visitor. “Hi. I’m Sam Ollson.” He stepped forward to shake Arnie’s hand.

“Arnie Houck. You were at the auction this morning too.”

Sam glanced at Peggy, eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. “That’s right. Anything
we
can do for you?”

Peggy shook her head. “Mr. Houck was explaining to me that he was Harry’s brother-in-law.”

“Really?” Sam’s blue gaze swung to the older man. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

Arnie snorted. “Loss? The world is a better place
without
that deadbeat.”

“Mr. Houck believes Harry killed his sister,” Peggy said.

“I don’t mean that in a literal sense,” Arnie explained. “The police said my sister’s death was an accident, but I’m sure it was brought on by years of worrying about Harry. He was always in and out of trouble. Ann was left to fend for herself more times than I care to think about. Maybe he didn’t shoot her with a gun—but Harry was still responsible for her death.”

“Why were you willing to spend so much money to get Harry’s personal items?” Peggy asked.

“I don’t know.” Arnie sighed.  “I guess I was hoping some of my sister’s things would be in there too. I was away when she died. When I got back, he’d cleaned out everything that belonged to her. It was just the two of us, me and Ann. Our parents died when we were very young.”

“Have you looked inside the unit yet?” Sam knew how much Peggy wanted Harry’s files.

“I haven’t had a chance to go through things,” Arnie said. “I had some business in town, and then I heard about Harry. You knew he was dead when you were at the auction, didn’t you?”

“Yes.” Peggy put her hands on the counter. “Harry said he had some information about my husband. He was going to give it to me in exchange for working with him on Ann’s death. He believed she was murdered.”

“Murdered? That’s crazy. I checked with the police when I got here twenty years ago. That was the first thing I thought when I heard she was dead.
They
said her death was an accident.”

“There may be some inconsistencies in that theory,” Peggy said. “I don’t have all the details yet, but the police are taking another look at Ann’s death while they investigate Harry’s.”

Arnie sat down hard on a ladder-back chair that was near the door. “You mean all these years I’ve accused Harry of killing my sister—and he really
did
?”

“I don’t think so. Harry wanted me to help him prove Ann’s death wasn’t an accident. That hardly seems to be something you’d do if you’d murdered someone.”

“If you don’t need me up here,” Sam said. “I’ll be in the back, Peggy.”

There was a question in his voice—
are you okay?

She nodded. “Thanks.”

Sam left them, but Peggy knew he wouldn’t go far. He’d be listening.

Arnie shook his head. “And you think there’s evidence in his storage unit that proves Ann was murdered?”

“I don’t know.” She was reluctant to tell him anything else until she knew more about him. “Harry claimed he had more information in his papers that he kept there. I wanted to know— so I bid on the unit.”

“I’m so sorry. If I’d known, we wouldn’t have had to waste that money. We were bidding against each other for the same thing.”

Peggy thought about the man in the parking lot who’d attacked her and taken Ann’s file. “I’m sorry I made you spend so much money, but if we wouldn’t have bid on the unit, someone else might have taken it.”

He nodded. “Why do the police think Harry was murdered?”

“It was the manner of his death. I can’t say anything more during the investigation.”

“And you work with the police?”

“In a way. I work for the medical examiner’s office. I’m a forensic botanist. I think Harry was killed with poison.”

“Poison?” Arnie scowled. “What kind of person kills someone with poison, especially nowadays?”

“You’d be surprised.”

“I guess so.”

Peggy wasn’t prepared to go into that subject any deeper either. “Did you move everything out of the storage unit?”

“No. Not at all. I’m only staying here a few days. I paid off the past due on the unit and set up an account to keep everything where it is until I can go through it. I’m not sure any of it is worth shipping back home.”

“Where’s home?” She was elated that Harry’s papers were still available.

“I’m from Columbia, South Carolina.” Arnie watched her. “Would you like to see what Harry had stored? I could take you down there. We could both get a look at Harry’s legacy.”

“Yes. I’d still like to see the files Harry was talking about. They could be a big help to the police in investigating his death as well as your sister’s.”

“Why did he know about your husband’s death? Was he involved with that too?”

“He worked on it as a private detective,” she briefly explained. “He said there was more information that he’d collected.”

“It sounds like him.” He shook his head. “Harry wasn’t exactly a fan of the police department—
any
police department. His dealings sometimes crossed the line.” He used the inhaler again.

“You have more than just asthma, don’t you?” she observed.

He nodded. “Emphysema. I was a firefighter for many years. I’m paying the price now.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Why don’t we arrange to meet at the mini-storage? I’ll wait for you at the gate, and we can see what’s there. You’re welcome to whatever you want. If Ann was murdered, I’d like to know too.”

“That sounds good.” Peggy glanced at her watch. “It’s kind of late already, and with the weather—would tomorrow morning work for you?”

“That would work. About nine?”

“All right.” She went around the counter and shook his hand. It was cool to the touch. She looked into his slightly yellowed eyes. Arnie Houck was indeed a sick man. “I’m glad you came by.”

He smiled. “I have a bad habit of looking over people’s shoulders—that’s how I saw your name and address as you signed in. It was simple to find you on the Internet. That habit has gotten me into trouble more than once, I’m afraid. Thanks for being so understanding.”

“If it makes you feel any better, I took a picture of the sign-in sheet with my phone so I could look up everyone on it as possible suspects in Harry’s death.”

“I believe you’re saying we’re
both
sneaky. I’ll take that as a positive.” He got to his feet, at least a foot taller than Peggy. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

Peggy watched him walk through the courtyard, hunched over as he was pelted by the hard rain. She should have asked him if he was at the mini-storage last night when she and Harry were there. It didn’t seem to matter, but she’d like to know.

Maybe even more important—
where was he when Harry was killed?

“He’s gone, huh?” Sam came up behind her.

“Like you haven’t been back there listening the whole time.” She accused with a smile, glad that he was there.

“I’m not apologizing for it either. He could’ve been a bad guy—still could.”

“I’ll do some research on him tonight. He’s probably okay.”

“But you think
everyone
is okay.” He grinned. “Need a ride home?”

“I don’t know. Maybe you’re a bad guy. I
am
naïve and trusting,” she joked.

“That’s true. You could offer to feed me dinner, and then you’d know I wasn’t taking you home out of the goodness of my heart. That way, you could trust me.”

“Go get the truck while I close up. I don’t know who’s crazier—you or Selena.”

“That’s easy. Definitely Selena.”

“I’m locking up now.”

Peggy gathered her things together, locked up the day’s receipts in the safe, and met Sam on the street in front of Brevard Court. “I should tell you that my parents said they might come by for dinner tonight.”

Sam put the old truck in gear. “Great! I love your folks, and they always bring good food.”

“That’s one way of looking at it.”

They drove to Peggy’s house with Sam talking constantly about the new landscaping contract with Claire Drummond. He was very excited about their plans, and the prospect of another long-term client.

“She has a great piece of property too,” he said. “Almost as good as yours. And she loves new plants. She’s wants some agastache bushes in her yard.”

“If you’re hinting that you’d like to work on my property, have at it. I’m sure it could do with a tweak here or there.”

“Claire wants a complete makeover.”

“Forget that.” Peggy smiled at him. “I’m not looking for a whole new yard.”

“Just thought I’d mention it. Your yard has been the same way for a long time.”

“And it’s basically going to stay the same as long as I live there.”

When they reached the house, all the outside lights were blazing. Steve was home. Peggy’s parents’ car was in the drive too.

“I guess we’ll be talking about the Shamrock Historical Society over dinner,” she observed. Finding artifacts from Charlotte’s history was her mother’s passion since she’d moved there.

Sam opened his door. “Not if I can get in everything I want to say about my new contract.”

“Between the two, we should have some lively conversation.”

Steve had already locked Shakespeare in their bedroom for the evening. His huge, boisterous welcomes were a little too much for Peggy’s mother. Lilla and Ranson Hughes, Peggy’s mother and father, were gathered around a large pot on the stove. Steve stood off to the side, wearing his red cooking apron that said,
Kiss the Cook
.

“Hello, everyone,” Peggy said with a smile. “I knew there would be plenty, so I brought Sam with me.”

Peggy’s mother gave her a cursory glance at first—until she saw the cut on her daughter’s cheek. “What have you been doing to yourself this time?”

Steve shrugged as Peggy’s glance went to him. “I didn’t say anything.”

“It’s nothing serious, Mother.” Peggy put her handbag on the table. “Just a little accident.”

“A little accident where Peggy was attacked because she’s looking into someone’s death for the ME’s office.” Sam managed to sneak between the cooks and sniff the sauce that was bubbling in the pan. “Yum.”

Peggy’s father slapped at Sam’s hand as he tried to taste it. “Not hygienic, my boy. Get a spoon if you want a taste.”

“You’re doing it again, aren’t you, Margaret?” Her mother’s white-haired head was tipped to one side as she continued to study her daughter’s face. “Have you seen a doctor?”

“Remind me never to take your side against Selena again,” Peggy warned Sam for his perfidy. Then to her mother, “It looks worse than it is. I’m not worried about it. What’s the historical society up to this week?”

It was an obvious ploy to change the subject. Lilla’s eyes narrowed. “You aren’t getting away from it that easy, my girl.”

“The Shamrock Historical Society has a new member.” Walter appeared from the hall. “I joined this very day.”

“That’s wonderful news!” Peggy was still trying to redirect everyone’s attention from her. “I didn’t know you were interested in history.”

Walter’s chest puffed out. “History is what makes us who we are! Everyone should be interested in it.”

“Ranson and Lilla are making roasted vegetables with cheese sauce.” Steve tried to help her out.

“That’s right.” Peggy’s father grinned at her. He took great pride in his small vegetable garden. “I picked them myself this morning.”

“It sounds and smells wonderful, Dad.” Peggy went around her mother to give her father a hug. “Is that the famous Hughes’ cheese sauce I smell?”

He hugged her tightly. “That’s right. Grandma Hughes’ famous sauce. We should’ve put it on the market, like the Colonel did with his chicken. We’d be rich by now.”

Sam finally found a spoon and got some of the sauce into his mouth. “I agree. What’s the secret?”

Ranson laughed. “If I told you, I’d have to kill you. Steve, have you got a gun handy?”

“Always,” Steve joked, going to Peggy’s side and putting his arm around her.

“It looks like you should’ve had that gun wherever Peggy was when she got hurt today,” Lilla said in a snarky voice.

“I tried to convince her to stay out of it,” Steve replied. “You know how stubborn she is.”

Walter laughed. “I couldn’t believe when I saw her cheek flayed open today. Maybe she needs to take some self-defense courses. I did a few years back. Does wonders for your self-esteem.”

Lilla coughed. “My daughter doesn’t need any help in
that
department!”

“Has anyone set the table?” Peggy asked in a light voice as though she wasn’t irritated by them talking around her like she wasn’t there.

“I don’t think so,” Steve said. “They don’t really need me in here. I’ll give you a hand.”