6 A Thyme to Die (14 page)

“Yeah. I don’t mind if I do.” Ken dared a peek at Steve’s revolver. “You must be a cop.”

“Yes,” Steve agreed, not wanting to go into the details of his career.

“He’s actually a federal agent,” Peggy clarified.

“Oh.” Ken looked at the revolver again and took another sip of wine. “I guess that’s why they call this show international, huh? Federal agents onsite, and that customs guy who was there after that orchid man was murdered.”

Peggy exchanged glances with Steve. “What customs guy?”

Chapter Fifteen

Marijuana

Cannabis Sativa, marijuana, has been cultivated for thousands of years as everything from food to paper, cloth and rope. It was used by the Chinese a thousand years ago to ease pain and for spiritual enlightenment. Marijuana is still a popular recreational drug for more than 25 million Americans, despite legal penalties.

“There were no customs officials scheduled to be at the convention center.”

Steve got off the phone with his information officer as he and Peggy were driving to the meeting at the medical examiner’s office. “We have video surveillance from that whole timeframe.”

“Maybe Ken thought there was a customs official.” Peggy shrugged. “I hated that we had to run him off that way. My father would’ve killed me for being so inhospitable.”

“But why would Ken think he saw a customs official? They may have told Ken they were customs officials to make it all right for them to snoop through Dr. Abutto’s exhibit.”

Peggy didn’t want to point out that Ken had been a little difficult getting set up at the show. If anything, it would seem he’d be worried about ATF agents confiscating his marijuana plants.

“I don’t know if I’d make too much of it,” she said as they reached the office. “Ken is a little flamboyant. People tend to get imaginative when they know a murder has taken place.”

Steve pulled the car into an open space. “You have a good grasp of the situation.”

She frowned. “Is that like saying I have a smart mouth?”

“Not at all. If you say Ken is imaginative, I believe you. But I still think it’s worthwhile mentioning at the meeting. It may have some bearing on the case.”

They went inside together. Al and Dorothy were already there. A few federal agents and some Charlotte PD officers were on hand as well. The men and women threw uneasy glances at one another.

“Let’s go into the conference room,” Dorothy suggested.

Everyone followed her down the main hall. There was no security guard to get by. Peggy also was surprised that Paul wasn’t there.

Everyone was seated, Charlotte officers on one side—federal agents on the other side of the long wood table. Dorothy took the chair at one end and Peggy sat in the other.

“Thanks to Dr. Lee for giving me a little nudge this afternoon,” Dorothy began with a nod in Peggy’s direction, “I had some dust that we found tested today. We learned that it was diamond dust.”

There were a few murmurs from the Charlotte police side of the table. The FBI side looked smug.

“Our lab also verified some white powder we found on the plane that had transported Dr. Abutto from Capetown. It was diamond dust.”

Peggy had come to recognize, and dislike, Steve’s right hand man, Norris Rankin.  She hoped he’d grow on her after a while.

Had Steve known about the diamond dust from the plane? From the look on his face, she’d say he knew and was surprised that Norris had blurted it out to one-up the police findings.

“I guess we can assume Dr. Abutto was smuggling diamonds with him when he came from his home,” Al said. “Establishing that fact can make a big difference to our investigation. If he’d been trying to sell drugs of some kind, we’d be looking for other dealers.”

“Knowing we’re dealing with diamonds means we can look for people in this area who could facilitate that,” Steve said. “I’m sure the police can be a big help in that endeavor.”

“Do we know if the diamonds have been cut?” a young Charlotte officer Peggy didn’t recognize asked, voice quivering a little.

“There wouldn’t be any dust if the diamonds weren’t cut.” Norris cut him down.

“The dust was the only thing we found, besides a nine millimeter slug in his chest. He would’ve bled out very quickly but, as I’ve told a few of you, Dr. Abutto wasn’t dead when he was buried in that pile of dirt.” Dorothy passed around pictures of the corpse and the bullet that had killed him.

“Dr. Lee.” Norris leaned forward at the table. “Any botanical information that was found on or around the body that would suggest a lead we should follow up on?”

Peggy sat forward. “The only botanical effects that were found with Dr. Abutto were from the exhibit, except for the large amount of thyme. We don’t know yet where that came from.”

“So, no help there.” Norris studied the folder in front of him with a disappointed look on his face.

“We’ve had another breakthrough thanks to our friends at Scotland Yard.” Steve made the announcement. “Lieutenant McDonald, would you like to fill us in?”

Peggy was very proud of Steve. He was obviously willing to share credit where it was due.

Al stood up, grabbing his folder and hitching up his pants. “I got a tip today and followed through on information regarding Tanya Abutto.” He nodded to Peggy but didn’t mention her. That was fine.

“Scotland Yard thought they had located Miss Abutto at a university in London. They reported back, after I’d questioned them about the validity of the girl’s identity. The woman in question wasn’t Miss Abutto. As of our last conversation, Scotland Yard has advised that they believe Miss Abutto has been kidnapped.”

Peggy’s mind raced with that information. This is exactly what
Nightflyer
had been talking about—this and the diamond dust as a product of South Africa.

She doodled in her notebook as various officers and agents made their reports.

This might prove that she’d been right about Aris not being the type of person to smuggle anything. When a person was pushed, such as threatening his daughter, anything was possible.

As her mind followed the evidence, it seemed to her that someone from this area— probably someone who was part of the flower show—had managed to force Aris to smuggle diamonds. He’d been killed, possibly to keep him quiet. That probably meant Tanya would be eliminated as well.

Was the girl somewhere in the Charlotte area too? Or had she been taken in London and kept there?

Peggy thought Tanya’s life was the most important matter in front of them. Finding Aris’s killer was important too, but there was nothing else they could do for him right now. It was possible Tanya could be saved.

“Dr. Lee,” Dorothy addressed her. “Do you have anything else you’d like to add to the conversation?”

All eyes fixed on her. Peggy blinked. “I’d like to see us concentrate on finding Tanya. She may not have been killed, as her father was. Her time might be limited.”

“Scotland Yard is handling that aspect of the investigation,” Norris told her in a not-so friendly voice. “Let’s stay on target here, Dr. Lee.”

Peggy felt properly chastised. She wasn’t giving up on the idea.

“Do we have any proof that she’s still in England? She may have come here with her father. It would be easier to control him that way and possibly easier for the killer to get rid of her.”

Everyone looked at their folders.

One of the agents spoke up. “We saw signs that Dr. Abutto wasn’t alone on the private jet, Director Newsome. We don’t know who was with him, but the passenger list does have a female on it.”

“The chances are better that the female listed was a flight attendant.” Norris shot down the other agent’s idea too. “We need to concentrate on finding those diamonds. They’ll lead us to the killer.”

Peggy didn’t say anything else. When the meeting was over and the handshaking and back-patting had commenced, the young agent who seemed to agree with her, quietly came to her side.

“I’m Millicent Sanford.” She extended her hand. “Millie.”

Peggy took her hand and smiled. “I’m Peggy.”

“I think you’re on the right track with the kidnapping of Tanya Abutto. There was nothing that verifies that it was Dr. Abutto’s daughter on the plane with him, but now that we know she was kidnapped, there’s nothing saying it wasn’t her.”

Millie glanced around the room primarily filled with men.

“I guess we need proof of that,” Peggy said. “Do you have a recent picture of her? It’s been a while since Aris shared anything about her with me. I think they’d grown apart when she went away to school.”

Millie whispered, “I’ll send you one in an email.”

Peggy handed her a personal business card. “Thanks. Let’s see what we can find out.”

On the way home from the meeting, she asked Steve why Millie wasn’t his second-in- command, instead of Norris. “She seems very knowledgeable.”

Steve grimaced. “You mean she agreed with you about Tanya.”

“Whatever. Norris isn’t exactly a nice person, is he?”

“He’s not supposed to be nice. He has a nice conviction record. That’s what the FBI looks for in their people if they want to promote them.”

Peggy studied the side of his face as they stopped at a red light on Fourth Street. “Does that mean you have a nice conviction record?”

“It’s pretty good. Enough to warrant my promotion.”

“The only difference is that Norris has a terrible way of talking to people. Didn’t you think he was rude slapping me and Millie down that way?”

“I’m his boss. You’re my wife, and part of this investigation. I can’t take sides. I’m sure you know that. You’ll have to overlook his personality defects.”

She understood. “I think he’s wrong anyway. Too bad I don’t get points for having a nice conviction record.”

Steve laughed and rubbed the back of her neck. “Are you trying to take my brand new job away from me?”

“Heavens, no. I don’t want to work for any law enforcement group, not even the police. I’m good with being a contractor, talking about what I know.”

He pulled the car into the driveway. “Is that Ken’s truck? I thought he went back to his hotel.”

“I don’t know,” she hedged. “It’s definitely his vehicle. I’d know it by the giant skunk eating marijuana airbrushed on the side.”

“I don’t think that’s airbrushing. Is he going to have to stay with the skunk?”

“Probably not. Maybe.” She smiled at him. “It’s a big house. We probably won’t even notice him.”

Chapter Sixteen

Red  Rose

Red roses range in color from burgundy to bright red. They have names like Charlotte, Forever Young and Rouge Baiser. Red roses are the flowers of passion and love. They show respect and courage. The quantity of red roses given has meaning too. A single red rose shows love. A dozen shows gratitude. Bright red also means love, while dark crimson can mean mourning.

As soon as Ken saw Peggy get out of the car, he rushed out of his old truck to explain that he’d lost his spot at the campground where he’d been staying.

“I thought you were supposed to pay when you left,” he explained. “That’s the way they do it in Minnesota.”

“So they took your campsite.” Peggy looked at Steve with a question in her eyes.

“You can stay here until the flower show is over.” Steve made the offer through clenched teeth as he opened the kitchen door. Not only did Shakespeare run out to greet them, so did Matilda.

“How in the world did you get out of that cage?” Ken asked after picking her up.

“Shakespeare probably helped her.” Peggy put down her bag. “I’ll get a room made upstairs for you. She can stay in there with you.”

“I don’t want to put you out,” Ken said. “But thanks for the offer.”

Steve went upstairs to their bedroom and closed the door behind him.

#

Peggy got Ken and Matilda settled in for the night. She glanced at the dark street. A Charlotte police cruiser was in the shadows of the old oak again. She knew they must’ve decided to give Paul the night off.

She set the house alarms and turned off the downstairs lights. Shakespeare ran up the spiral staircase with her. She opened the bedroom door and there were candles everywhere.