6 A Thyme to Die (6 page)

“See you then,” Starr said.

“I’ll be there.”

Starr almost left without her irises. Selena reminded her.

When the door had closed behind Starr, Selena took a deep breath. “Seriously? Why do all women act like Sam’s the gift of God?”

“Don’t be jealous,” Peggy counseled. “Women like Sam, and it’s not only the way he looks. He’s very respectful and has a sweet way of talking.”

Selena
humphed
. “All I can say is—her mistake.”

“Don’t worry,” Sam said with a grin. “Someday a man will walk through that door looking for a woman like you. And even though I try to warn him off, he’s going to ask you out. I’m sure it will happen. Don’t give up.”

“You’d better go throw some mulch around in back before I throw a flower pot at you,” Selena threatened.

“Not one of the expensive ones, please,” Peggy said. “Will you take two more of those hand-painted pots outside to replace the ones that were purchased? Maybe they look better out there.”

“And maybe that way the perfect man won’t have to come into the shop and find you,” Sam razzed. “If you’re out there on display, who knows what might happen?”

“Okay. That’s enough.” Peggy’s cell phone rang and she stepped outside to answer it.

It was Al. “I have some good news and some bad news.”

“I’ll take the good first, please.”

“Looks like we can have the investigation wrapped up sometime tonight, at least the crime scene part. The medical examiner gave you the all clear to open tomorrow.”

Thank you, Dorothy!
“And the bad news?”

“Because of the nature of the crime and the victim being from out of town, the FBI will continue to assist the Charlotte PD on the case. Don’t blame me. I’m just the messenger.”

“That’s fine. Except as the head of the flower show committee, I’m not really personally involved.”

“Uh-huh. Did you get a phone call from Dr. Beck yet? I believe she mentioned using you on the case. It seems she wasn’t a fan of botany in school.”

Peggy understood what he meant. “Don’t worry about it. It’ll be fine. I can handle working with Steve on this.”
If he can . . .

“If you need a liaison, give me a call.”

“Thanks. I’ll talk to you later.”

Peggy put her phone away and thought about the visit from the fake Tanya Abutto. She should’ve mentioned that to Al.

She started to call him back when her phone started ringing with vendors and growers. The shop was surprisingly busy too. Peggy kept thinking she should call Al back, but by the time she noticed, it was four-thirty and she still hadn’t called him.

Sam was excited about the flower show opening again and upset that no one could go in to check on their exhibits until the doors opened tomorrow.

He wasn’t the only one. Peggy called and texted participants who called and texted her back again, expressing their frustration that their living exhibits might be damaged without proper care that night.

She repeated dozens of times that she had no control over what the police had determined to do during their investigation. At least the flower show would go on.

A few more customers came in and made small purchases. Some regulars stopped in to gossip about what had happened at the convention center. They wanted to know all the juicy details.

So did Sofia and Emil Balducci from the Kozy Kettle across the courtyard. Emil loved to gossip. With his broad Italian features, craggy brows, and shadowed dark eyes, he fancied himself quite a ladies man, unless Sofia was around.

“Did you see the body?” Sofia asked as she crossed herself. “God forbid you’re cursed by it like my Uncle Francesco. He saw them dig up a murdered man once and he was dead the next day.”

Peggy carefully smiled. Sofia could get a little upset when she openly laughed at some of her crazy curses and weird stories. The woman had one for everything that happened.

“I’ll be careful,” she promised Sofia.

“Why kill this man?” Emil asked. “He should’ve been carrying a Taser. I have one. Sofia does too. Show Peggy your Taser.”

Sofia ran back to the shop and brought her Taser. It was more like a cattle prod, almost two feet long.

“You could stun an elephant with that,” Selena said.

“You never know,” Sofia said darkly, waving the Taser in the air. “Did I ever tell you about my cousin Rafe, who was killed by a rogue elephant?”

Emil crossed himself. “It sat on him.”

Selena turned away to hide her laughter. Sam hurried to the back of the shop with a muttered excuse.

“So what are the police doing about this?” Emil asked Peggy. “When will they know who killed this poor man?”

“I don’t know yet. They’re doing the best they can. I’ll let you know if there’s an arrest.”

Sofia handed Peggy her Taser. “You should take this with you. There’s the curse, and my papa always said, where there’s one murder, there could be two.”

Chapter Six

Oregano

The first recorded usage of oregano was in ancient Greece. The plant’s use continued through the Middle Ages, and was considered a common spice to make bland foods more appetizing and disguise the taste of slightly spoiled meat. The plant was also used as a cure for rheumatism, toothache, and indigestion.

Peggy insisted she couldn’t accept the Taser. “I’d feel terrible if you were mugged leaving your place tonight.”

“She has me.” Emil pushed his fist against his wide chest. “You have a husband, but he’s never around. Would you like me to talk to him for you? A man should be there to protect his wife. It’s no good being a person who takes care of animals if you can’t take care of your family.”

Peggy didn’t plan to tell Emil about Steve’s FBI job. It was bad enough that he had managed to figure out so much about her life on his own. He might have more respect for Steve being a federal agent than he did thinking Steve was a veterinarian. She didn’t care. She certainly didn’t want to have that conversation with Emil and Sofia.

Tired but happy that the day was finally over, Peggy locked the front door to the garden shop as she left at five. Most of their business came in during the day when employees from banks and other offices around them went out for lunch. The Potting Shed was open banker hours, and the occasional Saturday morning.

Sam had come back with good news about Starr’s pond. She wanted him to replace the entire thing and start over. It would be an expensive, short-term project for him.

“I’ll lock up the back before I leave,” he said. “I want to go ahead and order everything for the pond today. See you tomorrow at the convention center.”

“Okay.”

“And Peggy?” Sam stopped her. “If you see anything out of the ordinary, look the other way. The flower show has to happen tomorrow, or it’s over.”

“Right. I won’t look at anything. Goodnight, Sam.”

Peggy walked out of The Potting Shed, dialing the taxi company for a ride home. She looked up and saw Steve leaning against the side of the car he’d received from the FBI. She smiled at him as she reached the wrought iron and brick gate that separated the courtyard from the street.

Looking at him made her realize that worrying about what could happen to him could ruin their relationship. She had to find a way to make peace with it.

“Excuse me.” A young woman wearing a blue scarf on her head approached Peggy. She was short, barely five feet. The scarf masked a great deal of her face.

“Can I help you?” Peggy asked.

“I am Tanya Abutto. You knew my father.” She sniffled a little as though she’d been crying. “I am desperate to talk to you regarding the return of his property.”

Peggy glanced at Steve who’d approached from the car. “In particular, a leather satchel, right?”

“Yes! Exactly. Are you in possession of it?”

“As I told another woman with your name earlier today, the police have everything that was found with your father. You’ll have to contact them.”

“There must be some mistake. I have never spoken to you.”

“I agree. But the other woman told me she was Tanya Abutto too. I know Tanya. Neither of you are her. My answer stays the same. All of Aris Abutto’s possessions are with the police. I’m sorry. You’ll have to talk to them.”

The young woman grew agitated. “You don’t realize how important the bag is. I must have it.”

“Is there a problem?” Steve interrupted.

With a muffled screech, the girl fled back through Latta Arcade, probably running down Tryon Street from there.

“I guess so.” Peggy turned from watching the girl to looking up at her husband. “I think I might need to speak with a law enforcement official.”

He put his arm around her. “I’m listening.”

Peggy told him about the strange appearance of the two women who both claimed to be Tanya Abutto. “They both thought I had his duffel bag—I’m guessing the one Reggie told me he took into the convention center with him.”

Steve opened the car door for her and closed it after she was inside. He got in on the driver’s side and started the engine. “Who’s Reggie?”

“The security guard at the gate. I wonder if Al talked to him.”

“Was there something special about the duffel bag?”

“Not besides the fact that it should have been with Aris. I think it’s possible that whoever killed him took the bag. He may even have been killed for what was in the bag.”

Steve laughed. “I like the way you take those broad leaps without any facts to back them up.”

“That’s not my job. Are you taking me out for dinner to make up for the shabby way you treated me today?”

“Shabby way I treated you?” He raised his eyebrows. “I was hoping you were taking
me
out to dinner for that reason.”

“I thought I acted professionally as a liaison figure between the flower show and the police. Besides, you didn’t tell me you were going to be there.”

“I didn’t know until you found the body of a dead orchid grower from South Africa and I got the call from Charlotte PD.”

“You could’ve texted me.”

Steve pulled the late model Ford over to the side of Providence Road. “You know that’s not possible, right? I’m sure John didn’t update you when he went out on a call. You know what to expect from this. You can handle it, Peggy, if you want to.”

Her head felt wooden. She stared at him, trying to find that peace she’d promised herself. He was the same man she had loved before she knew that his life could be in jeopardy. Nothing had changed.

Except that now she was afraid—wondering who would come and tell her when something happened to him.

“I want to,” she assured him. “I have to get past remembering the night John didn’t come home. Please don’t try and placate me that your job is safe, Steve. We both know better.”

He sighed and took her in his arms. “And you’re doing it again on this case, Peggy. Trying to figure it out without telling anyone else what you really know.”

“I don’t know anything that I haven’t told someone.”

“Except this thing about Tanya Abutto and the duffel bag? Does Al know about it? Maybe it would be best if we go and see him.”

Peggy touched his hand on the steering wheel. “I’m sorry. I’m trying to work it out. I wish I understood your job more. I’m sure you’re a very good FBI agent.”

“Thanks.” He headed back into traffic. “Peggy, there’s no way to assure you that nothing will happen to me, like it did to John. I can only promise to be careful and not to take any unnecessary risks.”

“I know.”

He laughed. “I wish you’d promise me the same thing. You don’t give a thought to putting yourself in harm’s way.”

“I don’t mean to.”

“That’s part of the not thinking aspect, I’m afraid.”

They were quiet for a few minutes while Steve maneuvered the car through heavy evening traffic. When they’d reached the police station where Al’s office was located, Steve parked and turned off the engine.

“I wasn’t trying to hold anything back,” she assured him.

“I know. You seem to be inspired by events around you.” He lightly touched her face. “People trust you and say things to you that they forget to say to the police. I’ve seen you at work.”

“Thanks, I think.” She smiled. “I help where I can.”

“That’s what scares me.” Steve took her hands. “My point is that I’m sorry you’re afraid. I wouldn’t have put this on you—except that I fell in love with this beautiful woman with the greenest eyes. I couldn’t go back after that.”

“Flattery will get you somewhere.”

“You know all my secrets now. I wish I’d been free to tell you sooner, but you were very involved with your Internet friend,
Nightflyer
. We suspected him of killing John. It was important for you to put on an innocent face. Your life could’ve been in danger if he’d guessed what was going on.”

Peggy wasn’t surprised by his words about
Nightflyer
. He’d partially explained about that right after she’d found out about him being with the FBI.

She’d met
Nightflyer
in an Internet chat room and they’d proceeded to spend a lot of time on the Internet, playing chess and sharing information. She still didn’t believe
Nightflyer
had killed John. He’d saved her life with his information more than once.