Pretty Poison (18 page)

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Authors: JOYCE AND JIM LAVENE

BOOK: Pretty Poison
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When John died, her sister told her she’d find someone else. At the time, she was horrified. Yet here she was, only two years later, thinking about another man. It defied her sense of logic. But she couldn’t argue with the emotions pumping through her body.
Lunch was there when she got back. She determined between the bathroom and the table that she wasn’t going to sit there like a block of wood. She sat down, smiled at Steve, and asked him about his veterinary practice.
He looked surprised but played along. “It’s slow. I knew it would be. Starting over in a new town isn’t easy. But I like being here. I think it’ll work out.”
“Did Emma bring her cat to you? That kind of thing could get you in with a large group of people. They all use the same housekeepers, landscapers, and vets.”
“She brought the cat.” He sipped his coffee. “Unfortunately, it died. I don’t know if that’s going to get me in anywhere.”
“That’s too bad. But if you hang in there, I’m sure things will work out.”
“Speaking of animals, which seems to be a safe subject,” he teased, “how’s that big horse of a dog doing?”
Peggy told him about the owner coming to get the dog. “There wasn’t anything I could do to save the poor creature. He looked at me so pitifully, slobbering and pathetic.”
“The man or the dog?”
She was laughing at his words when she saw Paul. He was walking by the restaurant, going toward Founder’s Hall. When he saw her, he stopped and stared, then went to the door. She wished they’d chosen a spot at the back of the restaurant. This whole thing with Steve was too new for her to defend.
She
wasn’t even sure what she was doing.
“Isn’t that your son?” Steve asked when he saw Paul walk in.
“Yes. Do you suppose it’s too late to hide?”
“Why? Are you embarrassed to be with me?”
“Of course not,” she denied, then recapitulated. “I was brought up in a very Southern, conservative family. We don’t get embarrassed. We’re
uncertain.
”
They were both laughing when Paul stalked up to their table. “Mom.”
“Paul.” Peggy’s tone was defiant. She was too old to be shamed by her son.
Paul stared at Steve but didn’t speak to him.
Steve wasn’t happy with the situation and got to his feet. “Would you like to join us?”
“I don’t think so.”
“We weren’t really introduced the other day. I’m Dr. Steve Newsome. I’m a veterinarian. I live a few doors down from your mother.”
Paul ignored Steve’s outstretched hand. “I’m her son. I could live at home with her again anytime I want to.”
Peggy didn’t know whether to laugh at him or spank him. She wished the latter were possible. “Paul, was there something you wanted?”
“No, I guess not. I saw Al this morning. He told me you were running around town asking people questions about Mark Warner. I hope he impressed on you that this is
police
business.”
“He did. But thanks for asking.”
“Mom—” Paul began to speak but didn’t finish. “I’ll talk to you later. When you’re
alone
.”
“Nice to see you again,” Steve said as Paul left.
“Sorry. He’s a little overprotective sometimes. When he isn’t totally ignoring me.”
“Kids, huh? I’m glad I was never one of them.” Steve glanced at her untouched lunch. “Would you like to go?”
“No. I’m fine. Paul will have to get over himself. As for that part about him living at home again . . .”
“We could always sneak over to my place.” He smiled at her, then took a bite of his honey-baked ham on rye.
Peggy’s toes curled in her shoes. She ate some of her green beans, forcing them down her throat with a large swallow of tea.
“So what’s this about you getting in trouble for investigating Warner’s murder?”
Peggy was glad to tell him about it. Talking about the case kept her mind away from disturbing images of meeting Steve in her garden at midnight. She told him most of what she knew without mentioning Keeley.
“Wow! You
are
involved. Who do you think did it if it wasn’t your homeless friend?”
“I suppose that’s the bad part,” she confessed. “I don’t have any idea. But there are plenty of other suspects. That’s good for Mr. Cheever but bad for the police and Julie Warner. It’s terrible not knowing who killed someone you loved.”
“You talk like you have personal experience with it.”
She explained briefly about John’s death. “This late in the game, we’ll probably never find the man who killed him.”
“I’m sorry. No wonder your son doesn’t like me.”
They finished eating and walked out into the sunshine. Tryon Street was congested with traffic. There was an accident waiting to be cleaned up right outside Latta Arcade.
“I guess I’ll just walk across to the shop,” Peggy said, feeling awkward again.
“Is that where the infamous Potting Shed is? I’ve never been inside Latta Arcade.”
“Really?” She took a deep breath, then slipped her arm through his. “I guess I’ll have to introduce you then.”
She told him about the history of the Arcade as they walked through it to reach Brevard Court. Without pausing for breath, she pushed open the door to her shop and walked inside. It was busy with lunchtime traffic, shoppers loading up on fall planting specials.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Selena said from behind the counter with ten customers in line. “I can use the help.”
“Would you mind?” Peggy asked Steve. “I need to help her get caught up.”
“No, that’s fine. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Yes,” Selena answered. “This gentleman wants a hundred-pound bag of potting soil. His car is parked in back.”
Peggy frowned. “You don’t need to do that, Steve.”
“No problem,” he answered. “Where’s the potting soil?”
Selena grinned at Peggy after showing Steve the back storage area. “Who’s
he
?”
“Never mind,” Peggy answered, ringing up the next customer in line. “Just don’t ever do
that
again!”
“Hey, if he likes you, he better like your shop, right?”
Peggy didn’t answer. When Selena was caught up, she walked back to the loading dock to find Steve helping another customer with a fifty-pound bag of bird food. The woman waved as she pulled away from the loading area.
“Thanks for your help,” Peggy said, embarrassed. “I didn’t expect you to do this.”
“Not a problem. Are you free for dinner tonight?”
“Not really. I have so much to do. Tests to grade. My experiments are at a critical point.”
“Just don’t tell me you have to wash your hair.”
She stared at him. “I’m sorry. I might need a little time. I wasn’t expecting this to happen.”
“Take all you like. I’m not going anywhere.” He kissed her lightly on the lips.
A sharply indrawn breath followed by a wild whooping noise caught their attention. Steve slipped his arm around Peggy as they faced the back door.
Sam ran out laughing. “Wow! Peggy’s got a boyfriend.”
“Sam, this is Steve Newsome. He’s a veterinarian who lives a few doors down from me,” Peggy introduced them. “Steve, this is Sam Ollson. He’s going to be a doctor someday. Right now, he works for me.”
“Nice to meet you.” Sam shook Steve’s hand. “Make sure you get her in by ten, or I’ll be out with my shotgun.”
“That’s not funny,” she told him. “We just saw Paul.”
“Right. He’s
really
got a shotgun.”
Peggy didn’t laugh. “What are you doing here? I thought you had classes today.”
“I did. But I couldn’t get you on your cell phone.” Sam waggled his eyebrows. “Have you heard the news yet?”
“We were having lunch,” she said. “What news?”
“Keeley turned herself in to the police. She all but told them she killed Mark Warner.”
9
Blackberry
Botanical:
Rubus fruticosus
Family:
Rosaceae
Common Names:
Blackberry, dewberry
In France, it was believed the color of the fruit turned black when the devil spat on it. In England, it was bad luck to pick the fruit after Old Michaelmas Day, October 11. Brambles of blackberry were planted around graves to prevent the dead from rising as ghosts.
PEGGY AND HUNTER’S FRIEND, JANICE,another attorney, met Lenore at the downtown precinct. After Keeley’s announcement to the press about her involvement with Mark Warner, she turned herself in to the police. Al and Jonas had been questioning her since then.
“Thank God you could come.” Keeley’s mother ran to Peggy and hugged her. “I haven’t even had a chance to deal with this pregnancy issue. Now this! I feel like I don’t know my own daughter anymore.”
Peggy introduced Janice to Lenore. “What is Keeley telling them?”
Lenore shrugged. “I don’t know. Why did she think she had to do this? Wasn’t the rest of it bad enough?”
“I think I know why she did it,” Peggy said. “It’s my fault. I talked to her about Mr. Cheever going to jail for the rest of his life. I didn’t know she’d do anything like this.”
“You knew what a fragile state of mind she was in.” Lenore moved away from her. “How could you do this? What if they arrest her for murder? Did you want to save your friend and doom my daughter to a lifetime in prison?”
“Lenore,” Peggy tried to reason with her, “you know I think of Keeley as a daughter. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her.”
“Then why did you tell her to turn herself in to the police?”
Janice took over, hushing them as a few officers passed coming into the station. “We have to stick together here, ladies. Let’s not assume the worst at this point. I’ll go in there and see what’s going on.”
Lenore nodded, crying.
“Thanks, Janice.” Peggy went to Lenore and put her arms around her. “We’ll wait here until you come out.”
The police parking lot was starting to fill up with vans from the major local news stations. Peggy could see them setting up from the window. The reporters weren’t allowed in the precinct, but they’d be waiting when they came out. Lenore excused herself and went to the rest room. Peggy put her pocketbook on the chair beside her to save her place.
She felt completely responsible for Keeley’s ill-advised confession. She should’ve waited to talk to her until she was out of the hospital. Losing a baby wasn’t an easy thing. She should’ve taken that into consideration. She was so eager to find a way to save Mr. Cheever that she might have done something that would cost Keeley dearly.
“Hi, Peggy.” Mai walked into the station. “How are you? Are you here about the new development in the Warner case?”
Peggy explained what happened. “Are you here because of Keeley?”
“Hardly. Nothing moves that fast around here. I’m working on another case.” Mai held up her digital camera. “It’s a simple break-in over on the north side. I hope you aren’t expecting to see your friend.”
“No. I brought a lawyer for her. And I’m here with her mother.” Peggy introduced Lenore as she joined them. “But if you have any information you can give us, we’d appreciate it.”
Mai nodded, the light shining on her silky black hair. “I’ll see what I can do. Just don’t expect too much. No one is going to like this case blowing up in their face.”
Al and Jonas came out of the side door, passing Mai on her way to her office. The station was crowded with officers and other personnel. Reporters watched anxiously, peeking in every time the outside door opened.
“You!” Jonas focused on Peggy, the frown on his face becoming darker. “Did you have something to do with this?”
“Only minimally,” she answered. “I’m sorry it isn’t going well for you. I think the case is much more complicated than you’re giving it credit for. There’s more involved than just a homeless man looking for new shoes.”
“You know, I really like you, Peggy. On a personal level. But professionally, I wish you’d go home and make some tea or something. Quit messing around with my investigation. I thought Al made it clear. But I guess when it comes to you, Al is fluff.”
“Lieutenant!” Al protested. “I did what you asked. She didn’t tell me she knew about this girl.”
“Well it’s too late now. The whole damned city knows. We have to do some damage control to save our butts.”
“What about Keeley?” Peggy demanded. “What’s going to happen to her?”
Jonas smiled nastily. “Maybe she could take your friend’s place in jail. How would that be?”
Peggy didn’t back down from him. “I think you need a colonic. You sound a little backed up to me. I have just the thing. I could run home and get it for you.”
He looked puzzled for a moment, then shook his head. “Go home. Leave the police work to us. No tonic or witch’s brew is going to help this situation.”
Janice emerged from the inner door. “My client is ready to speak with you again, Lieutenant.”
Lenore grabbed her arm before she could follow the two detectives back to where they were holding her daughter. “Money is no object, Janice. Please save my daughter.”

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