by Gilian Baker
I shot off an email to Magdalena Hanes, the company owner, right then, summarizing my business situation and asking for a consultation. There. Having that done felt like a load off. Armed with more information, I’d taken another step to make my business and life safe. Not a bad afternoon’s work, I’d say. I closed up shop and went downstairs, led by my nose and the yummy smell of homemade soup.
After stirring supper, I grabbed more iced tea and headed for the living room. It was time to call Liz and find out why she hadn’t shown up today. She answered in a harried tone. “Hello?”
“Hey, how’s it going?”
“Like compost, if you really want to know. I’m so sorry I missed our meeting with Gabby today, but I was tied up… at the sheriff’s station.”
“What? You were just there late yesterday. What could they have wanted so soon?”
“Hold on. Let me check on the kids. I don’t want them overhearing this.”
Settling on the couch to wait, I tried to get rid of the lump in my throat by taking a long drink of tea. It didn’t work.
“Okay, I’m back. They’re playing outside with a variety of balls all at once. It looks like they are making up their own game with enough complicated rules to rival cricket. So you know I don’t have too long before I hear shouting and tears.”
“I’m all ears, so don’t keep me in suspense. Let’s hear it before war breaks out between them.”
“Well, the pathologist now knows it was hemlock that killed her.”
“Wait, hemlock? Like, the stuff that killed Socrates? Who has hemlock sitting around? Who would want it around? Doesn’t everyone know it’s a poison?”
“Well… she could have been self-medicating with it. I wrote an article on modern-day uses for it several months ago. It was more of a science-is-funny type of post, and I tied it to an herbal remedies company I’m an affiliate with. I included a stern warning about its poisonous properties and a clear disclosure discouraging people from using it without the appropriate supervision. But it grows wild all around the state, so it’s easy to get ahold of, and since she’d bookmarked the post on her computer and had been fixating on me, they see a connection, which there is. She’d also made that recipe off the blog for supper that night, remember?”
“Haven’t they been able to track down the brother yet? Or find friends?”
“There’s still no answer at her brother’s house. Her doctor met with Ross’ deputy, but would only confirm that Connie was under his psychiatric care and no more. He must be afraid of being drawn into this nightmare, too.”
“So do you know what her mental condition was?”
“ Ross wouldn’t fully explain, for obvious reasons Sheryl didn’t know , but two of the conditions that hemlock is still used for are mania and anxiety, which are two sides of the same coin, aren’t they?”
“Is that where you’re getting all this information? From Sheryl Buchanan ?”
I’d known Sheryl all m y life. She was the town gossip who, just happened also to be the sheriff’s dispatcher a nd Girl Friday. He’d inherited her from his predecessor , and didn’t have the heart to let her go, even though he knew she talked more than she should about the goings on i n the sheriff’s station.
“Who else would have told me? Ross wouldn’t have, but I didn’t even need to ask Sheryl. She volu nteered it all once I dropped a hint.”
No surprise there. “ I think they can be, depending on the person. But since Well, anyway, you say you made it clear on the blog post you were relaying interesting information for educational and entertainment value , so , how can they think you would have anything to do with this? You’d be stupid to write an article on the subject and then turn around and kill someone with it. Surely they can see that.”
“I’m sure they do. They seem to see it as a big coincidence, but they have little else to go on. I’m all they have, at least until they talk to her brother. They are trying to get a court order to make the psychiatrist turn over his medical records, but that will take a few days. Until then, I’m the scapegoat.”
Liz took a long, deep breath before she continued. “I can’t blame Ross. He ’s only really is going on the information he has, but it’s making me a nervous wreck. Here I thought it was all over and then this crap hit the fan. It’s like Connie is still stalking me from beyond the grave. She’s having a ball watching me sweat. What better way to get at me than to have me jailed for her murder?”
“You’ve been watching too much Law and Order, Liz. That kind of thing doesn’t happen in real life. Ross will figure it out. And until he does, you know Christian and I will do whatever we can to help you and Ron out. In fact, have you had time to plan supper?”
“No, I figured I would text Ron to bring home chicken or something again. The kids will think Christmas has come early.” She chuckled, though it sounded like a pathetic attempt to be jolly.
“No, don’t do that. I have homemade chicken soup and a loaf of Millie’s crusty French bread to go with it. Why don’t I bring it over? You all could use a home-cooked meal you don’t have to make. It’s the perfect comfort food.”
When she started to argue, I cut her off and said I would be there in 30 minutes. “Thanks, Jade! I don’t know what I did to deserve you as a friend.” We hung up, but not before I heard Jennie claiming she hadn’t done it, whatever “it” was. I had to smile to myself. How many times had I heard that when Ellie had been young?
I went into the kitchen and rigged up the slow cooker to travel. Even though I was happy to save Liz from another tasteless takeout meal or worse yet, having to go into the kitchen to cook for her family after the day she’d had, I was already mourning the loss of the delicious meal I’d been looking forward to. Oh well. I could make it all again tomorrow.
Then I thought about the triple-layered chocolate cake. My heart sank. Should I take that too? Yes, I should. But I really, really didn’t want to! I wanted that cake, and I knew Christian would want it too.
I made a deal with myself. If there was enough Death by Chocolate ice cream in the freezer for both of us to have a big helping, I would give Liz the cake. After all I chided myself, she’d had a hellish day and deserved to have a luscious dessert she hadn’t had to slave over.
I grabbed the handle of the freezer, shut my eyes, hoping against hope that the ice cream would be gone so I could keep the cake in all good faith. I pulled the door open. The first thing I saw was the carton of ice cream. To my disgrace, I heard an automatic reflex of a moan come out of my mouth when I laid eyes on it. I picked it up. It was heavier than I had hoped. I opened the lid, already knowing I wouldn’t be enjoying the lovely cake tonight. Shoot!
Chapter Five
Of course, Christian was happy to have the pizza I’d picked up and ice cream for supper. He could eat that every night of the week if I’d let him. I didn’t even make a salad. Even though he didn’t know what he was missing out on, I still felt guilty enough about giving our meal away I decided making him eat a salad was unfair. Plus, making a salad would have meant chopping vegetables for a second time today. I figured we’d both live, and I would make up our veggie intake tomorrow.
After his stomach was full, he asked about my meeting with Gabby. I gave him a run-down of our conversation and what I had done to get the security ball rolling for us when I got home.
I also filled him in on Liz’s most recent trip to the sheriff’s station. We discussed the unbelievable situation for a while and then, both yawning, took our ice cream to bed. I thought I might toss and turn with all that churning around in my head, but as usual, the power of a well-plotted murder mystery before bed did the trick.
The next day was Saturday, but online entrepreneurs don’t observe banker’s hours. As I trudged up the stairs carrying a cup of strong English Breakfast, I thought of the scene in Downton Abbey when Maggie Smith’s character asks, “What’s a weekend?” Even though I was working on the weekend again, thinking of that scene always made me smile. I was still
sore from the impromptu bike ride, so once I’d booted up my computer, I did yoga stretches to loosen up in preparation for sitting at my desk all day.
By the time the sun was getting close to touching the mountains in the Western sky, I’d decided I’d done enough work and deserved a break… and what better way to spend down time than doing a little amateur sleuthing? Miss Marple would have done the same, had she lived in the age of the World Wide Web.
I Googled “hemlock” and spent a while reading about all of its amazing, and deadly, properties. I don’t think I would’ve had the courage to write about such a wicked plant on my blog, but then again, Liz and I are very different people serving very different audiences.
I learned hemlock has a long history as a medicinal cure for everything from cancerous ulcers to severe mania to bronchitis. The Greeks knew of its poisonous properties, since that’s what they’d made Socrates drink, but they’d also used it as a cure for various ailments. It seemed every part of the plant was poisonous, with the strongest concentration found in the leaves and seeds.
I also discovered the reason Connie had been unable to go or even call out for help. Hemlock attacks the motion center of the body first, causing paralysis and the inability to speak. She’d been able to make sounds, since her neighbor had heard horrendous noises coming from her townhouse. Even though she’d caused Liz so much trouble, I felt sorry for the woman, and even more so when I read further and learned that while the body is paralyzed, the mind still functions until just before death.
So Connie had been cognizant of what was going on, even though she could do nothing about it. Talk about a terrible way to go. It was hard for me to believe anyone could wish that death on anyone. If Connie had committed suicide with the intent of framing Liz for her “murder,” couldn’t she have found a less horrific way to do it?
Liz was right—when I went to her blog to see what she’d said in her hemlock post, she’d covered herself legally by stating in several places that this herbal remedy was deadly and that under no circumstances should people use it, or even grow it, since it was poisonous to many animals as well. And she also had warnings and disclaimers all over her site to keep her safe from any liability.
The article was fascinating; it went into the historical uses, including that it had been used in ancient times to put prisoners to death and even about what some highly skilled holistic practitioners today did with it. It was obvious the post had been written as a fun, informative piece, not as something Liz was recommending as being useful for the average person looking for an alternative cure for some ailment.
As I walked down the stairs to check on the identical supper I’d made yesterday, against my will, my thoughts turned to the chocolate cake I’d gifted Liz’s family last night. Glancing at the clock again, I calculated what was still on my to-do list for the day, the time I had left to complete said items before my work day was over and how badly I wanted that cake. After a short mental discussion with myself, I gave into temptation, even at the risk to my awaiting MIT list. I went back into town to replace that luscious cake.
***
The next few days were uneventful. Work got done and Crockpot slow cooker meals got made, and then eaten. It was nice to have things back to normal. I know many people find routine a real bore, but I work best that way. I guess I like to know what’s going to happen next.
The weather held, which meant my blooms were safe, and that I had an excuse to leave my desk and to go outside to garden—one of my favorite pursuits. There’s just something about growing my own veggies that makes me feel powerful in tune with nature . I was reveling in the sun shining on my face as I dug deep into the cool earth without a care in the world when a deep voice interrupted me.
“You don’t grow hemlock out here by any chance, do ya you , Jade?”
Startled, I jerked my head up so fast I almost tumbled over as I hunched down over my work.
“You scared me to death, Ross!”
He was having a good laugh at my expense, but below the laughter, there was unease. How could I begrudge a little laughter at my clumsiness when I looked up into his face and saw the deep, dark rings around his eyes?
“Sorry, Jade,” though he was still chuckling, “I thought you would hear that noisy muffler on the Range Rover. Been meaning to get it fixed for ages, but never seem to get around to it. Truly, I am sorry. D I d idn’t mean to sneak up on you.”
“Well, now that my heart’s restarted, I guess I should offer you a cup of coffee. What are you doing out our way?”
“Don’t mind if I do. I’m bushed.” He said, as W w e moved towards the back of the house together.
“Oh, I was out this way checking into a complaint and thought I’d drop off a tool I’d borrowed from Christian. I started a little DIY project at the homestead, but it looks like this case is gonna keep me too busy to finish it up for a while. Thought Christian might need it in the meantime.”
I told him to have a seat o sit on the porch while , and I got the coffee. Upon my return, I found Ross with his eyes closed, head back and mouth hanging open. I’d only been gone a few minutes, yet I could hear the even, deep breathing of approaching sleep.
I was tempted to go back into the kitchen and let him have a power nap since he looked so done-in. Just as I pivoted to head back into the kitchen with the tray, his eyes popped open, and he straightened up in his chair, as if he’d been caught misbehaving.
I recovered and set the refreshments on the table. We busied ourselves with the ceremony of preparing our coffee before he spoke. He took a deep breath as he fiddled with stirring his drink. “What is it Ross? Out with it.”
I just don’t know what to make of all of this mess with Connie Payne, Jade. Every time I think I’m onto something, it leads right back to Liz. It seems the harder I try to find another motive, the more walls I run into. In my heart I know Liz is just not capable of something like this, but I’ll be damned if I can find a better suspect.” The dark circles under his eyes suddenly now made more sense.
“Ross, all you can do is your job. Liz and Ron aren’t going to hold it against you that you had to bring her in a couple of times to get questions answered.”
“Unfortunately, Jade, it’s much more serious than that ,” he said, and then .” He took a big sip of hot coffee , as if he didn’t want to say what came next.
to avoid saying anything more.
“You’re kidding! That lady was nuts, and she lived around here long enough for people to know that! There has to be something you haven’t found yet.”
“Jade, the best scenario I can come up with is that the lady topped herself and made sure to get the last word by setting it up so that Liz would take the wrap. Everything points to Liz… everything . ! ”
“Well, that’s it then. It’s too easy. Someone’s framing Liz for Connie’s murder. Could it be murder?”
“Oh yeah. That’s the worst part about it. I said the best scenario was that Connie took her own life topped herself so Liz would be blamed. and did so in a way that implicated Liz. Well, t T he worst scenario is that Liz was at her wit’s end after Connie showed up at the kids’ school. The mama bear in her came out , and she took out the threat. Moms kill to protect their babes. Even Liz could kill if she had to protect to protect her kids.”
He rubbed his face with both hands . “What worries me is that I’m messing up the investigation because I don’t want Liz to be involved. It’s times like these when I wonder if bringing in someone from the outside would be better for everyone. It’s important to have a good working knowledge of the town and people in it when keeping the peace, but this time… I don’t know. It feels different. Deceptive . ‘ Course we’ve never had a murder here abouts, at least while I’ve been sheriff.” He sighed and took another big gulp of coffee. When he brought his mug down from his lips, I poured more into it without a word. This poor guy was run off his feet and needed some of my best Sumatra to get his gears going again.
“So
, have you found anyone who knew her well?”
“We know where she worked, and I’ve talked with the big boss. I’m heading out there this afternoon to take official statements from her supervisor him and her coworkers. She ’s worked at the same law firm as an executive secretary for 35 years. She worked for the owner’s father, and when he retired, she continued to work for his son, who now runs the business show . From what I gather, the father is still living in the same house he retired in. If I think it will be helpful, I’ll send someone out there to talk with him too. But she hasn’t worked for him for years, so it makes sense to start with the more current supervisor .”
“What about friends? Did the son her bo ss mention anyone she was ’s chummy with at work?” I was jotting down this information as Ross told it. I’m not sure what I would do with it later, but that was the way I tended to operate—I seem to listen better while I’ve got a pen in my hand. Guess the old habits of academia where you at least pretend to care about meaningless topics in every committee meeting you have to attend, were still engrained, though I could think of worse old habits to keep.
“ Nah. We found an address book, but and there ’s are only a few individuals listed few names in it . Most are for her doctor, dentist, plumbers, and stuff. Kinda sad when you think about it. Makes me want to take a look at mine to see if I will look that godforsaken when I kick.” He chuckled, though I knew he was serious. Being surrounded by death makes people question the way they live their lives.
“I’ve got my deputy, Doug, well, you know Doug, he was first on the scene, and I’ve got him making the rounds to visit the other folks in the book, so we’ll see. The owner of the law firm, or whatever he’s called, didn’t know much about the personnel side of things, but said we could speak with everyone there to see what we can learn. He was amicable friendly enough and understands what I need to do , but he sounded like a stuffed-shirt. Guess that goes with being a lawyer. He did say she was a great employee. Always on time, never took days off, was always cheerful and didn’t complain about doing extra work when it was necessary. Sounded like a totally different person than the one who could be being so cruel to Liz and her family.”
