Violets and Venom:: Book Two in the Black Orchid Mystery Series

by Pyper James

  “Can you tell me why you were here?”

  Vivica was taken aback by how official Johnathan, rather Sherriff Harper sounded.

  “Delivering flowers?” Vivica said it more like a question than a statement of fact and it raised Sherriff Harper’s eyebrow.

  “I don’t see no flowers. Do you see any flowers sheriff?” Gathright drilled.

  “I’ll ask the questions if you don’t mind, Bo,” Harper said, asserting his authority.

  “Not at all boss. You handle it,” Gathright agreed.

  “They have to be here somewhere,” Vivica ruminated. She knew without a doubt she had flowers in her hand when she knocked on the door. Vivica also knew she brought the flowers inside the Wyatt home. Naturally her eyes tracked the room again, looking for the tissue and plastic wrapped bouquet she prepared for her customer. There was nothing she could see from where she stood. As she looked around, so did the officers. Vivica took a step forward. Gathright put his hand on the butt of his revolver. Vivica saw it through widened eyes. She looked to Harper.

  “I’m just trying to find the flowers,” Vivica reasoned. Harper gave Gathright the signal to stand down, but Vivica didn’t breathe any easier and stopped all forward movement until Gathright complied. Checking in visually with Harper again and seeing him nod his approval, Vivica took a step forward. The cabinet she leaned on when she made the call to 911 impeded her ability to see the whole kitchen floor. Peeking around the corner, Vivica fully expected to see the bouquet, but it wasn’t there. Turning around, she looked confused. There was no way the flowers just disappeared. So, she didn’t scoot them out of sight when she backed up as she originally thought. Dumbfounded, Vivica stood there. The officers looked unconvinced as to her motive for being in the Wyatt home and Vivica sensed that. But Johnathan knew she delivered flowers, right?

  Vivica was miffed and getting a little frantic. Without the flowers, how could she explain her presence, especially for Gathright?

  If she didn’t move then when she backed up, maybe he kicked them backpedaling from the body?

  She didn’t wait to get permission to move this time. The eyes of the officers tracked her as she moved. Gathright wasn’t convinced letting the woman roam free was the best idea. The deputy was undecided as to whether she was a witness or a suspect. But he would follow his superior’s lead until there was a need to do otherwise. Bending down, Vivica looked under the table. That was the only place she thought to look that wasn’t out in the open. A smile appeared on her face as she spotted the plastic-wrapped bouquet.

  “There they are!” She exclaimed, reaching down and picking them up. Vivica cradled the flowers in her arm as she made her way over near the officers.

  “Okay,” Harper said, satisfied that there were at least flowers present. Gathright still looked at the witness suspiciously. “What time did you arrive?”

  “Hmm, the delivery was for 5:30, but I try to arrive a few minutes early,” Vivica replied. “I would say I got here about 5:15.”

  “What was the first thing you saw?”

  “Uh, the body?”

  Again, her reply sounded more like a question.

  “Nothing before that,” Harper clarified. “Was the back door opened or closed?” Maybe if he asked more specific questions, he would get clearer answers, Johnathan thought.

  “The door was closed for the most part; slightly cracked, not closed flush,” Vivica replied.

  “Was the body in that position when you came in?”

  “I didn’t touch it!” Vivica’s face scrunched. Why would she touch the body? Dumb question. Gathright scribbled something in his notebook, but Vivica couldn’t take her eyes off Johnathan. He was really treating her like he didn’t know her; asking questions he should have known the answer to.

  “Do I need a lawyer,” Vivica asked, clearly uneasy and agitated by the line of questions.

  “Why would you need to lawyer up,” Gathright challenged. “Did something wrong?”

  “Bo!”

  Hearing the sternness in Harper’s voice, Bo bowed his head and put up his hand, again acquiescing the floor to his superior.

  “We need to ask the questions, Vivica, uh, Ms. Meadows,” Harper corrected. “We need to get an idea of what happened.

  Vivica wasn’t buying it. He didn’t have to be so hard-edged about it. Folding her arms across her chest, Vivica stared at the sheriff. She didn’t like how this was going and Vivica didn’t want Johnathan to have any doubts about that. The sheriff couldn’t let on that he knew the witness, personally, intimately. It probably wasn’t a good idea to be interviewing his ex. The only other option, though was Bo. Johnathan wasn’t willing to let Gathright handle it. He was like a hungry Pitbull on a leash whether it was jaywalking or suspicion of stealing a donut. With a case like this, Johnathan knew Bo would go overboard. He didn’t want to do that to Vivica.

  Taking a deep breath, Harper tried to check his tone to be less interrogating and more inquiring. The Johnathan side of the sheriff offered an ‘I’m sorry’ smile. Vivica’s turned up lip said she wasn’t going for it. Sighing heavily at his failings, Sheriff Harper continued.

  “How do you know Princeton Wyatt?”

  “He called me to deliver flowers.” Vivica offered nothing else. She just wanted the questioning to be over as fast as possible.

  “Is there anything you remember; noises, sounds, smells that seemed out of the ordinary?”

  “No.”

  “Was anyone else in the house or around the house when you arrived?”

  Vivica paused. She never considered that she wasn’t alone in the house with Mr. Wyatt. That thought shook her. It was frightening to think the killer could have still been there.

  “Did you guys check?”

  Although Harper figured it was pointless now, considering the sirens and blaring horns, he gave Gathright the nod to give the house a once-over.

  “Now? You’re doing this now?” Vivica scoffed.

  Johnathan waited until the deputy exited and he heard Gathright moving in the front area of the house.

  “Listen, Vivica, I’m sorry,” Johnathan offered, moving cautiously towards her. He knew the look; the one she was giving him right now. She was not to be messed with when she had the look. But he had to try; to help her understand his position. “If Gathright knew our history, he could get the wrong impression. Think I’m not doing my job by going easy on you. Make sense?”

  “You know I had nothing to do with this sheriff,” Vivica quipped. “I’m not asking you to go easy on me, but you don’t have to be mean either.”

  Their eyes connected in such a way that reminded Vivica of the old Johnathan. Her edges began to soften until Gathright interrupted.

  “House is clear, boss,” he announced proudly. Their gaze was broken and Vivica went back to folded arms.

  Defeated, Sheriff Harper resumed. “Thanks, Gathright. I just have one more question Ms. Meadows.” Now Harper was the one who wanted this part of the process to be over.

  “How did you know to come to the back door?”

  “Really?” Vivica questioned. “You didn’t see the sign by the front door that clearly read, come to the back door?”

  “No, must have missed that,” Gathright snickered. Harper was embarrassed.

  “Thank you, Ms. Meadows. You have been most helpful. We may have more questions later, but for now, you are free to go.”

  Turning on her heels, Vivica moved quickly to the back door. She just wanted to get out of there; out of the house and away from Sheriff Harper and his buffoon of a deputy. Still cradling the petunias in her hand, Vivica bounded down the back stairs and headed for the driveway towards the front of the house. Vivica moved with such intent, she scarcely heard the thud of footsteps behind her.

  “Vivica!”

  Johnathan trotted behind her trying to catch up. Vivica continued to walk with determination. All she wanted was to get on her bike and go back to her aunt’s bed and breakfast. The faster she go
t away from the Wyatt estate, the better.

  “Vivica,” Johnathan called again, catching up and placing a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to stop her. The sight of people standing at the edge of the driveway and more near the mailbox caused the sheriff to drop his hold. Vivica’s paced slowed some as she saw the bystanders, whispering and wondering. But the halt in her step didn’t last long. She didn’t want to be the spectacle of anyone’s curiosity.

  She made it to her bike before he could get to her. The questions from those standing around started immediately.

  “Sheriff, what happened?”

  “Is someone hurt?”

  “What happened to Princeton?”

  As sheriff of Dahlonega, Johnathan was duty bound to answer their questions as diplomatically as possible and try to assuage their concerns. Looking over his shoulder, Johnathan saw Vivica pedaling down the road with the bouquet of petunias in her basket.

  Chapter Three

  The further away from the Wyatt home and the closer she got to the Mulberry Grove Bed and Breakfast, the faster Vivica pedaled. There were too many emotions coursing through her; providing the same kind of energy kick as pure unadulterated adrenaline. The smell of grapes on the vine let Vivica know she was close. She pedaled on, doing her best to put distance to thoughts of Princeton Wyatt, the coroner and the first responders; especially Gathright and Harper.

  When she heard Maximus barking, Vivica started to smile and then relax some. Once she reached the circular driveway of the B&B, Vivica sighed. She was glad to be home. Parking her bike against the side of the house, Vivica grabbed the bouquet from her basket and walked up the stairs. Max, Vivica’s basset hound, waited on the porch for her. The swift wag of Max’s tail made Vivica feel like everything would be alright. They greeted each other; Maximus standing on his short front legs balancing on Vivica’s.

  “Good to see you, Max,” Vivica said, patting the pup on the head. Once Maximus had enough loving and planted his front paw back on the porch, Vivica made her way to the door. Thankfully, when Vivica entered the lobby it was empty except for Boris, Auntie Mildred’s cat.

  “Hey there, Boris,” Vivica said, acknowledging the feline’s presence. Boris didn’t so much as lift a furry eyebrow as she passed through the lobby to the back of the house. Vivica wanted something to drink and she wanted to decompress. That was all. As Vivica neared the kitchen she heard a familiar sound that again eased some of the tension she felt. Auntie Mildred was humming and padding around the kitchen as she often did. Vivica leaned on the doorjamb and watched her aunt, humming and swaying her hips as she stirred a pot of something that smelled amazing on the stove. Vivica had been concerned about a fall her aunt had taken before she arrived, but by the looks of her today, auntie was feeling pretty good. It was great to see her aunt in such high spirits.

  “Hi Auntie,” Vivica called from the door.

  The humming and hip swaying stopped as Mildred momentarily froze at the stove before turning around. The embarrassed smile Mildred wore quickly faded, turning into laughter. Vivica found herself joining in as she made her way over to where her aunt stood and gave her a hug. Mildred received her niece with open arms. She was still glad Vivica decided to come home, and from the looks of things, her niece was staying. Being in her aunt’s arms made Vivica feel safe. All the crazy of the day; the mixed bag of emotions, and the highs and lows were abated by the warmth of a genuine hug. Vivica held on extra tight and extra-long.

  “Everything okay, honey?”

  Mildred’s niece was quiet but still held on for dear life. Mildred didn’t have to ask again once she felt Vivica’s body begin to shake and her niece begin to cry. Mildred held Vivica. Obviously, Vivica needed the hug more than any words Mildred could say at the moment. And her auntie was right. Everything that happened knocked Vivica off the square she thought she was building in re-establishing herself; who she was, what her purpose was. In the recesses of her mind, seeing Mr. Wyatt helpless, lifeless, reminded Vivica of her parents. And too, Vivica realized just how powerless she was to help Princeton or her parents. That truth deepened the emotions that poured from Vivica and she cried woeful tears.

  The two women stood together, one emoting, one comforting. When Vivica released the grip, she had on her aunt, Mildred pulled back only enough so she could see her niece and speak to her. Vivica was troubled. Mildred wanted to do as much for her as she could.

  “What in the world happened, Vivica?” Concern was etched on Mildred’s face.

  Vivica wasn’t immediately able to articulate everything she wanted to say. Her heart raced and felt weighted down simultaneously. She was fearful and frightened, yet felt she was in a safe place. Still words to describe her experience escaped her. Mildred was patient. She could see Vivica struggling to formulate what it was she had to say, from the distant expression in her niece’s eyes to the wringing of Vivica’s hands.

  “Did something happen with the delivery? It wasn’t that God awful Cindy Rose was it? Because if it was, I have a mind to go over there and give her the what’s what!”

  Mildred reached behind her to untie the apron she wore. She had had just about enough of the Rainier girl tormenting Vivica. And for what? There were some things Mildred could stand, but Cindy Rose Rainier was not one of them.

  “No, auntie, it wasn’t Cindy,” Vivica sighed.

  “Then what is it?” Mildred asked. “Tell me so I can try and help you.”

  With a deep sigh, Vivica leaned against the kitchen island.

  “My customer is dead.”

  “What?” Mildred couldn’t have heard what she thought she heard.

  “My delivery customer is dead.”

  Mildred was aghast. Her eyes were wider than saucers and she couldn’t quite close her mouth.

  “What do you mean the customer is dead, Vivica?” ow Mildred was the one who needed something to hold her up. Pacing a few steps forward, Mildred found a seat at the kitchen island. Vivica turned in her aunt’s direction.

  “I should have said, was dead.”

  Even though Vivica offered that clarification, Mildred still looked mortified and confused.

  “When I arrived at the customer’s house, I found him dead.”

  “Vivica, how dreadful. I’m so sorry, dear.”

  “I was scared to death seeing that poor man like that.” The initial feeling of seeing Mr. Wyatt began to resurface.

  “I can only imagine, Vivica. That had to be terrifying.”

  “It was,” Vivica began. “I’m just glad to be away from that whole thing.”

  “I’m sure,” Mildred replied. “You mention that your customer was a him. Do you know who it was?”

  “Princeton Wyatt.”

  “Oh goodness,” Mildred exclaimed. “Dear Mr. Wyatt, I knew him well.”

  “How’d you know him, auntie?”

  “Well, when you’ve lived in Dahlonega as long as I have, it’s easy to know everyone.”

  “Did he have a wife, children?”

  Mildred thought back. “Mr. Wyatt did have a wife; Doris I think her name was. I didn’t see her as often as I saw Princeton, which was often at all,” Mildred began. “Unfortunately, she passed away a few years ago. I do recall they had a son, Princeton II. I don’t think he still lives here.”

  “That’s so sad. I feel so bad for him. Losing a parent like that can be hard I would know,” Vivica added.

  Mildred agreed with her niece, but she was also curious. “You think Princeton died of natural causes? Was it an accident?”

  “Unfortunately, not,” Vivica replied. “It was murder.”

  Mildred clutched her pearls. “Murder? Here in Dahlonega? Are you sure?”

  The question was rhetorical and really didn’t require a response from Vivica. She understood. Had she not been there herself, Vivica’s response would have been much the same. When she was in the big city, murder was as common as changes in the weather. But here in small-town Dahlonega, it was a foreign concept, thankfully.


  “I’m sure,” Vivica replied. “There was a hypodermic needle sticking out of his neck.”

  “My word,” Mildred fretted. “That’s just awful.”

  “What made it worse was being interrogated by my ex,” Vivica bemoaned.

  “Johnathan?”

  “Yep, Sheriff Johnathan Harper.”

  “I’m sure he meant no harm, dear.”

  “Sure, felt like he did.”

  “He had a job to do,” Mildred asserted. “I’m sure you understand that.”

  “I do, but he didn’t have to do it at my expense.” A slight pout came to Vivica’s lips.

  Hearing about Princeton was unsettling for Mildred.

  “Who would want to hurt Princeton Wyatt,” she pondered aloud.

  “That’s what I want to know, too.”

  It didn’t take long for word of Mr. Wyatt’s untimely demise to spread like wildfire through Dahlonega. And with the word of Princeton’s death was the mention of Vivica Meadows. Although Vivica knew the truth of the situation, it didn’t stop others from speculating as to why she was there. Vivica noticed it almost immediately; the glaring stares, whispers between town gossips, the fake smile when their eyes met Vivica’s. But just as some of the town folks were curious about her, Vivica grew more and more curious about what actually happened to Mr. Wyatt and why? Who had a motive to hurt an old man?

  The only place to get information was from Johnathan. Vivica was sure he was too busy playing cops and robbers to entertain her questions. He seemed to have been far too interested in questioning her. Vivica had no interest in talking to the sheriff now. Vivica didn’t know the coroner. He would have the factual information; the scientific information. But Vivica didn’t know Coroner Mitchell, outside of their most recent isolated encounter. Even then, he didn’t even acknowledge the fact that Vivica was in the room. So, how was she going to get information, especially if some of those in the town had questions about her?