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

by Pyper James

  “Mitchell! You’re the man,” Harper replied.

  “Of course, Brown Mitchell said. “We all know that!”

  The two officers left the building and made the short walk back.

  “That’s a start,” Gathright said. “What next boss?”

  “I have an idea about what may have startled the killer.”

  “And what do you want me to do?”

  “Go to Mr. Wyatt’s neighborhood. Talk to a few of them. See what you can learn, Bo.”

  “Will do, boss, will do.”

  Gathright had the easy part. Johnathan still faced an uphill battle, but he had to try.

  Once back in the office, Johnathan sat behind the sheriff’s desk and looked at the telephone. He needed to speak to Vivica, but he wasn’t sure how to go about it. Calling was kind of impersonal, but it was the safest. If Vivica rejected the offer, then he wouldn’t have to take the rejection in person. He could try and find Vivica, to speak with her in person. That would certainly be more personal than a call. At the same time, Vivica may feel put upon, boxed in and reject him because of that. Neither option was ideal, Johnathan thought, but he had to do something. And then he had an idea. It might not work but he figured safety was in numbers.

  Picking up his cell phone and avoiding the officiality of the office phone, Johnathan shot Vivica a quick text message.

  Feeling the phone buzz to life in her pocket, Vivica took off her dirt-covered gardening gloves to check the message.

  Seeing who the text was from, Vivica rolled her eyes and considered not opening it.

  “What do you think guys? Should I see what the sheriff wants?”

  Her question nearly landed on deaf ears. It wasn’t like Boris and max could really respond. Besides, they were too busy napping in the afternoon sun to be concerned about Vivica and her phone.

  What the heck,” she muttered aloud as she tapped the icon on the cell bringing the message to the screen.

  I know I am the last person you want to hear from, but if I ever meant anything to you, meet me at the corner café in one hour. Please…

  “That is such a low blow Johnathan Michael Harper,” Vivica quipped. “Leaning on my old feelings for him. Can you believe that Maximus?”

  Not like I have feelings for him now.

  Closing the message, Vivica dawned her rubber gloves again and finished working on the row of hyacinth she planted in the fall. The soil needed to be fertile, so the flowers would bloom in the spring. That was one of the things Vivica most liked about flowers, their predictability. If you followed the planting schedule and made sure to plant in the right area and attend to the soil, nine times out of ten, the flowers would bloom right on schedule. But then, the garden always offered interesting surprises; flowers that grew where they had not been planted, or surprise flowers that the gardener didn’t remember planting. Of course, there were challenges; weeds, and pests and other things that threatened the garden. Yet, there was always the faith that with the right preparation, things would always come to fruition as planned.

  Johnathan waited to get a response from Vivica. He tried to focus on other things and answering calls from concerned citizens did help take his mind off things momentarily. But in between fielding calls, Johnathan’s eyes always returned to the cell phone, looking for the text that said Vivica replied.

  Deputy Gathright knocked on more doors than he cared to remember, and everyone he spoke to had the same things to say; Princeton Wyatt was such a nice man. They couldn’t think of anyone who would want to hurt him. And that was all well and good, but that kind of information did nothing for helping their case. Princeton had to have had beef with someone, pissed somebody off, otherwise, there would be no reason to kill him. Gathright might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but given the crime scene, the person that killed Wyatt wasn’t a stranger. There wasn’t enough of a mess for that. The house wasn’t broken into and there was nothing disturbed. That could only mean that whoever Mr. Wyatt opened the door too, he knew, personally. There were only a few more houses on Mr. Wyatt’s immediate street Gathright hadn’t been to. He would knock on those doors and hopefully, one of his neighbors would give him a clue.

  It was 12:50. Sheriff Harper sat at a café table directly in front of the picture window. Vivica had not responded to his original text and he was too hurt or maybe stubborn to send another. His actions were contradictory to not sending another message, but Johnathan still held out hope that Vivica would show up. At least he hoped she would. The hands on his wristwatch moved slowly; seconds ticking away like hours. He tried not to look anxious, but he certainly felt that way. The waitress, Cynthia, had been to his table three times since he originally sat down. Each time, Cynthia asked if he was ready to order, and each time, Johnathan replied the same way. “I’m waiting for someone.”

  12:57. It wasn’t looking good. Johnathan considered himself foolish. What if Vivica didn’t get the text message? It meant he was sitting there for nothing. But, it also meant that she hadn’t overtly rejected him. That was the only upside. Still, Johnathan was anxious. He wanted to talk to Vivica; have a chance to smooth things out. If she didn’t show up, for whatever reason, Johnathan would have to come up with another way to try and reach her. He smoothed out the red and white checkered tablecloth that wrinkled under his elbows, as the clock struck one. And then it was five after and still no sign of Vivica Meadows.

  Reaching into his pants pocket, Johnathan pulled out his billfold. He would leave a tip for Cynthia even though he never ordered anything. It was the least he could do for occupying her table. Johnathan stood up, placing the wallet back in his pocket and making his way towards the café door. Today had been a bust. All he could do now was go back to the office and see if Gathright made any headway on his end.

  “Leaving so soon?”

  A smile etched across Johnathan’s lips as he turned to find Vivica Meadows standing behind him. Her phoenix blazing red hair blew gently in the soft breeze. She was as beautiful as he ever remembered. The smile remained on his lips as he padded his way towards her. Vivica found Johnathan’ smile as disarming as the first time she saw him in their high school hallway. His smile was not contained by his lips. When Johnathan smiled, his entire face smiled; especially his eyes. She had come fully prepared to make him work to apologize and then hit him with the suggestion that he let her in on the case to truly make amends. But that smile…

  Chapter Six

  “You’re late.”

  “Fashionably,” Vivica replied. “You’re lucky I even came considering that emotionally blackmail laden text message you sent.”

  “Too heavy-handed,” Johnathan asked.

  “A bit,” Vivica replied. “But I couldn’t resist the opportunity to see you grovel, now could I?”

  “I had no plans on groveling,” Johnathan declared.

  “No?” Vivica challenged.

  “Well, not a lot.”

  “Maybe I should just go back where I came from,” Vivica teased.

  “Come on, Vivica,” Johnathan urged. “I tried to apologize before, but I am willing to do it again if that makes things better between us. It’s just the job,” Johnathan reasoned.

  “I understand that some things are a part of the job, Johnathan, but the way you questioned me? I felt like a suspect instead of a witness. You made me feel that way.”

  “That’s why I’m apologizing, Vivica. I thought I was doing the right thing, trying to gather as much information as possible as quick as possible.”

  They stood face to face, practically toe to toe. Johnathan searched Vivica’s eyes for understanding and she searched his eyes for a reason to believe him.

  “Walk with me,” Johnathan asked.

  “I guess since I came all this way,” Vivica snarked.

  Johnathan couldn’t ask for more than that. The two strolled along down the town’s main street.

  “So how much information have you gathered,” Vivica asked. She didn’t want to blurt o
ut her true intentions until she was convinced that Johnathan no longer suspected her. He wouldn’t very well allow his lead suspect to aid in the case. Even though Vivica was no cop, she knew that would be a breach of every police procedure imaginable.

  “Not a lot, unfortunately. It’s still early in the case though.”

  “I understand that if a crime is to be solved, the first 48 hours are the most important,” Vivica said.

  “How do you know that,” Johnathan inquired.

  “Law and Order reruns,” Vivica admitted. “Sometimes it was the only thing on when I got off late nights.”

  “What was it you did again in the big city?”

  “I did all kinds of things, and none of them important,” Vivica admitted embarrassedly.

  “Still, you stayed away a long time for nothing important.”

  Vivica could feel that old familiar feeling again. Johnathan had that kind of effect on her, which was part of the reason she stayed away as long as she did. Vivica would never confess that to Johnathan, well not at the moment.

  “We were talking about the case,” Vivica redirected.

  “Oh yes, the case,” Johnathan echoed. “You were telling me about the importance of the first 48 hours.”

  “Yes, that’s what all the cop shows said. After 48 hours, witnesses begin to forget things; not remembering exact facts but what they think the police want to know. The suspect, the real suspect, has an opportunity to distance themselves from the crime, making it harder for the police to track them down.”

  “Well, it appears television is very informative.”

  “Mmhmm.”

  The duo walked a little farther, looking in store windows and speaking to the people they passed along the way. It was nice; they both thought separately.”

  So, if I understand correctly, there are only the two of you that make up the whole Dahlonega Police Department?”

  “That would be correct, Bo and me.”

  “Interesting,” Vivica replied. “And to have such a difficult case,” Vivica mused; laying the foundation for her plan.

  “Yes, it is interesting. The last murder on record in Dahlonega was decades ago,” Johnathan informed.

  “Well before you became a police officer, is that right?”

  “Yes, you are right again,” Johnathan admitted. “Which is probably why I fumbled your interview.”

  “Interrogation,” Vivica corrected.

  “Is that what it felt like to you?” Johnathan asked.

  “Yes, Johnathan, that’s exactly what it felt like. I felt like a suspect.”

  Johnathan stopped walking.

  “That was not my intention, Vivica. It was the pressure of trying to do just what the police shows said. The first 48 hours are the most important. And that time is just about up.”

  “Sounds like the Dahlonega Police Department could use some help,” Vivica suggested.

  They resumed walking.

  “I guess I could contact a neighboring police department for some assistance,” Johnathan considered.

  “You could do that,” Vivica replied. “But what if they are too busy to help though?”

  “Something to consider,” Johnathan agreed. “I hate to admit it, but it could be embarrassing to have to ask for help like that.”

  “Or it could be a sign of strength.”

  “True, but I’d rather not have to go that route if I can avoid it.”

  Vivica understood. Johnathan had always been proud, but not prideful. His honesty showed he matured over the years.

  “Where does that leave your department if you don’t seek help from other forces?”

  “At square one,” Johnathan muttered. Truth be told, Johnathan wasn’t sure exactly how to proceed. He’d never handled a murder case before. This case would test everything he knew about being an officer. All Johnathan could hope is that he was up to the challenge. But Vivica made a good point. Although he hated to admit it, Bo wasn’t really much help, not with the technical stuff. He could do the grunt work but that might not be enough to positively affect the case.

  “You still haven’t said whether you consider me a suspect in Princeton Wyatt’s death,” Vivica said flatly.

  “No, of course not,” Johnathan replied. “But in the absence of another one, whether I think it’s true or not, people will suspect you. Do me a favor,” Johnathan began. “Think back to when you walked up the back stairs at the Wyatt house. Did you hear or see anything suspicious?”

  “I told you I didn’t,” Vivica responded immediately.

  “I know what you said, but give it some thought,” Johnathan encouraged.

  “Why?” Vivica challenged.

  “Can you just do it because I ask?”

  The corner of Vivica’s mouth turned slightly. Sheriff Harper would never rely on personal history to garner an answer to his question. As they reached a bench near the candy store, they decided to sit down. Vivica took the opportunity to think about that day, even though it was painful. She attempted to retrace her steps, slowing the scene down in her mind to see if there was something she missed; something she forgot.

  Vivica closed her eyes, trying her best to replay the scene in her mind. She remembered carrying the flowers down the long driveway and admiring how pleasant the house looked from the back as well as the front. Vivica remembered how the petunias smelled as she shifted the bouquet in her arms as she mounted the stairs. She went so far as to remember how the top stair tread creaked just a little as her foot fell onto it. When she got to the back door, the memory of the door being slightly ajar was vivid. Vivica remembered ringing the doorbell, knocking when she didn’t hear anything from inside. She vaguely remembered calling out to Mr. Wyatt and still not getting an answer. When she pushed the back door open, just a little at first, she remembered seeing the heels of his shoes and the feeling that something was wrong. The next thing she remembered was second-guessing as to whether she should go in the house or not and deciding to go inside. Whoever it was on the floor could very well be in trouble. She had to go in, she just had to. And then she screamed. That was the most pronounced memory Vivica had. She didn’t hear anything else other than the sound of her own shrill ringing in her ears.

  “I don’t remember anything other than what I told you,” Vivica replied, somewhat disappointed. “Why do you ask?”

  “Because, Vivica, you showing up at the door was only expected by your customer, not the killer.”

  It took Vivica a minute to process what Johnathan said. Her eyes widened, and she turned to face Johnathan.

  “You mean, you think the murderer was still in the house when I walked in?”

  “I do,” Johnathan confirmed, “and so does the coroner. Mitchell thought that’s why there was still liquid in the vial of the syringe instead of it all being dispensed into Mr. Wyatt. You showing up startled the killer and they had to make a hasty exit. Unfortunately, the amount of poison or whatever it was in the syringe was still enough to kill Princeton.”

  That information was unnerving for Vivica. She started to wring her hands and her heart palpitated. What if the killer didn’t run? What if the killer decided to stay and hurt or kill her, too?

  “You okay, Vivica,” Johnathan asked, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost!”

  Vivica felt the color flush out of her face. The situation at the Wyatt’s could have ended far worse. A part of Vivica wasn’t so sure that getting involved in the case was such a clever idea. They were looking for a murderer after all. Still, there was a part of Vivica that may have been reticent but still wanted the opportunity to clear her good name. Like Johnathan said, even if he no longer suspected her, others would until the real killer was found.

  “I think you are going to need help with the case,” Vivica announced. “And I think I’m just the person to help you.”

  “Why would you want to do that?” Johnathan was curious to know.

  “Because I don’t want suspicion asso
ciated with my name. I’ve just started my flower business. Having people think I had something to do with Mr. Wyatt’s death would kill my business, no pun intended.”

  “I can see that,” Johnathan replied. “But Vivica, this is dangerous work and is not to be taken lightly.”

  “I finally figured out what I want to do with my life. I can’t afford to lose it before I really have a chance to make it work. So, yeah, this is serious business for me.”

  Johnathan paused.

  “You did say you needed help, right, Sheriff Harper?”

  “Yeah, but”

  “Well, I’m offering you that help!”

  “And I appreciate it.”

  “No buts, Johnathan. I need this as much as you do. Don’t get me wrong, I’m scared, but fear has stopped me from doing so many things in the past, I can’t afford to let it stop me again.” Locking eyes with Johnathan, Vivica continued. “And neither can you.”

  Everything Vivica said made sense and for all the right reasons. Johnathan wasn’t convinced it was the right move to make, but absent of it, Johnathan knew Vivica well enough to know she would pursue the matter with or without his blessing or permission.

  “Listen, Vivica,” he said, taking Vivica by the hands. “I will protect you, no matter what. You understand? I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  The touch of Johnathan’s hands warmed Vivica’s heart.

  “I know,” she replied with a smile. “Now, let’s get started.”

  Chapter Seven

  It was the last house on the Wyatt block that Gathright needed to visit. Most of the neighbors had been home except for just a few. He still didn’t have what he considered valuable information and he didn’t want to go back empty-handed. Gathright wasn’t blind to the fact that his appointment as deputy was from a favor, not because he was the most qualified candidate. Gathright also knew people didn’t have a lot of faith in him. That’s why it was so important for Bo to prove his worth in this case; not just to the doubters but to himself as well.