Bindweed

by Janis Harrison

  I said, “That’s why Toby was taught by his mother to plant six new rows each year.”

  “Correct. With each passing year, the silk gene has become more dominant.” Phillip lifted a shoulder. “I’m getting closer. I admit I was wrong to switch around funding to aid my own concept, but time was being lost while I tried to convince a board of directors to listen to my theory. Before I was fired, I managed to make copies of my notes and smuggle them out of my lab. My friend thinks I’ve given up my research. Any information he passes on to me is a courtesy. He thinks it will make me feel better about events if he can substantiate the fact that I was on the right track years ago.”

  I grimaced. “How did you put it? ‘Save a life or better mankind.’ You killed Toby. You killed Leona. How do you explain or justify their deaths?”

  Phillip’s eyes narrowed. “I will explain, but not justify. I did kill them. I have no excuse. They were in my way.”

  Abigail sucked in a breath. A shiver swept over me. Phillip was so cool, so detached. It took me a moment to find my voice. “But why?” I asked. “How were they in your way? What did they know?”

  “On the night before Toby died, I worked for twelve hours straight testing the hibiscus. I never had to worry about Yvonne coming out to check on me. The pain in her knees keeps her pretty close to the house or her antiques store. When she does make a trip to the barn, it’s for an extended period of time. She always says she has to make the journey worthwhile. If she needs me, all she has to do is poke a button and a bell rings out here or in my workshop in the barn.”

  He waved a hand. “Anyway, as I was saying, I’d worked for twelve hours straight and I was exhausted. I needed a quick shower and a cup of coffee, so I left the doors unlocked. In the space of twenty minutes, while I was gone to the house, Toby wandered in. He found the silo door unlocked and climbed the stairs. When I found him, he was standing in front of the caged animals. He was upset. He didn’t like the bowls of maggots on the third floor, but he most assuredly didn’t like to see the mice and hamsters behind the wire mesh.”

  I said, “So Toby didn’t touch any wet varnish? That was just a cover story?”

  “The wet varnish was a lie. But my losing control and yelling at Toby was all too true. With years of research at risk, I lost my temper. I screamed at him. I threatened to dispose of the animals if he didn’t keep quiet. He was shocked by my threat, but he was terrified by my screaming.”

  Phillip shook his head. “In all the years I’ve known him, I’ve never raised my voice to him in any situation. I knew better than to holler at Toby. He was sensitive. I calmed down and tried talking to him, reasoning with him, but nothing I said made an impression. I backpedaled and searched my brain for something that would grab his attention. Something he could relate to. Something his mother might have told him. Agnes was a great one for proverbs, little platitudes that sized up life in a few words. I seized on the three monkeys: See no evil. Hear no evil. Speak no evil. That seemed to work. I told him the animals would still be here, but he had to keep them a secret from everyone he knew. He quieted down, but after he left I couldn’t be sure he would keep the contents of the silo to himself. I’d done all this remodeling when Yvonne was in the hospital having her knee-replacement surgery. No one had seen the inside of this silo until Toby found the door unlocked.”

  “But you cut down his mother’s hibiscus? Surely you knew he’d be upset, that he’d tell someone.”

  “Yes, but they are simply perceived as flowers. Who would pay any attention? It could have been vandals. I figured the topic of the missing stalks would be discussed for a few days, then the subject would be dismissed.”

  “And Leona?” I asked. “Why kill her?”

  “Yvonne kept saying that Leona was trying to piece together Agnes’s financial background. My sister had known that Agnes received money when her husband was killed in a railway accident. She speculated that the money was gone years ago, which it was. Agnes had only her paycheck from the pharmacy to live on when I met her.”

  Phillip shrugged. “There’s never been time in my life for a relationship. My work has been my life. I came back to River City to lick my wounds and mend my pride after being fired from a job where I knew I could make a difference. I had a feasible concept, but I had to find a suitable host plant. When I read about kenaf, I decided to do some extensive tests.

  “I met Agnes though my sister. Agnes was a quiet woman who analyzed every step she took. Most of the time her major concern was for Toby, but as we got to know each other, I realized that she possessed the same qualities that have carried me through years of research. We both contemplated every situation, predicting how events would develop. Neither of us was afraid to manipulate anything or anyone to achieve our goal.”

  I asked, “So you and Agnes fell in love?”

  “I cared for Agnes. I think she might have loved me, or maybe she only saw me as a way to keep her son safe.”

  My hoot of derision made Phillip wince. He said, “My action in placing the hornet’s nest in Toby’s room was at odds with all I’ve done for him since Agnes died. My research is based on records I stole from my old company. They could claim ownership. I’ve always felt there was a chance that someone from Bio-Rite might look me up. Repairing and refinishing furniture was far removed from the studies I’d conducted, but there was always a concern on my part that my ongoing work would be discovered. I had to find a place away from this farm where the hibiscus could grow. That meant that I had to bring someone into my confidence.

  “I chose Agnes. She was dying. She needed money. Her only relative was a son with less than average mental comprehension. Her home was within easy reach. I could take a rambling route over connecting pastures and be at the back of her property in less than ten minutes.”

  Abigail said, “We figured that out. You rode Sugar Cube over to the garden, tied him to a tree, and went through the hedge to chop down the hibiscus.”

  “That’s right.”

  I said, “Did you give Agnes a lump sum of money? Is that why Leona was suspicious?”

  “No. I supplied the money for Agnes to buy stock in my old company. Regardless of how I was treated at the end of my employment, there are brilliant scientists working there. Agnes received a nice dividend check each month. That stock was moved into Toby’s name at Agnes’s death. I convinced her she had to hold on to that stock. Once I’d perfected my theory and had substantial proof to present to the board of directors, I was sure the stock would skyrocket.”

  “But what does this have to do with Leona’s horrible death?”

  “Once Toby’s will was read, and the name of the stock disclosed, Leona would know immediately that I was guilty. She knew I’d left a company in Canada.”

  I nodded. “That’s right. She told me you’d been fired.”

  Phillip’s lips turned down in a frown. “You mean she’d already told you before she died?”

  “That’s right. You were too late. No need to give her that bubble bath concoction.” Slyly, I interjected, “Nor was it necessary to leave the basket of toiletries outside my flower shop’s back door.”

  Phillip lifted one shoulder. “I needed some extra insurance against your prying.”

  Abigail said, “Wouldn’t Yvonne recognize the name of the company where you used to work?”

  “Yes, but she would never betray me.”

  My mind was in a whirl from the information Phillip had given us. There had to be more questions that needed answers. Given our predicament, I asked the only one that had immediate relevancy. “What are you going to do with Abigail and me?”

  Instead of answering, Phillip pulled a piece of paper from his shirt pocket. “I have here the name and phone number of the CEO of Bio-Rite. I’d like you to contact him. Tell him everything. Describe what you’ve seen upstairs. Convince him that it would be in his best interests to get here as quickly as possible.”

  Phillip put the paper on the step next to him. He stood up.
“You’ll have to do some fast talking, but I’m positive that you can do the—”

  Heavy pounding sounded on the door. “Bretta!” shouted Sid. “Are you in there?”

  Abigail and I sprang to our feet. We rushed to the door. “Help us,” yelled Abigail. “The door is locked, and Phillip has the only key.”

  I whipped around to the stairs. I was afraid Phillip might be at our heels, ready to throttle us, but the staircase was empty. The door to the second floor was open. A prickle of uneasiness crossed my skin. Why had Phillip gone upstairs? There was no escape that way.

  Or was there?

  A feeling of dread washed over me.

  In the alleyway outside the silo, I heard Sid say, “Get a crowbar or a hammer.” In a louder voice, he said, “Keep calm. We’ll get you out as fast as we can.”

  Abigail looked around at me. “Where’s Phillip?” she asked.

  I hesitated, then finally pointed up.

  She breathed deeply. “We’re safe for the moment.” Her eyes widened. “Unless he’s gone to get something to use as a weapon.”

  There was only one reason Phillip would ask me to contact his former employer. Slowly I shook my head. “We’re the last thing on Phillip’s mind.”

  Out in the corridor, a man yelled, “Sheriff, someone has climbed out the top of the silo. Deputy Meyer says you need to come—”

  A high-pitched scream ripped the air, followed by the words, “No. Phillip. No!”

  I recognized Yvonne’s voice. Tears filled my throat and worked their way up to blur my vision. Closing my eyes, I waited. I envisioned the wind tugging at Phillip’s clothing, the stench of the rotting fruit wafting up through the open air vents. Would he venture a quick look down?

  My heart pounded. I opened my eyes when Abigail took my arm. In a ragged whisper, she said, “Surely Phillip won’t jump.”

  But I knew he would. His research had been an obsession that had taken a disastrous turn. He’d lost sight of what was truly important, putting his work before everything and everyone. Even his present choice of how to bring this investigation to a close hadn’t caused him to lose sight of his goal. He’d placed his trust in my hands to see that his research was directed to someone who would make the most of his discovery.

  Outside, the voices rose in volume, and then suddenly subsided. Yvonne made another heartfelt appeal. “Please, Phillip,” she sobbed. “You’re all I have.”

  In the breathless silence that followed, the sound of impact was minute.

  For some of us, the reverberations would last a lifetime.

  Epilogue

  On this October night, a week before Halloween, Hawthorn Street was filled with costumed customers. A store owner, one who wasn’t of Agnes’s “select few,” had come up with the idea that we needed to outdo the Westgate Mall shops. Every year on Halloween, these shops hold marathon sales with free goodies for the children. It was a huge draw for the outer-loop shopping district, but it took attention away from our street.

  At the first planning session of the Hawthorn Street store owners, it had been unanimously agreed upon that while we’d been River City’s focus during the murder investigation, it was time to replace those tabloid impressions. Coming under scrutiny for a festive occasion seemed the best way to put the ghosts of Toby, Leona, and Phillip to rest.

  I hadn’t been against the plan, but I hadn’t been gung ho, either. Once Sid had declared the investigation closed, I’d done as Phillip had asked. I’d contacted the CEO of Bio-Rite. The Canadian company hadn’t wasted any time sending a crew of scientists to River City. Sid said that once they were done, nothing had been left in the silo but the framework.

  Yvonne had been paid an undisclosed amount for her brother’s research. She’d put her antiques store and the surrounding land in the hands of a realtor. In a matter of days, she’d jetted off to California where she’d checked into a health spa. Before she left town, she’d given Sugar Cube to Abigail. Since Abigail lived in an apartment, I’d had an area fenced off on my property. A small barn was being built so Sugar Cube would have a warm home this winter.

  I leaned against my workstation table and surveyed the crowded flower shop. I’d let Lois and Lew do the planning. When asked, I’d offered suggestions, but this was their show, and they reveled in the merriment.

  Lois was dressed as a harem girl. The puffy lime green pants were gathered at the waist and the ankles. A hot pink camisole topped her outfit, along with an assortment of purple and orange scarves. When she walked, she jangled. Every piece of gold jewelry she owned was either hanging from her neck or her arms.

  Lew had amazed everyone with his costume. Always the epitome of the well-dressed man, he’d arrived at the shop as a hobo, complete with magic tricks. He was a hit with the kids, especially when he pulled a quarter from behind their ears. I didn’t have a clue how many coins he’d given away, but he seemed unconcerned, laughing and teasing everyone, young and old.

  At home I’d mentioned that Lew and Lois wanted to serve simple refreshments. To my surprise, DeeDee had volunteered for the job. She’d baked a ton of cookies, decorating each with a Halloween theme. She’d concocted a fizzy apple punch that was fantastic. For me, the highlight of the evening was the way she reacted to the people who entered my shop. Posing as a gypsy, she smiled readily and ventured into conversation with strangers.

  My father and Abigail had offered to keep watch over the crowd so none of my merchandise was trampled in the melee. They’d opted for costumes that brought smiles to the faces of my evening customers. My father was dressed as a sheep with snowy white fleece and a big pink bow tied around his neck. Abigail was Bo Peep. She wore an elaborate blue-flounced dress, a broad-brimmed straw hat, and carried a crooknecked staff. Twice I’d seen her use the oversize hook to grab my father’s arm and pull him to her side, where they’d shared a laugh with those who’d witnessed the corralling of her “wayward” sheep.

  “You’re being a wallflower,” said Lois, coming to stand near me. “Why don’t you spread some of your sunny charm over by the door.”

  The emphasis on the word sunny referred to my costume. I was a sunflower, dressed from foot to neck in a green jumpsuit. My arms were encased in material that had been sewn to resemble huge leaves. A giant sunflower blossom surrounded my head, with my face exposed as the center. When I’d seen the outfit in the rental store, I’d snatched it up, feeling it was apropos for a florist. What I hadn’t counted on was the awkwardness. The yellow petals were stiffened with wire and stuck out from my head a good twelve inches. If I didn’t keep my neck muscles taut, I lost my balance, wilting like a flower left too long without water.

  Turning my head carefully, I smiled at her. “I’d better stay back here, out of trouble. I’d hate to assault a customer by falling on him.”

  “But you’re okay?” persisted Lois, eyeing me sharply. “You’re not wallowing in sorrow, are you?”

  “I’m wallow-free, just watching everyone have a good time. I don’t know about the other shop owners, but I’d say this evening has been a success.”

  Lois grimaced. “Not so much for the old cash register. We’ve had a few sales but nothing spectacular. Everyone wants the freebie stuff.”

  “We didn’t do this for immediate sales. Our main objective was to give Hawthorn Street a new image.”

  Lois looked around. “By the way, where’s Bailey?”

  “He said he’d be late. He’s winding up another chapter in his book.”

  “What’s he coming as?” Lois’s wink was lascivious. “He’s such a handsome hunk. I hope he’s displaying plenty of skin.”

  I made a face. “Just because you look like a floozy doesn’t mean you have to act like one. As for Bailey, I wouldn’t pin any high hopes on him arriving in costume—brief or otherwise. He isn’t the type to don a—” I stopped because Lois wasn’t listening to me. She was looking over my shoulder, with eyes wide and mouth open.

  “Wow!” she breathed. “Forget showing skin
. He’s incredible.”

  I moved too quickly and almost toppled over. Once I’d recovered my balance, I thought I’d end up on the floor anyway when I saw who had caught Lois’s attention. Bailey was making his way toward me. He was dressed in a black tuxedo. The jacket lapels were satin, as were the wide stripes down the outside of each pants leg. His shirt was white, the vest a shimmering silver. He wore dark glasses, which he slowly slid up over his forehead to rest on top of his head.

  “My sweet flower,” he said, taking my hand in his. Staring deep into my eyes, he whispered, “I’m sure there’s a better place and time for this, but I can’t think where or when. The people who are important in your life are here.”

  Suddenly he went down on one knee. I tilted my head to follow his action and nearly fell on top of him. Lois grabbed my arm and held me upright. “Steady, girl,” she whispered in my ear.

  Bailey looked up at me and smiled. His coppery eyes were full of warmth and love. “I had a fancy speech all prepared about life’s journey, and how I don’t want to go through it alone. I thought about all the reasons I could give you for us be coming a couple, but I don’t want to persuade you to marry me.”

  “Marry?” I squeaked.

  Bailey nodded. He pulled something from his pocket that glittered in the light. Holding it between his thumb and two fingers, he held up a ring so I couldn’t mistake his intentions When I didn’t comment, he slid the ring on my finger.

  Holding my gaze with his own, he said, “I want to pay a larger part in your life, Bretta Solomon. I want to be your husband, your confidant, and your lover. I’m asking you to be my wife. Bretta, will you marry me?”

  I wanted to close my eyes and savor the moment, but instead I found myself gazing at the faces around me. DeeDee’s expression was watchful. I could tell she was afraid to hope that I’d say yes. Lew’s smile was gentle, almost benevolent. He wanted whatever was best for me. My father nodded encouragement. couldn’t read Abigail’s expression, but then I barely knew this woman who was my half-sister. But time could remedy that.