Dragonwell Dead

the death of Mark Congdon?”

There were a few moments of silence at the other end of the line and then John Darnell said, “My understanding is he will be speaking to her at length about that particular homicide.”

Theodosia let out a long sigh. So there it was. The conclusion to what had been a terrible, tragic week. “Have you spoken with Angie Congdon yet?” Theodosia asked as an afterthought.

“I’ll be doing that in person very shortly,” said Darnell.

Theodosia thanked the fire marshal, then hung up the phone and gazed around the tea shop. Tea kettles were blowing insistent little puffs of steam into the air, teapots released perfumed scents of oolong and chamomile, golden sunlight filtered through the leaded windows. It looked like any other day at the Indigo Tea Shop, but it suddenly felt like a heavy burden had been lifted from Theodosia’s shoulders. The madness, the investigation, the pointing of fingers and nasty suspicions were finally, mercifully over. Now they could all get on with the business of coming to grips with what happened and work through the healing process. Tomorrow, Theodosia decided, she’d go talk to Angie Congdon. Sit with her. Offer more condolences. And, perhaps even more important, offer her friendship and help in whatever way possible.

Hurrying over to where Drayton and Haley were confab-bing, Theodosia immediately broke the news to them.

“Wow!” exclaimed Haley. “That’s great.”

“Great?” scoffed Drayton. “Are you serious?”

“I mean it’s great to finally know,” amended Haley. “Before, we were all so tense and suspicious. Especially when it came to Leah Shalimar and Harlan Noble.”

“And don’t forget Teddy Vickers,” added Theodosia. “We didn’t exactly have charitable thoughts concerning him, either.”

Haley shrugged. “Teddy is an opportunist, as you pointed out.”

Drayton was slowly coming around to Haley’s way of thinking. “I suppose you’re right. This is for the best. Now we know that all our previous suspects are in the clear.”

“And we can focus on tonight,” said Haley. “On Orchid Lights.” She suddenly looked a little discombobulated. “I’ve got tons to do in the kitchen yet.”

Theodosia readily agreed. “There is a lot to do.”

“Too much,” said Drayton. His eyes slowly traveled back to his monkey-face orchid on the table.

Theodosia picked up on Drayton’s unease. “You’re fretting about something else,” she said. “What is it?”

He pointed to the monkey-face orchid in the Chinese pot. “What do you think?” he asked.

“I told him it looks real nice,” piped up Haley.

“See?” said Drayton, throwing up his hands. “She thinks it looks nice.”

“And it’s rare,” said Haley. “It’s got that going for it.”

Theodosia tilted her head sideways and raised her brows. She didn’t quite see what was causing Drayton so much distress.

Drayton plunged ahead, hoping to enlighten her. “I was hoping for spectacular,” he said, his words coming out overly loud and a bit theatrical. “So what do you think? Have I hopefully veered toward spectacular? With the orchid itself. And my arrangement?”

Theodosia studied Drayton’s arrangement. The little orchid looked very lovely in its new pot. But was it a total showstopper? That was the big question, wasn’t it?

“It’s exotic-looking,” admitted Theodosia. “And very beautiful.”

Drayton was beyond nervous now. “All orchids are exotic and beautiful. But do you think this one is good enough to take home a blue ribbon?”

“After what we went through,” said Theodosia, “I certainly think you deserve one. But . . .”

“But what?” prompted Drayton.

“I’m no judge of orchids,” said Theodosia. “I barely know a Phalaenopsis from a bog rose. All I know is what you’ve taught me. And it’s been, what one might call, a crash course. But tonight you’re going to be judged by experienced orchid experts. It’s going to be their call as to which one is a prizewinner or not.”

“Oh dear,” murmured Drayton, turning his full attention to the monkey-face orchid again. “And I so wanted to win a ribbon for Mark.”

“You’re doing this in his memory,” Theodosia reminded him. “That’s a win-win situation right there.”

Charlie had suddenly joined them. “Drayton?” she said. “You have a phone call. A Mr. Timothy Neville?”

Drayton snatched up his orchid. “Now I suppose there’s an event crisis, too,” he said.

“Why don’t you take the call in my office?” suggested Theodosia.

“Thank you, I will,” said Drayton as he threaded his way across the floor of the tea room.

“What’s the deal with Drayton?” asked Charlie. She seemed calm, unmoved by his hysteria.

“He’s just being Drayton,” laughed Haley.

“He’s worried about his orchid,” Theodosia told Charlie. “Thinks the display isn’t showy enough.”

“Really,” said Charlie, studying Drayton’s arrangement. “Not showy enough, huh?”

“Charlie,” said Theodosia. “Could you do me a really big favor?”

“Sure thing,” said Charlie.

“Could you put together a tea basket for tonight’s silent auction?”

“You haven’t done that yet?” asked Haley.

Theodosia shook her head. “Not yet.”

“No problem,” said Charlie. “So you want me to just arrange a few things in a basket? Like tins of tea, a jar of jam, cup and saucer, things like that?”

“Perfect,” said Theodosia. “You’re a very quick study.”

“Not perfect,” said Haley. “We’re clean out of baskets.”

“What about those woven grapevine baskets that have been sitting in my back office for months?” asked Theodosia.

“Gone,” said Haley. “Dusted off and sold this past week when the contingent from Goose Creek stopped by.”

“Really?” said Theodosia. “Okay then, maybe . . .”

“Why don’t I just run out and get a basket,” volunteered Charlie. “It’s no big deal.”

“Can you really?” asked Theodosia. “Gee, that’d be great.”

Charlie was already slipping her apron over her head. “Be back in ten minutes,” she promised.

Theodosia and Haley turned their attention to Haley’s truffle trays.

“At any rate, these are all done,” declared Haley.

“They’re gorgeous,” said Theodosia. Indeed, Haley had whipped up coconut-ginger truffles as well as raspberry-chocolate truffles and white chocolate–almond truffles.

“Once we get our tables all set up at the Heritage Society tonight, I’m going to sprinkle edible flowers among the chocolates,” said Haley.

“Edible orchids?” asked Theodosia.

“Not quite,” said Haley, slipping plastic bags over her three-tiered trays and using a twist tie to fasten them securely at the bottom. “I’m going to put these in the back of your Jeep, okay?”

“No problem, doors are unlocked.”

“When I come back I’m going to tackle the tea sandwiches,” said Haley.

“I’ll help,” said Theodosia. “How many different kinds are you planning to do?”

“Probably three,” answered Haley.

“Okay. We’ll let Drayton tend to the few remaining customers.”

“I heard that,” said Drayton, coming back into the tea room.

“Everything okay with Timothy?” asked Theodosia.

Drayton rolled his eyes. “Arthur Roumillat and his Orchid Society members want to wait until the very last minute to set up.”

“I suppose they’re worried about their plants,” said Theodosia.

“I can just see them circling the block,” complained Drayton. “Waiting for the last possible moment to come