“What about the homeless man you mentioned yesterday?” Rimer wanted to know.
“Mr. Cheever?”
The lieutenant consulted his notes. “Officer Kopacka has it in his report that you said a homeless man could be responsible for the murder.”
“I never said that!”
“What
Peggy collected her thoughts. It wouldn’t do any good to go off half-baked while she was talking to this intent young man. “I didn’t mention him at all. My assistant and Mr. Balducci said something about him.”
“And who’s Mr. Balducci?” Some of Rimer’s notes fell on the floor.
She helped him pick them up. “He owns the sandwich cafe next to my shop. He was suspicious of Mr. Cheever.”
Rimer shook his head. “So you
“Well, I don’t know
“Sounds like this mystery woman could be a good lead,” Al added in a gruff voice.
“But even if Mark was having an affair with this woman, it doesn’t explain how they got in and out of the shop without a key.” Peggy got to her feet as Rimer stood up.
“We’ll know more after the autopsy,” Al told her.
“Don’t worry, Dr. Lee,” the lieutenant assured her, “we’ll catch who did this.”
“Call me Peggy,” she invited. “But what I don’t understand is how an autopsy will answer my question.”
“Thanks. You can call me Jonas. It’s difficult to explain how these things work, Peggy. We’re getting information on Warner now. Where he was, what he did that night. If we need anything else, I’ll have Al give you a call.”
“I understand.” She hoped John didn’t brush people off that way or act like they were brain-dead.
“I’m late for a staff meeting.” Jonas looked at Al. “I’ll see you back at the office. It was nice meeting you, Peggy. I’m sorry I never met your husband. But I like your son.”
“Okay, Lieutenant.” Al sat down at the table as Peggy handed him a cup of tea. When the kitchen door closed behind his boss, he said, “That man has a chip on his shoulder a mile wide. But you had him eating out of your hand.”
“I don’t think I’d say
Al glanced around the kitchen. He recalled when his friend John Lee came back from Charleston with his blushing bride, Peggy. She still had that saucy look to her eyes and that pretty smile.
He grew up with John. They went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill together before splitting up for a few years. Then they both joined the police department in Charlotte. “This is a great old house. John’s grandfather built it in the twenties, didn’t he?”
She nodded. “We found a box of letters in a chest upstairs that were from his grandparents. He always wanted to do something with them. Have them made into a book or something. But it never got done.”
“That’s too bad. Maybe Paul will be interested someday. I remember playing cards here on Friday nights and coming to barbecues. God, I miss those old times.”
“So do I,” she agreed. “You know, you
“I know. I’m bad about that. Maybe when I retire, things will be easier.” He looked everywhere but into her eyes. “There’s gonna be press over this, Peggy.”
“I’m not worried about it. I’m sure it won’t hurt business, and everyone at the university already thinks I’m eccentric. I hope you can find out who did this.”
“We will. The lieutenant’s right about that.” He struggled slowly to his feet. “I need to go. Anything else I can do for you?”
“No. I’m fine.” She smiled at him. “Good luck with the case.”
After she closed the door and locked it behind him, she slowly walked upstairs to shower and change. Al and Jonas didn’t have the answers to the questions that plagued her all night. But working in research, she knew there were always answers if you knew where to look for them. And she couldn’t resist the urge to dabble in the Warner investigation. It happened at her shop, after all.
3
Columbine
Botanical: Aquilegia vulgaris
Family: N.O. Ranunculaceae
Common Name: Columbine
Aquilegia
