Fruit of the Poisoned Tree

Peggy nodded to the officer at the door, and they walked out of the room together. Fletcher slumped over the table when she left him.

“What was that all about?” Jonas demanded when they closed the door. “I thought you were going to get him to confess.”

“He can’t confess to something he didn’t do,” she explained. “You heard him. He wouldn’t go that far to save the bay. He didn’t even know how many lawyers were poisoned.”

Jonas hit himself in the forehead with the palm of his hand. Al hid his smile with a ragged cough as he turned away.

“Go home, Peggy,” Jonas pleaded. “You’re going to make me take early retirement.”

She didn’t argue with him this time. She was still too unsure in her own mind to have any idea what was going on. Everything since Park’s death was a confusing blur.

She didn’t like herself for helping the police, but when the answers were finally found, she was sure Fletcher would be acquitted. Until then, she felt closed in by the system. John frequently disagreed with things that happened when his cases went to court. But he upheld the law because he said it was the only thing that made men civilized.

Peggy ignored everyone as she walked out of the precinct. Steve was waiting for her outside, holding Shakespeare on his leash. She kissed and hugged him without a word of explanation, patted the dog’s head. “Can we go now?”

He nodded and opened the passenger door for her on the Vue. “Let’s go over to IHOP and have some breakfast.”

Before they could leave the parking lot, Paul hailed them, running up to the driver’s side window and smacking it with his hand. Steve opened the window, and Shakespeare came up from the backseat to see what was going on.

“Hey! Where are you guys going? I’m just getting off duty. How about some breakfast?”

“That’s exactly where we’re headed,” Steve answered. “Hop in the backseat if you can push the dog over.”

Paul glanced at his unusually silent mother. “No dog, even one the size of a pony, is going to keep me from breakfast.”

Peggy called the hospital to see how Beth was doing. She explained what happened to Paul as they rode to the restaurant. “They expect a full recovery, thank God.”

“But she’ll be confined for a while for her own safety,” Paul said. “That’s the law.”

“I know.” Peggy acknowledged. “Unless we find out it wasn’t an attempt at suicide.” She told Paul and Steve her theory.

“I suppose that could make sense,” Steve agreed, his eyes on the crowded streets.

“Do you have some idea who would be in line for the money?” Paul asked.

“No,” she admitted.

“It seems like it would be Beth’s family with Isabelle out of the way. Do you think they had something to do with this?”

“No! Of course not!” Peggy looked at her son for the first time. He was thinking intently about what she said, but his eyes were shadowed and his mouth was a grim line. “Oh, sweetie, I forgot. I’m so sorry about you and Mai. I wish it could’ve worked out differently.”

“That’s okay.” He shrugged. “I guess it happened too fast, huh? These things take time. At least that’s what she said.”

Steve glanced at Peggy. “I don’t know about that. It all depends, doesn’t it?”

Paul’s laugh held a bitter edge. “I’m not saying anything about the two of you. Just don’t mention marriage or getting a house together, and maybe you’ll be okay.”

Peggy reached over and squeezed her son’s hand. “If it doesn’t work out with Mai, there’ll be someone else.”

“I think you can say it’s over between us, Mom. You’re always too optimistic.”

“We’ll see,” she said as they pulled into the restaurant parking lot. “Thank goodness we’re here! Now that I’m feeling better, I’m starving!”

The three of them went inside together and sat down at a booth. The waitress took their orders and brought them orange juice, coffee, and water. The restaurant wasn’t very busy at that hour. The rush had come and gone before nine.

Peggy’s mind was still busy with things other than eggs and pancakes. Even the sun-deprived ivy, still in its little Christmas container on the window ledge, only caught her attention for a moment. She gave it some water from her glass and found a single shaft of sunlight for it to bask in. “Is there some way I could find out who would be the executor or guardian for the children?”

Paul sipped his coffee. “It’s not easy to find a legal guardian sometimes. It might be the first person a judge appoints for the job.”

“What about Beth’s parents?” Steve asked, sitting forward. “Wouldn’t they be the logical choice since they already have the boys?”

“From what limited information I know about the law,” Paul began, “the people who take care of the children and the person responsible for the purse strings can be different. You might have to see a copy of Park and Beth’s will.”

“Let’s give Hunter a call and see if she can find anything.” Peggy took out her cell phone as her breakfast arrived. “Maybe she can solve this riddle for me.”

STEVE DROPPED PAUL OFF at the police parking lot, then drove Peggy back to her house. She just finished feeding Shakespeare a piece of biscuit she’d saved for him from breakfast. She hated leaving him in the car and wouldn’t have considered it if the temperature was warmer. It wasn’t always best for the pet to ride with the owner.

“I’m free today if you need to do any sleuthing,” Steve offered.

“I’m only planning to go to the Potting Shed until one, then I’m taking Shakespeare back to Rue for his next lesson. I’m hoping it goes better this time.”

“He seems calm today.” Steve patted the dog’s head. “I’ll take you over to Rue’s. Unless you have other plans.”

She smiled and kissed him. “It sounds like the highlight of my day. I’ll see you at one. Thanks, Steve.”

He put his arms around her and extended the brief kiss she’d started to give him. “I don’t want to get married or buy a house. Don’t worry.”

“That makes me feel so much better,” she assured him sarcastically. “But I’m sure there were other issues involved in Mai and Paul’s breakup.”

“I’m sure you’re right. That’s the way it happens.”

“You sound like you have prior experience.” She yawned and tried to hide it behind her hand.

“You sound exhausted.”

“I am. But we’ll take this up later. You know all about my past life. I don’t know anything about your old flames.”

“They’re all ashes,” he quipped. “Really. Not worth discussing.”

She raised one eyebrow above a curious green eye. “We’ll definitely be talking about it later.”

Steve frowned and shook his head. “You’re going to be disappointed. I’m not as colorful or ambitious as you, Peggy.”

“We’ll see!”

“I’ll see you later.” He finally gave up. “Keep me posted if you hear anything else about Beth.”

Peggy dragged herself to the house, unlocked the door, and disarmed the alarm system. The house was cold. She definitely needed a new furnace, with or without Dalton’s help. She went upstairs with Shakespeare running up before her. It wasn’t until she pulled herself up the long stairway that she realized her mistake.

Shakespeare had stripped the sheets, pillows, and comforter from her bed in the few moments she lagged behind him. He was chewing on one of the pillows when she reached him. Furious, she grabbed his collar and