Fruit of the Poisoned Tree

dragged him back downstairs. He whimpered and barked when she locked him in the laundry room. “It’s for your own good,” she yelled at him. “It’s either the laundry room or I’m going to strangle you!” And Steve had to mention how calm he seemed.

Sheer force of will got Peggy back up the stairs and into the shower. The phone rang, but she ignored it, letting the hot water flow down her face and body. She tried to push everything that happened out of her thoughts. She couldn’t reach a rational conclusion when her emotions were overwhelming her.

She stood in the shower until the hot water was gone, then wrapped a towel around herself and ran, freezing, into the bedroom. There was one conclusion she reached during her shower. Teeth chattering, she picked up the phone before she bothered dressing.

When Dalton answered in his slow, deliberate way, she blasted him. “If you don’t get this furnace repaired from the trust fund, I’m going to have it repaired out of my own money and sue you and the house trust. This is stupid, Dalton. You know I have every legal right to be in this house.”

“What about being fair to the next one in line, Peggy?”

“When the next Lee moves in here, he’ll have a garden most people only dream about. I’ve taken good care of this house. This is my home. I won’t let you force me from it. It’s all I have left of my life with John. I’ll fight you to keep it.”

She heard a long, indrawn breath. “All right, Peggy. I’ll have the furnace repaired. But you’d better keep that alarm system on. If you have another break-in, I won’t be moved by any pretty words. Understand?”

“Yes. I’ll take care of it.” She hung up the phone, shaking with cold and temper. She’d won . . . at least for now.

Peggy dressed quickly and warmly. She fed Shakespeare, but he still wouldn’t eat. She was getting concerned about his lack of appetite. Maybe it would be better to dog-proof her house and let him out. She loved him. She didn’t want him to get sick. But how could she dog-proof everything?

She stroked his head as he lay on his massive paws. “I love you, you know. Otherwise I wouldn’t put up with you. I have to go now, but I’ll be back after lunch to take you for your next lesson with Rue. Try to eat something while I’m gone.”

Riding to the Potting Shed was slow, heavy traffic on all the roads. She thought about the night before as she rode past Myers Park Presbyterian Church. The image of Jesus with the lambs didn’t seem so comforting now. Even though Beth survived what happened to her, her life would never be the same again.

And what would happen when it was time for Beth to go home? They wouldn’t keep her forever. The killer would have to act again to secure the money. Unless he or she were long gone with all of it. Unlikely, she considered as she rode her bike up to the back of the shop. Beth’s life could be in danger again. She had to prove what really happened. But where could she start?

“Good morning, Peggy!” Selena sang out from behind the cash register. “I hope your friend’s doing better. It’s a great morning, isn’t it?”

Peggy took off her coat, scarf, and gloves. “Either your grades have come up, or you’re dating someone new.”

Selena laughed. “How about both? I finally found a good way to get tutored. I’m dating the professor!”

“Don’t tell me who it is,” Peggy urged, holding out her hand. “It’s not ethical to date a student. I have enough secrets in my brain right now. Wouldn’t it be easier to learn the material?”

“Those old rules for not dating professors are stupid,” Selena told her. “I’m an adult. He’s an adult. What we do isn’t anyone else’s business. This is working for both of us. Can’t anyone just be happy for me?”

Peggy assumed from Selena’s tone that she’d already been chewed out by someone else, probably her mother. Glad it wasn’t her job to rein the girl in, Peggy started her day as she always did with a cup of tea and a look at the delivery book. It was early for customers. The silence in the shop was only broken by the sound of the radiators fighting the chill that tried to creep in from outside.

There was a full day ahead of her. She was glad about that. It made her feel better to call the customers who had benches coming, clear out space for some pansies, and stock shelves with seed packages. She had pussy willows and blue Dutch irises for Diane Walters who practiced ikebana, a Japanese form of flower arranging. But the pink thrift that meant sympathy brought her right back to the muddle in her brain.

Hunter came by with David a little while later. She looked as pale and hollow-eyed as Peggy felt. “I just left the hospital. Beth is still unconscious. Her parents are with her.” David slipped his arm around her shoulders.

“She’ll come out of it,” Peggy predicted. “She’ll be embarrassed about all the fuss. I know I would be.”

“I’m not sure where to go from here,” Hunter confessed. “I know she’s not crazy. This could happen to anyone under the kind of stress she’s had to deal with.”

“Unfortunately, the law doesn’t care about the circumstance,” David reminded her. “She’s your friend. You’ll just have to stand by her through everything that’s going to happen. People can come out on the other side of something like this. Mental illness is a treatable disease.”

“I know you’re right.” Hunter kissed his cheek and hugged him. “I wish I could crawl under my bed for a while, but I can’t. I have a wrestler with a bad attitude waiting for me. I’ll talk to you later, Peggy. Let me know if you hear anything about Beth. I’ll be in court, so I won’t have my cell phone on.”

“I’m making dinner tonight for Hunter,” David said as they were leaving, “why don’t you and Steve join us? I’m sure we could all do with a bottle of wine and a little conversation over some good food. Around seven?”

Peggy smiled. “Thanks, David. I’ll talk to Steve and get back with you.”

When they were gone, Selena shook her head. “You didn’t give Hunter a hard time about dating someone so quickly.”

“My problem with you dating your professor has nothing to do with dating someone quickly,” Peggy explained. “But I’m sure you’ve heard all the arguments already. You’re an adult. You get to make these choices for yourself. You also get to cope with the mistakes you make.”

“Why does everyone assume it will be a mistake?”

“Because the ethical question rubs up against the notion of romance in this case,” Peggy answered as she put on her work jacket to go into the warehouse space in the back of the shop. “Would you want your daughter to date her teacher?”

“Oh, Peggy.” Selena frowned. “You sound like my mother!”

Customers began filtering into the shop, and a delivery driver needed help dropping off a load of apple trees in the back. Contrary to what most people thought, winter was a good time to plant trees. As long as they were healthy and well-footed, they should thrive.

Gratefully, Peggy left Selena in the front and went to help him. She certainly wasn’t in any frame of mind to offer advice to the girl. She had all the peace of mind that a ticking time bomb in her pocket could bring her.

Lunchtime came quickly. Peggy felt like she looked up from a delivery of carrots and animal sculptures with solar batteries that made them glow at night when Steve was there with Shakespeare, waiting to go to Whiskers and Paws. She picked up her coat and gloves, smiling at Selena. “I should be back in a couple of hours.”

“Good luck with the horse,” Selena said. “Peggy?”

“Yes?”

“Thanks for caring about what I do anyway.” She smiled self-consciously and glanced at Steve. “I know I get to make my own choices now. Maybe they won’t always be right. But I appreciate you taking the time to listen to me.”

Peggy paused and looked at her. “Are you all right? I can skip the lesson today if you need me to stay.”

“I’m fine.” Selena opened the shop door for them. “We’ll talk when you get back.”

“What’s with her?” Steve asked as they left the shop.

It was her words to Selena about the ethical question of romance that struck Peggy like a bolt of logic. Suddenly, she knew the answer. She pulled out her cell phone. “I have to cancel Shakespeare’s lesson for today.”

“What’s up?” Steve wondered, herding the dog into the SUV.

“I think I know what the link is between Cindy and the money. And I’m sorry, Steve, but you can’t help me find it.”