Poisoned Petals

“And you’re happy working for him?” Peggy asked her as they got back in the car marked Medical Examiner’s Office on the side.

“Only until I take his place,” Mai said. “He can’t live forever.”

THE NEXT MORNING, Peggy drove to the police lab instead of going to the Potting Shed. She’d called Selena to let her know she wouldn’t be in that day. The sergeant at the front desk issued her a name tag after checking her ID. Mai met her at the door and gave her a small case marked ME’s Office. “You’ll need it. It has gloves and plastic sample cases. All the things a contract forensic botanist needs.”

“Great.” Peggy played with her new name tag, thinking how life could take the oddest turns. John would be amazed to see her here.

Mai shrugged. “All in a day’s work.”

“Good morning,” Ramsey greeted them. “I called for your ride. I hope nothing has been disturbed since we had to wait until today to get started.”

The one thing Peggy wasn’t sure of was working with this man. He was annoying on his good days. She wasn’t used to being bullied and made to feel guilty about her work. She didn’t need him to remind her she was a professional.

After going to Mai’s office to get her gear together, they walked out of the building into the sunshine. Peggy breathed in the powerful scent of wisteria. It was attached to a tall pine tree that grew behind the police station.

“Smells beautiful,” Mai enthused.

“Yes,” Peggy agreed. “But it’s deadly, too. At least to that poor tree it’s smothering.”

“Why can’t something just be pretty and smell good? Why does life have to be so complicated?”

“Some things aren’t complicated. Roses. Sweet William. Mint. They’re pretty, smell good, and they’re harmless.”

“Ladies,” a familiar voice called them from the window of a nearby police cruiser. “I understand you need an escort.”

“Oh no!” Mai whispered when she saw it was Paul. “I suppose Dr. Ramsey thinks this is funny.”

“Maybe he didn’t know,” Peggy suggested.

“Yeah, right. Like everyone doesn’t know we dated.”

“Hello, Paul,” Peggy finally greeted her son in a normal tone. “I think we’re on our way to the Community Garden first.”

“So I heard. Climb in and we’ll head over there.”

Mai hurried toward the backseat, shoving her kit in with a little too much force before she climbed in after it and slammed the door.

Peggy sat in the front seat and smiled at her son. This is going to be fun. If Paul tried any harder not to look at Mai, he was going to have whiplash, she mused. “Do you know where they found Luther?”

“I don’t think we’ll have any trouble locating the spot.” Paul pulled the car out of the parking lot.

“I have the crime-scene photos,” Mai interrupted. “We should be able to use them to locate the spot, even if it’s been disturbed.”

Paul looked at the rearview mirror. “Hello, Mai. I didn’t see you back there.”

“Funny.” She uttered the word then looked out the side window.

Peggy shifted in her seat. “I guess this is my first forensic botanist case.”

Paul smiled into the mirror, not hearing his mother. “It was always easy for you to look the other way, wasn’t it?”

“I’m not sure if I should be happy or not.” Peggy ignored him. “I suppose if I help Darmus, it will be worthwhile.”

“It was always easier to look the other way than to look at you!” Mai responded to his jibe.

“That wasn’t always what you said—”

“I wasn’t always this smart!”

Peggy put up her hands. “Children! And I mean that in the most adolescent way! If you’ll recall, this is what you were doing before you got together. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up in each other’s arms again.”

“I don’t think so,” Paul argued.

“I won’t make that mistake again!” Mai agreed.

“Then let’s talk about the case and pretend you weren’t involved a few months ago,” Peggy suggested.

“Mom!” Paul was outraged.

“Was I supposed to think you were just good friends?”

“Peggy!” Mai added her complaint. “Could we talk about something else?”