“Post office,” she said, pressing a button on her computer’s external hard drive.
“Would you mind dropping soil samples off at the Women’s Health Clinic when you go?” I asked. The moment the words exited my mouth, my regret was immediate.
“You’re sending soil samples to your gynecologist?”
“When you say it like that, it sounds really weird.”
“It is weird. You usually handle the soil samples yourself.”
True. I did. In my portable science station in the narrow closet next to our even narrower bathroom. Our office was the epitome of how to make good use of every square inch of a tiny space.
“These samples might contain human tissue,” I said, making up a story based on a partial truth on the spot. “Very old samples,” I added. The look on Kerry’s face had me backpedaling an explanation. “My grandfather showed up on Friday—which was why I didn’t make it in—and he’s got me curious about my ancestors.”
Kerry stared at me like I’d sprouted horns.
“He thinks some those ancestors were not exactly law-abiding citizens. Honestly, I’m just trying to humor the old man, and Dr. Renard has access to a great lab in Vancouver. She won’t bat an eye at the request, and neither will they.”
“Sounds nutty, but grandparents will be grandparents.” Kerry lifted one shoulder and frowned at her screen. “Gosh, this is taking a long time to load. Would you like me to do a title research on your property? Might be fun to see who all lived there before you and show that to your grandfather too.”
“If our workload is that light right now, sure. Having more information for Christoph would be a huge help.”
“Gotta keep Grandpa occupied. I’ll run searches on the surrounding properties too,” she added, slipping her glasses onto her face and staring at her computer screen. “You know me. I am a dog looking for its favorite bone when there’s a good mystery needs solving.”
“You are a squirrel wondering where it buried all its nuts,” I added, to her delight. She grinned and forgot about me, and again, I was reminded how grateful I was to have an assistant like Kerry Pippin. She knew when to stop a line of questioning and when to exercise her expertise. I stirred honey into my second espresso and told myself I could slow down and sip this one.
I closed the door to my office with the excuse that after more than three days with relatives, I needed to focus. I wasn’t being entirely disingenuous. My list of relatives included an ex-mother-in-law, an ex-brother-in-law, and icing on the cake, an ex-husband, and all those exes put together at the same time really was the worst.
Now that we knew who’d killed the hidden folk on Salt Spring Island, I wanted to ask Malvyn if he’d ascertained whether Josiah and Garnet were also responsible for killing the two males Tanner found at other sites, earlier in the summer. I was curious about the Magicals’ system of justice in these cases. My heart hurt for Sallie. She might need therapy.
I left a message at Rowan’s clinic office, asking her to call when she had a moment. Using the office landline, I called the Pearmains’ number.
“Hyslop Pearmain here.”
“Hyslop, it’s Calliope,” I said. “How are you doing?”
“Considering our grandparents are missing, not great. But we’re aware that Tanner has a solid lead on their whereabouts, and we remain hopeful.”
“Are the sisters with you?”
“They are. They like it here.”
“Do you like having them with you?”
“We do.” Hyslop’s voice had lowered to a whisper. “Peasgood and I were hoping to get Grams and Gramps’s blessing to ask their hands in marriage. After that, our plan was to discuss the engagements with Néne and Sil’s parents. They think once their mother and fathers get over the shock, they could be convinced to see the wisdom in their daughters putting down roots in this realm.”
My jaw dropped open. “What do you mean, this realm?”
“Our druidic training took us to Europe and one other realm. We spent time in the French Alps and also at the Seelie Court.” Voices rose in the background. “Can you hold for a moment, please?”
I added Seelie Court and Unseelie Court to a long list of questions for Christoph and the others, right under rings that sized themselves, blood, and more than a dozen other items.
“I’m sorry,” Hyslop said, “but I have to go. Néne and Sil are arguing over where to put a flower garden.”
“Give them each their own plot,” I suggested, adding, “on opposites sides of the property.” Through the glass panel beside the door to my office, I could see Kerry waving. I mouthed, “What?”
“Come. Here.”
I returned the receiver to the cradle and joined Kerry. “Did you find something?”
“How much do you know about your ex’s real estate holdings on Salt Spring?”
“I wasn’t aware he owned any property here,” I said, crossing my arms and settling one hip against her desk. “Aside from the building they renovated last year, the one where they have an office.”
I was on the verge of a belly-plummeting moment, and my hold was slipping. I squeezed my biceps and breathed through my nose.
“Your house abuts three other parcels, two of which are owned by the Flechette Real Estate and Property Development Corporation. The third one’s in a blind trust, same as the big parcel across the road from you. That one runs almost the entire length of Fortune’s Folly Road.”
That would explain how Doug and Roger had gained access to the woods behind the back of my house. “Does it look they own anything else on the island?”
“According to the real estate gossip sheet, an A. Flechette has entered in a bid on one of the orchards in the south end. Hmm,” Kerry murmured, clicking away with her mouse. “I had no idea that old property was under foreclosure.”
“Kerry, is that
