We finally finish and return to the cutting station, all still in complete silence. I didn’t even know Pattie could go this long without speaking. I must’ve really shaken her up.
Locks of wet, flowery-scented hair are falling all around me when my phone rings. The sharp twang breaking the stillness in the air makes us both jump. I quickly grab my cell, determined to keep whoever is calling on the line as long as possible.
The screen shows it’s Madge, so I say, “Hey. How’s it going?”
“Good. Just wondering if I should bring anything to book club tonight. I was thinking chocolate chip cookies will go well with all that lovely coffee and wine you serve.”
“Sure. That’d be great. Anything else going on?” I don’t want to mention Tina’s name to alert Pattie.
“I’ve been a little worried about the Admiral. I think he’s still blaming himself for not getting to Tina sooner before she hit her head. So I’m making a murder board for tonight. That ought to cheer him up.”
“Yes, nothing as gross as that to lift the mood,” I reply sarcastically.
Madge chuckles. “Well, when he sees who the suspects are and what we’ve learned so far, I think he’ll see there was nothing he could’ve done. Oh, that’s why I’m really calling. To tell you that the doc thinks Tina was poisoned.”
Poisoned? Really? Wow. “That puts a different light on things.”
“Yeah, but…” Madge clears her throat. “It also means your father is back in the suspect pool. He spent the most time with her before the show. And he gave all the ladies the flowers.”
Oh, man. I hadn’t thought of that. How can I ask what I want to know without alerting Pattie? She’s clearly listening to my every word. I’ll have to be vague and hope Madge catches on. “Could that…vessel be used for…that?”
“Do you mean, could a rose be the murder weapon?”
“Yes.”
“Ah.” Madge chuckles. “The queen of nosey is standing right there, I take it?”
“Exactly. I have a book at the shop that might help us out. Want to meet me there in ten?”
“Sure. I’ll see you in a few. Bye.”
“See you.” I quickly disconnect.
After my hair is styled in the longest hour and a half of my life, Pattie finally releases me from the chair. I force a smile and say, “Thanks! It looks great.” And actually, it does. Who knew what a little trim and highlight could do to freshen things up?
Pattie nods and heads for the cash register. “That’ll be eighty-five dollars. Next one’s on the house as long as you keep our deal.”
I hand over my credit card. “For eighty-five bucks, I can keep my mouth shut. Have a great day!”
She closes out the transaction and hands my card back. “You too. See you around, Sawyer.”
I wave as I hightail it out the glass doors. Once outside, I can retake a deep breath. I’m not sure if I did more harm than good by playing detective, but man, I’m glad to be out of there!
I tug open the door to my store and am greeted with the lovely aroma of French vanilla coffee and buttery croissants. It reminds me I haven’t had lunch, so I wave to Nan and head for the kitchen area. The Admiral is sitting at one of the bistro tables sipping from a mug and eating a croissant. Cooper wags his tail when he sees me but is rooted to his spot at the Admiral’s feet to retrieve any wayward crumbs.
“Hi, Admiral. How are you?” I grab some coffee and a pastry and join him at the little table.
“Confused.”
Well, that’s nothing new, but I don’t want to be rude. “About?” I take a long slug of caffeine.
“Why Dylan felt the need to question me about Tina’s death earlier. He should know I’d never hurt anyone.”
“Of course, you wouldn’t.” I set my mug down with an indignant thump. “What questions did he ask?”
The Admiral looks away. “He asked about what I use for fertilizer on your mom’s roses and what other chemicals are kept in your greenhouse. And who transported the arrangements to the community center.” The Admiral finally turns and makes eye contact. “And you should probably know he asked if you handled the flowers too when you wrote out the name tags.”
I should probably take offense at that question, but logic tells me Dylan is just doing his job. Still… He could’ve asked me directly. “Madge just told me the docs think poison might have been involved in Tina’s death.”
“Really?” The Admiral’s bushy eyebrows arch. “Well then, no wonder Dylan asked me all those questions. But last I checked, roses aren’t poisonous, nor are the chemicals I use. Maybe there was something toxic backstage?”
“I’m sure that’s what Dylan is trying to figure out. I wouldn’t sweat it.”
Nan flops the book about authors and their choice of poisons in front of me again. “See pages 119 through 225. You’d be amazed at all the clever ways people got rid of their enemies back in the day. I’ve got to run.”
“Thanks, Nan.” I glance up and smile. “Sure you don’t want to come to book club later? We’d love to have you.”
She shakes her gray head on the way to the front door. “I need to talk about another murder mystery today like I need to hear another excuse for an overdue book. See you tomorrow.”
After she’s gone, the Admiral frowns, “I guess the thing about the excuse was an ex-librarian joke?”
I nod because my mouth is full. After I swallow, I say, “She has a ton of them. Like, why did the librarian get fired?”
The Admiral shakes his head. “No idea.”
“Because she’s always checked out.” I scarf down the rest of my croissant, then add, “What did the librarian say when asked if she knew of any authors who wrote dinosaur books?”
A ghost of a smile tilts the
