Lyndsey Cole - Lily Bloom 02 - Queen of Poison Read online

  Chapter 15

  “Jared. What can I do for you?”

  He held up her quilted tote. “You forgot this at the museum. I thought you might need it and the file you stole from my mother’s desk. Interesting choice you made with that file.”

  Time seemed to stop as Lily watched Jared’s mouth move. She thought it was odd and funny at the same time how she noticed everything in such vivid detail. His wrinkled khaki pants, worn at the bottom because he never bothered to get them hemmed to the proper length. His belt fastened in the third hole. The light blue oxford shirt buttoned right to the top. Who buttons the top button? His straight sandy blond hair hanging over his eyebrows between his eyes and his glasses. That must be weird to see your own hair in front of everything. His glasses with a fingerprint smudge on the left lens. The spotty stubble on his face. He couldn’t grow a beard if he tried, it would just be a patchy mess. Back to his mouth that hadn’t stopped moving while these thoughts ran through her head.

  “I brought you something.”

  Lily’s ears really perked up. “What did you bring?”

  “Some cookies I made. Would you like to try one?”

  Alarm bells blared in her head. Eat something he brought? Not over my dead body. Well, that’s not the best choice of words since dead is probably his intention. “Not right now. They do look delicious. Can I save it for later?”

  “Nice try. Eat it now.”

  Lily took a cookie. She needed to get him talking again and she needed to pay attention to the words. Stroke him, flatter him, boost his ego, anything to kill—oops, another bad choice of words—the time. “Tell me more about your plans for the museum. Have you thought about working with local artists?”

  “What local artists? There’s just a bunch of hacks in this red neck town.”

  “I think you’d be surprised. There’s actually a lot of talent.”

  He pushed the hair out of his eyes. “I’ll ask the questions. How did you figure out about Kirk and Brandy?”

  Lily forced herself to look relaxed on the outside. “Maggie hinted at it.”

  “That traitor. I knew I couldn’t trust her. I was hoping to get her locked up when I ditched the painting behind the museum for her to find. She always needs money for that drug habit and I was sick of supporting it.”

  Lily risked asking a question. “What about the stolen antiques that ended up at Uncommon Antiques?”

  “Brilliant wasn’t it? Made it look like Maggie again. She must have a guardian angel or something since she’s always walking into trouble but hasn’t gotten caught yet. And it certainly embarrassed Kirk.”

  Lily watched Sweet Pea getting ready to jump into Jared’s lap. She wasn’t sure how he would respond to that. Sweet Pea took the leap and curled up. Jared stroked her soft fur. “Nice cat. I do like cats. They’re independent and sneaky,” he said with a glint in his eye.

  “How did you get Kirk to keep making Ruth look like the murderer?”

  He smiled an evil smile. “Another brilliant move. Blackmail to keep his fake daughter a secret and I knew he wanted to be director. I planted those ideas and told him if he spread the information, I would put in a good word with my mother for him. I didn’t plan on you going back to the museum after Marion died, but that took care of itself. Never hurts to have a couple of suspects—one for each dead body.”

  Lily was desperate to keep him rambling. “I see your cleverness. You thought of everything.”

  He relaxed back in the chair while Sweet Pea purred away. Traitor, Lily thought, looking at her cat.

  “You know what the best part is?”

  “It sounds like you can’t wait to tell me.”

  He leaned toward Lily. “You stole the file with all the information about the monkshood and how it’s poisonous.” He sat back satisfied with that nugget.

  Lily looked confused.

  Sitting forward again, he glared at her. “Are you stupid? Do I have to spell everything out for you? Your fingerprints are all over it. It’s here in your tote. Now, once you eat that cookie and you’re dead in your shop, people will just think you died from that concussion on your head. And the file is the evidence pointing to you as the murderer. I was disappointed that the whack didn’t kill you last night but it’s actually working out better this way. Everyone will say, ‘That Lily Bloom, she got just what she deserves.’”

  Lily was getting more and more worried as he slipped farther into his warped delusional world. He actually seemed to think that everyone else would only see his conclusions and not any other more rational possibility. This did not bode well for her.

  Sweet Pea jumped off his lap and stood by the back door. Lily looked at her and then at Jared. “She needs to go out.”

  “I’ll let her out. No point in having her be traumatized watching you die. We’re about to the end of this conversation.”

  Jared turned the doorknob. As the door opened a fraction, a white blur charged in knocking the unsuspecting Jared Nash to the floor. Rosie stood on his chest, baring her teeth and snarling right in his face.

  He tried to protect himself but Rosie grabbed his arm, clamping down until he stopped struggling.

  Lily was stunned for about two seconds before she grabbed her phone and dialed 911.

  Police cars arrived in what seemed like seconds. Ryan handcuffed Jared and turned him over to his deputy.

  Ryan took a long look at Lily, then wrapped his arms around her, asking if she was okay.

  “Perfect now,” she whispered.

  He added before releasing her, “We have to stop meeting like this.”

  Lily never felt better as she let Rosie jump up and give a doggie kiss.

  Iris rushed in with Daisy. “We leave you out of our sight for two shakes of a lamb’s tail and you almost get yourself killed?”

  Lily sank into the chair, her legs suddenly going all wobbly. “How did Rosie know?”

  Iris patted Rosie. “I let her out when I got to your house to check how you were doing. She didn’t even stop to pee. She just took off. I wasn’t sure where she was going but I had a pretty good idea that she knew you needed help. How did she get into the shop?”

  “Sweet Pea went to the door. I think she sensed that Rosie was waiting to come in. Jared opened the door to let Sweet Pea out and Lily crashed in like a bull.”

  Tears were streaming down Lily’s cheeks from all the stress she just went through and the relief that it was over. Rosie’s head was happily resting on Lily’s lap. “This dog doesn’t even know how special she is. I wish I could clone her.”

  Ryan asked Lily if she felt up to giving a statement.

  “Yes. I think I need to get this out of my head now so I can move on to something more pleasant. And don’t forget to take that cookie as evidence. I’m pretty sure he was planning to poison me the same way he poisoned his aunt.”

  Ryan pulled up a chair. “We can do it here if that’s easier than going to the station.”

  Lily looked around at her beautiful shop. “No. I’ve been here long enough for one day. Let’s go. Can Rosie stay with me?”

  Ryan hesitated, then saw the urgency in Lily’s eyes. “Sure. We can make an exception this time. Besides, I don’t think she’ll let you out of her sight for a while.”

  Ryan took Lily and Rosie to the station to get that wrapped up.

  “I bet you’re starving. Jennifer said she would save some food for us. What do you think?”

  Lily yawned. “Some food and a good night’s sleep.”

  Katie was still up, waiting to see Lily and Rosie when they finally made it home. “Look what Uncle Ryan gave me,” she sang out when they walked in as she held up a tiny black kitten.

  Rosie sniffed the kitten all over, then licked his face. The kitten batted his paws at Rosie’s face. Lily crouched down. “He’s adorable. Did you name him yet?”

  Katie grinned from ear to ear. “His name is Posie. I think his bestest friend will be Rosie so they’ll be Rosie and Posie.”
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br />   Lily laughed. “That’s about the bestest thing I’ve heard all day. You certainly are a lucky girl to have such a nice uncle.”

  Katie ran over and hugged Ryan. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I love Posie.” Katie looked at her mom. “Can Posie sleep with me tonight?”

  “I don’t see why not. And speaking of sleep, it is that time. Say good night to everyone.”

  Katie cuddled Posie in her arms as she sang out, “Good night.”

  Uncle Ryan answered, “Don’t let the bedbugs bite.”

  Chapter 16

  Lily relaxed completely with the sun warming her face. She drifted in and out of the conversations around her. The sound of kids playing and splashing in the lake was soothing.

  “Lily, Lily. Look what I found.” Katie ran over holding a smooth gray rock.

  “Very pretty. Add it to this pile. Are you going to bring all of them home?”

  Katie looked at Jennifer. “Can I Mommy?”

  Jennifer smiled. “You can bring as many rocks as you can carry.”

  Lily jumped when she felt cold drops of water splashing on her stomach. Her eyes popped open to see Ryan blocking the sun. “What are you doing?”

  “Get up. Come in the water with me.” He held his hand out to help her up. “You’ve been sitting here long enough. You need some exercise to work off all that food.”

  Lily’s eyes blazed. “What did you say? Come a little closer. I’m not sure I heard you right.”

  Ryan stepped closer. Lily hooked her foot around the back of his knee and watched him fall into the sand on his butt.

  Ryan pushed himself up and grabbed Lily’s arm. “You’re in trouble now.” Ryan picked her up and swung her over his shoulder. She screamed all the way to the water’s edge.

  “You wouldn’t dare, Ryan Steele.”

  He kept going and dunked her in the lake. When she came up for air, he asked, “Wouldn’t dare what?”

  Lily knocked him over and held him under water until he freed himself. He grabbed her around her waist. “Now I’ve got you where I want you.”

  She stopped struggling and rested her face against his wet chest. “When are you going to tell me the rest of the story about Jared?”

  “If you beat me swimming out to the raft, I’ll tell you.”

  Lily took off and got a good head start. She touched the raft one hand length before Ryan and gloated with a big smile. “Let’s sit on the raft in the sun and you can tell me the story now.”

  “You cheated. I never said get ready, set, go.”

  She climbed onto the raft. “Quit whining and tell me the details. That’s the only way I’ll be able to get it all out of my head and concentrate on something else.” She winked. “Like you, if you’re nice to me.”

  “You drive a hard bargain, Lily Bloom. Okay. Here’s what happened before we found you at the shop. Nina came to my house with her cameras and we studied all the shots. She found photos of Brandy at the opening even though Kirk had said she just came from California for the memorial. That ended up not to be very important, just embarrassing for Kirk. I heard he may be closing his business and moving out of town.”

  “Was she following Nina?”

  “Yeah, Brandy was afraid Nina might put two and two together about her and was trying to intimidate her.”

  “What about the stolen antiques?”

  “That was Jared. We found a girl he paid to bring them to Kirk. When Kirk told you a girl brought them in, you jumped to the conclusion it was Maggie. I think that was Jared’s intention.”

  “What about Ruth? She acted so guilty and her bag with the gloves with blood on them.”

  “The blood was hers. She must have cut herself. Ruth didn’t know who she could trust so she lashed out at everyone trying to help her.”

  Lily rolled onto her stomach. Ryan tickled her foot. She kicked at him. “Hey. Finish the story.”

  “The important photo was of Kirk pointing. You thought he was pointing at you but in the photo we saw Jared standing a little behind you and realized that Kirk was pointing at Jared.”

  Lily shivered.

  “Are you cold?”

  “Not cold. Thinking about Jared gives me goose bumps.”

  “When Iris came in to my house and said Rosie had taken off, we all knew you were in trouble. I headed straight to your shop.”

  Lily’s eyes were half closed. She murmured, “Before I dialed 911?”

  “Even before. The rest is all Rosie’s story. You know that part.”

  Thank you was all she could manage to say before she fell asleep in the warm afternoon sun.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Lyndsey Cole lives in New England in a small rural town with her husband, dogs, cats and chickens. She has plenty of space to grow lots of beautiful perennials. Sitting in the garden with the scent of lilac, peonies, lily of the valley or whatever is in bloom, stimulates her imagination about mysteries and romance.

  ONE LAST THING …

  If you enjoyed this installment of Lily Bloom Cozy Mystery Series, be sure to join my FREE COZY MYSTERY BOOK CLUB! Be in the know for new releases, promotions, sales, and the possibility to receive advanced reader copies. Join the club here—http://LyndseyColeBooks.com

  OTHER BOOKS BY LYNDSEY COLE

  Begonia Means Beware

  Stay tuned for the next book in the Lily Bloom Cozy Mystery Series.

  Coming Summer 2014!!

  If you enjoyed Queen of Poison, the second of the Lily Bloom Cozy Mystery Series, check out Deadly Surprise, the second of The Early Bird Café Series—written by my daughter!

  Kori is over the moon excited to be going on a date with none other than Lieutenant Zach Gulch, childhood crush and stunner to look at. But that thrill is quickly stifled the next day when Zach reveals that family DNA showed up at a crime scene in nearby Scoter Circle.

  They both know the DNA isn’t Kori’s but it belongs to a close male relative. With her father long dead and her cousin Tyler living across the country, that only leaves Jay as a suspect. And it turns out his gun was also in the right place at the wrong time to pin everything on him.

  Now, Kori and Jay have a list of online dating profiles that become the top suspects, starting with the deceased’s violent ex-husband. Will they be able to find the real killer before Jay is behind bars with a guilty conviction for a murder he barely knows anything about? And why did the murderer try to frame him—he hadn’t been in touch with Heidi for years.

  As the questions pile up, they hope the body count stays at one.

  CHAPTER 1

  Kori was nervous beyond belief. She couldn’t believe she’d said yes. She was going on a date with Zach Gulch. After nearly twenty years of pretending she didn’t have feelings for him, here she was getting all dolled up and was as jumpy as a teenager.

  “Where is he taking you?” Nora asked, seated on Kori’s bed. Kori knew she wouldn’t be able to make all the important decisions about what to wear and how to do her hair so she’d asked her best friend to come over.

  “Jackson’s,” Kori said, turning around to gauge Nora’s reaction. Jackson’s was located on the north side of Thrush Lake, looking south toward Hermit Cove. The outside seating was perfectly located so they would be able to look back at their hometown while they enjoyed the fanciest meal in the state.

  “I can’t believe he could get a table so fast!” Nora reacted exactly how Kori knew she would—shouting in excitement and leaping off the bed. Kori blushed and turned back to the mirror to work on her makeup.

  “Let me do that,” Nora said, coming up beside her and taking the mascara from her hand. “You’re shaking and you’re just going to smudge it.”

  It was true. Kori gladly let Nora take over. They were celebrating the two month anniversary of Kori clearing her name and solving the first murder case in Hermit Cove in decades and she wanted to look her best.

  “Have you decided what you’re going to wear?” Kori was still wrapped in a towel, a second one on h
er head drying her hair.

  “No. That’s why you’re here,” Kori joked, but she was dead serious.

  “Well, let’s think about this. It’s late May so it could still be cold at night. What time is your reservation?”

  “Seven. He’s picking me up in half an hour,” Kori said as calmly as she could while her heart beat against her ribs at the thought of how soon she’d be with Zach.

  “You’ll want something that will keep you warm enough. I’m almost done with your makeup and then we’re going to raid your closet.”

  Nora put the finishing touches on Kori’s face and then stepped back to admire her work. “Look in the mirror,” Nora instructed her. “What do you think?”

  “You do amazing work.” Kori couldn’t take her eyes off herself. She wasn’t usually vain, but she looked great. Her eyes popped and the color on her cheeks wasn’t overdone.

  “Now, to the closet!” Nora wasted no time with dawdling. She took off as if she were headed for the Batcave.

  Inside Kori’s closet they start rifling through the few dresses Kori had acquired over the years. She had the dress she’d worn to a friend’s wedding in New York years ago, but it was strapless and wouldn’t work in this weather. There was the dress she’d bought for almost nothing at a consignment shop just before a vacation to the beach. But it wasn’t formal enough for this evening.

  “This is it,” Nora said, pulling a fitted maroon dress from its hanger. Kori’d had it altered years ago and had never had a reason to wear it. Until now. A friend, who was a bit heftier than Kori’s size six, had given it to her. After paying pennies to have it adjusted, it fit her perfectly.

  “But it has no sleeves. And it doesn’t come past my knees. I’ll be cold,” Kori protested.

  “You have a white sweater?” Nora asked, checking what else was in the closet. She pulled a cashmere cardigan off a hanger. “Here, put this on too.”

  Kori took the towel off of her head and let her wet hair fall down her back. She knew Nora wouldn’t let her get away with her usual ponytail tonight. She slipped the dress over her head and let it slide down her body and at the same time she let the towel fall away.