Fruit of the Poisoned Tree plgm-2 Page 3

  Sam shook his head. “I offered to plant anything that might live, but none of it would have tons of flowers and green leaves. Apparently Mr. Crawford told his wife, who was still out of state, that everything blooms here all the time and their yard was filled with flowers and trees.”

  “If there had been any way at all,” Selena finished, “we would’ve shared that money. It would’ve made the Potting Shed’s bottom line skyrocket for the month, too.”

  “It’s just as well you didn’t do it.” Peggy put down the mail and picked up the phone. “It would’ve ended in disaster. And we all know he would’ve blamed us. So I guess we’ll have to do something the old-fashioned way to remind our normal customers spring is closer than they think. Pull up the customer list on the computer, Selena. Let’s come up with a sales flyer to send to everyone. By the way, I love your hair.”

  The younger woman smiled and fingered her new, shorter cut. “I was mostly trying to get that awful blue color out I put in over the summer when I went to that pool party. I’m thinking about going darker. Dark hair is really popular right now. What do you think?”

  “I already told you what I think,” Sam responded as he picked up a hundred pound bag of bulbs from the floor like it was a child’s toy. “You don’t have the coloring to go dark. Unless you’re going to dye your lashes and brows. You’d just look spooky.”

  “Okay, Thor. Thanks.” Selena turned to Peggy. “I meant what do you think?”

  “I agree with Thor, I mean, Sam,” Peggy replied with a laugh. “Sorry, honey. Let me make this phone call, and we’ll talk.” She dialed the number of one of their local distributors and ordered two fifty pound bags of Jerusalem artichokes.

  Selena and Sam were still bickering about Selena’s hair color when Peggy got off the phone. She ignored it. The two were good-natured, even when they disagreed. “Thanks for taking over for me, Selena. I feel like I haven’t been home in a month. And I promised Steve I’d get Shakespeare from him before dinnertime.”

  “Not a problem, Peggy,” Selena added. “But what do you really think about me going dark? I think I’d look good.”

  Peggy glanced at her. “There’s only one way to find out. Do it. You can always change it back. It’s only hair, after all.”

  “Thanks, Peggy.” Selena smiled at Sam smugly. “At least someone has a brain around here!”

  “Sam, can you drive me home?” Peggy asked him after they’d gone through a moment of glaring at each other.

  “Sure.” He shook his head. “Are you still working on changing the engine in your Rolls so it burns hydrogen? If not, maybe you should just get a hybrid car. It’s not doing much good for the environment if you ride your bike to work then use our old truck to drive all over the city after you get here.”

  “I know that.” Peggy shot him an irritated glance. “I’m working on it. Selena, please get that list together for me. This place is like a tomb. We have to get some of our shoppers interested in warm spring days and beautiful green plants. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  They went through the back door to the loading area behind the shop, and Sam asked, “And what are we going to do with all the Jerusalem artichokes? I already got four fifty pound bags in yesterday, and now you ordered more. Any ideas? Are we planting them in Founder’s Hall?”

  “They’re very nice plants and a good way for patio growers to have sunflowers. They’re also good to eat and good for you. And they aren’t really Jerusalem artichokes, you know. They’re calling them sunchokes right now. That’s much nicer, isn’t it?”

  Sam started the truck. “I suppose. But that’s still a lot of them. Do you have some plan you aren’t sharing? Are you giving them away when a customer buys a real plant?”

  “Don’t be prejudiced,” she scolded, buckling her seat belt. “The sunchokes will do very well. You’ll see. People are always looking for something different. As long as we give it to them, they won’t have to look anywhere else.”

  “You’re the boss.” He backed the truck out of the parking lot. “I just don’t want to be eating them for the next year. I remember the first year the Potting Shed was open, and you ordered too many tulips. I got tulips for bonuses, my birthday, and Christmas.”

  “You worry too much.” She smiled at him and patted his arm. “This is different.”

  They drove through thick evening traffic from the Potting Shed to Peggy’s home on Queens Road in the heart of the city. As usual, there was never a break in conversation between them as they discussed Sam’s notes about the shop.

  Peggy noticed a problem with her Great Dane, Shakespeare, as soon as she got out of the truck. He had a crazed look in his eyes as he waited in the drive and almost knocked her down when he saw her. “What did you do to him?” she asked Steve as she absorbed the impact of the dog’s body slamming into hers.

  “He’s the same unruly mutt you left behind.” Steve kissed her and nuzzled her neck as he handed her the leash. “You smell great! I missed you. But as your veterinarian, I’d recommend obedience classes. Just because he’s friendly and lovable doesn’t mean he won’t pull you down the street while you’re holding his leash.”

  A thin layer of ice from that morning still varnished the sidewalk in her yard where the trees kept the sun from reaching the concrete. Peggy wasn’t paying attention as she took the dog toward the house. Shakespeare saw a squirrel and pulled hard to the right as he investigated. Fully recovered from his abuse at the hands of his previous owner, the 140-pound dog almost dragged her into oncoming street traffic. She pulled him back but lost her footing and sat down hard on her butt right on Queens Road.

  Shakespeare looked back at her with a goofy grin, his floppy, unclipped ears framing his massive face and black muzzle. He paused long enough to lick her face, then started back toward the house. The leash went with him. Fortunately, he sat down by the front door and waited for her, tail thumping the frosty ground.

  Angry and bruised, suffering from several drivers’ vented rage as cars swarmed around her, Peggy wasn’t in the mood to be lenient or moved by his cute face. “You’ve become a monster. We’re going to have to do something about this before you kill me.”

  “Are you okay?” Steve reached her side.

  Sam hid a smile behind his hand as he grabbed the dog’s leash to keep him from running any farther.

  “I’m fine, thanks.” Peggy brushed herself off while Sam opened the door and took the dog in the house. She didn’t want to admit how bruised she already was from her long night in jail as she walked slowly into the house behind them.

  Shakespeare galloped through the house to the kitchen and slid across the hardwood floors, waiting to be fed. She followed him past the thirty-foot blue spruce that grew in her foyer. “I have to do something with him.”

  “I’m not surprised. What did you have in mind?” Steve asked. “I know a man who works on a freighter who would be glad to have him. Or we could volunteer him to be the first Great Dane in space.”

  Peggy frowned. “That’s not what I mean. I like having him here. I just don’t want him to kill me. You’ve been preaching the gospel of obedience classes almost since I got him. I’m ready now. Where do I sign up?”

  “I have a friend who gives classes. She’s really good. You’ll like her. She has a grooming salon over in the Ballantyne area, unless that’s too far for you. I’m sure she could find time to help you with Shakespeare.” He gave her the phone number. “Want me to go with you?”

  “Thanks. But I think I can handle this. Selena will be at the shop in the morning. I’ll give Rue Baker a call.”

  “You’re not teaching tomorrow?”

  “Not until the afternoon.” She yawned. “Oh, sorry. I’m just exhausted.”

  “No wonder, after you had to elude the police and save the world.” Sam laughed.

  Steve glanced at her, then took a seat at the kitchen table. “I was wondering why you were late. Anything you’d care to share?”

  “Sure.” Sam dre
w up a chair. “Picture these headlines: ‘Peggy vs. the Police.’ ”

  “Don’t you have something to plant?” she asked him.

  “Oh.” He looked at the two of them. “I suppose you’d like some time alone, huh? Three days apart. That’s a pretty long time. Even for you old folks.”

  “Sam!”

  “Okay! Okay! I’m going. I’ll see you later, Steve. I’ll talk to you in the morning, Peggy.”

  Steve waited until Sam was gone, then got slowly to his feet. “How about some dinner?”

  “I’m too tired to go out,” she said. “Maybe tomorrow night.”

  He moved to the fridge and took out a covered tray of cheese and veggies. “I thought you might be. I have this, some salad, bread, and an excellent bottle of sauvignon blanc. I thought we could take it into the basement and picnic beside the pond while you work on your plants. I know you’re not going to ignore them for a whole night after you’ve been gone.”

  “You think of everything.” She smiled as she kissed him.

  “And you can tell me what Sam was talking about.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Oh, I think you’ll talk.” He opened a tray of mini éclairs.

  “Brute!” She reached to grab one.

  “Uh-uh. Start talking.” He re-covered the dessert. “I can’t wait to hear all about it.”

  THE NEXT MORNING, PEGGY ate her breakfast and read the paper while Shakespeare ate in another corner of the kitchen. She was just pouring herself another cup of coffee when her son knocked on the kitchen door. “Come in, Paul. I’ve got a cup of coffee left. Have you had breakfast?”

  “You know me.” He took off his regulation blue police jacket and hat, his thin frame appearing even narrower in the navy blue uniform. “I’m always hungry.” He chafed his hands together. “It’s cold out there. I thought it was supposed to be warming up.”

  “We still have some cold weather left. You need some gloves.” She poured him the coffee and fished some powdered sugar donuts from the bread box. “Are you about to go on duty or just coming off?”

  He sat down at the scrubbed wood table, tracing the tiny initials he’d carved into it as a child with his long, narrow fingers. Peggy gave him piano lessons when he was four with dreams of him being a concert pianist with those supple fingers. But Paul had other ideas. “About to go in. I thought I’d stop by and see how things are going. I would’ve stopped last night, but I thought Steve would probably want some time alone with you.”

  Peggy sat down opposite him. “You aren’t still having trouble with the idea of Steve and me being together, are you?”

  He shook his head as he sipped his coffee. “No. I like him, Mom. It was weird to begin with, but I’m handling it. I was trying to be considerate.”

  Her cinnamon-colored brow raised above one clear, green eye so like her son’s. “Thank you. But you’re always welcome here. I’m glad you came this morning.”

  He shoved a whole miniature donut into his mouth and kept talking. “I’ve been moonlighting. Mai and I have been seeing each other for a few months. We’re thinking about getting a place together. We need some extra cash. I’ve been doing some side jobs they offered at the precinct. You know, directing the Bojangles’ customers into the parking lot, doing some security work. That kind of thing.”

  “That’s wonderful about you and Mai!” Since Peggy was the one who saw the initial attraction between Mai Sato, the young medical examiner’s assistant, and her son, she was especially gratified. Not many people she thought should be together ended up together. She squeezed his cold hand across the table. “But you don’t have to moonlight. I have some money. I’ll be glad to help.”

  “We’re almost set, Mom. Thanks anyway. I want to show Mai how important this is to me. I’ve had a tough time convincing her to give up that little packing crate she calls an apartment.”

  Peggy was very proud of his attitude but didn’t say so. She didn’t want to sound too lofty. She was only recently on secure footing with her only son who had her fiery hair, temper, and independent spirit. After his father’s death, they had some bad times together. Paul suddenly wanted to join the police department after studying to be an architect. She didn’t want him to get hurt, especially since she suspected he was only interested in finding John’s killer. “I just wanted to let you know I’m here if you need me.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” Paul sipped his coffee with an awkward expression on his freckled face. “Anyway, we found a place on Providence Road. It’s a little bungalow house. We’re going to rent with an option to buy. Mai isn’t so sure about the buying part. I asked her to marry me. She turned me down. She said she might reconsider after we live together and share stuff for a while.”

  Peggy nodded. Smart girl. “What kind of stuff?”

  “Money. Dishes. Garbage. Dirty clothes. That kind of thing.” He shrugged his shoulders under the Charlotte PD uniform and ran his hand across his short, spiky red hair. “I don’t know why she doesn’t trust me. I’m really in love with her. I don’t think she feels the same about me, or she’d trust me, right?”

  “Maybe she does.” Peggy played devil’s advocate. “Maybe she just wants to make sure there’s more to it than that. There’s a lot more than saying ‘I love you’ that goes into a relationship. Mai’s smart to try it out before she buys it.”

  He looked stunned. “Most mothers don’t want their sons to live with a woman without marrying her.”

  She waved her hand at him dismissively. “I’m not most mothers. And that was a hundred years ago! Things have changed since I was a girl. Just don’t tell your grandparents. We’ll never hear the end of it.”

  Paul ate the rest of the donuts and threw away the empty bag. “I think maybe Mai was married before or at least had a serious relationship that went bad. She seems a little raw about the whole idea. But this house will take care of all that. She’ll see I’m okay.”

  “I’m sure she will . . . if she’s ready.” Peggy smiled at her handsome son. She hoped he wasn’t being overconfident. It sounded like he was moving too fast for Mai. If she wasn’t ready to commit to the relationship becoming more serious, Paul would have to wait.

  Maybe she’d see if Mai could meet her for lunch, and they could talk. She knew the girl didn’t have a close relationship with her family. Maybe she needed a sounding board. Peggy believed her relationship with her was strong enough to overlook the fact that she was Paul’s mother. She liked her whether she decided to be with Paul or not. She hoped Mai felt the same.

  “I guess I’m willing to take that chance.” Paul kissed the top of her head. “I have to get going. It’s good to have you back, Mom. Charlotte and I missed you.”

  The warm fuzzy that gave her lasted Peggy all the way through the crowded city streets as Sam eluded icy patches on the road.

  Shakespeare was distracted by every child or bird he saw along the way. She held him back from jumping at the window of the truck with an iron grip and the gruff voice she’d used with Paul when he got in trouble as a child.

  Interstate 77 was crowded as always. A large part of the road was down to one lane as they came out of the metro area. There were orange barrels and flashing signs everywhere while traffic backed up. The sun was warm, melting away the small amount of ice that had accumulated during the night. It still gleamed in the bright light on the overpasses and railings, but county trucks had spread plenty of slag on the road. No accidents were causing this holdup.

  “Weren’t there any dog trainers closer than Ballantyne?” Sam asked as they waited in traffic.

  “I’m sure there are.” Peggy glanced at him. “But Rue is Steve’s friend. I thought I’d give her a try. What’s wrong with you this morning anyway? You’re like a possum with a sore tail.”

  He sighed, his heavily muscled chest sagging. “I’m not sure how that possum part relates to my problem. But you’re getting to be as bad as my mother. Unless it’s me, and I just can’t hide anything anymore.” />
  “You’re not a difficult person to understand, sweetie. Go ahead. Tell me what’s wrong.”

  “I’m failing chemistry, and my dad is on my case. He says he’s not paying a fortune for me to go to school if I bring home bad grades. Hunter never failed anything. Hunter always does the right thing.”

  Peggy didn’t miss the mild rivalry he shared with his sister wrapped up in Sam’s words. Hunter and Sam were both overachievers, spurred on by their father. She’d met him once. He was one of those people who believed competition was good for children. “You aren’t Hunter. But I think chemistry is an important part of premed. I’m sure he’s just concerned about you. Why are you failing? You’re brilliant! You certainly shouldn’t be having problems this early in school anyway.”

  “I’m not anywhere near premed yet, Peggy,” Sam declared with a rebellious snarl. “I might change my mind about being a doctor at all.”

  As if a messenger from heaven came down to deny Sam’s words, a shaft of sunlight glinted off of a shiny chrome bumper on a burgundy Lincoln going up on the Interstate 485 ramp. It caught Peggy’s eye, like a shooting star set against the clear blue sky.

  The car should’ve slowed down on the sharp turn. It should’ve curved past the concrete rail. It didn’t. She grasped Sam’s arm as they watched the car careen off the hundred-foot-high overpass. “Oh my God!”

  3

  Flowering Dogwood

  Botanical: Cornus florida

  Family: Cornaceae

  Common name: Virginia dogwood

  The dogwood is a small tree native to the eastern United States. The root and bark were used by Native Americans to treat fever before quinine was available. The tree is steeped in Christian folklore about its use as the wood that made Jesus’s cross. The sap is said to have magical properties that bring good luck.

  SAM AND PEGGY WATCHED the car as it seemed to hover in the air for a moment, suspended by the forward thrust of the speed it was traveling. It happened so quickly, yet time seemed to slow down around it. Too quickly, the spell was broken. Like something from a nightmare, the car sailed down from the sky, hit the pavement, and rolled across the highway.