by V. M. Burns
Dr. Haygood showed him the medicine bottle. “This is digitalis.” He squinted and looked closely. “And a pretty high dosage.” He looked at the bottle of whiskey and the glass on the nightstand. “If he had a bad heart and was drinking alcohol. . .” He leaned down and sniffed the man’s breath. “Which it appears he was.”
Lady Elizabeth stepped forward. “Yes, doctor, Captain Jessup had quite a bit to drink last night.”
Dr. Haygood shook his head. “He would have been warned of the risks of overexertion and excessive alcohol consumption.” He wrote a few more things down. “I’ll call his physician and find out what’s what.”
Lady Penelope appeared at the door, still wearing a robe and with her hair down, looking pale as a ghost. “Victor, what’s happened?”
Victor hurried over to his wife’s side. “You shouldn’t be up. It’s nothing to worry yourself about.”
She glanced around her husband just as Dr. Haygood pulled the sheet up over Captain Jessup’s face.
“He’s dead?”
Victor hesitated for a moment, as though he was unsure what to say. “Yes, he died during the night.”
“Thank God,” Lady Penelope said. “Now everything will be okay.”
Victor turned pale. “You’re not well. Let me help you back to bed.” He turned and glanced at Lady Elizabeth and then to Dr. Haygood and the policeman. “She’s in shock. She doesn’t know what she’s saying.”
Dr. Haygood looked up. “Perhaps I should give her a quick once-over since I’m here, and then I’ll go downstairs and make my call.”
Dr. Haygood and Victor helped Lady Penelope down the hall.
Detective Inspector Covington stared at the door. “I know what she meant, but I don’t know that anyone else would believe this death was due to natural causes.”
“I know,” Lady Elizabeth said. “That’s why I’m glad you’re here.”
“I can’t ignore everything that happened last night. I don’t believe any of you had anything to do with this, but I’m a policeman and I have to—”
She waved her hand. “I’m not asking you to sweep anything under the rug. In fact, I want you to investigate.”
“Do you know what you’re asking?”
“I do. I also know that Captain Jessup’s death is very convenient. A few hours ago, he made claims that would have ruined Victor. When word of it gets out . . . and, we both know it will get out, regardless of what Dr. Haygood says, people will think Victor or one of us murdered him.”
“That’s about the size of it.”
“That’s why I’m glad you’re here. You’re a good detective. You have to get to the bottom of this murder.”
Detective Inspector Covington shot a glance at Lady Elizabeth. “You believe it’s murder then?”
“Of course. Did you notice the window?”
The detective smiled. “You noticed that too?”
“It was rather cold last night. Too cold to have the window open.”
“Some people like a cool breeze, even in the winter,” he said with very little enthusiasm.
She turned to the fireplace. “True, but they don’t usually light a fire and have the window open at the same time. Plus, there are several bees in here.”
The detective walked over to the nightstand and noticed several dead bees.
She looked around the room. “Captain Jessup had been drinking heavily since he arrived. He’s never given any indication of a heart condition. Dying of a heart attack is just a little too . . . convenient. I need you to investigate and find out who killed him. We will, of course, help any way we can.”
The detective smiled. “I had a feeling you would.”
Chapter 13
“Sam.” Nana Jo gave my shoulder a gentle shake, but the gesture startled me, and I jumped.
“You’ve got to stop sneaking up on me.”
“I called you three times.” She sat down in the chair next to me. “How’s the patient?”
“Has it been an hour already?” I glanced at my cell phone for the time. I started to rise, but Nana Jo waved me back down.
“Don’t bother. I’ll go.” She got up and went into the room. After a few moments, she came back out. “I turned down the heat in there. That room was like a sauna.” She wiped a few beads of sweat off her brow. “Besides, she should be warm now.”
“Did you get to talk to the doctor?”
“I tried, but those police wouldn’t even let me off the elevator. I told them it was important, but they wouldn’t listen.”
Just then, we saw Dr. Vincent Blankenship walking toward us, closely followed by two emergency technicians.
“I’m sorry it’s taken so long, but . . . things took longer than I thought.”
Over the few hours since I’d last seen Dr. Blankenship, he looked older and more haggard.
“Have you had anything to eat?” Nana Jo asked.
Dr. Blankenship stopped and paused while he thought. “I don’t think I have. I meant to, but . . . I’ll get something as soon as I see to Lavender.”
“Lavender is fine. She’s still sound asleep. Why don’t you grab yourself a sandwich and a cup of coffee first?”
Dr. Blankenship looked like a drowning man who’d just been tossed a life preserver, but the look quickly faded. “I’d better just see how she is and then I’ll get something, but . . . thank you.” He led the way into the room, and the two emergency techs followed him.
Inside, Dr. Blankenship took Lavender’s pulse and used a stethoscope that he must have borrowed from the EMTs to listen to her heart. After a few moments, he stood up and stretched.
Nana Jo handed him a bottled water that she had brought with her.
“Thank you.” He twisted the top off the water and took a sip. In a quiet voice he said, “She seems to be fine.” He glanced from me to Nana Jo. “How’d you get her to sleep?”
“We drugged her,” Nana Jo said.
Dr. Blankenship nearly choked as he spit out his water.
Nana Jo patted him on the back.
“You what?”
“Hannah Schneider had some melatonin in her purse. So, we put it in her tea.”
Dr. Blankenship sighed. “Oh, well . . . as long as it was just melatonin.”
Nana Jo squinted at the doctor. “If I was a betting woman, I’d say someone gave her mother something a heck of a lot stronger than melatonin.”
Dr. Blankenship flushed. “I’m not at liberty to talk about it.”
She nodded. “Poisoned.”
“What’s this about poison?” A short white male in a cheap, wrinkled coat over an equally cheap, brown wrinkled suit waltzed into the room. He was mostly bald, but what few hairs remained atop his freckled dome, he combed over to the side of his head. He was followed by a tall, thin woman.
The man barely reached Nana Jo’s shoulder. He walked up to my grandmother and gazed up at her like a lovesick schoolboy. After an awkward pause, he slicked his hairs down and cleared his throat. “I’m D. I. Nelson.” He grinned, revealing a mouth full of coffee-stained, crooked teeth. “That’s Detective Inspector.” He pushed his shoulders back. “And, your name is?” His voice bellowed through the room.
Dr. Blankenship hurried to make sure that Lavender hadn’t woken up. “Perhaps we should continue this outside.” He motioned toward the door, but the detective ignored him.
Nana Jo stared down at him. “Josephine Thomas.”
“Josephine . . . well, what’s this you’re saying about poison?”
Nana Jo took one step forward and reached around the detective to extend her hand to the woman. “Josephine Thomas.”
The woman’s lips twitched as she fought back a smile. She shook Nana Jo’s hand. “Detective Sergeant Moira Templeton.” Moira Templeton was tall and thin. She was stunning, with light brown skin and wavy hair that she pulled back into a severe bun. She had large, gray, intelligent eyes and brilliant white, straight teeth.
D. I. Nelson didn’t like being ignored. “
Now that the introductions are over, Moira, you can take notes.” He glared at the detective, who merely pulled a notepad out of her pocket and glanced up. “Now, what’s that you were saying about poison?” “I wasn’t saying anything about poison,” Nana Jo said. “I merely asked if that’s how Mrs. Habersham was murdered.”
Lavender Habersham’s eyes fluttered open, and for a few seconds, she glanced around as though trying to remember where she was. Then, as recognition hit, her face crumbled, and she sobbed. “Mother’s gone . . . what will Bella do? It’s all my fault.” She sat up and stared. “Oh my God! Bella!”
D. I. Nelson took two steps forward and glared down at the young woman. “What’s that you’re saying? Who’s Bella? What’s all your fault? Are you ready to confess to poisoning your mother?” He turned to Moira. “Templeton, get this down.” He turned back to Lavender and leaned down. “I need to caution you that you do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defense if you do not mention something when questioned that you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.”
Lavender sobbed even harder.
Dr. Blankenship said, “Detective, I don’t think this is the time or the place. My patient is under medical care and doesn’t know what she’s saying.”
D. I. Nelson sneered. “Your patient is about to confess to murder. The last thing I need is some bloody American bleeding-heart doctor telling me how to do my job.”
Dr. Blankenship shrank back as though he’d been smacked, but he dug deep and stood very erect. “I may be an American, but I’m still a medical doctor, and I have to do what is in the best interest of my patient.” He stepped in between the detectives and Lavender and folded his arms.
As a show of support, Nana Jo moved next to him and folded her arms across her chest. I moved next to Nana Jo, arms folded, to further demonstrate our unity as we blocked Lavender Habersham from the detectives.
Nelson breathed heavily. “And who are you?”
“I’m her granddaughter, Samantha Washington.”
He huffed. “Get those names down, Templeton. Looks like we’ll need a wagon for all of these Americans.”
If he thought the threat of arrest would scare us into moving, he was mistaken. In fact, I felt more angry than scared that he thought he could bully us.
Nana Jo scowled. “Sam, you better call the American Consulate. Looks like we’re going to need some assistance.”
I reached in my pocket and pulled out my cell phone. I maintained a stoic expression that belied the butterflies erupting in my stomach. I was angry, but I was also on vacation in another country with no luggage. For some reason, the lack of luggage made a bigger difference to my mental state now than it had previously. I also didn’t have the American Consulate saved in my speed dial, so I would have to do an internet search, which would completely ruin the effect. I hoped he would back down as I swiped my phone in search of the number.
Nana Jo was a much better poker player than Detective Inspector Nelson, and after a few seconds of hard breathing, he plastered on a fake smile and tried a different tactic. “All right, I don’t think any of us want an international incident.” He sighed. “I’ll take your word as a medical professional that she is not fit to answer questions . . . right now, but as soon as she’s been treated, I will be talking to her.”
“Now, if you’ll kindly step outside,” Dr. Blankenship said, “I can treat my patient. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
Reluctantly, D. I. Nelson turned toward the door, but he yelled over his shoulder. “I’ll be leaving a constable outside the door, so don’t think you can spirit her away without me knowing.” He marched outside.
“What an obnoxious, overbearing boor,” Nana Jo mumbled just loud enough for the policeman to hear.
Once we were all outside, Dr. Blankenship closed the door, leaving him alone with the EMTs and Lavender Habersham.
The hallway was crowded, but Nana Jo and I took the seats we’d used previously and posted ourselves like sentinels outside the door.
The Scotland Yard detectives faced us. Detective Sergeant Templeton’s eyes sparkled as though she wanted to laugh, but she refrained.
Nelson rocked on the balls of his feet for a few moments. Then he grinned. “Maybe you two should tell me what you’re doing here?”
As a former high school English teacher, I tried to refrain from correcting grammar when talking to friends. However, I wasn’t feeling very friendly toward D. I. Nelson. “I assume by ‘here’ you’re referring to England.” I waited, but Nelson merely seethed quietly, so I continued. “We’re on vacation. We’re taking the Peabody Mystery Lovers Tour of England.”
“You getting that down?” he said to Detective Sergeant Templeton.
“Yes, sir.”
“Did you know the deceased well?”
We shook our heads.
“We met her for the first time the other day at the meet and greet,” Nana Jo said.
Ruby Mae came around the corner. “Clive wants to meet with everyone from the tour group.” She glanced at D. I. Nelson and Detective Sergeant Templeton but said nothing.
“What is this, some kind of bloody motorway?” He yelled to Templeton, “Get a constable to rope off this hallway and have him watch the ruddy door.”
Templeton flipped her notebook closed and turned on her heels. “Yes, sir.” She walked down the hall, but not before I noticed a faint glimmer of a smile.
Nelson said, “Who are you?”
Ruby Mae rubbed her ear. “Ruby Mae Stevenson. Who are you?”
Nelson had had enough of introducing himself and merely held up his identification card for her to read.
Ruby Mae squinted at the card and then looked up. “Rupert?”
Nelson grunted and hurriedly replaced his identification.
Nana Jo turned to me. “You better go to the meeting and find out what Clive needs to tell us. I’ll stay here and make sure no one tries to violate Lavender’s rights by bursting into this room before the doctor gives his permission.”
“Bugger it all,” Nelson said. He turned and marched down the hall, muttering something about overopinionated Americans.
When Nelson left, it was as though dark, heavy clouds had passed and the sun shone. I felt ten pounds lighter and much happier. I released a heavy breath.
Nana Jo shook her head. “That man sure knows how to ruin an otherwise good time. Talk about a wet blanket.”
I smiled. “He seemed to be taken with you.”
She shivered. “Now, that is a disgusting thought.”
The door opened, and one of the EMTs came out. He walked down the hall and came back in a few minutes with a rolling stretcher. After a few moments longer, they came out wheeling Lavender Habersham. The woman looked on the verge of a drug-induced sleep, although this time, I suspected by the way her eyes were rolling back into her head, this drug was a lot stronger than melatonin. When she passed, Lavender reached out her hand and grabbed Nana Jo, forcing the EMTs to stop. She looked up at Nana Jo and worked her mouth. Nana Jo leaned down and turned her head so her ear was practically over her mouth in an effort to hear what the woman was trying to say. After a few seconds, Nana Jo stood up. She gave Lavender Habersham’s hand a squeeze and said, “I’ll take care of it.”
With that, Lavender closed her eyes and drifted off, and the EMTs continued to wheel her down the hallway.
Dr. Blankenship came out of the room with a medical bag. “I’m going to ride with her to the hospital.” He glanced at me. “Would you please let my wife know that I’ll be back as soon as I can?”
“Certainly, Doctor.”
With that, he followed the EMTs down the hall, leaving Nana Jo, Ruby Mae, and I standing in the hallway.
“You two go ahead to the meeting with Clive,” Nana Jo said. “I’ve got a small matter to take care of.” She marched down the hall.
Ruby Mae said, “We better head to the ballroom and hear what Mr. Green has to say.”
I
turned and stared at Ruby Mae. “What did you say?”
“Mr. Green. That’s Clive’s last name, remember?”
I stared at Ruby Mae for several seconds and then smiled. I knew something wasn’t right with Major Peabody’s death. Now, I knew what it was.
“Yes, let’s go and meet with Mr. Green in the ballroom. I don’t want to miss a thing.”
Chapter 14
The members of the tour group assembled in the ballroom. The only ones missing, apart from Lavender Habersham, were Nana Jo and Dr. Blankenship. I stood near the door and looked around until I saw Tiffany standing against the wall, looking around nervously. I hurried to her side and whispered that her husband had gone to the hospital to see to Lavender Habersham, but that he wanted her to know he would be back as soon as possible.
“Once again I have to take a back seat to his patients.” She tapped her foot in irritation. “Even the dead ones are more important than spending time with me. This vacation was a mistake.”
I tried to think up some words of comfort, but I was at a loss. At least now I understood better why Dr. Blankenship kept emphasizing the fact that he was on vacation. “I’m sure it’s got to be very difficult for you, but he really got dragged into this. He tried to get away, but—”
She raised a hand to halt my feeble explanation. “Don’t think you have to explain. Trust me, I’ve heard all the explanations.”
I was saved from having to think of a reply when Clive Green stood up, and I hurried to my seat.
Normally, Clive looked prim and proper and meticulously dressed. However, the events of the past few hours hung heavy on his shoulders, and he looked haggard. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming.” He glanced down at his sheet and then around the room as though quickly taking attendance.
Nana Jo snuck in the door. She had Lavender Habersham’s bag and pushed it under the table and sat down in the chair I’d saved for her in between me and Ruby Mae.
Irma was on the same barstool she’d occupied a few days ago when we first gathered in this room. Had it only been a few days ago? She must have gone shopping because she was wearing a tight, short miniskirt with an even tighter top that showed off her cleavage to its best advantage. Professor Albus Lavington was enjoying the outfit in the seat next to Irma. Dorothy and our German businessman, Oberst, were also in their same seats.