Potager Plot

by Vikki Walton

  “Hmm, so that means yes.”

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?” She laughed.

  “Actually, yes. If you recall, a few times, we’ve had to deal with some pretty bad people, and you tend to attract them like a magnet.”

  “I do not.”

  “Won’t argue the point. While I’m away, promise you won’t get involved in anything you shouldn’t?”

  “I promise to not go looking for problems.”

  “Good. I can rest easy. Now I have to run. The guys grab all the breakfast, and it’s every man for himself up here. Love you.”

  “You too.” The line disconnected.

  Why was she dragging her feet on marrying Carson? She didn’t have any doubts about her love for him or his for her. But it was like an invisible wall she couldn’t break through. Her thoughts flew to Billie and Ben. She imagined they would give anything to have more time together. Speaking of Billie, she better get going.

  Anne grabbed her hat, her bag full of sketches, some gardening books, and her keys. Peering at her kitchen clock, she spied the time, but it looked off. She checked her phone. Ack, the batteries on the kitchen clock needing to be Preplaced as it was off by almost an hour. Had she changed it with the time change? She’d have just enough time to arrive when she said she would. She jotted a quick note for Spencer and headed over to Billie’s.

  She pulled up in front of Billie’s house and gathered her gear from the seat next to her. Striding up the porch, she rang the doorbell, but there was no answer. She buzzed the bell again. A lovely melodious chime rang in the house though no one came to the door. She waited a bit more before ringing the bell again.

  Oh geez. It may take a while for Billie to reach the door as weak as she was. Best give it some time. Anne looked at the display of red geraniums dotting the porch railing. She set her bag down with the thought that Billie was already in the back yard. Scampering down the steps, she glanced around the yard. A stack of rocks sat off to the side next to where the new beds would go, but there was no sign of Billie.

  Anne returned to the front, glancing over at the large picture window. Lacey curtains covered it, so she pressed her face to the glass. Inside was dark, and it took a moment for her eyes to adjust. She squinted. The outline of a bookcase was visible on a blank wall. Peering downward, she spied the back of the bookcase on the floor with books scattered everywhere. Something else caught her attention.

  “Oh, no!”

  She ran back to the front door and grabbed the handle. It opened, and she rushed through the hallway and into the living room where she met the back of the sofa. It must have been pushed toward the door when the bookcase fell.

  “Billie!” Anne shouted.

  She sprinted around the sofa. Shards of a broken pot, soil, and plant leaves scattered the floor. A cry escaped her mouth as she spied Billie beneath the bookcase. Even before she knelt down to check, Anne saw Billie was dead.

  Emotions overtook her, and a sob escaped her mouth. Anne fell into a nearby chair and wept. When she’d finally composed herself, she dialed the police. Then she called Kandi and explained what she’d found. She asked if Kandi had Ben’s number or his work number.

  “Let me find the roster and I’ll get back to you. Oh, that poor woman. So the bookcase fell on her, and she couldn’t get up?”

  “I’m not sure. Listen, I need to leave this line open in case I get any calls.”

  “Okay. Talk soon.” Kandi hung up.

  Anne stood and looked closer at the scene now that her adrenaline had calmed. Nearby sat a watering can and a feather duster. Close to Billie lay a dusting cloth. Had Billie tried to dust the top of the bookcase and it tipped over onto her? Had she been trying to water the plant on top of the bookcase? Anne looked around. Something had caused a nasty injury to Billie’s head. Most likely the shattered pot. Maybe Billie had tried to take down the pot to water it, and the bookcase started tilting toward her. If she’d grabbed for a handhold or the shelves, it may have caused the bookcase to tip over. With Billie being so frail, it wouldn’t have taken much to pin the woman beneath it. It looked like a tragic accident, yet Anne didn’t like to take things at face value.

  She scanned the room, taking in the scene before the police arrived and the chaos began. Her phone rang.

  It was Jennifer, and words spilled through the line. “What’s happening? Kandi told me something happened to Billie. Is she okay?”

  “I’m sorry. No. I hate to tell you this way, but Billie’s dead.”

  “What? I didn’t realize her cancer had—”

  Anne interjected, “No. It looks like it’s an accident. I really can’t talk now. The police are arriving—”

  “Police? You called the police?”

  “Yes, of course I did. It looks to be an accident but could possibly be something else.” Anne shivered.

  Jennifer cried out, “You mean murder? No. Everyone loved Billie.”

  Anne shook her head. Why does everyone always say that about people who are murdered? Good people get killed too. “I’m not saying anything. It’s just what you do if you find someone like I did.”

  “Kandi said you needed Ben’s number. I have it. Would it be easier if I texted it to you?”

  “Yes, it would. Thank you. I’ll let you know more when I know more,” Anne replied.

  “Oh, no. Poor Mercy. This is going to devastate her. They are—were—best friends.” A whimper came through the phone. “What am I going to do now?”

  The call disconnected, and Anne stared at the screen. Goodbye to you, too. Sometimes when people experience a shock, niceties fly out the window. Her phone chirped again. Jennifer had sent Ben’s number. She’d give it to the police and let them make that horrible call. She stepped gingerly over the broken shards and continued out onto the porch as a police cruiser pulled up to the curb along with a firetruck.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  After giving her statement to the police, Anne knew local reporters were on the scene. She’d have to make a beeline for her car. Clutching her bag, she’d begun to race for her car when Kim grabbed her arm. “What’s going on?”

  Anne shook her head adamantly. “Not here.”

  “Come with me. I live down the block and watched the police and ambulance go by.”

  Reporters called out to them, but the pair kept a quick pace and a joint refrain of, “No comment!” They made their way down to a house half a block from Ben and Billie’s home.

  “I didn’t realize you lived so close to them.”

  Anne marveled at the profusion of flowers in Kim’s front yard. “This is beautiful. I love the English garden manor look.”

  “Me too.”

  Kim mounted the steps to the front porch and waved Anne inside. “Our love of flowers was the reason we met. Billie drove by one day and spied me out working in my yard. She stopped her car and said, ‘I think we’re kindred spirits.’ It wasn’t long after that we decided Carolan Springs needed a garden club. It started out small, but we’re now over 500 members.”

  “Wow, that’s outstanding. I didn’t realize so many people here were interested in gardening.” Anne accepted a bottle of spring water and gratefully took the seat offered to her.

  “It’s open to anyone who lives here or throughout the county. Plus a few smaller groups come to our main meeting.” Kim took a swig of her water. “We incorporated into a nonprofit about five years back. It’s better for donations and keeping membership dues under a better umbrella.”

  Anne did some quick math. At an annual membership fee of one hundred dollars for individuals, and one hundred and fifty for couples, that was a good chunk of change.

  Kim continued, “We do talks at local schools and help build raised beds for those who can’t afford it, plus lots of classes. I know after your talk to us at the SIG, we’ll want you to speak to the larger group. Now, what’s going on with Billie? Did she have a relapse? Or—”

  “I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but Billie is dead.�
�

  “What?” The bottle slipped from Kim’s grasp and fell to the ground, with the fizzy water spilling across the wooden floor. Anne watched as Kim fumbled to pick up the bottle with shaking hands.

  “I’m sorry, but there’s no way to soften those words. Can I get you anything? Call anyone for you?”

  “No. Thanks.” Kim shook her head. She set the bottle down before going to the kitchen to retrieve a towel to wipe up the spill. “I can’t believe it,” she mumbled. After wiping up the floor with the cloth, she moved back to the chair. “I didn’t realize her cancer had gone that far. She’d told me recently about trying a new therapy and how she was feeling better.” She pushed her hair back off her face and then clasped her hands in front of her as she rocked in her chair.

  Anne’s news had a profound impact on Kim. The news that it hadn’t been cancer would be even more devastating.

  “Kim, are you sure I can’t get you something? I understand this is difficult, and, well, I’m sorry to tell you but an accident occurred.”

  Kim stiffened. “An accident? What do you mean?”

  Anne shared the scene with Kim in the most obtuse manner possible. “The bookcase must have tilted, and she may have accidentally pulled it over on herself. As weak as she was, it must—anyway, I think it all happened quickly. I don’t believe she even realized what happened or suffered.”

  Anne left out the part about the pot falling on Billie’s head.

  “That’s good.” Kim rose from her chair and started pacing back and forth. Finally, she said, “Are you sure it was an accident? I mean, there’s been rumors that Ben is having an affair.”

  Anne’s mind shot to what she’d overheard in the park. ‘Or else.’ Had someone killed Billie? Ben hadn’t seen rude to his wife or conversely, overly affectionate, which might often be an act put on in front of others. Had Ben been the man in the park? Maybe Kim knew something she wasn’t saying. After all, she’d been there that day as well. She had possibly overheard the pair arguing like Anne had. She sighed. “I can’t speak to that. Will you inform the group about what happened?”

  Kim stopped her pacing and perched on the edge of the chair. She clasped her hands in front of her mouth. “Poor Mercy. I don’t know what this will do to her. Mercy felt Billie had a good chance with this new protocol. They couldn’t have been closer unless they were sisters.” She stopped, and a blank expression came over her face. “Mercy will be the president of the club now.”

  Kim had spoken aloud, but to herself and not so much to Anne, and in that moment, a mask of something—fear—passed across her face. After regaining her composure, she glanced over at Anne. “I’m sorry. This is all so much. I don’t see—”

  Anne rose from her place. “If you don’t mind, I’ll take this water with me. Please, let me help if I can do anything. I’ll show myself out.”

  Kim nodded, the shock and grief cloaking her now. Anne exited the door out onto the porch before she heard the first keening sounds of heartbreak.

  She swallowed hard and decided to leave her car where it was for now, versus dealing with the mob in front of Billie’s home. Anne thought of calling Kandi to come get her but decided the nice weather would afford a few miles to walk into town and would help her clear her head. She glanced down the street where neighbors stood in their yards, chatting and wondering about the scene transpiring in front of them.

  She walked on down the block before turning onto the main roadway, which thankfully had a walkable trail system for the town’s use. Anne’s gratitude for the shade of the trees grew as she walked farther as the sun beat down.

  Thoughts raced through her mind about Billie and Ben. Had he been having an affair? Though killing his wife in the manner Anne had found her didn’t seem the best way. Certainly, philandering husbands had murdered their wives before, but if Billie had been really struggling, he could’ve waited it out. If he were having an affair with Jennifer, and they’d been the ones arguing, maybe he’d decided to help nature along by taking matters into his own hands. Could it have been that the ‘or else’ was someone threatening to tell Billie about the affair? Learning your spouse was cheating would be hard enough, but with her illness, it would’ve been devastating. No, it didn’t seem likely he would allow that. He wouldn’t want the affair to be exposed to Billie.

  Wait, that brought up another scenario. What if Kim hadn’t been taking pictures of plants at all? What if she’d been taking pictures of Ben and Jennifer? She as much as said rumors were floating around of Ben having an affair. Maybe Kim had meant to expose them by taking pictures of them together. It would certainly be one possibility. Another thought came to Anne. Blackmail.

  She wiped her hand across her forehead. There was also the possibility the rumors weren’t true. While no one came to mind, starting a nasty rumor against someone—wait, if Mercy started the rumor, her motive could be getting Ben away from Billie. Finally, of course, insurance or some form of monetary gain could be motive. Greed was often another reason that spouses or others decided to plot a path that led to a murderous result. Though looking at Ben and Billie’s home, it seemed comfortable and not like they lacked anything. From overhearing other conversations, it sounded like he owned his own business, so money didn’t seem to be an issue for them. Yet, medical bills can pile up quickly and people had gone bankrupt from serious illness treatments.

  A flash of the scene played in Anne’s mind. Of course, the simplest explanation was it had been a tragic accident caused by the bookcase falling on top of Billie, who was simply too weak to stop it. No affair. No going after insurance money. It made the most sense for what happened. Yet, Anne struggled to let it go. She’d need to connect with Sam and discover if he’d give her the true cause of death. Sam had risen from deputy coroner to full-time coroner when the last one had retired, and the town had voted Sam in as his replacement. Sam hadn’t even campaigned for it and almost refused but decided to accept when no suitable candidate stepped forward. Anne recalled how she’d gone out with Sam when she’d first moved to Carolan Springs. Even though Sam was a nice guy, as soon as she’d met Carson, the sparks had flown. Though at the time, they’d been more antagonizing ones. Her phone rang.

  Kandi spoke. “Hey, I’m at the bookstore. Aly is, like, freaking out. Can you come over here?”

  “I’m walking that way. I can be there in probably another fifteen to twenty minutes. What’s happening?”

  “Hold on.” Kandi’s voice grew muffled before she came back on the line. “Sorry, had to go outside. Aly found out the news, and she broke down. I didn’t realize she knew Billie that well. I don’t know what to do.” Her voice squeaked.

  “That is weird. Be there in a few minutes. Make some hot tea or cocoa,” Anne suggested. “I’ll be there soon.”

  She hung up. What in the world? Maybe Aly was one of those people who simply felt things deeply. She picked up her pace.

  Entering the bookstore, Anne surveyed the shop and the attached library before asking the girl behind the counter for help. She pointed, and Anne made her way through a small alcove that led to an office area and a small kitchen with a dining set in it. Kandi sat comforting a sobbing Aly. Anne cleared her throat, and the pair looked up at her with Kandi giving an imploring expression for help.

  “Hello, Aly. I’m sorry to see you so upset. Are you okay?”

  Between sobs, Aly spoke. “It’s all my fault. Don’t you see? I must have done it. Poor Ben.”

  Anne glanced over to get some clarification from Kandi, who mouthed, ‘I don’t know’ and shrugged.

  “Aly, you didn’t do anything. An accident occurred.”

  Aly sniffed. “Are you sure? Maybe I manifested it.”

  Anne sighed. “Aly, you didn’t ‘manifest’ anything. Why would you say such a thing? Surely you didn’t want any harm to come to Billie?”

  “I…well, I—” She broke down sobbing again. “This was a mistake. I never should’ve come here.”

  “Aly, go home for
the rest of the day. Sometimes things hit us that have nothing to do with the circumstances that triggered it. It may be bringing up your grief over your mother’s death. It can happen.”

  “It can?” Aly wiped her nose. “But if I wouldn’t have come—”

  “Your coming here didn’t cause anything. Why would you say such a thing?”

  “Ben. Maybe he felt—”

  Anne’s frustration was getting the better of her, and she took a deep inhalation before answering Aly’s unfinished thoughts. “Nothing occurred because you moved here except we gained a sweet young woman to our town.” Though maybe one a bit goofy slipped into Anne’s mind. “Now go wash your face. It will help you feel better. In the meantime, Kandi can make us some more tea.”

  Kandi took the hint and poured water into the teakettle as Aly left the kitchen. She gave a wide-eyed stare at Anne. But the pair didn’t speak in case Aly returned. Exhaustion from finding Billie, dealing with an overwrought Kim, and now Aly’s behavior was catching up to her. It took everything within her not to bolt from the room and head home to a place of quiet where she could process everything. Because now she had something to consider.

  Why was Aly so worried about Ben?

  CHAPTER SIX

  Anne made it home in time to find Spencer and his friend, Jim, at the dining room table, working on some schematics.

  “Hi boys. What are you doing?”

  “So many people are asking for drip irrigation I decided to get help. I can lay out the plans and have Slim here work on putting it together while I start on the next one.” He grinned.

  “Spoken like a true entrepreneur.” She tousled his hair with her hand before hanging her bag up on a nearby hook.

  He pointed. “Mail’s on the kitchen counter.”

  The pair went back to discussing the layout. Anne passed through to the kitchen and flipped through the stack of mail, throwing unwanted flyers and catalogs into the recycle bin. Anne brewed a cup of chamomile tea and added in a dollop of beekeeper Bill’s yummy honey. She took her cup outside, strolling across the yard and past the stand of lilac bushes, passing by a garden area that had once been a compost pile. She sipped at the brew as her thoughts drifted to an idea Kandi had come up with a while back on hosting small weddings. The bed-and-breakfast had a small gazebo, but it was worse for wear, so the plan was to move it farther back to allow for a backdrop of trees and mountain tops. This would also increase the space for chairs in front. After discussing it, Anne, Hope, and Kandi had given it a go. They were waiting until October to start the new project so as not to distract during the summer and early fall seasons, which tended to be their busiest times.