Kathy had not been happy when Dustin threw Edith under the bus for another woman, especially since Edith was pregnant with her grandchild. The librarian was thrifty while Penny was frivolous and carless, gambling away her son’s money at casinos. Dustin had asked Kathy for some money saying he couldn’t pay his mortgage. In fact, two months in a row he was short on cash, asking for financial help. If he was going to run a million dollar company, and her brother was slipping fast according to his butler Collins, her son needed a smart and frugal woman by his side.
She knew Edith wasn’t as exciting or as beautiful as Penny, but Edith loved her son. She’d take good care of him…and her too. Edith would make sure Kathy lacked for nothing. Ms. Crispman had that mouse wrapped around her little green thumb, or so she thought. But Miss Quiche was another story; she didn’t care one lick for Kathy. Penny was a self-absorbed princess! She would have made a horrible mother, always putting herself first. Kathy’s grandchildren would have suffered for it, and Dustin too.
Thinking about her son’s decision to break up with Penny and return to Edith darkened Kathy’s spirits, momentarily. She had had his best interests at heart.
How was she to know Edith would call Dustin’s uncle and blubber on his shoulder, whimpering about Dustin breaking up with her and sobbing she was pregnant with his child. Then, for her brother to act on things was, well, mind-boggling.
She didn’t think her brother had a backbone, but it turned out he actually did. Wasting no time confronting Dustin, he told him he’d be disinherited if he remained with Miss Quiche. Her brother was a bit old fashioned, so he also told Dustin to make an honest woman of Edith. Collins was a good inside man, but this time the butler really blew it. He had waited too long to update her on things, so she fed Penny that deadly salad of hemlock, when really, there had been no need.
The only thing clouding her hopes for a beautiful room in the happy couple’s Portland palace was Edith’s behavior yesterday at the funeral. Did she suspect her of Penny’s death? Edith was always very friendly, but yesterday she was distant and withdrawn. Hmm, maybe she was afraid. Afraid of her! She pretends to be brave and bold, but she’s really just a little mouse, a little library mouse. Kathy could use that fear to her advantage. When Officer Flores whisked both Edith and Dustin off to the police station, she was concerned they’d convict her son of Penny’s death. Maybe in the name of a lover’s quarrel? Anywho, she had no idea what they discussed during their interviews. Neither one called back or responded to her voice messages.
The more she thought about the day before, the more Kathy was certain Edith suspected her of murder. After all, Edith knew about her hemlock patch and about the salad she made for Penny every day. Whether she shared her suspicion with anyone had yet to be discovered. At the very least, Edith was turning her son against her, and just when she was starting to see some growth and healing. She had worked so hard to establish trust with Edith over the summer. Would Edith now ruin everything and dash her hopes of cooking meals for future grandchildren? That Portland mansion belonged to her, even more than to her son. But she was getting up in years and was content with Dustin running the business, so long as he shared the profits and gave her a few rooms inside the Portland estate.
Kathy looked out her front window. Sadie was late. Suddenly, panic grabbed her heart. “Edith could have said something to Miss Sunshine while they were at work today!” She hated being so isolated from the main school building. The cafeteria was set back from all the action. Was Sadie really coming over for holistic tea that eases hot flashes, or was she undercover, helping Officer Flores in the murder investigation?
Either way, Kathy was prepared. She’d take action if it were necessary. Should Sadie confront her about Penny’s murder, she’d take the necessary steps to get rid of the troublemaker, just like before. Several shovels were laid out in back at designated spots, all close to the main garden path. She knew the many uses of a garden shovel, her ex-husband made sure of that. He was tucked away quite nicely under the big apple tree. And, if anyone asked about Sadie, she’d just say Miss Sunshine left her house after the garden tour.
When the funeral ended yesterday, she spent hours digging a giant grave next to her hemlock patch. She figured it would be the perfect resting spot for a gardening enthusiast like Ms. Sunshine. Should a dead body end up there tonight, she’d plant some Monkshood on top as a deterrent. And if Edith put two and two together, she’d simply tell her future daughter-in-law there was another plot in the garden with her name on it. Boy, that would shut the little mouse up. Of that she was certain! Fear would give her power, and the upper hand.
Although Kathy liked the idea of having a daughter-in-law, she could easily be content with just a grandchild. She would help Dustin raise it, especially if he moved back home…or he invited her to live with him.
Last night, after digging the large plot out back, Kathy concocted a really special Echinacea tea. It would not only relieve hot flash symptoms, but it would knock out a person the size of an elephant. She added a very powerful sedative called Atropa Belladonna, commonly known as Deadly Nightshade. Before the Middle Ages, this plant was used as an anesthetic for surgery. It was one of her prized holistic shrubs and she was thankful it thrived in the southern Oregon climate. She added several berries to the Echinacea tea leaves, anticipating possible trouble from Ms. Sunshine. Her son always told her she was paranoid, but she considered herself psychic.
Again, looking out her window, Kathy recognized Ms. Sunshine’s silver Sorento driving up the long dirt road leading to her house. It was five minutes past four. “I’m ready if you are, Miss Sunshine.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN- A Garden Tour
Making sure to tuck her phone and the keys with pepper spray inside her lavender gardening apron, Sadie grabbed the garden notebook and pen and opened the car door. Kathy was waiting on the front porch as she climbed out of her car.
“Hi, you’re late.”
Sadie glanced at her watch thinking, Yes, by only five minutes. Ouch!
“Come inside and I’ll make you a cup of that holistic tea I told you about.”
Sadie followed Kathy into the kitchen observing the rough shape of her small craftsman style home. It was in need of major repairs, but the original woodwork was still intact and the floors were in pretty good shape. She noticed some water damage and figured foundation issues were the cause for the large cracks in her living room wall. “Ms. Crispman, I have an appointment right after I view your gardens. Can we hold off on that cup of tea? I just don’t have time. I’ll take it home with me and give it a try tonight.” Sadie remembered her dad’s warning to avoid sampling anything while on her visit to Kathy’s house.
Kathy frumped a comment Sadie couldn’t make out then gathered a mixture of several loose leaves into a mason jar. “All you need to do is boil two cups of water and add two tablespoons of this loose leaf mixture. Let it steep in a small teapot for five minutes. Have a cup or two every night before you go to bed and then again in the morning with your breakfast.” Sadie thanked Kathy, not knowing she had just avoided a sudden bout of fatigue and gradual paralysis.
I guess I was jumping the gun, Kathy reasoned. I don’t need to use that extra-special tea I concocted last night. I still don’t know if she suspects anything. What was I thinking? There’s no need to panic. I better calm down and keep my head. I’ll learn more when I take her out into the back yard. She might be completely oblivious to everything. She may just be a simple-minded teacher with a desire for some Echinacea rhizomes and herbal tea. I don’t need a second body in my back yard, unless it becomes evident she’s a real threat.
Thanking Kathy for the Mason jar, Sadie noted Kathy’s apparent disappointment. She seemed bothered her visiting time was limited and that she was expected elsewhere within an hour.
“Well, since you have to be off soon, I better get those rhizomes for you.”
“Oh, please Kathy, not before you show me your lovely and very special holistic
garden.”
Turning to face Sadie, Kathy beamed. “You really are interested in my garden, aren’t you?”
“Oh yes! I really wish I had more time today to take in your entire garden. I brought along a gardening notebook so I could take notes. Maybe you’ll invite me back another time? But for today, could we start off with those special holistic plants you mentioned the other day? I especially want to inspect your hemlock plants. I’ve seen pictures of hemlock in botanical publications but I’ve never viewed specimens up close, and never growing in a private garden. Since hemlock is responsible for Penny’s death, I want to be sure I can identify it. I’d hate to have some growing in my garden. I have two very curious and mischievous dogs.
“Hmm,” Kathy purred, thinking inside her head, “Ms. Sunshine appears to be passionate about holistic gardening, but something just doesn’t feel right. She mentioned my hemlock plant and made a reference to Penny’s death. Is she trying to connect some dots? Dots that lead to me?”
Kathy smiled her best smile and led Sadie into the back yard. Guiding her past flowerbeds and an impressive vegetable garden, they walked to an unleveled path covered with river rocks. She pointed out several of her favorite heirloom vegetables, “My Cherokee Purple tomato plant is wonderful. The tomatoes are perfect on top of bacon sandwiches.” She stooped down and lifted a large shovel lying next to the path. Glancing at Sadie, “I’ll need this to dig up those Echinacea rhizomes.”
Sadie paused for a second. “Didn’t Kathy say, when we spoke in the cafeteria, that she had already divided her Echinacea plants? Why would she need a shovel now?” Suddenly, her iPhone barked an alert. She checked the text message. It was from Dora asking if everything was ok. She didn’t have time to respond since Kathy was still walking full-speed ahead and showed no sign of slowing down. She threw the phone back into her garden apron. She needed to catch up and was already a bit winded.
“My goodness Kathy, you’re putting me to shame. You’re in great shape!” Then she hollered, “I can hardly keep up.”
“Well, you did say you were in a hurry, didn’t cha’?”
Sadie couldn’t tell if Kathy was mad or if her usual personality was shining through. She was so abrupt all the time, Sadie wasn’t sure.
Suddenly, Ms. Crispman stopped in front of her prized Aconitum. She loved the tall spikes and the beautiful blue flowers. “You do know what these are, right? I actually bought my seeds from the Better Homes and Gardens website. They don’t just sell Zinnias and garden pots anymore.”
Sadie recognized the deadly Monkshood plant. She knew others referred to it as Wolf’s Bane for its history of killing off wolves. Although she thought the flowers were beautiful, she wouldn’t have it in her home garden. “Yes, I do, but I refer to it as Monkshood or Wolf’s Bane. To be honest, I prefer to grow Delphinium since it has a similar look, and is much safer for dogs and other pets. I have two fur-kids that get into all of my plants and I’d hate to lose one. They’re always chewing on something. Could you tell me the holistic uses of such a poisonous plant?” Sadie took out her garden notebook and pen.
Kathy cleared her throat and struck a pose, “Well, just a few reasons I prescribe Aconitum include acute panic disorders, severe shock, croup, and diarrhea. It is also helpful to young women who have lost their periods and want them back.”
Sadie scribbled down some notes, intrigued that such a poisonous plant could have a useful purpose. She would do some research on her own once she got home.
“Interesting! Show me more!”
Kathy nodded to her request and continued up the rocky path stopping in front of three mature peach trees.
Sadie admired them and sang their praises. “These are lovely! I really enjoy a good peach.”
Kathy smirked. “Yes, I love making peach pies and cobblers. But, did you know peach leaves are highly toxic? If you have dogs you don’t want them chewing on these leaves! They contain cyanide-producing compounds that are released when peach seeds, bark, and leaves are eaten.
Sadie thanked Kathy for the heads-up and was thankful she bought her peaches at the local farmer’s market.
Kathy was now at the highest part of her back garden, and several plants caught Sadie’s eye. She recognized the lovely pink foxglove, a biannual she planted in her front yard where her dogs never ventured unsupervised. She knew it was dangerous if consumed since it contained poisons that affected the heart.
“Oh, I see you’re admiring my foxglove, Ms. Sunshine. It’s one of my favorite holistic plants. You know Digoxin is used in the treatment of various heart conditions, namely atrial fibrillation.”
Sadie nodded and replied, “Yes, I’m actually familiar with this plant. I have it in my front yard, far away from the reach of my dogs.”
Stepping besides a plant only 15 inches tall, Kathy paused and waited for Sadie to catch up. “This is Sanguinaria, or you might know it as Bloodroot. Native Americans used its red rhizome to make a lovely red dye, but the sap from the rhizome is the medicinal part. It’s poisonous if you consume it. However, it makes a powerful topical agent and is used to treat skin tags, moles, eczema, and other skin conditions. It’s even been used in naturopathic skin cancer treatments as well as for breast cancer.”
Sadie was thoroughly impressed with Kathy’s knowledge of all the holistic plants in her back yard. “Kathy, have you ever used the poisons from your special plants, to umm, get rid of mice and other pests?”
Ms. Crispman snorted and pointed to a large apple tree below. “Yep, I found a use for some hemlock a few years back. Killed me a giant rat. It pestered me for years and years until I couldn’t take it any longer. I set out some hemlock smeared with peanut butter. In no time at all, the thing was gobbled up. My, it killed that rat mighty quick. I buried it under my apple tree down yonder.
Sadie swallowed hard but continued on the path. “Um, it’s getting late Ms. Crispman. Are we getting close to your hemlock plants? I’d really like to see some before I leave for my appointment. I know it looks a lot like Queen Anne’s Lace, but it would be helpful to see the real thing myself.
Kathy stopped in front of a garden plot filled with plants around five feet tall. There was also a giant hole to the side of the patch; it had the creepy appearance of a shallow grave.
“Here we are, Ms. Sunshine! I have to say Hemlock is my favorite plant. It has a great history. Christian mythology suggests the hemlock plant became poisonous after growing on the hillside of Jesus’ crucifixion. When His blood touched the plant, it turned forever toxic. Interesting, don’t you think? It has healing properties, but it can also kill. In fact, when hemlock is consumed, it will kill a person quickly, within 20-120 minutes.”
“So um, it must have killed your giant rat even faster, right? Hope that rat wasn’t your ex-husband. Heh, heh, heh.”
Kathy ignored Sadie’s attempt at humor.
Sadie decided to try again. “Well, I like historic trivia. Thanks! Say, did you share that tidbit with Edith when she was out here during the summer break?”
“Edith? Well yes, of course I did. She’s a librarian and loves all kinds of historical facts. She was interested in my gardening hobby and came out most days to learn about my holistic plants and ointments. Did you know she’s dating my son?” Kathy seemed to grip her shovel a bit tighter.
“Yes, I did. I heard they broke up for a while and recently got back together. Wasn’t Dustin dating Penny when the school year started?”
Kathy smiled. Kathy didn’t smile often, but she knew Ms. Sunshine was fishing. However, she was smarter than the average fish and knew how to get away from incompetent fishermen, or fisherwomen. She was glad she dug that big hole last night.
Taking a few steps closer to the small crater, Kathy watched as Sadie stepped into her hemlock patch and examine the plants. The purple spotted stems are pretty unique and the leaves really did resemble those of carrots. She wondered if the teacher would touch the plant, or if she knew better to avoid them. The plant’s natura
l oils could absorb through skin and would help with her plan to dispose of Ms. Sunshine. Unfortunately, Sadie didn’t make a move to handle them.
“Ms. Sunshine, did you know I made salads for Penny every day? She was a vegetarian but never bothered to visit me, or my garden. I would have given her all kinds of organic vegetables but no, she was too busy gambling away my son’s money at Seven Feathers.”
Kathy’s mood was quickly changing. “I’m sorry to hear that, Kathy. She would’ve enjoyed a real bounty of deliciousness if she had been so inclined. I hope they got lucky and made all kinds of money.”
Sadie was feeling uneasy. Kathy was walking closer and closer to that giant hole and the expression on her face was growing more disturbed and hostile. “No, they didn’t, Ms. Sunshine. In fact, that pretty teacher was sending my son to the poor house. I had to pay his mortgage twice since school started. Edith, on the other hand, is a gem. She was never demanding or careless with Dustin’s money.”
Sadie reached inside her apron and texted Dora an SOS. Better safe than sorry, she thought, I think Kathy might be the murderer and I could be her next victim!
Kathy noticed Sadie had stepped out of the hemlock patch and was making her way to the river rock path. Oh no Miss Sunshine. I’m not finished with my investigation. I still have some questions for you! Kathy’s thoughts were getting louder inside her head.
“Ms. Sunshine, did Edith happen to mention some concerns with you today?”
Sadie looked up with a puzzled expression. “Concerns about what, Ms. Crispman?”
“Oh you know, the murderer, Penny, me?” Then, pointing to an area next to her, “If you step over in my direction I have just one more specimen I’d like to show you. It’s called Urtica dioica.”
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