Prelude to Poison

by Morgan W. Silver

  Alistair paused. “We’d like to find out. Hence the questioning. Look, if she hadn’t hit Higgins, I could have asked my questions at her shop. But she did, and now we have to take her in. My boss will think it’s suspicious that she was so defensive, so it’s best to question her and rule her out as quickly as possible.”

  I stared at him. Then my eyes widened. “You’re going to question me too. That’s why you wanted me to get in.”

  Alistair’s knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel tighter. “I’m sorry. You and your aunt found him, and we just have a few questions. I’m only doing my job.”

  I gaped at him. “You just lured me into your car so you could drive me to the police station and question me about a murder. Yeah, no, great.” I folded my arms. “Just doing your job, my ass,” I muttered.

  He looked at me. “I am. Do you think I enjoy this?”

  “Maybe you do,” I said without making eye contact.

  “Well, I don’t. I don’t like this one bit, but we need answers, and I’m trying to get them.”

  “So am I.”

  He sighed. “But you’re not a detective, I am. I have procedures to follow, and right now it helps if you answer a few questions. I’m sorry.”

  I said nothing. There was nothing to say. Even if I knew it wasn’t personal, it felt personal. And it would be just my luck to get arrested by the guy I was in love with.

  Chapter 14

  The interrogation room wasn’t very cosy. I suppose it wasn’t meant to be, but I still didn’t like it. The walls were painted a grey colour, and the table and chairs weren’t very sturdy or aesthetically pleasing. There was also a large tape recorder on the table, which managed to intimidate me. This was all very serious.

  “Remember that you can ask for a lawyer at any time,” Detective Black said.

  Just then Alistair and DC Daniels came in. They sat down in front of me, and Alistair slid a glass of water over to my side of the table. I figured that if things got really out of hand, I could throw it in someone’s face, but now that they were here, I realised I couldn’t do that.

  “Too bad,” Detective Black said.

  They had kept me waiting for about twenty-five minutes, and I was getting worried about Nancy. I refused to show fear, though, and instead adopted a poker face. I just had to channel my inner Lady Gaga.

  First Alistair stated the date and all of those present. Then he tapped the folder he’d brought and leaned forward.

  “What was your relationship with Victor Woodsbury?” he asked in a professional tone. There was no indication at all that we so much as knew each other, not even in his eyes. He had flipped some sort of switch that eliminated our connection.

  The question surprised me, but I did my best to hide it. “He lived in the same village as I did. I had once been invited into his home, and he had shown me photo albums and told me his life story. Well, the highlights.”

  “Why had he invited you into his home?” Alistair asked. Apparently he was the one asking the questions.

  “He found me walking around, crying.” I took the glass and sipped the freezing water. It hurt my teeth. “I had found out that my boyfriend at the time cheated on me.” It was only because I was focussed on his reaction that I spotted the slight twitch of his eyebrows, as if he barely managed to refrain from frowning.

  “I see. And all you did was have a friendly chat, nothing more?”

  “Of course,” I said with some indignation.

  “A witness saw you two embrace in the street the day before his murder,” Alistair stated.

  “What? No, he didn’t embrace me. He grabbed my arms. Look, I’ve seen him around, but that one time he comforted me was the only time we had a real conversation. After that I only saw him in passing. He stopped by a few times in the bookshop a few months ago, but apparently that was when he started...dating Susan.”

  “Could she have gotten the poison?”

  “The mushrooms are poisonous yes, but they are used by shamans in northern cultures. That’s why Nancy sells them. She doesn’t keep them in the shop, though. She keeps them in a special safe, and she only displays them on the site where they can be ordered. Susan wouldn’t have been able to get to them. Not unless she ordered them, but then she’d have to fill in her address, and I doubt Nancy would have sent it to anyone she knows and who isn’t a shaman.”

  “And your aunt? What was her relationship with Victor?” Alistair asked.

  “They dated when she was fourteen or fifteen and after that, nothing. She had no reason to want to kill him.”

  “If I recall, she wasn’t too fond of him. Didn’t she bring a tea kettle with her to the hotel as a weapon?” Alistair was still leaning forward, his expression unchanged. He was good at this, but that also worried me. He had mentioned he was under pressure to close the case. What if he wanted a scapegoat?

  I shifted in my seat and realised I had just admitted to being uncomfortable. “She did.”

  “Why?” His piercing gaze didn’t waver.

  “Because she thought it was weird that he asked to meet us at the Pembroke. She thought that maybe he wanted something sleazy. I told her he had seemed scared when he talked to me, but I agreed that it was weird.”

  “And why did he ask you?” DC Daniels asked.

  “I don’t know, do I? I still don’t know what he could have been afraid of or what he needed advice for. What I do know is that Susan wasn’t the only woman he was having an affair with.”

  At this, both men sat up straighter. “What do you mean?” Alistair asked.

  I told them about Mrs Field and about the fact that he wasn’t feeling well when she gave him his tea. “Those mushrooms take a few hours to actually affect someone, but by then it will be too late. Someone could have poisoned him much earlier, usually six or seven hours, but sometimes even twenty-four hours.”

  “You know a lot about these mushrooms,” Alistair said.

  I stiffened. “Yes, my aunt taught me a lot. I worked at her shop for years before I opened up the bookshop.”

  A pause.

  “Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?” Alistair stared at me as if he could read me like a book, and I was tempted to tell him about Mr Field, but the tape was recording, and I didn’t want to admit to breaking into his office. Instead I gave a shrug and swallowed a remark about them doing their job properly.

  They left the room for about fifteen minutes before Alistair returned and informed me I could leave. He also told me that Nancy had to stay the night because she had assaulted that constable and then he walked me outside.

  “I am really sorry,” he said and touched my arm so that I would stop and face him.

  “I’m sure you are.”

  His worried eyes scanned my face. “Are you upset with me?”

  “I know you are just doing your job.”

  “That’s not what I asked.”

  I sighed. “Yes, I’m upset with you. But I’m sure I’ll get over it.” Once I delivered him the actual killer in a neat little bow, and he would be so impressed he’d never doubt me again. “I think you should look into Patricia and her friends, as well as Mr Field. Patricia visited Beth regularly on Sundays and Beth, though struggling with her memory, mentioned something about poison and bad husbands.” Before he could say anything else I strode away. Sure, he felt bad and he was just doing his job, but I still couldn’t help but feel disappointed. Betrayed, even.

  I took the bus that stopped near the post office and headed to my bookshop. It would undoubtedly be filled with curious villagers, but I figured I could handle them. It would also allow me to put a stop to a few rumours that had surely started circulating as soon as Nancy and I had been taken to the police station. Especially if someone had been telling people Victor had embraced me.

  As soon as I entered the bookshop, it became quiet. It was busy, but that was because most of the Castlefield Book Club was there, as well as the vicar. Harold pushed his wheelchair o
ver to me. “Maggie, are you alright?”

  The women gathered around with worried expressions. “Please tell me Nancy hasn’t been arrested?” Eleanor asked, her hand on her husband’s shoulder.

  Eddie rushed over from behind the counter and gave me a tight hug. “I’m glad you’re okay. You are okay, right? Do I need to beat anyone up?”

  I laughed. “No. I’m fine, I promise.”

  A couple of people whose faces I recognised were pretending not to listen. I didn’t care. This was my opportunity to set things straight.

  “Nancy was only arrested because she hit a constable with a broom, that’s all. Then they asked some follow-up questions about Victor’s death and that was it. There really is nothing to worry about. I promise.”

  The women sighed collectively.

  “Good, because Nancy would not do well in prison. They don’t have any scones there,” Poppy said.

  “Or kettles,” Ava said and snorted. “She’d be so bored, not being able to hit someone with a household object.”

  The other women chuckled.

  “Come, dear. Let’s have some tea,” Poppy said and dragged me to the corner with the armchairs. She plopped me down and pressed a few buttons on the coffee machine until hot water came out. The other women started chatting about their favourite Nancy moments that involved violence and household objects. They made me laugh, which is just what I needed.

  AN HOUR MUST HAVE PASSED as the store became even busier. Eddie had the help of Brian since Susan had still requested time off, and both of them were sweating. Just as I was about to help them out and leave the book club ladies and Harold to themselves, Susan rushed in. Her cheeks were red, her fists clenched. Her eyes landed on me.

  “You,” she spat and dropped her handbag. “You were having an affair with him. How dare you lie to my face, pretending to care?”

  I gaped at her. “I most certainly did not have an affair with Victor. I am very single, thank you very much. The other day I almost fell in love with an ad, that’s how single I am.”

  “Liar!” She rushed over to me, and before I could react, she knocked me to the ground. I wasn’t proud of my reaction, but I yanked her hair to get her off me, and we struggled for several seconds while the women shrieked in panic, except for Ava who kept yelling at me to stick it to her. I wasn’t sure what it meant, but I was definitely trying to do that.

  Just as Eddie came towards us, someone pulled Susan off me and I could breathe, even if it was a shaky breath. Eddie helped me to my feet while Susan started crying in Alistair’s arms.

  The whole thing hadn’t taken long, but it felt like Susan and I had been on the ground for an hour. I adjusted my clothes while Eleanor came over to stroke my hair lovingly.

  It took a while before Susan calmed down and the entire time nobody had said a word. Not even Ava.

  “I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me,” Susan mumbled as Alistair patted her shoulder in a wooden fashion. He clearly was not accustomed to comforting women he barely knew.

  “Eddie, perhaps you can take her outside and let her calm down for a bit?” Alistair asked.

  “I’m not sure I want to do that,” Eddie said and glanced at me.

  I was about to tell him it was okay when Harold moved forward. “I’ll do it. Come along, love, let’s enjoy that fresh air,” he said in his pleasant voice, and she followed him like a meek lamb. It was hard to believe she had charged me like a bull a moment earlier.

  Alistair took two steps closer. “Are you okay? Did she hurt you?”

  “It’s fine. She surprised me more than anything.”

  “Do you want to press charges?” he asked.

  “No, of course not. She just lost the man she loved. Don’t worry about it. I don’t think she does this sort of thing on a regular basis.”

  “Are you sure?” Eddie asked. “Who knows? She might be a bit crazy.”

  “She’s not. She’s grieving. We can’t judge her too harshly, we don’t know all the things she’s been through.”

  Eleanor squeezed my shoulder.

  “Just please make it clear to her that I was not having an affair with Victor, because I wasn’t,” I said.

  “She’s right,” Eleanor said. “Maggie would never do something like that, even if she had liked him. Which she hadn’t.”

  The other women murmured in agreement, even Lily.

  “Hiya,” a chipper voice called out.

  We all turned to Christina, who had just entered the bookshop.

  Her smile disappeared. “Am I interrupting?”

  Alistair moved away and towards her. “What are you doing here? I thought you were in London?” he asked with a familiarity that set off alarm bells.

  “Uh oh,” Detective Black whispered in my ear.

  The women were following this interaction as intensely as I was, though for different reasons. I felt Eddie tense up next to me. He glanced at me.

  “Actually,” Christina said loud enough for us to hear. “I’ve just officially moved in. I’ve sold the flat, and I called in a favour. The movers brought my stuff over just now. I wanted to come in and thank my new friend.” She darted over to me and hugged me. “Thanks to you I’ve decided to give this whole thing a shot.”

  “Are you Alistair’s girlfriend?” Lily asked with the kind of apprehension that I felt in my bones, though the answer was obvious. It was so obvious. It hit me like a tank.

  She grabbed his hand. “Yeah. Didn’t he tell you about me?”

  Those words shot right through my heart.

  “No,” the book club ladies said in unison.

  She raised her eyebrows. “I guess my Alistair’s been a bit bad, then.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek as he was staring at me.

  My heartbeat sped up. He was looking at me with such intensity that I couldn’t hold eye contact, nor could I maintain my composure much longer. “I’m glad it worked out,” I managed to squeeze out of my throat, but the words sounded a bit off. Like someone else was speaking them. “Excuse me for a moment. It’s been a hectic morning. I just need to have a little lie down.”

  “Do you need me to come up with you?” Eleanor asked.

  “No, no. I’ll be fine.” I kissed her on the cheek and said goodbye to the women, thanking them for their support.

  Christina looked surprised at that, but I was sure Alistair would fill her in. During dinner. In their home. Where they lived. Together. In love. As soon as I was through the back door, I ran up the stairs and broke down in tears.

  Even though my vision was blurry due to the tears, I made myself a cup of tea. As I opened the fridge for milk, I was confronted by all the shopping I’d done for the dinner we were supposed to have tonight. Clearly that wasn’t happening. I had even bought extra candles to create an ambiance. I was an idiot.

  I sobbed occasionally as I poured my cup, and made it to the sofa without spilling anything other than tears. As soon as I sat down, I heard footfalls on the stairs. I froze, hoping Eddie hadn’t let Alistair come up. I really didn’t want him to see me like this.

  But it was Eleanor. “Oh, dear,” she muttered as she saw my poor attempt at a smile while tears still streamed down my cheeks.

  I started crying again when she put her arm around me. After I calmed down, I told her the story of how Alistair and I spent that day at the fair and what had happened when he came back.

  She shook her head. “He should have told you the truth.”

  “But he didn’t. Why? Why did he do that to me? Or Christina for that matter?”

  “It seems to me that this is his problem. I don’t think it has anything to do with you or Christina. He is responsible for his own actions. Clearly, he should deal with his issues, but you’ve been hurt, and you should think about what you’re going to do.”

  I made a face. “Why? What are my options?”

  She rubbed my arm. “You can do whatever you want. You can ignore him, you can go and talk to him, you can make it clear you want nothing t
o do with him. Whatever will help you move on.”

  The thought of moving on made me even sadder, and I started crying again. It made it impossible to drink my tea, which was the only thing that could save me now.

  Chapter 15

  I spent the rest of the afternoon on my sofa, having wrapped myself in a snuggly blanket, with my remote in one hand, and a biscuit in the other. I had already eaten too many and felt my waistline expanding. The crying had made me feel a bit better, as had the tea, but now I had to brood. There was lots to brood about. There wasn’t just Alistair’s confusing behaviour, but there was also a murderer still on the loose. And even if I no longer felt the need to impress Alistair, I did feel the need to shove it into his face that I was a better investigator.

  Also, the book club ladies had been so kind to me, I owed them some peace of mind.

  The mushrooms that had killed Victor weren’t hard to get. They could be ordered, but they could also be found in nature. The police were grasping at straws if they thought Nancy had anything to do with it just because she had them in her shop. But from what Mrs Field had said, the poison was probably administered earlier. Technically it could have been when he asked me for help, but if he had suspected he was poisoned, he would have gone to a doctor, not me and Nancy. Still, he could have had a reason to think someone was out to get him. Threats? A fight? Was it related to the cheating?

  There was no way to find out what it was about, but right now my suspect was Patricia. If I remembered correctly, she was part of the gardener’s society, and they met on Mondays and Thursdays. Which meant it was likely she knew about the mushrooms, but also that she’d be out of the house tonight. My hands were itching to do something proactive after today. I needed results.

  “If you’re going to do what I think you’re going to do, it’s probably best not to go alone.” Detective Black was right in front of me.