THE HERBALIST (Books 1-5)

by Leslie Leigh

  “What? Why would you say that?”

  “Because I’ve watched you. Even if you don’t think it’s true love, it’s the kind of love I want. You two enjoy each other’s company. You care about each other; you check up on each other. You talk. And you make a great team.”

  “Well, thank you, Kim. I…I don’t know what to say. I guess I never looked at it quite like that.”

  “Maybe you should. I think he does.”

  Melissa gave her another surprised look and then resumed working the dough. She’d have to think about that.

  # # #

  Brian was there early. “My friend in Phoenix finally had a chance to run the lab work.”

  Melissa held her breath.

  “There is evidence of oleander in Anthony White’s sample.”

  Melissa exhaled and uttered, “Yes.”

  “I already called Harms to let him know.”

  “Now what?”

  “Harms is going over there today to add two counts of murder in the first degree to the indictment, and he and I will work with the DA’s office to make sure all the evidence is air tight. Harms and Corinne’s testimonies will be mandatory, but you and I may be subpoenaed, as well.”

  “That’s fine. I’ll do whatever I can to put that woman behind bars for as long as possible.”

  “You are aware that if she’s convicted of murder in the first degree that she will likely undergo the needle.”

  Of course, Melissa was aware of it. It’s just that it had never been brought to her consciousness quite as forthrightly. “What are you implying, Brian? That we should let her plead down?” she asked.

  “Absolutely not. I’m only trying to prepare you emotionally now.”

  “I don’t think I’ll get the full emotional impact until the sentence is actually pronounced. Besides, don’t people on death row sit there forever, and usually end up dying of something else before they’re actually executed?”

  “Yes, and that can be especially true for women.”

  “Hmm…well, better that she fade into oblivion than go to the needle under some public protest.”

  Chapter 12

  It was after closing, and Melissa and Brian were sitting at the corner table. She listened as Brian talked to Detective Harms via speaker phone. “Has she confessed to anything?” he asked.

  “No, she still maintains complete innocence.”

  “And her lawyer is allowing this?”

  “I feel like they have something up their sleeves, but I can’t imagine what at this point. The evidence is absolutely solid. I don’t think they know about the voicemail message, but I’m sure she knows that, thanks to Melissa, we would find her vial of oleander.”

  “She also probably doesn’t know that when the assay is made specifically for oleander that it does show up—just not when the assay is only for digoxin.”

  “You’ve turned over all the evidence, right?” asked Detective Harms.

  “All but the oleander assay. That came in after everything else was entered. The DA’s office knows the report exists, but they’ve not asked me to turn it over yet. I think they’re suspicious, too, and hoping if they hold out that the lawyer will show his hand.”

  # # #

  “So can we go out tonight, sweetie?” Brandon asked.

  “Sure. You can drink, and I’ll drive.”

  “Aww…but I want you to have fun, too.”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “So, what if I decide not to stay?”

  “Wow. That was right out of the blue. You mean before or after we get married.”

  “Before. As in not too long from now.”

  She just looked at him. “You can have two million.”

  “Two million? Why do I get more if I leave now than if I divorce you later?”

  “Less messy. Less pain. You’re a fool. Do you know that? Before I met you, I was willing to give you half. But no, you had to be greedy. You thought you could marry me and have access to it all. Now that I know you, there’s no way. And I could just send you on your way with nothing.”

  He lunged at her. “Why, you…!”

  She moved, and he missed. “Uh-uh. You just do NOT get it. I earned this money. Your brother signed it over to me free and clear in his will—and by marrying me. Believe me, it was blood money for all I went through with him. Do I think it would be any less with you? No, I actually think it would be worse. But then I could control you like a puppet on a string.”

  “You’re just toying with me, aren’t you? You have no intention of giving me anything. Why are we even going through this charade?”

  “Honey, I do have intentions of sharing with you. I just want you to do a little bit to earn it.”

  “Like what? What?”

  “You are so obtuse. I’ve told you before exactly what I want you to do.”

  “Something about observing Brian and Melissa? Ef that.”

  “Oh, no. I just want you to be my sex slave for a while.”

  A myriad of emotions passed over his face—confusion, anger, frustration, anxiety. Nothing whatsoever akin to happiness or relief. “Now I know you’re toying with me,” he said.

  “Toying with you? I think that’s being generous.”

  “You are one cold-hearted—”

  “Before you finish that sentence, think about me four weeks ago. Whose behavior turned my heart cold?”

  “All right, all right. I’ll sign whatever you want. Then give me an advance, and I’ll be out of your hair by the weekend.”

  # # #

  Brian sat up, fully awake now when he heard the urgency in Harm’s voice.

  “I turned in the oleander assay. The DA’s office called for it because they finally decided that her lawyer really wasn’t going to do anything, or that maybe he has nothing to plead her down with, or that maybe he’s just a numbskull. I don’t know. All I know is that the minute they got the assay, they turned tables on us.”

  “What do you mean turned tables?”

  “I mean they say we don’t have enough evidence to make that stick.”

  Brian chuckled. “Sure we do. We’ve got the vial in her purse, plus her confession on the voicemail.”

  “Brian, it’s gone.”

  “What’s gone?”

  “Both the vial and phone.”

  “What? But there’s a paper trail.”

  “They’re saying it’s all trumped up. That we’ve conspired to make her take the fall for something that was going to come back on us.”

  “Jesus! Are they nuts?”

  “Well, they may be nuts, but they’re serious.”

  Brian looked at the alarm clock on the bed stand. “I understand you’re upset, but I’m sure this can all be straightened out. Why are you calling me about this at four in the morning?”

  “Because,” he hesitated, like he was choked up or something. “Because, they’ve filed charges against Melissa, and there’s a warrant for her arrest!”

  “What? What the…?”

  “They say she was the only one with enough knowledge, that she knew too much about the oleander, and that she’s likely the one who killed both Johnston and White. With no vial in Dunnick’s purse to prove otherwise, and without the voicemail confession—”

  “Jesus!”

  “Deputies are on their way to arrest Melissa.”

  Brian jumped up. He looked at the clock again and realized what day it was. She wouldn’t be here; she’d already be in the market.

  “I’ve got to get off the phone and call her. She’s already at the market.”

  As he punched in her number, he looked out into the street and saw the cruiser going by. They went straight to the market. Of course! he thought, Because the house was dark, but there was a light on in the market. Scheisse!

  Melissa looked up from her baking, as she heard the door open which she had left open for Kim. She glanced at the clock thinking it was too early for her to be there already.

  She wiped her hands and w
alked out front where she saw the two officers standing there in the security light.

  “What’s up guys?” she quizzed.

  “Melissa Michaelson?”

  “Yes.”

  “You’re under arrest for the murders of Anthony White and Lloyd Johnston.”

  ~~~

  FOXGLOVE and FUNERALS

  Chapter 1

  Brian ran toward the store, only thinking that he wanted to be there for Melissa when the police confronted her. He could already see the officers through the front window and Melissa standing in front of them, dishtowel in hand.

  He burst through the door, and one of the officers turned, reaching for his gun.

  “This is a mistake, officers!” Brian said.

  “No mistake, Byrne. We have a warrant for Ms. Michaelson’s arrest.”

  “What’s this about, Brian?” Melissa asked, anxiously.

  “The vial and the phone have disappeared, Melissa, and Dunnick’s lawyer is filing counter-charges calling for your arrest.”

  “Enough talk!” one of the officers said, as he prepared to handcuff Melissa.

  “You don’t have to do that,” Brian said. “She will cooperate with you.”

  “Sorry, but it’s standard procedure,” the other officer said.

  At least the lights on the police car aren’t flashing, Melissa thought, as the officers bundled her out of the door and into the vehicle.

  “I’ll meet you in Nogales, Melissa,” Brian said.

  She nodded then turned to look straight ahead.

  Brian returned to Melissa’s place, quickly showered and dressed, and headed for Nogales. When he arrived, Detective Harms was in a heated discussion with the sheriff and Melissa was in an interrogation room. Quickly, Dunnick’s lawyer slunk out of Brian’s sight.

  Brian stepped back outside to place a phone call to Dr. Mercer.

  “Sorry to wake you, Dr. Mercer. I didn’t do as well this time around, I’m afraid,” he said, referring to when the doctor had hired him to protect Melissa after the first murder in Catalonia. “Evidence has disappeared, and murder charges have been filed against Melissa. She’s in custody now, and she’s going to need a lawyer. I need to know who to call.”

  “There’s a lawyer who works part-time in Phoenix who lives in Sonorita. I’m not sure how much experience he has in criminal law, but you can call him. His name is Scott Blanchard. Here…let me find his phone number.”

  Dr. Mercer gave Brian the phone number.

  “Thanks, Doc. I owe you one.”

  “No problem, Brian. Keep me posted on what’s happening.”

  “I will, sir.”

  Brian immediately called Mr. Blanchard. Luckily, he was at home and not in Phoenix. He said he would be very willing to be Melissa’s lawyer, especially if it meant putting Palick in his place. He told Brian he would get dressed and be there within the hour.

  Brian pocketed his phone and went back inside.

  No one was with Melissa in the interrogation room, and Harms was now arguing with the arresting officers. Melissa sat with her arms still cuffed behind her. “Could we please get someone to remove the lady’s cuffs? Please?” he asked. Finally, Brian went in and sat down next to her. “I’ve called a lawyer for you. He’ll be there within the hour, so just tell them you’ve invoked your right to an attorney.”

  She nodded.

  He looked at her. It was the first time he had seen her with a truly worried look on her face. He had seen her with expressions of caring, frustration, and fear, but her face was drawn and unsure now.

  He put his hand on her shoulder then behind her neck to comfort her. He would have held her hand if it were free.

  Harms walked in, looking grim, and he removed Melissa’s cuffs. She rubbed her wrists, rotating her shoulders and neck and trying to work out the kinks the position had created.

  “It doesn’t look good,” Harms said. “What they are saying makes sense without the evidence. You and I, Corinne, and everybody else know it’s a crock, but there’s no way to prove anything.”

  “Just what are they saying?” Melissa asked.

  “That because you had Byrnes run the blood test on the body, looking for a specific substance, they claim that you were the only one with adequate knowledge to do so. They are also saying that you knew it would be there because you were the one who used it.”

  “What about all of us as witnesses?”

  “Let’s back up on that,” said Harms. “We were only witnesses to Dunnick’s attempted murder on Corinne. They’re not contesting that. But nobody witnessed the deaths of either Lloyd Johnston or Anthony White. Harms was quiet for a minute. “I expect some of it to shake out. Without the evidence, they’ll try to plead her down.”

  “How did they get the DA to approve an arrest warrant for a second suspect? And one without a motive, I might add,” said Brian.

  “Palick filed habeus corpus simultaneously to have Dunnick’s detention questioned, and the DA didn’t want to find himself with no suspect in custody at all. If they get rid of enough charges on Dunnick, they’re hoping to get the remand thrown out. With all the eyewitness testimony,” Harms said, “they couldn’t dismiss Dunnick’s charges to Corinne’s attempted murder, but that’s the only death-related charge that’s sticking at the moment.”

  Brian growled in frustration. “Meaning, of course, since Dunnick is no longer accused of the unlawful deaths of Johnston and White, that Melissa’s still on the hook.”

  “I’m afraid so,” said Harms.

  “What a mess,” responded Brian.

  “Will you step out in the hall with me, Byrne?”

  “Why can’t you talk in front of me?” Melissa asked.

  “Sorry,” Harms said. “There are some things it’s just better that you not know.”

  Brian gave her a look that said, “I’ll tell you when I get back.”

  “I suspect that they’re trying to buy time until they see whether they can buy a judge,” Harms said.

  “Ah, the wheels of justice, greased.

  “So much more useful than a greased pig.”

  “The latter doesn’t seem to be necessary around here,” Brian rejoined.

  “Careful,” Harms said, raising his eyebrows, “now you’re impugning my feed trough.”

  “Sorry, Harms. I’ve never seen Melissa in a position she can’t handle, but I think this has taken her into completely new territory. I need to get back to her.”

  “Sure,” he said, standing aside to let Brian pass.

  Melissa looked up as he came into the room, raising her eyebrows in a questioning look.

  “He’s just speculating on department corruption,” Brian said.

  “Fabulous,” she said, without humor.

  She looked at him with a thin smile. “Can you call the store? Tell whoever answers, or leave a message, to just call everybody in: Kim, Flora, and Vivian for the day. You can tell them as much or as little else as you want.”

  He nodded and went outside. This was one time when he actually wished he smoked. He needed something to calm his nerves. Flora answered. Kim had called her when she had found the store open and no Melissa. He relayed the message, gave her a quick brief, and promised to call as soon as he knew anything further.

  “I talked to Flora,” Brian said when he got back to Melissa. “Kim had called her in. She said they’d hold down the fort.”

  The door opened and Scott Blanchard stepped in and introduced himself to Brian and Melissa. Then, they began to bring him up to speed. When they finished, Scott turned to Melissa, smiling at her with kind eyes. “One thing I’m not seeing in any of this is motive.”

  “Neither are we,” Brian said.

  The lawyer looked at the papers in front of him and then back to Melissa. “I understand that Palick is trying to get as many charges against his client thrown out as possible, but why would he accuse you, in turn?” he asked.

  “Because I’m the one who turned up the physical evidence,” said M
elissa.

  “Which has disappeared from the evidence box,” chimed in Brian.

  “So I’ve been told,” responded Blanchard.

  “The final nail-in-the-coffin was the assay that Brian had rushed through forensics,” said Melissa.

  “And remind me what that was, please,” Blanchard requested.

  “It showed that there was oleander in the deceased’s system,” said Melissa.

  “And why would this incriminate you?” Blanchard asked.

  “Because I’m an herbalist,” she replied.

  “Ah,” Blanchard said, “guilty by reason of intelligence.”

  “Apparently,” said Melissa.

  “Is there any evidence to the contrary?” asked Blanchard.

  “Other than the fact that Mr. White was a former patient of Dunnick’s, no. Now that the vial of oleander serum has disappeared from evidence, it’s a toss-up,” said Melissa.

  Blanchard shuffled through the papers in front of him. “Mr. White…Bismuth? Cochise County? And Mr. Johnston is…?”

  “This county,” said Melissa.

  “Okay. I was thinking to get you first in line for arraignment this morning, and we’d have you out of here before nine. But this two-county thing complicates the issue. It’s going to have to be transferred to superior court.”

  “What will that mean, logistically?” asked Melissa.

  “Let’s get Detective Harms in here,” Blanchard said, going to the door where Detective Harms was standing just outside. Blanchard gestured for him.

  “Since the two crimes of which Ms. Michaelson is accused took place in different counties, it means we’re going to have to take the whole thing to Superior Court, either here, Cochise County, or Tucson. Do you have a preference?” asked Blanchard.

  “Is there an advantage to one over the other?” Brian asked.

  “Other than perhaps more anonymity, the only other consideration might be convenience. I’ll have to arrange for a preliminary hearing in Superior Court; but, she can do her first appearance and get bail handled right here, this morning. I’ll get her first on the docket today, before arraignment court. Then, I’ll put everything together for the preliminary hearing.”