Scent to Kill: A Natural Remedies Mystery (Natural Remedies Mysteries)

by Chrystle Fiedler

  Nick got out of the cart and went over to inspect the branch that had fallen. “This looks like it was sawed off, Willow. You better call Jackson. He’ll want to see this.” Qigong sniffed around the area on the ground where the branch had fallen. I quickly sent Jackson a text.

  Amanda and I got out and went over to Nick. Sure enough, there were jagged saw marks. This was no accident.

  chapter ten

  Dr. Willow McQuade’s Healthy Living Tips

  Aromatherapy is effective when it comes to cleaning, toning, and moisturizing your skin. These aromatic recipes from my good friend Jade Shutes, who is the director of education at East-West School for Herbal and Aromatic Studies (www.theida.com) in Raleigh, North Carolina, will make your skin look and feel your best!

  Jade’s Aromatic Cleanser

  2 ounces castile cleansing base (like Dr. Bronner’s baby soap)

  7 drops tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)

  5 drops lemon oil (Citrus limon)

  5 drops lavender oil (Lavandula angustifolia)

  Wash 2x a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.

  Jade’s Aromatic Toner

  4 ounces witch hazel hydrosol or extract

  4 drops tea tree oil

  2 drops lemon oil

  Jade’s Aromatic Moisturizer

  Often acne skin types are prone to dehydrated skin due to overuse of alcohol-based toners and/or cleansers. So it’s best to apply a soothing hydrating cream after cleansing and toning. To make it yourself, buy an unscented, water-based cream. Put two ounces in a small jar with a lid. Next, mix in the following essential oils: 2 drops German chamomile, 4 drops lavender, and 5 drops frankincense. Your skin will thank you!

  Yours Naturally,

  Dr. McQuade

  While we waited for Jackson, I thought about last night’s phone call. Was someone after me? Or was this sawed-off branch aimed at Amanda, who was constantly riding all over the estate on errands for Rick? And if the killer was after Amanda, why? Because she had been close to Roger? Amanda had taken out her cell phone and was now furiously texting someone. She’d wiped her tears away, but her face was as red as a cooked lobster.

  Jackson rolled up in his cart and hopped out. I told him what had happened and what Amanda had said. “That does sound strange,” Jackson said. “Does Rick know about what has happened? He hasn’t mentioned it to me. We were going through the first floor when you texted me. Nothing out of the ordinary was happening.”

  “Yes, he knows,” Amanda said, looking up from her phone. “He thinks it will be good for the show.”

  “Did he tell the police?” Jackson asked.

  Amanda shook her head. “MJ said it wouldn’t do any good, that if the police wanted to stop things like that from happening, they’d have to be prepared to deal with ghosts. She says her goal in coming here is to help the spirits move on. So by the time the show is done, these things should stop happening. It can’t come soon enough, if you ask me.”

  Jackson walked over to the branch on the ground and examined the saw marks. “This was done by a human, not a ghost. Let’s get it out of the way so everyone can get back to work. Nick, can you help me?”

  The two of them worked together and moved it off the path. Once they had, Qigong and I hopped onto Jackson’s golf cart and rode to the cottage with him so we could discuss what had happened. Jackson let Amanda get a bit of a head start and then followed behind.

  “Are you okay, McQuade?”

  “I think so, though that was pretty strange. Were they after Amanda or me or just trying to scare everyone? MJ comes this way and so does Mrs. Florrick. Her cottage is behind the one I’m working in.”

  “This is what I was worried about. Next time use the walkie-talkie, it’s faster. Do you think you can work here?”

  “I need the money from this job. Besides, down here, it’s not so scary. But I will want to check out the shoot tonight.”

  “Let me know when you’re coming up so I can keep an eye on you.”

  “You be on the lookout for clues, too. I need your help to do this.”

  “Will do.” He pulled up in front of the cottage behind Amanda and we got out. He opened the door to the cottage, went inside, and checked it out. “All clear. You’re good to go.”

  After Jackson and Amanda returned to the mansion, Nick put his mats and blankets and accessories on the couch and checked out the area around the oak tree where he’d hold his classes.

  The air inside the cottage smelled stale, so the first thing I did was open the windows and use the screen door. While Qigong made himself at home on the couch, I started to unpack. I placed the chamomile tea, protein powders, and assorted fruit on the counter in the kitchen and set up the blenders. I noticed the energy mix was missing, though, and called the store. Merrily said she’d be right up and rang off before I could ask how she was feeling. I called the guard and told him to expect her.

  Next, I moved into the enclosed porch where I would be seeing patients. The porch was furnished with a comfy couch upholstered in a pretty flower pattern and a matching armchair. On the floor was a striped rug that had seen better days. Through the windows, I could see the twinkling blue bay and a picnic table. A bluebird sat on top of it, pecking at a plate of sunflower seeds someone had put out.

  I used an organic spray cleaner on all the surfaces, and soon the space smelled like lavender. On the empty book stand, I put all the herbs, supplements, oils, and homeopathic remedies I’d brought.

  An hour later, Nick and I were sitting on the front steps of the cottage finishing up our veggie wraps and fruit soda when Amanda arrived with Allie and Hector. The two of them jumped out and greeted us with hugs and kisses. Allie, a gorgeous, tall, natural redhead with freckles, was dressed in a cute shift dress with a tiny flower pattern and sandals, while Hector wore a bright yellow shirt, khaki shorts, and huaraches that complemented his coffee-colored skin and impressive good looks. Qigong jumped up against Hector’s legs, so he picked him up and let Qigong slather his face with doggy kisses.

  “How are you doing, girl?” Allie asked me. “Any ghost sightings?”

  “Don’t say that,” Amanda said. “It’s creepy enough around here already.” She handed me the clipboard with the sign-up sheet. “You’re all booked up for today. Allie and Hector have appointments from two to five. Just an FYI, Allie, your five o’clock is with MJ. Willow, you’ll be seeing clients from three to five. Dinner is at six. Rick said that you’re all welcome to stay and eat with us.”

  “Sounds good,” I said. “Thanks, Amanda.”

  After she got into the golf cart and took off, Allie said, “What was Amanda talking about when she said it was creepy enough around here?”

  I told them what she had said and about the tree branch falling and the more “ghostly” incidents.

  Allie frowned. “I don’t like the way any of that sounds.”

  “If we stick together I think we’ll be okay,” I said. “Besides, we have Jackson, Hector, and Nick to protect us.”

  “That’s right.” Hector smiled. “No worries.”

  Allie took a karate stance. “I can kick some butt, too.”

  “So we’re all set.” At least I hoped so.

  After Nick left, we cleaned both bedrooms and moved Allie’s and Hector’s tables in. After that, I put a lavender wreath on each door, lavender candles on the nightstands, lavender soap in the bathroom, and Jackson’s bouquets on the windowsills. On the tall bookshelf near Allie’s room, I placed the products we could use with clients and/or sell, including massage oils, lavender, rose, bergamot, jasmine, and sandalwood essential oils, which were good for anxiety and stress, and lavender eye masks.

  Hector checked his watch. “Just in time. Our clients will be arriving soon. It’s one fifty-three.”

  “Hello? Anyone there?”

  I went out into the living room and found Merrily. “Sorry I’m late. I’ve been exhausted all day. I feel as if it’s taking me three times as long
to do the simplest things.” She handed me the energy powder. “I don’t know what’s going on with me. The weird thing is, I slept for fourteen hours and I don’t feel rested. Plus I feel like I have the flu. Icky, you know?”

  “It could be Lyme disease.” Long Island has some of the highest rates of Lyme disease in the nation. Symptoms included fatigue, brain fog, headaches, muscle aches, a flulike feeling, indigestion, facial flushing, and more.

  Merrily thought for a moment. “I did find a tick on my back after I helped the Audubon Society with beach cleanup last week. But I don’t have that bull’s-eye mark.”

  “Only sixty percent of people do.” I wrote down the name of my favorite Lyme-literate doctor, an MD who specializes in treating the disease, and gave it to her. “Dr. Cooper will test you and treat you if you have it. Call him today, okay?”

  Tuesday afternoon, I saw my first client at three, Sarah Hill, the makeup artist, attractive, in her early thirties, with spiky blond hair and a dazzling white smile. She sat on the couch, and I took the chair, grabbed my pen and notebook, and asked how she was dealing with Roger’s murder.

  “Not so good,” she admitted. “I’ve been on dozens of shoots in my career, and nothing like this has ever happened. I’m nervous during the day and I can’t sleep at night. I mean, Carly warned us that this could be a rough shoot, but I had no idea what I was getting into.”

  I felt the hair prickle on the back of my neck. “What do you mean she warned you?”

  “She told us that both Roger and Tom had bad tempers and also tended to be overly friendly with the women in the crew, but not to take it personally. She said to come to see her if either of them did anything inappropriate. I think she was just trying to avoid a lawsuit. Roger has been sued in the past for sexual harassment.”

  Carly’s warning was news and so was Roger’s behavior. I wondered if a woman on the crew or staff had been harassed and may have killed Roger as revenge. “Did Roger bother you, Sarah?”

  “He asked me out, but I told him I wasn’t interested. I think he was basically harmless.”

  “What about Tom?”

  “Tom is a mess. He’s got it bad for Carly, and she just feels sorry for him.”

  That pretty much lined up with what I’d seen. Right now, though, I needed to help Sarah. “Let’s put that aside and focus on you,” I said, opening the notebook and finding a fresh page so I could take notes. “How can I help?”

  “Ever since we got here, I can’t sleep. I keep having these horrible nightmares.”

  “A cup of chamomile before bedtime is a good start. It’s high in nerve-and-muscle-relaxing calcium, magnesium, and potassium. It also contains some of the B vitamins that help you relax. Valerian can also help.” I went to the bookshelf and grabbed two bottles and a box of chamomile tea. “Just follow the directions.”

  When I walked Sarah out, I found Carly sitting on the couch, talking to someone on her phone.

  “I’ll check in with you later on in the week,” I told Sarah as I opened the door.

  Sarah threw a glance at Carly and said, “Thank you, Willow,” and slipped out the door.

  I wondered what the relationship between them was like. Carly ended her call, stood, and looked out the door. “What was she doing here?”

  “I like to keep my sessions private, Carly.”

  “She had a thing for Roger.” Carly sighed. “All the females on the set loved Roger. I still can’t believe we’re burying him tomorrow.”

  She picked up her bottle of water and sipped it. “Simon said that you two talked at Nature’s Way this morning.”

  “He was upset and understandably so. Have the police called him in again?”

  “Not yet. It’s like waiting for the results of a pregnancy test.” Her eyes sharpened as she looked at me. “Have you discovered anything of value?”

  It was a strange metaphor to use, but I didn’t pursue it. Instead I said, “I’ve just been gathering info here. Not much to report so far.” I didn’t want to tell her about the photos yet. “We did have an incident when we were headed to the cottage this afternoon. A tree branch that had been sawed off almost crashed onto the golf cart. Amanda says weird things like this have been happening a lot around here.”

  “I heard about that. They’re the kind of things Max was always talking about.” Carly shook her head. “And I never believed him.” Her phone rang and she plucked it out of her pocket and answered it. “Yes, on my way.” She put the phone away. “Rick wants me in the production trailer. Keep me posted, please. The sooner we get Simon out of this mess, the better. And thanks, Willow. Every little bit helps.”

  I felt that she was subtly undermining me but didn’t rise to the bait. “You’re welcome. I’ll see you later.”

  I saw my next client and was done in time to take Nick’s Yoga-Nidra class under the oak tree. Yoga-Nidra is known as yogic sleep, and doing it is equivalent to getting three to four hours of restful shut-eye. I find it an excellent way to let go of stress, replenish, and renew. It seemed most of the crew showed up for this class. I’d counted twenty-six people when I noticed Amanda pulling up in the golf cart with MJ in the passenger seat. Allie met her at the door with a big smile and ushered her inside.

  Knowing that MJ was in good hands, I closed my eyes and tuned in to Nick as he said, “Lie on your backs in savasana pose, legs together, arms by your side with upturned palms. Lower your chin slightly toward your chest. Get comfortable. Let go of your thinking mind. Take a big, deep breath and exhale. Let go of the worries of the day, picture them as clouds floating in the horizon. . . .”

  I relaxed and let go of thoughts and worries about Roger’s murder. For the moment things were serene and calm. But I knew that this feeling wouldn’t last for long.

  I was doing a few stretches on the lawn after the yoga class when MJ came out into the yard and walked over to me. “Willow, Allie is just wonderful. Thank you so much for coming here to help us.”

  “You are very welcome.”

  “It definitely opened me up. I feel more fortified and focused for tonight’s work. Are you going to stay for the shoot?”

  “Yes, I’d like to, if that’s okay with you.”

  “That’s just fine with me. But I want you to be prepared, Willow. Strange things happen when I enter a house.” She took my hands in hers. “We haven’t known each other for long, but I feel very close to you, Willow. I want you to be safe.”

  I pulled my hands away. “What do you mean? Are you saying that being in the house could be dangerous?” Not to mention that a murderer was on the loose.

  “I can usually keep the spirits under control. But I haven’t been inside yet, so I don’t know exactly what I will be dealing with. I expect to find residual energy from Max Bixby, since he just passed, but what I’m really looking for is spiritual evidence of Daniel Russell, the caretaker who was murdered, and his wife, Rebecca. But keep in mind that there may be other presences and they may not be friendly. I wouldn’t be surprised if Roger’s spirit showed up, and if he does, I can’t imagine that he’s going to be pleased about having been murdered.”

  I tried to take that in. “You’re saying there might be four ghosts in that house?”

  “Could be. So if you sense that a negative spirit is trying to connect with you, just picture a bubble of golden light around your entire body. That will keep you safe. And stay close to that hunky boyfriend of yours, too.” She waved to Amanda, who had just pulled up in a golf cart. “I have to go now.” She pulled me into a light hug. “But I will see you later. Please, remember what I said.”

  Amanda returned and gave us all a ride back to the southern end of the estate, dropping us off at the driveway. Allie and Hector had clients to see at Nature’s Way, so they had to go. I sent Qigong home with them and asked them to keep an eye on the cats, too. I told them about the weird phone call that I’d received last night threatening my animals.

  After they left, I walked Nick over to his car. He was on his w
ay to his AA meeting in Southold. He opened his car door and then hesitated before getting in. He gave me a curious look. “Something on your mind, Willow?”

  “Kind of. I’ve been wondering what Aunt Claire would have thought about this supposedly haunted mansion. Did she believe in ghosts? Would she have taken this job?”

  He shut the door and leaned against the front end of the car. “Good questions. Claire always had an open mind, so I think she would have allowed for the possibility of ghosts. And, yes, I think she would have taken this job. She, like you, was a smart businesswoman. She was always open to new revenue streams. Besides, I think our presence here is really helping the crew. They need extra support right now. You’re doing a great job, Willow.” He put his arm around me. “Does that help answer your questions?”

  “It does. I just want to do my best. You know, carry on her legacy at Nature’s Way. But I’m also going to go to the shoot tonight, and I guess I’m a little scared.” I told him about MJ’s advice.

  “I suppose it can’t hurt to follow her advice,” Nick said. “But when it comes to this murderer—whoever he or she is—do me a favor and stick near Jackson. I’m all for golden light, but somehow I’d put my faith in Jackson being the one who will protect you.” He opened his car door. “I’ve got to go now. I’m in charge of refreshments for the meeting, but I’ll see you tomorrow.” He gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Love you.”

  He started the car up. “One other thing, Willow. Focus on helping Simon and the people here. That’s your real mission. Be careful, yes, considering the circumstances of Roger’s demise, but don’t let fear rule you.”

  chapter eleven

  Dr. Willow McQuade’s Healthy Living Tips

  I often see patients who are struggling with depression, but natural remedies can help to cure that blue mood. Essential oils can help, in part because of the proximity of the nerve endings in the nasal cavities and the brain. You can try basil, cedarwood, cinnamon, clary sage, clove, coriander, geranium, neroli, patchouli, peppermint, rosemary, rosewood, sandalwood, thyme, vetiver, wintergreen, and ylang-ylang. You can take eight deep inhalations right from the bottle or put it in a diffuser. Of course, if your depression persists, it’s time to see a qualified therapist.