Murder in bloom
Miss Lavinia a Lewis leaned ned over Cordelia delia Evans’ bedside and d gave her friend ’s shoulder der a reassuring pat. “I’m m so glad your heart attack tack wasn’t serious, my dear.
I was worried sick, , but I expect you will be up and d about soon. But for now, just have a good rest.”
Cordelia quick ly grabbed Lavinia’s arm and pulled her closer. “No, don’t go yet,” she whispered. “I’m afraid.”
Lavinia stopped in her tracks and looked surprised. “Afraid of what, exactly? The doctor said you will be f ine!”
Cordelia glanced toward the door. “Please stay just a litt le while longer. Have a seat in that big easy chair over by y the window. Come on, just for a bit longer. Would you, honey?”
So, Lavinia sat in Cordelia’s grand bedroom, bright-eyed and alert, as family members and a maid traipsed in and out.
First came Mrs. Evans’ daughter, Shirley. . She opened the drapes to let in the spring sunshine and gazed out the window to see the gorgeous views.
“Oh, Mother,” she said, “the garden is so beautiful with ever ything in bloom. I’ l l send Bessie out to pick you some fresh f lowers.”
Shirley then busied herself f luf f ing up her mother’s pillows, running a comb through her hair and moving the empty water pitcher and glass off the bedside table to make room for the breakfast tray.
After Bessie entered the room and set down the tray, Shirley instructed her to go pick some tulips, daffodils, lilies of the valley and early spring roses. Bessie returned shortly af ter with a big basket of f lowers, but wearing a grim expression. “Master Raymond is on his way yp up.” Raymond y was Shirley’s son and a rather unpleasant, unpopular fellow. Bessie curtsied and started to leave the room, almost bumping into Raymond as he breezed in.
“Hello, Granny!” he said. “Well, you didn’t kick the bucket af ter all! Poor Mom and Pop— looks like they’ll have to wait a litt le longer to inherit all your money. Here, I brought you a litt le jar of peppermints to celebrate!”
“Oh, Raymond,” Shirley sighed, and turned to work on the f lowers, plucking wilted lilies of the valley from one vase and dropping them in the trash before moving on to the next vase.
Cordelia had just f inished her breakfast when Shirley’s husband, Philip, entered the room. Bessie returned, removing the breakfast tray and placing the water pitcher back on the nightstand. Lavinia watched with interest as Philip produced a bottle of pills from his pocket. “Time to ta ke your heart pill,” he said.
Cordelia made a face. “I h hate the taste of that pill. D Don’t make me ta ke it.”
“Here, Mother,” soothed S Shirley, pouring a glass of water w from the pitcher sitting on the nightstand. “Just wash it down with plent y of water, and you’ll barely taste it.”
Raymond stepped for ward. “And then pop in one of my peppermints. That’ll ta ke care of the bad taste.”
Suddenly Lavinia sat up ver y straight, feeling alarmed. Something was not right about the scene in front of her.
“No, stop!” she cried, but it was too late. Cordelia had already swallowed the heart pill and followed it up by popping in a peppermint. Suddenly Cordelia’s eyes grew wide, she clutched her heart, and fell back on her pillow.
“Quick, someone call the doctor!” cried Shirley.
Philip leaned over his mother-in-law, then shook his head. “No need, my dear. She’s gone.”
In the ensuing chaos, Lavinia quietly excused herself and headed straight to the Millville Police Department. “Sergeant Donaldson!” she said breathlessly, “I would like to report a murder— and name the guilt y part y!” — Cindy Anne Hogg