Death Among the Petals: A Violet and Sage Mystery by Penelope Hawthorne

Author:Penelope Hawthorne [Hawthorne, Penelope]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rainbow Crush
Published: 2024-03-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Secrets in the Shadows

As the streetlights cast long shadows across the roads of Serenity Bay, Sage pedaled homeward. A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, carrying the scent of blooming flowers on its wings.

When they approached Beatrice Holloway's grand mansion, they couldn't help but notice a peculiar sight. Beatrice was hard at work in her garden, even though it was well past the hour when most gardeners had retired for the evening.

Violet, perched in the trailer box behind Sage, raised an eyebrow. "My, my! Would you look at that. Beatrice Holloway is quite the night owl, isn't she?"

Sage nodded in agreement, her fingers gripping the handlebars. "Indeed, she is. And look at the load she's carrying. That bag of dirt looks awfully heavy."

Beatrice had a large sack slung over her shoulder as she marched determinedly toward one of her garden beds. The bag seemed to strain under the weight of its contents, yet she pressed on without the aid of a wheelbarrow.

Violet marveled at her strength. "It's impressive how she's managing that heavy load without breaking a sweat. I've always thought of Beatrice as a formidable woman, but this confirms it."

Sage couldn't help but agree. "Yes, she's certainly a force to be reckoned with. But why is she working in her garden so late into the evening? It's not exactly a common practice."

Violet shrugged, her gaze fixed on Beatrice's determined form. "Clearly she's preparing her garden for the upcoming show."

Sage guided the bicycle closer to Beatrice's property, the soft whir of the wheels on the pavement the only sound breaking the evening silence. "We might as well say hello. It's not every day you find someone gardening in the dark."

As they neared Beatrice, the light from her double garage illuminated her face. She looked up from her work, surprise evident in her eyes as she recognized the approaching figures.

"Violet! Sage!" Beatrice exclaimed, momentarily setting down her heavy burden. "What brings you here at this hour?"

Violet stepped over the side of the trailer, her tone friendly. "We were just passing by and couldn't resist saying hello. My, you're quite the night gardener."

Beatrice smiled, a hint of weariness in her eyes. "Yes, well, the Garden Show is fast approaching, and there's still so much to do. I wanted everything to be perfect this year."

Sage couldn't help but admire her dedication. "That's certainly commendable, Beatrice."

Beatrice nodded in gratitude. "Thank you, Sage. I appreciate your kind words."

Violet's gaze drifted toward the imposing mansion behind Beatrice. The garage doors were open, and she couldn't help but notice Mr. Holloway's Porsche parked alongside Beatrice's Range Rover. Perhaps the man of the house was not away on business, as he was purported to be.

With only a glance, Violet escorted Sage's gaze toward the garage.

It was clear Sage understood, because she casually asked Beatrice, "What about Mr. Holloway? Is he lending a hand in the garden this year?"

Beatrice's expression tightened ever so slightly, and she hesitated before responding. "No, he never helps out. Spends the majority of his time at our condo in the city.

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