Tea Cups, Tea Roses and Death by Constance Barker

Author:Constance Barker [Barker, Constance]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Constance Barker
Published: 2024-09-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

The bell above the door chimed as I stood behind the counter, ringing up a few purchases for the afternoon customers. The shop was bustling today, with the usual mix of regulars and a couple of new faces browsing through the colorful rows of yarn, embroidery threads, and fabric swatches. Mittens was perched on his favorite spot by the window, watching the foot traffic outside with mild interest.

"Thanks, Lyndy! I’ll see you next week for the new shipment." Mrs. Jenkins called out to me as she gathered her bag and headed for the door.

"Of course, Mrs. Jenkins. Take care!" I always enjoyed the lively energy that filled the shop during the busy afternoons, though I couldn’t deny that my thoughts were often drifting back to the investigation.

As I handed the receipt to the last customer, a familiar figure caught my eye. Cody was leaning casually against the doorway, his presence blending in with the warm, homey atmosphere of the shop. He nodded at me, his expression giving nothing away, though I could sense the gravity in his demeanor.

“Afternoon, Sheriff.” I greeted him with a smile, though the look in his eyes told me he wasn’t here just for a casual visit.

“Afternoon, Lyndy.” Cody replied.

I finished up with the customer and thanked her as she left, her arms full of crafting supplies. As the door closed behind her, the shop fell into a comfortable quiet, leaving just the two of us. Cody waited until I’d placed the day’s sales into the cash register before stepping closer.

“Got some news.” His tone took on that serious edge I’d come to associate with his official capacity.

I raised an eyebrow, leaning on the counter to listen. “What’s going on?”

Cody glanced around the shop, ensuring we were alone before he spoke. “The state lab finally sent back the results. They confirmed what Dr. Carlton already told us—the tea Hugh drank was laced with aconite, the toxic compound found in Monkshood.”

My heart sank a little at the confirmation, even though we’d both suspected it from the beginning. Hearing it officially stated brought the reality of the situation crashing down. Hugh hadn’t just died from some mysterious illness or accident. He’d been poisoned deliberately, and someone had gone to great lengths to make sure of it.

“Then it’s official. Hugh was murdered.”

Cody leaned against the counter. “We’ve got clear evidence now, but it doesn’t make finding the killer any easier. Whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing. They had access to the Monkshood, they knew how to administer it without drawing attention, and they made sure Hugh was the only one who drank the poisoned tea.”

I let out a slow breath. “So we know what killed him, but we’re still no closer to knowing who did it.”

“Not yet.” Cody crossed his arms. “But this gives us something concrete to work with. We can narrow down the suspects to those who had access to the Monkshood and the tea setup. We’re getting closer. We just need to keep pushing.

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