Thyme for Murder by Bettie Jane

Author:Bettie Jane [Jane, Bettie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-09-08T04:00:00+00:00

7

Detective Brighton arrived along with his assistant, an intern from a local college. Lucy had seen the intern around before but hadn’t encountered a situation that warranted an introduction. Now she had occasion to meet the intern after eying her from a distance for some time but loathed the circumstances that brought them together. She’d wanted to get to know the type of woman that would enter a field so dominated by men, but now doubted she’d find the correct time to ask those sorts of questions. Even thinking about it a time like this when her dear friend was facing the tragic loss of her husband made Lucy feel guilty.

“Detective Brighton, thank you for coming so quickly.”

He shook her hand and introduced his companion. “Bonnie, this is Lucy Brooks, owner of Thyme for Tea. Lucy, allow me to introduce you to Bonnie, the intern here from America.”

“Pleased to meet you, Bonnie. Detective,” Lucy instinctively lowered her voice to spare Lizbet, who was still essentially catatonic and staring blankly at the floor and occasionally at the bell over the front door. “Mr. Harrison is in my greenhouse. His wife, Lizbet, is quite distraught.” Lucy nodded in her direction, and the detective glanced at the grief-stricken woman.

“Please keep her here. I’d like to talk to her before she leaves. Can you show me to the body?”

“Of course.” She looked at Janey, who nodded in answer to Lucy’s unasked question about Lizbet. Janey would stay with her.

Lucy led the detective, his intern, and the doctor back to the greenhouse where Mr. Jenson was still waiting, although now he was on the garden side of the lavender door rather than inside the greenhouse with Mr. Harrison. Lucy didn’t blame him one bit. Just having him on her property was disturbing.

“Who discovered the body?” Detective Brighton asked.

“I did,” said Lucy. “I was going out to my greenhouse to gather herbs for Mrs. Jenson.”

“Headaches,” Mr. Jenson added.

The detective nodded, looking expectantly at Lucy to continue.

“I noticed the door to my greenhouse was ajar, which is unusual. I typically close it to keep the rodents out.”

“When was the last time you noticed the door was closed?”

Lucy thought back. She hadn’t been out to the garden all day since she’d been so busy with the teahouse and the children. “Yesterday evening. I would have been out to water this morning, but Sister Therese and the sisters from the abbey were here today, and she helped me pick the vegetables since I was so busy inside.”

“I see. Who else had access to this garden since the last time you were here yourself?”

“The garden here at the teahouse is usually frequented by the public all day, as long the teahouse is open.”

“Who do you know for sure was in the garden today?”

“I can only tell you who was in the teahouse. People come and go to the garden without much notice. The sisters from the abbey. The Rotary Club members who met here earlier. The out-of-town visitors who met in my other meeting room.

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