Offed in the Orchids Read online

  “Passive resistance, I like it.”

  She smiled. “Is that what I was doing?” she asked. “I think I was just trying to avoid trouble. No way I ever could do it to suit him.”

  “And sometimes you do whatever you must in order to make things work,” he said. “Don’t judge yourself for that.”

  “That’s something I seem to always do,” she murmured.

  “But not today.” He tucked his arm into hers. “Let’s check the other booths.”

  And together they wandered through until they came up to the far side. She stopped and stared because she recognized several other people ahead of her. “I don’t know,” she said, “but I think I spoke to some of these people downtown.”

  “Why not?” he asked. “It’s a small town.”

  “It really is, isn’t it?” She relaxed.

  He smiled. “And you’ve done just enough investigative work that has taken you to multiple corners of the town,” he said, “so I’m not at all surprised if you recognize people.”

  “As long as they don’t mind me being here,” she whispered. He stopped and turned to look at her. She shrugged. “Some of the conversations weren’t all that easy.”

  “Yep.” He chuckled. “That’s what happens when you think what you’re doing is the best thing. But you forget that you impact other people, and, when you do, it’s not always something that they remember well. Like the ones who end up in jail. But let’s not worry about it today.” And he led her down another aisle.

  When she came to the end of that last aisle, she was stunned at how many people were growing orchids. Some of them were doing it easily and obviously were full of quiet joy at what they had accomplished. Others were more competitive and were asking people to rate them, so they could put it on their table. Some even had ribbons to be handed out. But Doreen wanted to see the ones in the private greenhouses. “I guess people really had to open up their doors to make something like that home tour happen. I bet there was some resistance to that.”

  “Less than you think,” he said quietly. “Everybody likes to be recognized for doing a job well done.”

  She thought about it and nodded. “I guess that’s human nature, isn’t it?”

  “Absolutely, and, in this case, it’s a good thing. I mean, look at how much the community has come together over this.”

  She smiled when she looked around and saw just what he meant. “No, you’re right,” she said. “Must be hundreds of people here. And probably hundreds more doing the home tours.”

  “And we’ll get there too,” he said, “but just think how much joy something like this has brought to so many people. How much it’s brought them together and got them out of their houses and made it a great day. Then think about all the people here who are taking part and how much the recognition is helping them.”

  “No, you’ve convinced me.” She laughed. “This is a great thing. I agree.”

  “It is.” He nodded. “And, if you ever want to get involved in something local, you could always volunteer for some of these events. They always need organizers.”

  At that, she thought about the women in the kiwi competitions and winced.

  “And it doesn’t have to be a bad experience,” he reminded her.

  Still withholding judgment on that point, she just nodded quietly, as they walked back to the truck. “I think one of the biggest things that I noticed,” she said, “is that sense of joy, how everybody seems to be so happy just to be out and about.”

  “Well, it’s been a long summer,” he said. “There have been a lot of headaches, a lot of hassles, as you know. I can’t imagine that people were all that eager to stay at home and to not do something fun. Today was a perfect day for it. The weather is gorgeous, and you can see everybody out here is enjoying themselves.”

  “Including us.”

  “Including us.” As they got in the truck, he grabbed the printed tour map. “Now we’re supposed to find all these other places.”

  “And these orchids are what again?”

  “The ones grown by all the professional growers or the professional hobbyists. I’m not sure exactly what the criteria was to get into this level,” he said, “but there were requirements. And it was cut off at twenty private showings.”

  “So everybody else back there didn’t make the cut, which had to be like what? Three hundred of them?”

  He looked at the back of the pamphlet they’d picked up. “There were 412.”

  “Wow, that’s a lot of people.”

  “It was,” he said, “and now we have these twenty different homes to go to.”

  “So these are the ones being judged?”

  “Yes.” He nodded. “So the people visiting these homes to see these special orchids are not just us and the general public but the judges too.”

  “And do you think the growers know when the actual judges come, versus members of the public who come through?”

  “I would hope so,” he said, “but maybe that’s part of it. Maybe just being an observer of it all is what the judges want.”

  “Maybe, but I suspect they’ll come with some authority that will make everybody nervous.”

  He laughed at that. “Maybe so, but then we’re used to that. We tend to make people nervous ourselves.”

  “You do,” she said, with spirit. “Me? I try to make everybody feel at home.”

  Chapter 2

  Mack drove Doreen and her animals to the first four of the twenty houses. The fifth had so many people parked outside that they skipped it and went on to the sixth. By the time they hit the ninth house on the orchid tour, Doreen was wearing thin.

  “Are you still up for going to all the rest?” he asked.

  “Well, I feel like I have to, since we started this.”

  He chuckled. “We can also end it.”

  “Maybe, but these people have put so much effort into it that I don’t really want to let them all down. Plus these orchids are even more spectacular than those at the market show.”

  “That’s the spirit.” He carried on to the next house. And she was good for a couple more because these orchids were gorgeous. When they walked into the sixteenth house, it had a different atmosphere.

  She sniffed the air and winced. “It smells like he’s growing something else in here as well.”

  He chuckled. “And we can’t make a comment about it.”

  “Says you,” she replied. “I know it’s supposed to be legal here, but I’m still not all that thrilled about having it everywhere.”

  “We’re in their house, and they’re allowed to do as they will.”

  “I got it.” She held up a hand. Goliath didn’t appear too happy to be getting out of the vehicle again. She was more concerned about how the animals were handling all this getting in and out than herself. As they wandered through the garden, she was struck by the absolute beauty of the place. “This house,” she said on a gasp.

  He nodded. “This is where you get to see how other people live.”

  “But it’s …” And she was nonplussed for words. “It’s absolutely stunning,” she murmured.

  “And some people live like this all the time,” he said. “Even you, who had so much money at one time, didn’t have a house like this.”

  “Because this is more than a house.” She stared at it. “This is very much a home.”

  Behind her, a woman spoke, in a soft tremulous voice. “Thank you for that.”

  Doreen spun to see an older woman, leaning against the doorjamb. She wore capri jeans, with flip-flops on her bare feet and a button-up shirt that hung over the top of her belt. With her shirtsleeves rolled up to her elbow, she didn’t look in the least like she had money. Doreen smiled. “This place is stunning. Something is so very special about the atmosphere.”

  The woman nodded. “We’ve lived here for hundreds of years,” she said. “My family was one of the first to settle in the area, so an awful lot of history is here. A lot of family, a lot of births, a lo
t of deaths.”

  Doreen said quietly, “But also a lot of laughter and joy.”

  The woman beamed. “How very lovely of you to say so.” She looked over at Mack. “Hey, Mack. How are you?”

  He walked forward and gave the older woman a gentle hug. “Hi, Edna. It’s been a long time.”

  “And here I figured you disappeared or were overrun with work.” Edna turned toward Doreen with interest. “So that means you must be Doreen then.”

  “Why must I be Doreen?” She tilted her head to the side, looking from Mack to Edna.

  “The animals,” Edna explained.

  “Ah, yes, they are a dead giveaway, aren’t they?”

  They all chuckled, as Edna pulled back Doreen’s hair to see Thaddeus sitting there. “And you must be Thaddeus.”

  Thaddeus immediately rose to his full height, fluffed out his feathers. “Thaddeus is here.”

  “You are indeed, big guy,” she said, “and, my, you’re doing so well.” Doreen was confused, until Edna explained. “I’m the one who had this guy brought in for your grandmother.”

  She stared. “Really?”

  “Yes, I had three at one time, and this guy took a shine to your grandmother, so I let her keep him.”

  “Oh,” Doreen said suddenly, “you’re not looking to get him back, are you?”

  Edna looked at her in shock and then started to laugh. “No, my dear, not at all,” she said. “Besides, these animals have lives, thoughts, and heartbeats of their own. He wouldn’t take kindly to me upending him.”

  “No, I don’t think so,” Mack said. “He’s definitely happy where he is.”

  “Getting into lots of trouble, from what I hear,” Edna murmured, with a knowing grin.

  Doreen wasn’t exactly sure who this person was, but obviously she knew Nan and had a lot of history in town and, like her grandmother, probably knew everyone. “Thaddeus has been such a godsend to me,” she said warmly. “I love having him in my life.”

  “And that, my dear, is all that matters,” Edna said gently. “And it shows. He obviously looks very happy on your shoulder. He never would ride on mine. His brother that I had wouldn’t either.”

  “Well, he and I definitely take a lot of long walks and look after each other,” Doreen said, smiling broadly.

  “That’s good,” Edna said. “I suppose you’re here for the orchids, aren’t you?”

  Mack nodded. “May we see them?”

  She laughed. “Like you even care,” she said affectionately.

  “Hey,” he protested, “maybe I do.”

  She shook her head at him. “No, but I appreciate that you’re here. So let’s go take a look at them.”

  As they walked farther into the house, Doreen glanced at Mack, and he had a small smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

  “She’s an icon in town,” he said. “Everybody knows her.”

  “Except me.” Doreen rolled her eyes.

  “You haven’t been here long enough to know everyone yet,” Edna called back, obviously having heard the conversation.

  Doreen flushed because the one thing she knew was manners, and talking about somebody, particularly in their own home, was definitely not on the list of good manners. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “Please forgive my lack of manners.”

  “Ah, posh, don’t worry about it.” Edna waved it off. She led them into a different hallway.

  “Oh my,” Doreen said, “did we come in the wrong way?”

  “You sure did,” Edna said, “but I watched you and realized it was Mack. I figured he was just coming in the way that he knew. You weren’t looking for the home tour signs.”

  “Oh, sorry,” Mack apologized. “You’re right. I’ve been here several times, and I just automatically came in.”

  “That’s all right,” she said. “There isn’t always a right or a wrong way to do something. It’s what you know.”

  Definitely some undercurrents were going on around Edna, but they didn’t appear to be harmful or negative, so Doreen followed along. As they entered the orchid area, she gasped. “Oh my.” The greenhouse was massive. The double panes of windows were at least fifteen feet high. “This is more of a solarium.”

  “That’s exactly what it is. My grandfather built it for my grandmother many years ago. At one point in time it was all heated by wood, but now we have geothermal in here.”

  Stunned, Doreen looked at the wonderful room and the beautiful plants and knew she must look like a fool because Mack came up beside her. “Your jaw needs to close at some point in time.”

  She shook her head, turned impulsively to Edna. “You are blessed to have this.”

  Edna gave her a beaming smile. “You’re right. I am, and the good part is that I’m lucky enough to know it.” She said, “Come on now. Let’s go down this aisle to my special orchids over here.”

  “What makes these special?” Mack asked.

  “Well, they’re very rare,” she said, “and nobody’s allowed into this area without a guard.”

  “A guard?” Doreen raised both eyebrows.

  “Absolutely,” Edna said. “You have no idea how vicious the world is when it comes to stealing orchids.”

  Doreen didn’t even know what to say. “Really? I hadn’t considered it to be that cutthroat.” She frowned. “But I should have, I suppose, because it is something my husband was always into.”

  “Right, the husband. Another reason everybody keeps wondering what the deal is with you.”

  “Me?” Doreen looked at her in surprise.

  Edna nodded. “Just like you’re very busy, off solving all these cases with Mack here, the world is trying to figure out what makes you tick and what brought you here in the first place.”

  “A pending divorce and my grandmother,” Doreen said. “It’s very simple.”

  “Most things in life are.” Edna smiled. “But they’re all waiting to see what you do with your life now.”

  “I’m pretty much just getting in Mack’s way apparently.” Doreen laughed. “And thankfully he has enough patience to not get too angry about it.”

  “Well, you’ve done an awful lot of good for the community,” Edna said, “so I wouldn’t worry about it too much.” She motioned them around the corner. “Here we go.” As she stepped forward, she gasped and stopped.

  “What’s the matter?” Doreen asked, bumping up behind her.

  There on the floor was a woman with a very puffy face, who appeared to not be breathing. They all raced forward.

  “It’s Miriam,” Edna cried out, and she reached down, with two fingers at her throat. She looked back at Mack in panic. “Get help, please!”

  Mack already had his phone out and was calling for assistance, but then he dropped down beside Edna and looked over Miriam. “She’s not breathing.”

  “No, no, no.” Edna frantically tried to lift the much heavier but younger woman into a supine position. “No, no, she’ll be fine. She’s got to be fine.”

  Mack put his hand on Edna’s shoulder. “She’s not fine, Edna. Put her down now, so we can help her.” He looked back at Doreen and shook his head.

  She stared at him. “What happened?” she whispered.

  He shrugged. “Let’s start CPR.” He checked Edna, who was staring down at Miriam, both hands holding the woman’s head close to her chest.

  “Edna, lay her flat, please. Doreen, help me count.” He started chest compressions. “Edna, when did you see her last? Edna!”

  Pulling her gaze from the woman on the floor, she whispered, “Not that long ago—a couple hours at the most. We were doing all the preparations for the show.”

  “And Miriam, what was she doing?” he asked.

  Edna’s gaze widened. “She was guarding the orchids,” she whispered. And she bolted to her feet, then looked around and cried out, “Please don’t let this be about the orchids.”

  She raced off to the side wall, while Mack could only watch, as he tended Miriam. And, sure enough, Edna stopped in
front of a raised planter, as Doreen raced along behind with the animals, getting caught up in the leashes.

  “What is it?” Doreen asked.

  “It’s gone. My rare, my incredibly rare, Miosa. I’ve always called it my heart.” Her hand instinctively rested on her chest.

  “An orchid?” Doreen gently reached out to Edna.

  “Yes.” She stood in front of the bare spot on the raised planter. “I cultivated it with Miriam. She is my best friend, the woman of my heart and soul.” She looked back at Doreen. “So many people judge us for it, but we really love each other.”

  And Doreen understood. “Nobody has the right to judge you for being happy,” she said gently. “And, if she brings you happiness, I’m so grateful that you’ve had those years with her.”

  Edna looked back to where her friend was. “She told me that she would be here and would keep an eye on this one particular orchid,” she whispered.

  “She looks like she had an allergic reaction.”

  “Yes, and that’s quite possible. She’s an asthmatic. And sometimes she’s had some really terrible reactions. She’s also allergic to bees,” she said bitterly. “She kept stuff with her all the time, so I’m not sure what happened.” She frowned. “Obviously something went wrong. So very wrong.”

  “I’ll tell Mack.” Doreen hurried back to Mack, still carefully watching the rise and fall of Miriam’s chest. “Miriam has asthma, and she’s had some bad allergic reactions apparently.”

  “Check for a pulse, would you?” Mack said.

  Doreen bent closer to Miriam. “Oh, it’s there, very faint, but definitely there. And her lips aren’t so blue.”

  Just then the paramedics arrived. Doreen hurried to pull the animals out of the way, as Mack stood and passed on the information they had.

  Chapter 3

  As the paramedics worked on Miriam, Doreen tried to stay out of the way with her animals and looked around a bit. Mack spoke to Edna briefly, then walked over to Doreen. So far, nobody else had come to this far side of the solarium. “I’m not certain that she told you yet, but it’s missing.”