Dr. Liam Pryce was indeed handsome. He’d come to Connecticut for veterinary school but still retained the lilting accent from his home in Jamaica. I’m a sucker for guys with accents, but it was mostly seeing the gentle way he held Rocky that made me melt.
“No chip.” He examined Rocky’s ear. “Some programs will spay or neuter strays, and farmers use them for barn cats to keep down mice. They notch the ear to show they’re in the program. But this guy’s ear is too ragged to have been clipped by a professional. Looks like he was born in the wild. And he’s older than you think. He’s just undersized because he’s malnourished. His muscle development is quite good.” Dr. Pryce slid on tortoiseshell reading glasses, which only highlighted his chiseled features and deep brown eyes.
His eyebrows flew up when I shared how Sprinkles had invited Rocky into the house. “Very unusual. Usually an older cat has problems with a new younger cat.” I resolved to keep an eye on the two new friends, in case Sprinkles decided to revert to her old tricks.
We set up another appointment so Rocky could be neutered and get his vaccinations. I couldn’t wait to return to see Dr. Pryce, a feeling evidently shared by all the pet owners in the standing room only waiting room.
I put Rocky back into Sprinkles’ car carrier. Thank goodness the little cat was curious. I placed a new toy in the carrier and he slunk in, his graceful movement making me think of a ninja. Silent, watchful. Maybe I was projecting. Rocky’s confidence was impressive but getting into a cat carrier was probably a piece of cake compared to what he went through scraping a living in the woods.
As I drove back to the house, I passed Eastern Hospital. I wanted to talk to Angelica but there was no way I was taking Rocky to the hospital with me and leaving him outside in the car on such a hot day.
Willow was sitting on the front porch and jumped to her feet as I parked. “Caroline told me you have a kitten!”
I got out and set the carrier on the porch. “Meet Rocky.” As Willow crouched by the carrier, I told her how I’d found him, omitting the part about him leading me to Mike’s body.
Willow made those sounds people always make when faced with an adorable pet. “Oh! Can I play with him?”
“Sure. I was just dropping him off.”
“I could watch him for you,” Willow said. “I have to do some social-media stuff for the Sunflower Festival, and I can do it on my tablet here.”
“That’s great,” I said. “Thank you. He just got some shots, so I don’t want him to be alone. Plus, I’m not sure how Sprinkles will behave, though her royal highness did invite Rocky into her castle.”
Willow laughed. “Hey, did you bring the banana bread last night?”
I froze. Had Pru or Darwin seen me and Caroline outside their window? “Yes.”
“It was gone in about two seconds.” Willow was so distracted by Rocky, she didn’t pick up on my hesitation. “Mom figured it was you two.”
I breathed a sigh of relief as a delivery truck from Penniman Petals rumbled to a stop in front of us. The delivery man greeted us, checked a clipboard, and set three arrangements on the porch, each bigger than the last.
“They’re gorgeous.” Willow dipped her head to inhale the fragrance of a white rose.
I signed for them and slipped a tip into the deliveryman’s hand. He honked as he drove past Dandy and Nina, who were power walking down the lane.
From a distance, they could’ve been sisters, or mother and daughter. Despite the difference in their ages, the two women had similar tall, slim builds, shoulder-length light-colored hair, and both moved with athletic grace. Even their outfits were similar: skorts, polo shirts, sunglasses, and golf visors. Nina’s shirt had “Sunflower Festival 5K” embroidered on the pocket.
I searched my memory. Nina had been best friends with Brooke Danforth in high school. It must’ve been a comfort to both women to keep their bond after Brooke’s death.
“Good morning, girls.” Dandy smiled, but I felt the same frisson that I remembered from high school whenever the formidable teacher assigned push-ups.
“Hi!” Willow smiled, and I remembered she was homeschooled. She hadn’t ever had a gym class with Drill Sergeant Danforth.
“I saw you jogging, Riley,” Dandy nodded. “Good for you. It’s excellent exercise.”
“I enjoy it.” I remembered it was Dandy who’d encouraged me to join the cross-country team. Even though I’d only lasted two seasons, I realized now that she’d sparked a lifelong love of running in me.
“How’s Caroline?” Nina took off her sunglasses, concern radiating from her hazel eyes.
“She’s doing well, thanks.” Though I thought Caroline was coping as well as anyone could with two tragedies right on top of each other, I didn’t want to talk about it, especially with Willow here.
Nina’s smile was warm. “Kyle and I are always happy to help.”
I wanted to change the subject. I nodded toward Nina’s shirt. “Are you running in the Five K?”
“Yes, and I manage the event with Donna’s help every year.” Donna? It took me a moment to remember Dandy’s first name was Donna. “I’m hoping it will top the fundraising numbers we got for the Memorial Day Half-Marathon.”
“Good luck,” I said.
“Look at Riley’s new cat,” Willow gushed.
The women bent down to peer into the cat carrier and made those same cute kitty noises Willow had. Dandy straightened and her pale blue eyes fell on the flower arrangements. “Oh dear.” She pointed to one with lilies and roses in a white basket. “Lilies are toxic for cats. Those flowers will have to go.”
“I had no idea,” I said. “I’ll put it in the shop.”
“Good.” Dandy’s concerned gaze shifted from the cat to me. “I’m so glad you’re here for Caroline. She’s gone through a lot.”
Nina glanced at her sports watch. “We have to get going. We’re going to get some ice cream before the Garden Club meeting.” They waved and walked off.
“I had no idea those flowers are toxic.” I took the carrier into the house, then jogged into the parlor and dining room, which were full of flowers in vases and baskets. “Sprinkles hasn’t paid them any mind, but this little guy is so curious.” I was relieved to see no lilies in the other vases of flowers.
Willow brought in the other two arrangements, then let Rocky out of the carrier. Sprinkles emerged from the mudroom.
I pulled the quiche Pru had made from the refrigerator. There was enough left for two servings. “Have you had lunch?”
“Yes,” said Willow as she followed Rocky down the hall. “You eat and I’ll work in the parlor.” Sprinkles brought up the rear.
I heated the quiche and gobbled it down, then went into the parlor. Willow sat on the couch working on her tablet, Sprinkles dozing on one side of her and Rocky on the other. I waved and left for the shop, carrying the basket of lilies and roses.
A mom and her son leaned over the fence of the empty pen where Buzzy had kept baby goats, llamas, and sometimes miniature horses for kids to pet. My heart dropped at the sight of their disappointed faces.
“Are the ponies coming back?” the little boy said.
“I hope so.” I gave him a reassuring smile. “We’ll have baby goats here on Sunday. There are some across the way.” I saw one of the interns and waved him over. “Can you take them to see the goats?” He nodded, and the mother and son followed him across the lane.
Another item for my mile-long to-do list. Bring in more animals for the petting pen. Get more picnic tables set up. Make ice cream.
Visit Angelica. More than anything I wanted to hear her version of events from the night Mike was killed. I’d liked her, and I didn’t want to believe, as Tillie did, that she was guilty of murder. But I didn’t want to believe that Darwin was guilty either.
Caroline was washing a bowl in arm deep soapy water when I entered the shop kitchen. She gasped. “Oh, the flowers are lovely!”
I set the arrangement on a counter behind the Book of Spells. “Three arrangements came today. Good thing Dandy was walking by. She told me lilies are toxic to cats.”
Dark shadows circled Caroline’s eyes. She toweled her hands and took the card from the arrangement. “It’s from Mike’s office. His boss called, a really nice guy, asking about a memorial service.” Her voice drifted. “Riley, come with me. I have to talk to Darwin.”
“Now? Are you sure?” I was afraid Darwin would say some things Caroline could never unhear. Darwin had poured his soul into the farm. Mike would’ve sold it in a heartbeat.
Caroline read my thoughts. “Did Darwin kill Mike?” She smoothed her apron over and over. “Ridiculous. But I have to ask him. I have to hear it from him.”
She wasn’t going to change her mind. “Who’s working?” I asked.
“Gerri and Brandon.” Caroline took off her apron. “It’s kind of slow now. I’ll tell them to keep an eye on the chiller. I’ll be back in time to add the mix-ins. Let’s go.”
Caroline’s hunched shoulders straightened as we walked up the lane. When we turned into the driveway to the farm, a Penniman Police cruiser was driving out. Darwin Brightwood sat in the back seat, his head bowed.
A shock ran through me as Caroline gasped and clutched my arm. We watched as the cruiser turned onto Fairweather Road.
Pru stood at the gate to her kitchen garden, tears streaking her face. Caroline and I ran to her. “What happened?”
Pru swiped her eyes. “Come inside.” I turned to look up the hill to Buzzy’s house. Thank goodness Willow wasn’t outside to see her father taken away in a police car.
Pru walked unsteadily into the kitchen. I steered her to a bench and she dropped onto it as if she were a marionette whose strings had been cut. Caroline sat next to Pru and put an arm around her shoulders while I filled the kettle with water and put it on the stove.
“I’ve been married to that man for thirty years. Never has he hurt another human being.” Pru grabbed Caroline’s hand. “But he hasn’t been himself lately.”
I made Pru a cup of tea, set it in front of her, then took a seat on her other side.
“The night of the funeral,” Pru swallowed. “You saw how upset Darwin was. Mike had called him a few weeks earlier, telling him about this great real estate project. How we could all work together to make sure Buzzy was well cared for in her old age.”
Caroline and I shared a glance. Mike had the development in the works before Buzzy died, and had figured an angle that would strike Darwin Brightwood right in the heart.
“How the development would ‘honor the past.’” Pru made air quotes. “Darwin kept asking where all the new houses in the development would go. Mike said it would be a green project that maintained open land.
“Then the night before Buzzy’s funeral, Mike sent a group email that had the plans attached—I don’t think he realized he’d sent it to Darwin too. The farm would’ve been cut down to a tenth of its size, most of the orchards ripped out, Buzzy’s house gone, ice cream shop gone. Mike had led us to believe that the development would have apartments or townhouses, something very ecologically responsible. But the plans were for estates—massive homes, each on two acres.”
Pru took a sip of her tea.
“I’ve never seen Darwin so furious,” Pru said. “He felt betrayed. You saw how upset Darwin was after he talked to Mike.”
“Yes,” Caroline whispered.
“After we left your house”—Pru hesitated—“Darwin did some chores. I know he was trying to keep his mind and hands occupied. Then we went to bed but neither of us could sleep. Sometime around midnight, Darwin said he was going for a walk. I watched him head up the lane toward the Love Nest. I knew he was going to confront Mike.”
The note in the Love Nest had said “Meet me at midnight.”
Caroline bowed her head.
Pru’s shoulders sagged. “He came back about a half hour later. Said he’d walked around a bit trying to calm down but he couldn’t. Angelica’s car was gone so he banged on the door of the Love Nest. But then a black cat jumped out of the dark and scared the heck out of him.”
Rocky. Caroline and I shared a glance.
“He felt foolish being scared by a little cat,” Pru’s voice trailed, “so he came home.”
“Did he tell the police he’d been at the Love Nest?” I asked.
Pru jumped to her feet and paced. “No. I still can’t understand it. We talked about it again last night. He promised he would today, as soon as he finished the morning chores, but then the police showed up anyway.”
I remembered the land trust. “Did Darwin talk about a land trust with Buzzy?”
“He penciled in a meeting about it on the calendar.” Pru’s voice was dull. Her eyes moved around the kitchen, from the rocking chair to the fireplace, out the window into the garden. I wondered if she was thinking that this could all be taken away.
“What did the police say?” Caroline said in a low voice.
“I overheard one of them say they got a phone call with an anonymous tip that placed Darwin at the Love Nest the night Mike died.”
My mind leapt to Angelica. Had she been able to talk to the police? But Darwin said her car was gone when he got there. And think, Riley. If Angelica was the tipster, the police wouldn’t call it an anonymous tip, would they?
Pru leaned against the sink, her arms wrapped around her stomach. “Darwin told me that when he was leaving the Love Nest, a car was driving up the lane.”
“What kind of car?” I asked.
She threw up her hands. “He was so preoccupied he didn’t notice. He said a small car.”
Farm Lane was a cut-through, Flo had said. Anyone could’ve driven there.
I thought of the neighbors. Gerri and Flo shared a house and Dandy lived next door to them just up Farm Lane. I’d seen Gerri driving a boat-sized Lincoln Continental. I had no idea what the others drove. Aaron the Hermit? His house was the closest of all to the Love Nest. Did he even notice what happened beyond his wall of weeds and trees? None of the neighbors had reason to be anonymous, did they?
A thought struck me. The driver could’ve been the killer, trying to pin blame on Darwin.
Caroline stood. “I have to tell you the truth, Pru. I always have.”
With a look, I begged her to stop. Pru had had enough.
“Riley and I came by last night”—Caroline cleared her throat—“to drop off the bread. We heard you and Darwin arguing. I heard what Darwin said about Mike.”
Pru’s face crumpled. “He said some hard things.”
Caroline took Pru’s hands in hers. “I’m sure of one thing. Darwin could never have killed Mike. Never.”