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Viv skirted around the B & B, seeking Aunt Libby. Finally, she delved downstairs into the basement and found her folding sheets.
“What’s wrong? You look as if you just saw a ghost.” She dropped the sheet.
As Viv explained what she saw and the link between Mr. Paul and Esmeralda, Libby’s eyes grew wider and wider. “Do you have the bottle?”
Viv held it up.
“I think it’s best if we just take it to the station,” Libby said and drew in air. “I don’t want to disturb a guest unless it’s necessary.”
“Aunt Libby, she’s troubled. Whether she made the potion that killed Eliza, she has towels on the floors and furniture. You should take steps to remove her,” Viv said.
Libby laughed. “I’ve seen everything in this business. Stick around and you’ll see everything, too. She’s not harming anybody, just making us work more.” She waved her hand. “You’d not believe some of the things I’ve found. People and their oddities...” She looked off into the distance.
Impatient, Viv snapped her fingers. “Aunt Libby! Let’s go. You might be used to this, but I’m not and it makes me very uncomfortable.”
She laughed again. “Okay, let’s go. We’ll turn over the potion to the police.”
“And find out about Mr. Paul. What is he up to?” Viv said as the two of them walked up the stairs.
“I’m certain he’s not local,” Libby replied. “I’d never heard of him before all this.”
Viv led her toward the front door. “But Peggy said he’s a teacher.”
Libby shrugged.
They opened the door, exited the house, and began walking down the street toward the police station, for the second time that day. And that was never a good thing. They walked along past the quaint shops and elegant iron fences until they reached the station. As they entered, Viv smiled at the receptionist, who was a different woman.
“I’m so glad this is a different woman. The other creeped me out,” Viv whispered.
“Linda? Oh, she’s okay. She’s Willoughby’s wife,” Aunt Libby said.
As they approached her, Aunt Libby stepped forward. “Why hello. How is your grandmother?”
The woman looked up with her weak chin and bright blue eyes, smiling. “She’s home from the hospital. Thanks for asking. Now what can I do for you?”
“Can we speak with Willoughby or Jacobs,” Libby said.
“Sure. Jacobs is off today. His wife went into labor this morning!”
She picked up the phone, and within moments Libby and Viv were following her down the gray hallway to an open room full of desks. A few people sat at their computers. Other people were on the phone. Viv and Libby spotted Willoughby at the corner desk.
“How can I help you, ladies?”
Viv recounted the story and handed him the potion.
“Thanks,” he said. “Are you sure the man in the photo was Jack Paul?”
“Absolutely.”
“Now if it turns out this woman has poisoned Eliza, can my B & B be implicated?” Libby said.
“Only if you’re hiding something for her. You’ve done the best thing by bringing me the potion and telling me you saw that photo.” His expression, puzzled, then wary. “He was just here and didn’t mention a girlfriend.”
“Why would he?” Libby asked.
“No reason. But we asked for names to give him an alibi for the 24 hours before Eliza’s death and you’d think she’d be on that list. But it’s all men.”
“Curious,” Libby said. “When did she die?”
“Sometime around midnight,” he said. “In any case, I’ll get this analyzed and let you know what I find. It could just be a coincidence.”
“There’s something off about the woman,” Viv said. “I don’t know if she poisoned anybody, but I do know she’s got issues.”
“Sounds like it. We’ll check into her background. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. I’ll let Edwards know.”
“Sure thing,” Libby said and waved as they walked away.
The air felt fresh on Viv’s skin and sweet in her lungs, pleased she may have helped the case. She’d feel a lot more content if the police found Eliza’s killer and put him or her away for good. A nagging sensation pricked at her: a good friend of hers once killed someone. She had been right under Viv’s nose. Could that be the case now? If so, how to find out? She drew in air. She wasn’t acquainted with that many folks yet. The ones she had been are in jail or dead. Present company excluded, of course.