Lyndsey Cole - Lily Bloom 01 - Begonia Means Beware (2 page)

“What?”

“Clifton Harris is dead in your kitchen,” Iris said more quickly this time.

“I heard you the first time but I can’t believe it. What’s he doing in my
kitchen? Besides the being dead part?”

Iris slumped into a chair. “Beats me. I think we’d better go to the police station.”

“My car is parked out the side door. Leave Rosie here.” Lily locked the front door, flipped the open sign of a big red lily in full bloom to the closed side of a white lily bud and walked to the car.

Iris regained her composure once she was in the car. “Tamara is not going to be happy about this.”

“Of course not. Who would be?”

“That’s true. But Tamara hand-picked Clifton for her precious Melinda. And with the wedding just a few days away, all her plans will be ruined.”

“She hand-picked Clifton?”

Iris looked over at Lily. “You need to pay more attention to what goes on around you, dear. Tam
ara wanted Clifton for a son-in-law. I’m not even sure what Melinda thinks about him. Oh, I’m sure she likes him okay, but I doubt she’s in love with him. Or was in love with him.”

Lily pulled into the police parking lot. “Here we are. What are we going to tell the police?”

“That there’s a dead guy in your house, of course. Come on, Lily. This might end up being interesting.”

Lily ran to catch up with Iris. Iris opened the door and waited for Lily to enter first.

“You again? What law have you two broken now?”

Lily’s eyes adjusted to the darker interior of the police station, but she didn’t need her eyes to tell her who that deep, smooth voice belonged to.

Lily sputtered. “What are you doing here?”

“Ms. Bloom, take a look at what I’m wearing, and maybe you can figure that out for yourself.” He chuckled at
her confused expression.

“You’re a policeman?”

“Very good observation.” He walked around from behind the desk “Can I help you with something? Are you looking for your lost dog, Ms. Bloom? Or maybe you lost your scooter, Mrs. Bloom?”

Iris stepped forward. “No. It’s nothing like that.
” She paused by the distraction of seeing the handsome Mr. Steele in a police uniform. “When did you start working here in Misty Valley?”

“I
’m filling in until the selectmen hire a new police chief. I’m assuming you know that the last one left rather abruptly.”

“Of course we know that.”
Lily leaned on the desk with her arms folded. “Are you the one we need to talk to, then?”

Ryan looked around. “Yup. No one else is here but me. So what can I do for you two ladies?”

Lily was hoping to sound professional, but instead, the wrong words just plopped from her mouth. “There’s a dead guy in my kitchen.”

Ryan momentarily lost his composure. It was his turn to look surprised. “Excuse me?”

“There’s a dead—”

Iris interrupted. “After you so kindly brought Rosie to Lily’s shop, I was bringing her back home. When I went in the back door, I found a dead man on Lily’s kitchen floor.”

Ryan looked from Lily to Iris. “I hope neither of you are involved in this.”

They looked at each other, and Iris said, “That’s ridiculous. If we were going to kill someone, we wouldn’t leave the body in Lily’s house.”

Lily nudged her mother and added, “Of course we aren’t involved. We came here to get help. Are you going to help us?”

“
I’m your guy. Follow me over.”

Iris innocently asked, “Do you know where Lily lives?”

Ryan looked at Lily. “Yes. We bumped into each other this morning. Let’s go.”

Iris winked at Lily and mouthed the words, “He’s so handsome.”

Lily gently slapped her mother’s arm and mouthed back, “Don’t meddle in my life.”

Lily and Iris followed the police cruiser down Main Street to Sugarbush Lane. “Mom, don’t start trying to push that guy on me. I can handle my own love life, thank you very much.”

Iris raised her eyebrows and chuckled. “Oh, really? What about that lying, cheating guy, Sam?”

“
You always throw that in my face. I was young then.”

“I think that was just a few months ago, dear.”

“What about you? You don’t have the best track record.”

“Your dad was my true love. I have no desire to try to replace him. The rest have been fun hook-ups, as you youngsters call it.”

Lily covered her ears. “Please. Too much information.” Lily slowed down as they turned onto Sugarbush Lane. “Okay, okay, but I would rather you didn’t interfere this time. He’s a cop. And he’s my neighbor. And he’s probably not staying around for very long.”

“And he’s very handsome. And he has a good job. And he does seem to be nice. A little too serious, but nice.”

Lily pulled into her driveway behind Ryan’s cruiser. She realized that the conversation would never go the way she wanted it to go, so it was just easier to ignore her mother.

Ryan was standing outside his car waiting for them. “Did you leave Rosie inside with the body?”

“Of course not. She’s at Lily’s shop.”

“Good.” Ryan headed to the back porch with Lily and Iris hurrying to catch up with his long strides.

He stood to one side.
“Please open the door, Ms. Bloom.”

“It’s unlocked. You can go in first. And please, stop calling m
e Ms. Bloom. Call me Lily.”

Ryan gave her a good stare before turning the door knob.

He looked inside then turned back to Lily. “Where did you say the body was?”

Iris peeked around Ryan’s side. She gasped. “It’s gone. He was lying right here on the floor.”

Lily peeked around the other side. “Are you sure you saw a body?”

“As sure as the sky is blue.”

“And he was dead?”

“Dead as a doornail.”

Ryan took a step into the kitchen. “You realize that dead bodies don’t generally get up and walk away, don’t you?”

Iris scowled at Ryan. “I haven’t even had my morning medicine yet. I know what I saw.”

Lily pushed by Ryan and Iris. “What’s this?” She bent over and picked up a begonia flower. She turned to show the other two. “Do you know what this is?”

“A flower?”
they replied in unison.

“Well, of course it’s a flower. It’s a begonia. It means beware.”

Iris’s eyes got as big as saucers. “Beware of what? A new neighbor?” She looked at Ryan.

“Mom. Don’t joke. The body you said you saw is gone.
This could be a warning.”

“If there was a body.”
Ryan looked at Iris skeptically. “Do you know who it was?”

Iris confidently replied.
“Oh, yes. It was Clifton Harris. He and Melinda Biotchi were supposed to get married this weekend. I guess we’ll have to wait for Melinda to report him missing.”

Ryan suggested.
“Or call her and ask where he is?”

Iris nodded in agreement.
“That’s a good idea. I guess that’s why you’re the police chief.”

Lily rolled her eyes.
“Maybe this is why Rosie got loose this morning. When Clifton came in, she went out. And what about that wallet she had this morning? Was there any identification in it?”

Ryan interrupted the chatter. “I have to get back to the station. Let me know if any more bodies turn up in your house, okay?” He walked out of Lily’s kitchen shaking his head and muttering to himself.

Iris asked Lily, “That went well, don’t you think so?”

Lily hissed at Iris.
“What went
well?
Making complete fools of ourselves? Are you sure you saw a body here when you walked back with Rosie?”

“I’ve never been surer of anything in my life. There was a body, and that body was Clifton Harris.”

Lily calmed down. “Let’s go back to the store and call Melinda. She should know where her fiancé is.”

***

Melinda was standing outside of Beautiful Blooms talking on her cell phone when Lily pulled into the driveway on the side of the building.

“… no, you can’t
—” Melinda looked up and quickly shut her phone. With a big smile on her face, she greeted Lily. “Finally. I was wondering when you would get here. I’ve been waiting for, like, forever.”

“Sorry, Melinda. I think
my sister, Daisy, is inside. Did you even try the door?”

“Oh. No, I guess I didn’t. I didn’t see your car and just assumed—”

“Assumed? It doesn’t matter. Come on in.” Lily turned to Iris. “Can you take Rosie home for me? Hopefully there isn’t another problem.”

Lily ushered Melinda into the shop. Rosie was ecstatic to see them come in.

Melinda froze. “You have a dog in here? Does it bite?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Melinda, this is Rosie. She loves everyone.”

Melinda moved away from the happy dog, trying her hardest to not come into contact with Rosie. Iris attached the leash. “Come on
, Rosie. Let’s see if we can find another body.” Iris winked at Melinda as she walked out with Rosie.

Melinda looked horrified. “Is that some kind of a search dog?”

Lily laughed. “No. My mother is just being funny. Trying to shock you. Just ignore her. So what can I do for you?”

Melinda looked around the small shop filled with buckets of
gorgeous flowers. “I want to tell you how beautiful the tulip bouquet is that Clifton surprised me with. Cream colored tulips are my favorite.” She put her hand over her heart and smiled.

Lily was puzzled.
“He didn’t order those flowers from me. When did you get them?”

Daisy sighed.
“First thing this morning. They were sitting on my kitchen table when I got up.”

Lily
gently touched Melinda. “Have you seen Clifton today?”

“No. He had an important
meeting and said he wouldn’t be back ‘til tonight. I’m so excited about the wedding. Especially since it will bring my whole family together for a change. I would do anything to have us all get along again.”

Lily patted Melinda’s arm. “I’m sure it will be perfect.”
Lily thought to herself,
Why do I always have to lie to people in this family?

Lily plopped into her chair
in the shop. “I’m exhausted and the day has barely started.”

Daisy handed a steamy cup of coffee to Lily.
“I saw Mom’s scooter here when I arrived, but you were both gone. And Rosie greeted me inside. What happened this morning?”

“Ahhh.
” Lily relaxed. “This tastes great. I can only sit for five minutes, though. This has been the craziest morning of my life. You’ll never believe what happened.”

“I’m dying of curiosity. Tell me.” Daisy sat
down next to her sister with her coffee.

“Rosie got out of the house and my new neighbor
—”

“New neighbor?”

“Yeah. He’s tall, dark and handsome. But we had a rather awkward meeting. That’s another story. My new neighbor brought her here to the store. Mom took her home for me and found a body in my kitchen.”

Daisy’s eyes popped. “A body? What kind of body?”

Lily grimaced. “A dead body. A dead Clifton Harris body.”

“No.”

“That’s what Mom said she saw. We went to the police and it turns out my new neighbor, the tall, dark handsome guy, is the new temporary police chief. Anyway, we followed him to my house and—”

Daisy leaned close to Lily, barely able to contain herself.
“And what?”

“And the body was gone.”
Lily flopped back in the chair.

“Gone? How?”

Lily sipped her coffee. “No idea. I think the police chief decided Mom must have been hallucinating or something.”

Daisy finally relaxed.
“What do you think?”

“I believe her. I found
begonia flowers left behind on the floor.”

“Begonia? Beware?”

“That’s right.”

Daisy hesitated.
“Beware of what?”

Lily stood up. “That’s what we’ll have to find out.
By the way, you were late coming in this morning. Anything interesting to share with me?”

Daisy turned her back to Lily. “No. Nothing to share.”

Lily looked at the back of Daisy’s long
, curly brown hair.
She’s definitely hiding something from me. It must be about a new boyfriend.

Daisy headed to the back work area. “So what are we going to do about all the wedding arrangements? Is the wedding still on?”

“It’s still on as far as I know. Melinda was here this morning and told me that Clifton left a bouquet of cream colored tulips on her kitchen table. She said he’d be gone until tonight.”

“Cream tulips? Doesn’t that mean
‘I’ll love you forever’?”

“That’s what I’ve read.” Lily put
bunches of flowers on the work table. “Let’s get started. We’ll make the centerpieces first and keep them in the cooler.”

Daisy examined one of the flowers.
“These lisianthus are stunning. Did you get them from Geoffrey Biotchi?” Daisy asked Lily.

“I have to get all the wedding flowers from him. Tamara insisted on that.
She wants to send as much business to her son as possible. He does grow beautiful flowers, but I hate that Tamara will know what I pay for everything.”

Daisy looked dreamy eyed.
“Geoffrey is such a hard worker.”

Lily looked
closely at her sister. “I didn’t know you were friends with him.” Lily finished up the first centerpiece and gave it a twirl to make sure it looked good from all sides. White lisianthus with a pink edge, touch of blue delphinium and seeded eucalyptus elegantly hanging over the sides. “We need fifteen of these for the tables.”

Daisy blushed.
“We’re a little more than friends since last night. I think he’s the only normal one in that family.”

Lily started on another centerpiece.
“Really? How so?”

Leaning on her work space, Daisy said,
“He isn’t so obsessed with money like his mother. And I think he has a mind of his own, unlike his sister.”

“It probably helps if he’s partaking of his medical marijuana crop. Maybe that’s what’s keeping him sane.”

The doorbell jangled as Iris entered. “Did I hear someone say medical marijuana?”

Daisy sounded annoyed.
“Yes, Mom. Have you run out again?”

“Not yet.
” Iris got excited. “Did Lily tell you about the body I found?”

“She did. Was that before or after your morning medicine?”
Daisy teased.

Iris frowned at Daisy.
“Have you heard anything else? Where could that body have disappeared to?”

Lily carried two centerpieces into the cooler. “I don’t know and I’m a little too busy now to worry about it.”

“Isn’t the wedding cancelled?” Iris shockingly asked.

Tamara Biotchi walked in
to the shop. “Why would the wedding be cancelled?”

Iris fluttered her hands.
“Oh, Tamara. It was so dreadful.”

“Mom. I need you to help me back here for a minute.” Lily grabbed Iris’s arm and pulled her into the cooler. “Don’t say anything. There is no body. Why upset everyone now?”

“I want to see the look on Tamara’s face. She is always so uppity. But you’re right. This time. I’ll keep my mouth shut until the handsome policeman finds the body.”

“Is he looking?”

Iris’s eyes danced with excitement. “I saw him walking around your house and his house when I brought Rosie back. He was very friendly. Asked me some more questions. He had a bag full of something. Maybe evidence he found.”

“Shhhhh.”

Daisy held up the centerpiece she finished for Tamara’s inspection. “What do you think?”

“Are those my Geoffr
ey’s flowers?”

“Of course. Aren’t they beautiful?”

Tamara barely glanced at the arrangement. “Yes. Lovely. Has Clifton been in yet? We were supposed to meet here to check the flowers.”

Lily
glanced at Iris as they walked back into the front of the shop. “We haven’t seen Clifton. When was he coming?” She gave Iris a stern look hoping she would keep her mouth shut.

“He should be here by now. I wonder what’s keeping him?”

“Melinda told me he had to go to an important meeting and wouldn’t be back until tonight. Maybe he forgot to tell you.” Lily suggested in a calm voice.

“That’s so unlike him.” She pulled her phone out, then changed her mind and put it back in her big
quilted tote. “If he drops in, just show him the centerpieces and make sure he approves. I have to get to the dress shop for a last minute alteration.” She marched out purposefully.

Lily looked at Iris and Daisy. “What are we going to do? What could have happened to Clifton?”

“We need to have another look around your house. Maybe Rosie can help find him.”

“Good idea. Daisy, can you stay here and finish the centerpieces? I’ll call you if we find anything interesting.”

Daisy pouted. “I always miss out on the fun.”

Lily hurried out the door and
bumped right into Ryan Steele. Flustered, she said, “Oh. Excuse me.”

“What’s your hurry Ms. Bloom?”

“I need to go home to let Rosie out.”

“Great. I’ll come with you. I need to talk to you.” He looked at Iris who was following Lily. “Alone.”

“Alone? Are you telling me to stay here?”

“Yes. You could put it that way.” Ryan smiled
politely.

They walked to Sugarbush Lane in silence. Lily was fuming inside. She wasn’t at all sure what he wanted and she was still embarrassed about her skirt getting caught in the door
and needing him to rescue her.

Ryan broke the silence. “How long has your mother been using medical marijuana?”

Lily considered his question. “Ever since her motorcycle accident. She says she needs it for the recurring pain.”

“Do you think it clouds her senses?”

Lily stopped and stared at the police chief. “What are you getting at, Mr. Steele?”

“
Call me Ryan. We’re neighbors, after all. I’m just wondering about what she thought she saw this morning. If there is an explanation why she
thought
she saw a body. I looked all around your house and mine and couldn’t find anything unusual.”

Lily stood with her hands on her hips.
“What about the begonia flowers?”

“What about it?”

“It means to beware. It’s a warning from someone.”

“A flower is a warning?”

“I didn’t put it there. Someone else did. So I think it’s a warning.”

Ryan looked down at Lily.
“And why are you really going home now?”

Lily diverted her gaze.
“To let Rosie out.”

“And?”

Lily sighed and continued walking. “And to have another look around. Something very odd is going on today.”

Ryan fell into pace with Lily.
“We’ll look together. But I don’t expect to find anything.”

Lily opened her back door and called Rosie.
She turned to Ryan standing behind her. “That’s strange. She’s usually waiting here for me to let her out. Come on in. I’ll look around for her. Rosie? Where are you girl?”

A woof sounded from the front of the house.

Lily jumped and bumped into Ryan when a breeze blew the back door closed.

Steadying her, he asked
, “Are you alright?”

“Just a little jumpy. Something feels off here.”

Rosie was sitting in front of the bathroom door. “What’s the matter Rosie? You’ve scratched the door all to pieces.”

Ryan held Lily’s arm, stopping her from opening the door. “Let me go in there. Just in case.”

“In case of what?” Her arm was tingling where he had touched her.
Nerves?

“In case there’s something
, or someone, in there.” Ryan had his gun out, standing to the side as he slowly pushed open the door. He relaxed. “Empty.”

“Check in the tub.” As soon as Lily uttered those words, Rosie leaped in front and nosed the curtain open.

Ryan gasped. “Don’t look.”

But
Lily was already peering around Ryan’s side at the body, with flowers scattered around the body’s chest.

“
More begonias,” she whispered.

“
Begonias?”

“The flower
s in the tub are begonias.”

“Do you know who this is?”

“This is the body my mom saw this morning. Someone
must have moved him from the kitchen.”

“Who is it?”

Lily couldn’t stop staring. He had khaki pants and a short sleeve, light blue, button down shirt on. A single bullet hole through his left breast pocket and a red blood stain surrounding the hole. “Clifton Harris. He’s supposed to be getting married this Saturday.”

Ryan closed the shower curtain and guided Lily to a chair in the living room.

Lily patted Rosie. “Who was here this morning, Rosie?” Rosie put her paws on Lily’s lap and licked her face. Lily looked up at Ryan, into his kind, dark brown eyes. “Why would someone put the body in my house?”

Ryan handed Lily a glass of water. “Are you ready to walk back to your shop? You’ll have to bring Rosie
, too. This is a crime scene. You can’t leave her here.”

“I’ll grab a few clothes and stay with my mom
tonight.”

“I’ll walk back with you. My cruiser is still at your shop.”

Lily got her backpack. “Come on Rosie. You get to spend the day with me.”

Ryan
tried to sound encouraging. “You should be able to go back into your house tomorrow. Sorry for the inconvenience.” They walked in silence for a few minutes. “What can you tell me about Clifton Harris? Did he have any enemies?”

Lily laughed out loud. “
I don’t know about enemies, but he was not well liked. It would probably be quicker to tell you who
did
like him.”

Ryan stopped and looked at Lily.
“Really? How did he find someone to marry him?”

Lily flipped her hand.
“He has the correct breeding as far as Tamara Biotchi is concerned. Have you had the pleasure of meeting her yet?”

“Not yet.”

“I don’t think Tamara’s daughter, Melinda, had much say in the matter of who she would marry. She had a high school sweetheart but Tamara forbade her from seeing him.”

“
Interesting. What did Mr. Harris do for a living?”

Lily stopped so Rosie could sniff around the maple tree.
“Lawyer. Real estate. He owns part of a lot of businesses in town.”

“Sounds like there could be many people
who had a motive to kill him.”

Rosie dashed ahead, pulling Lily.
“I was thinking the same thing.”