Free Lethal Lily (A Peggy Lee Garden Mystery) by Joyce Lavene, Jim Lavene

Harry’s death, she could coordinate the information on the paper with the license number.
    She left the clipboard and sign-in sheet on the desk, and glanced carefully outside before she stepped out the door. She was getting into her car again when the manager spotted her. This time he recognized her and started running toward the office.
    “Hey you! What were you doing in there? You’d better not come back here again. I’ll call the police.”
    Heart pounding, Peggy left the storage facility as quickly as she could. At least she got some information, even though she didn’t get the files. Her breathing slowed to normal once she didn’t hear any sirens or see any police cars following her.
    “Now, Mr. Wheezing Man.” She looked at his picture on her phone when she stopped for a red light. “Let’s see who you really are!”
     

 
    Firebush
    Also known as the hummingbird bush because the little birds can’t get enough of it. The red bush hails from Central, South, and North America. Firebush is known for its herbal properties since the small black berries are edible, and a salve is created from the crushed leaves to aid healing in skin lesions.
     

Chapter Nine
     
    Once on the main road, Peggy pulled off at a convenience store, and took out her phone again. She gave Dr. Dorothy Beck, the medical examiner, a call.
    “Peggy! I was wondering when I’d hear from you.”
    “You could’ve called me,” Peggy said. “Did you get my message about Harry’s Fletcher’s death?”
    “I did. I suppose you’d like to work with us on that?”
    “I would. I’m fairly certain he was poisoned. It might not be botanical. It occurs to me that it could be a crime of opportunity.”
    “And that would mean?”
    “Maybe some chemical the killer found at the motel room, probably under the bathroom sink.”
    “Well, since you put it that way, please join us. If it’s not a botanical poison and you don’t want to stay, I’ll understand.”
    Peggy smiled. “Thanks, Dorothy. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
    At least that went well. Peggy started the car and drove toward the morgue and medical examiner’s office. Being part of the ME’s investigation would open some doors for her that she couldn’t open by herself. It would also mean computer access into the police database.
    She knew Nightflyer might also be able to help her in finding Harry’s killer, but he was unreliable. It could be days before she heard back from him. She disagreed with Sam that he wasn’t trustworthy—he was outside the law, which made it difficult for him. Peggy believed Nightflyer was sincerely trying to help her.
    She got a call on the way across town. It was Paul. Her heart started beating faster when she thought Mai could have actually gone into labor.
    “Mom?” Paul began. “I want to ask you about something I heard today.”
    Mai wasn’t about to have the baby . “What’s that?”
    “I heard you were picked up last night and accused of breaking and entering. I also heard that you’re looking into Dad’s death. Was he really involved with the FBI? Why didn’t you tell me what was going on?”
    There was an undertone of anger and hurt in his voice. Peggy didn’t want to make it worse. Honestly, police stations were as bad as beauty salons for gossip.
    “I haven’t found any real answers,” she told him carefully. “If I’d really learned something important, I would’ve told you. You know that. Right now, I’m just chasing ghosts.”
    “Was the dead man you found this morning involved? Who was he?”
    Peggy really didn’t want to answer his questions, but she knew she’d have to say something. Better to do it in person, she reasoned. It would make them both feel better.
    “Traffic is bad out here, Paul. Maybe we could meet for lunch and talk about this. I’m going to be at the morgue. All those food trucks are out there around noon. Maybe we could eat and talk.”
    “I’ll be there,” he promised.
    “Okay.