Free Lyndsey Cole - Lily Bloom 01 - Begonia Means Beware by Lyndsey Cole Page A

put this in the cooler while I get the funeral figured out?” Lily walked back out front. “Mrs. Biotchi, Daisy said you want to talk to me?”
    “I’ve been waiting here forever. You shouldn’t make your customers wait. It’s not good for business. Can you get me some tea?”
    “No. It’s not a café. It’s a flower shop. So, what can I help you with?”
    Tamara was momentarily shocked but recovered and moved on with her agenda. “There’s going to be a small service for Clifton. Just family. I’d like a nice arrangement with orange alstroemeria, blue delphinium and white snapdragons. Can you do that?”
    “Of course. I’d be happy to. When do you want it?”
    “Sunday.”
    “Anything else?”
    “Can you hold my umbrella for me while I get in my car?”
    “No.” Lily abruptly went back to work.
    Lily and Daisy watched Tamara huff and puff as she struggled to get herself to her car without getting soaked. She couldn’t close her umbrella so she left it on the sidewalk.
    Lily and Daisy were nearly rolling on the floor laughing. Whenhe bell jingled, they tried to pull themselves together.
    Ryan looked quizzically at them. “What’s so funny?”
    “Did you see an umbrella on the sidewalk?”
    “Yes. I brought it in.”
    They roared with laughter again. Lily managed to sputter out an explanation. “Mrs. Biotchi couldn’t close it without getting wet, so she just left it.”
    Daisy added. “She asked Lily to hold it for her while she got in the car.”
    Ryan started to chuckle. “What did you say?”
    “I said no. You should have seen the look on her face. I don’t think anyone has ever said no to her before.”
    “Nothing like a good laugh. That felt great. What can I do for you Mr. Steele?”             
    Ryan took an envelope from his jacket pocket. “This came in the mail at the police station.” He handed the envelope to Lily.
    She pulled out a blank card with a pressed flower taped inside. She looked up at Ryan. “Was there anything else with this?”
    “No. You know flowers. Does this one have any meaning?”
    “Tansy. I’ll have to look it up.” She pulled out her smartphone and started tapping away. “Here it is. It could mean hostile thoughts.” Lily looked at Ryan. “Beware? Hostile thoughts? Someone is trying to tell us something.”
    Lily heard Daisy talking on the phone. “Mom? … Alright, I’ll tell Lily.”
    “Tell me what?”
    Daisy looked from Lily to Ryan and hesitated. “Can I talk to you alone?”
    “It’s fine. Did Mom call that number?”
    “Yes. It went to a nursing home. Someone named Mari Harris.”
    “What number are you talking about? Where did you get it?”
    Lily sheepishly reminded Ryan about the wallet Rosie found before Clifton’s body was discovered. “My mom found the wallet in her house after I stayed with her. I had forgotten all about it and never looked inside. She found a card that said ‘in case of emergency’ with a phone number.”
    “So?”
    “Tamara told me that Clifton has no relatives. I think she may be wrong. I need to visit Mari Harris and find out more about her and if she’s related to Clifton.”
    “I’ll go with you.”
    Lily touched his arm. “I think I should go alone. She may open up more with me.”
    Ryan started to argue with Lily but her look shut him up. “Okay. But tell me everything when you get back.”

Chapter 11
     
    Lily picked up Iris on the way to the nursing home. Iris looked in the empty back seat. “No handsome cop? I thought he would come too.”
    Lily pulled onto the highway. “He wanted to but I told him it was better this way. I think a cop might intimidate her. Besides, he would take charge and I want to do it my way.”
    Iris smiled. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
    “Oh no you don’t. Don’t make this about you.”
    “Whatever you say. How are you and your cop getting along lately? It seems to be a bit of a rocky relationship.”
    Lily stomped on the gas.