Poisoned Prose (A Books by the Bay Mystery)

room had grown loud. Gone was the subdued lunchtime murmur. Story swapping and raucous laughter existed in its stead.
    “Has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?” Reba asked, looking smug.
    Nodding, Ella Mae reached for the tray of dirty dishes Reba had set on the counter. “Okay, you’re right. I’ve been moping far too long. My mother wouldn’t want that. She’d want to see what I’m seeing: the people of her community coming together to share a meal, a song, and a laugh.”
    “Like I said before, anythin’ is possible,” Reba said gently as the two women returned to the kitchen. “Break your mama’s spell. Yes. But don’t forget to weave a few of your own. Speakin’ of that subject, Suzy Bacchus just came in. She looks like a kid waitin’ to ride the Ferris wheel. She’s so antsy that I couldn’t even get her to sit down. Want me to send her back?”
    Ella Mae, who’d been busy loading cutlery into the dishwasher, froze. “Please. And can you ask her to bring me a cup of coffee? The day feels like it’s lasting forever. Not that I mind. I’m thrilled with what’s happening in that dining room. I just need a jolt of caffeine before I clean the kitchen.”
    “Sure, I’ll let Suzy play waitress. But I’m not sharin’ my tips,” Reba teased and then vanished through the swing doors.
    Suzy Bacchus owned Havenwood’s book and gift store, an eclectic shop called the Cubbyhole. Like Ella Mae, she had special abilities. Suzy had a photographic memory. Despite the fact that her mind was a storehouse of knowledge, she was humble, bubbly, and fun. Whenever she entered a room, she immediately filled it with positive energy. When she breezed into The Charmed Pie Shoppe’s kitchen, Ella Mae felt as if the lights shone a little brighter.
    “I have big news!” Suzy said, setting a coffee mug on the wooden worktable. She yanked off her fuchsia hat and a pair of hand-knitted mittens and tossed the accessories on top of a crate of potatoes.
    “I’m all ears.”
    After pushing back a strand of honey blond hair from her cheek, Suzy took a deep breath and said, “I know we’ve spent the past few months poring over any and all references to the Flower of Life in hopes that it would free your mom. We started at the beginning by researching the Gilgamesh legend. That story described the original Flower of Life.”
    “Suzy, we’ve read everything under the sun about Gilgamesh. I’m sick to death of the guy. He got his flower. We need to find another one. Preferably, within driving distance.”
    Suzy grabbed Ella Mae’s hands. “That’s what I’m here to tell you! According to the Gaelic scroll I found in your family’s library, these magical blooms can be found near our sacred groves. In other words, if a sacred grove is located near a body of water, then there’s a flower of life growing in the deepest part of that water.”
    “Like a lake? As in Lake Havenwood?
    Suzy’s eyes glimmered with triumph. “I think so, yes.” Her exultant expression dimmed a little. “There’s just one teeny tiny complication.”
    “Naturally,” Ella Mae grumbled, then quickly squeezed her friend’s hand. “I’m sorry. You’ve been such an amazing friend. I have no right to take my frustration out on you.”
    “Now that you mention it, I should be angry. Do you realize that I’ve gained ten pounds since we started hanging out?” She gave Ella Mae a wolfish grin. “Speaking of which, what’s got your customers feeling so merry? It’s like Christmas in that dining room.”
    Ella Mae cut a wedge of Red Hot apple pie for Suzy. “You can have the whole pie if you’ll finish telling me what you learned.”
    “You’ve got yourself a deal!” Suzy popped a bite into her mouth and nodded enthusiastically. “Hmmm. This is
good
.” Licking her lips, she said, “To make a long and complicated story short and complicated, I’ll begin by saying that over two hundred years ago, a local man wrote a book called
Lake Lore of the Americas
. I can only find references to this book in other authors’ bibliographies. But apparently, this nifty little tome was all about lake magic. Native American shamanism. Elemental spirits. Sea foam women appearing to the colonists. That sort of thing. There’s also a whole chapter devoted to the rare and powerful objects
within
certain lakes. And while I can’t track down an actual copy of
Lake Lore of the Americas
, I believe I know someone who can. Are you ready to hear