Swan for the Money: A Meg Langslow Mystery

said. “It didn’t hurt that both Smoot and I have the genetic ability to smell the characteristic bitter almond odor of cyanide. Not everyone can, you know.”
    “And how fortunate for her that she was poisoned with something treatable,” Mother said. Was I only imagining the slightemphasis on “for her,” as if to imply that Mrs. Winkleson’s good fortune wasn’t all that satisfactory to the rest of us?
    “And how fortunate that Chief Burke was on hand,” I said aloud. “To investigate the crime from the minute it happened.”
    “Though it didn’t turn out to be murder,” Mother said. At least she didn’t add “More’s the pity.”
    “I’m sure he’s relieved about that,” I said. “And it’s still attempted murder.”
    “Plus it’s a good bet whoever tried to poison Mrs. Winkleson is the one who killed Sandy Sechrest,” Rob said. “So this gives him a whole new bunch of evidence to help solve that crime.”
    “I suppose,” Dad said. “There’s no actual proof the two are connected. And the complete change in methods is a little odd.”
    “I suspect it’s only in books that serial murderers have an obsessive need to commit each crime in precisely the same way,” I said. “Although I can certainly see that Mrs. Winkleson might have more than one mortal enemy.”
    “Still rather a lot of people here,” Dad said, frowning. “I hope that doesn’t unsettle Mrs. Winkleson.”
    “Unsettle her?” I repeated. “She’s in the hospital, isn’t she? How would she know how many people are still here, much less be upset by it?”
    “She’s coming back,” Dad said.

Chapter 33
     
     
     
     
    “Coming back?” I repeated. Perhaps I’d been spending too much time around Dr. Smoot. For a moment, I pictured Mrs. Winkleson returning as one of the undead the medical examiner was so fascinated with. “She wasn’t poisoned then? Or not that seriously?”
    “She was poisoned all right, and it could have been quite serious if she hadn’t received prompt medical attention,” Dad said. “But she’s not really ready to come home. Signed herself out against medical advice, but she insisted she had to come home so she could get up tomorrow morning to get her roses ready for the show. She’ll be here soon.”
    “Is that wise?” Mother said. “Surely it would be better for her to rest for a few days.”
    “That’s exactly what I told her,” Dad said. “But when I did, she accused me of trying to knock her out of the competition.”
    “She didn’t,” Mother said.
    Dad nodded.
    “She said that the killer had tried to poison her and stab her in the back without slowing her down, and she’d be damned if she’d let some quack doctor do it.”
    “The nerve!” Mother exclaimed.
    “So she’s assuming it’s because of the rose show that someone’s out to get her?” I asked.
    “Seems a reasonable assumption,” Dad said.
    “Not the only possibility, though,” I said. “For example, I don’t think the chief should count out Mr. Darby as a suspect. He’s very protective of his animals.”
    “Is she mistreating the animals?” Dad asked.
    “Not that Dr. Blake and Caroline have been able to learn,” I said. “But I get the idea Mr. Darby isn’t happy. So maybe she’s doing something they haven’t found out about yet. Or maybe he’s just upset that she gets rid of all the animals that aren’t quite perfect.”
    “Gets rid of them?” Dad asked. “How?”
    “Nothing horrible, as far as I can tell,” I said. “Supposedly they’re sold to other farms. Most of them are unusual or valuable animals, so there’s a good market. But I think Mr. Darby gets attached to the animals, and resents her selling them off.”
    “Understandable,” Rob said. “But is it a motive for murder?”
    I shrugged.
    “And there’s her nephew, of course,” I said. When I said it, I saw Dad glance around quickly, to make sure the nephew wasn’t still there.
    “Don’t worry,” I said. “He went back to his hotel a couple of hours ago.”
    “Hotel?” Dad said. “They couldn’t find him a bed here?”
    “I don’t think he felt particularly welcome.”
    “How sad!” Mother exclaimed.
    “Maybe,” I said. “Of course, it’s possible that he really did hear about the murder on the news, assumed it was his aunt,and immediately set out to get here. But until the chief checks his alibi to see if he really was at home in Warrenton at the time of the murder. . .”
    “Because no