Page 32 of Murder in the Tea Leaves

Helene stared at Usher with rapt attention. “You really never know,” she echoed. Then she took a quick sip of tea and said, “But let’s not worry about that sordid business right now. Because this scone is utterly delicious and this tea is…what did you call it, Drayton?”

“This is orchid plum tea,” Drayton said.

“It’s really excellent,” Usher said.

“Anyway, the movie’s back on track?” Theodosia asked. The few facts she’d learned about Ted Juniper were enlightening, enough so that she decided to speak to Juniper herself.

“The movie’s going gangbusters,” Usher said, a note of pride in his voice. “I was on set for a while today and it was remarkably calm and well organized. We’re lucky we were able to get Joe Adler to step in so quickly.”

“From bumpy seas to smooth sailing,” Helene said. “Which will no doubt please my fellow members of the Charleston Film Board, who’ve been more than a little jumpy these last couple of days. Anyway, thanks to Lewin here the film is moving full speed ahead.” She flashed a quick smile at him. “We make a good team. In fact, we…”

“See eye to eye on almost everything,” Usher said. “I can’t thank Helene enough for all the hard work she’s done in getting our Hollywood people the appropriate paperwork. Especially since she’s busy running a thriving antique business as well.”

“I’ll have to stop by and see your shop some time,” Theodosia said.

“Absolutely,” Helene said. “Or visit our website. We do a nice online business as well.”

“So you have clients from outside the Charleston area?” Drayton asked.

“We do,” Helene said. “Though most are from around here. In fact, I’m planning to run an ad in Charleston Today magazine.” She reached into her oversized bag and pulled out a color printout. “Here, Theodosia, you were involved in advertising, what do you think?”

Helene handed the glossy print ad to Theodosia. It featured a nice photo of the interior of her shop, the Sea Witch.

“Sea Witch,” Theodosia said. “Cute name.”

“Thank you,” Helene said. “We’ve only been around for six months or so, but, like I said, business has been good.”

“She’s too modest,” Usher said. “It’s been booming.”

Theodosia continued to study the ad, which showed a jam-packed display of antique lamps, brass portholes, carnival glass, old bells, oil-burning lanterns, wooden propellers, antique porcelain, and a display of British and Dutch coins. “It looks great,” she said as she passed the ad to Drayton. “You’re showcasing a lot of tasty objects. I can see where collectors would be intrigued.”

“Very nice,” Drayton agreed.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Helene said. “We’ve arranged a memorial service for Josh Morro.”

“It’s slated for Friday evening at the Lady Goodwood Inn,” Usher said. “So mark it on your calendars. Afterward, we’ll serve wine and cheese. It’ll be a tasteful soiree.”

“Almost like a cocktail party,” Helene said.

* * *

“I knew Helene had a shop,” Drayton said after they’d left. “But I always assumed the Sea Witch was a hobby business. Something to fill the gaps in her time since her husband’s passing.”

“Why a hobby business? Why do you say that?” Theodosia felt that Helene’s ad had looked fairly professional, as if she were indeed running a successful antiquities business.

“Because Helene probably has more than enough money to live comfortably for the rest of her life,” Drayton said. “Her husband owned a major company with a huge fleet of trucks. Also, Helene’s a social butterfly with a reputation for collecting board memberships like trinkets on a charm bracelet. As you well know, she serves on the Children’s Arts Council, the Library Board, and now she’s on the Charleston Film Board.”

“That’s interesting, because Delaine does almost the same thing,” Theodosia said.

“Maybe it’s a case of women taking over the world,” Drayton said.

“Which may not be a bad thing.” Theodosia picked up a tin of tea from the counter and turned it over. A tippy Yunnan tea from the Yunnan Province in China. She set it down and said, “Remind me to remind Haley to bake extra coffee cake tomorrow.”

“I’ll run into the kitchen and tell her myself,” Drayton said. “By the sound of clanking pots and pans, Haley’s putting everything right and Miss Dimple’s almost finished with the dishes.”

“Thanks,” Theodosia said. She followed Drayton back down the hallway, then headed into her office. She sorted through the wreckage of boxes, bundles of magazines, tea paraphernalia, and stacks of sweetgrass baskets until she finally found the carton she was looking for.

Theodosia was busily restocking her depleted highboy with a new array of fruit jams and lemon curd when a woman suddenly came flying into her shop. The woman wore a green-striped Gucci sweater, tight leather jeans, and evil-looking black stilettos that looked like they were molded out of heavy-duty rubber. Around her neck she wore a silver cross and a bright blue evil eye amulet. Strands of brown prayer beads adorned both wrists.

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