Page 78 of Murder in the Tea Leaves

Delaine clutched at her heart. “Oh my Lord. That can’t be. Helene wouldn’t, she couldn’t…”

“That’s what I told the police, but they didn’t seem to take me all that seriously,” Molly said. “Apparently they intend to tear into everything now—background the two victims, talk to their friends and business colleagues, poke through personal papers. They’re even going to investigate Helene’s pro bono service with the Charleston Film Board.”

“How will this affect your shop?” Delaine asked. “The Sea Witch.”

“That’s a problem,” Molly said. “The shop will have to close for a while.”

“Won’t that adversely affect your income?” Theodosia asked. She was well aware that times were tough for small business owners.

“Actually, I was a minority partner,” Molly said. “While Helene was, like, eighty percent owner. I just dabbled in antiques, never made a major commitment like Helene did. She was the one who did all the marketing, built a successful client base, and held the lease on the building. I was just kind of…” Molly shrugged. “Along for the ride.”

“So most of the antiques in the shop belong to Helene?” Theodosia asked.

Molly nodded. “My pieces took up only one display window and two cases.”

“Does Helene have heirs?” Delaine asked.

“I think there’s a sister somewhere,” Molly said. “But I couldn’t tell you where she lives. Probably Helene’s lawyer will have to figure all that out.”

“So sad,” Delaine said. “Sad, sad, sad. But if you need me as a character witness in case the police start coming after you, let me know. Or if you need help straightening out the business end of things.”

“That’s very kind of you,” Molly said as her eyes sparkled with tears.

Drayton gave Theodosia a subtle kick under the table. Which prompted her to pipe up and say, “Drayton and I would be happy to help as well.”

26

Since there hadn’t been much food at the memorial—and not much memorializing, either—Drayton invited Theodosia to come home with him for a quick nosh.

Of course when they walked into Drayton’s kitchen, Honey Bee ran up to him and did her girly-dog dance. Paws clicked against the slate floor as his Cavalier King Charles spaniel spun and twisted with excitement.

“Have you been a good girl?” Drayton asked as he cupped her furry muzzle. “Did Pepe come by and feed you?” Pepe was the neighbor kid who fed Honey Bee in a pinch and also helped Drayton trim his collection of backyard bonsai.

“Looks like a few pieces of kibble left in her dish,” Theodosia remarked.

“Then Pepe was here. Good.” Drayton straightened up. “Now we need something delicious for us.” He gazed at Theodosia. “Can I tempt you with one of my cheese-stuffed egg clouds?”

“Is it like a soufflé? Does it have to bake for a while?”

“Not to worry. I’ve got a proprietary recipe that cuts the baking time down to around six minutes.”

“Then I’m sold on your cheesy egg clouds.”

“Excellent,” Drayton said as he pulled two eggs and a wedge of cheddar cheese from his refrigerator and reached into a bin for an onion.

“Should I take Honey Bee out so she can stretch her legs?”

“Be my guest,” Drayton said as he grabbed a knife and gave his onion a solid whack.

Theodosia was always delighted to hang out with Honey Bee, especially since Drayton had such a gorgeously curated backyard. Besides a brick patio and ribbon of lawn, the yard consisted of a curved fishpond surrounded by Chinese taihu rocks, thick groves of bamboo, winding paths, wooden pedestals where his prize Japanese bonsai were on display, and even a small three-sided Japanese pavilion with a peaked roof.

Once Theodosia had chased Honey Bee through the bamboo thickets and played hide-and-seek around the pond, it was full-on dark and time to go in. And when Theodosia and Honey Bee stepped inside, the kitchen was fragrant with cooking aromas.

Then again, Drayton’s kitchen was designed for cooking. A six-burner Wolf gas range dominated one wall, the sink was custom-hammered copper, and the cupboards were Carolina pine faced with glass. The better to show off his collection of Chinese blue-and-white bowls and antique teapots.

Theodosia pointed to a blue teapot she’d not seen before. “Oh no, you did not.”

“Oh yes, I’m afraid I did,” Drayton replied.

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