Page 141 of Once Upon A Haunted Castle
They looked at every barrel in the front of the pantry and were about to give up when light bounced off something on the floor. She bent down to see what it was.
“What did you find?” She put a filled vial in his palm.
He lifted it to his nose and snapped his head back. “Smells like deadly nightshade. No one would keep poison in the pantry. I don’t think this was being stored here. I do think someone dropped it.”
He slipped it in his pocket. “Let’s keep this to ourselves until we have more information.”
“You spoke to Lewis. What did he say?”
“He had little to add. They never heard Evan or Angel raise their voices even when they argued. They swear Evan was loyal to the family. I’m a good judge of character. I believed what Lewis told me.” He waved his hand in a dismissive gesture.
“We can’t confirm there was an argument. We can’t confirm a motive for the killings or for possibly turning against The Maxwell. All we know is the two of them are dead, stabbed.” Helpless. She hated the feeling. “Mary said there was lots of blood, skin under Angel’s fingernails—”
“And blue lips,” Jamie said.
“Yes, blue lips. Why did she think Angel was alive?”
“Mary said there wasn’t much on Angel. If a wound is made after the person dies, it… doesn’t… bleed.” The words barely out of his mouth, his expressive face changed and became more somber.
“That means she wasn’t killed with a knife.” Laura turned to Jamie who looked as if he was weighing her statement.
“No, she wasn’t.”
“When did he stab her? If Evan killed her in anger then regretted it enough to kill himself, would he stab her?” She glanced at Jamie. He stroked his chin, deep in thought.
“No, that makes no sense at all. There’s nothing left to do here.” He started to leave.
“Where’re you going?” She quickly locked up the pantry and followed after him. She’d look through the barrels in the back of the pantry another time.
“To the barracks.”He turned around abruptly and she slammed into his chest. He had to admit her tenacity brought him around. She may actually have something here. He continued on, his long strides ate up the distance as she struggled to keep up.
“We’re in luck. Jermyn, Brian, a moment if you will.” he called to the two men in front of the barracks door.
“You were by the pantry the day they found Evan and Angel. Did you overhear or see anything?” Jamie asked.
“Nothing out of the ordinary until Mary called us. When we went inside we saw Evan and Angel,” Brian said. Jermyn nodded in agreement.
“Did you hear them argue? Did you see anyone else near the pantry?” She blurted out.
The two men looked at each other. “No, no one other than Thomas. I didn’t hear anything, did you?” Jermyn asked Brian. The soldier shook his head. “You can ask him. He’s on guard duty by the portcullis today.”
They thanked the soldiers for their help and moved on toward the gatehouse.
“I thought I heard something and asked the others to hush. It wasn’t anything. A few minutes later, Mary went in and came rushing out telling us not to let anyone in. We stood guard at the pantry while Mary got the Captain. Oliver had us join him. It was a sad sight.” Thomas shook his head. “Perhaps Holger can give you more information. He was standing guard in the pantry when we entered.”
Laura and Jamie stared at each other. The tinker. One of those silent souls you overlook while they go about their work.
“Had he been in there long?”
“He must have been bringing crates into the pantry. He was sweaty and worked in his undertunic.
“Where can we find him?”
“He’s visiting the villages along the River Nith. He should be back to the castle by the end of the week.”
They’d have to wait.
