Page 142 of Once Upon A Haunted Castle
Chapter Seven
“We’ve spent twodays speaking to Evan’s and Angel’s families and in here looking through every tin and crate without finding any additional information. Is there any place else to look?” Jamie followed Laura into the pantry. His hand covered hers as they both reached for the lit lantern on the peg, his hand over hers. She pulled her hand away as if she’d been burnt by a cinder.
Dusting off the empty shelf, she replaced the tins. She had methodically inspected every shelf and its contents. With the last shelf done she scanned the area for anything she may have overlooked. “The last place to search is the back of the pantry where the crates are stored. I doubt we’ll find anything that far back, but I want to be thorough.”
“They were killed in this room. There must be something here to give us a clue besides the vial of deadly nightshade.” Jamie sounded as frustrated as she was and for the first time she doubted how to proceed.
“I… I don’t know where else to look. Holger won’t be back for another three days and time is growing short. Let’s hope he has the information we need. I keep telling myself that tinkers have a knack of listening and seeing things others overlook. You said you spoke to more of Evan’s family?”
“Half the family is mourning and the other half is disowning. One of Evan’s cousins is sure Angel corrupted Evan.” He pulled a barrel away from the wall for her.
“Yes, I heard a similar accusation from someone in Angel’s family, Evan corrupted Angel.” She ran a broom behind the barrel. Nothing.
“They were talkative, but gave me nothing we didn’t already know. I have to speak to Herbert. You coming along?”
She stopped sweeping mid-stroke and raised her chin.
“Something wrong?” he asked.
She shoveled what little debris she swept up into a barrel and put the broom to the side. “No, nothing’s wrong. You go on. I’ll finish up in here and meet you in the Great Hall.”
She watched him move across the yard. A graceful man, he commanded attention without saying a word. He knew who he was and his worth. He had a knack for giving you his full attention and making you feel no one else mattered.
Halfway through the yard, he stopped and looked over his shoulder. Her breath caught as his stare met hers. She should look away, but didn’t want to. He gave her a slow nod, then walked on and disappeared amongst the crowd.
She wasn’t sure what had just happened. Whatever it was made her heart pound. And here she thought she was past her girlhood fascination. She let out a deep sigh and restrained from touching the beads at her neck. Best she not confirm her thoughts. She went back to the pantry.
“Do you havea moment? I have questions about the two deaths before you leave.” Jamie stood at the solar door. Herbert stood at his desk and packed his satchel. “If you’re busy I can speak to you at another time.”
“No. Now is fine.” Herbert motioned to the empty seat across from him. “I’ll be away at Scone until the end of the week and wanted to speak to you before I left. You start while I finish packing.” Evan moved from the door and took the offered seat.
“About Evan and Angel, aside from being very dead, what were the conditions of the bodies?”
“They had been moved.” Herbert closed the satchel and sat. “That’s what I wanted to tell you. Oliver said he didn’t let anyone into the pantry until I arrived. Evan’s body was covered in blood, even his hands. There was a smear of blood along the floor as if a body had been dragged. I thought perhaps Evan dragged himself over to Angel, but there were no hand prints on the floor. There should have been hand prints. I’m sure someone dragged Evan’s body and put it over Angel’s.”
“Mary mentioned blood on the floor and that Angel’s wound hadn’t bled and her lips were blue. Did you know she found skin under Angel’s fingernails? Evan’s body had no scratch marks.” Jamie rose and stood at the window. “It’s my belief someone suffocated Angel. That’s why her lips were blue. I also suspect she was dead before someone stabbed her, the reason why she didn’t bleed.”
A movement by the gatehouse caught Jamie’s attention. In a cloud of dust and the clatter of wagon wheels, the tinker and his wagon rolled into the yard. He was caught off guard by Holger’s early arrival. Finally, they’d be able to make some progress. He glanced toward the kitchen area to see if Laura had noticed. She wasn’t there. He couldn’t wait to tell her. Jamie turned to Herbert.
“Evan didn’t murder Angel in a sudden rage. Evan is as much a victim as Angel. They were both murdered by someone else.”
“Why would anyone want to kill either of them?”
“We found this in the pantry. It must have rolled amongst some baskets.” Jamie handed him the vial.
Herbert smelled it and looked at Jamie.
“Yes, deadly nightshade, a very potent poison.” Jamie watched as Herbert hefted the vial in his hand.
“I believe Evan and Angel were innocent victims. Someone planned to poison the food. Evan and Angel surprised them and the two paid with their lives. Donald’s warning is accurate.”
“Walk with me to the stable. As a member of the Parliament at Scone, some of my decisions are not popular and make me a target. It’s nothing new, but this attempt if that’s what it is, takes a serious turn.”
“You mean traitor.” Jamie spit out the words with disgust.
“I want to discuss securing the castle while I’m gone.” Herbert rose and the two men left.
Laura picked anapple out of a basket outside the pantry. Several dropped over the side. She scurried after the one that rolled into the pantry.
