Page 70 of The Botanist's Assistant
“You probably don’t know this, but the dean wants to put Levi Blackstone in charge of the lab,” Margaret says as they step onto the porch. Veronica Ann’s research notebook is in her hand.
Veronica shakes her head. “All the more reason to attempt our coup.”
Margaret feels it then: the shift in her earlier judgments of Veronica Ann. Weren’t they all formed through the lens of Dr. Deaver and not the woman herself? Who wouldn’t be angry and hurt after having their career tossed aside?
At the end of the path, they stop at Margaret’s truck and Veronica Ann puts her hand gently on Margaret’s arm.
“By the way, just so you know. I already emailed Neville, so whether you decide to help me or not, you’ll have your leaves. Like I said, it’s about the work.”
Neither of them notices the small car that pulls out of a parking space two houses away and speeds off.
34
An Important Cleanup
The entries in Margaret’s datanotebook that night fill an entire page. From the meeting with Beth Purdy in the mailroom to Calvin’s ill-fated scheme to illegally buy seeds (honesty is required), to Veronica Ann’s plan to take over the Deaver Lab plus the fact that it appears Dr. Deaver’s wife may not have had a key to his office after all.
Sifting back through her notes, a pattern emerges that makes it seem as if Dr. Blackstone should be Margaret’s prime suspect. If she can prove he had access to the locked cabinet where the atropine is stored, she will have her man.
It’s the final note that makes Margaret happiest, however.
April 2, 4:25 p.m. V.A. Deaver confirms email to Neville in Amazon requesting leaves at original cost.
As expected, Tom did not appreciate the bell, which she attached to a newly purchased brown collar and buckled around his neck this morning. He yowled at the indignity. She,however, told him he would have to learn to live with itjust as we all have to learn to live with our faults and small failings.
Calvin also appeared at work—he was able to call off the seed deal and thus had no need to move to Canada—and she told him that the supply of leaves looked to be back on track.
“Thank the Great God of Science,” he said.
There is not much left to do while they wait except to insert the latest confirmatory data into Dr. Deaver’s paper (Calvin’s work on compound stability has been helpful). Whether or not the paper will be published before Margaret can be fired or whether Veronica Ann Deaver will prevail and thus Margaret’s job will be saved is still to be determined. Margaret doesn’t like thinking this, but she hopes it will take Anita Allshouse a long time to recover from her husband’s infidelity.
That’s the benefit of being single. You will not get your heart ripped out of your chest when someone you love betrays you. Nor will you feel the urge to kill someone because of it. (Jealousy and revenge are often reasons for murder in Margaret’s mystery books.) Margaret thinks Veronica Ann either loves science so much or has such a strong will that she can forgive Dr. Deaver’s wanderings. Although his relationship with Rachel Sterling seems more than a wander in Margaret’s opinion. It’s more like an off-ramp to a completely different road.
Before she starts work on the paper, however, Margaret texts Joe and asks if they can meet this afternoon “for an important cleanup,” which she hopes he will recognize as something to do with the investigation and not a request for mops and chemicals. Who knows if her termination will also include an examination of her phone?
Closet. 5 pmis his quick reply.
Just before noon, she approaches Purdy’s desk to ask about the key-holder list, but the dean’s assistant shakes her head and Margaret remembers they are only to communicate by note. She hikes down the hill to her truck and there it is, a flapping piece of paper under the windshield wiper.
It’s a strange way to communicate and it seems like any passerby could just walk over and read whatever note is left, but Margaret doesn’t want Purdy to have to pay a price for helping her.
Margaret had expected a printout of the key-issue list. Instead, the note is in Purdy’s handwriting and it has three names connected to master keys: Dean Harold McDonald, the former janitor Sven Arnold (more proof of the university’s slowly turning wheels) and Andrew Gallagher, who Purdy has noted is the new mailroom clerk.
Hope this helps you find the killer. LMK what you find out, Purdy has written. It takes Margaret a moment to figure out that LMK means “let me know.”BTW(by the way?)I just remembered I saw VA Deaver on campus right before JMD died. I feel bad about your birthday cake and have something for you. Your so smart.
What’s with all the acronyms and should Margaret leave Purdy a note explaining the difference between “your” and “you’re”? She decides not. However, the note about seeing Veronica Ann on campus before Dr. Deaver died is important. Why hadn’t Purdy mentioned it before?
Margaret hesitates, then crumples the note as required and goes to search for Purdy’s car.
She finds the silver vehicle in its space, retrieves her data notebook from her pocket and tears out a blank page.
Thank you for the information, Margaret writes. What acronyms save in time is made up for by their lack of precision.Do you have an exact date and time for Mrs. Deaver’s visit? Please let me know.
As much as Margaret believes Blackstone is the chief suspect, she will not dismiss a contradictory clue. She tucks the note securely under the windshield wiper, noticing as she does that Purdy’s messy habits also extend to her car. The passenger-side floor is covered with a jumble of crumpled fast-food bags and paper cups (she sees a hint of golden arches on one bag), a clutter of empty plastic water and soda bottles (such waste) plus several single-slice pizza boxes. A dusting of stained napkins covers the whole mess. On the passenger seat is a small black duffel stenciled with a stylish right triangle logo and the word “Adidas” in white, a tangle of high heels and a pair of white sneakers with sparkles that form a heart on each of the toe boxes.
The back seat seems equally full. How could a person drive comfortably in that mess? She peers more closely through the back window. There are Amazon boxes, a rolled-up throw rug, what looks like a case of wine, a beach chair and a large mound of clothes. Margaret recognizes the bright-pink blouse atop the pile. There are corners of black skirts, tomato-red trousers, the sleeve of a neon-green silk blouse, a purple dress. Something about the sight of the clothes tickles her brain but Margaret doesn’t know why. They must bedestined for the dry cleaners. How can Purdy afford such expense?
It’s not her job to estimate people’s spending power; however, Margaret thinks Purdy might benefit from a system similar to hers that allows for the pairing of various blouses withthe same skirt and boots, which would save not only money but also closet space.
