Heavenly Highland Inn 05 - Suffocating the Sunflowers Read Online Free PDF Page B

agreed warily. “But Aunt Ida, none of your antics, this is a very delicate matter. Both of you need to be very careful what you say and who you talk to,” Sarah warned them before she stretched out on the couch.
    “ I'll come back to check on you,” Vicky promised after draping a throw blanket over her sister.
     
    ***
     
    When they stepped out of Vicky's apartment Aunt Ida grabbed Vicky by the arm and looked into her eyes. “Be honest with me here, kiddo, do you think this was a mistake?”
    “ Not on our part,” Vicky shook her head slowly. “You know how careful Sarah is about things. She pays attention to every tiny detail. Henry is very conscientious as well, he would never have let peanuts enter their food.”
    As they walked toward s the kitchen, Aunt Ida spoke to Vicky in a low, soft voice.
    “ I think you're right about the EpiPen,” she said as they nodded to a few guests who were in the lobby while they walked through it. “It doesn't make sense that she wouldn't take the precaution to make sure that she was protected, especially when she was visiting a new place, with no way of knowing how cooperative the staff would be,” Ida's words became more rapid as she continued. “She knew how risky it was.”
    “ That's true,” Vicky nodded as they turned down the hall that led to the kitchen. “The way she and her husband were fighting, I wouldn't be surprised if he was involved in this. Sandy confided in me that she suspected he was having an affair, of course,” Vicky hesitated and frowned. “She’d also had quite a bit of wine at the time. Maybe she was too drunk to realize she hadn't replaced the EpiPen.”
    “ Maybe,” Ida replied but still didn't seem convinced. Vicky paused outside the door of the kitchen. She could see Henry hunched over the center island in the middle of the kitchen. His shoulders were trembling, and though his back was to her, Vicky could tell that he was holding a bottle in his hand.
    “ Poor Henry,” she said quietly as she observed the man. Her heart sank as she realized that he was the one who was going to bear the brunt of the accusations. He was so very careful about every meal he created, she knew he would hold himself responsible for Sandy's death. Vicky cleared her throat to announce her presence, and Henry straightened up.
    “ Henry, we're here to check the kitchen,” Vicky said as she stepped into the kitchen with Ida right behind her. “We just want to make sure that there were no peanuts or peanut products left in here, even though I know you cleaned it all out this morning.”
    “ Don't bother,” Henry said huskily as he continued to stand with his back to them.
    “ What do you mean?” Vicky asked as she moved closer to him and saw that it wasn't just his shoulders that were shaking, it was his entire body.
    “ I mean, I already know how the peanuts got into Mrs. Holstead's food,” he whispered, his voice barely audible despite the fact that Vicky was standing right behind him.
    “ Henry, what are you saying?” Ida asked as she made sure the door was closed and then stepped up beside him as well.
    “ It said sunflower oil,” he gasped out as he reluctantly turned to face them. He had tears streaming down his cheeks as he looked from Ida to Vicky. “See?” he held up the bottle he was clutching so tightly in his right hand that his knuckles were white. It was a tan, decorative bottle for storing oil. A neatly printed label declared that the bottle contained sunflower oil. Henry labeled everything in his kitchen to ensure that anything he created had the right ingredients.
    “ And?” Vicky whispered almost afraid to ask as her eyes widened. “It wasn't sunflower oil?”
    “ No,” he exhaled as fresh tears poured down his cheeks. “No, it wasn't sunflower oil,” he opened the cap of the bottle and the distinct scent of peanut oil wafted up under their noses.
    “ Oh no,” Vicky winced and took a step back as she placed her finger under