Lyndsey Cole - Lily Bloom 02 - Queen of Poison Read Online Free PDF

excited. “ Now that you mention it, she did seem distracted. She glanced toward the back of the museum and I heard a door close, so someone else must have been there. At the time it didn’t seem unusual, considering what had happened.”
    “Did you notice if the painting was still there?”
    “It was definitely there. She met me right next to the table with my flowers and the painting.”
    Ryan wrote down more notes, took a sip of water and studied Lily. “Tell me what happened this morning at your shop.”
    “Well, Maggie, Marion’s niece, came in the back door carrying a big tote. She was trying to sneak in and seemed surprised that I was there. She dropped the tote and the painting fell out.”
    “Why didn’t you call me?”
    Lily looked down at her sweaty hands on the table. She wiped them on her pants. “I was surprised and was trying to figure out why she had the painting. She said she found it and was hoping for a finder’s reward. Can you believe it? Wanting a reward for her aunt’s painting? I was about to call you when you arrived.”
    Ryan nodded. “This all fits together. Apparently someone called me and Nina—I think it was Maggie—about the painting being at your shop.”
    Lily relaxed a little. “ So that’s it in a nutshell.” Lily sat back and tried to look confident.
    Ryan was quiet, thinking. “Do you know the hierarchy at the museum?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Obviously before Marion died she was in control. You mentioned her personal secretary, Ruth.  Is she in charge now?”
    Lily considered this. “I have no idea. I suppose there is a board of directors for that stuff, or maybe her will spells it out.”
    “I’m trying to get a look at her will. I haven’t talked to Ruth yet. I wonder if there was a power struggle between Ruth, the personal secretary, and Elizabeth, the director. Who else would benefit from Elizabeth’s death? And why steal the painting?”
    Lily got excited. “Daisy heard the niece and nephew gloating that they expect to be millionaires now. That’s a motive. Their mother must be in that equation somehow too. Her name is Evelyn Barry Nash. She’s much younger than her sister Marion. I think they are all staying at Marion’s house. They probably own it now that Marion is dead.”
    “What about Kirk Stevens? Elizabeth’s husband? Do you know anything about him?”
    “He owns an antique business in town. Uncommon Antiques. That’s about all I know.”
    Ryan stood u p. “Thanks for your help. There are a lot of possibilities to look into. I’ll call Nina Baldwin and tell her you found the painting and were turning it over to me so you don’t get any more bad publicity over this affair.”
    “Thanks. So you’re not arresting me?”
    “Not yet.” The corner of his mouth twitched as he tried not to laugh.
    Lily followed Ryan to the door. “By the way, your sister is great. She shared a lot last night after we all had a couple of glasses of wine.”
    Ryan stopped and tensed. “I’m not sure I like the sound of that. Maybe I will have to arrest you after all. For twisting her arm.”
    Ryan walked Lily out . “Oh, there’s one more thing.” He pulled an envelope out of his pocket. “These were found on the floor around the body.” Ryan took Lily’s hand and dumped flowers on her palm.
    Lily gasped. “Monkshood. These flowers were in the arrangement next to Marion Barry’s portrait.”
    “Do they mean anything?”
    She looked up into Ryan’s eyes. “The plant is poisonous and can mean danger is near. Some people call it the queen of poisons.”
    He nodded. “ I had a feeling you would know something. I’ll add that to my notes.”
    Ryan watched Lily drive off. She saw him in her rear view mirror. He looked handsome and vulnerable standing in the doorway. At least he believed she wasn’t involved in the murder. Now she could concentrate on solving the mystery and clearing her name before it affected her business.
    Reality hit her smack