Drayton rolled his eyes. “A dumpster dive. I knew it.”
“So what do you think?”
“I hate it.”
Theodosia gazed at him. “But you’ll do it? Yes or no?”
“No,” Drayton said. Then, when he saw the look of disappointment on Theodosia’s face, he said, “Okay, maybe I could help. But certainly not in my good suit.”
Theodosia looked at her watch. “It won’t be dark for another couple of hours, so we’ve got some time. Tell you what, after we finish afternoon tea I’ll drop you at your house so you can change into something less spiffy. Then I’ll run my errand and come back for you.”
“Dare I ask what errand this is?”
“Probably best not to.”
18
The errand Theodosia had in mind was taking a quick run out to Orchard House Inn. She’d already phoned Andrea Wilts, the owner, and gotten a resounding okay. There were no major banquets or events scheduled for tonight, only a few bed-and-breakfast guests, so Theodosia’s popping in would be no big deal.
Theodosia took US 17 out of the city, hit Highway 171, then turned south on Highway 700 where she crossed the slow-moving Stono River and found herself on the largest of the barrier islands known as Johns Island. She drove a narrow, twisty road that took her past small country churches known as praise houses, the Sunnyside Goat Farm, and charming roadside markets with names such as Honey Acres and Rosemary Creek Farm. This was where onions, peas, squash, zucchini, sweet potatoes, and collards were grown, and you could pick your own strawberries in season. Every so often there’d be a small seafood market, almost like a cute little shanty, advertising fresh-caught grouper, shrimp, oysters, or blue crabs.
There were more rivers out here, too. Plus acres of marshes and cypress swamps, all rich habitat for deer, alligators, foxes, mink, bald eagles, and coyotes. In a few places, where the narrow ribbon of road dipped into low-lying areas, puffs of ground fog gave the impossibly dark green wetlands an ominous and slightly ethereal feeling.
As the dying rays of the sun skittered off her rear window, Theodosia turned down a lane edged with tamaracks and stopped in front of the Orchard House Inn. Viewed from the front it was a lovely old plantation home complete with columns and a wraparound porch. Lights glowed warmly from within, and she could see a half dozen or so people holding wineglasses as they queued up to a table that held appetizers and a wheel of cheese. She drummed her fingers against the steering wheel, then drove around to the back of the building and parked outside the kitchen door.
A few seconds later, Andrea peeped out a back window. She’d been waiting for her.
“You made good time,” Andrea said as she opened the door and welcomed Theodosia into the inn’s warm and well-lit kitchen.
“Not much traffic tonight,” Theodosia said.
“There rarely is midweek.”
“It smells wonderful in here.” Plates were set out on the counter, great aromas were coming from the oven.
“We’re serving baked squab and root vegetables tonight,” Andrea said. “Simple but heartwarming. And a little showy.” She paused. “So. You said you wanted to take a look around?”
“Just in the parlor and the cooler. Well, I guess here in the kitchen, too.”
Andrea gave a shiver. “The scene of the crime. I’m trying not to let the whole weird thing bother me, but it does feel as if this place is somehow tainted. Maybe I should burn sage or something.”
“Please don’t worry unnecessarily,” Theodosia said. “Your inn is so quaint and charming that I’m sure any bad feelings will dissipate in no time at all.”
“Hope so,” Andrea said. She turned, led Theodosia through the kitchen, and pushed open the door to the parlor. “Well, here it is. This is where the Crime Scene techs found traces of cocaine. If that’s what you’re interested in—and I’m guessing it is. But, as you can see, it’s all been cleaned up.”
“I’m mostly trying to get a basic impression,” Theodosia said as she looked around. In fact, everything appeared the same as last time she’d been here. Two dark blue velvet sofas with tufted backs, two floral wing chairs, a gleaming mahogany cocktail table, an octagonal-shaped gaming table with four captain’s chairs tucked around it, and a large wooden sideboard. Probably, when the inn was filled to capacity, this room was used as a second spot to serve wine, cheese, and appetizers.
“If you don’t mind, I need to check on my guests,” Andrea said. “Pour seconds on wine.”
“No problem,” Theodosia said. “I’ll be a few minutes at most and then I’ll be out of your hair.”
Theodosia waited until Andrea had left, then walked to the middle of the parlor and looked around. Tried to imagine a drug deal going down here—if that’s what had actually happened. Two people, a buyer and a seller, negotiating a price. Or maybe the price had already been agreed upon and this was just a handoff?
And then Nadine walked in and spoiled it all. Paid the ultimate price for her snooping.
So a serious drug deal. Worth killing for to keep it all hush-hush.
Theodosia let that notion settle around her for a few moments, then turned, pushed through the swinging door, and walked back into the kitchen.
It was a kitchen to die for. And, as Theodosia grimly reminded herself, Nadine had. There was a six-burner Wolf stove, counter space galore, stainless steel shelving that held all manner of pots and pans. A roomy kitchen where two or even three people could work without getting in each other’s hair. It would be heaven to have a kitchen like this for the Indigo Tea Shop. But whenever Theodosia broached the subject of a possible move to a larger space, both Drayton and Haley vehemently opposed it.
“Hello?” came a voice at her shoulder.
Theodosia was so startled she not only jumped, she clapped a hand to her thudding heart.
“Apologies, I didn’t mean to scare you,” Andrea said. “I just wanted to check on my squab and see if you needed anything. Or had any questions.”
“No, I’m . . . I’m doing fine,” Theodosia said, fighting to get her heart rate under control. “In fact, I was just about to take a look inside the cooler.”
“After the Crime Scene unit wrapped up their investigation on Monday, we moved things around in there. Plus, we just got a shipment of raw oysters and blue crabs for a community dinner we’re hosting tomorrow night.”
“But it’s okay to go in?” Theodosia gazed at the formidable stainless steel door.
“Oh sure, look around to your heart’s content,” Andrea said. “But I have to warn you, it’s plenty cold in there.”