While I waited, I unpacked the lamp. I wanted to make sure it hadn’t suffered any ill effects during its short ride. I set it on the table and plugged it in. When I turned it on, the bright colors came to life. It was truly a wonderful piece of art. I knew I would miss it, but I was sure Jennifer would take good care of it.
“Here you are,” Jennifer said and handed me a check. “And I’ll tell you one more thing about Thomas. It seemed as if he had finally found a woman he could love. Don’t get me wrong. He still chased skirts, especially when he was drinking, but I sometimes found him staring off into nothing, as if daydreaming. That was different. Thomas was not a dreamer. He was a chaser.”
“Any idea who that woman is?”
“Not a clue. But if she’s the jealous type, she might well have done something about her inconstant lover.”
“Thanks for the business,” I said. “I’ll let you know when the letter desks are suitable for viewing.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
As I drove back to the store, I thought about Jennifer. While she talked as if she didn’t much care for Thomas, I had a feeling that there was a deep green, jealous streak in her. She might well have been angry enough to do away with Thomas, especially since he had a hefty insurance policy that would come to her. In fact, she had a small window in which to claim the money, since they were divorcing. If she found those letters and surmised that Thomas was really in love with another woman, well, even Jennifer could go off into the deep end.
I was coming upon MAUDE’S FLOWERS, when I spotted Andromeda examining some potted flowers on the sidewalk.
You might want to stop.
Why?
Someone in the shop is interesting.
Before I could ask another question, Andromeda scampered off. While I knew I should go straight back to the shop, I couldn’t ignore Andromeda. He wouldn’t say anything if it didn’t mean something. I found a parking spot and walked back to MAUDE’S. I supposed Richardson’s Antiques needed some sprucing up.
I walked into the shop and was overwhelmed by the scents of the flowers and plants. It was overwhelming and enticing. I had forgotten just how wonderful a flower shop could be. I browsed, as the man from the bar at the SHIFTY BEAR was waiting on a customer. I pretended to be in no hurry, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that man was not what he seemed. I knew there was only one way to make certain he was a magical, and that was to perform a bit of magic. I put on my sunglasses to hide my silver eyes and whispered a spell. The aura was stripped from the man, and I was looking at a spirit. He was a fey spirit, a Cupid of sorts, complete with silvery wings. I was familiar with the type. They were spirits that made people fall in love. And they used...
Arrows.
That automatically put him on the list of suspects. Any person who could handle a bow was a name on the list. Of course, I couldn’t allow him to know that I knew. He used an aura for a reason. He didn’t want to be recognized. I sniffed flowers and took off my glasses. He finished his business with the other woman and smiled as he walked over.
“Hello,” he said. “Welcome to Maude’s flowers. I’m Eric, and what can I do for you today?”
“I’m Helga,” I said. “And I’m looking for something that will make my musty old antique shop smell better.”
“I know who you are, and I apologize for what happened at the SHIFTY BEAR. People had no reason to badger you.”
“Well, I did discover the body, and some people automatically jump to conclusions.”
“Not me. And if you really want to make your place welcoming, try some potted jasmine. The scent is pure heaven, as you must know. Many a young woman has fallen in love while under the spell of jasmine.”
“I’m not looking to fall in love,” I said. I pointed to a bow and arrow wrapped in ivy and red roses that was mounted on the wall. “What about that?”
“Ah, you have a fine eye. Roses smell like infatuation. But I’m afraid I can’t sell that. It was a gift.”
“Well, I will certainly take a few jasmine plants.”
“Do you want to take them with you, or should I deliver?”
“I’ll take them. By the way, you seemed to know something about the man who died. I mean, from what you said at the BEAR.”
“Yes, well, I knew Thomas from NOBODY’S INN. I hang out there some, and Thomas was a regular customer, or should I say woman chaser. I watched him become infatuated with any number of women. It was almost like a game for him.”
“Just infatuated?”
“Yes, which struck me as odd. I mean, how many times can a man chase down a woman and make contact, only to back off for some reason. I know some of the women were quite put off by it. Come with me.”
I followed him to the back where he pulled out a box and began to fill it with potted jasmine. I sensed a bit of anger in Eric. As a Cupid, he wasn’t accustomed to people ignoring his efforts. Was he unhappy enough to put an arrow into Thomas’ chest?
“Some people can never follow up on the breaks they’re given,” I said. “They’re their own worst enemies.”
“That was Thomas. Those women were very nice too. It wasn’t as if they were undesirable.”
“I’m sure,” I said. “NOBODY’S INN is a nice place to wile away a few hours.”
“I know my hours spent there are productive. Say, you’re single, aren’t you?”
“I am,” I admitted.
“You should stop by. You might find someone who tickles your fancy.”
He smiled, and I had the feeling he was going through the regulars at NOBODY’S INN and determining which might be suitable for me.
“I’m far too busy for a relationship at the moment,” I said. “I have the store and the house, and well, I don’t have the energy for anything more.”
“You would be surprised,” he said. “A partner could do half the work. A second person would double the number of shoulders.”
I laughed. “You have a point, but sometimes those two extra shoulders take more work than they’re worth.”
He picked up the box and carried it to the counter, where I paid for the jasmine I wasn’t at all sure I needed. Then, he carried the box to the SUV.
“Remember,” he said. “Stop by the INN. You might be surprised.”
I watched him return to the shop, and I wondered just how upset he might have been with Thomas. Some Cupids had been known to be surly at best. Creating loving couples wasn’t as easy as some people thought. I was about to climb behind the wheel, when I heard someone call my name.
“Hey, Helga.”
I turned, and Jacob smiled at me.
“Hey, Jacob.”
“Want to take a walk?”
“Why not.”
As we passed the flower shop, I noticed Eric at the window, grinning at us.
“Did you know that Thomas was a regular at NOBODY’S INN?” I asked.
“We are aware, and I have been there more than once. But I’m not encouraged. It seems Thomas was fairly well liked. A number of women had been interested in him, although not a one ever said they had a date with him. And without a few dates, I can’t see jealousy as a motive. But I’m not writing off the people at the INN. You never know when someone snaps.”