“I guess since they know she’s safe with Maggie and Allen, they’re not pushing it. And, according to Allen, this aunt isn’t pushing to have her returned. She told the social worker she just wanted to talk to Bleak. But then, when Allen talked to her, it was all about getting her back home.”
“Weird. So, what’s her real name?”
He laughed as he stood to refill his coffee. “Apparently it’s Bleak. Magenta Bleak Hubbard. The community she grew up in is a little out there.”
“How do you look at your new baby and call her Bleak?” Angie opened her notebook. “Anyway, don’t answer that. I’m not sure I want to know her parents’ mind-set. Do you want to know what I found out about the murders?”
She went through her conversations with Tara and the fact she’d seen the poisonous plant in her herb garden at the restaurant. She showed Ian a picture of the plant she pulled up on her phone. “See?”
“I didn’t see that plant in the garden. And I looked at it pretty carefully. I was trying to see if there was a way for you to have one at the County Seat. But I think you’d have to buy the house across the alley from you and redo their backyard.”
“I already have one expansion project going. I’m not sure I need another one. Besides, what would I do with the house?”
He shrugged. “It’s just a thought. And you know property values are going to go up in River Vista soon. The urban sprawl of being Boise’s bedroom community is coming sooner rather than later.”
“Is the house even up for sale?” She had to admit, his reasoning was sound. But another house? Another mortgage?
“No. But you might want to take over some of Felicia’s cookies and talk to the owner about securing first right of sale on the property, if she does decide to sell. I can introduce you. She attends church with us.” He took her hand. “I can see the wheels turning in your head. Don’t worry about it. Now, I think you should tell Allen about the plant thing.”
“I know, but he won’t call me.”
As if she’d summoned him, her phone rang. Ian pushed the cell closer to her. “I think maybe he was just busy yesterday?”
Angie answered the call, which was from Sheriff Brown, and told him about Miquel’s visit and talking to Tara. Then she brought up the plant. “I saw a plant like that in Tara’s garden.”
“You’re absolutely sure? This woman is already making noises about suing for harassment. She says she has connections in the government that are going to make me, specifically, sorry for calling out my ‘pet chef’ to ask her inappropriate questions.”
The implication that she’d gone over the line hung in the air. Then Angie remembered what Chris had told her. “Did she disclose that she was having an affair with the victim?”
Now it was Allen who fell quiet. Finally, he spoke. “No. I saw your text and just skimmed my notes from the first interview. She didn’t mention knowing Nubbins except by reputation. Can you prove this, or is it a rumor? You chefs seem to love to gossip.”
“Talk to Chris at The Library. He told me how she and Nubbins met for coffee once a week. And his friend works at the hotel where they had a standing reservation. If the room doesn’t have a full kitchen unit, I think there’s only one implication you can draw from that.” She glanced over at Ian, who was grinning at her.
“Let me do some research on that theory. Even so, it doesn’t mean she killed him.”
After she hung up, she glanced up at the clock. It wasn’t quite eight. If they left now, no one should be at the restaurant. She finished her coffee. “Drive me and I’ll buy you breakfast.”
“Drive you where? Or do I want to know?”
She checked Dom’s food and water, then picked up her keys and tote. “You probably don’t want to know. We’re going to take a picture and send it to your uncle.”
“So back into the lions’ den?