of those inebriation tells I’d witnessed too many times to count, but I always kept an open mind.
A head poked out the window, arms folding over the frame as she watched me approach, a hesitant smile on her face, one eye squinted against the sun.
“You almost ran me off the road back there,” I said, leaning back, and turning my head toward the rear of her car when her exhaust pipe rattled loudly. The vehicle looked like it was on its last leg.
“I’m so sorry, Officer. I only looked away from the road for a moment. I feel terrible.”
“License and registration, please.”
A flash of irritation lit her brown eyes, but her lips tipped sweetly and she unfolded her arms, turning and rifling through her glove box and then reaching into her purse on the passenger seat next to a spilled plant. There was dirt scattered over the faded fabric. Another couple of plants lay on the floor, obviously having toppled from the seat as well, and three more sat precariously on the edge of the dashboard.
I took the offered cards. California. Of course. It was where all the nuts came from. “Haven Torres from Los Angeles,” I read.
“That’s me.” She smiled brightly, and then reached over, righting the tipped plant next to her. I noticed a drooping cactus wedged between her tanned thighs.
My eyes held on that cactus. I hadn’t realized a cactus could droop. “What’s wrong with your . . . cactus?”
She frowned. “Oh. It’s just thirsty. Very thirsty.”
There seemed to be several inappropriate innuendos I could come back with, and it pained me not to take the opportunity, but this was official police business.
I bent down, lowering my sunglasses and peering into the backseat of her car. I frowned, my gaze sliding over the veritable jungle. “What is this?”
“Plants,” she said.
“Yes, I can see they’re plants.”
“More specifically, two fishtail palms, a pair of dragon trees, one philodendron, a croton, and that one’s a Natal mahogany,” she finished, lowering the finger she’d pointed into the backseat and grinning at me proudly.
I narrowed my eyes. I had no idea what she’d just said, but it didn’t seem important. My God, plants were everywhere. “Anyway, they’re obscuring your view. No wonder you almost hit me.”
“Oh . . .” Her gaze slid away momentarily. A chestnut curl sprung free of the bun she had secured on the top of her head, bouncing against her cheek. “Well. I would have transported the plants in two carloads, but . . . the nursery was going to throw them away tonight unless I was able to take them all.” I noted the hint of outrage in her voice as though throwing away plants was akin to murdering puppies.
Nursery. There was only one in Pelion so it had to be Fern Alley Botanicals, which was about five miles from where we currently were on the side of the road. Who knew how many pedestrians she’d come close to mowing down between here and there?
She was looking at me expectantly, a certain spark in her eyes that might be nervousness, but I suspected was indignation.
I took another minute, considering her and slapping her cards idly on my wrist. “I could let you go with a warning and risk you driving like a maniac again. Or, I could ticket you and protect the residents of Pelion who rely on me to keep their streets safe. Which one do you think I’ll choose, Haven from California?”
That spark increased, eyes narrowing just a tad in a way that reminded me of how my niece watched me. “Oooh, a guessing game!” She tapped her finger on her pursed lips as if in deep consideration. “I’m not always good under pressure so this is tough. Hmm. Which one will you choose? Which one will you choose?” she muttered, suddenly raising one finger as her gaze snapped to mine. “I’m going to go with, the one that appeals to your thirst for power?”
I almost laughed but held it back, disguising the sound rising from my throat with a cough, amusement warring with annoyance, and a dash of astonishment.
I removed my sunglasses slowly and hung them on my shirt pocket so I could take my time considering her. “Have you had run-ins with the police before, Haven from California? Experiences that make you hostile toward law enforcement?”
“No. Check my record. I’ve never so much as received a speeding ticket. If, in your wise and professional opinion, you deem that I deserve one for my