Political Poisoning Read online

  Political Poisoning

  Museum Mysteries #2

  Melanie Myers

  Contents

  Political Poisonings

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Political Poisonings

  Museum Murders book Two.

  Melanie Myers.

  Chapter 1

  The hour was early and the sun was barely up as I tiptoed towards the front door as quietly as possible. The faint aroma of my morning bagel still wafted through the apartment and made its way to me as if it was trying to lure me back into the kitchen and tempt me with just one more treat. It almost worked, but I had places to go, so I resisted just as a bigger challenge to my leaving loomed in front of me, watching, waiting, ready.

  “Shh,” I begged my dog Trix, as I scratched her behind her ears. Some of her white fur lofted skywards in the never ending shedding war that raged on between fur and vacuum cleaner. Trix didn’t look ready to be quiet as she sat up with her ears as pointy as they would go and her chin raised as if to let me know that there was a loud bark inside of her desperate to come out and greet the world. She was unprepared for my next tactical move, however, as I took a small treat out of my pocket. A small organic beef flavored morsel gained all of Trix’s attention. As I said one final goodbye I lobbed the treat back down the hallway and off she went to claim her prey. I took the opportunity that came with this minor deception to ease out of the front door.

  Stepping outside quickly and quietly slipping the door shut behind me, I smiled as I breathed in the crisp air. Fall was well on its way at Chowan Cove. We still had a way to go until winter, but there was certainly crispness in the morning air. It made everything smell better, fresher even if you could believe that. I decided that I was going to walk to Emily’s café this morning, because I had decided that I was going to forgo any semblance of a low calorie breakfast.

  As I turned off my street a sight stopped me in my tracks. A beautiful sight. Many of the leaves had started to turn, announcing to us all that a change of season was upon us. Hues of red, orange, yellow and green shone before me like a fireworks night in full rapture. The trees fought with each other to show the brightest colors as some others filled the air with a sweet honey aroma that made you feel you could pick up some leaves and squeeze their sweetness over a piping hot piece of toast. My brain demanded that I acknowledge that honey does not in fact come from random leaves that had fallen on the ground but unperturbed, I took in the majestic sight before me.

  I wondered if this view could ever get boring to those who grew up here. After all, people get bored when they got too much of one thing (except pizza and chocolate, obviously). But no, there was no way anyone could ever get bored of this sight.

  On a still morning like this the reflection off our local river just added to the delights that nature showcased before me and I moved slightly to get a better view of the forest’s reflection off the calm water.

  “Beautiful,” I said out loud to no one in particular before checking my watch. It was time to get a move on.

  A few minutes later I had walked into Emily’s and was greeted with all the noises one might expect from a popular café. The espresso machine was in full swing, with that strange sound that it makes when frothing milk. Plates were clattering, and the smell of delicious pastries filled the air.

  “Hi Maree!” I heard, turning to look at the person who belonged to that familiar voice.

  “Good morning, Emily,” I replied. “Another day in paradise?”

  “You know it can’t be beat,” came Emily’s cheerful reply.

  “So, playing hard to get I see?” she continued.

  “What’s that?” I said, slightly confused.

  “He’s been waiting over there for a while now,” Emily nodded in a direction over my shoulder and gave me a wink as she walked off before I could think of anything to say.

  I turned around and through the rabble of the breakfast rush there was his smiling face, and the rest of him as well. I walked over as casually as I could.

  “Good morning, Maree.”

  “Hi, Jeremy.”

  He smiled that dazzling smile of his as I sat down and looked away quickly so as not to stare at him too hard. It was too early in the morning for me to be super awkward.

  I had met Jeremy a couple of months ago when my boss was murdered. Jeremy was the annoying reporter asking pesky questions and generally turning up where he wasn’t appreciated. I supposed that made him good at his job. He did come through for me eventually, when I needed his help in finding the person who did it. I was pretty sure I was still in the police chief’s bad books for getting far too involved, but it wasn’t my fault that I was an archeologist by profession, so finding clues and working out how they fit into the grand scheme of things came naturally to me.

  After all the dust had settled and everyone stopped yelling at Jeremy and me for taking too many risks, his “reward” from his boss was to transfer him to our small town of Chowan Cove from the much larger city of Augusta. I felt bad for Jeremy, but a small part of me was happy he was here. Tall, good looking, and best of all he seemed to like me. It was a rather nice situation to be in.

  Before we could get into any small talk a waitress came over and took our order. A blueberry and vanilla cream Danish with coffee was on my mind and Jeremy followed suit with coffee as well but an egg white omelet to compliment it.

  “So, how’s life in fast paced Chowan Cove?” he asked.

  “Is this on or off the record?”

  “That gets funnier every time I hear it.”

  “Some things get better and better the more you hear it.”

  “Oh no, don’t make me read it out to you again.”

  “I think it’s time.”

  “Time to move on?” Jeremy asked hopefully.

  “Not today,” I said, motioning for him to get on with it.

  “Fine,” he said, unfolding a well-worn piece of newspaper from his pocket.

  “The Augusta Daily recently made comments about one of Chowan Cove’s residents, Miss Maree Lilley in connection to a homicide investigation the local police of that town were conducting.

  Our reports may have portrayed Miss Lilley’s involvement inaccurately and in ways that may have inadvertently misled some readers of the aforementioned articles. Miss Lilley’s assistance to the police was instrumental in bringing the guilty party to justice and we unreservedly apologize for any harm to the reputation or any distress caused to Miss Lilley.”

  I smiled as I watched Jeremy fold up the newspaper article that I had made him read out to me many times before.

  “Satisfied?” he asked, almost pleading with me.

  “Maybe. We’ll see.“

  After my boss had been killed, the paper Jeremy worked for published a series of nasty articles implicating me in the murder. Even though I had been cleared by the police, that didn’t stop the Augusta Daily from going ahead with those terrible stories and putting Jeremy’s name to them. I had accepted Jeremy’s reasoning that he in fact had written a completely different article but it was his editor who went ahead with the hatchet job, but that didn’t mean I
was going to stop poor Jeremy from reading out the retraction the paper had printed about me.

  Jeremy had pushed his editor to get the apology published and I think that had helped the editor’s decision to “reward” Jeremy with a move to Chowan Cove.

  “This is so unfair,” he sighed with resignation.

  “Probably,” I smiled teasingly.

  Thankfully for Jeremy, our order arrived and we set about eating our breakfast and talking about other things happening in Chowan Cove.

  Chapter 2

  I had to admit, since moving here I found the town a peaceful place, which must be hard on a reporter’s prospects for a big story, but as for me, I enjoyed working in my little museum. It may not be exciting for some, but it kept me interested as my fear of flying - after surviving a crash in the jungle years ago - hampered my efforts to fly to different archeological sites throughout the world.

  We made further small talk as I resisted the temptation to order another Danish. I knew all those extra calories may not be appreciated by certain parts of my body, and I also thought it may be wise to retain some semblance of being a lady and not pull out my best cookie monster impersonation in front of my breakfast partner.

  The sound of other people going about their normal lives in the café was comforting in a way, as was the smell of delicious foods being prepared. I felt a lot more relaxed in Jeremy’s company than when I first met him a couple of months ago, though it seemed longer. I wasn’t looking to rush headlong into any kind of relationship with Jeremy, or anyone else for that matter, and it was nice that he respected that. It was enough just hanging out with one another on occasion, though my brain did have a nasty habit of getting annoyed when women openly flirted with him in front of me. I kept trying to tell myself that I couldn’t have it both ways. I couldn’t be all “Oh this is a totally platonic friendship,” and then when some cute woman walked up and did the big smile and hair flick, think, “What the hell? I’m sitting right here! Go away, skank!”

  “So what are you up to today?” Jeremy asked as we finished up our breakfasts. He knew I had a busy day today. He was just being a goof.

  “Oh nothing much,” I answered sarcastically. “I have some important guests visiting today and I have to be sure to keep all the pests out. So the museum is off limits to you today.”

  “Hey!” Jeremy pretended to look hurt.

  We then both looked at each other and laughed. I liked the easy going laugh he had.

  “Well I guess now you are the new museum director you have standards to uphold.”

  “True, true. Seems as if anyone can still be a reporter,” I teased in reply.

  “Investigative Journalist, thank you very much. So how is the new position going?”

  “Well, at first it was a bit daunting. I mean, I didn’t expect to be promoted to director of the museum so fast. I half expected the police to re-open the case and treat me as a suspect as soon as I got my old boss’s job.”

  “True, I mean I tried to get them to arrest you but they needed something called evidence.”

  “Just as well you didn’t as I would have made some mean friends on the inside, and that would have spelled trouble for you when I got out,” I joked in reply. “But anyway,” I continued, “It was nice that the other board members of the museum voted to give me the directorship and they were happy with my condition that Helen be promoted from employee to manager as well. She’s been a good friend and really is so much more to the museum than just an employee.”

  “I’m glad she wanted the job.”

  “Me too. And she’s as tough as they come, so I don’t expect any trouble from anyone anymore.”

  “I agree with you there,” Jeremy added.

  “So what about you? How are you handling the move to Chowan Cove?”

  “Well it was a bit difficult at first, I’m not going to lie, but the Mayoral election at least has me busy reporting on the daily campaign front. It was lucky for me that something of note was happening as soon as I got, er… reassigned, is the way I’ll describe it.”

  “I know, it can be hard to move to a new place. Hopefully it won’t be too boring for you and who knows, maybe you will get back in to your boss’ good books and you’ll be back in Augusta soon.”

  “Maybe… but no rush, not at the moment,” Jeremy said as he smiled at me, a blush rising up my face as his blue eyes twinkled.

  To save myself the embarrassment of turning a bright red right in front of him I quickly carried on.

  “Well ok, that’s good. Say, I have to get going because as you know the Mayoral candidates are all coming by this morning to pretend they love the museum, visit there all the time, and will promise it buckets of money if they get elected.”

  “It doesn’t sound like you think they will keep their election promises. I’m shocked!” Jeremy teased.

  “Well, that’s why it’s good to have you drop by as a reporter, sorry, as an investigative journalist to at least get them on record, and that way it’ll make them squirm just a little bit when they break their promises.”

  “Tsk tsk, when did you get so cynical?”

  I responded by rolling my eyes.“Ok, well, everything kicks off at about ten thirty, so I must get going, and feel free to drop by any time after ten.”

  “Do you need a hand?”

  “No, Helen and I have it all covered, but thanks for offering.”

  Truth be told, even though we did have it covered, I didn’t want the distraction of Jeremy standing around looking good when I had to prepare for three wannabe politicians and their entourages visiting the museum.

  “Fair enough. Feel free to call if you change your mind.”

  We both got up to leave and for the first time I noticed the crowd in the café had thinned out a little as well. There was less background noise, but all the smells from the kitchen still wafted through the café and it was very tempting.

  We paid after our usual struggle to see who would pick up the tab - sometimes I just didn’t want Jeremy to win - and Emily was her usual attentive and scheming self. I swear one day I would come into her café and she would be dressed up as an overly-eager cupid.

  “Oh, sorry Jeremy, I just want to pick up a coffee for Helen.” I said as we were about to leave.

  “No problems, I’ll see you soon.” Then, with a smile, he spun on his heel and left the café. I always expected our goodbyes to be a little more awkward. Hollywood had taught me that the man and the woman would stand there, the man hesitating, wondering if he should go in for a kiss, the woman wondering if she would accept it, then everyone moved like robots and looked at the ground like shy teenagers and end scene. Jeremy had no such problems, and he could pull off the smooth goodbye like no one else. He could simply leave, but still make you feel like he had given you a nice, big, warm hug. It was both nice and infuriating at the same time.

  I looked over at Emily who was making Helen’s coffee and giving me a look.

  “Oh don’t you start!” I said to her.

  “Who, me? I said nothing my dear, nothing at all.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Your silence speaks volumes little Miss Obvious.”

  Thankfully, a small group of people came into the store and Emily had to leave me alone and begin to serve them. With a sly wink she slid the coffee I bought for Helen over to me, and left before I could pay her for it. It was my reward for putting up with her, I told myself but still dropped a few coins into the tip jar.

  I was about to leave when I heard a man’s voice behind me. “Excuse me, aren’t you the new museum director?”

  I turned to face the voice with a smile somewhat plastered on my face. I mean, it was always good that someone even knew Chowan Cove had a museum much less knew who the director was but I really wanted to get into work and prepare for this morning’s events, and possibly even more importantly, get Helen her coffee.

  “Yes, yes I am,” I responded politely, seeing a couple sitting not too far from where Jeremy and I had eaten b
reakfast.

  “Terry Shepherd,” the man replied holding out his hand in greeting. I took his hand and shook it firmly.“I’m running for Mayor.”

  Oops, I thought to myself, instantly hoping that he didn’t overhear all the razzing that we were giving politicians in general. Then again, if he had overheard, maybe he wouldn’t have been sitting there looking as polite as he did.

  Terry turned to his right and pointed out the lady sitting next to him. “And this is my wife Camilla.”

  We both smiled and said hi. She was well dressed with impeccable hair and attractive enough not to have to wear makeup. Her outfit told me that she was both going to the museum and knew that there was going to be a TV camera crew there. She was wearing a dark blue blazer with a crisp white blouse under it which added to her professional look. Funnily enough, he looked almost the same with his navy suit, white shirt and, well, boring tie. I think they had both read the ‘color in business’ book which maintained that a dark blue gave off the impression of stability and trustworthiness. Still, I was no picture prefect model so who was I to judge?

  “So you will be at this morning’s meet and greet, I hope?” I asked even though I knew he would be.

  “Wouldn’t miss it. I hear you have done wonderful things with the place in such a short time.”

  “And while being so short on funds,” I added. I’m sure politicians are used to everyone putting their hand out.

  “I’m sure I can help with that, if I get elected of course.” Terry laughed a pleasant laugh. Apparently he was used to asking for votes whenever he was asked for money. Touché, I thought.