Jill Churchill: The Accidental Florist

"There is another reason you want a booth if you can get one. That's so if you're young and pretty, you should put your drink as far away from people walking by as you possibly can. This date rape drug is getting to be a serious problem and it's so easy for a man to just pass his hand over a glass as he walks by."

"Speaking of young and pretty, where is that cute little Sara girl? She's not here this time," one of the women asked.

Miss Welbourne sighed. "I wasn't going to tell you this, but I feel now that I must. The police alerted me this morning that her boyfriend beat her to death last night."

Everyone exclaimed "Poor girl" or "What a tragedy" or simply, "Oh no."

Miss Welbourne looked as if she'd caved in on herself. "I'm sorry to cut this class short, but I don't believe we can go on more today. At least, I can't. Go home."

She left the room ahead of them, her briefcase in one

hand, and her handbag properly crossing her chest and in front of her.

"That's terrible news," Shelley said on the way home. "She was so young."

"Young or old, it's tragic. It's probably the reason she was taking the class."

"And maybe he found out she was doing so," Shelley commented.

It wasn't until Jane had closed her kitchen door and set her purse on the kitchen table, that it occurred to her that Mel might be in charge of this murder case. And wouldn't get the day off tomorrow after all.

She tried to get him at his office. His secretary told her he was just finishing up in a meeting. He'd call back in ten minutes.

When he did, she told him what Miss Welbourne had said about Sara. "You're not on this case, are you?"

"No. It was inner city. Your uncle Jim has it. Nice case just before he retires."

"Nice?" Jane almost yelped.

"Well, not nice. But good for him. He's virtually solved it. Her blood is all over the boyfriend. All over the lamp he hit her in the head with and on the lamp cord he strangled her with."

Jane sat down at the kitchen chair, stretching the phone cord as far as she could. This conversation made her woozy.

"I just meant that your uncle Jim will get the credit, and a lot of publicity to retire on. Leaving after all the photo flashbulbs as he announces that it's official that the case is solved."

Jane got a grip on herself. "So you'll be here when the architect meets with us?"

"Of course. Not my case. I'm free all day. I'm sorry Miss Welbourne told the class."

"She was asked why the girl wasn't at the meeting this afternoon. She was so upset to say it that she dismissed the class early."

"Speaking of the class, are you learning useful information?"

"Oh yes. She's told us lots of things we should have had the common sense to have realized and hadn't. There are just two more classes. Shelley and I are going to be much more careful of ourselves from now on. I'm glad you forced us to do this."

"I didn't force you. Just suggested."

"Hmmm," was all Jane could say, except for adding, "I'll see you at one then."

Jane was surprised at Edgeworth's appearance. He'd sounded younger than he was. Well, of course. He went to school with her uncle Jim. He was wearing a lightweight tartan jacket, a red shirt, black trousers, and had a full head of thick curly white hair. "Hello, Ms. Jeffry. Your uncle thinks the world of you."

"He's not really my uncle. He's my parents' longtime best friend. And please call me Jane."

"Call me Jack, then. And Detective VanDyne, may I call you by your first name?"

"Sure. I'm Mel."

Jack put his briefcase down and pulled out a fresh legal pad and a yellow pencil. "Let's start with the dining room. That's where we'll cut through. I've checked the code and regulations. You are able to extend the back of the house twenty-two feet."

Jane led him to the dining room. He looked around. "Nice room. Could that china hutch go on the end of the room or next to the window on the other side?"

"Sure. I can't move it myself. But if I empty it out and have help, we could put sliders under it."

"Good. Now let me check the studs."

He used a gadget that he moved across the room at the same height. A little red light showed up from time to time and the device made a feeble little beep. "Just what I'd expected. The right intervals."

He laughed. "In the old days, I'd have tapped it with my knuckles and known from the sound where the studs were, but my son insists that I use this gadget. Do either of you care which end of the room you want the entrance door?"

Jane and Mel looked at each other and shrugged. "I never thought about it. In the middle?"

Jack shook his head. "That would break the look of this wall. I'd suggest the far wall. But still move that furniture so Mel doesn't have to walk around it. Now show me the basement."

"The basement?"

"I need to know how far it extends and if so, if it's sturdy enough to hold up the weight of an addition. That's a serious matter of code regulations."

Thank God I just cleaned out the kitty litter boxes this morning, Jane thought to herself as she led him to the door of the basement.

Jack took lots of measurements and kept jotting down notes. Finally he said, "I'll have to measure upstairs from this door to be sure, but I don't think the basement will be relevant. It doesn't go as far as the dining room is my gut feeling. But let's go back upstairs."

He was well in front of them and went up the stairs faster than Jane had ever done.

After he measured, he said, "I'll take this back to my office and my son will put it on AutoCad."

"What's that?"

"A hideously expensive computer program that takes months to learn and is necessary to any architectural company. My son knows how to do this. Oh, and one more thing, where do the phone lines run in? I have to go outside and look. Mel, I assume you need a fast phone line for your computer and fax, and a separate line for telephone calls."

"I do."

"Where's the door to the backyard?"

Chapter

SIX

T

he third Women's Safety meeting was earlier than the ones before — at ten in the morning — and was about foreign travel. It was shorter than the others. Miss Welbourne went through the rules of how to behave, dress, and protect yourself, especially if you were traveling to a Muslim country. "Wear no jewelry. Don't even take it along, except for a cheap watch. Wear long sleeves, long skirts, and wear at least a scarf on your head.

"Don't meet the eyes of men. It's considered loose and trashy and you'll be taken for a prostitute. Eat daintily. Women aren't considered real people in the Muslim culture. Very few women are educated. Don't get roped into conversations about American values or anything political.

"You should really try to travel with another woman or if you're married, with your husband. You will be a lot safer. If you're with a tour group, obey everything the leader tells you. It's unwise to rent a car and go off on your own. If you get lost, you could put yourself in great danger.

"Try to learn a little of the language in advance. `Please,' `Thank you,' `Excuse me.' And how to order food. Don't order any kind of spirits. If you take some along in your suitcase, drink only in the privacy of your room and be very careful not to leave any empty bottles in your room. Keep a set of paper bags and throw the empties away without being noticed."

Jane and Shelley tuned out. They had absolutely no plans to go to such hostile, dangerous countries. Miss Welbourne had a whole lot more advice. All of it was scary. Jane and Shelley were tempted to try to sneak out, but they'd be bound to be seen and didn't want to insult the teacher.

Jane occupied herself by thinking about the extra room she was adding for Mel's home office. It would raise her property taxes and probably her insurance rates as well. But there was no going back. Mel couldn't have worked in the sewing room, which was just big enough for one single bed and one small side table with barely room for a lamp, and had only one pitiful little window.