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Authors: Laina Turner
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Hollie?”
“Anything is possible, but I think it’s more likely someone bought the tassel flowers from one of those places. From the little research I did, it’s not a flower just anyone can grow. Keep in mind, whoever did this understands how to extract the poison from the flowers or knows someone who does. At least by meeting the greenhouse owners you might get a better sense of who probably isn’t guilty. You know it’s sometimes all about the process of elimination.”
“As you keep informing me. Okay, I’ll check these places out and let you know what I find out. Where will you be?”
“Have a meeting with the new guys who just got here last night, about the logistics over the next couple days of pageant practice, and then for the final show.”
“Have fun.”
Chapter 9
I opened the door to the rental car, which was a silver Chevy Impala, and slid into the driver’s seat, adjusting the seat forward so I could reach the pedals. It took me a few more minutes to figure out the GPS system in the car. Back home I just usually used my phone’s map app, but since I was in such unfamiliar territory I thought maybe the voice turn-by-turn navigation would be more helpful. I typed in all three addresses and it created the best route for me. Something else my iPhone app wouldn’t do. Or if it could, I had no idea how to use it. From the directions, it looked as if I would have a few hours of drive time. It seemed the three greenhouses were at opposite corners of town and outside of town at that. Oh well, I didn’t mind driving, and it would be nice to get out of the hotel and see the sights and listen to some music.
I drove about forty-five minutes to the first location, finding it with no trouble, thanks to the voice coming from the GPS I had now named Bertha. I pulled into the driveway next to the sign marked Thompson’s Greenhouse and saw a modest-looking ranch style home in front of me and off to the left what must be the greenhouse. It looked to be as big as the house itself. The place was huge. I parked next to two other cars, which were in the driveway, and got out, my heels sinking into the gravel. Probably should have worn different shoes to go greenhouse visiting.
As I walked up to the door, I began to wonder if I should have called first. This was, after all, a private residence-slash- business. I was just about to knock on the door when it swung wide open. Standing in front of me was a very handsome man about my age, maybe a couple years older. He had dark brown wavy hair and dark chocolate-colored eyes. He wasn’t all that tall, maybe around five nine or so, but compactly built, probably a wrestler in his high school days if I were to guess. Definitely a good-looking guy. He smiled when he noticed me checking him out, and I blushed. I was, after all, happily in a relationship with Cooper, but there wasn’t anything wrong with looking. Though if I were honest, I didn’t really want Cooper looking. Got to love the double standard, but at least I admitted it.
“Can I help you?” cute guy asked.
“I…I’m looking for the owner,” I stammered, and then blushed again because I was embarrassed to be stammering.
Cute boy smiled again. “That would be my grandfather, Jack, but he’s not here right now. I’m Jeff,” he said holding out his hand to shake mine. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“Maybe. I’m Presley Thurman and I work for a company called Sands Security. We’re working with a client down here and it has led us in search of people who grow tassel flowers.”
He frowned. “Tassel flowers? That’s not one I hear every day. I’m not sure I see the connection.”
“We got your name, and two others, as private greenhouses who grew, or at least have the capacity to grow, tassel flowers. I came out to see, first, if the information is accurate, and if so, if you had sold any recently.”
“C’mon in and I will check our records,” Jeff said,
“Anything is possible, but I think it’s more likely someone bought the tassel flowers from one of those places. From the little research I did, it’s not a flower just anyone can grow. Keep in mind, whoever did this understands how to extract the poison from the flowers or knows someone who does. At least by meeting the greenhouse owners you might get a better sense of who probably isn’t guilty. You know it’s sometimes all about the process of elimination.”
“As you keep informing me. Okay, I’ll check these places out and let you know what I find out. Where will you be?”
“Have a meeting with the new guys who just got here last night, about the logistics over the next couple days of pageant practice, and then for the final show.”
“Have fun.”
Chapter 9
I opened the door to the rental car, which was a silver Chevy Impala, and slid into the driver’s seat, adjusting the seat forward so I could reach the pedals. It took me a few more minutes to figure out the GPS system in the car. Back home I just usually used my phone’s map app, but since I was in such unfamiliar territory I thought maybe the voice turn-by-turn navigation would be more helpful. I typed in all three addresses and it created the best route for me. Something else my iPhone app wouldn’t do. Or if it could, I had no idea how to use it. From the directions, it looked as if I would have a few hours of drive time. It seemed the three greenhouses were at opposite corners of town and outside of town at that. Oh well, I didn’t mind driving, and it would be nice to get out of the hotel and see the sights and listen to some music.
I drove about forty-five minutes to the first location, finding it with no trouble, thanks to the voice coming from the GPS I had now named Bertha. I pulled into the driveway next to the sign marked Thompson’s Greenhouse and saw a modest-looking ranch style home in front of me and off to the left what must be the greenhouse. It looked to be as big as the house itself. The place was huge. I parked next to two other cars, which were in the driveway, and got out, my heels sinking into the gravel. Probably should have worn different shoes to go greenhouse visiting.
As I walked up to the door, I began to wonder if I should have called first. This was, after all, a private residence-slash- business. I was just about to knock on the door when it swung wide open. Standing in front of me was a very handsome man about my age, maybe a couple years older. He had dark brown wavy hair and dark chocolate-colored eyes. He wasn’t all that tall, maybe around five nine or so, but compactly built, probably a wrestler in his high school days if I were to guess. Definitely a good-looking guy. He smiled when he noticed me checking him out, and I blushed. I was, after all, happily in a relationship with Cooper, but there wasn’t anything wrong with looking. Though if I were honest, I didn’t really want Cooper looking. Got to love the double standard, but at least I admitted it.
“Can I help you?” cute guy asked.
“I…I’m looking for the owner,” I stammered, and then blushed again because I was embarrassed to be stammering.
Cute boy smiled again. “That would be my grandfather, Jack, but he’s not here right now. I’m Jeff,” he said holding out his hand to shake mine. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“Maybe. I’m Presley Thurman and I work for a company called Sands Security. We’re working with a client down here and it has led us in search of people who grow tassel flowers.”
He frowned. “Tassel flowers? That’s not one I hear every day. I’m not sure I see the connection.”
“We got your name, and two others, as private greenhouses who grew, or at least have the capacity to grow, tassel flowers. I came out to see, first, if the information is accurate, and if so, if you had sold any recently.”
“C’mon in and I will check our records,” Jeff said,
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