Jo laughed. “I’m happy to help with such a noble cause. Hemlock is from theApiaceaefamily, the same as carrots and parsnips. It’s been used in small amounts in herbal remedies for centuries. It acts as a neurotoxin. Numbness creeps through the body from the feet to the chest. The victim remains lucid through the whole process, as Plato reported Socrates speaking with his pupils right up until the moment the poison reached his heart. As far as forensic records go, no one has been murdered with hemlock since ancient times. We do see a lot of hemlock deaths, but they’re always accidental – usually, foragers who think they’re found a choice crop of wild parsnips, or rich nobles in Italy dining on songbirds, which become carriers of the poison when they consume hemlock seeds. Although, of course, it’s always difficult to say. There might be many poisoners who’ve gotten away with using hemlock over the years.”
I can think of one.“Thanks, Jo. I appreciate it.”
“Hang on, don’t keep me in suspense. Did you win?”
Morrie’s hand stole under my shirt, his fingers stroking my nipple through the fabric of my shirt. “Yup,” my voice strained. “I absolutely, definitely won.”
I rang off, pushing Morrie away even as my body screamed for more. “None of that. We might’ve left Mrs. Ellis alone with her murderer.”
“She’s not alone.” Morrie kissed along my neck, his hands roaming freely down my body. “She’s got Heathcliff to protect her.”
I shoved him away, harder this time. “Maybeyou’renot worried about your friends being fed hemlock or arsenic by some crazy fortune teller, but I am. We’ve got to get back to the shop!”
I tore myself from Morrie and fled across the village toward Nevermore Bookshop, Quoth flapping along behind me. Morrie’s expensive brogues pounded on the footpath. “Mina, wait up!”
Something’s wrong. I can feel it.
I shoved the door open. “Heathcliff? Mrs. Ellis?” I cried. “Are you in here?”
“Oh, Mina darling, you’re back!” Sylvia called. “We’re right here where you left us, justdyingto get out.”
Heart pounding, I picked my way around the stacks of books and found the three of them in the World History room. To my surprise, Heathcliff sat across the table from Mrs. Ellis, Grimalkin curled asleep in his lap and a game of Scrabble spread out in front of him. He wore a pained expression and clutched a teacup in his hand. Behind him, Miss Blume stood beside the tea trolley, pouring another cup.
“She forced me to play this insipid game,” Heathcliff muttered, glaring at Mrs. Ellis. “And then she dances around the room when she wins. There are bloody shawls and carpet bags flying everywhere. It’s all fun and games until someone loses an I—”
The tea! Of course. Sylvia makes her own tea, which she served at the Banned Book Club. I bet she added arsenic to Mrs. Scarlett’s cup!
I snatched the teacup from Heathcliff’s hands and held it out of reach. He glanced at me in concern. “It wasn’t that bad a joke. Hers have been much worse, take my word for it.”
“Take my word for it! Ha ha!” Mrs. Ellis hooted in delight, but her face creased with concern when she noticed me. “Are you all right, honey? You’re looking a little pale.”
“Perhaps your chakras need aligning,” Sylvia put in. “I’d be happy to help.”
My mind whirled. All I could think about was getting Sylvia away from the bookshop, away from tea and liquids and things she could use to hurt my friends.
“I’m fine, thank you,” I gasped. “Didn’t you want to go to work today?”
“Yes,” Sylvia glanced at her watch. “I have two appointments this afternoon.”
“Well, Morrie and I will happily accompany you if you’re ready to leave now.”
“Oh, yes, I suppose so, if you really don’t want me to take a look at your chakras?” Her puzzled expression turned my stomach. “I have to pick up some things from my cottage.”
“That’s fine. We’ll walk you there. It would be good to check if the killer has been to your home.”
“That would be a relief, thank you.” Sylvia bent down to hand the tea to Mrs. Ellis, but I whipped it out of her hand. “Sorry, Mrs. Ellis. I just saw a spider fall into the tea. It’s not drinkable.”
“Croak!” added Quoth from my shoulder.
Heathcliff stood up and followed me into the main room. I shoved both cups into his hands. “Take those upstairs and leave them on Morrie’s desk. Don’t let anyone drink or eat anything Sylvia has touched.”
Heathcliff’s dark eyes studied me. “I can assume from this erratic behavior that you have a new suspect?”
“You assume correctly.”
“And you’re about to run off into the woods with her,” he growled.
“Morrie will be with me. I’m not in any danger.” I leaned up and pecked his cheek. “I promise.”
