Berkelshire, Periwig, and Halliwell were all among those milling about, Julian noted, though neither Knapweed had bothered to emerge at the commotion.
"I'm too late," said Geoff darkly, looking for them down the hallway. "It's Camellia. He's gone."
Chapter 24
Alex handed Julian his dressing gown and brushed past him, already belting his own. If another person had been killed, that was their business and more important than proper dress. They weren't the only ones in more casual clothing, although they were the only ones in night clothes, and he made a note of who was being particularly stubborn about being shooed back to their rooms.
"The unpleasant Mr. Camellia was poisoned?" asked Alex, coming over to look at the body.
Dr. Geoff nodded his head. "Something in the cocktails he was sharing."
They stepped over the body and went inside, Alex helping Julian while Dr. Geoff did a thorough examination. Inside there was a tray with two drinks, one of which looked untouched, and a spray of some decorative plant between them.
"Bets on that plant being poisonous?" said Alex, whistling at the glasses. "It's not magic this time."
"No, those are Chinese lanterns," said Julian. He peered carefully inside the orange lantern-shaped husks and nodded to himself. "There's fruit in this one, which is highly poisonous.The leaves are, too, but they're usually stripped when drying decoratively like this."
"Those are from the back foyer," said a voice, and they looked up to find Alice staring in at them. "Them Chinese lanterns. Rowlinson is always telling us to keep the kids away, but they're right pretty."
"So yet another theft," said Alex. "I wonder where the baneberry came from?"
"Maybe she brought that with her," said Julian, "and used the venom because it was available?"
"You'd think I'd have a better handle on the minds of murderers," said Alex with a sigh, "but I really don't. Geoff, it's this plant here that was used. I can see the fruit in his glass pretending to be a garnish."
"So we need to figure out who gave him the drink, and who he drank it with, and if those are the same person," said Geoff. "Bugger, I'm going to have to have you preserve this one, and that stuff, if you're up to it."
"I'm fine," assured Alex, and Julian sent him a wave of supportive magics.
"I did your cup earlier," said Julian. "I'm not sure how the magic is different but it seemed to take."
"Good job," said Alex distractedly, giving Julian a kiss. He went first to the whole tray of drinks and did a combination preservation and non-interference spell on it, figuring they'd probably lock up the room and the evidence with it.
Geoff was rolling the body onto sheets when Alex came back from that, having put pillowcases around his hands. "I didn't think to do that for our first guy, but it should preserve any evidence on his hands," said Geoff, "a little, anyway."
"It's a good idea," assured Alex. "Get him into position and I'll do the preservation spell, and then you can wrap him up for the non-interference spell."
"I hate that we have a routine for this," said Geoff darkly. A servant was helping him handle the body and looking a little queasy about it, so Alex hoped the man didn't lose it and mess up the evidence.
At least Alex had never thrown up on a body. Stepped on, yes. Barfed on, no.
They made quick work of the morbid task, and soon enough Camellia was wrapped up and laid out on the floor in the room. The servant locked up ostentatiously while the last few hangers-on watched.
"No one will go in there until the police arrive," said the man.
"Thank you," said Geoff, shaking his hand. "I prescribe a stiff drink for you, or at least a bracing cuppa."
"Bit of both, perhaps," said the servant, smiling wanly now. "You call down if you need anything else."
He left, and the vultures descended. Fortunately there were only three people left, two of whom he'd half expected, the suspects Halliwell and Periwig. He supposed Salmon was theresupporting his fiancée as he hadn't been before, though he also hadn't had much of a chance to do so publicly.
"What happened?" asked Halliwell sharply.
"Murder, obviously," said Alex, before poor Geoff could try to find a euphemism. "Dr. Geoff needs to go talk to Chudleigh, and you all need to go to your rooms."
"How do we know we won't be next?" asked Salmon huffily.
"Don't drink with anyone not staying with you," said Alex, "andstay in your rooms."
