"Technically, alcohol is also a recreational poison," Alex pointed out, when it looked like they might argue. "Camellia died because no one knew he'd been dosed, and he didn't manage to get to any help in time. Also the berries were crushed into his drink, so he got a nice big dose of poison with his poison."
"Alcohol is a really good solvent for that particular poison, too," said Julian. "So basically she made him a tincture of Chinese lantern berries, which he trustingly drank."
"Like an idiot," added Alex.
Lapointe laughed, and Thomas as well, but the Guardians managed to stick to amused smiles.
"And then she dusted all the cups on the tray headed to Applewhite's room, and Geoff snagged a cup when Jessamine assured him there were extra?" said Thomas, looking at his notes again.
"Iocane pollen, yeah," said Julian. "And yes, we only caught that because of Geoff's cup and Alex's bezoar, courtesy of our Guardians."
"We felt the magic go off and ran to intercept the tray," said Alex. "Fortunately, Applewhite hadn't drunk yet, so no one had to intervene there. Iocane is also usually pretty fast and fatal, though the flowers bred for people's houses tend to be less toxic."
"So she'd have had to have drunk a fair amount?" said Lapointe.
"Yeah, but it's odourless and tasteless, so she would've just keeled over between sips if we hadn't caught it," said Alex.
"And of course there's the poison she gave herself," said Thomas. "We have a ton of evidence she self-administered, but why that one?"
"Because it's not fatal," said Alex. "The Egyptian bedroom asp was bred to guard the sleep of the pharaohs and their wives, so they would bite and incapacitate but not kill intruders. Can't question a corpse."
"A fact that I am eternally grateful for," said Lapointe. "So, between poisonings?"
They talked another hour, all told, delving into little details that they had to wrack their memories to recall. In the end it felt like a useful interview, and it was time for lunch with anyone who would want to troop downstairs. Geoff texted an excited yes, and Smedley a more sedate one, so they met up by the elevators as the easiest way to avoid Lapointe's boss.
Alex wasn't planning to bill for this disaster, but he didn't want to have to be told not to, either.
"So, what's your afternoon?" asked Lapointe.
"Saveur," said Alex smugly. "And possibly being dragged along on some errands, I'm not sure Jones will have finished up by the time we're done."
"Alys had a lot for him to pick up," said Julian with a chuckle. "No one likes to deliver out to us, so he does us favours."
"Victor pays for it," said Alex with a shrug. "I assume he makes sure whoever needs to know that he's taking care of us finds out."
Julian poked him through the bond.
"What? He's never taken much interest in me before you, and now our Guardianship thing," said Alex with a shrug.
"It could be familial feeling," said Julian, but even he knew he sounded dubious.
"Familial or not," said Geoff as the elevator doors finally opened, "I just want to get fed."
Chapter 34
They were safely ensconced in the back of the limo an hour later, with Jones saying, "I got everything done but Saveur and the place that has the flour she likes."
"So just one errand on our way home," said Alex. "That's not so bad."
"I'm just happy to be going to Saveur when no one wants to kill you," said Jacques. "I'm almost out of chocolate again."
"Greedy Guardians," teased Julian. "I am of course envious of whatever treats of yours they got that we didn't."
"You get a lot of treats they don't," said Jacques with a chuckle. "I wouldn't worry too much."
"Did you text ahead?" asked James, leaning over to look at Jacques' phone where he was poking at it.
"Yeah, she gave me her number for future orders, and I wanted her to know we'd be there with these two for Alys' pickup." Jacques put his phone away and then shoved James' face back with a palm. "Nosy."
