Lethal Lily (A Peggy Lee Garden Mystery) Read Online Free Page A

value of the house.” She picked up her fork. “Besides, I’m going to talk to Sam about it today. I know he’s done this before. There must be something that could make the job go faster without killing everything.”
    Sam Ollson was her partner at her garden shop, The Potting Shed. He took care of the landscaping end of the business.
    Peggy tried calling Harry again while Steve paid for breakfast. There was still no answer.
    Why bother having a phone if you never answered it?
    Peony
    The peony is a flowering plant native to Asia, Southern Europe, and Western North America. Most are herbaceous perennial plants, but some are the size of small trees. The peony is named after Paeon, a student of the Greek god of medicine. Zeus saved the student from the wrath of Asclepius, his teacher, by turning him into the peony flower. Research continues into more than 262 compounds obtained from the plants.
     

Chapter Four
     
    Steve drove them home after leaving the Waffle House. Neither of them thought it was a good idea to get Peggy’s car until morning. By that time, maybe things would have calmed down at the mini-storage.
    Peggy hoped a different manager would be on duty.
    “I have to be there for the auction tomorrow anyway.” Peggy closed the car door and walked toward the house. She could hear her Great Dane, Shakespeare, barking loudly from inside. She hoped it didn’t wake her neighbors. “I’ll have one of the kids at the shop drive me over there.”
    “Or I could take you.”
    “There’s no reason to upset your schedule because I made a mistake.”
    “I don’t mind.”
    She opened the kitchen door at the side of the house, and Shakespeare ran full-tilt into her. If he hadn’t pushed her into Steve, she would’ve fallen on the ground under his weight.
    Peggy had rescued Shakespeare from an abusive owner and loved him dearly, but his joyous welcomes could be a bit much.
    “You missed me, didn’t you?” She stroked his floppy, unclipped ears, and massive black muzzle. “You might need to start missing me a little less .”
    Shakespeare’s big brown eyes were focused completely on her, until he saw the door close behind her, and galloped off in the other direction. He wasn’t used to his humans going in and out at all times of the day and night.
    “It’s only two a.m.” Steve glanced at his watch and yawned. “I’m going back to bed. What about you?”
    “I’m much too nervous and upset to sleep.” She put her handbag, and the tiny dieffenbachia in her pocket, on the kitchen table. “You go on up. I’m going to take a look at my plants.”
    He put his arms around her. “Maybe we could find something else to do with all that nervous energy.” He kissed her. “And I could talk you into letting me take you to the mini-storage tomorrow.”
    She smiled and leaned against him. “That does sound more interesting than looking at my plants right now. What did you have in mind?”
    * * *
     Peggy fell asleep in Steve’s arms for about an hour. Then her restless mind woke her and urged her to get out of bed.
    She groaned when she saw it was only four a.m. She’d hoped it was closer to six. Oh well. Still time to check on her plants in the basement. Peggy got up and pulled on a gray sweatshirt and sweatpants. She studied Steve’s sleeping face for a moment. He was so handsome and kind.
    Funny how things could change. After John had died, she thought she would always be alone. She’d told herself that she didn’t mind. She’d had her love. Then Steve had sneaked into her life, and her heart. He’d brought light and love, changing her life again.
    Shakespeare accompanied her down the spiral staircase from her bedroom to the first floor. She loved the feel of the cool marble stairs against her feet, and brushed her hand against a branch of the blue spruce that grew beside the stairs. The scent filled the air around her.
    She loved the big, old house when it was quiet. It made settling sounds, like an