in the middle of the table. It was a daisy tonight.
“What kind of flower is that?” Al asked after he’d ordered his chicken and biscuits.
“Even I know that,” Steve said. “It’s a daisy. It has pyrethrum in it. That’s what they use to make insecticide. Right?”
“Close.” Peggy smiled. “That’s what they use to make mosquito repellant.”
Al laughed at him. “That’s what you get for showing off. Speaking of which, are the two of you couples who talk about cases or not? Mary doesn’t want to hear it.”
Steve and Peggy exchanged glances as the waitress brought them all sweet iced tea.
“We’re deciding that.” Peggy unwrapped her silverware. “I’m good with talking about it. Not sure about Steve.”
Al rolled his eyes. “Don’t make me have Mary talk to you all. You know she’ll do it.”
“I don’t want to have any more secrets between us,” Steve echoed Peggy. “I’d like everything out in the open.”
“I know you both pretty well. I’d say you’ll be the talking couples, all up in each other’s business. That’s fine.”
Steve changed the subject and told Al about what had happened to Peggy. “Do you know anything about a missing duffel bag?”
“The security guard said something about Abutto coming in with one. We’ve gone through his things, at his hotel and at the convention center, and couldn’t find it. He could’ve hidden it or dropped it somewhere. Did you feel threatened by the daughter?”
Peggy shrugged. “No. Neither girl was actually Tanya. Both girls wanted the duffel bag badly. Maybe you should look a little harder for it.”
“Is there surveillance at the convention center or the hotel?” Steve asked. “Maybe we could get a picture of Abutto coming or going with it and at least have an idea of what the bag looks like.”
Al slapped him on the back. “Good idea. Why didn’t I think of that?”
“No security footage?” Steve guessed.
“Inside, not outside. So far, we haven’t seen hide nor hair of Abutto carrying a bag inside. Maybe he checked it at the door.” Al frowned. “I guess we’ll have to take the bag a little more seriously if Peggy is being harassed about it.”
“Thanks, Al,” she said. “If there are any more Tanyas, I’ll give them your cell phone number.”
Al made a note in the book he always carried. “Anything you want to share from the FBI?”
Steve shrugged. “Nothing unusual about his travel arrangements or anything at his home. We’re still looking into his background.”
“I never met Aris Abutto in person until the day he started setting up at the convention center,” Peggy said as their food arrived. “But I’ve known him through years of correspondence and talking on the phone and the Internet. I’ve seen pictures of Tanya.”
“Maybe he was growing something he shouldn’t have been growing.” Al mimicked smoking. “He might’ve had drugs in that bag. With his background, he could’ve cleared customs without anyone batting an eye.”
“Or knowing what they were looking for,” Steve agreed, making a note in his cell phone.
Bob Richmond, the owner of the restaurant, came out of the kitchen. His frantic eyes scanned the busy eating area until he found Peggy’s face.
“There you are!” He pointed and yelled across the room. “I need your help. Come into the kitchen quick.”
Chapter Seven
Azalea
Azaleas are members of the Ericaceae family which are ancient plants dating back 70 million years. They are related to rhododendrons and blueberries. Most azalea types we know today were cultivated by monks in Buddhist monasteries. Seeds of the rhododendron, sent to England, became the azalea hybrids of today. The early spring bright pinks, reds, and whites brighten even the gloomiest of days. They are also deadly poisonous.
Bob’s real surname name was Christou. He’d changed it for the restaurant, not wanting anyone to know he was Greek when he’d first come to Charlotte.
Peggy
“What kind of flower is that?” Al asked after he’d ordered his chicken and biscuits.
“Even I know that,” Steve said. “It’s a daisy. It has pyrethrum in it. That’s what they use to make insecticide. Right?”
“Close.” Peggy smiled. “That’s what they use to make mosquito repellant.”
Al laughed at him. “That’s what you get for showing off. Speaking of which, are the two of you couples who talk about cases or not? Mary doesn’t want to hear it.”
Steve and Peggy exchanged glances as the waitress brought them all sweet iced tea.
“We’re deciding that.” Peggy unwrapped her silverware. “I’m good with talking about it. Not sure about Steve.”
Al rolled his eyes. “Don’t make me have Mary talk to you all. You know she’ll do it.”
“I don’t want to have any more secrets between us,” Steve echoed Peggy. “I’d like everything out in the open.”
“I know you both pretty well. I’d say you’ll be the talking couples, all up in each other’s business. That’s fine.”
Steve changed the subject and told Al about what had happened to Peggy. “Do you know anything about a missing duffel bag?”
“The security guard said something about Abutto coming in with one. We’ve gone through his things, at his hotel and at the convention center, and couldn’t find it. He could’ve hidden it or dropped it somewhere. Did you feel threatened by the daughter?”
Peggy shrugged. “No. Neither girl was actually Tanya. Both girls wanted the duffel bag badly. Maybe you should look a little harder for it.”
“Is there surveillance at the convention center or the hotel?” Steve asked. “Maybe we could get a picture of Abutto coming or going with it and at least have an idea of what the bag looks like.”
Al slapped him on the back. “Good idea. Why didn’t I think of that?”
“No security footage?” Steve guessed.
“Inside, not outside. So far, we haven’t seen hide nor hair of Abutto carrying a bag inside. Maybe he checked it at the door.” Al frowned. “I guess we’ll have to take the bag a little more seriously if Peggy is being harassed about it.”
“Thanks, Al,” she said. “If there are any more Tanyas, I’ll give them your cell phone number.”
Al made a note in the book he always carried. “Anything you want to share from the FBI?”
Steve shrugged. “Nothing unusual about his travel arrangements or anything at his home. We’re still looking into his background.”
“I never met Aris Abutto in person until the day he started setting up at the convention center,” Peggy said as their food arrived. “But I’ve known him through years of correspondence and talking on the phone and the Internet. I’ve seen pictures of Tanya.”
“Maybe he was growing something he shouldn’t have been growing.” Al mimicked smoking. “He might’ve had drugs in that bag. With his background, he could’ve cleared customs without anyone batting an eye.”
“Or knowing what they were looking for,” Steve agreed, making a note in his cell phone.
Bob Richmond, the owner of the restaurant, came out of the kitchen. His frantic eyes scanned the busy eating area until he found Peggy’s face.
“There you are!” He pointed and yelled across the room. “I need your help. Come into the kitchen quick.”
Chapter Seven
Azalea
Azaleas are members of the Ericaceae family which are ancient plants dating back 70 million years. They are related to rhododendrons and blueberries. Most azalea types we know today were cultivated by monks in Buddhist monasteries. Seeds of the rhododendron, sent to England, became the azalea hybrids of today. The early spring bright pinks, reds, and whites brighten even the gloomiest of days. They are also deadly poisonous.
Bob’s real surname name was Christou. He’d changed it for the restaurant, not wanting anyone to know he was Greek when he’d first come to Charlotte.
Peggy
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