Read Heavenly Highland Inn 05 - Suffocating the Sunflowers for Free Online

her nose. It wasn't the smell she found offensive, but the consequences of the peanut oil being stored in the wrong bottle that disturbed her.
    “ Didn't you smell it?” Ida demanded with frustration as she glowered at Henry. “Anyone can smell that and know that it's not sunflower oil!”
    “ I did!” he insisted, fresh tears forming and his grief causing his voice to crack. “In fact just to be extra cautious I emptied out all of the sunflower oil that was in here, I cleaned the bottle, and refilled it with sunflower oil myself!” he shook his head as he stared at the offending bottle with a mixture of shock and hatred. “I know I did.”
    “ So, you're saying someone else must have put the peanut oil in the bottle after you cleaned and refilled it?” Vicky asked as she studied the bottle intently. There was no sign that it had been tampered with, but it wasn't a sealed bottle and the cap just screwed off so there was no way to tell what had happened to it.
    “ Someone must have,” Henry insisted as he handed the bottle to Vicky so she could have a closer look. “I know for a fact there was no peanut oil in there, not even when I added the oil to the food. In fact there wasn't a trace of peanut oil in this kitchen. Someone had to bring it in from outside the kitchen. But that's just crazy, isn't it?” he shook his head as if he was doubting himself.
    Vicky was certain as she rolled the bottle between her fingers that Henry was telling the truth, but Ida didn't look as convinced.
    “ Or maybe you just made a mistake,” Ida pointed out and shook her head. “And now you've covering it up because you know the inn and you will be held responsible.”
    “ Aunt Ida!” Vicky frowned as she shot a glare in her direction. “Henry wouldn't do that!”
    “ Maybe not,” Ida said with a sigh. “But that is what the police are going to say when they find peanut oil in Sandy's food.”
    “ If that were the case why would I admit to it now?” he snapped in return. “Why would I suddenly say there was peanut oil in the wrong bottle? I would never lie about something like that!”
    “ Calm down, Henry,” Vicky cringed as she glanced towards the entrance of the kitchen and then back to him. “Just keep this quiet for now,” she slid the bottle of oil into her pocket.
    “ Vicky, what are you doing?” Aunt Ida hissed as she stared at her niece. “You can't conceal evidence! If anyone finds out, you could face jail time!”
    “ It isn't real evidence,” Vicky argued in return, though she was careful to keep her voice low. “It's evidence that was planted, to make it look as if this death was accidental. But Sandy's death was no accident,” she said grimly as she looked from Henry to Ida. “Sandy Holstead was murdered. I'm not going to let Henry be accused of something he didn’t do, and I'm not going to let the inn take the fall because someone decided it was the perfect place to commit a murder. It may seem like the wrong thing to do, Aunt Ida, but it's the only thing I can think of right now. Until we get to the bottom of this, all three of us have to be clear on one thing,” she looked from one face to the other. “This bottle never existed, understand?”
    Henry swallowed thickly, he still had tears in his eyes, but he nodded. Aunt Ida sighed heavily, she wrung her hands together and shook her head with frustration.
    “ Yes, Vicky,” she finally agreed.
    “ I need to speak with Henry,” a voice said from right behind Vicky. Vicky spun on her heel to find a tall man in an expensive, black business suit staring hard at her. For just a moment Vicky was startled by his hawk-like gaze and his fierce stance. He was a slender man, to the point of being called skinny, but his presence was very large and full of arrogance. When Vicky found her voice again Ida had stepped closer to her.
    “ May I ask who you are?” Vicky inquired in a polite tone.
    “ My name is Barry Baker. I am a lawyer, and I represent