Read The Perils of Peaches (Scents of Murder Book 3) for Free Online Page B

started asking for something a little different.
    I pulled out a product catalog just as the phone rang. “Tennessee River Soaps.”
    “Andi, we need to talk.” Jerry’s voice had an edge to it, a little sharp yet not painful.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “It’s about your peach baby food.”
    I closed the catalog. “What about it?”
    “I need you to come down to the station right away. And bring a list of ingredients too.”
    “I don’t understand.” What interest could the PD have in my peach baby food?
    “It’ll take longer for me to explain. Just come down.”
    Peach baby food. I went to the computer, and within two minutes I had a list: peaches, sugar, water. Easy enough. I printed the list, grabbed my purse, then locked up the store.
    I entered the Greenburg PD and stopped at the front desk. “Fleta, Jerry called and asked me to bring a list of my peach baby food ingredients. Could you please let him know I’m here?”
    “Sure thing.” Fleta picked up her phone. “Chief, your sister-in-law’s here. Yeah? Got it. I’ll send her back.” She waved me past the desk.
    “Thanks.” My palms sweating, my unanswered questions fighting for their chance to be asked, I found my way past a room of four cubicles, where uniformed officers glanced my way, then went back to their paperwork.
    Jerry motioned for me to enter his office, separated from the other work spaces by a glass wall. I opened the door, the metal knob cool to my fingertips. I ignored the fact that my pride still smarted after the exchange I’d had with Franklin, and Jerry sending me away like a scolded child.
    “That was fast,” he said as I slapped the list of ingredients onto his desk and sat down.
    “I didn’t speed, either.” The quip came easily as breathing.
    Jerry’s dimple winked at me, then disappeared. “The crime scene team found some interesting contents in Dr. Bradley’s trash can. Five empty jars of your baby food. The M.E. also found some interesting contents in the good doctor’s stomach.”
    “Oh. My baby food. I thought it was a joke, really.” I shrugged. “A joke I didn’t get, especially coming from Dr. Bradley. He, um, would eat it sometimes. Especially the peaches. You’re not saying . . .”
    “I’m not saying your baby food had anything to do with his death. But we’re investigating everything he ingested before he died,” Jerry said.
    I nodded. “That’s right. He ate lunch at Oat Grass. I know that much.”
    “Supper too. So don’t think it’s your baby food. Not just yet. The jars and lids are being tested, to see if there’s any bacteria that might have been present.” Jerry sighed, then picked up the list. “That’s a short list.”
    “It’s good pure food.” My face flamed. “And I sterilize the jars and lids before canning the food.”
    “I’m sure you do, especially since Hannah eats the food you make.”
    “And she’s never gotten sick from it,” I blurted.
    “I know.” Jerry pinched the bridge of his nose between his eyes. “Listen, Andi, I’m doing my job. You know that. I’ll notify you if anything turns up in the tests. I’m not expecting it to. But I’ll get this list faxed to the M.E.’s office. You’re not the only one, either. The owner of Oat Grass is bringing me a list of ingredients for Dr. Bradley’s meals as well.”
    “I hope you find the answer, Jer.” I stood. “Is there anything else you need from me?”
    He shook his head. “Thanks for coming. If I need anything else, I’ll let you know.”
    With that, I left the police department and entered the humidity outside. I headed back to my store. My baby food couldn’t have done something to Dr. Bradley. Inconceivable. Except for the niggle of worry that maybe there was some odd sort of bacteria that had grown in the jar.
    However, didn’t botulism only make you sick to your stomach? Barkha would know.
    I dialed her cell phone and got her voice mail. “Barkha, it’s Andi. I had an interesting call