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“Is this a joke?” Edwards asked him and turned to Nelson. “Is he making fun of me?”
“No,” Nelson replied immediately. “He’s merely explaining that the killer chose yew for strange, symbolic reasons and to link the victims.”
Edwards let out an impatient snort. “I know that!”
“Of course.” Nelson bowed his head as he stepped back, signaling for Edwards to continue.
He shot Nox a peevish look before flipping back several pages on the top clipboard. “Did you know that it was Pacific yew?” he asked Nox with a haughty humph.
“Pacific yew? That is interesting…” Nox said, his eyes widening as they swung to Nelson’s.
“Why?” he asked and looked at Edwards but he just stared back cluelessly.
“Do you know?” Nox challenged as he raised a hand to his ear.
“Knock it off!” Nelson whispered, swatting Nox’s hand down.
“It’s not my job to know about plants. I’m not a botanist,” Edwards said flatly and Nox smirked as he turned on a heel and paced toward Julian’s table.
“The Pacific yew is extremely rare. It’s classified as near threatened and the Forestry Service monitors any known trees among the old-growth populations because it’s highly toxic and used to be used as a cancer treatment. You would have to be a botanist or connected to the US Forestry Service to know where to find Pacific yew,” he said.
“That is interesting,” Nelson said as he made a note to interview Clancy’s other former assistant, Aubrey. He recalled that she had been away and was busy planning a wedding so he didn’t think she was the Badb or had poisoned Julian and the MacCrorys. But she was yet another link to Clancy and she might have some good ideas as to how the Badb got his hands on an extremely rare type of yew needles. “Anything else stand out, doctor?” he asked Edwards.
“Julian Sherwood was in otherwise decent health, aside from mild, mostly seasonal asthma. Whereas, Colin MacCrory was suffering from a list of ailments that I’ve included. Obviously. I would venture that the man had never been to a doctor or a reputable dentist in his lifetime.”
Nox made a sad, serious sound as he rested his forearm on the table next to Julian’s shoulder and lowered. “He was loved and cared for before he lost his way.” He clicked his teeth at Julian, no longer concerned with Edwards or his peevish presence. “I wish you had turned to your father instead of the MacCrorys and that liar,” he whispered, then murmured something lower in Gaelic that Nelson couldn’t make out. “I’ll do what I can to make this right,” he told Julian as he stood.
“Please get back,” Edwards said as he came around the table, his face pinched as he shooed Nox away.
Nelson got between them before Nox could snap back. He’d behaved surprisingly well, given Edwards’s persnicketiness and Nelson knew better than to push their luck. “Thank you, doctor. We’ll be leaving,” he said as he turned Nox and steered him toward the doors.
Once they were in the hall, Nelson rushed Nox around the corner and gave him room to vent. “What a joke!” Nox announced, flailing as he headed for the elevator. “Seriously. Where did they find that guy?”
“Medical school?”
“Ha!” Nox reached and jabbed the call button. “He might be a competent doctor but he’s got the imagination and the sense of humor of a corpse.” The doors opened with a soft bing and Nox stepped inside, giving the lobby button another irritated jab. “There’s probably a reason he doesn’t work with living patients.”
“Possibly,” Nelson agreed absently and checked his watch. “Let’s go before Felton finds out we’re here. That wasn’t as bad as I was expecting with Edwards, but I’d like to avoid upsetting you any more than absolutely necessary.”
“I’ll be fine but I am never disappointed if I can avoid a confrontation with Felton,” Nox said with a weary eye roll as he turned to Nelson. “I know what you’re thinking, but Aubrey isn’t the only botanist in the city, let alone the state. I’m sure there are a lot of people who could get access to Pacific yew.”
Nelson hummed in agreement and stepped out when the doors opened, heading for the parking lot. “I can’t see how it could be Aubrey. But I can think of someone she knows who wouldn’t have trouble gaining access to two federal facilities.”
“I cannot believe we’re back to Clancy,” Nox said sarcastically. “Let’s add that he’s too smart to risk it to the many reasons why this isn’t him.”
“Gentlemen!” A familiar voice called and they turned to find Bixby waving and weaving around bodies, hurrying to catch up. “I was just on my way to your office to see if I could catch you.”
“What are you doing here?” Nelson asked as he accepted Bixby’s hand and shook it. “DC's a little far afield for you, isn’t it?”
“It is,” Bixby confirmed, but gestured at his dark blue suit with the stack of folders in his left hand. “I had to be in court this morning. I heard you were being briefed on the other MacCrory and Sherwood and thought my findings on Lonnie MacCrory would come in handy. I finished them last night.” He passed one of the folders to Nelson, then used the rest to give Nox’s arm a gentle swat. “And I wanted to check on you and deliver this,” he said, reaching inside his coat and taking out an evidence bag.
“My mom’s locket!” Nox pulled Bixby into a hug.
Bixby leaned back and gave him a thorough once over. “I told you I’d get it back to you as soon as possible. How are you doing?”
“Me?” Nox made an impatient, dismissive sound. “Not a big deal,” he said with a warning glance at Nelson. “Edwards is a clown. Can you take over down there?” he asked, making Bixby laugh.
“I’m afraid not, but I think I know who you’re talking about.” He gave Nox and Nelson a commiserating wince. “I also wanted to follow up on the hair samples we found inside the locket,” he added and there was an immediate change in Nox.
