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It was like a buzz in the air. A different temperature. A different humidity. Dawson could see lines across the top of the greenhouse above certain plants which he guessed was some kind of watering system. There was an overwhelming scent and aroma of fresh, light, and sharp sensations. The smell of crushed leaves and pine, herbs, and mint. Although he was never going to be an expert, he was sure he could catch scents of honeysuckle. And while his feet seemed frozen to the ground, Piper was off like an Olympic sprinter. She moved from plant to plant, examining leaves, touching soil. At one point, she even lifted a pair of pruning shears and clipped a few stems back with a crease in her brow. She opened her notebook and made a few scribbled notes. She moved to a timer switch and made some adjustments. She lifted out bags from under the plants, examining what he imagined was some kind of plant food, shaking her head at one, then dropping to her knees to dig around on the floor until she found what she was looking for. She emptied out a container somewhere in the system and refilled it, before moving on to the bottom part of the greenhouse.
“Do you have any idea what she’s doing?” whispered Dawson to Mr. McNally.
“Not a clue,” the man replied, a wave of fondness on his face. “But she reminds me of Margaret. Best not to interrupt. She’ll tell us when she’s finished.” Mr. McNally folded his hands in front of his chest as he gave an approving nod. “It’s quite fascinating to watch.”
Dawson stood shoulder to shoulder with him, as Piper carried on her methodical and enthusiastic assessment of the contents of the greenhouse. After about ten minutes, she finally realized that the two men hadn’t been talking.
She turned to them in surprise as she scribbled something else in her notebook. “What?”
Dawson exchanged a glance with Mr. McNally and they both smiled. “Nothing. We’re just waiting for you.”
She held up one hand. “No pressure. I’m not finished yet.” She nodded over her shoulder. “And I’ve still got the second one to see.”
There was no stopping her.
She moved on to the second greenhouse. It didn’t appear to be quite as methodical as the first, and again, some plants looked worse for wear, some distinctly starved, and others appeared to have flourished.
Dawson turned again to Mr. McNally. “Thanks for the baskets this morning. I guess I should have brought one with us if I’d known we’d be here for so long.”
Mr. McNally smiled. “Make sure you get to the bottom of the basket—the chocolate cinnamon bagel is to die for.”
Dawson was beginning to feel strangely comfortable around this man. It was weird. Dawson wasn’t easily intimidated, but that first visit in the attorneys’ office had been out of his comfort zone. If Mr. McNally had been a little wary of the two people named in Margaret Smith’s will, it appeared as if that wariness was now resolving. Maybe it was the fact they’d managed to solve two clues. Maybe it was just the fact that the attorneys had finally had the chance to meet the two people who had been named in Margaret’s will for a number of years.
As they stood waiting, what struck Dawson most was how old Mr. McNally actually was. The skin on his hands was paper thin, and there was a slight wheeze from his chest.
“Want to sit down?” Dawson asked.
McNally automatically started to shake his head, and then he held his hand out to steady himself on one of the shelves of plants. “Actually, that might be good.”
There was only a rickety-looking stool at the other end of the greenhouse and Dawson wasn’t sure it wouldn’t collapse. He held open the door and led Mr. McNally back out to the car. “Do you want me to hurry Piper along?”
McNally settled back into the comfortable leather seats in the car. “No, it’s fine. Just come and get me when she’s finished.”
Dawson nodded and walked back to the greenhouse. This time when he entered the greenhouse, he stopped to take a deep breath. It was damp, earthy, but had another edge to it, something vibrant.
Piper was on her knees again, checking on roots of plants in a tray above her.
She must have caught his movement so she turned toward him, her eyes widening in surprise. “Where did Mr. McNally go?”
“He’s tired. He’s back in the car.”
Piper stood up and brushed the knees of her jeans. “I think I’m just about done.”
Dawson looked her in the eye. “So, what have you found?”
She sighed. “So much. There’s a lot of work to be done here.” She held up her notebook. “But I’ve got it all down. I’ll be able to give them an extensive list of instructions for whoever they employ to take over here.”
Dawson glanced over his shoulder and gave her a knowing smile. “Tell me what you really think.”
The edges of her lips crept upward, and she lowered her voice. “I love this. I love everything about this.” She held out her hands. “There’s so much potential here—a whole world.”
“But what about all these plants? Surely they won’t work for the research you get commissioned to do?”
Piper pulled a face. “But I can make it work. Lots of plants complement each other and are grown under similar conditions. I know these greenhouses look full, but a lot of these specimens need to be trimmed and controlled. If we came back in a month, after they’ve hopefully got someone new to work here, you’d see a big difference.”
Dawson moved over and touched a pink flower. “You really spend most of your day in a place like this?”
Piper looked surprised at his words. “Of course.” She pointed to the heaters and watering system. “It’s comfortable, good for my skin, and smells delicious. Why would I want to be anywhere else?”
