Chapter 34 An Important Cleanup
An Important Cleanup
The entries in Margaret’s data notebook that night fill an entire page.
From the meeting with Beth Purdy in the mailroom to Calvin’s ill-fated scheme to illegally buy seeds (honesty is required), to Veronica Ann’s plan to take over the Deaver Lab plus the fact that it appears Dr. Deaver’s wife may not have had a key to his office after all.
Sifting back through her notes, a pattern emerges that makes it seem as if Dr. Blackstone should be Margaret’s prime suspect. If she can prove he had access to the locked cabinet where the atropine is stored, she will have her man.
It’s the final note that makes Margaret happiest, however.
April 2, 4:25 p.m. V.A. Deaver confirms email to Neville in requesting leaves at original cost.
As expected, Tom did not appreciate the bell, which she attached to a newly purchased brown collar and buckled around his neck this morning.
He yowled at the indignity. She, however, told him he would have to learn to live with it just as we all have to learn to live with our faults and small failings.
Calvin also appeared at work—he was able to call off the seed deal and thus had no need to move to Canada—and she told him that the supply of leaves looked to be back on track.
“Thank the Great God of Science,” he said.
There is not much left to do while they wait except to insert the latest confirmatory data into Dr. Deaver’s paper (Calvin’s work on compound stability has been helpful).
Whether or not the paper will be published before Margaret can be fired or whether Veronica Ann Deaver will prevail and thus Margaret’s job will be saved is still to be determined.
Margaret doesn’t like thinking this, but she hopes it will take Anita Allshouse a long time to recover from her husband’s infidelity.
That’s the benefit of being single. You will not get your heart ripped out of your chest when someone you love betrays you.
Nor will you feel the urge to kill someone because of it.
(Jealousy and revenge are often reasons for murder in Margaret’s mystery books.) Margaret thinks Veronica Ann either loves science so much or has such a strong will that she can forgive Dr. Deaver’s wanderings.
Although his relationship with Rachel Sterling seems more than a wander in Margaret’s opinion.
It’s more like an off-ramp to a completely different road.
Before she starts work on the paper, however, Margaret texts Joe and asks if they can meet this afternoon “for an important cleanup,” which she hopes he will recognize as something to do with the investigation and not a request for mops and chemicals.
Who knows if her termination will also include an examination of her phone?
Closet. 5 pm is his quick reply.
Just before noon, she approaches Purdy’s desk to ask about the key-holder list, but the dean’s assistant shakes her head and Margaret remembers they are only to communicate by note. She hikes down the hill to her truck and there it is, a flapping piece of paper under the windshield wiper.
It’s a strange way to communicate and it seems like any passerby could just walk over and read whatever note is left, but Margaret doesn’t want Purdy to have to pay a price for helping her.
Margaret had expected a printout of the key-issue list. Instead, the note is in Purdy’s handwriting and it has three names connected to master keys: Dean Harold McDonald, the former janitor Sven Arnold (more proof of the university’s slowly turning wheels) and Andrew Gallagher, who Purdy has noted is the new mailroom clerk.
Hope this helps you find the killer. LMK what you find out, Purdy has written.
It takes Margaret a moment to figure out that LMK means “let me know.” BTW (by the way?) I just remembered I saw VA Deaver on campus right before JMD died.
I feel bad about your birthday cake and have something for you. Your so smart.
What’s with all the acronyms and should Margaret leave Purdy a note explaining the difference between “your” and “you’re”? She decides not. However, the note about seeing Veronica Ann on campus before Dr. Deaver died is important. Why hadn’t Purdy mentioned it before?
Margaret hesitates, then crumples the note as required and goes to search for Purdy’s car.
She finds the silver vehicle in its space, retrieves her data notebook from her pocket and tears out a blank page.
Thank you for the information, Margaret writes. What acronyms save in time is made up for by their lack of precision. Do you have an exact date and time for Mrs. Deaver’s visit? Please let me know.
As much as Margaret believes Blackstone is the chief suspect, she will not dismiss a contradictory clue.
She tucks the note securely under the windshield wiper, noticing as she does that Purdy’s messy habits also extend to her car.
The passenger-side floor is covered with a jumble of crumpled fast-food bags and paper cups (she sees a hint of golden arches on one bag), a clutter of empty plastic water and soda bottles (such waste) plus several single-slice pizza boxes.
A dusting of stained napkins covers the whole mess.
On the passenger seat is a small black duffel stenciled with a stylish right triangle logo and the word “Adidas” in white, a tangle of high heels and a pair of white sneakers with sparkles that form a heart on each of the toe boxes.
The back seat seems equally full. How could a person drive comfortably in that mess?
She peers more closely through the back window.
There are boxes, a rolled-up throw rug, what looks like a case of wine, a beach chair and a large mound of clothes.
Margaret recognizes the bright-pink blouse atop the pile.
There are corners of black skirts, tomato-red trousers, the sleeve of a neon-green silk blouse, a purple dress.
Something about the sight of the clothes tickles her brain but Margaret doesn’t know why.
They must be destined for the dry cleaners. How can Purdy afford such expense?
It’s not her job to estimate people’s spending power; however, Margaret thinks Purdy might benefit from a system similar to hers that allows for the pairing of various blouses with the same skirt and boots, which would save not only money but also closet space.
Margaret looks at her watch. She just has time to gobble down her lunch and have her coffee.
Back at the lab, she finds Calvin coming out of the grow room. “Light burned out. I changed it,” he says. “Oh, and somebody left something for you.” He nods toward Margaret’s bench, where a colorful gift bag sits. “An intern, I think. I don’t know her name.”
Margaret puts on her lab coat and goes to the computer.
“Aren’t you going to see what’s in it?” Calvin asks.
“I think it’s from Beth Purdy,” Margaret says, remembering the note.
“Well, what is it?”
Margaret knows Calvin will not give up until the question is answered. She goes over and looks into the bag. Inside is a cupcake in a cardboard holder. It’s frosted in white and decorated with an orange-frosting carrot. A single candle is inserted in the middle.
“Is it your birthday today?” Calvin asks after she tells him what the bag contains.
“It’s a long story.”
“Aren’t you going to eat it?”
“Not right now. I just had lunch, plus there’s lots of work to do.”
Four minutes later, Margaret discovers there’s even more work than she estimated. Blackstone has emailed her a list of changes he wants to the Cameron Foundation grant application, not least of which is a claim that he found the supply source for the leaves. How dare he?
At ten minutes to five, Margaret wraps up her work and tells Calvin she’s leaving for the day (the tiniest of lies) and says he can also go home if he wants.
“I’ve just got to finish up here,” he says, pushing a button that causes the TissueLyser to rattle to life.
“I’ll lock up when I’m done,” he says.
“See you tomorrow, then.” Margaret hangs up her lab coat and retrieves her purse, which contains Veronica Ann’s notebook.
“Aren’t you going to take your cupcake?” Calvin asks.
“I’m not really a fan of carrot cake. You can have it if you want.”
Calvin grins. “Thanks, I think I will. It will be a little celebration for when I get these last measurements done.”
Calvin’s not a bad guy, Margaret thinks. Like Brussels sprouts, he’s an acquired taste.
“Hey, Margaret,” Joe calls when she appears at his door. “How’s the greenhouse pad coming?”
“Almost there.”
“Just let me know when you’re ready to set the thing up, although my skills don’t come cheap.” He grins. “I may require payment in Early Girls.”
“Would two pounds per hour be enough?”
“Ha, that’s funny,” Joe says.
Margaret hadn’t meant it to be.
“What’s with this ‘important cleanup’ you need?” Joe makes air quotes around the words.
Margaret tells him everything she’s learned so far. “That means I need to get Dr. Deaver’s research notebook to compare it with Veronica Ann’s notes.”
“Man, a whole reverse Adrian Lyne–Unfaithful thing.”
“I’m not sure who or what that is.”
“Sorry. It’s this movie about a woman with a great life—handsome husband, beautiful kid, gorgeous house—who gets obsessed with a stranger and he gives her this book and…” Joe stops when he sees the blank look on Margaret’s face. “Never mind.”
“Will you let me into Dr. Deaver’s office again?”
“Of course. Third time’s the charm,” Joe says with a wink.
Why does everyone repeat the same misinformation? Maybe it’s a battle that can’t be won.
Joe tells Margaret that he will go first with his cleaning cart and open the office door since the earlier hour means there may be people about, and that, if the coast is clear, she can slip inside and do what needs to be done.
“I’ll come back in fifteen minutes and lock up, if that works.”
Margaret assures him it will be enough time.
She waits, then follows Joe down the hall.
She can hear the rumble of the cart’s wheels, then Joe’s voice.