Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Julia Tutwiler Prison For Women
Wetumpka, Alabama
Present Day…
Sunday afternoons meant tea time at the prison.
Magnolia always enjoyed tea time, though, she had to admit, it wasn’t nearly as fun when someone else prepared the tea. The quality was never quite high enough to meet her exacting standards.
The first time that the warden had invited her for tea in his office, she’d been amused. She’d understood his actions, of course. Most men were annoyingly predictable. The warden had wanted to show what an alpha he was. A man brave enough to have tea with the Poison Princess.
He’d smirked at her for most of the time, as if daring her to ask if he’d put something in her tea. She hadn’t asked. Hadn’t hesitated as she daintily lifted the porcelain teacup. Her pinky finger had been extended because she was a lady after all, and she’d politely sipped the tea.
Now, as a general rule, southern women liked sweet tea. Her own mother had made the most amazing sweet tea in the world. On a hot summer day, there was nothing better, her mother would claim, than some ice cold sweet tea.
However, Magnolia preferred tea of a different variety.
Warm tea. With a cube of sugar. A dash of milk.
A little habit she’d picked up because it was just so much easier to disguise the taste of poison when you were making a tea that already had so many different ingredients.
With warm, flavored tea, you could easily slide a little something extra in the mix. Apple, hibiscus, pomegranate, cinnamon…
Poison.
Yes, her brews were much preferred over her mother’s sweet tea. And over the warden’s weak blends.
But…
Beggars couldn’t be choosers.
She’d been charming during that first tea. After all, she excelled at charm. She’d always told her daughter…smile more. Draw them to you. Never let them see the threat.
But Lily wouldn’t listen. Sadly. Her smiles had always been few and far between. A pity, that. Because she was sure Lily had her smile.
Physical appeal and charm were two strengths in a woman’s arsenal. When would Lily learn to use those strengths?
The warden had enjoyed their initial visit so much that he’d made tea time into a weekly event. He probably thought he’d write a book about the experience one day…
Tea with a Killer.
She’d see about that plan. He’d rather been amusing to her, breaking up the monotony of prison, so she’d allowed the little visits to continue. But if he pushed her too far…
She might just have to slip a little something into his tea.
Simply because she was in prison, that did not mean she didn’t still have enormous power. And fans. Friends.
A woman’s smile and charm could go a long way in this world. If only Lily would learn that truth.
She sipped the tea. Batted her lashes at the warden. He was ten years her senior, and he’d be more than interested in anything she suggested to him.
But…
Lawrence leaned forward, face all intent. Almost worried. “I need to tell you about a news story…”
She put down the tea. It didn’t even clink when she set down the cup. If he’d had something important to tell her, he should have led with that news. Not waited while she sipped.
“It’s Lily,” he said, voice dramatic.
Magnolia blinked. “She’s not due to visit today.”
“No, no, she’s not coming to visit. It seems…I’m talking about a news story.” He pressed his hands on the table in front of him, dangerously close to tipping over the teapot. “Lily was taken. Abducted by a killer.”
Magnolia was conscious of every single beat of her heart. Every single slow beat.
He watched her like a hawk, looking for a response.
She reached for her tea cup once more. Lifted it. Made sure that pinky finger was extended.
“She was rescued,” he added.
“Of course, she was. I’m sure FBI Agent Gage Emerick rushed to the scene. He’s quite taken with Lily. Always has been.” Always has been unworthy of her, too. Such a dick. Using my Lily’s talents.
He frowned at her casual response. “Ah, the cops got to her. The place she’d been inside—it exploded right after she got out.”
The smallest bit of tea sloshed over the side of her cup, splashing onto her hand. “Oh, dear.”
“She is safe,” he told her. “I do not want you concerned.”
“I’ve spilled my tea.”
“She was taken to a hospital and examined. The reports on the news say that she is safe. There were videos taken of her—her and Atlas Bennett.”
Oh, Lily. She stared into the tea. What are you doing?
“They’re together. Romantically, I mean. I…didn’t realize that Lily was involved with him. Atlas Bennett is quite the wealthy individual.”
“Quite.” She put down the cup. Picked up a napkin and dotted at the small spill on her hand.
“I thought you’d want to know. Seeing as how you and your daughter are so close.”
She folded the napkin. “Did they catch the man who took her?”
“Not yet. I’m sure they will. But, uh, about Atlas…I’ve heard he donates generously to charitable causes, and I was thinking—”
Why start thinking now? But instead of saying that, she nodded in an agreeable, encouraging way.
“You were thinking he may contribute to some causes very near and dear to your heart?” Her smile was as sweet as a cube of sugar.
“I bet he would. Know what, Lawrence? I have a great idea. Why don’t you invite him here?
I’ll even talk to him for you. Send him straight to me.
We’ll have a one-on-one chat. I’m sure he will be more than willing to aid you. ”
The warden beamed at her. “You think so?”
“Oh, I think a private visit with Atlas Bennett is one hundred percent in order.” And she thought that the visit needed to be arranged immediately. “Call him. Tell him Lily’s mother sends her regards. That I am dying to meet him.”
Someone would be dying, all right. It would not be her.