CHAPTER 17
Mr. Anatolia sighed and then looked to the ceiling
as if searching for his wife, his love, his Katherine in the thick globs of
dried plaster there.
“Years ago,” he began, not yet facing me,
“Katherine and I were researchers for a scientific outfit called the Bay Data
Group.” He turned, walked back to where I was sitting and sat down in the small
colonial rocker facing me.
“Things went very well in the beginning. We did
extraordinary research in the area of migrating plant spores. Along with the
discoveries we made on their migration, however, we found horrific application
possibilities. The government wanted our involvement and so did other
interests.”
“Namely, other countries, I should think.”
“That’s correct. Both people from other countries
and our country, Jillian, are not the nicest people you’d want to be around. Anyway,
Katherine and I didn’t have a problem working for our government, thinking we
were working in the interest of national security.
“However, when our own government actually sent
their representatives to work with us, our feelings changed dramatically. I
suppose I should say my feelings changed. I think Katherine may have
still been working with them without wanting me to know.”
“Mr. Anatolia, are you sure she was working behind
your back?” Could this be The Venus Flytrap connection?
He sighed and looked me straight in the eye. “I
don’t have any proof except for all the times she left without telling me where
she was going. I had this gnawing feeling that Katherine was keeping something
from me, and then on the night she died, I confronted her.”
“This was on the boat?”
I gripped the sofa edge, trying to steel myself to
hearing it.
“Yes. Actually, I was more afraid of it being
another man in her life.”
“And was there?”
“She said that there was no one else. She told me
she loved me and she loved Regina, and anything she did was for us.” Mr.
Anatolia looked at me with a puzzled expression. “I decided not to question her
after that. And then, during the night, Katherine whispered she needed some
air.”
“That’s the last time you saw her?”
He nodded. “After she left, I thought I was
dreaming because I heard Katherine arguing with someone and I thought I was
replaying our previous conversation. When I woke up she wasn’t beside me.”
“So you ran after her immediately?”
“Immediately, Jillian, but it was too late. By the
time I came topside she was overboard. All I saw was a pile of rope on the deck.”
“The pile of rope that had been disturbed by
someone.” I shuddered.
“I see you’ve heard the story.” I could feel him
withdraw.
“Hugh Porter told me. He said that he used to work
with you and Katherine.”
“That was a long time ago. Hugh is a top-notch guy.
I have a great deal of respect for him. Katherine did too.”
“I don’t mean to change the subject and I really
must be going soon, but you said that you knew all the accounts of the Seaside
Nursery?” I stood, putting my jacket on.
“That’s correct. I’ve worked in Half Moon Bay
forever.” He stood to help me.
“Does the term ‘Venus Flytrap’ mean anything to
you?”
“Hmm…strange name. I’ve never heard a business
called that. Catchy, though.” He looked genuinely confused by it.
He obviously knew nothing–not even that his wife
was working for them at one time.
Poor man. He’d been deceived and robbed of his wife
and daughter. I think I would be out of my mind.
“Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Anatolia. You get
some rest now, and please know that we’re doing all we can to find answers.”
***
Pulling away from Anatolia’s house, I decided to
check with the chief for the tail he’d promised to send. There was a car
following me, but it was a champagne Camry. Something was wrong here. I felt
scared but told myself not to panic.
I pulled out onto the highway and spotted a
different car keeping chase as well. That car had to be my tail. I
floored the accelerator and prayed I’d reach the station in time. The car
directly behind me abruptly turned left at the next intersection. The other car
followed it close behind.
“Better late than never.” I heaved a sigh of relief.
I prayed the tail managed to report the license number.
I pulled into the station and headed inside. The
chief was in his office when I burst through the door.
“Jillian!” He extended his hand.
Taking it, I almost babbled. “I’m so glad you’re
here. The Camry was following me, but your tail followed him.”
I looked around the room and noticed two gentlemen
in dark blue suits sitting in the shadows.
Taking me by the arm he motioned for the gentlemen
to stand.
“Jillian, I’d like you to meet Agent Boyle, and
Agent Chambers. They’re from the FBI. Gentlemen, Jillian Bradley, the lady I
was telling you about.”
After these perfunctory introductions, the chief
got down to business. “I’ve told them everything we know so far. These men tell
me the substance found in the cameo ring was indeed dead plant material but
there were no dangerous spores. However, it seems when you mix the Brachystegia
flora with certain other substances it becomes a poison used in Africa to coat
spearheads and darts that are deadly.”
“Chief, why would Regina carry useless plant material
around like that? I mean, what would be the point?”
The shorter agent spoke up. “The point is, Mrs.
Bradley, Miss Anatolia had possession of the flora and it was proof more could
be obtained.”
The chief nodded. “What we don’t know, obviously,
is who her contact was.”
“Chief, you said that The Venus Flytrap address was
Regina’s. Have you been out there yet?”
The dark-suited agents both again stood and looked
at the chief for answers.
“We’re just on our way, Jillian. Gentlemen, shall
we?” The chief gestured an invitation.
“I’m coming too.” I picked up my black shoulder
strap purse and slung it over my arm.
The chief took a call on the way out to Regina’s
house. “Rats!” He slapped the phone shut.
“What, now?”
“Deputy Cortez lost the Camry.” He bent his chin to
his neck and peered at the ground in frustration.
“What about the license number?”
“He did get the number fortunately. Our friends
here are checking it out as we speak.”
“Your friend Walter was right.” Agent Boyle stepped
up behind us as we made our way through the office. “It was Nevada all right.
The car checked out to belong to a police officer who reported it stolen last
week.”
“So we’re back to square one.”
“Now, don’t get discouraged, Chief. Walter is still
checking out who’s been driving it at the hotel.”
***
Regina’s house stood out from her neighbors with great
curb appeal. The gray stucco exterior trimmed with white shutters formed the
perfect backdrop for her lovely landscaped yard. Colorful petunias filled the
flowerbed that hugged the home in circular elegance.
Interspersed between them and the manicured shrubs
grew a cluster of fall mums. A large shade tree, bordered with azaleas,
rhododendrons, and camellias, would look spectacular when the shrubs bloomed in
the spring. What a pity she wouldn’t be here to see it.
A flagstone walkway welcomed guests to the front
door. It cut through the emerald green lawn, which spread out impeccably free
of weeds. We approached the welcome mat that pictured ivy growing along its
borders.
“From the looks of the yard I’d say Regina knew
what she was doing with plants. Look at it. Everything is perfect. Not a weed or
even a dead blossom anywhere.” I was truly amazed.
“Let’s go inside and check it out.”
The chief unlocked the door. The two agents and I
followed him into the front hall. A dark carved wood table graced the entryway
with a matching carved mirror above. I stared just a bit at my reflection. Hmm,
I really could have done more with myself. My hair had become terribly
windblown.
I had just smoothed most of my hair back into place
with my hands when the living room spread out before us. It was decorated with
understated sofas and chairs covered in chocolate suede. The hardwood floors
gleamed.
The agents checked out the two bedrooms and hall bath,
finding nothing. The chief and I wandered into the kitchen. It was painted
sunshine yellow with white appliances and red countertops. Red and white
gingham curtains hung at the windows over the sink near the back door. A small
table and two chairs sat in a nook with pictures of flowers on the walls.
“All in all, it’s a cozy little house here.” The
chief looked approving.
“Cozy….”
At that moment, I noticed a narrow door leading off
from the back of the kitchen.
“Look at this, Chief.” I headed toward it. “It may
lead somewhere.”
“It’s probably a pantry.” He inspected the door.
That’s just what it was. He opened it, and I
reached for a can of marinara sauce. Barilla© brand. I didn’t actually touch it
before accidentally knocking over some cans behind it.
“Oh…. ”
“Great job, Jillian.” The chief poked me. “Great
way to defile her house.”
He may have been kidding, but that didn’t sit well
with me. I wanted to leave everything as she had left it. It was only proper.
I reached far back into the shelf to retrieve the
rebellious cans and pushed against the outside edge. The shelf moved. I nearly
lost my balance.
“Chief, look.” I pushed the shelf to the right. The
wall behind it gave way and opened up into another room.
“Good work. Stay here while I get the agents.”
“No problem. I’m not going in there without you.”
He chuckled at that, but I was dead serious. This
room without a door, in full dark, gave me the creeps.
When he returned with the agents, he stepped in
first and flipped on a light. Windowless, it was an office with two desks, two
chairs, a filing cabinet and one puny overhead light. The light barely
illuminated the tiny space, giving a tinge of dingy yellow, making everything
look dirtier than it probably was.
“We’ll take it from here, Chief.” Agent Chambers
pushed forward.
Unlike the tidy yard and interior of the house, the
tiny office lay cluttered with documents, paper cups half-filled with cold
coffee and trashcans overflowing with paper. The two agents ordered us not to
touch anything and called for backup.
“They’ll need bags to bring in all of this stuff as
evidence.” The chief nodded approval. “Come on, Jillian; let’s get back to the
station.”
I followed closely behind him as we got into the
car. “Chief, did you find anything in Regina’s belongings you took from her
room at the hotel?”
“I didn’t see anything unusual. Just personal stuff
and a briefcase filled with papers relating to the conference. The only other
thing was a book.”
“A book?” I looked up from clasping the seat belt.
“Yeah, it was some gardening book. I didn’t really
notice the title. Do you think it could be important?”
“Hmm. I want to see it, just in case.”
We wasted no time when we arrived back at the
station. The book was in a protective plastic bag but I made note of the title
and checked the flyleaf to see if there were any inscriptions. On the front
inside cover were just three words, all my love.
Why hadn’t the inscriber signed their name? My
brain recalled a recent image of a book being signed but the image vanished
before any details materialized.
“Chief,
would it be possible to get prints off that book?”
“You think it’s important to take prints off of
something inside her briefcase?” The chief shook his head, and then sighed. “Okay,
Jillian. If you think it’s important, I’ll send it over to the lab and check for
prints.”
“Thanks.” I smiled. He was just indulging me.
“Listen, Chief, I’m meeting my garden club for
lunch. Then I have an appointment with the Westovers at three o’clock.”
“All right.” The chief took off his jacket and
settled in behind his desk. “I’m looking forward to hearing from the special
agents as to what they’ve found.”
In an uncharacteristic display of sympathy, he
shook his head and let out a long breath. “Why would a young woman like Regina
get mixed up with a covert operation like The Venus Flytrap?”
I shrugged, as if shrugging could undo all of the
evil, secret dealings we’d uncovered. “Why would anyone do anything
illegal–money?”
“Love?” He added his guess.
“Loyalty?”
I couldn’t help but see that photo in my mind, the
one with Katherine Anatolia dead on the ship deck.
