The Ginseng Conspiracy (A Kay Driscoll Mystery) (36 page)

“So now we know where Sherman’s DNA findings came from,” Elizabeth said. “What's the story on Dr. Richard Stewart?” Elizabeth asked. “One of the clan, I assume.”

I told them about Dr. Stewart modifying the ginseng, and John Stewart selling it.

“Did Thom say what the deal was with the hooded robes?” Elizabeth asked. “Was I right? They thought the Halloween Ball would be an ideal cover for their robes?”

“You were, Elizabeth.”

She smiled. “But why all the same robes?”

“There's something cryptic about that,” Deirdre said.

“I don't know. Thom didn't say.”

“Maybe they had some secret society going on,” Elizabeth said.

A silence followed her words. I couldn't suppress a wry smile.

“And they used the ginseng to advance their spiritual progress and enlightenment.” Elizabeth laughed. “Hmm.”

We all snickered, even Mary Ann. That brought some needed relief back into the room.

“Kay, it was so lucky you decided to follow those two hooded people into the store that night,” Deirdre said with approval.

I looked at Deirdre. Her comment struck me dumb for a minute. I never thought it lucky about anything that happened these past few weeks, especially going into the vacant store where this had all started for me. My life had been a nightmare since. Deirdre continued, “If you hadn't noticed those two people with the hooded robes going into the vacant store, Sherman's murder would probably never have been discovered.”

“And his death would have stayed an accidental drowning,” Mary Ann said. “Thank you, Kay.”

My eyes welled up. I wouldn’t even have paid attention to the robes if I hadn’t been curious and saw Earl’s robe in the smaller trunk up in Margaret’s attic. “You're welcome, Mary Ann. Before he left, Thom wanted me to thank all of you for your hard work and dedication in this investigation.” My voice broke up.

We all looked around at each other. Tears began to fall. In the end, we were able to take vengeance for the deaths of Sherman, Margaret, and Alicia by delivering the necessary evidence to solve the case to the FBI. Justice had been served, but we didn’t feel a sense of victory. One of us had lost a husband and the others, good friends. I had, indeed, worked well with Elizabeth and Deirdre as a team.

Marissa excused herself from the room and returned a few minutes later with a tray of scrumptious-looking chocolate praline éclairs and fresh pots of tea.

After everyone refilled their cup, I held mine up and made a toast looking to each of them. “To our lasting friendship...to our friends and loved ones whom we have lost...and to my retirement as an amateur sleuth!”

“Don't speak too soon,” Deirdre said, putting her cup down at that last pronouncement. “I don't know about that retirement. I had a vision yesterday of you working on another case.”

“What do you mean? A case involving whom?” Elizabeth asked.

“I'm not sure, but I think it's someone we know.”

* * * *

On the walk home, I decided to ignore Deirdre's vision. I couldn't think of what was going to happen next. I needed to get over what had just happened and enjoy the calm, in fact, revel in it. I opened the kitchen door and found a note Phil left saying he went to the store to get an ingredient for tonight's dinner.

I climbed the stairs to change into something more comfortable. The yellow mailer lying on the bed was staring at me. I picked it up. Why relive the horror of these past few weeks? Didn't I just think about reveling in the calm of now?

I put the mailer down, went into my closet, and took out my favorite pair of comfortable loden green corduroy pants and a black turtleneck sweater. Thom did say Al used everyone's real names in the manuscript. I changed my clothes and walked back over to the bed. How could he have used the awful happenings in Sudbury Falls to write the type of book he was so fond of, the kind he and I had discussed together often at the post office?

Curiosity got the better of me. I sat down on the bed, opened the mailer, and took out the manuscript. I started reading.

The Ginseng Conspiracy

Professor Walters climbed the last of the stairs to Sonnie's bar. He peered through the window of the pub, and saw Dr. Anders waiting in the last booth with his back to the wall, looking at the door...

The grip of fear

Irrational but unmistakable,

An unexpected factor.

In the movement of their eyes,

People give themselves away.

It reveals everything.

no other proof is necessary.

A comfortable silence

Other than the racing of the heart,

No words necessary,

Breath caught in the throat,

The warm touch of skin,

Then, a shiver.

Eyes cold as steel,

The clever manipulative murderer

A nasty piece of work.

An intensified sense of urgency

Provoking decisive action

Taking risks, lacking restraint.

Music floats slowly

Through a dimly lit room.

Nostalgic, rhythmic, melancholy;

A note rises up the wall amid the shadows

And fades.

Herbs of mighty power,

Knowledge of truth.

A thing cannot act

Where it is not.

Can the end be achieved

By ordinary means?

In the quiet of the morning,

You only have to rise

To feel something's wrong.

Uncontrollable circumstances

Tense the air, and you know

Something's going to happen.

Walking in the park,

Arms around each others' waist,

The only thing in the world that matters

Is you and me.

Later with bodies intertwined,

Enchantment.

Falling into a spell

Bright with the rays of the sun

Shining splendor.

Fluid interaction

between unconscious and wakeful.

Amazed at the onslaught of words heard,

Explanations were given,

Causes and consequences

All told.

Sometimes there are things more crucial than survival.

Evil lurks in the shadows

Seeking its next victim.

It hides its true intention.

Be afraid.

Prepare for the unexpected.

Susan Bernhardt is an author living in Wisconsin. Like Kay Driscoll in her cozy mystery,
The Ginseng Conspiracy
, Susan is a retired public health nurse who volunteers at her local free clinic. An avid reader of mysteries, she is a member of Sisters in Crime, Inc. Her other published works include “October 31st”, “Midsummer”, and “John and Madeline.”

Susan's town in northern Wisconsin was an inspiration for the quaint setting of her novel. She lives with her husband, William, and has two sons, Peter and David.

When not writing, Susan loves to travel, bicycle, kayak, and create culinary magic in her kitchen. She works in stained-glass, daydreams in her organic garden, stays up late reading mysteries, and eats lots of chocolate.

* * * *

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Thank you

MuseItUp Publishing

For my husband, Bill,

my two sons, Peter and David,

and my parents, Anne and Bill.

—With love—

David Bazan, thank you for your creative ideas and insight, and for your continual encouragement and enthusiastic support.

Special thanks to my husband, Bill, who listened to my chapters numerous times and most times put up with my brainstorming, and to my son, David and daughter-in-law, Nicole, for cheering me on all the way.

I would like to thank my niece, Anne Rusert, for taking my photo for my website and the back cover of
The Ginseng Conspiracy
.

I'd like to thank my stellar MuseItUp content editor, June Diehl and outstanding, line editor, Shawn Arntson. You both were a pleasure to work with.

The Ginseng Conspiracy © 2014 by Susan Bernhardt

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, or events, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

MuseItUp Publishing

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Cover Art © 2013 by Suzannah Safi

Edited by P. June Diehl

Copyedited by Shawn Arntson

Layout and Book Production by Lea Schizas

eBook ISBN: 978-1-77127-472-2

First eBook Edition *January 2014

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