6 A Thyme to Die Read Free

to men. It was the home of fairies and a potent snakebite remedy. Its association with the grave may have started in Egypt but it continues to this day when thyme is still thrown into a grave for protection and purification.

    The Charlotte police responded quickly. Within five minutes, officers in uniform were looking at the unusual mound of dirt with her. There was a discussion of whether or not someone should dig up the dirt to find out if anything was inside.
    Peggy had tried calling the exhibit owner but there was no answer.
    Her son, Paul, had been sent as part of the group of responding officers. Paul had his father’s tall, lanky body and her green eyes. He wore his bright red hair short and spiky.
    Peggy hadn’t been happy when Paul had joined the police department after John had been killed. It had been hard for him and Peggy to get through those dark days. She hadn’t wanted him to give up his dream of being an architect, and she suspected that Paul was looking for revenge. John’s killer had never been found.
    As the years had passed, Paul had proven to be dedicated to the job and serious about his task of upholding the laws of the city. He wasn’t reckless, despite having her red hair and fiery temper. She’d relaxed, especially after his marriage to assistant medical examiner, Mai Sato. They had a pretty little house and Mai was pregnant with their first child. It seemed her initial fears had been unfounded.
    Still there was that tightness in her chest when she knew he was on duty.
    “What happened here?” Paul asked her. “Any idea if something might be in there? I guess it’s not supposed to look that way.”
    She shuddered. “All I can tell you is that the Egyptians buried their dead with thyme. Maybe that doesn’t mean anything—I hope it doesn’t. Are they going to dig it up?”
    “I’m not sure yet. We’re waiting for whoever is going to take jurisdiction on this.” He shrugged. “Could be the FBI. It is the International Flower Show.”
    She knew he was teasing her. Friends had joked about them working together since they’d learned of Steve taking the job in Charlotte. Peggy infrequently worked with the Charlotte PD on cases requiring forensic botanical expertise.
    “Surely the FBI has better things to do than dig up dirt mounds, even if they might be graves.” She took a quick look at her watch. “I wish they’d do whatever they’re going to do. The show opens in an hour. Where is everyone?”
    “Probably being held outside until we figure out what to do. If there’s a dead body in there, like you think, you know what that means.”
    Having been married to a cop for thirty years and consulted with the police on occasion, Peggy knew exactly what that meant.
    It probably also meant the committee that chose sites for the flower show would never choose Charlotte again.
    “Who’s making the decision? Should we give them a call? I could be completely wrong about this and opening day would be ruined for nothing.” Peggy was beginning to regret that she’d called the police.
    “Actually, I think Al is making the decision. Calm down, Mom. He’ll be here.” Paul patted his mother on the shoulder in a perfunctory manner.
    “That’s right. I guess as head of homicide, that would be his job.”
    Peggy thought about all the years that Detective Al McDonald was her husband’s partner. He was notorious for being late. She loved him dearly, but the man couldn’t make it to his own wedding on time when he’d married his wife, Mary.
    There was a disturbance at the door. Al, along with Charlotte’s new medical examiner, Dorothy Beck, walked into the convention center. They had a technician with them in a gray coverall who was holding a shovel. Peggy hoped this would be the person who could dig up the mound and figure out what was going on.
    Please don’t let there be a dead person in that grave. I want to be wrong.
    There was someone else with Al and Doctor Beck. Peggy would have