Page 35 of A Poisonous Plot

His eyes brightened. “Yes. I wrote that review. We had a lovely meal. Dante’s a very nice man.”

“Then why did you write a review stating that you don’t like newcomers taking jobs on the islands?”

“I didn’t.” Arthur pointed at the screen. “I just wrote that it happens, not that I don’t like it.”

Lily stared at him for a moment, trying to figure out if he was genuine or if he was playing games. His features were entirely earnest. Lily read the review again. He was right – he hadn’t stated an opinion. It was implied that newcomers taking jobs was a negative, but it wasn’t explicit.

It took Lily a moment to collect her thoughts. “Could I ask where you were on Friday evening?”

“Don’t answer that, Arthur.” The low voice rumbled directly behind Lily and she whipped around, startled.

“Hello, Denzel,” Arthur said cheerfully. “I didn’t know you were coming in today.”

“Just need to pick something up for a client,” he said, his gaze fixed on Lily.

If Arthur registered the icy atmosphere, he didn’t react to it.

“Lily’s been asking me about my blog.”

“So I heard.” Denzel’s gaze softened as his attention shifted to Arthur. “You know you don’t have to answer her questions. She’s not the police. She can’t come in here and start throwing baseless accusations around.”

“She wasn’t,” Arthur said, a bemused smile stretching his lips into a thin line. “She was just asking how plants could poison people.”

“She’s asking because she’s trying to figure out who did it. Even though it was probably an accident. Some people just enjoy stirring up trouble for their own entertainment.”

Lily opened her mouth to respond but was interrupted by Sally crossing the room.

“What’s going on?” she asked, glaring at Denzel. “Why the raised voice?”

“Because Little Miss Marple here has put two and two together and decided Arthur is poisoning people.”

“What?” Sally asked, features scrunching up.

“You’ve no right to come in here harassing Arthur,” Denzel growled at Lily.

“I wasn’t harassing him,” she snapped, finally able to get a word in. “I’m concerned that something sinister is going on, and I’m making enquiries to try to get to the bottom of it.”

Sally’s eyebrows rose dramatically. “You think whoever sent the baskets wasintendingto make people ill? I thought it was just an honest mistake.”

“I suspect it was intentional.” Lily looked from Sally to Denzel, deciding not to divulge her reasons yet. “But I’m not accusing anyone. I’m only asking a few questions and trying to figure out what happened.”

“You’re not the police,” Denzel said harshly. “You’re just some jumped up busybody who has no right to ask these kinds of questions.”

“What questions?” Sally demanded.

Arthur cleared his throat. “Lily was asking where I was on Friday evening.”

“When the baskets were delivered,” Denzel said to Sally. “It’s ridiculous, isn’t it?”

“Not really.” Sally pursed her lips. “It is odd that they were delivered anonymously.” She shrugged and lowered her gaze to Lily. “I don’t mind saying where I was. I had dinner at home with my dad, then we watched a bit of TV and I went up to bed about ten.”

“I was at home all evening,” Arthur said. “Doing research for my blog. And I watched a documentary about seals. Which was fascinating, actually.”

“Do you live alone?” Lily asked him.

“Yes. My mum died four years ago. I’ve been on my own since then.”

“Sorry,” Lily muttered, feeling a pang of sadness for him.

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