Page 82 of A Poisonous Plot

She gave a small shake of her head. “No. I was fairly sure it was Gordon. I knew he was in the hospital and I thought the easiest way to get him to admit to everything would be to accuse Sally.”

“Clever.” He rested a hand on the edge of the bed, beside Flynn’s leg. “Unconventional, but clever.”

“I’m just happy we can put a stop to all of this. He won’t get away with it, will he?”

“No. I’ve spoken to colleagues on the mainland who agree that he’s a danger to the community. PC Hill will take him over on the ferry tomorrow and he’ll be held on remand until he goes to court for sentencing. He’s looking at a prison sentence.”

“Good,” Lily said, then looked at him questioningly. “When did Gordon have time to put the stuff in Arthur’s greenhouse?”

“Right before he poisoned himself with that plant. He knew the investigation would heat up and decided he’d point us in Arthur’s direction.”

“It didn’t make sense,” Lily said. “When I found him in his office, it was as though the plant had cut him and he’d collapsed immediately. With Flynn, it wasn’t instant. There was time for him to deal with the cut before he passed out. Gordon would have been able to try and stop the bleeding or call for help. The back of his arm was also an odd place for it to have cut him if it was an accident.”

“That’s what made you think it was him?”

“It didn’t add up.” She let her head sink to her arms, resting on the bed.

“You look exhausted,” the sergeant said. “You should go home. PC Grainger is in good hands here.”

“I’ll just hang around a little longer. I want to be here when he wakes up.”

The sergeant nodded. “I need you to make a statement, filling in the blanks about all of this.”

“I will,” she said wearily. “It doesn’t need to be today though, does it?”

“No. Not today.” The sergeant straightened up. “I left a message for Flynn’s dad but I haven’t heard from him. I might go and try him again.”

“Okay.” Lily couldn’t even be bothered to lift her head.

“Go home,” the sergeant said. “You need to rest. Aren’t you opening your shop tomorrow?”

“Maybe.” She couldn’t think about that. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to face it, and would likely postpone. “I’ll go home soon,” she whispered, then said goodbye as the sergeant left.

She’d just closed her eyes when she felt Flynn’s fingers curl around hers. In an instant she was alert again and searching his peaceful features.

“Lily,” he murmured without opening his eyes.

“I’m here.” She put a hand on his chest.

“Arthur,” he mumbled, lips barely moving.

“It’s fine. Everything is fine.”

“You’re okay?”

“Yes. You’re in the hospital, but you’re going to be all right. I’ll explain everything when you’re feeling better.”

“Good.” His features relaxed as he slipped back into sleep.

Lily pressed the call button and updated the nurse when she arrived. The doctor came to check on him too and he woke again, just enough to mutter that he felt okay, but was tired.

Doctor Redwood insisted that he’d likely sleep all night and kindly told Lily to go home.

“I’ll just stay a little longer.”

She’d stay for another half an hour, she told herself, attempting to get comfy on the orange chair. After that, she’d go home and get some sleep.

Flynn felt as though he was under water, fighting to reach the surface. Some invisible pressure was pushing him down and his thoughts were trapped in a thick fog. Finally, his eyelids obeyed him and he blinked at the stark room.

---