As the pair enters the oldy lady's yard, they could not help but notice the porch that is overflowing with flowers. Pony, roses, daisies, it's all there; as they approach nearer, a bee circles Miles's head.
''I swear if one of these stings me, I'm going to su-''
''Hey!'' She grabs his wrist. ''I'll do the talking, please stay quiet.... please.''
Jerking his hands out of her hold, he rolls his eyes and says, ''I am just going to warn you though, looking at all of that you see there,'' he motions to the porch covered in flowers.
'' It takes a lot of time to maintain. It's more likely this old lady doesn't work or have any great responsibility, people like those will give anything for gossip, so if you giggle and sip tea with her, you won't get anything from her until you show that you are serious.''
''I can handle it.''
The old lady walks back onto the porch with a tray in her hands. She beams at them.
''Come along now.''
Miles walks up the short stairs with a polite smile on his face. He greets the old lady.
''Good afternoon, ma'am,'' he holds out his hands for her to shake, the old lady grips his slender fingers with her chubby ones.
''Oh my, you are such a looker, reminds me of my last husband, he was such a lady's man,'' the lady continues her rambling. Miles smile dims.
''You know I have a niece, she is single, you two would make lovely children, oh my, I can already see the wedding.''
Miles is no longer smiling; he slowly slips his hands out of the lady's long grip.
''I am deeply offended by your ridiculous offer-''
''Meyers! Hello there, I'm Detective Glasgow, he is my partner Detective Myers,'' Jayla appears in between the two of them with a forced smile on her face. She eagerly shakes the old lady's hands in an attempt to distract her from Miles's comment.
''Oh dear, Detectives! What happened? Please sit. I have tea.''
She ushers them onto a swinging chair and places the tray of cookies and tea on a small table in front of them. She drags a random chair closer to them and pours herself a cup of tea, then leans forward.
''So, what happened?''
Jayla is the one to answer. Miles is busy dusting pollen from his suit.
''The Royce's daughter, was murdered. We found her body this morning.''
The old lady's gasps and her eyes widen. She quickly puts down the cup of tea and fixes the small glasses on her face.
''I can't believe it; she was so young! Who would dare do such a thing? I wonder if I should make some mint cookies for Bryan and Sophia...but I'm out of sugar, and mint too, I used the last in this-''
Miles sneezes.
''That would be lovely, miss?''
''Flora McPherson.''
''Of course, it is,'' Miles mumbles under his breath.
''That would be truly kind of you, Ms. McPherson, but we would like to get some information-''
''Information? what kind?''
Flora's eyes sparkle at the words as she picks up back the cup of tea. ''I can help you with that.''
Jayla takes out her notepad and stares at it with tired eyes. She looks over to Miles, he is to be relaxing back and has his hat covering his face and his legs spread out in a very typical male manner. She looks back at the old lady who is observing her with a scrunched-up face.
''Are you related to the Thornes? You look familiar; the Thornes were friendly and had this skinny gardener-''
''No, no, no, Glasgow, not Thornes, please,'' she says tiredly.
''Is there anything you know about the Royce's?''
''Why yes! I know a lot of things, there are rumors that the child does not belong to Bryan, some maternity confusion,'' Flora whispers with wide eyes.
Miles lets out a deep chuckle under his hat.
''Anything that is not a rumor, valuable information?'' She stresses the word valuable. Flora looks lost.
''Did any of the Royce's leave their house this morning?'' Miles asks. He removes the hat from his face to stare at Flora. She shifts uncomfortably in her chair.
''The wife is a veterinarian, she leaves every day at 7 am the same time the milk truck comes around on this street.''
''And Mr. Royce?''
''I saw him leaving out at nine, the same time I was on my phone with my daughter on the porch, she calls me every day at 9.''
''Did he saw you?''
''Yes, his windows were up as usual. He had honked me, you know, we always calling to each other. If I can remember correctly, he returned home around 11 to noon. I was pruning my tomato plant at that time.''
''Was he alone?''
''Yes, yes, he was, he was the only one who exited the car with a beer box in his hands, he always has this party with his friends every Saturday-''
''When last did you saw Sasha?''
''Whew, these questions are giving me a stroke. Can I go and get some mint tea, it helps?''
''I thought you said you are out of mint?''
''Oh yes, you are right, no mint,'' she laughs nervously.
''the last time I saw that little girl was when she and her father came to apologize to me when they broke my kitchen window, a few weeks ago, I think, I have it fixed now it is even shinier and -''
''How did they break the window?'' Flora faces scrunched up at the memory. She picks a small flower from a small plant in a pot at her foot. Flora twirls the flower in her hand.
''They were playing baseball when her father made a bad swing and the ball went straight through my kitchen window, they normally played baseball in the back yard but after that, they stopped, I remember the day the smell of peppermint tea and-''
''Thank you, Ms. McPherson.''
Both Detectives rise to their feet, Jayla yawns.
''You guys are done already? but the cookies?''
''Yes, thank you for your co-operation, please if you know anyone who has any more information on the victim, please don't be afraid to contact us,'' Jayla says while Miles passes Flora his card.
''I'll sure do sweethearts! safe travels now, Detectives.'' she waves at the detectives as they leave.''
The sun is now low in the sky. The clouds look like small puffs of pink cotton. Miles checks his watch.
04:58:43 pm
''Hey, uhm Miles?'' Jayla looks at him sleepily.
''Hm?'' He answers without glancing at her.
''Are we going to the station now?''
''No.''
''What!?''
He abruptly turns toward her causing her to step backward.
''We have a Veterinary clinic to visit and a coach to talk to.''
''But-but we have tomorrow!''
''Says who?''
''Look, can I at least have something to eat?''
''Did you not see Flora's free mint cookies?'' with that, he gets inside his car and starts the engine with a flabbergasted Jayla staring at him on the sidewalk.