Previously:
Maria issued a stern warning to Jarrett and Gauthier.
Louisa was skeptical about the contents of the cookbook.
The Crimson Knights began their vendetta.
Maria studied the contents of the file folder carefully. She wished she could have had a good night’s sleep last night. She was in no mood to argue with Ryan, or the detectives. She sat in the hospital’s coffee shop, sipping on a cup of java…black, no cream or sugar. She liked her coffee like she liked her medical practice. Uncomplicated.
What Ryan had presented to her was anything but uncomplicated. She had only a few minutes last night to peruse the file, but the results needed further interpretation. She’d thought everything would be in order for Noelle to be discharged today. With that in mind, she walked back to her office and saw Ryan on the way.
She grabbed him by the arm, as if her very life depended on it.
“MacPherson. I hope you have a few minutes. I need to talk to you.”
*****
Breakfast at the Vineyards was supposed to be a special occasion. Blaine saw to it that his eggs were fresh, his produce just harvested and everything else just as it was when he got back from market yesterday. He would do his own fluffy omelettes as the special of the day, and nothing would spoil it.
Today would be extra special. He’d started his own garden in a patch of the Vineyards’ vast grounds, but the herbs he’d planted there weren’t ready for picking.
Blaine heard a soft knock on the kitchen door, and opened it a crack to find Thérèse standing on the other side.
“Madame Armand! What brings you here this early in the morning?”
“I thought I’d give you a little present for breakfast. After all, Noelle is coming home today, and Stephane and I thought we’d help you along.”
“Madame…”
“S’il vous plaît, after all these years, can’t you call me Thérèse?”
“All right,” Blaine paused for a moment. “Thérèse. Really, I have everything under control here.”
“Anyway, I thought you’d like some of these to freshen up your breakfast this morning.”
Blaine took the small jar from Thérèse’s tiny hand and opened it. The combination of herbs smelled fresh and familiar. “Ahh, yes. Herbes de Provence.”
“Noelle’s favorite.”
“Well, thank you, Thérèse,” Blaine said. “I’m sure they’ll go over very well here.
She walked out, and the phone in the kitchen rang. He went to answer it.
“Hello?”
“May I speak to Blaine Carroll, please?”
“This is Mr. Carroll.”
“My name is Paige Gilbert, from Breakfast in Canada. We’d like to talk to you.”
*****
Finally. Noelle was certainly looking forward to going home and sleeping in her own bed. She wouldn’t be going back there, though.
Ryan had offered her a place to sleep in his tiny apartment, but she thought it best that she get away from Ottawa for a while.
She would definitely get away. Away from that horrible night, away from the sterile walls of University Hospital. She didn’t want to even think about doctors or medical school.
Pierre walked into the room and smiled gently as Noelle combed her hair. She was finally glad to get out of that cold gown. A t-shirt and jeans were much more comfortable.
“Well, are you ready?” he asked her.
“Oh, Pierre…am I ever glad to see you! I’m more ready than anything, but I have to wait to sign some papers. Dr. Escalante said she’d be here first thing this morning.”
To pass the time, Pierre turned on the TV. He’d wondered if there would be any news reported about Tricon International, his company in Toronto. He surfed through the channels until Breakfast in Canada blared on the screen. Some onscreen chitchat ensued, and the news portion of the programme was about to start.
“Good morning, I’m Paige Gilbert. Investigations began last night into the assault on Parliament Hill…”
Noelle’s thoughts turned cold.
Oh, my God, I’m on the news all over the country…
*****
Maria motioned Ryan into her office. They sat down quietly, and Maria exhaled slowly.
“I looked at the file this morning when I got here,” Maria said. “Did you have a chance to see it?”
Ryan shook his head. “Not in any detail.”
“Come over here. This looks interesting.”
Ryan moved over to Maria’s side of the desk as they perused the file together. “The tox screen came back. It’s positive for GHB.”
“What?” Ryan almost shouted. “I know her better than that. She wouldn’t take…”
“Calm down, Mr. MacPherson. It’s quite possible that whoever attacked her slipped her something. Looks like poor Noelle will be in for one hell of a ride.”
One hell of a ride, Maria thought. And I can’t let Jarrett and Gauthier know a thing.
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