"Albert, Susan Wittig - An Unthymley Death" - читать интересную книгу автора (Albert Susan Wittig)

"They say it was a heart attack." The woman's voice was taut, and she wasn't looking at us. "The funeral was yesterday." She nodded in the direction of the church. "You can see the garden from the place where she's buried."

"I am so sorry," I said quietly. "Hannah was a lovely person." I looked around the garden, which must have covered at least two acres. The fragrance of honeysuckle and roses surrounded us. "It's so sad to think that she won't be here to take care of this beautiful garden. I hope the next person who owns it will love it as much as she did."

The woman's eyes flashed an enigmatic message. "I'll take care of it," she said sharply. "I promised Hannah I would."

"It's a big job," I said. "Something like this takes a lot of skill and knowledge. You really have to love it."

"That's why Hannah did what she did," the woman said. She turned toward the house and a look of sheer hatred crossed her face. "And no matter what they say," she burst out passionately, "she wanted me to have it after she died -- not just the garden, but the house too. She gave me this entire property. And I won't let them take it away!"

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Notes for Episode Two:

ST.-JOHN'S-WORT (Hypericum perforatum) was traditionally gathered on St. John's Eve (the summer solstice) to ward off evil spirits. This perennial herb has gained attention in recent years for its use as an effective antidepressant. Grow it for its beautiful yellow flowers, and steep its leaves and blossoms in vegetable oil (in a cool place) to make a soothing massage oil.

BRONZE FENNEL (Foeniculum vulgare) is a hardy, anise-flavored relative of dill, carrot, and Queen Anne's lace. It's easy to grow from seed or from purchased plants and will eventually reach three to five feet. Use all the fennels in salads and soups and, for a special taste, in sausage dishes.

FEVERFEW (Chrysanthemum parthenium) is primarily grown as a medicinal herb, but its daisylike flowers are also quite pretty. If you suffer from migraines, try chewing a few leaves every day -- recent research suggests that the herb is an effective treatment for some people. It has also been used to treat PMS.

RUSSIAN SAGE (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is wonderfully aromatic, with long downy stems and finely cut gray leaves. It produces an airy cloud of blue-gray blossoms, useful for border color and as cut flowers. Beautiful interplanted with roses.

Yes, HONEYSUCKLE (Lonicera sp.) is an herb. Both the leaves and the seeds were traditionally used in a tea to treat headaches and asthma. For modern gardeners, these plants are lovely ornamental vines that will thrive in any good garden soil.

Our lovely garden ROSES have been used medicinally in many cultures including early Egypt, Greece, India, and the Orient. Westerners are probably most familiar with rose hips, the fruit of the plant, which are rich in Vitamin C and flavonoids. Roses are also used in herbal crafts, such as potpourri.

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EPISODE THREE

"Who are 'they'?" Ruby whispered to me, as the woman strode away, pushing her wheelbarrow. "Who is she? And why did Hannah give her the property?"

"I have no idea," I said. I glanced toward the house. Another woman, short and plump and wearing a blue apron, was standing on the back porch, under a golden tumble of hops vine. As I watched, she beckoned to us. "Let's talk to her," I said. "Maybe she knows what's going on."

"You must be China and Ruby," the woman said, as we approached the pretty, vine-covered porch. "Aunt Hannah had told me you might be here." She bit her lip. "I suppose you know that she died earlier this week."

She invited us inside. The kitchen was almost as pretty as the garden, with a cheerful red-checked cloth on the table and the window sills filled with pots of scented geraniums. As the woman poured glasses of iced mint tea and put out a plate of cinnamon twists she introduced herself as Luella Mitchell, Hannah's niece, and told us about the circumstances of Hannah's death.

"It was very sudden," she said. Her round face was sad. "And quite unexpected. I've lived with my aunt for the past three years and helped take care of her accounts, and I never even suspected that she had a bad heart." She sat down and pulled a tissue out of her apron pocket to wipe her eyes. "It's all so hard to accept."

I leaned forward. "Your aunt told me that she wanted to talk to me about an urgent personal matter," I said. "She sounded terribly troubled. Do you know what was bothering her?"

Luella's face tightened. "I certainly do," she said. "She was afraid."

"Afraid?" Ruby echoed, surprised.

"Of that woman you were talking to, out there in the garden. Jessica Powell, her name is." Luella shook her head sadly. "Jessica killed somebody once, and spent a long time in jail."

"She did?" Ruby breathed.