Page 67 of The Verdant Cage
And hadn’t thepstood out slightly darker? I didn’t know enough to include it back then. Reatha has stepped over to help Marie, who’s just appeared, bind her hair. It allows me to squeeze my eyes tightly shut, envisioning my current list of letters:
I see V, E, X, in my mind’s eye.Vex.
Below it O, A, R, I, S, H, T, and N.
And if I add P?
O, A, R, I, S, H, T, N, P.
No.
P, O, A, R, I, S, H, T, N.
Hmm.
P, O… I, S…N.
Poison. Of course!A wave of satisfaction courses through me as my suspicions are confirmed. I smile grimly.I got that one, Mom.
That leaves A, R, H, T. Hart?No, that’s not it.
But if I reuse the E…
Reatha.
Looks like I brought my sample right to the source.
41
“Reatha, could I have a word?” I’m astonished at the steadiness in my voice.
“Of course,” she says brightly, finishing up with Marie. She watches until the others have disappeared into the woods, our training done for the day. I expect her to invite me into the cave, but she stays outside, sending Marie in to get started on their dinner.
I rub my arms against the late afternoon briskness, not sure what to ask.Are you poisoning the people of Noah’s Valley? Oh, and by the way, did you also happen to murder my mother and Peter, because only a fool would think the deaths aren’t connected?Finally,are you using your fourteen-year-old son to do your dirty work?I doubt the last one because she’s alwaysseemedlike a doting parent, but I won’t discount my conviction that it was his shadow I saw that day, either.
She catches me off guard. “Is this about the water?”
“Albert told you,” I all but confirm.
She nods so sharply, her braids jump. “He wasn’t your best bet. My boy’s a brilliant tinkerer, but he’s never been much for chemistry.” Before I can gather my thoughts to respond, she purses her lips. “You remember the meetings I mentioned the first time you visited here?”
I nod, unsure where she’s going with this. “Yes. You used to hold them here, but you wouldn’t say who with. Only that they’re gone now.”
“That was partially true. Two of them are.” She inhales loudly through her nose. “Marc, Salvatora’s dad. And Henrietta.”
I stand up straighter.Mom?“What were the meetings about?”
“I’m forbidden to tell you.”
I can’t hide my annoyance. “Then why say anything at all?”
To my surprise, she doesn’t appear upset that I’ve raised my voice. If anything, she looks proud. “Claim that spirit, Rose,” she says. “You’re going to need it.”
“All right,” I say, a fire sparking my gut. “I’ll claim it right now. I know you’ve created a poison to use against the villagers.” Her composure slips for a fraction of a second, and I’m imbued with fresh confidence.
“I suspect you may have killed to cover up your crimes,” I continue, the pieces coming together as I speak. “My mother, Peter, and those Guardians eight months ago. All of them must’ve caught you in the act.” I’m guessing with that last part. By the Wall, I’m guessing with all of it. But if Mom suspected her, then I do, too.
Reatha jerks back. “You don’t know what you’re talking about!” Her cheeks are blazing. “I hadnothingto do with those deaths, Rose Allgood.” She takes a calming breath, which my body involuntarily mirrors. “I didn’t create the poison, either, but I didrecreate it…at Jarek Tzu’s command. At the time, I had no idea what he intended to use it for.”
