“I believe so, when Daisy cooked Mexican meals.” Keya gasped. “Daisy’s sister, Zoe, told me she had lunch at Mill House on the Sunday before Midsummer. She said she enjoyed the meals as her father was very traditional in his eating habits.”
“Constable, make a note to check the hot sauce bottle for fingerprints and to ask Theo Watson and Zoe Bentham who had the hot sauce at lunch on Sunday. And we also need to find out if there were any other guests at the lunch and, if so, if they had any of the sauce.”
“So you think the hot sauce killed Daisy?” Keya asked.
“I do, although to be thorough, I’ll check that Sujin has tested the other foods in the kitchen.”
When Keya had finished her statement and the inspector had run out of questions, she asked, “So what now, sir?”
“We need to establish if Daisy did eat the hot sauce, and then devise a timeline to see if it’s feasible that it was the cause of her death.”
“Will you speak to Doreen Bentham, since she made it?”
“I’ll ask Sue to do that with young Warren here. It’s a tricky one, telling a mother she may have caused her daughter’s death. But I don’t really want to do so until we are certain of the source of Daisy’s poisoning.”
“You will keep me updated on the case, won’t you, sir?”
“I don’t think I’ll need to,” replied Inspector Evans. “You have your own crime scene technician to do that!”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Keya’s mind raced with possibilities after Inspector Evans and Warren left on Sunday afternoon.
Tea was an improvement on the day before with a Greek salad supplemented by some of Aunt Beanie’s fruit and nuts. She also had one of Maitri’s brownies as her pudding.
Deciding there was nothing more she could do on a Sunday evening, she watched several shows Matri had downloaded on the tablet, including a comedy set in a restaurant, which she found particularly relatable. The lights were turned off early in the ward and she decided she might as well sleep.
Monday was far more frustrating, as nobody visited, and she had no idea what was happening with Daisy’s case. Or her own for that matter.
Sujin did respond to some of her messages, but she could tell he was distracted, so she thought she better leave him alone.
After another uninspiring tea of sandwiches, she was considering taking herself down to the Blue Spa Restaurant or the hospital’s cafe when Sujin appeared carrying a colourful bouquet of summer flowers. The aroma immediately filled the ward.
“Thank you, they’re lovely.”
“Dotty suggested something seasonal and local, and we both decided lilies weren’t appropriate,” Sujin replied. “They also come in a vase, so we don’t have to worry about finding one.”
He unwrapped the flowers and placed the glass vase on top of the portable cupboard beside Keya’s bed.
Keya stared at him expectantly.
“You want to know what progress we’ve made with the cases?”
“Of course. I’ve been sitting here by myself all day wondering what you’re all doing and what you’ve found out.”
“My day wasn’t particularly interesting. After visiting Mill House again and collecting food samples, I spent all day running tests for Clostridium botulinum bacteria.”
“And did you find any?” asked Keya eagerly.
Sujin shook his head. “The only source I’ve been able to discover is the hot sauce. The inspector and Inspector Sue were leaving to break the news to Doreen as I left to visit you.”
“Poor woman,” Keya sympathised. Then she asked more brightly, “Are you hungry? One of the nurses was telling me about a sweet French bistro with vegetarian options not far from here, in the Montpellier area of Cheltenham.
“Are you allowed out?” asked Sujin.
“Not on my own,” Keya giggled. “But with a responsible adult.”
Sujin found Keya’s overnight bag and, one-handed, she searched through it for something more appropriate to wear for a night out than a pair of tracksuit bottoms.
She found a dress she’d forgotten all about. It was a green soft cotton shift dress with a V-neck and embroidered flowers down the side and around the bottom.
Sujin pulled the blue curtain around the bed and asked, “Shall I call a nurse?”
“No, I’m sure I can manage. I need to get used to coping one-handed for a while.” Keya smiled resolutely at Sujin, who pulled the curtain around her bed and stood sentry on the other side.
Keya pulled her trousers down and stepped out of them. She tugged up her T-shirt and wriggled. She tugged a bit more and, “Oops. Sujin, I’m stuck. Can you help me?”
She felt a firm tug and the T-shirt rose above her head.
“Thank you,” she said, grinning sheepishly. “Perhaps I’m not as able as I’d hoped. Can you help me with my dress?”
It was only then that Keya realised Sujin was standing awkwardly and trying but failing to avert his gaze from her … and she was standing in front of him, wearing only her bra and knickers.
