The office was cramped and sparsely decorated. A small desk strewn with papers and file folders stood in the middle of the room. There was a bookshelf with only two or three titles, all having to do with law. The sound of running water and the flush of a toilet told me the only other door in the office led to a bathroom. A picture of Niagara Falls hung on the wall. A small TV sat on a file cabinet in the corner. The local news was on, and a meteorologist was warning of an impending cold front that would bring rain and wind to Rhinebeck and the surrounding areas.

Mrs. Redmond came out and gave me a quick side hug before sitting down at her desk. “I should have been more thorough when I was putting your paperwork together. I am so sorry, Briseis. Truly.” She picked up a piece of paper and held it out to me. “Like I said, I’m usually very good about staying organized, but my secretary must have misplaced this. I found it shuffled in with some papers that were to be shredded.”

I took the paper from her. “It’s okay, really.”

It was a drawing of the same crest that was on the door in the rear of the Poison Garden and on the hidden office’s desk, but there was something underneath I didn’t recognize—three horizontal lines stacked one on top of the other. I was sure they weren’t on either of the other crests. I sighed, frustrated. This wasn’t exactly helpful, and it didn’t tell me how I was supposed to find the key to the door in the garden.

“So how are things with the house?” Mrs. Redmond asked. “Is the old place treating you well?”

“It’s going good,” I said. “I mean, there’s still a lot of work to do. The place is filled with old junk.”

She shook her head. “That’s too bad. Have you had a look around the rest of the property? I know there’s a ton of acreage. Karter said you’ve been spending a lot of time in a garden? I have to be honest, I’m a little surprised by that. Gardening isn’t really his thing.”

“He’s been helping me out,” I said. “Thanks for letting him come over. I know he’s got responsibilities at the bookshop.”