“As you’ll see, I work with common perennials rather than exotics. Exotics don’t tolerate our northern climate very well, and that makes the perennials far more economical for our local gardeners.”

Lady Shaw opened the greenhouse door. He entered and she followed him in.

The greenhouses were ablaze with colour, and he took it all in. Flowers in every impossible hue, it seemed… was that actually a green rose? Irises, lilies, daisies, violets, and so many more.

She continued, “Most of these haven’t bred true yet. Once they do, they’ll be registered with UPOV, then provided to breeders for commercial propagation.”

---

“Who was she, Sergeant?”

“Her name was Violet Ackerman, Detective. Strangled and neatly covered with a sheet. Bouquet of flowers left on top of the sheet.”

Detective Sewell pulled back the shroud. After a moment, she carefully transferred a small flower from the body into a small evidence bag. She examined the floret closely, and recognized it. It was a violet, a red violet.