"Did she show earlier signs of lethargy, blue spots, or hallucinations?"
"No, nothing Mama. I came downstairs this morning to feed her and there she was – looking more pitiful than a plant should."
Mama flipped some more pages. Dust went flying everywhere.
The two ladies were in the playroom, where Morticia first found Mama sharpening her axe. Morticia nervously paced as Mama scanned the leather-bound book. She desperately hoped Mama could find a diagnosis and cure.
Her hoped dwindled when she saw her shut the book. "Did you find anything?" She held her breath.
"Well, what did Gomez say?"
"Oh Mama!"
The small, frizzy haired woman stood and went over to her daughter in-law to hand her the book. "Give it a go if ya like. Say, why don't you show me Cleopatra?"
Morticia led Mama to the conservatory. Cleopatra had her head resting on a large stand that held a vase full of thorns. She hadn't moved since Morticia left her early that morning. Mama lifted her head to inspect it.
"Mmm… interesting. Yes, yes, I see," she spoke in a fascinated tone.
"What is it, Mama? What do you see?" Morticia looked Cleopatra up and down to get a glimpse of what Mama was seeing.
The old lady faced Morticia and said matter-of-factly, "She's been poisoned!" She held up an empty bottle labeled with a skull and cross bones to prove it.
Morticia's bright eyes widened. "Poisoned, by whom?" she said indignantly. "Besides myself, Lurch is the only other one who feeds Cleopatra and I know dear Lurch wouldn't possibly dream of doing such a thing."
"Well don't look at me!" Mama handed her the bottle. "Fester and I took the children bat hunting yesterday, remember? We didn't get back until late that night. You, Gomez, and Lurch were the only ones here."
"Yes, I see your point." Morticia gave Cleopatra a gentle pat on the head before sitting down in her wicker peacock chair, which was still situated at the now cleared off breakfast table.
The memories of yesterday were fresh in her mind. The thunderstorms were never ending. The wind howled. The lightning and thunder shrieked. The rain itself was near deafening. With the weather being as nice as it was, and the rest of the family gone, her and Gomez gaily gave Lurch the day off. It was the perfect day. Her and Gomez had the mansion all to themselves – even Thing was gone.
Thinking about yesterday cause her red lips to form a devilish grin. What a divine day it was! Just her and her handsome Castilian. Her and Gomez. Gomez!
With a sharp intake of breath, Morticia bolted upright and fixated her eyes back on Mama. Pleadingly, in a half-whisper, she said, "Oh Mama, you don't think Gomez could've done it?"
Mama lit up at the idea. "Say, I never thought of my son as a plant poisoner. How did he react to the news this morning?"
"He didn't. He wasn't moved one ounce. He said there was nothing wrong with her." She threw her arm up in a blasé manner.
"Gomez never was good at hiding secrets."
"Nonsense! Gomez is a very busy man, that's all. There is nothing for him to hide." She held her head high, trying to shake off the uncertainty.
Mama knew their conversation was at a stalemate. Morticia and Gomez were thick as thieves – and rightly so. Seeing that Morticia had given him the benefit of the doubt, she dropped the subject and instead left to make a remedy brew for Cleopatra.