Flower Shop Mystery: Snipped in the Bud

So, what do you think?

Maybe I'm just dizzy from the fumes, but...

I like it. - I still don't get it.

Who snail-mails an anonymous

in cash and explicit directions

for black roses? - It's pretty clear, Abby.

Angry, scorned, vengeful,

wants to remain anonymous.

I tried to see if the handwriting matched

any of the previous receipts' signatures.

Nothing. Nothing matched. - Of course you did.

And did you also test the envelope flap for DNA? - I can't, it's self-adhesive.

I can't get a saliva swab. - I did not expect an answer.

They're going to Millston College.

Bruce Barnes? - Yeah, none other

than Sydney's pre-law professor whom she's terrified of.

Great! We just give her a call and get the gossip. She'll know.

This is exciting! - No, no, not exciting. We are not calling Sydney.

She's thinking of dropping the course because of this guy!

OK, she can't, we need someone on the inside. - The only thing

keeping her in the class is Kenny, her TA.

I think she's got a little crush on him.

Speaking of crushes...

Morning, Marco! - What's the good word, ladies?

Everything coming up roses? - Yes, actually.

Black roses. Can I interest you in a dozen of them?

Yeah, I think I'll pass.

Looks more like a Goth trend, or maybe someone was really angry.

Angry. - Angry Goth.

I was wondering if you had time today to grab lunch.

Where to, big spender?

Your bar? - Well, come on, today's special is three-alarm chili.

If you say yes, I'll make it four-alarm chili.

Don't tell anyone, though. - I feel very special, but I'm gonna run these roses over

to campus, deliver them to Barnes myself. Maybe chat with him about Sydney.

You sure she'd want you to? - It's not a big deal.

I'm just gonna gently inquire.

Like a helicopter parent?

More like a small drone.

Alright, well, what about tonight? Dinner instead?

I can't. Having dinner with my dad tonight.

Thanks for asking, right, Marco? Maybe next time. - Bye.

Abby Knight, the little breeze. - Carson Howell.

It's been a long time. - Those flowers are for me?

Tell me you're not still mad. - For what?

How you beat me for law school valedictorian?

Or that you dated and dumped half of my friends?

Or for winning the Dermabrir trial against me

on a technicality, thus allowing a greedy corporation

to continue to abuse animals to test their precious cosmetic products?

Good, so we're cool. - No!

You know what? Injustice infuriates me.

OK. A, you graduated second. Not too shabby. B, I showed every one

of your girlfriends a great time, and I would've shown you the same,

if you'd ever given me a chance. And C, I won the Dermabrir trial fair and square.

Don't blame me if it was one of your last cases. - Carson, you know full well

that I did not leave law because of you. And while we're at it,

I think it's a conflict of interest for you to teach law here

and still be the legal advisor for a company like Dermabrir!

So I heard you're a florist now. How's that going? - Yeah, it's great.

I'm visiting the law department now.

Professor Barnes. A friend of yours, I assume?

Bruce Barnes and I are anything but friends.

I doubt whoever sent him those flowers is, either. - I don't judge,

I just fill the orders. - So, I'm heading to the dean's office right now,

but will I see you again? - My daughter's more likely.

She's pre-law here. So if your paths do cross,

try not to be your usual self.

I will be the model of support and inspiration.

I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks.

Love you too.

Honey!

You got my text!

I got a text and four angry-faced emojis.

Angry? Those were an excited face! God, they are so teeny!

I don't know why I try using emojis. I'll stick to writing "quote-smiley-face-quote".

Mom! Wow... those are morbid.

Since when do you personally deliver stuff

out of New Chapel? - Come on, what's half an hour to see my daughter?

And I'm also doing a little multitasking. I'm dropping these off for Barnes.

Barnes? - It's just a delivery. And then talk shop,

lawyer to lawyer. Concerned mom to lawyer.

Helicopter mom with black roses. Please don't embarrass me.

Please, honey! When have I ever embarrassed you? Don't answer that.

If he breaks one of his famous black pencils...

...in front of your face to make you feel stupid,

don't say I didn't warn you. - I'll be fine.

This is harmless. It'll be fun, OK? Dinner next week. - I'll try.

Come on! I'll send you an emoji. Fun mom buying dinner emoji.

Bye!

Hello... Belinda.

I have a delivery for Professor Barnes.

He's in class. He should be back any minute, though.

Those are strange.

Some people think they're strangely elegant.

Well, if you could just show me his office,

I will set them up. It's all part of the service.

One second. Law department?

Yes, I'll bring them right over.

It's the corner office. Just don't touch anything. He's very... precise.

OK. Thank you.

Who are you, and what are you doing in my office?

Professor Barnes. - That is the name on the door.

Um, I'm Abby Knight. I'm with Bloomers,

the new florist in New Chapel. These are for you. - What are those...

things? - Roses.

Theme roses, I guess you could say. - They're ghastly.

Well, they're a gift. Somebody wanted you to have them.

Well, I don't want them. - OK, then.

Well, if you have a minute, I wanted to talk to you about my daughter. Sydney Knight.

She's in your criminology class. - What about her? - I think she's feeling

a little overwhelmed by the class. - You mean by me.

That wasn't exactly said, but--

If she wants to be a lawyer, she needs to grow a spine. Wait until she goes up

against her first tough judge. I'll look like Santa Claus. - I know.

I was a lawyer--

I was a lawyer for many years.

Abby Knight. You fought Howell in that Dermabrir case last year, didn't you?

Put up a heck of a fight, if I remember. - I certainly tried.

And now you're a florist. - It's a long story. - I'm sure it is.

Now would you please remove those grotesque flowers?

I have papers to grade. - With all due respect, Professor,

a lot of work went into those grotesque flowers.

By me, in fact. - Like I always say,

if you want something done, do it yourself.

Thank you for your time.

Well, hello, Abby. -

Sydney was right, the guy's a real tool. He threw all of our hard work

in the garbage right in front of me. -

delivered your order and stood up for Sydney, so just do me a favor.

Just be a shrinking violet for once, and go back to your flower shop, please.

No, I've gotta get those flowers back, for my own self-respect and for the respect

- Why do I think this is not gonna end well?

Because, my friend, you are a pessimist,

- I'm a realist and you live in Abby World,

which, granted, has some lovely neighborhoods,

but there are some trouble spots.

See, and I thought all men liked a little trouble

every now and then. I'm going back in, Marco.

Listen, Abby, that's... Hello?

Professor Barnes, I really just... I... wanted to talk...

Yes, it's the faculty on third floor. Please hurry. Security!

Don't go in there. I just called the police.

What happened? Who are you? - Abby Knight. I was just delivering roses.

Wait, are you Sydney's mother? - Yes, why? Who are you?

I'm Kenny Lipinski, I'm Sydney's TA. - Kenny.

Kenny, right. Look, Kenny, I think it's best if you come back later.

Kenny, what's going on? - I don't know, ask her.

Ms. Knight, I understand that you spoke with Carson Howell this morning.

What was your relationship with him? - We didn't have a relationship.

We knew each other. I hadn't seen him in a year. - What happened last year?

We fought a court case. - Together?

Against each other. I used to be a lawyer.

I see.

Detective Reilly, I was just delivering roses.

You found the body. You were alone at the time.

You have a history with the deceased.

Me, I'm just asking questions. - Sir,

what should I do with these? - What kind of florist are you, anyway?

They're theme roses.

What were they doing in Professor Barnes' trash?

Why don't you ask him? - Ask me what?

Let him through. What were those flowers doing

in your trash? - Look at 'em. That's where they belong. Why are you still here?

Because I'm the one who found your pencil jabbed into Professor Howell's neck.

That's why. - You should talk. This woman

and Professor Howell have had a past.

And it's not pretty. - He was no friend of yours.

Sir, where do you think you're going? - Where do you think I'm going?

To my office. Look, I'm as shocked by what happened

as anyone, but I have a class in 15 minutes and I need my notes.

That's been canceled, Professor. And I have a few questions for you too.

OK, so, can I go, please? - We just need to process your fingerprints.

Seriously? I'm a suspect? - Just standard procedure, Ms. Knight.

I suspect you know that already.

Don't plan any trips.

What does that ever mean?

Hey, stop. - Sorry.

This floor's closed off. - But I'm here to see my husband, Professor Barnes.

How did you even get into the building?

They're not supposed to be letting anyone upstairs.

I don't know, I just walked in.

Is my husband all right? - Jocelyn!

What are you doing here? - Bruce! I came to talk to you.

What are the police doing here? What's going on?

Can I talk to my wife alone? - Sure. - Go.

Well, you know, it's no big deal.

Right? You just gently inquire, delicately, and then...

murder. - That is not my fault. - I know.

Look, did this detective actually call you a suspect? - Not in so many words,

but he said not to plan any big trips. What does that even mean?

And if I was a murderer, would I even stick around to alert the police?

Abby, he was just doing his job. - Exactly,

so you don't have to. - What does that mean?

It means... it means, Abby, that I know you.

You're already thinking about how to investigate this. - That is so not true.

Listen, just do me a favor, stay out of it. Get more involved,

you're gonna look more suspicious. - More?!

Yes. Sorry, but yes, more suspicious.

I... have to agree with Marco.