Cait stopped in her tracks trying to control her emotions. “Niki could be anywhere. This is a big playground.” Or did Wally lure him away?
“When did you last see him?” Jim asked.
“In the vineyard,” RT said. “I was looking for evidence at the murder scene. It’s not like him to run off or not come when I call him. If you see him, let me know.”
June laughed. “Here comes Niki now.”
Niki raced through the gate, skidding to a stop in front of RT, a black cloth hanging from his mouth.
RT took the cloth from Niki’s clutches. “What have you found?” He held up what appeared to be a T-shirt.
Cait looked at the shirt, then reached out and turned it to the front. She dropped it and wiped her hands together as if to dislodge grime.
RT frowned. “You recognize it?”
“See the screen print? That’s Hank Dillon, Wally’s brother. There’s even a gold chain around his neck.”
“But where did it come from?” June asked.
“From Wally,” Cait said. “I’d like to rub his face in it.”
RT grunted. “I hope you get a chance.”
Feet pounded across the courtyard. “Hey, there you are, you dumb dog.” Ilia clutched his camera to keep it from bouncing against his chest.
A uniformed officer ran after him yelling, “Stop!”
Cait waved her arm in the air. “It’s Ilia.”
The officer stopped. “He’s a stranger to me.” He wiped his brow with the sleeve of his shirt, a smile tugging at his lips. “Anyone else I should know about so I don’t shoot him or her?”
“Yeah,” Ilia said. “A girl. Fumié. Asian, beautiful, and . . .” He flushed with embarrassment.
The officer smiled. “Got it.”
“Your new dog’s a thief, Cait,” Ilia said. “He stole that shirt from the cave.”
“I’m glad he did. You were photographing those pictographs?”
“You and Marcus said I could.”
Marcus ran up to them. “What’s going on?” He looked at the T-shirt and turned his nose up. “Where did that dirty rag come from?”
“It’s a T-shirt,” Cait said. “Niki found Wally’s hiding place.”
Cait and June went backstage to wait for a chance to speak with Kenneth. “Now I know where RT went when he left me at the Blackfriars. I could have helped him search the vineyard,” Cait said. “You’d think I’m a novice at this business.”
“He cares about you, Cait,” June said, as Alt exited the stage.
“I’m a perfectionist. I never flub my lines,” Alt said when he saw them. “It was seeing that skull . . .”
“You recovered nicely, Kenneth,” June said to comfort him.
“You were great,” Cait said.
“But substandard.” He turned away. “Excuse me. I need a few minutes before going back on.”
“I guess he doesn’t need our encouragement.” Cait watched Alt disappear into one of the dressing rooms.
“I never thought for a second Ray would force you to close the theaters,” June said. “He just likes to prolong the agony and keep you guessing.”
“I’m glad you’re right,” Cait said. “Bless Tasha for scheduling the plays only once a month, except for Macbeth, which is also playing next Saturday.”
“Here comes Kenneth.”
Cait watched Alt leave the dressing room, adjust the sleeves on his costume, and check the monitor. He brushed past them and was back in character. “I don’t know why he’s here, but I’m sure glad he is.”
“I’ve known Kenneth almost as long as Tasha. When he’s committed to something, he sticks to it, except in personal relationships. So why is he here and not in Ashland?” Her eyes sparkled. “Unless—”
“Unless he thinks Tasha left him something?” Cait asked. “She didn’t. I asked Stanton Lane—he drew up her trust.” She peeked around the curtain. “Kenneth doesn’t need me here.” She backed away. “Let me know when the play’s about to end.”
“Where are you going?”
“To find Rook and RT.”
“Call them.”
Cait wanted to search for Wally, too, now that she knew what he looked like.
“Cait, don’t go out there. Why are you being so stubborn?”
“I’m trained for this. There aren’t enough officers. I’ll be careful.”
The moment she stepped outside, a rush of voices reached her. Macbeth had ended at the Blackfriars theater. She set off at a trot and wove through the crowd. When she spotted an officer outside the Blackfriars she went over to him. “Any word from Detective Rook?”
“He’ll be here in a second. He has new information.”