Officer Hurley stayed close to Cait while she smiled and mingled with the theater crowd in the courtyard. When the actors finally dispersed, they returned to the theaters to change and pack. Cait checked the time—slightly after five. With the sun comfortably warm and a cool breeze drifting across the hills, Cait tried to relax. The plays were over and the actors were safe, but Wally was still an issue. She didn’t know what she would do if he hadn’t been captured by the time the Macbeth actors returned next Saturday.
Alt, still in costume, walked over to Cait. “I’m not leaving town yet.”
Cait noticed Rook, Hurley, and RT watching. “Why not?” She realized how rude that sounded, and added, “What about your commitment in Oregon?”
He frowned. “There’s time to see the rest of the house.”
“The upper floors are my living quarters.”
The sun settled on the red in Alt’s graying hair. “Can we talk about that in private?”
Cait stepped back from Alt. “Come on, Kenneth. What’s with you and this sudden interest in the house? You thinking of buying it?”
“I told you. I’m interested in the house where Tasha lived before she died.”
She stepped back out of the sun and stared at him, trying to read his mind. “Now it’s my home.”
I wouldn’t mind showing him the upstairs if I knew why he was so adamant about it. As far as I know, there’s nothing up there of any great value.
“If you came here because you think Tasha left you something in her trust, I assure you she didn’t, but if you don’t believe me I’ll give you her attorney’s phone number, and you can ask him yourself.”
Alt blinked; his cheeks reddened. RT walked up to Cait. “Everything okay?”
Cait sensed Alt had been on the verge of admitting why he was interested in the house, but clammed up in RT’s presence. She struggled to keep her focus on Alt and not on RT. She knew Tasha and Kenneth had been lovers when they were in New York. Had he given Tasha something he wanted returned? Like an expensive piece of jewelry?
“Cait?” RT said, prompting her.
“Kenneth, come by tomorrow and we’ll talk about it. Right now, I have a lot on my mind. The actors haven’t left yet, and I’m uneasy standing out here while Wally Dillon is still out there waiting to kill me.”
Alt nodded. “Sorry. Tomorrow then.” He turned away.
“Kenneth? You were a terrific Hamlet. Thank you. Without you the theater would have closed.”
He glanced back at her and nodded. “Glad I could help.”
“Strange guy,” RT said after Alt left. “I’m particular about who I allow into my place. You should be, too. Any idea why he’s determined to see the house?”
Sometimes she forgot RT was a SEAL and not just the hunky guy who sent her endorphins spinning out of control. Like now, when he touched her hand.
“Not yet, but if he doesn’t tell me tomorrow, he’s not going past the first floor.”
“Was Kenneth still pressuring you about the house?” June asked when she joined them. She pulled pearl clips from her hair and let it fall to her shoulders.
“Yes. He’s coming over tomorrow.”
“He can be stubborn. What a relief the weekend’s over. Now we can concentrate on Wally without worrying about the actors. I’d like to shoot him and take him out of his misery and ours.”
“June!” Cait admonished, but secretly agreed. “We want him alive to talk.”
June raised her eyebrows. “What! Can the Devil speak truth?”
Hurley cracked a smile.
Rook laughed.
“Macbeth,” June said.
RT shook his head. “Where’d Ray go?”
“He’s packing his equipment. Which reminds me, I haven’t seen much of Jay,” Cait said.
“He’s around,” RT said, “keeping his eye on the costumes and wigs.”
Niki flopped across Cait’s foot. She hoped he wouldn’t whine when RT left for San Diego without him. She reached in her pocket and gave him a treat.
“Okay to search the theaters?” Rook asked.
“I don’t see why not,” Cait said. “You won’t bother the actors. They’ll be gone soon.”
“Maybe Dillon takes Sundays off, but I don’t want to overlook anything before you lock up,” Rook said.
“Don’t count on it,” RT said, his eyes sweeping the grounds.
“Hey!” someone yelled.
Cait turned and saw Marcus on horseback.
“It’s a good time to ride,” he said. “The plays are over and most of the people are gone. No one but us should be here, but if I see someone who doesn’t belong here I’ll call.” He galloped off again without waiting for a response.
Rook shook his head. “Good-looking horse.”
Cait watched until Marcus was out of sight. “I want to say goodbye to the actors. Some will return in July, but others I might never see again.”
“I’ll go with you,” June said.
“Hey!”
What now? Cait turned to see Ilia, his expensive camera posed to take their picture.
“Keep walking. Try to ignore me,” Ilia said. “Act natural. Laugh. Talk. Whatever.”
When they reached the door of the Elizabethan, Ilia yelled, “Look over there!”
Her head snapped around at the sharpness of his voice. He pointed toward the trees and aimed his camera in that direction. “A reflection from behind that oak tree!”
Cait saw it too and grabbed June and pulled her behind a large planter. Heart racing, she peered out. RT, Rook, and Jim Hart drew their guns as they darted between shrubs and trees in the direction Ilia pointed. “Ilia, stay back!”
Officer Hurley had drawn his gun, and he ran after the others.
Niki barked and chased after them.
Where’s Marcus?What if he runs into Wally?
Cait spotted Ilia darting in and out of shrubs, his camera held high. She pulled her gun free as she got to her feet, her adrenaline raging. “June, go inside. There could be more than Wally out there.”
June started to argue, then gave up. “Are you sure someone was behind the tree? I didn’t see anyone and there’s been no shooting.”
“I saw what Ilia did—the sun reflecting off metal. Now please, go. Tell Ray to keep everyone inside. With a little luck, maybe we can end this today.” If that were true, why are my instincts screaming?