I called Dylan to get the information about Daphne and Robby’s mother. He was on the phone with a client, but Rosalind was happy to fill me in on how she’d tracked down Patricia Harper.
“Very clever of you,” I said, when she had told me all the details.
“It’s all thanks to that boyfriend of yours. Dylan told me where to look, and I followed my instincts. Both helped me find what you wanted.” I heard papers rustling, then, “Patricia Harper now calls herself Sheila Rossetti. Rossetti is her married name. Here’s her address in Medford.”
I jotted down the address and phone number and thanked Rosalind. Then I called Robby’s cell phone, but it went to voice mail.
“Call me when you’re free,” I said. “I have your mother’s new name, address, and phone number.”
That taken care of, I worked on the June-July newsletter for an hour. I’d just finished laying it out and getting it ready for the printer when my father called.
“Caro, I’m down at the precinct with your mother. I think you should know. Tom’s in deep doo-doo.”
“Why? Because his fingerprints were found in Ilana’s room? He expected them to show up, given that they’d spent time there together.” I sighed. “I hate to say it, but it looks like John is getting desperate. First Dirk, then Mom, and now Tom’s in the hot seat.”
“Unfortunately, there’s no doubt he was there that night.”
“Which, knowing Tom, I’m sure he didn’t deny.”
“There’s more, Caro.”
My heart began to race. “Tell me, Dad.”
“Tom was seen talking to your friend Daphne Marriott.”
“Really? Who saw him?”
“Serena Harris said she saw them in conversation last Saturday at the meet-and-greet on the Green.”
“So? I’m sure plenty of people stopped to speak to Tom that day.”
“Serena also saw them talking the night Daphne was murdered. She told your friend John that Tom and Daphne were having an animated conversation in the street near Daphne’s apartment.”
“How did Serena know who Tom was talking to?” I said.
“She had no idea who the woman was until she saw Daphne’s picture in the newspaper. Tom is insisting he never spoke to Daphne after the event on the Green. He remembers going out for a walk the night Daphne was murdered, but the only person he says he exchanged words with that evening was a woman walking a dog. Daphne didn’t have a dog.”
“Dad, Tom needs a lawyer.”
“Your mother called Phil Demuth to represent Tom. Phil said he would, but if he does, he can no longer be her lawyer in case there’s a conflict of interest.”
“Mom agreed to it?”
“She sure did. She’s terribly upset about this latest development. She wants to do everything she can to help Tom.”
“Is John planning to arrest Tom?”
“We don’t know. Meanwhile, Linda plans to remain at the precinct as long as Tom’s being questioned. I’m staying with her.”
“Thanks, Dad. Would you like me to come down there during my lunch hour?”
“No, honey. I’ll keep you posted on what’s happening.”
“I’m so glad you’re here in Clover Ridge.”
“I am, too. Family has to support one another.”
I laughed. “Interesting that you consider Mom and Tom family.”
“The concept of family has taken on an elastic meaning these days. Gotta go. Talk to you later.”
Trish joined me in the office, and I brought her up to date on what was happening regarding my mother and Tom and the murder cases.
“Do you think this Serena is telling the truth?” Trish asked when I’d finished.
“I don’t see why she has any reason to lie.”
“Still, I think John needs more than that to hold Tom for the murder.”
After Trish left to bring the newsletter to the printer’s, I was about to lock the office and set out for the Cozy Corner Café with Angela when Robby called me. I gave him the information regarding his mother’s whereabouts.
“Thanks, Carrie. I appreciate this.” I heard the hesitation in his voice and waited to hear what he wanted to add. “I was wondering—would you be willing to come with me when I talk to her?”
“I’d be happy to, though it will have to be when I’m off from work. I’m afraid I can’t take any more personal days.”
“Of course. Let me know what day is good for you,” Robby said. “I’d like to speak to my mother next week, if possible. I’ll reschedule my appointments accordingly.”
“I’ll let you know as soon as I get my work schedule for next week. I should have it in a day or two.”
Later that afternoon, while Susan and I were discussing the artwork for the August-September newsletter, my father called to say that John was allowing Tom to leave the station.
“That’s good news,” I said. “It means John doesn’t have enough evidence to hold him.”
“He told Tom not to leave the area.”
“I’m not surprised.”
“Er … Carrie, I’m driving your mother to the cottage so she can pack up her things. She’s moving back to the house she and Tom are renting.”
“You’re kidding!”
“That’s what she wants, and I’m not about to argue with her.”
“Do you think she’s doing the right thing?”
Jim let out a deep exhalation. “Honey, when it comes to romance, I don’t even try to venture a guess. From what I’ve seen of your mother and Tom, they seem to need each other.”
“All right. Whatever.” After a minute, I asked, “Does it upset you—Mom going back to Tom?”
My father roared with laughter. “Not in the slightest.”
“Dad, you have someone stashed away in Atlanta, don’t you?”
“Honey, I gotta go. Talk to you soon.”
“It’s a good thing you have a key to the cottage. Don’t forget to shut off the security system.”
“Will do. It’s the first thing I do when I enter a home.”
“Ha! Is that supposed to be a burglar joke?” I asked.
When Dylan called shortly after, I gave him the news about my mother and Tom.
He laughed. “Well, I can’t say I’m surprised.”
“Why do you say that?” I asked.
“A certain type of woman is inspired to great dedication and sacrifice when the man she loves is in trouble.”
I thought a moment. “I suppose you’re right. Besides, I think my mother and Tom truly love each other.”
“And need each other,” Dylan added.
“Mmm,” I agreed.
“Like you and me, babe.”
I grinned. “So nice to hear you say that.”
“Hey, you want to go out for dinner tonight? I was thinking some nice quiet place. Nothing fancy.”
“I’d love to. Things have been too hectic lately.”
“I’ll pick you up at six thirty, quarter to seven—depending on traffic. I’ll call on my way home.”
“Looking forward to it.”
Hardly an hour had passed when my mother called to tell me she’d moved back into the rented house. “Thanks so much for putting me up, Carrie.”
“It was my pleasure,” I said. “Though it was under difficult circumstances, I’m glad we got to spend time together.”
I disconnected and looked up to find Susan laughing. “What’s so funny?”
“Your personal life is so demanding, it’s amazing you have any time for work.”
At five o’clock I hunted down Smoky Joe, put him in his carrier, and made my way to the parking lot. The weather was warm and balmy. Too nice to head for home just yet, so I decided to run a few errands. I drove along the Green and found a parking spot a few doors down from Gourmet Delight. The previous night’s unexpected guests had depleted my food supplies. Everything here was delicious, if rather expensive. My plan was to buy a few items and do some major supermarket shopping later on in the week when I had more time.
I selected a bunch of asparagus and a large box of strawberries, reached for a container of their tasty chickpea salad, and decided to take advantage of the sale on salmon steaks, which I’d marinate and bake for Dylan and me over the weekend. I added a can of their outrageous pâté to my wagon, then headed for the register with the shortest line.
Outside again, I was walking toward my car when someone called my name. I looked up, not sure where the caller was until he called my name again. I saw Charlie Stanton waving to me from one of the outdoor tables in front of the restaurant next door. I headed toward him, then paused when I saw that he was sitting with two women. One of them was Serena Harris.
“Come on over, Carrie. Don’t be shy!”
“I’m not shy,” I mumbled, too low for him to hear. “I just don’t want to sit with someone who tried to make my mother’s husband look guilty.” But I decided to go over there anyway. Maybe I could find out why Serena had thrown Tom under the bus.
“Sit down, sit down!” Charlie said, pulling out a chair for me. “We’re bored and could do with some scintillating company.”
I smiled, appreciating his friendliness. “I don’t know about scintillating company, but I’d love to join you for a few minutes.”
Charlie gestured to his companions. “Carrie, you remember Serena and Hattie, our makeup and hair expert. Carrie is Brianna’s daughter. She works in the library.”
“Of course. Hi.” I smiled at the two women and sat down. Serena and Hattie smiled back.
Charlie gestured to the mug and crumb-filled plate that he’d pushed toward the middle of the table. “We’ve had our late-afternoon treat, and now we’re taking a break.”
“Sounds decadent,” I joked.
“There’s nothing for us to do but wait for news.” Serena’s one-shoulder shrug was dismissive. Clearly she was fed up.
“News on whether they’ll finish filming the movie?” I asked.
“Yes.” Hattie sniffed. “We wait and we wait.”
“Dirk is meeting with the producers as we speak,” Charlie explained. “They’ll decide if we’re going ahead with the actress Dirk wants to sign on to take Ilana’s place. The thing is, she insists on knowing their decision by nine this evening because she’s been offered another role. Then there’s the problem of whether or not …” He looked at me, a sheepish expression on his face. For once, Charlie Stanton was at a loss for words.
“If Tom’s going to be indicted for Ilana’s murder,” I finished for him. “That’s understandable.”
No one spoke.
“Well, he hasn’t been charged,” I said, “though he’s been told to stay in Clover Ridge for the time being.”
“We’ve all been asked to stay in Clover Ridge,” Serena said. “Your police chief isn’t done with any of us. I wonder who gets to sit in the hot seat tomorrow.”
“Can you blame him?” I asked, incensed by her attitude. “A member of your group was murdered. The killer could be someone else from the movie.”
“Are you forgetting? The night before, another young woman was murdered in your little town.” Hattie pulled the edges of her cardigan over her generous bosom and shivered. “Maybe there’s a serial killer on the loose.”
“It’s possible,” I said. “Or perhaps someone had a reason to murder both Ilana and Daphne.”
Three pairs of eyes studied me.
“Carrie, did you know Daphne Marriott?” Serena asked.
“Not well, though we were on our way to becoming friends. She gave a program at the library recently. On psychic phenomena.”
“We heard she used to live here in Clover Ridge,” Charlie said, “and that her father was murdered twenty years ago.”
“So I’ve heard,” I said, somewhat surprised at how well informed they were about Daphne’s history.
“Two murders in one family!” Serena said, her beautiful violet eyes taking on the glow of a true gossipmonger. “We were told his murder was never solved. Maybe his daughter came back to find out who killed her father.”
“After all these years? I don’t think so,” I said, following my instinct not to share any of my theories with them.
Charlie laughed. “You’d think the police would search for the killer among the people in town. But no—poor Dirk was grilled a few days ago because he used to come to Clover Ridge to visit relatives.”
Their mocking attitude was getting under my skin. “The police have a few leads they’re working on. They’re waiting for the results of some tests.”
“What kind of tests?” Hattie asked.
I shrugged. “I can’t remember. Hairs or fibers they found at the murder scenes.” To change the focus of our conversation, I turned to Serena. “Did you really see Tom talking to Daphne near her apartment the night she was murdered?”
Was it my imagination, or had her ears reddened? “As I told Lieutenant Mathers, I also saw him talking to her that Saturday afternoon on the Green.”
“I’m sure Tom spoke to plenty of people that day,” I said. “You all did. That was the purpose of the meet-and-greet.”
“Then I saw them talking again the evening she was murdered,” Serena said. “They were standing outside a drugstore. Turns out the drugstore is only a block from her apartment.”
“How did you know that?” I asked.
Serena blinked. “I figured it out when I read her address in the newspaper. There was a photo of the building too, so I knew it was close to where I saw them talking.”
“What were you doing there?” I asked.
Serena drew back, affronted. “What do you think? I was out walking. Getting in some much-needed exercise. Besides, it was only a few blocks from our hotel.”
“Well, maybe Tom was out for the same reason and he happened to run into Daphne.”
“Maybe he was. How would I know?” Serena very deliberately turned her back on me.
“Well, I’d better start for home,” I said.
“Take care, Carrie,” Charlie said, then raised his hand to catch the waiter’s attention.