Chapter 42

It’s a mess! Detective Brodsky’s text message said. I’ll fill you in later. Busy day ahead. He texted even more.

There was no word from Cashel.

“What are you doing?” Ruby said, coming up to her.

“I was just texting Cashel. No word back,” Cora said.

“I was there last night, you know,” Ruby said. “It’s a mess.”

“That’s just what Brodsky said. I don’t understand how it can be a mess when they have a confession,” Cora said with a lowered voice. The crafters were milling about, finishing up their projects, collecting more coffee and water.

“Confessions are interesting,” Ruby said. “Remember the one when we were at the beach? That poor young man.”

“I remember. But that was more complicated than this. Roni stood here yesterday and said she killed the man.”

“I tried to find out more information last night, but you know how Cashel is,” Ruby said.

“There was a lot of commotion last night,” Ruby said. “I saw Zee leaving. And I considered chatting with her, but she looked like death warmed over. And then several other cops went into the interrogation room where Cashel, Brodsky, and Roni were. I waited until Cashel came out of there. But he was in no mood.”

“Is he ever?” Cora asked, and grinned.

Ruby’s left eyebrow hitched. “He takes this lawyer thing way too seriously.”

“Well, as much as I want to know more, he’s doing right by Roni,” Cora said. “Heck, who knows, she may be a free woman by the end of the week after he works his legal magic.”

“Magic?” Jane came up to them just then.

“We were talking about Cashel,” Cora said.

“No offense, but I don’t think of magic when I think of Cashel,” Jane said with a flat note in her voice, and then took a bite of blueberry muffin.

Ruby chortled. “None taken.”

Just then the doorbell rang. Cora moved away from the group to answer it. When she opened the door, she was surprised to find Zee, holding an enormous floral arrangement.

“Can I come in or what?” Zee said.

“Oh Zee! I’m just surprised to see you!” Cora said. “Please, come in!”

Zee sat the huge floral arrangement on the table in the foyer. “I’m so glad I finally finished this for you.”

Zee reached out and hugged Cora. “I’m so happy to see you.”

“The flowers are gorgeous!” Cora said. “All those beautiful fall flowers.”

“All local,” she said.

Huge yellow snapdragons shot up from the arrangement of crimson mums and purple violas, with bright yellow centers, circled by ivy.

“You didn’t have to do this. Not with everything else going on,” Cora said.

“Well, you paid for it,” she said. “And I have to tell you, even though I was exhausted and stressed, keeping busy helped. It was actually, I don’t know, healing to put these together for you last night. Don’t misunderstand me. I’m still getting over all this, but I’m on my way.”

“Making beautiful things is always good for the soul,” Jane said from behind Cora.

“I hadn’t realized you were there,” Cora said.

“I’m so glad you’re back,” Jane said. “I hope it wasn’t too dreadful for you.”

Zee reached out and hugged Jane. She stood back and took a long look at her. “Let’s talk about that some other time. I have guests coming in this afternoon. And Lulu tried to help, but I’m still trying to make sense of everything she did.” She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “That sister of mine!”

“I was happy to help, but she came and took right over. I hope that was okay?” Cora said.

“Oh, it’s not your fault,” Zee said. “I know you did your best. It’s just that Lulu doesn’t have a head for figures. I think she has a learning disability. She also doesn’t know how to use a mop, apparently.”

“What a gorgeous arrangement!” Lisa squealed as a group of crafters sauntered into the foyer.

Zee beamed. “Thank you! Well, I must be going.” Zee opened the door just as Roni was about to knock.

Roni?

Cora’s heart thudded against her ribcage. What is Roni doing here? She’d confessed to murder. Why isn’t she in jail?

“I just came to collect my things,” she murmured. “And I’ll be on my way.”

“Roni?” Jane said. Good, Jane could speak, whereas Cora couldn’t. She was flabbergasted.

Roni turned.

“Are you okay? Is everything okay?” Jane asked as more crafters came into the foyer.

“I’m perfectly fine,” she said. “Better than I’ve ever been, as a matter of fact.”

What did that mean?

“Can we get you something to drink? Eat?”

She hesitated. “I don’t think so.”

“What are you doing here?” Annie said. “I thought you’d been arrested.”

Vera elbowed her, but it was the question they had all wanted to ask.

“Turns out I didn’t kill him,” she said with a tremor in her voice. “I just hurt him. I hadn’t even really intended to do that. I just wanted him to know how he’d hurt my daughter. I just wanted him to be aware, so maybe he could be more sensitive to other kids.”

Cora’s heart would not settle down. She was concentrating on breathing. If Roni didn’t kill Stan, who did?

“What do you mean?” Annie said. “I’m sorry if that’s too personal of a question.”

“No,” Roni said. “I guess I owe you all an explanation, since I ruined the retreat.”

“You didn’t ruin it for me,” Vera said.

Others expressed their agreement.

Cora breathed easier and noticed that Jane looked relieved.

Roni took a deep breath. “I lost my daughter to suicide. It wasn’t completely Stan’s fault. I know that. Still, he set her on a course.”

“I knew the man was a pedophile!” Ruby said.

“Oh no! Nothing like that!” Roni said. “He adored my daughter. Said she was very talented and she was. He hooked her up with an agent, and she was getting acting gigs left and right. It’s such a cruel business. And she got hooked on drugs. Maybe I should not have blamed him. I don’t know. He made it all seem fantastic. And it’s not. It was a lot of pressure for a sixteen-year-old to handle.”

“I thought you said she was twelve?” Jane said.

“Yes, when they first met,” Roni said. “As I said, I didn’t mean to hurt him. I did push him . . . because he tried to put his arm around me . . . and it was like a nightmare, as I watched him trip and hit his head. And all the blood . . .” Her voice cracked. “Thank God I didn’t kill him. I’m not sure how I could live with myself.”

Cora stepped up and circled her arms around her. “Let’s get you something to eat. Come into the kitchen.”

* * *

Jane and Ruby followed Cora and Roni into the kitchen, and the retreaters hung around the living room and craft room. Tension tinged with sadness filled the atmosphere.

Jane sat an icy glass of water in front of Roni. Ruby fetched a muffin and placed it next to the water. Roni drank from the glass.

“How are you feeling?” Cora asked.

She sat her glass down. “I’m exhausted. I didn’t get a wink of sleep.”

“Why don’t you stay and get some rest?” Cora said. “Don’t feel as if you have to leave.”

“I just feel terrible that this happened at the retreat,” she said. “I hope I haven’t caused too many problems.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Cora said. “I’m just happy you’re back safe and sound.”

Zee walked into the room. “I suppose I should thank you for taking my place in the line-up of murder suspects.”

“You were the other one?”

“I’m Zora, my friends call me Zee,” she said, and extended her hand. They shook hands. Zee sat down at the table. “So if you didn’t kill him and I didn’t kill him, who did?”

“Good question,” Ruby said. “How did he get from the alley to the stage?”

“He must have walked,” Jane said.

“Hard to imagine. I mean, Stan was bleeding so much,” Roni said.

“So, say he did walk,” Zee persisted. “He was bloody, in pain, and came into the theater to what? Get himself cleaned up? What? Why didn’t he go to the hospital?”

“That’s a good question,” Roni said. “But he probably wasn’t thinking clearly. I know I wasn’t.” She bit into the muffin.

“No, I’m sure you weren’t,” Cora said. “I insist you stay here until you get rested up. I don’t want you driving.”

The woman looked as if she’d fall over any minute. Cora could not let her go. What a horrible experience—to not just be accused of murder, but to be convinced you did it.

“Do you know if the police have any other leads?” Jane asked.

“If they do, they didn’t tell me,” she said.

“It must have been someone at the theater,” Zee said. “I hate to think that. It makes the most sense, though.”

“He wasn’t the most liked person in the world, but the theater folks at least respected him,” Ruby said.

“True,” Zee said. She reached out for Roni’s hand. “My experience was dreadful, but I’m sure yours was even worse. Please stay here awhile and take care of yourself.”

“Thank you,” Roni said. She took a deep breath. “You know, I think I’ll head upstairs and lie down. Who knows? Maybe I’ll sleep.”

Cora handed her a cup of chamomile tea. “Take this with you. It always helps me to get rest.”

She stood and took the mug of steaming chamomile tea from Cora and exited the room.

Ruby placed her hands on her hips. “The police are making a mess of things. The good old Indigo Gap police.”

“Sounds to me like they are trying to find a killer,” Cora said.

“The problem is not with the police; it’s the judge,” Zee said.

“I think it’s both,” Ruby said. “I wish Cashel would tell me more. He never does.”

“Chalk one up for Cashel,” Zee muttered, and she stood to take her leave. “I need to get back. To clean up the mess that is my business. I have some guests arriving this evening. Lord, that Lulu . . .” Her voice trailed off as she left the room.

“What a retreat,” Jane said.

Ruby chuckled. “Exciting, heh? These women will be talking about this for years.”

“I had not thought of it like that,” Cora said.

“I mean, think of it. These women barely have time for themselves, let alone time to craft. Then the police show up to question them about a murder.”

“Then one of them confesses, thinking she killed the man.”

Cora smiled. “And she didn’t. Yes, I see what you mean. It’s the kind of thing that will be funnier as time goes by.”

“You’re worried about Roni, aren’t you?” Jane said.

“You know what it’s like to be accused. Just think what it would be like if you actually thought you killed someone.”

“She should be relieved,” Ruby said. “Not moping around. I mean, I get it. She’s probably exhausted. She’ll be fine as soon as she gets rested up.”

“Not everybody is as strong as you, Ruby,” Cora said as she rose from the kitchen table.

A surprised expression came across Ruby’s face. She opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, then closed it. Then she said, “Is that a compliment?” and grinned.

“God forbid,” Jane said.

Vera walked into the kitchen. “Lord, I need more coffee!”

“Almost time for the French beading class,” Jane perked up.

“I might skip it. I mean, I like the other beading stuff. You know, it’s fun to make jewelry. And I think my daughter Elizabeth would have a blast with it. This French beading looks complicated,” she said as she poured herself some coffee.

“Don’t feel like you have to attend,” Cora said. “You can just hang out or go downtown, or do some other kind of craft. Please help yourself.”

“Thanks,” Vera said.

“There you are,” Annie said as she walked into the kitchen. “Are you ready for the French beading class? I can’t wait.”

“Are you serious?” Vera said.

“Yes, why?”

“Those tiny beads would drive me mad. I’m skipping it,” Vera said.

“Me too,” Lisa said as she walked into the kitchen. “If I never see another bead in my life, I think I’d be just fine.” She turned to face Cora and Jane. “No offense, ladies. It’s been lovely. I’ve just had enough. I need to sit and work on this baby blanket. Knitting will set me right.”

Knitting. What is it about knitting? Cora wondered. Knitting was a healing balm of a craft—one that completely eluded her.