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I stayed at work later than I’d wanted to.
Because most of my day had been spent playing Nancy Drew.
By the time I finally finished my work, it was closing in on seven o’clock. I’d missed both lunch and dinner, opting to not expose myself to Lola’s food while she was under suspicion—at least in my eyes—and I was starting to feel weak and light-headed. A bag of pretzels and a diet Coke from the staff vending machine had not been enough to fill me up.
I grabbed my purse and my workbag. I would stop at a drive-through on the way home, and hope I didn’t pass out from hunger before I got there.
I hurried down the hall, noting the quiet that had already descended on the building. We rarely scheduled evening activities, simply because most of the residents preferred to spend their time after dinner in their apartments.
At least that was what Anne had insisted when I suggested concerts and evening book clubs and non-alcoholic nightcap events.
I rounded the corner, the building’s entrance in sight, when I noticed a couple sitting in the Gathering Room. A small lamp on one of the side tables was the only real light that illuminated the area, but even in the dimness, I could see that Mary was one of the people seated on the floral loveseat.
And Earl Lipinski was sitting next to her.
I slowed my steps, sticking close to the wall. I didn’t want to startle them—or have them notice me.
“Mary.” Earl’s voice wasn’t loud, but I could hear him clearly. I watched as he struggled to get off the couch. I covered my mouth when he lurched forward, awkwardly getting down on one bony knee. He reached out for her hand. ”Would you do me the honor of being my bride?”
“Oh, Earl.” Mary’s free hand flew to her mouth. “I...I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes.”
Someone could have knocked me over with a feather.
As far as I knew, Mary had been engaged to Arthur at this time last week. And yes, she had mentioned earlier that she was over him...but now someone new was proposing to her?”
“It’s just so sudden,” she said
I nodded. At least she and I were on the same page there.
“”What do you mean?” There was an edge to Earl’s voice. “You want to get married.”
“I do, but—”
“You’ve said that since you moved here,” Earl said. His voice had gotten even louder. “You practically begged Arthur to marry you.”
Mary stiffened on the couch. “Do not mention that name to me,” she hissed.
Earl looked visibly taken aback.
“That man didn’t know how good he had it,” Mary spat. “He was stupid to pass up an opportunity to marry me!”
“I agree—”
But Mary wasn’t finished. “I am a fine catch, thank you very much,” she said primly.
“I know—”
“And if that man was too stupid to realize that,” she said, “then he is better off dead!”
I leaned against the wall, and not just because I was weak from hunger.
Mary Ulrich didn’t sound mad.
She sounded furious.
The wrath of a scorned woman.
And I wondered.
I’d considered the possibility of her involvement in Arthur’s death.
Was she angry enough to have killed him?
I took a deep breath.
I was beginning to think the answer was yes.