Tony and Molly returned to the kitchen, where Elise sat at the island, working on her laptop, developing the menus and shopping list for the upcoming week’s meals.
Elise looked up. “Find anything?”
Molly shrugged. “Muddy tire tracks.”
Tony slid onto the closest stool and pulled out his notebook. “I’d like to get the timeline straight in my mind. Elise, what time did you leave the party last night?”
“About nine o’clock or a little after.”
Tony glanced from Elise to Molly. “There were guests still here?”
“Yes,” Molly said. “We toasted to a successful book launch about nine thirty.”
“Who was here for the toast?”
Molly inhaled and glanced upward. “Aubrey, Tracy, and George, of course. The Chiassons had also come in by then. Betty McKelvey, the bookseller, was here too.” She rubbed her brow. “I think that’s all. My Aunt Vanessa and Lauren Driscoll left together just before the last toast.”
Tony flipped through his notebook. “Molly, you said you locked up about eleven, but the door was open this morning?”
Molly nodded. “The inside door doesn’t latch unless you pull it completely shut. That tells me that either someone left and didn’t lock up, or they left and came back in but didn’t completely close the door.”
“Who has keys to the front door?” he asked.
“Upon check-in, each guest gets a keyring with two keys, one to the front inside door and one to their room. The door to the outside vestibule is usually unlocked. It’s more like a mudroom.”
“Who else has keys?” Tony asked.
Molly counted on her fingers. “Kevin, me, Elise, and Aunt Vanessa.”
Elise added, “Sarah has a key to the kitchen door.”
Tony closed his notebook. “One more question. When was the book launch scheduled?”
“With us, about six weeks ago,” Molly said. “But from what I understand, Aubrey or his publicist originally scheduled it at River Crest Books some time ago, maybe three months or more.”
Elise shook her head. “I think it was longer—maybe five or six months ago. I overheard Tracy and Betty discussing it. Aubrey and Betty had another falling out, and he refused to set foot in her store. That’s what I heard, anyway.”
“Tracy called me about hosting the event here,” Molly added.
Tony stood. “Thank you. I’ll be in touch if I need any more information.” He excused himself and went in search of Molly’s grandmother.
Molly watched him leave the kitchen, and once he was out of earshot, she put her elbow on the counter, rested her chin on her fist, and stared at Elise.
Elise looked up. “What? Did I forget something?”
“So, you and Kevin?”
“Yeah, me and Kevin. So what?” Elise returned to her shopping list.
“You’re my best friend, and he’s my brother. Things could get sticky.”
“It’s none of your business what Kevin and I do on our own time, which was, by the way, nothing. We put on a movie and fell asleep somewhere in the middle.”
Molly placed both arms on the counter and leaned in. “I love my brother, but he can be a player. You wouldn’t believe how many sob stories I’ve heard from his castoffs. I know he’s charming and has dreamy brown eyes and, of course, those dimples.” She made air quotes around “dreamy.”
A mischievous smile crept across Elise’s face, and her emerald eyes twinkled. “Yes, he does.”
Molly straightened, and her eyes narrowed. “I definitely don’t want to know what you’re thinking. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
Elise shrugged. “Don’t worry. I’m a big girl. It’s my heart, my feelings.” She slid the menu plan and shopping list across the counter. “This is the menu I’ve planned for the next few days. Unless you have something to add, I’ll call in the order now.”
Molly looked over the document and the grocery list. “I hope our incoming guests don’t cancel. Perhaps they don’t want to stay in a house where a famous author died.”
“Or it could draw more guests.” Elise winked. “One more ghost story to tell.”
Molly smiled. “You’re always the optimist. I’m so glad you’re here, but please don’t fall in love with Kevin. I don’t want to lose you.”
“You won’t lose me. I promise,” Elise said. “I’m going to call this in.”
“Is Sarah in the laundry room?” Molly asked.
“Yes, she went back a few minutes ago.”
“I’m going to open the dumbwaiter so we can send up the supplies. It’s hard to open when your hands are full of sheets.”
The butler’s pantry connected the kitchen and dining room and was perfect for staging the breakfast service. It boasted the original 1900s-era built-in cabinetry and the refurbished dumbwaiter. Molly reached for the latch of the dumbwaiter, but something caught her eye. A piece of paper stuck out from under the glass-inlaid cabinet door. She pulled on the paper but was met with resistance. Fearing she’d tear it, she let go, peeked inside, and saw the empty spots where the missing champagne flutes had stood. A handwritten note was in their place. She opened the cabinet and found Aubrey’s note.
Molly,
Thanks for a fabulous party. I owe you a bottle of champagne. Well, since my publisher paid for it, I guess I don’t. Ha-Ha. A little after-hours celebration!
The glasses are on the terrace.
Thanks.
A.
Molly heard George Roark’s angry voice in the dining room. “I can’t believe you knew,” he shouted.
“I’m sorry,” Tracy muttered. “He told me in confidence.”
“You still should have told me. That detective blindsided me when he said Aubrey was considering replacing me with a new agent.”
“I’m sorry. You know how angry Aubrey gets…got. I can’t believe he’s gone.”
“That bastard. I’ve been with him since his debut novel over fifteen years ago,” George said. “I understand. You didn’t want to make him angry. The news just took me by surprise.”
Molly heard china clinking together in what sounded like tea preparation. They were on the other side of the open doorway, and she couldn’t stop herself from listening.
“What do you think happened?” Tracy asked.
George scoffed. “He probably crossed the wrong person, and they’ve gone and offed him.”
“But who?”
“I’m sure there’s a long line of suspects,” George said. “Aubrey wasn’t a nice person. You, of all people, know how difficult he could be.”
“I do.” After a moment of silence, Tracy said, “I’m leaving. Are you staying for another day?”
“Yes.” Molly could hear him pouring coffee. “I have a call with my boss in a few minutes. I have no idea what to tell him.”
“Don’t tell him anything. As far as they know, you’re still his agent.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
“I don’t know what will happen to my job either,” Tracy said. “Aubrey was my only big client. And that little mouse, Lindsay. She’s out of a job too.”
“Good luck to you,” George said. “Keep in touch. Let me know what happens.”
“I will, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
Molly heard Tracy leave the room. A minute later, George left. She peeked around the corner into the empty room.
“Molly.”
Molly jumped. Sarah stood behind her, folded sheets in her arms.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“No worries. Just lost in thought,” Molly said. “I’ll help you with those.” She glanced at the note and slipped it into her pants pocket. She’d give it to Tony. It could be evidence, though it only proved that Aubrey took the champagne and glasses. As she helped Sarah load up the dumbwaiter, Molly wondered if George truly was in the dark about Aubrey’s plans to fire him. Perhaps he was trying to find out what Tracy knew. Something about that exchange sounded set up. Or was she becoming suspicious of everyone?