Mason unfolded the letter. I read it over his shoulder.
It was typed and signed “A Disgruntled Fan.”
You know what you’ve stolen from me—the promises you’ve made and never kept. I will destroy everyone and everything you love. First your husband, then your son, and finally your reputation. Tell no one about this letter or I will reveal to the world what you have done.
There was no date on the letter.
“When did you receive this?” Mason asked.
“A month ago. A few days before Quinn died.”
“You told the police about this?”
“No. People would think I’d done something horrible.”
“Your pride may have caused the death of your husband and the reporter Nick Davis,” Mason said.
Savannah teared slightly. “My image is everything. I couldn’t have it tarnished.”
“You know what the writer is talking about then.” Mason made it a statement, not a question.
“Of course not,” Savannah shrugged. “I have no idea what the letter refers to, but I’m aware I have enemies. James Bradshaw believes Quinn and I stole the house from him. Buddy believes I’m threatening his marriage and his reputation. Poor Timothy White believed I took his mother from him. Perhaps he’s behind all of this.”
“You don’t really believe that,” I said.
“No,” she said. “Not Timothy.”
“You are telling me you have absolutely no idea who wrote this letter or why,” Mason said.
“That’s what I’m telling you.” Savannah said. “It was left with my other mail. No postage, no return address.”
Mason waited, but Savannah was done talking.
“We’re finished with you for now,” Mason said. “You’re to go nowhere. Do you understand? An officer will remain in your room to make sure you follow my orders.”
Mason brought the officer at the door into the suite.
“She is to be in sight of you at all times. Understood? There are more secret passages in this house than there are rooms.”
The officer nodded and folded his arms.
Mason left and took me with him.
We returned to Quinn’s office where Lurleen and Danny were waiting.
Mason showed them the letter. “We need to talk this through,” he said. “Get yourselves some coffee. We’re going to be here a while.”
Danny set up an easel with paper and a black marker.
Lurleen gave him a questioning look. “I’ve been working with Mason a long time,” he said to her. “I know how he works.”
“Pen and paper?” Lurleen asked.
“I want everyone to see this as we go,” Mason said. “I don’t want to be scrunched over a computer screen for the next hour. And I don’t want anyone hacking our computer to see what we’re thinking.”
“Got it,” Lurleen said.
“Let’s go over what we know.” Mason made himself another cup of coffee and stood beside Danny. “Let’s get the time line straight. The dip in Savannah’s ratings started two years ago in the fall?”
Lurleen checked her iPhone. “Savannah’s last big magazine spread was in the September issue of Southern Living year before last. Her last television appearance was two weeks after that as a guest judge on Clipped. Nothing since then.”
Mason nodded. “The drug bust at one of Quinn’s gathering places happened the following summer. You got the date, Danny?”
“July fifteenth last year.”
“Then everything blew up during their anniversary celebration a year ago according to Anna,” Mason said. “When Savannah told Chief Lewis and Quinn about her son. Why did she do that?”
“I think she hoped to use Olivier to boost her ratings by bringing him to the US,” I said. “He was young, talented, and French,” Lurleen added. “What could be a better combination for Savannah?”
“We don’t yet know who was responsible for the threatening letters,” Mason said. “They started immediately after the anniversary and ended with Quinn’s death.”
“Anna said she thought Dorian might have written the one that threatened her.” I said. “That was when she claimed she broke off an affair with him, before we knew they were brother and sister. Why would she implicate her brother in murder?”
“Relationships may be the key to these murders,” Mason said, “particularly if we suspect two or more people worked together to kill Quinn and Nick Davis.”
Mason took the marker from Danny. “We’ll start with Dorian Gray and see what he has to say for himself. Shall we bring the deputy chief in as well? You think he can be trusted, Danny?”
Danny nodded. “Matt said Buddy helped get him on the force but never tried to influence how he did his work. If he thought he couldn’t be objective, Matt promised he’d step aside. I believe him for what it’s worth.”
“Then get them both in,” Mason said.
Danny left, and Mason started a new page. “Suspects,” he wrote. “This could take a while.”