“Patton didn’t leave me much, you understand.Griselda was the one with the money.And she was happy to share it with Patton, but when he died and it was just me… well, it was a very different story.”
“So you decided to get rid of her.And inherit.”
She nodded.“I’ve thought about it for years.But the time never seemed right.I couldn’t make it too obvious, you understand.”
I nodded.“Of course not.You didn’t want it to look like you were behind it.It had to look like someone else did it.”
She beamed.“Exactly, dear.I knew you’d understand.”
Oh, sure.I smiled back.“So when Steven called and wanted to rent the house for Anastasia, you saw your chance.”
“They made it so obvious, they might as well have come straight out and talked about the Russian mafia.”She shook her head, clucking.“There was no way they’d go to the police.And she was probably illegal, anyway.Nobody would believe that she didn’t do it.It made perfect sense.”
“So you drove over there, and… you have a car, I assume?”
She smiled sweetly.“Of course, dear.This isn’t prison, you know.I come and go as I please.And I’m not so old yet that they’ve taken away my driver’s license.”
No, physically there didn’t seem to be much wrong with her.Her eyesight was obviously good, and so was her mind.Even if it was a little unhinged.
“So you went there, and you knocked on the door, and when Griselda opened it—which she would do, even late at night, seeing as you were her sister-in-law and someone she trusted—you shot her.”
Araminta nodded.“And went next door to spook the Russian girl into taking off.It wouldn’t do for her to be there the next morning, or whenever the body was found.”
Of course not.“And then, when I showed up and told you Steven was missing, too, I guess you got the idea for the ransom note?”
She looked very pleased, with me for catching on, or with herself for thinking of it.Or both.“It seemed like such a golden opportunity.It might take a while for the insurance company to pay out under the circumstances—not that anyone in their right mind would suspectmeof having had anything to do with it!—and I could use a little cash to tide me over until I got the insurance money.And you did say your friend is an attorney.I thought she must be able to afford it.”
“You know,” I said, “when I saw you at the Arena last night, I didn’t suspect you at all.I thought it was a coincidence.”
Mendoza arched his brows at me, and I added, “That’s why I didn’t tell you.I didn’t think it was important.Sorry.”
He didn’t say anything, just rolled his eyes.Araminta snickered.“I saw you both, of course.And realized I wouldn’t be getting the money.But at least I could get away clean.Nobody ever suspects a little old lady of anything bad.”
“How do you plan to get away now?”I asked, curiously.“I mean, you just confessed.”
She smiled sweetly.“I’m just waiting for the poison in the scones to kick in, dear.”
There was poison in the scones?
I turned to Mendoza.“You said the scones were fine.”
He shrugged.“Guess I was wrong.”
Guess so.“What kind of poison?”I asked Araminta.
She waved her hand vaguely.The one with the gun.“Something from Griselda’s medicine cabinet.Heart medicine, maybe?She always had a rotten heart.”
It sounded like that particular affliction was going around.“So what kind of symptoms are you waiting for?”
“I’m not sure, dear.I thought you might get woozy, but you don’t seem to be.”She furrowed her brows.“Perhaps another scone?”
“I’m not really hungry anymore,” I said.“How about you just tie us to the furniture instead, and take off while you can?You don’t have to wait.And with the TV on so loudly, nobody’s likely to hear us scream even if you don’t get the gags just right.”
She nodded pensively.“That’s a good idea.”
“You can use my scarf.”I pulled it from around my neck and held it out to her.
“Thank you, dear.”She took a step forward and reached for it.I kicked the gun out her other hand.
