I felt a little guilt myself, knowing I primarily wanted to make sure Damian was part of the group activities so that Ellenand I could examine him for any telltale signs of involvement in Lincoln’s murder.But if he did kill someone, I reminded myself,all’s fair.
I asked for a gin and tonic, then walked back over to join Ellen and the Sandberg sisters. As I did, I surreptitiously glanced around the patio. Surprisingly, Jennifer Delamont was present. Clutching a large glass of what could’ve been either water or vodka, she was engaged in a lively conversation with Todd and Kelly Rowley.
Julie, I noticed, was chatting with Scott and the Nelsons. As I expected, Scott was standing close to Julie, and the look on his face when he glanced at her told me my assumptions about his growing interest in her were correct. Which was great.As long as he isn’t the murderer, I thought, taking a gulp of my drink.
“Hello, Charlotte,” Ophelia said. “Thanks for trying to offer at least part of the events on this week’s schedule.”
I shrugged. “I felt I should try to do as much as possible.”
Bernadette took a long swallow from her drink. “Looks like the gang is all here, although I haven’t seen Tara Delamont yet. But I suppose she’s too young for cocktails.”
“Definitely too young, although that doesn’t always stop them from trying.” I remembered finding the girl with the empty spumante bottle a few nights before. “But actually, she’s gone. She’s staying with her grandparents right now. Which is probably for the best.”
Ophelia widened her pale eyes. “I guess that means the police cleared her of any involvement in the murder.”
“I suspect so, although they could call her back, I suppose. Face it, without her own funds and a car, she’s probably not asmuch of a flight risk as an adult, especially if she’s been released into her grandparents’ care,” Bernadette said.
“There is that. And it seems unlikely that the girl was involved in her father’s death.” Ellen looked at me over the rim of her glass. “At least, from what little I’ve heard.”
“Just as well she’s not around, since her mother seems well on her way to becoming falling-down drunk tonight,” Bernadette said, motioning toward Jennifer and the Rowleys with her glass. “Probably best if her daughter’s not here to see that.”
Ophelia clucked her tongue. “Now, Bernie, cut the poor woman some slack. I’m sure she’s under a tremendous amount of stress.”
“Sure, especially if she recently stabbed her husband,” Bernadette replied darkly. She downed the rest of her drink. “Think I’ll get another. Anyone else?”
“I’m fine,” I said, echoing Ophelia and Ellen.
As Bernadette strode off toward the bar, I sipped my own drink and threw out an innocuous comment about Ellen’s garden, which, as I’d suspected, got Ophelia talking Ellen’s ear off about her own flowers. That was one sure way to change the subject. I gave Ellen a raised-eyebrow look before slipping away.
“Good evening,” I said as I joined Julie, who’d left Scott and the Nelsons to talk to the Rowleys. “Thank you all for coming. I know it isn’t under the greatest circumstances …”
“Now there’s an understatement.” Julie flashed me a wry smile before she tossed back her drink and walked off to deposit her empty glass on one of the small tables we’d set up on the patio.
“We’re happy to participate,” Todd said. “Given the circumstances, you would have been within your rights to cancel the entire week.”
“I hated to do that, especially since you had to stay in Beaufort anyway. It only seemed fair to offer a few of the activities you were promised. Just to try to keep things as normal as possible.”
“And we appreciate that,” Kelly said, staring at something over my shoulder. “Oh dear, that doesn’t look good.”
I turned to see Julie stalking up to the group that included Pete and Sandy and Jennifer. “Excuse me, maybe I’d better head over there.”
“Yes, you might need to referee,” Todd said, his pleasant expression growing grave.
I set my glass on a table and hurried over to stand between Jennifer and Julie, but I was too late.
“Your apology means nothing to me,” Jennifer said, her words slurring into mush. “Should’ve thought of that before you started sleeping with my husband.”
Julie, her arms akimbo, faced off with the older woman. “I never did.”
“Doesn’t matter, does it. Would’ve happened eventually.” Jennifer swatted one hand through the air, as if Julie were a bothersome insect. “Happened plenty of times before, you know.”
“No, I don’t, and I’m not sure I should take your word for it,” Julie said, widening her stance like someone getting ready to throw a punch.
Jennifer’s laugh dissolved into a choking fit. Sandy made a sympathetic noise and moved closer, but Jennifer stumbled away before Sandy could pat her back.
Catching sight of me, Julie’s haughty pose crumpled. “I just wanted to apologize,” she said. “I didn’t want to cause any trouble.”
“I know,” I said. “But maybe this wasn’t the best time …”
