“Not cause trouble?” As Jennifer flung out her hand, the tumbler she was holding flew from her fingers and crashed onto the flagstones.
All of the guests turned their heads at the noise. Ellen, handing her own drink to Bernadette, strode over to my side.
“What’s all this, then?” she asked, fixing Jennifer with a stern glare. “I’m afraid you’re drunk, Mrs. Delamont. Not that you don’t have reason to indulge, but perhaps you should take a bottle to your room instead?”
“Who died and made you queen?” Jennifer, wobbling, gripped her upper arms with both hands. She stared at Ellen, blinking rapidly. “I don’t even know who you are, do I?”
“Probably not,” Ellen said. “I’m Charlotte’s neighbor, Ellen Montgomery.”
“Not even a guest,” Jennifer said, before slumping down onto the patio. She stared up at Ellen with bleary eyes. “You think I killed him? My husband, in case you didn’t know. Lincoln Delamont. He was stabbed just over there,” she added, flapping her hand in the general direction of the carriage house.
“Yes, I’ve heard,” Ellen replied, her voice suddenly gentle.
But firm.I cut her a look.A well-trained interrogator’s tone.
Scott swiftly crossed the patio to stand beside Julie.A protective gesture, I thought, as he addressed Jennifer in a stern tone. “Doesn’t sound like you care all that much that he’s dead.”
“No, I don’t. Why should I? He never loved me.” Jennifer sat up straighter, folding her legs in a pretzel pose. “Oh sure, he pursued me in the beginning. All flowers and romantic dinners and sweet words. But that was his way—he loved the chase, not theperson he was pursuing. After he achieved his goal, well …” She pressed one hand to her forehead. “Let’s just say that once we were married, he showed his true colors. He treated me like dirt. Yeah, just dirt under his expensive shoes.”
Is this a confession?I glanced at Ellen, who gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head. “I’ve got a broom and dustpan on my back porch,” she said. “Would it help if I grabbed them to sweep up this glass?”
I nodded and she scurried off. Turning back to Jennifer, I held out my hand. “Come on, let’s get you inside.”
Jennifer stared up into my face for a moment before gripping my fingers and allowing me to help her to her feet. “Sorry,” she muttered. “Sorry, sorry.”
“It’s all right, dear,” Sandy said, elbowing her husband. “Pete, why don’t we help Mrs. Delamont to her room? That way Charlotte can remain here with the other guests.”
I demurred, but the Nelsons insisted on taking Jennifer inside. “We’ll ask Ms. Simpson to make you some coffee, how about that?” Sandy said, as Pete wrapped his arm around Jennifer’s shoulders.
“I guess that’s our entertainment for the evening,” Julie said as she watched the trio head into the house. She turned to me with an apologetic smile. “Forgive me for losing my cool with her earlier, Charlotte. I know we’re all suspects, although it seems to me”—she motioned toward the back door—“that’s your culprit right there.”
“Maybe. But if so, it seems she had reason.”
“I don’t doubt that,” Scott said, sliding his arm around Julie’s waist. “You doing okay?”
“I’m fine, thanks,” Julie replied, without pulling away. She looked up at Scott with a warm smile. “But another drink wouldn’t hurt. How about you?”
“Sounds like a plan,” Scott said. They turned and wandered off toward the bar as Ellen returned with the broom and dustpan. “Here, let me do that,” I said, taking the broom from her hand.
“You sweep and I’ll collect,” Ellen said, squatting down with the dustpan.
After we gathered up all the broken glass, I motioned toward the holly hedge screening the carriage house. “No need to take it inside. There’s a trash bin right behind the hollies.”
I followed Ellen over to the bin, lifting the lid so she could dump the broken glass. “Oh, I was wondering—could we meet again sometime tomorrow? I’d like to talk over our impressions of this evening in relation to our suspect list.”
“Of course, but I’m afraid I’ll be volunteering at Fort Macon all day, so it will have to be later.” Ellen tapped her chin with one finger. “Come to think of it, maybe you could do me a favor.”
“Happy to, if I can.”
“Well, my car needs a checkup, so I’m catching a ride to the fort with one of the other volunteers. Unfortunately, she has to run some errands after work. I was willing to ride along with her, but if you could come over around closing time and give me a lift home, I’d really appreciate it.”
“No problem,” I said. “I don’t have any other events planned before Saturday night, so I can easily do that. What time?”
“The fort and welcome center close at five thirty, so around then would be fine.” Ellen cast me a warm smile. “And thanks.”
“Glad to do it,” I said. “Maybe I’ll even come a little early and take a stroll around the grounds and the fort. Get an extra walk in. That might be good for my mental state as well as my health.” As I finished my sentence, a rustle made me turn on my heel to face the holly hedge. “Did you hear that?”
Ellen stepped up beside me. “I think someone was lurking there.”
