I wondered if Kelly’s tinkling laugh sounded as forced to everyone else as it did to me. “Because we think it was a woman, you see,” I said. “Tara heard a woman talking with her dad before he was killed. A woman who must’ve hidden in thecarriage house when Jennifer Delamont appeared on the scene.”
Julie leaned in closer to Scott. “And all of the rest of us females have solid alibis, it seems.”
“Is that why you all are staring at me with those suspicious expressions? Because you think I had something to do with Delamont’s death?” Kelly covered her mouth with one well-manicured hand and giggled. “Honestly, that’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. I mean, I scarcely shared three words with the man before he was found stabbed to death.”
Julie pulled away from Scott and crossed the room to stand in front of the desk. “That’s curious, because I’m sure I saw you chatting with him for quite some time at the Friday night cocktail party.”
“And you would’ve noticed, I suppose,” Jennifer said, her tone etched with acid. But she nodded when Julie glanced at her. “Yes, I saw that too. Figured he was hitting on another pretty woman. He backed off pretty quick when Mr. Rowley came over, though. I guess he realized he couldn’t compete with a man like that.”
“I think you’re mistaken. I don’t remember spending much time talking to him at all,” Kelly said.
A sidelong glance displayed a crack in Kelly’s perfect composure. Sweat now dampened her brow and temples as well as her upper lip, and there was a twitch afflicting her right eye.
Here was my opening, if I was brave enough to take it. “Maybe you were talking about your shared tragedy?” I asked, keeping my tone as light as possible.
Ellen shot me a sharp look as a hysterical bubble of laughter escaped Kelly’s lips. “What in heaven’s name are you talking about?” Kelly asked, when she was able to speak.
“Didn’t you both lose your parents in car accidents when you were young? Well, you were only eleven, if what I read in a magazine article is true. While Lincoln was around twenty-one when his parents died.”
Ellen cast me a swift glance. Her expression told me she’d just come to the same conclusion I had.
“Yes, we both lost our parents. What of it? It’s not like that made us instant soul mates or anything.” Kelly’s fingers tightened on the clasp of her purse.
Scott joined Julie at the desk, where Damian had poured out some wine. The three of them each grabbed a glass while I looked on, wishing I could join them.
Ellen stood and turned to face Kelly. “It’s just an odd coincidence, don’t you think? He was forty-six. You’re thirty-six. He lost his parents to a car crash at age twenty-one, you at eleven. That’s matching ten-year age gaps. I mean, they could’ve been the same parents, given the facts.”
“That’s absurd!” Still clutching her purse, Kelly leapt to her feet to face off with Ellen. “I don’t know what you’re suggesting, but whatever it is doesn’t make any sense. Besides, like I told Ms. Reed and Ms. Rivera at the bookstore earlier today, my brother went missing when I was only five.”
“Then how did he inherit the bulk of your parents’ estate?” I asked, rising to stand beside Ellen. “That was another thing I read in the article profiling you and Todd. How you had to start your track career without a lot of help, financially and otherwise,because your older brother inherited your late parents’ money and didn’t bother to support you.”
Kelly’s face blanched white as paper. “You’re mistaken,” she said in a strangled voice.
“No, it was in that same article. So either the reporter made something up, or—”
“You did,” Ellen said, finishing my sentence.
Kelly slung the gold chain handle of her purse over one bare shoulder. “I don’t have to stand here and listen to this nonsense.” She strode out of the room, tossing, “And you can keep your books, Ms. Rivera,” over her shoulder.
“I don’t understand,” Ophelia said. “What’s going on?”
“Not sure myself, but I think there’s more to this little evening of fun and games than meets the eye,” said her sister.
“Everyone, please stay here. Enjoy some more wine and snacks. I’ll just go and see if Ms. Rowley is okay,” I said, then dashed toward the hall.
“I’ll come with you,” Ellen said.
We didn’t see Kelly but heard the back door slam.
“Time to call in the cavalry?” I asked.
Ellen, striding down the hall, waved me forward. “Yes, but let’s also make sure we know where she’s headed so we can clue them in,” she said, before pronouncing “sand dollar” in a loud, clear voice.
Outside, I surveyed the patio but saw nothing. As I considered heading for the garden, Ellen grabbed my arm and motioned toward the holly hedge.
“Spied some movement there,” she said, dropping my arm and making a beeline for the carriage house.
“Shouldn’t we wait for the police?” I cast a final glance at the driveway before jogging after her. Ellen might have been trained as a spy years ago, but she was seventy-five now. Probably no match for a fit young woman.
