He nodded. "That's what I think too. But I don't know how. Someone wearing gloves? That seems unlikely since it was a warm day and people would have noticed someone wearing gloves.”
“And Raymond wasn’t a stupid man,” June added. “He would have been suspicious of someone wearing gloves handling his flask.”
“What if he was drunk?” Sara Lee ventured. When the sheriff looked at her, she continued. “Maybe it didn’t happen until he was drunk in the park that night?”
He grimaced. “Possible. Of course, the bench he was on was right under a lamp, so anyone walking by could have seen them.”
"What have you got so far?" Nana June asked, her tone gentle but direct.
"No one saw anyone with Raymond's flask other than Raymond himself," Sheriff Gordon said, frustration creeping into his voice. "My deputies and I have looked at photos that people took at the festival… seems like a jillion of them. And in dozens of photos, you can see Raymond with that silver flask. But never anyone else touching it."
"Very good idea," Nana June said, nodding her approval. "Looking at photographs."
"We've talked to dozens of people. Most with the same story. They saw Raymond, heard Raymond yelling at someone, avoided Raymond. He wasn't exactly Mr. Popularity."
"And your suspects?" Sara Lee asked, her voice tight with nervousness. She was still worried aboutCarl, even though he'd said he wasn't a suspect anymore.
"The same ones you came up with," he admitted. "Horace, Petunia, Jerry, Ivy?—"
Sara Lee watched June carefully as he rattled off the most visible suspects, but her grandmother remained quiet, not adding Helena or Diane to the list. Sara Lee followed her lead and stayed silent as well. Watching Gordon's frustrated expression, she felt sorry for him.
"I honestly came by to see if there was anything you had ferreted out that I haven't found yet." His gaze moved between them, hopeful but also slightly resigned.
Sara Lee wanted to immediately tell Sheriff Gordon everything, but when Nana June remained quiet, she pressed her lips together. If there was one thing she knew, her grandmother didn't do anything without careful deliberation. If she was holding information, there was a reason.
"No, I'm afraid the few ideas I've had haven't come to anything meaningful," Nana June said with a self-deprecating shrug, and Sara Lee had to admire how smoothly her grandmother could redirect without actually lying. "I suppose I've just been chasing non-existent clues."
He chuckled as he stood, replacing his hat. "Well, these things are best left to the experts anyway."
Sara Lee tried to keep her expression neutral, hiding the smile that threatened to appear.
"I'll keep you posted on any developments." He stood, clearly preparing to leave. At the front door, he stopped and turned back to them. "Well, that’s it for now. If you two hear anything, learn anything..."
"We'll come straight to you," Nana June promised, rising as well.
After he left, Sara Lee closed the door and turned to find her grandmother already heading back toward the kitchen, her expression thoughtful.
"Well," Sara Lee said, following her. "That was interesting."
Nana June moved to the kitchen window, gazing out at their back garden, where the sun painted everything gold. "How did the poison get into the flask?" she murmured, more to herself than to Sara Lee.
"Someone gave it to him to pour it in himself?" Sara Lee suggested perching on one of the kitchen chairs.
"Perhaps. But not just anyone."
Sara Lee's mind raced through the possibilities. "So it would have to be someone he trusted. Someone he'd accept alcohol from without question."
"We need to keep digging," Nana June said firmly. “We have so many threads but no pattern.”
23
SARA LEE
Sara Lee and Nana June were finally ready to head to the library… if no other visitors came. Pippi came trotting over, eager for the outing.
"Hello, girl," Sara Lee greeted, bending to rub the dog's head. "Where's your companion?"
Walking to the study door, she peeked in and laughed. Mister Smee had claimed another sunspot on one of the bookshelves and was sleeping with the quality cats achieve when truly relaxed. One white paw dangled over the edge of the shelf. Curious, Sara Lee walked over, with Nana June right behind her.
