“Don’t be silly.” I forced myself to avoid glancing at Gavin. “I’m glad you’re here, but let’s talk more a little later. Right now I need to check in on a few other guests,” I said, walking around the two sisters to continue my trajectory toward the garden.
As I approached Molly and Harper, I noticed that Molly was still sipping on her second drink while Harper nursed a glass of white wine. I opened my mouth to call out a greeting but halted my words, and my steps, when I overheard what they were discussing.
“And you’re really convinced that Amanda knows?” Harper asked.
“How could she not?” Molly brushed a damp curl of hair away from her forehead. “Even if all she did was peruse a few of the discussions on her fan clubs back in the day …”
Harper’s long hair swung to veil her face as she vigorously shook her head. “But she said she ignores the fan fiction side of things. Don’t you think it’s possible she never heard about that controversy?”
“What controversy?” asked a voice behind me.
I turned my head to catch Amanda striding forward to confront both Harper and Molly.
Harper lifted her chin and met Amanda’s gaze squarely. “The plagiarism. Years ago, Lisette ripped off another fan fiction author’s story and passed it off as her own. So if the rumors are true and you chose her to ghostwrite your latest Tides book, well, I hate to tell you, but that book is going to benefit a thief.”
Amanda stopped short, a few feet away from the younger women. Although she worked her lips violently, she said nothing, instead opening her hand, allowing her glass, which was filled with some clear liquid, to crash to the flagstones.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Apparently the crash activated Gavin’s protective detail gene. He flew across the patio to Ophelia’s side, but with her having no knowledge of the danger that had recently stalked her, she simply stared at him with frightened deer eyes. He apologized and backed away, almost bumping into Ellen, who had come up behind him. She laid a hand on his shoulder and drew him away from the Sandburg sisters, loudly proclaiming that he should join her for another drink.
At the same time, Tony ran over and grabbed Amanda and yanked her away from the broken glass now lying at her feet, Damian rushed forward with a dustpan and whisk broom to clean up the mess, and Molly and Harper retreated so far back into the lilac bush I was afraid their bare arms would be scratched by its limbs. I managed to sputter out a question, asking Amanda if she was okay, while taking in the chaotic scene unfolding around me.
“I’m perfectly fine,” Amanda said, as she freed her arm from Tony’s grasp.
Julie appeared at my elbow. “What’s all this about?”
“Not sure,” I said. It was only a partial lie. I was certain Harper’s revelation was what had triggered Amanda, but it wasn’t clear to me whether the information about Lisette’s plagiarism of another fan fiction author was news to her, or whether she was simply upset that others knew about the ghostwriting deal.
Scott, joining us, pointed toward Amanda and Tony with his glass of wine. “Something I need to do here? Looks like Ms. Nobel would like her watchdog to take a hike.”
“Don’t worry, he wasn’t actually manhandling her. I think he’s just making sure she doesn’t cut herself on the glass shards, especially since she’s wearing those strappy sandals.” I placed my hand on Scott’s tensed forearm, knowing he was the kind of guy who’d rush to Amanda’s aid if he thought she was in any sort of danger.
A moment later, I left Damian sweeping up the rest of the glass under the supervision of Ophelia, who was chatting incessantly while Bernadette rolled her eyes and held the dustpan.
I crossed to the lilac bush to check on Molly and Harper. Both young women appeared stunned by Amanda’s reaction.
Harper rallied first. “I didn’t mean to shock her. I thought for sure she knew all about that old controversy over Lisette’s fan fiction, no matter what she says about not paying attention to that stuff.”
“But what does that have to do with Amanda?” Molly looked genuinely confused.
I examined her with interest. Coupled with her comments about having an alibi for the time Lisette was killed, Molly’s obvious shock over this revelation convinced me that she really was innocent. Amanda’s violent reaction, on the other hand …
Harper stared down at her feet. “I know it may seem hard to believe, but I have it on good authority that Lisette actually penned the upcoming book in Amanda’s series. As a ghostwriter, of course.”
“It’s true,” I said, when Molly looked to me with wide eyes. “Amanda confirmed it in a recent conversation with me.”
“I had no idea. But it does explain a few things.” Molly rubbed her forehead as if trying to banish a headache. “That weird argument between Tony, Lisette, and Amanda at dinner Saturday night—remember, Harper?”
“Yes.” Harper lifted her head. “I thought it was odd at the time too, but just dismissed it as another disagreement between those two.”
Molly turned to me. “Harper and I had left the table to go to the restroom. When we returned, I heard Amanda say something about feeling pressured. Then Tony mentioned legal repercussions after Lisette said nothing bad would happen if everyone did the right thing. I found it all perplexing. But now it makes sense. Amanda and Tony were afraid Lisette was going to talk.” Molly yanked the pins from her messy bun, allowing her hair to tumble down to her shoulders. “Wow, that means both Tony and Amanda had a solid motive to kill Lisette, right?”
I glanced over at these two possible suspects, now separated. Amanda was talking with Julie and Ellen, while Scott had cornered Tony. I didn’t know what they were discussing, but from Tony’s expression, I assumed he wasn’t thrilled about whatever it was.
“But how could Lisette threaten to say anything about the ghostwriting deal? I mean, she had to have signed a contract,” Molly said, as she shoved the hairpins into the pocket of her sundress. “Wouldn’t she be the one to be slapped with a lawsuit if she talked?”
I almost spoke up to offer my theory that Lisette was threatening to disclose something else, some secrets that could damage Amanda’s career, but decided it was wiser to stay silent on that topic.
“Probably why Tony was warning her,” Harper said, in a distant tone.
“It seems you already knew all this information about the new Tides book, Harper.” Molly’s eyes narrowed. “You didn’t share a peep about it to me.”
“I’d heard the rumors about Lisette ghostwriting Amanda’s book.” Harper’s face was a study in concentration, as if she were still trying to puzzle out a few details. “And I figured, if it was true, that Amanda had to know that part. But I wasn’t sure she knew about the plagiarism scandal in Lisette’s past.” She shrugged. “I sort of posed that question in my comment, just to see how she’d react.”
“She seemed genuinely shocked,” Molly said.
Harper took a long swallow of her wine instead of replying.
“Regardless, Amanda wouldn’t be to blame if someone else used stolen material in the sample she chose to pitch her writing,” I said, hoping to gauge the two young women’s feelings on the matter. “It’s not like Lisette was going to use that material in the actual Tides book.”
“No, but it seemed like Amanda was pretty unhappy with whatever Lisette was saying at the restaurant. I wonder if Lisette knew something else. You know, from working with Amanda on the book or something.” Molly tapped her chin with one finger. “She was talking in this sneaky, wheedling tone, like she was trying to manipulate someone.”
Before Harper or I could respond to this speculation, Molly loudly cleared her throat and made a surreptitious cutting motion with her other hand.
“Please, forgive me,” Amanda said, as she joined us. “I was just taken aback by your comment, Harper.”
Before Harper could respond, Molly stepped forward and poked her forefinger into Amanda’s shoulder blade. “Was your upcoming thirteenth book really ghos
twritten by Lisette Bradford?”
Amanda pursed her lips as she looked Molly up and down. “Yes, it was. I’m sorry if that disappoints you, but I truly needed a break from the series, and my publisher really wanted one more book, sooner rather than later.”
Molly crossed her arms over her chest. “But I take it you didn’t know anything about Lisette stealing stories from other fan fiction authors in the past?”
Amanda’s pleasant expression iced over. “I don’t think I need to answer that, Ms. Zeleski. You may be a fan, but that doesn’t mean I’m required to share everything from my personal life.”
“Perhaps we should drop this for now,” I said, determined to avoid fanning the flames of this conflict. “Why don’t we all head over to the bar and grab another drink and then take a little walk around the garden or something? It’s our next-to-last evening together, and I’d like to end the week on a more pleasant note.”
“Last night for me,” said a voice off to my right. I turned to see Tony sauntering toward our group. “The police have told me I can leave, and I plan to do so early tomorrow morning. Sorry to leave you in the lurch, Mandy,” he added, raising his glass. “But I’ve had enough of this situation.”
“I’m sure I can manage without you.” Amanda stepped away from Molly, Harper, and me to face off with him. “I assume everything is set up for the next stop on the tour?”
“You may need to check with someone else at the publishing house about that. So long, Mandy,” Tony said, before turning on his heel and striding off toward Chapters’s back door.
Amanda stared after him, a puzzled expression wrinkling her brow.
“What did he mean by that?” Molly asked.
Amanda shook her head. “I have no idea.”
“It almost sounds like he doesn’t plan to continue with the tour.” Harper twisted a lock of her long dark hair around her finger.
“It does, but why …” Molly widened her eyes and motioned to the other side of the patio. “Who’s that? The guy who flew into action when Amanda dropped her glass. I don’t think I’ve seen him before tonight.”
Following her gaze. I noticed that Gavin was casually leaning back against the bar while Damian fixed him some sort of mixed drink.
“He was at the book club discussion, the one you missed.” Amanda said. “Some cousin of your neighbor Ellen, right, Charlotte?”
“Yes, Gavin Howard. It’s okay, he’s supposed to be here. Just let me go and say hello,” I said, before crossing the patio.
“Interesting party,” Gavin said, when I reached him.
I tugged up the drooping strap of my sundress. “Especially your contribution. Flying into action like a ninja. I think that took several people by surprise.”
“I’m sure.” Gavin thanked Damian, who’d just handed him a drink.
I walked a few paces away from the bar, heading for the maple tree near the garden fence. Gavin followed but remained standing when I plopped down on the bench placed under the tree.
“You thought it could’ve been a gunshot, didn’t you?” I asked, keeping my voice low as I looked up at him.
Gavin swirled the liquid in his tumbler. “If I’d analyzed the sound, I’d have known better, but I just reacted. Instinct.”
“Or training,” I said. “You thought Ophelia might be in harm’s way, even though you told me the danger was past.”
“It is, as far as I know.” The ice cubes in Gavin’s drink clinked against the glass. “But I wasn’t going to hesitate, on the off chance …”
“Your colleagues were wrong? I guess I have to appreciate your concern, no matter how strange your actions might’ve appeared to others.”
He turned slightly, his gaze shifting to the clusters of people on the patio. “I simply like to do my best, especially when the situation involves innocents.”
“The funny thing is, not everyone here is necessarily innocent. At least not when it comes to the Lisette Bradford murder.”
“Oh?” Gavin raised his eyebrows as he glanced back at me. “Perhaps you should fill me in on that. Ellen isn’t very forthcoming. I suppose she doesn’t quite trust me,” he added, as he sat beside me.
“Can you blame her? She thought you were sent here primarily to discredit her or some such thing.”
“As did you, when we first met.” Gavin took a sip of his drink before returning his focus to me.
“I suppose.” I met his intent gaze with a smile. “But strangely, I’ve come to see you as one of the good guys.”
“A grave error on your part,” Gavin replied with an answering smile. “I’m not anyone’s knight in shining armor. Despite my commitment to protecting innocents like Ophelia Sandburg, I’m not Mister Clean. I wouldn’t want you to get the wrong impression.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I suspect your armor is a bit dingy. More gray than white, perhaps?”
“That’s a good guess.” He stood, holding out his free hand to help me to my feet. “I do what needs to be done,” he said, as he continued to clasp my hand. “Sometimes that doesn’t cast me in the role of hero.”
“That’s okay,” I said. “I don’t consider myself heroine material either.”
Gavin released my hand. “Well, perhaps we should hang out together then. I hear that spending time with someone whose company you enjoy makes life more interesting.”
“I’ve been told that before.” I turned away and allowed my gaze to sweep over the patio full of guests. “But lately, I haven’t felt like testing out that theory.”
“Perhaps it’s time to consider it,” Gavin said, as he stepped up beside me.
“Perhaps,” I said, not glancing at him before I walked away.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Strolling past Bernadette and Scott, who were chatting with Damian at the bar, I caught up with Ellen, who’d joined the other guests clustered around Amanda. Doing some discreet investigating, no doubt, I thought, as I sidled up beside her.
“I think I’m going to have to beg off,” Amanda said, pressing her fingers against one temple. “I’m afraid I’ve developed the most dreadful headache.”
Molly and Harper made sympathetic noises, while Ophelia trailed Amanda across the patio, asking if she wanted any of the headache powders she just happened to have in her purse.
Amanda gracefully declined this offer before heading inside, leaving Ophelia standing rather forlornly near the back door. She looked around for a moment before joining her sister and Scott at the bar.
“I think I’ll call it a day too.” Molly rattled the ice cubes in her empty glass. “I have to drive back to Morehead, so I shouldn’t overdo it.”
“Good idea,” I said. “Looks like the party is winding down anyway.”
“Yeah, everyone’s disappearing.” Molly gave Harper a quick hug. “Don’t know if I’ll see you again anytime soon, since I don’t plan to drive back over before you leave Sunday morning.”
Harper remained still, not responding to this show of affection, but she did tell Molly good luck as well as goodbye. “I hope all your plans work out,” she added, as Molly walked away.
I side-eyed Ellen, wondering if she’d learned what those plans might be. But she simply wished Harper a good evening and strolled toward the bar.
“I don’t have to drive anywhere,” she said, when I caught up with her. She asked Damian for a vodka and tonic, which he fixed before running into the house to grab some more ice.
As we sipped our drinks, Ellen and I chatted briefly with Scott, Bernadette, and Ophelia before they wandered off toward the entrance to the garden, where Julie was animatedly discussing something with Gavin.
I narrowed my eyes, wondering what my friend was up to. Julie tended to want to match me with any available and, at least in her eyes, suitable, bachelor. Which I found equal parts sweet and annoying.
“Uh-oh, maybe Scott had better watch out,” I said lightly, when Ellen appeared to follow my gaze.
Ellen shot me a look over the rim of her tumb
ler. “Really, Charlotte? Don’t think I haven’t noticed that Gavin’s interest is otherwise engaged.”
“Nonsense,” I said, refusing to rise to this bait. “So, now that we’re finally alone, tell what you found out tonight, if anything.”
“Not much, or at least not anything more than what we already know.” Ellen set her half-full glass down on the bar. “Except it does appear that we can strike Molly Zeleski off our suspect list.”
“If her story about having a solid alibi holds up,” I said, finishing off my drink.
“I think it will. Just a feeling I have. Now, as for the rest—the jury’s still out.”
“Do you think Lisette was really using Amanda’s prior confidences to blackmail her in some way? Because if so, I think that definitely could provide a motive for a serious argument that got out of hand, if not a premeditated murder.”
Ellen’s expression grew thoughtful. “From what you told me about your graveyard conversation with Tony, I suspect there’s something to that theory.”
“As for Tony, I still haven’t struck him off the list. He doesn’t seem like the sort of man who would handle humiliation well. He could have easily met up with Lisette after the dinner party and gotten into an argument with her.” I set down my own empty glass. “We know Roger did.”
“If Billy Bradford is to be believed. He may be trying to cover his own tracks.” Ellen looked like she was going to add something more to this discussion, but tightened her lips when Ophelia and Bernadette approached the bar.
“We’re going to head home now, if that’s alright with you, Charlotte,” Bernadette said. “Fee has a garden club event at the crack of dawn tomorrow.”
“And Bernie’s actually going to join me,” Ophelia said, offering us a bright smile.
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