She shook off his touch. “When things went wrong with my job and the threat of a scandal became known, he dumped me and never looked back.” Skye stood up and whispered, “He never even said good-bye.”
“I’m not like that. Let me prove to you that isn’t how all men are.”
Skye took a ragged breath. He was slicing open a barely healed wound. “I need more time.” Time to forget, to erase the pain. “Can’t we just go on the way we’ve been? Have fun without becoming serious?”
Simon wrapped his hands around her upper arms and forced her to look at him. Rancor sharpened his voice. “No. I want more. And if you aren’t prepared to give it to me, then I have to look elsewhere. Time is moving on. I don’t want to be sixty when my kids graduate from high school.”
He spoke so viciously that she wondered how she could have ever thought him kind. “I’m sorry. I’m just not ready. I lose myself when I’m in love. I’m afraid your opinion will become more important than mine. I’m afraid I’ll become so terrified of losing you I’ll do anything to keep your love.”
“I guess that’s it, then.” He paused as if challenging her to go through with it. When the silence between them became unbearable, Simon turned on his heel and strode toward his car. Over his shoulder he said, “Don’t expect me to call. This time it’s over.”
Skye watched until the Lexus’s taillights were out of sight. What had she just done? Slowly she turned, unlocked the door, and went in. It took a few moments to register, but she finally noticed the light was on in the kitchen. She didn’t think she’d left any lights on.
After that scene with Simon, she was in no mood for another intruder or more vandalism. Skye flung up the hinged seat of the hall bench and grabbed the shotgun. She had just about had it. This time she was shooting first and asking questions later.
As she stepped into the kitchen, Skye let the gun slide to her side. The table was covered with food and there was a note in her mother’s handwriting: I was afraid you wouldn’t have enough time so I made the food for your brunch. I also cleaned up a little. Hope everything is okay. Love, Mom.
Skye shook her head. What a sweet thing to do. It was too late to call and thank her mom, but she’d do that before church tomorrow. Still, she’d have to make it clear to her mother that from now on, Skye would prepare for her own parties or she’d have to take May’s key away. It was all too much. Simon, her grandmother’s murder, her parents’ need to help—Skye curled into the corner of the sofa and buried her head.
Ginger and Gillian arrived together. This was their first visit to Skye’s cottage and curiosity shone on their identical faces. Skye guided them through the foyer and into the great room. She had placed a folding table and chairs next to the sliding glass doors, where the view of the river was best.
“Make yourselves at home. Victoria should be here any minute.” Skye gestured to the sofa.
“Victoria’s coming?” Gillian settled into the corner of the couch.
“She accepted my invitation.” Skye raised an eyebrow. “Is there some reason why she wouldn’t want to have brunch with us?”
Ginger and Gillian looked at each other. Skye could see the silent communication and was frustrated by her inability to interpret what was being conveyed.
The uneasy silence was broken by the ringing of the phone.
Skye started toward the kitchen, saying over her shoulder, “Excuse me.”
Trixie’s voice greeted Skye’s hello. “I talked to my cousin. We can see her today at six. That’s when the pharmacist goes home for his dinner break.”
“I’m surprised the drugstore is even open on Sunday, let alone so late.”
“The owner is trying to compete with the new Wal-Mart in Laurel. He can’t stay open twenty-four hours, but he is open eight a.m. to eight p.m. seven days a week,” Trixie said.
“Great. I’ll pick you up about five to. I can’t talk now. I’m entertaining my cousins.”
“What are you going to do to them? Is this the pay-back for having kidnapped you?” Trixie asked excitedly.
“Nothing and no. I’m trying to forgive and forget.”
“And pry information out of them, I bet,” Trixie guessed.
Skye didn’t comment. “See you tonight. Bye.”
As she rejoined Gillian and Ginger, the doorbell rang. Victoria entered in a miasma of Obsession and a flurry of georgette. Her lilac slip dress and high-heeled white sandals made Skye feel underdressed for her own party.
The twins tugged at their own clothes, making it clear Victoria had the same effect on them.
No one said anything until Skye remembered her manners. “So glad you could make it on such short notice. Please make yourself comfortable. I’ll get us some drinks.”
Victoria chose a canvas sling chair facing the sofa and sank gracefully onto its seat. “I wouldn’t have missed this chance to spend time with my dear cousins.”
“I have mimosas and Bellinis. What would you all like?” Skye stood ready to fetch the glasses from the kitchen.
After Skye explained what both drinks contained, the twins opted for mimosas and Victoria asked for a Bellini. Skye filled her own glass with orange juice and 7-UP, adding a little grenadine to disguise the fact that she wasn’t drinking any alcohol.
Skye returned to the great room carrying a tray of drinks. She had just served the last goblet when Bingo entered the room. He froze in the doorway and sniffed the air. Walking stiffly, he advanced toward Victoria and launched himself into her lap.
Victoria shrieked and held up her hands to stop him but Skye heard the chiffon of her dress rip. Skye scooped up the indignant cat, stuffed him into her bedroom, and closed the door.
She turned to Victoria. “Are you all right? I’m so sorry. He’s never behaved that way before.”
With a stunned expression Victoria examined the tears in the fabric of her dress. “This was brand-new. It cost a hundred and forty-nine dollars plus tax.”
“Maybe it could be fixed,” Skye offered weakly.
“I don’t want it fixed. I want it new!” Victoria’s face turned an unattractive shade of red and her voice screeched like fingernails on a chalkboard.
“I’ll write you a check.” Skye felt a knot in her stomach as she handed over the slip of paper.
After looking it over, Victoria tucked the check into her purse. “I’ll let you know how much the tax was.” Sitting back in her chair, she said, “I believe I’m ready for that drink now.”
Skye sat on the only vacant seat and took a sip from her glass. She searched her mind for a topic of conversation and finally said, “When are Flip and Irv going on that fishing trip?”
“They decided to skip it this year. We’re going to spend their vacations camping at the rec club,” Gillian answered for them both.
“Oh? I’m surprised. I thought I heard them say they had already made all the arrangements.” Skye kept a neutral look on her face.
“Well, with Grandma dying and Momma in the hospital we decided this wasn’t a good time.” Gillian finished her mimosa.
Skye poured her a refill from the pitcher. “That’s too bad. It sounded as if they were really looking forward to it.”
Ginger chugged the rest of her drink. “Maybe if we had got Grandma’s good jewelry, like she promised us, they could have gone, but no one seems to know anything about that.”
Victoria, who had been silent, asked, “Grandma Leofanti had good jewelry?”
“No,” Skye answered, “all she had was the emerald ring that she passed to me on my eighteenth birthday as the firstborn granddaughter, a pair of earrings, and a pendant. As it turned out, we each ended up with one piece.” Skye filled Ginger’s empty goblet.
“What about me?” Victoria pouted.
“Sorry, Hugo chose the living room set.” Skye reappeared from the kitchen with a fresh drink for Victoria. “So, how’s Aunt Minnie doing?”
Gillian looked at Ginger before speaking. “Pretty good. They’ve decided to
keep her for a thirty-day observation.”
“That’s as long as most insurance companies will pay for a psychiatric stay,” Skye said.
“That explains it then.” Ginger put her empty glass down.
“Can she have visitors?” Skye asked.
“Just Ginger, Daddy, and me.” Gillian tossed back her third mimosa.
“Did you ever hear about your mom going away for a rest when she was in high school?” Skye picked her words with care.
The twins shook their heads.
Ginger leaned forward. “A rest? What do you mean?”
“Nothing, really. Someone mentioned they thought they remembered your mom going away for a while when she was in her teens.” Skye stood up. “Everyone ready to eat?”
The group moved to the table. Skye had set it with a starched linen cloth and matching napkins. The seafoam green dishes she had inherited seemed to float on the white expanse. Her everyday flatware had been polished until it looked almost like real silver. The pink crystal goblets she had chosen from her grandmother’s estate sparkled in the bright sunlight from the patio doors.
A centerpiece made up of pink roses and ferns from May’s cutting garden completed the setting. Skye brought out the cantaloupe bowls with fresh fruit and they began to eat.
“What does Prescott do for fun in the summer?” Skye asked Victoria.
“He’s taking golf and tennis lessons at the club.” Victoria spooned a melon ball into her mouth.
“Really? When did the rec club start that?”
Victoria laughed. “Not the rec club, the country club in Kankakee.”
Ginger frowned. “Wow, that must cost a pretty penny. How long have you and Hugo belonged?”
“Since just after we were married. Not that it’s any of your business.”
Gillian finished off her fifth mimosa. “Hugo must do pretty well selling cars. Or have you taken a job, Victoria?”
Victoria drained her glass. “As a matter of fact, I have.”
As she refilled everyone’s drink, Skye wondered if she would have to drive them all home. “Where are you working, Victoria?”
“That’s the wonderful thing about this job and really the only reason I agreed to take it, even though he begged me to.”
Skye put steaming pieces of quiche on everyone’s plate. “Don’t keep us in suspense. Tell us about this wonderful position.”
“I’m going to be the hostess for the new Castleview housing development.” Victoria stuck out her hand. “Mr. Castleview gave me this ring as a welcome aboard present.” She indicated the ruby Skye had noticed at her grandmother’s wake.
“The one over by the McDonald’s?” Ginger took a bite of her quiche.
“No, the brand new one. The one he’s going to build.” Victoria dabbed her mouth with her napkin.
“Where’s that one going to be?” Skye sat down to eat her own meal.
Victoria giggled. “I’m not allowed to tell.”
Skye raised her eyebrows but didn’t comment and they each dug into their food. No one spoke until they’d finished.
Finally, her words slurred, Ginger said, “What’s the big secret?”
They all looked at Victoria, who gazed back with a puzzled expression.
Skye rose and cleared the table. She came back with the lemon silk sherbet and dream bars. Conversation was suspended once again while Skye served dessert.
When she finished she took her place next to Victoria and patted her hand. “Victoria, we want to know why you can’t tell us the location of Castleview’s next housing development.”
“ ’Cause I’m not supposed to tell.”
“Why?”
Her brows drew together and she nibbled on a thumb-nail. “I’m not sure, but Hugo and Mr. Castleview said not to, and you can’t make me.”
CHAPTER 21
Seven, Eight, It’s Too Late
It was nearly five o’clock by the time Skye finished driving her tipsy cousins home and helping their husbands fetch the cars in which they had arrived. She couldn’t stop wondering just where the new Castleview development was going to be. Hugo had refused to comment, saying that Victoria tended to imagine things.
Skye had released Bingo from his confinement, cleared the great room, and was up to her elbows in soapy water when her phone rang.
After wiping her hands off with the kitchen towel, she grabbed the receiver. “Hello.”
“What took you so long to answer?” the voice at the other end demanded.
“Who is this?” Skye asked.
“It’s Aunt Mona.”
“Oh, hi. Is everything okay?”
Mona’s tone changed. “Everything is fine. I know it’s short notice, but Uncle Neal and I were wondering if you could come to dinner tomorrow night. We really haven’t had a chance to chat since you’ve been home.”
Dinner with her Aunt Mona and Uncle Neal—there was an appealing scenario. But it was a chance to ask them some questions about Grandma.
“Gee, Aunt Mona, that would be lovely. Can I bring anything?” Skye cradled the handset and went back to washing dishes.
“No, we’re just having a simple meal. How’s six o’clock for you?”
“Fine. You sure I can’t bring anything?”
“No, just yourself. We’ll see you at six then. Bye.”
There was something odd about the conversation. What was wrong with that picture?
Skye finished up at the sink and dried the counter with the towel. She glanced at the clock, and noticed she had less than fifteen minutes to freshen up and drive to Trixie’s.
Settling for a quick brush of her hair and some lipstick, Skye made it to her friend’s house with a minute to spare. Trixie was waiting on the front steps, and hopped into the car before it finished gliding to a stop.
Trixie and Skye talked about the brunch and what Victoria had revealed until they reached the drugstore.
“What’s your cousin’s name?” Skye asked as she pushed open the glass door.
The sleigh bells that warned the pharmacist of incoming customers almost drowned out Trixie’s answer. “Amy.”
A young woman in her late teens stood behind the drug counter in the back of the store. She waved at Trixie, who took Skye’s arm and guided her down the aisle.
“Good timing. Mr. Bates just left and there’s no one in the store.” Amy smiled at Trixie.
“This is my friend Skye. Skye, this is my cousin Amy,” Trixie said while fingering the products on the counter.
Skye held out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Amy. I really appreciate this.”
Amy took three of Skye’s fingers for a brief shake. “No problem. Trixie explained everything.” Skye hated it when women didn’t know how to properly shake hands, but she swallowed the temptation to teach Amy the correct form and instead said, “My aunt’s name is Minnie Overby. Can you see if she filled a prescription for any type of tranquilizer or sleeping pill within the last month or so?”
“Easy as pie, now that we’re finally using the computer.” Amy tapped a few keys and waited.
Skye held her breath.
“No, no medication of any kind for Minnie Overby within the last six months.” Amy patted the machine. “That’s as far back as the records go.”
“Thanks.” That had been a waste. What did it prove? Nothing, except Minnie didn’t get her prescription filled in town. Skye’s shoulders drooped.
Suddenly she straightened. “Would you mind checking one more name for me?”
“Not at all.”
“Try the last name Leofanti and see what you get.” Skye wasn’t sure what she expected to find.
After a minute or two, Amy looked up from the screen. “I’ve got lots of Leofantis but only one with a tranq or sleeping pill.”
“Who?” Skye tried to see the monitor.
“Just an initial.” Amy frowned. “That’s unusual. We’re not supposed to accept anything but full names. No initials, no nicknames.”
“What
letter?” Skye tried to keep the impatience from her voice.
“That explains it.” Amy went on as if she didn’t hear Skye. “This was filled on a day I was out sick, and Mr. Bates’s mother helped out.”
Trixie broke in. “Amy, honey, we’re dying of curiosity. What is the initial?”
“Oh, sorry. It’s M.”
Skye turned onto her back, trying desperately to fall asleep, but disturbing thoughts kept drifting through her subconscious. Was M. Leofanti the same as Minnie Overby? Where was Castleview building his next development, which was such a secret? What was she going to tell the superintendent?
When her alarm went off, Skye gratefully climbed out of bed and into the shower. She mentally reviewed her wardrobe. What was the appropriate clothing in which to be fired?
She finally threw on a pair of white slacks, striped T-shirt, and a navy blazer. After preparing breakfast for Bingo and herself, she grabbed the atlas and wrote out the directions to Miss Prynn’s while she drank her tea. Skye felt a little uneasy to be going there alone, but she could think of no one else who was available. Simon was certainly out of the question. A sense of loss suddenly nipped through her. Fighting that feeling, she forced herself to move from the table and prepare to leave.
The stack of tens and twenties made only a small bulge in the envelope Skye had tucked them in, but between this money and the check for Victoria’s ruined dress, her budget was destroyed for the summer.
It was nearly ten by the time Skye turned onto Avenue D. Narrowing her eyes against the glare, she carefully read the numbers. As she neared Miss Prynn’s house, she noticed a police car parked in front.
Skye pulled the Buick a few spaces behind the squad car and hurried up the steps.
Before she could ring the bell, a young police officer thrust open the door. “What’s your business here?”
“It’s about my aunt,” Skye answered without thinking and then could have bitten her tongue.
“You’re her niece?”
Skye was confused, but had a feeling if she said no, that would be the end of the conversation. The only reason the police would be answering Miss Prynn’s door was if something was terribly wrong. “Yes, her niece.”
Murder of a Sweet Old Lady Page 22
