by Leigh Hearon
Detective Wollcott was looking at her, skepticism plainly on his face.
“You’d mentioned that Hollis might know the circumstances. Can you explain what you meant by that?”
“Oh. Well, when I asked if Brianna would be joining us for dinner last night, Miriam was kind of evasive. And I got the feeling during dinner that she and Hollis were trying to keep the judge from knowing that Brianna was on-site. Which is kind of odd, since they were both officials at the show. Although Brianna said the technical delegate and judge often didn’t interact with each other very much.”
“When did Brianna tell you that?”
“Earlier in the day. I was walking up to the house just when she pulled in. In fact, Brianna specifically asked me if the judge had arrived yet, and I said no, and that she’d be staying off-site. She seemed relieved when I told her that.”
“Really.”
“Really what? If Brianna intended to kill the judge, wouldn’t she have wanted her on the property?”
“Perhaps not yet. Perhaps she wanted time to prepare the poison, and it was better that Jean Bennett not be present until the time came to administer it.”
“That’s impossible,” Annie insisted. “Brianna didn’t have time to kill her. First off, she was never in the house. She’s staying in one of the cottages. She didn’t even eat with us. She was just too damn busy. All her time was spent at the stables getting ready for the show. If she spiked the judge’s tea sometime between six and nine this morning, she must have vaporized her way up here.”
Plus, she was just too nice to kill Judge Bennett. Yes, she’d said hurtful things last night, but wouldn’t anyone under the circumstances? Her academic standing was in jeopardy, all because of the judge’s stupid divorce. When Brianna had told her mentor it wasn’t fair, she was right.
“You’re thinking she’s too nice to kill someone.”
Annie nodded.
“But yet she warned Judge Bennett she might do something. Threatened her, really.”
She shrugged, and with it, shrugged off her reticence to shield others from the detective’s scrutiny.
“Who hasn’t said something like that to another person in their lifetime? Nicole and Gwendolyn make threats on a daily basis. Brianna says one hateful thing in the heat of the moment, and she becomes the lead suspect.”
“You said yourself that Gwendolyn’s never met the judge. Nicole assured me that she never spoke to her. I know it’s not the way we’d perhaps like the case to go, but the fact is Brianna’s the best lead we’ve got right now. She knew the judge intimately and made a threat against her. We can’t change the facts, as much as we might like to.”
Annie felt a sick feeling in her stomach. She wished she’d never told the detective about Brianna’s reaction to the judge’s death. She wished even more that Brianna had never uttered the words.
Chapter Eighteen
SATURDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 14
By the time cocktail hour rolled around, a mutiny was gathering among many of the riders. They’d spent an entire afternoon sharing everything they’d done that morning in front of all the others, then been subjected to writing it all down for the police’s pleasure, and they still hadn’t been given clearance to visit their beloved horses.
“This is outrageous!” Harriett told the others, as Hollis handed her a second glass of red wine. “Who is feeding the horses? How do we even know they have water in their stalls?”
“Brianna will be here shortly with an update,” Hollis told her. “And she’s already told me the horses have been fed. The show volunteers offered to stay and help.”
“And has she found a judge yet?”
“She didn’t mention it. I’ll let you ask her when she arrives.”
Even Melissa and Patricia expressed concern about being kept from the horses.
“I doubt they’ve been groomed,” Patricia told the other trainer. “And I suspect all the commotion from the police has them a bit upset. I know we’ll all feel a lot better once we’ve seen them.”
Melissa nodded. “I wish the time would hurry up and come.”
Brianna showed up just after Jorge announced that dinner would be served in fifteen minutes. Annie had noticed this was the time when Nicole and Gwendolyn usually rushed off to reapply their makeup and perhaps announce on Facebook what they were about to eat, but tonight not one of the women moved from where she was seated. All eyes were on the technical delegate, who looked tired and, yes, sad. Annie wished Detective Wollcott could see Brianna now. Her grief was apparent in her face and in the way she held herself. But she was a true professional. When she spoke, it was with her usual calm confidence and clarity although with a somewhat flat affect.
“I have good news,” she began. “We have found a substitute judge who will officiate tomorrow, along with her regular scribe. Her name is Phyllis Hobert. She’s an S judge so will be able to judge all levels. All of you will be able to ride tomorrow.”
“Thank God!” Harriett exclaimed.
“Super news!” Melissa turned to smile at Amy and Lucy, who returned it somewhat belatedly.
“I’m so happy for you,” Patricia told Liz.
Gwendolyn and Nicole said nothing, but they, too, looked pleased.
“Judge Hobert lives in Santa Monica, not too far away, so she’ll be driving up tomorrow morning at the crack of dawn. She’s agreed to have dinner with us afterward, when you can personally thank her for her great kindness in stepping in and saving the show.”
“How is Margaret feeling?” Trust Patricia to inquire about the scribe who had dissolved into a puddle during the most critical time today, Annie thought.
“She’s doing better. She’s still resting in my cottage, but Hollis has offered to drive her home once the Sheriff’s Office has given us permission to open up the property as usual.”
“And when will that be?” Nicole demanded. “I’ve had to significantly change my plans because of their stupid investigation.” Annie had a feeling she was referring to her groom, who’d gone off-site and was still unable to return. Nicole would not take kindly to the idea of grooming her own horse tomorrow, if it came to that.
“Yes, how much longer will it be?” The question seemed to come at Brianna from all sides.
“I don’t know,” she said helplessly. “Soon, I hope. We’re all anxious for you to be able to tend to your horses. But please know that they’ve all been rubbed down and fed for the evening. I’m sorry they’ll all have to be groomed again tomorrow. But it can’t be helped.”
Hollis came up to Brianna and put his hands on her shoulders. At the moment she seemed frail, even tiny.
“We’re very grateful for all you’ve done, Brianna. I know you’re exhausted, so I am sending over dinner to your cottage for both you and Margaret. And I hope you’re able to take the rest of the night off. Tomorrow will be another long day, but a much happier one, I trust.”
Brianna attempted a smile and left the room amid a smattering of clapping and a chorus of thank-yous!
“Miriam is feeling a bit tired, so we won’t be joining you for dinner tonight,” Hollis addressed the crowd. “But we will see you bright and early tomorrow. For everyone’s peace of mind, we’ve decided that from now on lunch and dinner will be mandatory meals at the house, whether you’re staying here or in a cottage. The only exception is Brianna, who keeps very busy hours and can’t get away.”
There was a short, stunned silence as the enormity of what Hollis had said hit them. Nicole looked as if she was about to protest.
“No more exceptions, I’m afraid,” he said, smiling at her. “Although you’re welcome to invite Douglas to dine with us. And as I understand it, Marcus Colbert also will be joining us tomorrow for dinner, isn’t that right, Annie?”
Annie nodded. She felt a small, selfish smugness at being singled out as the one to confirm the news. She was sure Gwendolyn had not missed Hollis’s remark.
“Second, I regret to tell you the kitchen is now off-
limits to everyone. Chef Gustav will put out thermoses for you to take with you tomorrow morning, and will also put out drinks and snacks throughout the day. But for the time being, the only people allowed in the kitchen will be authorized personnel. Thank you for understanding.
“Finally, you should know that we’ve hired extra security around the house and stables for the duration of the weekend. No one will stop you from going anywhere, but you should know that they’ll be around and watching out for our safety.”
The doorbell rang. Hollis excused himself and walked quickly toward the foyer. He returned a minute later, smiling broadly.
“More good news, ladies,” he announced. “I’ve just been told that the stables are now open to all of you. I know you’re longing to go there now, but Chef Gustav has worked quite hard under very trying circumstances to serve an excellent dinner tonight, so please, enjoy the meal he’s prepared first. And then you can rush off to your horses. And now, I’ll bid you adieu, but I look forward to seeing you all in the morning. Sleep well, and best of luck tomorrow.”
Hollis left, heading toward the hall end where the elevator stood, doors open, ready to take him upstairs to the Darbys’ suite. Annie was afraid that with his departure the last bit of civility among the group also had disappeared.
* * *
Annie’s suspicion of how the dinner would progress proved correct. As always, the food was superb. The conversation quickly degenerated into a freefall of barbs and vicious innuendoes.
“We’re all suspects, you realize.” Nicole opened the gate. “All except me, of course.”
“And why not you?” Tabitha demanded.
“I’ve never been in the bloody kitchen. I try to avoid them.”
“Douglas may not be happy to hear that.” This was Gwendolyn’s contribution. “But then, that may not be the only thing he’s unhappy to hear about. Are you bringing him to dinner tomorrow, Nicole?”
Nicole glared at Gwendolyn.
“If I do, I’ll at least be glad he doesn’t have to see the rest of you carrying out your dishes, like the hired help.”
Annie squelched the angry retort she’d wanted to utter. Instead, she said, “You know, there’s no evidence that the person who poisoned Judge Bennett even used the kitchen.”
“Oh, well, since we now have Nancy Drew on the case, we’ll all just have to shut up and listen to her.” Gwendolyn’s voice was icy. “What exactly did you talk about with Detective Wollcott this afternoon? We all thought you were about to be arrested when you walked off with him.”
Annie refused to rise to the bait. Patricia tried to change the subject.
“I do think, as a precaution, we should start locking our doors at night.”
“I’ve been doing that every night.” Gwendolyn sounded astonished that at least one other guest had not. “But yes, let’s all lock our doors. After all, one of us is apparently a killer.”
That stopped the conversation for a few minutes. But not for long.
“Has anyone noticed anything missing from her room?” Tabitha inquired. “I mean you all know someone stole my rhythm beads. Has anyone else noticed anything missing?”
“Stop obsessing about those beads, Tabitha.” Harriett had run out of patience for her student’s ongoing quest to recover them. “It’s too bad the thief didn’t take all the bling you’re accumulated for that horse. Then maybe you’d spend your time on what’s really important, which is your performance tomorrow.”
No one knew what to say. After a brief silence, Gwendolyn decided to respond to Tabitha’s initial question.
“As you know, I lock my door, so no, nothing of mine is missing. But frankly, I wasn’t aware that any of the rest of you had anything worth stealing.”
“Not all of us are as lucky as you, Gwendolyn,” Tabitha shot back. “Some of us have to work for a living so we can support ourselves. You should try it sometime. It can be rewarding.”
“Rewarding? Sitting in a cubicle all day long reading law? Oh, spare me, Tabitha. You call that rewarding? I call it sitting around waiting to die.”
Annie noticed that Gwendolyn had referenced death twice in as many minutes. As Detective Wollcott would say, interesting. A waiter entered discreetly and refilled everyone’s wineglass. Most were empty.
“Perhaps we could discuss how we’re going to get ready for tomorrow rather than jump down each other’s throats,” Melissa suggested. “Does anyone know if Ann Corbett will be able to groom tonight?”
No one did. If she were not, then there would be a lot of women up as early as Melissa tomorrow morning making button braids in their horses’ manes.
* * *
The women practically flew from the table as soon as dessert plates were removed. Annie noticed that Liz and Patricia seemed to be the only exceptions. She joined them outside on the patio by the pool.
“Why aren’t you rushing off like everyone else?”
“We thought we’d wait until the hubbub dies down a bit. There’s bound to be a lot of yelling about how no one’s taken good enough care of her horse.”
“Very diplomatically put, Liz,” Annie told her.
“Anyway, it’s nice to have a chance to relax for a moment. I feel as if we’ve barely spent time with you. How are you holding up?”
“Oh, fine. It’s just a bit hard to acclimate to all this catty backbiting.”
“I should have warned you,” Patricia said. “This seems to be a particularly virulent strain of dressage riders. Must be all the sun down here. Usually, we’re a much more civilized crowd. Although we are a competitive bunch. None of us ever really stops thinking about how to improve our performance.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I’m sure Nicole spends a lot of time obsessing about the color of the flowers at her wedding and who on the A-list to invite. And I know Gwendolyn spends all her spare time scheming to get Marcus away from my tentacles.”
“Have a glass of wine. We snared a bottle from the sideboard.”
Annie gratefully accepted the glass. “I feel just by talking about them I’m stooping to their level. But it’s hard not to be a bit resentful of women who can so easily afford the best horses, the best trainers, not to mention the entry fees.”
“Which should make us more sympathetic to those of us who don’t have those privileges,” Liz said. “You should talk to Amy sometime. She worked her way through law school and barely makes enough money as a law clerk to buy her horse hay. Tabitha works for a cutthroat law firm with a very intact glass ceiling. As an RN, I make decent money, but I also have elderly parents to support. It’s taken a long time for me to be able to afford a dressage horse of my own.”
“I’m so glad you have Sammy in your life. The two of you are such a superb pair.”
“Aren’t they?” Patricia looked approvingly at her student. “Considering the short time you’ve been working together, your progress has been incredible.”
“Thanks, both of you. But getting back to the other riders. Lucy comes from a privileged background yet doesn’t show it.”
“Well, she does have a fabulous Hanoverian, although truth be told, he’s a bit too much horse for her, I’m afraid.” Patricia shook her head. “But in her other life, you’re right, you’d never know that she’s a Boston Brahmin. Do you know she donates her legal services to several nonprofits for displaced women and victims of domestic violence?”
“I had no idea.” Annie was astonished. “And yet in the few short days I’ve been here, I’ve watched her absorb insult after insult from Gwendolyn and Nicole. Kind of ironic that she’s able to stand up for others but not for herself.”
“Ironic, but not too surprising, really,” Patricia told her. “I think it’s sometimes easier to help others than it is to improve ourselves. And for the record, as horrible as the snottiest guests are, it’s hard to think of any of them killing Judge Bennett.”
“Maybe none of the houseguests did,” Liz said. “I talked with Chef Gustav today, and he was so busy with his sk
eleton crew that almost anyone could have walked in and spiked the judge’s tea.”
Annie was silent. Now that she knew that Betsy Gilchrist’s death was officially a homicide, she was convinced that one of the houseguests was responsible. She just didn’t know which one.
“Er, Annie? Can I talk to you about something?” Liz’s summons brought her out of her private thoughts. She looked at Liz, who to her surprise, looked a bit guilty.
“I forgot one little part of my narrative when Detective Wollcott was going around the group today. Would you mind telling me if you think it’s important?”
“Forgot? Or didn’t want to say in front of everyone else?” Annie asked quietly.
“Oh, all right. Didn’t want to say. I was going to tag the detective afterward, but he grabbed you right away, and I didn’t have the chance. Could you tell him for me?”
“If it’s important, I’m sure he’ll want to hear it from you. But he gave me his card. We can call him together. What didn’t you feel comfortable sharing in front of everyone?”
“You know when Gwendolyn told us she’d walked over to Harriett’s cottage this morning, I think she said around seven fifteen?”
Annie slowly nodded. “I remember. She said she got up around six.”
“Well, I saw her out back when I was leaving for the stables. That would have been around the same time.”
“What? You mean she was outside the same time she said she got out of bed?”
“Pretty much. And she was dressed. Ready to go.”
“What was she doing? And where were you?”
“Still in my bedroom. I was about to go downstairs. I looked out the back window, just glanced, really, and saw her walking around the corner toward the kitchen. Like she’d gone to her car, forgotten something, and was going to go back inside. At least, that’s what I thought at the time.”
Annie stared at Liz, her heart pounding. Then to her own embarrassment, her excitement faded. As much as she would have loved for Gwendolyn to be the killer, the facts she was privy to didn’t quite jibe with what Liz saw.
