Claire Malloy - Poisoned Pins Part 4

11.

I gulped down my drink as I dned myself, scrambled into my clothes, and hurried downstairs and across the lawn to the Kappa Theta Eta house. How could these women-and their neighbors-get any sleep, if they insisted on screaming at every opportunity? As much as I loved my duplex with its view of the campus and convenience to the bookstore, it might be time to move farther away.

I was wondering just how cold the winters were in Fairbanks as I pounded on the front door Winkie jerked it open and gaped at me. aClaire?a she said wonderingly, as if I were dressed in a tutu and clutching a glittery wand. She was the one who warranted a second look, dressed as she was in a naughty scarlet peignoir, with enough makeup on her face to intimidate a seasoned hooker, but very little she or any of the Kappas did these days surprised me.

aWho screamed this time?a I asked.

She pulled me inside and locked the door. aPippa. She and Rebecca are in my suite, both of them so upset that I felt a gla.s.s of wine would serve a medicinal purpose. I even splashed a wee bit in Katieas saucer.~~ Sheas splashed more than a wee bit in her own saucer, I decided as I followed her unsteady path across the foyer. The two girls sat on the sofa, both wearing robes. Pippaas face was pale and her hair disheveled, but she managed to convey a gla.s.s to her lips with only a minimum of twitches.

If Rebecca had been in need of a medicinal dose, it had worked miracles. She gave me a sharp look over the rim of her gla.s.s, then finished off its contents and said, aSo weave disturbed you once again, Mrs. Malloy. You must think weare absolutely crazy, but sometimes literally weeks and weeks go by with nothing more exciting than the discovery of a mouse in the pantry.a aWould you like a gla.s.s of wine?a Winkie asked me with a bright smile. aItas our little secret weapon to fight off overly active imaginations.a I wasnat sure whose she had in mind, mine or Pippaas. aThank you, but this is not a social call. In truth, my latenight visits are beginning to irritate me as much as they seem to irritate you. Just tell me why Pippa screamed and Iall run along home.a In the ensuing silence, Katie stalked into the room and sprang into Rebeccaas lap, evidently no more pleased to see me than I was to see her She seemed fascinated by the bandage on my hand, and no doubt proud of her handiwork. Winkie wandered into her kitchen, returned with a bottle of wine, and settled cozily in the rocking chain Pippa sniffled. Rebecca gathered her long black hair and curled it around her neck like a scarf.

aWhy did you scream?a I snapped at the offender aDid our mysterious prowler reappear, or was it a mouse in the pantry?a aIt was weird, Mrs. Malloy. I was so startled that I didnat even realize Iad screamed until afterward. I think I must have been repressing my anxiety to the point of psychoneurosis, understandably precipitated by depression over Jeanas death. Had I made more of an effort to explore my innermost-a aSomeone was outside her window,a Rebecca said, stroking Katie with a gesture as languid as her voice. aHe stepped on a dry twig and the sound frightened hera Pippa giggled nervously, if not psychoneurotically. aIad taken off my bra and was examining my tan lines, so he must have gotten an eyefu].a She looked down with a modest dimple or two. aIave been sunbathing in a really cute little bikini. Then tonight, when we were at the mall, I found this absolutely adorable one-piece, my very best shade of pearl gray, but I donat see how I can wear it with a white stripe across my back.a I ordered myself to stop grinding my teeth. aIam sure youall find a way. So you were in your bedroom, and someone was outside your window. Did you see his face?a She shook her head. aHas anyone called campus security?a aOh, Claire, I donat think itas necessary,a Winkie said reproachfully. aWhat must they think of us? A sorority is only as strong as its reputation, as you well know, and each chapter must endeavor to-a I was not in the mood for an in-depth a.n.a.lysis of the perils of a dubious reputation. aYou need to call Eleanor Vanderson and ask her about notifying the campus security force. If she agrees with you, at the least she can have her husband come over and ascertain that the peeping tom has fled and the screens and doors are secured.a Winkie frowned at me. aI wouldnat want to disturb her, and Dean Vanderson is a very busy man with numerous responsibilities. Itas much too late for me to call them.a aThen I will.a I reached for the telephone. aTell me the number and we can all go back to bed shortly.a I was surprised when she complied. Seconds later, I was surprised and disappointed when a male answered.

aIs this Dean Vanderson?a I said crisply.

aYes, it is.a He spoke in an even voice, as opposed to a voice indicative of frantic activity within the last ten minutes. aWhoas this?a aIam calling on behalf of the Kappa housemother She needs to speak to Mrs. Vanderson about a situation at the house.a I thrust the receiver into Winkieas hand and started for the door, then returned and sat down next to Pippa. Speaking softly in order not to interfere with Winkieas sputtery apologies, I said, aThereas something we need to discuss. This afternoon when you picked up what had fallen out of my purse, you failed to replace my key ring. If you kept it as a souvenir, Iad like you to return it. Youare causing me a great deal of inconvenience.~~ aI wouldnat take your key ring, Mrs. Malloy,a she said, sounding shocked. aThatas stealing. Kappa Theta Eta pledges take a solemn oath to uphold this really involved code of honor so they wonat ever disgrace the organization. We have to promise not to be seen drunk in public, not to cheat, not to get caught in sleazy bars and nightclubs-a aOr motels,a Rebecca inserted neatly.

Pippa flushed. aOr motels, or anyplace that might make us look like tramps. We always dress for dinner on Monday nights as if it were a dinner party, and-a aThen you donat have my key ring?a I said. aDid you see anyone else who might have picked it up?a She reiterated her ignorance with such earnestness that I was considering believing her when Winkie replaced the receiver and said, aEleanor agreed that we have no reason to call the campus security department. She and her husband were in bed when you called, and she isnat willing to ask him to get dressed and come here. Sheall send someone tomorrow to make sure all the screens are set properly and hooked from the inside.a aWhat about yours?a I said as I went into her kitchen and pushed back the pink gingham curtains. aItas barely propped in place, and one tiny nudge will send it to the ground.a I proceeded to prove my hypothesis to be correct. aOops, sorry; but it was begging for it,a I called. aYou really ought to keep the ground-floor windows locked until this prowler is caught.a Pippa gasped. aMy windowas wide open. What if this voyeur is in my room?a I closed and locked the window before I returned to the living room. aI think wead better check all the windows on this floor, especially those in unoccupied rooms.a aMrs. Malloy has a point, Winkie.a Rebecca held out her hand. aGive me the keys and Iall go with her You and Pippa can wait here until the drawbridge is raised and the alligators are circling in the moat.a Winkie seemed a little confused, but she took the keys from her purse and handed them to Rebecca. We went first to the kitchen and made sure the door and windows were locked. We did the same in the lounge, then went to the hallway with the bedrooms.

aMy room is a pit,a Rebecca said, although with a noticeable lack of distress. She went inside, stepping over clothes and clutter, locked her window, and returned with an indecipherable smile. aNo nocturnal visitors for me, anyway, she said as she unlocked Pippaas door and gestured for me to precede her.

Iad taken a quick look at all the paper cats taped to her walls. They had messages along the lines of aYouare a great big sister!a and aI got an A on my paper!a The handwriting varied; apparently they served as in-house memos as well as official stationery.

Pippa hadnat done any housekeeping since Iad last visited. The pearl-gray bathing suit hung from a k.n.o.b on the dresser books had been added to the mess on the floor, and an open desk drawer filled with oddments reminded me of my own. The blinds were pulled up and the window was open as far as it could go. The screen was hooked, however, and showed no signs of tampering.

We went into Debbie Anneas room, still neat and clean and sadly impersonal. The only addition was a thin patina of fingerprint powder I picked up the photograph of her parents. aIam really worried about Debbie Anne. She didnat sound particularly terrified when she called me, but she may have-a aShe called you?a Rebecca swept her hair back to stare at me. aWhy would she call you?a aShe seemed to have found me sympathetic, and she asked me to get in touch with her mother I did, hoping the woman might have some suggestions as to where Debbie Anne is.a aDid she?a aHer mother was under the illusion that Debbie Anne was a treasured member of the sorority and spent all her free time with her sisters,a I said with a hint of acerbity.

aShe would say something like that, wouldnat she?a As she made sure the window was locked, she added, aShe stole things from us, ran down Jean in the alley, and now is hiding as if she fancies herself to be a maligned victim. Iam not at all surprised to hear she lied to her mother. Letas finish this up, if you donat mind. I have an audition in the morning, and I need to study my lines.a I went to Jeanas door and waited while she unlocked it. The dead girlas clothes and personal effects had been placed in suitcases and cardboard boxes stacked in the middle of the room. The bed had been stripped, and the pink cats were gone.

aDebbie Anne Wray tried to destroy Kappa Theta Eta,a Rebecca said from the doorway. aWe did our best to mold her into one of us, but she couldnat cut it. I donat care if they never find her. I hope sheas hiding in the woods, and the bears get to her first.a She backed across the hall and leaned against the wall, her face mottled with anger and her hands curled so tightly that her fingernails might have drawn blood. Turning away, she began to cry.

I decided to ignore her outburst and get out of the place before I lost my temper Even the mildest of mildmannered booksellers can turn militant if provoked. I went around the cartons, made sure the window was locked, and was on my way out of the room when I noticed a scattering of items that had been left on the dresser, presumably unworthy of being packed. There were bobby pins dusted with powder, an empty pack of menthol cigarettes, plastic pens, paper clips in a chain, and a white cap from a shampoo bottle. And a matchbook from a motel called Hideaway Haven. I slipped it into my pocket. aWho packed up Jeanas things?a I asked Rebecca.

aI offered to do it, but looking at her things was too painful and I just couldnat go through with it,a she said, trying to stanch the tears that slinked down her cheeks. Unlike most of us, she cried delicately, with no puffiness of her eyelids or redness of her nose. aI think Winkie told the cleaning woman to finish, or maybe she did it herself.a aDid you find a packet of negatives?a I asked ever so artfully.

My question dried up her tears. aNegatives of what, Mrs. Malloy?a she said. Her hair hid her expression, but the coolness of her tone was unmissable.

aI have no idea,a I said, although the matchbook in my pocket was glowing like an ember and I was beginning to see some possibilities. They were downright nasty ones, too. aEverythingas secure, so you can go study for your audition and Iall stop by Winkieas on my way out.a Iad hoped she might leave me in Jeanas room, but she waited while I turned out the light, closed the door, and joined her in the hall. She went into her room, and rather than snooping through Jeanas possessions, I was reduced to doing as Iad promised. Winkie was asleep in the rocking chair, and Pippa was dangling a pink ribbon for Katieas amus.e.m.e.nt. She a.s.sured me that she would help Winkie to bed and thanked me for being so concerned.

I wasnat, but I nodded wearily and went back to my apartment. Earlier, the steamy hot water had been so intoxicating that I was relaxed and antic.i.p.ating bed. Now, thanks to the Kappa Theta Etas, my mind was sizzling with chaotic thoughts, most of which had to do with blackmail. I wished I could talk to someone, but the someone who came to mind was not an option. This was going to be a solo effort, and not until my solution was tied up with a pretty pink bow would it be presented to the appropriate authorities.

I sat down and looked at the advertising on the matchbook. The Hideaway Haven, a dumpy place west of town that Iad noticed but failed to visit, offered its clientele aadulta movies and king-size waterbeds. I suspected it also offered not only weekly and monthly rates, but an hourly one for those who availed themselves of certain services indigenous to truck stops. What could I do with this concrete bit of evidence-other than light candles and sit around in their glow? Peter kept candles in his dining room, living room, and bedroom, and was forever muttering about my pragmatism when I flipped on a light to avoid stubbing my toes. Officer Pipkin was likely to be able to see more keenly in the dark than a cat.

Admittedly, I was brooding, a useless and deleterious pastime that was beginning to stir up a goodly amount of self-pity. I realized I was in real danger of putting on a Johnny Mathis record and sniveling throughout the night. Physical action, if not exertion, was called for, I decided as I stuck the matchbook in my purse and started through the kitchen to the back staircase that led to my garage. Considering how to pose questions to the night manager about his college clients, I had my hand on the doork.n.o.b when it occurred to me that I wasnat driving anywhere unless I hot-wired my car.

I dropped my purse on the table and began to paw through drawers in search of a spare car key. By the time I found a key that might qualify, it was well after midnight. With a chortle of triumph, I went to bed.

Early the next morning, Caron and Inez dragged in while I was drinking coffee. They both had bloated faces, red-rimmed eyes, and surly expressions, all symptomatic of a sleepless night. Things thudded to the floor in Caronas room, and I was hastily finis.h.i.+ng my coffee as they came into the kitchen.

aI am never leaving this place as long as I live,a Caron announced. aI will stay in my room until my hair turns gray, my teeth fall out, and my skin is overcome with liver spots and hairy, disgusting wafts. Little children will creep cautiously into the yard, whispering and pointing at my window, but at the slightest twitch of my curtain, theyall scream and run. I shall become a legend in Farberville, but one day everyone will cease speculating and forget about the pathetic old hag who resides in the attic.a aYou said your room,a Inez began, then stopped out of consideration for her continued well-being.

aThere is an attic,a I said. aIave never been up there, but a couple of summers ago the landlord had someone spray for wasps. Thereas a trapdoor in the ceiling of the hall closet.a aYou are not amusing.a Caron lay down on the floor and closed her eyes, her arms crossed in the cla.s.sic pose of the dearly departed. aRhonda Maguire is nothing more than a garden tool,a she said in a doomed voice. aI donat care if I never see her again for fifty years, but shead better watch out after Iam dead. Iam coming back as a carnivorous zombie.a I frowned at Inez. aA garden tool?a She nodded soberly at me, looked at the body attempting to decompose on the kitchen floor, and tiptoed to the nearest chair. She mouthed something at me, but it could have been almost anything, from a malediction to a sonnet.

aA hoe, Mother,a Caron said impatiently. aAre these hot flashes impairing your ability to relate to your current culture?a aMost definitely.a I swallowed the last of the coffee and stood up. A benign parent would have slipped away soundlessly, or perhaps inquired with such sympathy that she would be regaled with the entirety of the tragedy. aSo, howad the limbo go? Win any prizes, or did Rhondaas center of gravity prevail?a aThe minute Louis Wilderberry walks onto the patio, Rhonda grabs him and starts telling these really incredible lies about how I claim to be the ultimate fas.h.i.+on dictator of the century, even the millennium. Everybody-Present Company Included-giggles and snickers, and then Rhonda goes, aWhy donat we all chip in so Miss Perfect Palette can do a My Beautiful Self a.n.a.lysis of Louis?a He was so embarra.s.sed that he literally ran back to his car. This was deemed Too Funny for Words, and I heard about it right up until the rooster crowed three times at dawn.a Inez slid down in her chair until her eyes were on the plane of the table top. aI didnat say one word, Caron. I thought Rhonda was being really stupid about it, but I still say you went too far when you locked yourself in her room for over an hour.a aAnd did what?a I asked as calmly as I could.

Caron squeezed her eyes shut more tightly. aNothing at all, Mother I am not a vengeful person. If Rhonda calls, tell her I moved to France to live in a chateau.a I looked at Inez, who shrugged and continued her slithery trip toward the floor. aWhatever you say, dear. I may need you to help out at the store this afternoon. Iall let you know-a aYou seem to have forgotten that I am never leaving this apartment. Furthermore, I am not answering the telephone, so your anonymous pervertas going to have to bother someone else. Inez, see if thereas any orange juice in the refrigerator. I already feel my bones turning brittle.a I left before I could learn what Caron had done in Rhondaas bedroom, although I knew Iad find out sooner or later The key from the drawer fit the car, and the key from the kitchen counter fit the front door of the Book Depot. If only, I thought as I sat down on my stool, the clues Iad chanced upon fit as well. Arnie and Ed Whitbred had something to do with whatever was taking place, and I had proof of sorts that Dean Vanderson was involved. The active Kappa Theta Etas, the alumnae, the missing one, and even the deceased one qualified for some role in the muddlesome puzzle.

The most expedient plan would be to line up every last one of them and ask the manager of the Hideaway Haven if head seen any of them. However, that was a course available only to the authorities, who were not likely to cooperate with me. Neither was John Vanderson, but I called the college switchboard and asked for his office number, then dialed it.

aDean Vanderson is in a meeting,a a secretary informed me. aThen he has appointments all afternoon, and a reception at five for a federal judge. After that, heas hosting a dinner party for the judge and some of the faculty. Tomorrow he leaves for a week-long legal symposium in Las Vegas. If you can catch him, say h.e.l.lo for me.a I waited a moment to see if shead finished reciting the litany. aThis canat wait for a week,a I said.

aNeither can final approval of the grant proposal thatas due on Friday, nor can the editor of the Law Review, nor can the coed with a s.e.xual hara.s.sment charge, nor can the faculty adviser of the judicial committee.a She hung up.

Humph, I thought as I went to the door and gazed at the traffic rattling over the train tracks. It didnat sound as though I would be able to regain access to Dean Vandersonas office as easily as I had the night before, not with a Medusa in the front room turning students and visitors alike to stone. Even if I were to risk such a fate, I was leery about running into the unfriendly custodian.

The mock Mrs. Vanderson decided to see what she could wheedle of the legitimate one. I resumed my seat, looked up her numbei and called it, hoping it was too early for the luncheon circuit to have begun.

aVanderson residence.a I was shocked into silence, wildly wondering if my brain had been turned to stone. I gulped, blinked, and finally said, aDebbie Anne? Is that you?a aNo, it isnat!a My entire body must have been turned to stone. I was unable to do anything except listen to the dial tone until a series of beeps nudged me into a semblance of consciousness. I numbly redialed the number. After a dozen plaintive rings, I replaced the receiver and considered the five words that shead said. The tw.a.n.gy nasality of the voice was distinctive, and she had identified the residence. Had I made a mistake that offended the responder so deeply that shead stalked out of earshot of the telephone? Or out the front door? If it had indeed been Debbie Anne, why had she reacted with abruptness? And what on earth was she doing at the Vandersonsa house?

I jotted down the address, locked the store, and ran to my car, congratulating myself on having driven to the bookstore on the off chance I might need to meet Dean Vanderson in a remote spot. aJust stay there,a I muttered as I pulled onto Thurber Street and headed for Farbervilleas historic district.

Iad repeated the plea a hundred times as I crept down Was.h.i.+ngton Avenue, looking for the house number Enough of the historically correct occupants had numbers affixed to their porches to allow me to home in like a Scud missile and park in front of a well-preserved yellow Victorian house with a turret topped by a bra.s.s eagle. It and the lawn surrounding it were immaculate. There were no cars in the driveway.

No more than fifteen minutes had elapsed since the call, I tried to rea.s.sure myself as I hurried to the porch and knocked. No skinny girls had been walking on the sidewalks, and I knew she hadnat driven away in her car. I knocked again, then spotted an old-fas.h.i.+oned doorbell and twisted it vigorously. I could hear it grinding within, pleading for someone to heed its call and answer the door No one did, howeves and I finally let my hand drop.

aAre you looking for Eleanor?a I looked back at a blue-haired woman weanng a raincoat and holding a leash with a gloved hand. At the end of the leash was a c.o.c.ker spaniel dancing with excitement. aYes, I am.a I struggled not to look as if Iad been considering breaking into the house with the brick at the edge of the porch. aDo you know when sheall be back?a aSheas at her garden club, and then I believe itas her afternoon at the gift shop at the hospital.a The woman glanced at the brick. aI live next door, and Iall be happy to let her know you dropped by for a visit.a aThatas so very kind of you. Actually, Iam looking for one of the Kappa Theta Eta pledges whoas staying here.a aEleanor didnat mention that she and John have a houseguest. Last summer her niece came for two weeks, but sheas an alumna rather than a pledge. A lovely girl, I must say, and very clever She has a degree in business administration, but what with the twins and her fundraising efforts on behalf of the sorority, sheas put her career on hold. Her husband is an orthodontist.a aIsnat that interesting,a I murmured mendaciously. I waited, but the woman clearly intended to remain rooted to the sidewalk. Her dog had collapsed at her feet and was licking her shoe, out of either affection or starvation. aSo you havenat noticed a tall, thin girl with brown hair?a aTheyare all tall and thin these days, arenat they? When I was a gal, we were encouraged to have a few curves, but now they all strive to look like matchsticks.a She yanked on the leash. aStop that, Brandy. Are you a Kappa Theta Eta, dear? I myself was a Chi Omega; I had so many legacies that I was almost carried through the door and bestowed on a throne on the first day of rush. My granddaughteras pledging this fall at my very own alma mater.a She was a formidable opponent. I conceded her the win, smiled vaguely at the dog, and said Iad try to catch Eleanor at another time. She was still standing on the sidewalk as I drove away, more because of the entanglement with the leash than out of suspicion-or so I hoped. I drove past the library and up the hill, gnawing on my fingernail and considering what to do. I knew what I should do, of course. There was no question that I was teetering at the fringe of propriety, of what I could justify even to myself. Peter would listen to me (in between his ever so tedious remarks about my propensity for meddling), and he would be able to question the Vandersons, search the house, and eventually determine if they were harboring a fugitive. I, in contrast, had been stymied by a woman with a dog. A boot-licking c.o.c.ker spaniel.

Short of storming the garden club to take Eleanor hostage, I was at a loss for ideas. I finally parked in a site popular with moonsick lovers, cut off the engine, and let my head fall back against the seat. Jean Hall had coerced Debbie Anne into doing something-something that related to the boutique at the mall? Why dash away instead of acknowledging the mistake and heading for the proper store? Had Dean Vanderson stashed Debbie Anne in the attic and gone to the sorority house to get the negatives? Negatives of what? It was frightfully irksome that the anonymous caller preferred to deal with Caron, I thought with a sigh.

My next move was obvious, if not pretty.

12.

Shortly before seven oaclock, I parked in a strategically chosen spot on a street perpendicular to Was.h.i.+ngton Avenue, and slouched in the seat in the tradition of a jaded private eye resigned to a boring and bitterly cold night of surveillance (it was a balmy evening, and we had two hours of daylight to go, but I was, as Caron would say, In A Mood). The Vandersonsa Mercedes was parked in the driveway under the protection of an ancient magnolia tree, and as I watched, the car Iad seen in front of the Kappa Theta Eta house pulled in behind it. My quarry hurried into the house.

I was dressed not in a trenchcoat and fedora, but in a becoming green dress. Iad gone so far as to don pantyhose, heels, and faux pearls for the occasion. Having never hosted a federal judge, I wasnat sure when the festivities would begin, but I was praying I had a few minutes to speak in private to the dean.

My prayers went unnoticed. Before I reached the house, a black Cadillac stopped at the curb, followed by an entourage of imported vehicles. Those who emerged were dressed to kill, in the figurative sense, and were chattering amiably as they started for the house. Adopting my contingency plan, I slipped through the group and tucked my hand under the arm of a man with the white hair of a televangelist, the deceptively trustworthy eyes of same, and a hawkish red nose-and therefore the man most likely to be the revered judge.

aIsnat this lovely of John and Eleanor?a I said as I propelled him to the porch.

He squeezed my hand. aAnd of you, my dear. I donat believe we met at the reception. Are you on the faculty?a aI waved at you from across the room, but it was so crowded, wasnat it? Letas do make an effort to have a nice little talk tonight, Your Honora The front door was open and we streamed into the house like starlings to their roost. Eleanor greeted her guests with professional aplomb, transferring coats and wraps to a waiting maid, welcoming us with warm smiles and gracious words. Most of us, anyway. aJudge Frankley, Iam so honored and delighted you were able to come tonight, you and .. .a She dribbled to a halt. A tiny wrinkle appeared between her eyes, and a few more at the corners of her mouth.

aClaire,a I prompted her politely. aI think I see the bar, Judge Frankley. How about a martini?a He rumbled happily as we continued into a living room right out of a glossy magazine spread. High ceilings, polished wood, antiques, dollies protecting table tops, a basket of pine cones next to the fireplace, an afghan draped over the arm of the sofa-the whole Americana bit.

aHow long are you staying in Farberville?a I asked my abductee while we jostled for position in front of a table lined with bottles, a silver ice bucket with silver tongs, and crystal bowls of olives and citrus slices.

I missed his answer John Vanderson was frozen in the doorway to the dining room, regarding me with such panic that he appeared on the verge of an apoplectic attack. I smiled and wiggled my eyebrows at him. He stumbled out of sight. Was this any way for a proper host to act?

..... little party at my hotel later,a the judge was saying. aA very select group, of course. Iall be absolutely heartbroken if you refuse, my deara He squeezed my hand more firmly. aI might have to hold you in contempt of court.a aI wouldnat dream of missing it,a I said. After a brief struggle, I disengaged my hand. aExcuse me, but I must have a word with Dean Vanderson. Why donat you sit right there on that cozy loveseat, and when I come back, you can tell me all about your clever decisions.~~ I slithered through the crowd and into the dining room, where the glare from silver-wear and crystal was enough to blind me momentarily. Dean Vanderson apparently had escaped through the door on the far side of the room, so I headed that way. The kitchen was a crowded, bustling place, and none of the staff responded to my question. I moved on, hoping I wouldnat find myself at the top of the bas.e.m.e.nt stairs-or the bottom of the attic stairs. The room beyond the kitchen proved to be nothing more horrifying than a sunroom with windows that looked out on a landscaped yard and a swimming pool.

I was about to try the next door when I saw Dean Vanderson in a corner, his head bowed and his shoulders drooping. I approached him as I would a wounded animal (although, of course, I value my extremities far too much to do such a thing), reasonably sure the kitchen staff would come to my aid if he flung himself on my admittedly alluring carotid artery. aWe need to talk,a I said gently. aWe can do it in private, or we can do it in front of your wife and your guests.a aShall we take a stroll by the pool, Mrs. Malloy?a aIam a competent swimmer,a I warned him as we went down stone steps to the yard. Azaleas and rhododendrons bloomed in studiously casual confusion, and honeysuckle vines swarmed over the crumbling brick walls of an old well. Iad read too many mysteries not to take a quick look into the shaft. It was less than ten feet deep, the ground appeared undisturbed, and Debbie Anne was not cowering at the bottom.

aWere you on the guest list?a Dean Vanderson asked, having observed my detour with mild perplexity.

aNo, and Iall fade away unfed as soon as you answer my questions. Iam not sure exactly how youare involved with the Kappa Theta Etas, but I have some fairly plausible guesses that I will share with the police, if necessary. I donat know if theyall stand up in court, but they will cause you a great deal of trouble.a I halted at the edge of the pool and made sure no bodies were adrift near the drain. All I saw was a magnolia leaf curled into the shape of a devilfish.

He pulled together two aluminum chairs and gestured for me to sit. aIndiscretion may have occurred, but it was in the past and has nothing to do with the girlas death. I will admit I pushed you down this afternoon. Coming upon you so abruptly, I was startled and reacted without thinking. For that, I apologize most sincerely. I trust there was no serious damage?a aI donat want to talk about this afternoon, Dean Vanderson. I want to talk about Jean Hall.a He s.h.i.+vered despite the suns.h.i.+ne, and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his forehead. aAh, yes, I hired her to run errands and do office ch.o.r.es. Her salary was in line with our tight budget, so as an added inducement, I arranged for her to sit in on some of the lectures in order to help her prepare for law school in the fall. Eleanor informed me of her accidental death. A terrible tragedy for her, for the driver, and for the sorority in general.a aShe was murdered,a I said bluntly.

aDo the police concur?a His pale eyelashes were almost invisible as he blinked at me. aEleanor said theyad concluded it was an accident, caused by one of the pledges.a aWho came here to hide.a aHere? Thatas impossible. If she came here after the accident, Eleanor would have counseled her to turn herself in, even have driven her to the police station, and surely would have mentioned it to me. I have a position to maintain in the academic community, Mrs. Ma]loy, and the sorority means everything to my wife. Neither of us would jeopardize our achievements by harboring a fugitive.a aJohn!a Eleanor called from the door aWhat are you and Claire doing out there? In case you failed to notice, we have guests. Judge Frankley is asking for you.a I smiled at her, and in a low voice said, aWhere shall we discuss the negatives-here or on the loveseat with Judge Frankley?a He regarded me for a moment, as if a.s.sessing my alleged swimming ability should I find myself in the proximity of the drain. aHere, I should think,a he said resignedly, then called to his wife, aI shall be there shortly, dear. Just tell everybody thereas been a small crisis at the law school that must be resolved before I leave in the morning.a Eleanor didnat look convinced; I could think of no reason why she should. However, after a minute she nodded and disappeared into the house to appease her guests with c.o.c.ktails, canapes, and little white lies.

Dean Vanderson was struggling to radiate judicial dignity, but he looked more like a small boy on the verge of tears, his mouth puckered, his eyes downcast, his porcelain forehead beaded with sweat. Patting him on the shoulder, I said, aCome on, you can tell me. If you cooperate, I promise not to go to the police.~~ aJean approached me last fall. Iad seen her at sorority affairsa-he cringed at his ill-chosen word-asuch as luncheons and teas, but wead only made small talk. However, on this particular occasion, a football brunch at the house, Jean asked me if she might make an appointment to elicit my advice about law school. She came to my office several times, always with catalogs and questions, and I was more than happy to offer her what a.s.sistance I could.a aAnd also at the Hideaway Haven?a He gaped at me, then managed to swallow what must have been a most unpleasant taste. aYou appear to be well informed, Mrs. Malloy.a aThank you,a I murmured, accepting his compliment with a modest nod-and wis.h.i.+ng it were deserved.

aI will not deny that I am aware of an establishment known as the Hideaway Haven. Whatever may have taken place there can be best described as a series of perfectly harmless dalliances. My wife has become more and more involved with her volunteer work, her various clubs, and, of course, her Kappa Theta Eta responsibilities. Often she is exhausted by the time she arrives home. Eleanor is an attractive woman and an exemplary hostess, but when we manage to ... retire together, she responds so distractedly that I suspect sheas mentally making out guest lists or contemplating menus. I find this frustrating.a I tried to keep the disgust out of my voice, but I may not have given it my personal best. aYou have a beautiful wife, a lovely home, a respected position at the college and in the community. Federal judges drink martinis in your living room. Uniformed cooks crowd your kitchen. Students scribble down your opinions, and faculty members beg you for pennies to buy legal pads and paper clips. Why would you risk the culmination of a lifetime of hard work and ambition to have an affair with a student in a sleazy motel?a aItas difficult to explain,a he said, wiping his neck. aIt was flattering, you see. Iave never been attractive. Eleanor married me for my family connections and my potential for success; I married her for similar reasons. When I was in law school, I became obsessed by the handsome young studs with their wavy hair, smoldering eyes, some as bright and disciplined as I, others less so but destined to succeed in their future endeavors simply on the strength of their physical attributes. I retreated into academia, where I could wage war on an intellectual level, but even now, when I address a cla.s.s or interview applicants, I find myself .. .a He made a gesture with a taut white hand. aThis is not the time to present the defendantas closing statement, is it?a aIam not the one with a houseful of guests, but Iam willing to acknowledge these psychological ravages of your past and move right along. You and Jean met at the Hideaway Haven. Someone took a photograph of you in the midst of this indiscretion and has been blackmailing you since then. How am I doing?a He gave me an odd look, no doubt impressed by my acuity and ac.u.men. aTo some extent, you are correct in your suppositions, Mrs. Malloy. Approximately three weeks ago, a distressing depiction of activities that need not be detailed was sent to me, accompanied by a peculiar construction-paper cutout and a handwritten request that I make a private endowment. I was able to do so without undue problems. A second followed, and a third only yesterday. It became clear that I am to be hounded in perpetuity by a member of Kappa Theta Eta with the alias Katie. Iave begun to dream of strangling that cat, of burning down the house, of penning a suicide note and disappearing into the wilds of Canada.a I remembered Officer Pipkinas remark about cloistered nuns as I leaned back in the squeaky chair and crossed my arms. aBut hasnat it occurred to you to confess and accept whatever punishment is meted out by your wife and the administration? Blackmail is a particularly nasty crime. Are you willing to allow the perpetrator to continue on her merry way? Arenat you committed to justice and all that stuff?a aJohn!a Eleanor called sharply from the doorway. aJudge Frankley is still asking for you, and dinner is ready to be served. What can you and Claire be discussing that must be resolved while the quail toughen?a aIall be there in a moment,a he called back, waited until she was gone, and then gave me the look of a harshly chastised puppy whoad savaged a slipper. aI must see to my guests. I made a mistake, and it seems I am to pay for it. Thereas your justice, Mrs. Malloy.a aBut you do admit you searched the sorority house for the negatives of the photographs of you and Jean?a I demanded as he rose to his feet. aDid you search her purse, too?a aAfter I ran her down in the alley?a I stopped congratulating myself on the guile of my leading question. aSomething like that,a I admitted with a shrug.

aAllow me to correct some of your hazy, unsubstantiated, and fallacious ideas. I did have an appointment with Jean Hall the night she was killed, and we met in the enclosed patio of a fraternity house that borders the alley. At that time, she acknowledged that she was the blackmailer and informed me that larger endowments would be required, although none so outrageous that I could not comply without arousing suspicion. Negatives were to serve as my receipts. She took one out of her purse and an exchange was made.a aYouare positive she had her purse with her?a aDo try to listen, Mrs. Malloy. She took the negative out of her purse and showed it to me. Less than a minute later she put an envelope full of twenty-dollar bills into her purse.a I attempted to envision the scene, but what flashed across my mind was not this icy entrepreneur in the patio but the bloodied body in the alley. And something was missing. aWas she wearing her sorority pin?a aI was not concerned with her accessories, but I seem to remember thinking how ostentatious it was. Please do not quote me on that. In any case, I left her sitting on a bench, licking her lips in a disturbingly contented fas.h.i.+on. I never saw her again.a aYou drove by the house later. I saw you from my bedroom window.a aAfter Iad had time to consider the situation, I decided to suggest to Jean that we terminate our contractual relations.h.i.+p with a single payment in exchange for all the negatives. I went by the house to propose it, saw the police cars in the alley, and went home. Only when Eleanor returned did I learn what had happened.a aBut now someone else is blackmailing you,a I said encouragingly (if one can use the term in that context). aYou were searching the third floor, presumably with no success. How did you get in?a aEleanor has a full set of keys, in case an emergency arises that requires the immediate presence of a plumber or an electrician. I borrowed them from her desk, and replaced them as soon as I was home.a He gave me a reproachful smile. aIad intended to work my way from the top floor to the bas.e.m.e.nt, but you had the pinched look of a police informant. I havenat found sufficient nerve to go back and continue my search.a aJeanas room is on the ground floor.a aI wasnat aware of that, but she wasnat the sort to put her d.a.m.ning evidence in her dresser drawer or leave it lying on her desk. She implied the negatives were hidden somewhere in the house. I am by nature a methodical man, Mrs. Malloy.a aWho do you suspect has the photographs of you and Jean in the Hideaway Haven?a aTheyare not of Jean and me, Mrs. Malloy.a Dean Vanderson replaced his handkerchief in his back pocket and looked down at me as if I were a sluggish student. aEarlier in the week I wondered if you had them, but now I see that you donat. I never said Iad had an affair with her. She merely arranged introductions to some of her nubile young friends who enjoyed the companions.h.i.+p of... shall we say, experienced older men.a aShe what?a I leaped to my feet so suddenly that I was in danger of an unscheduled swan dive. aShe was pimping for you?a aShe merely arranged introductions,a he repeated patiently.

I battled to regain my balance in all senses of the phrase. aShe arranged introductions to girls with whom you subsequently had s.e.x? Her nubile young friends? At the Hideaway Haven with its p.o.r.n movies and waterbeds? Why donat you tell me your definition of a pimp, Dean Vanderson?a My words had been spewing out rather raggedly, but he seemed to get the gist of them. aJean was providing a service, and until I conceded to the first blackmail demand, Iad given her nothing but avuncular advice and a part-time job. Actually, Eleanor suggested that. As for the girls, I often insisted on showing my appreciation for their youthful enthusiasm and lack of inhibitions. One particular girl was so delightfully inexperienced and reticent in her attempts to be introduced into the sweet mysteries of love that I rewarded her most handsomely. Iam an educator and aware of the importance of positive reinforcement in learning situations.a I clutched my hands behind my back to restrain myself. aWere all these girls Kappa Theta Etas?a aThey did not wear their sorority pins, Mrs. Malloy.a He brushed back the pale peach fuzz on his head and nodded at me. aI really must attend to my guests. I have met the conditions you stipulated, and I hope you intend to adhere to our arrangement.a aTake one more step and Iall go sit in Judge Frankleyas lap and tell him the entire story,a I said, still so appalled that I was trembling. aDo you admit you called my house and made threats to my daughter?a aShe has a very disconcerting manner on the telephone. If I may ask, what precisely const.i.tutes a color a.n.a.lysis? Is there truly a reason why I should pay ten dollars when I wear dark suits and white s.h.i.+fts every day? The only item that ever varies is my tie.a It was sheer lunacy, I thought, as well it should be. I was standing beside a pool conversing with the man in the moon, who was worried about his palette. Romping with coeds thirty years younger was not a problem, and blackmail was pesky-but the color of his tie? Was dark red too adventurous? Dare he try green and navy stripes?

aIall check and get back to you,a I said numbly, then went past him and through a gate to the driveway. I made it to my car, rolled up the windows and locked the doors, and rested my forehead on the steering wheel. I waited to see if I was going to laugh or cry, but at last decided I was much too confused to do anything at all.

Iad been told Jean Hall kept the pledge cla.s.s busy with picnics, parties, and community activities. No one had mentioned less innocuous but more profitable endeavors. Was Dean Vanderson the only self-righteous satyr on the campus? And, most important, did National know about this? Was it right there in the pledge handbook, along with the rules, regulations, and secret whistle? Was it a sanctioned fund-raising activity for the spring semester?

A fist knocked on the window. Before I could scream, which I fully intended to do, a concerned male voice said, aAre you all right, maaamTa I exhaled and determined the voice belonged to a policeman barely out of his teens. aIam fine, thank you. I was just thinking for a moment before I drove home.a He drew circles with his finger until I reluctantly rolled down the window. aWould you step out of the vehicle, maaam?a aUnder no circ.u.mstance will I step out of the vehicle, sir. That would make it impossible to drive home, and as soon as you move back, thatas exactly what Iam going to do.a aIam asking you again to step out of the vehicle,a he said with a good deal less cordiality in his voice. aIf you refuse to comply, Iall be forced to take action against you.a aYouare going to drag me out of my car and sling me on the pavement? Is this because you donat think I parked close enough to the curb, or because ordinary, law-abiding citizens are not allowed to sit and think, but must instead cater to whatever idiotic whim overtakes an officer of the law?a It was good, but based on his deepening scowl, not good enough. I continued, aAnd why are you here, anyway? This is a residential neighborhood, not a housing project with crack dealers and fences and gang members on every corner. Look right there, Officer. Is there a vicious killer on that deserted corner? I think not.a aIam on a security a.s.signment because of a prominent public figure visiting in this area. Iam going to say this one last time. Step out of the vehicle, maaam, and keep. your hands in sight at all times.~~ I did as requested, but I expressed my vexation in colorful detail throughout the time it took him to find that I could indeed walk a straight line, touch my nose with my eyes closed, and watch his fingertip flitter in and out of view. My driveras license and registration were examined carefully, and verified via his radio. All the while, I wanted to tell him there was a philandering potential killer inside the yellow house not a hundred yards away, dining on quail and conversing with a prominent public figure on genteel subjects such as torts (but not, I should think, tarts).

aThis never happened to Miss Marple,a I snarled as I took back my license and registration. aShe didnat have to deal with overly zealous policemen who ought to be home with a baby-sitter rather than out hara.s.sing the citizenry.a aDo us both a favor and move to St. Mary Mead,a he said as he went to his car.

Grumbling like the boiler at the Book Depot, I drove home and parked in the garage. There were no traces of successful decomposition on the kitchen floor, nor in the childas bedroom. A note on the coffee table informed me that her resolution to never set foot outside had been cruelly undermined by an invitation to accompany Inez and her parents to a triple-header at the drive-in movie theater. I made a drink and flopped across the sofa, the eveningas events swirling in my head like brown water gurgling down the drain.

The Kappa Theta Etas with their expansive gums, even teeth, bright eyes, pink cashmere sweaters, expensive athletic shoes, and twenty-four-karat gold pins were not quite as nice as their reputation purported. Some of them were earning their dues and tuition at the Hideaway Haven, while at least one of them was immortalizing the climactic moments with a camera. Dean Vanderson had mentioned the blackmail cutouts; did one aKatie the Kappa Kitten Says Thanks!a include a handwritten aFor being such a generous old goata?

Had Jean Hall been too greedy? Vanderson claimed to have met Jean shortly before her death and given her whatever sum she demanded. Head left her in a patio, supposedly alive and well and significantly richer. Shead tucked her ill-gotten gains in her purse and walked down the alley toward the Kappa Theta Eta house. Someone driving Debbie Anneas car had run over her, either accidentally or with purposeful malice. A second blackmail victim? As far as I knew, Jeanas purse was still missing, and more strangely, her sorority pin. This implied an extraordinarily composed hit-and-run driver had gotten out of the car, grabbed the purse, and then dallied long enough to take the pin off the chest of the corpse. It seemed more likely that either Dean Vanderson was wrong or Iad failed to notice it. There had been a lot of blood, I reminded myself with a shudder. It certainly could have been as blinding as the cl.u.s.ter of jewels and chains.

Also missing was Debbie Anne Wray. Had she answered the telephone at the Vandersonsa house-or had I suffered a mild concussion? Dean Vanderson had sounded truthful in his denial that shead ever been there. Eleanor was at her garden club at the time. Could Debbie Anne have broken into the house? Those in the midst of committing burglaries rarely pause to serve as social secretaries, but no one, including myself, had accused Debbie Anne of being Mensa material.

I needed to talk to Eleanor, but I doubted I could sidle into the dining room and ask my questions while I nibbled tough quail and sipped champagne.

And there was the minor predicament of what to do with this new information. Dean Vanderson seemed to feel we had a contract, and he was the lawyer, not I. I hadnat precisely sworn not to divulge his story, but perhaps Iad implied as much. If he was telling the truth, his crimes were indictable only by the guardians of morality and good taste. I finally decided to wait until Iad talked to Eleanor before I called Lieutenant Peter Rosen and related what I knew.., or at least what I felt he deserved to know.

aThose d.a.m.n Kappa Theta Etas,a I muttered as I went to my bedroom and looked at their house. Lights shone from the ground-floor windows, and the faint sound of music wafted from one. Surely it was time for someone to scream. It had been nearly twenty-four hours since the last blast, after all, and they knew the agenda. Where was our reliable prowler?

Inexplicably irritated by the lack of an uproar next door, I changed into more comfortable clothes, s.n.a.t.c.hed up a paperback, and returned to the living room to swill scotch and read something that made a semblance of sense.

It ended with a tidy denouement in the drawing room of the country house, seconds before the constable came through the door, delayed as usual by the impenetrable snowdrifts. The villain, overwhelmed by the relentless logic of the wily amateur sleuth, had crumbled like a chunk of feta cheese and confessed all. Maybe I ought to move to St. Mary Mead and take up knitting, I thought as I put down the book and went to fetch another from my bedroom. I could knit Caron a Camaro.

I was contemplating my next foray into felonious fant~sy when I heard what sounded like an airplane landing in the alley. Smiling at the absurdity of the idea, I selected a book and reached for the light switch. As the noise sputtered to a stop, I recognized it. The alley was not too narrow for a motorcycle, not even one the size of Ed Whitbredas behemoth.

I peered out the window, but what little patch of pavement I could see was as deserted as the corner of Was.h.i.+ngton and Sutton streets. The motorcycle had not stopped behind my house, and it sounded as though it had gone past the sorority house. But it had not gone all the way down the alley and dwindled into the distance as its driver turned onto Thurber Street.

II switched off the light, returned to the sofa, and tried to reimmerse myself in a charmingly ordinary pastime. After Iad read the same page three times, I acknowledged that I was listening for the motorcycle-or, more ominously, for footsteps on my stairs. Blaming my nervousness on my reading matter, I put aside the book and made sure my doors were locked. All the fraternity and sorority houses were closed for the summer, with one notable anomaly. The Baptist student center, incongruously set between two of the rowdiest fraternity houses, was also closed.

Iad characterized Dean Vanderson as a wounded animal, but I was pacing like a caged one. Why had the motorcycle stopped in the alley-now more than an hour ago? Was someone breaking into one of the unoccupied houses?

There had to be a thoroughly innocent reason why the motorcyclist was parked somewhere in the alley. However, if he didnat start his engine and drive away soon, I was in peril of pacing to death. I wasnat going to relax until that second proverbial shoe hit the asphalt.

Twenty minutes later, berating myself with a goodly amount of acrimony, I went out the back door and down the stairs to the alley.

13.

It really wasnat very late, I a.s.sured myself as I peered in both directions, then walked past the Kappa Theta Eta dumpster Iad been home by eight the Thorntons would be watching mutant insect thrillers. It was a qualifying as a midnight prowl.

I arrived at the far end of the alley without spotting the motorcycle. Disappointed, but a little bit relieved, I retraced my steps, glancing at the dark windows of unoccupied houses. The parking lots were empty, and the backyards already were sprouting stubble.

I stopped by a high wooden fence behind one of the houses. It was likely to be the enclosed patio where Dean Vanderson met Jean Hall the night of her death, I thought as I eased open the squeaky gate. There were a few battered lawn chairs, a picnic table, a great scattering of crushed beer cans and cardboard pizza boxes-and one large, chrome-infested motorcycle. Admittedly an amateur in such matters, I had no idea whether it was Ed Whitbredas.

I determined that the back door of the fraternity oaclock, and Caron and only the second of the good half hour shy of house was secured by a heavy padlock. The interior was unlit, and as far as I could tell, vacant. I sat down on the picnic table and looked more carefully at the motorcycle, but I was unable to convince myself of its familiarity or lack thereof (I have a similar problem with other peopleas pets and offspring).

And where was its driver? Not inside the fraternity house, not ambling in the alley, and not likely to be in one of the bars on Thurber Street, where parking was plentiful in the summer I wasnat wearing my watch, so I had no idea how long Iad been sitting and thinking when I heard footsteps beyond the fence. Crunch, crunch, crunch went the gravel; squeak, squeak, squeak went the gate. Rather than scream, scream, scream, I waited in a mantle of dignified silence until the black-clad motorcyclist was inside the patio, then said, aHey, Ed, howas it going.

He located me on my shadowy perch, sighed, and said, aItas been better What are you doing here, if I may ask?a aafrying to figure out whatas going on at the Kappa Theta Eta house. I wish I could say Iad worked it out, but Iam still confused. However, I am making progress, and Iam confident it will all tumble into place at some point. Thatas what Iam doing here. What are you doing here?a His small eyes were almost invisible in the less than intrusive light from a lone utility pole on the far side of the alley. aI left my bike here, and I came back to get it,a he finally offered.

aNow, Ed,a I said, mimicking his sigh, aIave walked the length of the alley, and my duplex and the Kappa Theta Eta house are the only two currently occupied dwellings. The woman in the apartment below mine is a lovely soul, but sheas not the type to invite veteran h.e.l.las Angels into her living room. You didnat come by to see me. That leaves only one destination, doesnat it?a aSo it would seem.a He sat on the opposite end of the picnic table, nervously toying with the zipper of his leather jacket while, I presumed, trying to concoct a remotely plausible lie.

Taking pity on him (and tiring of the incessant p.r.i.c.kling of mosquitoes), I said, aEleanor Vanderson said something several days ago that now has some significance. She mentioned that Winkie all but awarded you the contract for the remodeling. Now why would Winkie risk the wrath of National by such blatant disregard of its regulations for the bidding process?a aWinkie?a he said with a puzzled frown.

aYou know, the pet.i.te housemother who canat keep her screens in place.a I slapped at a mosquito, trying not to acknowledge any metaphorical parallels. aShe keeps stressing the importance of the sororityas reputation, but I think sheas equally concerned with her own. Housemothers are not allowed to drink, smoke, carouse-or entertain gentlemen in their private rooms. Iam just guessing, but I think housemothers would be especially pressured not to entertain aging bearded motorcyclists who are adorned with a significant number of tattoos.a He chuckled, but I sensed his heart wasnat in it. aI wouldnat know about that, although they sure do have rules for everything else. aAny fool can make a rule, and every fool will mind it.a Bear in mind Mr. Th.o.r.eau had never dealt with the likes of the Kappa Theta Etas. When Ms. Vanderson officially awarded me the contract, I had to plow through dozens of pages of small print about workmanas comp, bonding, liability insurance, penalties, and a.s.sessments. Youad have thought I was adding a wing to the Pentagon rather than painting one shabby house.a aAnd now youare trying to convince me that you went to the house after dark to shake the scaffold? I wasnat born yesterday, Ed. I was born ... earlier than that, and Iave learned to recognize taurian excrement when I hear it. You and Winkie have something going, donat you?a I said all this with the confidence of a teenage entrepreneur In that it was sheer speculation, I felt Iad presented it well, and I waited expectantly for him to collapse on the table top and blubber out an admission of guilt.

aI went by there tonight to drop off some paint chips. Sheas supposed to show aem to Ms. Vanderson tomorrow and get back to me.a I barely stopped short of shaking a finger at him. aThis is not the time for fairy tales, Ed. Iave been sitting here for hours, working on a very good theory to explain Winkieas problem with the screens and all these sporadic manifestations of an unidentified prowler In the interim, my foot has gone to sleep and Iave donated several pints of blood to an endless stream of mosquitoes. You didnat park in front of the house; you chose to come through the alley and hide your motorcycle behind a fence. The last thing I need is this nonsense about paint chips!a aThey want white, but they canat seem to decide if they want bone white, antique white, sh.e.l.l white-a aIall find proof,a I interrupted with an edge of petulance caused, no doubt, by anemia. I started to stand up, but sank back down as an idea struck. Had Jean Hall found proof? She had already been blackmailing one person, and with her light summer course load, surely shead had enough free time for additional victims. I frowned at the fence, trying to imagine her in an avaricious confrontation with Winkie. Jean Hall, seated and gloating as Dean Vanderson leaves. The gate creaks open, and in comes Winkle. Money is tendered, then Winkle tells Jean to wait for a few minutes while she trots back to the house and positions herself in Debbie Anneas car. Several problematic issues came to mind, the most obvious being why conduct business in the patio rather than the suite. Winkie was hardly wealthy. Debbie Anne might object to handing over her keys and taking the rap by default. There were more holes in this than in the fence, I concluded.

I opted to disarm him with a new topic. aSo, Ed, why was your best friend Arnie in the bushes the night Jean was killed?a aArnie in the bushes? What are you talking about?a He came over to my end of the table, braced himself with his knuckles, and loomed over me like a leather monument. aWhat was he doing?a aThatas what I asked you,a I said, resolving not to shrink. aI was walking home, contemplating nothing more complex than dinner, when Arnie hissed at me. He emerged from the bushes, begged me not to tell anyone, flashed his camera in my face, and drove away before I could demand an explanation.~~ Ed turned away and sat down on the steps that led to the back door, muttering unpleasantly under his breath. What little I could hear consisted of such phrases as aqow-down sumb.i.t.c.ha and afilthy little rodenta and other less decorous descriptions of good ola Arnie Riggles. I could offer no reb.u.t.tal, since I was in full agreement.