When she has a hangover, she’s always in a terrible mood. If I had a hangover, I’d want to be quiet, but she slams and crashes. Anyway, before I went out for my long Sunday run, I heard her again. When I came home, I napped, caught the Blue Jays on TV and at about five, slapped together a grilled cheese sandwich. At eight thirty, I went to bed and tuned in to Masterpiece Theatre. I heard her come in as I ate my supper.”
“Was she alone?”
“I didn’t hear anyone else.”
“Did you hear the doorbell ring?”
“I don’t think so. Why?”
“Were you in the sun room yesterday? “
Staynor thought. Rhona saw him mentally retracing his route through his day. “No.” His face contorted. “Friday night, the last time I was there was Friday night when I talked to her. The truth is . . .” He began twisting his hands.
“Mr Staynor, no one scrunches up his face like that unless he’s thinking about something particularly unpleasant. Please tell me more about your Friday conversation.”
Silence.
“Did you threaten her?”
“No.”
“Mr. Staynor, tell me.”
“I don’t remember.”
“Sooner or later, you’ll have to spell it out. I’ll contact you when we learn the cause of death. When I return, I want a verbatim account of exactly what both of you said in your last conversation.”
Poor Sally. Rhona wouldn’t be absolutely sure until the medical report arrived, but she’d put money on the vodka. Sally had told her she always drank Bloody Marys with lots of Mary and not much bloody, or had it been the other way around? If she’d told her, she’d told everyone else. Certainly, JJ was familiar with what and how much she drank. It wouldn’t have been hard to slip her a doctored bottle.
Because Sally felt sorry for herself, the sympathy basket of goodies would have touched her heart and made her maudlin, glad someone, anyone, acknowledged the depth of her sorrow. Rhona visualized her unscrewing the bottle, mixing a drink and raising a toast to her anonymous benefactor, to Paul, and to herself.
Rhona reviewed the memorial service and her surveillance of the congregation. When Sally attacked Hollis and threatened to reveal hidden secrets, Rhona had scrutinized the captive audience, who had been mesmerized by the dramatic performance. Universally, the mourners had gaped and goggled, but no one had blanched or given her reason to pay particular attention to his or her reaction. Had she missed something crucial?
Seventeen
When the phone rang on Monday morning, Hollis shifted the pile of old linen—a varied assortment of embroidered tablecloths, percale pillow cases with hand-tatted borders, yellowing linen sheets—to the kitchen counter and picked up the receiver.
“Rhona Simpson here. Sorry to bother you at such an early hour. I didn’t wake you, did I?”
“No. I’ve been up a couple of hours. I was sorting linens to give to the refugee committee. Knox Porter, you remember him, called half an hour ago suggesting I come over tonight. He and Linda want to show me what they have and what they still require for the refugee family.”
“Why are you going to his place?”
With the phone scrunched between her shoulder and ear, Hollis talked and simultaneously sorted the linens into two piles—one for the refugees, one for the Salvation Army. “I always assume you’re all-knowing. Knox and Linda have an apartment in the attic of their house on Roxborough. Several times in the past, they’ve donated it for the use of refugee families. It has its own entrance and is on a main bus route. When a family’s ready to leave, we give them as much of the contents of the apartment—furnishings, linen, dishes—as they want. Then, when another family arrives, we appeal for a list of items. Someone’s always moving or downsizing, and the congregation has been incredibly generous.”
“Something’s happened—I have questions for you. I’d like to come over.”
“It’s 10:45. In a few minutes, I’m on my way to the Memorial Gardens to choose a plot for Paul’s ashes. After that, I’m meeting the lawyer. Why can’t you ask me over the phone?”
“I’d like to speak to you face-to-face. What time do you go to the Porter’s?”
“Knox suggested seven. He said it wouldn’t take long.”
“You should be home by eight—I’ll drop by then.”
“You sound very serious. Has something else happened?”
“I am serious. You’ll hear the news sooner or later. Sally Staynor is dead. We aren’t sure what killed her, but we suspect her death is linked to your husband’s.”
“Oh, my God.” Hollis wanted Simpson to deny it, to say she’d been kidding—as if anyone kidded about a thing like that. If the killer had murdered Sally, was she next on the list? “Am I in danger?”
“I hope not. But it’s better to assume the worst. Be careful today.”
“What exactly does careful mean?”
“Don’t go off by yourself. Keep your security system on. Don’t open the door unless you know who it is.”
“You do think he’ll go after me next, don’t you?”
“I don’t want you taking any chances. Would you feel better if I assigned an officer to spend the day with you?”
“No. I’d feel as if I was giving in to terror. Maybe tonight a police car outside would be comforting, but I should be fine today. Are you any closer to identifying the killer?”
“We have several promising leads. We’re convinced we’re on the right track. I’m sure we’ll make an arrest soon.”
“I’m supposed to be mollified, aren’t I? But to me those sound like the evasive statements the police give when they’re at a loss and aren’t progressing.”
“Not true—we are getting somewhere. I’ll be there at eight.”
Paul and Sally dead. Who would be next? Her heart pounded, and her mouth was Sahara-dry. She had to deal with her panic.
She’d keep busy, organize the linens, think about the refugees.
Should she have overridden Hollis’ objections and assigned an officer for the day? Surely a patrol car outside at night would be sufficient. Rhona straightened the pile of messages and faxes on her desk. Before she attacked them, she listened to her voice mail.
“It’s Mary Beth Cardwell from the Brockville psychiatric hospital. It’s eight thirty on Monday morning. Please call me.”
Ms Cardwell had said she’d request permission to talk about the case histories
