Deadly Notions - By Elizabeth Lynn Casey Page 0,46
the notebook in front of her then spun it around to face him. “I am, too. And for Melissa, and Beatrice, and Leona,”
“How so?” he asked as he leaned forward to examine the notes she and Melissa had made.
“They experienced a chat with the chief yesterday as well. I imagine Margaret Louise, Debbie, Rose, Dixie, and those two other mothers did as well, but I haven’t heard confirmation of that just yet.”
Milo shook his head as his eyes skimmed the various possibilities and asides they’d drafted out of frustration. “You think the husband could have done it?”
Tori shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t know anything about him. Neither does Melissa. But shouldn’t he be considered? Isn’t the spouse or the parent always a suspect?”
“I imagine. It’s certainly more likely than a failed magic trick or suicide by strangulation.”
She felt her face warm. “You must think we’re awful writing that stuff.”
“We?”
“Me and Melissa.”
He reached across the table to cover her hand with his. “Awful? Never. I think the two of you just needed a way to relieve some unnecessary tension. Who wouldn’t in your shoes?”
She met his gaze before looking back down at the notebook. “We did take a few minutes to jot down some possible suspects.”
“Possible suspects?”
“People to investigate.”
A smile crept across his face, carving knee-weakening dimples in his cheeks. “People for who to investigate?”
“Chief Dallas?” she asked, tilting her head ever so slightly.
He cocked his eyebrow. “Is that the correct answer?”
“No. But it’s the answer you want, isn’t it?” She flipped over the top page of the notebook to reveal a second page of notes—observations and questions she and Melissa had drafted after they’d had their moment of fun.
“Not really. I want the answer that goes with you. And after what happened with you and the Tiffany Ann Gilbert case, and Colby’s disappearance last year, and then Kenny Murdock a few months ago, I know better than to think you’ll leave the investigation to the police.”
She turned her palms upward and swept them above the notebook. “How can I when my friends are involved?”
“I get it, Tori. I really do.” He pointed to the notebook. “So show me what you’ve got so far. Maybe I can add or discount something you and Melissa might not know.”
Nodding, she began pointing out each name on the list.
“First there’s me.”
Milo scrunched up his eyebrows and leaned close. “Did you kill Ashley?”
She nibbled back the grin that threatened to derail their conversation. “Although the notion was tempting from a frustrated kind of way, no. And I was actually the only person at that party who didn’t say I wanted to kill her.”
“Okay.”
Her finger slid to the next name. “There’s Melissa. She was fed up with Ashley but not in an angry way. She was more harried from trying to jump through hoops she felt were necessary in order to ensure Sally’s party would pass muster with Penelope and her mom.”
“And Melissa doesn’t really seem to know how to be angry.” He raked his hand through his hair then reached for the bakery bag he’d set on the table. “In all the years I’ve known her and Jake, I’ve never seen her get angry with any of those kids. And she’s got seven.”
“Agreed. So the notion that she could wrap a rope around another human being’s neck and pull it until the person stops breathing is ludicrous.” She pointed to the next name. “And then there’s Beatrice.”
“I think she’s even less likely. She’s about as meek as they come.”
She considered Milo’s words. “I agree. Especially after seeing her at the party. Ashley ordered Beatrice around as if she worked for Ashley rather than one of Ashley’s friends. And Beatrice did it, like she was supposed to.” A memory filtered through her thoughts, making her pose another possibility aloud. “Then again, she was upset when Ashley questioned the manner in which she’d dressed Luke for the party.”
“Angry upset or sad upset?”
It was a good question—one that made her stop and think.
“I’d say more toward the sad. Beatrice takes great pride in the way she cares for that little boy. I think having Ashley question that made her second-guess herself more than it made her angry.”
“So you’re fairly confident she’s a no, too?” Milo asked.
She nodded. “The same goes for Debbie. I mean, she was furious when Ashley refused to have Penelope seated next to Jackson at the birthday table but—”
“Jackson? Are you kidding me? You’d be hard-pressed to find a nicer kid than Jackson Calhoun.”