interpreted for what it was, mourning for a lost lover?
“Um, hi,” murmured a voice behind me.
It was Zack, solemn and wide-eyed. I touched his arm briefly, then returned my attention to the priest, who was pronouncing a final prayer. Several people made the sign of the Cross; Corinne was one of them, and I recalled that she was Catholic. Valerie Duncan was not, apparently, but she was murmuring a private benediction to herself. Or was it something else? She had little reason to bless Mercedes. At the grave’s edge, Esteban and his mother each dropped a blood-red rose onto the casket. I don’t cry easily, but I felt tears on my face. Good-bye, Mercedes. We’ll find out who did this. You would have been a lovely bride. Beside me, Zack gave a sharp little sigh.
The crowd stirred and began to drift apart, some people stepping forward to offer their condolences to Mrs. Montoya. I moved to follow, but Valerie Duncan came across the grass and drew me discreetly aside.
“Valerie—” I began.
“Please forget I said anything,” she whispered, not meeting my eyes, and keeping her back turned toward her coworkers. “At the rehearsal dinner. You know what I mean.”
“It’s completely forgotten, believe me.”
The rest of the Sentinel crew came over to join us, looking at a loss about what to do next.
“Of course Roger cares,” Paul was saying, in answer to someone’s question. “It’s just that he’s not up to another funeral so soon after his wife’s death.”
“I’m sure that’s why Roger isn’t here,” said Valerie smoothly.
Given that she knew about Roger and Mercedes, it was a nice job of acting. But I guess if you’re going to have affairs with married men, you learn how to act a part.
“This has been difficult for everyone,” Valerie continued. “Why don’t we go back to the Two Bells for a drink? I know I need one. Carnegie, you’re welcome to join us.”
There were murmurs of agreement, and they set out toward the parking lot. Zack lingered behind with me.
“What happened with the DJ?” he asked.
I told him about Rick the Rocket’s demand for money, and my deduction that he was innocent. I didn’t mention the diamond ring; Mercedes’ affair with Roger Talbot was none of his business.
“Syd Soper is off the hook, too,” I concluded. “When I told him that Mercedes had been stabbed to death, he believed it.”
“Hey, that was smart!” said Zack.
“I thought so.”
“So that just leaves Angela and the Dracula guy.” As he spoke, I could see Angela over his shoulder, her smooth hair gleaming and her willowy form casting a long shadow on the erratically-trimmed grass. She stared after the Sentinel people, then suddenly hurried after them and spoke intently to Corinne. I wondered why.
Zack turned and followed my gaze. “You think it was Angela after all?”
“What? No, I was just being nosy. My big news is about Dracula. Characters, Inc. never rented a Count Dracula costume! I’ve been thinking it over, and I’m sure that my first idea was right. This guy Lester Foy is on some kind of bizarre revenge trip, and he crashed the party.”
“But that means you’re in danger, too!” Robin Hood was back on the scene, ready to defend Maid Marian. “You should tell the police.”
“I already did. At least, I left a message for Lieutenant Graham about the costume. And I’ll keep calling to make sure he follows up. Meanwhile, I’m being extra-careful.”
“I’ll totally hang with you as much as you want,” said the hero of Sherwood Forest. “I got a ride here with Valerie, but I’ll go back with you and we can meet up with them at the tavern.”
“Oh, Zack, I’m in no mood for a bar right now.” And in no need of more gossip about me and the younger man. “You go ahead, please. It’s broad daylight. I’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Go.”
He grinned and loped across the grass after his friends. And why not? Zack was still basking in his deliverance from guilt, back in the land of the living after his nightmare. As they climbed into their cars, I noted with interest that Angela was still talking to Corinne, two blondes in black dresses in the bright sunshine. They both seemed tense.
I considered strolling over to eavesdrop, but Corinne made a sudden sharp gesture with her hands and turned away. She nearly bumped into Valerie, who had just come after them, apparently to say that her carload was leaving. As Corinne entered Valerie’s sedan, Angela looked after