Horseman ride.”
“I agree,” I said. “Opportunity is not going to help us because, as far as we know, everyone had it. So the question is motive, which still doesn’t narrow things down a lot. Obviously, Tiffany had the strongest one, especially if she knew about the divorce, but people kill over feelings too, so that doesn’t leave out the ones who don’t financially benefit.”
I grabbed my phone and called Mannie again and gave him the names of everyone in the acting troupe, Liam, Judith, Tiffany, and River. I asked him to do a basic sweep and let me know if anything popped.
“No problem,” he said. “I got something back on Emilia Davis. After her second husband was arrested, she was hospitalized for a nervous breakdown.”
“The rumor mill mentioned something to that effect,” I said.
“Did the rumor mill also mention that she spent two years in a mental health facility?”
“No. They did not. Interesting. I don’t suppose you have more details on that?”
“Only a few. There’s an orderly who used to work there and owes us money. Orderlies don’t have access to patient files, but he said he was told her stay wasn’t voluntary and that she was considered dangerous to herself and others, so she was on his watch list. Apparently, they have patients they keep more of an eye on. Anyway, that’s it for now. I’ll let you know when I have more.”
I thanked him, then filled Ida Belle and Gertie in.
“I think Emilia just moved up the list,” Ida Belle said.
“I think it’s time we have another chat with her,” I said. “A private one.”
“And we can check out where Tiffany went while we’re there,” Gertie said.
I nodded. It was all about to break wide open.
I could feel it.
Chapter Twenty
We were just getting ready to leave for New Orleans when my doorbell rang. Carter wouldn’t bother to ring the doorbell when it was daylight, so it definitely wasn’t him. I headed for the door and was surprised to find a very agitated Judith Trahan standing there.
“I need your help,” she said.
I waved her inside. “Ida Belle and Gertie are here—back in the kitchen.”
“Good,” she said and followed me back.
I offered her something to drink, which she refused, so we all sat and waited for her to tell us what was wrong.
“Liam’s being railroaded,” she said. “The local cops have searched his house and the butcher shop already and then he called and told me some New Orleans detective showed up this morning, asking him for an alibi for last night and the night Gil was murdered. How the hell does someone who lives alone provide an alibi for the middle of the night?”
“Most people can’t,” I agreed.
“He said the detective told him Tiffany was attacked last night.” Judith looked at the three of us, clearly not wanting to believe it.
“That’s right,” I said. “Someone broke in last night and hit her so hard they knocked her out. We brought her home from the hospital this morning.”
“I thought he’d heard wrong, maybe,” Judith said. “Was it a robbery?”
I shrugged. “We don’t know. The cops are still working the house, far as I know.”
“That woman detective isn’t,” Judith said. “She’s the one asking Liam for an alibi. There was…hell, Gil changed his will a while back and split the money between Tiffany and Liam. That detective told him she knew all about it and that meant if something happened to Tiffany, it would all go to him. I guess she talked to Gil’s attorney.”
“That doesn’t look good,” Gertie said.
“No,” I agreed. “But it also doesn’t apply as Tiffany didn’t die. And whoever hit her had plenty of time to make that happen.”
Judith nodded. “Liam pointed out that since she wasn’t dead, he didn’t see how that pointed the finger at him, but that detective wasn’t having any.”
“It’s possible for people to panic,” Ida Belle said. “Especially if this isn’t normal behavior, and it’s not for the majority of people. But if they get worked up to that level of desperation, they might think someone was dead or realize what they did and then flee the scene before they get caught. The detective has to consider that possibility.”
Judith slumped in her chair. “That boy wouldn’t hurt anyone, not even that useless cheater.”
“That statement could refer to Tiffany or Gil,” I said and gave her a pointed look.
Judith stared at me for a moment, then lowered her eyes to the table.
“She’s right,” Ida Belle said. “Gil owed Liam more than Tiffany did.