during rehearsal and never once saw her or heard her name. I was starting to think they were no longer married when Brigette asked the others who would be bringing their spouses on the next tour so that she could arrange the hotel rooms properly and he said Tiffany wouldn’t be joining him.”
“Wasn’t he wearing a wedding ring?” I asked. The Headless Horseman hadn’t been wearing one, but it might have been removed at the funeral home while prepping the body.
“Yes, but all that told me is he was married but not to whom,” she said, then shook her head, clearly disgusted. “When I overheard Brigette complaining about funds to get the props done, I saw it as an opportunity to spend more time hanging around without it looking suspect. And I saw right away that the ring didn’t count for nothing.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“He was putting the moves on Gwyn,” Lil said. “I could see him coming a mile away, but then, I know what to look for now. But Gwyn bought every word he told her, hook, line, and sinker. Like I said, predators know how to pick their prey. Gwyn wears neediness like a scarf, just like I used to. It’s right there for a man like Gil to see and take advantage of.”
“And that made you mad?” I asked.
“Of course it made me mad,” she said. “The man used my daughter and now that he was done, he was moving on to the next victim.”
“Some might also argue that your daughter took advantage of Gil,” I said.
“She was a child,” Lil said. “And she had reasons for what she did—good reasons. Not that I’m saying that excuses it, but what was Gil’s excuse? What were his reasons? Certainly not as important as Tiffany’s.”
“So did you ever approach Gil?” I asked.
She nodded. “He was the last to leave one night—fiddling around with props for the play. He was always fiddling with those props.”
“What do you mean—like painting or something?” I asked.
“Good Lord no,” Lil said. “Gil wasn’t that useful. He’d gotten on some bender about the art. Probably took an online class or something and thought he was an expert. That would be his speed. He was always complaining about the vases and paintings and dishes and pillows—the decorative stuff. Always questioning Brigette on her choices and pushing for something different.”
Remembering the painting in his house, I frowned. “I’ve been inside his house and he has horrible taste.”
Lil nodded. “I know. Don’t get me wrong, some of the things here I wouldn’t display in a garage, but that’s Brigette’s department and the things she picks suit the story, I guess. I have to admit, I don’t really care for plays, so I don’t pay a lot of attention, but I understand Brigette comes from money so I assume she knows art way better than Gil did.”
“So you told Gil who you were one night when he stayed after rehearsal to critique the artwork?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“What was his reaction?” Ida Belle asked.
“Less than stellar,” she said. “He accused me of stalking him, trying to break up his marriage, trying to upset Tiffany. It took me several minutes just to convince him that I hadn’t even tried to make contact with her. I told him I didn’t know anything about their marriage because I’d moved away from Mudbug and hadn’t been back. But when I realized who he was, I couldn’t help asking about my daughter. I hedged a little on that last part, but I wasn’t about to tell him that his stalker comment was closer to the truth.”
“And what did he have to say?” Gertie asked.
“He said Tiffany was fine and that she had no desire to speak to me,” she said. “He claimed she’d made it clear from the beginning that she had no family except him and that was how she intended to keep things. He warned me to stay away from her or he’d slap a restraining order on me. And then said to stay away from him as well.”
“So did you contact Tiffany anyway?” I asked.
She nodded. “I dug through Brigette’s files one night and got her cell phone number. All the actors have an emergency contact. I tried calling but she made it clear that she didn’t ever want to hear from me. That there was no making up for the choices I’d made. That she had Gil now and he was taking care of her like I never had.”
“I’m