the years of dealing with unruly freshmen at Beasley Community College had given her an intuitive edge. “We want to make sure he doesn’t just go back around the block and show up in their shot again.”
I’m sure the last thing in the world Jeffrey wanted was three women escorting him to his girlfriend’s house, but he was stuck with us.
“Where does Autumn live?” I said as we started down the block. I could tell he didn’t want to answer and hoped we’d disappear, but he finally pointed and I nudged Dinah.
“What’s Autumn’s last name?” I said. Jeffrey let out a world-weary sigh, not unlike the way his father did.
“Silvers. That’s her mother,” he said, gesturing up ahead. We all stopped and watched as Nanci Silvers walked up her driveway with Dan Donahue. They were deep in conversation and her demeanor was totally different than when we’d seen her fussing about Kelly and the filming in the Donahue’s yard. She appeared friendly toward him. Maybe even a little flirtatious.
There was no way all of us could get close enough to see what was going on without being noticed. Apparently, Jeffrey was just concerned with getting something for his reel and missing Autumn and had no idea what had gone on next door. When I told him about Kelly being murdered, his eyes grew big.
“You mean there’s a killer on the loose.” His eyes darted down the street toward his girlfriend’s house. He was even more concerned when I told him that Detective Heather thought Autumn’s next-door neighbor was the guy.
“You can help,” I said. “Just cruise by on your bike and see what’s going on. Just don’t say anything to Autumn’s mother.”
“You mean stay invisible,” he said with a nod. He had a baseball cap stuck in his back pocket and put it over his gelled into spiky splendor hair. “Easy peasy.”
“And don’t mention this to your dad or Heather, okay?”
“No problem,” he said as he drove his bike into the street. We watched as he rode by several times and then he came back to where we were standing.
“So?” I said as he stepped on the ground to stop his bike.
“They were doing something in the Silvers’s garage. Something with boxes. They were looking inside of them and then—” Jeffrey got a look of discomfort. “And then they hugged each other and I heard him say, ‘You’re the best.’”
CHAPTER 17
“I didn’t think I’d be able to make it, but here I am,” CeeCee said in a happy, though slightly rushed, voice. She put her tote bag on the worktable in the yarn department and pulled out her chair. It was late in the day for the Hookers to get together, but everyone had schedule issues. The dinner hour was the slowest time in the bookstore and a good time for us to meet as far as I was concerned. Mrs. Shedd never objected to me joining the group when things were quiet.
CeeCee looked down the table. “I hate to sound like a broken record, but I checked the donation box for the Jungle Days booth, and it’s still looking pretty slim.” She turned to Adele. “Dear, I think we’re going to have to include the items Kelly made. At least let me have a look at them.”
Not missing a beat, and still wearing her Dorothy outfit, Adele rummaged in her tote bag and brought out some more of the cowls. “These are much better.”
The whole group groaned in unison. “Adele, have you lost your mind? Not those cowls again. It’s August, it’s hot. September is often even hotter around here. Nobody wants something around their neck,” Rhoda said.
Elise tried to soften it a bit, but said pretty much the same thing in her birdlike voice. Sheila got tense just looking at them. Dinah said she was sticking to making washcloths which she could put together with some nice soap.
Eduardo brought out several pairs of earrings made in silvery thread. CeeCee looked at them and smiled. “That’s more like it.” She turned to the whole group. “With things heating up with my career, I haven’t had enough time to work on things myself.” She sighed and brought up Kelly’s funeral. “Even with my schedule, I’m planning to attend.” She looked to the rest of us and went around the group getting a yes from everyone. When she got to me, she asked if there was any news on Kelly’s killer. I heard Adele having a sputtering fit before she jumped