the article stating that police had found new evidence—the earring was my guess—and that they were making inroads into finding the killer. Dr. Bainsworth’s funeral arrangements were in the obituary section. The autopsy—the results of which were still pending—had delayed the funeral until Saturday, over a week after the man’s death. But he was to be memorialized in a graveside service Saturday morning at the cemetery, with the burial taking place immediately afterward.
I mulled over what Violet had said about asking Ben what was going on with the police investigation that wasn’t being mentioned in the Chronicle. She’d given me the perfect excuse to call him without appearing desperate to make up with him.
I picked up the phone, dialed all but the last number, and hung up. After doing that twice, I finally got up the nerve to complete the call. I half hoped he’d answer, and I half hoped he wouldn’t. He answered.
“Ben, hi,” I said. “It’s Daphne.”
“What’s up?” His tone seemed guarded.
“I was wondering if the police have spoken with Jill Fisher and her ex-husband about Dr. Bainsworth’s death.”
“I believe they have,” he said.
“Are the Fishers being considered as suspects?” I asked.
“Not that I know of.”
“Oh.” I sighed. “Well, thanks.”
“If I hear anything to the contrary, I’ll let you know,” he said quickly.
“I’d appreciate that.” I paused, giving him a chance to say something else. He didn’t. “I’ll talk with you later.”
“Wait,” he said. “What about you and Myra? Are you two still investigating?”
“Oh, yeah, we’re on the case, all right. Today Myra made appointments for us at Tanya’s so we could talk with Bunni Wilson.” I huffed. “By the way, that wasn’t a solar eclipse this afternoon. It was my hair blocking out the sun.”
He laughed. “I’d like to have seen that. Hey, I’m sorry about the other night.”
“Me too. I miss you.”
“May I come over?” He paused. “I can be there in ten minutes.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
The line went dead. I hung up the receiver and hurried to the bathroom. I wasn’t wearing any makeup, and my hair was a fuzzy mess. I brushed and sprayed my hair. Then I applied a tinted moisturizer, mascara, and lip gloss. I didn’t want it to be obvious to Ben that I’d rushed to the bathroom to try to make myself pretty for him, so I quickly went to the living room and sat on the edge of the sofa.
I looked around to see if there was any clutter to be picked up. There wasn’t. I’d been spending so much time baking, I hadn’t had the chance to mess up the living room. There came a knock at the kitchen door. As I expected, it was Ben. I unlocked the door and started to open it, but Ben pushed the door on open. Closing the door with his foot, he took me in his arms and backed me up against the wall. He was kissing me like he’d been dehydrated for days and I was a cool, clear mountain stream. I don’t think Ben had ever kissed me like this before, with such passion, such purpose, such . . . Oh, my . . .
I wrapped my arms around him. I was so lost in our kiss, I didn’t even realize he’d picked me up until he was lowering me onto the living room sofa.
He dragged his mouth away from mine and slid his lips up my neck toward my ear. “I’ve missed you like crazy.”
“I’ve missed you too.”
“When I saw you onstage kissing that jerk, it made me sick,” Ben said. “I know you didn’t initiate the kiss, but it was Todd all over again. I was afraid you were ditching me for somebody . . . cooler.”
My eyes flew open. Of course, Ben would equate Scottie with Todd. When I was in college, I broke up with Ben and started dating Todd. Not my wisest move . . . and very probably my dumbest.
“Oh, Ben . . .” I took his face in my hands. “It’s you I want. Only you.”
I WAS AWAKENED on Wednesday morning by the shrill ring of the telephone on my nightstand. I fumbled for the phone, pressed answer, and said a groggy hello.
“Good morning,” Myra said, all chipper and excited. “First off, congratulations. I saw Ben’s Jeep parked at your house last night, so I’m guessing y’all worked everything out.”
“We did,” I said. “Or, at least, I felt pretty good about everything when he left.”
“Great. I’m really glad. I do believe the two