security. It was late when I got done at the hospital, and I went straight home. Since the woman who threw the acid seemed kinda crazy, I’m assuming she was acting alone, but no one’s told me that.”
“I suppose it would be locking the barn after the horse is stolen, but I’m going to bring in some private security guards for the rest of our stay,” Colm said in his lilting accent. “I’d be happy to provide coverage for you, too.” he added. “It’s the least I can do, given your injury.”
“It wasn’t your fault I ran into a crazy,” Harriet said.
“When someone like me comes to town it tends to draw the crazies in. It’s part of the business. I’m sure you know how many celebrities have been killed by overzealous fans. I can’t help but think that if I wasn’t headlining your event, maybe your acid lady would have stayed home.”
“I’m sure you do draw your share of weirdos, but this time it doesn’t seem like it’s about you.”
“My offer stands. I have a security firm on retainer, so it’s really not a problem to add one more assignment to the roster.”
“Thanks, but I don’t think it will be necessary.”
“I hope you’re well enough to attend the show tonight. And if you’re up to it, maybe you’d like to join me for a late dinner.”
“I wouldn’t miss the concert, but dinner? I’m not sure how I’ll feel by then.”
“You would tell me if you were spoken for, wouldn’t you?” he asked. “I wouldn’t want to step on any toes, but I would certainly enjoy the company of an attractive lass like yourself.”
“Can I take a rain check?” Harriet asked.
“Until then,” he said and nodded first to Harriet, then Carla before heading to the auditorium.
“Maybe you should take him up on the offer of security,” Carla said when Colm was out of earshot.
“No one’s after me. I was just in the way. Jenny’s the one in trouble, but until she comes clean and tells us what’s really going on, we don’t know how much. Acid lady may be the extent of it.”
“But you don’t think so, do you?” Carla asked.
“I don’t. She’s supposed to go talk to her brother with Robin, but it will remain to be seen if she does. He came to me for help; maybe I can convince him to tell me what’s going on. And even if she does talk to him, I’d like to see if their stories match.”
“Maybe your aunt is right, and we should stay out of police business.”
“Jenny’s right—Bobby isn’t going to talk to the police, and in her misguided attempt to protect him, neither is she.”
“You are going to rest at least part of the day, aren’t you? I mean, you aren’t going to make me lie to Beth, are you?”
“Carla,” Harriet said, “I would never ask you to lie for me.”
Carla blushed a fierce red.
“Leaving things out is the same as lying,” she insisted.
“Don’t worry. We’ll check in with DeAnn, see if we can catch up with Bobby, and then I’ll go home without argument.”
“Do you promise?”
“You’re getting tough,” Harriet said with a smile then headed toward the south vendor area.
“What are you doing here?” DeAnn asked when they arrived at the booth
“I just wanted to check and see that everything is okay,” Harriet said. “Diane Frank was difficult the other day, and I expect she’ll be back before this event is over.”
“I figured you were here to find out if Robin and Jenny had spoken to Bobby yet.”
“I did want to make sure you were doing okay here, but you’re right, I’m curious as to what, if anything’s, been said.”
“Robin said they looked for him at Fogg Park, but the other homeless people said he hadn’t been there the previous night. They tried the warming shelter at the Methodist church and the food line at the Catholic church without luck and then took a swing past the coffee shops in town, but still nothing.”
“Where are they now?” Harriet asked.
“Robin called an hour ago and said the police wanted to talk to Jenny again about acid lady. They were going to drive by Jenny’s so she could change into her costume before coming back here, but so far I haven’t seen either one of them.”
“I was going to be surprised if Jenny actually followed through and talked to her brother, and I should have guessed the police would want to talk to her after last night.”
“Speaking of last night,