accordion file filled with police reports. “That’s a copy of the discovery the DA gave me. I’ll give it to Claire. Go home, take a shower, and eat a good meal. Then go through the discovery and help me figure out who killed Robert Chesterfield.”
“Nice job,” Stanley Cloud said when Robin finished speaking to the reporters who waylaid her when she walked out of the courtroom.
“I couldn’t have done it without Regina.”
“You can thank her in person tonight. I called her with the news, and she wants you and Jeff to come for dinner. I’ve got some sweet corn and several exceptional salmon fillets I intend to barbecue.”
“Your bribe has worked for me,” Jeff said.
“I’ll be there,” Robin said. “Now I’ve got to get over to the jail to make sure that David gets out as soon as possible.”
“What do you think of Ragland’s accomplice theory?” Jeff asked as he followed Robin to the elevator that led to the courthouse jail.
“Not much. Why? Has something occurred to you?”
“Remember I told you that Miriam Ross had an affair with Chesterfield when he was working on the Chamber of Death illusion at the coast?”
“Yes.”
“When I talked to Ross, she said that Maria Rodriguez was jealous because Chesterfield had not been attracted to her.”
“You think that Rodriguez could be the accomplice?”
“Nancy Porter’s inhaler was found in a drawer in Rodriguez’s dressing table. If she had a grudge against Chesterfield, she could have been the person who hid it.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Robin and Jeff parked in front of Regina’s house, and Stanley Cloud walked out to greet them.
“We’re eating on the patio. I just put the salmon on the grill, so let’s get back there so I can watch it.”
Stanley walked them through the house, and Robin saw the police reports in David Turner’s case strewn across the dining room table.
“Where’s Regina?” she asked.
“Upstairs, getting dressed. She was ecstatic when I told her that she’d saved the day.”
“I couldn’t be happier,” Robin said.
“Can I fix you a drink?”
“I’ll take a beer if you have any,” Jeff said.
“A gin and tonic would be great,” Robin told the former chief justice.
Stanley checked on the salmon before going inside to get the drinks. Robin walked to the edge of the patio and looked at the river. A light breeze wafted inland off the water, and the temperature was in mid-seventies without any humidity.
“How are you two?” Regina asked.
Robin turned and smiled. “Fabulous, thanks to you. I told David Turner that you figured out the problem with the time line, and he wanted me to thank you.”
“Here are your drinks,” Stanley said. “Hi, Reggie. Can I get you anything?”
“Maybe a little wine with dinner.”
Stanley checked the salmon and declared it ready for consumption.
“Shall we eat?” he said as he carried the planked salmon to the table.
* * *
“That was fantastic!” Robin said when she had eaten the last piece of salmon and cleaned the corn off her cob.
“Glad you liked it,” Stanley said as he picked up his and Regina’s plates. Robin took Jeff’s, placed it on top of her plate, and followed Stanley into the kitchen.
“I haven’t seen Regina this happy in a long time,” Stanley said. “Thanks for sending her the discovery. It made her feel useful again.”
“It never hurts to have an extra hand working a case. Especially when that person has a sky-high IQ.”
“Amen to that,” Stanley said as he rinsed the dirty plates and put them in the dishwasher.
“Do you want an after-dinner drink or coffee before we eat the dessert you so kindly sent?” he asked when he finished up.
Robin frowned. “I didn’t send you a dessert.”
There was a box of chocolates sitting on the kitchen island. Stanley held it out to her. “You didn’t send this over this afternoon?”
“No.”
“Sorry, I just assumed it was from you. There was no card, but you were coming over and you know Reggie’s weakness for chocolates.”
“Well, it wasn’t me,” Robin said.
Stanley opened the box as he headed to the patio.
“Jeff,” Robin asked, “did you send Regina and Stanley chocolates?”
“No. Why?”
“Someone sent them, and Stanley thought it was me.”
“Well, it wasn’t me.”
“Chocolates!” Regina said with a big smile.
Stanley held the box out to her and she started to take a piece.
“Wait!” Robin shouted.
Regina froze, startled.
Robin grabbed the box.
“What’s wrong?” Stanley asked.
“I may be paranoid, but I think we should have these candies tested for poison.”
“Poison?” Jeff asked.
Robin picked up a knife and punctured one of the chocolates. She sniffed the scent of bitter almonds. “I think I just