then too?”
“No, he didn’t,” Vivien said immediately. “You know how shy he was back then, but he never said one bad thing about you, ever. Now, Drew Jeffreys had his nuts in a wad because you wouldn’t go to the Homecoming Dance with him, but I’m pretty sure he got over that pretty quick, because he and Bella got all hot and heavy about a week later. And then Lucas Hebden said you were a frigid bitch—”
“That’s because I wouldn’t let him put his hand up my shirt after we went to the movies,” Vivien replied tartly. “Jerk. Oh, but I did let Jesse Prime get to third base.” She couldn’t hold back a smile at the memory of steaming up his old red Fiero. That had been one hell of a tight squeeze, but worth every cramp and bruise. “He was really prime.”
“That was after he dumped Yvonne Gesslinger to go out with you,” said Helga with a grin. “And she got back at him by egging his car.”
“Oh, man, he loved that car. Geez, how do you remember all this stuff?” Vivien said. “High school is pretty much a blur for me.”
Helga shrugged. “I’ve lived here all my life, see most of these people regularly, and I was a spectator—even back then, I was practicing to be a cop,” she added with a grin. “A trained observer, you know?”
“I just can’t imagine any of those people still holding a grudge,” Vivien said, unable to keep the tightness from her voice. “It’s just…”
“Well, now,” said Joe Cap, taking his time getting the words out, as was his habit, “let’s just step back a minute, Ms. Savage, and see if you can think of any other reason—besides an old grudge—someone might want to mess things up for you. Ex-husband, boyfriend, anyone like that?”
Vivien felt Jake’s attention shift casually to her as she replied, “Never married, so no, and I’ve been casually seeing someone back on the East Coast but—”
“Roger Hatchard’s son,” Helga said. “He’s going to be in the new show Vivien’s doing—Roger, not the son.” When her friend gave her an irked look, Helga went on, “Details are important, VL. You never know where there might be a connection.”
“Daniel Hatchard is not going to fly here from Hartford to mess up the show his father is going to cameo in,” Vivien said in frustration. “It not only wouldn’t make sense—he was the one who suggested Roger should do the play—but he’s just too busy to drop everything and come here. And he would have no reason to do so—we only went out a few times.”
“All right, then,” said Joe Cap. “But it wouldn’t hurt to check in and see whether either of them have left town.” He squinted at Vivien. “Roger Hatchard? The center for the Pistons?”
“Yes.”
“He’s going to be in a play? Like, an actor?” He sounded confused, and Vivien admitted that was a reasonable reaction.
“Yes.” She went on to explain, adding, “And Michael Wold and Penny Stern are also celebrities who’ll be doing the two-weekend run. The rest of the cast is local.”
“Oh, yes, I’ve heard all about that from Maxine and Juanita,” he replied in a neutral tone. “All’s I can say is, if either of them offer me elderberry wine—or any other kind of wine—I’m gonna decline.”
Despite her mood, Vivien couldn’t hold back a chuckle. “Good thinking—although I wouldn’t worry too much. You don’t fit the profile of the Brewster sisters’ victims.”
“Anyone else back in New York who might not want you to succeed out here?” asked the captain.
Vivien shook her head. “I simply can’t think of anyone like that.” She hugged herself. “This is really unsettling.”
“All right, then,” Joe Cap went on in a soothing voice. “We’ll make sure everyone drives by here more often, and I’ll do some looking in on things. Helga, you said you saw someone last night here?”
“We all did—Jake, Baxter James, and I,” Helga replied. “Baxter drew me a picture of the brake lights—which wasn’t very helpful, because they just look like blobs—but I’m going to show him a few pictures of car back ends in case he recognizes them. I also want to look around to see whether there are any tire tracks we might be able to use to nail down the vehicle. Especially if they drove through all the broken glass,” she added with a smirk. “Looked like he might have done.”
“Good thinking,” said the captain. “I’ll check in with the tire place in town, and