“No, but the battery is dead. That’s what he told us and it was easy to check out. He’s given us complete access to his home.”
“So Donald has an alibi again.”
“Yes.”
“Doesn’t that strike you as unlikely?”
“Unlikely?”
“Suspicious.”
“You mean he arranged for his wife and mother to be killed and then made sure he was going to be someplace else while it was happening?”
“Exactly!”
“Possible, but a stretch. He’s a very busy man, Susan. I think that may be the only explanation here.”
They walked down the street in silence for a bit. “Why would anyone want to kill Donald’s mother and his wife?”
“I was wondering if you had come up with any suggestions,” Brett answered.
“Perhaps a future wife who doesn’t want an interfering mother-in-law?”
Brett chuckled as she had meant him to. “Seems a bit drastic, but I’ll take it under consideration.”
The walked in silence a bit longer. “Do you think Donald knows something he’s not telling you?” Susan asked.
“Damn right. I must admit I don’t trust him.”
“Why not?”
“He seems a bit detached from these murders, almost as though he has something else on his mind.”
Susan chuckled. “Nadine would be more than a little irritated to hear that. She was always complaining that he didn’t pay her enough attention when she was alive. She’d be furious if she knew his inattention continued after her death.
“But it’s interesting that he’s responding to his mother’s death pretty much the same way he responded to his wife’s,” Susan went on.
“I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt and assuming that he might be in shock.”
“That’s possible. After all, it isn’t every day that a man’s family is wiped out…” Susan paused and turned to Brett. “Is it his whole family? Are there other relatives?”
“We’re looking into that.”
“And you’ll let me know when you find out?”
Brett didn’t answer immediately. In fact, he changed the subject. “Who did you talk to on Perry Island?”
“A few of the residents at the Perry Island Care Center, the admissions person there-Astrid something-and a woman who owns the island bookstore.”
“And what excuse have you used?”
“Why do you think I need an excuse?”
“Because most people who work in a nursing home admissions office are hired to talk to people who are interested in admitting someone,” Brett said.
“I’m telling everyone that I’m interested because I’m looking for someplace for my mother to live.”
“Has she gone out with you?”
“No, my parents are in Europe.”
“And you’ve been out there once?”
“Twice.”
“Can you think of a reason to return?”
“I suppose. They asked me if I wanted to eat a meal there and I could say I was testing the food for Mom. Or I suppose I could bring something out to one of the residents I met the last time I was there.”
“Good.”
“You want me to go out there again.”
“Yes.”
“To find out something for you.”
“To check out something for me. Yes.”
“Why don’t you just send one of your officers?”
“Because I hate outside interference in my local cases and the authorities out there might feel the same way. I’d like to avoid it if I can.”
“And if I help you, you’ll share what you learn with me?”
“When I can” was Brett’s obscure promise.
Susan realized he had given her no guarantees, but she had been planning yet another visit to Perry Island anyway, although she saw no reason to admit this to Brett. “Tell me what you want to know” was all she said.
He did.
And many of Susan’s neighbors were awakened that morning by her indignant cry of “He said what?!”
TWENTY-FIVE
GRANDPARENTS WHO ARE HAPPY TAKING CARE OF THEIR grandchildren are the best people on earth, Susan decided. She was watching Kathleen give final instructions to her father-in-law about helping her son with his homework. Finished, Kathleen picked up a large canvas boat bag and hurried down the driveway to the curb where Susan waited in her car. “That man is so sweet. He and Alex are making a volcano that actually explodes as a science project.”
“I think the word is erupt,” Susan said, remembering the mess the combination of baking soda and vinegar had left on her kitchen table back when her son was in elementary school. “Or maybe explode is more like it. Where’s Jerry’s mom?”
“Listening to NPR and hemming her granddaughter’s Easter dress,” Kathleen said, fastening her seat belt.
“The woman is a saint.”
“You can say that again. She’s also making lamb stew for dinner tonight. Jerry and I always gain a ton when his parents are here, but the extra pounds are worth it.” Kathleen took a bright red Tupperware carton from her bag and pried off the top. She passed it to Susan. “Have a coconut cranberry oatmeal cookie.”
“Thanks! Also your mother-in-law’s work?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm. They’re delicious!”
“They are, aren’t they? I brought a few dozen. I thought we might offer them to some of the residents.”
“That’s a great idea.”
“You know, you didn’t explain a whole lot when you called. Are we going to the nursing home first or are we going to look for the Baineses’ house?”
“Depends which ferry we catch. We’re due at Perry Island Care Center for dinner at noon.”
“You mean lunch, don’t you?”
“I think the main meal of the day is at noon in most nursing homes,” Susan said.
“Well, since they think we’re there to check out the food for your mother, they probably won’t expect us to do more than taste everything.”
“No, and we can use the time to talk to people.”
“Do you think the residents know anything at all about who owns the place where they live?”
“I don’t know. Some of the women I spoke with were really sharp,” Susan answered. “Of course, even if Donald is right about who owns P.I.C.C., he might be lying about Shannon ’s cousin.”
“That’s what you’re hoping, isn’t it? You don’t want him involved in this.”
Susan kept her eyes on the road. “That’s true.”
“But you don’t even know him. I know he’s young, but he might be a truly bad person. He might be the killer.”
“He might, but I don’t think he is. Shannon ’s not the only person who believes in him. I told you about the resident I met there…”
“The one with the grandson at Yale,” Kathleen said.
“Yes. She seemed like a very smart person. And she liked him, said he wasn’t a person who would hurt anyone else.”
“And you believe her.”
“I do.”
“So who do you think the murderer is?”
“I have no idea. Donald is the only person I know of who benefits from the deaths.”
“But he lost his wife and his mother.”
“And gained freedom and a whole lot of money.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Not really. Brett’s seen Nadine’s will and he said that Nadine and Donald had left everything to each other. So we know Donald didn’t lose anything financially when she died, but Brett doesn’t know whether Donald’s mother owned the entire agency and left it to him or if they owned it jointly or what.”
“Of course there’s his mother’s house. That’s got to be worth a fortune.”
“Her house?”
“Yes. Susan, you know where she lives, don’t you?”
“I have no idea.”
“Woodwinds.”
“Woodwinds? When did she move in there? I had no idea!”
Kathleen considered the question. “Sometime last summer. The only reason I know about it is that there was talk of the garden club holding a benefit party on the grounds there last August, but after the sale went through we had to find another location.”