She began to play and sing, launching into "I Can't Make You Love Me," by Bonnie Raitt. Tears were gathering in her eyes when the phone rang again. "Natalie, it's Lily." Natalie put down the guitar, swallowed to control her voice, and picked up the receiver. "What's going on?" Lily demanded anxiously. "You found a body?"
"Do we have a Port Ariel town crier?" Natalie asked. "How did you find out?"
"Your neighbors across the street called my father. Apparently they're afraid they're going to be dragged into something unsavory. They wanted to know if they needed representation and said they wanted the best."
"What a pair of self-involved idiots."
"Why didn't you call and tell me what happened?"
"I didn't want to upset you. I figured all hell was breaking loose in your world already considering the attack on Alison."
"I didn't know anything about it until this morning when I called Dad. He was just on his way to the hospital."
"He didn't go until this morning?"
"Apparently not."
"Viveca called here around one A.M. wanting my father to come. I wouldn't wake him because he was wiped out and sound asleep, but I talked with her for a while. She told me she'd asked your dad to come, but he said he had his own problems."
"You think he was unfeeling."
"To say the least. He's supposedly in love with Viveca."
"Well, maybe he's not as crazy about her as he thought."
"Last night was a fine time to decide that."
"What is it with you?" Lily asked sharply. "I didn't know you'd become Viveca's champion. And my father has been through a lot. He's nearly reached the end of his endurance."
"I didn't mean to offend you. It's just been quite a morning."
"Never mind." Lily's voice turned oddly fiat. "About this body you found. Who was it?"
Natalie stiffened. About this body you found. Who was it? Lily sounded like Natalie had found a stray cat on the porch. She'd gone off on a tangent about her father and Viveca before she even asked the identity of the body. "It was Jeff
Lindstrom, Lily," Natalie answered slowly. "His throat had been cut."
"Like Tam's," Lily said without expression.
"And Warren 's and Charlotte's and Alison's." Natalie waited for Lily to say something else, but she didn't. "Who do you think could have done this to him?"
"You sound as if you honestly expect me to have an answer," Lily said edgily. "Do you think I know more about all of this than you do?"
"No, I thought I was just asking if you had any ideas," Natalie said carefully. "I haven't talked to you since Nick found out Lindstrom was Eugene Farley's cousin."
"His cousin!" This time Lily sounded genuinely shocked. "What on earth was he doing here?"
"He told Nick he was gathering information to write a true-crime novel about the recent murders. Then Nick found out he was Constance Farley's nephew. When he spoke with Constance, she said she didn't know anything about a book and she was very upset that he was in Port Ariel poking around. Then he disappeared on Thursday."
"The day of Tam's funeral."
"Lily, did Jeff ever try to talk to you or your father about Tam and Warren?"
"The only time I ever saw him was that day in the store. You heard the conversation. And I know if he'd tried to talk to Dad about Tam, Dad would have mentioned it. He had nothing to do with Jeff Lindstrom." Her voice rose. "Nothing."
"Lily, what is wrong with you?"
"What's wrong with you? You're asking me all these questions about someone who was murdered. You sound like you think my father and I know something. And what's all this with the sheriff? He's Nick now? Are you on the rebound from Kenny? Trying to score some points with the handsome young sheriff by doing his dirty work for him, badgering your oldest and supposedly dearest friends about murders?"
"Lily, for God's sake, calm down!" Natalie was stunned by Lily's outburst. "I didn't mean anything-"
"The hell you didn't! Just keep your suspicions to yourself, Natalie, before you do a lot of damage!"
For the first time in their long friendship, Lily slammed down the phone on her. Natalie sat dumbfounded, holding the receiver for nearly a minute as Lily's words played over and over in her head: Just keep your suspicions to yourself before you do a lot of damage. But she couldn't keep her suspicions to herself, not when Lily sounded so jumpy, so frightened…
She called police headquarters. Nick had just walked in. "What now?" he asked in a harried voice.
"Hello to you, too."
"Natalie, if you tell me you've found another body-"
"Don't worry. I'm not setting foot outside this house unless it's an emergency. I'm calling to tell you I had a phone conversation with Lily. She'd heard about me finding a man's body this morning." Natalie paused, fighting down her sense of betrayal. Lily was her friend, but they were dealing with multiple murders. "She didn't know whose body it was and she didn't immediately ask, which was odd. When I finally told her it was Lindstrom, she didn't seem shocked. I asked if he'd questioned her about Tam. She said no and that she'd only seen him once, that day in her store. But when I asked if he'd talked to her father, she got really edgy. She denied it vehemently. She was nervous and belligerent." Natalie took a deep breath. "She didn't sound right, Nick. She's wary and she's scared. Really scared."
SATURDAY 1 p.m.
"Mr. Peyton isn't home. I don't know when he'll be back."
A slender woman with salt-and-pepper hair and finely crinkled fair skin looked at Nick with startlingly beautiful, innocent violet eyes. "May I come in and wait, Mrs…"
"Ebert. I'm Mr. Peyton's housekeeper." She hesitated. "I don't know. Mr. Peyton isn't really up to visitors. This is a very hard time for him."
"Yes, because his daughter was murdered. But I'm the sheriff, Mrs. Ebert. I'm investigating Tamara's death. I must talk to him."
Her hand fluttered to her chest. "Oh, no, has something else happened? Is Lily all right?"
"Lily is fine. This concerns other developments, but it's very important. Please, Mrs. Ebert."
He gave her his most ingratiating smile and she answered with a nervous smile of her own. "All right. After all, you are the sheriff and this is important. Please come in. Maybe I could get you something to drink? Tea? Coffee? A soft drink?"
"A Coke or a Pepsi if you have it. It's getting warm out."
"Oh, yes it is. Such a lovely day. Yesterday was so gloomy. Please make yourself comfortable in the living room and I'll be right back."
Nick hadn't gotten a chance to study the room after Tamara's funeral. He didn't know much about antiques, but he knew these were valuable. The room was beautiful, although much too fussy and formal for his taste. Above the fireplace hung an oil portrait of Tamara and Lily done when they were about sixteen. Both had golden blond hair brushing their shoulders, both wore pale green dresses that highlighted their hazel eyes. Their bone structure was identical, but no one who looked into their eyes would confuse them. Tamara had a gentle, shy gaze. Lily's eyes looked at him boldly, twinkling with fun. A dove and a peacock. Both beautiful, but so different.
Mrs. Ebert returned carrying a silver tray bearing a glass of Coke and a plate of Ritz crackers topped by thin slices of cheddar and Swiss cheese. "You have the air of a man who didn't have lunch," she smiled. "I could fix some soup if you like."
"No thanks. The crackers are great. You're right-I haven't eaten since this morning." He sat down on a moss green settee, took a sip of icy Coke, then reached for a cracker.
"I'll just go back to the kitchen while you wait-"
"If you're not busy, would you keep me company?" Nick tried hard to look innocent.