“Because he wanted in on the action and was bumped from the deal when I came on board.”
“Why would he be bumped?”
“I kind of made it part of the deal. They were looking for a bigger share of money, and…I came up with it. It’s as simple as that.”
“You still haven’t told me who your partners are.”
“I thought you might get angry.”
“Why would I be angry?”
“Because I’m in cahoots with Nigela Ricita Associates.”
Yes, that would’ve made Tricia angry.
“How did you find out about the deal?”
“Antonio Barbero.” Of course, Ginny’s fiancé. “Apparently NR Associates is stretched thin and cash starved, what with all the other investments they’ve already made in Stoneham. I guess because I already have a store and a café, they decided to ask me if I wanted a share in the business.”
“Did you hire the Comforts to run the inn?”
She shook her head. “Antonio found them networking with Clayton Ellington through the Chamber of Commerce.” Angelica’s voice dropped to a simper. “Are you mad at me?”
“Not mad, just shocked you’d join forces with a firm that you’ve spoken out against in the past. You’re the one who said they were trying to take over the village.”
Angelica shrugged. “They offered me an opportunity I couldn’t refuse.”
“And that was?” Tricia prompted.
“The chance to get back at Bob.”
“Because he cheated on you?” This didn’t make sense.
“I trusted him. I trusted him and he was no better than my four scumbag ex-husbands. That bimbo he dallied with couldn’t hold a candle to me. Even you have to admit that,” she challenged.
Angelica was right on that account. “But how did Bob find out about you being co-owner?”
“Real estate transactions are public records,” Angelica explained. “The deed was only amended yesterday. Being in the real estate business, Bob’s got contacts who feed him information.”
“So you knew he’d eventually find out.” She tore her eyes from the road to risk a quick glance at her sister, who looked very smug.
“Umm…maybe.”
“Have you told Grant Baker about this?”
“Why is that relative?”
“Because someone died there on Monday night.”
“Why is that the fault of the owners?”
“Because she was your employee?”
“Oh. I guess you’re right. Okay, I’ll give him a call when I get home. Or maybe tomorrow. Oh dear. I guess we should do something like send flowers or something. When’s the funeral?”
“Harry’s having her ashes tossed on a mountain. That’ll save you on a Teleflora order. Of course, if the law decides to go after Harry, he might need money to mount his legal defense and sue you.”
“What for?”
“I don’t know. That’s what lawyers do-sit around and think of ways to sue people.”
Angelica sighed and a pout crossed her lips, erasing her smug expression. “We’d better think of who else might have killed Pippa Comfort.”
“Frannie thinks it was Chauncey Porter.”
“What?”
“That was my reaction, too,” Tricia said, and braked for a red light. “Apparently Pippa was once a Playboy bunny and Chauncey’s hobby is porn.”
“Porn?” Angelica repeated, aghast. “Chauncey Porter is into porn? I would’ve never thought it-he’s always been such a gentleman.”
“You think that’s bad-Grace Harris-Everett’s new receptionist is a former prostitute.”
Angelica’s jaw dropped. “A prostitute-in Stoneham?” She shook her head. “What is this world coming to?”
“Mary Fairchild told me that Chauncey spoke to Pippa when he first arrived at the inn on Sunday night. He told her she looked different out of uniform. I’m assuming he meant her Playboy bunny outfit.”
“Why, that lecherous old fool!” Angelica cried.
“According to Mary, it really upset her. Apparently Pippa thought she’d put those days behind her a long time ago.”
“Was she afraid he’d tell other people about her past? Not that being a bunny is the same as being a stripper or a pole dancer. At least they wear a costume that covers up more than it actually shows.”
“It’s not the kind of news you want potential customers to know-not if you’re trying to convey a sense of wholesome family values.”
“Isn’t the whole idea of going to a romantic inn to have fabulous sex?” Angelica asked.
“Oh, yeah? Then why did you invite me to be your guest at the inn and not Bob?”
Angelica leveled a piercing gaze at Tricia. “You know very well that we have had our ups and downs since last year when he cheated on me. We’re in a down period right now.”
Apparently they’d been in a down period for a full nine months. Bob had to really be a glutton for punishment to hang on this long hoping for a reconciliation.
“But even if Chauncey is into porn, that doesn’t make him a murderer. What possible motive could he have for killing Pippa?” Angelica asked.
“There she was, an object of his desire-”
“Some twenty years later,” Angelica said pointedly.
“Maybe he figured if he couldn’t have her, why should anyone else?”
“That sounds more like Frannie’s reasoning than your own.”
Caught! “I’m just trying to think of all the possible suspects.”
“And the most obvious one is her husband. Or just because you had a relationship with Jon Comfort-”
“Harry Tyler,” Tricia corrected for what seemed like the hundredth time.
“-you don’t want to see him guilty. Am I right, or am I right?”
“Wrong!”
Angelica heaved a dramatic sigh. “Go on. Who else is on your suspect list?”
“What’s wrong with Clayton Ellington? He was one of Pippa’s former lovers. If he recommended her to Antonio, maybe he wanted her to be close at hand.”
“If he went to all that trouble, why would he want to kill her?”
“I haven’t figured out a motive yet.”
“And what if he has none?”
“It seems suspicious to me that he’d call up an old lover after twenty years and say, ‘Hey, I’ve got a line on a job for you. Come live in the same small town as me and my wife.’”
“All the more reason why he wouldn’t kill her. Murdering an ex-lover is not the way to keep your marriage intact.”
“Some people don’t think ahead.”
“You do if you’re a successful businessman.”
“And successful people with money often get rid of problems.”
“How was Pippa a problem?”
“I haven’t-”
“-figured that out yet,” Angelica finished for her. “I’ve already heard that explanation once in this conversation. And why are you still ignoring the fact that her husband might have done it?”
“I’m not ignoring it. I just don’t have any idea why Harry would do it. He said they weren’t close, but if he wanted to leave her, he didn’t have to accompany her here to open the inn.”
“Divorce is expensive,” Angelica pointed out. “I know. I’ve been through four of them.” She waggled her right index finger close to Tricia’s face. “You just don’t want him to be guilty of murder. You still care for him.”
“I do not!” Tricia protested.
“Oh, yes you do. Admit it, things haven’t been going well with you and Chief Baker. Before that, Russ dumped you. And before that, Christopher. But now there’s the possibility that you and Jon Comfort-”
“Harry Tyler!”
“-could get back together again.”
“You’re living in fantasyland.”
Angelica’s eyes blazed, and Tricia figured she had better put an end to the argument before they both said something they’d regret. “This is where I could use a GPS,” Tricia said. “How about telling me where to go?”
“Do you realize the opening you just gave me?” Angelica said with just a touch of malice.