ôIÆm a light sleeper, too,ö said Dooley.
ôAll cats are,ö I said. ôWe wake up from the least sound or movement.ö
ôEmma should get herself a couple of cats. SheÆll feel right at home with them.ö
ôWhat can you tell us about the relationship between your husband and Valina?ö asked Chase, clearly not fully satisfied that Norwell hadnÆt somehow fooled us all.
ôThey were getting along fine, until this whole business with the hack started. Valina blamed Norwell, since heÆs in charge of programming, and he blamed her, since the site was designed before he came on board and he told her several times it wasnÆt up to snuff.ö
ôIs it safe to say that they argued a lot?ö
ôOh, absolutely. But thatÆs only understandable. After all, we both gave up a lot to come here. We had a good life in San Francisco. I had a good teaching position, the kids loved their school and their friends, and Norwell was doing great.ö
ôSo why come here?ö asked Odelia.
ôThe challenge of designing a site from scratch. The chance to become a partner. And of course I was born and raised in Hampton Cove. My family is here, and IÆd always dreamed one day of moving back. Send the kids to the same school I went to. Be a teacher there. And so far itÆs worked out fine. Until the big hack drama happened.ö Her face fell. ôAnd now of course this murder.ö She gave Chase an anxious look. ôWhatÆs going to happen now? Are they going to close down Valina Fawn for good?ö
ôI donÆt know, Emma,ö said Chase. ôThatÆs not for the police to decide.ö
ôBut you have shut down the site, right? With the murder and everything?ö
ôNo, the site is still up and running as far as I know,ö said Chase. ôThough we have closed down parts of the office for the time being, since itÆs a crime scene.ö
ôI understand,ö said Emma quietly. ôWell, I guess weÆll just have to wait and see.ö She looked up. ôSo do you have any suspects yet? People who could have taken NorwellÆs card?ö
ôItÆs still early days,ö said Chase. ôRight now weÆre trying to interview as many people who can shed light on the case as possible.ö They both got up. ôIf thereÆs anything else, just give us a call. Any time, day or night. Even the smallest detail might be important.ö
ôOf course,ö said Emma. ôOf course I will.ö
She waved us off, still wearing that slightly dazed and worried look on her face. And I didnÆt wonder why that was. Her husband was clearly ChaseÆs prime suspect. And in spite of her protestations, I had a feeling Chase didnÆt give much credence to her story about waking up at the slightest sound. If a man is determined to go out and murder a person, heÆll always find a way.
Chapter 14
That evening, much to everyoneÆs surprise, Marge had decided to organize a book club meeting again. She felt that especially now, with everything that was going on, and with the death of Valina, it was important to get together and bask in the warmth of friendship and companionship. The last book shop meeting had ended in acrimony, with the clash between Lynnette and Emma, but tonight was all about healing and coming together.
ôI still find it hard to believe that Valina is gone,ö said Adra, a copy ofTears in the Mud clasped firmly in her hand.ôShe was such a powerful force in the community, and I always loved her take on MargeÆs book choices.ö
ôWell, I didnÆt,ö said Carlotta, who clearly hadnÆt yet dropped her intense dislike of the dating site boss. ôI found her comments vapid and devoid of finesse. But then what can you expect from a woman who makes her money facilitating adultery?ö
ôMaybe we should adopt a more conciliatory tone,ö said Marge hastily, before things got out of hand again. ôAfter all, Valina isnÆt here to defend herself anymore.ö
Carlotta didnÆt seem entirely convinced, but when the others all nodded their agreement, she wisely kept her tongue.
ôI have to agree with Carlotta, though,ö said Lynnette Say. ôIÆm just glad that my Franco wasnÆt on ValinaÆs site.ö
ôThat doesnÆt mean anything,ö said Carlotta. ôHe could have been using an alias.ö
Lynnette laughed a light tinkling laugh.ôI know for a fact that Franco would never cheat on me. And thatÆs because IÆve always made sure that he has no reason to.ö
Carlotta frowned.ôWhatÆs that supposed to mean?ö
Lynnette studied her perfectly manicured nails.ôIf a man doesnÆt get what he wants at home, of course heÆll go looking for it elsewhere. If you want to keep your husband happy, you have to make an effort, and thatÆs where most women go wrong. They get lazy, and then they come crying when they find out heÆs been out playing the field.ö
ôSo you actually have the gall to tell me itÆs my fault that Dennis was on ValinaÆs list?ö
Lynnette smiled a sweet smile.ôIÆm sure I wouldnÆt presume to know what makes your marriage work, Carlotta. IÆm just telling you how IÆve succeeded in making mine work.ö
ôWell, for your information IÆm starting to think that I totally overreacted,ö said Carlotta. ôDennis may have signed himself up for the site, but he swears up and down that he was never unfaithful to me.ö She sighed. ôAnd IÆm inclined to believe him. Dennis may be many things but heÆs not a smooth operator. I think IÆd know if he was lying to me.ö
ôSame thing here,ö said Lynnette. ôMen are so obvious, arenÆt they? Like sad little puppies when they donÆt get what they want. And then when you give it to them they get all overexcited and practically wet themselves. Not,ö she hastened to say, ôthat Franco has a problem in that department. He passed his recent prostate exam with flying colors.ö
ôIÆm glad that Gene hates technology so much,ö said Adra. ôHe wouldnÆt even know how to work a smartphone, let alone get in touch with other women that way.ö
ôI can totally relate how so many people are completely devastated right now by the news that their significant other signed up for ValinaÆs site,ö said Emma. ôI was the victim of a cheating partner once and I can tell you that it hurts like the dickens.ö
ôAnd that takes us right back to our topic for tonight,ö said Marge smoothly.
Carlotta frowned at her copy ofTears in the Mud.ôNot exactly Dickens,ö she said.
ôNo, but I was thinking we could tackle Dickens next,ö said Marge. ôThough IÆm not sure yet which one. He has so many wonderful books to choose from.ö
ôI thought we could do a Nora Roberts one,ö said Adra eagerly.
ôIt doesnÆt always have to be romance, Adra,ö said Lynnette sternly. ôThere are other genres to choose from, you know.ö
AdraÆs face fell. It was clear she preferred romance. ôNora writes mystery, too,ö she ventured hopefully.
ôThatÆs true,ö Marge agreed. ôYou know what IÆll do? IÆll draw up a list for you to choose from. And everyone is invited to nominate books for the list. How does that sound?ö
ôExcellent,ö said Charlene, who was nibbling from a cookie. She looked a little worn out, but then being mayor will do that to a person. ItÆs a tough job at the best of times, and when dating sites get hacked and their CEOs murdered, it gets even worse. ôYou know, just for the record, I have to say I donÆt agree with what you just said, Lynnette.ö
ôAbout romance, you mean?ö asked Lynnette, raising a stunned eyebrow.
ôNo, about women being responsible for their husbands cheating on them.ö
ôI donÆt think I phrased it exactly like that,ö said Lynnette with a light laugh.
ôYes, you did. And you really shouldnÆt blame women when their husbands turn out to be philandering you-know-whats. Mostly itÆs the men themselves that are up to no good. And unfortunately I can relate.ö She gave Emma a sad look. ôAnd even though I blamed myself for a long time, I know now that it wasnÆt my fault. In fact it never was.ö