She kept thinking back to her conversation with Mel. And she found herself wondering what on earth Lila was really doing out in the carriage house. With her Grace Kelly hair and antique clothing and cool, nasty manner, Lila didn't seem the type to be a thrill-seeker who'd visit the scene of Ted Francisco's suicide. And she didn't seem to have any particular interest in Ted's death. Of course, they had all avoided mentioning him, so maybe that wasn't a fair assessment.
Still, what had she been doing in the carriage house? And when had she gone out there? She'd been present at dinner when Edgar made his strong warning about locking up at ten-thirty. If she went out before that, she probably assumed she'd be back in before the deadline. Then, too, she might well have been arrogant enough that it didn't matter. She didn't seem the type to care much if she disturbed someone else's rest. But if she went out later — why?
She had, of course, grown up in the neighborhood. Or at least lived here during high school. Maybe she still had acquaintances here and was going out to meet somebody. Somebody she shouldn't have met, obviously.
When Jane finished with the bed, she realized that Kathy's purse had slid off the chair and dumped its contents all over the floor. She started to put things back when she realized just what those contents were.
A slim-banded gold watch with diamonds around the face; a ring that featured an enormous dark pink stone that had to be a ruby. Stunned and curious, Jane opened the lizard-skin billfold and found a Gold Visa card, a Gold American Express card, and a checkbook showing a balance of $23,683.
"What have you got there?" Crispy said from the doorway. She came in and gently closed the door behind her.
"She's rich," Jane said, too astonished at the discovery to be embarrassed at being caught snooping.
"Of course she is. Couldn't you tell?"
"No! How could anybody tell?"
"Easy, my dear. If you know what to look for," Crispy said, taking the billfold from Jane and flipping through it before she put it back in the ratty plastic purse. "The hands always give it away. You just need
a quick glance at those cuticles to realize they've had at least ten years of manicures. And the slight tan line where she normally wears a watch and ring. Why would a person who always wears those take them off unless they conflicted with the image she's trying to project?"
"But why? Why pretend to be a poor slob? I'm always trying to pretend I'm not a poor slob!" she added with a laugh. <
"Just a guess — she didn't want everybody to know she'd sold out to the establishment. She was a fiery liberal, convinced she'd change the world by sheer force of personality and righteousness. It was her claim to fame. Instead, she ends up a capitalist pig."
"So this scratching a living out of the dirt!in Oklahoma and picking up cans and bottles at the roadside to save the earth is just made up?" Jane said, still not quite convinced in spite of the evidence, i
"The little subsistence farm in Oklahoma is probably a thousand square acres of wall-to-wall oil wells."
"Amazing!"
"Rule One of Reunions, Jane. Nobody is what they seem." i
"Including you?"
"No, I'm the exception," Crispy said with a wry grin. "Actually, I came looking for you to ask a favor. The Joker has been at it again and all my underwear is missing." j
"You're kidding. This is ridiculous. And stealing underwear is nasty and creepy. Why is somebody doing this stuff?",
"Who knows? Somebody apparently thinks it's funny. Would you drive me to a mall to pick up a few things?" i
"Sure, but we'll have to make it fast. I've got to get all the rooms cleaned."
Elegant nails flashing, Crispy waved this away as a minor consideration.
Mel was gone. Jane,reported where she was going to Shelley, then asked permission of the police who were still working around the carriage house. After taking their names, the officer in charge let them leave.
They were only halfway to the mall when Crispy said, "Oops, I've lost my earring. Would you mind stopping to let me look for it?"
Crispy didn't even bother to look around the front seat, but stepped out and started searching the back. Jane watched her.
"Maybe you should look in your purse, Crispy," she suggested.
"Purse?" Crispy answered, her voice muffled as she rummaged under the backseat.
"Yes, I saw you put it in there as we started out."
Crispy lifted her head and grinned. "I should have known you'd be too smart to be fooled. I do like you."
"What are you really looking for?"
"That notebook."
"Notebook…? Oh, yes. The one Lila was looking for last night." Jane should have mentioned that to Mel. There was probably a lot she should have mentioned to him, come to think of it. She hadn't even told him about Dead Ted.
"Uh-huh, that's the one. She had it out in the car yesterday. I noticed it was just like mine, so I managed to shove it off.the seat and replace it with my own."
"So the one she brought inside and put on the hall table was really yours?"
"I just scooped it back up when she wasn't looking."
"But why?"
"Curiosity. I just wanted to see what she kept in it and the opportunity presented itself." She leaned back over and reached farther under the seat. "Ah, here it is."
"We'll go back and give it to the police," Jane said.
"Why on earth would we do that?"
"Because, in case you hadn't noticed, the owner has been murdered!"
"By drug dealers roaming the neighborhood. The notebook has nothing to do with it. And I will give it to them anyway. After I've taken a look at it. Now, lead me to the lingerie!"
She hopped back into the front seat and sat there looking like a happy puppy getting to go for a ride. Jane started the engine. "I'm going to tell the police you have that…. after you show it to me," she said.
Crispy grinned. "A woman after my own heart— such as it is."
Jane let Crispy out at the mall and cruised the parking lot. She hoped Crispy had left the notebook in the car so she could take a quick look, but there was no sign of it. Crispy emerged in a remarkably short time with a shopping bag and they drove back to the bed and breakfast. There was still one police car in the back drive, so Jane parked in front. Crispy hopped out of the car, gushing thanks, and Jane followed more slowly. She wished she could stay outside and enjoy the day. September could be a replay of August, hot and oppressive, but today was one of those September beauties that made a person remember how nice autumn could be. The air, while not chilly, was fresh and clean-smelling. Jane could imagine, if not actually smell, woodsmoke and the tang of apple cider.
As Jane reached the front door, she nearly collided with the mailman, whom she hadn't noticed approaching. There was a slot next to the door and he was struggling to force a large, stiff envelope into it. "I'll take it in," she said, taking the wad of mail from him.
She automatically sorted the mail into a pile for Gordon, a pile for Edgar, and an enormous stack for "Occupant," and set the three stacks on the front hall table as she passed through. Mimi came down the stairs wearing a red silk tunic over black trousers and clutching a school yearbook. "I hear you had to take Crispy shopping," she said. "That must have been a thrill. I bet she goes through a department store like the plague."