A Purse to Die For

by Melodie Campbell; Cynthia St-Pierre

  "Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah, " she rattled into the receiver, looking from side to side and at her rear-vi e w while she drove. She made th e sounds just so Copman would see her li ps moving . She found it amusing so she raised her voice and before long, her blah blah s hit ear-spli tting pitch. Satisfied, she dropped the phone back onto the seat , turned her car around and headed for home.

  Tony leaned against the study door jam.

  "Dumont, I 've got to go. I 've been called in."

  Rob snorted. "You 're not going anywhere."

  Tony laughed. He folded both arms across his chest. "You try telling them that."

  Smug bastard, Rob thought . Then he cursed. Damned feds. He could just imagine the calls starting from high up.

  "Do you think I want to go now?" Tony said. "With Gina still here and vulnerable?" He ran a shaky hand through thick hair. "Look, Dumont, you gotta look out for her."

  Rob was alert now. "You think she 's in danger?"

  "No, " Tony said slowly. "No, not immediately. But I didn 't think Ian was, either."

  Rob leaned forward. He steadied his voice. "What the hell do you know that I don 't?"

  "Nothing concrete." Tony hesitated. "I 'm not sure. Just a gut feel, maybe, but a strong one. Maybe Becki knows more. Talk to Becki."

  "Tony, by God, if you know something—"

  "Talk to Becki. I 've been trying to, but I can 't find her."

  Gina sat on the bench at the back of the garden. It had taken some effort to escape from the house without company. But Tony had gone to have a quick word with Rob, so Gina took her chance.

  Her parents and Tony's mother were napping. Nellie was getting washed and dressed. Jerry had taken Linda to Ian 's hotel to pack up his things. Becki had offered to do it yesterday , but Linda would have none of that. Poor Linda. She needed to hang on to every thread of Ian, every piece of him that was left , for as long as possible. Gina understood. When all was packed up, he would be physically gone. The feeling of tragedy hung like a thick smog, the steel-town kind which left you with a heavy chest.

  Becki was nowhere to be seen today. Funny, that.

  But Gina had wanted to be alone to think. She was good at it—thinking. But it took solitude…something that hadn 't been available over the last while.

  So she let her thoughts go deep, to explore the events that had taken place. She opened her mind to every possibility she could think of.

  First, that woman had been murdered. But was that first, really? Or had her grandmother 's death been first? Where did the puzzle start? That was the thing. So often in books, murder was the start of the story. Here, a funeral was the start. Or was it?

  But you have to start somewhere, she reasoned. Start with what we know.

  A woman was murdered. She was murdered close to the house and most of the family had opportunity. She was murdered with a baseball bat—Gina shivered—which meant that not everyone could have done the deed. Tony 's mother couldn 't have. Gina 's own parents had an alibi on the high seas. But most everyone else could have done it. But why would they?

  Next, look at motive. The woman was well-dressed and attractive. She had a reputation for seeking out younger men. Probably, she was having an affair with Reggie. That would be logical. Although…somewhere Gina remembered something about Linda…something that led her to believe Linda thought Jerry might be involved. Could Jerry have had an affair with her? That 's not kind, Gina thought , use her name. Treat her like a perso n. Could Jerry have had an affair with Hilary?

  Gina looked up into the grey sky. Birds were flying listlessly in circles.

  Already it was getting complicated. She'd stick with Reggie for now. Reggie was missing , and that made him involved, for one thing. So—assume Reggie had an affair with Hilary…why was Hilary here? Did he invite her? That seemed unlikely with the whole family here for a funeral and Carla and Nellie close by. Did Hilary follow him up here trying to convince him to meet her? Perhaps Reggie had tried to break off the affair , and Hilary wasn 't having any of it. Maybe Hilary was going to tell Carla , and Reggie had to stop her…

  Would Reggie care enough to do that? Would he risk a murder rap to keep Carla from finding out about the affair? That didn 't make se nse. Yes, Carla had the m oney, a ctually, Nellie di d now, b ut if this woman Hilary was so rich she could afford Gucci handbags, why didn 't he just go off with her? Gina wondered if anyone else had thought of that. Why would Reggie kill the Golden Goose?

  Okay, that was one strike against him being the murderer. Except that Reggie was violent, everyone knew that. Hitting someone over the head in the heat of anger is just something he might do. Right in character. Gina found herself nodding automatically.

  So assume the killer is Reggie. Why would Reggie kill Ian? Certainly, Reggie didn 't have any love for Ian. He wasn 't a blood relative , and Reggie was the sort of insecure man who showed contempt for homosexuals. So he could have done it. He had the psychology. But why?

  The most logical reason was that Ian had seen something. In every case, that was the most logical reason for Ian being killed. He saw or knew something about the first murder and was a danger to the killer.

  Who else had motive? Gina opened her mind and tried to divorce her personal feelings about the people involved.

  Carla. She was an obvious suspect , and her motive would be jealousy. But did Carla care enough about Reggie to risk a murder rap? Gina couldn 't see it. Carla was an abused woman herself. Gina was of the belief that Carla hated Reggie and would be glad to be done with him. Let the other woman have him and then Carla would be safe. Besides, Carla would never kill Ian, her own blood nephew. She loved Ian.

  So who else? Linda, she supposed, for the first murder. If Hilary was seeing Jerry then Linda just might take a bat to her. Unlike Carla, Linda had every reason to protect her marriage. But—and it was an overwhelming but—Linda would never kill her own son. No, if Linda committed the first murder, someone else must have committed the second and for a completely different reason.

  Could there be another reason to kill Ian? Well—actually—yes. Ian was a rich man now. Someone could have killed him for his money, or rather, the money he was due to inherit.

  Who would do that? Not his parents, that's certain. But Andrew could have. Andrew was the selfish type who liked a soft life. Andrew might have seen the opportunity to shoot Ian and have the police think it was connected with the first murder. But would Andrew kill in cold blood? She didn 't think so. To seek out a pistol and coolly aim it and fire…that took premeditation and nerves of steel. Besides, Andrew could twist Ian around his little finger. He would have the money by just staying with Ian, so why bother with something as risky as murder?

  Who would have the steely disposition to complete such a task? Load, aim, fire…and not miss. Who else had motive? Ironically, someone might say that she and Tony did. They both would inherit more by Ian 's death.

  So here it comes, she thought. Deal with it. You 've got to think it through.

  What about Tony? What if Tony were having an affair with the woman? What if he tried to call it off? What if she came here to see Tony and was going to threaten him with exposure? Not about their affair. He wouldn 't care about that. But about his other job? Would he kill to protect that knowledge from getting out?

  He might. Dear God, Gina had to admit he might. But would he kill Ian too ? Say Ian had seen something that pointed the finger at Tony. Could Tony kill his own cousin?

  Gina felt sick. They weren't blood-related anymore.

  What about Tony?

  "What about Tony?"

  Gina gasped and looked up. Tony was standing not five feet away gazing down at her. She hadn 't realized she 'd said that last line out loud.

  "I was just thinking, " she said. It was hard to keep the shake out of her voice.

  Tony whirled himself down on the bench beside her.

  "Look. I 've got to go away for a bit."

  "Again?" The word was out before she co
uld stop herself.

  Tony nodded. "Not my choice. I 've been called."

  "For how long?"

  "A few days. I don 't know. Just to Toronto. Not out of the country."

  Gina swallowed hard. "Does Rob know?"

  A grin. "He does now."

  "Well, have a good time." The second the words were out, she realized how idiotic she sounded.

  "Look, Gina, stay close to Becki while I 'm gone."

  Gina looked up at the sky. "I would if I could. Where is she?"

  "I don 't know. But find her. She knows more, I swear it. And she loves you to pieces, so I know you 'll be safe with her."

  He stood up with the sinewy grace of a wolf. "I don 't know about anyone else."

  "Gina, thank God I finally got hold of you, " Becki said over the landline and the relief was real . "Where 've you been?"

  "Where have you been?" Gina replied.

  "In the hospital. I 've been trying to reach you—"

  "The hospital?"

  "Don 't ask."

  "Of course, I 'm asking. What 's wrong?"

  "Nothing now, but—"

  "I 'll be right there. I 'll have Nellie with me."

  "Hold on!" She tried to listen through the silence on the other end. Is Gina still there? "Gina?"

  "Yes."

  "I think I 've given you the wrong impression. I 'm fine. Just fine. Long story."

  "Coming right over."

  "Not necessary. Honestly. I 'll be released very soon. And I 've got my car sitting right outside in the parking lot. Drove myself in yesterday. It was just a touch of food poisoning. That 's all. No reason for you to be concerned."

  "Really."

  Gina sounds awfully sarcastic for someone as sweet as she.

  "Perhaps there 's some contaminated food I should throw out before anyone else gets sick."

  "No…yes…no…"

  "Becki!"

  "The vegetarian sausages I offered around at breakfast yesterday. No takers. And I seriously doubt anyone has developed a craving subsequently. But just in case, will you—"

  "Certainly."

  "Discretely?"

  "Of course."

  "Gina?"

  "Yes?"

  "I have something important to say. And the more I think about it, the more worked up I get. In fact, unless you 're able to talk me out of it, as soon as I hang up, I 'm calling Rob. Tony and Karl too ."

  "Why?"

  "Your grandmother didn 't have cancer after all. Not according to Dr. Crosby."

  "You 're the one who told me it was cancer."

  "I know."

  "And Carla confirmed it later."

  "Right. It was Carla who told me Godmom had cancer. And Dr. Crosby just told me she didn 't. So there you have it. Two different stories. Did she have cancer or not? Do we believe Carla or Dr. Crosby? Is cancer the cause of death? Did she die of natural causes? Or—"

  "Becki, you 're scaring me. You make it sound so sinister. Don 't you think the whole yes or no cancer thing is a misunderstanding?"

  "Which brings me to exactly what I want from you—your advice. Because I 'm not an official member of your family—"

  Gina started to object, but Becki cut her off.

  "I 'm not. So I 'm torn about how to proceed. I decided it was best to run it by you. And ask is there reason to be suspicious of Carla? Is she covering up for Reggie, perhaps? Should we tell the police?"

  Gina seemed at a loss.

  Becki let out a sigh. "I should add I remember wondering why there weren 't any prescriptions or drugs of any kind in Godmom 's room when I helped your mom clean it out. I even asked Carla about it 'cause she was the one who was living with Godmom. You know what Carla said?"

  "What?"

  "She said she cleared out the drugs earlier so Nellie wouldn 't happen upon them and poison herself.

  "Good idea."

  "I thought so too at the time."

  "You know, Grandmother could have fibbed about cancer to Carla, although for the life of me, I can 't think why she 'd do it…"

  "Endless possibilities."

  "Hmmm..."

  "So should I talk to Rob? To Tony? To Karl?"

  "Let me think."

  Becki waited a few seconds.

  "No, poor Carla. She doesn 't need more heartache on top of what she 's been through. I mean, what if it 's…nothing? How about if I talk to her and try and get a feeling for what 's going on? I 'm pretty intuitive, you know. A nose for weather and all that."

  "Sure, " Becki said. "And I 'll be there soon. Let me know what you get out of her, 'kay?"

  Chapter 36

  "That didn 't take long, " Rob yelled at Carla when she breezed past the library door.

  Carla backed up, poked her head in the room. "What?"

  "Thought you were on your way to Toronto."

  "Was. Luckily I didn 't get too far because my doctor 's office called to reschedule. Seems a time slot opened up at his dentist 's and he jumped on it. Naturally, my esteemed doctor 's scaling units, white amalgam fillings, and root canals are number one priority. No problem for us little people to reshuffle our agendas."

  "You sound bitter."

  "Just an inconvenience."

  "Are you fond of your esteemed Toronto doctor?"

  "He 's all right ."

  "Must be more than just all right for you to keep going to him even if he 's all the way in Toronto."

  "You know I lived there for a while. Couldn 't be bothered switching doctors. Don 't go often. Just my annual check-up. Then I do a bit of shopping."

  "That 's what your appointment was, then—an annual check-up?"

  Carla eyed him suspiciously.

  "You 're okay?" he specified.

  "Just my annual check-up, " she repeated. "Mother died of cancer, so…keeping on top of things."

  "But Nellie has a doctor in town?"

  The fingers of her right hand holding the strap of her purse tapped. "Of course she does."

  "And your mother?"

  "She does—did too ."

  "Can I have their names and addresses?"

  "For crying out loud, Rob. What 's with the third degree? You 've known me and my family since I was a kid. You already know everything about me."

  "Not the name of your doctor."

  "And that 's going to help how?" She sidled up to his desk. Not his desk, actually. She bent to look at him, steadied her brown eyes on his.

  No two ways about it, Carla was looking one whole heck of a lot better. The bruises on her face were nearly imperceptible now. In fact, she was hotter than before bastard Reggie beat her up. Like she was blossoming or something…finally out from under his control.

  "Just doing my job, " he said. "Being thorough. Leaving no rock unturned."

  "Bending yourself in two looking under rocks, Rob? Bet Tony doesn 't do that." She smirked.

  "Tony?" he snarled in irritation. But seconds later, he felt like smacking his lips with satisfaction. Because he recognized an important slip when he heard one.

  Carla knows Tony's a cop, damn it! And she shouldn 't, should she? Tony would never tell her. Nor would Gina. So she overheard our conversation last night. Therefore she must also know we 're on to Reggie. And that 's what 's really going on here.

  He let out a groan. Carla had been on her way to warn the bastard, but she 'd spotted her tail. Stupid, stupid broad! What do women see in men like that? No matter what they do to them! It 's like they can 't stop trying to save them.

  He looked up at her with real pity in his eyes. But still he needed to call her doctor to confirm this new theory.

  "I 'm sorry, Carla, you 're going to have to cooperate whether you feel like it or not. I need those names and addresses."

  She pulled away. "If you must, " she said. "I 've got business cards upstairs in my files. I 'll bring them down later."

  Rob could have sworn she batted her eyes. "Not later. Now."

  Not only did he need them immediately, he figured sh
e might respond to masculine forcefulness. Maybe that 's what she dug about Reggie Williamson—his authority . Of course, Gina is a much b etter catch than Carla, and if I could have Gina again, I 'd jump at the chance, but in the meantime…

  In the meantime, he enjoyed watching Carla's butt flounce out of the room.

  Upstairs, Carla braced herself on her dresser, leaned in and checked out her reflection in the mirror. She had to admit she was looking fine, but, hell, the day wasn 't going so well. Cut off at every damned turn!

  Okay. She knew how to stall.

  Oh…Rob. I forgot! Shoot, you're not going to make me climb up the stairs again, are you? Not with this cast on. I 'll bring them down next time. Promise.

  Yes, that would be perfect. Not all men a re as hard to deal with as Reggie.

  Suddenly, in the mirror, she saw someone standing outside her room. She hiked in a breath.

  But it was just Gina who filled the gap between door and doorframe. She tapped lightly. "Sorry to bother you."

  "That 's okay." Carla turned. "Nellie 's all right ?"

  "Absolutely. No problem. We were playing in her room , and I saw you walk by. Nellie didn 't see you. She was facing the other way. Anyway, I wondered if everything was okay with you."

  "Why wouldn 't it be?"

  "You asked me to babysit Nellie. You were supp osed to be gone most of the day. A nd now you 're back already."

  "No biggie. Doctor had to reschedule. I 'll take over with Nellie. Just give me a minute."

  "No, it 's not that…" Gina took in a breath. "We 're having fun. Take your time." She turned to go then changed her mind. "Becki called this morning."

  "Oh? Where the hell is she, anyway?"

  "In hospital."

  "What 's up?"

  "Food poisoning."

  "Ha! If she can 't stomach vegetarian, may be she should drop down a level to macrobiotic."

  "Not funny, Carla. Becki was really ill."

  "Right. Sorry."

  Carla didn 't understand Gina 's concern. Becki wasn 't even her real aunt. And they were nowhere near close in age. In fact, she was kinda pissed at how close Gina and Becki seemed to be. "Nellie and I will make a point to go see her this afternoon, " she said in a conciliatory tone.