A Midsummer Eve's Nightmare

by Fletcher Crow, Donna

  But Elizabeth didn’t think it had happened backstage. She watched, as if in slow motion, Othello filling the crystal goblet, holding it up to the amber light, handing it to his bride, then smiling as she drank. And not drinking himself. The same Othello who something more than an hour later held a pillow over the same face, cutting off a breath she never drew again.

  Othello, who was played by the man she had just heard declare his love for her sister.

  “All right.” Lempson held up his hand for the attention of all the remaining partiers who had now gathered on the stage. “We won’t keep you any later than we have to, but we’ve already lost so much time getting onto this, we need to take some statements tonight.”

  He looked at the list of names given him by Rory Fellows. “Those of you who were in other plays that night can go.” Six men and four women left. That apparently tallied with Lempson’s information because he nodded. “The rest of you we want to see one at a time in that room back there.” He pointed to the green room. “Like I said, we won’t keep you any later than necessary.”

  Gregg went in with the police first. The others sat on the stage and on various props in something of a line. The bright overhead lights had been turned off, casting a somber gloom over the few people sitting with their heads in their hands. The party was over.

  Elizabeth looked at Richard. “They don’t need us, do they?”

  “Don’t see why they would. They won’t need Erin either. Let’s walk her home.” They spent a few minutes looking around for her, during which the line waiting to be questioned moved up two or three people. Lempson was keeping his promise to be quick. Finally Richard said, “Might as well go. She must have already left.”

  “Have you seen Tori?” Elizabeth asked. “I haven’t seen her since we first came.”

  Richard hadn’t, but supposed Tori and Erin had gone home together. “Dirk probably took them both.” He guided Elizabeth toward the stage door.

  When he opened the door a chilling draft blew in. Elizabeth shivered and clutched her bare arms. “Ooo, brr. Forgot my jacket. Just a minute.” She darted across the semi-darkened stage and retrieved Tori’s jacket from the front seat where she had left it after the show. Still shivering, she zipped it and pulled up the hood. She was halfway back across the stage when she thought she heard Tori calling her. “Tori?” She stopped and looked around.

  A sensation of movement overhead made her look up just in time to see a blur of color hurtling toward her. She jumped with a scream. Erin’s hot pink and purple makeup case smashed open at her feet.

  Running footsteps clattered on the iron catwalk above her head. Four narrow, winding stairways led upward. Richard leapt for one. Elizabeth scampered up the flight nearest her. A barked order and pounding steps behind her indicated that Lempson, who must have come at her scream, and Fellows were taking the other two stairways. Navigating the black catwalk, high above the dimly lit stage was like trying to find your way through a thick fog in a very large coal bin. Elizabeth clutched the handrail and peered into the gloom. A figure moved on the walkway ahead and to her left. Was it the thrower of the makeup kit or a policeman? The specter was too short to be Richard.

  She inched ahead. It seemed useless to try for speed, so she would attempt stealth. Whoever had aimed at her must still be up here. If only she could surprise the culprit. She crossed the width of the stage, aware of figures moving further to the back. The dark shape she had her eye on hadn’t moved.

  She stepped onto the next span, praying her quarry was as night blind as she was. Or was the miscreant perhaps afraid to move? With four pursuers in a relatively small space, perhaps their object had taken refuge in stillness. Or was she completely wrong? A wave of embarrassment warmed her face. Had she picked out a vaguely human-shaped bank of lights to pursue in the murk?

  Elizabeth took three steps out on the narrow rail. It swayed under her feet and creaked. Her presence could be no secret to her quarry now. She had nothing to lose by trying for speed.

  Then she felt the walkway sway again and saw Richard’s tall form striding toward her from the other end. Their object was trapped.

  Suddenly the inanimate figure sprang into life and leapt toward her. The rail clanked and vibrated with pounding feet.

  Elizabeth gripped the rail with both hands and clung to the edge. Surely there wasn’t room for two bodies on that narrow rail.

  She felt the person speed by. The shove of sharp shoulders knocked her to her knees.

  One leg dangled in space. Her sweating hands gripping the rail began to slip.

  Richard’s arms reached her, pulling her back from disaster for the second time that day. A moment later, the main switch snapped on, flooding the stage with pink and amber light. His right arm still firmly around her waist, Richard guided her ahead of him to the stairs where Sergeant Lempson stood at the bottom with his hand extended to help her down.

  “Thank you, but I’m fine,” Elizabeth protested. “Had an exciting minute up there, but I’m fine. Really.” She smiled at Richard. She had no intention of showing how shaken she was.

  Lempson turned to the smashed makeup case on the stage. “Looks like you had an exciting minute or two down here as well.”

  Elizabeth nestled in the circle of Richard’s arm. “Oh, it all happened so fast—I almost forgot about that. Guess someone was trying to scare me. They did succeed, actually. But I can’t imagine why they would want to.”

  “You’d have had a pretty nasty headache if their aim hadn’t been off.”

  In the wings Larry was apologizing loudly to three or four actors for being so slow to get the lights on. “I was halfway across the park when I heard Tom calling.” He gestured toward the actor who had played Feste. “I ran right back.” He was still breathing heavily.

  “How did you know where to call?” a policeman asked Tom.

  Tom shrugged. “I saw someone go out. Guessed it was Larry. So I tried calling. Bit later, I saw the lights come on.”

  But was he in the park? Elizabeth wondered. Or had he conveniently turned the lights out to shroud his own agenda in darkness? Although what motive he would have for trying to get rid of her, she couldn’t imagine.

  At that moment a draft of cool breeze indicated the opening of the stage door. “Oh, hi. I didn’t think y’all would still be here. I forgot my makeup case—” Erin stopped with a gasp. “My Kaboodles! What happened?” She knelt beside her smashed case and its scattered contents.

  “Don’t touch it, Miss.” Detective Rory Fellows laid a hand on her arm. “We’ll need to dust it for prints. Not much chance of finding anything, but it is evidence.”

  “But what happened?” Erin looked from face to face.

  Richard told her in as few words as possible.

  “But that’s crazy. Who would want to do that to Elizabeth?” Then Erin’s face paled and her eyes got wider than ever. “Elizabeth, were you wearing that?”

  “Yes, I was just going out.”

  “With the hood up?”

  Elizabeth thought for a second. The hood had fallen back when she jumped away from the hurtling missile, but she had put it up, thinking she was going out in the breeze. She nodded.

  “Then that’s it!” Erin put a hand to her throat. “They thought it was me. I wear that all the time. My favorite jacket that isn’t mine, Tori calls it.”

  What is so is not so, Elizabeth thought. “Did Dirk take you home?”

  “Ages ago. The party-pooper said he was tired. Don’t know why he would be, he’s on vacation.”

  “So you came back alone?” Lempson asked.

  Erin shrugged. “Sure, it’s close. But look, there’s stuff in there I really need.” She continued talking to the officer while Elizabeth took stock of the perplexed faces standing around the set. Tom, who had apparently been answering questions when she screamed; two musicians and the actress who played Maria waiting to be questioned; Larry who had been called back from the park. Had they been where they seemed to be
? And where were Gregg and Tori?

  As if in answer to Elizabeth’s question, her sister wandered in at the far side of the stage, holding her glasses and rubbing her eyes. “What’s going on? It must be the middle of the night.”

  “Tori, where have you been? I’ve been so worried.” Elizabeth ran to her.

  “There you are, at last.” Gregg strode in through the down left entrance. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”

  Tori grinned, then yawned and put her glasses back on. “I went to sleep.”

  “Sleep?”

  “Uh-huh. We have a small couch in the sewing room. I just couldn’t keep my eyes open, so I went there. It was so quiet. It was great.” She stretched lazily.

  Elizabeth frowned. It wasn’t like Tori to go to sleep on a party. Especially one in her friend’s honor. “Tori, what did you have to drink tonight?”

  “Just a lemonade. Why?”

  “Did you open it yourself?”

  “I don’t remember. Why?”

  “Do you know where the bottle is?” Elizabeth insisted.

  “Probably by the sofa. I don’t really remember. I might have carried it down there.”

  Elizabeth started toward the door, but Rory Fellows who had been following her questions moved first. “Can you show me the way, Miss?” Tori led him out.

  Richard led Elizabeth off to the side. “We’re going home.”

  “Mmm. Yes. That big brass bed at the Bard’s Haven is just what I want.”

  “Yes, for tonight. But I mean home. First flight I can get in the morning.”

  “But, Richard, why? We still have two more plays to see.”

  “I want you out of here. Do you realize how close you’ve come to being killed twice today?”

  “Richard, they were accidents. And the makeup kit wasn’t that heavy. It wouldn’t have killed me.” She paused. “Surely you don’t think I’d leave when a prime murder suspect is about to run off with my sister?”

  “And surely you don’t think I’d let you stay another minute when you’re apparently a prime murder target?” “They were accidents,” she repeated. “At least as to me. Erin may be right. Someone may have thought I was her in that jacket. But don’t be silly. I’m fine.”

  “Yes. And that’s the way I want you to stay.”

  She narrowed her eyes and lifted her head. “Dr. Richard Spenser, have you thought— Gregg might have drugged Victoria tonight to keep her out of the way while he dealt with Erin.”

  “There are at least a million ‘might haves’ I’ve thought of. Most of them far more disastrous than the one you suggest. Like my having to live without you. I’m taking you home. We’ll take Tori, too, if you want.” They turned toward the door.

  “Excuse me,” Detective Sergeant Lempson stopped them. “You folks will be staying here for a couple of days, won’t you?”

  Richard opened his mouth, but got no further.

  “I can’t require it, you understand. Not yet. But you’re key witnesses to what happened tonight. It could be material. It’s quite clear that we’re now investigating a murder.”

  Elizabeth grinned at her husband. “Like I said, we have two more plays to see.”

  But inside she wondered: Were they really accidents—cases of mistaken identity? Or was she a witness to something important? Had she seen something she didn’t know she’d seen? Was it possible someone did want to get rid of her because of something she didn’t even know she knew?

  Chapter 14

  THE PHONE CALL THAT the indefatigable Mrs. Landor summoned Richard to the next morning was from Tori. Officer Lempson had been around to see them already. As they expected, there were no helpful prints on the makeup case, only some of Erin’s on the various tubes and jars inside. Also, Tori’s prints were the only ones on the lemonade bottle. But there was a strong residue of diphenhydramine—the active ingredient in over-the-counter sleeping pills.

  The police had questioned Tori more thoroughly about the situation at the party and who had handed her the bottle. Unfortunately, she had been talking and laughing with at least 10 people at the time: Erin, Dirk, Hilary, Tom, Janice. . . no, she didn’t think Gregg had come in from the dressing room yet, but she couldn’t be sure. Anyway, everyone was handing around bottles and cans, and she had no idea who had stuck hers in her hand. The cap must have been off because she didn’t remember taking it off, and she didn’t think she had left it sitting open at any time. So it must have been doctored when she got it.

  As soon as Richard reported all that to Elizabeth, she jumped to her feet, her ruffled, white Victorian gown with pink ribbons, purchased especially for the honeymoon, falling gracefully around her. “Right. That’s settled then. We’re getting Tori out of here.”

  Richard grinned. “Now you see how I felt when I wanted to take you home last night.”

  She walked into his open arms. “Yes, I do. Thank you for caring.”

  He held her so tight she couldn’t breathe for a moment. “Oh, Elizabeth, I can’t possibly imagine life without you.”

  She buried her face in his chest, reveling in his strength and his nearness. Then she pulled away. “Oh, dear, I almost got sidetracked there.” She sat on the floral chintz-covered loveseat beside the window. “What can we do about Tori?”

  Richard sat beside her. “I doubt that she’s the real target in any of this. It seems likely that if someone wanted to scare Erin they would probably think it might be easier without her roommate watch-dogging them.”

  “So you agree with Erin that someone wanted to land that case on her head?”

  He took her hand. “I have to. In spite of my initial reaction, I can’t really cope with the idea that someone wants to hurt you.”

  “So, what did they hope to accomplish by last night’s escapade?”

  Richard shrugged. “Just scare her, I guess. A makeup kit isn’t much of a murder weapon—just like sugar pills weren’t either—or falling flats or glass in her face powder. They all seem to add up to scare tactics.”

  “Or some kind of a warning. That must be why they used her case. A bank of lights would have been far handier and delivered a more forceful message. But if they just wanted to get Erin’s attention, this was perfect,” Elizabeth agreed.

  “So who would want to do that?”

  They sat frowning in concentration, tossing out ideas as they occurred: Dirk—scare her enough to run off and marry him? Erin’s father—scare her into leaving the career he doesn’t approve of? Some guy who likes her, but she ignores—trying to get her attention? Some nut— no rational reason at all? Someone from her past—something they didn’t know anything about at all?

  They stopped. Elizabeth shook her head. “Wait! We’re sidetracked again. About Tori—if she was inconvenient once, she might be again. We need to get her away from here.”

  “I couldn’t agree more. But Officer Lempson wouldn’t.”

  “Okay, then. Let’s help the villain.”

  Richard’s dark eyebrows shot up. “What?”

  “Well, at least for the day. If he wants Tori out of the way, let’s take her away from Ashland—shopping in Medford or a picnic in the mountains or something.”

  “Good idea.” Richard reached for some tourist information leaflets on the marble-topped dresser. “Erin, too?”

  “Sure, if she’s free.” Elizabeth had long ago abandoned the idea of spending her honeymoon locked in a world of just herself and her husband. This was turning into a real Busman’s Honeymoon. Lucky she was enough of a Dorothy L. Sayers fan to appreciate at least that much of the situation.

  “A veritable plethora of choices.” Richard held out several Chamber of Commerce brochures. “Take your pick—hot air balloon rides, jet boat river trips, skiing—oops, sorry, wrong season—llama hikes. . .”

  “Llama hikes?”

  “That’s what the lady wrote.” He showed her a picture of a gentle-looking, long-necked llama with a young woman in a bright red jacket and an even brighter smile
standing beside it.

  “‘Guided llama walks with lunch provided in a high mountain setting above Ashland,’” he read.

  Elizabeth shook her head. “Sounds interesting, but I don’t think so. Anything less exotic on offer?”

  “Well, how about a nice drive? Applegate Valley Loop, 100 miles; Mount Ashland, 48 miles; Upper Rogue River/Crater and Diamond lakes, 120 miles. . .”

  “Something closer to home.”

  “Ah, how’s this? ‘Explore Historic Jacksonville.’” He held out a brochure with a many-gabled, much-gingerbreaded Victorian house on the front.

  “Sold. Let’s go.” Elizabeth pulled a pair of khaki slacks and a blue silk shirt out of the closet.

  All the way to her sister’s apartment Elizabeth worried that Tori might be offended by their mother-henning her. She tried to word their invitation in an off-handed manner so as not to sound like a desperate attempt at a rescue mission. But Victoria accepted with such alacrity and openness Elizabeth could see that she needn’t have worried. When Tori ran off to get a sweatshirt in case her pink shorts and white t-shirt were too cool for the changeable weather, Richard extended the invitation to Erin as well.

  “Love to,” she responded. “But it’s Enemy of The People this afternoon. I’m doing Sally’s bit as an extra. Ironic, isn’t it? I’m just a townsperson, but ‘there are no small roles, only small actors,’ as my favorite high school drama teacher Elva Reid reminded us almost daily.” She twirled a strand of blond hair falling over her shoulder.

  Elizabeth was amazed at how innocent and untroubled Erin looked—one would think her completely untouched by the threats and mysteries that whirled around her. Elizabeth hated to shatter Erin’s peace with an unhappy suggestion, but felt she must. “Erin, are you sure it’s all right to leave you alone?”

  “I’ll be fine. Dirk’s coming over pretty soon, anyway. I think we’ll walk down to the deli for lunch. I love those seats out back by the creek.”