We advanced into the room and took the usual seats in front of the desk. Kanesha occupied a chair to Wesner’s left.
“What information do you have for me?” Wesner said.
I proceeded to tell him what Stewart had told me, after first explaining who Stewart was. Wesner glanced quickly at Kanesha, who nodded at the mention of Stewart’s name to indicate he was reliable, I supposed.
When I finished, I sat back and waited for Wesner to comment. He regarded me impassively for what seemed like minutes but was probably only about ten or fifteen seconds. “Thank you, Mr. Harris.”
“That’s all?” I said. “No comments other than that? Did you already know all this? Did I waste my time and yours in coming to you?”
Helen Louise laid a restraining hand on my arm, and I forced myself to calm down. I reminded myself that Wesner was in charge, and he knew how to do his job best. I couldn’t expect him to take my word without checking things out. “I guess we’ll be going, then,” I said as I rose. “Come on, Helen Louise.”
“Hold it,” Kanesha said. “Stay where you are, if you don’t mind.”
I settled back into my chair. Helen Louise once again put her hand on my arm as a reminder for me to keep my temper. I smiled at her to let her know I appreciated her support.
Wesner cleared his throat. “Your information is appreciated, Mr. Harris. You were able to corroborate some of what Chief Deputy Berry told me, but you did supply details that we didn’t know about.”
“Particularly the detail that the Gregorys might have held Denis Kilbride accountable for their son’s suicide earlier this year,” Kanesha said. “And I can confirm that it was a suicide.”
“Do you think Todd Gregory’s activities in Memphis were well known in Athena?” I asked.
“I have no reason to think so,” Kanesha said. “Not well known anyway. I’m sure it wasn’t completely secret, however. He wasn’t the only man in Athena going to the bars in Memphis looking for company.”
“What did Todd Gregory do?” I asked.
“He worked in his parents’ office. Managed their business for them,” Kanesha said. “They were very successful. They sold their business about a month after Todd Gregory died.”
“Do you think that the Gregorys killed Denis Kilbride?” Helen Louise asked.
Something that had been niggling in the back of my mind suddenly managed to get through.
“I know how one of them got to Denis that night,” I said.
THIRTY-FOUR
“Well, go on,” Wesner said impatiently. “How did one of them get to him, as you call it?”
I turned to Helen Louise. “Do you remember how Denis Kilbride complained about his back?”
Helen Louise thought for a moment. “You’re right, he did. Twice, in fact.”
I turned back to Kanesha and Wesner. “When Denis Kilbride stormed into our meeting that night,” I said, “he complained about his back in front of the group. Burdine or Elmore could have used that as an excuse to go to his room to offer to give him a treatment. He was drunk, according to you, so he might have let them in without thinking about it. That gave them the perfect opportunity to kill him.”
“Why would they take his medications from the room?” Wesner asked. “That’s one thing that I haven’t been able to figure out.”
An answer to that occurred to me, too, though I would have to admit that it sounded far-fetched when I said it aloud.
“In our group discussions, Burdine often harps on the facts in the case. She always likes to claim that she figures out who the killer is way before the detective in the book does.” I paused to take a breath. “I think she might have done it to confuse the issue, to make it harder to figure out. Plus, she had drugs in her possession she could use later if necessary on someone else.”
“When did she find the pin that was used in both murders?” Kanesha asked.
“That I don’t know,” I said, “but I’m sure y’all have information on everyone’s movements, even Cora Apfel’s. Was Cora assigned to the Gregorys’ floor?”
Wesner said, “She was.”
“There you are,” I said. “Cora could have lost her pin in the Gregorys’ room, and Burdine or Elmore held on to it. Chiropractors have to know about anatomy, so they would have known how it could be used to kill someone.”
Wesner remained impassive, frustrating me. Had I managed to give him a new angle on the case, or was he merely indulging me?
“Those are good points,” Kanesha said. “The problem is, we have no evidence that places either or both of the Gregorys in Denis Kilbride’s room that night.”
“What about Cora Apfel’s murder?” Helen Louise asked. “She was found next door during the morning. Someone could have seen one or the other of them coming out of the meeting room.”
Kanesha and Wesner didn’t comment. I had to wonder, though, if Kanesha had been on her own, if she would have been more forthcoming. She was not in charge of the investigation, however. Wesner seemed to be determined to be as noncommittal as possible. Dang his hide!
I stood, and Helen Louise followed suit. “We’ll be going now.”
Wesner rose. “Thank you, Mr. Harris, Miss Brady. I appreciate your cooperation in this investigation.”
I tried, and probably failed, to sound gracious in my reply to that. “You’re welcome.”
We walked out of the room, and Helen Louise shut the door, not quite gently, behind us.
“He’s certainly infuriating, isn’t he?” she said lightly.
“He is,” I said. “If only Kanesha were in charge.”
“She’s not, unfortunately for you,” Helen Louise said as we reached the foot of the stairs.
“Nothing I can do about that,” I said. “I want this to be over for all our sakes. I hate feeling like I’m stuck in suspension, and when I’m pretty sure I have the answer, I’m frustrated that the cops don’t seem to be acting on what I told them.”
“Pretty sure isn’t enough,” Helen Louise said. “Are you coming upstairs or not?”
“I’m coming,” I said, and followed her and Diesel back to our suite. Once inside, I took Diesel out of his harness and leash and let him roam. I flopped on the sofa while Helen Louise disappeared into the bedroom.
If I were Nancy Drew dealing with Chief McGinnis, I thought, I’d have gotten more respect from Wesner. Or the Hardy Boys dealing with Chief Collig. At least he welcomed the boys’ help sometimes. I supposed I should be grateful that Wesner had at least listened to me. After all, I wasn’t an Oscar Smuff. At that thought I had to laugh, picturing myself as the ineffective private detective from the Hardy Boys books.
I was taking this too seriously, I told myself. You’re spoiled, thinking you’re such a hotshot, my inner saboteur jeered at me. Wesner isn’t going to put up with you posing as the Great Detective who’s never wrong.
“Oh, shut up,” I said.
“Excuse me?” Helen Louise stopped in front of me. “What did I say?”
“Not you. Me,” I said. “I was talking to myself.”
Helen Louise sat beside me on the sofa. “Is this a private conversation between the two of you, or am I allowed to participate?”
I quickly explained, and Helen Louise smiled. “Don’t be too hard on yourself, love. You’re caught up in the mystery, like probably others of the group are, if they’re innocent. This is like our secret fantasy, being in the middle of a Golden Age detective story, but who is the great detective?”
“It’s turned into a bit of a nightmare, too. Zac wanted to be the great detective,” I said, “and look what happened. That should be a lesson to me. I’m sure that’s what Sean would tell me.”
“He probably would,” Helen Louise agreed. “He loves you and wants to keep you safe, and I can’t blame him for that. I’d like you to be around at least long enough for us to be
married.”
I laughed. “All right, I get the point.”
Diesel climbed onto the sofa and spread out across our laps, his head in mine. He meowed loudly, indicating that attention should be forthcoming and preferably immediately.
“You’re so spoiled,” I told him, and he responded with a warble as we stroked him.
“He certainly is,” Helen Louise said, “but he’s worth it.” The cat warbled again, and she chuckled. “Nothing like conviction, is there, Diesel?”
I only half heard her last remark, because my attention was suddenly caught by an idea, suggested by what Helen Louise had said about our group. I turned it over and over in my mind, and I decided that I couldn’t bring it about on my own. Miss An’gel would have to be the one to instigate it, and I thought I knew her well enough to predict how she would react to it.
“I need to talk to Miss An’gel,” I said, startling Helen Louise and Diesel as I made a move to get up from the sofa. Diesel grumbled with me as I raised him up to make my escape possible.
“What have you got to talk to Miss An’gel about?” Helen Louise said, sounding slightly annoyed.
“Oh, an idea I’ve had,” I said vaguely. Now that I was off the sofa I could get to my cell phone. I called Miss An’gel, crossing my fingers that she would answer and I wouldn’t be stuck with voice mail.
My luck held. Miss An’gel answered. “Good morning, Charlie. How are you?”
“Doing fine,” I said. “Are you available for a talk right now? I have an idea to propose to you.”
“That sounds intriguing,” she replied. “As a matter of fact, Sister and I were about to go out, but we can postpone that. Would you like to come to our suite, or should we come to you?”
I shot a quick glance at Helen Louise. “I can come to your suite, that’s no problem.”
“All right, then. We’ll expect you in a few minutes,” Miss An’gel replied.
I put my phone away. “I’m going to Miss An’gel’s suite. Would you like to come with me?”
“You’d rather I didn’t, I’m pretty sure, so you can discuss whatever harebrained idea you’ve come up with without me.” Helen Louise shook her head. “Charlie, I’ve got half a mind to call Sean right now so he can lecture you.”
“Now, don’t be that way,” I said. “My idea isn’t dangerous, I promise you. Miss An’gel won’t go for it if she thinks there’s any real danger, you know that.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” Helen Louise said. “Miss An’gel has never been afraid of taking a risk, based on my knowledge of her. Neither has Miss Dickce, not the way she drives.”
“Would you like to come with me?” I said again.
“You can tell me about it later,” Helen Louise said with a resigned smile. “I’ve got a new book I want to start, so I may as well get on with it.”
“All right, I won’t be long. I’ll leave Diesel with you, I think. He looks comfortable where he is. See you in a bit.”
Miss Dickce admitted me into their suite immediately. To my surprise, Kanesha was there. I almost made my excuses to leave, but Miss An’gel insisted that I join them. Reluctantly, I entered the room.
“Charlie, I’m glad you called.” Miss An’gel indicated that I should take a chair near hers. Miss Dickce rejoined her sister on the sofa. Benjy was not in the room. “Kanesha came up a few minutes ago, and we’ve been discussing the murders. I think it’s fair to say that Kanesha is a bit frustrated with the way Wesner is handling things.”
Kanesha didn’t appear in the least happy with Miss An’gel’s statement. I wouldn’t have dared look at Miss An’gel like that, but Kanesha lived with danger more than I did. Miss An’gel caught the look and smiled.
“I have to say myself that he seems a bit on the cautious side,” Miss An’gel continued. “Kanesha is certain of the identity of the killer and so am I.” She held up a hand to forestall any comment from me. “The problem is evidence to link the killer irrevocably with the murder of Denis Kilbride. Then we can hope to link the killer to the second murder. Our killer has been clever, Charlie, no doubt about it.”
“That’s where my idea comes in, the one I mentioned on the phone,” I said. “We came here to have a week of discussions about mysteries, with a lot of the focus on the Golden Age. This whole situation with the two murders and a third one attempted is like something out of a Golden Age novel. Helen Louise said a little earlier to me that we were like a group in which no one knew who was supposed to be the great detective.”
“Yes, I see your point,” Miss An’gel said.
“I’ve always seen Sister as more of a Miss Silver type, while I’m Miss Marple,” Miss Dickce said with an impish grin. “Celia would be like dear Miss Seeton, don’t you think?”
I wasn’t aware that Celia Bernardi had any artistic abilities, unlike Heron Carvic’s unusual spinster, Miss Seeton, but I let that pass. Instead, I glanced at Kanesha. Her enigmatic expression seemed glued in place.
Miss An’gel threw her sister a repressive glance and urged me to go on.
“I thought we could bring the situation to a head by resorting to one of the conventions of the Golden Age mystery,” I said. “Bringing everyone together and telling them that All Would Be Revealed. You know the drill.”
Miss Dickce squealed with delight. “Splendid, Charlie. And you can play Hercule Poirot.”
“I’m flattered, Miss Dickce,” I said, trying not to chuckle, “but that’s not exactly what I had in mind.” I looked at Miss An’gel.
“I suppose you cast me in the role of Poirot,” she said dryly.
“If you like,” I said. “Or Nero Wolfe, perhaps. Even Miss Silver, though I’ve never seen you knit.”
Miss An’gel looked at Kanesha. “My dear, I know you only read mysteries occasionally, but I’m sure you understand what Charlie is suggesting.”
“I do,” Kanesha said. “I will remind you that this is not the first time Charlie has done this.”
“No, it’s not,” I admitted. “But you have to admit that, when I have done it, it has been effective.”
Kanesha shrugged.
“Come on, my dear,” Miss An’gel said. “Will you work with us on this?”
Kanesha looked at her. “I might as well, because I know you’ll do it anyway.”
“Excellent,” Miss An’gel said. “Now, here’s how we’ll do it.”
THIRTY-FIVE
Miss Ang’el had set the meeting for five o’clock, to which Kanesha had agreed. She needed time to do some prep work. Zac was not well enough yet to leave the hospital, but she was going to set up a video monitor in the meeting room so Zac could appear virtually. He was well enough to talk, at least briefly.
When I made it back to our suite, I found Helen Louise stretched out on the sofa, reading. Diesel, I discovered, had gone to the bedroom and taken over the bed. He roused long enough to warble at me before going back to sleep.
I picked up Helen Louise’s feet, inserted myself under them on the sofa, and then let them down into my lap. She put down her book and peered at me over it. “All set?” she asked.
“All set,” I said. “I think this will make you feel better about the whole idea. Kanesha was there. Apparently she’s a little frustrated with Wesner, too, and thinks my idea, capably managed by Miss An’gel, will bring about the results we need to get this over with.
“Actually I got the idea from you, so you deserve a lot of the credit,” I said.
“And all of the blame if it goes wrong,” Helen Louise said wryly. “Okay, what idea did I give you?”
I explained, and Helen Louise shut her eyes. “Lord have mercy, what have I wrought?”
“I think it’s a good idea, and I think it will appeal to the competitive instincts of the group. The killer can’t refuse to play along because that would send up an immediate signal. He or she will
have to participate and hope they can outwit the rest of us.”
“I suppose,” Helen Louise said with obvious reluctance. “Kanesha will be there?”
“She will, in the room with us, and she’ll make sure a couple of Wesner’s officers are waiting just outside the door,” I replied. “Kanesha said there’s no evidence of a gun in anyone’s room, so that’s good.”
“I thought our room had been searched,” Helen Louise said. “I should have expected it, I guess. Are we taking Diesel with us?”
“Yes, because I don’t want to leave him alone. Miss An’gel volunteered Benjy, but I think he should be with the group.”
“All right. How about lunch, then? I don’t want to go into this evening on an empty stomach.”
* * *
* * *
Helen Louise, Diesel, and I entered the meeting room five minutes before five. Miss An’gel, Miss Dickce, Benjy, and Kanesha were there. The others came in not long after us. Miss An’gel had arranged for drinks to be available, and we all served ourselves. Once everyone had a drink and had found a place to sit, Kanesha moved to a position near the door, and Miss An’gel called everyone to attention.
“Thank you all for being here. I promise this meeting won’t interfere with your evening plans, if you are planning to enjoy one of the many fine restaurants here in Asheville,” she said with a benign smile.
“What brought this group together is a mutual love of mystery and detective fiction,” Miss An’gel said. “Sister and I have been impressed by the depth and breadth of the knowledge of the genre that you all have collectively displayed. I thought we ought not to miss this opportunity to put our collective knowledge together and try to figure out the plot that we are currently in the midst of.”
I had been watching the expressions of group members while Miss An’gel talked. Johnny Ray caught on quickly, I thought, and Celia almost as fast. Melba cut me a sideways glance. She had probably figured it out the moment she received Miss An’gel’s text. The others didn’t seem to catch on until Miss An’gel’s final sentence, and then the truth hit them. I couldn’t watch everyone at once, but I saw that Elmore didn’t seem bothered, while Burdine looked briefly alarmed. Ellie, too, seemed uneasy. Paul simply appeared blank. I wondered idly if he played poker.
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