found for me shortly before her recent death.
I retrieved the phone from a zippered inner pocket and waved it at Lindsay. "Satisfied?"
"I'd feel better if you'd keep it closer to hand, in a pocket."
My suit, with all of its pockets, was in an evidence bag. I spread my arms, demonstrating the lack of anywhere to tuck the phone. "Later. As soon as I get home. For now, though, let's go spring Dee and Emma from the detectives' clutches."
CHAPTER SEVEN
The ambulance was gone, but Fred was still there, barking at the crowd. I handed over the takeout cup and little brown-and-pink bag. He peered inside as if he suspected I was trying to poison him, but then he got a whiff of the cinnamon and let out a deep sigh of satisfaction. "I was afraid you'd gotten the chocolate kind. Or something full of antioxidants, like my wife would insist on."
I was glad I remembered. I might need whatever brownie points—or in this case, cinnamon points—I could get if Tremain's murder wasn't solved quickly. Fred would never tell me anything truly confidential, but there might be some tidbits he could share. He'd probably at least give me a heads-up if Wolfe persisted with his pet theory of the case.
"If it's okay with you, I'm taking Lindsay inside to be with her grandmother."
Fred was already downing his coffee and gestured with the cupcake for us to go on in. There were dissatisfied murmurs from the curious crowd of people who hadn't been allowed inside the taped-off area.
The gurney where Alyse had been recuperating was gone. Wolfe came out from the back, so I asked, "How's Alyse doing?"
"She's fine. The lead detective is questioning her now."
"Where are Dee and Emma?"
"In the conference room, talking about their stupid quilts with the reporter. You'd think a guy like him would have better things to do."
It wasn't worth rising to the bait. "The best reporters are brilliant at finding a fascinating angle for even the dullest subjects."
"Whatever." Wolfe nodded at Lindsay. "What's she doing here? The cops were supposed to keep the public out."
"This is Dee's granddaughter. She's here to take Dee and Emma home."
"The grandmother can leave but not the other one. She hasn't given her statement yet. The detective wanted to talk to Alyse first. She still isn't looking good, so he didn't want to keep her waiting."
"Then Lindsay will be staying until both Dee and Emma are ready to leave."
When Wolfe didn't object, Lindsay raced past me and into the conference room, where she gave first Dee and then Emma enthusiastic hugs.
Even with Matt and Lindsay keeping an eye on the elderly women, I was reluctant to leave while Wolfe was still on the scene. I really couldn't stay any longer though. I had a quilt to appraise for the museum and a speech to write for the quilt show.
"Don't even think of badgering Dee or Emma after I'm gone. You're on notice that they've been advised not to talk to you, and I will report you if you harass them."
"I know the rules, Counselor." Wolfe's tone was light, and, if anything, he seemed more impressed by my warning than insulted by it.
I poked my head inside the conference room. "Call me when you get home, Lindsay, so I know everyone's okay."
Matt stood. "Do you need a ride, Keely? Emma said you don't drive."
Always helpful, that Emma. "Thanks, but I live nearby."
"I'll walk out with you then." As soon as we stepped outside, he said, "So, what do you think happened to Tremain?"
He might be charming and obviously concerned about Dee and Emma, but he was still a reporter. Give him a one-word answer, and he'd turn it into something unrecognizable.
"No comment."
"Hey, no need to go all attorney-faced on me," he said. "I'm concerned about the prosecutor thinking Dee and Emma are psychos straight out of Arsenic and Old Lace ."
Despite everything, I had to laugh. "I suppose Wolfe sees himself as Cary Grant."
"He's too pretty for the part but just as clueless. Do you think Wolfe might actually get charges
I retrieved the phone from a zippered inner pocket and waved it at Lindsay. "Satisfied?"
"I'd feel better if you'd keep it closer to hand, in a pocket."
My suit, with all of its pockets, was in an evidence bag. I spread my arms, demonstrating the lack of anywhere to tuck the phone. "Later. As soon as I get home. For now, though, let's go spring Dee and Emma from the detectives' clutches."
CHAPTER SEVEN
The ambulance was gone, but Fred was still there, barking at the crowd. I handed over the takeout cup and little brown-and-pink bag. He peered inside as if he suspected I was trying to poison him, but then he got a whiff of the cinnamon and let out a deep sigh of satisfaction. "I was afraid you'd gotten the chocolate kind. Or something full of antioxidants, like my wife would insist on."
I was glad I remembered. I might need whatever brownie points—or in this case, cinnamon points—I could get if Tremain's murder wasn't solved quickly. Fred would never tell me anything truly confidential, but there might be some tidbits he could share. He'd probably at least give me a heads-up if Wolfe persisted with his pet theory of the case.
"If it's okay with you, I'm taking Lindsay inside to be with her grandmother."
Fred was already downing his coffee and gestured with the cupcake for us to go on in. There were dissatisfied murmurs from the curious crowd of people who hadn't been allowed inside the taped-off area.
The gurney where Alyse had been recuperating was gone. Wolfe came out from the back, so I asked, "How's Alyse doing?"
"She's fine. The lead detective is questioning her now."
"Where are Dee and Emma?"
"In the conference room, talking about their stupid quilts with the reporter. You'd think a guy like him would have better things to do."
It wasn't worth rising to the bait. "The best reporters are brilliant at finding a fascinating angle for even the dullest subjects."
"Whatever." Wolfe nodded at Lindsay. "What's she doing here? The cops were supposed to keep the public out."
"This is Dee's granddaughter. She's here to take Dee and Emma home."
"The grandmother can leave but not the other one. She hasn't given her statement yet. The detective wanted to talk to Alyse first. She still isn't looking good, so he didn't want to keep her waiting."
"Then Lindsay will be staying until both Dee and Emma are ready to leave."
When Wolfe didn't object, Lindsay raced past me and into the conference room, where she gave first Dee and then Emma enthusiastic hugs.
Even with Matt and Lindsay keeping an eye on the elderly women, I was reluctant to leave while Wolfe was still on the scene. I really couldn't stay any longer though. I had a quilt to appraise for the museum and a speech to write for the quilt show.
"Don't even think of badgering Dee or Emma after I'm gone. You're on notice that they've been advised not to talk to you, and I will report you if you harass them."
"I know the rules, Counselor." Wolfe's tone was light, and, if anything, he seemed more impressed by my warning than insulted by it.
I poked my head inside the conference room. "Call me when you get home, Lindsay, so I know everyone's okay."
Matt stood. "Do you need a ride, Keely? Emma said you don't drive."
Always helpful, that Emma. "Thanks, but I live nearby."
"I'll walk out with you then." As soon as we stepped outside, he said, "So, what do you think happened to Tremain?"
He might be charming and obviously concerned about Dee and Emma, but he was still a reporter. Give him a one-word answer, and he'd turn it into something unrecognizable.
"No comment."
"Hey, no need to go all attorney-faced on me," he said. "I'm concerned about the prosecutor thinking Dee and Emma are psychos straight out of Arsenic and Old Lace ."
Despite everything, I had to laugh. "I suppose Wolfe sees himself as Cary Grant."
"He's too pretty for the part but just as clueless. Do you think Wolfe might actually get charges
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