Grace Sees Red by Julie Hyzy Page B

that the nurses wouldn’t see it and dump it out.” He blinked a couple of times, as though a thought had suddenly occurred to him. “But that doesn’t mean Anton couldn’t have added something to one of the open bottles when Gus wasn’t looking.” He locked eyes with Kyle. “You know how Gus liked to start every morning with a healthy swig.”
    â€œHealthy?” I asked. “Hardly.”
    â€œI don’t know,” Kyle said, twisting his mouth. “Anton’s a heck of a good guy. I can’t see him doing anything to hurt Gus. Besides, that bottle hasn’t even been opened.”
    â€œDoesn’t matter. The cops need to know about his habits.” Percy curled his fingers around the wheelchair’s joystick. “Put the bottle on my lap,” he said to Frances. “I’ll take it with me.”
    Just then, Bennett returned. A short, heavyset woman wearing a plum skirt suit accompanied him. Though Bennett took his customary long-legged strides to cross the room, the diminutive woman managed to keep pace.
    She sharply scrutinized our little group, her deep-set eyesmissing nothing. Agewise I assumed she fell between Frances and me, but whether she’d hit forty or fifty at her last milestone birthday was impossible to tell. Her bob-length hair was a rich auburn, her skin smooth.
    â€œThis is Lillandra Holland,” Bennett said without preamble when they reached us. He then introduced me, Percy, and Kyle. “Frances,” he said, “Ms. Holland will be representing you in this matter.”
    The lawyer held up two pillowy palms. “Call me Lily, please,” she said. “Makes life much easier for everyone.” Turning to Frances, she extended a hand. “Pleased to make your acquaintance, Ms. Sliwa.”
    The quick seconds it took for the two women to shake provided Frances ample opportunity to invite the lawyer to call her by her first name. She didn’t.
    Unruffled, Lily continued. “I’ve spoken with the detectives in charge and convinced them to allow you to return to Emberstowne. You may have to make yourself available for further questioning at some point, but we’ll worry about that when it happens.”
    Frances gave a satisfied nod. “It’s about time they realized they were wasting their efforts.”
    Lily waved a chubby finger. “So that there are no misunderstandings, let me assure you that while you’re free to go now—and I do mean that we ought to leave
right now
—the police have not completely eliminated you as a suspect. You’re not in the clear. Not yet.”
    Frances looked away. “Stupid cops.”
    Lily shot Bennett a glance. I had no doubt he’d forewarned the attorney about Frances’s prickly nature.
    â€œI’d like you out of here before they change their minds.” Lily gestured Frances to follow. “We can talk on the way back to Emberstowne.”
    â€œWhat about my car?” Frances asked. “I’m not leaving it here.”
    â€œGracie or I can drive your vehicle back,” Bennett said. “We’ll drop it off in front of your house.”
    Grudgingly, Frances reached into her cavernous vinylpurse and dug out keys. “You can keep this set until I come in tomorrow. I have spares at home.”
    She then shot a look to Percy, who still waited with the bottle on his lap. He lifted his chin. “Go,” he said. “We’ll talk later.”
    *   *   *
    I would have preferred to drive back to Marshfield with Bennett so that we could compare notes along the way, but he took off in Frances’s Buick, while the two women left in Lily’s Lexus, and I drove home alone.
    Surprised to find both my roommates’ cars in our driveway, I parked behind Scott’s and let myself in through the back door.
    â€œWhat are you guys doing home so early?” I asked.
    They both looked up at me.