LOWCOUNTRY BOOK CLUB by Susan M. Boyer Page B

the door to without coming to get you?”
    He was silent for a long time, stared at nothing over my right shoulder. “ No. That’s it. But you’ll never convince me one of our friends or someone in our family killed her.”
    â€œ I really hope you’re wrong about that. Let’s switch channels for a moment. Why would she’ve had the french doors open in December, do you suppose?”
    â€œ It had been a warm day—in the low seventies. Shelby’s hot natured. She was always opening those doors to let in fresh air,” he said.
    â€œAre the library doors not tied into the alarm system?”
    â€œYeah,” he said. “She punched in her code and bypassed them.”
    â€œIs it possible she just turned the alarm off before she opened the doors?” I asked.
    â€œNo. Every time one of us types in a code, it’s recorded at the alarm company. She bypassed the library doors right after I went upstairs. She disarmed the system at 8:55 to let someone in.”
    â€œ I know this is obvious, but I have to make sure I’m asking the right questions, which means I need to ask them all. Was Shelby having trouble with anyone?”
    He looked at his coffee, shook his head. “ No. Nothing serious.”
    â€œ What do you mean?”
    â€œ I’m about to step into it, I know. Women…you get a group of them together, and there’s always squabbles.”
    I raised an eyebrow at him.
    â€œ You know exactly what I mean.” He sounded exasperated.
    I did know what he meant. “ Okay, so who was squabbling?”
    â€œ The book club ladies. Minor stuff. You’ll have to ask Jane.”
    â€œ Do you have her cell number?”
    He pulled out his phone, looked it up, and rattled it off.
    â€œ What about you?” I asked.
    â€œ What do you mean?”
    â€œ Were you having trouble with anyone? Is there anyone from your past who might have a grudge? I know this is far-fetched, but is there anyone who might bear you animosity from your time in the military?”
    â€œ Plenty of people. But they’re on other continents and don’t know my name or how to find me.”
    â€œ How about from California? People you knew years ago?”
    â€œ No,” he said. “ No one. But it doesn’t matter. Because these are folks Shelby never laid eyes on. She wouldn’t have disarmed the alarm system, released the floor barricade, and opened the door. She would’ve come straight upstairs to get me.”
    â€œ Okay. I think I have what I need, except I’d like to take a look around if you don’t mind.”
    â€œ Sure. I ’ll give you the tour. You came in through the front.” He stood and headed through the butler’s pantry and into the dining room. It was furnished with what I’d bet were expensive antiques, but like the living room beyond, nothing about it was ostentatious. The rooms were uncluttered, with only framed family photos on the occasional chest or table.
    I followed him to the third floor. On the front of the house overlooking the street, his study was all dark woods and leather, with a sofa floated near the center of the room, its back to the door. A desk in front of the window faced the sofa, and shelving for countless vinyl record albums lined the walls. Beside the desk was a stout-looking metal stand which held a turntable the likes of which I’d never seen. It appeared both futuristic and antique, retro shiny metal with a glossy wood-grained top and an actual spinning platform that looked at least four inches thick. I must’ve been staring at it.
    â€œ It’ s a Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn, ” he said. “ Shelby bought it for me for Christmas years ago. It was unlike her, the extravagance. That system probably cost a hundred grand. She’d never spend that on herself for something purely for entertainment.”
    â€œ It’s beautiful,” I said.
    He