Poor Scott. He tries so hard but always seems to be struggling. Or at least, that's my recent impression. They used to be quite well-off.”
“Really? What happened?”
Alexis shrugged. “Beats me. It's probably a good thing they never had kids. Scott's a good-looking guy. He won't be alone for long, although he'll mourn his wife. The man truly loved her.”
“I'd like to attend Torrie's memorial service. Will you give me a call when you get the information?” Marla rummaged in her bag for a business card. “Although, I suppose I could ask Jill. Arnie couldn't take off from work this week, so they're delaying their honeymoon.”
“You don't want to bother the child. She'll be distraught, not that she isn't already. Jillian was positively shaking when I saw her in the ladies' room yesterday. You'd think she'd have been more relaxed with the wedding winding down.”
“What time was this?”
“Oh, I dunno. Sometime after dinner but before she cut the cake. She's a bundle of nerves, that girl. If you ask me, this business with their property is driving her over the edge. She stood there, scrubbing her hands at the sink, muttering to herself. She's got too much on her mind.”
“Such as?” Dalton cut in. Marla recognized his deceptively smooth tone. He could be a sly fox when interrogating suspects. Odds were in their favor that Alexis didn't know his occupation.
“That's for Jillian to say.” Alexis rose. “Are you folks sticking around much longer?”
“Nope, checkout time is eleven o'clock.” Dalton stood, and Marla followed suit. She really wasn't in the mood for sunbathing anyway.
“Aren't you two getting married next?” Alexis wagged her forefinger. “You should consider Philip Canfield if you don't have a wedding decorator. He did a terrific job last night. I just loved the orchids in the centerpieces.”
“The flowers were beautiful, weren't they? Someone told me he works for Falcon Oakwood.”
“Phil helps Falcon obtain his orchid specimens. Are you into plants, Marla? I can't abide the things. Too much trouble.”
Marla gave an empathic smile. “I have a black thumb myself. Plants wilt if they come near me.”
Alexis sighed. “I'd better trot off and nudge Eddy awake. Nice chatting with you people.”
“You hear?” Dalton poked Marla after Alexis left. “She has to
trot
off and
nudge
Eddy. What did I tell you?”
“Give it up, Dalton. I'm more interested in hearing what she has to say about Jill.”
“Interesting remark she made about Jill washing her hands. Almost reminds me of Lady Macbeth.”
She glared at him. “I trust Jill, but there are things about her we don't know. If it's something she hasn't told Arnie, that's not a good way to start a marriage.”
On their way indoors, Dalton hummed a classic Disney tune. “Not your business, oh no,” he sang, “but if I know you, you'll know what to do, and it won't be making stew.”
“So now you're a poet like my neighbor, Moss? Come on, aren't you the least bit curious?”
“Curious, yes. But not enough to take time out from my job, wedding planning, and packing to move into our new house in less than a month. And that reminds me. I need to talk to you about which toilets to order.”
Her mouth dropped open. “I'm concerned about Torrie's murder, and your mind is in the toilet? Really, Dalton. What's happened to you?”
Marla had little time to think about the case on Monday, when she met her mother, Anita, and almost mother-in-law, Kate, to show them the facility at Queen Palm Country Club and review the menu. For the cocktail hour, she and Dalton had chosen a mixture of live stations manned by chefs, various hors d'oeuvres laid out buffet-style, and waitresses circulating with hot specialties. Maybe she'd gone overboard. She wanted their opinions.
“It's impressive as far as banquet halls go,” Kate said, as they walked through the parking lot after their appointment. “The view of the golf course is lovely,
“Really? What happened?”
Alexis shrugged. “Beats me. It's probably a good thing they never had kids. Scott's a good-looking guy. He won't be alone for long, although he'll mourn his wife. The man truly loved her.”
“I'd like to attend Torrie's memorial service. Will you give me a call when you get the information?” Marla rummaged in her bag for a business card. “Although, I suppose I could ask Jill. Arnie couldn't take off from work this week, so they're delaying their honeymoon.”
“You don't want to bother the child. She'll be distraught, not that she isn't already. Jillian was positively shaking when I saw her in the ladies' room yesterday. You'd think she'd have been more relaxed with the wedding winding down.”
“What time was this?”
“Oh, I dunno. Sometime after dinner but before she cut the cake. She's a bundle of nerves, that girl. If you ask me, this business with their property is driving her over the edge. She stood there, scrubbing her hands at the sink, muttering to herself. She's got too much on her mind.”
“Such as?” Dalton cut in. Marla recognized his deceptively smooth tone. He could be a sly fox when interrogating suspects. Odds were in their favor that Alexis didn't know his occupation.
“That's for Jillian to say.” Alexis rose. “Are you folks sticking around much longer?”
“Nope, checkout time is eleven o'clock.” Dalton stood, and Marla followed suit. She really wasn't in the mood for sunbathing anyway.
“Aren't you two getting married next?” Alexis wagged her forefinger. “You should consider Philip Canfield if you don't have a wedding decorator. He did a terrific job last night. I just loved the orchids in the centerpieces.”
“The flowers were beautiful, weren't they? Someone told me he works for Falcon Oakwood.”
“Phil helps Falcon obtain his orchid specimens. Are you into plants, Marla? I can't abide the things. Too much trouble.”
Marla gave an empathic smile. “I have a black thumb myself. Plants wilt if they come near me.”
Alexis sighed. “I'd better trot off and nudge Eddy awake. Nice chatting with you people.”
“You hear?” Dalton poked Marla after Alexis left. “She has to
trot
off and
nudge
Eddy. What did I tell you?”
“Give it up, Dalton. I'm more interested in hearing what she has to say about Jill.”
“Interesting remark she made about Jill washing her hands. Almost reminds me of Lady Macbeth.”
She glared at him. “I trust Jill, but there are things about her we don't know. If it's something she hasn't told Arnie, that's not a good way to start a marriage.”
On their way indoors, Dalton hummed a classic Disney tune. “Not your business, oh no,” he sang, “but if I know you, you'll know what to do, and it won't be making stew.”
“So now you're a poet like my neighbor, Moss? Come on, aren't you the least bit curious?”
“Curious, yes. But not enough to take time out from my job, wedding planning, and packing to move into our new house in less than a month. And that reminds me. I need to talk to you about which toilets to order.”
Her mouth dropped open. “I'm concerned about Torrie's murder, and your mind is in the toilet? Really, Dalton. What's happened to you?”
Marla had little time to think about the case on Monday, when she met her mother, Anita, and almost mother-in-law, Kate, to show them the facility at Queen Palm Country Club and review the menu. For the cocktail hour, she and Dalton had chosen a mixture of live stations manned by chefs, various hors d'oeuvres laid out buffet-style, and waitresses circulating with hot specialties. Maybe she'd gone overboard. She wanted their opinions.
“It's impressive as far as banquet halls go,” Kate said, as they walked through the parking lot after their appointment. “The view of the golf course is lovely,
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