Silence of the Lamps by Karen Rose Smith

the crime scene once more.
    Nikki nudged Caprice. “Let’s talk to her.”
    Vince advised, “Maybe you shouldn’t, Nikki. Just let Caprice go.”
    Nikki looked defiant. “I didn’t do anything wrong. I’m going to tell this woman that I’m sorry her grandson is dead. If the police don’t like it, they can arrest me for being compassionate.”
    With that, she started toward the two women. Caprice just gave her brother an I’ll-watch-over-her-look and followed her.
    Nikki approached Kiki and Rowena slowly. Caprice could see that Kiki recognized them both.
    When they stopped beside the two women, Kiki said to Caprice, “You must be the person who found Drew.”
    “My sister did,” Caprice responded.
    Nikki introduced herself to Rowena. “Mrs. Pierson, I’m Nikki De Luca. Drew and I worked together at one time. I’m so sorry for what’s happened here.”
    “You found him?” Rowena asked. “They won’t let me see him. That detective asked if I had a photo, and I did in my wallet. But they won’t let me go in.”
    Caprice gently touched the older woman’s arm. “You don’t want to see Drew like that. You don’t want to remember him that way.”
    “He was like a son to me.” Tears dripped from Rowena’s eyes. “I raised both Drew and his sister, Jeanie, you know.” Rowena went on, “Drew and Jeanie came to me when they were just little ones after their parents died in a small plane crash. Drew was ten and Jeanie was eight. Oh my gosh—Jeanie. I need to call her.”
    Kiki stayed Rowena’s hand as the woman rummaged in her purse. “Give yourself a little time to absorb what’s happened. The detective said he’d notify Jeanie.”
    “Did he?” Rowena asked, looking a little lost. “I don’t remember that.”
    Caprice knew that devastating news was enough of a shock to make a person forget her name. She said, “We don’t want to keep you. We just wanted to give you our condolences. Do you have someplace you can stay? I imagine the forensics unit will have the house tied up at least through tomorrow.”
    After studying Caprice, Kiki remembered, “You’ve been through this before.” Apparently Kiki remembered the articles about Caprice in the Kismet Crier when a reporter had interviewed her in conjunction with murders she’d solved.
    “A few times,” Caprice responded.
    “Rowena’s going to stay with me,” Kiki revealed. “For as long as she needs to.” She shook her head.
    “I just can’t believe that two hours ago we were sitting at the American Music Theater enjoying a production.”
    Rowena said, “I can’t see too well. I have to have that cataract surgery I’ve been putting off. But I can hear just fine. The music was lovely. I expected to come home and hear how Drew’s day had gone—”
    Kiki opened the passenger side of the vehicle. “The detective said we can go. Let me take you to my place. Then you can call Jeanie and maybe she’ll come over for a while.”
    After Caprice and Nikki gave their condolences again and said their good-byes, they returned to Grant’s SUV. There was more hubbub around the house than before because the crime scene unit had arrived. Now the evidence gathering would begin in earnest.
    Vince was still standing at Grant’s vehicle too. He asked, “How is she?”
    “She’s devastated,” Caprice answered. “It seems she was more like a mom to Drew than a grandmother.”
    Vince nodded toward the house. “Carstead was on the porch watching you two. If your conversation had gone on too long, he might have broken it up. As it was, I think he realized you were just giving your condolences. I want to talk to you and Nikki about what you saw and heard. Let’s go back to your place,” he said to Caprice.
    “Since your car and Nikki’s will be impounded, why don’t you go with Vince and Nikki,” Grant suggested. “I’ll pick up Patches and meet you back at your house.”
    They heard the front door of Rowena’s house open and shut as techs