“Kathleen is going to have to get home to her kids. And I’m due back at work in less than a week. Susan, no one knows how long it’s going to take to get Jerry free.”

“What does his lawyer think?”

“He’s not optimistic. The authorities have one suspect. They’re not busy looking for another. The truth is that unless you and Kathleen come up with someone else, Jerry’s going to be tried for murder.”

“Does he know that?”

“He’s a smart guy, Susan.”

“How is he doing really?”

“Not bad. The lawyer is good, and Jerry feels confi-dent that he’ll be well represented if this does go to trial. Strangely enough, he seems more worried about Kathleen than himself.”

“Sounds like he has his priorities wrong. Kathleen’s not going to be okay until he’s okay.”

“I’ve told him the same thing, but he keeps worrying about her. Damn.” Jed put down his fork. “I can’t tell you how much I wish he could talk with us without being overheard.”

“Can’t the embassy do something about that? Isn’t Jerry entitled to some privacy?”

“I get the impression that they’re doing the best they can. And Jerry’s lawyer seems to think things might improve-and you might find the real killer.”

“You don’t believe that.”

“You and Kathleen don’t know anyone here. You don’t have any contacts in the police department. Susan, we’re in a foreign country, for heaven’s sake. I know you’re doing the best you can, but-”

“I know what you’re saying, Jed, and I’ve been worried about that, too, but what I need is an ally who knows the-the lay of the land around here. And I think I’ve figured out who just might help us.”

“Who?”

“That doesn’t matter now,” she answered, smiling at the woman who had brought her food. “But I’ve got a question, Jed.”

“What?”

She waited until they were alone to ask it. “I don’t know what you think about Allison. Did you like her?”

“Not particularly. And I can tell you something else.” He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “Jerry didn’t like her at all.”

Susan looked up from her dish of mangoes. “Back when he was married to June?”

Jed nodded. “I remember when Allison introduced him to her sister. He came back to the office and said something about being surprised that such an awful girl could have such a wonderful sister.”

“I never guessed.”

“Well, he didn’t mention it again until a few years after he and June were married. They didn’t live in the same town. Allison didn’t come to visit much. To tell you the truth, her name just didn’t come up.”

“Why didn’t you like her?” Susan asked.

Jed frowned. “She flirted.”

“With you?”

“With me. Probably with all men.”

“Really? She always struck me as so… I don’t know… so homely and dull. She wore such dowdy clothing.”

“Just because a woman doesn’t wear designer clothing doesn’t mean she isn’t interested in men. At least, not in my experience.”

Susan opened her mouth to ask exactly what experience he was referring to, but realizing that changing the subject wouldn’t be productive, she resisted. “Did she actually make a pass at you?”

“Not really. She just flirted.”

“Did she make a pass at Jerry?”

“It’s possible. I know that he was very uncomfortable being with her for a while.”

“When June was alive?”

“After she died.”

“How soon after she died?” Susan asked.

“Sue, you know I’m not as observant about this type of thing as you are. And I don’t remember exactly. I do remember all four of us going to dinner at the Hancock Inn sometime after June had died.”

“We all went there the day after her funeral.”

“I’d forgotten that evening. What a horrible time. I really thought Jerry was going to crack up. A man shouldn’t have to live with that much pain.”

Susan nodded. “It was awful, wasn’t it? I remember we went out because no one wanted to cook and I thought it would be a good idea if Jerry got away from the house. I was completely wrong, of course. I still remember Jerry sitting at the table, looking down at his cranberry-glazed Cornish game hen with tears pouring down his cheeks. I haven’t ordered that meal at the inn since that dinner.”

“That isn’t the dinner I’m thinking about,” Jed said. “This was later. Allison had come out from the city to pick up some of June’s things.”

“She did that a couple of times,” Susan said. “But go on. Why did you think Jerry was uncomfortable with Allison?”

“He told me so. He was glad she was going to have some of June’s things, but he wished she could do it without insisting on visiting him. He even tried to be away on business when she was in town.”

“But she didn’t stay in the house with him,” Susan said. “He moved into that condo almost immediately.”

“That’s true. I don’t remember where Allison stayed.”

“I don’t think she ever spent the night in Hancock after the week of June’s funeral. But you’re saying that Jerry didn’t like seeing her.”

“Hated it. At the time I thought that she reminded him of June and the accident and all, but later he said something that made me wonder if maybe Allison had been hoping to take June’s place.”

“She was in love with Jerry?”

“I got the impression that he thought so.”

“Or maybe she just wanted what her sister had had,” Susan mused, thinking of the book Allison was supposed to have written.

“I don’t know,” Jed said. “Do you want to go see Jerry?”

“Yes, definitely. When are you going?”

“This morning. But I’m playing gofer. Whatever Jerry and Jude want or need, I get or do. So I don’t know if I’ll even see him.”

“And Kathleen’s there now,” Susan said. “Why don’t you go see if they need anything now and I’ll hang out here? I have a few things to do.”

“Okay. You finish your breakfast and do whatever you’re planning, and I’ll head on into town. You know, we need a place to leave messages for each other,” Jed said. “I spenda lot of time looking for either you or Kathleen. Why don’t you just write where you’re going on the bathroom mirror before you take off?” He suggested their usual method of communicating.

Susan shook her head. “No, the women who clean the cottages would read them.”

“Why would that be a problem?”

“We really don’t know who was involved in Allison’s murder,” Susan reminded him. “It doesn’t make any sense that any of the staff were involved, but you never know.”

“Okay. If you want to leave me a message, write it in the front cover of the book I’m reading-the Grisham on my side of the bed-and I’ll write to you there, too. Okay?”

“Pretty smart. Are you going right away?”

“Yup.” Jed stood up and paused. “Listen, Susan…”

“I will be careful,” she assured him, offering her cheek for a good-bye kiss.

“I’m depending on that.” He leaned down to kiss her before leaving.

Susan concentrated on her breakfast. It was delicious and she was hungry, so she didn’t become aware of the difference between today and yesterday until she had finished her eggs and was spearing the last chunk of pineapple with her fork. Then she looked up and scanned the area. The restaurant was about one-third empty, and many of the diners were finishing their meals, as well.

And no one was paying any attention to her. No one was coming up to her to tell her about Allison. No one was asking her about the murder. It was hard to believe that less than twelve hours ago, most of the people eating here now had been eager to discuss the murder and the time they had spent with Allison. Susan put down her fork and frowned. What had changed?

She placed her napkin beside her plate and stood up. She felt in her pocket for the key Kathleen had given Jed and smiled. She was going to discover what Allison had written in her diary. Susan headed for the Gordons’ cottage.

The key Susan pulled from her pocket was adorned with a wooden bird painted black. She put it into the small hole under the doorknob and turned. Nothing happened. She took it out, put it back in, and tried again. Nothing. Susan frowned, shook the doorknob, and was shocked when the door swung open, revealing the inside of the cottage. Susan hurried in and closed the door behind her, taking care to turn the dead bolt.