“That’s why you had their photos out,” Kathleen guessed.

“Yes, I was looking for a photo of all four of them.”

“Did you find one?” Susan asked.

“Lots, but they didn’t tell me anything. I kept wondering, though-”

“So did I,” Kathleen interrupted. “So yesterday I had some old friends from the department in the city bring up some files. June and the girls were killed in an accident. Your insurance company did everything possible to get out of paying out on those policies. They impounded the car, hoping to find something wrong with it that might limit their liability, but they couldn’t come up with anything. Nothing mechanical and no one had sabotaged the vehicle. It was a terrible tragic accident and that’s all it was.”

Jerry broke the silence that followed her explanation. “You know what? I think crab canapés and rum punch sound like just the thing to cheer us up.”

“And a nice way to begin our very short, but very romantic Caribbean vacation,” Kathleen agreed, getting up and taking his hand.

“You two head on down to the beach,” Jed said. “We’ll join you shortly. Just don’t drink up all the rum,” he called out as they strolled away. “Thank God you figured out who killed Allison,” he said, turning to his wife. “Now we can all relax.”

“Hmm.” Susan reached out and pushed a lock of hair off his forehead. “You know what question we haven’t answered yet?” she asked, smiling at her husband.

“No, what?” He smiled back.

“What is it about the Caribbean that makes everyone feel so sexy?”

COMPASS BAY RUM PUNCH

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

3 tablespoons fresh orange juice

3 tablespoons unsweetened canned pineapple juice

2 teaspoons Mount Gay rum

2 teaspoons amaretto

1 tablespoon Myers’s or other brand dark rum

a splash of grenadine for color

1 maraschino cherry

Combine all ingredients and pour over ice. Drop maraschino cherry in glass and enjoy. Makes one drink.

Valerie Wolzien