“Do you like Donald?” Susan asked, although she was fairly sure she knew the answer.

“Can’t stand him. He knew how I felt about this house and he never once renewed my lease until the last minute. Every single year I had weeks of worry. I spoke to him about it more than once, but he said that’s the way he preferred to run his business. I was so thrilled the day he and Nadine moved to Hancock, I could have danced naked on the roof.” She grinned. “Not that I did. But I could have.

“You know, ever since you called this morning, I’ve been thinking that it’s interesting that they bought the house next to yours,” Edith continued.

“Because Nadine ended up murdered and I’ve investigated murders?”

“Exactly.”

“But there’s no way anyone could have known Nadine was going to be killed when they picked out that house.”

“Except-possibly-for the person who killed her,” Edith suggested.

Susan thought about this for a moment. “That’s an interesting idea. And it would limit the possible suspects…”

“To those who knew they were going to move and found them the house next door to you!” Edith continued enthusiastically. “How many people might fall into that group?”

Susan shook her head. “I have no idea. But unless we’re sure that there’s a connection between Nadine’s murder and the move to Hancock, it really doesn’t eliminate anyone from the list of suspects.”

“Now, see, that’s why you’re so successful when you set out to solve a crime!” Edith said enthusiastically. “I would have gone off in the wrong direction and made all sorts of mistakes. You stay on point, don’t you?”

“I try,” Susan admitted, not mentioning that she had gotten involved in this investigation because she didn’t want it to come closer to her home or anyone living with her at present.

“I assume you’ve eliminated both Donald and his mother.”

“The police eliminated them immediately. They were together when Nadine was killed.”

“Blaine Baines is probably busy celebrating. She and Nadine didn’t get along at all.”

“I’ve heard that she wanted him to marry someone with more drive.”

“Sophie Kincaid told you that, right?”

Susan nodded.

“Don’t believe her. Sophie doesn’t like to think she’s not the most important person in Donald’s life.”

“Daria said they’d had an affair and Sophie sure didn’t bother to deny it.”

Edith shook her head. “They may have, but I doubt if it was important to them. I mean, it’s not like they were in love with each other or it was going to break up their marriages. They’re both such self-centered people. I can’t imagine either doing anything that might jeopardize something they value.”

“So you think Donald’s marriage did matter to him.”

“Yes. Donald appreciated that his marriage brought him stability and a certain place in the community. And a place in the community meant a lot to Donald.”

“Really?”

“I gather you’ve never dealt with him professionally.”

“You mean bought or sold a house. No.”

“Part of his shtick was I live here and love it so you’ll live here and love it. He mentions that he’s been married for years and years. He talks about how he and his wife belong to this club and that, and go see plays at the local theater, and walk in the nature center, and that sort of thing. It’s a fictional sort of 1950s view of the suburbs-completely untrue, of course, but it must work. His business is thriving.”

Susan thought about that for a moment. “That’s not how his mother works, is it? I mean, she was a single mother struggling to make a living from what I understand.”

“No, Blaine ’s big on snob appeal. But I’ll bet Donald learned the value of image from his mother. They may not project the same image, but they do project images. Hers as a rich single professional is as effective as his as a happily married man. People might think they’re completely different, but, believe me, they’re as alike as two people can be.”

“Maybe it’s time I spoke to Blaine Baines,” Susan said. “I don’t suppose I could tell her that I’m looking for information about her daughter-in-law.”

“You have the perfect excuse. Tell her you’re going to put your house on the market, that you don’t want to live next door to a house where a murder took place.”

“Considering my reputation, I doubt if she would believe that. But I wonder if she might have a very small inexpensive luxury estate on her list. Something suitable for a young couple with twins.”

TWENTY-TWO

SUSAN DROVE HOME WITH ONLY HALF HER ATTENTION ON the road. She had learned a lot this morning and she spent some time mulling it over, trying to put the pieces together. The connection between the Baines family and Perry Island must be significant and might be useful if the police began to think that Shannon was the only person in Hancock with connections to Perry Island. But, less than an hour after bragging to Edith about her ability to stay “on point,” she found the idea of locating a home nearby for her Chrissy and the twins (and Stephen too, she amended hastily) very distracting. Chrissy hadn’t mentioned moving to the city since the day she arrived. Perhaps she now realized how helpful having family nearby could be. And the twins kept her so busy. Certainly if Susan found the perfect place-like one of the cute carriage houses that had been converted to single family homes in the older part of Hancock-Chrissy might review her options. Besides, it was time for Susan to find out just how Blaine Baines was reacting to the murder of her daughter-in-law.

Her cell phone was still searching for a signal, so she decided to go home. She would call Blaine from there and maybe play with her grandchildren for a few minutes. She might even find an opportunity to sound out her daughter on a possible move to Hancock.

But she knew the patrol car parked in her driveway indicated a change in her plans. She pulled into the garage and hurried into the house.

It was strangely quiet. Even Clue, after greeting her enthusiastically, returned to her nap on the kitchen floor. The mastiffs seemed to think greeting anyone without a dog biscuit in each hand was a waste of their time. Someone had made a trip to the local warehouse store and left two cases of Pampers on the table along with a giant bag of jelly beans. She was heading for the living room when she heard voices from behind the closed door to Jed’s study. She knocked and, when no one answered, opened the door just enough to peek in.

Brett Fortesque was leaning against Jed’s desk, arms crossed, staring down at the Oriental rug with a frown on his face. An officer she didn’t recognize perched on the arm of one of two matching wing chairs that faced the desk. Donald Baines sat in the other chair, his arms propped up on his knees, his head in his hands. The policemen looked up as Susan entered the room.

“Brett? Has something happened… Chrissy…”

“Chrissy and the babies are fine. The baby nurse has driven them all to the museum. Apparently your charming daughter thinks three weeks is old enough to be introduced to art.”

Susan smiled. That sounded like her daughter.

“But something has happened,” he continued. “Blaine Baines has been murdered.”

“ Blaine…” Susan looked at Donald. “Your mother?”

“My mother,” he confirmed without looking up. “Someone has killed my mother and my wife.”

Susan glanced at Brett. She didn’t know what to say.

“Perhaps you could make some coffee for us,” Brett said.

She nodded and hurried back to the kitchen. She was pouring water into the pot when Brett entered the room. “Do you want something with your coffee?” she asked, having no idea what to offer when the bag on the table caught her eye. “Jelly beans maybe?”

He grinned and reached out for the candy. “Actually, they do look good. Do you always buy such large bags of sweets?” He ripped open the top.