“Not according to data from Prudence’s cell phone.’’ He held up his own phone as a visual aid. “That showed she arrived in Himmarshee two days before you discovered the body. Prudence was likely strangled by Mace’s pal, Jason, aided and abetted by her own sister, Camilla.’’

I thought of the days of anguish we’d been through, when it looked like Maddie’s husband might have killed Camilla. Now, it turned out Camilla wasn’t even dead? Steam started rocking the lid on my temper pot.

“How long have you known this?’’

Carlos shrugged. “Suspecting something and getting the information I need to prove it are two different things.’’

“How long?’’

“A couple of days after you found the body. Neighbors in Atlanta saw Prudence packed and leaving for Florida last week, well before the call went out to her cell phone as Camilla’s emergency contact.’’

His gaze shifted briefly to the back of his car. His suspect stared back coldly.

“I contacted some of the twins’ old friends in England, who revealed how deep their rift really was. Camilla hated Prudence. Prudence was their parents’ favorite, and more accomplished at everything than Camilla was. She’d been jealous of her sister her whole life.’’

“And knowing all this, you allowed Kenny’s name to be dragged through the mud, despite how fragile my sister’s marriage is right now?’’ My voice had gotten louder.

Sal put a hand on my arm. “That’s police work, Mace. Sometimes you have to keep a false impression about guilt and innocence hanging out there to lure in the bad guy. Or girl, in this case.’’

I whirled to confront Sal. “Did you know, too?’’

He shook his head. Mama said, “You can’t expect Carlos to share everything about his investigations with you, Mace. People’s lives could be at stake.’’

“So you’re on his side?’’

Mama gave me the same sad look I’d seen when she had to tell me my childhood dog was dead, fatally kicked by a horse. “Honey, this is Carlos’s job. There shouldn’t be a ‘his side’ and ‘your side’ to this. If you keep seeing things that way, maybe you’re right. Maybe you aren’t ready to be married.’’

Carlos cleared his throat. “Speaking of my job, I need to get these two processed.’’

Mama, Sal, and I watched as he read Jason his rights. He called over two more officers to help load him into the back of a squad car, since he couldn’t properly walk with duct tape around his ankles. When they were done, Carlos returned to his own car. Without a goodbye, he drove away with Camilla.

Did I want to question Sal? Did I want to know? I decided I did, even if it was humiliating or painful.

“Thanks for getting the message to Carlos,’’ I said. “Did you tell him everything I asked you to?’’

Pulling at his collar, Sal aimed his gaze on the ground. “I told him everything, Mace. Including that you were sorry and you loved him.’’

“And what did he say?’’

Sal mumbled something, his eyes avoiding mine. Mama nudged him to repeat it. I was sorry when he did.

“He said he wished he could believe you.’’

fifty-four

A Happy Birthday banner flapped over the entrance to the VFW hall. A cake in the shape of a monster truck dominated the room, minus the words Maddie once planned for the top—To the World’s Best Husband. A disc jockey spun some of the birthday boy’s favorite country tunes: “Bubba Shot the Jukebox”; “Mud on the Tires”; and “Lifestyles of the Not So Rich and Famous.’’

Marty had pulled the DJ aside earlier, asking that his playlist not include “Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?’’ or “Your Cheatin’ Heart.’’

Maddie looked resplendent, yellow dress and all. She sipped a soda as she welcomed the party guests. Her husband had been sprung from his holding cell after the true suspects were arrested. Carlos told the reporter for the Himmarshee Times Kenny had been kept overnight at the jail “for his own protection.’’ The newspaper didn’t publish over the weekend, but word of Kenny’s innocence had already spread over the unofficial hotline.

Some of the same people who’d wanted to hang Kenny for murder showed up to see if my sister would kill him for cheating instead.

He sat in a chair against the wall, accepting birthday wishes and half-truths from friends who claimed they knew all along he didn’t do it. Every few minutes, his eyes shifted toward the wife he’d wronged. Maddie had on her game face, but I knew she’d need time before she’d trust him again, completely. Camilla had manipulated Kenny, pushing all the right buttons for male pride and ego to lure him into her plan. Still, the fact he’d made any progress on the road to forgiveness was probably due to Maddie’s condition.

Before the party started, she revealed to Mama and Marty that she was pregnant.

“I knew it!’’ said Mama, after hugs and congratulations were exchanged. “A mother can always tell.’’

“Get real,’’ I said to her. “You had no idea. You were blaming some bad Brunswick stew for Maddie’s nausea.’’

“That’s not how I remember it,’’ Mama said airily before rushing to fetch Maddie a ginger ale.

D’Vora arrived an hour late with the infamous Darryl. She looked lovely in a glittery red dress. He, on the other hand, sported a wrinkled Western shirt, jeans with a can of dippin’ tobacco in the rear pocket, and boots so crusty they looked like he’d been out stomping cow patties. When he headed straight for the bar, I cornered D’Vora: “Glad you could make it.’’

Her eyes were glued to the pointed toes of her red high heels. When she finally looked up, a tear spilled onto her cheek. “The whole thing was so confusing, between what I saw in Kenny’s truck, and what everybody was saying. Then, his mug shot was on TV. He looked awful guilty.’’

I waited to see if she was done.

“I’m sorry. I should have listened to you, Mace.’’ She sniffled, and wiped her eyes. “I’m going to apologize to Kenny, too. He was never anything but nice, and I was quick to jump to conclusions, like everybody else.’’

I was ashamed to admit that same tendency applied to me.

We both looked across the room at Maddie and Kenny. She’d walked over to join him, and he leaped up to settle her into a chair. Maddie didn’t look wedding-day happy, but she didn’t look thunderstorm angry, either. As she sat, Kenny put a hand on her shoulder. She gave it a brief pat, instead of knocking it off.

D’Vora sighed. “I wish just once Darryl would act sweet to me. I better go find him before he gets drunk and falls into a food platter.’’

After D’Vora left, I studied the scene around me. Elaine Naiman made an appearance, shaking hands and introducing herself to party-goers. I could definitely see her running for mayor. Big Bill Graf and his wife may not have committed murder, but they were up to their naked asses in the swingers’ circle. That kind of sinfulness would go over during a campaign like a stripper at a church supper. Elaine would be a shoo-in.

Mama regaled a group of guests with her garbage-truck adventure.

“I’ll never be able to wear my persimmon pantsuit again. It’s completely ruined.’’

Mercifully, my phone rang so I didn’t have to re-hear the already familiar story. My heart sank when I saw it was an unfamiliar number. Not Carlos. He hadn’t returned any of the messages I’d left.

I moved away so as not to disturb the crowd, and then clicked on the call. Glasses clinked and music played on the other end. Suddenly, I knew who’d called Maddie’s answering machine to say Kenny did not commit the murder.

“Hey, Angel.’’

“How’d you know it was me?’’ She seemed surprised.

“Sounds like the 19th Hole. Are y’all busy?’’

“Slammed. I just called to tell you I’m glad the real culprits were arrested. Camilla played me like she did everyone else.’’

The scene with the picture album at Camilla’s house ran through my mind. She’d paged through the photos, describing the more accomplished twin. Everything she said applied to Prudence—the sister she’d envied, hated, and finally murdered.