Claire Malloy - Poisoned Pins Part 6

More than an hour later, I knew that none of the books had been mutilated to provide a hiding place. Nothing had been tucked in a shoe, a pocket, a cosmetics case, a briefcase, or anything else with tuckability. Shead acc.u.mulated a daunting number of pink paper cats with coy handwritten messages, but they seemed to be her only concession to college memorabilia.

Except for the incriminating photographs, which shead been selling. It occurred to me that Rebecca might have found them when she packed Jeanas possessions, and was settled in a new apartment busily modifying a payment plan for John Vanderson-one that precluded dark alleys.

Iad searched in a neat and efficient fashion, conscientiously replacing items once Iad examined them. I gathered up the stuffed cats and lobbed them one by one into a box, wishing I could gather up Katie as easily and return her to her mistress. The cats made quite an armful . .. as did the beers Doobiead served to the giris ... and the used textbooks that Debbie Anne Wray had brought to the Book Depot on what Caron would describe as a Fateful Day.

New textbooks cost a fortune, and used ones were worth a decent amount of money. Selling them wouldnat generate as much as the return of a coat that had been shoplifted from a mall store, nor would their resale be as lucrative as that of a personal computer or a portable television.

The stuffed cats tumbled from my arms as I returned to the bed and lay down. Were the Kappa Theta Etas, under the leadership of Jean Hall, raising money not only from prost.i.tution and blackmail, but also from theft? I remembered what Peter had said about Arnieas patronage of a known fencing operation. With the owner of the p.a.w.nshop in prison, had Arnie taken over the business? It would explain his newfound ability to pay rent and buy beer at the Dew Drop Inn, and it would explain why he and Rebecca were acquainted, why head parked in the alley at midnight, and why head been outside the house and able to avail himself of occasional photo opportunities. Like any ambitious businessman, head provided curbside pickup and delivery service.

Finally I had something that I had to tell the police, even if it meant facing Peter Surely he and Officer Pipkin would be so grateful for the tip that they could restrain themselves from physical intimacy long enough to congratulate me on my brilliance. The serial numbers on the computers stashed in the upper-story rooms would prove my hypothesis, and Arnie could be surprisingly compliant when invited to confess to various crimes. The police would question the entire membership of the sorority, and the girls would break down eventually and incriminate each other with the enthusiasm they evinced for the Kappa hymn, as would Winkie if she was aware of what her young thoroughbreds had been doing. Debbie Anne was apt to turn up along the way, especially when the manager of the Hideaway Haven and his buddy found it expedient to adopt a more cooperative and loquacious att.i.tude.

And then, I told myself as I arose from the bed and again gathered up the cats, I would take the Herodian approach and wash my hands of the entire business.

As I tossed the last stuffed cat into the box, I decided to make a quick search for the animate one, then exit in a more dignified fashion and call Peter from my apartment. If I interrupted anything, I would offer not a single word of apology but would simply relate everything Iad learned over the last few days, efface his name from my mind, and inquire about real estate prices in St. Mary Mead. Caron could join me when she was paroled.

I noticed a stray cat under the desk and picked it up, and had started back to the box when I realized that it might serve a more important purpose than interior decor I examined the catas seams for indications that it had undergone surgery on at least one occasion. It had not, but I dragged the box next to the desk and methodically examined all the cats. A particularly pink one with a dumbstruck expression proved to be a pajama bag with a pouch that contained a nightgown, a pair of lacy underpants, and a thin packet of photographs.

Feeling as dumbstruck as the cat feigned to be, I dropped it in the box and opened the flap of the packet. There were four prints and strips of film encased in cellophane sheaths. I swallowed several times, trying to convince myself that I was in no way behaving pruriently, but I finally slipped the packet into my pocket and decided to wait until I was home before I discovered just how depraved Dean Vanderson and the Kappas could be.

I flipped off the light and went into the hallway. Before I could take a step, I heard the front door close with a faint yet discernible click. It was not a welcome sound. Iad allowed Jeanas door to lock behind me, and I knew how long it would take to find the right key and stay inside the room until whoever was in the foyer was gone. Too long.

Trying to convince myself that a campus officer had dropped by to check the house, I waited for him to turn on a light in the foyer. Instead, I saw the sweep of a flashlight at the end of the hallway. aOh, dear,a I mouthed silently as I crept across the hail and into the bathroom, where no exterior light glinted on the pink tile surfaces.

Earlier Iad scorned the addle-brained gothic heroines who forever put themselves in peril. Iad a.s.sured myself I was much too clever to be stalked in a brooding manor house. What a pity I hadnat listened a little harder, I thought as I strained to hear footsteps in the hallway-or the sound of someone leaving through the front door Something brushed against my leg. Terrified that I was in the company of a rat or someoneas pet boa constrictor that had escaped in the house, I clamped my hand over my mouth and looked down. The very same cat that had bitten me twice and eluded me all over the house now had decided that my left ankle was its best friend. It slinked and slithered around me, caressing my leg with its tail, then abruptly began to purr like a vacuum cleaner.

a.s.sh!a I hissed. If anything, it purred more loudly as it circled my leg. Feline psychology was not my field, and all I could do was stare helplessly at it.

The overhead light came on. No longer in the mood for affection, Katie scampered out the doorway. I was too startled to do anything more than gape at Eleanor Vanderson, who appeared equally unnerved.

aClaire?a she said in a shaky voice. aOh, thank goodness itas you. I was afraid I was about to encounter-I donat know. Iam so relieved itas you.a She came into the bathroom and leaned against a sink, her carefully applied makeup doing little to counteract her paleness. My reflection in the mirror behind her indicated I fared no better; the whiteness of my face above the black shirt gave me the appearance of a character in a freeze-frame from an old movie.

aWhat are you doing here?a I asked.

She turned around, twisted the tap, and splashed a scant handful of water on her face. Glancing at me in the mirror, she said, aI came by to make sure the house was locked, and noticed a light in one of the windows in this wing. I a.s.sumed one of the girls had been negligent, but thereave been so many prowlers and trespa.s.sers of late that I thought Iad better check.a I told her how Iad seen Katie enter the house and gone to the rescue, omitting to elaborate on my subsequent actions. The words echoed off the ceramic surfaces, sounding hollow and even less probable as they faded. aI panicked when I heard the door, and came in here to hide,a I concluded.

aItas very kind of you to worry about Katie, Claire, but it may have been foolhardy on your part. Iam certain that I saw a light. Someone else may be in the house at this moment.a Shivering, she glanced at the hallway, then tried to give me the standard Kappa smile. aThereas no need to be melodramatic, is there? Itas probably Rebecca or Pippa coming by for something overlooked during her packing, or even Winkie. In fact, she may have come to search for our runaway kitty, had no luck, and left through the back door by the time I came in the front.a aI didnat see anyone, but there are a lot of rooms and hallways,a I said truthfully. aI donat know why I thought I could find the cat in this labyrinth.a Eleanor had recovered enough to glance at her watch, shake her head, and day, aWell, letas make sure the light is out, then we can both go home. John promised to call me from his hotel room at eleven, and heall be frantic if Iam not there.a She took a key ring from her purse and sailed out of the bathroom, confident that I would accede to her plan.

She hesitated only a second, then zeroed in on the door of Jean Hallas room and utilized her flashlight to pick out the correct key. aHow peculiar7 she said as she turned on the light and frowned at the pyramid of suitcases and boxes. aI thought Winkle had sent the poor girlas things to her parents. It was only a matter of telephoning one of the moving-van firms and arranging for them to include all this in their next shipment to California. I wonder why she never did.a I was about to point out that Winkie had been busy when the front door in the foyer opened and the floor creaked as someone crossed the threshold. Eleanor grabbed my arm and yanked me inside the room, closed the door, and switched off the light. Her ear pressed against the door, she whispered, aSomeone else is here.a I sat down on the edge of the bed. aAre you certain that your husband is in Las Vegas?a aWhy wouldnat he be?a aIam afraid his fantasies have some element of reality,a I said carefully. aI spoke to the manager of a motel thatas known to be a place where ... adults consent, and he reacted as though he recognized your husband from my description. He also identified some of the Kappa Theta Etas as regular patrons.a She stopped listening at the door and stood up. Her face was indecipherable in the shadows, but her voice was skeptical and unfriendly. aWhat exactly are you saying, Claire? I explained about Johnas condition, and I thought you understood me. He is not well. Th be candid, heas physically incapable of doing what youave implied, even if there was the slightest reason to consider the possibility. As for the girls, we have strict rules about where they can be seen in public, and theyare aware of the severity of their punishment should they disobey. The only one of them that would set foot in a place like that is Debbie Anne Wray.a aWho set foot in it last week, and stayed there for several nights,a I said. aA second witness saw her get into a green truck and leave yesterday morning.a aA green truck?a Eleanor sat down beside me, her purse crinkling in protest as she squeezed it. aThat dreadful man found in the ritual closet drives a green truck, doesnat he? I donat understand any of this. Debbie Anne has been hiding at a motel, and that man picked her up and took her someplace else? Heas just a painter. Thereas no reason she would know him, much less trust him enough to go away with him.a Hoping she didnat subscribe to the kill-the-messenger school of retribution, I said, aThere may be a reason that she and some of the other girls know Arnie. I suspect theyave been transacting business with him since the spring, using him to fence stolen property.a aStolen property?a she echoed in a stunned voice. aBut these are Kappa Theta Etas, not common girls who struggle through high school and marry factory workers and stay pregnant for fifteen years. We canat be as choosy as wead like, but we do examine their backgrounds and scholastic records before we accept them, and once they become pledges, we do everything we can to train them in appropriate behavior. First you slander my husband, and now you accuse us of theft and promiscuity!a aIam sorry, but I must tell the police what Iave discovered. When Arnie sobers up, he can tell us where Debbie Anne is. She seemed a reluctant partic.i.p.ant in all this, and I wonat be surprised if sheas willing to spill the whole sordid story. The motel manager might want to bargain, too.a aThe police are going to believe those three? A known drunk, a farmgirl, and an employee of the Hideaway Haven? Iad give more credence to the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker.a aNone of whose daughters could ever be Kappa Theta Etas,a I said in defense of the working stiffs of the world. aIn any case, itas going to be out of our hands, and weall have to see what happens. I donat know whoas prowling in the house, but I really donat care if itas your husband searching for the photographs or Winkie for the cat. Iam going home.

She followed me to the hallway, talking faster than I was remotely capable of walking. aI wish youad reconsider before you call the police with your wild accusations, Claire. Youave no evidence of any of this, nothing but your own convoluted ideas and less than credible witnesses, but rumors will leak out and have a disastrous effect on rush. This will be our first time to have someone from the National Board with us. Itas vital to make a good impression on her so we can be sure of continued financial support until we can get our budget straightened out.a I slowed down. aWinkie mentioned that someone was coming to audit the books at the end of the summer. I wonder if the reports of theft and shoplifting shot up the day after the girls learned an accountant would be looking at their ledgers? Jean Hall would have been the most alarmed. Yale might retract its invitation if it learned shead been embezzling from her sorority, and National sounds like a group that would press charges.a aEmbezzling?a Eleanor said, apparently content to repeat my more startling words and phrases.

aI doubt it would be overly taxing to a business major Float some bills, dip into one account to cover deficits in another, exaggerate an a.s.sessment for party favors, tamper with invoices-all so very simple until a trained auditor appears. Jean had to scrounge up enough money to cover what she, Rebecca, and maybe Pippa had been using to update their wardrobes and pay their house dues.a I went to the foyer where there was no sign of the newest arrival. I was vaguely aware that Eleanor was continuing to plead with the oiliness of a lawyei but a couple of insights had occurred that led me to think I needed to leave immediately.

aShe took my keys,a said a chilly voice.

I kept heading for the door as Winkie stepped out of her suite and gave me a disapproving look. There was nothing charmingly childlike about her now; she was as malevolent as a gnome from one of the more gruesome fairy tales.

aAnd she searched Jeanas things,a said a downright icy voice from within the unlit living room.

I may have faltered just a bit as Rebecca came into the foyer. She swept her hair back and continued, aYouad better hope she didnat find anything, eithera aNot me,a I said as I reached for the doork.n.o.b. And heard the sound of a gun being c.o.c.ked. And froze.

16.

aIall shoot you if I must, Claire,a Eleanor said in a conversational tone more suitable for c.o.c.ktail parties at the country club. aI donat know exactly what Iall tell the police, but Iam sure I can concoct some perfectly adequate excuse about mistaking you for a burglar Thanks to you, there are numerous reports on file at the campus security office.a I reluctantly lowered my hand and turned around to look at the gun in her hand. Although it wasnat pink, it was small and stylish, the perfect size to be slipped into a beaded bag for an evening at the opera. aFor pityas sake, Eleanor, you arenat going to shoot me in front of two witnesses.a She showed me all her teeth and a fair quant.i.ty of moist pink gums. aWeare Kappa Theta Etas. Wead never testify against our own sisters. Loyalty is the very basis of our initiation ritual; once weave attached our pins, weare intimately linked, and even in death, weare steadfast members of Chapter Eternal.a Winkie and Rebecca nodded grimly, and the latter said, aBesides, Iam going to New York at the end of the summer, not some womenas prison. It would be too dreary.a aIs John Vanderson sponsoring you?a I asked evenly.

She flinched as Eleanoras gun wobbled in her direction. aI donat know what youare talking about. I mean, Jean had some deal with him, but I didnat have anything to do with it.a aOh, come now,a I said with a chuckle. aYou found the photographs in Jeanas room and sent Dean Vanderson a blackmail note just the other day. On Monday, I believe he said. I saw it in his office.a aShe did?a said Eleanor. The question was aimed at me, but the gun, at least for the moment, was still aimed at Rebecca.

Rebecca spoke quickly. aI did not! Jean must have put the photographs in her purse when she met your husband in the alley. If anybody is in a position to use them, itas Debbie Anne. She has Jeanas key to the chapter room. Why wouldnat she have the photographs, too?a aI donat think she does,a Eleanor said. After a moment, she pointed the gun at Winkie. aDid you happen to look through Jeanas things?a Winkie jerked her head back and forth. aNo, and I know nothing about this matter. I was aware that Jean and some of the girls were . . . behaving badly, but she made it clear that I was to mind my own business. If National were to hear of some of the things that have happened right here in the house, theyad revoke our charter. You know how desperately I need the pension, Eleanora I decided to aid and abet the erosion of Kappa loyalty. aBut why did you return to the house tonight? Did you want to enhance your job security with something to dangle over Eleanor?a aI was worried that I hadnat locked all the doors. I may have heard something from one of the girls about Dean Vanderson, but I would never stoop to blackmail.

234 Joan Hess Well, I did think it was important to make sure that no evidence of misconduct be sent to Jeanas parents.a aThatas right,a Rebecca contributed, still speaking rapidly and in danger of flubbing her lines. aJeanas parents might have gone crazy and called National. Her fathers a state senator, and heas got enough clout to force the local police to reopen the investigation. A thorough search of the house would be a disaster for all of us.a aStop!a Eleanor leaned against the wall and rubbed her face with her free hand, a frown deepening on her face as she studied each of us in turn. aThis is terribly confusing, all these accusations and lies. I think we need to sit down and talk this over, and reach an agreement about what will be said to National and what need not be mentioned. Weare Kappa Theta Etas, after all.a It was not the moment to correct her I nodded and said, aWhy donat you put down the gun and weall do just that?a aWhat about her?a said Rebecca, not bothering to gesture in my direction.

Eleanor hesitated, then pointed the gun at me. aIall have to ask you to wait in the chapter room while we deal with this, Claire. Earlier you made rash and injudicious remarks concerning our chapter, and I cannot allow you to leave just now. Winkie, would you be so kind as to retrieve your keys from Claireas pocket and unlock the door at the top of the stairs? Rebecca, why donat you make tea in the suite for us? Iall be back in a jiffy.a She kept the barrel jammed into my back as we went down to the bas.e.m.e.nt. I was hoping she would have a problem unlocking the chapter-room door, but rather than using Winkieas unwieldy key ring, she took a single key from her pocket and used it with no lessening of pressure in the middle of my back.

aIad welcome you to the chapter room,a she said as she shoved me into the room, abut youave already seen it, havenat you? Some sororities have open chapter rooms, but itas a bother to have to put away the banners and scatter the chairs after the meetings. Itas really quite a lot easier to keep it locked.a I was not in the proper frame of mind for a lesson in sororal protocol, being more concerned with the current situation. aLetas get this over with,a I said. aDecide who gets to blackmail whom, and then let me out of here so I can go home and go to bed.a aIam afraid it may be a long wait. Did you get a good look inside the ritual closet when you discovered Arnie?a I shrugged. aThe Kappa Theta Etas have a very special initiation ceremony, filled with mystery and symbolism. Whatas said and done here can never leave this room; the very first vow taken is to honor the sanct.i.ty and confidentiality of the ceremony. Then guess what happens?a I warily noted the brightness of her eyes. aI have no idea whatsoever, Eleanor. Why donat you go upstairs and-a aEach pledge steps into a real coffin, and when she senses that sheas ready, she comes out to be welcomed by her new sisters. Itas symbolic of her rebirth as a Kappa Theta Eta!a She giggled at my expression. aOh, we have more symbols than you can imagine. Periodically during the year, the pledges are lined up in the backyard and sprinkled with a hose to make them grow. When the moon is full, the members wake the pledges and sing to them while they pretend to be roses in the flowerbed.a aYou shouldnat be telling me your sorority secrets,a I said with heartfelt sincerity, mindful of her remark about certain subjects never leaving the room.

aThen why donat you tell me what secrets you know? No, let me see if I can guess! You seem to know about Johnas sordid little sessions at the motel, donat you? It took me quite some time to figure it out, but he actually kept the photographs Jean took from inside a closet. I found the little souvenirs in his dresser drawer, along with the pink notes.a aIncluding the one that ordered him to meet Jean at the fraternity-house patio on Sat.u.r.day night?a She beamed at me. aI am so impressed with your cleverness! Tell me more, please.a I decided to partic.i.p.ate in her maniacal game in hopes that someone might intervene. The odds were slightly more in favor of mummified alumnae staggering out of the ritual closet than of police thundering down the stairs, but there was little else to do. aDonat be so modest, Eleanor. You acted quickly and cleverly when Debbie Anne came to you to confess about the thefts and shoplifting. Did you pretend to be horrified and tell her to stay at the Hideaway Haven until you took action?a aI did, I did! I told her she was in great danger from Jean and Rebecca, and that she had to hide until I called National on Monday morning. I even offered to move her car to a different location in case someone might see it at the motel.a She clucked her tongue disapprovingly. aDebbie Anne should never have been encouraged to pledge. She lacks initiative.a I sat down on a folding chair and crossed my legs. aBut she called me, didnat she? That must have annoyed you enough to take her to your house for a lecture.a Eleanor sat down, but at a distance that precluded any reckless heroics on my part. If wead const.i.tuted a quorum, we could have held a meeting about gun control. Still beaming like a spotlight, she said, aI was annoyed, yes, but the reason I told Arnie to bring her to my house was so that she could clean for me. My housekeeper quit on the very day we were entertaining Judge Frankley. Debbie Anne did a competent job, but she found a newspaper with an article about Jeanas death, and became so agitated that I had to slip her a sedative before I took her to the guestroom on the third floor. It seemed most expedient to leave her there until John was on Ms way to Las Vegas.a aWhy did Arnie agree to this?a aI paid him, of course. He called me from jail. His accusations were preposterous, but I needed someone to keep an eye on the girl until I decided what to do. I posted his bail and told him to take the room next to hers at the motel. Once Debbie Anne became my houseguest, there was no reason for me to continue to pay for his room-or for his silence. After he delivered her, I asked him to park on Thurber Street and meet me in the alley, hurried him down the back steps, and told him to take a television set out of the closet.a She giggled again at my expression. aIf Iad had any idea that you would insist on searching it for Debbie Anne, I would have selected a different place. There was no reason to think anyone would open the door until the middle of August, and I did intend to deal with his remains long before then.~~ I looked at the door and tried not to imagine what she would have encountered after two hot months. An even less palatable idea came to mind. aMay I a.s.sume thatas where Debbie Anne is now?a aAnd where youare going to be, too,a she said, her ebullience fading as she stood up, the gun aimed at my cold, cold heart. aI had to give Debbie Anne a stronger dose of the sedative, but sheall awaken before too long and you can keep each other company. Eventually youall grow too weak to visit, and you might even decide the coffin looks cozy. Now that I think about it, one of the pink robes might make a splendid shroud. Thereas no point in pounding on the door or shouting; such activity will deplete the oxygen, and the closet door is very st.u.r.dy. No one will be in the house for two months.a aForget it, Eleanor,a I said, refusing to rise. aWinkie and Rebecca will figure out what youave done, and you cannot count on their continued loyalty in the face of three murders, including that of a Kappa Theta Eta.a aI do believe I can. Neither is aware that I, in my capacity as an alumna and a chapter sponsor, had to stop Jean Hall from threatening everything dear to Kappa Theta Eta. Using Katie the Kappa Kitten like that is an inexcusable violation of our creed!a aIs that why you took the time to remove her sorority pin?a aShe was no longer worthy of it, but the process through which a giri is expelled is long and painful for everyone from the local chapter level to the judicial branch of National. It was so much more expedient to do it myself. Jean was in no condition to protest, was she?

In any case, I shall encourage Winkle and Rebecca to think Debbie Anne committed the crime and fled the state, and I suspect they wonat question it too seriously.

Winkie is very keen to keep her job for one final year, and Rebeccaas a lovely girl, so wonderfully ambitious and talented, and hardly apt to confess her involvement to the police.a She tapped her foot impatiently, but her voice remained cool and courteous as she said, aPlease cooperate with me on this, Claire. We both know how difficult it is to get bloodstains out of a carpet. Iad like to be home in time for Johnas call, and Iam sure Winkle and Rebecca have their own plans for the evening.a She might have been inviting me to contribute to her favorite charity (presumably the Red Cross Bloodmobile), and shead clearly chaired one too many committees in her day. If shead been angry or frothing at the mouth, I might have been less terrified; as it was, locking me in the closet was merely the next item on the agenda after the treasureras report. The heavy metal door to the chapter room was closed, and I doubted Winkie and Rebecca could hear a shot. After a nice cup of tea, Eleanor would a.s.sure them she intended to release me, wave a warm farewell from the door, and go home to await a longdistance call from her husband.

aClaire,a she said with a flicker of irritation, aletas not make this any more awkward than necessary.a aIt is rather awkward for me.a Her finger tightened on the trigger. aI do wish youad take this in the proper spirit.a I could think of only one thing that might distract her. I rose unsteadily and took a step, stopped, and with my eyes widened to their roundest and my eyebrows arched, pointed at the corner behind her. aOh, look!a I trilled. aItas (lear little Katie!a She turned involuntarily, and I grabbed a metal chair and swung it at her. At the last critical moment before it slammed into her face, I knew from her look of deep disapproval that Caron Malloy would never be invited to become a Kappa Theta Eta.

I was beginning to wonder if Peter intended to remain in front of his office window in perpetuity. His back had rippled for a while, and the muscles in his neck had been visible for the first hour or so after dawn. Every so often his hands had curled into bloodless white fists. Now he was motionless.

aWhy didnat you tell me what was going on?a he said. This particular question had been posed numerous times during the lengthy interview. I took a sip of cold, sc.u.mmy coffee and said, aNothing was going on until I went to the Hideaway Haven. Even then, I didnat have absolute proof that Jean was blackmailing John Vanderson, thus giving Eleanor a motive to intervene on his behalf-if it was on his behalf. Sheas spooky about the sorority. Then again, the sororityas pretty darn spooky.a aBut you knew a lot of things that might have helped us,a he said, still staring out the window as if wishing to see workmen erecting a gallows. aYou knew Arnie was skulking in the bushes, as was this biker who was having an affair with the housemother. John Vanderson admitted he met Jean the night she was killed, and also admitted head been in the house.a aBut Eleanor told me he was-a aDelusional,a Peter continued smoothly. As I mentioned, wead repeated this particular conversation for several hours, and we were confident of our lines. aRather than allow us to investigate the allegations, you chose to do so on your own. And broke into the house to save a cat, no less.a aTo save a cat, no less.a It was my turn to sputter, but before I could begin, Jorgeson came into the office.

aI interviewed the third girl, Pippa Edmondson,a he said, his ears quivering in response to the tension, which had to be as thick as fog. He put a paperback book on the corner of the desk. aShe asked me to return this to Ms. Malloy, and said Caron could keep some case of color strips. According to the Faulkner girl, whoas spilling everything she can think of like Niagara Falls, Pippaas a kleptomaniac. Whenever anything disappeared in the house, the girls would wait until she went to cla.s.s and then just retrieve their things from her room. Jean threatened to have her kicked out of the sorority unless she agreed to utilize her talents around town and focus on items of value.a aRebecca made her return my keys,a I said as I stashed the book in my purse. aI suppose she thought it might keep me from suspecting them of their other activities. Did she admit she sent the blackmail cat to Dean Vanderson?a Jorgeson nodded. aYeah, she said over the last two years she and Jean Hall had redirected upward of thirty thousand dollars from house accounts to their personal accounts. This spring Jean realized theyad better replace the missing funds before the books were audited, so she supervised some nasty fund-raisers. Vanderson wasnat the only libidinous professor to be caught with ... his pants down and required to pay for it. Did you look at the photographs, Ms. Malloy?a aI never did,a I admitted with a shrug.

aJust as well. They might have diminished your respect for the sorority. The Faulkner girl had taken over the operation. She said she went back to the house to search once more for that particular set of photographs, but she figured she could bluff the dean without them,a aHas Debbie Anne Wray recovered consciousness?a Peter said without turning.

aNot yet, but the doctor said sheall come around okay. They got Arnold Riggles sobered up and transferred him to our jail, but he claims he doesnat remember anything sincea-Jorgeson cleared his throat-ahe made a bet with a certain senator. Weall see if his memory improves when he starts aching for a drink.a He nodded at Petets back and edged out of the room.

I was getting bored with the scene. aListen, Peter, Iave already said that I was on my way to call you when Eleanor pulled a gun on me. That was partly my fault. I didnat realize she was guilty until she mentioned the name of the motel. Only then did it occur to me that the manager must have called her, and after she missed me in the parking lot, she followed me home and waited to see what Iad do.a aWhich was to keep sticking your nose into the case until it was in peril of being shot off.a His shoulders rose and fell as he sighed. aI suppose weave been over this before, havenat we? You donat give a d.a.m.n what I say to you-as a cop or as a person; Iad have more luck with a pink construction-paper cat. Schedule a time with Jorgeson to give an official statement, and then you can go out in search of your next corpse.a aAll right,a I said and stalked out of the room. I didnat bother to speak to Jorgeson; he would call me when he had time to take a statement. I flew out the door, and blindly started for the Book Depot, making no effort to temper my anger or a.n.a.lyze its cause. Despite my lack of sleep, I was going to open the store and s.n.a.t.c.h customers off the sidewalk.

I was not too distraught to detour past the doughnut shop for a sweet roll and a large cup of coffee, and I was devouring same when the bell jangled.

aMother,a Caron said as she pounded across the room, aI have this incredible way to make money this summer! This time I wonat have to beg a bunch of b.i.t.c.hes to make appointments, then listen while they cancel with Really Stupid reasons about-a aWhy did they change their minds?a Caron ducked behind the science fiction rack. aHow should I know? I mean, they change their minds like other people change channels.a aWhat do you know about this?a I asked Inez, whoad sidled in more decorously and looked as though she wanted to sidle right back out. aDid something happen while you and Caron were at the drive-in with your parents?a aLike what?a Caron said with a scornful laugh.

I spotted the top of her head as it wafted in the direction of the gardening section. aLike something that provoked one of your clients to call yesterday and suggest that you were engaged in extortion.a aIt wasnat like that,a Inez said, blinking somberly and keeping a judicious eye on Caronas head. aThe junior varsity football team went on a retreat, so their girlfriends were kinda bored and some of them went to the drive-in with-a aOne lousy night without a date, and theyare fooling around with the basketball players!a Caron chortled, now approaching the true-crime novels. aAll I did was wander around the cars to see who might want to have a My Beautiful Self session. I didnat say one word about ratting on them to their boyfriends.a aNot exactly,a Inez said thoughtfully, abut they seemed to be a little bit worried about it. And itas a good thing you saw Rhonda Maguire coming and hid in the playground until she gave up. My parents would have been upset if youad gotten in a fight with her.a Surely the Mad Hatter had come in with them, I told mysel~ and would offer me a refill while the Dormouse gazed dreamily at me from inside the cup. aAnd why is Rhonda so enraged?a Inez seemed more concerned about a more substantial life form somewhere in the store. In a voice almost inaudible, she said, aCaron found a tube of Super Glue the night she locked herself in Rhondaas room.a aCaron!a I said coldly. aStop acting as if you were in a maze and get out here this very minute. This is too much.a I waited for a moment, hut heard no response. I came out from behind the counter to stalk her, and was plotting the most advantageous path when a motorcycle roared under the portico and backfired once before dying.

Caronas face appeared over the cla.s.sics rack. aWhat was that, Mother?a aYou may consider it a temporary reprieve from the governor,a I said, abut nothing more.a aGood morning,a Ed said as he came through the door, dressed as Iad last seen him in a black leather jacket, the helmet in his hand. He looked older, however, and his mouth sagged dispiritedly as he tried to smile at Inez, who promptly scuttled into the racks. To me, he said, aI heard what happened at the sorority house, and I just came from visiting Winkie at the jail. Jeez, what a mess!a aIndeed,a I said. aHave you talked to Arnie?a aWhy would I talk to him? aAnd from the extremest upward of their head to the descent and dust below thy foot, a most toad-spotted traitor.a If Shakespeare wasnat talking about Arnie, I donat know why not.a aRhonda Maguire is a toad-spotted traitor,a Caron intoned from an invisible locale.

aPay no attention to that girl behind the curtain,a I said, aware that I was mixing cinematic metaphors but too tired to control myself. aWhat does Winkie think will happen to her?a aHer lawyer says not much. She was suspicious, but she didnat partic.i.p.ate in anything illegal, and she swears she thought Eleanor Vanderson eventually would allow you to leave.

aDid she?a I said dryly as I remembered her eagerness to unlock the door and her complaisant expression as she watched Eleanor escort me downstairs. Perhaps conspiracy to commit murder was in her job description. Would she have helped Eleanor plant us under the roses shortly before rush? Did Katie the Kappa Kitten say thanks?

Ed grimaced faintly as if he were reading my admittedly twisted mind. aOh, yeah, and she said several times how kind it was of you to go after the cat. Utmecessary, but kind. Anyway, she wonat be arraigned until early next week, and I was wondering ifa-his cheeks reddened and he glanced nervously at the racks, from which fierce whispering emanated-ayou might want to ride out in the country sometime. I promise we wonat so much as go past the Dew Drop Inn.a aI donat think so, Ed. I suppose Iam not quite ready to be a free spirit on the back of your bike. But come by the store and sling quotes at me whenever you want.a Caron and Inez emerged only after Ed was gone, and I couldnat recall when Iad seen either of them so awed. I was hoping they were also speechless, but Caron finally gave me a piercing look and said, aHe Asked You for a Date.a aHe asked me to go for a ride,a I said mildly.

aOn a motorcycle,a breathed Inez.

I considered pointing out that the encroachment of my fifth decade did not require me to take up an eremetic life of crocheting and counting liver spots. Selfsufficiency did not demand solitude any more than a few new gray hairs precluded companionship. It might have evolved into one of my finer lectures, but instead I said, aYouare grounded until you clean your room and the garage.a aI was going to clean out the garage anyway,a Caron said with typical-and insufferable-smugness. aI have to do it so I can start earning money for a car. Come on, Inez, a few spiders wonat hurt you.a aBrown recluse spider bites can cause your skin to rot,a Inez countered as they started for the door. aItas called necrosis, and if itas really bad, they-a aWait a minute!a I snapped.

aOh, Mother,a Caron said as her lip shot out and her eyes rolled upward, ais this another hot flash? The planas foolproof, and it wonat depend on some toad-spotted traitor to make it work. Itas one hundred percent guaranteed or your money back, and now that Pippaas dropped out of school and left town, I donat have to give her what I earned as a My Beautiful Self consultant. If you donat mind, Iad like to go home and start on the garage.a My fingers may have tightened around the plastic cup, but I kept my voice steady. aWhat are we talking about, Caron?a aNight crawlers. Theyare these icky worm things that people buy to use as bait. Iave already sent in a coupon for a starter set, and all I have to do is find some wooden boxes and a lot of dirt. You dump coffee grounds and rotten vegetables on them, and then you sell them for a lot of money.a She frowned at Inez. aThis palette stuff is nonsense. I donat see why I canat have a red sports car if I want.a aIf the palette stuff is nonsense, then I want my yellow blouse back,a Inez said.

aSo youall look as though youare terminally sallow?a The bell jangled as they sailed away to entertain pedestrians with their latest topic of debate. I was in my office, sc.r.a.ping the bottom of the coffee pot and vowing to make some abiding changes in my life, when it jangled less violently.

I came to the doorway and stopped. Peter Rosen stood by the counter, doing his best to appear relaxed despite the thrust of his jaw and the intensity in his brown eyes.

aDo you want to talk, Claire?a he said.

It took me most of a minute to consider. aYes,a I said at last. aI suppose I do. What happened to the cat?a aOfficer Pipkin took it into temporary custody, despite her husbandas objections. Heas allergic to cat hair Is there anything else youad like to discuss?a I nodded.