Eggs Benedict Arnold (19 page)

“
Plus you
’
re well-liked around town as a business
woman,
”
added Missy.
“
Which would certainly lend cred
ibility to the new boutique.
”

“
Suzanne
’
s got street cred,
”
chirped Toni.

After a few more encouraging words from both Toni
and Missy, Suzanne finally relented. After all, Missy just
looked so sad.

When
Suzanne finally spotted Sheriff Doogie
’
s Smokey
Bear hat hobbling above the crowd, she sidled back into the
parlor to talk to him.

“
Suzanne,
”
he said, staring at her with eyes that were
red-rimmed and tired, as though he
’
d stayed up late for too
many nights.

‘
There
’
s a camera out in the foyer,
”
she told him.
“
I was
wondering if you looked at the tape?
”

“
Yup,
”
Doogie told her.
“
Nothing.
”

“
So the killer came in the back door?
”
asked Suzanne,
hypothesizing.
“
Maybe had a key?
”

“
Or Ozzie knew him and let him in,
”
said Doogie.

“
Knew him,
”
said Suzanne, mulling over the idea.
“
If
Ozzie knew him, that could be significant.
”

“
Sheriff!
”
called a loud, aggressive voice.

Suzanne and Sheriff Doogie both turned at once. Saw
Mayor Mobley signaling with one chubby hand in the air.

“
A moment of your time?
”
called Mobley. It was more
of a command than a question.

“
I
’
ll get back to you,
”
said Doogie, turning away from
Suzanne.
“
Soon
’
s I talk to the grand poo-bah shithead over
there.
”

And still the surprises kept coming.

“
Suzanne!
”
called Carmen Copeland.
“
I was hoping to
see you here tonight. She sped across the floor, elbowing people out of her way.

“
Hello Carmen,
”
said Suzanne, not exactly
th
rilled to be
cornered by the obnoxious author.

“
Hey, Carmen, what
’
s up?
”
asked Toni as she joined them.

Carmen ignored Toni completely and instead launched
into a litany of requests concerning tomorrow
’
s book signing.

“
I don
’
t know how well my publicist briefed you,
”
said Carmen,
“
but I
’
m going to need a comfortable swivel chair with a seat height of at least thirty-eight inches. I will also
require bottled water
—still, not effervescent—classical
music playing in the background, and an assistant to open
books to the correct front page.
”

Suzanne just stared at Carmen, while Toni giggled.

“
Oh,
”
said Carmen.
“
And I must have my back against a wall.
”

“
Excuse me?
”
said Suzanne. Had she heard Carmen correctly?

“
I detest people moving around behind me,
”
said Car
men.
“
Makes me uneasy. Gives me the creeps, in fact.
”

“
Carmen,
”
said Suzanne, fighting now to keep a straight
face,
“
I
’
d be delighted to back you into a corner.
”

“
Good evening,
ladies
.
”
They all three turned to find Dr.
Sam Hazelet smiling at them.

“
Sam,
”
said Suzanne.
“
You know Toni. And this is Car
men Copeland.
”

Carmen thrust a gloved hand at Sam.
“
Delighted to meet
you. These are sad circumstances, of course, but the plea
sure is all mine.
”
She batted her eyes at him and Suzanne wondered about the feasibility of simply reaching out and
pulling off Carmen’s false eyelashes.

Too radical? Or not rad enough?

“
I
’
ve just come from the most wonderful art dealer over in Cornucopia,
”
Carmen said, moving in on Sam Hazelet.
“
He has a tiny little gallery, but access to the most amazing
outsider artists.
”
She paused.
“
That
’
s what I
’
m collecting now. Outsider art.
”

No,
thought Suzanne,
you
’
re trying to collect compliments. And my date for Friday night.

“
I understand that type of art is a hot commodity right
now,
”
Sam Hazelet replied, his eyes dancing with mirth.

“
But so much more speculative than the modern art
being done in New York right now or some of the very con
temporary British artists,
”
said Carmen.

Sam stole a glance at Suzanne, smiled, then said,
“
I
’
ve got to speak with George Draper. If you
’
ll excuse me ...
”

“
Isn
’
t he a cutie?
”
said Carmen, narrowing her eyes at
the retreating Dr. Hazelet.
“
And divorced, I understand.
”

Suzanne edged away from Toni and Carmen. She really
didn
’
t need to hear Carmen
’
s fawning remarks.

Carmen finally acknowledged Toni
’
s presence with a
knowing smile and said,
“
I wouldn
’
t mind getting to know
him
better. Do you know any juicy tidbits about him? Or, better yet, do you think you could hook us up?
”

Toni raised her eyebrows and pretended to look shocked.
“
Excuse
me, do I look like Heidi Fleiss?
”

Suzanne
caught up with Sheriff Roy Doogie just as he
was storming out of the funeral home.
“
Sheriff,
”
she called.
“
A word?
”

Doogie didn
’
t look happy, but stopped anyway to let Su
zanne catch up to him.

‘
Trouble with the mayor?
”
she asked.

Doogie rubbed the back of his hand against his stubbly chin.
“
He
’
s just putting pressure on me. Thinks I oughta be
working harder to solve Ozzie
’
s murder.
”

“
Seems to me you
’
re doing the best you can,
”
said Suzanne.
“
It
’
s only been, like, two days.
”

“
These days, everyone wants instant gratification,
”
sighed Doogie.
“
I got all my people workin
’
this case, but. . .
”
He spread his hands in a gesture of exasperation.
“
There
’
s just so much we can do.
”

“
Maybe you should call in the BCA,
”
suggested Su
zanne. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension helped solve
crimes state-wide.

“
I
’
d rather give it another couple of days,
”
said Doogie.
He wasn
’
t a man who readily asked for help.

“
So your prime suspects are still Missy, Earl, and George
Draper?
”
asked Suzanne.

Doogie pulled a piece of Juicy Fruit gum from his
pocket, unwrapped it slowly, and folded it into his mouth.
Suzanne didn
’
t know if Doogie was upset by her question or stalling for time.

“
They
’
re on the list,
”
Doogie said, finally.
“
As well as a
homeless guy who
’
s been spotted around town.
”

Suzanne thought back to that Sunday afternoon at Kin
dred Spirit Days. Hadn
’
t Petra taken pity on some homeless
guy and slipped him some cupcakes? Sure she had. Should
she mention that to Doogie? Hmm. Maybe wait and see.

Doogie rattled on, unaware that Suzanne had actually seen his so-called homeless guy suspect.
“
Word is, he might be living in a cave. Probably one on the far side of
the bluff. Me and Deputy Driscoll took a trip over there and
crawled around some, but we didn
’
t see signs of anybody living there.
”

Suzanne knew exactly what caves Doogie was refer
ring to. She
’
d climbed around them and played inside them
the whole time she was growing up here. In fact, that far
hillside was fairly honeycombed with caves. Lots of secret
little places for a guy to hide. But why on earth would some
drifter or homeless guy have killed Ozzie? What possible
motive could he have had?

“
So you
’
ve also put this homeless person on your list,
”
said Suzanne.
“
Four suspects now.
”

“
Five,
”
said Doogie.

“
What?
”
said Suzanne. Who else had fallen under Doo
gie
’
s shrewd gaze?

Doogie cocked an eye at her.
“
Bo Becker.
”

“
Ozzie
’
s assistant?
”

“
Former assistant,
”
said Doogie,
“
since he
’
s now officially missing.
”

“
That
’
s interesting,
”
said Suzanne.
“
Considering I just saw Bo Becker last night.
”